Though Shen Mo acknowledged Konoha as a financial hub, Tsunade's attempt to simply command him to follow her was a direct threat to his brand. As a mysterious interdimensional merchant, he could not be perceived as anyone's subordinate or easily restricted. His entire business model relied on maintaining an air of unpredictable freedom.
"It would be a great service if Miss Tsunade would simply introduce customers to me," Shen Mo said, his chuckle light and diplomatic. "You can reach me instantly, anywhere, via the badge. When a potential buyer is interested, I'll arrive as quickly as possible."
"Don't be ridiculous. Just follow us," Tsunade declared, crossing her arms, her voice laced with the unwavering authority of a princess.
"That, unfortunately, is impossible," Shen Mo replied, his smile still pleasant but his tone firm. He stood up, giving a graceful, yet final, nod. "I have many other clients to see. Miss Tsunade, I bid you farewell."
Before Tsunade could even twitch, a soft 'pop' sounded, and Shen Mo vanished from the room, leaving no trace but a faint whiff of ozone.
Apparition, a short-range teleportation spell costing 700 Transaction Points, had served him well.
"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune exclaimed, startled.
"Space Ninjutsu?" Tsunade frowned, quickly dismissing the idea. It didn't possess the signature warping of her grandfather's Flying Thunder God Jutsu; it was something foreign, something from another dimension.
Tsunade abruptly stood. "Shizune, we are returning to Konoha immediately."
The appearance of an interdimensional merchant was too large a threat—or too great an opportunity—to ignore. She had to report the situation to the Third Hokage and, more urgently, start gathering the astronomical funds required for the Resurrection Jars.
Thus, after decades away, Tsunade was finally making her reluctant return to the Leaf Village, setting a cascade of future events into motion that Shen Mo was blissfully unaware of.
Shen Mo reappeared in the alleyway of the small, nameless town, a place that felt to him like an antique movie set, filled with quaint, low-slung houses.
"So, what's next?"
He casually exchanged a roasted chicken leg and leaned against a stone wall, eating while his mind worked. The sudden, profound solitude of being alone in an alien world hit him sharply. He quickly dove into his system, briefly searching for a 'Return to Earth' option, which, predictably, was absent. A quick custom-search for it yielded only the ominous warning: "Insufficient transaction points."
"No point dwelling on that," Shen Mo muttered, finishing his meal. "First, business. System, customized ID search service: scan this town for the highest net worth. The fee is only 1,300 TPs for this small area? Perfect."
In the world of Naruto, the strongest were the shinobi, but the richest were often the nobles and merchants who controlled the true flow of capital and resources. Their wealth, accumulated over generations of trade, frequently dwarfed that of even the most powerful ninja clans.
His target was quickly identified: Yuuki Kitahara, the current, aging patriarch of the Kitahara family, the town's undisputed financial leader.
Yuuki Kitahara, in his early fifties, looked every bit the powerful noble. His face was lined with the concerns of business, yet his expensive attire and commanding posture exuded innate authority and the weight of wealth.
Suddenly, with a barely audible displacement of air, a figure materialized directly in front of him.
"Who are you?!"
Instantly, the bodyguards—the shinobi retained by the Kitahara family—came rushing in.
Shen Mo didn't flinch. He softly commanded: "Activate: Mirror Space."
A mysterious, silver aura radiated outward. An invisible, ten-minute localized barrier snapped into existence around Shen Mo and the Kitahara family's dining area.
The spell, a localized, non-destructive Doctor Strange technique, cost 2,000 Transaction Points but was devastatingly effective.
The approaching ninja bodyguards slammed to a confused halt. They were standing directly in front of the room, yet their eyes scanned everywhere but the precise area where the event was unfolding. They looked at each other, perplexed, unable to register the existence of the newly formed Mirror Space.
The sudden, inexplicable change caused Yuuki Kitahara to leap to his feet, his eyes wide. His two grown sons immediately scrambled back, one crying out in pure terror, the other at least managing to place himself defensively between the intruder and his father.
"Good evening," Shen Mo greeted them with a polite, unsettling smile. He was dressed in a sharp, modern tuxedo and held a thin, elegant round staff—a deliberate theatrical choice to emphasize his foreign nature.
"What is this?"
"Who are you, and what have you done to the guards!?"
Kitahara Yuuki remained outwardly silent, but his rigid posture and the faint tremor in his hands betrayed his deep fear. He knew the guards were right outside, yet they were completely blind. This was not the work of a common ninja.
"Allow me to introduce myself," Shen Mo said with a graceful, theatrical bow. "I am a merchant, and I specialize in unique products."
He gently waved the staff. Ten small, black pottery jars materialized on the table before the startled family.
"I believe my products might be of interest to you, Mr. Kitahara." Shen Mo's smile deepened.
"A merchant?" Kitahara muttered, looking at the jars. A wave of relief washed over him—as long as the man wanted money, the situation was manageable.
"These are no ordinary pottery jars," Shen Mo explained, anticipating the thought. "For years, we have traversed countless worlds, trading magic jars to mortals. They contain incredible wonders. If a customer is fortunate, they can attain eternal youth, forbidden power, and limitless strength. So, Mr. Kitahara, would you care to draw first?"
Kitahara struggled to fully comprehend the interdimensional claims, but the current situation rendered refusal impossible. He opened his mouth to ask about his payment methods, but Shen Mo interrupted him.
"And your money is ready."
Shen Mo waved his staff again, and the space next to the jars was suddenly filled with glittering piles of gold coins, silver ingots, and stacks of precious jewels—the complete, tangible wealth of the Kitahara family.
This was a personalized service costing 5,000 Transaction Points. It showcased two things: his overwhelming power and his deep knowledge of the family's assets.
Kitahara Yuuki gasped, recognizing the ring his mother had hidden in a safe, and realizing that even his ninja connections had never hinted at such capabilities.
But why not just rob us? the thought screamed in his mind.
"We only conduct sincere, genuine transactions," Shen Mo explained, preempting the fear. He waved his hand, and the shimmering pile of wealth instantly vanished. "This way, our valued customers never have to worry about the integrity of our organization."
Shen Mo felt a surge of internal triumph. The Kitahara family held assets worth over 10 million Transaction Points! The display—the theatrical entrance, the custom-made suit, the Mirror Space spell, and the money teleportation—had cost him nearly ten thousand TPs.
It was worth every single Ryo. The core customer was hooked