As Nono had suspected, the following few levels weren't challenging; she could quickly clear them by following Little Hashirama's guidance and the hint boxes.
Moreover, with each level she cleared, she received a new card.
[Wood Release: Cherry Bomb Technique], [Wood Release: Nut Wall Technique], [Wood Release: Potato Mine Technique]...
A series of Wood Release ninjutsu that summon strange plants kept unlocking, opening Nono's eyes.
Even though these plants all looked adorable, their unique abilities closely matched the characteristics of their real-world counterparts, giving an oddly realistic feel.
Considering that the secret techniques of Wood Release had been lost since the death of the First Hokage, and apart from the famous Thousand-Handed Buddha, Nono didn't know what the actual techniques were like.
So when she saw these peculiar plants and remembered that Natsuhiko was the disciple of Lady Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, she couldn't help but form a bold idea.
Could it be that these plants weren't entirely fictional but instead were a version of natural plants described by Lady Mito and recreated in a cute style by Natsuhiko?
Was it possible that the First Hokage used these plants to bring peace to the turbulent times back then???
Although she could imagine that the accurate versions of these plants wouldn't be so cute, thinking of the First Hokage leading an army of Pea Shooters into battle against enemies gave Nono a strong sense of dissonance.
Who knew you were this kind of God of Shinobi?
But Nono didn't have time to dwell on the thought because as she progressed through the levels, new zombies with special abilities kept appearing, leaving her with no time to think.
For instance, there were zombie samurais in armour with high defence, cavalry zombies that could jump over the first plant quickly, and archer zombies that could launch long-range attacks.
There was even a zombie with a long, spiky hairstyle that could summon dancing zombies through its dance moves, like a dance king.
Because she was unfamiliar with their abilities, Nono found herself a bit flustered at first.
Fortunately, she soon realised that specific plants could counter each type of zombie, and by thinking a little, she could easily overcome them.
So, Nono continued to clear levels in quick succession, summarising numerous techniques along the way and becoming increasingly proficient.
She gradually discovered that this game actually tested the player's resource management skills.
As long as you stay patient in the early stages and plant a few fruit trees without letting the situation collapse, your resource advantage will snowball, becoming more accessible as you progress.
With this strategy in mind, Nono kept optimising her setup with the new plants she unlocked, continuing to make great strides in the game.
Clear a level, obtain a new plant, and use that plant to clear the next level.
This continuous cycle of "fighting and levelling up," with constant positive feedback, gave Nono, who grew up in an orphanage and was recruited for special training by the Root Division from a young age, an unprecedented sense of joy.
She soon became addicted, momentarily forgetting why she had come to this tavern in the first place...
After all, one of the main functions of games is to make people forget the unpleasantness of real life temporarily.
Unfortunately, Nono's happiness didn't last long.
Just as she cleared the first significant section, she suddenly noticed that the scene on the table had dimmed, becoming somewhat eerie and frightening.
A prompt box appeared out of nowhere, saying:
[Night Mode 2-1]
"It seems that the scene changes with each major section cleared. I didn't expect this game to be so intricate."
Nono mentally praised the game but didn't pay much attention to it.
After all, after going through the tutorial's first significant section, she felt that she had fully mastered the game mechanics.
She was confident that she could easily handle any new enemies that might appear.
With that thought in mind, Nono lightly tapped the "Start Game" option with her finger.
Moments later...
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
The sound of fingers tapping on the table continuously echoed.
The previously relaxed Nono, who had been playing with one hand, now seemed frantic. Her hands moved so fast they turned into afterimages as she frantically operated on the table.
Her previously proud formation on the board was now struggling to withstand the combined army of various zombies, starting to collapse gradually.
She barely managed to hold on, relying on her hand speed to replant plants and use Cherry Bombs, but it was a losing battle.
Soon, her chakra couldn't keep up with the consumption, and Nono couldn't reverse the disadvantage with her hand speed anymore. In the end, she saw the game over the screen for the first time.
A prompt box appeared in the void, saying:
[Victory and defeat are joint in warfare player. Please try again…]
"Ugh…"
Nono felt frustrated, thinking that this level was obviously poorly designed and had too much of a difficulty spike.
Not only did the fruit trees drop fruits less frequently, likely because it was night, but the number and strength of zombies had also increased significantly.
Most importantly, this level introduced a new type of zombie, a ninja zombie in armour and wearing a forehead protector.
Not only were they highly defensive, but they were also fast, with no apparent weaknesses!
Is this level really suitable for players who just finished the tutorial?
What happened to this being a casual game?
It's as ridiculous as teaching students how to add one plus one and then asking them to calculate the parabolic trajectory of a shuriken!
So Nono couldn't help but sneak a glance at Natsuhiko beside her, only to find that he was still smiling as if he didn't notice anything wrong.
Could it be that I'm playing it wrong?
I may have missed some strategy to clear the level.
Nono began to doubt herself, so she didn't raise any objections, choosing instead to reorganise the layout in her mind before starting again.
So after a while…
With a smack.
Nono leaned back in her chair, looking helpless, her hands drooping, as she watched the zombie army once again breach her defences, scaring Little Hashirama into running away.
[Victory and defeat are joint in warfare player. Please try again…]
The familiar prompt box appeared again, marking her fifth failed attempt.
She stole another glance at Natsuhiko, who was still smiling silently, and Nono began to question her abilities.
Is the game too hard, or am I just too dumb?
That's the question.
Just as Nono was debating whether to voice her concerns, the usual option to restart didn't pop up. Instead, a new prompt box appeared.
Are you tired of playing? How about visiting the shop to relax?]
Before she could react, the text disappeared, and a new interface she hadn't seen before popped up.
The top of the interface had two prominent characters:
[Shop]
Inside were all kinds of options: plant fragments, culture fluid, gift packs, lucky bags, keys, accessories, skins…
Nono was bewildered by the variety, realising for the first time that this game had so many features.
What caught her attention the most was a large image in the centre showing three plants she had never seen before.
Below it read:
[Special gifts for new players, surprises await with your first recharge of six ryō!]
[Get one three-star plant of your choice with your first recharge of six ryō!]
[Ice Shooter: Shoots peas with Ice Release effects that slow down zombies. Shop price: 588!!]
[Magnet Shroom: Uses Magnetic Release to strip zombies of their metal gear, reducing their defence. Shop price: 588!!]
[Torch Stump: Peas passing through the torch gain Fire Release effects, significantly increasing their power. Shop price: 588!!]
Nono, who had been focused on her layout strategy, quickly realised that both the slowing effect of Ice Release and the metal-stripping ability of Magnetic Release were perfect counters for those pesky ninja zombies.
And the Fire Release-enhancing Torch Stump would be ideal for someone like her who loves using Pea Shooters.
She was confident that with any one of these plants, she could beat that frustrating night level!
Plus, these plants, generally priced at 588 ryō, were now available for just six ryō, or 60 points. Nono felt like she'd be missing out on a massive bargain if she didn't buy them now.
So, as if bewitched, her slender fingers reached toward the recharge option...
But just as she was about to touch the recharge button, Natsuhiko gently stopped her hand.
"Sorry, Miss Nono, but this game is still in the testing phase, so the recharge function isn't available yet."
Natsuhiko explained while inwardly wiping away a bead of sweat.
Since the three kids developed the game, he didn't remember all the details and had forgotten entirely about the in-game shop.
Indeed, while the level design of his Wood Release vs Zombies was based on Plants vs. Zombies 1, its monetisation strategy was inspired by the notoriously greedy Plants vs. Zombies 2.
Natsuhiko had become quite adept at using these tactics of luring players in and then making it more difficult for them to spend money.
But right now, he didn't need Nono's money; he needed her chakra, imbued with the curse mark. So, there was no need to use these monetisation tactics on her, as they might make her lose interest in the game.
At this point, Nono snapped out of it, feeling a wave of fear wash over her.
Had she fallen under some kind of illusion?
Even though the orphanage was in such a dire financial state, she had almost spent money on a game!
While both were deep in thought, a female voice suddenly sounded from behind them.
"Natsuhiko, how long do you plan on holding her hand?"
Natsuhiko and Nono both jumped, snapping back to reality and quickly pulled their hands away.
When Natsuhiko turned around, he saw a wistful-looking Kushina and felt a bit embarrassed.
What was going on? Why did it feel like he'd been caught cheating?
Meanwhile, Nono blushed deeply, lowering her head without saying a word, making it hard to tell if she was acting or genuinely embarrassed.
Why are you blushing like a teapot?
Natsuhiko mentally grumbled and, to break the awkward atmosphere, he cleared his throat and asked Kushina:
"What brings you here again? Is something the matter?"
Kushina pointed at the gaming console in front of Nono and said,
"Natsuhiko, I want to play too. Can you get me one of these?"
She had been secretly observing the two of them for a while, and her interest in the game had grown significantly.
Unfortunately, Natsuhiko brushed her off, saying,
"This game is still only half-finished. I'll let you play once it's fully completed."
"Even if it's just a half-finished game, it looks enjoyable. Please, let me try it first, okay?"
Kushina pouted and hugged Natsuhiko's left hand to her chest, displaying an unusually bold and forward attitude.
Moreover, she smiled at Nono, who was secretly watching them, as if to flaunt her intimacy with Natsuhiko and assert her claim over him.
This move was a unique technique she learned from Tsunade, called "The Arm-Hugging Killer Move."
According to Tsunade, no man could resist the power of this move.
Kushina would usually never resort to such a shameful act, but Nono's presence made her feel threatened, forcing her to use this forbidden technique.
And it was working. Kushina could see that Natsuhiko's face was slightly red, and he looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"He's definitely embarrassed. It seems this move really works,"
Kushina thought to herself with delight. Then she heard Natsuhiko awkwardly say,
"Kushina, umm…"
"What?"
Kushina tightened her grip on Natsuhiko's hand and asked with a sweet, innocent expression.
"Your ribs are pressing into my hand, and it's starting to hurt. Could you loosen your grip a bit?"
Crack!
A painful, teeth-grinding sound could be heard.
"Ow, ow, ow! Kushina, are you trying to break my hand?!"
Amid Natsuhiko's cries of pain, Kushina, with a dark expression, snatched the card to unlock the game from him before storming off angrily.
After Kushina walked away, Nono cautiously asked Natsuhiko,
"Boss, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Kushina was just playing around."
"But… Boss, it looks like your hand might be dislocated…"
Late at night, Nono was walking back to the orphanage after finishing her shift at the Genin Tavern. There was still a hint of excitement on her face.
"Wood-Release vs. Zombies was so much fun,"
She thought to herself. Despite a few interruptions, she had played the game all night.
Later, Natsuhiko used his admin privileges to unlock most of the plants for her, allowing her to beat the night level and advance to the third stage.
She only reluctantly left the game when her shift ended, and she had to leave the tavern.
On her way back to the orphanage, Nono was still thinking about different strategies and planning to try them out during her next shift.
Wait, something seemed off.
The cold night wind cleared her mind, and she suddenly realised the oddness of the situation.
"Why did I spend the whole night playing games when I was supposed to be working as a waitress at the tavern?"
More importantly, it seemed like she hadn't done anything for her spy mission!
Nono shook her head in frustration, feeling more and more overwhelmed by the addictive nature of Wood-Release vs. Zombies.
She was beginning to understand why Danzo coveted Natsuhiko's technology so much.
Whether it was the Genin Cards or Wood-Release vs. Zombies, both were potential gold mines.
Danzo, who liked to control everything valuable, wouldn't miss out on this opportunity.
And as the saying goes, speak of the devil…
As Nono neared the orphanage, she noticed a middle-aged man dressed in black standing in the woods not far away, gazing at the silver moon above.
It was none other than Shimura Danzo.
Nono quickly walked over, hesitated for a moment, then knelt on one knee and respectfully said,
"Danzo… sama."
She then lowered her head, a bitter smile appearing on her face.
Despite using the aftermath of the White Fang incident to leave the Root official organisation, she was still unable to escape Danzo's shadow—neither in identity nor in spirit.
Suppressing her emotions, Nono spoke in a flat tone,
"Danzo-sama, I've successfully infiltrated the Genki-in Tavern and established contact with Natsuhiko Natsuhiko, as per your orders."
She then briefly reported her experiences that day to Danzo, including the embarrassing fact that she spent the night playing Wood Release vs. Zombies.
"Hmph, Wood-Release vs. Zombies, huh…"
After listening to her report, Danzo couldn't help but snort coldly.
"It seems Natsuhiko Natsuhiko is once again trying to use the First Hokage's Wood-Release to attract players. Does he always rely on this trick?"
"But it seems the trick is as effective as ever."
"Based on what you've told me, this game will likely be popular as well."
"First, the Genki-nin Cards, and now Wood-Release vs. Zombies… This Genki-nin gaming console should be under the control of the Root so that it can be used to protect Konoha more effectively!"
Danzo sighed deeply once more.
Hearing this, Nono silently cursed in her heart before cautiously asking,
"Danzo-sama, what should my next move be?"
"Should I find an opportunity to steal the Genin console's data?"
Danzo rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment, then shook his head and said,
"No, it's not time yet."
"I've realised that the real key isn't the gaming console itself, but Natsuhiko."
"Merely obtaining the console's technology wouldn't be of much use."
"Only by securing Natsuhiko himself can we continue to receive a steady stream of new inventions."
With that, Danzo cast a glance at Nono's beautiful face.
Based on your report, Natsuhiko Natsuhiko thinks quite highly of you.
"No matter how much of a genius he is, he's still only sixteen. He has no way of seeing through the disguise of a walking priestess."
"This works perfectly. For now, Nono, you don't need to do anything except focus on gaining his trust and assisting with his work as much as possible."
Danzo turned his gaze back to the silver moon in the sky and added meaningfully,
"When the time is right, I'll bring both his inventions and Natsuhiko himself into the Root. That's when you'll have a role to play…"
"I'm also curious to see what kind of expression Natsuhiko will have when he's betrayed by someone he trusts."
Nono shivered internally, suppressing her disgust for Danzo as she cautiously asked,
"But Danzo-sama, Natsuhiko is still Mito-sama's disciple…"
She hadn't even finished speaking when Danzo interrupted her with a cold laugh.
"You're right, which is why I said it's not time yet."
"Because soon enough, even being Mito's disciple won't be enough to protect him…"
(End of Chapter)