Chapter 90: Popularity
After the meal, the group still went to the commercial district of Konoha Village, which has fixed shops and mobile stalls. It might be the only street in Konoha where one can freely shop.
The shops here are basically divided among various Clans, while the mobile stalls are mostly reserved for nobles from the Land of Fire or other merchants familiar with Konoha.
Electronic products like computers were invented long ago, but they are rarely seen in Konoha.
Firstly, Konoha has not been established for long, and Ninja spend most of their time on missions, so their education level is insufficient, and they might not know how to use a computer even if they saw one. Secondly, computers in the Ninja World have very limited functionality, basically no operating system, and most functions need to be customized.
For example, the computers used in Konoha Hospital have no software functions other than medical monitoring.
The computers manufactured by Whirlpool Trading Company are not only good-looking, but 18 also installed an operating system on them. They have many commonly used software functions and are very easy to operate. Even a seven or eight-year-old child can easily get the hang of it after a few tries.
Hyuga Mirai and his group arrived at the stall rented by Whirlpool Trading Company. Many people had already gathered there, mostly children accompanied by adults. There were only three sales staff, but there were two televisions in front. One was playing a Ninja game, and the other was continuously showing Whirlpool Trading Company's computer operation guide video. It was simple and clear, basically understandable after watching it twice.
Many children, after watching the computer operation video, couldn't wait to go in and experience the Ninja game. Children living in Konoha yearn for the deeds of Ninja more than those in other places. Even if they can't be Ninja temporarily, experiencing it through a game is the best choice.
This is also why Ninja games are the most played games in Nin school.
Shiranui Genma and others, after watching the Ninja game footage on both televisions, couldn't wait to queue up to try it out.
Hyuga Kiyomi, seeing the popularity of the queue here, couldn't help but turn her head and ask Hyuga Mirai, "Aren't you going?"
"No, I'm not really into this, let's just queue together." Hyuga Mirai spoke halfway, then suddenly thought that instead of asking 18 later, he might as well go and see for himself first.
So Hyuga Mirai and a few others also went to queue up. Due to the large number of people, each person was only given five minutes of trial time.
However, Hyuga Mirai observed from behind that about 80% of the children, after playing, would immediately pester their accompanying parents, demanding that they buy them a computer.
The remaining 20% would immediately run home to find someone who could help them buy a computer and the Ninja game.
In short, among the youths who played the game, almost none could refuse such an interesting game; especially in the game's preview footage, there was even a scene of First Hokage using Wood Release to pacify the chaotic world.
Regarding this, Hyuga Mirai also considered whether it would cause Konoha to object, but he then thought that Whirlpool Trading Company was helping with free promotion, and there was no copyright law in the Ninja World, so Konoha should actually pay him.
If Konoha was not satisfied, he would just have 18 change it to a version where the Former First Tsuchikage swept across the Ninja World.
However, facts proved that Konoha didn't really care about First Hokage appearing in the game; otherwise, if Whirlpool Trading Company had been showing the game preview for so long, someone would have stopped them already.
After entering, Hyuga Mirai followed the others and tried it out. He had played on these computers countless times in his previous life, so he was very familiar with the operation.
Currently, Whirlpool Trading Company sells only two types of computers. One is cheap, priced at 35,000 ryo; this price is nothing for a Ninja. Even a Genin can afford it after completing a few missions.
There is also another type with better performance and appearance, priced at 85,000 ryo. However, Hyuga Mirai noticed that the performance only increased by 15%, but the price more than doubled.
'As expected of 18, whom I personally created, just like me!'
Hyuga Mirai tried out the game, and soon his time was up. He was then respectfully invited out by the people from Whirlpool Trading Company, making way for the next group of people waiting outside.
The timing was just right, allowing players to experience the early content of the game, with no extra trial time for later parts. If they wanted to continue playing, they would have to buy a computer and play at their leisure.
Subsequently, Hyuga Mirai quickly walked out, but many people, even after finishing the Ninja game, still found it hard to calm their excited feelings.
"So amazing! That game just now was so much fun! I created a character with my own name, and in a few minutes, I was almost graduating from Nin school!"
"Me too! By the way, what era did you choose?"
"Of course, the First Ninja World War! Maybe I can even meet Shodai(1st)-sama and then become the Second Hokage!"
"Idiot!"
"What, you bastard Kakashi! Anything is possible in the game!"
Obito immediately rolled up his sleeves and argued with Kakashi, but soon he and Shiranui Genma and others were enthusiastically discussing the game they had just played. Many people were tempted by this Ninja game.
"Mirai-kun, it seems you don't really like this game?"
Kurenai Yuhi suddenly came to Hyuga Mirai's side, hands behind her back, and asked with a smile.
Hyuga Mirai shook his head and said, "It's just that I don't have time to play games, and aren't we already in a real game?"
"You're right. Immersing oneself in a game to enjoy the pleasure of strength is ultimately false."
Hyuga Kiyomi's voice came from behind the two, and then she subtly inserted herself between Hyuga Mirai and Kurenai Yuhi. However, Hyuga Kiyomi's action made Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks puff out in annoyance for a brief moment, but her expression returned to normal almost instantly.
Hyuga Kiyomi continued, "Ninja, in the end, still depend on their own strength; otherwise, they won't survive on the battlefield."
Hyuga Kiyomi, one of the few people in the Hyuga Clan who believed solely in strength, used to constantly instill the importance of strength in Hyuga Mirai. If he hadn't shown astonishing talent in Medical Ninjutsu, he would have been constantly dragged to practice Gentle Fist.
"Kiyomi is right, I strongly agree with her on this point."
Hyuga Mirai nodded and said, but coming here, at least he knew about the booming sales of computers and Ninja games.
Moreover, the operating systems on the computers were all developed by 18. As long as they connect to the network, their information would be exposed to Whirlpool Trading Company's surveillance.
However, data from ordinary people is not very helpful to 18. Data from Ninja and Konoha High-Level Executives is of great benefit to her.
It's just that this matter needs to develop slowly. Just to get computers into Konoha, Whirlpool Trading Company had to ask a few nobles for help to succeed.
To make Konoha Ninja and High-Level Executives actively use computers, more conveniences of computers need to be demonstrated.
"Let's go back. There shouldn't be anything else after this."
Hyuga Mirai said. He now wanted to go back and talk to 18 to understand Whirlpool Trading Company's recent movements.
Kurenai Yuhi and Hyuga Kiyomi also nodded. They were not very interested in computers and Ninja games, and after seeing them, they could say goodbye to the others.