Twenty million.
Still twenty million short.
The number hovered on the light screen like a curse, cold and merciless, pressed directly into Black Zetsu's vision. No matter how many times he recalculated, no matter how he rearranged his assets, the result never changed. The gap remained—vast, brutal, absolute.
Black Zetsu paced back and forth in the negotiation chamber, his footsteps erratic. For the first time in centuries, impatience seeped into his movements. He had waited a thousand years for this moment, schemed across generations, manipulated legends and nations alike—yet now, he was being crushed by something as mundane as a balance sheet.
Bi Ji sat calmly across from him, posture flawless, fingers lightly folded. Her expression never changed, as if the desperation filling the room had nothing to do with her.
"That number," Black Zetsu said hoarsely, stopping abruptly, "is strangling every path I have left."
"Have you made your decision?" Bi Ji asked gently, her tone professional and distant. "Do you agree to proceed with the sale?"
Black Zetsu's silence stretched for several seconds. Then, slowly, he spoke.
"I will sell knowledge."
The words sounded as if they had been dragged out of his throat.
As an existence that had lived since the dawn of the Ninja World, Black Zetsu possessed more than wealth—he possessed memory. He had witnessed the creation of Ninjutsu systems, the birth of bloodlines, the rise and extinction of clans. Techniques long erased from history, theories that had never been recorded, even fragments of the Six Paths Sage's understanding of the world—these were treasures that once could have shaken the entire Ninja World.
"Ancient Yin–Yang Release theory," Black Zetsu said, voice low.
"Lost Yin–Yang Jutsu.
Pre-war Six Paths derivative techniques."
Bi Ji raised her hand, and the evaluation interface flickered to life. Data flowed rapidly across the screen.
After a brief pause, she spoke.
"Total exchange value: 2.5 million sacrificial coins."
The room seemed to freeze.
"…That's all?" Black Zetsu snapped, disbelief flooding his voice.
"I'm afraid so," Bi Ji replied without the slightest change in expression. "Knowledge-type exchanges do not support repeated valuation. Approximately seventy percent of the information you provided already exists within the Shop's archive."
Black Zetsu's composure cracked.
"That's impossible!" he barked. "Those techniques were lost a thousand years ago! And Yin–Yang Jutsu—true Yin–Yang Jutsu—should be priceless!"
Bi Ji calmly pointed to the data.
"The majority of the value comes from your auxiliary Ninjutsu records. Ironically, the Yin–Yang Jutsu you emphasized carries minimal weight in our evaluation."
She paused, then added softly, almost kindly:
"The guest seems to have forgotten something. The Ninja World is not the only place where beings have lived for thousands of years."
The words hit like a hammer.
Mount Myōboku.
Shikkotsu Forest.
Ryūchi Cave.
Those ancient Summoning Beast holy lands had existed since before recorded Ninja history. Especially the toads of Mount Myōboku, who had interacted with Onmyō practitioners in ancient times—their accumulated Yin–Yang knowledge likely surpassed his own.
Bi Ji continued, her voice unhurried.
"Before you arrived, other guests had already exchanged Yin–Yang Jutsu knowledge totaling over five million sacrificial coins."
Silence.
At that moment, Black Zetsu finally understood the depth of his mistake.
If he had involved the Sacrificial Shop earlier—centuries earlier—this knowledge would have secured everything. His mother would not still be sealed. His plans would not be collapsing piece by piece.
Now, he was late.
Again.
Suppressing the turmoil boiling within, Black Zetsu forced himself to think.
Then, abruptly, he changed direction.
"Is the Sacrificial Shop interested," he asked, carefully steadying his voice, "in developing the barren lands outside the Ninja World?"
Bi Ji's gaze sharpened slightly. "That region has been evaluated. The environment is excessively harsh. Even with environmental artifacts, we lack suitable personnel. The natural energy there is unstable—ordinary Ninja cannot survive."
"Ninja cannot," Black Zetsu agreed immediately, seizing the opening. "But White Zetsu can."
For the first time, urgency slipped into his tone.
"They possess extreme environmental adaptability. Underground mobility. No need for rest, food, or conventional shelter. They can operate where ordinary life cannot."
He leaned forward.
"That land is currently ownerless. If the Sacrificial Shop develops it first, by the rules of this world, it will belong to you."
Bi Ji fell silent, considering.
"The Shop's expansion rate is accelerating," Black Zetsu pressed on. "Your current territory will eventually become insufficient. Buying land later will cost exponentially more. This is the cheapest opportunity you will ever have."
At last, Bi Ji raised her hand.
A contract materialized in midair.
"The Shop does have preliminary plans for that region," she said.
"Standard construction wages are 100 sacrificial coins per day, including provisions. Given the extreme environment, compensation will be adjusted to 150 coins per day."
Black Zetsu's pupils shrank.
"We require 1,000 workers," Bi Ji continued. "Can you provide them?"
One thousand White Zetsu.
At 150 coins per day.
That was 150,000 sacrificial coins daily.
Black Zetsu's breathing quickened involuntarily. In his mind, mountains of sacrificial coins were already piling up. At this rate, the gap would close faster than he had dared to hope—perhaps he would even have surplus.
Perhaps… even that Heart of Flame was no longer an unreachable dream.
"I can provide them immediately," he said, barely restraining the excitement twisting his expression.
Bi Ji smiled slightly.
"There is one reminder," she said calmly. "The Shop does not intervene in private grievances. Once the contract is signed, any delay caused by your personal issues will incur liquidated damages."
Black Zetsu froze.
Only then did reality crash back in.
White Zetsu intelligence had been exposed. Their unique biology made concealment impossible. The Five Great Ninja Villages would inevitably notice abnormal large-scale movements. And Tobi—still marked as an S-rank criminal by Konoha—was a walking beacon of danger.
Uchiha Madara.
Even in death, that man was still ruining everything.
"I understand," Black Zetsu said stiffly. "There will be no delays."
"Then," Bi Ji said as she stood, "we await your results."
The atmosphere in the Five Kage conference chamber was heavy enough to suffocate.
Ay's fist slammed into the table, cracking the surface.
"Do you expect us to believe this farce?" he roared. "The blood debt left by Uchiha Madara must be repaid with blood!"
Black Zetsu spread his hands slowly.
"Look at us," he said quietly. "All White Zetsu share the same face. That alone proves what we are—Wood Release creations. Tools."
His voice deepened.
"Our lives were never our own. Many of Madara's actions were beyond our control. He is dead now. We only seek survival."
Ōnoki snorted. "Eliminating you would be simpler. Fewer mouths competing for missions."
"The missions we accept are limited to barren land development," Black Zetsu countered immediately. "There is no conflict with your interests."
Then, he dropped the bomb.
"The total number of White Zetsu exceeds one hundred thousand."
The room went dead silent.
Black Zetsu pressed on relentlessly.
"Two months have passed since Madara's death. In that time, have we attacked anyone? Sabotaged anything?"
No one answered.
"We do not wish to be enemies," he said. "We want a place to exist."
After a pause, he added, voice tight:
"We are willing to pay 500,000 sacrificial coins to each village as compensation for Madara's actions."
Sasha sneered. "What about Shukaku?"
"Safe," Black Zetsu answered instantly. "And the Seven-Tails will be returned to Takigakure."
Yagura's eyes turned cold. "And the manipulation of the Mizukage?"
"I can provide a complete spy list," Black Zetsu said quickly. "Every agent Madara placed."
"Not enough," Yagura replied flatly.
"…Madara's lifetime of Ninjutsu research?"
Sasha shook his head. "Still insufficient."
Tsunade's fists cracked audibly. "You also attacked Minato and Kushina."
Black Zetsu's face twisted.
"One million per village," he said sharply. "Paid after the first project settlement."
He rushed to add, "Konoha will also receive all Wood Release research, all experimental data, and the First Hokage's cell samples."
Ay remained unmoved. "One hundred thousand White Zetsu is still a threat."
"They will migrate outside the Ninja World," Black Zetsu said rapidly. "Joint supervision. Entry only with approval."
Ōnoki shook his head. "Absolutely not."
"Two million!" Black Zetsu finally shouted, voice breaking. "This is the bottom line!"
"Are you threatening us?" Ōnoki demanded.
"You left us no choice!" Black Zetsu snarled.
Tsunade suddenly cut in, her voice sharp and controlled.
"Why did Madara collect the Tailed Beasts?"
"To cast Infinite Tsukuyomi," Black Zetsu answered without hesitation.
Ōnoki stood abruptly. "What will you do with the Gedo Statue?"
"If you agree," Black Zetsu said slowly, "we sell it to the Sacrificial Shop and use the funds to compensate you."
"And if not?"
"…Then it becomes a weapon."
Silence.
Finally, Tsunade spoke.
"Let the Sacrificial Shop act as guarantor."
Black Zetsu exhaled, his body sagging slightly.
"Deal."
After Black Zetsu left, Bi Ji turned to Li Rong, still puzzled.
"Developing that land seems inefficient."
Li Rong smiled faintly.
"That territory is larger than the entire Ninja World," he said. "Once stabilized, it can be sold to Spirit Beast tribes."
Seeing her confusion, he continued.
"As Spirit Beasts and Spirit Masters grow, territory conflicts are inevitable. That land is the perfect buffer."
He looked up at the moon.
"And there is another reason. If the Silver Dragon King remains, balance is needed."
His gaze sharpened.
"Ōtsutsuki Kaguya is the most suitable counterweight."
_____________________
https://[email protected]/mrSOMEONE01234? [replace @ with a]
>>>>>I'm a student, and I'll try my best to keep uploading chapters regularly <<<<<
thanks for your support
[[READER TIER 1: translates stories {15$} ]] { RECOMENDED }
[[READER TIER 2: translated & original stories {20$} ]]
[[[[Please at least visit my patreon so I can have some traffic]]]]]