The Game Merchant Who Started from the Ninja World

Chapter 54: Orochimaru's Trial

Orochimaru's pupils contracted. "The samples from Edo Tensei… are worth that much?"

His mind had already begun racing.

At its core, Edo Tensei was just a type of summoning technique. It used a medium to summon the dead from the Pure Land to the world of the living. Even with his modifications, it shouldn't be worth 200,000 reward points, right?

"Forgive me," he said cautiously. "May I ask why Edo Tensei holds such high value?"

After much deliberation, Orochimaru chose the most honest approach.

No games, no schemes.

He understood that playing clever tricks in front of the mysterious game merchant—who could shake the world—might not end well for him.

Fang Yi didn't hide anything. "The samples from your Edo Tensei played a major role in the Fourth Great Ninja War. They nearly overturned the entire shinobi world. That kind of impact interests me."

In business, sincerity matters most.

Especially when you're holding all the cards. There was no need for underhanded tricks. Better to lay things out and let the other party choose.

Edo Tensei wasn't nearly as powerful as most people thought.

In the Second Hokage's version, the dead summoned couldn't use their full strength, and the regeneration speed after being destroyed was slow.

Orochimaru's improvements increased the number of summonable souls and enhanced their power with special vessels—but still, the results were mediocre.

It wasn't until Kabuto's version…

He miraculously absorbed all of Orochimaru's research without dying, trained in the Dragon Cave, transformed himself into a dragon, and even mastered a low-grade Sage Mode.

Then, by working with Obito Uchiha and utilizing White Zetsu cells to enhance the Edo Tensei corps,

he finally created an army of resurrected dead powerful enough to fight the entire Allied Shinobi Forces.

So it was no wonder Orochimaru was confused about Edo Tensei's true value.

To him, it had always just been a convenient jutsu for exploring the boundary between life and death.

"The Fourth Great Ninja War?"

Orochimaru fell silent, digesting the shocking news.

Until now, there had only been three wars that could be called world wars in the shinobi world.

Yet the mysterious merchant mentioned a fourth.

Could he… foresee the future?

Even though Orochimaru already considered the game merchant a supernatural entity,

foretelling the future crossed into divine territory.

Not even Jiraiya's revered Great Toad Sage would dare make such concrete predictions.

As far as Orochimaru knew, the toads of Mount Myōboku could glimpse the future through dreams.

But their visions were vague—shadows within shadows, more illusion than truth.

If it were that simple,

then that fool Jiraiya would have found his "Child of Prophecy" long ago instead of wandering the world in search of him.

"Yes," Fang Yi replied easily. "But it has little to do with you."

"When you die, Kabuto will inherit your will and use your discarded body to start a war."

"Kabuto… that boy?"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest.

He hadn't expected to hear something so shocking—and fascinating.

"That child never found his own purpose. So he uses my remains to search for meaning, hmm?"

He wasn't afraid of death.

Or rather, he believed that after meeting the Game Merchant,

his fate could still be rewritten.

"If I'm alive, I don't need a successor to carry my will."

Orochimaru's voice was raspy, tinged with a feminine lilt. It sounded odd—almost comical—but his tone was sharp and resolute.

As someone who sought eternal life, all he needed was time to research every technique, to understand every truth.

He had no use for a legacy.

Still, knowing that a flower like Kabuto might someday bloom was a pleasant thought.

Cruel, cold-blooded, obsessed with human experimentation…

Yet Orochimaru also appreciated the light of life when it bloomed.

That contradiction was part of who he was.

"I'm willing to make the exchange."

He nodded without hesitation.

He had no plans to start a war anyway. Edo Tensei was expendable—just a windfall he hadn't expected.

"Transaction complete."

As Fang Yi's warm voice fell, a brilliant purple light enveloped Orochimaru, as if signaling a profound transformation.

When it faded,

he eagerly stretched out his arms and clenched a fist, slamming it into a sharp stone on the ground.

According to the item description,

even low-grade ghouls, corrupted by dark energy, would have skin tougher than steel. No blade could pierce them.

Rip—

His hand was slashed open by the jagged stone. Bright red blood trickled out.

Orochimaru gasped.

Not in pain—he was a battle-hardened shinobi—but in disappointment.

His body hadn't changed at all.

Fang Yi calmly explained, "Did Kabuto forget to mention that to bring game items into the real world, you need authentication points?"

Orochimaru's eyes widened.

Of course! He wasn't even a player yet.

Fang Yi pointed to the envelope in his hand. "Open the invitation. Once you become a player and use your reward points to authenticate the bloodline, immortality will be yours."

Orochimaru exhaled slowly.

His emotional high had deflated, leaving him a bit dazed.

He tore open the envelope.

A screen of black text appeared before his eyes.

[Enter the Reincarnation Game directly]

[Or purchase access to a Minor Trial?]

Fang Yi smiled and explained,

"If you choose the first option, you'll start from scratch in the game."

"If you buy access to the Minor Trial, you'll be transported to a special trial arena. Clearing it grants experience and reward points—up to level five instantly."

This was a special feature Fang Yi had added to the invitation letters.

After all,

those who received invitations were either powerful, wealthy, or both.

Giving them a custom onboarding experience let Fang Yi rake in cash faster,

and allowed high-potential players to integrate quickly into the game.

In simple terms,

it was like the introductory quest line in most MMORPGs.

Finish it, and you walk away with basic gear and skills.

Of course, Fang Yi wasn't running a charity.

Joining the Minor Trial cost money.

Otherwise, you had to level up the old-fashioned way.

5,000 reward points.

Orochimaru saw the price and didn't hesitate. He paid immediately.

As a researcher, he had never cared about money.

Only results mattered.

[Purchase successful. Beginning transfer!]

Orochimaru collapsed flat on the ground.

Fang Yi didn't bother trying to catch him.

Instead, he turned to the Sound Four with a smile and pointed to Orochimaru's limp body.

"Would you kindly carry him back to the carriage? And please let him know: this was a very pleasant transaction."

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