Shen Mo's words left most of the crowd puzzled, but the sharp ones caught the key point.
"From different worlds… recording laws…" Itachi repeated silently in his mind, a near-certain realization dawning.
This mysterious man came from beyond their world!
It explained everything—the incomprehensible power, the unfathomable motives. An entity from another world was beyond strange; it was beyond comprehension.
Yet, this answer didn't ease Itachi's vigilance. It heightened his unease. Sasuke seemed deeply entangled with this man. If his intentions were malicious…
Shen Mo sensed Itachi's concern, his smile curling slightly. He turned to Naruto, still reveling in his Sharingan. "Enough. Keep opening the cans. You can ask Kakashi about using the Sharingan."
Naruto snapped back to his goal—reviving his dad. He turned to the remaining cans, keeping his Sharingan active. His chakra reserves could handle it.
"I'll revive Dad, I'll revive Dad…" he chanted like a mantra, then yanked open the second Level 4 can.
Blue mist surged out again.
"No purple?" Naruto said, disappointed. "Thought I'd get something like Haku's."
"No way it's that easy!" Sasuke and Tsunade shouted in unison.
They exchanged a glance, a shared sense of exasperation. Did Naruto think grand prizes were that common?
"With Level 4 cans, the chance of a grand prize is decent," Shen Mo said with a smile.
Their high cost meant few could afford hundreds at once, so the odds were balanced. Naruto had been selling chakra daily to buy cans, and while his luck was above average, it wasn't outrageously so. The system's tailored pools seemed fair.
As for Tsunade… well, never mind.
"Three cans left," Naruto said, undeterred, brimming with confidence in his luck.
He pulled out the second can's contents—a card.
Kakashi eyed the familiar golden pattern. "That's…" He had a similar card for his copied Sharingan, meant for emergencies.
"A one-use power-sealing card," Shen Mo said, glancing at it with mild surprise. "This…"
"Sorry, Your Excellency," Kakashi interrupted, bowing respectfully. He turned to Tsunade and the others. "In times like these, what comes from these cans could decide future battles."
"Exactly!" Tsunade's eyes sharpened. "Everyone, disperse! Hiashi, take a team to calm the villagers and check for Sunagakure spies. Remember, Akatsuki might still be lurking in Konoha."
"Yes!" Hiashi replied.
The ninja realized the need for secrecy. Shen Mo's presence had been so overwhelming they'd forgotten protocol, unsure if he wanted the crowd. Seeing no objection from him, they began clearing the area.
"Asuma," Tsunade said, turning. "Take Sensei to the hospital. His injuries are severe and won't heal quickly."
"Yes!" Asuma moved to act.
"Wait," Hiruzen rasped, forcing his eyes open to look at Naruto. "I want to see… if Minato returns."
Tsunade paused, then nodded. "Alright."
The ninja worked swiftly. The once-packed arena emptied, leaving only key figures.
Itachi and Kisame slipped away in the early chaos. "Let's head back," Kisame said. "That village is full of monsters. Staying's too risky, and we need to report this."
"Hm," Itachi replied softly, his pace quickening.
Back at the arena, Kakashi bowed to Shen Mo. "Apologies, Your Excellency."
"No matter," Shen Mo said, smiling. "If clients want privacy, I can create a sealed space. But I find a crowd adds to the can-opening atmosphere."
"I see," Kakashi said with a dry laugh. Shen Mo's tone was casual, like saying a lottery's more fun with spectators, yet these cans held the stakes of their battles.
Shen Mo didn't dwell on it. He looked at Naruto's card. "This is a one-use power-sealing card. It lets you wield the hero depicted on it temporarily. The stronger your compatibility, the greater the power."
"Hero?" Naruto held up the card, surprised. "This guy's a hero? He looks… kinda ugly."
His gesture revealed the image: a muscular, green-skinned man in tattered shorts.
Yes—the Hulk.
Shen Mo hadn't expected Naruto to draw this from the hero-power cards he'd seeded. Strong, but an odd aesthetic fit.
Still, he hyped it up. "He's saved the world—nay, the universe—multiple times, playing critical roles. Known as the 'Invincible Hulk,' this card holds just a fraction of his power, yet it's Blue Rare. Imagine that."
"So awesome!?" Naruto stared at the card, struggling to see the might in the green brute.
"Keep going," Shen Mo urged. Time was ticking.
"Oh!" Naruto carefully stowed the card and opened the third can.
Another skill—Basic Sage Mode.
"This one you can ask Jiraiya about later," Shen Mo said simply.