After a brief period of deliberation, Shen Mo decided that relying on the omnipotent system was the only way forward for scaling his business.
He accessed the customization interface and developed a new, automated service: a randomized product sorting algorithm that was entirely unaffected by individual 'luck' or any other abnormal chance parameters. This was designed to neutralize the 'lucky cheat codes' of players like Tsunade and Naruto, ensuring the distribution of prizes strictly adhered to the predetermined percentages.
The new system was elegantly simple and terrifyingly efficient. Following Shen Mo's concept, he entered item names, determined their specific appearance probabilities, and clicked to randomly generate a list. Instantly, a sorted arrangement of ten different items appeared.
With two swift mental clicks, he created the Jars.
Shen Mo felt a surge of pure, entrepreneurial inspiration. Taking the Tier Two Kendo Series Jar as his test case, he assigned the following probabilities: 50% chance for a basic Sword Training Experience Orb, 20% for a generic Body-Enhancement Orb, 5% for a Basic Sword Technique worth 6,000 trading points, and 1% for a significant cash reward of 100,000 trading points.
Crucially, the Grand Prize Tier—containing powerful skills, unique equipment, and high-tier sword techniques, all valued at or above 30,000 trade points—was given a total combined appearance rate of 0.5%.
He established a total of eight prize categories containing dozens of unique accessories. He then commanded the system to generate one hundred products instantly. Shen Mo carefully examined the result: among those hundred simulated rewards, not a single one was a grand prize.
He commanded another batch of one hundred. This time, a single, high-value reward—a powerful, Tier Two skill—appeared.
Perfect.
This was the solution. The product selection and options for each Jar series were now predetermined by the probability tables. When a customer requested a specific number of Jars, a master list would be generated with a single click, the Jars purchased in bulk, and the transaction completed instantly. This swift, automated method eliminated the manual selection process entirely.
After a few minutes of excited distraction playing with the enormous flying goldfish, Himari (who was getting exponentially larger with every passing day), Shen Mo returned to his rigorous configuration work. He spent nearly three days setting up the probability tables and item pools for every Jar series he intended to market globally.
Just as he was finishing, he received an urgent communication from Tsunade.
"I have an enormous business opportunity for you. Are you interested?" Tsunade's voice crackled with a forced intensity.
Shen Mo sensed an underlying strain, a subtle resentment in her tone. He realized his prolonged absence—his failure to return to Konoha after the Land of Waves mission—had been a grave breach of etiquette. It seemed Tsunade was not accustomed to her important guests leaving without so much as a proper farewell.
"Of course, if there is a transaction, I will attend," Shen Mo responded with his characteristic, unwavering smile. He scooped up Himari, who was currently dozing contentedly beside him, and instantly materialized in front of Tsunade.
He was momentarily taken aback by the crowd.
The setting was a secluded grove just inside Konoha's walls, with the immense Hokage Rock visible through the canopy. Besides Tsunade and the resigned figure of Hiruzen Sarutobi, seven other individuals stood in a carefully organized formation.
They were Konoha's elite, easily recognizable pillars of strength: Hiashi Hyuga (the stern head of the Hyuga Clan), Kurenai Yuhi (the Genjutsu expert), Asuma Sarutobi (the Sandaime's son), Might Guy (the Green Beast), and the current leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance (Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, and Choza Akimichi).
This was a gathering of Konoha's current core power structure.
Shen Mo's sudden, silent appearance shocked them. None of them had detected his approach. They exchanged horrified glances, unable to comprehend the method by which this unknown man, casually holding a massive goldfish, had simply appeared.
Instantly, without any verbal command, four of the Jonin smoothly closed the distance, surrounding Shen Mo in a defensive square, while the remaining three formed a protective triangle around the Hokage and Tsunade. This silent, instantaneous response was a testament to Konoha's training and cohesion.
Shen Mo maintained his placid smile, completely unconcerned by the armed shinobi surrounding him.
"Everyone, remain calm," Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke, his aged voice still carrying the unmistakable authority of the Hokage. "This is Mr. Shen Mo, our most valued guest in the timber trade."
Top guest? The Jonin exchanged confused looks. They had certainly never been informed of this 'guest.'
Hiashi Hyuga, using his Byakugan to subtly observe Shen Mo's Chakra pathways and the non-Chakra source of his power, was utterly baffled. He then cast a quick, suspicious glance at Tsunade, allowing his speculation to run wild. Heard rumors Lady Tsunade was seen with an unknown man... could this be... a secret rendezvous?
"Tsunade," Shen Mo interrupted, halting Hiashi's spiraling, embarrassing thoughts with a direct address. "I came because you indicated there was business to be done."
"Indeed," Tsunade confirmed, folding her arms across her chest and looking pointedly at the stunned group of Jonin. "Just watch, and you will understand everything." She deliberately chose not to explain, knowing that no amount of words could convey the magnitude of the Jars.
The Jonin remained tense, their initial surprise giving way to acute discomfort. Shen Mo's entrance was eerily similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique, a spacetime ninjutsu of legendary power. Regardless of his identity, this single capability was enough to make them feel profoundly uneasy.
Shen Mo, however, was supremely confident. He had spent the 50 million trading points earned from the Land of Waves mission entirely on himself, boosting his physical stats and acquiring powerful permanent abilities. He was now, even without utilizing his trading points, well beyond the threat level of this small team.
Tsunade took a step forward. "I wish to spar with you."
"A spar?" Shen Mo replied, genuinely surprised.
"I know you possess power that transcends this world," Tsunade's usually delicate face was set in a mask of absolute seriousness. "You may believe I lack the standing to challenge you, but I still wish to use my own body to truly feel the nature of your power."
The surrounding Jonin could not conceal their shock. Tsunade was one of the Legendary Sannin, easily one of the most powerful people alive. To hear her declare herself unworthy of challenging this newcomer was incomprehensible. They assumed she was joking.
But Tsunade's expression was deadly serious. She was fully convinced after viewing the Stage of Destiny footage.
Shen Mo, utilizing his passive mind-reading ability, understood her secondary motive perfectly. As Tsunade had hinted, she wanted to pressure herself, but the real reason was to shatter the entrenched worldviews of Konoha's pillars. She wanted to use Shen Mo's overwhelming power as a dramatic demonstration, forcing them to accept their current powerlessness and the undeniable necessity of the Jars.
Shen Mo's response was immediate and enthusiastic. What a magnificent sales assistant! As a game designer, nothing was more satisfying than players not only purchasing aggressively but also enthusiastically convincing others to do the same.
Since Tsunade had taken the trouble, he would ensure a satisfactory demonstration.
"If your only desire is to comprehend my power," Shen Mo stated, maintaining his placid smile, "there is no need for anything so tiresome as a competition."
The instant the words left his mouth—
STOP!
Time ceased.
This time, the entire company—every one of the seven Jonin, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Tsunade herself—was included in the world of absolute, profound stasis. All remained frozen in the exact position they had occupied a second prior.
This was Shen Mo's newest, permanent skill, acquired with his Land of Waves profit: Absolute Temporal Stasis—a perfect tool for conducting business without interruption.
He was now free to do as he pleased.