Naruto: The Scientific Ninja

Chapter 31: The Military Merchants

The Water Bat No. 7 was a universal biological protease poison he had cultivated himself. He primarily used it to trade with the military merchants in exchange for rare blade materials and even ninjutsu scrolls. The venom from the three bats he kept in the lab, however, was a unique secret recipe. For that one, there was no equivalent antidote serum; it was basically impossible to detoxify. He had to keep his own supply separate from the one he used for trade; that much risk assessment was necessary.

After preparing the venom, diluting the 500ml with water to increase its volume, and bottling it, Sasuke classified the items for the transaction. He took the trophy scroll, left his lab, and headed directly for the military trading post.

The so-called trading post was a kind of underground black market, opened by merchants who followed the armies to the battlefield. It wasn't truly "underground," however, as it had a deep official background and was supported by numerous powerful forces. At the very least, the nobles of the Land of Fire and the great ninja clans of Konoha were deeply involved.

This market primarily traded with front-line ninja. The public business was providing blades and materials; the secret business was mainly fencing spoils of war. Their offerings were far more comprehensive and professional than even Konoha's own Logistics Department. They had everything. Exploding tags, kunai, and ration pills were small business. With enough money, you could get secret medicines, low-level ninjutsu, and even summoning beasts.

They also offered a courier service, their reputation far exceeding that of Konoha's Logistics. If you died in combat, the official channels might embezzle your assets, but the military merchants, once paid, would undoubtedly deliver. Merchants relied on integrity, a quality not always found among hypocritical ninja. A while ago, Sasuke had used this very channel to send a standard Sand Village kunai and three Nara-clan secret medicines to his younger brother for his birthday.

The military exchange was not far, but not close either. After walking less than thirty kilometers, he saw a valley filled with simple huts and wooden houses. This was a low-level market, dealing only in basic business.

Before entering the valley, Sasuke put on a fish mask and used the Transformation Technique to give himself the appearance of a slightly older Sarutobi clan jōnin. As soon as he entered, he was hit by a wave of lewd music and the uncomfortable, fishy smell of the brothel district. These merchants didn't just deal in stolen goods; they also dealt in flesh.

Front-line ninja, especially commoners without connections, often went months or even years without returning home. Facing the threat of death daily under such prolonged pressure could lead to mental problems. With no other outlet, this military exchange became a good option for them to blow off steam. The Konoha leadership knew this, but what could they do? They could only turn a blind eye. It was better than having their front-line ninja secretly looting and pillaging in the war zone.

Sasuke wasn't here for fun. He quickly passed through the shanty town and walked directly toward the three-story building at the center of the valley. The masked ninja on the road saw his Sarutobi-jōnin attire and gave him a wide berth, like mice seeing a cat.

"Yu, you're finally here!" A bald merchant ninja with a greasy face and a fat shopkeeper's build greeted him enthusiastically. This was not Sasuke's first time here; he was a high-level client.

The bald merchant led him directly to the second floor. "Fish," he asked impatiently, "Dichlorvos No. 7. How much did you bring this time?"

This was their code name for his Water Bat No. 7 poison. The name alone made it more expensive.

"No hurry," Sasuke said calmly. "Let's price the other items first."

He knew the poison was his main bargaining chip. He would never put it on the table until after the other trophies had been appraised. While his Water Bat No. 7 wasn't a terrible, lethal poison, it was a new type of toxin that targeted cellular activity, causing paralysis. And before a counter-serum could be developed, conventional antidote pills were basically useless against it.

It was still very marketable.