Selling Cans from Naruto to Beyond

Zabuza had survived twenty-six years in this ninja world.

He'd killed too many to count.

He thought his life would be endless battles, wandering, until someone killed him in some nameless place.

But he never expected to encounter such a marvel in his lifetime.

While Shen Mo was there, it hadn't sunk in.

Now, with Shen Mo gone…

It felt like a dream.

"Lord Zabuza."

Haku, beside him, shared the same mood. Eyeing his beautiful, magical gear, he seemed to accept reality but couldn't help asking:

"What was that man… after?"

Though he and Zabuza toiled for wealth…

For someone like Shen Mo…

Money's use aside, acquiring it was effortless. Their safest stashes were plucked out, godlike.

"…"

Zabuza didn't know how to answer.

The gap in status, realm, and power was vast.

Like commoners couldn't fathom emperors, Zabuza couldn't grasp Shen Mo's motives.

But one thing he knew—

"No matter what, we can't offend him lightly," Zabuza said gravely. "That man sees through everything. A hint of malice could bring endless ruin. If it's just us, fine, but if…"

He trailed off, goosebumps rising.

If he were truly heartless…

Why bother toppling the Mizukage?

That blood-soaked village was his bane, yet also his heart.

"No matter what, I'll be your tool, Lord Zabuza," Haku said softly, looking at him.

"…Heh."

Zabuza chuckled rare, eyeing Haku, his gaze regaining its old edge.

He stared at the moon, murmuring low:

"Looks like I picked up a real treasure… Haku, we need to master our new powers fast. In a way, that man's existence might be a boon. At least now… my dream's odds are higher."

Having once tried to assassinate the Mizukage, knowing that power, Zabuza always knew.

He was just a stray dog, endlessly running.

He just refused to quit.

But now, vengeance burned true.

"Mm!" Haku nodded lightly, gazing skyward too.

Unbeknownst to them…

In the shadows under nearby trees, blending with the night, Shen Mo watched quietly.

He hadn't gone far.

Curiosity drove him to see how these can-buyers felt.

Unlike key players like Tsunade, Kakashi, or Sasuke, Zabuza and Haku were mere blips in the anime—Haku's beauty memorable, Zabuza just an early villain to spur the heroes' growth.

Now…

Their reactions and thoughts were expected, yet surprising.

"Hiju." Shen Mo grabbed his pet's warm body, lifting her to the moon, muttering as if to himself, "I treat this world like a game, these anime characters as players, but… there's a fundamental difference."

"Meow—"

Hiju purred softly.

Seeming to miss his words, she squirmed uncomfortably, nibbling his finger, protesting being held high.

"Such a dumb cat," Shen Mo sighed.

"Meow-meow!"

Hiju's pitch rose—she caught "dumb cat"—and she wriggled free, leaping to his face, pawing his hair in a huff.

"Rebelling, huh? Half your fish treats today!"

"Meow-meow!"

"Hmph, say you won't dare again."

"Meow…"

"That's better."

Shen Mo ruffled Hiju, mood lifting.

She'd grow into a sultry catgirl, but now she was just a kitten.

Childlike.

Finding a wall-like spot, he pulled out his Wallpaper House, returned home for a hearty meal, then sat at his desk. He summoned a laptop with trading points, seriously pondering his commerce future for the first time.

Early on, he couldn't plan—few can-buyers, safety first.

Now, he could scheme—future money-making plans.

"As the game's developer and planner, profit's the core goal, creating joy's the ethical duty."

Shen Mo muttered, typing "money" and "joy."

They were linked.

Happy players meant profit.

Tsunade, Sasuke, Kakashi…

Even Danzō.

Shen Mo tapped their deepest desires, driving their spending.

That stayed—tricking cash was a planner's instinct.

But…

"Developer."

Shen Mo enlarged the word on-screen.

He frowned.

The developer set all rules, gameplay, the world itself, holding absolute authority. For Shen Mo, doubly so. Any malice blocking his profits—buyer or not, no matter their spending—had to be dealt with.

He couldn't just sell cans blindly; that'd crash fast.

"Foster players' spending interest and capacity."

He typed another line.

That's the developer's job.

He'd been doing it.

Tsunade, now a Paladin—if she innovated Holy Light skills or fused them with chakra, a new system from clashing paradigms could yield massive trading points.

In Danzō's King's Way cans, Shen Mo embedded hopes to boost world productivity.

Then…

Shen Mo's face grew stern, typing three bold letters under "Developer":

—PVP

Player vs. Player.

PVP, where it existed, was a game's heart. In this non-game Naruto world, brimming with love and hate, it seemed inevitable.

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