Chapter 108: Can't Beat Them, Best to Join Them
A knot formed on Shikabane Nara's brow. He was silent for at least a quarter of an hour.
Tamayo Nara waited silently.
After an unknown amount of time.
Shikabane Nara frowned and said, "Tamayo, why did you stay in the Senju clan for so many days? The others who came with you have already gone back. Did you stay behind just for Senju Wakama?"
Tamayo Nara had been sent to discuss the medicinal herb cooperation with the Senju clan, which in itself proved her capabilities.
The Nara clan sent her to sign the contract and also to investigate the Senju clan.
However…
The result was something unbelievable.
Tamayo Nara looked weak, "...Clan Head, I stayed in the Senju clan's hot spring street, observing the Senju clan here and the tourists who came for pleasure, and I discovered..."
Tamayo Nara summarized her findings in the Senju clan and told Shikabane Nara everything.
She mentioned the buffet-style business model of the grand temple fair.
And the classification and prices of the Senju clan's healing packages.
In addition, Tamayo Nara solemnly explained the special game set up by the Senju clan in the hot spring street: "Blind Box Lottery."
This special game was a project under the full authority of Senju Wakama.
The "Blind Box Model" was diverse and made tourists addicted.
It was a new type of gambling game that made people unknowingly get hooked. It seemed you could win or lose, and it was the favorite game among the visiting tourists.
And this game, along with the Senju clan's clearly priced healing services, allowed the Senju clan to rake in money daily.
Most importantly, the Senju clan was close to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, because the Senju clan, as a subordinate, paid taxes to the Daimyo.
The Senju clan's medical methods were outstandingly effective, and they knew how to conduct business.
The more money the Senju clan earned, the fatter the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's wallet became.
He could enjoy "life-extending services" at the Senju clan's hot spring resort and also get a "cut."
Besides this, Tamayo Nara had also investigated an even more shocking situation.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Senju clan head, Senju Butsuma, were already sworn brothers. This kind of relationship was incomparable to that of other ninja clans.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire fully supported the Senju clan's medical enterprise, giving them land, seeds, and resources as needed.
Although it seemed there was no difference between the two parties now compared to before, that was because the Senju clan was strong enough to protect itself.
Once the Senju clan was being beaten down by other ninja clans, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would absolutely not sit by and do nothing.
The number of ninjas in this world was far too small compared to the general population.
The Land of Fire was rich; it might not be impossible for it to muster the power of the entire nation to exterminate a ninja clan.
The Senju clan was already very strong, and with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire backing them…
"...I saw with my own eyes, the Senju people only need to touch a customer's wrist and observe their appearance to roughly state the symptoms the other party might have."
"The most terrifying thing is, after they accurately state the customer's privately known conditions, they quickly gain the customer's approval and trust, which also prepares them for 'selling' health anxiety next."
"They would say, the customer's illness is not serious now, but they need to prevent these small problems from becoming big ones."
"They won't immediately introduce very expensive medical services to the customer, but will give pertinent wellness advice. These things don't need to be done at the Senju clan; customers can do them at home."
"However, some advice is too complicated, and many customers are too lazy to think, so they just spend money to have the Senju clan plan it out."
"...The Senju clan has already broken away from the traditional ninja model and become another kind of existence." Tamayo Nara said with difficulty, "And, in the long run, this is very unfavorable for ninja clans other than the Senju..."
The Senju clan had merely turned the barren mountains outside their clan lands into a money pit for nobles to enjoy.
You could recuperate and heal, play the lottery, and eat delicious food.
It looked like a street for eating, drinking, and entertainment.
But it was too much of a cash cow!
Nobles lingered there, spending money like water.
Besides the Daimyo of the Land of Fire who could get a "share," other nobles would have to get more wealth from elsewhere to offset the wealth they spent at the Senju clan.
Other ninja clans that relied on taking missions to survive would inevitably be greatly affected.
Many ninja clans could still be self-sufficient for now, but in the future…
Who knew what other bizarre operations the Senju clan would come up with?
Can't beat them... best to join them...
Shikabane Nara thought for a long time, then he suddenly said, "Are you saying, Senju Wakama used medical arts... to turn you into what you are now?"
A wry smile appeared on Tamayo Nara's pretty face.
This was a tacit admission.
Shikabane Nara sighed. He truly hadn't expected such medical arts to exist in this world; it was incredible.
"I will personally experience and investigate the other matters of the hot spring village." Shikabane Nara glanced at the open window not far away and said lightly, "But you are also half responsible for this matter. I will contact Senju Wakama. You should still apologize to him, with a sincere attitude."
"I understand, Clan Head..." Tamayo Nara replied.
Since it had come to this, thankfully nothing irreversible had happened.
After this incident, Tamayo Nara would have to be more careful when she saw Senju Wakama in the future.
...
Senju Wakama let Uchiha Yuki stay in his residence, telling her not to go out easily if there was nothing special to do. He, of course, had to go and attend to clan affairs.
Senju Wakama was in control of the hot spring street's blind box business.
But Senju Wakama alone, even with the Clone Technique, was clearly short-staffed.
Because the number of tourists redeeming prizes was enormous.
The game of opening blind boxes was eagerly pursued by a large number of tourists, and even a large portion of nobles were addicted to the lottery.
Some Senju clan members were sent to assist Senju Wakama.
Senju Wakama taught the clansmen in charge of the blind boxes the "Art of Skillful Hands."
However, due to talent factors, not everyone could master this skill proficiently.
But this situation was actually quite good.
Because the staff's mastery of the "Art of Skillful Hands" was uneven, most of them couldn't make the tourists lose all the time, which gave the customers a sense of realism.
Getting something good from a blind box was good luck.
Losing a ton of money on blind boxes was just bad luck.
Senju Wakama had already anticipated that the Nara clan would definitely look for him today, so, as soon as the blind box redemption started operating today, Senju Wakama activated his clone to work while his main body strolled around.
Sure enough, news came from the medical office that Tamayo Nara's physical condition was worrying, and also, that the Nara clan head requested to see Senju Wakama.
Senju Wakama knew what was going on.