The morning air of Konoha was cool, carrying the scent of pine and early morning steam from breakfast stalls. Despite the hour, the village was already bustling. Every ninja, from the newly-minted Genin to the hardened Jonin, was required to report for missions.
Shen Mo walked beside Sasuke towards the designated training ground—a small grove outside the main compound. Sasuke was focused, his eyes fixed forward, a rigid determination replacing the emotional volatility of the night before. His new, elegant long sword, sheathed and hanging across his back, was no longer a prop; it was the symbol of his new life.
Shen Mo, however, was observing the subtle flow of the environment. The small map function was active in his mind. The light dots representing people around them had changed. Yesterday, they were mostly neutral or hostile (like the Anbu).
Today, there were many "attention" dots—Konoha ninjas who had clearly received a memo about the mysterious newcomer. The strategic message delivered via a single, intense gaze aimed at the Third Hokage seemed to have worked: Shen Mo is not someone to be treated lightly.
Containment, not confrontation. That's Hiruzen's tactic, Shen Mo mused.
His mind, however, was already focused elsewhere: personal enhancement.
He checked his Transaction Points (TP). After the massive, unexpected haul from the Uchiha vault, and setting aside the emergency 20 million Ryo equivalent for contingencies, he still had over 9 million TP remaining. This was a fortune acquired in less than twelve hours.
What's the point of holding money if you're not spending it to secure your future?
Shen Mo had long ago determined his path: power from a distance. He was not built for close-quarters combat—his dexterity and reaction time were merely average. He preferred the elegant, overwhelming, and non-physical destruction that could be achieved with minimal effort.
Telekinesis. It was the perfect, versatile power: combat, defense, reconnaissance, manipulation—all executed by an invisible, intangible force.
He began mentally reviewing the available tiers of psychic powers, filtering the list down to options under 9 million TP.
The god-tier Telekinesis, the kind wielded by Tatsumaki (Trembling Tornado) from the One-Punch Man world, was out of reach, costing a prohibitive -76 million TP. But the system offered a scaled-down, equivalent psychic lineage—the younger sister's power set, the raw ability of a high-level esper, Fubuki (Hellish Blizzard).
Fubuki's Base Psychic Capability was listed at 4 million TP. It possessed excellent growth potential and provided immediate, impressive power—easily enough to neutralize most Jonin-level threats.
"That's the one," Shen Mo decided with clinical satisfaction. "I'll acquire Fubuki's capability now, and then use the remaining 5 million to boost it immediately. Later, I can layer on the refined control and tactical abilities of someone like Professor X's psychic control."
The process was instantaneous, executed within the span of three footsteps.
"System, purchase and integrate Fubuki's Base Psychic Capability."
A profound, yet completely localized surge of energy rushed into Shen Mo's cerebral cortex. It wasn't a chakra injection or a sudden muscle growth; it was the acquisition of an entirely new sense, an invisible neural organ blooming within his mind.
He felt the world shift. The pressure of the air, the vibration of the cobblestones under their feet, the minuscule gravity tugging on every dust particle—it all became tangible, accessible. It was a massive, silent expansion of his spatial awareness, an extension of his will into the physical reality surrounding him. He didn't just see the world; he could feel it, ready to be manipulated.
The power was exhilarating in its subtlety. A single, unseen pulse of energy was now enough to shatter concrete or crush bone.
"System, allocate remaining 5 million TP to immediate enhancement and amplification of the newly acquired Psychic Capability."
The residual funds were instantly converted into raw power. The delicate, almost musical sensation of control became a roaring tide of force. The power surged again, settling at a level that Shen Mo estimated put him easily on par with a weaker Shadow Kage in terms of raw destructive output. He could now, with a concentrated thought, generate a localized wind storm or effortlessly lift and compress a truck-sized section of earth.
He felt the smile on his face grow more genuine. 9 million TP well spent.
Sasuke, marching intensely beside him, remained completely oblivious to the fact that the merchant, who only hours ago was just a purveyor of mysterious goods, had just used Sasuke's money to transform himself into one of the most powerful individuals in the village.
They reached the familiar clearing. Kakashi was leaning against a tree, his eye-smile visible above his mask, trying to feign casualness. Naruto was bouncing on his heels, likely complaining about yesterday's mission. Sakura was looking bored but dutiful.
Kakashi was the first to speak, noting Sasuke's tardiness and the presence of the stranger.
"You're late, Sasuke. And who is this?" Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly, focusing on the calm, well-dressed man beside his student.
"Ah, the Jar Uncle from yesterday!" Naruto piped up immediately, recognizing the man from the streets.
"Jar Uncle..." Shen Mo muttered under his breath, wishing Naruto would upgrade his terminology to "Mysterious and Handsome Entrepreneur."
Before Shen Mo could offer a more dignified introduction, a shadow fell over the group.
Two figures approached the clearing—two figures who instantly commanded the attention of every ninja present.
Tsunade, wearing her familiar kimono and jacket, walked with an air of powerful impatience, her arm linked casually with the much smaller figure of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama! Tsunade-sama!" Kakashi quickly straightened up, his hand immediately moving to the protective position over Sasuke and the others. This was highly unusual.
"Lord Hokage and Lady Tsunade are here?" Sakura whispered, surprised by the arrival of the village's leadership.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Professor, was just as Shen Mo had expected: short, wizened, and covered in the age spots of a lifetime spent in service. But the gentle smile on his face carried the immense, layered weight of power and political experience.
The Third Hokage stopped directly in front of Shen Mo, his eyes, sharp and intelligent despite his age, locking onto the merchant's.
"I am here specifically for Lord Shen Mo," Hiruzen said, his voice soft but carrying the authority of a Kage.
The honorific sent a fresh wave of shock through Kakashi and the Genin. The leader of Konoha was addressing a civilian—and a strange one at that—with such deference.
"That is very kind of you," Shen Mo replied, his smile easy and unbothered, treating the Kage like any other courteous, elderly man. He even maintained the polite façade while adding a slight edge: "I was beginning to think Konoha was not welcoming to my arrival."
Hiruzen's smile remained fixed. "Konoha welcomes all individuals who bring benefit to our people. Mr. Shen Mo, your aid to Tsunade-hime is a benefit to the entire village, and for that, you are considered a friend of Konoha. I came here this morning specifically to address the unfortunate incident last night—the actions of the Anbu were entirely unauthorized, a misunderstanding orchestrated by an overzealous subordinate acting on poor intelligence."
Shen Mo understood the nuanced diplomacy instantly. Hiruzen wasn't merely apologizing; he was establishing boundaries. He was signaling that the surveillance was over, the conflict was defused, and any future interaction must go through established channels—namely, himself.
And Tsunade's presence was no coincidence; she was the living proof of Shen Mo's power and the implied political guarantor of his non-hostile status. Hiruzen was hedging his bets, avoiding outright war, and subtly preparing to test the waters.
This was the perfect stage.
Shen Mo turned his head, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint as he looked at Sasuke.
"Sasuke," he said, his voice carrying just enough volume to command the attention of the Hokage. "Didn't you wish to leave your team? The Third Hokage is here. He certainly possesses the authority to grant your request."