Chapter 115: Hiruzen Sarutobi: Only I Can Rebuild Konoha
Nara Shikaku opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.
His original intention had been to unite the ninja clans and use their remaining strength. After all, which clan in the Land of Fire didn't have their own industries?
Take the Nara Clan, for example—users of the Shadow Imitation Technique required a natural affinity for Yin Release.
As a result, the Nara specialized in breeding medicinal deer, cultivating rare herbs, and conducting pharmaceutical research.
Konoha's once-sprawling medical system had relied heavily on the Nara to function.
With Konoha at its peak, the Nara's pharmaceutical empire had spread across the Land of Fire, if not the entire ninja world.
Even now, in opposition to the Fire Nation, as long as they didn't delve too deep into the core cities, recovering scattered industries could provide a significant financial base.
Then there was the Akimichi Clan, whose secret jutsu required calorie supplements—hence a complete supply chain built around specialized food pills.
In fact,
among all clans in the ninja world, the Sarutobi stood as a pillar. Even if they'd taken catastrophic losses, they must still have retained a considerable fortune.
There should never be a need to take money from civilians… That was the kind of thing only rogues and missing-nin did, people who had cast away their honor.
Shikaku resisted the idea with all his heart.
If they really went around "borrowing" money from the common folk… could they still call themselves Konoha shinobi?
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and glanced at Shikaku's silence. "Is there a problem?"
I am the Hokage.
I protect the people of the Fire Nation. All of this is growing pain. Even if I sacrifice my own reputation, I must rebuild Konoha as quickly as possible!
"…No. No problem," Shikaku replied softly, not wanting to be the one to stand out.
The other clan leaders looked equally uneasy. Heads bowed, they exchanged quiet, conflicted glances.
Something had changed about the Third.
He no longer radiated that familiar warmth—
Now, he reminded them of someone else entirely… Danzo.
The shadowy former advisor who had committed countless atrocities: human experimentation, ordering the Uchiha massacre, smearing Sakumo Hatake, stealing gifted children from their clans to join Root.
Was this the same Sarutobi Hiruzen?
They told themselves it was just trauma from his imprisonment…
They dared not think more. They had chosen to follow Hiruzen, and so they would follow blindly.
To waver now was to court death.
Akimichi Torifu, who had returned to lead the clan after Choza's death, waved a hand. "Shikaku, continue."
He glanced at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu—still unflinching, unfazed.
They had survived death and showed not a flicker of surprise. Hiruzen had probably already discussed raiding the civilians with them. There was little point in opposing it now.
"Yes, Lord Torifu."
Shikaku exhaled and continued, "Lastly, we have the matter of the new map."
"Hokage-sama, everyone—most Samsara Game players have now reached Level 19. But none can progress further. It's as if they've hit a ceiling."
"I suspect this new map is the key to breaking that limit."
His expression turned solemn.
"Note the wording in the Game Merchant's announcement: two 'Newbie Maps.' That means the Blood Wasteland and Soulmount Ridge were just introductory zones—like the Ninja Academy."
The room went still.
Though none of them were players, they had heard tales from Naruto and other clan members participating in the game—about the monsters inside.
The ghost mage who had once led the monster siege, with his underworld magic, could rival Hashirama Senju in the real world.
Thankfully, that monster's body was fragile, and it was only through the endless cycle of player respawns that it had been brought down.
But if what Shikaku said was true—
Then even boss-level pollution creatures were no more than gatekeepers of the academy?
"How strong will the monsters be in the new map?"
Everyone instinctively swallowed hard.
The God of Shinobi was their benchmark. But even he couldn't comprehend the power the Game Merchant had shown during that one moment in the Forest of Death.
Torifu struck at the heart of the matter. "Has anyone thought about this—if the game's equipment and skills can appear in our world, then… what about the monsters?"
Everyone's expression changed.
Creatures like the ghost mage or vampire baron—if they entered the real world—it would be catastrophic.
Not even the old Konoha could withstand the siege of a ghost army.
And unless Hashirama himself returned from the dead, there'd be no stopping such a threat.
"The only ones who can fight the Corrupted Creatures… are the players!"
Hiruzen declared resolutely, "Our downfall came in large part because Danzo rejected the Samsara Game. He failed to recognize its potential in time."
"To rebuild Konoha, ninjas alone are not enough."
"Torifu, send a team to search for civilian players in the Land of Hot Water. Invite them to join Konoha."
Having nearly died in battle, Hiruzen would never again underestimate the game.
In fact, he had begun pouring all his focus into it—
He would create a new, player-based Konoha game corps.
A humble civilian ninja raised a hand. "But Hokage-sama, Asuma-senpai has already built a game unit. Do we really need another?"
Hiruzen's face twitched subtly. He smiled.
"You said it yourself—that is Asuma-senpai's unit."
Back when they first arrived in the Land of Hot Water,
Hiruzen had wanted to send the player force to wipe out all of the Hot Water Village's combatants—silently replace them.
Asuma had refused.
He argued that the village valued peace, and they could negotiate a mutual aid agreement—like Konoha and Uzushiogakure had once shared.
Such naïve thinking would only ruin Konoha's last chance at revival.
Even clans like the Hyuga, Aburame, and Kamizuki—parasites who had leeched off Konoha's name for years—had turned their backs in its darkest hour.
And you expect us to trust foreign shinobi?
The memory of Asuma's disappointed eyes made Hiruzen seethe.
It was from that moment that their relationship had collapsed.
Everything I do is for Konoha.
The burning Will of Fire will guide me forward.
…
In-game, Blood Wasteland.
One by one, the bone castles crumbled. The elite polluted monsters hidden within were blasted apart by waves of energy.
Finally, in the slightly elevated, easily defended eastern region, the last holdout was cleansed.
"For the Dawn."
Konan exhaled, raising the family token she had won at auction.
Behind her, hundreds of Dawn players waited anxiously, eyes fixed on the shimmering token in her hand.
"Report: the area is completely clear."
A combat unit member with a massive iron sword on his back shouted up to his leader.
Hearing the all-clear,
Konan gave a small nod, then solemnly activated the clan token.
A brilliant white light burst forth.
[To activate the clan token, you must spend 10 × [Sarina's Heart]. Proceed?]
"Yes."
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