The Game Merchant Who Started from the Ninja World

Chapter 42: Monster Siege

[Novice Village Wall has reached Level 20. Cannot upgrade further without first upgrading the village itself.]

A system prompt appeared.

This meant that the defense level of the Ninja Novice Village had reached its maximum.

Without spending any additional reward points, Fang Yi had successfully completed all of the fortification for the defense against the Wraith Sorceress simply by leveraging the players' efforts.

"Sure enough, many hands make light work."

Fang Yi sighed with satisfaction.

In the real world, news of the upcoming Five Nations Joint Chūnin Exams had already spread across the globe. Whether commoner or noble, everyone had heard. Even the lesser ninja villages—Sound, Frost—and other great cities with ninja forces, though not official villages, were rushing to register.

All eyes turned toward Konohagakure.

Meanwhile, in the game,

the Wraith Sorceress's imminent assault tugged at the hearts of countless players.

Powerful ninja villages like Kirigakure and Iwagakure, having already tasted the Reincarnation Game's benefits, were watching eagerly. They had long prepared ample logistics and supplies, waiting to face the Wraith Sorceress Sarina.

In Konohagakure,

two of the Hokage's senior advisors sat before a weary-looking Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"With the Chūnin Exams just around the corner, we don't just need to build the exam arenas," one of them said. "We also need to reinforce the defensive barriers and boost security. The Treasury is nearly tapped out—we can't even issue commission rewards."

Sarutobi took a drag from his pipe, frowning. "But the Wraith Sorceress's attack in the game is crucial. If we pull back support from Konoha's in-game forces now, we'll be at a disadvantage."

During this time,

Asuma had been steadily rallying players across the Land of Fire—rogue ninja, civilians, and nobles alike.

What had started as a small Konoha squad had grown into a hundred-man unit, with Asuma as their commander.

"Too indecisive, as always," Danzo scoffed coldly. "Even if we abandon the Wraith Sorceress raid, there's still the Bloodsoaked Wastelands and the Vampire Baron. We can make up the difference later."

"But the Chūnin Exams will bring nobles from all nations. Even the Daimyō will attend in person. If anything goes wrong and he becomes enraged, can you bear the consequences?"

Ninja produced nothing of their own. Their funding—including commissions—came entirely from the Daimyō.

Sunagakure was poor not just because of its barren land, but also because it had fallen out of favor with the Daimyō of the Land of Wind. This had led to commissions being outsourced to foreign lands.

Hiruzen's eyes stung from the smoke. He squinted and asked, "Then what if we cut the clans' stipends first?"

"Absolutely not! Are you mad, Hiruzen?!"

Koharu Utatane's eyes flew open in outrage. "The ninja clans are Konoha's foundation! Cutting their stipends would be sawing off our roots!"

Danzo's eyes glinted as he stared at Hiruzen, surprised he'd even propose something like that.

For a moment,

he saw not the hunched, aging monkey who now held the Hokage seat,

but the brave man who once stepped forward and volunteered for a death mission as part of the Hokage Guard Platoon.

Homura Mitokado spoke calmly. "The clans receive stipends in return for protecting the village. You slash their funds without cause, and they won't stand for it."

"If you insist, Hiruzen, you'll be impeached."

Danzo straightened slightly in his seat.

Go ahead—talk impeachment. I've been waiting.

"…Fine. We'll do it your way."

It was as if someone had popped the only inflated balloon in the room.

The two senior advisors had long left the battlefield. They didn't understand the Reincarnation Game's terrifying potential.

And Danzo—he was so immersed in conspiracy, he was like a log trapped in perpetual darkness.

The clans…

Since the Uchiha massacre, most had gone silent, focusing solely on their own interests and ignoring the greater good of Konoha.

Even as Hokage, Hiruzen couldn't reverse the trend.

If only he were twenty years younger—he'd change everything.

He took a long drag from his pipe. Smoke masked the weariness on his face.

This was the best choice.

Konoha couldn't afford further chaos. It needed steady development—until the new generation grew strong.

Thinking of the new generation, Sarutobi finally smiled.

There was Naruto Uzumaki—strong-willed and uncorrupted, sealed with the power of the Nine-Tails.

There was Lee, seemingly talentless but with the potential to open the Eight Gates. The next generation of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio. The Hyūga branch's prodigy…

All he needed to do was protect them. Then Konoha would rise again.

…

In the depths of the Death Soul Mountain Range,

a massive black palace surged with dense wraith energy, boiling like a dark ocean.

Its walls and floors were all made of top-grade Wraith Stone.

Even a palm-sized chunk was worth dozens of reward points.

"How dare those lowly humans attack first and kill my general?"

The Wraith Sorceress Sarina reclined on a couch formed of condensed wraith mist, her brow furrowed.

Draped in a black cloak, tall and imposing,

her once-elegant face was now covered in writhing curse marks that slithered like black worms every time she spoke.

At the foot of the palace steps knelt four armored Wraith Generals, all showing absolute deference.

Each had once been an imperial general slain by Sarina and turned into wraiths via forbidden sorcery.

Now their life and death were at her whim.

"I've ruled this mountain range for tens of thousands of years… and still haven't broken past Tier 2."

"Fortunately, I recently came into contact with a being from Hell. As long as I provide enough sacrifices, they'll grant me corrupted divine power to ascend beyond Tier 2."

"In that case, I'll offer up these ignorant humans as sacrifices to the great Apostle of Hell!"

"Send word—

All wraiths in the mountain range are to march on the newly appeared human town!"

In an instant,

the entire range was in uproar. The four generals split up, leading vast wraith armies and recruiting wild wraiths as they went.

Wraith Cavalry, Armored Wraiths, Wraith Archers…

Massive Wraith Giants and Wraith Beast packs formed from corrupted wildlife.

An endless tide swept forward.

Players were caught off guard.

Before they could react, they were overwhelmed by the rampaging wraiths and sent back to the Novice Village.

Whether they were civilians collecting materials or fighters hunting monsters, the scene left them stunned.

"Master! Something terrible has happened!"

The silver-haired loli's face turned pale. "The Wraith Sorceress has deployed her entire army to destroy the Novice Village!"

In many worlds, full-scale assaults by Corruption Sources had led to total destruction.

If the village fell, all their progress would be lost—and the players would vanish.

Fang Yi patted her head and grinned. "The players haven't even gotten serious yet. Don't panic."

A global announcement popped up.

[The Wraith Sorceress (Lord-tier Boss) has launched an assault on the Novice Village. Massive event [Monster Siege] is now live.]

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