Talk-no-jutsu either needs a protagonist's charm or a big-shot's clout.
Shen Mo was the latter.
His rare but striking actions, plus the mystical cans and bizarre items, cemented his image as a mysterious, powerful merchant of countless worlds and legends.
His last speech hit Tsunade hardest.
Her touched-up eyes lit up, brimming with joy, as if backed by a titan.
"I've said it before."
Hand on hip, fist pointing at Sarutobi, her voice quivered but held firm: "I don't care if Nawaki died for his dream. I'll revive him, carry his burdens, and never let it happen again!"
Tsunade radiated a new vibe.
Back straight, skin glowing, a faint, confident smile.
Sarutobi saw her unchanged youthful face.
Like the peak, spirited girl of old.
Lost the right to bear burdens…?
"Sigh," Sarutobi exhaled softly.
Young, he thought he could save everyone, but the First died, the Second died, his son died.
Sacrifice was inevitable.
So, he didn't stop Shumao's slander, deeming it necessary. He didn't block Nawaki's battlefield, seeing it as unavoidable.
Shen Mo was right about at least one thing.
He'd grown numb to sacrifice.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said, eyes fervent, looking at him. "If you want to revive someone, let's do it together. I've opened tons of cans. Pool our cash—it won't take long."
Kakashi's heart stirred again.
At least… Rin.
The girl who died by his hand for the village. With his current skill, he could protect her, right?
"No need to overthink," Shen Mo said, spotting Kakashi's spark, fanning the flames. "Open enough cans—Level 3, even Level 4—and reviving weaklings is easy. I've said it: cans are hope, fate. As long as I'm in this world, 'impossible' doesn't exist."
Revive once, you can revive twice.
Weaker targets, cheaper cost.
Shen Mo's words tipped the scales.
Kakashi's gaze hardened, facing Sarutobi. "Lord Hokage, I want to revive them."
Sarutobi knew he couldn't sway him.
Kakashi, gentle as he was, had a ninja's resolve—unstoppable once decided.
Sarutobi pivoted, looking at Shen Mo. "How's ninjutsu valued for trade? Can the same jutsu be traded repeatedly?"
Konoha had plenty of ninjutsu.
Right.
Sarutobi tried to steer Kakashi from revival cans, aiming for items better for Konoha.
Having seen the cans' magic, the Hokage knew: unless they could control this merchant, Konoha had to outpace other villages.
Shen Mo's aura vanished, sensing big business.
"Ninjutsu splits into knowledge and power," he explained. "Knowledge's value lies in rarity. First trade's the priciest; second drops sharply, third even less. Unique knowledge trumps common. Scroll-making adds labor value…"
The System's value assessment was thorough.
Example: a master's one-of-a-kind woodcarving—top value.
Mass-produced carvings? Bottom-tier.
It factored rarity, quality, crafting effort…
Shen Mo didn't fully get it.
No money-farming loopholes yet.
His breakdown clicked for everyone, even Sasuke, who realized new sword moves could be traded.
"It's just making new moves, right? I'm awesome at that," Naruto said, hyped, then gasped. "Wait, can my Sexy Jutsu trade?"
Sexy Jutsu.
Naruto's proudest self-made ninjutsu.
Shen Mo's eyes gleamed, nodding. "Yup, it can. Develop it more, and it's worth a lot."
It seemed goofy but packed a punch, especially on the mighty—even Kaguya, chakra's ancestor, fell for it.
Plus, it was rare.
Only Naruto had it now.
Added rarity boost.
"That jutsu can trade?" Sasuke gaped.
Sarutobi touched his nose, silent.
That move… was legit strong.
"Hahaha," Shen Mo chuckled, in high spirits. "Alright, Naruto, keep opening cans. You're not even at ten yet."
"Oh, yeah!" Naruto perked up, humming a self-made tune. "Open cans~~ Open cans~~ Let's all open cans~~"
The lyrics warmed Shen Mo's heart.
But the rest weren't great.
Naruto's luck was too good—two or three big prizes prepped, and he nabbed the top two in ten cans.
The last decent one?
A body-forging pill.
"Refines organs, clears impurities—solid effect. Long-term use, even normals become taijutsu pros," Shen Mo said, smiling. "Rare for Level 1 cans."
"Sweet stuff!"
Naruto didn't get it but knew it was good.
Popped it in his mouth.
Sasuke watched, envious.
He'd only got such pills in Level 2 cans—ten of them—but Naruto was a luck god.
"Done," Shen Mo said, smiling after Naruto's last can. "Now, I'll collect payment."
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