Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki

It didn't take Kazuyama long to come up with a mischievous idea. Moments later, he vanished from above Hokage Rock.

After roughly gauging the pace of the two women's walk, Kazuyama used his Transparent Escape Technique to dart into a nearby shop.

"Chōmei, lend me some Scale Powder."

"Huh? What do you need it for?"

"Don't ask—just tell me if you want to see something entertaining."

"Then yes, take it."

Chōmei, now thoroughly influenced by Kazuyama, was more eager than anyone else at the thought of a show. Feeling Chōmei's chakra surge into his body, a sly grin spread across Kazuyama's face.

The shop was a herbal medicine store, stocked with various medicinal herbs. The owner, busy at the counter, suddenly found himself hit with a puff of Scale Powder. The next second, he collapsed into a deep sleep.

"Chōmei, how long will this last?"

"Well... probably a day or so."

"That works."

As the owner slept, Kazuyama used his Transparent Escape Technique to skillfully drag him into the back room. He then performed the Transformation Technique, assuming the man's appearance. However, his version of the shopkeeper looked slightly sinister.

With everything ready, Kazuyama prepared to greet the approaching Kushina and Pakura.

"Kazuyama, how can you be so sure they'll come to this shop?" Chōmei asked skeptically.

"Intuition."

"...My intuition says they won't."

"That's because you don't have intuition."

Chōmei fell silent, deciding to wait and see how Kazuyama's plan would unfold. Still, he muttered internally: If they don't show up, I'm going to nag you to death.

Meanwhile, the two women shopping had already noticed the herbal medicine store further down the street.

"Pakura, do you know how to make military ration pills?" Kushina asked.

"Huh? Why would I want to make something like that?"

"To eat! Even if we can't leave the village, we can still try making things. I'll make some for Minato, and you can make some for Kazuyama. Hehe, what do you think?"

Pakura sighed and poked Kushina's forehead with her finger. "You really can't sit still, can you?"

"And why would I make something for Kazuyama? Don't forget, I was abducted by him. If not for him, I'd still be an elite Jōnin of Sunagakure."

Kushina snickered. "Pakura, just admit it already."

"If you really wanted to return to Sunagakure, you would've found a way to escape by now. But you haven't even tried. Clearly, there's nothing in Sunagakure that makes you want to stay."

"In that case, you might as well stay in Konoha."

Pakura's expression faltered as Kushina's words hit a nerve. It was true—at first, she had wanted to escape. But over the past few months, life in Konoha had been vastly different from her days in Sunagakure.

Ebisami, Kushina, and even Kazuyama had gradually chipped away at the loneliness in her heart.

Somewhere along the way, Pakura had stopped clinging to her old identity. Instead, she found herself drawn to the quieter, simpler life she was building here.

"Come on, Pakura, let's go. The pharmacy is just ahead. Let's buy some herbs to make military rations pills!" Kushina said enthusiastically, dragging Pakura toward the shop.

Pakura sighed and stopped in her tracks. "Even if we're making military rations pills, we don't need to go to a pharmacy. Kushina, I already know the recipe."

Military rations pills were well-known as an essential supply for ninja missions. They efficiently restored chakra and provided a sense of fullness, much like compressed crackers.

The recipe included: one tablespoon of cocoa powder, one tablespoon of vegetable juice (preferably green), six small snacks of broad beans (about 10g), eight small biscuits (about 20g), ten mixed nuts (about 15g), two teaspoons of sesame seeds, a pinch of shichimi chili powder, and 25 raisins. This recipe, often referenced in the Book of War, was tried and tested.

"Oh, sister Pakura, I know how to make military rations pills too," Kushina replied with a grin. "But think about it—if we're making them ourselves, why settle for something so ordinary? To boost their nutritional value, we have to add some medicinal herbs!"

Without waiting for a reply, Kushina grabbed Pakura's arm and dragged her into the pharmacy.

The moment the two women walked through the door, Chōmei froze in shock. "Damn it, Kazuyama, you're unbelievable!" he exclaimed.

Kazuyama chuckled smugly to himself, his confidence skyrocketing. "Just a standard move, nothing special. Hahaha!"

"Oh, two customers, what can I help you with today?" Kazuyama asked, perfectly mimicking the tone of the shopkeeper. "Our shop has a wide range of medicinal herbs—whatever you need, we've got it."

Kazuyama's performance as the shop owner, down to the smallest gestures, was convincing enough to pass at a glance. But something about him made Pakura uneasy. She couldn't quite put her finger on what felt off.

Kushina, however, was too focused to notice anything amiss. She eagerly started consulting about the best herbs for military rations pills.

"Boss, I want to make some military rations pills. Are there any medicinal herbs that can enhance the efficacy of the pills without causing any harm?" Kushina asked with enthusiasm.

Oh? Military rations pills, huh? Hahaha, Minato, Minato, you've fallen into my trap again! 

Kazuyama couldn't hold back his grin. It was obvious Kushina planned to make the pills for Minato.

What a fantastic opportunity—teaming up with Kushina to "enhance" Minato's pills was proving to be worth every bit of effort.

"Oh, military rations pills, yes, let me think…" Kazuyama said in the perfect tone of a helpful shopkeeper.

"When adding medicinal herbs to food, especially military rations pills, you have to be cautious. Never use more than three herbs. If you want to improve the effectiveness, I recommend hemp seed, apricot kernel, and arborvitae seed. These herbs are relatively mild and ideal for this purpose."

Kazuyama's delivery was flawless. His confidence was so convincing that not even Kushina, Pakura, or even someone as sharp as Sakumo would question him.

After listening, Kushina immediately decided. "I'll take 5 pounds of each!"

Kazuyama had to stop himself from bursting out laughing. Five pounds? Oh, Minato, you're about to experience something truly unforgettable!

"Buying that much? Will you even use it all?" Pakura asked, skeptical. It seemed excessive, and she couldn't help but urge restraint.

But Kazuyama was too close to his goal to let her derail it. "Don't worry," he said, quickly reassuring her. "These herbs are very mild, so even if you add a bit more, they won't cause harm. But be careful—don't use 5 pounds at once. Even Lord Hokage himself couldn't handle that!"

He leaned in with a conspiratorial tone. "For one batch, 1 pound is more than enough. Five pounds will last you a long time."

Kushina beamed. "You're such a good person, boss! Thanks for the advice!"

Hearing those words, Kazuyama almost lost his composure. He barely managed to keep a straight face, while the Chōmei inside him was laughing so hard he could barely contain himself.

The thought of Minato consuming military rations pills laced with three potent laxatives—and in large quantities—was too much. Kazuyama couldn't help but burst out laughing internally.

Minato, you don't need to thank me. It's all for your own good!