Chapter 26: Product Launch Event
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"Come, come, come! Brother Danzo, Brother Hanzo, drink up, drink up! Let's enjoy ourselves!" Jinghang raised his cup with a carefree grin, appearing to be halfway drunk already.
"I heard that Lord Kazekage will be returning to the village soon," Hanzo of the Salamander suddenly asked.
"Yes, yes, the war is over, the diplomatic matters are settled, and the factory business here is almost wrapped up. Once I hand things over tomorrow, I'll head back the day after," Jinghang replied, hiccupping from the alcohol.
"In that case, let's raise a toast to wish Lord Kazekage a safe journey," Hanzo said, clearly eager to see Jinghang leave. After all, a Kage staying in another country for an extended period was bound to make his own people uneasy.
"Haha, don't worry, I won't be eating your rice for much longer," Jinghang joked, tilting his head back and downing his drink in one go.
"Lord Kazekage, you jest. That said, you've been away from your country for quite some time now. Surely there's a backlog of official duties waiting for you. Lord Hanzo is just concerned you might be delaying important matters," Danzo chimed in, trying to smooth things over.
"Indeed, there's quite a bit of work piling up. I'll be leaving the factory operations here to Rasa and Yura. If anything comes up, you can contact them directly."
"Understood." Hearing this, Hanzo finally felt relieved. It seemed Jinghang truly intended to leave.
"Before I go, I have a gift for my two brothers! Bring it in!" Jinghang waved his hand dramatically. Three beautiful attendants entered gracefully, each carrying a tray. On each tray rested a sheathed knife.
Danzo and Hanzo both subtly sighed, realizing they'd fallen into Jinghang's trap.
"Judging by your expressions, it seems you don't have much faith in our factory's products, huh? Take a look!"
With a sharp shing, Jinghang unsheathed the knife and twirled it skillfully in his hand. Before the two men was a ninja blade unlike any they had seen before. Its entire surface was adorned with black patterns, one side featuring a sharp edge and the other serrated. Its sleek yet menacing design instantly captured their attention. Only seasoned warriors who had survived countless battles could instinctively recognize the lethality of such a weapon.
"Gentlemen, behold the latest product from the Hourglass Ninja Tool Factory—the Multi-Functional Ninja Blade! Look at these patterns; they're created using a special forging and acid-etching process. During missions, the blade won't reflect light from any angle, ensuring you won't expose your position." To demonstrate, Jinghang held the knife under the light and tilted it at various angles. Sure enough, there was no glare.
"And the steel is top-notch—sharp enough to cut through iron like butter." Jinghang pulled out three kunai from his pocket, stacked them together, and sliced down in one swift motion. The kunai were immediately severed into six pieces. Jinghang raised the blade for them to inspect, and to their amazement, there wasn't a single nick on the edge. Both men eagerly picked up their own knives to examine them.
"But that's not all. This knife isn't just an ordinary ninja blade—it has multiple functions," Jinghang continued his pitch without missing a beat.
"See the back of the blade? It doubles as a saw." Jinghang demonstrated by sawing off a corner of the table with ease.
"This notch here? It's a screwdriver." He used the knife to pry a nail out of the table effortlessly.
"This part can start a fire."
"And when combined with the sheath, it turns into a pair of scissors."
…
Jinghang enthusiastically showcased the knife's various features, completely captivating Danzo and Hanzo. It was clear they were hooked.
"And finally, take a look at this…" Jinghang suddenly stabbed the knife into the table. The blade sank all the way to the hilt, leaving only the handle visible above the surface.
"Each knife handle is equipped with a miniature compass, ensuring you'll never lose your way during missions. Now tell me, isn't this a treasure?" Jinghang poured himself another drink, taking a moment to catch his breath. Being a salesman was exhausting work—it seemed he'd have to establish a business school in the future to train others for this role.
Danzo and Hanzo continued to examine their knives intently, occasionally testing them on the table. After a while, Hanzo finally asked the critical question: "How much for one?"
Jinghang held up three fingers. "Non-negotiable—3,000 ryō per knife. But for orders of 100 or more, I'll give a 20% discount."
"That's too expensive! A kunai costs a fraction of that," Hanzo protested. Indeed, during wartime, a standard kunai on the market cost only 50 ryō, while a high-quality kunai from the Land of Crafts was priced at 150 ryō at most.
"Oh, Brother Hanzo, this isn't some disposable kunai or shuriken. This is a multi-functional ninja blade—a lifelong companion! Comparing it to a kunai is like comparing a diamond to a pebble," Jinghang said, gesturing dismissively at the pile of broken kunai pieces.
"I'll take 1,000!" Danzo declared boldly, raising one finger.
"What kind of discount can I get?" His follow-up nearly made Jinghang and Hanzo fall over.
"25% off—how about that?"
"30%!"
"Brother, we're running a business here…"
"30%!"
"Brother, we have to account for costs…"
"30%!"
…
After a brief negotiation, they finally settled on a 30% discount, bringing the price down to 2,100 ryō per knife. Danzo ordered 1,000 knives, and Hanzo reluctantly added another 500 to the order.
"Ah, my haggling skills still need work," Jinghang muttered, scratching his head with a feigned look of regret.
What Jinghang didn't anticipate was that the Hourglass Ninja Blade would become a massive hit due to its exceptional quality and versatility. Once it hit the market, it was met with widespread acclaim. Frontline shinobi quickly came to regard it as an indispensable tool. Although numerous imitations and counterfeit versions appeared, none could rival the original. The unique steel's hardness and toughness were impossible to replicate, and the distinctive patterns on the blade made fakes easy to spot. In the near future, the Hourglass Ninja Blade would become Sunagakure's flagship product.
"Remember, for all the craftsmen we hire, we must not only ensure competitive salaries but also provide comprehensive benefits. Holiday gifts must not be overlooked, and we'll arrange housing for them and their families at the Lake of the Moon Base, along with free schooling for their children. We need to eliminate their worries so they can focus on their work. Each craftsman should also receive at least one month of paid leave annually. Stability in their lives will lead to dedication in their work. In these chaotic times, do you really think a simple contract is enough to ensure loyalty? Dream on. All it takes is a handful of rice from an outsider to steal your core technology," Jinghang explained carefully to Rasa, who diligently took notes in a small notebook, not wanting to miss a single word.
"For the next few years, I'll have to trouble you to hold down the fort at these two factories. I'll assign someone else to oversee the mining bureau for now. Once the groundwork is done, you can take over. Yura, you'll need to fully support Rasa in his work."
"Yes, Lord Kazekage," Yura replied with a nod.
"Additionally, the upper reaches of the Shule River must be cleared immediately. Monitor the river's flow closely at all times. Remember, the stability of Shule River ensures the safety of the Lake of the Moon, and by extension, the safety of Sunagakure itself," Jinghang said earnestly.
"Yes, we'll complete the task," Rasa and Yura replied in unison.
"Alright, I won't let you suffer too much. Once I return, I'll transfer Karura and Minako here to help."
"Is that really appropriate?"
"Yeah, it doesn't seem right…"
The two men blushed and tried to decline.
"Cut the crap. You two have been sneaking around since you were Chūnin, and now you're acting all shy? I'm transferring them here to give you a chance and to keep an eye on you. Got it?"
"Got it!"
"But, Boss, you're not getting any younger. Isn't it time you settled down too?"
"Pfft, mind your own business! Let's go, Pakura!"