The Game Merchant Who Started from the Ninja World

Chapter 11: Tsunade Redeems Ninjutsu

"I ran into a strange merchant who gave me an invitation, and then I ended up in this game."

Tsunade had no intention of hiding anything.

It was clear the people before her had entered the game earlier than she had and likely knew more.

Asuma's face turned serious. "Lady Tsunade, can you tell me what the mysterious merchant looked like and where you encountered him?"

Nearby, Uzumaki Naruto raised his voice in confusion. "Asuma-sensei, who is she?"

He had never seen this woman before, yet Asuma, an elite jōnin, was showing her so much respect.

Hyūga Neji's mouth twitched as he said, "Idiot. Her photo's in the Hall of Fame at the Academy. She's one of the legendary Sannin."

Even though they hadn't been teammates for long, Neji had already figured out Naruto's personality.

Generously speaking, he was a little thick. Frankly put, he was a moron.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses and lowered his head, continuing to play the quiet, unnoticed type. But inside, he was thinking, Even Tsunade has entered the game? I must report this to Lord Orochimaru immediately.

Naruto's eyes widened, and he blurted out, "Iruka-sensei mentioned the Sannin were all super old… She…"

He sneaked a glance at Tsunade's generous curves and soft, flawless skin. To a kid like him, she was a walking, talking deadly temptation.

Smack.

A vein popped on Tsunade's forehead as she slammed a fist onto Naruto's head.

Her face was ice-cold. "So this is how the new generation treats their seniors?"

Asuma quickly stepped in. "Apologies, Lady Tsunade. Naruto, he…"

He didn't finish the sentence.

After all, Tsunade had abruptly left the village years ago. Technically, she was no longer a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. And Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was classified—it couldn't be revealed.

Asuma shifted the topic. "Lady Tsunade, would you like to join us?"

"You just entered the game, so your level is low. The wraiths near the outskirts of the Death Soul Mountain Range have already been hunted clean. The Wraith Guards deeper in are tough to deal with. It'll be slow leveling on your own."

Naruto squinted and pouted. "Asuma-sensei, are we really bringing along this mysterious old lady Sannin?"

"You little brat. Don't you know how to respect your elders?"

Tsunade swung another punch, but Naruto easily dodged it.

Naruto – Warrior, Level 6.

Tsunade – No class, Level 1.

Despite not putting points into agility, the level gap was big enough that Naruto could effortlessly avoid her attack.

Asuma clamped a hand on Naruto's head and looked to Tsunade. "The Third Hokage has been searching for you and Lord Jiraiya. He's not as young as he once was…"

Some things couldn't be said aloud.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted either Jiraiya or Tsunade to succeed him as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.

"Forget it."

Tsunade waved dismissively, her expression cold. "I have no interest in being a ninja. That kind of thing—let that idiot Jiraiya handle it."

Asuma didn't press further and said, "If you join us, Lady Tsunade, we can help you level up quickly. In the Reincarnation Game, it's best to stick together. Otherwise, you'll have to fight other player teams for kills."

"Sure."

Tsunade was new to the game and unfamiliar with how things worked. Having experienced players guide her sounded good.

Asuma nodded. "We're about to hunt a Wraith Guard. It's hiding in the cellar of some ruins. There are also plenty of normal wraiths around, which will be perfect for helping you level up."

Wraith Guards were elite warriors in life, clad in armor and wielding spears. After death, they were turned into powerful ghostly sentinels by the Wraith Sorceress.

Naruto snorted and said smugly, "Old lady Tsunade, here's some gear for you. You're too weak right now, so try not to get wrecked by the ghosts."

Clearly, he still held a grudge over that punch to the head.

Still, since even Asuma treated her with respect, Naruto begrudgingly helped her out—redeeming a weapon for her at the cost of fifty reward points.

It was a spiked club. Equipping it granted +2 Strength.

Tsunade took the weapon, gave it a few test swings, and immediately felt a noticeable increase in her physical strength. She was impressed.

In the ninja world, not even the famous Seven Swords of the Mist could enhance one's physical stats. Yet here, a simple weapon did just that.

She tossed the club back at Naruto and asked, "Have you used the exchange function in the shop yet?"

She was referring to the system that allowed players to turn valuable items into reward points.

Asuma shook his head. "We tried. Ordinary valuables need to be worth at least 100,000 ryo to exchange for one point. Ninjutsu scrolls and chakra-conductive metals are more valuable, but..."

As Leaf shinobi, they couldn't submit jutsu scrolls without the Hokage's approval.

Looking over the vast array of available exchanges, Tsunade didn't hesitate to start turning in her own ninjutsu.

"Submitting C-Rank Ninjutsu – Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu – 100 points."

"Submitting Medical Palm Technique – 300 points."

"Submitting Chakra Scalpel – 500 points."

"Submitting..."

As expected of a Sannin. Even without submitting her exclusive techniques like Strength of a Hundred or slug summoning, the basic jutsu she offered netted her 8,000 reward points.

The system retained the experience and insight from the jutsu. Players wouldn't forget them upon submission.

Fang Yi wasn't interested in the jutsu themselves—what he wanted was the Origin contained within them.

In different worlds, Origin was stored in different forms.

In the ninja world, it was concentrated in chakra-related items—including jutsu and even the shinobi themselves.

In the Shinigami world, for example, Origin was found in Hollows and Soul Reapers.

World Wills killed corrupted monsters to absorb Origin. Corruption Sources invaded worlds to claim it too.

"Is this enough?"

Tsunade opened her eyes, her whole body glowing with green light.

Weapon, top, bottom, boots, shoulder guard, belt.

She equipped a full five-piece set plus a weapon—all green-tier gear. Even though they were Level 1 items, the total cost was nearly 3,000 points.

In an instant—

She vanished from sight and reappeared behind Naruto, smacking him squarely on the head. "Little brat, your head really is hard."

"Ugh!"

Naruto clutched his head and stared at Tsunade in envy.

Even Asuma gasped.

Their entire squad had worked their butts off to earn reward points, and even then, they couldn't afford a full set of green gear. Game time fees, revival costs, and healing items ate up most of their earnings.

Now Tsunade had just logged in and was already decked out in full green gear. It made Asuma want to hand over all his own jutsu for exchange.

"Wraith Set... and the Wraith Bone Club..."

A support ninja drooled as he stared. "Five pieces of Wraith gear triggers the set bonus—+10 Agility, and you can cast a Wraith Shockwave every 30 seconds at no cost."

No wonder she could challenge above her level and ambush a Level 6 Warrior like Naruto.

"Lady Tsunade, that was a bit reckless..."

Asuma forced a smile. "We've studied the shop. Even with enough points, most items are locked until your level is high enough."

Behind the screen—

Fang Yi watched Tsunade's flamboyant spending and nodded in satisfaction.

"Well done."

He could tell—Tsunade's extravagant shopping wasn't just for fun. She was testing the Reincarnation Game's authenticity.

In doing so, she unintentionally helped Fang Yi shift the players' mindset.

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