Chapter 145: The Two Set Out to Find Tsunade

"Yes, these potions have different effects and strengths. Things like antidotes and freeze cures are self-explanatory, so I won't go into detail."

Hearing Ryo's explanation, Jiraiya nodded.

The names alone were enough to understand their function, so there was no need for further clarification.

Seeing that, Ryo continued,

"The important ones are the regular healing potion, the improved healing potion, and the advanced healing potion. These all serve the **same purpose—healing injuries—but their potency varies."

"The regular healing potion is the weakest. It works well for low-level Pokémon, but it's not very effective on higher-level ones."

"The improved healing potion is three times stronger than the regular one, making it suitable for mid-level Pokémon."

"And finally, the advanced healing potion is twice as strong as the improved one. It's ideal for high-level Pokémon, but using it on weaker ones would be a waste."

Jiraiya nodded again, finally understanding the differences between them.

"Alright, I'll take two improved healing potions."

Since they were traveling far, it wasn't like they could quickly return to Konoha for treatment. Having some healing items on hand was a necessity.

But then, Jiraiya's expression suddenly turned pitiful, and he gave Ryo a pleading look.

"Uh, Ryo… Could you lower the price a bit? These potions are so expensive! The regular one is 1,000 ryo, the improved one is 5,000 ryo, and the advanced one is 10,000 ryo!"

That price was brutal.

It hurt just thinking about spending that much.

Seeing Jiraiya's miserable expression, Ryo was speechless.

Expensive?

Not at all!

He had barely raised the conversion price—just ten times the cost—so he wasn't even making that much profit.

If Jiraiya had known that, he might have actually cried.

"No discounts. That's the price."

Ryo shook his head, not even bothering to argue.

"Ah—fine!"

Jiraiya sighed and reluctantly handed over the money.

Taking the ryo, Ryo handed over the potions.

"Need anything else? Maybe some antidotes?"

Jiraiya's eye twitched.

He quickly grabbed Naruto and bolted toward the exit.

"Come on, kid, we're leaving!"

If they stayed any longer, he feared Ryo would drain him completely.

Naruto, stunned, protested,

"Wait, wait! Pervy Sage, I haven't even bought my potions yet!"

"Buy what?! Two bottles are enough! Let's go!"

Hearing the heated exchange, Ryo shook his head.

"What kind of legendary Sannin is this?"

"Even Kakashi can drop millions on items without blinking, and this guy is running away over 10,000 ryo?"

When Kakashi had returned from their first mission, he had immediately purchased a Thunder Stone from Ryo, allowing Pikachu to evolve into Raichu.

At that time, he didn't even hesitate to pay up.

Ryo found it hard to believe.

"How is it that a Kage-level ninja is worse off financially than a regular Jonin?"

"And it's not just him—Tsunade is the same. Even Orochimaru, though a bit better off, isn't exactly wealthy either."

Suddenly, a thought hit him.

"Wait… could this be some secret Konoha curse?"

Shaking off the ridiculous notion, Ryo sat on the couch and began training.

With the Chunin Exams over, there wasn't much happening in Konoha until Tsunade returned.

The only major event was Itachi and Kisame visiting, but…

"They're both busy working on my renovations, so they won't be heading anywhere."

That meant there were no upcoming incidents.

"This is the perfect chance to visit other villages and prepare for future expansions."

He had been meaning to set up branch stores for a while now.

"Where should I go first?"

Ryo rubbed his chin in thought.

It hadn't been that long since the Akatsuki members started working for him, so he wasn't comfortable leaving them in charge of a store yet.

So, instead of rushing to open a branch, he would introduce Pokémon to other villages and scout for treasure chests.

"Given all that, Sunagakure is the best choice."

His eyes lit up.

Among all the villages, Sunagakure was the one he was most familiar with.

Plus, people like Temari held a decent status there, meaning they could help him out.

The other villages?

He had little to no connections there, so setting up in Suna would be way easier.

"Alright then—I'll leave for Sunagakure tomorrow!"

With his mind made up, Ryo closed his eyes and focused on training.

Outside Konoha

On a road just outside the village, Jiraiya glanced at Naruto with curiosity.

"Naruto, how's your Rasengan training going?"

Naruto's face brightened with excitement.

"I'm almost there! I've mastered all three stages of training, but… for some reason, I still can't fully form it."

"Hmm?"

Jiraiya frowned.

"You've learned everything, but you still can't form it?"

Naruto nodded, looking frustrated.

Jiraiya was confused.

The balloon training was done, so why wasn't he able to execute it?

"When I learned it, I didn't have this problem…"

Shaking his head, Jiraiya instructed,

"Alright, show me what you got."

Naruto nodded, stepping away from Ivysaur and Zweilous before raising one hand.

He began gathering chakra, and soon, a visible swirling mass appeared in his palm.

But just as it started spinning properly, the chakra suddenly vanished, as if it had never been there at all.

Naruto sighed and looked defeated.

"See? It always disappears like that! Pervy Sage, are you sure you taught me correctly?"

Jiraiya ignored his complaints and instead focused on Naruto's stomach.

He had just noticed something unusual.

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