The Game Merchant Who Started from the Ninja World

Chapter 45: The Main Family

Clan grounds, Main Family estate.

Long corridors, spacious ponds, and lavish buildings.

Compared to the Branch Family areas, which were filled with training grounds, the Main Family estate wasn't very large—but it was refined and luxurious, almost never showing unsightly training equipment.

Inside the banquet hall,

rows of tables and seats were arranged neatly. At the head sat a middle-aged man in fine robes, quietly listening to murmured conversations.

He was a top-ranking noble from the Fire Country's capital.

With the Five Nations Joint Chūnin Exams approaching, nobles like him had begun arriving in Konoha in droves, eager to witness the grand spectacle of ninja battles.

Seated to his right was the head of the Hyuga clan in traditional robes, wearing a warm and courteous smile.

"Neji, come over here."

Upon seeing Neji arrive, Hiashi smiled and gestured for him to take a seat at the end of the table.

He introduced him formally. "This is the younger brother of the Fire Daimyō. He wanted to meet you."

Even though the village had tried to keep things under wraps, it was impossible to conceal that players like Asuma, Naruto, and Hyuga Neji had been chosen early on by the Reincarnation Game.

After all, there were noble players too.

They were envious—jealous of how quickly ninja grew within the game—so they tried to recruit some for themselves. Neji had become a prime target.

The Daimyō's brother looked at Neji with anticipation. "Neji, do you know how one becomes a player?"

Neji shook his head. "It's all arranged by the game merchant. I don't know how to become one."

"I see…"

The nobleman sighed in disappointment.

Other noble players had given similar answers. He had assumed they were just unwilling to share their secrets. Since he happened to be visiting Konoha, he decided to ask one of the original players directly.

A game where nobles could hunt freely without risk of death… even he was tempted.

After a few polite exchanges,

four well-dressed, arrogant Main Family youths entered the banquet hall. Hiashi led them in to chat with the nobleman.

This was the Hyuga clan's way of surviving.

While their roots were in Konoha, they also maintained ties with the nobility—a two-pronged approach.

Neji, quickly forgotten, was soon dismissed from the room under a flimsy excuse.

"My apologies, Young Master Chuukei."

Upon leaving, Neji bumped into Hyuga Chuukei, who was on his way to the hall. "It seems there's a guest. The clan head didn't say what business he had with me."

Chuukei replied irritably, "Introducing you to the Daimyō's brother isn't business?"

"I see."

Neji's expression didn't change, his voice emotionless.

He exited the Main House with perfect etiquette.

All that… for something so trivial?

Even though he knew the siege outside was reaching a critical point, his training had been interrupted—all just to entertain a noble.

Hiashi's expression during the introduction had been like saying,

"This is your reward for serving the Hyuga clan."

Neji let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Felt a little like… being a dog called with a whistle.

He logged back into the game in a rush.

Sure enough, without his command, the Fourth Squad had started to falter, leading to the Konoha unit being suppressed by Iwagakure's forces. Their merit earnings fell behind.

Asuma patted Neji on the shoulder and sighed. "Neji, I understand what you're going through."

The Hyuga clan's internal politics were no secret in the village.

As a Branch Family member, Neji had grown up under the doctrine of obedience—conditioned to protect and serve the Main Family.

The cursed seal, the Bird in the Cage, made rebellion impossible.

Asuma added, "I'll report what happened with Chuukei to Lord Hokage. This wasn't your fault—don't blame yourself."

Neji felt a warmth in his chest. "Thank you, Captain Asuma."

Asuma grinned. "No problem. We're all part of the same village. Like leaves growing from the same branch—we rely on each other."

He reached instinctively for a cigarette—

but his pockets were empty.

Every spare point had gone toward building the Konoha unit. He was basically being forced to quit smoking.

Neji opened the game shop and bought a pack, handing it over. "For you, Captain."

"Oh… then I won't hold back."

Asuma happily lit one up, only to almost choke on the first puff.

In Neji's hand sat a lump of black ash.

[Ashes of a Wraith Commander]: Can be exchanged for items at the Siege Officer.

Asuma sucked in a breath. "No wonder they call you the pride of the Hyuga clan. You soloed a commander-level Wraith?"

Only eight commander-class Wraiths had spawned.

The other factions had already split them up.

Everyone assumed Konoha got nothing—

but Neji had quietly hunted one on his own.

Asuma continued, "You can trade this ash for gear… or tools."

Siege tools.

Like a smaller version of the Wraith Cannon on the walls—

a [Wraith Turret] blueprint.

Once constructed and loaded with ammo, it fired Wraith energy bolts with devastating power.

It also cost one [Ashes of a Wraith Commander] to build.

Asuma finished his cigarette and tossed the butt—it vanished upon hitting the ground.

"I'll be honest, Neji. If you're willing to trade that ash for a Wraith Turret, I'll personally request a reward for you from the Hokage. I'll also do everything in my power to ensure the Hyuga clan doesn't interfere—so the reward goes entirely to you."

Historically,

no matter how much credit the Branch Family earned, the reward always became a bargaining chip between the Main House and the Hokage.

It might be funding.

It might be a jutsu scroll.

Or even ANBU qualification.

But the Main Family always took the lion's share, leaving scraps for the Branch Family.

Even so, no one dared say a word.

Asuma, as the Hokage's son, saying this meant he was willing to risk being accused of meddling in clan affairs—maybe even impeachment.

That showed just how sincere he was.

He quickly added, "Of course, the Wraith gear is good too. With it, you could become the strongest in our forces—maybe even touch the elite jōnin threshold in real life."

Neji chuckled. "Captain Asuma, with how complicated your thinking is, no wonder you haven't won over Kurenai-sensei yet."

Asuma blinked. He suddenly realized Neji had shown him the ash on purpose—he wanted to contribute it to the village.

He really had overthought it.

"Thanks, Neji."

Asuma hurried back to the front lines.

At the Siege Officer's booth,

Neji was about to exchange for the [Wraith Turret]—

but was interrupted by a late arrival: Hyuga Chuukei.

"I heard everything you and Asuma said."

Chuukei's brow furrowed. "You've gone too far. Have you forgotten the Hyuga clan's laws?"

"The Main House is the bloodline's core.

The Branch exists as shield and blade—to guard and uphold the Main Family's interests."

"And now you're just giving precious resources to the village?"

"Do you realize Wraith Commander materials could be used as leverage in negotiations with the Hokage?"

He was furious now—his disdain blatant.

After venting,

he offered a "solution."

"Trade for the Wraith gear—the purple [Toad Commander's Power] set that boosts Gentle Fist—and give it to me."

"Then take the fall yourself. Don't involve the clan."

"If this stirs up conflict between the clan and the village… you know the consequences."

His grin turned cruel as he raised a thumb and pointed to his smooth forehead.

As a Main House member,

he had the right to activate the Bird in the Cage seal.

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