The border of the Fire Nation was cloaked in the dim light of early evening. A slight breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees, carrying with it the faint scent of smoke and earth. Standing near the edge of the road was Payne, his gaze fixed on the weathered stone pillar that marked the border. Boldly engraved on its surface were the words: "Omniscient and omnipotent, with everything."
Payne's eyes narrowed as he read the inscription, his mind wandering. Is this really the place? he wondered quietly. The phrase seemed to echo an ancient promise—or perhaps a warning. He paused and whispered under his breath, "I wonder if there's truly any hope for peace in the ninja world…"
Without waiting for an answer, Payne stepped forward and began walking toward the small store just beyond the pillar. Konan followed swiftly, her footsteps light but purposeful, matching Payne's pace exactly.
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Inside the dimly lit store, a young man named Peter was arranging some items on a cluttered counter. His sharp eyes caught the two new visitors the moment they entered. Peter's mind briefly drifted to other matters.
How long will it take Obito and Black Zetsu to amass that fortune? he thought with a wry smile. With their unique talents—one possessing a bug-like Mangekyō Sharingan and the other able to phase through any solid matter—it would be child's play for them to earn huge sums in a short time. Making money for these two was as effortless as drinking water. It was only a matter of time before they reached their goal.
The sudden sound of footsteps interrupted his thoughts: tap, tap, tap. Peter turned his head sharply and his eyes widened in surprise. His heart skipped a beat.
What? Payne and Konan? Here?
He quickly masked his surprise and stepped forward with a bright smile. "Welcome! Do you need anything?"
Payne studied Peter closely. He looked like an ordinary young man—nothing particularly special about him. But Payne didn't dismiss him outright.
Before Payne could answer, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside Peter's mind: "A B+ grade Rinnegan has been detected. Please inquire if the host is interested in selling it. Purchase price: 150 million taels."
Peter's lips twitched involuntarily. Does the system really think Nagato would sell his Rinnegan? Of course not. Yet, Peter asked casually, "Are you selling your Rinnegan?"
Payne blinked, clearly taken aback by the question. Konan's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she stared at Peter.
Embarrassed by their disbelief, Peter scratched the back of his head and explained, "I'm just asking. I'm willing to pay 150 million taels for it, no less."
Konan's lips twitched in amusement, clearly thinking the Rinnegan was far too precious to ever be sold. Payne simply shook his head. "Not for sale," he said firmly.
Peter nodded knowingly. He had expected that answer all along. It would be a miracle if such a priceless treasure could be sold—even for the right price.
Trying to lighten the mood, Peter smiled and said, "If you need anything else, just ask. I have everything here!"
"Everything?" Konan raised an eyebrow skeptically, clearly doubting Peter's claim. How could one store have everything?
Payne also regarded Peter warily, unconvinced by his confident boasting.
Seeing their disbelief, Peter patted his chest and reassured them, "Really. You name it, and I can get it. As long as the money is right, we can solve any problem."
Payne and Konan exchanged a glance, each noticing the surprise and curiosity in the other's eyes.
After a brief pause, Payne finally asked tentatively, "Do you have equipment capable of capturing the tailed beasts?"
Peter's smile widened. "Of course. Just wait a moment." He turned and walked toward a dusty counter, pulling out a small black box.
Payne had only asked on a whim, but curiosity drew him closer. Peter opened the box to reveal a shiny red-and-white sphere resting inside.
"This is a Poké Ball," Peter explained, holding the sphere up. "It can hold the tailed beasts within. They're safe inside, no matter how powerful."
Both Payne and Konan stared at the small sphere in awe. They had never imagined something so compact could contain the massive, destructive tailed beasts.
"How much?" Payne asked.
"Five million taels each," Peter replied without hesitation.
Five million taels was nothing for Payne. For an item that could seal a tailed beast, it was a bargain.
"I'll take nine," Payne declared.
Peter's eyes lit up with excitement. Finally, a big customer! He quickly retrieved eight more Poké Balls and placed them on the counter.
Konan pulled out a scroll and handed it to Peter. After verifying the details, he uploaded it into his system space with a few swift taps on his wrist device.
Both Payne and Konan were silently impressed by Peter's efficiency and resources. Clearly, this "boss" was no ordinary shopkeeper. Otherwise, who would dare ask him about buying a Rinnegan right in front of him?
Rubbing his hands with glee, Peter asked, "Anything else you need?"
Payne hesitated for a moment, then said, "Do you have a weapon that can bring world peace?"
Peter blinked, taken aback by the weight of the question.
World peace? He mentally queried his system and received an affirmative response.
With a confident grin, Peter waved his hand in the air. A holographic blue screen materialized in front of them. He pressed play.
On the screen, a massive missile dropped rapidly from the sky, its sleek metal body reflecting the fading sun's rays. It descended like an unstoppable force of destruction, a harbinger of judgment.
Suddenly, a blinding white flash erupted as the missile detonated high above a sprawling city below. The camera zoomed out to reveal a gigantic mushroom cloud rising into the sky, blotting out the sun.
The explosion's shockwave swept across the landscape with terrifying speed, leveling everything in its path for thousands of kilometers.
As the smoke and dust slowly cleared, the once vibrant city was nothing more than a barren wasteland—desolate and lifeless.
Payne's eyes widened in horror. He stared at the screen, unable to believe what he was witnessing. His heart pounded fiercely.
"This city…" he whispered, "It was as large as the entire Fire Nation…"
Konan stood silently beside him, equally shaken. Their worldview had just been shattered by the power they had just witnessed. Such destruction was beyond anything they had imagined.
The screen went black as the video ended, but the weight of what they saw lingered heavily in the room. Neither Payne nor Konan spoke for several long moments.
Peter finally broke the silence. "That," he said softly, "is a three-phase bomb."
He paused, letting the weight of the words sink in.
"This bomb isn't just powerful because of the explosion itself," he continued. "The aftermath is just as devastating. The blast releases intense radiation, contaminating everything in its path. Anyone exposed suffers from irreversible damage. Life begins to count down the moment the radiation touches them."
Payne and Konan exchanged a fearful glance. To hear such horrifying words delivered so calmly unsettled them deeply.
Sensing their unease, Peter chuckled lightly and added, "If you think that's all, don't worry—I have even more powerful weapons."
With that, he moved to click on another video.
Payne and Konan's eyes widened further in shock. More powerful weapons? The thought was terrifying.
But just as Peter's finger was about to press play, the two hurriedly raised their hands to stop him.
"Boss, wait!" Payne said urgently.
Peter paused, curious. "Is there something wrong? Don't you want to see more?"
Konan shook her head and spoke softly, "It's not that. It's just… weapons like these… they're dangerous beyond reason."
Payne nodded in agreement. "Even if we had the money to buy them, would we dare use them?"
Peter regarded the two silently for a moment, then smiled faintly. "I understand. These weapons are not toys. They're meant to be deterrents—reminders of the price of war."
The room fell quiet again. The weight of the conversation hung heavy in the air.
For all the talk of peace, such terrifying power underscored the fragile balance between war and destruction.
Payne and Konan left the store with much to think about.
Outside, the stone pillar gleamed faintly in the twilight, still bearing the words: "Omniscient and omnipotent, with everything."
But the promise of "everything" came with a heavy cost—one they were only beginning to understand.