Secret Recipe for Potions

Kakashi ultimately couldn't resist the temptation and, with tears in his eyes, took out a thousand ryo to buy the bottle of black tea from Naruto.

Then I sipped it slowly, afraid of wasting it if I drank it too fast.

As the tea went down my throat.

He felt his tense nerves gradually relax and experienced a sense of purification of his soul.

Kakashi let out a satisfied sigh.

"Ah... is this the smell of money?"

Not far away, Sasuke, who was filling in the soil, saw the whole scene.

"snort."

Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile.

He subconsciously touched the water bottle that Naruto had filled for him that morning.

The amount was the same, 30,000 taels per month, but the quantity was so much that it could be drunk like water.

According to Naruto, this was a special treat for his partner.

Then look over there, someone spent a fortune to buy just a small bottle of Jonin...

A strange sense of superiority welled up in Sasuke's heart.

"It seems that in his heart, I, as an elite member of the Uchiha clan, am still more important."

On the other side, Sakura was squatting on the ground watering the saplings.

She stayed up all night studying the "Basic Sealing Techniques" book that Naruto had given her until the early hours of the morning.

Sakura's physique was never as good as Naruto's or Sasuke's.

Now, having to do physical labor, his body was swaying precariously, and his face was pale.

"Ugh... I feel so dizzy..."

Sakura wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her body swayed, and she almost fell over.

A hand steadily supported her.

"Give."

Naruto handed her a water bottle filled with black tea.

Sakura paused for a moment, looking at the amber liquid inside, and instinctively wanted to refuse:

"Um... Naruto, this... this is too valuable..."

She had heard Naruto and Kakashi's conversation clearly.

This tiny bottle costs a thousand taels!

Don't tell me that your current task payment hasn't come through yet.

Even if I were to get it, I still wouldn't be able to afford such a luxurious secret medicine.

"Take it."

Naruto simply shoved the water bottle into her hand.

He pushed up his glasses, his tone gentle yet undeniably authoritative:

"You must have been reading late last night, right? You've got dark circles under your eyes."

Upon hearing this, Sakura subconsciously touched her face, feeling somewhat shy.

"Since you're exhausted from learning what I've taught you, then I naturally have to take responsibility."

Naruto looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips:

"This investment is nothing to my future right-hand man."

"Get back into shape quickly, I'll need your help a lot in the future..."

"Naruto-kun..."

Sakura held the water bottle, her eyes brimming with tears of emotion.

Although it was because of work.

But this sense of being valued, this feeling of being treated like one of our own—it's wonderful!

"Yes! I will definitely try my best!"

Sakura tilted her head back and took a big gulp.

I felt that this tea not only relieved my fatigue, but also made me feel sweet inside.

Not far away, Kakashi held a cup of black tea that he had bought for a huge sum of one thousand taels of silver.

Looking at Naruto over there, offering free warmth, I suddenly felt that the tea tasted a little bitter.

"Is this what they call...ripping off loyal customers?"

Sasuke, wielding a shovel, nearly snapped the sapling in half.

He looked at the water bottle in his hand, then at Sakura over there enjoying the free treatment.

That sense of superiority, that feeling of "I am special," shattered instantly.

"cut."

Sasuke, his face dark, angrily gulped down a mouthful of red tea.

"What special preparation... Turns out everyone who does his work gets a share!"

"What a bastard who only knows how to win people over!"

The originally sweet black tea has turned sour.

……

At dusk.

After completing the task and submitting the report, the day's work finally came to an end.

After paying a huge repair bill, Naruto looked at his empty wallet and sighed deeply.

"We're still too poor."

"Selling black tea to Kakashi-sensei alone is not a fast way to recoup funds."

"Moreover, it seems that for the next few days, our entire task will likely revolve around this maintenance training ground."

They earn the money they paid out of their own pockets to repair the land they destroyed.

This left him with mixed feelings.

Naruto then headed to the shopping street.

He needs to replenish some specialty paper and ink.

His research on sealing techniques has recently entered the actual drawing stage, and the rate at which materials are being consumed is astonishing.

Just as he came out of a ninja tool shop and walked into a secluded alley with a bag in his hand.

A familiar voice sounded from behind him.

With its signature gentleness and a subtle, almost imperceptible playfulness:

"Naruto, what a coincidence."

Kabuto Yakushi appeared to be restocking medical supplies when he ran into Naruto.

"Ah, Senior Dou."

Naruto stopped, turned around, and greeted him with a smile.

"That's quite a coincidence."

"Do you remember what I said about the topic of truth?"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kabuto Yakushi didn't beat around the bush, but lowered his voice:

"Actually, I recently discovered some interesting things while organizing some old medical documents."

"Something... about the nature of chakra, but... it's a little risky."

Dou pushed up his round-framed glasses.

"Would you like to take a look?"

Upon hearing this, Naruto's eyes lit up. "Is that okay?"

"Of course, as long as no one finds out."

As he spoke, Kabuto handed Naruto a slightly antique-looking scroll.

Naruto took it and pulled it open slightly to take a look.

One glance was enough to make his pupils shrink.

Inside is a complete and detailed anatomical diagram of the human brain.

The section on the connection between the optic nerve and the brain and eyeball is recorded in particular detail.

"This is experimental data on the 'response between the human nervous system and chakra'."

Kabuto's voice, like a cold, sinister snake, slithered into Naruto's ears.

"And several anatomical diagrams about the changes in the visual nerves of the Uchiha clan after awakening their Sharingan."

Naruto closed the scroll, his heart filled with turmoil.

Anatomical diagrams of the Uchiha clan.

This is an absolute S-class secret in Konoha and even the entire ninja world.

Even knowledge that is explicitly forbidden by the village.

No wonder Kabuto Yakushi looked so cautious.

I never expected that the person behind Yakushi Kabuto would have such a good thing.

Naruto then sensed his emotions.

"Is it a test...?"

He secretly thought.

"Such a precious thing..."

After learning Kabuto's general idea, Naruto did not show fear or moral fastidiousness.

He just looked slightly worried.

"You just gave it to me like that?"

Kabuto Yakushi kept a close eye on Naruto's expression.

It's important to understand that every time he came into contact with Naruto, he was taking a huge risk.

He would run away immediately if Naruto did anything wrong.

Seeing that Naruto not only didn't feel disgusted, but instead showed just the right amount of worry and longing.

This pleased Kabuto Yakushi very much.

"Don't worry, as long as no one finds out, everything will be fine."

"After all, the pursuit of truth is a solitary one, and I simply long to share it with other like-minded people."

"Well then, I wish you sweet dreams tonight, Naruto-kun."

Kabuto waved his hand, then slowly retreated, disappearing into the darkness.

"In that case... I'll be careful, Kabuto-senpai."

Naruto watched the direction he left in and solemnly stuffed the scroll into his pocket.

……