The last tears dried in Tsunade's eyes. Without wiping them, she continued opening cans.
No Grand Prize.
But she'd drawn a Primary Revival Coin to bring back Nawaki.
She was deeply satisfied.
Perhaps her better mindset brought luck. In the next dozen cans, she got two skills and one piece of equipment.
—Blessing of Courage.
Grants allies within a range a Holy Light buff, boosting courage, self-healing, and attack power.
—Holy Baptism.
Channels holy light forward for a group attack.
—Nun's Bracelet.
Carries a nun's lifelong blessing, releasing a powerful healing holy light once.
"One aura skill, one group attack skill," Shen Mo said, smiling. "The bracelet's good too—a one-time use with strong healing. Not bad for thirty cans."
Not exceptional luck, just average odds.
But for Tsunade, it seemed pretty good?
"No Grand Prize, though," Tsunade said, oblivious to her fortune, full of regret. "Today's not my day for cans. Let's stop here."
Besides skills and equipment, the other ordinary items included gems.
Like…
118 Combat Techniques of the Cross.
Twelve Uses of Holy Light…
These were veteran Paladins' experiences.
Invaluable for Tsunade, blending Holy Light with ninjutsu in combat.
After thirty cans, her strength had visibly grown.
Everyone present keenly sensed it.
"Lord Shen Mo," an elder respectfully asked, "Must the opener's qualification be a desire to change fate?"
They hoped main branch members could gain power through wealth.
But this desire to defy fate…
"Why do you think I cross worlds to bring you otherworldly power?" Shen Mo smiled, yet all felt a faint oppressive aura.
The questioning elder broke into a cold sweat.
He'd asked a foolish question.
Hyuga Hiashi had told them the merchant's goal: to give those unwilling to accept fate a chance to change it.
Yet he'd asked anyway.
"Unwilling?" Shen Mo's gaze swept over them, as if peering into their hearts. "Feel it's dangerous and wasteful to spend wealth empowering those who defy fate?"
The three elders bowed their heads, drenched in sweat, unable to explain.
They were indeed unwilling.
By this logic, the most qualified might be branch members—rebellious ones at that.
"That unwillingness is good," Shen Mo said calmly. "If it turns into drive to change yourselves, you'd qualify to open cans."
But it wouldn't.
The elders' devotion was to the Hyuga main branch's legacy, not a personal burden.
The main branch inherited; the branch protected. This system seemed to safeguard their Bloodline Limit.
But, like primogeniture…
It bred conflict and main branch complacency.
In the foreseeable future, if tensions grew and the Caged Bird seal was broken, the clan could fracture.
"You lot," Tsunade said, arms crossed, frowning, her tone firm. "This may be Hyuga internal affairs, but nurturing qualified can openers concerns Konoha's future. Since Shen Mo appeared, this world, this era, has changed!"
If Shen Mo only sold cans to them, it'd be simpler.
But that was impossible.
Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi suspected the Omniscient Omnipotent Chamber was using this to cultivate and select "senior members" across worlds.
Like… ninja villages training ninjas.
Defying fate was the Chamber's will.
Like Konoha's Will of Fire, those with this will received true nurturing—class changes and limited series cans.
Shen Mo, unaware of their theorizing, didn't always read minds. If he knew, he'd find it amusing.
He glanced outside.
He sensed dozens waiting.
The Hyuga clan's elites.
"They're here," he said.
The elder Tsunade stared at, relieved as if finding an escape, exhaled.
They cautiously observed Shen Mo.
He decided who had potential.
"There's a promising one," Shen Mo said, smiling. "But they're not quite ready."
As he spoke…
The wooden sliding doors parted automatically, and Shen Mo's figure appeared before the group like a phantom.
Everyone flinched.
"Lord Shen Mo," Hiashi hurried out, followed by the elders and Tsunade.
"The clan head and elders are here," a soft voice murmured in the crowd.
"And Lady Tsunade."
"They've gathered all the clan's ninjas."
"Has something happened?"
Despite the Hyuga's strict decorum, the ninjas stirred slightly.
Except for Hinata Hyuga and Hanabi Hyuga…
All were branch members.
Each bore the Caged Bird seal on their foreheads.
"Silence," Hiashi commanded.
As clan head, he carried authority.
The crowd quieted.
"Lord Shen Mo," Hiashi turned, bowing respectfully. "Except for those on missions, the Hyuga clan's elites are here."
Even in the Hyuga clan, not all could awaken the Byakugan.
Those who couldn't weren't ninjas.
Their ninja numbers weren't large.
Hiashi's words drew all eyes to Shen Mo.
Guesses about his identity swirled in their minds.
Shen Mo just nodded.
But…
Wasn't this like being stared at by countless Byakugan?
Amused by the thought, he dismissed it, focusing on three young figures at the front.