CH - 41 Simply Bad Luck!
After a while, the shopkeeper trembled as he gazed at the crowded display of figurines before him. They were all identical.
There stood a bobblehead figure of Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, with white hair and eyeshadow, extending his right hand in an exaggerated pose. Both Tsunade and Shizune were surrounded by piles of these figurines.
Tsunade's face twitched with irritation as she surveyed the scattered figurines on the floor. She glared at the shopkeeper, demanding an explanation for the disappointment. She had expected to find rare and unique versions, but all she saw were the same common and useless bobblehead Jiraiya figures.
"What's the meaning of this? Are you joking with me, shopkeeper?" Tsunade's frustration was evident in her expression, and even Shizune couldn't help but feel let down by the lackluster result.
She fixed a piercing gaze upon the shopkeeper standing before her. "Explain yourself. Weren't there supposed to be rare versions, unique versions, and legendary editions? I have opened hundreds of them already, so why are they all the same?"
The shopkeeper himself was perplexed and couldn't provide a satisfactory answer. He was bewildered by the unexpected outcome. The probabilities mentioned by the Land of Grass headquarters were supposed to be one blue (rare) in ten boxes, at least one purple (unique) in a hundred boxes, and there was even a possibility of obtaining an orange (legendary) in a thousand, if one was fortunate enough. However, Tsunade's repeated attempts had only yielded the same bobblehead Jiraiya figure, without any variation.
The shopkeeper had initially assumed that Tsunade was simply unlucky, but this situation exceeded all expectations. Two hundred boxes had been opened, and still, no variation. Three hundred boxes went by, and yet nothing changed. The figurines now formed a pile around Tsunade's feet, and even the rows on the shelves were emptied, but they were all identical.
If at least something different had emerged, even a blank one(common is without color), it would have been acceptable. However, the entire place was filled with the same type of figurines. The probabilities mentioned by the headquarters had proven to be incorrect.
Realizing that something was amiss, the shopkeeper decided to test his luck. Randomly selecting a mystery box from the nearby shelf, he hesitated for a moment before opening it. To his relief, a purple light emanated from the box, indicating a rare figure.
He glanced down and found himself holding a figurine of Hashirama Senju, the esteemed God of Shinobi. This discovery confirmed that not all the figurines were the blank Jiraiya ones.
Tsunade, Shizune, and the passersby who noticed the purple light came to a halt, their curiosity piqued as they turned their attention to the scene. Sensing an opportunity, the shopkeeper began to advertise, holding up the figurine with a smile. "Grass Mystery Boxes, just like life, you never know what will happen in the next second!"
Then, he turned to Tsunade and assured her, "It seems... there's no issue."
"So, what about me..." Tsunade inquired, although she already had a strong suspicion about her situation.
"Perhaps it's simply that you have incredibly bad luck!" the shopkeeper replied after a moment of hesitation.
Both Tsunade and Shizune were left speechless, choosing not to argue as they considered the shopkeeper's explanation to be the most plausible reason behind it all.
Knowing Tsunade's predicament well, Shizune, who held a bunch of adult Jiraiya figurines, hesitated for a moment before tugging on Tsunade's robe and whispering, "Tsunade-sama, maybe we should give up. Let's call it a day." Just as she finished speaking...
"Give up?!" Tsunade's voice reverberated with determination as she locked her gaze onto the big-headed Jiraiya figurine. "Are you implying that I'm simply unlucky? I categorically refuse to accept that! Can't I obtain a rare figurine, even just one, today?!"
With a determined wave of her hand, she declared, "Shopkeeper, give me another hundred!"
"Alright, please wait a moment," the shopkeeper replied cheerfully, realizing that more sales meant better business.
After some time, Tsunade found herself surrounded by a room brimming with mystery boxes once again. She rubbed her hands together, a mischievous glint in her eyes, as she grabbed one and muttered, "I refuse to believe it! It's probably that idiot again."
Without hesitation, she swiftly opened the box, only to be greeted by no light. It was yet another blank one, and to her dismay, it contained the same big-headed Jiraiya figurine.
Silence enveloped the room, and even the passersby seemed to hold their breath. Nonetheless, Tsunade's mouth twitched, but she persisted and continued opening the remaining boxes.
One, two... a hundred. As time passed, the ground became littered with an army of identical figurines.
"Shopkeeper, give me another hundred!" Tsunade's determination remained unyielding, refusing to accept defeat.
Once more, after a while. "Give me another hundred!"
Until the store shelves themselves overflowed with bobblehead Jiraiya figurines. It was at this moment that the shopkeeper realized something was amiss. How could such an occurrence unfold in such a short span of time?
A multitude of onlookers had gathered, their curiosity piqued, and many joined in purchasing a few mystery boxes. And what were the results? Blue lights and even a few fortunate individuals basked in the glow of orange lights! Even the young girl standing next to Tsunade procured a purple one.
They were captivated by the spectacle unfolding before them. It appeared that all the blank boxes had been snatched up by the blonde-haired woman standing there. The shopkeeper's demeanor shifted, as he respectfully clasped his hands together and offered a slight bow, his gaze fixed upon the seemingly obsessed woman. "Esteemed guest, might I have the honor of knowing your name? Opening the boxes with such fervor would drive anyone else mad, but not you."
"I've heard tales of 'The Legendary Sucker' in the Land of Fire... no, a saint revered in the Shinobi world for rescuing struggling gambling establishments. Could it be that you are..." The shopkeeper's sentence trailed off, as Tsunade locked eyes with him.
"What's the matter? Do I need to disclose my identity in order to make a purchase?" Tsunade's gaze bore into him, her tone laced with authority.
"N-No, that won't be necessary." The shopkeeper hastily wiped the perspiration from his brow, feeling the weight of Tsunade's piercing stare.
"In that case, don't waste any more time and give me as much as I want," Tsunade declared, dismissing the shopkeeper's fearful reaction and urging him to fulfill her request.
"Very well, please wait!" The shopkeeper nodded hastily, feeling a mixture of trepidation and haste as he set about fulfilling Tsunade's demand.
After some time, Tsunade found herself once more surrounded by a room filled to the brim with mystery boxes. Her hands rubbed together with unwavering determination as she seized one. "I can't believe it! I'll get that idiot again this time!"
Shizune, trembling and clutching a bundle of Jiraiya figurines, felt a pang of regret for not being able to dissuade Tsunade from purchasing another mystery box. Yet, even if she had tried her hardest, she knew that Tsunade's stubbornness would have prevailed.
However, Tsunade appeared impervious to Shizune's concerns as she opened yet another box, her anger mounting once more. "Jiraiya again? Are you joking? I absolutely refuse to accept this! I would even tolerate that bothersome Orochimaru figurine!"
….
In a bustling city within the Land of Fire, a young man with long, black hair and smooth, fair skin nonchalantly rubbed his nose after an unexpected sneeze. His gaze fell upon the movie theater billboard, a puzzled expression forming on his face.
Though he was already aware of the movie being shown, the sight of Jiraiya and himself on the poster piqued his curiosity. Despite the differences in their appearances, the title "The Three Sannin in Kusagakure" sparked a sense of doubt within him.
Particularly, the character resembling Jiraiya but with distinct differences immediately caught his attention. That comical, frog-like individual could only be Jiraiya.
This young man was Orochimaru, one of the legendary ninjas of Konoha. Having completed his mission, Orochimaru had intended to swiftly return to the village for his research.
However, upon encountering this intriguing display, he deliberately paused. After a brief moment of hesitation, Orochimaru purchased a ticket and entered the theater, a sinister smile creeping across his face. He whispered softly, "I want to see what that Jiraiya guy is up to in the Land of Grass!"
Following Jiraiya and Tsunade's departure, Orochimaru had immersed himself in the village's activities. In addition to conducting his own experiments, he occasionally undertook more challenging missions arranged by the village elder.
Naturally, he welcomed such tasks. If he aspired to become Hokage, he needed recognition, and completing high-level missions was the most effective way to earn the respect of his fellow ninjas.
Having located his designated seat based on the ticket, Orochimaru settled down and patiently awaited the start of the movie.
The screen displayed the words "Certified by Kusagakure."
...
After a series of advertisements, the movie officially began. Orochimaru couldn't help but smile nostalgically as he watched the familiar sight of the three characters engaging in training.
Despite their altered appearances, his fondness for the memories they shared remained unchanged. "Ah, it brings back memories! But Jiraiya is still as foolish as ever!"
However, as the movie progressed and approached its conclusion, Orochimaru watched Jiraiya and the reserved Tsunade on the screen with increasing astonishment. A dumbfounded expression overtook his face. He was utterly shocked. "What is this?!"
...
Several days later, in the Land of Grass, Akihiko meticulously examined the compiled revenue data from various sources. A contented smile graced his face as he nodded, muttering to himself, "It seems that we won't be facing any financial difficulties in the foreseeable future!"
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