The Game Merchant Who Started from the Ninja World

Chapter 44: Hyuga Neji

"Sorry, Lady Tsunade."

Asuma spoke in an embarrassed whisper. "Although the village did allocate some funds, the Konoha unit's expenses are too high. I can't afford the commission right now."

Most of the Konoha unit was made up of civilians from the Fire Country's towns, wandering warriors, and rogue ninja.

Winning their loyalty wasn't possible through the Will of Fire alone—they had to be treated like mercenaries, paid weekly with potions, materials, and other items as salary.

It wasn't just the Konoha forces. The Kirigakure and Kumogakure alliances, and even the rapidly rising Iwagakure forces, used the same system.

The difference was—they offered better pay, and thus, had stronger cohesion.

In contrast, Konoha only had a local advantage. With more players from the Fire Country, most civilians were still somewhat awed by the village's reputation.

Otherwise, many would've already defected to better-paying factions.

"Then there's nothing I can do."

Tsunade didn't press the issue. She turned and left with the noble girl from the Land of Frost.

She was no longer a Konoha ninja—not even a ninja at all. She did what she liked.

If Asuma had managed to offer even 2,000 reward points, she would've agreed, just to see where the village's upper echelons stood.

But now, his lack of support was obvious.

Tsunade had seen enough.

Nothing had changed.

Years had passed, and the leadership of the village was still just as disappointing.

The Novice Village was now surrounded on all sides by the encroaching Wraith army.

The battlefront had split into four zones.

Konoha Unit – Fourth Squad.

Dressed in loose training clothes and a forehead protector, a figure moved gracefully through the battlefield, taking down Wraiths one after another under the cover of his teammates.

His eyes were wide open, veins bulging.

Two pure white eyes swept across the field with a unique perspective, spotting enemy weaknesses and formations.

Hyuga Neji assumed his stance, lunging forward.

Sky Cannon!

His palm became a barrel, gathering condensed ki and launching it like a shell.

All Wraiths within five meters were blown apart by the blast, reduced to ash.

"Captain Neji is amazing!"

The squad members looked at their terrifyingly powerful leader with admiration.

Level 14. Qi Master.

He had trained his body to the limit, awakened ki in his pursuit of breakthrough—a mobile warrior with high perception and devastating melee abilities.

The game shop sold a [Ki Technique Manual] for 2,000 reward points.

Anyone could buy it to attempt to comprehend ki (3 tries per scroll).

If successful, you became a Qi Master. If not, nothing happened.

Inspired by Neji's power, several squad members gritted their teeth and bought the scroll—

but the results were clear.

Out of the entire Fourth Squad,

only Neji and another branch member of the Hyuga clan succeeded.

"Stay focused! Watch your spacing!"

Neji's body shimmered with ki.

He dashed forward at incredible speed, slicing a swooping Wraith Hawk from the sky.

A teammate, who had nearly been skewered, breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Neji gratefully.

Sure, you could revive—

but it cost reward points. He was just a border villager from the Fire Country. His town had been destroyed by bandits. By a twist of fate, he became a player and spent most of his points rebuilding and protecting his people.

Was that why the captain paid attention to him?

"Strong and thoughtful… even in battle, he protects us. He's the pride of the Hyuga clan!"

The words slipped out. Everyone around nodded in agreement.

Even the Hyuga girl from the branch family looked up at Neji in admiration.

"I want to become strong like Neji-nii, and protect the Hyuga clan too…"

Neji showed no emotion.

His palms moved mechanically—ripping apart nearby Wraiths with raw force, and blasting others into dust with ranged ki shots.

When his stamina and mana ran dry, he quickly retreated to the rear to rest.

The pride of the Hyuga?

"What a joke."

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Even the branch girl offering him a potion didn't hear it.

Blood leaked from where his teeth clenched behind his blank expression.

Just two more weeks—

and he could remove the cursed seal of the Caged Bird.

If he took off his forehead protector now,

they would see the green curse mark on his forehead faded, barely a shadow of its former self.

"Forcibly removing the Caged Bird seal shortens the time, but risks permanent damage to body and soul. Even the Byakugan might be ruined."

"Whoever invented this wretched thing—Hyuga Tenin—should be grateful I wasn't born in the Warring States Era."

The Wraith Beast Army was being torn apart.

The battle raged at full intensity.

Now, towering monster-level commanders—the generals of the Wraith legions—were nearing the village walls.

The earlier waves of irrational Wraith Beasts were just sacrificial pawns—meant to deplete the wall's defenses.

Now the real war was beginning.

"Wraith Crocodile Armor boosts ki wave power."

"Requirement: 5,000 merit points and a commander-class Wraith kill."

As the titanic Wraith Beasts approached, Neji and his fellow players weren't afraid.

They were hungry—with eyes glowing at the thought of loot.

Just then—

A squad member called out: "Hyuga Neji, clan leader's orders. You're to return to the estate immediately."

Everyone froze.

Leaving now meant massive losses.

And without Neji, the Fourth Squad couldn't hold the front.

Konoha's whole battle plan would be disrupted.

Neji frowned. "Right now?"

"Right now."

The messenger's gaze was cold.

He also had pure white eyes—but no forehead protector, no curse mark. His smooth forehead marked him as main branch.

The main family—the ones Neji and the others existed to serve.

Hyuga Hiashi himself had tasked Neji with protecting the heir: Hyuga Chuukei.

"Chuukei, can't it wait?"

A Konoha ninja frowned.

Chuukei said nothing.

He just stared quietly at Neji.

Neji's face remained unreadable. He turned to his squad. "I have to leave briefly. I'll return as quickly as I can."

Chuukei looked satisfied, unsurprised.

After all, he was the main family.

The branch family didn't get to refuse.

The pride of the Hyuga?

A branch family member with a cursed eye? Laughable.

As Neji's figure faded into the distance,

Chuukei's cold gaze followed, filled with scorn.

He didn't feel jealousy.

No matter how bright Neji's light, the branch family would always be inferior.

Nothing more than servants to the main house.

House slaves.

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