#37

The day after the shop was set up, the Sand Ninja Trade Fair officially began.

To ensure maximum exposure and success, Mufasa invested heavily in promotion. He rented an open space in Konoha's bustling Commercial District and had Yamato construct two additional booths.

One displayed everyday household goods—pots, pans, and other essentials.

The other showcased ninja gear—shuriken, kunai, and various tools of the trade.

Drawing from past experience, Mufasa made sure the booths were eye-catching. Colorful banners were raised high, and the entire setup had a festive air. Music blared from large speakers, performers sang and danced, and flyers were handed out left and right. A massive prize wheel stood prominently, offering shoppers a chance to win discounts and prizes.

Temari, along with a group of Genin, spread through the streets of Konoha, handing out flyers and promoting the grand opening deals.

"Grand Opening Sale!"

"Buy one, get one free on all items!"

"Sign up for a membership and get a 20% discount on all purchases!"

"Enter our lucky draw and win up to 1,000 Ryo!"

For any regular merchant, these kinds of discounts would be unsustainable. But for Mufasa, with his incredibly low production costs, it was all profit no matter how he sold.

A large crowd of Konoha villagers quickly gathered, drawn in by the lively atmosphere.

Even if they weren't interested in shopping, the performances alone were worth watching.

An older woman approached one of the booths, eyeing a kitchen knife skeptically. "The price is so low—only eight Ryo for a knife? Is this really good quality?"

The salesman didn't bother with fancy words. He simply picked up the knife and brought it down on a nearby stone.

Crack!

The stone split cleanly in two, like paper under a sharp blade.

"Ma'am, feel free to test it yourself. If it can't cut, I'll give it to you for free."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

The kitchen knife was sharper than the ninja tools they had at home!

One by one, the onlookers tested the knives themselves, finding them just as impressive.

A buying frenzy broke out.

Mothers and fathers started filling their baskets with household goods.

Even Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, shut down his shop early and rushed over to stock up on supplies.

Mufasa watched the sales boom but felt dissatisfied.

The household goods were selling incredibly well, but the ninja equipment section was eerily quiet.

That was a problem.

Making money was one thing, but Mufasa's real goal was to distribute ninja tools to gain influence.

He scanned the crowd, noting plenty of ninja wandering around, but none of them were making a purchase.

Even after demonstrating the power of Sand Ninja weapons, they still hesitated.

Something was off.

Mufasa frowned. "What's going on?"

Just then, Kankuro approached, looking irritated. "Boss, I just checked with that 'dead fish eyes' kid—turns out someone's interfering."

"Dead fish eyes?" Mufasa's gaze followed Kankuro's nod.

Standing nearby were Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi of Team 10.

It seemed 'dead fish eyes' referred to Shikamaru.

Temari, who had dealt with him before, approached directly. "Shikamaru, what's the deal?"

Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Tch… Troublesome. Fine, I'll spill. It's Danzo. He ordered the ninja in Konoha not to buy your weapons. Anyone who does will face consequences."

Mufasa clenched his jaw.

That old schemer.

Using underhanded tactics to block his sales?

Storming into the Root headquarters and taking Danzo's head was tempting, but it wasn't a smart move. Killing a Konoha Elder right after signing a peace agreement sounds dumb.

He needed another way to turn the tables.

Temari crossed her arms. "What should we do? Should we go to Lady Tsunade and file a complaint?"

Mufasa shook his head.

Running to a woman for help the moment something goes wrong?

Not his style.

Even if Tsunade was fair, it would be too embarrassing.

Fighting wasn't an option.

Complaining wouldn't work.

He had to be smarter.

"Just keep things running for now," Mufasa said. "I'll figure something out."

Temari nodded and stepped away.

Mufasa leaned against a post, deep in thought.

That was when he noticed someone approaching from across the street.

Uchiha Sasuke.

Fresh out of the hospital, heading home, his face cold and expressionless.

Even though he walked among the villagers, he felt completely separate from them. His aura was like ice, yet Mufasa could sense the burning intensity inside him.

Sasuke had already made up his mind.

He was going to leave Konoha. He was going to seek Orochimaru. He was going to chase power—no matter the cost.

Hatred churned inside him, hidden beneath his calm exterior.

Mufasa recognized that energy immediately.

A plan formed in his mind.

A way to break the deadlock.

He recalled a conversation he once had with Orochimaru about the nature of the soul during one of their random talks.

The souls exist in every world.

And ninjas have the capability to tap into its power.

Mufasa quickly flipped through his inventory.

[Zanpakutō – Shallow Hit]

[Blueprint price: 1.8 million Ryo.]

[A weapon that could guide, manifest, and purify the spirit.]

Its abilities and form would be shaped by the wielder's soul.

True power would come only by understanding its name and engaging in spiritual dialogue.

Unlocking it required immense personal insight.

A warning note followed:

Forging a Zanpakutō shell is only the first step. It must be infused with the wielder's soul. The process carries high risk—failure could shatter the weapon or even cause permanent soul damage.

In extreme cases, the user's soul could collapse entirely, resulting in a vegetative state.

Mufasa's lips curled into a smirk.

No wonder it was so cheap compared to other legendary weapons.

The risks were massive.

The wielder had to be willing to sacrifice everything for power.

But that wouldn't be a problem.

Sasuke was exactly that kind of person.

Without hesitation, Mufasa made the purchase.

In an instant, several ninja swords materialized in a box before him.

Among them was a single, elegant blade—

A Shallow Hit, its form reminiscent of a traditional ninja sword.

Mufasa picked it up, feeling its weight.

Now, he just needed Sasuke to take the bait.

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Word count: 1100 (Short chap for today, sorry. I'll post later!)