Following Hayate's announcement, the rankings of the 25 Genin appeared on the massive screen above the arena, then suddenly distorted into a blur of characters and began to shuffle randomly.
Every ninja in their respective prep rooms—except Uchiha Saya—stared at the screen with a quiet tension, muttering the same silent prayer:
Please don't let me fight her.
After more than ten seconds, twelve matchups appeared on the screen. The only person lucky enough to receive a bye was a ninja most had overlooked—Tenten.
Tenten blinked in disbelief, then pinched her own cheek.
"Ow~"
It hurt. She wasn't dreaming.
She really got a bye?!
She immediately rolled across the prep room's sofa in delight, flopping down with a satisfied smile on her face. Her legs kicked back and forth in the air with giddy excitement.
"See? Mom was right… Girls who smile more really do get good luck~!"
Meanwhile, the matchups listed on the screen drew attention from all corners of the stands. At that moment, Hayate's voice rang out clearly once again:
"First Match: Hyuga Neji vs. Karui."
"Second Match: Uzumaki Naruto vs. Omoi."
"Third Match: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Samui."
"Fourth Match: Nara Shikamaru vs. Hoshigaki Kisame."
"Fifth Match: Gaara vs. Aburame Shino."
"Sixth Match: Rock Lee vs. Sand #1."
"Seventh Match: Sand #3 vs. Fu."
"Eighth Match: Utakata vs. Hydrangea ."
"Ninth Match: ### vs. Uchiha Saya."
"Tenth Match: Kankuro vs. Kurotsuchi."
"Eleventh Match: Temari vs. Yuukimaru."
"Twelfth Match: Hyuga Hinata vs. Hozuki Suigetsu."
"The matches will begin promptly at 9:00!"
As Hayate finished speaking, the big screen above the spectator stands shifted again, displaying detailed profiles for each of the participants.
A moment later, another announcement rang out:
"Here, we would like to thank the Minister of Commerce of Konoha—Yuhi Kurenai, also known as the Red Queen—for being the exclusive sponsor of this tournament!"
"In addition to the battles, special entertainment activities have been arranged for your enjoyment!"
"Please look at the big screen!"
On the screen, after the player profiles concluded, a new interface appeared showing the matchups, each with betting odds listed beside the names.
"All spectators are welcome to place bets using the button interface located on the armrest of your seat!"
"Odds will adjust in real time based on the betting pool. Please gamble responsibly."
"Small bets bring joy. Large bets… might bring pain."
"Also, refreshments and drinks from Konoha are available on both sides of each stand—please enjoy freely!"
"The matches will begin in one hour!"
With that final declaration, Hayate tossed a dozen smoke bombs onto the ground. Colored smoke exploded in all directions, engulfing him entirely before he vanished using the Transparent Escape Technique, reappearing discreetly inside a viewing box behind one-way glass.
"Teacher Hikaru, how was that performance?" Hayate grinned.
It was his first time speaking to such a massive crowd. He wasn't sure if his delivery would satisfy Uchiha Hikaru—or the Hokage.
Tsunade gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up, her eyes gleaming with approval.
"You're a natural, kid!"
"I swear, you've outperformed the hosts at the Konoha Casino. If we ever do this again, I want you running the show!"
Uchiha Hikaru sat nearby, resting her chin on her hand. She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Why does this feel familiar...? Like something from my past life.
Ah, whatever. Doesn't matter. The results are clear.
Through the glass, she could already see the wealthier audience members in the front row frantically pressing their armrest controls to place bets.
The prize pool amount was skyrocketing in real time.
These betting systems had technically existed in the ninja world before—but they'd been relatively primitive until Orochimaru re-engineered them into their current form. The tech wasn't complicated. The only issue was verifying the assets of each bettor.
But here, in Konoha, no one would dare scam the system.
After all, the Red Queen's name had been publicly attached. And this was Konoha.
Anyone foolish enough to cheat would soon find themselves "invited for tea" by the Konoha Police Department.
Uchiha Hikaru's eyes followed the prize pool tracker as it climbed rapidly, its digits blurring from sheer velocity.
Over ten billion ryo already.
And that was just for the first round.
Most of the crowd had only placed small, symbolic wagers to test the waters. The tournament would last the entire day, with drinks, snacks, and luxury accommodations adding to the total haul.
Konoha would easily make billions from this event alone.
After all, in this world, the vast majority of wealth belonged to nobles and powerful elites.
Thousands of them had gathered, and even the more modest ones were spending a million each. For the truly rich, tens of millions—or even hundreds—wasn't out of the question.
The scene reminded Hikaru of the esports and football industries from her previous life.
If the ninja world could host something like the World's Strongest Ninja Tournament, or official Team Battle Leagues, the profit potential would be astronomical.
Entertainment was practically nonexistent in this world. People either trained, fought, or drank themselves into oblivion.
But with the support of the Ninja Association, this model could evolve. Through events like these, Konoha could steadily draw wealth from the pockets of the elite.
Sure, there were more forceful methods to do that. But Hikaru didn't want to waste manpower and resources.
The Otsutsuki threat still loomed.
Yes—overpowering others was fun. But manipulating the system, pulling the strings behind the curtain? That was far more satisfying.
Meanwhile, in a private VIP box, the five daimyos of the Great Nations were gathered together.
Each one held a sleek, tablet-like device in hand—thicker than a brick, yet slim enough to swipe comfortably. They were skimming through data on every participating Genin.
The Fire Daimyo, was intensely focused as he placed bets.
He toggled rapidly between Uchiha saya and Uchiha Sasuke, investing a total of fifty million ryo between them.
Behind him, two elegant handmaidens stood silently, cooling him with fans made of reed and cattail leaves. Neither spoke, but the sharpness in their dark eyes said more than words.
The Water Daimyo sat nearby, a woman with a seductive figure curled up in his arms. Her hair cascaded like ink, and her outfit left little to the imagination.
He squeezed her breast casually. She giggled, squirming in mock annoyance.
"My lord, you're so naughty~"
Her fingers gently grazed his chest in return.
He let out a deep, indulgent laugh.
"Hahaha~ My beauty, what would I do without you?"
Her expression briefly flickered—amusement on the surface, disgust buried deep—but she played along with the act.
The other daimyos weren't far off in behavior.
Except for one:the Daimyo of Lightning Country. He was the odd one out.
As the others laughed, drank, and groped their women, he remained composed, flanked by two stunning maids.
The Earth Daimyo nudged him playfully.
"Oi,! What's wrong? Can't get it up?"
"With those beauties beside you, and you're not even touching them?"
he chuckled softly.
"My wife treats me very well. I'd feel ashamed betraying her."
The room erupted in laughter.
"A Daimyo… afraid of his wife? Hahaha!"
"If you're not going to use those maids, I'll buy them off you!"
"Don't waste prime assets!"
But he eyes narrowed behind his composed smile.
You fools have no idea what you're playing with...
Those two women aren't maids...
They're Uchiha Jonin in disguise.
And if they wanted to, they could kill everyone in this box before you took your next breath
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