Staring at Uchiha Madara in front of him, Ito Hirofumi said just one word:
"Money!"
"What the heck?!" Madara blinked, caught off guard.
He'd just asked what kind of price this kid had to pay for such an ability, and this punk's response was money?!
Did this mean some heaven-defying technique could be pulled off just by throwing cash at it?!
No way!
"Kid, what's that supposed to mean? I'm asking you what kind of cost this power demands! You seriously think you can ask me for money? I've got nothing right now—I'm eating your food to survive! Do I look like I've got cash?!"
Hirofumi set down his sake cup with a sigh.
"Madara, didn't you just ask what it takes to summon and revive the dead? The price is money! Or, more specifically, ryo!"
"WHAT?!"
Madara's face was pure disbelief. A technique this terrifying, this game-changing—powered by money?!
"Kid, you think I'm an idiot?! Are you messing with me? If the cost is too steep, just say it! I'm not forcing you to summon anyone. But trying to fool me with this 'money' nonsense? You don't seriously think I'm that gullible, do you?!"
Hirofumi let out a helpless chuckle.
"Look, you asked, I answered. But you don't believe me—what am I supposed to do?"
He spread his hands in exasperation.
"It's not that I don't believe you!" Madara shot back. "It's just… this is too ridiculous! Reviving the dead—how could something like that be so easy?! If it's just about money, wouldn't everyone who's ever died already be walking around?!"
Madara still couldn't wrap his head around it.
Hirofumi sighed. "I knew you wouldn't buy it. I don't fully get how it works myself, but ever since that trip to the afterlife, I've got a better handle on this ability…"
Of course, Hirofumi wasn't about to spill the beans about the system. But he figured he owed Madara at least some explanation—especially since he was counting on Madara to help him make bank later.
After a brief pause, he continued.
"All I need is a certain amount of ryo, and I can summon a spirit and bring them back to life, perfectly, just like you. But there's a catch—I can only summon ninjas, at least genin-level. Regular people? No dice."
The system didn't have an option for civilians, so the spirits he summoned had to have been chakra-wielders in life—genin at minimum.
Madara's heart raced as Hirofumi laid it out so matter-of-factly. Could this kid actually be telling the truth?
If so, this ability was beyond terrifying.
Just spend money, and you could summon any legendary ninja, fully revived?!
That was straight-up broken!
"Alright, kid," Madara said, leaning in. "If you're so sure, tell me—how much does it cost to summon a ninja?"
"Good question! It depends on their strength.
Ten thousand ryo gets you a genin.
A hundred thousand for a chunin.
A million for a jonin.
Ten million for an elite jonin.
And a hundred million ryo? That'll summon a Kage-level powerhouse—like you!"
Madara nodded, starting to piece it together.
"So, the ninja's rank determines the cost? But what if there's a loophole? Like, what if a ninja's crazy strong but only ranked as a genin? You'd hit the jackpot, right? Or the opposite—what if you overspend on someone weaker than their rank suggests?"
Hirofumi had already asked the system this exact question. The system's ranking wasn't tied to the ninja world's official ranks—it judged based on actual strength.
Take Might Dai, Might Guy's dad. He was just a genin by title, but when he went all out, he had Kage-level power. Summoning someone like him still cost a hundred million ryo—no way to cheat the system with a bargain.
Hirofumi wasn't mad about it. It protected him from wasting money on overhyped duds like Danzo Shimura, whose reputation far outstripped his actual skills.
"There's no loophole," Hirofumi explained. "My ability automatically evaluates the spirit's strength, so there's no chance of what you're describing."
Madara nodded, finally getting it.
"So, to summon someone on my level, you'd need a hundred million ryo, huh?"
"Exactly."
"Wait a sec," Madara said, eyes narrowing. "Does that mean you already spent a hundred million to summon and revive me?!"
"Nope!" Hirofumi shook his head.
"What?! Are you saying your ability thinks I'm not worth that much?!"
Madara's temper flared. Me, Uchiha Madara, the Ninja World's Shura, worth less than a Kage?! What kind of brain-dead ability is this?!
"Chill out!" Hirofumi laughed. "You didn't cost me anything. You were free—a total giveaway! A hundred million ryo? I couldn't scrape that together if I sold my entire clan!
You were a gift from my ability. Honestly, I got crazy lucky pulling you out. I hit the jackpot!"
Madara's mood soured instantly. Free? A giveaway?!
Uchiha Madara, given away like some cheap trinket?!
This was an outrage!
But… the kid wasn't wrong. Summoning him was a steal. Those so-called "Kage-level" ninja? In his prime, with his Rinnegan active, he could crush them with one foot. Even Hashirama Senju, that big oaf, wouldn't stand a chance.
And don't get him started on Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hmph. I could take that guy with one hand tied behind my back.