[TL/N: New Book -
Anime Group Chat in a Doomsday World!]
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"A deal!?"
Rasa froze for a moment, stunned.
As the Fourth Kazekage of the Sand Village, he was particularly sensitive to the word "deal."
After all, it was through trading that he rose to the position of Kazekage.
The Sand Village, located deep in the desert, suffered from a perpetual shortage of resources.
If not for his Magnetic Release kekkei genkai, which allowed him to extract gold from the sands and sell it, the annual death toll from starvation in the village would have reached triple digits.
But now, at his most perilous moment, a strange man had appeared out of nowhere and offered to strike a deal.
Rasa's first instinct was to suspect that this was a ploy by Orochimaru—just another one of his twisted tricks.
However...
As he scrutinized Crocodile in the flickering firelight, he began to doubt that theory. The man before him exuded an aura of independence, not someone who would willingly serve under another.
Gritting his teeth, with nothing left to lose, Rasa made his decision.
Raising his head, he looked directly at Crocodile and said:
"What do you want!?"
"If you can help me resolve this crisis, I'll give you one-tenth of the Sand Village's gold reserves!"
It wasn't reckless for Rasa to offer the village's wealth so freely.
In the world of ninjas, no amount of gold could compare to the value of a Kage-level shinobi.
But Crocodile simply shook his head, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"Gold doesn't interest me."
"However..." Crocodile continued, "since you've agreed to the deal..."
"I trust you won't disappoint me."
With a wave of his hand, a flood of information surged into Rasa's mind as if a vast waterfall had poured directly into his consciousness.
All at once, Rasa understood.
"Dimensional Trade!?"
His eyes widened, his pupils brimming with shock.
Rasa could never have imagined that the figure standing before him possessed such an extraordinary background.
A being from another world!
If this revelation were to spread, even other Kage would question the very fabric of reality.
And yet, Rasa himself now found his worldview crumbling.
However...
The thought of Orochimaru still waiting to strike outside forced him to compose himself.
He turned back to Crocodile, his tone suddenly filled with deference.
"Master Dimensional Merchant, I humbly request to engage in a dimensional trade!"
In truth, Rasa never doubted the authenticity of the phenomenon before him.
First, because he was cornered—grasping even the faintest glimmer of hope to survive.
Second, his instincts as a powerful shinobi told him that the figure before him stood leagues above him in strength.
Crocodile exuded a natural superiority, as if an unbridgeable gulf separated them.
There was no helping it.
Even after undergoing a year of training, Crocodile's domineering personality hadn't softened in the slightest.
But this was exactly what Leo—the orchestrator of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce—intended.
After all, a diverse range of personalities made the organization more interesting. A team of mindless drones would drain all the fun.
"Ahahaha..."
Crocodile let out a low, wicked laugh, then nodded.
"Of course."
With a flick of his arm, another wave of energy coursed through the air.
In an instant, a strange interface appeared within Rasa's mind.
It was the trading interface!
Already grasping the rules of dimensional trade, Rasa hesitated only briefly before proceeding.
He poured all the ninjutsu knowledge he had mastered into the trade—everything from his techniques to the method of refining chakra.
And then...
He reached for his kunai.
With a swift motion, he slashed his wrist.
The blade cut cleanly, and a thin stream of blood began to flow.
Rasa quickly formed a seal, manipulating the placer gold to create a container to catch the blood.
Closing his eyes once more, he focused on the trading interface in his mind.
To his surprise, a new option had appeared among the transaction choices: [Bloodline Limit: Magnetic Release – Gold Dust].
Rasa's eyes lit up with excitement!
This time, he hesitated no longer and completed the trade for all the options he had selected.
In an instant, a torrent of knowledge surged into Crocodile's merchant system.
Using the system's stored spare points, Crocodile swiftly replicated the incoming knowledge. He then converted the newfound information into tradeable points.
Suddenly, a mobile phone Rotom materialized before Rasa.
Rasa immediately recognized it as an exclusive benefit granted to members of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce who achieved Level 2 membership or higher.
These details had been outlined in the "Trader's Guidebook" by Leo to help streamline interactions and reduce unnecessary explanations for new dimensional merchants.
Holding his personal mobile Rotom, a soft glow radiated from its top, filling the previously dim space with light. The area no longer relied solely on Crocodile's flaming fist for illumination.
Excitedly, Rasa opened the personal information interface.
He knew...
His ability to escape Orochimaru and those two ominous enemies would depend entirely on the worth of the price he had paid!
Scanning quickly, his eyes landed on the points balance section.
Displayed prominently was a staggering figure: 60,000 points!
"60,000 points!?"
Though unfamiliar with the trade system, Rasa grasped the significance of such a large sum.
Raising his head, he looked at Crocodile and asked urgently:
"Lord Dimension Merchant, may I ask..."
"Can these points be exchanged for the power I need to survive!?"
"Of course!"
Crocodile's lips curved into a smirk as he noticed the same 60,000-point increase in his account.
How ironic!
He had fought tooth and nail in the pirate world for nearly two years, barely accumulating a meager 1,000 points.
Yet now...
In his very first trade as a dimensional merchant, he had already earned such an enormous fortune.
And that wasn't all!
While Rasa examined his points, Crocodile's consciousness dove into the system interface. Using the system's analytic capabilities, he reviewed the vast knowledge Rasa had traded.
It wasn't long before he pinpointed a critical keyword within the data: "Chakra."
As a fellow dimensional merchant, Crocodile instantly understood—chakra was likely the core energy system of this world.
Rasa had shrewdly capitalized on his first transaction, trading away all fundamental knowledge about chakra to the system.
Crocodile knew all too well that entry-level knowledge like this often fetched the highest prices.
Without wasting any more time, he contacted Leo, summarizing his current situation after traveling to this world. He also forwarded relevant insights extracted from Rasa's memories.
And all of this was accomplished in the blink of an eye.
Meeting Rasa's eager gaze, Crocodile waved his hand and summoned a screen made of gravel.
With a confident smile, he said:
"Mr. Rasa, think long-term."
"Now that you've become a trader, your future potential exceeds even your wildest imagination."
"Instead of focusing solely on this crisis, I suggest you consider how to reintegrate into this world as a trader."
Crocodile's words were lofty and grandiose, clearly meant to awe and intimidate Rasa, who had just joined the ranks of dimensional traders.
The next second, the gravel screen displayed a figure—a muscular, orange creature appeared on the screen.
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[Pokémon: Landorus (Therian Forme)]
[Type: Ground, Flying]
[Ability: Sand Force (Boosts strength by 30% in desert environments)]
[Level: 82]
[Price: 60,000 points]
Gazing at Landorus displayed on the screen, a trace of envy flickered in Crocodile's eyes.
After all, his current Pokémon, Krookodile, was only at level 80.
This was the culmination of two years of relentless training.
When he thought of Rasa, who had just become a trader and yet possessed such a powerful Pokémon, a surge of emotion welled up within him.
He had to admit...
Traders in a world with a robust and unified cultivation system truly had unique advantages.
In comparison, the system recommending Landorus to Rasa as his first trading target seemed almost insignificant.
Pushing these fleeting thoughts aside, Crocodile, now a dimensional merchant, quickly introduced Rasa to the Pokémon on the screen.
"Landorus, a powerful Pokémon from the Pokémon world, is also one of its legendary creatures!" he began passionately.
"Although its appearance might seem ferocious and intimidating, Landorus is actually a kind-hearted Pokémon."
"In addition to its immense strength, its unique racial ability allows it to absorb natural energy and convert it into nutrients for the soil, making the earth fertile. Wherever it goes, bountiful harvests follow. Because of this, in the Pokémon world, it's revered as the God of Farmland!"
Crocodile spoke with fervor, his enthusiasm palpable, as though he had personally visited the Pokémon world to witness Landorus's capabilities.
This was precisely why Leo placed so much trust in the four of them. For them, delivering impassioned and slightly exaggerated pitches to promote products was as natural as breathing.
With such a compelling introduction, any trader would undoubtedly feel that their investment was worthwhile!
And Rasa was no exception.
After hearing Crocodile's detailed explanation, Rasa realized that he had enough points to purchase Landorus.
He couldn't keep calm anymore.
His mind echoed with one thought:
"Buy it! Buy it!..."
Nothing else mattered.
The desert environment he lived in was far too barren. Landorus's ability to enrich the soil was desperately needed!
Looking at the major forces in the world:
- The Sand Ninja Village, located in the desolate desert.
- The Mist Ninja Village, surrounded by the vast ocean.
- The Cloud Ninja Village, perched atop cloud-piercing peaks.
- Stone Ninja Village, nestled in barren mountains.
Only Konoha thrived on vast, fertile plains.
Where there was wind, there was wind. Where there was rain, there was rain.
It was the envy of every other Ninja Village!
If not for this disparity, Rasa would never have agreed to collaborate with Orochimaru to attack Konoha, let alone end up ambushed and left on the brink of death.
Without hesitation, Rasa abruptly interrupted Crocodile's introduction and declared,
"Say no more, Lord Dimensional Merchant! I want to purchase this Pokémon immediately!"
The moment he heard that Landorus could transform barren land into fertile soil, there was no way he could resist.
His resolve was simple:
Even if Landorus couldn't save him from Orochimaru's schemes, he could ensure that the dimensional merchant delivered this Pokémon to the Sand Ninja Village.
Once the village received Landorus, it would undoubtedly grow prosperous and strong in no time!
In this way, he, the Kazekage, would have fulfilled his duty.
"Oh?"
Crocodile, who had been about to elaborate on Landorus's strength but was abruptly interrupted, didn't appear offended. Seeing that Rasa had already made up his mind, he simply waved his hand, manipulating the system to finalize the transaction.
In an instant, a special Poké Ball materialized in Rasa's hand.
Clenching his teeth, Rasa suddenly looked up at Crocodile and said,
"Lord Dimensional Merchant, may I trouble you with one last request?"
"What is it?"
Having just completed a significant transaction, Crocodile was in a jubilant mood. He didn't mind indulging in conversation with Rasa a little longer.
Rasa's expression turned resolute as he extended the Poké Ball toward Crocodile.
"Sir, if I am unfortunate enough to die on the battlefield, would you help deliver Landorus to the Sand Ninja Village?"
"Die? Are you joking?"
An enigmatic smile appeared on Crocodile's lips.
Taking a step closer, he lightly patted Rasa's shoulder and said,
"It would be wiser to wait until you've experienced the true power of Landorus before making such grim declarations."
As he finished speaking, the hand resting on Rasa's shoulder suddenly dissolved into a handful of yellow sand.
Moments later, Crocodile himself disintegrated into sand and vanished entirely.
"Lord Dimensional Merchant?"
Rasa turned around, staring at the now-empty space in confusion. For a moment, he struggled to grasp the meaning behind Crocodile's cryptic words.
Suddenly, a violent tremor erupted beneath his feet, followed by an unsettling sensation of weightlessness.
Startled, Rasa instinctively dissolved the golden sand shelter that had surrounded him.
At once, he realized that he was being lifted by a giant wooden hand.
Damn it! They've found me!
A cascade of quicksand began pouring down around him.
Reacting swiftly, Rasa activated his Magnet Release technique, manipulating the golden sand to form a flying carpet beneath his feet and soaring out of the wooden hand's grasp.
But at that moment, a sharp, piercing voice rang out from above him.
"Water Style! Vortex Water Blade!!!"
Swoosh!
A blue figure descended abruptly from the sky, wielding a blade formed of high-pressure water aimed straight at Rasa's heart.
It was none other than the Second Hokage himself—Senju Tobirama!
"Not good!!!"
The water blade grew larger and closer in Rasa's vision.
Having just formed the flying carpet, he found himself unable to muster the chakra required to conjure another Magnet Release technique in time.
A look of despair filled his eyes.
"Is this... the end of my life?"
Subconsciously, his mind flashed through memories of his life, like a revolving lantern.
When he thought of his wife, tears welled in the corners of his eyes.
"Goodbye, Sand Ninja Village."
Boom!!!
The roaring water blade crashed against something in front of Rasa but came to an abrupt halt, as though striking an invisible barrier.
The next second, an orange figure riding atop a cloud materialized before him.
The figure crossed its arms over its chest, glaring at Senju Tobirama with disdain as though to say:
"Are you trying to kill my trainer?"