Shen Mo looked at Tsunade, understanding her feelings.
This woman's nature made her quick to gratitude.
But he shook his head, smiling. "I've got a comfy rest spot, so no worries."
"…Fair enough," Tsunade said, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. "A mysterious merchant like you wouldn't skimp on yourself."
"See you, then."
Shen Mo bowed, vanishing instantly.
He found an empty spot in Konoha, pulled out his Wallpaper House, and stepped into his room.
Then, he flopped onto the soft bed.
"Finally, some rest," he sighed long.
"Meow—" Hiju echoed with a sleepy yawn.
She burrowed into the blankets, curling up at the pillow's edge, snoozing.
Still a kitten, Hiju was naturally drowsy.
Nothing beat home for sleep.
"Lazy cat," Shen Mo teased, chuckling. His clothes slid off via telekinesis, swapped for cozy loungewear.
Left hand: tasty chips. Right hand: custom happy soda.
He was tired.
Not physically—mentally. Once just a planner, now he juggled sales, PR, procurement, customer service, boss, after-sales…
Despite his mystic, powerful vibe, his brain was in overdrive.
How to sell more cans?
"Once I'm rich, maybe buy some staff," Shen Mo mused, munching chips. "Or recruit from the Naruto world? Tricking folks to sell themselves ain't easy."
If he really tried…
He could pull it off.
The System couldn't force obedience, but if someone agreed, he could trade abstract things like "loyalty" or "emotion."
Meaning…
He could get people to sell themselves for goods.
Using the lowest price in a trade range, conning someone was cheaper than buying same-level characters from the System.
Shen Mo pondered.
As a companion, his top Naruto pick was Konan.
Right or wrong, joy or ruin, she'd stand by her allies, giving everything.
Konan was loaded, but her current ally, Nagato, was a sinkhole.
If he targeted her, even without scheming, he might lure her over.
That woman…
Would sacrifice all, including herself, for comrades.
"Nah, I'll think it over when I meet her," Shen Mo decided, shelving it. "For now, earn more. Ikaros's price'll take ages… Speaking of, I made fourteen million Trade Points off Tsunade and Kakashi today."
Four hundred ninety Level 2 cans, plus ten Level 3.
Nearly eighteen million Trade Points in sales.
Pure profit: fourteen million.
Professor X's mutant power cost what?
Seventeen million Trade Points!
Buy it.
Shen Mo planned to dip into his emergency fund for three million. With his power up, he didn't need such a big reserve, right?
Decision made, no hesitation.
Purchase done.
Shen Mo closed his eyes, feeling something burst in his mind, stretching outward.
He "saw" the bed, table, furniture. In this small space, a tiny, bright orb glowed.
Hiju's mind.
He felt her peace, comfort, dreaming sweetly. Probing deeper, a new mental world opened in his consciousness—cat food, dried fish, and a warm, ever-present figure: himself.
"No surprise there, my cat…" Shen Mo grinned, knowing his place in Hiju's heart.
He stroked her soft fur.
Hiju's nose twitched, her pink tongue flicked his palm instinctively, then she slept on.
Professor X's telepathy was strong.
It read minds.
And saw a being's deepest emotions.
If not for his morals, Professor X wouldn't have lost his years-raised sister to another.
Shen Mo, like a kid with a new toy, used his sole test subject: Hiju.
He tweaked her dreams—raining dried fish, a big black cat stealing them, him shooing it away, taking most fish, leaving her a smidge.
Then he watched Hiju's expressions.
Ecstatic, then fuming, then ecstatic, then glum…
Heh.
Mind-tampering power, indeed.
Shen Mo slept soundly.
Next day…
A membership badge ping woke him.
"Who's bugging me this early?" Shen Mo grumbled, sensing Tsunade.
He really needed more allies.
More clients meant endless badge alerts.
Grumpy but professional, he got up fast.
Snapped his fingers—fresh outfit. Hiju hopped to his shoulder, napping.
She'd tossed and turned from dreams, barely slept.
"Tsunade, got cash for new cans already?" Shen Mo sent.
"Not me," Tsunade replied, glancing at the person before her. "Someone else wants cans."
"Oh… I'm coming."
Surprised, Shen Mo didn't dwell, flashing his signature smile, checking the mirror, nodding.
He stowed the Door to Anywhere.
Vanished.
Reappeared beside Tsunade.
And before him…
Shimura Danzo?
One eye and arm bandaged in white, face grim and stern, in a white samurai outfit.
The man dubbed Konoha's scapegoat: Shimura Danzo.
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