Resolving the Matter

After discovering this scene, Xing Ran's lips curved into an unreadable smile. All that was left was to contact Nonō, and the tragedy could be completely averted.

Xing Ran and the other two had to return to hand in their mission and await a reply from the Third Tsuchikage.

The Third Tsuchikage's reply would require discussion among the higher-ups of Iwagakure. In reality, most people had already been persuaded, but every village had one or two radicals who wanted to instigate war. Gaining more than just enemies, internal contradictions were also one of the causes that could lead to war.

The Konoha delegation of three thus entered "tourist mode." The mission was completed in stages; now, they just had to wait. During this uncertain period, Xing Ran and the other two could make their own arrangements.

Yamaki Atsushi and Junpei had clearly visited Iwagakure before. They suggested taking Xing Ran around the village to sample some local delicacies and buy souvenirs.

Don't be surprised that in this chaotic ninja world, people still have the leisure for such things. This world was already bad enough; without some form of entertainment and culture, people would have no motivation to live.

Xing Ran had no objections. It was perfect for someone to take the initiative to be a guide.

Right now, besides wanting to deliver the prepared paper ball to Yakushi Nonō, he had nothing else to do. He couldn't train here, so he was happy to explore Iwagakure.

The bustling streets, the distinctive earthen houses. The Iwagakure of this era was very different from the Iwagakure in the Boruto story. Technology had been corrected somewhat back then, making the current village more locally characteristic and prosperous.

Xing Ran followed Yamaki Atsushi and Junpei, walking and playing along the way. He also tried some local snacks, but as a former member of a "gourmet nation," the food here could only be considered passable. The only selling point was the difference in ingredients.

Xing Ran also viewed some of Iwagakure's unique architecture, which were similar to tourist attractions. As the person in charge of receiving the Konoha delegation, Ryuzan accompanied them the entire time. They were not allowed into any confidential areas.

"Xing Ran-kun, don't show interest in places that are guarded," Yamaki Atsushi suddenly whispered in Xing Ran's ear as they walked past the entrance of a building whose purpose was unknown.

Yamaki Atsushi worried that his younger brother, who had no experience on overseas assignments, might accidentally cause trouble. Becoming interested in another country's secret agencies was not a good sign. Just as Xing Ran was about to express his understanding, Yamaki Atsushi spoke again, "Don't think we're playing around so freely. Ryuzan can't monitor all of us alone, but there are probably countless others watching us from the shadows. Be sharp."

Xing Ran's lips twitched. His designation was Sensor Ninja, for goodness sake. Did they need to remind him that they were being watched?

"Don't worry, I know," Xing Ran replied with a wry smile, trying to brush it off. The reason he was glancing around wasn't out of genuine curiosity; he was looking for someone.

After strolling for half the day, Xing Ran's lips suddenly curved slightly, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes. Among the four or five hidden watchers, Yakushi Nonō was indeed present. Finally, I found you. This saves me a lot of trouble.

The Konoha trio knew from the beginning that they would definitely be monitored while sightseeing in Iwagakure. Ryuzan was just the welcoming official on the surface; although he had monitoring duties, the Anbu were always the ones truly responsible for this aspect.

Don't ask how they knew so much. Konoha did the same thing. To be precise, the entire ninja world did.

Xing Ran had been using his Super Hearing and Vision ability to search for hidden watchers from the start. It wasn't that he was certain Yakushi Nonō would be among them, but he operated on a "better safe than sorry" principle. Often, a squad of Anbu rarely handed over their duties midway. For example, after Xing Ran and the others received the Tsuchikage's reply and left, the Anbu who "escorted" them would usually be the same group who arrived.

So, Xing Ran decided to try his luck and see if he could find Nonō and deliver the paper ball.

In the bustling environment with people coming and going, it took Xing Ran quite a bit of effort with his current calculation and auditory-visual abilities. These Anbu didn't communicate verbally, forcing Xing Ran to rely on X-ray vision, which rendered much of his effort useless. However, using X-ray vision on a crowded street really tested his self-control; seeing all those bare bodies was truly exhausting when searching for someone.

At this moment, Yakushi Nonō was behind a wall about 50 meters ahead and to the side. The next step was to figure out how to approach the target. Rushing over to strike up a conversation would definitely not work; such behavior would seem too strange. He needed to find a confined space where they could both be present, making a conversation seem less odd.

Xing Ran scanned the current environment. The Konoha trio was walking down a busy street lined with shops, most of which did not offer places for customers to rest.

Suddenly, Xing Ran's eyes lit up. About a hundred meters ahead was a suitable place. There were no other Anbu hidden nearby. If he went inside, Nonō would likely follow.

It was a gambling hall, of decent size, but only one story. Xing Ran wanted to avoid everyone, so he didn't give any prior notice. Seizing the moment when his companions weren't paying attention, he slipped inside.

There weren't too many people inside the gambling hall, but there were quite a few. There was an interesting study from his past life: when humans fall into hardship or difficult living conditions, the number of people participating in gambling actually increases. The study found that the more difficult people's lives became, the more they craved overnight riches, and gambling was the simplest and most direct means accessible to them.

The Land of Earth had just ended a war in defeat. Even if the people weren't living in dire straits, they wouldn't be doing too well. A gambling hall of this size, with this many customers even during the day, was considered prosperous business.

Swish--

Less than two breaths after Xing Ran slipped into the gambling hall, Yakushi Nonō indeed followed.

The difference between real surveillance and surveillance in anime was significant. At least in the original story, Konoha's Anbu, when monitoring someone, usually didn't even bother to change their equipment. Perhaps the great Kishimoto wanted to more simply and directly show people that they were Anbu, but in reality, Anbu disguised themselves when monitoring someone.

Yakushi Nonō, who followed him in, was not dressed as an Anbu today. She wore a very ordinary long robe, applied some makeup, and disguised her beautiful face to look somewhat androgynous. Without being familiar with her, no one would recognize her.

The moment Nonō entered the gambling hall, a figure appeared from the shadows behind the door. Nonō's true strength was only at the Chunin level, and she wasn't purely a combat type; medical ninjutsu was her forte. As someone suddenly got close to her, her hair stood on end, but she didn't have time to react further before the person had already bumped her arm and quickly left.

To be continued