In the Ninja World, there are quite a few secret medicines, some of which can significantly enhance a ninja's abilities at the cost of their body's foundation.
Like Uchiha Sasuke, after seeking out Orochimaru, he consumed many harmful forbidden medicines. Similar forbidden medicines exist in many ninja clans, perhaps the most domineering being the Three-Color Secret Medicine of the Akimichi Race.
Ninjas come up with various ways to enhance their strength, and secret medicines are one of them.
Compared to health supplements, secret medicines are much simpler, merely serving to restore some stamina and maintain the body, which is why Ikemoto readily agreed.
However, being a ninja, he clearly didn't consider what Uchiha Yoichi wanted these medicines for. He only knew it wasn't difficult for him, and the reward offered by Uchiha Yoichi was exceedingly generous, worth three S-Class rewards.
Jonin Ikemoto originally intended to do some minor research, but with Uchiha Yoichi valuing him so highly and offering such a substantial reward, he had no choice but to take it seriously, to be worthy of his employer's commission.
The next day.
Uchiha Yoichi went to find Elder Kenji again, explained the situation, and by the way, planned to sell the medicines collected from the Shimura Family.
The Shimura Family initially intended to sell the medicines to Konoha Village, and whether Danzo and Utatane Koharu were in agreement or not, that's the information the Security Team uncovered.
But now that Konoha Village couldn't receive them, medicines are considered scarce resources in the Ninja World, and there would be no trouble selling them anywhere.
Medicines worth tens of millions of ryo could potentially generate even more profit if sold outside.
Uchiha Kenji nodded, telling Uchiha Yoichi that he would send someone to handle this matter.
Later, Uchiha Kenji asked if Uchiha Yoichi would be interested in inspecting a warehouse base of the Shimura Family that had been recently discovered and planned for relocation. Although the goods there weren't as extensively collected as in Konoha Village, the value was still substantial.
Uchiha Yoichi naturally agreed without hesitation, considering his high animosity towards Danzo in Konoha.
Being overbearing in the village, he even dared to be overbearing towards the Uchiha Race.
Though the Shimura Family wasn't populous, they still had some ninjas outside, so Uchiha Kenji planned to send two teams over to teach Danzo a lesson.
Most of the money earned from the Shimura Family's business was funding Danzo because it was impossible for the Third Generation Hokage to provide abundant funds to the Root, ignoring the Anbu instead.
If Danzo wanted to develop the Root, he had to finance it himself, but Uchiha Kenji clearly wouldn't give Danzo this opportunity!
——————————————
"Hiruzen!"
The door of the Hokage Office was violently pushed open with a bang, causing those inside to frown and look towards the doorway, where Danzo entered with a sullen face.
Behind Danzo were Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, the two other advisors.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly and then said to Namikaze Minato beside him, "Minato, you may leave now."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Namikaze Minato had already received his task and was not involved in the proceeding discussion, so he left the Hokage Office directly.
Once he left, Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and disapprovingly asked, "Danzo, what is it this time?"
"It's not about me. It's the Uchiha Race; now they are rebelling!"
Danzo's face was grim as he struck his cane hard on the ground twice and then almost shouted at Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Another of the Shimura Family's businesses outside has been eradicated by them, and they killed seven of my Shimura Family's ninjas!"
"Is this true?"
This was something Sarutobi Hiruzen was unaware of. The Anbu only had less than a hundred people, with half of them engaged in gathering intelligence from across the Ninja World, leaving insufficient numbers to monitor all ninja clans in the village.
"Was it done by the Uchiha Race?"
Danzo replied with a gloomy expression, "Who else could it be? This is the Land of Fire; could it be the Hidden Cloud Ninjas? Hiruzen, this is the second time!"
"Who allowed you to use such methods? How foolish of you. Even Sakumo is very displeased with you; you nearly got his son killed!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, his face also looking unsightly, rebuked Danzo. He had trusted Danzo by granting him authority, only for him to commit such a blunder.
Leaking information to other ninja villages? If it weren't for his restriction on spreading this news, once it began circulating in the village, how would Konoha's ninjas perceive them?
"Regarding an Uchiha...."
Danzo almost said that any tactic could be used against the Uchiha, considering them an unstable factor. But seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's unpleasant expression, he swallowed his words.
"This isn't the right time for these words, Hiruzen. If you can't make the Uchiha stop, I'll have to mobilize the Root!"
"Nonsense!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed the table in anger upon hearing this, loudly reprimanding, "Danzo, do you intend to incite internal conflict within the village?"
Danzo retorted obstinately, "Even if it's internal conflict, it was initiated by the Uchiha, Hiruzen. Don't forget, the Shimura Family has already lost forty-six members!"
In truth, Danzo didn't want the Root to wage war against the Uchiha either. The Uchiha were too aggressive now, with a Security Team of several hundred people. Though not all were part of the Radical Faction, the Root couldn't rival them.
In terms of ninja numbers and strength, the Root was inferior to the Uchiha, and engaging in a fight would destroy his ten-plus years of effort.
Hearing Danzo's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent, considering the heavy losses of the Shimura Family, despite Danzo's foolish actions.
After both men went silent, Utatane Koharu interjected, "Hiruzen, the medicines the Shimura Family purchased last time were intended to be sold to the village as military resources. They've been with the Security Team for quite a while now; when will they return them to the village...."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head helplessly upon hearing this and said, "Koharu, let's not think about that. Those medicines have probably already been sold by the Security Team. Fortunately... let's just reorder them."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had nearly said that it was fortunate they hadn't paid for them, but considering Danzo was present, he changed his wording.
The Shimura Family bore the losses, not the village, so Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't overly distressed. After all, the Shimura Family had made substantial village profits before, so this wouldn't cripple them.
"I'll go speak with Fugaku to put a stop to this. Danzo, you should behave yourself recently, and the Root should not operate in the Land of Fire for now; go investigate the Hidden Cloud Village instead."
"Koharu, reorder the medicines; Homura, you should make a trip to the Daimyo Mansion, as it's best to discuss that matter personally with the Daimyo....."
"That matter? Hiruzen, do you mean the Cloud River Iron Mine in the Land of Rivers?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly said, "Yes, the Daimyo didn't reach an agreement with the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, so they're preparing to let us handle it. I'm considering sending Sakumo...."
'Hatake Sakumo?'
'He's already built such a high reputation, and if he succeeds in this task, he'll surpass me, this Hokage Assistant. Besides, last time Hatake Sakumo was involved with the Uchiha....'
Danzo's thoughts drifted with a very cold look in his eyes.