A Meeting Between Undercover Agents

Hikawa ran against the wind through the streets of Konoha.

As an undercover agent, the most important quality was caution.

His plan was to run first, then when he reached the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore, pretend he was exhausted and go inside to rest.

Even if someone noticed something was wrong, he could say he was just a passing Kamen Rider... no, an elementary school student.

"Hikawa!"

A familiar voice drew nearer.

Hikawa turned his head and saw a figure so green it was almost alarming.

Might Guy, running while upside down.

"Good morning."

Hikawa smiled and nodded.

After a week of training, they had become fairly familiar with each other.

"You don't need to mind me."

There was still a huge gap between Hikawa and him. He simply could not keep up with his training.

"Then all right, I'm speeding up!"

Might Guy rounded the drainage ditch and quickly vanished from sight.

"..."

Hikawa ran in silence.

An hour later, he stopped in front of the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore.

He was nearly at his limit, as though his body had been completely hollowed out.

"Hikawa!"

Just then, Might Guy's voice rang out from nearby.

Is it coming?

A helpless expression appeared on Hikawa's face.

"Has your reserve energy activated?"

Might Guy clenched both fists, his entire body trembling as he said, "You must give it your all and fight to the very end to live up to your youth!"

The nearby pedestrians instinctively took half a step back.

Such a small movement, yet so much damage.

Hikawa stood there expressionlessly.

At that moment, he felt as though he had returned to the days before the college entrance exam, shouting slogans.

The downside of becoming familiar with Might Guy had shown itself. He often made Hikawa recall the youth that had faded beneath the setting sun.

But today was absolutely not going to work, and he still had to meet with a Kumogakure ninja.

Hikawa slowly walked into the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore.

Might Guy was not angry.

It was already rare enough that Hikawa had never shown any strange expression in response to his various behaviors.

Before Hikawa, only Hatake Kakashi and a handful of others had been able to treat him normally.

He turned around and continued his journey of youth.

Hikawa looked around.

Because he had arrived early, there was no one else in the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore.

"Little friend, what book would you like to buy?"

A young woman walked over and asked with a smile.

"Do you have Make-Out Paradise?"

After thinking briefly, Hikawa asked.

In his previous life, he had been very curious about Jiraiya's masterpiece, Make-Out Paradise.

Now that he had the chance, he naturally could not miss it.

"No."

The young woman shook her head.

They did not even have the masterpiece of Jiraiya, one of the Konoha Three Ninjas?

No book, no store!

Hikawa suddenly remembered that Make-Out Paradise had been published when Jiraiya was forty-two. Of course it did not exist yet.

"I want to buy a book called Time of Thunder."

Having lost interest, Hikawa got straight to the point.

Time of Thunder was Kumogakure's code phrase.

"That book is part of the owner's private collection. I'll take you to see him."

The young woman's gaze sharpened.

Led by her, Hikawa arrived on the second floor of the bookstore.

"Number 9527, I'm glad you're still alive."

After the young woman left, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man appeared before Hikawa.

What did he mean, glad I was still alive?

Hikawa studied him, but he had no memory of this man.

"I'm your contact. Just call me Tsuchihashi."

Tsuchihashi noticed his expression and introduced himself, also explaining why he had greeted him that way.

Not long ago, Kumogakure had planned an operation to kidnap Kushina Uzumaki.

Although the operation had failed, it had enraged Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Konoha immediately conducted a thorough investigation, including the orphans in the orphanage.

Hikawa was the last survivor of their batch.

"..."

Hikawa felt a wave of lingering fear upon hearing that.

If not for the system that had suddenly descended upon him, he would already be a corpse.

He had truly experienced the hardships of being an undercover agent.

"How are things with you at the moment?"

Tsuchihashi poured him a glass of water and asked.

Hikawa took two sips and told him roughly what had happened, leaving out the system.

"You actually have such talent?"

Surprise appeared on Tsuchihashi's face, followed by regret. "If I'd known, I never should have sent you here."

Sending a genius to serve as an undercover agent was clearly a waste. He could have been more useful in Kumogakure.

But it would be difficult for Hikawa to leave now, because Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō had already set their eyes on him.

"I'm willing to stay in Konoha!"

Hikawa said with a resolute expression, "Everything is for Kumogakure!"

He had not had a choice before, but now he only wanted to become a good ninja.

The light of righteousness shone upon Tsuchihashi's face.

He said with considerable emotion, "With people like you, why should Kumogakure fear that it will not prosper?"

You're really deep into the act.

But on second thought, Kumogakure's atmosphere was indeed quite good. There was not much scheming, and strength was respected above all else.

Hikawa went along with it and said, "It's what I should do."

Tsuchihashi took a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.

Looking at Hikawa, he said, "Your situation is vastly different from what I expected, so the original mission is no longer suitable."

Kumogakure's previous arrangement had been for Hikawa to infiltrate the orphanage and gather intelligence when the opportunity arose.

But now that he had joined the Ninja Academy and gained the attention of Konoha High-Ranking, the plan naturally had to change.

Tsuchihashi fell into thought.

To be honest, Hikawa was now even more beneficial to Kumogakure.

Because he had gained the qualifications to climb upward.

The reason Kumogakure had succeeded in kidnapping Kushina Uzumaki was because they had used an undercover agent in the Anbu.

But once that agent had been used, he was gone. They were desperately short of undercover agents in the middle and upper ranks.

"Hikawa, from now on, your mission is to become a true genius."

Tsuchihashi spoke after some thought.

Hikawa understood his idea as soon as he heard it.

This really was the most suitable mission for him.

He had already passed Sarutobi Hiruzen's inspection. As long as he did not expose himself, he would be a genuine Konoha ninja.

Step by step, he could climb to the very top.

"If anything urgent happens in the future, come to the Konoha Bookstore and find me."

Tsuchihashi patted his shoulder and instructed, "Be careful. The hopes of the entire village now rest on you."

"I understand."

Hikawa replied in a solemn tone.

"Work hard."

Tsuchihashi smiled. "There will definitely be corresponding rewards in the future. You might even earn the Raikage's favor and receive Nintaijutsu."

"Thank you, Uncle Tsuchihashi."

Hikawa's eyes lit up slightly, and he smiled as well.

He had been quite eager for Kumogakure's Nintaijutsu.

There was no need to say much about the Fourth Raikage's Nintaijutsu. In the original work, its accomplishments in battle had been outstanding.

"When you leave, take two books with you so no one gets suspicious."

Tsuchihashi reminded him.

"Can I take a few more?"

Hikawa thought of his purpose for today: the orphanage.

Books would make good gifts, and they would also help cover up the lie he had told Yuhi Shinko.

"You can."

Tsuchihashi paused, then said, "But don't take too many. At your age, you couldn't afford that much."

As expected of an old undercover agent. He had everything thought through.

So thorough! My uncle!

Hikawa went downstairs, picked out seven picture books that children would enjoy, and left the Konoha Bookstore.

The moment he stepped outside, he stopped.

A familiar figure had appeared not far away: Obito Uchiha.

He was helping a white-haired old granny cross the street.

After thinking it over, Hikawa did not go over to greet him. He turned and headed toward the orphanage.

"You've troubled yourself again today, Obito."

The old granny glanced at Hikawa. A sharp glint flashed through her eyes before she immediately returned to her kindly appearance.