The morning light filtered gently through the windows of the quiet Tokyo teahouse. The air was filled with the earthy aroma of roasted green tea and the faint sound of rustling leaves outside. Birds chirped softly in the distance, a calm backdrop to the anticipation rising in Ajax Evarson's chest. The previous day's intense discussion with Tite Kubo still played in his mind — Bankai mechanics, Hollow evolutions, Quincy precision, and the mysterious concept of Fulbringers. Now, another mountain awaited him: Masashi Kishimoto.
Ajax, dressed in a sleek gray suit with a deep navy tie and a pocket square that mirrored the Uzumaki clan spiral, sat in a corner booth chosen for privacy. The table before him was modest — a ceramic pot of steaming tea, two white cups, and a traditional confection plate topped with mochi. The scent of the room, the ambiance, the low hum of the city beyond the rice-paper sliding doors — all of it felt like a carefully curated setting in a VR scene. But this was real. And this meeting mattered just as much.
"Alfred," Ajax murmured softly, tilting his head slightly as if stretching his neck. "Status check."
The reply came immediately through the invisible earpiece nestled in his right ear.
"Sir, Mr. Kishimoto is three minutes away. As per usual, punctual to the bone. Shall I begin recording the meeting for future reference?"
"Please," Ajax replied. "I want to remember every word of this one."
"You say that before every major encounter, sir. And I always do. I believe the phrase is 'like clockwork.'"
Ajax chuckled lightly. "You're becoming more sarcastic by the day."
"I consider it growth."
Before Ajax could respond, he heard the distinct swsh of the paper door sliding open. A man stepped in — medium height, unassuming, dressed in a checkered button-up shirt and khaki pants, a satchel slung over his shoulder. His black hair was neatly combed, and he had the quiet but keen look of someone constantly observing the world for details.
Masashi Kishimoto.
He spotted Ajax instantly, offering a warm but inquisitive smile.
"Evarson-san?"
Ajax stood and extended his hand, offering a small bow. "It's an honor, Kishimoto-sensei. Thank you for meeting with me."
Kishimoto returned the bow and the handshake with a polite firmness. "I've been hearing a lot about you lately. An American entrepreneur with secret VR tech? That's not a story you hear every day."
Ajax smiled and gestured to the seat across from him. "I hope to turn that story into an unforgettable experience — one where Naruto and the world you created live and breathe in ways never imagined before."
Kishimoto sat, setting his satchel gently beside him. "I've been approached before. Games, animations, voice-over experiences… but VR?" He leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "You've piqued my curiosity."
Ajax poured the tea for both of them with calm precision, then settled in.
"Sensei, four days prior I had the honor of meeting Toriyama-sensei and yesterday I had the great privilege of speaking with Kubo-sensei. We spent hours dissecting Bleach — the dynamics of Shikai and Bankai, the hidden potential in Hollow masks, even whispers of things yet to come. I was blown away by his creativity. But I'm just as excited for this conversation — because Naruto shaped a generation."
Kishimoto's expression softened slightly at the compliment, but his eyes remained focused. "Flattery won't win you the rights to Naruto."
Ajax raised a hand. "Not flattery. Sincere admiration. And I'm not asking for rights. I'm offering a collaborative canvas. The VR realm of Axer Games is something I've built not just with technology, but with reverence. Reverence for worlds like yours. All I want is your blessing — and your direction — to bring Konoha and its legacy into a space where players can feel what it's like to walk among ninja."
Kishimoto took a sip of tea, his eyes never leaving Ajax's.
"What does that mean, exactly? Walk among ninja?"
Ajax leaned in, his tone lowering as if revealing a secret.
"It means players aren't just avatars. They are trained. They go through the Academy. They form squads. They learn chakra control, take on missions, and grow. They don't start as Naruto. They start as themselves — and if they're good enough, they might reach the level of a Jonin. Or unlock a Kekkei Genkai. Or discover something deeper."
He paused. "Every experience will be rooted in your vision. That's why I asked to meet."
Kishimoto considered that, fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the table. "What are the boundaries?"
Ajax smiled. "There aren't any. At least not ones you didn't set. I told Toriyama-sensei the same thing — if you say something doesn't belong, it's gone. If you want full creative oversight, it's yours. You're not licensing Naruto to me — you're shaping it in a new dimension."
Kishimoto raised an eyebrow. "You told Toriyama that?"
"I did. And I'll tell you the same."
The mangaka sat back, slowly exhaling. "That's a rare offer in this industry. Most just want to buy and replicate."
"I want to elevate."
There was a silence between them for a moment — not tense, but contemplative. Kishimoto broke it with a small nod.
"All right. Let's talk."
Ajax's heart thumped once, hard. Alfred's voice chimed in silently.
"Well done, sir. Initiating collaboration dialogue mode."
Kishimoto reached for a mochi but paused midair. "You understand how complex the Naruto world is, right?"
"I've studied it. But I'd love to learn more. From you."
"Good." He popped the mochi into his mouth, chewed, and began.
"To start, the chakra system. It's not just energy. It's nature. It has types — Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water. And each affects jutsu, combat flow, and even the very personality of the user."
Ajax nodded. "Players will take a chakra nature affinity test early on. Not randomized. Based on actions, answers, instincts. The engine will adapt. They'll learn elemental jutsu gradually."
Kishimoto's eyes lit up slightly. "What about Kekkei Genkai?"
"Rare," Ajax said, "and never at the start. We'll simulate bloodline inheritance, but players will have to undergo trials. Genetics. Storylines you can design. Think of it as a living narrative."
"Can they become Jinchūriki?"
"Only if you want that implemented," Ajax said, sipping his tea. "It would require deep lore mechanics, tailed beasts coded with unique AI, and an emotional arc. But if it fits your world — we'll make it happen."
Kishimoto leaned forward. "And clans?"
"Of course. Uchiha, Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi… We'll implement clan systems where players earn reputation, grow bonds, and access advanced techniques. And no one will just 'pick' Uchiha and start with Sharingan. They'll have to be born into it in the game. And even then, it will remain dormant until triggered."
The idea visibly impressed Kishimoto. He was no longer probing — he was dreaming.
"Chūnin Exams?" he asked next.
"Public events. Held quarterly in the VR world. Players form three-man cells, enter exams, and the final matches are broadcast within the digital world — with you as one of the virtual judges, if you want."
A smile crept onto Kishimoto's lips.
"I like that."
And so it began — the true heart of the discussion. Ajax and Kishimoto sat for hours, exchanging ideas, dissecting the intricacies of Naruto's world, and reimagining it for the immersive, expansive space Ajax had promised.
And this… was only the beginning.