Chapter 228. What the Hell is this World?!
---
The movie hasn't even been released yet, and it's already being hyped up?!
Yuto was a bit surprised as he watched the internet buzz with comments promoting [Konoha Fortress]. It was clear… someone had paid for positive reviews.
This wasn't new to him. Before a movie's release, many studios would spend money up to a year in advance to build hype and attract curiosity.
Based on his guess—
That movie would probably premiere during the Winter Festival. And Kirigakure's [Blood Mist Ninja Academy] would likely be released around the same time.
Plus, his own movie…
That would really be a fierce battle for dominance!
"It's got the right vibe, it's got the right vibe. If the other villages release a few more movies, we might really see a fight for the box office crown." Yuto sighed with emotion. "That's fine too! Let's hype it up—turn up the heat a bit more."
That way, more people would be drawn to connect to the internet and make more movies.
As for whether his and Minato's movie would be overshadowed by the hype?
Don't be ridiculous!
The internet is his.
The forums are his.
And he controls the backend too!
If he wanted to promote something on the homepage, it would be promoted. And with so few movies right now, even without promotion, people would still watch them.
There is no other choice~
After seeing Suzune head off to work, Yuto closed his [Nin-Nin] account and turned toward Hyuga Hanabi, who was sitting nearby with a complicated expression as she watched the screen.
The movie had already started.
But Hanabi's expression… was way too complicated. It was as if there were countless words stuck in her throat that she couldn't get out. In the end, all those thoughts turned into a single… sigh.
"Ah~"
Yuto raised an eyebrow and looked at Hyuga Hanabi. "What's wrong?"
"…Nothing." Hanabi shook her head, hesitated for a moment, then looked at the movie cover with a complicated expression. "The movie… is pretty good."
But…
Where was the Will of Fire?
Where was friendship, hard work, and victory?
Where were the bonds?
What's with those four handsome guys surrounding a beautiful girl?!
And this was made by the Third Hokage and the Konoha Advisors working together?!
That's the Third Hokage!
The longest-serving Hokage!
The kind old man who had dutifully guarded Konoha for so many years!
And now he's making a teen idol romance drama?!
Hanabi suddenly felt a bit of a stomachache, and what made it worse was… she was actually enjoying it. She sighed and stopped overthinking it, murmuring to herself: "Is this really the Infinite Tsukuyomi world of illusory love and peace?"
This so-called Infinite Tsukuyomi world…
It's a bit poisonous!
The kind-hearted Third Hokage-sama was forced to step down due to misappropriation of public funds.
The righteous and bright Fourth Hokage-sama's trip to the red-light district got exposed, causing a huge public scandal.
The serious Konoha Advisor—Mitokado Homura-sama—was under investigation for corruption and bribery.
And the Sixth Hokage had become the Three-Tails Jinchuriki…
Where's the peace and happiness?
Why couldn't she see it at all?
"So, have you found the information you needed to investigate?" Yuto smiled at her. "Time's almost up. If you need more time, I can renew your payment."
As his words fell—
Hanabi's expression twisted with hesitation. Then, as if making an important decision, she shook her head and said with some melancholy, "No… no need!"
She was afraid that if she kept digging, she'd never be able to look at Konoha's heroes the same way again!
"If that's the case…" Yuto pondered for a moment.
He remembered that Jiraiya seemed to have arrived in Amegakure recently. Maybe he could use this opportunity to ask him about Orochimaru's whereabouts.
"Then we'll head ba—"
Before he could finish speaking—
Suddenly—
"What the hell?! What's wrong with this game?!" A loud, frustrated voice came from the corner. "Why can't I even take off the underwear when I take a shower?! This game is garbage!"
"…"
Yuto fell silent.
Then—
He slowly turned his head.
In the corner, there was a white-haired figure wearing a red cloak.
[So… this guy is here!]
…
Jiraiya angrily slapped the computer.
He had just spent 648. And yet… this is what he got?
He couldn't even take off the pants!
What was the point of playing this game?!
Originally, on his travels, he had heard rumors about these "computers" and "games." Curious, he had decided to check them out. Since he was passing through Amegakure, he figured he would stop by for a few days to gather information about computers and check on the status of the little three.
But this?
This?!
Seriously?!
So disappointing!
It was rare for him to play a female character, and he had even spent so much time designing a cute and sexy one!
What a waste!
But honestly, aside from not being able to take off the clothes, everything else was pretty good. His character creation turned out well too.
Jiraiya looked at the girl on the screen with satisfaction.
"Not bad! Not bad! It's just a shame… this game is still too conservative. I can't even make her Tsunade-sized!" He sighed in disappointment. "Too small! The scale is too small!"
"How do you know it's small?"
"Of course! I've seen it with my own eyes! Back then, my ribs…"
Hearing the question beside him, Jiraiya's face instantly lit up with pride. He subconsciously touched his ribs, lost in nostalgia and emotion. Just as he was about to say something, his expression suddenly stiffened. He abruptly lifted his head and saw two figures standing beside him.
Yuto… and a graceful, white-eyed woman.
Jiraiya immediately became serious. "Yuto! You switched again? This isn't the same white-eyed girl from last time!"
"…"
Shouldn't he be asking why I'm here instead?!
What nonsense is this old guy talking about?
Yuto and Hyuga Hanabi's faces darkened. But Hanabi froze slightly, looking at Yuto in surprise.
If she remembered correctly—
Yuto-san was a businessman. And he wasn't a member of the Hyuga clan.
So…
Where did Yuto get a Hyuga girlfriend from?
"Don't talk nonsense. I saved her in the desert, and when I saw that she was from the Hyuga clan, I brought her back." Yuto said impatiently, glancing at Jiraiya, who smiled sheepishly and said, "Oh, I see."
Yuto shook his head helplessly. "What are you doing here?"
"Traveling, of course~ Just wandering around." Jiraiya scratched his head with a laugh. "I heard about computers while passing through Amegakure, so I came to check it out."
At this point, he sighed with emotion. "I also heard about what's been going on in Konoha. I can't believe so much has happened while I've been away. Oh, right—"
He suddenly lifted his head, his eyes sharp as he stared at Yuto. "I actually wanted to ask you about something important."
"???"
Yuto raised an eyebrow at Jiraiya's sudden seriousness. Thinking about everything that had happened in Konoha recently, he more or less guessed what Jiraiya was about to ask.
It was probably about Orochimaru's defection.
After all, Orochimaru's relationship with Jiraiya was different from others.
Since he was planning to gather information on Orochimaru anyway, Yuto sighed and said, "When Orochimaru defected, I wasn't in the village, so I don't know the details. But from what I heard, he was—"
Before he could finish—
"Orochimaru defected?" Jiraiya was stunned. "When did Orochimaru defect? How come I didn't know about that? I was just going to ask why you can't take off clothes in the game. I was about to file a complaint! It's so unrealistic!"
"…" x2
That's what you wanted to ask?!
Yuto's face darkened completely. For a moment, he didn't even know how to respond.
Meanwhile, Hanabi was also stunned by what Yuto had said. [I didn't expect that Orochimaru-sama defected in this world too?!]
That was hard to believe.
After all, even though the Fourth Hokage-sama… had his moral conduct questioned, he didn't sacrifice himself and was alive. Everyone was alive and well. This was supposed to be an Infinite Tsukuyomi world filled with hope and love.
So… Orochimaru still defected?
But—
[At least I encountered something familiar.]
At that moment—
Jiraiya also snapped back to reality. His expression turned serious as he looked at Yuto and said thoughtfully, "Orochimaru defected? Tell me how it happened. Wasn't he supposed to become the Hokage?"
[Orochimaru-sama defected…] Hanabi quickly recalled the information in her mind. [Orochimaru-sama's defection seemed to be related to human experim—]
However—
Before she could extract the information from her memories, Yuto sighed and shook his head.
"It was all because of money!" Yuto sighed with emotion. "I was away at the time, but I heard that Orochimaru suddenly attacked Danzo. Luckily, the Third Hokage arrived in time. Otherwise… Danzo would've been finished!"
"…"
Hanabi's mouth twitched slightly.
[What the hell is going on now?!]
Orochimaru-sama attacked Danzo-sama?!
Why doesn't anything make sense here?!
And—
She stiffly turned toward Yuto and hesitated before asking, "What… money?"
"One billion! Don't you know?" Yuto gave her a surprised look. "Konoha's Billion! The whole ninja world knows that someone has offered a bounty of one billion on Danzo for some reason. No—it's already risen to 1.25 billion now."
When he finished speaking—
Hanabi: …
This ninja world…
It really has a screw loose!
===
Read upto [Chapter 265] in advance! - patreon.com/kurato6180