"Send me a razor blade?"
Toyota Kameichi looked at the desk next to him.
He was nearly overwhelmed by a mountain of reader letters, questionnaires, and postcards.
The assistant editor walked in unsteadily, carrying a stack of newly delivered letters, his face showing a mixture of shock and exhaustion.
"Editor-in-Chief—this week's reader feedback—is overwhelming. The questionnaire about ' NRUTO -Child-- ' has already exceeded 70% of the total."
"The phone lines are practically bursting with calls, everyone's asking when the next episode will be released, and what exactly the C-level mission is—"
Toyota Kameichi waved his hand, indicating that he understood.
He walked to the window, looking down at the bustling streets of Tokyo, his eyes surging with overwhelming excitement.
Sending razor blades?
Threatening letter?
Call to request more updates?
Ha, I've been an editor for decades, what haven't I seen?
Back when " Kinnikuman " was being serialized, readers would argue so much about which villain they supported that they would end up downstairs at the editorial office. He was the one who personally persuaded the agitated readers to leave.
When "Ranma 1/2" was initially not well-received, he withstood the pressure and insisted on continuing the serialization despite opposition!
However, like "NARUTO", it was only serialized for one issue.
Even at the very beginning, with the main character team just assembled and the hook for the first major C-level mission just thrown out, the story is still unfolding.
This is the first time a work has generated such a massive and overwhelming response and become so popular!
It's still just a novel!
No, it's more than just being incredibly popular.
This was like dropping a nuclear bomb on the readers' hearts, detonating all the themes of passion, bonds, and growth.
The ultimate desire of the mysterious ninja world.
The dense text on those postcards was more than just praise.
It's urging, it's analysis, it's speculation, it's fanaticism!
The young voices on the phone weren't just asking questions; they were shouting, pleading, and desperately yearning to enter that world!
Toyota Kameichi lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and through the swirling smoke, he seemed to see something more.
Comic adaptation?
Given the story's setting, characters, and plot tension, once it's adapted into a manga, it will definitely surpass Shonen Jump as a flagship title!
Yes, that must be it!
Because its framework is so solid, and its worldview so grand.
Animated?
The cool ninjutsu, the exciting battles, and the deeply moving bonds, coupled with top-notch animation production and voice acting—
Toyota seems to have already heard the cries of "Distraction! No way!" and "What a load of crap!" echoing throughout Japan.
Gamification?
Oh My God----
Ninjas, Chakra, elemental weaknesses and strengths, various ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, Tailed Beasts ----
This setting is practically made for a game!
RPG, fighting, strategy, even open world—
How many blockbuster games can this generate?
IP!
This is an unprecedented goldmine with all the potential to become a top-tier IP!
A volcano that is erupting, containing immense commercial value!
"Fuck your mother----"
Toyota Kameichi muttered a curse under his breath, not out of anger, but out of extreme excitement and shock.
"This isn't just a novel—it's a money-making code! It's a torrent of intellectual property! It's a cultural phenomenon that can sweep across an entire era!"
He abruptly stubbed out his cigarette, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, completely devoid of the composure he had displayed as the old editor.
Like a wild dog that has caught the scent of blood, he turned to the entire editorial department and roared in a voice that seemed to lift the roof off, "Meeting! Now! Immediately! Everyone! Assemble in the meeting room!"
Ten minutes later, in the editorial office conference room.
All the editors, regardless of their seniority, felt the almost burning aura emanating from the editor-in-chief.
"You all saw it, right? The data feedback from NARUTO."
Toyota Kameichi tapped the thick stack of survey forms on the table with his knuckles, making a dull thud.
"This isn't just ordinary positive feedback; it's a phenomenon! It's a phenomenon that readers have voted for with phone calls and postcards!"
His gaze swept over the crowd. "Starting from the next issue, no, from the next issue onwards, we'll adjust the layout! Cut all the short stories and comics that aren't getting much attention! Make room for them! Prioritize the serialization of 'NARUTO'."
"If necessary, it can be increased to 20 pages, or even 25 or 30 pages!"
"We want to ignite this fire completely when the readers' enthusiasm is at its peak! Let it burn all over Japan!"
"But what about the editor-in-chief, and the authors of the other works—"
Some senior editors hesitated.
"I'll negotiate!" Toyota Kameichi declared decisively. "Everything is based on data! NARUTO is our number one trump card right now! All resources should be directed towards it! Where's the editor? Who's dealing with Nozomi Takamiya and Kawamoto Kazuki?"
"Yes, it's me, the editor-in-chief." A young editor raised his hand.
"From today onwards, put aside all other work and focus solely on this one line!"
"Keep a close eye on it! Urge them to submit more manuscripts! No, I mean request more manuscripts! In the most polite and considerate way, please ask Professor Takamiya to ensure the quality and consistent output of subsequent manuscripts!"
"Whatever your requests, as long as they're not excessive, we'll try our best to fulfill them."
"Fine, I'll go to Hiratsuka myself."
Two days is neither a long nor a short time.
The temporary outposts that Flash Wind Express set up were no longer sufficient, so they rented a larger warehouse in the central area of Pingzhong as their dispatch center, where everything was bustling with activity.
Several phones rang incessantly, almost without interruption.
"Hello Flash Wind Express. Pickup address is... Kamakura High School Front? Delivery to Enoshima? Cake? Guaranteed one hour... What? Express delivery for extra money? No problem!"
"Documents delivered from Yokohama Minato Mirai District to Fujisawa? Express delivery within a one-hour radius? Sure! The fee is----"
"Pet turtle emergency? In Hayama? That's a bit far. Should we take it to a nighttime veterinary clinic in Tokyo?"
"This—answer it quickly! Are you free in Nango? I can make a trip from Hayama to Tokyo! Cost negotiable, the client says money's no object!"
"Me! I'll go!"
Koichiro Nango had just returned from a delivery, had downed half a bottle of water, and jumped up again upon hearing this.
"Go my ass! Your motorcycle's practically smoking! Let A Zhe go!"
Kyosuke Masaki cursed; he had just delivered an urgent shipment from the Heike to Shizuoka.
The client offered a life-saving price of 200,000 yen.
The motorcycles were lined up in the yard, each bearing the yellow and black whirlwind logo that Flash Wind Express. The motorcycles were covered in mud and dust, but the engines were all kept shiny and well-maintained.
Riders came and went, loudly announcing order numbers, addresses, and cargo status. Kawamoto Murasame quickly recorded, dispatched, and allocated routes in front of a simple whiteboard.
Kazunari Miyamoto, along with a dozen or so promising young men, is conducting emergency training on driving safety and customer communication.
"They've gone mad—the whole of Shonan has gone mad—"
Kazuo Araki answered the phone and recorded yet another long-distance express order from Fujinomiya City.
A contract must be sent to Tokyo Chuo Ward now.
In just a few days, Flash Wind Express swept through the entire Shonan region, originating from the Heike.
It even began to radiate outwards to the surrounding areas of Shizuoka and Tokyo Metropolis.
It was passed down by word of mouth.
There's a motorcycle delivery service called Flash Wind Express. It's a bit pricey, but it's really fast, reliable, and can really help in emergencies!
Kyosuke Masaki even used his connections to poach a group of elites from several other relatively law-abiding biker gangs in the Shonan region. These individuals were skilled drivers, daring, and desperately needed money.
After receiving basic training on safety regulations and the prohibition against causing trouble, they were marked and sent to the battlefield.
Motorcycles travel almost 24 hours a day on the roads of Shonan, and the roar of their engines has become the most unique background sound of this summer.
"This is business?"
Masaki looked at the bustling scene in the warehouse, at the astonishing numbers constantly jumping on the whiteboard, and took a deep drag on his cigarette.
He used to think that racing with his brothers and dominating several streets at night was what it meant to be glamorous.
Now I know what true glory is.
It's being needed, it's making a fortune, it's standing tall, it's seeing your brothers working like dogs but with light in their eyes!
Just then, the sound of a rapid engine approached from afar.