Chapter 49: The Price of Power

"Alright!" Mito said firmly. "Go to the Uchiha, find Hikari, and secure long-term orders for their nutritional pills—the body-strengthening kind!"

"Huh?" Tsunade blinked, confused. "Why not just buy directly from Gin if we need them?"

"It's not the same!" Mito snapped. "Buying from Gin is secondary. We need to fight for a public share first! For appearances' sake, we must secure a visible stake in the Uchiha's success—for the Senju Clan, and later for the Uzumaki Clan too. They need pills to strengthen their people as well. If we don't move now, someone else will seize that advantage."

She gave Tsunade a sharp look.

"Don't ever sacrifice your clan's interests for the sake of others."

"Right! I get it now!" Tsunade's expression turned serious. "I'll go right away!"

"You!" Mito sighed, shaking her head. "You need to start taking clan affairs seriously. You can't be lazy anymore."

She'd spoiled her granddaughter too much. Tsunade had never needed to worry about politics—about clan survival. But now, the weight of leadership loomed. Mito glanced toward her younger brother Nawaki—still innocent and naive.

He needs guidance too, she thought. Soon, I'll have to pass on everything I know to them.

Elsewhere in the village, the other clans reacted.

The Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka, and others were all paying attention. Opinions varied, but one thing was clear: everyone wanted a share of the Uchiha's medicine.

Plans were already forming.

Inside the Hokage's Office...

"Damn it!" Koharu growled, slamming a report onto the desk. "I heard rumors about the Uchiha's pharmacy but didn't think much of it. I didn't expect it to be this powerful! When did Hikari master this level of pharmaceutical tech?"

"She's been hiding her strength well," Homura said darkly. "Ever since her recovery, the Uchiha have changed. We know next to nothing now. Even our informants have stopped sending reliable intel. Some have been fed false information or brainwashed outright."

A veil had fallen over the Uchiha. Once an open book to the village council, they were now a fortress.

"Why didn't we notice earlier?" Hiruzen muttered, puffing on his pipe in frustration. "Now it's too late. Their growth is out of control."

"This can't continue," Danzo said coldly. "This pharmacy—it's not just a source of wealth, it's a symbol of independence. If they grow any further, we'll lose the ability to control them. Their power and influence will spiral."

Danzo's eyes narrowed.

"Why don't we simply shut down the pharmacy? Force them to hand over the formula—call it a strategic resource. Say it belongs to the village, not to one clan."

Koharu and Homura went pale.

"Danzo, that's insane!" Koharu snapped. "Do that, and we'll plunge the village into chaos."

"She's right!" Hiruzen barked, glaring. "That would be illegal. The other clans won't sit quietly if we go down that path. Today it's the Uchiha—you force them to surrender their secrets, and tomorrow the Yamanaka, Nara, or Akimichi will be next. We cannot open that door!"

Even Hiruzen's authority wouldn't survive such an overreach. He'd be overthrown in days.

"But we can't just sit and watch the Uchiha grow unchecked!" Danzo slammed his hand on the table. "The longer we wait, the stronger they get. Our hands will be tied!"

And when that happens, he thought darkly, no one will be able to stop them.

He looked around. They had ANBU, Root, and the strength of the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Mitokado clans. If they moved now, they could still suppress the Uchiha. But instead of buying the medicine, they'd be forced to hand over the formula—simple, clean, efficient.

But Hiruzen shook his head.

"No. That method is off-limits," he said coldly. "We'll find another way."

"You're too soft," Danzo muttered, frustrated.

Koharu, unable to contain herself, added, "Danzo has a point, Hiruzen. We can't allow the Uchiha to monopolize Konoha's most lucrative resource. Do you think the First and Second Hokage worked so hard so their clans could become beggars in their own village?"

All eyes turned to Hiruzen.

"The war," he said quietly, "is coming."

Everyone fell silent.

He continued: "The great villages—Kumo, Iwa, even Suna—are stirring. Militants are rising in every corner. They're not satisfied with the current peace. A war is inevitable—in two years, maybe three at most."

A cold light flickered in his eyes.

"In times of war, we regain control. With wartime authority, we can assign missions to any clan. If they refuse… they'll be branded traitors. Even the Uchiha won't dare disobey."

Hiruzen leaned back, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

In peace, they're untouchable. In war, they're tools.

He no longer feared war. He wouldn't have to fight himself—not anymore. He could send them.

"You want glory? You want to be Hokage, Uchiha?" he murmured. "Then go bleed for the village. Survive—if you can."

Danzo's eyes gleamed.

"Finally, you understand," he said with a cold smirk. "War is the ultimate equalizer. Through it, we'll weaken the Uchiha—and the last remnants of the Senju too."

Koharu and Homura frowned deeply, but neither disagreed.

They remembered how the Senju once dominated the village. After the Second Hokage's integration policy, their numbers dwindled. Their best and brightest died in dangerous missions. What remained was scattered, diluted—Tsunade and Nawaki were among the last.

Now, the Uchiha had taken that place.

Time to repeat history, Danzo thought. This time, we finish the job.

"If Mito had died earlier," he said under his breath, "we could've taken the Senju children and used them for Wood Release experiments. With that power… I'd already be Hokage."

"Danzo!" Hiruzen snapped. "Don't speak of such things again. We act for the village—not for ourselves."

Danzo laughed dryly.

"Hiruzen, don't pretend. You're just as selfish as I am. The only difference is… I admit it."

Five days passed. The storm did not come.

Hiruzen made no moves—only watched. But the village moved without him.

One by one, the major ninja clans came to negotiate with Uchiha Hikari for medicine supplies.

With Gin's limited production capacity, it was impossible to meet every demand. Still, each clan was allotted a portion. The Ino–Shika–Chō were the fastest, securing their share through their strong ties to Gin and Tsunade.

Hikari reserved 30% of total production for retail at the Uchiha Pharmacy. Due to personal limits on purchases, this allowed even small clans and civilian ninja to buy.

For them, the pills weren't for training—but survival. On dangerous missions, one pill could mean the difference between life and death.

At Mikoto's request, Gin asked Kureha to assist with production. As payment, he offered her:

500 bottles of first-grade green plum wine

A steady supply of rare medical books

And 10 kilograms of gold

He still worried about expanding production.

Maybe I should contact the pharmacists from Drum Island, he thought. They could help with the diluted formulas.

These 10% versions weren't popular in the Pirate World—they were too expensive and inefficient. But for Konoha, they were game-changers.

He discussed the idea with Kureha.

"Haha! You're finally thinking straight," Kureha cackled. "Open a factory in a nearby town. Don't rely on a busy brat like yourself for everything!"

Gin laughed. "Fine—but I'll need your reputation to get it going. Help with management and hiring apprentices. You'll be well paid."

"Hmph!" Kureha raised an eyebrow. "You'd better be generous. Land, construction, recruitment—none of it's cheap."

End of Chapter 49