The Shimura Herbal Tea Shop had been selling its herbal tea for some time, and in Konoha—especially among the men—Danzo Shimura had earned a resounding title: the Midnight Guardian.
According to legend, the Midnight Guardian protected the honor of men. The Midnight Guardian safeguarded the affection of women. The Midnight Guardian preserved family peace. And the Midnight Guardian… oversaw Root's operations.
Danzo Shimura listened intently to the reports from Root's ninja about public opinion in the Village. Initially, he had worried that selling herbal teas with such unique effects might tarnish his reputation. Yet, to his surprise, it had only elevated him. Among both men and women, his renown had grown, and he had even earned the curious title of the Midnight Guardian.
Hiruzen—did you foresee this? Danzo's thoughts turned to the Third Hokage. He released the hand seal he had been holding and folded his arms, pondering Hiruzen Sarutobi's intentions. Was this all part of a larger plan to elevate him in the Village? To make him the next Hokage?
Impossible. Danzo did not believe Hiruzen Sarutobi would ever allow him to ascend to that position. Suspicion gnawed at him, not only regarding Hiruzen's motives, but also in observing the reactions of the four major clans—Sarutobi, Shimura, Aburame, and Uchiha. All had been taken aback. The turn of events was far from what they had anticipated.
The villagers' embrace of Shimura herbal tea surpassed expectations. Before, people would fabricate excuses—claiming they bought it for a friend or an elder. Now, they no longer pretended.
"I'm buying it for myself. Are you going to sell it, or not?"
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Chapter 71: Grasping the Propaganda Channels
Whirlpool Country, Uzushiogakure.
The head of the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company, who had arrived from the Land of Waves, had employed villagers and opened a shop selling skincare products alongside herbal teas. Among them, Shimura herbal tea stood out. Its effects were unusual, even for a seasoned entrepreneur like Uzumaki Chigusa.
"Why sell herbal tea with this kind of effect?" she mused, flipping through the brochure. Despite her initial indifference, she was impressed. The tea nourished the body, refreshed the soul, and apparently carried other mysterious benefits.
Chigusa had heard of Shimura herbal tea's rising popularity across several countries, yet she had never imagined it could hold such influence. The man behind it had earned the moniker "Uncle Emperor" for a reason; even his company operated with peculiar ingenuity.
"It might be time to visit Konoha. It's been a while… I wonder how Lady Mito is."
Glancing around the shop, still under construction, Chigusa casually set the brochure aside upon returning home. She kept it, recognizing its potential as a discount coupon. While skincare products fascinated her, herbal tea did not. Yet she understood that beauty, even for a ninja, was universally valued.
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Meanwhile, in Konoha:
Orochimaru sat at his desk, staring at the broken pieces of a pen in his hand.
"What is happening?" he muttered. An ominous premonition prickled his senses, but he discarded the pen carelessly into the trash. He propped his chin on his palm and tapped a finger rhythmically on the freshly drafted proposal before him.
His thoughts turned to a man named Kakuzu, a figure he had encountered on Tanzaku Street, who would later become Akatsuki's chief financial officer.
"With my current power, I can't hope to defeat him… but I can escape."
Orochimaru had attempted summoning Kakuzu multiple times but abandoned the effort, wary of failure and the fatal consequences it could bring. His mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique allowed him to teleport instantly, not for fighting yet, but for fleeing danger. Money was a motivator, and Kakuzu knew its value.
"Having such a skilled subordinate at my disposal… priceless," he mused.
Yet to engage Kakuzu, Orochimaru needed his location. The most reliable method was through the black market, a place of complex interests and hidden dealings.
This was a job for Qing He, the president of White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. Orochimaru's plans required precision and discretion, and Qing He was the only suitable candidate.
The company's financial report lay on the desk. A home appliance manufacturing plant in the Land of Fire teetered on the brink of bankruptcy—a potential opportunity. By acquiring it, Orochimaru could channel funds into research and expand the company's operations.
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Land of Waves, White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company.
The sales of Shimura herbal tea had exceeded Qing He's expectations. He had assumed only the wealthy would purchase it, but even ordinary villagers showed interest. Qing He, who had once been indifferent, now recognized its value.
"Miss Orochimaru," Qing He began cautiously, "the two ninjas who attacked earlier… they came from the Land of Water and accepted a reward from the black market for stealing the skincare formula."
Orochimaru frowned. The black market was a dangerous web, complicated and far-reaching. Eliminating it was both difficult and unnecessary. Its existence could be exploited to gather experimental materials and information. The bounty system, for example, had once concealed the identities of those who targeted Asuma Sarutobi.
Qing He's eyes glimmered as he studied the financial report. "Lady Orochimaru, I didn't expect Shimura herbal tea to be so profitable. Even in sparsely populated regions, our sales are booming."
Orochimaru smiled inwardly. Every decision she made now benefited the company and the Iburi Clan. Herbal tea had proven lucrative, but she had even greater plans.
"Qing He," she said, presenting her next proposal, "we need to focus on packaging. Luxury editions for the wealthy, regular editions for the everyday buyer. Psychological satisfaction is crucial—it's about prestige and face."
Qing He nodded. The company was not solely a pharmaceutical enterprise. Household appliances, often neglected or inaccessible to ordinary people, could be a new avenue. Televisions, for instance, existed in Konoha only as ornaments, with no working channels.
"We'll produce better, cheaper televisions," Orochimaru explained. "Widespread accessibility allows us to control propaganda channels. Advertising revenue will supplement our profits, and we can influence public opinion at will."
Qing He studied the proposal. "A television factory in Orochimaru?"
"Sometimes, purchasing an existing factory is simpler than building anew," she clarified. A struggling home appliance factory in the Land of Fire provided the perfect opportunity to acquire technology, hire skilled staff, and produce affordable televisions. Once widespread, they could establish broadcasting infrastructure and dominate propaganda channels.
Orochimaru entrusted the project entirely to Qing He. "Ensure the factory succeeds. If necessary, use unconventional methods. I expect results."
"Yes, Lady Orochimaru!" Qing He replied with fervor. He understood the trust placed in him as her right-hand man and vowed to deliver.
Finally, Orochimaru recalled a critical matter. "One more thing, Qing He. Put out a bounty for a ninja named Kakuzu. He is tall, masked, with green eyes and red sclera."
Qing He's eyes widened. He mistakenly assumed Orochimaru intended to eliminate Kakuzu.
"I need to speak with him. Be prepared to use the Smoke Clone Technique if necessary. Your safety is paramount."
"Understood, Lady Orochimaru! I will engrave it on my heart," Qing He said, brimming with loyalty.
With that, Orochimaru prepared to depart using the Flying Thunder God Technique, her mind already focused on the next phase of her plans. The wheels of strategy had begun turning, and every move promised to expand her influence—through herbal tea, household appliances, and even the subtle manipulation of information.
Konoha, the Land of Fire, and beyond would soon witness the effects of her meticulous planning.
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