Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, savoring the sensation.
Gentler than chakra, easier to control, flowing like warm water, even automatically repairing cellular vitality.
This was Scholar energy.
Hiruzen's heart stirred with excitement. He felt that with enough Scholar energy, he might truly reclaim his youth!
"Scholar energy naturally nourishes the body," Shen Mo said, as if reading Hiruzen's thoughts, his calm tone carrying a seductive pull. "Great scholars live centuries longer. And you've only absorbed half of that exam paper's Scholar energy."
"Only half?" Hiruzen opened his eyes, astonished.
He thought answering correctly would grant all the energy.
Yet it was only half.
"To score perfectly, a simple answer won't do," Shen Mo chuckled. "You didn't deeply grasp the sage's meaning while writing. Plus, if you open a great scholar's commentary, their answers would be even more perfect."
From Shen Mo's planner perspective…
The Scholar Series' hallmark was:
Open more, learn more, grow stronger.
Or… stare helplessly at exam papers with unknown answers.
Hiruzen vaguely sensed it.
These questions were tough.
Shen Mo saw Hiruzen's hesitation but said nothing. Whichever series Hiruzen chose, the outcome was the same for him—buying cans was inevitable.
Besides…
The Scholar Series was a one-way road; the more you opened, the harder to turn back.
"I'll open these cans first," Hiruzen decided, opting to finish the purchased Level 1 cans.
He sped up.
As Shen Mo said, exam papers were common in Scholar Series cans.
Of the first hundred, over fifty were exam papers.
Forty-some had various questions, which Hiruzen… mostly couldn't answer.
But…
Some light orbs also contained Scholar energy.
Others held common study books or orbs granting learning experience.
This reassured Hiruzen.
Level 2 cans built on Level 1. The more he opened, the greater his knowledge, making answers easier and yielding more Scholar energy.
At the 128th can…
A faint golden glow emerged as he opened it.
Even Shen Mo looked slightly stunned.
Level 1 cans weren't designed for special effects.
"Is this… something good?" Hiruzen noticed Shen Mo's reaction, asking with anticipation.
Though only a Level 1 can…
He remembered Naruto's Gauntlet of Justice.
Could he have gotten lucky too?
"It's indeed good, and very fitting for you," Shen Mo said, glancing at the focused crowd, sighing inwardly. He knew what was inside.
A literary treasure containing a single poem line.
A crucial one.
"This is a line from a war poem," Shen Mo said, taking out a golden silk scroll radiating faint light and handing it to Hiruzen. "Use some Scholar energy and recite it."
Hiruzen took it, channeled Scholar energy, and spoke:
"An old steed in the stable still yearns to gallop a thousand miles."
As he spoke, faint golden light enveloped him, resonating with the scroll's glow. His hunched back straightened instantly, and his cloudy eyes regained vibrancy.
In that moment…
Everyone saw the hero of ninja past.
Hiruzen's body trembled.
He stared at his hands, incredulous.
Still wrinkled and spotted with age…
But vitality surged within, and long-lost ambition seemed to rekindle.
Closing his eyes, he felt young again.
"This is a buff-type war poem, enhancing physical condition, fighting spirit, and courage," Shen Mo explained.
He hadn't expected Hiruzen to get this.
As one of Cao Cao's famous works, its level was high.
But he was pleased with Hiruzen's reaction.
"With your current knowledge, you're not qualified to use this level of poem," Shen Mo added. "But this scroll is a literary treasure with its own realm, usable with Scholar energy. It's rare in Level 1 cans. Perhaps your desire was strong enough to draw it."
Its value made it a grand prize in Level 1 cans.
Shen Mo had set a 0.5% chance.
Lucky indeed.
"A war poem…" Hiruzen felt the power fade, a sense of loss from the contrast.
He looked at the scroll.
Resisting the urge to recite again, as it had consumed much Scholar energy.
The onlookers were amazed.
Though they couldn't feel it, Hiruzen's expression and momentary aura showed the power's wonder and immense benefit.
Hiruzen resolved himself.
"My own strength, plus Scholar energy's boost, will yield the greatest effect," he said, suppressing his emotions. "Mr. Shen Mo, I'm set on this series. I'll buy 500 Level 2 cans."
"As you wish," Shen Mo agreed.
He could tell…
Hiruzen was hooked, likely due to that intoxicating surge of ambition.
A cautious approach would be to finish the remaining Level 1 cans and reflect.
But…
Impulse spending was a major revenue source for most games.
With Hiruzen's decision, Shen Mo waved, and 500 Level 2 cans appeared.
Deducting 15 million points.
Hiruzen clearly felt many forbidden jutsu memories vanish.
But looking at the larger cans, his eyes burned with eagerness.
He wasted no words.
He began opening Level 2 cans.
After just a dozen, his heart raced.
Many questions from Level 1 exam papers…
He now easily found answers to in Level 2 cans!
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Want to read ahead? Early chapters on: patreon.com/ShadowKage