Things unfolded exactly as Orochimaru predicted.
After a round of hype that would look ordinary to later generations but was a first in the ninja world, Ryūchi Cave Yang-Boosting Powder exploded in sales.
From the Fire Daimyo's palace to noble estates everywhere—and, of course, the big merchants with clout—one by one they quietly sent people to buy Ryūchi Cave Yin–Yang Tonic: Supreme Deluxe.
Lesser merchants, civil servants, shopkeepers and the like quietly bought the standard edition.
As for the difference between "deluxe" and "standard," Uchiha Yorin's answer was: "Packaging."
Jiraiya: "Besides that?"
Yorin: "Nothing."
Jiraiya: "Wait—nothing? I remember the deluxe is ten times the price of the standard."
Yorin: "Correct. There's also the Super Deluxe, a hundred times pricier than standard, and the Ultimate Super Deluxe, a thousand times pricier.
The differences are still in the packaging—
See, standard's in paper, deluxe is a wooden box, the Super Deluxe is a metal tin with some art and merch thrown in, and the Ultimate Super Deluxe is silver, with even more art and extras."
Jiraiya stared at the 'Legendary Hero Jiraiya' standee Yorin handed him and fell into thought.
He wanted to quip: "Will anyone really pay a hundred times more just for this crap 'Ultimate Edition'?"
Uchiha Yorin: "It's all market choice—the invisible hand, not me, is moving this.
Our standard tonic is very affordable—even the working class can buy it.
But if we only sold the working-class version, nobles, daimyo, tycoons—and the little middle-class strivers who want to join their ranks—would never use it.
No matter how good and cheap our product is, they won't touch it, because to them it signals class slippage.
Nobles are the species that values ritual most—and the upstarts and middle class who crave nobility value it even more."
"Etiquette.…"
You can lecture Jiraiya on market economics and the invisible hand and he might not get it. But say "noble etiquette," and this old Konoha hand understands—maybe better than Yorin.
He basically accepted the feasibility of Yorin's plan. But another question gnawed at him:
"Yorin… isn't what we're doing… kind of scummy?"
…
Technically, Yorin used Jiraiya's name as an ad without permission—Cristiano Ronaldo treatment—so Jiraiya had reason to be mad.
But before he could be, Yorin apologized sincerely; then thumped his chest and took him back to the club to "fight ten." Afterward he gave Jiraiya a solid endorsement fee.
On top of that, Minato backed Yorin, hinting openly and privately that Yorin was "one of us." So Jiraiya laughed it off.
It might also have been fear of Yorin dragging him to another club—ten a night is too much even for chakra-made kidneys.
Forgive is forgive. He wouldn't meddle in the business specifics, but he needed to ask:
Orochimaru's "health powder"—sounds shady… Oh. It actually works.
After two nights of "ten," Jiraiya saw the sun turn green. Then he took a pinch of Ryūchi powder and felt good again.
After a proper Konoha check-up confirmed he had no other issues, he had to admit—the Ryūchi powder was the real deal.
So only one question remained.
Jiraiya eyed Uchiha Yorin, a bit hesitant.
They hadn't known each other long, but he respected the kid's talent and ability—and worried he'd go down the wrong path. With Nagato as a cautionary tale right in front of him, Jiraiya worried even more.
"I have one last question," he said. "Isn't what we're doing… a bit lacking in virtue?"
Yorin's first thought was: "If you lose money you can earn it back; if you lose your conscience, you earn even more."
Obviously, he didn't say that—Sage Art: Super Big Ball Rasengan hurts, and bruises show.
So he used another playbook.
Uchiha Yorin: "How can you call it unvirtuous?" He rapped the table to punctuate each line. "This is an IQ-based, rational redistribution of wealth—and besides, am I making this money for me? I'm doing it for Konoha! Hey—you, speak!"
He pointed at Minato.
Minato, who'd been watching the show from the side, froze when Yorin called his name: "Eh, um—"
Seeing him not getting it, Yorin whispered, "Budget deficit."
Since becoming Hokage, nothing rattled Minato more. The moment Yorin said it, he literally shivered, as if his hairline receded another centimeter.
"Yes—the deficit! Konoha is short of funds everywhere—war pensions, orphanages, hospitals and convalescent homes, reconstruction budgets—holes everywhere…
Ninja fought and bled for Konoha; and when they're maimed, crippled, or dead, Konoha can't support them or their families—then I'm an unworthy Hokage. But what can I do, Jiraiya-sensei? I'm at my wits' end…"
As he spoke, Minato's voice wavered. Grown men crying isn't a great look—kind of sappy.
But Minato has no parents—just Jiraiya. A kid crying to his guardian is only natural. And he was crying for Konoha, not himself. So Jiraiya didn't think him sappy; if anything, he felt a stab of guilt and wanted to comfort him.
Before he could, Yorin tugged Minato aside and cut back in: "Okay, you're done—Jiraiya-sensei, here's my point! I sell health supplements for Konoha!" (Voice rising)
"The profits I make—aside from reinvestment, scaling the business, and spinning up other ventures—not a single coin goes to personal luxury! All of it goes to Konoha!
If tossing so-called 'integrity' and 'conscience' can save Konoha—can help a few more wounded veterans and their families—then I'll toss them without hesitation! That is my nindō—Uchiha Yorin's nindō!!!"
Jiraiya: "…"
Jiraiya: "…I really… lost to you this time."
~~~
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