The next morning, before Konoha's streets had fully awakened from their slumber, the Ninja World Daily paperboys' crisp cries pierced the morning mist as usual:
"Extra! Extra! Breaking news—the South District project officially goes on sale today! You could become a shop owner too! Read for details! First come, first served!"
Their cries were more urgent and resounding than usual, carrying the tension of a major announcement.
Although Sarutobi's advisor had announced the general policy at yesterday's Hokage celebration,
most people were still completely in the dark about the details that directly affected their interests—how to participate, what the requirements were, which shops were available, and how much they cost...
As a result, the crowds buying newspapers were far more overwhelming than usual.
"Give me one!"
"One over here too!"
"Hurry, let me see the rules!"
The still-damp newspapers swiftly passed from the paperboys' bags into pairs of eager hands.
People did not even bother going home. They stood by the roadside, outside shopfronts, and beside breakfast stalls, impatiently unfolding their papers.
Their gazes all focused on the specially bolded, enlarged front-page headline, followed by two full pages of "South District Commercial Support Project Sales Implementation Rules."
After a brief silence, discussions rose everywhere like a tide, merging into an excited yet nervous hum.
A middle-aged man in an apron, clearly having just stepped out of his family snack shop, pointed at a line in the newspaper and said excitedly to his wife:
"Wife, look! It really concerns us!
It says right here—'Individual merchants who have held a Konoha business license for at least three years, have no poor business record, and meet annual tax requirements may participate in the lottery for Category C food service shop spaces.'
Our shop meets the requirements exactly!"
His wife leaned in to look,