System Capitalist (Happy New Year, everyone! Remember to keep reading!)

"Ding!"

"Critical Space-Time Node eliminated. Space-time fluctuations detected!"

Host: Sarutobi Hiruzen

Current World: Two-Star World—Demon Slayer

Space-Time Source Energy: 1032~~6548

World Mark: Four-Star World—Naruto

Watching his Space-Time Source Energy shoot up, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.

Kibutsuji Muzan was fated to be destroyed, but during the hundreds of years he remained active,

countless people would still die because of him, or turn into demons.

That would cause tremendous changes and upheaval in the world's fate.

So Sarutobi Hiruzen had directly gained over five thousand Space-Time Source Points—more than he had earned for himself.

"When I took over the Third, I only had three thousand points, and the system swallowed most of them."

"Looks like the Scum Boss is worth a little more than me..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, unbothered.

There was a difference in world levels, of course, but Kibutsuji Muzan was still a villain with enormous influence.

The Third had been a major presence in the early part of Naruto, but he'd been killed off before long.

Looking at the series as a whole, it wouldn't be unfair to call the Third a mere background character.

Actually, if I helped Kibutsuji Muzan become a Perfect Being,

and then had him fight the Demon Slayer Corps...

Sarutobi Hiruzen estimated,

I'd get at least tens of thousands of Source Points...

But...

Sarutobi Hiruzen had considered it, but some inexplicable instinct told him it would be an enormous hassle.

The gods and demons in this world are real...

Sarutobi Hiruzen was intensely curious about the so-called God Lord worshipped by the Ubuyashiki Clan,

and about Tsugikuni Yoriichi's origins as a heaven-sent prodigy. Supposedly, Yoriichi was the reincarnation of Ibaraki Doji.

Besides, this is theoretically the Demon Slayer Corps' most prosperous era...

With the gods and demons interfering,

it's too risky without the strength to suppress everything.

On his first transmigration, Sarutobi Hiruzen was playing it safe.

Besides, I've already achieved my goal.

Compared to Space-Time Source Energy...

Immortal Breathing is the real prize.

The value of Immortal Breathing was obvious. Not only would it solve Sarutobi Hiruzen's lifespan problem for a long time to come,

"but as my body moves toward becoming a Perfect Being,"

"I might even make further progress along the path of the ninja..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flashed with excitement.

"Getting closer to Senju Hashirama's level."

In the short term, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of abandoning his Chakra system.

Not only had he already built a top-tier foundation as a ninja, but the Chakra system was genuinely powerful.

Aside from its weakness when it came to extending one's lifespan, Chakra was practically all-purpose.

The five elements, space and time, life and death—all could be manipulated at will through Chakra.

The ultimate form of Yin-Yang Release even pointed toward divine techniques capable of reshaping creation.

"At least until I reach the limits of Chakra,"

"there are few power systems in worlds of the same or even higher level that are as comprehensive."

After giving the physician and his family, who had been killed by Kibutsuji Muzan, a proper burial,

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others left the place where Kibutsuji Muzan had met his end.

Under the sunlight on the main road, they talked as they walked.

"Take this..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen handed a scroll to Masahiro.

It contained some basic Ninjutsu, along with Five Nature Transformation Ninjutsu of B-rank and below.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't withholding the higher-ranked techniques. With the people of this world's aptitude for being ninja, they simply wouldn't be able to learn them.

Even if they did, they wouldn't have enough Chakra to use them.

"I'll be leaving soon."

"We may not meet again..."

"Lord Sarutobi..."

Masahiro clutched the Ninjutsu Scroll tightly, his expression full of gratitude and reluctance.

At first, Masahiro hadn't been satisfied with Ninjutsu's power. It was nowhere near as quick or forceful as a swordsman's Breathing Style.

But once he learned about the drawbacks of Breathing Styles, he was immensely relieved he'd learned Ninjutsu instead.

Especially after discovering that his power could be passed down to his descendants.

That was right: the seed of Chakra was planted in one's genes and could be inherited.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'll repay you even if it costs me my life!"

Masahiro prostrated himself, his expression solemn.

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.

"No need..."

"If you really want to thank me,"

"have as many children as you can."

"That would be the greatest thanks of all..."

Masahiro was puzzled by Sarutobi Hiruzen's reason, but he took the words to heart.

"Looks like it's time to part ways, Lord Sarutobi..."

After Tsugikuni Yoriichi killed Kibutsuji Muzan, much of the darkness seemed to lift from his life. Ever sunny by nature, he wanted to start anew.

"Any plans, Yoriichi?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked casually.

"I'm not sure."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi shook his head. He wasn't lost; he was simply looking forward to a world without demons.

"Maybe I'll travel around and take in the sights."

"I'll do it for Uta, too..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. That was exactly the sort of answer he'd expected from Tsugikuni Yoriichi.

If demons had never appeared, Yoriichi would have been a carefree hermit, content with a simple life.

"Come to think of it, I still haven't thanked you for teaching me Breathing Style."

"Yoriichi,"

"this may be a little presumptuous, but I think you'll like what I have to give you in return..."

There had been some element of using him, but after spending time with this man, as pure as the sun, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help growing fond of him.

Before leaving, Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to give Tsugikuni Yoriichi a gift in return for Immortal Breathing.

Yoriichi was just about to say there was no need. He didn't think Immortal Breathing was his achievement alone.

Besides, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't the only one who benefited from it. Yoriichi could practice Immortal Breathing, too.

But then he saw Sarutobi Hiruzen form Hand Seals at lightning speed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen took out a Sealing Scroll and released a coffin from within it.

"A forbidden technique..."

"Impure World Reincarnation!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's Chakra surged, sweeping up dust from the ground and sending it tumbling into the coffin.

The coffin slowly opened, and a figure rose upright from within. It was a young woman with delicate features.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Uta?!"

Uta opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the familiar face of her husband.

"Yoriichi!"

That one call was all it took for Tsugikuni Yoriichi to know Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't used Genjutsu or some other illusion.

This was a genuine divine art that had brought the dead back to life!

"Yoriichi, are you all right?"

"Those monsters..."

Uta had assumed that the demons had killed Tsugikuni Yoriichi, too, and that was why she could see him in the afterlife.

"Time is short..."

"You two."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pressed his hands together, sweat starting to bead on his forehead.

This world had a cycle of reincarnation, too. Uta had only recently died, so Sarutobi Hiruzen had been able to use the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

But the cycle in this world was evidently stricter than the Pure Land of the Ninja World.

Under the Sage of Six Paths' care, the Pure Land of the Ninja World was practically a public restroom with its doors wide open. Anyone could get in.

This world was clearly different, so Sarutobi Hiruzen had to pay a greater price to maintain the Impure World Reincarnation.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi knew how steep the price of bringing the dead back to life was. He immediately started catching up with Uta.

"You must have gone through so much, Yoriichi."

"And so much danger..."

Uta learned what Tsugikuni Yoriichi had gone through after her death, and understood that her resurrection would only last a short while.

"It's just a shame about our child..."

"They hadn't even been born yet."

At that, Tsugikuni Yoriichi wept silently, his heart aching.

Even with Kibutsuji Muzan dead, the tragedies he had caused couldn't be undone.

"Yoriichi,"

"promise me you'll live well..."

"Live for me, too."

Those were Uta's final words. She wanted Tsugikuni Yoriichi to live well and let go of her and his hatred.

Tsugikuni Yoriichi was too overcome to speak. The man, bright as the sun, wept openly, grieving and yet fulfilled.

Then a powerful force swept in, pulling Uta's soul straight out of her body.

It vanished into a purple-black doorway in the void, invisible to ordinary people.

Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his hands, no longer maintaining the Impure World Reincarnation. He felt a gaze filled with anger and wariness fixed on him.

A Deity, then? One of this world's...

Though he'd drawn the Deity's attention by breaking the rules of life and death, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't worried.

No matter how extraordinary this world was, it was still only a Two-Star World. The Deity wouldn't easily show itself.

Besides, this so-called Deity might not even be stronger than Tsugikuni Yoriichi. It might be weaker.

If the Deity tried to attack him, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't mind teaching it a lesson—and studying its nature while he was at it.

Sure enough, after watching for only a moment, the gaze vanished without a trace, as if it knew it wasn't a match for the man before it.

Meanwhile, Tsugikuni Yoriichi stared blankly as Uta's body turned to dust and her soul returned to the cycle of reincarnation.

He wasn't an ordinary person. He could see things others couldn't.

"Lord Sarutobi..."

"There really is reincarnation in this world, isn't there?"

Tsugikuni Yoriichi asked calmly, not dejected by Uta's departure.

The dead didn't belong in this world. To Yoriichi, even a brief reunion had been a power akin to a divine miracle.

If the dead could be brought back whenever anyone wished, the world would have fallen into chaos long ago. Yoriichi wasn't so stubborn as to believe otherwise.

"Yes."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.

Although he hadn't seen this world's Deity, the world clearly had its own fantastical laws.

Reincarnation, fate, and curses were all real.

"At least, they are in this world."

Tsugikuni Yoriichi looked grateful, and quietly made a firm decision.

"I'm truly grateful, Lord Sarutobi..."

"Seeing Uta was a gift I couldn't have refused."

Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand.

He'd wanted to repay Tsugikuni Yoriichi, but he'd also wanted to test this world's rules and its so-called Deities.

And it was clear that these Deities didn't even dare show their faces. Most likely, they were a bunch of weaklings.

So Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't very interested in them.

With everything settled, Sarutobi Hiruzen had nothing left to linger for. He activated the system and left the world.

In Tsugikuni Yoriichi and Masahiro's eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly faded away until he vanished into nothingness.

"As expected."

"Lord Sarutobi must be a Deity who descended to the mortal realm..."

The same thought arose in both their minds at once.

Ninja World, Konoha,

Inside the Hokage Office,

Sarutobi Hiruzen's figure appeared inside the office.

"I'm back..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the calendar on his desk.

"Only two days have passed..."

Time in the worlds Sarutobi Hiruzen visited usually moved more slowly than in the Main World. Of course, he could also adjust the ratio himself.

But that required Space-Time Source Energy.

"Ding!"

"One Transmigration completed..."

"Would you like to establish a World Anchor?"

"Establishing an anchor in a Two-Star World requires 3,000 Space-Time Source Points."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly at this.

He understood what a World Anchor meant: marking a world.

An anchored world could then be entered and exited at a fixed cost—the standard rate of 1,000.

No matter what tier the anchored world was, entering or leaving it afterward would only cost 1,000 Space-Time Source Points.

The world that had already been automatically anchored was the Naruto World.

It cost Sarutobi Hiruzen 1,000 Space-Time Source Points to return to the Naruto World.

But if he didn't establish an anchor, traveling to this world again would be much harder and cost more.

Of course, for a Two-Star World, establishing an anchor wasn't really worth it, since the basic cost of traveling to a Two-Star World was already 1,000.

However, after processing the information transmitted by the system, Sarutobi Hiruzen still decided to establish a World Anchor for Demon Slayer.

Even though this would use up all the points he had gained, Sarutobi Hiruzen had learned that only after establishing an anchor could he obtain Space-Time Source Energy from future fluctuations in space-time.

In other words, only after anchoring the Demon Slayer World could Sarutobi Hiruzen receive the Space-Time Source Points generated by the future effects of Chakra spreading through that world.

"What a capitalist."

"System."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pursed his lips, but didn't dwell on it.

He hadn't expected to gain much Space-Time Source Energy from a Two-Star World anyway.

On balance, the Four-Star Naruto World in the Main World would surely yield far more Source Energy, and it was more convenient to visit.

"Establish the anchor."

Sarutobi Hiruzen gave the command.

"Ding."

"Searching for the world line. Entering the River of Time."

"Establishing the Spacetime Anchor."

"Demon Slayer World anchor established successfully!"

"Beginning settlement of subsequent space-time fluctuations."

Immediately afterward, Sarutobi Hiruzen's vision went black. He felt his consciousness being pulled into a space suspended in darkness, speckled with stars.

White light gathered in waves, and images of the Demon Slayer World appeared within it.

Masahiro's figure appeared first. In the River of Time, his life sped past for Sarutobi Hiruzen to witness.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen left, Masahiro departed from the Demon Slayer Corps.

He then pledged allegiance to the Daimyo, the Emperor, presenting himself as a disciple of a Deity. He demonstrated his extraordinary Ninjutsu and rose to the high position of National Shinto Priest.

Following Sarutobi Hiruzen's final instructions, Masahiro took over a hundred wives and concubines and fathered more than a hundred children. He became a notorious womanizer of a priest.

A century later, Masahiro died of old age, but his Chakra talent and the Ninjutsu Scrolls Sarutobi Hiruzen had left behind were passed down.

Everyone's grinding away over the New Year—couldn't you toss me a vote or two?