Sai and Shinju sat side by side in the back seat of the aircraft. Sai glanced at Shinju with a puzzled expression.
"You know the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch Technique, right? You could just transfer the knowledge of how to operate this plane directly into their heads. Why go through all this trouble to change the control system?" ⊙▽⊙
Shinju only smiled silently in response.
Of course, he had his reasons for doing this.
This simplified control panel had no entry barrier—basically anyone could pilot it.
But the ones Konoha used retained the original, more complex control system.
This way, if war ever broke out, Konoha's shinobi would be able to fly Iwagakure's planes, but Iwagakure wouldn't be able to fly Konoha's. (～￣▽￣)～
No, not just Iwagakure!
As long as Iwagakure was willing to purchase his Iron Paintings, other villages wouldn't want to fall behind either…
It might seem like a small detail, but when enough of these "small details" piled up, wouldn't that create a gap between Konoha and the other shinobi villages? ∩_∩
In the front cockpit, after taking the aircraft for a test flight, Kurotsuchi was extremely satisfied.
"It flies fast, it's easy to handle—this 'flying chicken' you made with Painting is amazing!（ --0027▿ --0027 ）"
Shinju just smiled and didn't reply.
After that, he escorted Sai back to Konoha, then stayed in Iwagakure for a while longer.
Three days later, Kurotsuchi knocked on his door again.
"Grandpa wants to see you."
Hearing that, Shinju instantly knew—business had arrived! ୧⍢⃝୨
...
Inside the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki sat upright, trying to use his aura as Tsuchikage to intimidate Shinju.
But Shinju wasn't intimidated at all. He entered calmly, bowed respectfully, and asked,
"Tsuchikage-sama, what business do you have with me today? ( ´▽` )"
Ōnoki didn't beat around the bush. "That Iron Painting you gave to Kurotsuchi—we've examined it."
Shinju feigned surprise. "That little trinket? It's nothing worth mentioning, just something I gave her for fun."
Ōnoki snorted. "Enough pretending. You think I don't know what's going on in that head of yours? (*Ӧ)σ"
"Let's be honest— Iwagakure wants to make a large purchase of your Paintings. Name your price."
Shinju put on a troubled face.
"Tsuchikage-sama, you know, I paint those purely as a hobby. I never intended to sell them."
"Many other villages have tried to buy from me, but I've turned them all down…"
"Tell you what—since Iwagakure is sincere, let's say one million per piece. -(￢∀￢)σ"
He said it generously, but inwardly he was overjoyed!
The Iron Paintings were cheap to produce. The main costs were just paper, brush, and ink—the total didn't even reach a thousand ryo per painting!
The only real expense was time. After all, each one took Sai about ten minutes to draw…
But ten minutes for a million ryo? That's a business anyone would jump on! (´つヮ⊂︎)
Of course, since the production costs were so transparent, Shinju fully expected Iwagakure to haggle.
But to his surprise, Ōnoki immediately agreed with a cheerful nod.
"Deal! We'll take a hundred to start!"
Shinju: (´°Δ°`)???
That fast?!
Damn, if I'd known, I would've said two million!
...
Over the next few days, Shinju and Sai began mass-producing the Iron Paintings.
Two days later, they delivered the order, netting Shinju a pure profit of ninety million ryo! ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )
Of course, he also had to pay his worker. He gave Sai ten million as a labor fee.
That ten million practically made Sai's day.
After wrapping up the deal, Shinju said a brief goodbye to the Iwagakure folks and returned to Konoha together with Sai.
...
Hokage's Office, Konoha Village
Tsunade was half-reclined in her chair.
She'd been buried in paperwork lately and was completely exhausted.
The office door creaked open as Shinju stepped in.
Seeing him, Tsunade lazily waved her hand. "Sit."
"So, what brings you here this time? You didn't cause trouble outside again, did you?"
Shinju smiled. "Tsunade-sensei, what kind of person do you take me for? I came back to the village to stay a few days and specially came to check in on you. (´∇ﾉ｀*)ノ"
Tsunade's face remained expressionless, still looking as drained as ever.
"If you really want to help your sensei, then take over as Hokage already."
"I've already talked to the other elders. If you agree, the succession ceremony could be held tomorrow."
"After that… you're sharp enough to pick things up in a few days. Once you're in charge, then I'll finally get some rest. （ --0027▿ --0027 ）"
Shinju: "…"
Looking at her like that, Shinju felt an overwhelming resistance to the very idea of becoming Hokage!
If he really took that position, he'd be trapped in this tiny office forever!
He shook his head. "Didn't I already say? I don't want to be Hokage."
"What about Naruto? He's the one most obsessed with the title in the entire village! (ー_ー)!!"
Tsunade nodded thoughtfully.
"Naruto's strength is enough now. He's got a tailed beast inside him, mastered Sage Mode, and even learned some of your weird techniques… But that kid's too impulsive. He still needs more experience."
Shinju countered, "What about Kakashi-sensei? Or Guy-sensei? Either of them could take the position."
Tsunade sighed. "Kakashi's too laid-back, and Guy's too hot-blooded… Forget it. Let's change the subject. -_-||"
"I heard you ran into Yakushi Kabuto? That guy's been quite a handful?" she asked.
Shinju nodded, frowning.
"Yeah. He's been studying ways to specifically counter me…"
"And this time, he didn't seem quite the same as before."
At that, Tsunade's expression turned grim.
"That one—and Orochimaru too—they may not match your raw power, but you mustn't underestimate them."
"The power of technology can be terrifying as well…"
"Wait—you said he seemed different. How so? Tell me exactly."
Shinju recalled the encounter carefully. Kabuto had been cloaked under a massive hooded robe, standing far away, so he couldn't see him clearly…
After a moment of thought, Shinju said,
"His skin. What little I saw of it was deathly pale—whiter than Orochimaru's!"
"And when he used ninjutsu, I think I sensed senjutsu chakra from him!"
Tsunade fell silent in thought.
"Senjutsu chakra? Could it be… Kabuto's learned Sage Mode too?"
Shinju nodded. "It's possible."
"If he's practicing Sage Mode, it couldn't be at Mount Myōboku, and he's got no ties to Shikkotsu Forest. That only leaves Ryūchi Cave!"
"He's the same as Orochimaru—always tangled up with snakes!"
Tsunade nodded slowly. "Ryūchi Cave's Sage Arts, huh? In all my years, I've never seen them myself."
"They say learning Sage Mode there is extremely difficult—you have to undergo some sort of deadly trial, and the mortality rate is very high."
"And even if you survive the trial and become a disciple of the legendary White Snake Sage, it's not guaranteed you'll actually master senjutsu…"
After listening to her, Shinju left the Hokage's Office.
Years ago, he'd signed a summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave's Manda, thinking he might one day go there to learn Sage Arts himself—but after so much that had happened, he'd completely forgotten.
Now that he finally had the time, it was the perfect moment to pay Ryūchi Cave a visit.
...
Check out my new fanfic "Attack on Titan: The Titan of Fate"
A titan that exists outside the Nine Titans — the Titan of Fate.
This is the story of Yago in the world of titans.
(This book is dedicated to every reader who loves Attack on Titan, striving to make up for all the regrets of the original work.)
P.S. The protagonist is not an ordinary transmigrator; his identity is the greatest foreshadowing of this book.