Shen Mo had meticulously prepared the grand prize for the five-hundredth jar. The item's inherent transactional value was low, only ten thousand Trade Points, but its strategic value was immense. It was a Seed—a catalyst for a new destiny, designed to fundamentally alter Tsunade's expectations and open the door to a new phase of the jar business.
This item was the key to creating a lasting sense of anticipation, ensuring that the excitement wouldn't wane even after the immediate goal of resurrection was achieved.
Tsunade stared at the lone jar, her expression subtly betraying a sudden, visceral awareness. She hadn't opened it, yet an indescribable pressure, a profound spiritual weight, was slowly accumulating in her heart.
Did she sense something? Shen Mo wondered, remaining utterly still.
Tsunade drew a shaky breath. She despised hesitation. With a decisive, quick motion, she reached out and snatched the jar, opening it faster than any before.
WHOOSH!
Under the vast darkness of the night, a blinding yet gentle sacred white light erupted.
It was not a harsh flash, but a soft, warm radiance. Everyone present—Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi—was instantly bathed in the light, feeling an overwhelming sense of warmth, as if they were submerged in a soothing spiritual spring. All the accumulated tension, pain, and inner turmoil seemed to melt away.
"What... what is this?" Sasuke managed to gasp, shielding his eyes only to stare back in bewildered astonishment. His voice was trembling, a telltale sign of deeply suppressed emotion.
He wasn't alone. Sakura, overwhelmed by the cleansing power of the light, was openly weeping, the emotional release instantaneous and profound.
Tsunade, standing closest, was experiencing the full force of the sacred energy. Her pale golden eyes were wide with a mix of panic and utter helplessness, the raw emotion of a young girl exposed. She instinctively scrambled to her feet, her gaze frantically searching until it locked onto Shen Mo.
"What is this? What was in that jar?" she demanded, rushing toward the merchant.
Shen Mo slowly rose, meeting her panicked gaze. He smiled serenely.
"Congratulations, Tsunade. As I have always maintained, the jar can change one's fate."
"You've said that a thousand times!" Tsunade's voice rose to a near shriek, the emotional overload making her irritable. She clenched her fist, ready to strike. "I asked you a direct question: What exactly is in this jar? Explain it to me right now, in the simplest, most understandable terms, you insufferable bastard!"
Shen Mo's composed expression finally froze. His elaborate, carefully crafted monologue about destiny and enlightenment instantly became irrelevant.
Fine. I can't deal with the emotional Sannin.
"This is an extremely rare item, one whose appearance is determined by the sheer intensity of the opener's will," Shen Mo conceded, sighing dramatically as he looked at her raised fist. "To put it simply: the item you have acquired grants you the opportunity for a Job Change—specifically, to become a Paladin. But whether you gain the power is dependent on passing the necessary qualifications."
The item in the jar was the Sacred Emblem, containing a Seed of Holy Light. Only those who successfully endured the rigorous Holy Light trial could fully unlock and wield its divine power.
"Paladin..." Tsunade repeated the foreign word, confusion momentarily replacing panic. "What precisely is that?"
"They are individuals who possess immense power, both physical and spiritual," Shen Mo explained, his dark eyes fixed on her. "They are the ultimate Guardians of Hope, characterized by noble intentions and unwavering loyalty. They command great martial strength alongside formidable healing capabilities. They exist across countless worlds."
He concluded: "The profession is, essentially, a powerful combination of front-line fighter and primary healer."
Tsunade's eyes suddenly sparkled. She was instantly captivated.
"Doesn't that sound exactly like me?" she exclaimed, her fear vanishing instantly, replaced by fierce confidence.
"Your confidence is impressive," Shen Mo muttered wryly. He had selected the Paladin role specifically because its duality—powerful offensive capability and supreme restorative ability—perfectly mirrored and amplified Tsunade's latent strengths and current goals. She was already a powerful brawler and the world's greatest medical ninja; the Paladin would simply perfect this combination.
"That, however, is not the only significance of this job change opportunity," Shen Mo said, leaning in and lowering his voice for dramatic effect.
"Oh? What else?" Tsunade asked, her curiosity now fully engaged.
Shen Mo glanced at the others before saying the key phrase: "This grants you the qualification to purchase the Limited Edition Jar Series!"
This is the true prize, Shen Mo thought. The Holy Light Seed was merely a key, worth 10,000 TP. The real money was in the subsequent specialized jar sales.
He needed to create the appeal of a long-term, specialized power-up path. Simply having the Paladin Seed wasn't enough. Cultivating the Holy Light, mastering new skills, and forging holy gear would all require dedicated jar purchases.
"What do you mean by a limited edition jar series?"
"It means," Shen Mo explained lightly, watching Tsunade's face closely, "that you can only purchase the Paladin Series Jars once you have officially accepted the Paladin calling." He then delivered the final, crucial selling point:
"The chance of a Resurrection Item dropping from a Paladin Series Jar is exponentially higher than from a normal Medical Jar, as resurrection is a known, high-level skill inherent to the Paladin class."
Tsunade's breathing hitched, her eyes widening in stunned realization. Her entire reason for opening the jars—the resurrection of Nawaki—had just been given a definitive, high-probability pathway. Her destiny, and her commerce, had fundamentally shifted.