"This is only a tenth of her power?"
Hiashi Hyūga and the assembled elders were speechless. Knowing that the Jars conferred immense strength was one thing; witnessing it with such devastating clarity was entirely another.
Tsunade's attack was instantaneous, requiring no seals and offering zero warning. Most terrifyingly, even with their Byakugan, they could not discern the mechanism by which the Sacred Light materialized directly above Neji's head.
At that moment, Neji's strained voice emerged from the blinding light.
"I... I cannot defend against it."
He vaulted out of the light column, his raw Nen power violently surging from his pores in a desperate attempt to create a protective shroud. His skin was flushed red, making him look as if he had just escaped a scorching sauna.
Even a tenth of her power was overwhelming?
Neji, however, was not discouraged. He recognized that his Nen defense was incredibly rudimentary. Achieving any measure of protection was already a miraculous feat.
"This technique, Sacred Light Baptism, is a Skill Tsunade acquired from a Tier Three Jar," Shen Mo explained, shaking his head. "Nen is a power system completely foreign to this world, making it profoundly unfamiliar to you. You must practice constantly, strategize rigorously, explore its applications, and, of course, open more Jars."
One of the Merchant Guild's core goals in initiating cross-world job transfers was always simple: to sell more Jars.
The fusion of powers from different realities inevitably created systemic collisions. For highly talented individuals, this collision often produced a synergistic effect far greater than the sum of its parts. Yet, to truly assimilate or master the foreign power required the Jars—the fastest, and perhaps only, reliable method.
Neji instinctively understood this. He immediately worked to circulate Nen energy throughout his body, forming a basic, unrefined Ten—the prototype of the powerful enveloping technique known as En.
Then—
He explosively rushed toward Tsunade!
Whether due to the raw, explosive power of the Nen or the extreme physical enhancements he had already received, the force Neji unleashed felt almost like instantaneous movement.
"So fast!" Hiashi Hyūga involuntarily exclaimed.
The Hyūga specialized in a combat style that combined Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. Speed was their hallmark. Yet, Neji's current burst speed eclipsed his own.
"Excellent!"
Tsunade roared, clenching her fist and charging directly toward the accelerating Neji without the slightest hesitation.
Before their fists even made contact, the air between them began to violently churn.
White mist instantly condensed around Tsunade's fist, a sign of super-compressed air. Neji, meanwhile, desperately gathered Nen into his own fist, the surrounding air boiling and hissing, like a red-hot iron block dropped into water.
Every eye widened, terrified of missing the moment of impact.
Boom—!
A sound like a lightning strike, a massive thunderclap, exploded, reverberating throughout the entire Hyūga compound. A violent shockwave slammed into the onlookers, destabilizing Hinata and Hanabi.
Everyone's expressions shifted. Regardless of the outcome, the sheer magnitude of the phenomenon confirmed that Neji's strength had exceeded their wildest projections.
The condensing mist at the center of the training ground gradually dispersed. The first figure revealed was Tsunade, still standing precisely where she started.
She looked slightly disheveled. The forehead protector on her golden hair was broken, trailing behind her. Her right forearm was noticeably reddened, likely due to the intense air friction and energy transfer, but she appeared otherwise unharmed.
And Neji?
Everyone's gaze searched. Farther back from the epicenter, a figure struggled to rise.
Neji was in a much worse state. His upper clothing had been shredded completely, his pants were tattered, and his body was covered in scrapes and abrasions from the concussive air waves. A trickle of bright red blood stained the corner of his mouth.
However...
"Too light," an elder murmured, his voice incredulous.
The injuries were surprisingly minimal. A shinobi's body was not inherently robust; surviving that kind of indiscriminate, bone-shattering air wave was nearly impossible.
They realized that opening Jars and changing professions didn't just boost strength—it fundamentally compensated for the physical fragility inherent in the average ninja.
This is the power of the Jars?
The eyes fixed on Shen Mo were now filled with a barely contained fervor. Witnessing it firsthand was the ultimate persuasion.
"Lord Shen Mo," one elder, discarding his fear, addressed the merchant with fervent respect. "May we also purchase Jars?"
"Of course," Shen Mo replied, a knowing smile touching his lips. "I remain a merchant above all. As long as the purchase is handled correctly, you are all welcome customers."
He understood their plan: pool the clan's resources, purchase Jars collectively, and distribute the contents based on importance, giving the most powerful items to the vital members and the lesser items to the Branch Family in exchange for their pooled wealth.
While unoriginal, it was a logical strategy for a clan.
However...
"Be mindful that there is a vast difference between a designated Member and a Non-Member," Shen Mo added, his eyes narrowing slightly. "While I don't prohibit Members from sharing acquired items, the full rights of a Member are held only by the individual themselves."
Rights such as the Destiny Stage, the opportunity to buy high-tier Jars beyond one's current rank, were non-transferable.
"That's absolutely right," Tsunade interjected, having finished her cursory healing of Neji. She looked over with a stern expression. "Hiashi Hyūga must become a Member and gain strength through the Jars! This is a joint decision made by me and the Hokage."
Considering Hiashi's combat prowess, tactical mind, and loyalty, he was a necessary investment for Konoha, even if he failed to pull a Destiny item.
The elders nodded solemnly. Despite their disagreements with Hiashi, their primary goal was the preservation and strengthening of the Clan.
"Lord Shen Mo," Hiashi Hyūga raised his hand and formally bowed. "I wish to purchase the Fighter Series Jars, similar to Neji's. Additionally, I would like to purchase Jars from other series. Is that permitted?"
Hiashi, representing the Clan, intended to test various series combinations. Only a large, wealthy clan could afford such experimentation, ensuring that the acquired items—no matter how specialized—would find a suitable user.
"As you desire," Shen Mo accepted.
Such a strategy was highly profitable for him, and he had no interest in imposing unnecessary restrictions. Though he no longer felt the intense urgency to accumulate wealth, it remained a primary objective.
His guiding principle was simple: financial gain and the enjoyment of the game's mechanics should proceed hand-in-hand, without conflict.
Hiashi Hyūga conferred briefly with the elders, calculating their initial budget, before turning back.
"Very well. We shall start with two hundred Tier One Jars, and... two thousand Tier Two Jars first."