The recruitment interface now displayed three distinct reward tracks for the ten-pull bonus:
1. Recruit 10 times: Guaranteed Ninja.
2. Recruit 10 times: Guaranteed S-Rank Shard.
3. Limited Recruitment: Guaranteed Limited Ninja Shard.
A smile finally broke across Hayate's face. He finally had a direct path to obtaining S-Rank ninjas. Although the task was monumental—requiring 100 shards to synthesize a single S-Rank powerhouse—he wasn't deterred. To a man who had successfully found a way to top up his gold, a high price was just a challenge, not an impossibility.
With so many powerful artifacts in the universe, why should I fear a gold shortage?
His thoughts naturally drifted to the Infinity Stones. If a piece of Dragon Bone was worth 8,400 gold, what would the Space Stone or the Mind Stone be worth? It would likely break the system's counter. He looked forward to the Battle of New York with predatory anticipation; that would be the day two stones would appear on Earth simultaneously.
Searching for more details, Hayate found a small, discreet "Recruitment Details" button in the bottom left corner. Upon clicking it, he saw four rows of ninjas currently available in the pool:
- Row 1 (The Crown Jewel): Tsunade [Legendary Sannin]. She was marked with a "Limited Recruitment" tag rather than a standard rank, along with a 365-day countdown. If he recruited her within the year, the event would end; if not, she would rotate out.
- Row 2 (A-Rank): Kurotsuchi [Boruto] and Hidan.
- Row 3 (B-Rank): Shippuden versions of Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, and Tenten, alongside Young Kakashi.
- Row 4 (C-Rank): A wide variety including Hanabi Hyuga, Jirobo, Sakon & Ukon, the "Ninja Academy" versions of the original Team 7, and current summons like Iruka, Shizune, Sasuke, and Tenten.
Hayate was pleased with the roster. From the Kage-level power of Tsunade and Kurotsuchi to the elite Jōnin potential of the B-Rank selections, the pool was deep. He noted that the entire list would rotate whenever the "Limited" featured ninja changed.
My gold mine is the MCU, and my shop is the Hidden Leaf, he mused. He began to wonder what else could be "topped up." Tony Stark's Arc Reactor? He'd have to find a way to test it. He felt a brief shudder at the thought of "touching" Tony's chest to find out—maybe he'd just visit Stark Tower and check out the massive reactor there. Or he could take Peter Parker along for a visit; Tony had sent enough "luxury dog food" for the boy's cat that a thank-you visit seemed justified.
He closed the interface, deciding to save his remaining 4,296 Gold Coins. Experience with the "gacha" mechanics told him it was better to do a massive burst of pulls to guarantee the Limited Ninja rather than trickling away coins on single shards.
Consciousness returned to the physical world. The sky outside was dark. Hayate walked downstairs to the common area where the team was eating dinner.
"Hey guys, having dinner without your boss?" Hayate joked. He noticed empty seats next to both Hotaru and Shizune, and without hesitation, he sat down beside Shizune.
Hotaru's eyes flickered for a fraction of a second at his choice. "Boss, you've been asleep since we got back. I knocked on your door before we started."
"Fair enough. I forgive you," Hayate said, grabbing a slice of pizza. "Mmm, not bad!"
The atmosphere was light. No one mentioned the bloodbath at the construction site or the dragon bones. Once the meal was finished, Hayate's tone turned professional. "To the conference room, everyone. We need to coordinate."
Once they were seated, Hayate addressed the newcomer. "Shizune, I assume you've spent the afternoon getting a general handle on things?"
Shizune nodded. "Lord Hayate, I have a basic understanding, but there are many... cultural differences. I still have a lot of learning to do."
"Iruka," Hayate said, turning to the teacher, "tomorrow, take Shizune to the Continental Hotel. We need to get her a fresh, legal identity."