The Days of Being the Richest Man in the Ninja World

Chapter 145. 648

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The computer market was a huge success!

100,000 ryo… While it wasn't a small amount, many ninjas could afford it, and those who couldn't could simply try it out at an internet cafe. The business was widespread, ensuring that there was always a way for people to experience it.

It was somewhat similar to the early 2000s when most kids without home computers would sneak into shady internet cafes near their schools. Even those with computers at home would often visit them.

After all, gaming in an internet cafe had a completely different atmosphere.

A decade later, computers became more affordable and found their way into most households. However, early internet costs were high, lag was severe, and customer service was a hassle.

At present, civilian-use computers were still quite ahead of the times in the ninja world.

Glancing at the revenue report, Yuto muttered to himself, "Looks like the primary income source for now is still internet cafe fees and recharge charges."

In Boruto, civilian-use computers and even laptops finally appeared, though they didn't seem to be connected to the internet. They were primarily used for data analysis and file management. Later, Kaminarimon Denki (the successor of the Kaminarimon Company) proposed wireless communication and successfully tested long-distance shortwave communication using hot air balloons. Presumably, mobile phones would follow soon after.

So, in terms of communication technology, the ninja world seemed to be developing rather slowly.

As for handheld games… they were still digital games at that time, with a style similar to the Game Boy we played back then—the kind with card-inserting Pokémon, where a cheat code cost several bucks.

At that time, dropping a huge sum of money at once either meant you were rich or it was the New Year.

Even in Boruto, the internet hadn't yet emerged. Landline phones had just appeared, and they were only beginning to transition to wireless communication.

Of course, this excludes military technology. Ninja technology always seemed a bit unbalanced!

Meanwhile, the system-generated computers were already equipped with LCD monitors, and the processors could handle any game without any pressure. Selling them for just 100,000 ryo was a major loss.

However…

The selection of games was still very limited. Without a proper system, game developers, or an established industry, Yuto had to rely on his own system for now.

"I need to drain the ninja clans in the village as quickly as possible! Then, I'll skip wired communication entirely and jump straight to wireless! That's when the real boom will happen!"

Those clans might act stingy all the time, but in reality, they were quite loaded.

And… an immersive virtual world was the future of gaming. Unfortunately, this crappy [Rich Man in Here] system probably didn't have that functionality, so he'd have to figure it out himself… through research? Startups?

Just as he was thinking…

"Ding ding~"

That familiar notification sound.

Yuto glanced at the chat window that popped up.

Contact: [Yuto's Secretary]

He looked up at Suzune, who was blushing and lowering her head.

She was sitting so close—was there really something she couldn't just say out loud?

Glancing at the message from the [Nin-Nin] app:

[Want to go and eat some ramen?]

…That's it?

That's it?!

Why did she make it seem like some kind of secret affair?

Suzune raised her head and glanced at him secretly, then quickly lowered her head and pretended that she was handling official business.

Yuto chuckled, then casually typed [Sure~] in response, then looked up at Suzune's eyes lighting up as she smiled.

Huh. This actually felt quite fun!

…

"It's boring."

Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his eyelids and sighed in frustration.

He lost?

His luck was awful!

What kind of garbage cards were these?!

All 4,000 free beans (in-game credits) were gone just like that. He casually dismissed the pop-up urging him to make a first-time purchase. Just for this game, he still had to recharge money?

Don't be ridiculous!

He was the Light of Konoha, the Hero of the Ninja World, the Strongest Hokage! If he spent even a single ryo on this useless game, he'd be a fool!

Bored, Hiruzen checked the time.

There were fifteen minutes left before he had to leave. Just as he was about to log off, he suddenly noticed…

…A report button?

He smiled.

He smiled calmly and naturally, muttering to himself, "That's right~"

How could he, the Light of Konoha, lose?

Without a doubt…

His opponent was definitely cheating in this Landlord card game!

No doubt about it.

Report it now!

Sarutobi Hiruzen controlled the mouse skillfully and silently clicked the [Report] button.

Then, he leaned back comfortably and stretched.

Just as he was about to light his pipe…

"Fuck you! How dare you even report your Uncle Asuma?" A furious roar erupted across the internet cafe.

Hiruzen froze.

Wait…

That voice sounded familiar.

It turned out to be my own second monkey!

Forget it, forget it.

Just for today.

No more beating the kid!

However—

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to sneak away, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"The Light of Konoha? I am the Darkness of Konoha! Don't let your Uncle Asuma find out who you are, or I swear, I'll beat him until he calls me Dad!"

Huh?

He wants me to call him Dad?

His eyelid twitched, his face darkened, and he sat back down.

What's the big deal?

A father reporting his son—why would he need to run?

This is all for the kid's own good!

Run for what?

So—

He sat down again, leaned back, and took a deep breath.

Then—

"You little bastard! Come over here!"

His voice was deafening.

At that moment—

Asuma, whose words had been cut off, turned his head with an annoyed expression, wanting to see which bastard was acting so arrogant.

And then—

His whole body shuddered.

His old man?!

Asuma was so startled he almost hid under the computer desk.

But then he thought—

Wait, hold on!

That's not right!

It's not like he was anywhere shady. He was just surfing the internet. Why should he be afraid of his old man?

Quickly, he trotted over with a grin. "Old man, you're here to surf the internet too?"

No big deal~

They could just play together.

Having been a regular at the internet cafe for some time, Asuma felt confident enough to teach his old man what to play.

So, he didn't ask anything, nor did he wonder why his father's face was so dark.

Wasn't that normal?

His old man was almost always scowling when he saw him.

No big deal!

Taking the mouse, he scrolled up and saw that [Nin-Nin] was already open. He immediately chuckled, "Oh, nice! You already registered, old man? Add me as a friend so we can steal crops from each other!"

As soon as he finished speaking—

He clicked open the game.

Then—

Cold sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his hands, gripping the mouse, trembled. He lowered his head to glance at his old man's indifferent face, then looked back at the username displayed on [Nin-Nin].

Finally—

"Dad!" Asuma dropped to his knees without hesitation, clutching Sarutobi Hiruzen's leg, tears streaming down his face. "I was wrong! I won't do it again!"

"…" Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched. When did his kid become so shameless?

"No! I should be the one calling you Dad!"

"I was wrong! How about I top up 648 for you?"

"You dare waste that much money on this nonsense? Do you know how much ramen you could buy with that?" Hearing that Asuma had recklessly spent money, the ever-thrifty Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyebrows twitched, and his face darkened again.

He still remembered the 80 million ryo he had spent without making even a ripple—his heart ached!

If it weren't for wasting money, would he be this tight on cash now?

"Get up! You're coming home with me!"

"Got it!" Asuma cheerfully stood up, looking completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened. "I thought you'd be playing that Ninja World Online game instead! There's this guy named 'The Darkness of Konoha' who shot up to the top rankings in just a day! I even heard he got a five-star First Hokage!" As he spoke, he casually logged out. "Let's head ho—"

Before he could finish his sentence—

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly grew serious. The body that had just risen slowly sat back down. "The Darkness of Konoha?"

"Yeah! A super arrogant guy! He even made a forum post saying no one understands Ninja Village better than him. What's wrong? Not going home for dinner?"

"Dinner? What dinner? I still have ten minutes left! Haven't I told you not to waste time? Hurry up and show me where to find this Ninja World Online game!"

"…"

I have nothing to say!

Asuma's mouth twitched, but in the end, he still helped his old man launch the game.

He couldn't afford to mess with him!

It was just ten minutes anyway.

Might as well wait.

As for his own computer… Asuma didn't bother turning it back on. He just sat to the side, yawning as he waited.

A short while later—

He felt someone nudging him.

Feeling a bit drowsy from watching his father play, Asuma rubbed his eyes and opened them in confusion.

And then—

That scowling face… had suddenly become way too kind and gentle.

A chill ran down his spine.

Now what?!

Old man, you're creeping me out!

Carefully, he asked, "Are you… done?"

However—

Before he could react—

Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Asuma's shoulder with deep satisfaction and said in a warm and gentle tone, "Didn't you say earlier that you'd top up 648 for me?"

"…"

Didn't you just tell me not to waste money?!

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