novelraw Chapter 25 The Walking Shrine Maiden
Chapter 25 The Walking Shrine Maiden
The warehouse provided by Takaya Jiro is located at the end of Konoha West Street.
This place used to store grain and fodder, but it was abandoned due to dampness.
There are few residents around, only a few stray cats strolling on the wall.
It's very quiet and secluded.
Sosuke pushed open the heavy wooden door.
The air was filled with a musty smell and the aroma of hay.
The space is very large, a full 200 square meters.
Several beams of light shone down through the ventilation window high up, like beams of light illuminating the swirling dust.
"It's a good place."
Sosuke was very satisfied.
It's spacious enough for him to practice his weapon manipulation skills without worrying about his shuriken flying out and breaking a neighbor's window.
More importantly, the privacy here allows for the mass production of silver water concentrate.
He closed the door and bolted it.
The first thing is not to organize the goods.
Instead, he dealt with his hands.
He walked to a worn-out table and lit an oil lamp.
With the help of the light, he could see his hands clearly.
Miserable.
Except for the thumb, the pads and spaces between the other fingers were covered with tiny cuts.
That was caused by the steel wire.
Even with leather gloves, injury could not be avoided.
Sosuke opened a bottle of highly concentrated silver solution.
Pour it directly onto your hand.
"Well……"
Sosuke broke out in a cold sweat.
This is to prevent infection.
But that's not enough.
Silver solution can only kill bacteria, it cannot accelerate healing, and it certainly cannot harden the skin.
Yuanzao's calloused hand gave him a deep shock.
To master the art of manipulating implements, one must have a pair of iron hands.
Relying on natural callus growth is too slow.
He couldn't wait.
"We must rely on medication."
Sosuke looked at his trembling fingers.
Simply buying medicine may not be the right treatment.
The old woman on the black market had good medicine, but it was for bones and muscles.
Medications targeting skin keratinization and toughness are rarely available on the market.
"It's better to rely on yourself than on others."
Sosuke remembered the book "Basic Herbalism".
He needs to study this subject in depth.
In this world where chakra exists, pharmacology has the power to turn the mundane into the miraculous.
If you have enough money to buy raw materials and combine them with precise proportions, you might be able to formulate a "quick-acting callus" ointment.
He quickly bandaged his finger and changed into clean clothes.
After locking the warehouse door, I headed towards Konoha's commercial street.
He was going to the largest herbal medicine shop—"Nara Pharmacy".
This is the property of the Nara clan.
Although the price is high, the medicinal materials are complete, and there are many books on pharmacology for sale.
Enter the pharmacy.
A strong herbal aroma wafted over.
The counter was very tall, and behind it stood several Nara people with pineapple-shaped haircuts who looked like they hadn't woken up yet.
"What would you like to buy?" the shop assistant asked, yawning.
Are there any medical books about skin hardening and regeneration? Something a little more advanced.
Zongjie asked.
"On that shelf over there," the clerk pointed to a corner, "《Advanced Wound Care》, 《Meridian and Skin Membrane》, 《Detailed Explanation of Poisonous Herbs》."
Sosuke walked over.
He picked out three books.
Then they went to the medicine cabinet.
"I want five catties of ironwood bark, two catties of dried earthworms, and a bottle of purified snake oil."
He was using the knowledge he learned from "Basic Pharmacology" to formulate a prescription.
Ironwood bark can increase toughness, earthworm can clear the meridians, and snake oil can moisturize.
This is an extremely bold and crude idea.
The waiter paused for a moment, glancing at Sosuke's bandaged hand.
"Young man, do you want to learn Iron Palm?"
"almost."
"This formula is too harsh." The waiter shook his head. "Iron birch bark is slightly poisonous. Applying it directly to a wound will cause your skin to necrotize."
Sousuke frowned.
This is a knowledge blind spot.
"Then what should be added to neutralize it?"
The guy shrugged.
"I sell medicine, not medicine. If you want the prescription, go see a medical ninja."
Just then.
A gentle voice came from the side.
"Add three qian of Bletilla striata and boil it with licorice juice to remove the toxins and preserve its properties."
Sosuke turned his head.
The speaker was a woman.
She stood in front of the counter next to her, carrying a huge basket on her back.
The basket was filled with the cheapest cough-suppressing herbs.
She was dressed in a simple nun's habit and wore a pair of round glasses.
Her golden hair was braided and hung down her back.
Her eyes were gentle, yet they betrayed an undeniable weariness.
Nonoyu.
Yakushi Nono.
Sosuke's heart skipped a beat.
He recognized the person.
The director of the Konoha Orphanage, known as the "Walking Shrine Maiden".
At the same time, he is also one of the best spies in the "Root" organization.
A woman who walks the line between light and darkness.
"Baiji?" Sosuke repeated.
"Yes." Nono adjusted her glasses and smiled as she said, "Baiji has astringent and hemostatic properties, reduces swelling and promotes tissue regeneration. It can neutralize the dryness of ironwood bark and make newly grown skin more elastic."
She's an expert. And a top-tier medical expert.
"Thank you for your guidance."
Sosuke said to the waiter, "Listen to her. Add three qian of Bletilla striata and some licorice juice."
The man has prepared the medicine.
The total was three thousand taels. Sosuke paid the money.
He saw Nonou haggling with another guy.
"Could you lower the price for this batch of cough syrup?" Nono's voice sounded a little embarrassed. "A lot of the children at the orphanage have been sick lately..."
"Dean, this is already at cost price," the shop assistant said helplessly. "With the recent war, the price of medicinal herbs has gone crazy. You've been on credit for two months now."
Nono sighed.
She searched all her pockets but could only find a handful of crumpled coins.
Two thousand taels are still short.
"This..." Nono was a little embarrassed, "Could I take half first?"
"This medicine is meant to save the children's lives, right?"
Sosuke walked over.
He placed a five-thousand-tael banknote on the counter.
"Let's get married together."
Nono was stunned.
She turned around and looked at the boy whose hands were wrapped in bandages.
"I can't accept this..."
"You just revised my prescription," Sosuke said, holding up his medicine bag. "The value of that prescription is far more than three thousand taels. Consider this a consultation fee."
"Thank you very much."
Nono didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the medicinal herbs.
"My name is Nonou, and I am the director of the Konoha Orphanage."
"Sosuke. He runs a general store."
Sosuke gave a brief introduction of himself.
"Mr. Sosuke's hand..." Nono glanced at his bandages, "was it cut by an extremely fine, sharp instrument? And it was cut repeatedly."
"Practicing manipulation techniques," Sousuke said without hiding anything.
There's no point in lying to experts.
"The prescription we just used, while usable, was still a bit too strong."
Nono hesitated for a moment, then took out a small notebook from her pocket.
She tore off a page, picked up the pen on the counter, and quickly wrote a line.
"This is a medicated ointment formula I mixed myself, specifically for hand nerve and skin care. You can give it a try."
She handed the note to Sosuke.
"However, one of the ingredients, 'gentian root,' is very hard to find; it's currently out of stock."
Sosuke took the note.
The handwriting above is neat and beautiful.
This is more than just a recipe.
This is a stepping stone to building connections.
"Thank you." Sousuke carefully accepted the gift.
Nonou shouldered the heavy basket, bowed to Sosuke, and then left the pharmacy.
Looking at her retreating figure, Sosuke seemed lost in thought.
orphanage.
That's the place in Konoha that's most short of money.
But it is also the place where it is easiest to train assassins.
Danzo stared at that spot, and Orochimaru stared at that spot.
Sosuke stroked his chin.
Perhaps, he could also stare at that spot.
After all, money is the last thing he lacks.
The orphanage lacks not only money, but also the hope to keep people alive.
Back to the warehouse.
Sosuke immediately began brewing the medicine.
He set up an iron pot in the corner.
Following Nono's suggestion, mix ironwood bark, earthworm, snake oil, Bletilla striata and licorice.
Bring to a simmer.
A strange smell wafted through the air.
It has both the bitterness of herbs and the fishy smell of snake oil.
Two hours later.
A pool of dark, gelatinous substance remained in the pot.
After cooling, it becomes as viscous as asphalt.
Sousuke endured the pain and removed the bandages from his hand.
He put his hands into the black ointment.
cold.
Then came the heat.
A strange tingling sensation seeped into my pores.
It felt like countless tiny hands were massaging the damaged dermis.
"efficient."
Zongsuke's eyes lit up.
Nonou's suggestion is correct.
The burning, stinging sensation disappeared, replaced by a feeling of tightness.
The skin is absorbing the medicine and becoming smoother.
He pulled his hands out of the ointment, but instead of washing them, he left them to dry.
The black ointment solidified on his hands, forming a black, glove-like coating.