Shen Mo internally confirmed his preference for Professor X's Mutant Ability over the mere enhancement of basic Telekinesis. The former offered a powerful suite of psychic skills, including the ability to effortlessly enter and manipulate the minds of others—a crucial advantage for a merchant needing to understand and influence his customers. It was the power of a ubiquitous, omnipresent deity.
Crucially, in a world where mental attacks and illusions existed, Professor X's powers provided unparalleled mental defense and the ability to detect and neutralize psychic threats.
He looked at Kakashi, who was still wrestling with his immense, one-time sacrifice of knowledge. "Would you like to finalize the trade now?" Shen Mo asked, maintaining a calm facade despite his internal eagerness to acquire his new ability.
"Now," Kakashi confirmed instantly, his resolve firm. "Transfer all of my earned Trade Points to Tsunade."
Shen Mo frowned slightly. "All of it? While the disposition of your funds is entirely your choice, I would advise against transferring the entire amount."
A complete transfer meant Kakashi's hope would be entirely reliant on Tsunade's luck, killing his personal stake in the jar system until he could find another substantial asset. Long-term business required sustained excitement.
"The jar doesn't just grant wishes; it alters the destiny of the opener," Shen Mo explained softly, his gaze locking with Kakashi's. "Tsunade's wish is resurrection—a desire born from hope. Yours is also resurrection, but it is rooted in profound regret and guilt. Your destiny, Kakashi, has not truly changed yet."
"My destiny?" Even behind the mask, Shen Mo could feel the bitter, self-deprecating quality of Kakashi's smile.
Kakashi was different. He didn't rail against fate; he accepted his misery, endured it, and wore his suffering with a quiet grace. His destiny was loss.
"Since you remain conflicted, observe Tsunade's approach," Shen Mo suggested, turning his attention to the Sannin. "She has a truly ferocious determination to change her outcome. I am genuinely eager to see where the jar leads her."
Kakashi followed Shen Mo's gaze. Tsunade was indeed a stark contrast. Where he sought only the grim prize of resurrection, Tsunade was utterly ecstatic, treating every single jar—be it filled with healing salves, body-hardening pills, or esoteric herbs—as a miraculous gift.
Even from a distance, her joyful muttering was audible:
"This is perfect for when Nawaki gets wounded in a spar!"
"Incredible! I'll never have to worry about broken bones or torn ligaments again!"
"A Healing Badge? This is exactly the kind of heirloom Nawaki should receive when he finally becomes Hokage!"
"Wow, with this potent formula, my little brother could charm ten women easily!"
Shen Mo rubbed his temples, noting that Tsunade clearly misunderstood the nutritional supplement of the "Spirit Tiger Whip," convinced it was a grand love potion. Her overwhelming "Brother-Complex" had returned with a terrifying intensity now that hope was available.
Kakashi couldn't suppress a cold sweat. He even felt a moment of pity for the yet-to-be-resurrected Nawaki.
But Kakashi suddenly understood Shen Mo's previous words. Tsunade wasn't merely seeking to revive her brother; she was fiercely rejecting her fate of eternal loss. The medical jars were giving her the tools and the destiny of the protector—potent medicines, advanced healing techniques, and methods to empower others.
And what about me? Kakashi wondered, feeling the vast, echoing emptiness where his copied Ninjutsu memories had once resided.
"Kakashi," Shen Mo interrupted the Jonin's introspection. "Resurrection techniques are generally only obtainable from Tier Three Jars. Tsunade has now opened twenty-three sets of Tier Two Jars. She only needs twenty-seven more sets to qualify for the Tier Three purchase. To save time and maintain momentum, I advise you to purchase those remaining twenty-seven sets for her now."
This request aligned perfectly with Kakashi's singular focus. He needed the resurrection prize, and this was the fastest way to get to Tier Three.
"Done," Kakashi agreed without a moment's pause.
"Twenty-seven sets, amounting to one hundred and thirty-five million Ryo equivalent." Shen Mo waved his hand, and another massive pile of two hundred and seventy jars materialized before Tsunade. He then formalized the irreversible transfer of Kakashi's highly-valued Ninjutsu memory and experience.
In that moment, Kakashi felt a strange, chilling void. He remembered the act of performing certain Jutsu, but the intricate hand seals and the deep, ingrained muscle memory of their countless hours of practice were suddenly vague, almost unreachable. The mental data had been cleanly severed, leaving a disconcerting blankness.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said, halting her opening to look at the Jonin, her expression solemn. Her voice held a rare, absolute sincerity. "You and those you wish to protect—any injury, any harm. Leave it all to me."
The offer was staggering, a promise of god-tier medical protection for life. Though the original agreement was only for the first resurrection, Tsunade was clearly extending the medical bounty she had accumulated from the jars.
Kakashi accepted the burden of the favor. "Thank you," he simply said. Even if I don't need it, Rin and Obito might one day.
"Proceed, Tsunade," Shen Mo urged, glancing at the darkening sky. "I suspect this spectacle will continue until nightfall." Despite his Psychic powers, his mortal body had not slept since the previous day. He was now relying on expensive system energy boosters just to stay alert.
"Stop with the negativity," Tsunade chided, throwing an annoyed glance at the merchant. "Opening jars is the same as gambling. To get good luck, one must be sincere and dedicated."
You have terrible luck, even with sincerity, Shen Mo thought, but held his tongue. He had seen every metaphysical lottery ritual imaginable. If slow opening made her happy, so be it.
Time bled slowly from the afternoon into the evening. Sakura and Sasuke remained utterly captivated, the methodical click of jars being opened and the subsequent reveal of magical contents proving more addictive than any training.
Tsunade's luck, despite her "sincere" effort, proved consistently mediocre at first. She was forced to work through a mountain of lesser items. However, once the initial "dross" was cleared, the quality gradually improved, bolstering her confidence that her method was working.
By the time the last batch was nearly finished, night had fully descended. A shimmering ball of light—a simple technique created by Shen Mo to illuminate the clearing—floated overhead.
Another sphere of light—a ball of knowledge—floated before Tsunade. After absorbing it, she let out a profound sigh.
"Kyu-Ten Hari (Nine-Circle Acupuncture)," she murmured, her voice laced with awe. "A truly magnificent medical technique, but alas, it appears to be incomplete knowledge."
"The knowledge you acquired is sufficient to radically advance your abilities," Shen Mo stated, his gaze fixed on the final jar remaining on the ground.
Tsunade looked at the solitary jar. Four hundred and ninety-nine jars opened. This was the five-hundredth.
"The final one," Tsunade whispered, her breath catching in her throat.
Once this last jar was opened, she would have completed the qualification to purchase the immensely powerful, Tier Three Jars. The real gamble was about to begin.