Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 81: Brothel Collapsed
Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to his office with a heavy heart, one hand on his temple as if trying to press back a rising headache. His conversation with Danzo had not gone the way he expected.
At first, there was a brief moment of familiarity when he manage to provoke Danzo by saying something about Uchiha and Woodstyle. But as quickly as it appeared, that anger faded and Danzo simply sat back, emotionless, as if he had already let go of whatever connection he once had to Konoha affairs.
'Has losing his position changed him so much?' Hiruzen wondered. 'Or was this just another kind of mask… a different kind of apathy?'
The Hokage sank into his chair, his thoughts a tumult of regret and uncertainty. He felt responsible for Danzo downfall, for the growing power of the Uchiha and Uzumaki, for the fragile peace that felt less like stability and more like a stretched thread.
"Did losing his status make him angry with me?" Hiruzen murmured. He just wanted the old Danzo so he could have a good way to fix his problem.
Knock Knock!
Suddenly there was a sharp knock from the door.
"Enter," Hiruzen said.
The door opened with a soft click, and to his surprise, a nobleman in luxurious silk robes entered. The man had only set his foot once in all the years Hiruzen had served as Hokage but he knew this man because of how much money he had spend on Konoha.
Lord Fujita is someone who always hired Shinobi from Konoha, indirectly giving a job to a shinobi and enrich Konoha. That is why, even though Fujita had only come to his office once, he knows this man well.
Hiruzen brow rose. "Lord Fujita? I did not expect to see you here."
The noble looked anxious, sweat collecting at his temples despite the coolness of the room.
"Hokage-sama… something must be done. Our businesses are collapsing."
---Brothel Collapsed---
The crisis had begun the moment Uzumaki Raiken introduced the Nerve Gear Scroll Sealing into the civilian market. What began as a revolutionary product for entertainment, capable of creating immersive illusions within the world of Genjutsu without the need for chakra had become an unstoppable force across Konoha and even the whole Land of Fire.
When he launched the product, Raiken aimed for the common folk first instead of of a wealthy nobles and that decision was brilliance. Eventhough commoner didn't have much money unlike wealthy nobles and merchant, what they have is a dream that won't become reality.
Among the common people, he targeted those who in their life is addicted to gambling, abusive to their family and those bad thing who scumbag always do on their family. The nerve gear scroll sealing is not just give them new form of entertainment but also fixed their hormon and they get dopamine when using it so they will become addicted and make them return to play it again.
Within a week of using the device, many of these troubled individuals had their lives turned upside down. Though some tried to demand money and even forced it from their families to continue their addiction, those abusing their family were swiftly blacklisted and denied further access, at least until they agreed to work with Uzumaki Clan.
With no other choice, those who had once wasted their days everyday became workers for the Uzumaki Clan. Raiken make sure they work at the place where they could become healthy.
They were allowed two hours of usage each day as part of their employment benefits, and with staff discounts, they could disappear into those crafted worlds for less. Their wives and children, once afraid of them, found themselves relieved. The former abusers came home with money instead of fists and no longer abuse them.
Brothel, Casino and winery become empty everyday and finally their business can no longer survive so Raiken did another covert operation to buy that prostitute and poor people who was sold and tricked and give them proper job.
No matter what those nobles did to attract those old customer, it was useless because with a single scroll, one could escape into worlds full of fantasy and adventure, more real than dreams, less dangerous. It offered rest, entertainment, and distraction, something the poor had always lacked.
The nobles who profited from taverns and brothels, on the other hand, were furious.
Before the Nerve Gear Scrolls were introduced, brothels had thrived as one of the few outlets for relaxation. But now? Why pay for fleeting pleasure when a scroll could make one feel like a hero in their own fantasy realm?
Sales plummeted to every shop in land of fire.
They can only watch in frustration and can't do anything with their power to stop the growing influence of nerve gear sealing scroll. If the shop are from normal civillian they could just do some trick to make sure the shop would be close.
But the one who own nerve gear shop are Uzumaki Clan and not just that, the Uchiha Clan also involved with this shop. So it is impossible to hire other ninja to ruin their shop.
What happen to land of fire opened the eyes of other nobles from another land.
So they lobbied with Daimyo on their land to block the access of nerve gear scroll and they succeded because this shop need Uzumaki Clan to activate it. The only product that Uzumaki manage to sneak into other territory are fire stove healing scroll, this can be used by other civillian and small enough to carry.
Back in the office, Lord Fujita leaned forward, voice strained.
"Hokage-sama, the brothel industry has dropped by sixty percent. Taverns are losing customer. Gambling houses are empty. At this rate, we can no longer survive. We beg you to intervene. Ban those seals. Or at least… restrict them."
Hiruzen folded his hands quietly on the desk, eyes lingering on the map of Konoha spread before him.
"I am aware of the situation," he said calmly. "But the seals are not illegal. Nor can I seize goods that are not tied to ninja warfare or forbidden arts."
"But this affects the stability of Konoha economy!" Fujita pressed.
Hiruzen did not need to be reminded. He knew it already. He also knew that interfering would only cause friction with the clans and the civilians who had come to depend on the Nerve Gear for happiness.
"I am sorry even with my power, it is impossible to stop them or restrict the sales," explained Hiruzen. "The only way escape is to change product, don't sell wine instead focus on something like food so common people would buy it."
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It is a bit late, Im busy searching for job that is why I didn't update.... Currently jobless....
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Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 109: Aftermath
Chapter 110: Where Is Hokage?
Chapter 111: Hyuga Slave Seal
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