Kakashi ultimately couldn't resist the temptation and tearfully shelled out a thousand ryo to buy that bottle of black tea from Naruto's hand.
He then took small sips, one after another, afraid that drinking it too fast would be a waste.
As the tea flowed down his throat, he felt his tense nerves gradually relax, experiencing a sensation as if his soul were being purified.
Kakashi-sensei let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ah... is this the taste of money?"
Not far away, Sasuke, who was filling in soil, took in the entire scene.
"Hmph."
A cold smirk curled at the corner of Sasuke's mouth.
He subconsciously touched the canteen Naruto had filled for him this morning.
It was also thirty thousand ryo a month, but the quantity was so large he could drink it like water.
According to Naruto, this was a special supply for his partner.
Looking back at the Jonin who paid a high price for just a small bottle... a strange sense of superiority welled up in Sasuke's heart.
"It seems that in his heart, I, the Uchiha elite, am still more important."
On the other side, Sakura was squatting on the ground watering saplings.
Because she had stayed up until the early hours of the morning studying the "Basics of Fuuinjutsu" Naruto gave her, she was exhausted.
Sakura constitution was already inferior to Naruto and Sasuke's.
Now that she had to do physical labor, her whole body was a bit unsteady, and her face was pale.
"Whew... my head is so dizzy..."
Sakura wiped the cold sweat from her forehead; her body swayed, and she almost fell over.
A hand steadily supported her.
"Here."
Naruto handed a water bottle filled with black tea to her.
Sakura froze for a moment, looking at the amber liquid inside, and subconsciously wanted to refuse:
"Um... Naruto, th-this is too precious..."
She had heard Naruto and Kakashi-sensei's conversation just now very clearly.
This small bottle was being sold for a thousand ryo!
Not to mention her mission pay hadn't come in yet; even if it had, she couldn't afford such a luxury secret medicine.
"Take it."
Naruto shoved the water bottle directly into her hand.
Pushing up his glasses, his tone was gentle yet brooked no argument:
"You stayed up late reading last night, didn't you? You even have dark circles."
Hearing this, Sakura subconsciously touched her face, feeling a bit bashful.
"Since you're tired from learning what I gave you, then naturally, I must take responsibility."
Naruto looked at her, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly:
"For my future capable assistant, this little investment is nothing."
"Hurry up and recover; there will be many more places where I'll need you in the future..."
"Naruto..."
Sakura held the water bottle, her eyes welling up with tears of emotion.
Even if it was for work, this kind of importance, this feeling of being cared for as one of his own—it was truly wonderful!
"Yes! I will definitely work hard!"
Sakura tilted her head back and took a large gulp.
She felt that this tea not only relieved her fatigue but was also sweet to her heart.
Not far away, Kakashi-sensei pinched the black tea in his hand that he had bought for the huge sum of a thousand ryo.
Then he looked at Naruto over there giving out free warmth, and suddenly felt that this tea was a bit bitter.
"Is this what they call... fleecing an acquaintance?"
Meanwhile, Sasuke swung his shovel, nearly cutting a sapling in half.
He looked at the canteen in his hand, then at Sakura enjoying the free treatment over there.
That "I am special" sense of superiority instantly shattered into pieces.
"Tch."
With a dark face, Sasuke took a resentful gulp of black tea.
"What 'specially prepared'... turns out anyone who works for him gets a share!"
"Bastard who only knows how to buy people's hearts!"
The originally sweet black tea turned sour...
At dusk.
After completing the mission and submitting the report, the day's work was finally over.
After paying the massive repair fees, Naruto looked at his shriveled wallet and let out a long sigh.
"Still too poor."
"Relying solely on selling black tea to Kakashi-sensei, the speed of recouping funds is still too slow."
"And it looks like for the next few days, our missions will probably all be repairing this training ground."
Earning the money he himself paid out to fix the ground he himself blew up made his feelings a bit complicated.
Afterward, Naruto headed to the commercial street.
He needed to restock some specialized paper and ink.
Recently, his research into Fuuinjutsu had entered the practical drawing stage, and the material consumption rate was alarmingly fast.
Just as he came out of a ninja tool shop, carrying his bags into a secluded alleyway, a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
It carried a signature gentleness along with a trace of hard-to-detect playfulness:
"Naruto, what a coincidence."
Yakushi Kabuto appeared to be restocking medical supplies, happening to run into Naruto.
"Ah, Kabuto-senpai."
Naruto stopped, turned around, and gave a smiling greeting.
"It really is a coincidence."
"Do you still remember what I said about the topic of truth?"
After a few pleasantries, Yakushi Kabuto didn't beat around the bush but lowered his voice:
"Actually, while organizing some ancient medical documents recently, I found some interesting things."
"Some things... concerning the essence of Chakra, though... they carry a bit of risk."
Kabuto pushed up his round-rimmed glasses.
"Do you want to take a look?"
At the mention of this, Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Can I?"
"Of course you can, as long as you're not discovered."
With that, Yakushi Kabuto handed Naruto a slightly ancient-looking scroll.
Naruto took it and pulled it open slightly to take a look.
Just one look made his pupils contract slightly.
Inside was a complete and exquisite anatomical diagram of the human brain.
In particular, the parts concerning the connection between the optic nerves, the brain, and the eyeballs were recorded in extraordinary detail.
"This is experimental data regarding the 'reaction between the human nervous system and Chakra'."
Kabuto voice was like a cold snake, sliding into Naruto's ear.
"As well as several anatomical diagrams regarding the mutation of the brain's optic nerves after the Uchiha Clan awakens their eyes."
Naruto closed the scroll, a storm surging in his heart.
Anatomical diagrams of the Uchiha.
This was an absolute S-rank secret in Konohagakure and even the entire shinobi world.
It was even forbidden knowledge strictly prohibited by the village.
No wonder Yakushi Kabuto looked so cautious.
He hadn't expected the person behind Yakushi Kabuto to have such good stuff.
Naruto then proceeded to sense his emotions.
"Is this a test..." he thought to himself.
"Such a precious thing..."
After knowing Kabuto general thoughts, Naruto didn't show fear or moral repulsion.
He just maintained a slightly worried look:
"You're just giving this to me?"
Yakushi Kabuto kept his eyes on Naruto's expression.
One must know that every time he contacted Naruto, he was taking a huge risk.
If Naruto showed the slightest sign of being off, he would run away immediately.
Seeing that Naruto not only wasn't repulsed but instead showed a perfect touch of worry and desire, Yakushi Kabuto was very satisfied.
"There's no need to worry; as long as you're not discovered, it's fine."
"After all, the path to pursuing truth is a lonely one; I only desire to share it with others of my kind."
"Well then, I wish you sweet dreams tonight, Naruto."
Yakushi Kabuto waved his hand, his body slowly backing away and vanishing into the darkness.
"In that case... I'll be careful, Kabuto-senpai."
Naruto looked in the direction he left and solemnly tucked the scroll into his robe...