Chapter 313: Who Should Konoha Resurrect?
"A game invitation?"
Shinobu murmured in surprise.
So far, including the Master himself, the number of Demon Slayer Corps members who had received a game invitation could be counted on one hand.
This Reincarnation Game, which granted players the ability to hunt monsters and fulfill any wish, seemed to have specific conditions when issuing invitations.
Judging from the common traits among Demon Slayer players,
it most likely had something to do with willpower.
Only those with a powerful and pure conviction seemed to be chosen by the game.
"Is my resolve to kill demons not strong enough?"
Shinobu wondered inwardly.
She had always believed her determination to eradicate demons was equal to that of any Demon Slayer player—
yet she had never received an invitation.
"Shinobu-nee-san?"
Gunilla looked nervously at the dazed Shinobu, filled with tension and confusion.
The appearance of the game invitation was far too strange.
The Claymore Island was different from the Demon Slayer world.
There were no supernatural Blood Demon Arts. Whether Claymore or Yoma, their powers stemmed from flesh and blood mutations.
They had never seen something this bizarre.
"You're very lucky, Gunilla."
Shinobu said with a touch of envy, "This is a chance to change your fate. Any wish can be fulfilled."
She then explained everything about the Reincarnation Game to Gunilla.
"Even resurrection is possible?"
At first, Gunilla thought Shinobu was joking.
But when she saw Shinobu's sincere expression—and knowing she wasn't the type to joke—
a flicker of hope stirred in her heart.
"That's right. Gunilla, you must have someone you'd wish to bring back too, right?"
Shinobu gently rubbed her head, still standing on tiptoe.
She could feel the sadness beneath Gunilla's cold exterior—
so much like her own grief after losing her sister, Kanae.
Both the Demon Slayer and Claymore worlds were cursed.
Demons and Yoma were like tumors, endlessly spawning unspeakable tragedy.
Those whose lives hadn't been torn apart by these monsters would never become Demon Slayers or Claymores.
"Teresa."
Gunilla's face turned pale, lips trembling. "If possible, I want to bring Teresa back!"
Years ago, Teresa had been killed by an awakened Yoma while protecting her.
Gunilla should have died too.
Her entire reason for surviving had been to carry the grief and guilt,
the unrelenting wish for vengeance.
That had been the only future she dared to imagine.
She never thought Teresa could still be brought back.
"Then work hard, Gunilla!"
Shinobu firmly grasped her trembling hands.
"According to the Master's intel, resurrection requires a special item called a Resurrection Coin."
"Only monsters considered 'lord-tier' by the game drop it."
Even in the Grand Forest,
bosses like [Flame Tyrant Pinosh] and [Corpse Thief Bone Prison Breath]—despite being Tier-1—could summon fire meteors that destroyed forests and release deathly chill capable of freezing the land.
Only by defeating powerful enemies could you obtain a Resurrection Coin.
Gunilla's eyes burned with resolve. "No matter how hard it is, I won't give up."
She turned and looked at Shinobu—gentle as water, smiling faintly.
"And you, Shinobu-nee-san—your wish, I'll help make it come true too!"
The connection between souls had never been a one-sided sensation.
Gunilla could sense Shinobu's sadness as well.
She didn't know why,
but the always-calm and gentle Shinobu suddenly burst into tears.
…
Elsewhere—
In the Land of Hot Springs, now fully occupied by the Hidden Leaf.
With the power of the Reincarnation Game,
Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally led the Nara, Akimichi, and Shimura clans to eliminate all resistance.
Konoha's player base had grown to over 5,000.
Most were from the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Nara clans.
The traditional Hokage faction had risen from the ashes,
its influence shining brighter than ever—built atop the corpses of Hot Spring ninja and civilians.
Inside the Hokage Tower's conference room,
Hiruzen wore his Hokage robe and hat, face serene like a spring breeze.
But the scars on his face remained.
The Reincarnation Game had countless ways to erase scars,
but Hiruzen chose not to.
These wounds—inflicted while imprisoned and tortured by Orochimaru's false accusations—
he deliberately kept as a reminder.
A reminder that leniency only invites betrayal. That sometimes, one must act with overwhelming force.
Thinking of the moment he personally snapped Danzo's neck
still made his heart ache.
He used to be the perfect, righteous figure of Konoha—because Danzo, as the village's shadow, handled all the filth.
They were light and shadow—both essential.
After Danzo died,
Hiruzen absorbed the Shimura clan into the Sarutobi family. They became one.
And he no longer hesitated.
Anyone who stood in Konoha's way—no matter how close—would be cut down without mercy.
"Hokage-sama."
Akimichi Torifu took a deep breath and reported,
"According to in-game intel, the Konoha forces have slain the Grand Forest's lord [Minotaur King Sauta], and obtained two Resurrection Coins."
After Akimichi Choza's death,
Torifu had taken over the clan—personally appointed as [Minister of Intelligence] by the Hokage.
He was responsible for all intel inside and outside the game.
The moment the minotaur fell, he had received the report.
At his words,
the clan leaders and elite ninja in the room all began to breathe heavily.
Resurrection Coins.
They restored the dead perfectly—no side effects.
They were a rare strategic resource in any faction.
In a war-torn ninja world, who hadn't lost someone they loved?
The market price for one was already up to 200,000 Reward Points.
And still, no one was willing to sell.
"Two Resurrection Coins…"
Hiruzen's eyes flashed.
After a moment's thought, he smiled kindly and said,
"I may be Hokage, but defeating the Minotaur King wasn't just my doing—it was thanks to everyone's hard-fought battle. What do you all think?"
His voice was warm, open, and diplomatic—
just like before Konoha's collapse.
But no matter how hard he tried to maintain that image,
the others still felt something was off.
Chakra, at its core,
was born from the Sage of Six Paths' desire to connect human hearts.
Even now, while its purpose had been lost,
it retained the faint ability to project emotion.
Which was why ninja—users of chakra—
so often fell into extremes of love and hatred. Why the cycle of war never ceased.
Right now—
The unease everyone felt came from Hiruzen's chakra.
Beyond his old passion for Konoha,
they could now detect a colder edge—something like the hawkish cruelty of Danzo.
Most of them didn't have the Uzumaki bloodline or Tailed Beasts' keen sense for chakra.
They only felt, vaguely,
that the Hokage no longer gave off that same warmth and approachability.
But those subtle gut feelings were usually ignored.
They simply assumed—
after the trauma of Konoha's fall, their Hokage had changed.
Become more like Danzo.
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