Shen Mo's consciousness struggled back from a deep, black void. His eyes fluttered open, slowly taking in his surroundings: a sparse Japanese-style wooden room. He lay directly on the woven tatami mats, covered by a thin, rough blanket.
The weakness in his limbs was overwhelming. He rubbed his head, his thoughts condensing around one silent, internalized command: "System."
Instantly, a soft, translucent blue screen unfolded within his mind.
A wry, half-amused feeling rose in his chest. He was just an ordinary game planner on Earth when the so-called "Universal Transaction System" had violently yanked him into a new reality. His only act of rebellion before the countdown hit zero was using his new cheat code to secure a massive life insurance policy for his family.
"This is terrifying," Shen Mo whispered, realizing that this system, despite being a cheat, had a very powerful owner controlling the levers.
After a few minutes of stillness, he accepted his fate. There was no going back, only forward. If you can't resist, you might as well exploit it.
"Universal Transaction System, huh?"
He scanned the system's core function: Any transaction, regardless of what he bought or sold, could be converted into Transaction Points within the system. These points could, in turn, purchase anything within the system's vast store—and he meant anything.
He had seen Doraemon's time machine on the list. It cost a horrifying, unreadable number of zeroes, but it was there.
"There has to be a catch," he mused, looking over the terms.
The limitations were clear: the trade must be voluntary on both sides, and the item's perceived value could only range from one-fifth to five times its original worth. With 110,000 Transaction Points in his current balance—roughly matching his life savings back on Earth—he was relieved. It wasn't a system that cheated its host or the people they traded with on basic currency value.
Good.
Suddenly, a loud female voice boomed outside the room, dragging him out of his inventory check. Instinctively, Shen Mo quickly dropped several powerful, instant-use defensive items into his system shopping cart, ready to purchase at a moment's notice.
CRASH!
The sliding wooden door was violently kicked open. Standing framed in the doorway was a striking woman with golden hair, matching golden eyes, and a voluptuous figure barely contained by a light gray dress.
Shen Mo blinked. The recognition was instant, despite the realistic setting.
"Is that... Tsunade?"
He wasn't an anime fanatic, but the face of the legendary Sannin was unmistakable.
"Hey, you're awake," the woman said, sounding remarkably cheerful as she walked over and sat down without a hint of proper etiquette. She extended a palm with a smug grin. "As you can clearly see, I saved your life. Now, cough up the medical fees."
The moment the woman spoke, the system instantly debited 30,000 Transaction Points to translate her language into his newly-learned, fluid Japanese.
Beside her, another woman—Tsunade's disciple, Shizune, who Shen Mo also recognized—knelt respectfully.
"We found you unconscious outside our inn," Shizune said softly, avoiding eye contact with her master. "We brought you in for treatment."
She deliberately left out Tsunade's initial assessment: "He has delicate skin and looks like a rich noble! He's our ticket to the next pot of gambling money!"
"I understand," Shen Mo replied, his voice still weak but steady in his newly acquired language. "I will gladly cover all expenses. However, could you first prepare some food? Liquid nourishment would be best."
"Tch, already ordering people around." Tsunade stood up with a bored wave of her hand. "Shizune, he's your problem. Don't let him leave until he pays for the expensive surgery I performed!"
Shen Mo had observed her quick assessment of him: no chakra, relaxed muscles—a mere civilian, likely a rich merchant.
Shizune, whose attitude was far more professional, agreed and left to prepare the liquid food.
Once the tension in the room eased, Shen Mo finally allowed himself a quiet moment. He was truly here. He had traveled to the Naruto world.
If so, then I already have the greatest advantage, he thought, not about meeting his favorite characters, but about calculating how to maximize profit and enjoyment without risking his life. A familiar world blueprint was priceless.
For example, he knew Tsunade was obsessed with one thing: the ability to resurrect those she loved.
"If I sell a Resurrection Coin to Tsunade," a confident smile touched his lips, "I could easily get five times the price. She desperately needs it."
But Shen Mo knew better. Selling what people need is the lowest-level business.
"A transaction that maximizes profit isn't about need," he mused. "It's about creating a desire for something they never knew they wanted."
He thought of the classic business parable: selling combs to priests. But his method was even better, more reliable, and far more predatory.
The Gacha.
Loot boxes. Mystery packs. The randomized draw. Players spend fortunes on a chance at what they want, wading through mountains of junk. As a former game planner, Shen Mo was the master of this psychology.
His decision was made. He wouldn't just be a merchant. He would be the purveyor of fate. And who better to start with than the infamous "Legendary Sucker" herself?
After recovering his strength with the food, Shen Mo purchased a few more low-level life-saving items and then requested to settle the medical debt.
Shizune led him to where Tsunade was already drinking alone. The subtle red flush on her beautiful, porcelain skin made her look captivating. Despite her age, her fiery figure made it impossible for Shen Mo not to admire her.
"Boy, your eyes are quite interesting," Tsunade observed, turning her gaze sideways. She had noted the look of pure, unadulterated appreciation, a rare and refreshing change from the usual fearful or lustful stares.
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What item will Shen Mo choose to be the first product in his gacha shop?