Konoha Ninja Shop System

"Where is he?" Ah Fei frowned, his voice barely above a whisper. "Could something have happened to him?" The thought gnawed at him, and he immediately sprang into action. Without a second thought, Ah Fei stood up and began searching desperately for the White Zetsu scattered across the Fire Country.

Panic gripped him tightly. These White Zetsu were not just ordinary workers — they were the very people he had managed to trick, convince, and unite under his banner. They were loyal, or so he had believed. If something were to happen to them, where else could he find such obedient subordinates willing to follow his lead?

Time slipped by, the sun inching lower in the sky as beads of sweat began to trickle down Ah Fei's forehead. But he was oblivious to his own discomfort, consumed entirely by the frantic search. Every corner, every shadowed alley, every hidden nook was scoured, but his worry only deepened.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his perseverance paid off. In the same secluded spot where the White Zetsu had previously taken rest, he spotted them gathered — whispering, talking quietly among themselves. Though he strained to catch their words, the conversation remained just out of earshot.

"Hey! You guys! Didn't I tell you to wait for me outside the hotel? Why are you here?" Ah Fei's voice cracked with frustration as he shouted at the group.

His anger burned fiercely. How dare they abandon their posts without his permission, especially at such a critical moment? Their reckless behavior wasted precious time and jeopardized everything he was trying to build. Discipline was the foundation of any successful operation, and they had shattered it without hesitation.

The White Zetsu froze at Ah Fei's sudden appearance, stunned into silence. Their faces flushed with embarrassment — after all, they had just run away from their responsibilities, only to be caught by their former boss. The awkwardness was almost palpable.

"Why did you leave your posts? Don't you want to work with me anymore?" Ah Fei's voice sharpened with anger.

But instead of immediate replies, the White Zetsu exchanged glances filled with unease and hesitation. One by one, their expressions grew complicated, shadowed by something unspoken.

Ah Fei was taken aback. What was going on? Why were they looking at him like that?

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What are those looks supposed to mean? Why are you all staring at me like I'm some kind of fool?"

The silence stretched uncomfortably until finally, a voice cracked through. One of the White Zetsu, braver than the rest, spoke cautiously. "Master Ah Fei… is the business you want us to join… serious?"

Ah Fei's heart skipped a beat. Was his secret out? Had his role as a middleman been discovered? No—he had never spoken of this to anyone. No one should know about his dealings.

The stunned look on Ah Fei's face only confirmed their suspicions. To the White Zetsu, it was as if the mask had slipped — and the truth was far darker than they imagined.

They trembled, fear washing over their faces like a tidal wave. To them, Ah Fei's plan wasn't just risky — it was repugnant. They had envisioned wealth and success, but now realized he wanted them to sell their bodies, to degrade themselves for profit.

Though Ah Fei misread their terror as shock at his honesty, he tried to smooth things over with a nervous chuckle. "Well… it's not exactly a serious thing… but the profits are pretty good, haha."

But his feeble attempt at levity only made the White Zetsu recoil further. Their faces contorted with dread, as if the end of the world had arrived.

"Oh my god," one whispered, "Lord Ah Fei doesn't even feel ashamed… he talks about this with such relish…" The words were almost unthinkable to them.

Ah Fei, seeing their expressions, was puzzled once more. "What's wrong with you guys? Why do you look like I'm some monster?"

He gestured impatiently. "Stop wasting time! I have a big opportunity here — come with me!"

Yet, not one of them moved.

His anger flared hotter. "You bastards! Don't you want to do this anymore?"

Another White Zetsu stepped forward hesitantly, their voice barely steady. "Master Ah Fei… we're White Zetsu. You should… find help elsewhere."

"Yeah, Master Ah Fei, this business isn't right for us. Selling newspapers is better."

"Thank you for your kindness, Master Ah Fei, but unfortunately, we're not worthy."

Ah Fei's fury shook his entire body. Yet, beneath his rage was a bitter, mocking smile.

"Fine. That's just great," he sneered. "Mark my words — you're nothing but a pile of mud, destined to stay at the bottom, selling tattered newspapers to survive."

His eyes flashed like burning torches, cutting into the White Zetsu's souls as if trying to carve their faces into his memory. The group shrank back, their necks instinctively curling inwards under his glare.

"You ungrateful fools! Don't come crawling back when you regret your choices. Even if you kneel and beg me one day, I won't forgive you — no mercy for those who betrayed me."

With that, Ah Fei spun around and stormed away, not once looking back.

Since discovering the lucrative middleman trade, Ah Fei had dreamed not of monopolizing the profit alone but of bringing his comrades along — the very ones who had toiled in the shadows, exploited and forgotten by the ruthless Black Zetsu company. He wanted to lift them out of despair and into wealth.

But the bitter truth shattered his hopes. Those who had once sworn loyalty abandoned him when it mattered most. Their betrayal cut deeper than any wound — an ache of loneliness and disappointment that words could not fully capture.

"Is this what it feels like… to be betrayed?" Ah Fei murmured to himself, clutching his chest as if to hold the pain at bay.

His grand vision of prosperity together had crumbled. That day, no one followed him.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Fire Country, Ah Fei's solitary figure disappeared into the distance, swallowed by the gathering dusk. The loneliness of his retreat was stark and absolute.

Behind him, the White Zetsu exchanged glances filled with turmoil and regret.

"Master Ah Fei is a good leader, truly. But… he's lost his way," one muttered softly.

"Let's just stay with Lord Black Zetsu and sell newspapers. No more chasing impossible dreams."

"Everyone has their own path to follow. I hope Master Ah Fei finds success… even if it's without us."

Their voices trailed off into the twilight, mingling with the cooling breeze. The fractures of loyalty, betrayal, and dashed hopes had woven a tangled web — one none could easily escape.

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

pàtreøn (Gk31)