Selling Cans from Naruto to Beyond

Sasuke couldn't believe his eyes.

His sword—snapped by the enemy!

And Zabuza's words.

He knew about the merchant, and knew Sasuke bought cans!

"Heh." Zabuza chuckled, raising his foot. "Get lost."

Sasuke, caught off guard, took a brutal kick to the gut, flying back.

What he'd expected to do to Zabuza.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto rushed to catch him, but the force sent them tumbling far.

"Sakura, get this medicine to him. Rin, guard Dazuna," Kakashi said, eyes darkening.

Like dead fish eyes.

Even with his mask, his grim face was obvious.

But Sasuke looked grimmer.

Blood trickled from his mouth, staring at his broken Qingfeng Sharp Sword, disbelief lingering.

He recalled Shen Mo's words clearly.

The Qingfeng Sharp Sword lacked special powers but had one trait—durability.

For a swordplay novice, a lasting, bondable blade was vital.

Yet now…

Not even ten days in, the sword was broken.

"I'll kill you. You'd be dead already!"

Zabuza angled his Teigu, mocking, but inwardly shaken.

He'd tested his new weapon.

Kunai, shuriken, even his Decapitating Carving Knife—all sheared effortlessly, a godlike tool. But cutting this kid's sword took his full strength.

His Earth Set boosted power!

Were can weapons this terrifying…?

Zabuza eyed Sasuke, healed by medicine, holding two-thirds of his blade, and felt relief.

Good thing he met that man too.

Sasuke…

Gripped his broken sword, glaring at Zabuza.

"Why?" he rasped. "How do you know him, your weapon, your power…?"

"What?" Zabuza's eyes narrowed. "You think you're the only one craving a new fate? Don't kid yourself! I'm the one who should be shocked. A brat like you, qualified to change fate? Without that man's favor, you wouldn't last one round against me."

As a jōnin, Zabuza knew psychological warfare.

It worked.

Sasuke clenched his teeth, eyes fierce, veins bulging on his sword hand.

"Don't fall for it, Sasuke!" Kakashi snapped. "He's messing with your head."

"I know," Sasuke growled, each word forced.

He was just unwilling.

An enemy he could've crushed easily had grown stronger in days.

"How many cans did you buy?"

Sasuke asked suddenly, desperate for the answer.

Post-can strength and trump cards were unpredictable. The only gauge? Number of cans.

If it was a staggering amount…

Then…

Sasuke figured they should ditch the mission and flee. He had a vengeance to fulfill; he couldn't die here.

"Brat, want the can series and treasures listed too?" Zabuza felt smug. "Scared? Take off your ninja headband, hide in your peaceful village, and never come out."

Last time, the brats' teamwork landed a solid punch, forcing his retreat.

This time, things were different.

All thanks to that man.

"Damn it!" Sasuke cursed under his breath.

If the enemy bought cans, their path and power were unknown.

Having bought cans himself…

He felt the fear of that unknown deeply.

"Naruto, take the Power Pill," Kakashi said, feeling the same pressure but not shirking his teacher's duty.

He lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan, and said slowly:

"Ninja battles are full of deception and probing. Never assume you'll know an enemy's cards early, or underestimate anyone. Momochi Zabuza, guess how many cans I bought?"

"…" Zabuza's gaze tightened.

The unknown cut both ways.

He roughly knew the brats' strength, but Kakashi, the famed ninja, hadn't acted.

Still…

His biggest trump card remained unused.

No backing down.

In ninja fights, the timid lose half the battle.

"Hmph, stepping up yourself?" Zabuza tilted his head, sneering. "Good. I'm tired of fighting brats unfit to be ninjas. Let's have a real ninja deathmatch."

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Naruto panicked, about to speak, but Sasuke yanked him back.

Kakashi hadn't bought any cans.

They knew that.

But Kakashi's words were clear.

Probing.

He had to test the enemy's post-can strength to decide whether to stick with the mission. Kakashi was risking himself to gauge Zabuza's new power.

Incredibly dangerous, but that's ninja life-or-death combat.

The air grew heavy with killing intent.

Sasuke and Naruto felt a starkly different aura in Kakashi and Zabuza's standoff.

Both men were dead serious now.

Whoosh—!

As if synchronized, they moved, darting fast to maintain openings for jutsu and evasion.

Speed—not too impressive.

Both registered this.

Then, power.

—Boom!

Giant scissors clashed with a kunai. The Teigu's inner blades cut anything, but its outer edges were like a normal greatsword, so their exchange was even, both recoiling after brief contact.

Kakashi's hand trembled slightly.

Power-focused?

"Hmph, thought you'd be stronger," Zabuza said, sensing his strength edge, pressing verbally. "Are Konoha ninjas this poor? Wasting that man's opportunity!"

"Poor?" Kakashi didn't yield. "You know me, so you know my reputation. Guess how many useless jutsu I could sell?"

"…"

Zabuza's heart shook, nearly forgetting that, but his look stayed scornful. "Only you know jutsu? Guess how much I saved for revenge over the years?"

"…"

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