A day's end...

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[The market]

Kazuhiro turned at the beep sound, watching Ryuk's back disappear from the store. It had taken them hours to navigate the labyrinthine aisles and find everything his peculiar customer wanted. From elixirs to snacks. In return, Kazuhiro had gleaned valuable information.

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"If I may ask, aren't death gods supposed to be immortal? Hence the term 'god'?" Kazuhiro's curiosity got the better of him, breaking the silence.

"That's a common misconception. We weren't gods initially, just powerful beings humans chose to deify. It wasn't until we got our hands on immortality from that bar that the title 'god' stuck." Ryuk chuckled, a dark, almost gleeful sound. "Once we became immortal, the need to kill for lifespans became obsolete. It turned into more of a hobby, a source of amusement for such." He paused, his eyes taking on a sinister gleam. "You think the Black Plague was all about rats? If so, you're totally wrong then~"

His chuckles died down as he continued. "But the fun in that died out pretty quick. Which led to some indulging in the luxuries humans offered. That's why the ability to polymorph is valuable to us, shinigami. Ever wonder about the sacred cats of Egypt, the holy cows of India, or the mythical dragons in China? Those were just some of us, taking advantage of human reverence and enjoying the finer things, not just in our world but in multiple."

"And all of that because of a single bar... curious," Kazuhiro mused.

"It seems so. I don't know who ran the bar, but I suspect they're behind the existence of this market." Ryuk suggested, his tone dripping with intrigue.

Kazuhiro stayed silent, uncertain. His fragmented memories provided no clear answers, and the higher powers of the market remained an enigma to him.

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After Ryuk left, Kazuhiro remained behind the counter. A small vial lay there, left behind by the death god. It contained a liquid that shimmered with an ethereal glow—immortality in a bottle. The vial soon vanished. Ryuk couldn't afford it, even with his vast collection of lifespans. Kazuhiro felt a certainty that their paths would cross again.

Judging by this encounter, the death god once mentioned that others like him would take notice and soon find their way here, along with the other stranded shinigami scattered in the many worlds left by the previous nexus point. 'Then, I'll use that opportunity to learn more about the place and the mysterious bar owner if possible.'

Toru and Takashi's mother had arrived at the market while he was away with Ryuk, but Toru was nowhere to be found. He was later informed by her upon catching sight of him that Toru had gone out to find a quiet place to sleep.

'It's quiet...' Kazuhiro thought as he turned to face the entrance where the usual chatter would come from. The refugees were asleep, though a few occasionally opened their eyes, likely remaining on alert due to habits ingrained from their chaotic world.

With no one in need of assistance, Kazuhiro found himself with little to do. He retrieved his device to check on his tasks, but all his daily duties were completed. 'Only a couple of hours left before it refreshes,' he noted.

With no immediate tasks at hand, he chose to reflect on the day's events. He had hired new workers, met new and returning customers, sold a variety of products, allowed refugees to seek sanctuary, and gained valuable information about the market's mysteries.

He wondered if the bar owner was responsible for all of this. However, only time could tell as he needed more information to support this claim.

Deciding to pass the remaining time productively, Kazuhiro began browsing his accomplishments, starting with the fragment, which requested his attention.

His vision darkened as he clicked on the fragment panel. He was transported back to the familiar expanse of space, surrounded by stars and distant planets. Colorful stars sparkled around him, and among them, a completed constellation took the shape of a blue stick figure, his first unlocked fragment, his identity.

One of the nearby constellations wasn't outlined like the other, but one of its stars glowed a bright yellow, indicating progress on the next fragment.

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Xxxx

__Fragment panel__

Fragment tier 2:

• FRAGMENT TIER 2: ????

2.1: Sell 200 items. | [203/200] -Complete-

Rewards:

• Facility upgrade component

• New device feature

2.2: Assist 100 different customers. | [3/100]

Assisted customers:

• Takashi

• Ryuk

• Crazy Dave

Rewards: ?

2.3: ????

2.4: ????

2.5: ????

Xxxx

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'I understand; it seems that it won't take into account what my workers have done. It's about me.' Kazuhiro examined the panel, noting the completed tasks and the progress he still needed to make. He tapped on the completed task for selling 200 items, and a small window appeared, revealing the rewards he had earned.

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Xxxx

Rewards claimed!

• 1x Facility Upgrade Component: This component allows for the enhancement of market facilities.

• Fast travel function: A way to traverse the market by teleporting to the assigned aisle. It can carry four extra passengers with it.

Xxxx

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'Convenient,' he thought before leaving the space after claiming the rewards. Kazuhiro felt a gentle pull as his vision began to shift, the stars and planets of the fragment space slowly fading into the background.

As his vision cleared, the familiar sights and sounds of the market enveloped him. Upon returning, he delved deeper into the meaning of the task and wondered what part of him that fragment would unlock.

'Assist 100 different customers, and there are still three more left to unlock after that,' he thought, considering the possibilities. 'If the first fragment unlocked my identity, then what could the second one entail? Perhaps something that enhances my customer interactions or a new power that helps manage the market more efficiently?'

He briefly paused, recounting the old fragment's requirements. 'But that wouldn't make sense. The tasks like traveling to different worlds, serving customers, and completing world missions don't directly align with the term "identity." Could it mean something entirely different?'

His mind raced with theories. 'Adventurous, social, and diligent? Those traits align with the individual's identity. Could that be the case? Or is it something more nuanced, something that ties these tasks to a deeper understanding of my role here?' He shook his head slightly, deciding to leave the theory for later. The answer would reveal itself in time.

Turning his attention back to his device, he navigated to the following application that also required his attention: the class application. 

Upon browsing its' interface, the entity gained an understanding on how this feature works 'So, that's how this tree system functions,' he thought, tapping through the device interface. 'Upon completing a node, another would reveal itself.' He continued to scan the interface. 'However, the use of points is required to claim the rewards of the completed nodes.'

Kazuhiro noticed he had 25 points available. He only had to expend one to claim the rewards of the first node.

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Xxxx

__Class tree__ (You can view this in the document; the link is in my bio.)

Left first node...

Rewards claimed!

+1 INT (+4 INT added class bonus)

+1 STA (+2 STA added class bonus)

Xxxx

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Kazuhiro felt a subtle but noticeable enhancement in his mental acuity and stamina as he claimed the rewards. 'If this continues, I'll grow stronger faster than usual. I wonder why... it's as if I'm being prepared for something dire.' He lowered his sight to the next node. 'With the market's mission system, it is inevitable that we will come across danger.'

Kazuhiro thoughtfully read the following node requirements. 'The structure is the same as the previous one, but the requirements have doubled, and the rewards are different. This time, it's a random item.'

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Xxxx

__Class tree__

Left second node...

Objective: Reach 2000 SC in sales.

Rewards: Random item.

Xxxx

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'It's plausible,' Kazuhiro thought as he considered his options. 'On the right side, I only need to hire one more worker to complete it.' He turned to face those remaining inside the market, wondering if anyone was willing to work in this endless establishment. 'According to the rules, I'm not allowed to offer anyone a job. They have to step up themselves if they wish to join.' He returned to the device, contemplating whether the node would be completed sooner or later.

Moments later, he heard a beep at the entrance. He swiftly turned to face the newcomer, only to find it was his workers, the twins Asahi and Akemi.

"Yo, Kazu-san!" Asahi waved energetically from the entrance, his bat slung over his shoulder. The sound roused those nearby from their slumber, drawing curious glances toward the source.

A loud smack followed as Akemi hit the back of Asahi's head. "Look around, you moron!" she snapped, her fist clenched in irritation.

Asahi winced, rubbing the sore spot already bandaged from previous injuries. "Tsk, didn't mean to. Well, now that you mention it," he said, scanning the room. "Who are these people, and when did they get here?" His question was met with blinks and quiet murmurs.

It became clear the twins had brought company, though "company" was an understatement. A whole army of small trolls stood behind them, more filing in from the entrance.

One of the trolls at the front, distinguished by its more elaborate attire, landed its eyes on Kazuhiro's figure in sheer surprise. Without hesitation, the troll rushed towards him. The sudden action brought attention from the trolls, and noticing the tall figure, they soon followed. The sudden movement elicited gasps from the bystanders.

In a sudden motion, the first troll bowed deeply as they reached Kazuhiro, an action quickly followed by the others as they neared. "My lord! We have been waiting for this fated day to stand before you. We have remained faithful, knowing that you have not abandoned us." The trolls remained bowed, their heads low, not daring to look up.

Kazuhiro's response was one of silence. He didn't know what to make of this sudden display. Seconds ticked by, and still, the trolls did not raise their heads. 'Lord? Am I being mistaken for someone else?' he pondered.

Noticing his silence, the lead troll stammered, "D—did we anger you, my lord? We—we didn't mean to," its voice trembling with fear. "Is it because we barged in without your notice, my lord?! We didn't know! Forgive this small sin of ours. How can we ever repay you?"

"Forgive us!"

"We didn't mean to, my lord!"

Echoes and pleas filled the air as the trolls continued their frantic apologies.

Kazuhiro watched the scene unfold before him. "And how exactly am I your lord?"

The pleas died down as the leader spoke. "W—well, we ourselves are not sure. We don't know their appearances, b—but in our ancient texts, a gate is mentioned. Not just any ordinary gate, but a gate that caters to the needs of all. We know that our savior resided within, this savior provided for us trolls when we were in dire need. However, that didn't last long, as the gate soon disappeared. We prayed, practiced rituals, and even put ourselves in dangerous situations to be saved again! And here we are, our prayers have been answered!" He sniffled.

The troll peeked from his bowing position at Kazuhiro. "A—are you our savior? Or uh, did we..."

As Kazuhiro was about to reject their notion, Asahi stepped beside him. "You dare question the one who saved you, huh?" Asahi's gaze bore into the peeking troll, making it shiver.

"Eeek! I'm— IM SORRY! I DIDNT MEAN TO MY LORD, I DIDNT MEANT TO!"

Kazuhiro casually turned to face Asahi. "Why are you doing this?"

"Trust me, boss. It just shows that you got loyal followers, which in return can be a big help if we need anything," whispered Asahi, nudging Kazuhiro's knee with his elbow. Akemi nodded in the background and gave a thumbs up, agreeing to the use of free labor.

Kazuhiro watched the twins, then turned to face the army of trolls still bowed before him. On second thought, it was a great opportunity to make progress with the second fragment. "So be it, how may I assist you?"

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[W10, (Naruto)]

[Somewhere just outside the border of the land of fire.]

[Hino's bar. 7:00 PM]

In a dimly lit corner of Hino's Bar, a man sat nursing a large bottle of sake. His long white hair was tied back into a loose ponytail, and he wore a distinctive red kimono over mesh armor, complemented by wooden geta sandals.

The man's broad shoulders slumped slightly as he took another swig from the bottle, his thoughts seemingly far away.

"May I? Oh, the great legendary Sannin~" came a teasing voice laced with playful sarcasm.

Jiraiya furrowed his brows, instantly recognizing the tone. He turned to face her. "Didn't expect to see you here, Miyako. What gives?" The woman standing before him was strikingly beautiful, with long, flowing white hair that framed her face, sapphire blue eyes that sparkled with mischief, and pale white skin accentuated by a beauty mark just below her left eye.

"You know, you won't get married if you don't show a lady any courtesy," she huffed, sliding into the seat beside him without waiting for an invitation. A black notebook landed on the table with a soft thud. "You could have at least said hi to one of your old classmates."

Jiraiya's gaze flicked from the notebook back to her. "That still doesn't explain why you're here."

Miyako sighed, leaning back in her chair with an air of dramatic resignation. "Fine~ it's the old man. He ordered me to come back."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, Only to point at her. "Liar."

She pouted, crossing her arms. "Well, that's half the reason," she admitted, her voice softer now, the teasing edge gone.

Jiraiya studied her for a moment, taking another swig of his sake. "So what's the other half?" he asked, but before she could answer, he interjected. "And don't tell me it has anything to do with your son that you abandoned and left in Sakumo's care."

Her eyes widened slightly, and then she looked away, her voice dropping. "What?! No! I haven't abandoned him. I just needed to see the world outside the gate to understand things better." Her voice grew meek, almost defensive.

"Tell the truth, Miyako. Why now?" Jiraiya pressed, his gaze unwavering.

She stared down at the table, a faint, bittersweet smile on her lips. "I... I finally won't have to keep doing my job."

Jiraiya frowned, confusion creasing his forehead. "And that is?"

"Don't get defensive. It's nothing that would harm the village. It's probably the same reason on why the Hokage ordered you to come," she replied cryptically, standing up and picking up the black notebook.

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed with suspicion, there's something about her that didn't sit well with him. He had tried to get a hold of that notebook before, but Miyako's swift reactions and her knack for avoiding rest had always thwarted him.

Just as she turned to leave, a loud thud and the shattering of glass echoed through the bar. Jiraiya's attention snapped to the source of the noise, where he saw a man collapsed on the floor amidst shards of broken glass. Patrons nearby were frantically trying to wake him.

Jiraiya glanced back at Miyako, who merely shrugged nonchalantly. "Might have overdosed."

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