In Konoha Year 27, Mitsuki Kōmei's business grew exponentially, with branches in every country, big or small.
While some rejoiced, others despaired. Mitsuki Kōmei opened shops in Konoha, aggressively seizing market share, making it increasingly difficult for fellow Konoha Village business owners.
"Clan Chief, not a single soldier pills can be sold anymore. More and more clansmen are complaining about the declining quality of snacks. Please think of a solution quickly."
The Ninth Elder of the Akimichi Clan, who had always been responsible for the soldier pills business, was quite troubled recently. His hair was falling out rapidly; once full of silver hair, it was now as sparse as the Family business, countable on one hand.
Akimichi Torifu grabbed a handful of potato chips and stuffed them into his mouth. "Lower the price! What else can we do? I told you to research pigu pill, and after spending more than half a year, all you managed was to make soldier pills taste like stinky tofu."
Akimichi Torifu found the potato chips unappetizing, so he set them aside and pulled out a packet of a branded product. He used to eat it daily three years ago, occasionally a year ago, and now he had to eat it stealthily.
"You can't blame me, the Sixth Brother's R&D department is ineffective," the Ninth Elder hesitated for a moment, then looked at Akimichi Torifu with determination and said, "Clan Chief, talk to the Hokage and make Fast Foodism close down!"
"It's no use. Hiruzen Sarutobi is blocked at the gate every day. If he had a way, he wouldn't have waited until now."
Hokage Building.
"Close down the Land of Water shops, drive out the Land of Water merchants!"
"Support Konoha goods, boycott foreign goods!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the window with a headache, looking down at the Common People protesting below. Ever since "Fast Foodism" opened, there had been protests every three to five days, rain or shine, without interruption for several years, even more actively than eating meals.
"Tsunade, Jiraiya, conflicts have broken out again below. Go stop them. That bastard Mitsuki Kōmei is truly a big problem."
Tsunade covered her mouth, chuckling. The image of a certain scoundrel appeared in her mind, her big eyes filled with longing. She hadn't seen him in years and wondered if he had lost weight.
"Arrest them! Arrest them all! Lock them in the Konoha Military Police Force's jail!" The Uchiha Clan of the Konoha Military Police Force appeared, arresting the protesting Common People.
"It's the evil Uchiha! Brothers, don't be afraid! Arrest one of you, and there will be thousands more of you! Let me go first!"
The protesting crowd scattered. The Uchiha were also helpless; arresting them was useless. They'd be released after two days, only to return at another time.
"You've worked hard for nothing again, I'm really sorry," Tsunade and Jiraiya had just come downstairs, but the Common People had already run off and disappeared.
"You guys need to figure out a solution! You haven't done anything proper in two years!" Uchiha Ren, who was leading the team, was so frustrated that his discontent was almost overflowing Konoha Village. He belonged to the pro-Konoha dove faction, and every time something happened, they came to him, only him!
"Teacher is discussing it with Elder Danzo; there will definitely be a solution."
"Hiruzen, a useless Daimyo, what are you worried about? Just reclaim the shops, and all problems will be solved."
Danzo increasingly looked down on the indecisive Hiruzen Sarutobi. He believed he should be the Hokage.
"No! The Village's reputation cannot be lost!" Hiruzen Sarutobi flatly and decisively rejected Danzo's proposal.
"Teacher, why not send someone to the Land of Water to speak with Lord Mitsuki in person?" Tsunade suggested, with not a tiny bit of ulterior motive.
"I think that's a good idea," Akimichi Torifu entered the Hokage Office. "I can lead a team to the Land of Water to discuss this matter."
"Torifu, why are you here?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his former teammate in surprise. Akimichi Torifu rarely interfered with Konoha's decisions.
Akimichi Torifu's tone was full of helplessness. "The Akimichi Family's business has been affected the most severely, and the clansmen are urging me to step forward and find a solution."
"Good! Torifu, you will lead Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru to the Land of Water."
"Why go through such trouble? I suggest direct confiscation," Danzo, unwilling to give up, proposed again.
"Danzo, shut up! I have already made my decision."
"You will regret this, Hiruzen."
Mitsuki Kōmei was currently on Penglai Island, lying on a rocking chair, basking in the sun, and summoned the System.
He hadn't spent any of the points he had accumulated in recent years, and they had now reached 80 billion. He decided to customize a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan; the legend of eyes couldn't be without a unique pair of eyes.
"System, I want to buy a pair of Sharingan. Can I customize the eyes' abilities?"
"Yes, what kind of skill Sharingan does the host wish to customize?"
"Is there a Sharingan with an illusion immunity skill?"
"Yes, Heavenly Demon's Arrival, which grants the host supreme willpower, immune to all illusions."
"Inherent skill—Planting Demon Heart: The affected individual's loyalty to the host continuously increases. Usable once per eye within ten years."
"Good, I like these eyes. 60 billion? Buy."
"Commencing eye opening for the host. Please prepare yourself."
Mitsuki Kōmei felt a tiny bit of doubt; the System had never asked him to prepare before when buying things. A moment later, he understood the System's agreement.
He was struck by despair, with various negative emotions like sadness, anger, disappointment, and pain combining and assaulting him repeatedly.
Tears streamed from Mitsuki Kōmei's eyes as he knelt on the ground, his hands uncontrollably tearing at his hair, and heart-wrenching roars continuously escaping his mouth.
The Chakra within him surged wildly, going out of control and destroying everything nearby.
The entire process lasted a full 15 minutes, a long fifteen minutes during which Mitsuki Kōmei seemed to experience centuries, constantly going through separations and deaths.
It took him a full half an hour for his emotions to slowly calm down. He stood up from the ground, drenched in sweat, his clothes completely soaked.
"System, you are truly a scam. Is there no side-effect-free eye-opening service? It's too painful."
"No, this is a process that all Uchiha Clan members must go through to awaken their eyes. Isn't this a valuable life experience?"
Mitsuki Kōmei activated his Sharingan in front of the mirror. His blood-red eyes swirled, filled with an alluring evil aura. His Sharingan evolved into the Rinnegan, and he could still add one more skill.
Stopping the rotation of his eyes, Mitsuki Kōmei saw Guo Er and Lian'er, hearing the commotion, rushing to his side.
Mitsuki Kōmei was constantly stroked by Guo Er's small hands and sniffed by Lian'er. "Young Master, what just happened? Are you hurt?"
"Master, are you alright?" both asked simultaneously.
"I'm fine. I was just experimenting with Ninjutsu; the destructive power was a bit great, which made you worry."
Leaving Penglai Island, Mitsuki Kōmei immediately used Planting Demon Heart on Kakuzu and Yagura.
Three days later, Mitsuki Kōmei received a letter from Konoha Village, hoping he would allow Akimichi Torifu to lead a team to visit the Land of Water.
"Hahaha, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally couldn't sit still. I thought he could last longer. Let them come."
Mitsuki Kōmei saw a certain person's name on the list of visitors and readily agreed.
"The businesses of many Konoha owners are getting worse and worse. Danzo is directing Root to fan the flames and deliberately mislead, so there are people causing trouble under the Hokage Building every day." Kakuzu and Uchiha Kawa also had smiles on their faces.
Half a month later, Daimyo City in the Land of Water welcomed the four-person team from Konoha Village.