Recaps

In 2000, Kane Penter used his inherited wealth and foresight to build a fortune while preparing to survive in the Marvel Universe by studying hard and training with firearms. After a shooting session, he received a lead from his coach on where to acquire prohibited weapons.

• Kane slipped away from school instead of keeping his promise to play video games with Carl, who complained that Kane kept putting him off.
• Kane reflected on his three years in the Marvel Universe, his inheritance, his successful investments, and his determination to gain strength and influence.
• Kane rode his motorcycle from Midtown High School to the shooting range, where coach Jimmy praised his marksmanship.
• Kane asked Jimmy about acquiring prohibited weapons, and Jimmy handed him an address and told him to say he was a friend of Jimmy Black.

Karn arranged to buy a large cache of weapons from a gun shop owner and prepared to test the Multiverse Trading System. He planned to travel to the first world it located, despite the risks of making his first trade.

• Karn visited a gun shop Jimmy had recommended and offered the owner thirty thousand dollars as a deposit for weapons, ammunition, grenades, and explosives.
• The gun shop owner agreed to prepare Karn’s order within five days, and Karn gave him an address and phone number.
• At home, Karn studied medical skills and practiced procedures on mannequins while waiting for the weapons.
• Karn reviewed how the Multiverse Trading System worked, including its requirement that he personally secure a trade request in the first world it located.
• Karn decided to take the risk and use the system to explore other worlds.

Karn prepared for his first trade by arranging a secure warehouse, finding a supplier, and buying guns, ammunition, and rocket launchers. He used the Trading System to search for a world and discovered a ninja world.

• Karn gave Carl study guides and persuaded her to help him rent a secure warehouse and find a supermarket supplier.
• Karn arranged a weapons purchase with George, inspected the firearms and ammunition, and paid for the order.
• Karn stored the loaded weapons in the Trading System's Spatial Backpack and returned to his villa.
• Karn searched for a trading world and saw shinobi battling with elemental techniques, identifying the world as one of ninjas.

Karn considered what supplies and abilities he needed for the shinobi world, then began arranging medicine, a warehouse, and investments. After planning to acquire food and firearms as well, he prepared to travel to the shinobi world.

• Karn reasoned that the scenes he had seen were probably from an earlier shinobi war and decided to increase his planned medicine supplies.
• Karn contacted Carl about a warehouse and suppliers, then ordered a large batch of medicines and medical equipment from Jace.
• Karn inspected and rented a warehouse with Carl as a private place to store supplies.
• Karn planned to bring food and firearms to the shinobi world and build a force of his own.
• Karn took extended leave from school, gave Carl money to invest, and prepared for his trip to the shinobi world.

Karn searched the war-torn Land of Rain for a trading partner before his two-day deadline and encountered Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan. The chapter left him face to face with the three children, considering whether Nagato or Konan could serve as his trading partner.

• Karn crossed the rainy wilderness, found shelter in some ruins, and used his drone to scout while worrying about his deadline.
• After hearing a noise, Karn threatened the hidden person with his gun and forced Yahiko to come out.
• Karn questioned Yahiko, learned his name, and realized he had arrived during the Second Shinobi World War in the Land of Rain.
• Karn offered Yahiko food and told him to bring out his companions, then suspected White Zetsu might also be nearby.
• Yahiko called for Konan and Nagato, and the two children emerged from cover.

Karn joined Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato on their search for the Konoha Sannin, hoping to establish a trade relationship. They found Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, and Tsunade invited Karn and Yahiko inside to talk.

• Yahiko told Karn that he and his friends wanted to find the Konoha ninja who had survived fighting Hanzō and become their students.
• Karn offered the children milk and chocolate in exchange for guiding him to the Konoha ninja, and Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato accepted.
• Karn and the three children followed the Sannin's route toward the Land of Fire, using food to keep the exhausted children moving.
• Yahiko warned Konan and Nagato to hide in case things went wrong, then accompanied Karn toward the Sannin's shelter.
• Karn called out to Tsunade and Jiraiya from the rain, explaining that he wanted to discuss something with them.
• Tsunade invited Karn and Yahiko inside, and Orochimaru stepped out of the shadows.

Karn offered Konoha a large supply of modern medicine and food, and Tsunade agreed to buy the first batch and guarantee his safety. After the trade was confirmed, Yahiko asked the Konoha ninjas to teach him ninjutsu, and Jiraiya chose to stay with him, Konan, and Nagato.

• Karn introduced his medicines and food to Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, who recognized the medicines’ potential to save wounded Konoha ninjas.
• Karn told Tsunade he was from the United States and gave her a list of the goods available for trade.
• Tsunade agreed to purchase Karn’s first batch and promised to protect him, binding the Trading System’s coordinates to her.
• Yahiko asked the three ninjas to teach him ninjutsu so he could change the Land of Rain, and he revealed that ninjas had killed his family.
• Jiraiya decided to stay with Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, prompting Tsunade to angrily challenge his decision.

Tsunade and Orochimaru returned to the Konoha Camp with Karn, while Jiraiya stayed behind in the Land of Rain. Tsunade introduced Karn’s medicines and battlefield first-aid supplies at the war council as Konoha prepared to conclude the Rain campaign and respond to a possible Iwagakure invasion.

• Tsunade complained about Jiraiya staying in the Land of Rain, while Orochimaru refused to take responsibility for his decision.
• Karn explained battlefield first-aid techniques to Tsunade, who saw that they could be taught to ordinary ninja and help treat wounded comrades.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru brought Karn into the Konoha Camp, where guards inspected him and Tsunade placed him in her tent under a Hyuga ninja’s watch.
• At the war council, Tsunade told Shimura Danzō that she had reported Jiraiya’s situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said she would explain Karn later.
• The council discussed Amegakure’s withdrawal, the remaining Sand Ninja, and reports that Iwagakure might invade the Land of Grass; Tsunade then presented Karn’s goods to the council.

Tsunade and the Konoha Jonin considered Karn’s medicines and agreed to test them before seeking approval for a bulk purchase. After working in the overcrowded medical camp, Karn reminded Tsunade that he was a merchant, not a doctor.

• Tsunade explained that Karn’s medicines could ease Konoha’s shortage of Medical Ninjas, and the Jonin questioned whether they worked as advertised.
• Orochimaru warned Shimura Danzō against targeting Karn, arguing that doing so could push his suppliers toward Amegakure.
• Tsunade said she would test the medicines and send a purchase report and supply list to Sarutobi and the other elders; Orochimaru agreed to consider becoming Nawaki’s instructor.
• Tsunade told Karn that Konoha would buy the medicines in bulk if they proved effective, and Karn agreed to wait for the inspection.
• Karn helped treat wounded patients in the medical camp, then told Tsunade that he was a merchant, not a doctor.

Karn traveled with Tsunade and a group of wounded back to Konoha to finalize a deal for his medicines. He stayed in the Senju Clan Compound under watch, while Mito Uzumaki confirmed he harbored no malice toward Konoha.

• Tsunade told Karn that Konoha had confirmed his medicines worked and would buy them in bulk, and she planned to return with him in three days.
• Tsunade led the wounded back to Konoha, bringing Karn along in a horse-drawn carriage.
• Tsunade arranged for Karn to stay in the Senju Clan Compound because Konoha had no inns and the compound offered protection.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Mito Uzumaki to sense whether Karn meant harm to Konoha, and she reported that he had no malice in his heart.

Karn negotiated his first medicine deal with Konoha after Utatane Koharu demanded a forty percent price cut. Konoha ultimately accepted his listed prices, agreed to his shop requests, and paid partly in money, gold, and village properties before Karn left to prepare the medicine.

• Tsunade brought Karn to the Hokage Building, where Hiruzen Sarutobi met him to discuss the medicine deal.
• Utatane Koharu demanded a forty percent price reduction, so Karn refused to continue the medicine negotiation and offered to discuss other supplies instead.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Karn to wait while Konoha officials discussed the deal, then accepted the listed prices and requested that Karn avoid selling medicine in bulk to other ninja villages.
• Karn agreed to sell medicine in bulk only to Konoha and requested permission to open a pharmacy and food store in the village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi bought all the medicine Karn had brought for about one hundred million ryo, paying thirty million in money and the rest in property and gold.
• Karn received an entry and exit pass from Konoha and left to prepare the medicine.

Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted the unexplained shipment of medicines after Konoha Hospital confirmed they were safe, while Karn prepared to open his shops. Tsunade helped him hire five Senju Clan women, and he left Konoha to bring in food for the store.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided not to investigate Karn's unknown backer further while the medicines remained safe, and ordered supplies sent to the Land of Grass front.
• Tsunade reported that the inspected medicines had passed and that some were already being used to treat the wounded.
• Karn asked Tsunade for help hiring staff, and she recommended widows from the Senju Clan who had lost their husbands in battle.
• Karn hired five women Tsunade recommended, chose a shop manager, and explained their duties and the store's plans.
• Karn left Konoha to bring food into the village for sale.

After returning from the Hokage Universe, Karn learned that time passed there five times faster and planned how to expand his trading and biotech operations. He arranged to register both companies and began preparing to hire staff before his next trip.

• Karn returned to his living room and learned from the Trading System that time initially passed five times faster in the Hokage Universe, then planned to trade more food and medicine there.
• Karn decided to register a trading company and a biotech company, and asked Connor for help finding a lawyer and managers.
• Connor gave Karn a contact for company registration after dinner, while Carl promoted her idea for the Wall Street Inazuma Company.
• Karn visited the recommended firm the next day and hired it to register his companies and find office space.
• Karn planned to hire honest, obedient assistants to carry out his orders and manage the trading company’s shipments.

Karn built a pharmaceutical and food wholesale company in his world while making money through futures trading, then returned to the Hokage Universe with a new shipment for his Konoha shops. After raising prices and offering discounts to Xia Chuan’s staff and relatives, he noticed a red-haired girl peeking through the doorway.

• Karn established a wholesale trading company, hired experienced staff, and prepared to ship medicine and food to regions facing shortages.
• Karn, Carl, and Connor made over two million dollars trading gold and oil futures, then toasted their profits while condemning the war.
• Ten days after his return, Karn used the Trading System to travel back to the Hokage Universe, where only about two days had passed.
• Karn hired Konoha Chunin to escort a wagon convoy from Kawaki Town and brought the shipment safely to his shops in Konoha.
• Karn ordered Xia Chuan to raise prices by fifty percent on some goods and twenty-five percent on the rest, while allowing shop staff and some relatives to buy at the original prices.
• Karn noticed a red-haired girl peeking through the shop doorway and asked Xia Chuan what she was doing.

Karn raised the price of chocolate but gave Kushina a bonus, then planned to open a shop selling medicine and medical supplies. He hired Xia Chuan to recruit staff and began considering novels as a way to expand his influence beyond Konoha.

• Kushina tried to buy fifty chocolate bars for five thousand ryō, but Karn told her the price had risen to two hundred ryō per bar.
• Karn offered Kushina thirty bars for her money and promised one free bar for every five she bought, and she left happily with the chocolate.
• Karn told Xia Chuan to prepare the neighboring shop to sell medicine and medical supplies, and approved her recommendation of Jiekang Weilai for a job.
• Karn asked Xia Chuan to recruit two more workers, and she took time off to find them.
• Karn considered expanding his business beyond Konoha by publishing novels from the ten books he had brought with him.

Karn refused Tsunade’s request to sell medicine on credit, but agreed to accept valuables and reassured her that Xia Chuan and her associates could work for him. As Karn prepared to travel to the Land of Fire’s capital, an ANBU shinobi summoned him to the Hokage.

• Tsunade invited Karn to drink, and Xia Chuan offered to furnish and clean his rooms so he would go with her.
• At the izakaya, Tsunade asked Karn to sell Konoha another batch of medicine, but he refused credit and offered to accept gold, jewelry, or other valuables.
• Karn told Tsunade he had promised Xia Chuan’s friends and relatives priority for future jobs, then asked whether they could leave the village to work elsewhere.
• The next day, Karn prepared to travel to the Land of Fire’s capital to sell novels, but an ANBU shinobi summoned him to Lord Hokage.

Karn negotiated Konoha’s second medicine shipment, insisting on firm payment terms and accepting valuables or commissioned missions instead of credit. After inspecting Konoha’s goods, he approved most of them, and Mitokado Homura took him to the Mission Department to assess the remaining payment.

• Karn told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he would not extend credit and would accept valuables or guard missions as payment, but not ninjutsu scrolls.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to order the same quantity of medicine as before and prepare goods worth the corresponding amount.
• Mitokado Homura presented Karn with gold, gemstones, jewelry, and antiques, including bloodstained pieces Karn suspected had been stolen.
• Karn rejected several flawed gemstones but accepted the remaining goods as payment.
• Mitokado Homura took Karn to the Mission Department to discuss the amount to be covered through commissioned missions.

Karn arranged a B-Rank mission to travel around the Land of Fire and saw new business potential in selling sweets. After preparing his shops and guards, he left Konoha to survey nearby towns and pursue his plans.

• Karn arranged a two-hundred-thousand-ryo mission with two Chunin leading a squad to protect him as he traveled around the Land of Fire.
• Karn told Xia Chuan to manage his two shops while he was away, then met Kushina, who asked to reserve chocolate.
• Kushina ordered one hundred chocolate bars, and Karn told her she needed to pay before he would reserve them.
• Karn planned to survey towns and possibly establish a sweets factory, while envisioning a larger business influence in the Shinobi World.
• Karn departed Konoha with six ninja guards, a driver, and two horse-drawn carriages.

Karn negotiated a lucrative publishing deal for three novels, then began laying the groundwork for a confectionery factory in Kawaki Town. After arranging construction and planning to import machinery, he returned to Konoha as his mission deadline approached.

• Karn persuaded Miki, the Spring Beauty Bookstore owner, to offer him a thirty-seven-percent royalty for his three novels, and they signed a contract.
• Karn gave Miki the first three volumes and suggested opening a bookstore in Konoha.
• Karn treated the Konoha ninja guarding him to several meals while exploring the Land of Fire's capital and studying its economy.
• Karn chose Kawaki Town for his confectionery factory, bought land, and hired a construction crew to build a factory and warehouse.
• Karn planned to import production machinery from the Marvel Universe and have local civilians grow cocoa trees, then returned to Konoha.

Karn returned to Konoha, reviewed his businesses, and arranged for Xia Chuan to manage a sweets factory in Kawaki Town. As the Second Shinobi World War neared its end, he focused on expanding his commercial influence while Konoha dealt with Sunagakure.

• Karn returned to the Karn Pharmacy and entrusted Jiekang Weilai with managing the shop.
• Karn reviewed the store's earnings, decided to stop importing food for resale, and learned that more than eighty customers had pre-ordered over three million ryō worth of sweets.
• Karn asked Xia Chuan to recruit trusted workers, including members of the former Senju Clan, to run the sweets factory and guard cocoa cultivation in Kawaki Town.
• Karn planned to take the recruited workers to Kawaki Town, where four would manage the factory and five would patrol the cocoa fields.
• Karn heard that Amegakure had surrendered and Sunagakure had retreated, though Sunagakure had not signed Konoha's peace agreement.
• Karn learned from returning Konoha ninjas about Sunagakure's powerful Tailed Beast Jinchūriki and continued prioritizing the expansion of his influence.

After earning more than fifteen million dollars from auctioning historical treasures, Karn expanded his pharmaceutical business and planned a biotechnology company focused on the Extremis virus. He prepared supplies and new trade items before returning to the Shinobi World.

• Karn’s auction items sold for nearly nine million dollars, bringing his total cash earnings from the sale to more than fifteen million.
• Back in New York, Karn secured pharmaceutical licenses, hired staff, and arranged bulk purchases, cargo ships, and warehouses for his company.
• Karn chose the Extremis virus as a potential biotechnology project so he could trade the research with Orochimaru and explore human evolution.
• Karn arranged for a headhunting agency to find two assistants, invested his remaining funds in his companies, and entrusted several million dollars to Connor.
• Karn revised his trade plans to include two weapons, three production lines, and cacao trees, then returned to the Shinobi World.

Karn expanded his confectionery plans in Kawaki Town, returned to a grieving Konoha, and considered opening a pharmacy and recruiting Orochimaru for research. As he rested at his store, Kawaki Miwa told him that Jonin Tsunade had come to visit.

• Xia Chuan told Karn that civilians in four villages had agreed to grow cocoa trees in exchange for high-priced bean purchases and affordable grain.
• Karn installed and demonstrated the confectionery machines, trained Xia Chuan and the other four operators, and finalized the cocoa-growing arrangements.
• Karn returned to Konoha, noticed signs of mourning among its residents, and told Miwa to begin delivering goods from the preorder list.
• Karn considered recruiting Orochimaru for biological research and opening a pharmacy in the Land of Fire's capital.
• Kawaki Miwa informed Karn that Jonin Tsunade wanted to visit him.

Tsunade asked Karn for advice on reforming Konoha’s medical training, and he explained that she needed a detailed, practical proposal to win support. Inspired, she began organizing a Medical Ninjutsu curriculum and selection system at Konoha Hospital, where she worked late into the night and felt an unexplained flutter in her heart.

• Tsunade visited Karn to ask whether she should raise Medical Ninja training at a Jonin meeting, and Karn warned that enthusiasm alone would not overcome the cost or lack of a concrete plan.
• Karn advised Tsunade to outline the reform’s goals, training structure, selection standards, curriculum, and costs before presenting it to the Third Hokage.
• Tsunade returned to Konoha Hospital and asked Yano and Aosuke to help draft a detailed proposal while she organized Medical Ninjutsu.
• Tsunade planned to classify Medical Ninjutsu by difficulty and application, create a learning method, and consider assessments and surgical instruction for prospective Medical Ninjas.
• Tsunade worked late into the night, considered asking Karn about surgical classifications, then felt her heart flutter and wondered whether something bad might happen.

Tsunade saved Nawaki from immediate death, but his injuries ended his career as a ninja. Meanwhile, Karn expanded his business plans and offered to choose a gift for Kushina, who was shocked by his price.

• Tsunade performed an exhausting operation that stabilized Nawaki, though she knew he would likely never be able to work as a ninja again.
• Tsunade told Orochimaru that Nawaki was out of danger, then left to inform Grandma Mito.
• Karn arranged through Kawaki Miwa and Kawaki Yuri to buy buildings for a barbecue restaurant and an izakaya, and left one million ryo to fund the shops.
• Karn prepared to visit Kawaki Town with Xia Chuan and invest more of his money in new businesses.
• Kushina asked Karn what gift to bring someone who was ill, and he offered to prepare one for a hundred thousand ryo, startling her.

Karn charged Kushina a hundred thousand ryo for a custom cake, then left Konoha to expand his business and seek out Kakuzu. In Kawaki Town, he funded the confectionery factory, ordered Xia Chuan to buy two storefronts, and planned to use one as a casino and support homeless children.

• Kushina agreed to pay Karn a hundred thousand ryo for a one-of-a-kind dessert after he tempted her with the promise of a cake.
• Karn baked Kushina an elaborate cake for the injured Nawaki and claimed better custom cakes would cost at least five hundred thousand ryo.
• Kushina left happily with the cake, hoping Nawaki would be unable to finish it and she could eat the rest.
• Karn hired a Konoha chunin squad for a B-rank protection mission and headed toward the Underground Bounty Station to recruit Kakuzu as a casino manager and enforcer.
• Karn gave Xia Chuan five million ryo to buy two storefronts, establish a confectionery shop and casino, and take in homeless children for him to support.