Shen Mo had been standing in the periphery of the training ground for some time before revealing himself. He had stayed hidden behind a veil of distorted space, not out of malice, but because he was genuinely curious to see how Ikaros would handle her first "solo" venture.
The results were beyond his expectations. While she was still tethered to the rigid protocols of the manual he had given her, she had successfully projected an aura that commanded respect—and a healthy amount of fear. Watching her hover there, wings shimmering like celestial glass, Shen Mo felt a swell of pride.
The 'Assistant-to-Queen-of-the-Skies' cultivation plan is definitely on track, he mused.
When he finally stepped into the light, Tsunade let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Despite her reputation as the "Slug Princess" and her legendary strength, facing Ikaros had given her a prickly, cold sensation at the base of her neck. It wasn't just the girl's beauty; it was the clinical, absolute power she radiated. Seeing Shen Mo's familiar, casual smile felt like a reprieve.
"Master."
Ikaros's voice lost its robotic edge for a split second, replaced by a soft, melodic relief. She drifted through the air, folding her wings as she tucked herself behind Shen Mo, looking like a devoted shadow.
Master?
Tsunade's expression went a bit stiff. She glanced between the "Assistant" and the "Merchant," her mind racing with implications. She decided then and there that she didn't want to know the specifics of their relationship—some mysteries were better left buried in the sand.
"Ikaros, you did well," Shen Mo said, his hand lingering briefly on her shoulder. "Leave the rest of the negotiation to me."
He turned to the group of Konoha's elite. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood at the center, flanked by his most trusted Jōnin. The air was thick with the scent of damp grass and the ozone from Ikaros's teleportation.
"It seems you've finally settled your internal budget," Shen Mo said. His voice was gentle, almost kind, yet the words felt like a needle.
Hiruzen didn't flinch. He took a slow puff from his pipe, his eyes searching Shen Mo's face for any sign of hostility. "Your Excellency... may I be so bold as to ask? Was it you who visited the Hidden Sand recently?"
The question caused a ripple of tension. Tsunade stared at her teacher, shocked by his directness.
"You're a straight shooter, Lord Hokage," Shen Mo chuckled, showing no offense. "Yes, that was me. I spent some time with the Kazekage. He's quite the motivated customer."
He noticed the flicker of worry in their eyes—the fear that their rivals had already gained a decisive advantage. Shen Mo decided to offer a small "bonus" of information.
"Your world is truly fascinating," he said, clasping his hands behind his back as he began to pace slowly across the training ground. "In many worlds, the 'Will' required to open my jars is rare. People are too content, too stagnant. But here... misfortune is everywhere. And misfortune is the richest soil for desire to grow."
He looked at them, his gaze seeing through their masks of professional stoicism. "Siblings at each other's throats, students betraying masters, a history written in the blood of loved ones. It's almost a theme of this reality. Because you have lost so much, your hunger for the 'if only' is immense. That makes you excellent customers."
The silence that followed was heavy. Shen Mo was essentially telling them that their world's misery was his profit margin.
Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, his voice sounding older, more rasping. "It is precisely because our world is broken that we fight to fix it. The First Hokage didn't build Konoha to be a fortress of war; he built it to be a sanctuary—a piece of land where children didn't have to die for a cause they didn't understand. We protect this 'Pure Land' with everything we have."
"Well said!" Asuma and Kurenai echoed, their eyes burning with a renewed sense of purpose. Even Tsunade tightened her ponytail, her resolve hardening.
"A noble sentiment," Shen Mo replied. "Then let's see if we can give you the tools to uphold it. Lord Hokage, shall I give my recommendations for your team?"
"Please," Hiruzen nodded.
Shen Mo's eyes swept over the group, his internal system already highlighting their aptitudes. "The Ino–Shika–Chō trio should focus on the Perception, Control, and Gourmet Series—it will amplify their existing synergy. Kurenai Yūhi, your mind is sharp; the Genjutsu Series will take your illusions from mere tricks to reality-warping phenomena."
His gaze landed on Asuma Sarutobi, who was leaning against a post, a cigarette unlit in his mouth.
"As for Asuma... honestly, anything will do."
Asuma blinked, pointing a thumb at his chest. "Wait, anything? Why do I feel like I just got insulted?"
"It's not an insult," Shen Mo explained with a shrug. "You simply lack a definitive, singular 'obsession' beyond protecting your people. You're a generalist. You have resolve, but no specific 'End Goal' like the others. You might not even trigger a guaranteed Class Change item because your heart is so broad. So, pick whatever catches your eye. Fate will sort out the rest."
Asuma's face fell slightly, his stubble-covered jaw tightening. Beside him, Kurenai suppressed a small smile, patting his arm in sympathy.
"Don't worry about it, Asuma," Tsunade cut in, her voice booming. "If the Merchant says you're a blank slate, then make yourself a powerful one! Just pick a series and get moving!"
As she spoke, her attention was suddenly drawn to the side of the field. A rhythmic smash-pop-whoosh sound had been going on continuously.
"Guy!" Tsunade shouted, her eyes bulging. "You're already through them?"
Might Guy was a blur of green spandex and motion. While the others had been debating philosophy and strategy, he had been a one-man demolition crew. A mountain of ceramic shards now surrounded him, looking like a snowdrift made of clay.
He was down to his last hundred Tier 2 jars.
"OH! LADY TSUNADE!" Guy shouted, his voice cracking with excitement as he shattered another jar with a flamboyant elbow drop. "YOUTH WAITS FOR NO ONE! I CAN FEEL THE VIBRATIONS OF THE UNIVERSE!"
Tsunade walked over, looking at the debris with a touch of pity. "Guy, you've opened nearly five hundred jars. Don't tell me you didn't get any Grand Prizes? Your luck can't be that bad."
Guy paused, a jar held high over his head. He scratched his chin, looking genuinely thoughtful. "Well, I did get two Skill Orbs. I'm not sure if they qualify as 'Grand' though."
Tsunade's face twitched. "Two skills? That's fantastic! Why aren't you celebrating? Usually, people are over the moon when they get an instant power-up!"
Guy's expression actually darkened for a moment, a rare sight for the man. "That's the problem, Lady Tsunade. I absorbed the information... and I can do the techniques perfectly. But... I didn't earn them. There was no sweat! No blood! No thousand repetitions at dawn!"
"Missing some passion?" Shen Mo asked, appearing behind them with a grin.
"EXACTLY!" Guy shouted, pointing at Shen Mo as if he'd just solved a cosmic riddle. "It feels like cheating on my youth! However..."
He held up a glowing red orb he'd pulled earlier. "The Enhancement Orbs and the Ancient Legacies? THOSE are incredible! They didn't give me the skill; they gave me a 'Wall' to break through! I feel my physical limits expanding! I have a whole new training regimen in my head that will take me years to master! I can't wait to start the five-thousand-lap run to process this energy!"
For Guy, the joy wasn't in the result; it was in the struggle. Shen Mo realized that for a man like Guy, the best "Grand Prize" wasn't a powerful spell—it was a harder challenge.
"You're an interesting one, Might Guy," Shen Mo said, gesturing toward the remaining jars. "But don't ignore those Tier 2s. You haven't found your 'Destiny' yet. And believe me, when you find it, it won't feel like a shortcut. It will feel like the beginning of a whole new life."
"OHHH! SIR MERCHANT, YOUR WORDS IGNITE MY SPIRIT!"
With a roar of pure adrenaline, Guy lunged at the remaining jars. The shards flew faster than ever, and suddenly, a light—deeper and more primal than the others—began to leak from the final row of ceramic.
The atmosphere of the training ground shifted. The air grew heavy, smelling of scorched iron and ancient battlefields.
"Here we go," Shen Mo whispered, his eyes gleaming. "The Green Beast of Konoha is about to evolve."