Chapter:44

In Haruto's hands was a pure white lotus, planted in a small flowerpot.

"No, no, no… strictly speaking, this isn't just an ordinary flower. It's a rare medicinal herb," Haruto said, carefully holding the Tianshan Snow Lotus.

"A divine flower?" Ino repeated, puzzled.

Flowers were just flowers—how could one be called divine?

"Is it because of its medicinal value?" Shikamaru quickly deduced.

"Exactly," Haruto nodded. "The medicinal properties of this flower are extraordinary. Some even claim that it can 'bring the dead back to life' or 'restore flesh from bones,' which is why it's known as the miracle flower."

"What?!"

Everyone gasped in shock.

A simple flower with such terrifying effects?

Their gazes instantly became fiery as they stared at the lotus.

Fortunately, Haruto quickly added, "Of course, those claims are greatly exaggerated."

"But even so, it proves just how valuable this flower is," he continued.

"The Tianshan Snow Lotus is known for its ability to dispel cold, strengthen yang energy, rejuvenate tendons, and relieve joint pain. It's one of the most sought-after longevity herbs in existence!"

"However, it only grows in the remote icy peaks of the Tianshan Mountains, where very few people dare to venture. It has an extremely slow growth cycle, and its blooming period lasts only a few months—making it incredibly rare!"

"Because of these unique traits, the Tianshan Snow Lotus is a treasure among treasures!"

Haruto carefully handed the flowerpot to Shikamaru.

"I hope it finds its best use here."

"I see…" Shikamaru nodded, accepting it with great care.

"That's amazing!" Ino beamed. "The Nara Clan is known for their expertise in medicinal herbs. With this Snow Lotus, they might even be able to develop stronger healing elixirs!"

"Yeah, I'll make sure it's put to good use," Shikamaru said seriously.

"As for the remaining items…" Haruto glanced at the last two golden spheres.

"They aren't particularly special."

He reached into the light and pulled out an iron abacus and a set of calligraphy tools.

"These are the least useful prizes in this draw," Haruto admitted with a chuckle. "They won't help you in combat, but they're great for passing the time—which suits your personality, Shikamaru."

"Well, something is better than nothing," Shikamaru said lazily.

After all, with the Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Conan's BGM, and the Tianshan Snow Lotus, he had already received more than he could have hoped for.

"Alright! Who's smashing the next batch of eggs?" Haruto asked, rubbing his hands together with a grin.

His eyes flickered toward Sakura, Kiba, Chōji, Kakashi, and Asuma.

If all five of them smashed their eggs, that would mean 15 more golden eggs sold.

That would bring his total to 50 eggs—just one step away from obtaining a second diamond egg!

Haruto was already excited just thinking about it.

Unlike these ordinary golden eggs, his diamond eggs contained S-rank rewards—treasures far beyond the level of anything these ninja could acquire.

His gaze unintentionally revealed a hint of greed, making everyone feel slightly uneasy.

Haruto looked like a ruthless merchant, eager to drain them of all their money.

For a moment, no one dared to step forward.

Then—

Haruto's expression suddenly changed.

His mischievous grin faded, replaced by a cold smirk.

A powerful, oppressive aura radiated from his body.

The room's temperature dropped instantly.

"So they're finally here…" Haruto muttered, rubbing his wrist.

"I was wondering how long they'd wait… Turns out they couldn't even hold back for two days."

His words confused the group, filling them with a strange sense of fear.

Just moments ago, Haruto had been smiling playfully—but now, he looked sinister.

It was as if he might suddenly attack them all at any moment.

"Boss… what's wrong?"

Despite her nervousness, Ino mustered the courage to ask.

As the first one to befriend Haruto, she could withstand his pressure better than the others.

Haruto seemed to realize that his shift in demeanor had frightened them.

His face quickly returned to its usual warmth.

"Don't worry," he said casually. "It's just some annoying little pests that have finally decided to show up."

"Pests…?" Ino repeated, even more confused.

However, Kakashi and Asuma immediately tensed up.

They could now sense it—several strong chakra signatures had appeared outside the store.

And they were approaching fast.

Their target was clearly this shop.

Kakashi and Asuma exchanged a serious glance, both feeling an ominous chill.

For Konoha's elite to move so openly in the village—something serious must be happening.

"Did they… discover something?" Asuma thought, gripping his kunai behind his back just in case.

"Did the Hokage order this? If so… does that mean the old man has uncovered this boss's true identity?"

A disturbing thought crept into Asuma's mind.

"Could Haruto's sudden appearance in Konoha actually be part of some grand conspiracy?"

At that moment—

BANG!

The shop door burst open, and several masked Anbu stormed inside.

"Who is the owner of this shop?!"

The lead Anbu, his voice devoid of emotion, fixed his gaze on Haruto behind the counter.

Only then did Asuma notice something unusual.

These weren't the Hokage's regular Anbu.

Instead, their clothing and masks were distinctly different.

"Root…" Asuma muttered grimly.

His expression darkened as he glanced at Kakashi, who subtly nodded in confirmation.

These weren't the Hokage's Anbu—they were Danzo's men.

Haruto, however, remained completely unfazed.

His playful smirk returned.

"Oh, I'm the owner!" he said cheerfully. "Would you fine gentlemen like to try smashing some eggs?"

The Root leader ignored his joke and spoke coldly.

"Target confirmed. Proceed with the arrest."

The moment he gave the order, the Root ninja rushed forward—

"Wait!"

Ino suddenly stepped in front of Haruto, spreading her arms to block them.

Her voice was loud and defiant.

"Who are you people?! Why are you trying to arrest the boss?! What crime has he committed?!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Naruto shouted, stepping beside her. "What did the boss even do wrong?!"

The Root leader turned his gaze to Naruto.

For a brief moment, disgust flashed in his eyes.

"Nine Tails… Demon fox…" he muttered under his breath.

"When Root moves, outsiders should stay out of the way."

Without another word, the Root ninja moved to push past Ino and capture Haruto—

But they suddenly froze in place.

Their bodies refused to move.

End of the Chapter.

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