"C'mon, don't blank out now," Steven muttered, rubbing his palms together. The system had been yammering all night—stats, tips, random alerts. If this chat group was real, it had to have something to work with.
"Hey, system," he said under his breath, staring at the glowing screen. "She's asking for proof I'm from another world. What's the move?"
[Ding!]
[Query: Proof of Dimensional Origin]
[Feature Unlocked: Dimensional Chat Group allows item sharing across worlds. Select an item from inventory or surroundings to send to User "5th_Hokage". Delivery: Instant. Success rate: 95%.]
Steven's mouth fell open. "Send stuff? Seriously?" He scanned the message again, a grin breaking through. "Oh, this is too good." Something from his world—something Tsunade couldn't brush off—would seal the deal. The gun? No way. The Rolls-Royce keys? Nah, he wasn't giving up that payday. Then it hit him. Tsunade and sake were practically a package deal—he'd seen her knocking it back in half the episodes.
"New plan," he said, hoisting his backpack and jogging out of the alley. A few blocks back, he'd passed a grimy shop—booze, snacks, smokes. A bottle of sake, nothing crazy, could do the trick. He patted his pocket—$90 left post-hot dog. Plenty.
Minutes later, he shoved through the shop's door, bell clanging. The clerk, some guy with a tired mustache, didn't even glance up from his phone. Steven eyed the shelves—whiskey, cheap vodka, warm beer—then spotted it: a small bottle tucked between a rum bottle and some cans. "Hakutsume Sake – 300ml," the label read. Not high-end, but good enough. He dropped $35 on the counter, grabbed his change, and stepped outside.
Under the shop's awning, he pulled the bottle from its bag and focused on the chat. "System, how do I send this thing?"
[Ding!]
[Instructions: Hold item and select 'Send to User' from interface. Designate recipient: "5th_Hokage".]
A [Send Item] button appeared. Steven clutched the bottle, tapped the option, and thought 5th_Hokage. The sake glowed blue for a heartbeat, then vanished with a soft pop. "That's wild," he said, staring at his empty hand.
He fired off a message.
[Admin_Tarnished: Check your inventory. Proof delivered—my world to yours.]
He leaned against the wall, smirking. Nailed it.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as the screen pinged.
[Admin_Tarnished: Check your inventory. Proof delivered—my world to yours.]
"Inventory?" she muttered. A faint ding interrupted her. A new screen flickered up.
[Item Redeemable: Hakutsume Sake – 300ml. Transfer to table? Y/N]
"What in the—" She jabbed Y, and a small bottle appeared on her desk with a quiet pop, half-buried in scrolls.
Tsunade grabbed it, turning it over. Strange label, sharp letters, no chakra traces or seals. She twisted the cap, took a whiff—crisp, unfamiliar, real. "How does this just… show up?" she said, setting it down with a clink. Her gut tightened. If this kid really sent it from another world, what else could this thing do?
She typed, fingers quick.
[5th_Hokage: Can't wrap my head around it, but I've got nothing to explain this.]
She took a cautious sip—smooth, solid. "Better not be drugged," she muttered, eyes on the screen for his next move.