Danzo's breathing became ragged. He stared at the enigmatic man—the self-proclaimed businessman—with a profound bitterness.
He had always dismissed Hiruzen Sarutobi's caution as the fear of an old man, but now he realized the catastrophic error was his own arrogance. He had been cornered, step by step, before he could even ascertain his opponent's true strength.
Ambition, secrets, pain—everything exposed.
With a monumental effort of will, Danzo regained his composure. He recognized that his initial aggressive maneuver had cost him dearly, but the damage was not yet irreparable. He could not, however, allow the situation to degrade further.
"Since you claim to be a businessman, I trust you will not refuse a paying customer," Danzo said, forcing a conciliatory tone. He needed to comply for now, gather intelligence, and retreat to plan his counter-attack.
"Of course," Shen Mo replied, his smile unwavering. "Anyone who can meet the price can change their destiny with me. Even a man so lost to self-deception still retains a chance."
"Shen Mo, do you truly intend to sell him a jar?" Tsunade frowned beside them. She understood she couldn't stop Danzo from seeking out the power of the jars, but the thought of him becoming stronger was deeply unsettling.
Shen Mo offered her no answer. A true merchant did not willingly pass up profit. However, he also recognized that Danzo, the epitome of the controlling ruler, would become Shen Mo's greatest passive threat once empowered.
Like the original Piccolo, who eliminated the wish-granter after achieving his goal, Danzo would inevitably target the merchant as the ultimate variable beyond his control. The potential loss from Danzo's future sabotage far outweighed the immediate profit.
Danzo, meanwhile, observed Tsunade's clear opposition and felt a curious sense of relief. This merchant and the Sannin are not allies, he concluded, believing his losses might be manageable.
"Then we shall see if you can truly alter my fate," Danzo declared. He waved his hand, and a Root ninja burst in, dropping two heavy, nondescript wooden crates onto the ground before instantly vanishing.
The crates were opened, revealing neat stacks of brand-new Ryo—exactly twenty million.
Danzo had intended this money to be a hidden reserve, but he was now using it to convey seriousness and commitment. Since a direct test of strength was too risky, he would overwhelm the merchant with capital first.
"Where did you acquire such a fortune?" Tsunade demanded, her fists clenching. Danzo had no official position anymore.
"Haha," Danzo chuckled, a sound devoid of warmth. "The Shimura clan is numerous; some of my distant relatives are naturally adept at commerce." He spoke with confidence, knowing the paper trail would withstand superficial investigation.
Shen Mo did not even glance at the money.
"Although the jars I sell are tied to the concept of fate," Shen Mo began, looking calmly at Danzo, "fate is merely the sum of choices. I can clearly perceive the destiny you desire, but I cannot recommend you choose it."
"Why not?" Danzo asked, demanding the reason.
"Because it is too difficult," Shen Mo said, shrugging dismissively. "Simply put, your path—the path of the self-appointed king who rules the Shinobi world—is incredibly arduous, precisely because you are walking the incorrect, adversarial path. Should you insist on purchasing the 'King's Road Jar,' the price will be exceedingly high."
Before Danzo could speak, Tsunade interjected in surprise, "A King's Road Jar? There are specialized jars for that?"
"Indeed," Shen Mo confirmed. "Across the infinite worlds, many aspire to rule. The King's Road series is tailored for them. It can propel even those with no natural hope—farmers, roadside beggars, the lowest of the low—onto a path of kingship."
Tsunade's tension increased. If such a power truly existed, Danzo was exactly the person who should not wield it.
Danzo, seeing the awe in Tsunade's eyes, felt his heart swell. He no longer viewed Shen Mo with simple scorn; the power was real.
"The King's Jar, you say? It sounds perfect. I will take it," Danzo declared, eager to secure the power.
"Foolish," Shen Mo replied, his tone flat and dismissive. "Since this is the destiny you insist upon, so be it."
Without a visible movement, four hundred Tier One Jars materialized before Danzo, simultaneously with the disappearance of the two crates of money.
Danzo's single eye widened again. No seals, no Jutsu, no movement. He couldn't perceive the mechanism, only the instantaneous result.
"Do you wish to open the jars here?" Shen Mo asked casually.
"Yes." Danzo clapped his hands. Immediately, over a dozen Root ninjas materialized from the shadows of the courtyard. "Open these jars."
"Sir, the jar represents your personal fate," Shen Mo advised, his voice tightening slightly. "I suggest you open it yourself."
The Root ninjas froze mid-step, suddenly immobilized.
A faint green psychic glow briefly pulsed around Shen Mo, his brow slightly furrowed with exertion. He didn't want the Root operatives touching his wares.
Danzo stared at his immobilized subordinates—among them several powerful Jonin, unable to even twitch an eyelid. He forced the words through a tight throat. "...No matter. This will save time." He looked deeply at Shen Mo, acknowledging the profound, invisible power.
"As you wish." Shen Mo remained impassive.
The ninjas were instantly freed. They were panting, their eyes wide with terror, but they moved with robotic obedience, shattering the jars and pouring the contents onto the ground.
Four hundred jars yielded a chaotic pile: roughly one hundred small Light Spheres, numerous exquisite handicrafts of unknown origin, small bags of specialized plant seeds, leather-bound books, and various fragments of damaged technical drawings.
"Are these the contents of the King's Road Jar?" Danzo asked, disappointment evident in his tone. The loot seemed trivial.
"You aspire to be Hokage, yet you lack the self-efficacy to recognize the tools of a ruler," Shen Mo replied, a dry, dismissive grin on his face. He waved his fingers, and all the objects on the ground lifted into the air.
"Treasury Reserve," Shen Mo stated. The intricate handicrafts and luxury items—future political currency—flew and settled into a separate pile.
"Political Intelligence," he continued. A portion of the Light Spheres containing specific governmental knowledge drifted aside.
"Military Law, Production, Infrastructure, and Weapon Blueprints." Every time Shen Mo spoke a word, the items corresponding to that category separated and reorganized themselves. Eventually, only two items remained from the hundreds of items.
Shen Mo turned his head, a clear sneer in his eye. "Now, would you like me to elaborate on the contents that will aid your path to kingship?"