"This power is truly incredible."
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have finished his moment of emotion, now showing a hint of excitement, though he suppressed it well, appearing merely pleased.
"Mr. Shen Mo, I believe this series suits me perfectly."
Facing Hiruzen's barely contained excitement and satisfaction, Shen Mo wasn't sure what to say.
Oh well, money was money.
"Cans always guide customers to their fated path," Shen Mo said, maintaining his merchant's smile. "Since you've decided, how many cans will you buy? With what payment? The Scholar Series is a treasure trove full of surprises."
The others turned their attention to him.
They now understood the cans' significance.
Buying cans offered a chance at otherworldly power!
As ninja, they knew the value of strength better than anyone.
How could they obtain these cans?
"I don't have much wealth," Hiruzen said, taking a drag from his pipe, then resolving himself. "Like Kakashi, I'll sell my ninjutsu knowledge, memories, and experience."
"Hokage?" Hyuga Hiashi and the others' faces changed.
They'd guessed the cans wouldn't come cheap, but trading memories?
More crucially—
The Hokage was willing to sell his ninjutsu memories?
"To gain anything, there's a price, especially to change fate," Shen Mo said calmly, glancing at everyone. His expression didn't shift, yet an odd force seemed to silence their protests.
This stemmed from his immense power and mysterious identity.
"Everyone," Hiruzen turned, his usually kind face now stern. He looked at them all, saying gravely, "I must tell you… Kakashi, who returned two days ago, was gravely injured, nearly dead. So was Sasuke, his student."
"What?" Might Guy exclaimed first. "Kakashi, badly hurt? How is he now? Where's he recovering?"
"Guy," Kurenai Yuhi grabbed the tense, worried Might Guy. "Lady Tsunade's here."
"Indeed, I stabilized their injuries immediately," Tsunade nodded.
Might Guy exhaled in relief.
Tsunade's healing prowess was widely trusted.
But his fists clenched.
Kakashi…
His lifelong rival, nearly dead so easily?
"Hokage," Hyuga Hiashi said seriously, "Who injured Kakashi? Another village's elite?"
They knew Kakashi's strength.
Among Konoha's jōnin, he was top-tier.
None present were confident they could beat him.
"A rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist, Zabuza Momochi," Hiruzen said, glancing at the impassive Shen Mo, taking a deep drag before continuing. "He's another ninja who bought cans from Mr. Shen Mo."
"What…?" Might Guy gasped.
The scene fell into an eerie silence.
Cans granted power.
Yet Kakashi was nearly killed by someone who'd bought cans from Shen Mo!
"You didn't think I'd only sell to Konoha, did you?" Shen Mo broke the silence, his smile unchanged, but it now sent chills down their spines.
Hiruzen had called Shen Mo Konoha's most honored guest.
Tsunade seemed close to him.
Shen Mo had been all smiles since arriving.
So they'd assumed this otherworldly merchant favored Konoha.
Now…
Just imagining Shen Mo as an enemy made their skin crawl.
"I'm just a merchant. Anyone qualified can buy cans to change their fate," Shen Mo said, teasing the yawning Hiju on his shoulder, speaking leisurely. "Unlike most Chamber merchants, I don't act high and mighty, like a god. But if that gave you any unnecessary illusions—"
He raised his eyes.
He didn't finish.
But in that instant, everyone saw his pupils turn golden.
Majestic, indifferent, overwhelmingly oppressive.
Then it vanished.
Shen Mo returned to his casual, approachable demeanor, gazing fondly at his cat.
But all exchanged glances, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.
No one spoke.
The gap in power was too vast.
Even Tsunade only clenched her fists.
Of course, Shen Mo caught her turbulent thoughts.
He sighed inwardly.
As a game planner, he hated when bosses demanded free top-tier gear or roles for friends or relatives.
In a PVP game…
Letting someone dominate like that would ruin it.
So, on such principled matters, he had to be firm.
"Now," Hiruzen said, his gaze sweeping the group, "you should understand. From the day Mr. Shen Mo appeared, we've had no choice. Whatever the cost, we must open cans to grow stronger, because destinies will inevitably clash."
Words Shen Mo stressed at the first Fate Stage.
Hiruzen remembered them from Tsunade's badge projection.
Everyone, including Tsunade, grew solemn.
"Mr. Shen Mo," Hiruzen turned to him, still smiling. "I've prepared some less useful ninjutsu. Some are just knowledge, others include memories and experience. How many cans can I get?"
He didn't specify.
But from Kakashi's case, this man seemed to see through hearts.
"For what you're thinking… about 33 million points," Shen Mo said, outwardly calm but inwardly surprised.
This guy was ruthless.
Kakashi only sold low-level ninjutsu memories and experience.
But Hiruzen?
Besides low-level ninjutsu memories, he offered high-level techniques and even forbidden jutsu knowledge and memories.
Worthy of the Professor of Ninjutsu.
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