43: Can’t Tolerate Ruining My Profits

Explaining skills got Naruto pumped, and even Sarutobi and others were curious.

It sounded…

Like powerful ninjutsu, mastered without training.

Naruto touched the skill halo.

Instantly, a strange awareness flooded his mind.

Skill: Tekkai (Basic)

Tense your body to boost hardness and defense; can't move freely while active.

Yup.

This skill was one of the Navy's Six Powers from the One Piece world, though its basic form wasn't strong and had the immobility flaw.

"Awesome, I got a new ability!" Naruto grasped the skill's value, grinning ear to ear.

"Naruto, what's it do?" Sarutobi asked.

"Lemme try…" Naruto stood still, took a breath, and growled, "Tekkai!"

His muscles tightened, skin feeling tough as steel.

Sarutobi noticed something.

He reached out, pressing Naruto's body.

Kakashi, watching, did the same.

It was…

Like actual iron, solid.

"So itchy, stop, Kakashi sensei, Gramps Hokage!" Naruto squirmed, losing focus, and the Tekkai effect vanished.

"That's it," Shen Mo said, perfectly timed. "Tekkai, a body technique from another world. Train it, and your body turns iron-hard, impervious to blades or guns. It can evolve into powerful variants—a top-tier defense skill."

The ninja world had similar abilities.

Yup, the Raikage again.

Insane physical defense.

But that required years of grueling training and rare talent.

Naruto?

A few cans, and he'd mastered a defense skill instantly.

"Unbelievable," Sarutobi marveled. "This could save lives in battle."

Kakashi nodded, agreeing.

Battlefields were brutal.

Ambush, backstabs—endless. One slip, and you're dead.

This defense skill would boost survival odds big time.

"Heh," Naruto giggled, standing there.

They praised the cans, but he felt praised.

Sasuke compared it mentally.

He relaxed a bit.

As Shen Mo said, this skill was far below his Heavenly Flying Immortal.

Still…

So jealous. Naruto's luck—wanted to punch him.

"You haven't seen the cans' real magic," Shen Mo said, seizing the sales pitch. "I've said it before: nothing's unimaginable, only unobtainable. How else could I claim they change fate?"

Change fate.

Shen Mo's said it tons.

But for Sarutobi and Kakashi…

Now, it hit deep.

Miraculous items, instant power-ups—even these could shift fate.

"Can they really revive people?" Kakashi asked, looking at Shen Mo.

"Absolutely," Shen Mo said, radiating confidence. "In endless worlds, the only truth is there's no 'impossible.'"

"…" Kakashi fell silent.

He was tough, losing loved ones since childhood, yet never hating the world, carrying pain with optimism.

But… if those unchangeable losses could change?

Rin, Obito—they died too young.

They deserved better lives.

"Kakashi," Sarutobi said, looking at him, his aged voice heavy. "We all hate sacrifice, but their deaths built today's Konoha. They're falling leaves, flames lighting the village… not the first, nor the last."

Kakashi's body trembled.

Right…

Even if revived, ninjas might die again for the village.

He couldn't stop it once. Could he stop it twice?

Shen Mo's brow twitched subtly.

This old man!

Kakashi was about to bite, ready to buy ninjutsu and memories—pure profit.

"Old man!"

A low voice cut in.

Shen Mo turned—Tsunade.

Her brows furrowed, face annoyed.

Clearly, Sarutobi had tried to squash her Nawaki revival dream too.

Unacceptable.

He was tanking Shen Mo's profits.

"Third Hokage, you're wrong," Shen Mo said, hands behind back, speaking calmly.

"Oh?"

Sarutobi and Kakashi looked over.

Tsunade stared at Shen Mo, surprised.

She disliked Sarutobi's words, driven by her deep wish to revive Nawaki, but couldn't counter his logic.

Ninjas chose their path; battlefield death was their fate.

"I've walked many worlds, seen countless thrives," Shen Mo began, setting the stage, then spoke slowly. "True, peace and prosperity rest on burdened shoulders. But those bearers can't see others' sacrifices as natural or necessary—!"

His tone grew firm, an aura rising.

He spent some Trade Points.

His gaze turned deep, wise.

In that moment…

His eyes seemed to hold weight.

"Bearers must be ready to sacrifice, but every bearer needs the will to protect others at all costs," Shen Mo said, locking eyes with Sarutobi, warning-like. "If you're used to sacrifice, numb to pain, no longer fighting to stop tragedy, or lack the courage for a perfect ending—you're no longer fit to bear the load."

No one can guarantee the revived won't die again.

But that's no excuse not to try.

Fear loss? Protect with everything.

As a bearer of burdens, the only path is to give it all.

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