The mist, under Haku's gear skill, gradually cleared.
Zabuza didn't bother maintaining it.
All eyes, drawn like magnets, locked onto Naruto as he pulled out the membership badge.
Even Dazuna, clueless about the context, felt the shift in the air.
It was as if…
Something bigger had just overshadowed their life-or-death fight.
But Naruto, oblivious to the focused tension, gripped the badge and activated it in front of everyone!
"You crazy kid?" Zabuza growled, a hint of panic in his voice, but it was too late to stop him.
Seconds later…
A warm, familiar voice came from the badge.
"Naruto, huh? What, looking to buy more cans?"
At that voice, the battlefield fell deathly silent.
Zabuza's forehead beaded with sweat.
If anyone was the last person Zabuza wanted to face, it was Shen Mo—not just for his mysterious power, but because he was the key to getting stronger.
This world had no consumer protection laws.
Cross Shen Mo, and no more cans.
"Can guy," Naruto hesitated, glancing at Dazuna, then gritted his teeth. "Why sell cans to someone like Zabuza?!"
"Hiss—" Zabuza sucked in a breath.
That tone—this kid was fearless.
Even Kakashi gave a wry smile.
Naruto had no reverence for the powerful, or he wouldn't pull those reckless pranks.
Even with Shen Mo.
Shen Mo, though, wasn't fazed by Naruto's tone. That'd be beneath him.
But…
He couldn't let others think he was soft on principles.
"Zabuza's with you, huh," Shen Mo said, calm and measured. "Fine, I'll swing by."
He'd been looking for a chance to appear.
Not to pick a side.
But to make them feel the weight of the Omniscient Omnipotent Chamber's purpose.
Clearly…
His words tensed everyone up. Zabuza's muscles stiffened, standing ramrod straight like a soldier before inspection. Haku zipped back to his side. Sasuke, gripping his broken sword, glared at Naruto, then scanned around warily.
That man could appear anywhere.
Tap, tap, tap…
The sound of hard leather boots on the ground snapped everyone's attention to one direction. Everyone, even a bewildered Dazuna, stared.
A figure emerged from the fading mist.
Tailored, pristine clothes, youthful face, a faint smile, a cat on his shoulder, and a short staff in hand.
Yet it felt… perfectly harmonious.
Like this was his true image.
"Well, well, everyone's here."
Shen Mo's signature smile swept the group with a casual glance.
His calm tone alone pressed down on them.
Zabuza and Haku stood rigid, heads bowed, saying:
"Didn't expect to trouble you, sir. My deepest apologies."
Of everyone, Zabuza and Haku revered Shen Mo most.
Their rogue ninja life, always hunted, made them feel power's weight more than the others.
Plus…
Shen Mo's cans tied to Zabuza's dreams.
Even the brash Naruto, seeing Zabuza's deference, grew slightly restrained. The man who'd just posed a lethal threat was so submissive to Shen Mo. Only a fool wouldn't react.
After all—
It seemed one word from Shen Mo could make Zabuza back off.
All danger and despair would vanish easily.
That was the influence of someone exalted.
Dazuna swallowed, watching Shen Mo with nervous hope.
But…
Shen Mo merely raised his staff lightly. "As I've said, I don't care what you plan to do."
Zabuza exhaled in relief.
He'd feared Shen Mo favored the kids enough to intervene.
If so…
He'd have to retreat, abandoning the bounty.
"Why, can guy!" Naruto stared at Shen Mo, stunned, disbelieving. "They're trying to kill Dazuna! He's the hope of this whole country! Why sell cans to people like them…?"
To Naruto, Shen Mo, who taught him about heroes, was like a guide to his dreams.
Bearing hope, defeating evil.
The can guy who praised heroes with such admiration… sold cans to villains.
To those crushing hope.
Naruto… couldn't accept it!
But facing Naruto's disappointed tone, Shen Mo's smile widened, tinged with amusement.
"Seems you've got me all wrong, Naruto."
His deep, dark eyes turned, locking onto each person, his voice carrying a commanding magic that pierced their hearts.
"I'm a merchant of the Omniscient Omnipotent Chamber, traveling endless worlds, selling cans to those craving a new fate, giving them hope to twist destiny. That's our mission. But—"
"—Fates differ fundamentally between people."
"Naruto, just as you chase a hero's fate, some of those 'villains' you speak of have a will to change their fate no weaker than yours—maybe stronger!"
"But…"
Naruto opened his mouth, lost for words.
He was, after all, just a hot-blooded teen.
His thinking was simple—black and white.
"Zabuza." Shen Mo turned to him. "For your dream, what would you give?"
"…Everything!" Zabuza's brown eyes met Naruto's, voice steady but brimming with unyielding resolve. "I have something I must achieve, no matter the cost—my life, my soul, anything to make it happen!"
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