Thinking he'd be completely luckless, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't expect a stroke of fortune in the final cans.
"It's definitely a grand prize," Shen Mo said, probing with his mental energy and seeing the item, slightly surprised. "A great item, even among grand prizes. Congratulations, this treasure can serve as a trump card."
Not only was it a grand prize exceeding the Level 2 can's cost…
It was a one-time-use item.
At equal cost, one-time items were far more powerful than reusable or long-term ones.
Used well, it could turn the tide.
"Heh, seems my luck's not bad," Hiruzen said, his smile unstoppable.
Asuma Sarutobi stared at his father, rarely seeing him so joyful in his memories.
As the rainbow light faded, Hiruzen retrieved the item, and everyone froze.
A tattered piece of straw paper.
It looked ordinary, with a complex character none recognized.
This… was a treasure?
"Don't underestimate it," Shen Mo said, as if sensing their shock, looking at Hiruzen. "With your current state, you should feel the power in that character."
"Indeed…" Hiruzen stared at the paper, sensing his Scholar energy roiling—a warning.
Instinctively, he channeled a tiny bit of Scholar energy.
Instantly, the once-subtle character glowed golden, the indescribable rainbow light reappearing, rippling like waves, exuding a mountain-like aura. Everyone felt their chakra control slow.
"Mr. Shen Mo, what is this character?" Hiruzen asked, the tattered paper feeling hundreds of pounds heavy.
This wasn't an illusion.
His arm muscles bulged, visibly straining to hold the thin sheet.
"It's a specialized 'Seal' character," Shen Mo said with a sigh. "The character isn't key; the writer is. A true great scholar wrote this casually, so your luck is incredible to get it in a Level 2 can. If it weren't casual, it wouldn't appear in Level 2."
Shen Mo recalled placing such items in the grand prize category.
Though their value matched other grand prizes…
Their effect was top-tier.
"Seal character?" Hiruzen withdrew his Scholar energy, and the paper returned to its ordinary state.
No one dared underestimate it now.
"A special writing method, meant to seal dragon veins or Scholar energy," Shen Mo said, glancing at the group. "On you… it'd likely seal all chakra."
His words fell.
Hiss—
Someone gasped.
Completely seal chakra?
For ninja, losing chakra was crippling.
A mere casual scribble was this powerful—what level were these great scholars?
"Of course, sealing a stronger target requires more Scholar energy," Shen Mo added. "And it's one-time use, only good once."
"Once… is powerful enough," Hiruzen said, his gaze thoughtful, carefully storing the paper.
A true trump card.
Watching him, Shen Mo realized that selling cans this way might truly send this world's fates beyond even his control.
He didn't know who Hiruzen might use this on.
But…
"No controlling it anyway," Shen Mo thought. "A planner only needs to steer the profitable big picture."
As he mused, Hiruzen kept opening the remaining cans.
Even with a grand prize…
He still hoped for another miracle, especially the class item Shen Mo mentioned.
Sadly…
Trembling as he opened the last, he found nothing.
One grand prize from 500 cans—a grim result compared to the odds.
But Hiruzen seemed satisfied, telling the others, "Such treasures are rare, but even the most basic items greatly boost our strength. We can also study otherworldly powers, combining them with ninjutsu. Tsunade's already doing it."
"Indeed, the results are impressive," Tsunade said, arms crossed, nodding solemnly.
The others were silent.
But their expressions showed deep regard.
They'd seen Hiruzen open cans and felt Shen Mo's and the cans' mystique.
Opening cans granted power easily.
This was why Tsunade brought them.
What could Shen Mo say?
A smile sufficed.
Hiruzen and Tsunade advertising for him was more effective than his own words.
"Mr. Shen Mo," Hiruzen turned, visibly nervous. "I want to buy ten Level 3 cans."
Shen Mo had said…
The last ten Level 2 or first ten Level 3 cans might yield a class item.
Since Level 2 failed, he'd try ten Level 3.
"Fine," Shen Mo smiled.
With a wave, ten larger cans appeared.
Nine were pre-filled.
One was empty—reserved for the guaranteed item.
Shen Mo loaded all Scholar Series class options into his custom randomizer, equal odds, and drew one.
"This class…" Shen Mo paused, surprised at the result.
But on second thought, it seemed fitting.
He placed the class item in the can.
Hiruzen, eager, began opening Level 3 cans.
The first can…
A blue dragon of energy burst out, coiling around the can, its melodious roars echoing with a captivating rhythm, uplifting everyone's mood.
"Blue radiance?" Shen Mo's voice rose, surprised. "You got a blue-level rare item in the first can!"
Indeed, from Level 3 cans, great items came with effects.
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