Naruto stood at the center of a crowd, their faces heavy with guilt. Apologies, concern, even questions about whether he had a girlfriend poured in. The revelation of his identity as the hero's son flipped his status from despised demon fox to cherished kin in an instant.
He waved his hands awkwardly, forcing a smile to cope.
So unaccustomed to this!
"Enough," Shen Mo said.
His voice silenced the crowd instantly. Some even stepped back instinctively, clearing space. A chill ran through them—mere words had moved their bodies without thought.
Shen Mo ignored their reactions, focusing on Naruto. "Since Jiraiya's covering the cost, will you open them now?"
"Now! I'll definitely bring Dad back!" Naruto said, trembling with excitement.
For him, nothing was more important than reviving his father.
The crowd stirred again. Reviving the Fourth Hokage—could it really be done?
"Deduct the funds from my account," Jiraiya said. His wealth was stored in the Chamber's bank.
Shen Mo nodded, waving his staff lightly. Five radiant cans appeared on one side, while a cascade of coins materialized and vanished on the other.
Iruka watched, sweating. That much money?
Naruto's hand shot toward a can, but he froze upon touching it, swallowing hard. His heart pounded.
He was nervous.
This was his closest shot at reviving his father—or even his mother. Success meant seeing his kind, incredible dad again. Failure meant waiting who-knows-how-long.
"Nervous?" Shen Mo's calm voice drifted like a breeze. "No amount of nerves changes the outcome. Fate doesn't guarantee success, but effort can tip the scales."
The crowd gulped audibly. Even paying didn't ensure reviving the Fourth Hokage. Tsunade and Jiraiya, tense, added to the heavy atmosphere.
"I'll bring Dad back!" Naruto took a deep breath, hyping himself up with repeated shouts, then yanked open a can.
Blue mist burst out, accompanied by a dragon's roar.
"Same as before," Kisame whispered from the crowd.
"Likely a rank indicator," Itachi replied softly.
Tsunade's exclamation confirmed it. "As expected! Level 4 cans start at Blue Rare. I spent triple your money for one—damn, I'm jealous!"
Shen Mo glanced at her. Her envy was feigned, a playful way to ease Naruto's nerves.
Naruto's popularity among a select few was undeniable.
"It's thanks to my dad," Naruto said, his mood lifting. He reached into the fading mist.
A glowing orb emerged.
Information flooded his mind.
Skill: Sharingan
Description: A bloodline skill from a bonded individual, granting three-tomoe Sharingan eyes. At peak bond strength, there's a small chance to evolve into Mangekyō Sharingan. Non-hereditary.
"This… isn't this Sasuke's thing!?" Naruto blurted out.
"Mine?" Sasuke blinked, stunned.
"Let me try!" Naruto closed his eyes, then snapped them open.
Everyone saw his blue eyes turn crimson, three tomoe spinning slowly within.
"What—!?" Sasuke's eyes widened, his breath catching.
Itachi, hidden in the crowd, tensed, his pupils shrinking.
The crowd exploded.
"It's the Sharingan!"
"How? Isn't it exclusive to the Uchiha?"
"Is it because of those cans?"
"This is impossible!"
Other bizarre items might confuse them, but the Sharingan was legendary in Konoha and beyond. Even transplanted, like Kakashi's, it stayed permanently active, unclosable. Yet Naruto had activated it like a natural-born Uchiha!
"Why… does a can have my clan's Sharingan?" Sasuke demanded, turning to Shen Mo.
"Didn't I explain?" Shen Mo said with a smile. "Bond Series items often come from those tied to the opener. A Sharingan appearing—isn't that normal? Or do you doubt your bond with Naruto?"
"But…" Sasuke's face flushed. "I only have two tomoe!"
If the Sharingan came from him, why did Naruto get three?
"It's related, not copied," Shen Mo said with a shrug.
A three-tomoe Sharingan was affordable, fitting for a Level 4 can. In Naruto's reward pool, Shen Mo had included over a dozen treasures: Sage Mode, Flying Thunder God, Chakra Chains, and more, alongside other surprises.
"Your Excellency," Kakashi spoke up. "Do cans contain abilities from our world? Is there a ninjutsu series?"
This was the first time a can yielded a local item, raising questions.
"Can items come from various worlds, but they're not simply taken and placed," Shen Mo said, shaking his head, his smile enigmatic. "We record a world's laws after encountering it, then craft items at the Chamber. It's part of my unfinished work. But the Bond Series is special—it involves forces beyond your understanding."
Shen Mo had no plans for a ninjutsu series yet. It risked fostering can dependency and stifled new systems. Chakra was powerful and familiar, easy to master independently. While a few grand prizes were fine, a ninjutsu series would be too cost-effective short-term but limit the potential of these innovative elites long-term.