Intimidation and a Deal

The invitation from the Shinbu family was delivered by Shinbu Kosuke himself.

"I'm starting to understand why you said during the exam that it's best to make a name for yourself early. How does that little head of yours work? How can you be so smart?"

Lu Zeming patted Shinbu Kosuke on the shoulder and gave him a meaningful look.

His eyes plainly said, It's not that I'm too smart. You're just so bad you make me look good.

Shinbu Kosuke ground his teeth. If he'd been able to beat Lu Mingze, he would have loved to squish that pink little doll face.

That evening, Lu Mingze arrived at the Shinbu residence.

The courtyard was a Japanese dry landscape garden, quiet and elegant, with an air of Zen.

Lu Mingze saw it differently. All he saw was the smell of money.

Inside the main hall, a stern-looking middle-aged man in a navy kimono sat in the seat of honor.

Shinbu Kosuke, who had accompanied Lu Zeming all the way in, made the introductions.

"This is my father. Father, this is Lu Zeming, the one I told you about!"

Lu Zeming was a little disappointed. The person he truly wanted to meet was the Shinbu Clan Head, Shinbu Teiichi.

Then again, he was still a nobody. Why would one of Kusagakure's most important figures meet him in person?

"Hello, mister!"

Lu Zeming greeted him casually.

Shinbu Mutsuto took an immediate dislike to his manner.

"Did your parents never teach you manners?"

Lu Zeming sat down on the nearest tatami mat and idly fiddled with the flower arrangement on the table.

"Manners aren't really about form. I'm sure you can feel it when someone respects you from the heart."

"Hmph! What a smooth talker. I hear you've received quite a few invitations lately."

"You want to know which way I'm leaning? There are so many offers that my head's spinning. Do you have any advice for me, Mr. Shinbu?"

"Offers?"

"Oh, I mean invitations to work."

"We invited you here, so I'm sure you understand what we have in mind. If you agree to serve our family, we'll make sure you're satisfied, whether it's Ninjutsu or money you want."

"Oh? Ninjutsu? Can you offer any forbidden techniques? I'm very interested in those."

Shinbu Mutsuto's mouth twitched. Inwardly, he had already begun cursing.

Just what I'd expect from a Ninja born a commoner. Forbidden techniques don't grow on trees. How could we hand one over to some wet-behind-the-ears brat?

Shinbu Mutsuto's face darkened. "I see you're not serious about this!"

Lu Zeming waved a hand. "I'm not going to work myself to the bone for someone else. But I'd be very interested in doing business with the Shinbu family."

Shinbu Mutsuto looked disdainful. He didn't believe a commoner Ninja could have anything that interested him.

He had already risen to show his guest out when a medicinal fragrance reached his nose. One whiff left him feeling refreshed, and it even seemed to stir the Chakra in his body.

Shinbu Mutsuto focused on the pill in Lu Zeming's hand.

"What is that?"

Lu Zeming smiled confidently. "A Super Soldier Pill I made myself!"

Shinbu Mutsuto could no longer keep his composure. Soldier Pills were enormously important to Ninja!

They served as high-energy rations that sustained a Ninja's strength and extended how long their Chakra lasted. They were a core strategic resource.

And Shinbu Mutsuto had never seen a Soldier Pill of such quality.

"Quick, bring it here! Let me see!"

Shinbu Kosuke, who had been kneeling in the lower seat, hurried up and handed the Super Soldier Pill to Mutsuto.

Shinbu Mutsuto examined the pill closely and even held it near his nose. The shock in his eyes slowly gave way to greed.

"You said you made this yourself?"

At those words, Lu Zeming quietly raised his guard.

"You're not thinking of stealing my formula, are you?"

Shinbu Mutsuto sneered. "The Shinbu family would never do such a thing. We merely want you to stay with us for a while so we can discuss how to make this kind of Soldier Pill."

"And if I don't want to?"

"That's not up to you!" Shinbu Mutsuto turned and shouted toward the door. "Guards!"

In an instant, four figures appeared in the hall and surrounded Lu Zeming.

Shinbu Kosuke hurried in front of Lu Zeming and pleaded with Mutsuto. "Father, please don't! He's my friend. He even saved my life!"

Shinbu Mutsuto looked at his son in bitter disappointment.

"That soft heart of yours will keep you from ever achieving anything. If you won't move, don't blame your father for being ruthless. What's one son's life in the service of the family?"

Lu Zeming clapped and laughed. "Hahaha! You two sound less like father and son than a lord and his subject. Anyway, I know what happens when a man carries something valuable. I wouldn't have come alone to discuss a deal with you if I didn't have something to rely on."

Lu Zeming formed a seal with one hand and spoke a single word. "Go."

Four Kunai flashed out like lightning, killing the four guards in an instant before stopping in midair in front of Shinbu Mutsuto.

Shinbu Mutsuto swallowed. His mind was in turmoil.

What kind of Ninjutsu is this? No Hand Seals, no Chakra fluctuations. Those Kunai flew out silently, killed, changed direction, and stopped in midair as if they had minds of their own.

Shinbu Kosuke was even more stunned. He had thought he had a fairly good grasp of Lu Zeming's strength. He hadn't expected Lu Zeming to still have an ace up his sleeve.

Just how strong is he?

Shinbu Kosuke pushed aside his racing thoughts and turned to beg Lu Zeming not to hurt his father.

Lu Zeming patted Shinbu Kosuke on the shoulder. "You shouldn't have gotten involved. Now you're caught between us. Forget it. If the Shinbu family doesn't want to work with me, I'll go see the Shinomiya. Maybe they'll be interested in my Super Soldier Pills."

Lu Zeming beckoned casually. The pill still clutched in Shinbu Mutsuto's hand flew free and landed in his palm.

Shinbu Mutsuto didn't dare move. The four Kunai hovered less than an inch from his face, ready to take his life at any moment.

Lu Zeming turned to leave.

"Wait," a voice called from the back of the house.

Lu Zeming's spirits lifted. The man I came to see is here!

Shinbu Teiichi came strolling out from behind the hall and asked, "How do you want to do business?"

"Ten thousand ryo per pill!"

Shinbu Mutsuto snapped, "Why don't you just rob us? They only cost around a thousand ryo apiece on the market!"

"Then why don't you buy them on the market?"

Shinbu Mutsuto had no answer.

Lu Zeming continued, "My Super Soldier Pills are made with precious medicinal ingredients and an exclusive formula. They're ten times as effective as ordinary Soldier Pills. One will keep you going for six days, two will let you challenge someone above your level, and three will let you go toe-to-toe with a Kage Level Ninja."

"Why should we take your word for it? We haven't tested the medicine. Only a test will tell us how effective it is!"

Lu Zeming tossed the pill over.

"Test it all you like."

Someone soon took the pill away for testing. About fifteen minutes later, a researcher came up and nodded to Shinbu Teiichi.

Lu Zeming made no attempt to hide the side effects.

"All medicines have side effects. Take one at a time, and you'll probably be bedridden for a week. Take two, and you'll be down for half a year. Take three, and you'll be finished. Of course, not just anyone can go toe-to-toe with a Kage Level Ninja."

Shinbu Teiichi didn't think those side effects were particularly serious. He wouldn't be the one taking the pills, after all.

To him, Ninja were expendable. As long as they achieved their objective, a few sacrifices meant nothing.

"The price is still rather high."

Lu Zeming was delighted. Once a buyer started bargaining, a deal was nearly done.

Lu Zeming smiled. "If the price is too high, there's another option. You can trade Ninjutsu for them: ten pills for a C-rank technique, a hundred for B-rank, and a thousand for A-rank. If you can offer an S-rank forbidden technique, I'll give you fifty thousand pills. Delivery might take a little longer, of course."

Lu Zeming was willing to pay a steep price to get his hands on Ninjutsu!