"The transformation of the Ninja World has finally entered the right track."
Dugu Yan leaned against the railing, watching the departing silhouettes of the Five Kage fade into the distance. Even from afar, their stiff posture and hurried steps made their state of mind painfully obvious.
Snow Princess chuckled softly. "You really scared them badly. How much did you charge this time? Their legs were shaking when they left."
Li Rong replied calmly, almost casually, "One hundred thousand sacrificial coins per kilometer."
There was a brief pause.
"That doesn't include climate regulation barriers, border defense towers, Chakra relay stations, or the Sage-Immortality Pearl infrastructure."
"Stop." Dugu Yan raised a hand. "Just tell me the final number."
Li Rong thought for a moment. "Using Konoha as a benchmark—principal plus interest—they'll need roughly fifty years of continuous operation to pay it off."
Dugu Yan stared at him.
"…You're ruthless."
Li Rong shook his head lightly. "If I weren't ruthless enough, they wouldn't take this seriously."
Bi Ji laughed. "After this, they won't dare start wars anymore. Damaging even one sector of the Chakra network would cost more than a decade of plunder could ever repay."
"And they'll guard those facilities like their own hearts," Snow Princess added. "Heavy troops, constant patrols—anyone who gets close will be treated as an existential threat."
Ye Leng Leng frowned slightly. "But on Douluo Continent, the Training Grounds were built for free. Why charge the Ninja World so heavily?"
"The environments are fundamentally different," Li Rong explained patiently.
"On Douluo Continent, Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts instinctively revere places tied to cultivation. Even if a brick cracks, someone will rush to fix it."
He paused, gaze sharpening.
"But Ninja are products of war culture. The more important a facility is, the more likely it becomes the first target."
"If I built everything for free, they'd subconsciously think it doesn't matter if it's destroyed—it can always be rebuilt."
"And since these facilities directly amplify military power, even execution threats wouldn't deter suicidal sabotage. Ninja Villages never lack people willing to die just to cripple an enemy."
Ye Leng Leng nodded slowly. "Spirit Masters respect power. Ninja respond to cost."
"Exactly," Li Rong smiled. "Once they become fully dependent on the Chakra network, introducing the Training Ground function will be… effortless."
Dugu Yan's eyes sparkled. "And then you charge them again."
Li Rong glanced at him. "Some truths don't need to be spoken aloud."
The Five Kage's Dilemma
Back in the conference chamber, silence weighed heavily on the room.
Even after sitting down, the Five Kage still hadn't fully recovered. The numbers on that contract lingered in their minds like a curse.
As the first to sign, Tsunade opened her mouth several times—then closed it again.
Finally, Nara Shikaku spoke.
"From another angle," he said calmly, "this agreement may be a turning point for the Five Great Ninja Villages."
Ōnoki snorted. "Turning point? We just agreed to work for the Sacrificial Shop for decades."
"Debt and control are not the same," Shikaku replied evenly.
"In the past, the Daimyō's Mansion funded us. Now the Sacrificial Shop replaces them. Strategically, nothing has changed—except one thing."
He raised a finger.
"This contract guarantees autonomy as long as we fulfill it. The Daimyō never did."
Yagura's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Continue."
"First," Shikaku said, "they offered installments. That alone proves they want long-term cooperation, not immediate domination."
"Second, every clause is optional, not compulsory. That's not coercion—it's partnership."
He looked around the room.
"There is no need for despair."
Tsunade exhaled slowly. "Then what is urgent?"
"Our liquidity," Shikaku answered immediately.
"The next auction is in two months. Miss it, and we wait another year."
The atmosphere shifted.
"At least one Rank Seven treasure appears every auction," Shikaku continued.
"These are items even sacrificial coins can't guarantee access to."
"And this time," he added quietly, "Spirit Masters and Spirit Beasts will be bidding as well."
Silence followed.
Finally, Tsunade asked, "Your proposal?"
"We form a Five-Village joint exploration team," Shikaku said decisively.
"Mineral veins, relic deposits, everything—no more handing resources to the Daimyō."
Ōnoki nodded slowly. "Division?"
"Territorial Village keeps fifty percent. The remaining fifty is split evenly. Ownerless land is divided equally."
A asked next, "Personnel?"
Shikaku had clearly prepared.
"Hyuga for reconnaissance. Sunagakure for purification. Iwagakure for blasting. Hidden Mist for cooling and dust control. Kumogakure handles crushing and transport."
No objections followed.
Tsunade nodded once.
"Approved."
Black Zetsu's Gamble
Deep underground, Black Zetsu and Tobi returned to their base, dragging two unconscious Jinchūriki behind them.
"The shop doesn't accept sentient beings," Tobi muttered. "Not even Jinchūriki."
"We'll sell them back later," Black Zetsu replied coldly. "Once we have the funds."
"But everyone's hunting us now," Tobi scratched his head. "How do we earn sacrificial coins?"
Black Zetsu's smile was thin and sharp.
"Outside the Ninja World."
"The barren lands are rich in resources—but lethal to humans. White Zetsu, however—"
"They don't need air. Or food."
"Exactly."
He raised his hand.
"Summon all White Zetsu. We mine everything."
Before the Storm
As the auction approached, the Ninja World entered a feverish state.
Five-Village exploration teams worked without rest. Underground, White Zetsu dug relentlessly. Mission boards refreshed hourly.
Everyone was racing.
When the auction day finally arrived—
The Sacrificial Shop stood at the center of a world holding its breath.