Chapter Forty-Seven: A Change of Plans

"More than half a month has passed. I thought you wouldn't come!"

Upon seeing Karn again, Tsunade finally let go of the anxiety she'd been holding onto for so long. She gave Karn a not-too-gentle punch and complained, "Kushina's been asking about you, too. She's been so down lately. When did you become so close with her?"

"It's probably just that everyone else gets along so poorly with her. Kushina always says that nobody in our class wants to be her friend. So, picking the tallest among the short ones, it just seems like we're close," Karn shrugged, explaining, then continued with more serious matters.

"I brought some serum and experimental equipment this time, Tsunade. But I want to make a request."

Tsunade felt an uneasy premonition at Karn's words but still asked, "What is it? As long as it's not excessive, I'll agree."

Karn smiled and said, "That's great. It shouldn't be a problem for you. Let's relocate the laboratory—set it up outside of the Leaf Village."

"Why outside? We've already chosen the location..."

"It'll be safer outside. Please, Tsunade, I rarely ask you for anything. And I want to install a lock on the lab door. Only authorized personnel should be allowed inside."

Karn's attitude was resolute. He was testing Tsunade—after all, no matter how well she spoke, her identity as a Leaf ninja couldn't be changed. With fingerprint and iris locks, unless someone used brute force, Karn would block every method of infiltration.

Tsunade frowned slightly. She understood that the events of the past had made Karn wary; now, he might not even want to enter the Leaf Village. She sighed and agreed to his request.

"Understood. I'll have Orochimaru construct a new underground lab shortly. By the way, I want him involved in the project too. Is that okay?"

Karn had no objections. He had intended for Orochimaru to join anyway. "Of course. I'll have people help build the underground lab. At least the defenses should be better..."

If it were just earth-style jutsu, it would be too easy to infiltrate. At a minimum, walls, floors, and ceilings should be reinforced with other materials, such as iron plating. Before arriving, Karn had already instructed Chuanmu Meihe to contact the necessary people. As long as Orochimaru used earth-style jutsu to lay the foundations, the construction team could take care of the rest.

"The death row inmates are arranged as well. The first batch is thirty, all held in Chuanmu Town. For lab funding, just find Nanami. The ten-odd shops I have in the Leaf, aside from supporting the orphanage, should cover the costs."

The more Tsunade listened, the stranger it felt. Was he giving instructions for his departure? Was he planning never to return to the Leaf Village?

She hurriedly asked, "Hey, are you not going to the Leaf anymore?"

"I'll still go, but only to take care of business before leaving. I'm an outsider after all. Staying in the Leaf isn't safe..." Karn replied to Tsunade, helplessly. "I hope you can understand. But it won't affect the research on the Desolation Virus. I'll still deliver serum regularly."

"Alright, I understand," Tsunade replied, resigned. She couldn't help but feel bitter—he could have been a friend to the Leaf, but now was forced to avoid the village altogether. It was almost laughable.

Afterward, Karn took out several gifts and letters, meant for Kushina, Yakushi Nonoyu, the Uchiha clan, and Tsunade herself. The letter for Nanami granted her some autonomy and explained that he would rarely visit the Leaf in the near future.

As for the gifts to the Uchiha clan, Karn had a reason—when he encountered the Cloud ninja spies last time, the Uchiha Police Force was, aside from the shadow ANBU, the first to arrive. Though it was their duty, at least it intimidated the other spies.

Tsunade grumbled in dissatisfaction; it felt odd for a Senju to deliver gifts to the Uchiha...

...

Karn had been rather naive—it was foolish to put all your eggs in one basket.

What merchant doesn't trade among several countries? If you only do business in one, at best you'll earn just enough to get by. Especially since the demand for medicines in the Leaf was saturated; there wouldn't be another buying frenzy like before.

Karn should branch out into other nations, and he already had a target.

Using the Land of Waves as a stepping stone, he could open up the market in the Land of Water and establish ties with the Hidden Mist.

"When did the Bloody Mist policy begin? The Third Mizukage shouldn't have started it right after the Second Ninja War. If it's not yet in effect, maybe I can recruit some bloodline limit subordinates..."

Karn shook his head at the thought. It sounded simple but was anything but. Bloodline limit ninjas all belonged to clans, and meeting one who's disappointed in both their clan and village was a rare chance.

Still, recruiting other ninjas was possible; not everyone could withstand the intense pressure, especially the kind maintained through killing their own comrades.

"There's no use thinking about it now. I should go investigate the situation."

Right now, Karn was mainly waiting for success in Desolation Virus research, which would greatly increase his survival ability. Only then would he focus on building influence in the ninja world and acquiring resources.

At first, profits could be money, then chakra metals, and eventually even tailed beasts weren't out of the question.

Natsukawa had been working in the Land of Waves for some time. She was accompanied by two Leaf chunin squads and over twenty samurai guards, ensuring absolute safety. With no shortage of funds, she quickly recruited a team of shipwrights and carpenters, and acquired a shipyard.

She never forgot Karn's instructions—shipping was the easiest industry to develop in the Land of Waves. Whether heading for the Land of Hot Water or the Land of Lightning, maritime routes were faster than overland ones.

Moreover, they could reach the Land of Water and the Land of Rainbows, monopolizing port business once shipping was established. Kado had grown powerful relying on port trade.

Now that Karn was planning to expand into other nations, Natsukawa could return. As a Senju, she wouldn't be targeted when she went back.

...

"Orochimaru, I'll need your help again. The old lab base is no longer needed; move it to this location."

Tsunade found Orochimaru and handed him a map and the lab plans. She waved her hand and said, "Do it as soon as possible. The sooner it's built, the sooner we can start research. Serum, equipment, and test subjects are all ready."

"So far away... heh, seems that Karn is very wary of the Leaf," Orochimaru rasped, chuckling after looking at the map. He didn't mind using a few earth-style jutsu; it wouldn't cost much chakra. But things were getting more interesting.

"Tsunade, I'm afraid Sarutobi-sensei won't let this go. The prey circles around the hunter's mouth and tries to escape—it's not so easy. If it doesn't enter the mouth, the hunter won't give up..."