Time slipped by almost unnoticed. The afternoon passed quietly, but for Danzo Shimura, it felt like a whirlwind of emotions and restless anticipation. Though it was nearly time to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo was reluctant to leave the Tulip Trading Market. His mind lingered on the colorful flowers, the bustling crowd, and the endless possibilities the market offered.
Finally, with a heavy sigh, he tore himself away and made his way to meet Hiruzen.
"Danzo, how did things go this afternoon?" Hiruzen asked as they met, his tone a mix of curiosity and mild concern.
Danzo's mind was still swirling with the excitement of the market, and he struggled to answer truthfully. "I… I went to three or four stores in a row and finally managed to negotiate with one," he said perfunctorily, trying to sound composed.
Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully. He understood, from his own morning's experience, how exhausting it could be to deal with unscrupulous merchants. Bargaining was no easy task, and finding someone reasonable was rare.
"Don't worry, Danzo. We can try again tomorrow," Hiruzen said with a calm smile, masking his own fatigue.
Danzo forced a nod, grateful that Hiruzen hadn't pressed for details. The truth—that he had spent the entire afternoon boasting among the speculators at the tulip market—was too thrilling and too secret to admit. Hiruzen's understanding allowed him to breathe a small sigh of relief.
"Then let's call it a day. Dinner first, then rest well. Tomorrow, we continue," Hiruzen added.
Unlike Danzo, Hiruzen had spent the afternoon purely on their assigned mission, with no distractions. He was tired, physically and mentally drained, his throat dry from constant talking and negotiating. Danzo, on the other hand, could only nod, a sly sense of satisfaction hidden beneath his calm exterior.
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Dinner and Silent Rivalry
The two arrived at their usual restaurant, ordering miso soup as they always did to soothe their throats. Hiruzen lifted his spoon eagerly, savoring the warmth and relief it brought after a long day.
But when he glanced at Danzo, he noticed his companion sitting idly, fiddling with the spoon and not drinking. "Danzo, why don't you drink the miso soup?" he asked.
Danzo looked up, blinking as if roused from a trance. "Oh… it's too hot. I'll let it cool."
In truth, his mind had not been on the soup at all. He had spent the afternoon at the tulip market, sipping tea and observing prices, and had no thirst to quench. The miso soup was now mere background noise to the thoughts and anxieties racing through him.
Soon, the rest of their meal arrived. Hiruzen ate with relish, as though the hours of exertion had left him starving. Danzo, however, merely took a few bites before putting down his chopsticks, lost in thought. Hiruzen tried to engage him in conversation several times but was met with polite silence. Yet, he understood the cause: Danzo's mind was elsewhere.
"Danzo, you seem troubled. Is it because the afternoon didn't go as planned?" Hiruzen asked gently.
Danzo's eyes glimmered with determination, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Perhaps. But I think I might be a little ahead of him. And tonight, I can still learn some bargaining skills from him."
Hiruzen chuckled quietly, feeling a sense of pride in his companion. Despite Danzo's restlessness, there was growth—an eagerness to learn and improve.
Their dinner finished in a quiet yet purposeful atmosphere, each lost in thoughts of personal goals and strategies. Hiruzen planned to teach Danzo some valuable bargaining tips that evening, while Danzo's mind stayed with the tulips and the potential profits awaiting him.
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A Sleepless Night
That night, Hiruzen quickly fell into a deep, restorative sleep. He had truly worked all day, and the fatigue caught up with him. Soon, even the quiet snoring filled the room.
Danzo, however, tossed and turned endlessly. The tulips, the market, the money he had invested—all circled endlessly in his mind. One million taels was not a trivial sum, and he could not sleep until he was certain that his investment would bear fruit.
In his restless state, he drifted into dreams. The first was a nightmare: he had lost everything, his wealth gone in a single day, and Senju Tobirama had discovered his failure. Panic and fear jolted him awake, his heart pounding. He tried to calm himself, closing his eyes, only to fall into another dream.
This time, the dream was joyous. He had made vast sums of money overnight, Senju Tobirama praised him, and even accepted him as a disciple. Danzo awoke with a start, heart racing and a mix of exhilaration and anxiety tugging at him.
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Morning Decisions
Daybreak arrived, and Hiruzen, full of energy, nudged Danzo awake.
"Danzo, wake up!"
"That's enough, Hiruzen! I am the Hokage!" Danzo replied groggily, half in his dreamlike state.
Hiruzen sighed and shook his head. "What Hokage? Danzo, come on—wake up!"
Danzo finally opened his eyes, the lingering excitement and anxiety of his dreams making him feel both relieved and restless. Breakfast awaited.
"Let's go have breakfast," Hiruzen suggested. "We'll split up like yesterday to cover more ground. And while we eat, I'll teach you some bargaining techniques."
Danzo nodded quickly, eager but polite. They dressed and went to a nearby breakfast shop. As they ate, Hiruzen began his lesson.
"First," Hiruzen said, "you start by cutting the price in half. Bargain persistently, but keep a calm demeanor. Then, if needed, pretend to leave and count to three silently. Most shopkeepers will call you back—no one wants to lose a sale."
Danzo listened politely but was already distracted. His mind was calculating the potential gains from the tulip market. Hiruzen's words were solid advice, but the excitement of the market drew him far more than the dusty shops they had visited.
"And what if the shopkeeper doesn't call you back?" Danzo asked casually.
"Then move to another shop. That one is a profiteer; better to negotiate elsewhere," Hiruzen said, a solemn glint in his eyes.
Danzo's mind was elsewhere. As soon as breakfast ended, he watched Hiruzen walk away to follow the plan and immediately turned toward the tulip trading market.
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The Tulip Market in Full Swing
The market was as lively as ever, perhaps even more crowded than yesterday. Traders hustled, speculators shouted, and the air buzzed with energy. Danzo's pulse quickened as he approached the familiar room where prices were updated.
Inside, his eyes immediately caught the rising figures on the blackboard. The tulip prices had climbed dramatically—three levels higher than yesterday!
"My… I made three hundred thousand taels in just one night?" Danzo murmured, hardly believing his eyes. Relief and joy surged through him, replacing the anxiety that had plagued him all night.
More traders entered the room, the noise swelling again. Danzo found his friends from the previous day and joined their conversation, eagerly trading information and insights.
"It's rising again!" one speculator exclaimed. "A rumor spread yesterday that a large group of wealthy merchants from the Land of Earth arrived in the Land of Fire. Those who acted quickly have profited greatly."
Danzo's mind raced. "If only I had increased my position yesterday…" he muttered under his breath, already planning future moves.
"Hey, new guy! How much did you earn?" someone asked.
Danzo smiled, pride and excitement evident. "Three hundred thousand taels!"
Other traders laughed knowingly. "Three hundred thousand? That's nothing! Many here made at least a million, ten million is common, and there are even those who went all-in and made tens or hundreds of millions!"
Danzo's eyes widened. Billions of taels—numbers so vast they were almost incomprehensible. Yet, in this market, such fortunes were possible. His mind buzzed with possibilities, strategies, and dreams.
"Stud poker… it's a kind of wisdom," someone commented casually, prompting laughter and nods. Danzo realized that in this world, calculated risk-taking, bold decisions, and insight were the keys to success. All-in was not recklessness—it was strategy.
For the first time, Danzo truly understood the thrill of speculation. The tulip market was not just a trade; it was a battlefield of wits, courage, and opportunity.
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patreon (Obito_uchiha)