Izuna, times have changed. Your era is over

If someone could defeat him at least ten times in a row, that person might well be an expert, like his older brother, Madara Uchiha.

But even his older brother, Madara Uchiha, could not guarantee that every victory would come by a margin of just half a move.

Yet Boss Chiba could control that margin to exactly half a move every single time he defeated him.

If it had happened once or twice, he could have chalked it up to luck, or perhaps Chiba being just a little stronger than him.

But after at least ten consecutive matches ended the same way, Izuna's experience told him there was only one possibility.

That meant Boss Chiba was far stronger than him—so much stronger that no matter what Izuna did, he could defeat him within half a move.

"Boss Chiba, there's something I don't understand."

"Oh, how many times have I told you? Stop calling me Mr. Chiba. Just call me Tetsuya."

Tetsuya waved a hand and looked curiously at Izuna, whom he had finally managed to resurrect after spending a huge chunk of his savings.

If he had not turned Chiba Ramen into the Chiba Grand Hotel and gotten all those wealthy patrons to throw money at it, he might not have been able to resurrect Izuna so quickly.

"What is it? What don't you understand?"

"Tetsuya, why did you choose to stay here and be a merchant when you're so strong?"

Izuna voiced the question weighing on his mind.

"With your strength, you could easily go out and make something of yourself."

"Make something of myself?"

Tetsuya shook his head with a smile.

"Izuna, you've been back for a while now. Haven't you realized that the Shinobi World today is different from the one you knew?

"The Warring States period is over. This is the age of Shinobi Villages. Each of the Five Great Nations has its own Shinobi Village, and even some Small Nations have one."

"If you went out and claimed a patch of land to rule over like people did in your day, Ninja would inevitably come to put you down."

As he spoke, he dipped a finger in tea and began tracing a map of the Shinobi World on the expensive solid-wood table.

"Besides, the Daimyo of these great nations are all related to one another in some way. Even if you were strong enough to take on one Shinobi Village, what about two? Or three?"

Izuna fell silent, thinking over the differences between this era and the one he had lived in.

Seeing how seriously Izuna was considering it, Tetsuya smiled.

"So, times have changed. What did all your clans fight and kill each other for back then? Money and resources, right? Look at me now. Don't I have money and resources too?"

"But Mr. Chiba, you've already made a lot of money, haven't you?"

"Oh, who would ever complain about having too much money? Besides, I'm different from you. Money has a special use for me. Take you, for instance. I spent money to bring you back to life."

Tetsuya posed a question in return.

"Don't you want to see your older brother come back to life too? Or I could resurrect that fellow Tobirama for you and let you give him a good beating."

"Bring my brother back!"

Hearing Tetsuya say he could resurrect his older brother, Madara Uchiha, Izuna's eyes widened.

Of course, it would have been even better if Tetsuya had not mentioned that wretched name just now.

"You really can bring my brother back?"

"Of course. Why would I lie to you? Haven't you already died once and come back?"

Izuna grew excited. That was right. If he could be resurrected, then his brother could come back too. The thought of seeing his brother again filled him with joy.

But amid his excitement, he also had a question.

"Tetsuya, if you don't mind, could you tell me how you brought me back?"

He glanced at Tetsuya as he spoke, then hastily added,

"Of course, if you'd rather not, forget I asked."

"There's nothing to hide. It's an ability I was born with. As long as I have enough money, I can do all sorts of things that ordinary people would consider impossible, like bringing the dead back to life."

"There's a kekkei genkai like that in this world?!"

Izuna's eyes widened. He could hardly believe it.

As the former second-in-command of the Uchiha Clan, he knew that the Shinobi World held many special abilities passed down through bloodlines.

But this was his first time hearing of an ability that consumed money to grant powers or resurrect the dead.

"Well, call it a bloodline ability if you like. As long as you get the general idea."

While the two chatted, a group of samurai entered the hotel.

Instead of heading straight to the front desk, the samurai lined up on either side of the entrance. Two hurried inside and laid a red carpet across the floor.

With such an extravagant display, Tetsuya immediately knew who had arrived.

He gave Izuna a look, signaling for him to head to the back, then went to the entrance himself.

Outside, a young nobleman stepped down from a carriage, then helped a woman in a kimono, dressed in lavish finery, out after him.

The young nobleman wore an eager, fawning expression.

"Miss Yukiko, mind the step."

The woman called Mikiko swayed her hips seductively as she walked along the red carpet into the hotel.

"Young Master Nakamura, it's truly an honor to have you grace us with your presence."

As the two entered the hotel, Tetsuya personally stepped forward to greet them.

Nakamura smiled and greeted him in return.

"Boss Chiba, sorry for the trouble. This is Miss Mikiko, the newly chosen oiran of Hanamichi 1-chome. I paid a handsome sum for the honor of having her dine with me, and your establishment was the first place that came to mind. Please make sure everything is arranged nicely for us."

"Oh my, so you're the newly chosen oiran! My apologies for not recognizing you. Since you've come to my establishment, I'll certainly see that you're both well looked after."

As he spoke, Tetsuya discreetly studied the oiran out of the corner of his eye.

He had to admit that Nakamura, rich kid that he was, had excellent taste. This oiran had both a beautiful face and a stunning figure. She had a slender waist, long legs, curves in all the right places, fair skin, and alluring eyes.

"Please follow me. We have a private dining room for you."

Tetsuya gestured for them to follow, then gave Nakamura a thumbs-up where only he could see it.

Nakamura's smile grew even smugger.

But Tetsuya noticed that Mikiko seemed to have caught their little exchange.

After escorting the pair into the private room, Tetsuya had the staff serve fine wine and food, then withdrew.

As soon as he returned to the front hall, Tetsuya saw Izuna approaching him and grinned.

"That fellow Nakamura's here again. I have to say, he's brought an incredible beauty this time."

But the first thing Izuna said left Tetsuya stunned.

"That woman—if I'm not mistaken, she's from the Land of Lightning."