"Invite a few big merchants from various countries. I have a win-win deal to discuss with them; we'll all get rich together."
Inside the Daimyo Manor's Deliberation Hall, the August air carried a hint of dryness. The tightly shut doors and windows allowed no light to penetrate, and the flickering candlelight illuminated tense faces.
Merchants from different countries gathered in the Deliberation Hall. Their hearts were uneasy, and they sat restlessly, constantly wiping sweat with handkerchiefs.
They both feared and dreaded Mitsuki Kōmei. They dared not refuse his invitation.
Mitsuki Kōmei walked into the Deliberation Hall and saw the merchants scrambling to their feet, greeting him nervously.
He walked to the main seat and sat down, extending his right hand downwards to signal for the merchants to sit.
"You don't need to be afraid; I don't eat people."
"No fear, we're not afraid." The merchants thought, *You don't eat people, but you like to put bounties on their heads.*
Mitsuki Kōmei asked the merchants, "Does anyone dislike getting rich?"
"Lord Shimotsuki is joking, who doesn't like getting rich?"
"That's good. I just happen to have a deal for us to get rich together that I'd like to discuss with you all."
"Lord Shimotsuki, just tell us what you need us to do."
Mitsuki Kōmei shrugged helplessly.
"Someone is inciting the Common People to boycott Land of Water products, and I can't do anything to the Common People."
"Business is tough. After much thought, I can only sell everything to you. You'll buy them, right?"
The merchants from various countries had an 'as expected' expression, nodding in agreement with bitter faces.
"Listen to me. I'll sell you the goods, and the Land of Water will provide a special service: your exclusive logo will be printed on the product packaging."
Mitsuki Kōmei paused here, took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, and gave the merchants some time to think.
Those invited today were all major merchants from various countries, having navigated the business world for many years. They understood this Dao deeply and instantly grasped what Mitsuki Kōmei was conveying. They realized there was indeed money to be made.
Seeing that everyone had caught on, Mitsuki Kōmei continued.
"The wholesale price remains unchanged. I don't care how high you set the selling price. How much you sell and how much money you make depends on your own abilities. Understood?"
Their previous passive attitude changed, and their enthusiasm surged. "Don't worry, we can take all the goods, no matter how much there is. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to get rich. From now on, just give us your direct orders for anything."
The business negotiation concluded with both host and guests enjoying themselves. Mitsuki Kōmei thought, *The Common People of various countries will spend more money to buy the same products. They'll wake up laughing from their dreams, won't they?*
The Third Mizukage and Danzo Shimura had been in good spirits recently. Mitsuki Kōmei's business in various countries had severely declined, his turnover had plummeted, and large numbers of Common People protested daily in front of his shops.
Although the Ninja they sent were chased and killed by Kakuzu every day, and although they gained no benefits, they were simply happy. Adult happiness was that simple.
"Lord Danzo, this is bad! Land of Water products are starting to become popular in various countries again, and the prices have soared!"
Danzo looked incredulous, eagerly pressing, "What happened? Explain yourself!"
"The Land of Water slightly altered the product packaging, printing the exclusive marks of various merchants, their trade names or family crests. Those merchants brazenly claimed the products were their own, and the Common People happily paid for them."
"Why? Why did things turn out this way? Ah! I'm not reconciled! Why can Mitsuki Kōmei always find a solution?!"
An adult's breakdown only takes a moment. The Third Mizukage was furious, his hair standing on end. He kicked over the table in front of him, wildly destroying the surrounding trees.
"Lord Mizukage, be careful!"
Yagura shouted from a distance. The Third Mizukage, regaining his senses, instantly detected a Chakra fluctuation behind him. In a rush, he summoned a Leech to block the attack. The Leech's absorbed blood Qi was instantly depleted by more than half.
"Danzo Shimura, you're asking for death!"
Danzo thought, *If I couldn't deal with Mitsuki Kōmei, severely injuring the Mizukage would also be a good thing for the Village.* The Mizukage had just been consumed by rage, losing his rationality, which was the perfect time for a sneak attack. Unfortunately, the little brat ruined it.
The enraged Third Mizukage, betrayed and ambushed by Danzo, had his rage level explode. He chased Danzo, unleashing a barrage of Ninjutsu.
The furious Third Mizukage lost his rationality, abandoning all tactics, strategies, and offensive/defensive transitions, attacking with full force.
Danzo had not yet undergone surgery, had not transplanted Hashirama's cells, nor had he installed a Sharingan. His strength was already weaker than the Mizukage's, and with the Mizukage's anger amplifying his strength by three points, Danzo was even less of a match for the Mizukage.
He was beaten black and blue, only able to fight and retreat, leaving behind the corpses of two dozen Root Ninja before escaping the deserted island.
"Danzo Shimura, I'm not done with you! Sooner or later, I will destroy Konoha!"
The Third Mizukage wished he could immediately declare war on Konoha, but unfortunately, the Hidden Mist Village's pre-war preparations and logistics were equally poor. He himself was not at his peak, so initiating a war would be no different from serving himself up on a platter.
He thought of the two Tailed Beasts in Hidden Mist Village and secretly decided that sooner or later, he would bring the Tailed Beasts to Konoha and deliver a few Tailed Beast Balls.
Several conspiracies were resolved by Mitsuki Kōmei, and the "Mizu-Shi" duo fell into conflict, fighting like dogs, officially declaring their split.
With no one causing trouble, Mitsuki Kōmei returned to his usual peaceful life: Cultivating during the day, playing with fruit in the evening, and training his dog late at night—a fulfilling and wonderful routine.
Idly, Mitsuki Kōmei remembered that the System still had a lot of points. He opened the store to see if there were any items that caught his eye.
Flipping through page after page, examining item after item, he eventually found a skill he quite liked on a certain page: Liquification Release—Evaporation Jutsu, valued at three billion points.
Evaporation Jutsu required Wind, Water, and Fire Chakra, and had two uses: offensive against enemies, and self-use.
When used against an enemy, it was an offensive Ninjutsu, blowing a wide range of steam from the caster's mouth, scattering and carrying away all moisture within the attack range, turning earth into sand, trees into dust, and people into dried husks.
The second use was on oneself, turning people or objects within a certain radius, centered on the user, into steam, allowing them to drift with the wind, achieving silent and undetectable teleportation.
After a brief consideration, Mitsuki Kōmei decided to buy it, as he might need it soon.
This Jutsu would be convenient for covert operations. He might even go to the Mountain Graveyard to check on Uchiha Madara, who was on an IV drip.
Mitsuki Kōmei only needed two billion points to add a Chakra nature to himself, but he hadn't bought it yet. His plan was always to acquire the skill first, then buy the Chakra.
With fifty billion points deducted, Mitsuki Kōmei instantly felt incredibly hot, his skin turning red, and steam rising from his body.
He returned to normal in a minute, now possessing Fire Release Chakra and able to use Fire Release Ninjutsu.
Mitsuki Kōmei immediately began to Cultivate Evaporation Jutsu, practicing it repeatedly until he mastered it. He found a few sheep and cast the Jutsu on them; in an instant, they turned into dried jerky, even drier than mummies!
He cast Evaporation Jutsu on himself and floated all the way to Konoha. Hovering in the air, he looked down at Konoha. Jiraiya was gathering material, Orochimaru was dissecting small animals, and Tsunade was actually taking a bath at home!
Do not look at what is improper! Mitsuki Kōmei was blown into Tsunade's room by an unknown breeze. He didn't have wind control skills, after all. After a good look, he returned to the Daimyo Manor.
Unbeknownst to him, the year Konoha 28 was halfway through, and the days of freeloading off Hidden Mist Village Ninja were rapidly approaching Mitsuki Kōmei.