Konoha Ninja Shop System

The Fire Nation

"Extra! Extra! Shocking news—read all about it! The highly respected Third Hokage of Konoha Village has stepped down due to a massive corruption scandal! And the new Hokage is...!"

On the busy streets of the Land of Fire, a group of White Zetsu could be seen waving ink-scented newspapers and shouting at the top of their lungs, drawing the attention of curious onlookers.

Their sudden appearance in the public eye didn't cause any panic. In fact, the residents had become quite used to these strange creatures popping up unexpectedly. Over the past few days, White Zetsu had been showing up every morning, walking through markets and squares, hawking their latest newspapers and shouting out breaking news from all corners of the ninja world.

What made these papers so special was their impeccable content: packed to the brim with the hottest stories, scandalous gossip, and firsthand reports from every major region. Unlike other sources, these articles were consistently accurate and verifiable. They were based on White Zetsu's real-time reconnaissance skills—surveilling, gathering, and printing information faster than any known system.

These newspapers didn't just report news—they stirred emotion. They offered juicy bits of gossip, thrilling updates, and those unbelievable "melons" (as the locals called major scandals or drama). It was human nature to want to "eat melons," to enjoy drama as spectators. And so, it didn't take long for White Zetsu's newspaper to take the entire ninja world by storm, winning over both civilians and shinobi alike.

"Today's headlines look wild. Gimme one!" yelled a pot-bellied middle-aged man from across the street.

"Coming right up, boss!" replied one of the Zetsu, jogging over energetically and pulling out a fresh newspaper from inside his cloak.

The man handed over a tael of silver and took the paper, nodding in satisfaction.

"Thanks, boss! May fortune smile upon you!" White Zetsu chirped before hearing another shout from the crowd.

"Hey! I want a copy too!"

"On my way!" he responded, dashing toward the next eager customer.

"What?! The old Third Hokage resigned?"

"Who took his place?"

"Give me a copy too!"

In no time, every White Zetsu in the area had sold out their stack of papers. And it wasn't just in the Fire Nation—similar scenes were playing out in the Wind Country, the Land of Water, and beyond.

The middle-aged man who had first received the paper opened it with curiosity. The first thing that caught his eye was a bold headline:

"Advertising Space for Rent!"

---

ADVERTISEMENT

He frowned and muttered under his breath but kept reading:

> "The ninja mercenary group—Akatsuki—is officially expanding its operations across the entire ninja world! Now recruiting elite members only—no weaklings allowed! Salary, benefits, and mission terms negotiable in person. Interested shinobi should report to the Rain Village. Interviewer: Kakuzu."

"Akatsuki? Never heard of them," the man muttered, unimpressed. "Probably just another startup group trying to gain attention. Looks like they bought ad space."

Still, he continued reading:

> "Just yesterday, the treasury of the Rock Village in the Land of Earth was looted by an unknown group. Losses are reported to be massive. In response, the Third Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, has called for a Five Kage Summit to discuss the coordination of all major villages in catching the perpetrators."

"Whoa. Whoever this thief is... they've got guts. Robbing Rock Shinobi Village? That's not something you walk away from. If the Five Kage are getting involved, this thief's days are numbered."

He flipped a few more pages and finally found what he was looking for—the real headline that had sparked all the commotion:

> "Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of Konoha, has officially stepped down after being accused of abusing his power and imposing excessive taxes during his administration. His resignation follows mounting public pressure and internal scrutiny."

> "The Fifth Hokage will be Senju Tsunade. However, with Tsunade currently missing, Konoha's council has appointed Advisor Shimura Danzō as acting Hokage until she returns."

"Tsunade's missing? Where did she go?"

---

Elsewhere…

A Casino in the Land of Fire

"All in!" Tsunade declared boldly, shoving a towering pile of chips into the center of the table.

The casino fell silent in an instant. Her unwavering confidence stunned everyone. After all, her opponent across the table was none other than the newly crowned "God of Gambling" in the Fire Nation—Hikawa Teppan!

This man was a legend in gambling circles, known for never losing. And now Tsunade, of all people, was going all-in without hesitation?

Hikawa narrowed his eyes and spoke with a cold edge: "Miss Tsunade, the cards haven't even been dealt yet. Are you really that confident?"

Tsunade leaned back, picked up a sleek cigar, and smirked. "Absolutely. I guarantee my win."

She didn't actually smoke—this cigar was purely for dramatic effect. The day before, she'd seen a slick-looking guy with greased-back hair confidently biting down on a cigar. She figured, if it worked for him, it'd work for her too.

Seeing her smug demeanor, Hikawa's face darkened. "If you're so sure, let's raise the stakes," he growled. "Whoever loses… gives up their right hand!"

Gasps echoed through the casino.

Everyone knew how important the right hand was to a gambler. Losing it meant losing everything.

All eyes turned to Tsunade, waiting for her response.

Without hesitation, she stretched her arms and said, "Sure. Let's play."

The crowd erupted into stunned murmurs. Few had expected her to accept such a brutal bet.

The cards were dealt. Hikawa looked at his hand and relaxed. He flashed a confident smile.

"Well, looks like this game is mine," he said, revealing his hand with a flourish.

"A straight flush!" someone in the crowd gasped. "That's almost unbeatable! Tsunade's done for!"

Hikawa's expression oozed smugness. "Miss Tsunade, would you prefer to do the honors yourself, or shall I help?"

But Tsunade didn't flinch. She just grinned. "You should probably save that concern for yourself."

The whole room froze. Hikawa stared at her, confused.

Could it be...? Was she holding a leopard—three of a kind?

Impossible. The odds were ridiculously low. Everyone around them scoffed at the idea.

"Miss Tsunade, don't be ridiculous," Hikawa scoffed. "Unless you've got a leopard, this round's over."

"Sorry to disappoint," Tsunade said, flipping her cards over. "But I do."

Three aces stared up at them from the table.

"Holy crap—she really had a leopard!" someone shrieked.

Hikawa's face went pale. "No... No way! This is rigged!"

He jumped to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at Tsunade. "You cheated!"

Before Tsunade could respond, the dealer stepped in.

"Mr. Hikawa," he said with a frosty tone. "This is the most prestigious casino in the Fire Nation. Are you questioning our integrity?"

Hikawa flinched. Even with his growing fame, he couldn't afford to offend the casino's powerful backers.

"Cut off Mr. Hikawa's right hand," the dealer ordered coldly.

Two burly guards grabbed Hikawa, pinning him against the table. A third pulled out a machete.

"Wait!" Tsunade said sharply.

The room paused. The guard holding the blade stopped mid-swing and turned toward her.

Hikawa's eyes lit up. "Tsunade! Thank you—I knew you were merciful!"

But his relief was short-lived.

"Wait until I leave before you do it," Tsunade said casually as she rose from her chair.

"Shizune, we're going."

Without another word, she turned and strutted out of the casino, dragging Shizune behind her.

Behind them, the blade glinted under the ceiling lights.