You're Free, a Gift

Looking at Uchiha Madara before him, Ito Hirofumi said only one word!

"Money!!!"

"What the hell?!" Uchiha Madara was caught off guard for a moment.

He had just asked this brat what price had to be paid for such an ability, so why was the brat talking about money?!

Could it be that such a heaven-defying feat could be accomplished just by spending money?!

Nonsense!!!

"Brat, I am asking you what price must be paid! Don't tell me you're trying to ask me for money?! I have nothing right now; I even rely on you for my meals! Do I look like I have money to you?!"

Ito Hirofumi set down the wine cup in his hand...

"Madara! Didn't you just ask me what price is required to summon and resurrect the dead?! That price is money! To be precise, it is ryo!!!"

"Nani?!!!!"

Uchiha Madara's face was full of disbelief. Such a terrifying method, such a heaven-defying ability! How could it possibly be achieved just by spending money?!

"Brat! Do you think I'm a fool?! Are you playing games with me?! If the price is too high, you can just say so; I never forced you to summon any dead souls!

Trying to fool me with this so-called money, you don't really think I'm some kind of idiot, do you?!"

Hearing this, Ito Hirofumi felt a bit helpless...

"Look, you asked and I told you, but now that I've said it, you don't believe me. What do you want me to do?!"

Ito Hirofumi shrugged as he spoke.

"It's not that I don't believe you! It's just that this whole thing is too unbelievable, isn't it?! How could resurrecting a dead soul be done so easily?!

If it could be done just by spending money, wouldn't all those who died have been resurrected long ago?!"

Uchiha Madara still couldn't bring himself to believe it.

"Sigh... I knew you wouldn't believe me. I don't know the specifics myself, but ever since I went to the Underworld last time, I've gained some understanding of this ability of mine..."

Ito Hirofumi naturally wouldn't reveal the existence of the system, but he had to offer some explanation to Uchiha Madara, after all, he still wanted Uchiha Madara to help him make money in the future!

After a pause, Ito Hirofumi continued.

"I only need to spend a certain amount of ryo to summon a soul from the Underworld and, just like you, bring them back to a perfect state of resurrection!

But it's not without its limits. I can only summon ninjas, at least at the Genin level. There's no way to do this for ordinary people..."

The system's introduction didn't include an option for civilians, so the soul to be summoned had to have possessed chakra during their lifetime, which at the very least would qualify them as a Genin.

Hearing Ito Hirofumi speak so logically, Uchiha Madara's heart began to race. Could it be that this brat was telling the truth?!

If that were the case, then this ability was truly terrifying...

He could summon all the powerhouses of the past just by spending money!

And they would be in a perfectly resurrected state!!!

This was simply too heaven-defying!!!

"Brat, since you speak with such confidence, then let me ask you: how much money does it take to summon a ninja?!"

"Now you're asking the right questions!

Naturally, the amount of ryo required depends on the strength of the ninja.

Ten thousand ryo allows me to summon a Genin, one hundred thousand ryo can summon a Chunin, one million ryo can summon a Jonin, and ten million ryo can summon an Elite Jonin...

As for one hundred million ryo, that would summon a powerhouse at the Kage level, someone similar to you!"

Hearing these explanations, Uchiha Madara began to understand.

"So... you mean that the ninja's rank corresponds to different amounts of ryo?!

But there seems to be a loophole here. If a ninja is extremely powerful but their official rank is only Genin, wouldn't you be getting a massive bargain?!

Or, conversely, wouldn't you be losing out?!"

Ito Hirofumi had actually already consulted the system regarding this question raised by Uchiha Madara, having asked the exact same thing himself back then.

However, the system indicated that these ninja ranks were its own classifications and had nothing to do with the ranks in reality...

For instance, Might Duy, the father of Might Guy, was only a Genin, but when he unleashed his full power, he possessed Kage-level strength!

To summon someone like that would also require one hundred million in wealth, or one hundred million ryo; there was no way to "pick up a bargain" for ten thousand ryo!

Ito Hirofumi didn't say much about this explanation from the system, as it also prevented him from losing money!

What if he summoned someone like Shimura Danzō, whose reputation exceeded his actual strength? Wouldn't he be losing out then?!

Thinking of this, Ito Hirofumi explained to Uchiha Madara.

"There are no loopholes. My ability automatically assesses the strength of the soul, so the situation you described won't happen!"

Hearing this, Uchiha Madara nodded.

"In other words, if you wanted to summon a powerhouse on my level right now, you would need to get your hands on one hundred million ryo?! Is that what you mean?!"

"Yes! That's right..."

"Doesn't that mean you've already spent a hundred million ryo to summon and resurrect this old man?!"

"No, no, no! Not at all!" Ito Hirofumi shook his head.

"What do you mean?! Could it be that your ability thinks this old man isn't worth that much money?!"

Uchiha Madara was somewhat incensed. How could he, the dignified Asura of the Ninja World, the legendary Uchiha Madara, be worth less than a Hokage?!

Is this ability brain-dead or what??

Could it be that he wasn't even worth a hundred million ryo?!

"Look! You're getting worked up again! You didn't cost any money; you were a freebie, get it?! A hundred million ryo... where would I even get that kind of money?! Even if I sold my entire clan, I couldn't scrape together a hundred million!!! You were a free gift from my ability. All in all, my luck was pretty good to have pulled you out! By any measure, I hit the jackpot..."

Uchiha Madara was in a very foul mood at this moment!!!

Especially regarding Ito Hirofumi's mention of "free" and "gift"!

He, the great Uchiha Madara, was actually worthless, actually free, actually a gift!!!

Fine, fine, fine!!!

Damn it all to hell!!!

However, this brat Ito Hirofumi was at least sensible enough to know that summoning him was a massive win!!!

After all, those so-called Hokage-level powerhouses were nothing more than ants he could crush with a single kick...

He was in his prime now, and once he activated the Rinnegan, even that blockhead Senju Hashirama probably wouldn't be his match!

Let alone some so-called Hokage!!!

That Sarutobi Hiruzen?!

It's not that this old man looks down on him!

He could crush him with just one hand!!!