Zabuza had committed to the purchase; all that remained was selecting the right inventory.
"The destiny you seek is the overthrow of the Fourth Mizukage and the salvation of your village," Shen Mo stated, his tone calm and utterly certain, laying bare Zabuza's deepest, most secret motivation.
"Salvation?" Zabuza repeated the word, his single eye piercing Shen Mo with a look of complex scrutiny. "How intriguing. Everyone else assumes my motives are purely driven by personal greed."
His entire history—the coup, the assassinations, the relentless plotting—made him appear exactly as Kakashi had described him: a ruthless, ambition-crazed villain. But Shen Mo had seen the underlying cause.
"My perception is absolute. When you stand before me, your only choice is to confront your true destiny and desire," Shen Mo replied meaningfully.
"To see everything..." Zabuza's gaze was unsettlingly still. Having one's soul exposed was a violation of the ninja's code of secrecy, creating a profound, disturbing vulnerability.
"Indeed, look into your heart," Shen Mo pressed, his smile widening as he focused on the emotion flickering in Zabuza's eyes. "Your feelings for the young man beside you—you claim he is merely a tool, yet your bond transcends mere loyalty; it eclipses romance and defies death itself. What I see is an unbreakable connection."
"Zabuza-sama..." Haku looked up, his wide eyes turning toward Zabuza, a mixture of disbelief and hope in his expression.
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!" Zabuza instantly erupted, a flush of visible panic beneath his bandages. He emphasized his next words with a harshness that sounded forced. "Haku is my instrument, nothing more! Ninjas must be cold and brutal!"
Shen Mo simply smiled, remaining silent. He knew Zabuza's tsundere complex was profound; the genuine tears Zabuza would shed after Haku's eventual death were proof enough.
I have successfully planted the seed, Shen Mo thought. He will be forced to confront his affection sooner.
Furthermore, Shen Mo had already mentally inventoried a few items perfectly suited for a highly talented ninja like Haku. This could prove very profitable.
"Here is the capital. How many jars will this purchase allow me?" Zabuza asked, eager to end the uncomfortable emotional scrutiny.
"There are multiple tiers of jars. All clients must begin with Tier One," Shen Mo briefly outlined the purchase mechanics, then raised his voice. "Given your ambition and background, I highly recommend focusing on the Weapon Series Jars."
"A weapon series?" Zabuza's mind instantly recalled the brief, terrifying appearance of the mythical sword hilt.
"Precisely," Shen Mo confirmed. "To launch a successful coup, you require powerful assets. The Weapon Series provides a variety of formidable armaments and grants immediate boosts to your personal power. As a former member of the Hidden Mist, you understand that power is defined by the seven great swords and the men who wield them."
In the shinobi world, powerful artifacts—weapons, scrolls, and knowledge—were more reliable than fleeting subordinates. They were generational assets that cemented a village's power.
"You speak the truth," Zabuza conceded, his interest piqued. If he could arm his meager following and increase their individual power, his chance of success would skyrocket. And his personal strength was paramount for acceptance after the regicide.
"I will purchase the Weapon Jar Series," Zabuza finally agreed.
"Begin with two hundred Tier One Jars." Shen Mo waved his staff, and the shimmering objects appeared.
For a customer like Zabuza, no elaborate sales pitch was necessary beyond the initial display of power. The sheer, intoxicating allure of guaranteed power would complete the transaction.
As predicted, the internal shock and exhilaration Zabuza experienced upon absorbing his first Light Sphere—a condensed form of dagger-mastery experience—was overwhelming.
"It is truly this easy? It can increase my strength so instantly?" Zabuza muttered, flexing his hands. "I wonder if those two brats..."
"Sasuke and Naruto?" Shen Mo finished the thought, chuckling. "One seeks vengeance, the other seeks to protect. Their desire to rewrite their destinies is no less potent than yours."
The confirmation, though indirect, was accepted as fact. Those terrifyingly strong Genin were also clients of this mysterious merchant.
Zabuza hesitated, then looked at Haku. "Haku, you absorb some of the Light Spheres as well."
Haku gasped softly. "Master Zabuza, but..."
"Do not argue," Zabuza commanded, though his tone was unusually soft. "Your innate talent will allow you to improve far faster than me. And facing opponents of that caliber, your current strength is insufficient. You are no longer an effective tool."
"Everything is for the coup," Zabuza mumbled, justifying the expense to himself.
Shen Mo merely smiled. There is the emotion. He knew the smaller the detail, the clearer the true feeling.
"Yes," Haku replied, a faint blush on his cheeks, his eyes shining with devotion as he began absorbing the energy.
The jars were shattered. Beyond the invaluable Light Spheres, the contents included a variety of weapons, small Attribute-Boosting Equipment, and Enchanted Accessories designed to secure weaponry.
"The Storage Ring," Shen Mo announced, pointing to an item Zabuza had just unearthed. "To find this in a Tier One jar is quite fortunate. As a ninja, its utility requires no explanation."
Zabuza suppressed a surge of euphoria. A quickly accessible, reusable dimensional storage item was infinitely superior to bulky sealing scrolls. The value of even the ordinary weapons far exceeded his investment, let alone the magical accessories and the flood of skill experience.
"You mentioned Tier One was merely experience. Tier Two is where the true magic begins, at ten times the price," Zabuza stated, now fully focused on the higher tier.
"Correct," Shen Mo confirmed with a smile.
"Ten jars, then," Zabuza decided. He deliberately held back a significant portion of his wealth, clearly wanting to keep some funds in reserve.
Hiding money? Not on my watch. Shen Mo had already mentally calculated the 15 million Trade Point baseline and was moving on to the grand finale.
"Ten Tier Two Jars," Shen Mo said, summoning the new tier.
He then subtly activated the hidden mechanism: Jackpot Placement. Zabuza's luck, or rather, Shen Mo's carefully engineered customer experience, was about to pay off immediately.
One of the ten jars contained a profound prize: A Blue Bracelet.