Chapter 83: Anko's Exaggerations

"Clearing his throat," Shishou reassured the shopkeeper, "I really have money; you don't need to worry."

Anko chimed in at the right moment to support Shishou. "Yes, he's wealthy."

All the shops in Konoha contributed to the village's tax revenue, so Anko was keen on ensuring the transaction went smoothly. After all, chakra metal was extremely expensive, and not many in Konoha could afford it.

"Alright," the middle-aged shopkeeper nodded. "How much do you need?"

"As much as you have," Shishou responded decisively, seizing the rare opportunity to stock up.

The shopkeeper hesitated briefly, glancing at Anko once more. Seeing her nod, he retrieved a small box from a storage scroll. Inside was a piece of chakra metal weighing about 3 kilograms, roughly the size of a palm. He quoted a price of forty million ryo.

"Forty million ryo!" Anko was stunned. She had estimated the metal to be worth a few million at most and felt confident in guaranteeing Shishou's credit. Had she known it would be this expensive, she would have never vouched for him so readily. Now, she was warily eyeing Shishou, worried he might resort to violence to take the metal without paying.

Shishou noticed her wary look and felt exasperated. Sometimes, he thought Anko's mind seemed delightfully simplistic, adding an odd charm to her personality.

"I'll give you fifty million ryo," Shishou declared. "And from now on, any chakra metal you acquire must be sold to me."

He pulled out a storage scroll and produced several boxes of cash, presenting them to the shopkeeper.

"Of course, of course," the shopkeeper agreed eagerly, overjoyed at the unexpected profit.

"Wow," Anko's eyes sparkled at the sight of the cash, transforming into a symbol of wealth.

"By the way, do you offer custom ninja tool crafting services here?" Shishou inquired after storing the chakra metal back into the storage scroll.

"If it's for ordinary tools, yes, we can help. But for chakra metal, I recommend you go to the Land of Craftsmen," the shopkeeper suggested, scribbling down a name and location on a slip of paper. "I know a skilled craftsman there who can handle such materials."

"I understand." Shishou accepted the note and left the store with Anko.

Outside, they encountered a cute girl with twin buns in her hair, just returning from the ninja academy. It was Tenten.

"Thank you, and come again!" Tenten greeted them politely as they exited the store, flashing a professional smile.

Impressed by her service attitude, Shishou smiled back and left with Anko, who was still reeling from the experience. Inside the store, Tenten stared at the boxes of cash in awe.

"Wow, that's a lot of money! Dad, did you rob a bank or something?" she exclaimed.

Later that evening, Takeko had concluded negotiations with the Third Hokage and his advisors regarding the hiring of research personnel and investment projects. However, Shishou's request to learn genjutsu posed a challenge. He couldn't stay in Konoha for long periods, and Konoha was wary of teaching their techniques outside the village. They finally reached a compromise: Shishou would periodically come to Konoha to learn and submit any new information on the Akatsuki. Konoha would, in return, provide the best genjutsu instructors, handpicked by Shishou. The agreement included a clause that Shishou would not share any learned techniques with others.

With the deal settled, Shishou and Takeko spent the rest of the day shopping in Konoha before leaving that night.

In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage turned to Anko for her opinion on Shishou. "You've had the most contact with him recently. What are your thoughts?"

"He's incredibly wealthy!" Anko blurted, recalling Shishou's lavish spending.

"Go on," prompted the Hokage.

"He owns many casinos and spent fifty million ryo today buying all the chakra metal in Konoha," Anko elaborated. She didn't mention her suspicions about Shishou knowing Orochimaru's whereabouts since they were still speculative.

Owning many casinos explained Shishou's wealth. The Third Hokage and his advisors were stunned when Anko revealed the purchase price of the chakra metal. Shishou spent fifty million ryo on a palm-sized piece of metal. The Third Hokage had only managed to add fingernail-sized amounts of chakra metal to Asuma's knuckle blades, which cost two million ryo.

While the Hokage could understand large investments, spending so much on a tiny piece of metal seemed extravagantly wasteful. It was an expression of extreme wealth and luxury.

Danzo, who had been silent, narrowed his eyes at the information, pondering silently.

Anko, enjoying her rare moment of being the center of attention, continued, embellishing the story further. "He even told the shopkeeper to keep an eye out for more chakra metal, saying he'd buy however much they found. He plans to make a full suit of armor out of it, just for fun."

The Third Hokage and his advisors sighed in unison, marveling at what they considered Shishou's sheer wastefulness.

Danzo, however, remained thoughtful and silent, contemplating his next move.