A chilling, non-human sound—a series of impossible scrapes and whistles that grated on the human nervous system—continued to emanate from the original tear in the sky.
"Mmmmer-quarrr, mmmmer-quarrr."
It was maddeningly sharp, like a diamond blade slicing through glass, yet carried an eerie, complex rhythm that defied any known language. The very essence of the sound made flesh crawl and reason falter.
"Yes, indeed," Shen Mo responded, his voice returning to a smooth, conversational cadence, addressing the dimensional rift as casually as one might greet an old friend across a café table. "This is a new world, fresh and brimming with potential, as you can see."
"Chirr-awe?"
"Yes, you are the very first of the senior members to observe this particular nexus," Shen Mo affirmed, his tone deceptively relaxed.
Below, the combatants—Kakashi, Zabuza, Sasuke, Haku, and Team 7—were frozen in place. The incredible force Shen Mo had wielded had successfully scrubbed the immediate, crippling terror from their minds, but the cold, clammy sweat chilling their backs was a constant, undeniable reminder. Behind those shimmering, jagged cracks in reality lay powers so vast, so alien, that they defied all comprehension.
"There is no need for undue alarm," Shen Mo's voice resonated, directed at the shinobi below. "Witnessing the Stages of Destiny in new worlds is a privilege reserved for the senior echelon of the Chamber of Commerce. The entity you heard harbors no malice towards humanity, but its very existence adheres to a higher vibrational standard."
Shen Mo's next words were a horrific confirmation of their worst fears: "An ordinary mortal would be driven to insanity simply by comprehending its true name. A single glimpse of its true form would result in instant, cataclysmic death. But fear not, the rules are absolute: they possess the right only to observe, not to interfere. The momentary psychic breach was merely a minor oversight, an accident, and its impact has already been nullified."
"A minor accident..." Zabuza muttered, the bitterness in his voice profound. That "accident" had nearly shattered his legendary, iron will.
Kakashi, Sasuke, and the others shared the sentiment. The Merchant Guild was not merely trans-dimensional; it was trans-existential. Just the ambient presence of its senior members was enough to shatter the delicate constitution of mortals.
Just by wandering the world, this being could drive all life on Earth mad and dead?
The chilling thought made even Naruto shiver. The sheer, effortless, and terrifying power was overwhelming.
Shen Mo, observing the desired reaction—the awe, the terror, the simultaneous elevation of his own Merchant Guild—was supremely satisfied. This elaborate staging was designed to forge the Omniscient and All-Powerful Merchant Guild into a genuinely cosmic, truly terrifying entity in their minds. Establishing this grand, positive narrative—a force that transcended worlds and championed the "fight against fate"—was essential for solidifying customer loyalty.
Perhaps, one day, Shen Mo mused privately, this staged reality could become a truth of its own making.
He returned his attention to the present. Even as Kakashi, Zabuza, and the others struggled to process the sheer scale of the being behind the first crack, two more rifts opened with a quiet, shimmering flicker.
The newcomers were dramatically different.
"Hah-ha-ha!" A warm, genuinely hearty voice boomed forth. "Worry not, young ones! If you are now members of the Chamber of Commerce, hold fast to your dreams! One day, you too shall step onto this limitless path! Young pursuers of destiny, I shall await you on the road ahead!"
Compared to the abyssal, inhuman malice of the first being, this presence was a profound source of relief, even encouragement. It was a tangible, exciting promise.
"Is... is that true?" Sasuke gripped the hilt of his short sword, staring at the empty, shimmering void that held the voice. The brief, terrifying glimpse of the first entity had humiliated him, making him feel like a worthless insect.
An ant remains an ant.
But now, this new voice was offering a path out of ant-hood.
"Absolutely!" the cheerful voice affirmed. "We all began exactly where you stand now. The highest significance of your membership is that you have now broken the boundaries of your world and are genuinely on the path to limitless power!"
Sasuke swallowed hard, his eyes alight with a renewed, feverish longing. His thirst for strength had just escalated beyond mere revenge; it was now a desperate need to reclaim his dignity and stand equal to this terrifying, cosmic peer group.
Then, the third crack opened, and a voice dripping with contempt and boundless, cold arrogance sliced through the warmth.
"Hmph. A half-breed's struggle remains a half-breed's struggle. Do not mistake my journey for yours, you low-caste riffraff." The voice was pure, cutting disdain. "Ants on the ground, who gave you leave to raise your pathetic little heads? Act your role! Entertain me with your crude, ugly skirmish!"
Sasuke's expression instantly froze, the promise of hope snatched away by this brutal, cosmic sneer.
But immediately, a fourth crack opened, and a languid, almost numbly sweet female voice responded:
"You are so aggressively annoying. Do you wish for me to cut you down, little emperor?"
"Interesting," the arrogant voice countered, a flicker of genuine anger audible. "It seems ignorance breeds arrogance, even across dimensions. If you are truly eager to die, I will not hesitate to grant your desire."
"Heh. A VIP duel? No need to rush," the sweet voice purred, utterly devoid of fear. "Once this new world's display is complete, I will ensure your stage is satisfactory."
"A duel between VIP members, you say?" The fifth crack opened, its voice smooth and scholarly. "That would indeed be a unique spectacle."
"A new world, no wonder the atmosphere is so lively," the sixth rift immediately chimed in.
"Mr. Shen Mo, it has been too long. Are you managing a fresh nexus of potential once again?"
One minute had passed, and the cracks were still multiplying. Although their visible light had dimmed and their oppressive aura was suppressed, a dozen distinct, powerful voices, each with its own unique tone and worldview, echoed in the enclosed space.
Cold sweat poured down the necks of Kakashi, Zabuza, and the others. Is this the reality of the Chamber of Commerce? So many worlds, so many overwhelming beings!
Only Naruto was beaming, his eyes shining with an almost manic curiosity and excitement. The natural thrill-seeker, the boy who craved being the center of attention, felt his fists clench with exhilarating anticipation. A dozen super-powerful figures from other worlds were watching him!
"Just wait and see," Naruto vowed internally, practically vibrating with energy. "I, Naruto Uzumaki, am going to put on a show they'll never forget!"
At that precise moment, Shen Mo abruptly raised his hand.
"SILENCE!"
His voice, though not thunderous, carried an absolute, undeniable authority that instantly smothered every other conversation. The entire stage—the dozen cracks, the proud emperor, the murmuring beast—fell into dead, immediate silence. Shen Mo's word represented the single, final authority in this space.
"The Stage of Destiny has been prepared," Shen Mo stated, his tone firm. "Considering this is the inaugural stage of the New World, I shall forgive this lapse. But heed the Chamber's rules: you hold the right to observe the Stage, nothing more."
Silence prevailed. Not a sound was heard from the arrogant emperor, nor the otherworldly entity. In that moment, silence was the truest representation of Shen Mo's absolute power.
"Do not concern yourselves with their presence," Shen Mo's voice lowered again, speaking directly and reassuringly to Kakashi and Zabuza. "Since I am here, and since this is a new world, many high-ranking members are curious. In the future, when you apply for your own Fate Stages, the audience will be far smaller, and they will lack the authority to speak."
He concluded with a crucial, whispered incentive: "Furthermore—seize this opportunity and perform to your absolute best. While they cannot directly assist you, if you manage to earn the favor of one of these senior members, you may secure a special, permitted benefit. For example... they might personally assist you in purchasing a small number of the highest-Tier Jars."
The final point—the chance to bypass the system and access the truly forbidden, apex of the Merchant's arsenal—was the ultimate motivator.