The cost? Naruto's chakra.
Energy produced by the body.
"Sure, go for it," Naruto said, unbothered.
He'd never felt low on chakra.
Sarutobi tensed, despite Shen Mo's no-harm promise—draining chakra was itself harmful.
"Done," Shen Mo said, chuckling, doing nothing visible.
But Naruto's chakra vanished instantly.
The sign?
Exhaustion.
Naruto didn't even groan, just collapsed, snoring loudly.
"Tsunade," Sarutobi said, looking at her.
"Got it," Tsunade replied, checking Naruto, smacking her lips. "Tch, so much chakra drained, and his pathways are untouched. It's like it just disappeared. No harm, but he'll sleep two or three days."
Her estimate, based on Naruto's recovery speed.
But she missed one thing.
The Nine-Tails.
Right now, it was baffled.
"That kid… his chakra… gone," it muttered, clueless. "Sealed? No. Some weird jutsu?"
No matter its thoughts, wisps of Nine-Tails chakra began leaking.
Not by choice—forced out.
Jinchuriki perk.
At this rate, Naruto's chakra would recover by night. If he didn't mind sleeping, he could sell again.
It's not his life he's burning—it's the Nine-Tails'.
"I'll take Naruto back," Sarutobi said, pocketing his pipe, princess-carrying Naruto, then looking at Shen Mo. "Lord Shen Mo, I need time to gather funds for cans. Could you stay in Konoha a few days? Tsunade will host."
"No problem," Shen Mo nodded, smiling.
Needing to gather cash meant big buys.
Naruto's deal earned him little.
The real prize? Sarutobi, the Hokage, and Kakashi, the jutsu tycoon.
"Tsunade, host Lord Shen Mo well," Sarutobi instructed.
Probing Shen Mo had skyrocketed his status in the Hokage's eyes—unprecedented.
Mysterious methods, vast power, tempting cans.
No matter how unbelievable, this otherworld merchant was real.
"Got it," Tsunade said, casual.
She'd dealt with Shen Mo most among them.
Once Sarutobi left…
Tsunade lit up, rubbing her hands, grinning at Shen Mo.
"Let's go, can time! I scored cash from the old man."
"How many?"
Shen Mo asked, smiling, not expecting much.
"Ten Level 2 cans first," Tsunade said, flashing ten fingers, adding, "I sold several ninjutsu, medical skills, even my youth-preserving jutsu—knowledge only, of course."
"You finally decided," Shen Mo said, perking up.
He'd said it: ninjas' value isn't cash.
What cash?
Develop jutsu, create knowledge, trade that.
Useless stuff? Sell memories and experience too.
"I wasn't sure," Tsunade said, staring at Shen Mo, eyes misty. "I worried—would he fit in today's Konoha, with me aged, his old friends, his future, his Hokage dream? But…"
Her voice softened, mist clearing, eyes vibrant. "Your words made it clear. No matter what, I can't back down."
Shen Mo blinked.
Tsunade… radiated gentle maternal glow.
Compared to their first meeting—drunk, gambling wreck?
Fate's cruel.
"My words carry weight," Shen Mo said, winking, shamelessly boasting. "My perspective—I've seen too much, learned too much. Countless voices and ideas clash. I see what you insiders miss."
True enough. Modern folks may not see all, but they're ace at arguing.
Era's edge.
"Now I'm curious about your age," Tsunade said, arms crossed, genuinely intrigued. "You're not some centuries-old relic, are you?"
"Guess," Shen Mo said, smirking cryptically.
"Tch, fine, keep it," Tsunade huffed, then tossed her worries aside, flashing a radiant smile, slamming a cash bag before Shen Mo, waving grandly.
"Open cans!"
Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi stayed, hooked.
Watching others open cans was oddly fun.
"Medical cans still?"
"Duh!"
"Here's ten Level 2 medical cans, take 'em," Shen Mo said, summoning them.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said, pausing, looking at him. "If you want revival too, skip starting fresh. List your ninjutsu knowledge, even memories, and I'll open for you. First revival's yours!"
Tsunade knew Kakashi was the real cash cow.
With him?
They might pull revival today!
"Deal," Kakashi nodded, no hesitation.
Revival was in medical cans, but beyond that, he cared little for medicine.
Rin first.
Then… he'd have an answer for Obito's revival.
"Watch close," Tsunade said, grinning at the cans. "If cans reflect the opener's will and fate, I'll pull revival!"
"Go ahead," Shen Mo said, grinning.
Today, he might even snag Professor X's mutant powers.
--------------------
Want to read ahead? Early chapters on: patreon.com/ShadowKage