"This idea is absolutely brilliant!" Kōzaburō Hirai slammed his fist on the table, his face beaming with excitement.
"Just think about it - we could make a fortune from ticket sales alone. And if we set up proper betting pools with controlled odds, we'll make even more!"
"As expected of an old sparrow from the Land of Wind, you got it right away, brother! That's exactly what I mean. The key to competitive gambling is setting the right odds beforehand. This could be huge business.
We're using territorial disputes as a pretext this time, but if it goes well, we could make it a regular event.
I can suggest to the Five Great Shinobi Villages that we hold these ninja skill exchange competitions periodically in different countries. We'll call it - the World's First Shinobi Tournament. We'll have trophies, medals, and share some profits with the villages. It's bound to succeed.
As long as we control the betting pools properly, it'll be an excellent business venture. If managed well, the profits could rival those of the Crystal Palace."
Jinghang said with a smile.
Originally, the idea of settling territorial disputes through combat was just Jinghang's sudden inspiration. But after careful consideration, he realized this could really work. He quickly sought out Kōzaburō Hirai for discussion, and to his delight, they immediately found themselves on the same page.
"What's the biggest gambling event on Earth in terms of money wagered?" he asked.
"Heh, don't be shocked, but according to incomplete statistics, the global football gambling industry amounts to a staggering 440 billion dollars! That's more than half of America's annual military budget!"
Before coming to the ninja world, Jinghang's former workplace's deputy director was a semi-professional gambler who loved betting on football. He would sit in front of his computer all day, studying odds and placing online bets. From the World Cup to the five major leagues, and even the Chinese Super League, Japanese J-League, Korean K-League, and Vietnamese Football League - he bet on them all. He knew everything about football betting, though most of his salary went into it.
Just before Jinghang's transmigration, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, as a devoted Messi fan, he had asked his boss to help him place 200 yuan on Argentina to win. He never knew the outcome or if he could have claimed his winnings.
The ninja world didn't have football, so why not create something new - "The World's First Shinobi Tournament"? As the saying goes, there's no absolute first in literature, but in martial arts, no one wants to be second. People care about face, and they naturally have competitive spirits. Surely the Kages of the Five Villages wouldn't refuse.
It was easy to justify too - ninjas could exchange techniques in the arena, learn from each other, compete, and improve together. Certainly better than killing each other on the battlefield.
Plus, the visual effects would be spectacular. Just look at ninja battles - with raging fires, flashing lightning, earth-shaking techniques, and flooding waters. How impressive! Much more thrilling than cage fighting. Think about it - even a mere Chunin Exam in the early days drew huge crowds in Konoha. Now, with the Yuehe Peninsula housing a million people, a "World's First Shinobi Tournament" would be absolutely packed.
"You've got three days to prepare the venue. I've already assigned the Snow clan ninjas to help. We need to create a large screen above the arena so all spectators can see the details," Jinghang instructed.
"Right! And we need to install chakra-powered sound equipment overnight. The combination of sound and visuals - it's going to be explosive!" Kōzaburō Hirai exclaimed excitedly.
Not bad, old man. Quick on the uptake - no wonder you're a tycoon, Jinghang thought to himself.
"Also, we need to reinforce the protective walls between the spectator seats and the arena. These Jonin-level fights can get pretty intense - we can't risk any audience injuries.
And install some soundproofing equipment. We should prevent the crowd's cheering from reaching the arena, so it doesn't affect the ninjas' performance and judgment."
"No problem! I'll get the construction team on it right away. We'll definitely complete everything within three days," Kōzaburō Hirai replied confidently after brief consideration.
"One more thing - when installing the sound system, put some microphones in the VIP box."
"Commentary, of course! Regular civilians might not understand these ninja battles. We need someone to break it down for them."
"Brilliant! But... won't that cause problems? Some of these techniques are clan secrets. Won't they be upset if we reveal their methods?"
"I'm impressed you know so much about this," Jinghang teased.
Kōzaburō Hirai scratched the back of his head. "Well, who didn't dream of becoming a ninja when they were young? I was too poor and didn't have the talent. Otherwise, I might have been out there throwing kunai on missions myself."
"Hahaha!" Jinghang laughed at Kōzaburō's comment.
"Don't worry about it. As they say, professionals focus on technique while amateurs watch for entertainment. Regular folks just want to see the spectacle. We'll keep the commentary focused on the excitement rather than the technical details. I'll do the first commentary myself," he chuckled.
Jinghang couldn't help but smile as he imagined a comical scene:
Ladies and gentlemen! Now we have the match between Konoha and Kumogakure. Both contestants are entering the arena.
The Konoha ninja suddenly moves forward - looks like he's testing the waters.
He's pulled out a kunai, he's throwing it, he's throwing it... oh, he missed...
The Kumo ninja is using Lightning Release - wow, those lightning flashes are quite spectacular!
Oh, the Konoha ninja's been hit!
Wait, hold on - everyone look, there's white smoke.
It was a Shadow Clone!
Such experienced tactics...
"One more thing - you should arrange for vendors to sell drinks and snacks in the arena. These battles can last a while, and spectators will get thirsty and hungry. Every little bit helps."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! You think of everything..."
"Just don't make the prices too high. A markup is fine, but nothing outrageous, or people will complain..."
"Makes sense. Jinghang, you're really sharp to think of even this kind of business."
"Hey, it's nothing special. Don't you have betting on insects, cockfighting, and dog fights in your casino in Dragonfly City? It's the same principle - just that ninja battles are more exciting."
"Brother, this is our first World Shinobi Tournament - it's historically significant. Once we make this first one successful, trust me, the Daimyos and Kages of every nation will be begging to host it," Jinghang said confidently.
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