Selling Cans from Naruto to Beyond

Letting Hiruzen Sarutobi pick one of ten cans to decide his series.

This was a spur-of-the-moment idea from Shen Mo.

Mainly, he noticed Hiruzen hesitating.

If Hiruzen said he needed more time to think, today's business would be lost.

Better to let him choose randomly.

Anyway, in this situation, any choice was fine.

"Just… pick one?" Hiruzen stared at the ten small cans, his aged face showing a trace of nervousness.

Buying cans would shape his fate.

This nervousness was noticed by the others.

A strange atmosphere spread among them.

What was going on today?

First, a mysterious man with terrifying, unseen power appeared. Then, the Hokage, unflinching even in life-or-death battles, showed tension over picking a can.

"Lady Tsunade," Asuma Sarutobi couldn't hold back, whispering, "Who is this man, and what are these cans? Why do you and Father value them so much?"

His question echoed everyone's thoughts.

Too many unimaginable, incomprehensible events were piling up, overwhelming them.

"Asuma," Hiruzen spoke, taking a deep drag from his pipe, eyes fixed on the cans. "These cans determine our fate… and Konoha's."

Asuma: "Σ(°△°|||)?"

If it weren't his father speaking, or if this can-bearing man weren't so mysteriously powerful, he'd think he was being pranked.

Ordinary-looking clay cans.

How could they determine Konoha's fate?

"The cans aren't the key; it's what's inside," Shen Mo said, his gaze sweeping the group before introducing himself. "I'm a merchant from another world. Our Chamber places wondrous, powerful items from countless worlds into cans, selling them across worlds to give people like you a chance to change your fate."

"…?"

Everyone wore stunned expressions, struggling to process his words.

A merchant from another world?

"It's true!" Tsunade said firmly. "Sensei, Kakashi, and I have experienced the cans' wonders. Remember the last Uchiha survivor? In one night, Sasuke Uchiha gained strength rivaling a jōnin, nearly pushing Kakashi to the brink in a spar with otherworldly swordsmanship."

One night, from a fresh genin to jōnin-level strength?

Able to hold his own against Kakashi?

Though hard to believe…

Tsunade was the one saying it. Combined with everything else, the inexplicable began to make sense.

Why Tsunade summoned them secretly.

The dreamlike terror of time-stopping power.

Tsunade and the Hokage's attitudes.

With all this before them…

No matter how unbelievable, they had to try to believe.

All eyes turned to Hiruzen.

Feeling their gazes, he knew he couldn't hesitate.

Whatever he chose, he had to choose!

Not opening a can meant leaving fate to others.

"Just pick one!"

Hiruzen set down his pipe, reaching out with lingering tension to grab a can.

Honestly…

Shen Mo didn't know which series it was.

He hadn't placed items individually but pulled ten pre-set series cans from the system at once.

But it didn't matter which.

"No need to be nervous," Shen Mo chuckled. "You can change later if it's not right. At worst, you buy more cans."

Hiruzen swallowed hard. He could switch, but he somewhat believed in fate.

Taking a deep breath…

He opened the can.

Everyone peered inside.

No dazzling glow, no special sound. Just a plain sheet of paper, square, with a faint grid pattern.

It looked like…

Ordinary calligraphy paper.

"This series, huh?"

Shen Mo's expression showed genuine surprise.

Not an act this time.

Among the ten series—mechanical, prophecy, even familiar strength or king's way series…

He hadn't expected Hiruzen to pick this.

"What series is this?" Hiruzen asked, eyeing the paper curiously.

From its look and feel…

Just ordinary paper.

But could a can hold something so mundane?

The others' gazes locked on Shen Mo.

"Hokage," Shen Mo addressed him directly, organizing his thoughts. "You, of all people, should understand the power within words."

"Words…" Hiruzen repeated softly, puzzled.

"The essence of words is to convey information—emotions, spirit, the heart. Their power is intangible, carried through text, shared only among minds that understand," Shen Mo said, looking at the paper with a hint of awe. "But in some worlds, words, or rather text, become tangible, manifesting wondrous, powerful effects…"

Indeed, Hiruzen had chosen a rare power system.

It belonged to scholars.

Words could become verbal swords, killing invisibly. Writings could transform into treasured texts with incredible effects. Crafting timeless, enlightening prose could even elevate one to sainthood, transcending mortality, enduring forever.

Incredibly powerful.

Yet, this power required a matching scholarly mindset.

Mere study wasn't enough.

For example, cultivating Hao Ran Zheng Qi demanded integrity, righteousness, and an upright heart. Without it, not only would strength fail to grow, but the righteous energy could backfire, shattering the mind, lowering one's state, or worse—causing instant death.

So…

Shen Mo felt a playful curiosity.

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