"Reishi, Kina, today unless it's really necessary, can you two stay in the shrine?" said Mitsuki gently towards the two as soon as she finished preparing to set out with Itachi.

"Eh? You're going somewhere?" Kina said in disappointment.

"Un, just a bit, you two take care of each other OK?" Mitsuki smiled guiltily as she saw Kina's disappointed face. Pouting, Kina nodded as Reishi gave him a pat.

"Take care, Itachi-san, Mitsuki-san," said Reishi with a smile on his face. Nodding, Mitsuki smiled as she turned her back to face Itachi's waiting figure. After nodding to Itachi as a ready signal, the two blitzed away from the shrine.

Itachi had briefed the situation to Mitsuki concisely the previous night. Hearing the situation, Mitsuki insisted for them to check the hideout further to see if there's anything they can do to manipulate the Saigenzai's property. Apparently, Mitsuki had also been learning about some medicine creation process as she stayed with Reishi and Kina. Even as she cannot replicate what the siblings could do, she could understand the concept behind it and helped Reishi and Kina to refine their process as well.

The hideout was located quite high up on the other side of the mountain, away from the forest areas, secluded and hidden inside a rock. It was an unlikely place for other villagers to stumble by, especially because of the lack of greeneries and not even a single water source around, making it a perfect place for a hideout. By the time Itachi and Mitsuki reached the hideout, there were not many people around the hideout yet. To make sure, Mitsuki activated her perception and did a quick check throughout the area.

"I think should be ok, there's only 1 guard in the entrance, and few more inside an area that seemed to be their warehouse," said Mitsuki as she conveyed the location of the guard roughly to Itachi, prompting him to formulate their movement plan as he double checked the positions with his Sharingan. After a moment consideration, Itachi and Mitsuki split up their task as they went to deal with the guards inside.

It didn't take long for them to clear up the surveillance. Itachi, armed with his genjutsu, and Mitsuki, with her newly prepared drug lathered weapons.

"The medicine that Reishi and Kina prepared is truly amazing, this is way more effective than the powdered extract I made" said Mitsuki as she regrouped with Itachi. Previously, she had asked for their help in creating her something that can be used to disable enemy in a moment's notice if it were to enter their circulatory system.

"Well, it's their specialty," Itachi answered briefly, smiling as he positioned the last of the sleeping guard securely on the floor. So far, everything had been going smoothly how he'd like it. "Ok then, shall we enter?" said Itachi, confirming. With a nod, Mitsuki followed Itachi as he entered the previously guarded room.

"To be honest, this place looks more like their warehouse and distillery compared to a proper operation base," Mitsuki said as she quickly surveyed the stock and equipments.

"You noticed? I figured it will be easier to tamper with their ingredients stock compared to their creation process. It's not like we are stopping their operation completely anyway." Itachi said as he joined Mitsuki in surveying the area while keeping an eye on the subdued guards. In response to Itachi's word, Mitsuki nodded in understanding before returning her attention back into her own thoughts.

Moments passed, and Mitsuki had been pacing around restlessly around the warehouse, checking from box to box.

"Any thoughts?" Itachi asked curiously, wondering what had been occupying Mitsuki's mind ever since they had entered the warehouse.

"Mmhmm, so what I was thinking is.. If we can somehow tamper with the demand and slowly make them go out of business, it would probably be the safest way. However judging from what you said about the retired shinobi, it seemed to be quite tricky."

"What do you have in mind?"

"Considering the cause of their addiction, I don't think that the medicine itself is the cause. It was more likely to be mental addiction, like gambling and alcohol."

Hearing Mitsuki's analysis, Itachi nodded in agreement. "Those who use it seek to escape their own reality," he added.

"The thing is, they are shinobi. Or more accurately stated, they are all different type of people. There are some people who are like you, despise hurt and conflict," said Mitsuki while looking straight into Itachi's face with a mischievous smile, causing Itachi to smile awkwardly in return. "Yet there are also people like Kisame, who enjoy thrill and excitement, even if he wouldn't love injury as well."

"My point is, what might be a nightmare for one person, might be an enjoyment for another." Mitsuki closed her statement.

"So originally, your plan is to make Saigenzai induce nightmare instead?"

"Yes, if possible though. That, or enhance the side effect, but.. There's the risk of death, and there are also some people who keep taking drugs to offset the side effect of the previous dose as well. It's like that with alcohol, right?" Mitsuki smiled bitterly. "It seems like we are in a pinch, haha.."

Itachi sighed upon hearing Mitsuki's assessment. As he thought, it was not an easy problem to solve. Turning his mind over, Itachi offered Mitsuki some ideas.

"Then, how about we consider different approach? Rather than thinking from the customer's side, maybe we can do something on the supply side?" Upon hearing Itachi's word, Mitsuki's eye widened.

"Wait, that might work… You're brilliant, Itachi-kun. Let me think about it for a moment.." she exclaimed softly. Somehow Itachi felt like laughing hearing her words. It was only recently that Mitsuki had called him a dummy after all, to his amusement, even if it was for what she had thought to be his illogical decision. No one in his life had dared to say that about him, the prodigy as he was, and knowing the wide extent of his knowledge that surpassed most people. After all, he made sure to learn everything he could get his hands on for the sake of his goal, ever since he was young. Recalling his childhood, somehow his recent memory of Mitsuki's study resurfaced as well.

"Speaking of that, you seemed to have no trouble consuming those difficult books as well. Wouldn't the technical terms made it hard for you to decipher?" Itachi asked.

"How rude," Mitsuki retorted with a frown on her face, "Nowadays, languages are simplified for easier reading, right? Compared to before, it was nothing.."

Mitsuki's word surprised both herself and Itachi.

"Before? When is before?" Mitsuki muttered in confusion. Of course, Itachi wouldn't know the answer of her question. He still haven't figured out Mitsuki's identity after all. After thinking about it for a while, Mitsuki shrugged as she turned her mind back towards her current assignment.

"Nevermind that for now, I've got an idea." Mitsuki said, grinning. Noticing the change in her expression, Itachi moved closer toward's Mitsuki while still making sure to survey the guard's status. Mitsuki smiled as she stared at the crate of herbs in front of her. "What do you think a merchant's main motivation is?" she asked Itachi, as if testing him.

"Profit," Itachi answered quickly. It was the core aim in every business after all.

"Then, what affects profit?" Mitsuki smiled mischievously, satisfied with Itachi's answer.

"Selling price, determined by demand, and production, material cost as well as logistic cost," said Itachi, still not sure about what Mitsuki had in mind yet.

"Hehe, nice answer," said Mitsuki happily, before continuing, "Then, why do you suppose they choose this place as their hideout?"

Hearing Mitsuki's hint, Itachi immediately realised. The hideout where they were in was located quite high in the mountain, inside a hollowed out rock, away from the forestry and water sources.

"Cold, dry air, controlled temperature, away from humidity," Itachi answered with a smile, he had figured out what Mitsuki was unto.

"You see, when I was helping Keiko-san, and by that I mean Aida-chan's mom, she told me that she had always made sure to store her ingredients the best way possible, separating them for longevity. That way, she can reduce the cost incurred by early spoilage," Mitsuki laughed gently as she explained. Once again, the random knowledge that she had gained unexpectedly helped her in her endeavor. "Itachi-kun, have you seen other place with the same quality as this hideout nearby?"

"I don't think there's any that is accessible enough for shipping's convenience," Itachi smiled in understanding.

"That's great. Destroy their stocks once, they can just resupply, but.."

"Messing with their storage, they will either take time to notice, or having trouble finding a new one, is that right?" Itachi said, satisfied. That way, they would be able to somehow mess with the cost of the Saigenzai's production, or even reducing their product's quality altogether. Hopefully, it would help slow down the production, distribution, and trade rates. Just enough to avoid or slow down further spread of the damage that the drug had done. It was something that only Mitsuki's subtle nature manipulation skill could have made possible. Somewhere in his heart, he felt grateful that she joined him along in his travel this time.

"Okay, time to get to work," Mitsuki said, cracking her knuckles. "I'll connect the closest water source to the land under this rock and create more weaknesses in the rock to tamper with the humidity inside."

"Just enough to mess with spoilage, but not enough to be obvious and noticeable would be great." Itachi added.

Hearing Itachi's request, Mitsuki closed her eye with a satisfied expression as she extended her perception out, and replied, "Roger that."

"Ahhh it's so quiet.. how boring.." Kina said as he rolled over the shrine's floor.

"Kina, you know that even after they come back, they won't be staying here forever right?" Reishi smiled guiltily as she reminded Kina of the unavoidable fact. Hearing Reishi's statement, Kina pouted

"Ugh.. But still.."

"Excuse me!" suddenly a voice called out from outside the shrine. Upon hearing the call, Kina and Reishi peeked out from the shrine's door. It was neither Itachi nor Mitsuki. Instead it was some big guy that they both have seen from the village below. The guy looked pale and sickly, dark circle under his eyes.

"Yes, what business do you have here?" said Reishi cautiously.

"I.. I'd like to purchase some ingredients. You see, my family medicine require a little bit of Kotaro in it. Also I've just ruined a batch of other ingredients and it would save time if I buy both of them here at once instead of restarting the batch," said the man with hesitation in his voice. Reishi sighed. Despite the village's treatment towards the siblings, the fact remained that a lot of passed down medicine recipe from Howling Wolf Village require Kodon Clan's Kotaro. Because of that, the villagers had never actually told them to leave the mountain and even let them trade within the village as long as they didn't stay too long within the main village's border. However, due to the commotion last time, Kina and Reishi had been reluctant to go down into the village.

"Well, any honest business is good business," Reishi thought secretly as he asked for the man's purchase list.

"I'll prepare the refined Kotaro, meanwhile, Kina, can you help him settle the payment and the other ingredients?" said Reishi as he entered the main shrine, as he switched place with Kina. Hearing Reishi's instruction, Kina quickly went ahead, collected a few jar of ingredients, and calculated the prices of all the ingredients that the man had requested.

"Oh shit, I didn't bring enough money. I think I miscalculated the amount. Do you mind if I take some money from back home first? If you're worried I won't go back, you can follow me back, Kid." The man offered awkwardly. Considering his option, Kina decided that letting him take his money would be better.

"Fine, but I'll leave the ingredients here and you'll have to go back with me later to pay for them and the Kotaro," said Kina with doubt. He wouldn't want the man to take back his order, as he and Reishi still felt reluctance in bringing the medicine down the village and peddle them directly after what happened last time. "Reishi, I'll be back in a while!" Kina shouted as he followed the man downhill towards the village.

"I think that should be enough? I made quite a few small underground holes that went through this area. It should seep inside through the rock's pore. It's discreet, unnoticeable, but effective," Mitsuki said as she lifted her hand off the riverbed and opened her eyes. "I also made sure to left quite a lot of mold spore inside the hideout. Those will mess with the stocks, for sure. Now the rock don't have any growth due to the low humidity, but soon the spore will thrive~" A mischievous glint sparked on Mitsuki's eye as she told Itachi her plan.

"That would do," said Itachi with a proud smile decorating his face, as if seeing his own student succeeded with flying colors against a difficult exam. "Let's go back," he called.

"Hehe, OK. Sorry, Itachi-kun, I made you walk around so much with me. My control range is limited after all," said Mitsuki apologetically as she followed Itachi's footstep.

"It's not an issue," said Itachi. He felt like he should thank her instead for the help that she provided and the meticulous planning that she did.

"Then, I'll take it as it is," smiling, Mitsuki picked up her pace back towards the Hypericum shrine, followed by Itachi.

When the pair arrived back at the Hypericum shrine, it was well past noon. Silently, Mitsuki wished that the hideout's guard won't question the fact that they had all fallen asleep around the same time. Extending her perception, Mitsuki quickly found Reishi's figure within the shrine.

"Ah, Itachi-san, Mitsuki-san, you two are back.." said Reishi as Mitsuki and Itachi landed in front of the shrine. His face was a picture of unease.

"What's wrong?" Itachi asked Reishi. Sensing the obvious unease, Mitsuki closed her eyes and extended her perception.

"Kina hasn't come back, it's been far too long since he said he was going out," Reishi noted quickly, trying to keep his face calm despite the panic within his heart.

"I thought Mitsuki had instructed you two not to leave the shrine?" Itachi questioned, frowning.

"Darn it, I should have prepared something for extended tracking on him… Which direction did he went, Reishi?"

"They were heading towards the village," said Reishi softly, filled with worries. Hearing his words, Itachi clarified,

"They?" he asked with frown etched on his forehead.

"He was with one of the villager's pharmacist, an old, sickly looking big guy," Reishi answered with worry, wondering if he should have went after them instead after waiting for a while. "They were supposed to take some extra money from his house for the medicine trade," Reishi's voice quivered as he could no longer hold back his regret.

"Then it's something to start with," said Mitsuki as Itachi went ahead and dashed towards the village. "Don't leave here no matter what happened, OK?" shouted Mitsuki as she followed Itachi out. Nodding, Reishi answered in silence.

Author's note:

(At the point of writing) I should be drawing for previous chapter(s) but here I am writing instead because this part of the story is so fun to write, hahahha…

(At the point of posting) Lately I've been falling into microsleeps.. so tired aaaaaa… I should consider taking break the moment the event is finished ughhh

Additional note:

(*) About Kotaro, there's 3 type of Kotaro with different potencies depending on the preparation. They are usually combined with other herbs and medicinal plants to make variety of medicine. Those types are:

Refined (上品, Jōhin) - its weakest form but which has zero side effects when taken.

Medium (中品, Chūhin) - its middle form which has no side effects if taken in moderation.

Coarse (下品, Gehin) - its strongest form but with guaranteed and powerful side effects, with symptoms varying depending on how it is taken.

Source: Naruto Jinraiden light novel