Everyone was enveloped by the magnificent, swirling sea of leaves, which resembled a vibrant, golden ocean. Even the highly skilled Konoha ninja rarely witnessed a spectacle of such ethereal beauty and raw power.
"Is this... an illusion?" Kurenai Yuhi instinctively reached out her hand, wanting to touch the swirling cascade.
"Do not move!" Hiruzen Sarutobi commanded sharply, immediately restraining her.
He swiftly withdrew a few specially crafted kunai from his pouch. He threw them into the mesmerizing, golden torrent.
To the utter astonishment of everyone present, the fine-iron kunai—weapons that could withstand the impact of high-level Chakra techniques—were instantly caught by the leaves. They were violently scraped, ground, and cut by the persistent flow.
In a terrifying moment, the kunai silently vanished, reduced to mere iron filings that were swept away by the beautiful, majestic display.
A shiver of cold realization ran down every spine. Beneath the dreamy, captivating beauty lay a chilling, absolute murderous intent. The Kunai were less brittle than dry wood in the face of this power.
"Those eyes are the mark of achieving the level of Yin-Yang Mind Control," Hiruzen Sarutobi stated, his voice deep and serious as he looked into Shen Mo's profound, one-black, one-white gaze.
"According to the fragmented knowledge I gained from the Jars, upon reaching this mastery, the wielder can create all matter, and the resultant forms are born directly from the caster's will. Furthermore, it allows the use of any Martial Poem to generate unique, elemental effects."
The fear in the Jonin was twofold: directed at the astonishing power of the Yin-Yang School itself, and at Shen Mo's own boundless capabilities.
This man seemed to embody omniscience, displaying a different, god-like ability with every encounter. Just when they thought they understood the constraints, he shattered their perception again.
Sarutobi's internal conclusion was terrifying: Shen Mo's inherent power is exponentially more terrifying than even the abilities granted by the highest-tier Jars.
Standing calmly amidst the dazzling, lethal sea of leaves, Shen Mo smiled faintly. "The capabilities of the Yin-Yang School are indeed analogous to your ninjutsu, capable of infinite transformation. However, even at its lowest tier, it boasts no so-called bloodline limits or attribute restrictions; it can evolve freely. This distinction alone offers revolutionary benefits."
The Jonin looked at the swirling, sharp storm of leaves. No ninjutsu could achieve such organic transformation. To create leaves required the Wood Release bloodline limit. This Yin-Yang School sounded like some form of Omnipotent Element Release.
This realization alone was enough to excite them, challenging the very foundation of their power structure—the immutable nature of bloodline limitations.
Shen Mo raised his brush and drew a single, final line in the air.
The magnificent display instantly vanished. The Jonin blinked, their skin prickling. Where the leaves had been, there was now a massive, perfectly circular depression in the earth. Every tree, every blade of grass, had been utterly erased, as if that section of woodland had been wiped clean from existence.
"As terrifying as the Tsuchikage's Dust Release," Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered, his eyes now blazing. The weak, elderly facade had completely dissolved, replaced by a fierce, focused intensity—a transformation driven by the innate Talent Energy.
"This was a mere fraction of its potential," Shen Mo confirmed, gesturing with the brush. "A true Scholar who comprehends the complete changes of Yin and Yang can create and rule a micro-world. Even your Six Paths Sage would be unable to challenge that level of existence."
In the Talent World's cosmology, true mastery was indeed cosmic in scale.
Just then, the black-and-white swirling diagram in the sky dissipated, the energy returning to the Jar. A small, tangible Bagua Plate—the Job Change Item—settled at the bottom.
Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully retrieved the plate, his profound valuation evident in his meticulous handling. This was his single chance for fundamental, systemic advancement.
"The Yin-Yang School is one of the most difficult paths for a Job Change due to its exceptionally high knowledge requirement," Shen Mo informed him. "However, you should not be overly concerned. The process is essentially a knowledge assessment. A deep understanding of the Yin-Yang School will make the test simple."
All you need to do is open more Jars.
Sarutobi understood: he had one shot at the test.
Gritting his teeth, he made the final, desperate gambit.
"Lord Shen Mo, I am selling the entirety of my remaining ninjutsu knowledge to acquire more Tier Three Jars!"
He had come too far. He held the Job Change Item in his hands. Failure was not an option, even if it meant emptying the last recesses of his mind.
Shen Mo smiled and nodded, accepting the huge influx of memory. He then materialized forty-eight Tier Three Jars.
At 300,000 points per Jar, this was the absolute limit of Sarutobi's remaining intellectual wealth. The significance of these forty-eight Jars outweighed all the others combined.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the venerable Hokage, could no longer maintain his composure. His face was tense. Each Jar represented five million Ryo in sold secrets.
While the attention was fixed on Sarutobi's frantic opening, Tsunade quietly approached Shen Mo and whispered:
"How many Tier Three Jars must I open before I qualify to purchase a Tier Four Jar?"
Due to his assistance and generally calm demeanor, Tsunade felt a level of trust toward Shen Mo that bordered on gratitude.
Shen Mo looked at her, then shook his head. "Once you reach Tier Three, the numerical restrictions are removed. You should have received the explanatory message on your Badge. There are only two ways to access Tier Four Jars: First, if you are favored by a Senior Member during a battle on the Stage of Destiny; or second, when I personally determine that you have become sufficiently powerful."
"We are now judged on inherent strength, not the volume of purchases?" Tsunade summarized, surprised.
"That is one way to interpret the criteria," Shen Mo confirmed with a nod.