The price of the jars opened by Naruto was to be paid in raw Chakra—the life energy that coursed through every ninja.
"Go for it," Naruto agreed without a second thought, his familiarity with his seemingly inexhaustible energy making him utterly fearless.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, however, watched with apprehension. Despite Shen Mo's assurance of safety, the act of extracting Chakra was a dangerous intimacy.
"Done," Shen Mo stated, his demeanor serene, as if the transaction was merely a formality.
In that instant, the vast reservoir of Chakra within Naruto was entirely drained away.
The physical manifestation was immediate and sudden. Naruto didn't even make a sound; he simply collapsed with a soft thump and plunged into a state of deep, unconscious sleep.
"Tsunade," Sarutobi Hiruzen prompted, his voice laced with concern.
"I see him," Tsunade replied, already kneeling beside the boy. She quickly performed a thorough medical assessment. She smacked her lips in surprise. "Remarkable. Although a massive amount of Chakra was instantly extracted, there's absolutely no damage to his meridian system. It's as though the energy simply vanished. He's unharmed, but he'll need at least two or three days of deep sleep to fully recover naturally."
What Tsunade failed to account for, however, was the beast sealed within.
Inside Naruto's spiritual prison, the Nine-Tailed Fox (Kurama) was in utter confusion. "That child's Chakra... it just disappeared! Vaporized! Was it sealed? No, it felt too strange. What bizarre Ninjutsu is this?"
Despite his own confusion, Kurama had no choice. The powerful, life-sustaining threads of the Nine-Tails' Chakra began to seep out, instantly initiating the recovery process. This was the fundamental advantage of being a Jinchūriki.
At this rate, Naruto's Chakra would be fully replenished by nightfall. If he didn't mind the recurring exhaustion and subsequent deep sleep, he could, in theory, continue selling his energy again and again.
One might even argue the merchant saved Kurama's life, not his own, Shen Mo mused with an internal smirk.
"I shall take Naruto back now," the Third Hokage announced, lifting the unconscious boy carefully in his arms. He looked at Shen Mo. "Mister Shen Mo, I require a brief period to accumulate the necessary funds for the purchase of the higher-tier jars. Would you kindly consent to remain in Konoha for a few days? Tsunade will be entrusted with your reception and accommodation."
"Of course, that presents no difficulty whatsoever," Shen Mo agreed with a smooth, welcoming smile.
Time to accumulate the wealth. If the village is pooling money, it means large-scale purchasing is imminent.
Shen Mo was acutely aware that the meager profit from Naruto's transaction was merely the appetizer for the true feast: the massive, high-value ninjutsu trade with the Hokage and the strategic purchase of the resurrection-focused jars by Kakashi.
"Tsunade," Sarutobi Hiruzen stressed, his gaze fixed on his former student, "ensure that Mister Shen Mo is treated with the utmost courtesy and respect."
Hiruzen's personal test of Shen Mo had ended with the merchant's status in the Hokage's mind elevated to an unprecedented level. The presence of mystical tools, immense power, and the seductive promise of the jars made the businessman an unavoidable, potentially vital factor in Konoha's future.
"I understand," Tsunade replied dismissively. Among all the ninja present, she had now had the most intimate and profitable dealings with Shen Mo.
Once Sarutobi Hiruzen departed, carrying the sleeping Naruto, Tsunade's demeanor transformed. She rubbed her hands together, a genuine, focused excitement radiating from her.
"Alright! Jar opening time! The old man was forced to give me quite a substantial amount of funds this time!"
"How substantial?" Shen Mo inquired, a genuine curiosity creeping into his tone, though he tempered his expectations for the immediate haul.
"To start, I've managed to secure enough for ten Tier Two jars," Tsunade stated, holding up ten fingers. She continued, her voice lowered conspiratorially,
"More importantly, I am now willing to sell some of the advanced Ninjutsu and medical arts I personally developed, including the Jutsu that maintains my youthful appearance. Naturally, I am selling the Knowledge aspect of these techniques."
"You've finally made the practical choice," Shen Mo couldn't hide his approval. He had stressed this point from the beginning: a ninja's true value was not in generating ephemeral currency, but in the Knowledge—the unique, hard-won intellectual property of their techniques and experiences.
"I wasn't entirely convinced before," Tsunade confessed, a genuine vulnerability flashing across her beautiful eyes. "I was terrified. If I resurrected him, would Nawaki accept the Konoha of today? Would he accept the old me? The people he knew are gone. His dream of becoming Hokage..."
Her voice softened dramatically, and the look of apprehension cleared entirely from her eyes, replaced by a magnificent, fierce determination. "But what you said just now made everything clear. Regardless of the difficulties, I cannot choose fear. I must not back down from the chance to bring him back."
Shen Mo looked at the Sannin. The woman before him now radiated a profound, almost maternal affection, a stark contrast to the guarded gambler he had initially met. Fate is a cruel mistress, he thought.
"My words have a certain persuasive power," Shen Mo admitted, giving Tsunade a shameless wink. "Thanks to my endless perspective, observing countless lives and countless conflicts, I possess a unique understanding that transcends your current game board."
"Your age suddenly intrigues me," Tsunade stated, crossing her arms, a look of genuine inquiry on her face. "Are you secretly several hundred years old?"
"Guess," Shen Mo replied with a meaningful smile.
"Tch. Fine, keep your secrets." Tsunade pouted, but her excitement quickly returned. She cast aside her worries, tossed a heavy pouch of Ryo onto the table, and waved her hand with fierce generosity.
"Open the jars! Let's get this done!"
Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi, who had remained silent witnesses, had no intention of leaving. Watching others open the jars—gambling with destiny—was unexpectedly compelling entertainment.
"Will they be focused on medicine again?" Kakashi inquired.
"Absolutely," Tsunade confirmed. "So, ten Tier Two medical jars to start. Deploy them."
Shen Mo raised his hand, and ten identical, polished Tier Two Medicine Jars materialized on the ground before the Sannin.
"Kakashi," Tsunade addressed the Jonin, holding up her hand before touching the jars. "If your goal is still resurrection, here is my suggestion: do not open the jars yet. Start compiling the Ninjutsu knowledge and personal memories you intend to sell. Provide them to me, and I will use the generated funds to continue opening the medical jars on your behalf. The first resurrection prize we pull will be yours!"
Tsunade knew Kakashi, like Sasuke, was a valuable resource. By combining their efforts, their chances of pulling the Resurrection Jutsu—a prize unique to the medical jars—were maximized.
"Agreed," Kakashi nodded immediately, his focus renewed. Resurrect Rin first. If Obito is ever resurrected, I must be able to face him.
"Then observe closely." Tsunade smiled, her eyes glittering with the intensity of a true high-stakes gambler. "If the jar truly mirrors the will and destiny of the opener, then I will pull that resurrection prize!"
"Proceed," Shen Mo replied, his own smile mirroring hers.
It looks like I'll be acquiring Professor X's psychic powers and more today.