The knowledge and inspiration flowing directly from the Tier Two Jars were immediately apparent. Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his brush and returned to the Tier One assessment questions.
He answered several with profound insight, effortlessly absorbing well over half the conceptual skill in each. On one particularly challenging question, his penmanship and clarity allowed him to absorb nearly 80% of the contained knowledge.
A sharp pang of regret struck him as he recalled his initial, impulsive answers. I should have waited until I had more context before responding! I squandered valuable resources!
"The higher-tier Jars contain more complete and detailed information," Shen Mo explained, watching the Hokage's self-recrimination with an amused glint in his eye. "Once you open a sufficient number, you will realize the Tier One problems are, in fact, elementary."
Conversely, to effortlessly answer the questions posed in the Tier Two papers, one would inevitably need the wisdom contained in the Tier Three or higher Jars.
Shen Mo observed Hiruzen Sarutobi with a subtle sense of professional satisfaction. As a system designer, the Talent Series was a masterstroke—a perfectly constructed 'grind' where progress demanded continuous, escalating investment.
Now, in this secluded Konoha grove, the most respected ninja in the world was nervously huddled with his core Jonin, all silently watching him rip through the Jars.
Tier Two Jars, worth ten times the value of Tier One, contained tenfold the conceptual skill. Hiruzen Sarutobi worked through nearly a hundred Jars, barely managing to piece together answers for four of the complex Tier Two assessment questions. Yet, the continuous infusion of Talent Energy left him profoundly satisfied.
He calculated his newfound power: he could now sustain the 'Thousand Mile Ambition' effect from the Martial Poem for approximately five full minutes. Five minutes was ample time to decide the outcome of any fight against a Kage-level threat.
If I could unlock its full potential... I could truly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the First Hokage again!
The Jars were undeniably potent. Sarutobi now desperately hoped for an equivalent "good thing" from the Tier Two batch—perhaps a Tier Two Literary Treasure, or even one of the legendary Skill Scrolls.
"We absolutely must obtain one!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked calm outwardly, but his desire was a torrent. This was about the revival of his dreams, his ambitions, and the ultimate security of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Shen Mo found the Hokage's addiction entirely predictable and endlessly entertaining. The temptation of opening the unknown was irresistible to every soul, regardless of age or title.
Sarutobi involuntarily increased his speed. One hundred fifty, two hundred, three hundred, three hundred fifty...
When he reached four hundred Jars opened, his hands were trembling slightly.
Nothing?
He had pulled numerous assessment papers, scholarly dissertations, historical texts, annotated reference books, and several consumable War Poems that provided temporary combat boosts. Yet, the truly magical artifact or the permanent skill scroll remained elusive.
"Lord Shen Mo," Hiruzen Sarutobi finally paused, unable to suppress his anxiety after opening the 400th Jar. "You mentioned earlier that a Job Change Item would fundamentally upgrade my ability. Is this similar to Tsunade's Paladin Job?"
"That is correct," Shen Mo confirmed, his dark eyes fixed on the anxious Hokage. He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. "Job Change Items are distinct from common rewards. They are destiny-altering artifacts, considered items of high quality, and are guaranteed to drop if your investment is deep enough—a safeguard for those experiencing extreme misfortune."
He didn't elaborate that these were 'safety net' drops programmed to ensure loyalty after massive investment.
"How can such a guarantee be made?" The surrounding Jonin leaned in, their breathing shallow. They had always assumed the Jars were like lottery tickets, the contents preset. If the drops are random, how can a rare item have a high probability of appearing in the final few Jars?
"The Jar is safeguarded by the power of the Rules. Even a being as formidable as myself cannot know the contents until the seal is broken," Shen Mo insisted, a hint of profound mystery entering his smile. "This is truly Unknown Fate. No one can predict the outcome until the very moment of creation."
The statement sent a strange, cold shiver through the group. It felt as if an impartial, cosmic eye—the eye of Fate itself—was watching them as they reached for the Jars.
"Is it...?" Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out, then hesitated, his hand hovering over the array. He subtly withdrew his fingers and grabbed a Jar much further down the remaining line. Even though all the Jars were technically his, he was gripped by the terrifying sensation that the contents were shifting with every passing second.
He continued the frantic process, the remaining number of Jars dwindling rapidly. Cold sweat beaded on Sarutobi's forehead. Could this investment—five hundred Tier Two Jars—really yield nothing of enduring value?
Shen Mo's expression grew genuinely complex. He had tested the 0.5% probability drop rate repeatedly, and it usually surfaced long before this point.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, for all your gentle nature, you are tragically unlucky.
Just as Shen Mo considered intervening by accessing the internal list—
Finally—
The moment the 470th Jar was shattered, a dazzling, majestic rainbow light erupted, carrying with it an overwhelming, mountain-like surge of conceptual power. The Jonin involuntarily braced themselves, feeling a heavy spiritual weight pressing down on their shoulders.
That is momentum.
Despite his lifelong composure, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face lit up with incandescent joy. Even without Shen Mo's confirmation, he knew this was the legendary drop.
Shen Mo breathed an internal sigh of relief. He hadn't intervened, but the spectacular drop was necessary. Just like in any massive multiplayer game, seeing other players acquire magnificent loot was the single greatest driver for continued investment.