The white-haired loli asked in confusion, "If the players feel it's not worth it, why don't they just avoid training in life skills?"
"Avoid training?"
Fang Yi laughed heartily and said, "If your Konohagakure doesn't train them, do you think Kirigakure won't either?"
"Life skills can continuously produce equipment and items, like an assembly line. The equipment made isn't just for the players, it can also be directly supplied to the village's ninjas!"
"If one side starts, the other factions will never sit idly by."
"Think about it. If war breaks out and the Kirigakure ninjas are fully equipped, even if they are just Chunin, having even the most basic white-grade gear enhancement would allow them to easily kill ninjas of the same level from Konoha. How would you even fight that war?"
"When the ninjas realize that the high death rate among Konoha's forces is because the Hokage refused to invest in training life-skill professions, what do you think will happen?"
Imagining herself as a ninja, the white-haired loli instinctively clenched her fists.
If she were a Konoha ninja, no matter how much she had been brainwashed by the Will of Fire, she would still be dissatisfied with the Hokage's decision in such a situation.
At that point, the drop in fighting morale would be the least of their concerns, it could even lead to an outright rebellion storming the Hokage's office.
This was an open conspiracy.
After all, none of the Five Great Ninja Villages would dare to gamble on whether other nations would forgo training life-skill professions. The only logical choice was to prepare in advance by training their own.
Thus, an unstoppable arms race would begin.
And all the resources and wealth consumed in the process would eventually end up in Fang Yi's pockets.
Inside the Ruined Castle
Hundreds of players had gathered. Even the ordinary civilian players, knowing they had little chance of winning, still came hoping to scavenge something valuable.
"Well, what a coincidence. So it's Sarutobi Asuma."
A mature beauty with a voluptuous figure, fair skin, long brown hair, and striking green eyes looked playfully at the Konoha squad.
Behind her stood a blue-haired, honest-looking man, Chojuro.
Asuma furrowed his brows. He wasn't very familiar with the woman in front of him and asked doubtfully, "And you are…?"
If she were from another ninja village, he might have some impression of her.
But Kirigakure had been extremely isolated from the world, and the only widely known ninjas from there were the wielders of the Seven Ninja Swords during the Great Ninja Wars.
"Well, I suppose that makes sense. Kirigakure has been in seclusion for too long."
Terumi Mei maintained a dignified smile, unfazed by Asuma's lack of recognition. She introduced herself, "My name is Terumi Mei. I am the soon-to-be Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure. In a few days, you should be receiving an official letter about it."
"Mizukage!"
Asuma's pupils shrank as he instinctively tightened his grip on the brass knuckles in his hands.
Then, he reminded himself, this was the Reincarnation Game. Even if the God of Shinobi himself were here, he would still have to start from scratch. He immediately felt relieved.
He had heard about the major upheaval in Kirigakure recently, a massive coup d'état. And judging by the current situation, the ultimate winner was none other than the young woman standing before him.
Not to Be Underestimated
Terumi Mei's smile was sweet, her lips curling slightly as she gently asked, "Everyone, do you need a partner?"
Tsunade frowned, glancing at the woman's ample chest, comparable to her own, and asked, "How do you propose we cooperate?"
She found this overly coquettish woman quite irritating.
"So, even Lady Tsunade is a player in the Reincarnation Game."
Terumi Mei's eyes shifted as she noticed Tsunade standing with her arms crossed and immediately greeted her politely.
Tsunade's level was so low that Terumi Mei had almost overlooked her.
Chojuro stepped forward and said, "The Ghost General won't be easy to deal with. After the other players are worn down, we can strike together and split the loot evenly."
Neji's expression turned cold as he asked, "There are only two of you, and you expect to split the loot with us equally?"
Terumi Mei responded with a gentle smile, taking the initiative to reveal her attributes.
She was equipped with a Gargoyle five-piece set and wielded the Vampire Scepter, an entire set of level 5 green gear.
A level 9 Flame Mage.
This revelation immediately put the Konoha team on high alert.
Even Asuma, the highest-leveled among them, was barely at level 8, with scattered equipment that didn't form a complete set.
Even if they all attacked together, they probably wouldn't be a match for Terumi Mei.
"No way…"
Naruto rubbed his eyes, thinking he must have seen wrong.
The Reincarnation Game had only been open for less than half a month, yet their entire team was lagging behind the two from Kirigakure in both level and development.
Tsunade sneered, "As expected of the Mizukage. Such boldness."
There was no way Terumi Mei and Chojuro had achieved such high-level green gear and near level 10 on their own.
It was obvious that Kirigakure had supported them.
"My old teacher is too indecisive. Even now, he hasn't made a clear stance on the Reincarnation Game."
Tsunade glanced at the poorly equipped Konoha squad and immediately understood the situation.
"You all really think the Ghost General is already in your grasp?"
A middle-aged man wearing glasses, overweight and exuding the unmistakable scent of a businessman, spoke up.
Behind him stood four others, their gazes sharp and predatory as they looked at the group discussing.
Boom!
Without warning, Terumi Mei made her move, sweeping her Vampire Scepter forward.
Flames roared, steam boiled.
A column of fire surged out like a rushing river, instantly engulfing the five players who hadn't even had time to react.
They were sent straight back to the beginner's village.
Instant kill.
Terumi Mei was no mere ornament, she had successfully launched a coup in the blood-soaked Mist Village and become the Mizukage, not just because of her immense strength but also due to her exceptional political acumen.
Showing fangs before negotiating was the best approach.
She licked her lips, her smile unwavering. "So, what do you say, Konoha?"
Suppressing his shock, Asuma maintained his composure and replied, "We need time to consider."
Chojuro added, "No rush. The Ghost General is deep inside the ruined castle. We have to clear out the ghost army surrounding it before we can face him."
"From my observation, that will take at least two days. We'll be waiting."
With that, Terumi Mei gave a polite bow, then swayed her slender waist as she turned and left.
Asuma's face was grim. "You all keep hunting the ghost army. I need to report to Lord Hokage."
This situation required the Hokage's decision.
Terumi Mei's strength was beyond expectations, and Asuma didn't believe she truly intended to share the loot equally.
Without sufficient power, even if they formed an alliance, the moment the Ghost General died, the Konoha squad would likely be wiped out by Terumi Mei.
If they wanted to claim the Ghost General's spoils
They needed equal strength. At the very least, they needed the Hokage to approve funding so the entire squad could exchange for proper equipment to match Terumi Mei.
However
Asuma felt uneasy. He knew his father's personality too well. Without fully understanding the secrets of the Reincarnation Game, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never make a firm decision until the last moment.
"The Reincarnation Game is too mysterious. It holds unimaginable power and could completely overturn the balance of the ninja world."
"If the village fails to seize an advantage within the game, we might be eliminated in the coming upheaval. Father, I hope you won't make a mistake this time."
Asuma made up his mind, he had to convince the Third Hokage.
As a child, he had looked up to his father, aspiring to become a great ninja like him, even the Hokage, to protect the village.
At some point, after seeing the village's darker side, his goal had started to waver.
The Will of Fire,
If its light truly shone everywhere, why did such filth and corruption still exist? How could his father, the Hokage, turn a blind eye?
That was why Asuma had felt lost and left the village to become a guardian for the Daimyo.
But now
Sarutobi Asuma logged out, took a deep breath, and sprinted toward the Hokage's office at full speed.
He had his own Will of Fire.
What mattered most to the village wasn't the Hokage, but the people who needed protection. If a wrong decision led to their deaths
That kind of Will of Fire was something he would never accept!