Shindai summoned Maria No.1, his meticulously crafted creation.
Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi both had nosebleeds but couldn't tear their eyes away from her.
Shindai puffed out his chest smugly and asked, "Well, what do you think?"
Jiraiya gave Shindai a thumbs-up with a lecherous grin, saying, "Bangin'!"
Hiruzen tried to keep his composure and dry coughed, "Dressed like that—what kind of example are you setting?"
Shindai nudged Hiruzen with his elbow and teased, "Don't pretend, Third. Your reaction was exactly the same as Jiraiya's. And I know all about your Telescope Technique. Caught you peeping a few times, didn't you?"
Hiruzen froze in place and turned his gaze toward Jiraiya.
Jiraiya quickly blurted out, "I didn't say anything! Since Shindai is now following Orochimaru, it must've been Orochimaru who told him!"
Hiruzen muttered, "Honestly, how could Orochimaru just spill everything?"
Jiraiya slung an arm around Shindai's shoulder and grinned, "Shindai, be honest with yourself—haven't I treated you well?"
Shindai tilted his head thoughtfully, "So-so. Back then, you practically sold me out in a heartbeat. Got me beaten up badly by Tsunade. Had to lie low for days inside the tent."
Scratching his chin awkwardly, Jiraiya replied, "Let's not dwell on the past. How about giving me this puppet? What do you think?"
Hiruzen said sternly, "Jiraiya, you won't be able to handle it properly."
Jiraiya smirked, "Old man, can't handle it? I'm not married though. If you get caught... tsk tsk."
Hiruzen's face darkened instantly.
Tightening his grip on Shindai's shoulder, Jiraiya continued enthusiastically, "So? Shindai? Give it to me, and I guarantee you won't lose out!"
Shindai rubbed his fingers together suggestively and asked, "If that's the case, how much are you two planning to invest in me, Jiraiya and Third?"
"Invest?"
Jiraiya and Hiruzen looked at Shindai in confusion.
Shindai explained, "I want to open a shop in Konoha selling these puppets."
"A shop selling specifically these puppets? Will that really work?" Jiraiya exclaimed in surprise.
Shindai elaborated to Jiraiya and Hiruzen, "Imagine this—there are plenty of single people who work hard all day long outside, only to return home to an empty house at night. How pitiful.
At times like that, if a stunningly beautiful girl says, 'You've worked hard today,' it's more effective than taking a Military Rations Pill—it'll recharge their energy completely!
Later, I can make improvements too. When these puppets can do household chores and cook meals, who would worry about market demand? These aren't just puppets anymore—they're soulmates; they're family!"
"Jiraiya, since you're unmarried, you're the most qualified to comment. Imagine this: after finishing a mission and coming home tired, a beautiful woman says, 'Jiraiya, you've worked hard today,' then prepares a whole table of delicious dishes for you. Wouldn't that make you happy?"
Jiraiya twitched his lips. Why was this turning into a personal attack?
Well… it made sense somehow!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was also feeling quite envious as he listened quietly from the side.
Shindai continued enthusiastically, "I believe my Puppet Shop has great potential. Not just targeting male customers—I want female customers too! Having a handsome guy around you every day would offer tremendous emotional fulfillment.
What's more, we can customize their personalities—cold tsundere seniors, sweet young girls, stoic hunks, warm-hearted men... We can handle them all. Doesn't that excite you? It must be extremely exciting, right!"
Jiraiya nodded repeatedly, "Excited, super excited!"
Now Jiraiya began daydreaming.
After working hard all day, when he returned home, Tsunade would give him a shoulder massage and gently say to him with tenderness, "Jiraiya, you've really worked hard today~"
Wow!
Jiraiya felt like he had become the ultimate winner in life!
Hmm? Something wasn't quite right. If everything could be customized, why would it still be Tsunade?
Right now Hiruzen Sarutobi was also lost in fantasy.
Biwako Sarutobi had always been quite strict. What if Shindai could create a young, gentle Puppet version of her...
That would just be too blissful!
Suddenly remembering something, Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled Shindai aside.
"Shindai, do you remember the promise you made back then?"
Shindai asked with confusion, "Promise? What promise?"
Hiruzen whispered, "The one you made back then about creating a Custom Puppet for me."
"Oh yeah," Shindai nodded, "Don't worry, The Third, I remember. But it'll have to wait until after my shop officially opens."
Hiruzen immediately understood what Shindai meant between the lines.
That's what he needed to get the shop up and running.
Hiruzen hesitated slightly. Although he had served as Hokage for many years, he didn't actually have much money—most of it was controlled by Biwako.
Looking at Jiraiya, he suggested, "Jiraiya, how about investing? I think Shindai's idea is genuinely good."
Jiraiya asked, "So Shindai, how much money do you need to open your shop?"
With great excitement, Shindai replied, "Oh, just a few tens of millions of *ryō* should be enough."
"What?! Several tens of millions? Are you taking me for a fool! Even if you sold me off, I wouldn't have that much money!" Jiraiya exclaimed in shock.
Seeing Jiraiya's reaction, half of Shindai's excitement disappeared, and he asked cautiously, "Then how much can you offer, Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya raised one finger.
Shindai looked at the single finger Jiraiya held up and asked, "Ten million *ryō*?"
"Jiraiya shook his head, 'At most one million ryo. I can't come up with any more than that.'"
Shindai immediately got anxious, "What? How far will that get us? Just one of my Puppet already costs over a hundred thousand ryo!"
Jiraiya curled his lips downward, "Do you think I've got unlimited money? Sure, I earn a lot, but I spend just as much too."
Shindai frowned in confusion, "But Lord Jiraiya, what about your earnings from writing books? Haven't you spent all of that already?"
Jiraiya looked surprised, "Earnings from writing? You know about my 'Legend of Enduring Willpower'? I haven't even officially published it yet, so where would I get any royalties?"
Shindai scratched his head in frustration.
So this was why *Make Out Paradise* hadn't come out yet.
He'd originally assumed Jiraiya was incredibly rich.
Shindai turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Gritting his teeth and stomping his foot decisively, Sarutobi resolved to take out his lovingly saved-up emergency stash, "I can contribute two hundred thousand ryo!"
The moment Shindai looked at Sarutobi, his eyes turned into a dead-fish stare.
Two hundred thousand ryo?
What could that possibly accomplish?
He had originally hoped to attract some serious investment funding, but now he only managed to scrape together a total of 1.2 million ryo altogether. It was just ridiculous.
Now Shindai was nursing a splitting headache. He clearly needed to think of other options.
Suddenly, Shindai thought of that scroll.
[Kannabi Bridge holds treasure!]
Maybe... he should try looking for that treasure sometime. Perhaps there was more truth to it than he thought.
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