The Virtual Headset Experience Center and the Internet Cafe were both running smoothly.
With nothing else to do, Naruto returned to his routine of attending school, training, and teasing Hinata.
As he entered school that day, he heard plenty of students discussing amusing things that had happened in the virtual game.
"Did you hear? The Will of Fire Ninja Village snagged another Field Boss yesterday! It looks like the Will of Fire Ninja Village is the strongest guild in the whole Ninja Region now."
"Oh, come on! The Root Ninja Village is the strongest!"
"The Will of Fire Ninja Village is the guild Lord Third Hokage founded. Of course the Will of Fire is the strongest!"
"Hmph! Lord Danzo founded the Root Ninja Village..."
Listening to the two students argue, Ino Yamanaka approached Shikamaru and asked, "Shikamaru, what's your take?"
"Huh?" Shikamaru opened his bleary eyes and asked, "My take? I'll just sit here and watch."
"Why are you still so lazy...? Don't you think our Ino-Shika-Cho guild could compete for the title of strongest guild too?"
Shikamaru: ...
"Hey... Ino, you're not serious, are you?"
As he spoke, Shikamaru pointed at himself. "Our Nara Clan mostly spends its time in the virtual game enjoying life, finding comfortable, peaceful spots to zone out and play shogi."
Then he pointed at Choji, who was eating potato chips, and continued, "The Akimichi Clan spends all its time hunting down delicious food in the virtual world."
Finally, he turned his gaze to Ino. "As for your Yamanaka Clan, aren't you all cultivating new flower varieties in the virtual world too?"
Ino: ...
After hearing Shikamaru lay it all out, Ino suddenly felt that their three clans were utterly useless...
Things were exactly as Shikamaru had said. The members of the Ino-Shika-Cho guild