Chapter 196: Purchasing Herbs
The squad assembled for the second time. This time, there were no delays, and the group of four went straight to the Hokage Building.
"Hmm? Why is Danzo here too..." Masahiko frowned slightly, sensing that besides Hiruzen, Danzo was also inside.
"Elder Masahiko, you're here." Hiruzen came out to greet him. "Are you... wanting to accept another mission?"
Masahiko nodded and glanced inside. "What were you discussing?"
Hiruzen hesitated. "According to intelligence, the Cloud Village has just selected the Fourth Raikage."
Masahiko was startled, but not really surprised. Since that battle ten years ago, the Cloud Village had kept a low profile for a decade, not even claiming the Raikage title, merely letting the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki manage the village. After ten years, they probably wanted to return to the stage of the ninja world.
"A's son A has grown up, huh? He must be in his early twenties this year?" Masahiko muttered, finding it a bit awkward that both father and son were called A...
Seeing Hiruzen's hesitant look, Masahiko smiled. "Stop pretending. You're definitely not afraid of me going; you're hoping I'll go, aren't you?"
Hiruzen smiled sheepishly. "No, no."
Inside the room, Danzo also walked over.
Masahiko glared. "What, blocking the door and not letting us in?"
Danzo walked back...
Hiruzen said helplessly, "Please come in."
Masahiko led the three children inside and then said with a smile, "Don't hope for me to go to the Land of Lightning. They haven't stopped receiving supplies for ten years. As long as they remain as they were, the stronger they become, the better."
"Elder Masahiko, we are just worried that if the Cloud Village recovers its combat power, they might not be willing to continue..."
Masahiko waved his hand, interrupting Hiruzen.
"It's fine, they wouldn't dare."
"I won't go to the Cloud Village for now. If I go, they'll probably have to find a way to select the Fifth Raikage." Recalling the Fourth A's temper from his past life, Masahiko felt it was better not to go.
"I brought the squad here to accept a mission. It's September now; don't tell me National Day is approaching and no one is issuing missions."
"National Day?" Hiruzen looked bewildered, indicating he didn't understand.
"Never mind. Hurry up and give us a mission. Can't you see the three members of my squad can't wait?"
Hiruzen mumbled, wanting to retort that he really couldn't tell, but shrank back.
Hiruzen picked up a few mission sheets, glanced at them, glanced at Masahiko, shook his head, and then put one down.
Masahiko's face darkened. What does this mean?
Expanding his gravitational force, the mission sheet on the table floated over.
"Procurement mission?" Masahiko was stunned.
Hiruzen nodded. "This mission isn't suitable for you. It takes a long time, and basically, no combat will occur."
"Why do I feel like you deliberately let me see this mission sheet?" Masahiko wasn't stupid. Such procurement between villages was usually done by direct dispatch; there wouldn't be mission sheets.
Masahiko turned into Detective Conan. "In this mission sheet, you are purchasing large quantities of iron and rare metals. Are you trying to tell me that the ninja villages have entered a state of combat readiness, and Konoha is spending a lot of resources to buy metals?"
"Next, you should cry poverty to me, asking me to sell the Land of Whirlpools' explosive tags to you at a low price, and preferably not to other countries, since they might soon become Konoha's enemies."
Hiruzen's face stiffened, and he exchanged a glance with Danzo...
Masahiko mentally gave his IQ twelve thumbs up and looked back at the three children.
Nagato and Konan looked admiring as expected, which gratified Masahiko.
But...
"Kushina, what's with that expression like you just met me today?"
"Nothing, Great-Great-Grandpa. I was just surprised by your deduction."
After a long while, Hiruzen smiled bitterly and said, "Elder Masahiko, you're overthinking it. We've already bought enough explosive tags."
"This procurement mission was only issued as a mission because it requires too much time, and we couldn't find suitable candidates for a while."
Masahiko smiled at him, not believing his explanation, and took the mission sheets from Hiruzen's hand, randomly pulling one out.
Looking at it twice, Masahiko looked at Hiruzen with a faint smile.
"Such a coincidence, another procurement mission?" This time the procurement target was medicinal herbs.
Masahiko quickly flipped through a few more. Except for one escort mission, all were procurement missions. The procured materials were diverse, and coincidentally, they were all A-rank missions.
Danzo walked over. "Elder Masahiko, it just so happens that we need to procure this batch of supplies, and you came to accept a mission."
Compared to Hiruzen, Danzo's skin was thicker.
Masahiko smiled. "It's fine. We'll take a procurement mission. Hand over the money."
This time, Danzo's expression also froze. He really wasn't too assured letting Masahiko handle the procurement.
Hiruzen quickly emphasized, "Elder Masahiko, these places are very far, and basically no combat will occur."
"It's fine. It's a good chance to take them out to relax. Just training all the time isn't good either."
Masahiko picked one. "Let's take this mission. Procuring medicinal herbs from Benisu Island (Crimson State Island) in the south. I haven't been there yet."
"It's troublesome for you to go by sea anyway. I'll fly them there." Masahiko extended his hand, looking like "hurry up and bring the money."
After a long while, Hiruzen sighed. "I'll get it for you later. Are you sure you want to accept this mission?"
Masahiko looked behind him. The three children all showed interested expressions, so he nodded.
"It's not necessary to fight. Gaining knowledge and experience is also good."
"Let's take this mission."
Hiruzen hesitated. "Do you recognize those herbs that need to be purchased? Mandala herb, Vitality Ginseng, Living Salamander, Giant Vine..."
Masahiko's face darkened. How could he know these? With medical ninjutsu, he never needed these things.
"Sensei, I know them." Konan spoke up from behind. "Tsunade-sama taught me about these things. Some are for making Soldier Pills, some are antidotes..."
Masahiko smiled. Now Hiruzen didn't even have a last excuse.
Sure enough, with a slightly dark face, Hiruzen took out two banknotes and a map from the desk.
"This should be enough. Besides the small country ninjas selling herbs on the island, there are also many wild herbs. This is the map..." Hiruzen stopped abruptly here. He didn't quite believe that Masahiko would use money to buy them.
Masahiko waved his hand. "Don't worry, I'll definitely bring back enough herbs for you."
Saying that, he led the three children to turn and leave. "Let's go, taking you out for a trip."
He didn't take this mission seriously at all; it was just a special training trip.
When the four had walked far away, Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged a glance with Danzo.
"This is good too. With Elder Masahiko there, those troublesome items should be brought back this time."
Danzo shook his head. "I'm just afraid Elder Masahiko will bring most of the herbs back to the Land of Whirlpools. If I knew earlier, I would have written more requirements on the mission sheet."
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