What the hell is making games in the Ninja World?

When the fifty-five thousand ryō was handed over, Sasori suddenly realized he had spent all the funds allocated to him by the envoy team in one go. 

This amount even accounted for one-twentieth of the total funds for the entire mission.

One million ryō—that was the budget the Sunagakure delegation brought along.

For the impoverished Sunagakure, one million ryō in shinobi currency was already a significant expense. 

Among the Five Great Nations, Sunagakure was the weakest. 

Their mission fees were cheaper than those of other nations. While Konoha charged a minimum of two million ryō for an S-rank mission, Sunagakure had to slash prices down to one million ryō just to compete for business.

The most frustrating part was that, even with such low prices, many clients still doubted Sunagakure's competence and refused to entrust missions to them.

The fifty-five thousand ryō in Sasori's hands was essentially the budget allocated to him for his activities over the next ten or so days. 

However, he had spent it all under the persuasion of a particularly convincing server.

"What now? Should I ask for the money back?" Sasori hesitated. It wasn't that he was reluctant to part with the fifty-five thousand ryō, but he realized he might not stay in Konoha long enough to use up the credit he had just purchased.

The server, however, was clearly very sharp and observant. The clan emblem on their clothing indicated they were from the Nara clan.

Seeing that Sasori had completed his payment, the server enthusiastically began introducing the incredible features and benefits of the genjutsu game.

They emphasized that not only could the game provide shinobi with excellent training opportunities, but it also offered an unparalleled level of enjoyment.

"Look here, almost all the players in our arcade are currently playing Survival Road. In this game, you will experience a post-apocalyptic world in the shinobi realm, something that exists only in the imagination. Together with three teammates, you will face countless zombies and terrifying mutated monsters, both human and animal."

"You and your teammates must struggle to survive in this apocalyptic setting, uncover the truth behind the disaster, and find a way to escape. Ultimately, amidst despair and fear, you will discover the meaning of life and hope for the future."

Hearing this, Sasori's body trembled slightly.

It wasn't the so-called apocalyptic world, the zombie, or the mutated monsters that caused this reaction. While these elements intrigued him, they weren't enough to make his body tremble.

What truly touched the boy was the phrase, "the meaning of life."

After losing his parents during the Second Shinobi World War, Sasori became a child deprived of love. Beneath his cold exterior, his heart had long been twisted.

This was the norm in the shinobi world. Many people had psychological issues, and maniacs appeared one after another. 

If the world operated on magnetic energy, the shinobi world would have exploded countless times already. Even the Otsutsuki clan would've been captured as pets upon descending to this world.

Sasori was just one of these many "maniacs." However, his madness wasn't superficial—it was deeply internalized.

The profound topic of "the meaning of life" was something Sasori had pondered.

For a fifteen-year-old boy, contemplating such ideas might seem abstract on Earth, but in the shinobi world, it was perfectly normal. 

Sasori had been mulling over this question for years, his mind gradually warping. This had led him to the extreme notion: "There's a limit to being human. I refuse to stay human anymore. Third Kazekage, you'll see."

The server's persuasive words happened to hit the most sensitive part of Sasori's heart.

Thus, Sasori put aside the issue of spending all his operating funds and followed the server's lead straight into the game center. He soon found a "Survival Road" area where three players were waiting for a fourth.

"Please enjoy yourself. As a member, you'll receive a 20% discount, which means a happy gaming hour costs only 400 ryo. If you need food or drinks, just call for a nearby server."

"Have a great gaming experience."

After finishing her cheerful explanation, the server let Sasori settle into a comfortable single-seater sofa. 

The other three players, not being members, had to make do with ordinary chairs. 

Together, they entered the genjutsu world of "Survival Road" through a sealed scroll.

The server returned to the front of the game center, ready to greet the next guests.

Another server from the Yamanaka clan approached her enviously and whispered, "I'm so jealous. You made another sale, and it's a full recharge with a membership activation. That's a 10% commission—5,500 ryo!"

The Nara server chuckled, "I've told you before, keep an eye out for people who look like shinobi from other villages. Most of them are spies sent to gather information about genjutsu games. These guys are like fat sheep. Just pitch the idea well, and they'll almost always go for the full recharge."

"Even without topping up the account, you'll still spend some money, so as long as you pay attention, you can still make a profit."

The server from the Yamanaka clan expressed concern, "But, wouldn't this actively leak information to those outsiders?"

The Nara server gave a meaningful laugh, "Do you think the higher-ups set up this game hall for no reason? Sometimes, giving the scouts an easy place to gather intelligence helps the village keep a close eye on those guys. It's much easier to gather useful intel than if they were secretly hiding away playing games."

"Besides, you know how much this game hall earns. Tsk tsk, no membership costs 500 ryo per hour, and with a membership, it's 400 ryo. It's not cheap. Without a membership, you could buy two Explosive Tags for the same price! We have customers coming to us willingly with money; why not make a profit?"

The Yamanaka service staff was stunned, then seemed to understand, showing a look of realization. 

Afterward, he worriedly said, "But, what if those guys think it's too expensive and try to steal or rob the Genjutsu scrolls used for the games?"

The Nara service staff responded calmly, "Don't worry! The game hall always has ninja guards. The higher-ups directly requested a long-term protection mission from the Hokage, so there's always a Jonin stationed here to protect it."

"Also, the Genjutsu scrolls used in the game hall are specially made. They're bound to the staff, so they can only be used inside the game hall. Even if they're stolen or taken, they're useless. If someone tries to force them open, the Genjutsu game will self-destruct."

Hearing this, the Yamanaka service staff nodded in understanding. At that moment, new customers arrived, and both of them quickly went to attend to them (or trick them), preparing to make more sales.

Meanwhile, in the game, Sasori had realized he had turned into a muscular black-skinned man. 

His background showed he was from the Land of Lightning, and his character was designed to have high defense and health, ideal for the front line.

The three people playing with Sasori were already experienced in the game—though they hadn't played for many hours, they at least understood how it worked. 

They all knew each other and eagerly explained things to Sasori, helping him understand his situation and the importance of choosing close combat weapons to fight monsters.

Honestly, Sasori felt quite strange. Whether it was becoming someone else or his current weak body, everything gave him a peculiar feeling.

He even wondered if completing his plan would make him feel like he had truly become a different person.

However, Sasori didn't have time to think more about it, as once he gathered his equipment, his teammates urged him to move forward.

As the frontliner, Sasori soon saw countless terrifying zombies charging toward him. He had to push aside his philosophical thoughts and pick up his katana to begin his journey of slaying the undead.

The sensation of cutting through flesh, the sight of blood splattering, and the overwhelming stench of blood, decay, and other foul odors hit his nose. Sasori couldn't help but frown deeply.

The zombies were fearless of death, constantly pouring in. As mutated monsters appeared later on, it started to challenge Sasori's worldview. 

This extreme-thinking youth couldn't help but reflect on what he was witnessing—

If the ninja world truly faced the disasters in this game, and if humans and animals were to transform into these monsters due to the corruption of demons, what would they do?

Humans would probably have no way to resist such a catastrophe. 

After all, the ninja world in the game had already been destroyed, and only a few survivors were struggling to survive in this apocalyptic world.

So, to deal with such a disaster, it seemed one would have to stop being human.

The more Sasori thought, the more he felt his thoughts and understanding were correct.

"Humans have limits. To survive in a disaster like this, to have the ability to face such a disaster, one must cease to be human."

"Yes, just as I thought. Only by becoming 'eternal art' can one face this kind of disaster..."

Lost in thought, Sasori accidentally failed to dodge an attack from a super mutated monster. He was hit and flew through the air, dying on the spot, experiencing the sensation of fake death.

Although death in "Survival Road" feels quite fake, the shock is still there when the realism option is set to the max.

And this shock from death made Sasori, after a brief moment of panic, completely firm in his resolve. 

He decided that once he returned, he would carry out the plan he had been thinking of for a long time.

At that moment, far in the Village Hidden in the Sand in the Land of Wind, the Third Kazekage suddenly sneezed several times.

**********

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