As he was thinking, the road ahead suddenly filled with people. They gathered together in a dense crowd.
Many wore looks of anticipation and excitement, as if they were waiting for something.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention was drawn over as well.
"My lord..."
"The Spring Pavilion is holding its monthly oiran parade."
Masahiro moved closer to Sarutobi Hiruzen and explained,
"At the beginning of every month, the Spring Pavilion organizes its oiran..."
"They parade through the streets..."
"I heard that if you're lucky enough to catch an oiran's eye and get her token..."
"You can meet her for free!"
As he spoke, Masahiro's expression took on a hint of longing and suggestiveness.
Clearly, every man in Kyoto dreamed of getting a free audience with an oiran.
An audience with an oiran cost a fortune, and all you got was a chance to see her—you could look, but not touch.
If you wanted to get intimate with an oiran, you not only had to pay, but usually needed an impressive status and her consent as well.
Of course, someone like Masahiro wouldn't discuss poetry, music, or painting if he met an oiran. At most, he'd discuss his flute skills.
"Let's go..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen insisted he wasn't going to see an oiran for free. He just wanted to join the crowd.
"Let's take a look at this so-called parade."
With Sarutobi Hiruzen's formidable physique, it was easy for him to push his way to the front.
There, he saw the oiran parade.
A group of strongmen carried palanquins, with the oiran seated atop them in dazzling finery, there for everyone to admire.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression changed at the sight.
"Well, would you look at that."
"The owner of the Spring Pavilion knows what he's doing..."
The oiran in the parade wore brilliant, colorful outfits, but their faces were partly concealed, some showing only their lips, others only their eyes.
Their masks were made from exquisite materials, giving them a hazy beauty, like a lute player hiding half her face behind her instrument.
"If only I'd thought to borrow a pair of Byakugan from that kid, Hyuga Hiashi."
Sarutobi Hiruzen regretted not getting a proper look at the oiran's faces.
But from what he could see, their skin was fair and their features exquisite. Every oiran was clearly a beauty chosen from a thousand—or even ten thousand.
Although nobody could see their faces clearly, the men around them still crowded close, their eyes practically gleaming like wolves'.
Clearly, being unable to see their faces made them even more alluring. Men were just like that.
If the strongmen weren't there to keep order, it wouldn't have been surprising if the men with their eyes glowing green had rushed the palanquins.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was admiring the parade with a horse on his face but none in his heart,
"Ding!"
The system's alert suddenly sounded.
"Warning: a Space-Time Node has appeared nearby..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned serious. A Space-Time Node was someone in this world who carried concentrated destiny and talent.
The last time the system had given him this warning was when he met Tsugikuni Yoriichi.
But Tsugikuni Yoriichi was still with the Demon Slayer Corps.
Which meant...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze shifted, instantly locking onto a figure in the crowd.
About a hundred meters away, a striking man stood out.
He wore a loose white kimono. His face was pale, his curly hair fell to his shoulders, and his features were deep and handsome. He looked relaxed and carefree, like a wealthy young man out for a stroll.
But unlike ordinary people, this man had a chilling air about him, as though he had no warmth. Those nearby unconsciously kept their distance, leaving an empty space around him.
A dangerous glint flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. He knew exactly who the man was.
"Kibutsuji Muzan."
"The source of all demons..."
"The legendary Scum Boss."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but tease him in his mind.
"Not sure if this is good luck or bad luck."
"It seems I keep running into all the major Space-Time Nodes—or key figures—in this world."
"Though I suppose it isn't surprising..."
The last time he'd just arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps, he'd met Tsugikuni Yoriichi. Now, as soon as he came to Kyoto, he'd run into Muzan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen could guess why Kibutsuji Muzan had appeared here.
Kyoto was, after all, the heart of the Land of Days. It had no shortage of powerful nobles or armed forces, and being here made it convenient for Kibutsuji Muzan to direct his demon and human forces.
He could use them to search for the Blue Spider Lily.
The doctor who had treated Muzan had also been from Kyoto, so it was only natural that he'd assumed the Blue Spider Lily grew nearby.
In fact, Muzan had never left the Kyoto area for a thousand years afterward, searching for traces of the Blue Spider Lily in the surrounding region.
But the Blue Spider Lily didn't bloom at night, leaving the demons, who could only come out after dark, powerless.
"He looks so carefree."
"Clearly, the Scum Boss hasn't had a taste of real pain yet..."
"He thinks he's a Perfect Being."
Watching Kibutsuji Muzan's smile, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but tease him in his thoughts.
Unfortunately, that carefree smile wouldn't last much longer.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen watched Kibutsuji Muzan from afar, Muzan seemed to sense something and looked in his direction.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen had already anticipated this. He promptly led Masahiro away, out of Muzan's sight.
Muzan frowned slightly but paid it no mind. He assumed it was just a woman's gaze; after all, women found his appearance quite appealing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't avoiding a face-to-face encounter with Muzan because he couldn't beat him. It simply wasn't time yet.
No matter how extraordinary a Two-Star World was, it was still only a Two-Star World.
Kibutsuji Muzan might have been powerful, but compared with a Jonin from the Naruto world, he was only somewhat stronger.
Against a Chakra system capable of reshaping the terrain on a massive scale, he was nothing special.
Not every Two-Star World could produce a freak like Tsugikuni Yoriichi, someone who could make Sarutobi Hiruzen feel pressured.
The only thing demons had going for them was their astonishing vitality.
Without preparation, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't be sure he could kill Kibutsuji Muzan completely in a chance encounter.
If he spooked the Scum Boss and sent him into hiding for hundreds of years, Sarutobi Hiruzen would be left pulling his hair out.
"So, I should just let fate take its course for now..."
"Let the Scum Boss meet Tsugikuni Yoriichi as usual and learn how to be a demon under the Bright Red Nichirin Sword."
When the oiran parade ended, Masahiro seemed reluctant to leave.
"Those oiran are so beautiful."
"And their figures are amazing, too..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.
"Then take me there..."
Masahiro still hadn't quite caught on.
"Where to, my lord?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen headed straight out of the crowd.
"The Spring Pavilion."
A short while later,
With Masahiro looking thrilled, they arrived at what was said to be the best club in Kyoto.
It was considered the best not only for its service and quality...
But also for its exorbitant prices.
As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, Masahiro got room and board, along with a monthly allowance from the Ubuyashiki Clan Head.
His income was higher than that of an ordinary commoner, but nowhere near enough to afford a place like this.
Before you continue