This is a secret, okay~

Konoha, commercial district.

At this moment, Tokiju was strolling through the streets with Uchiha Hikari, taking the opportunity to purchase various ingredients needed for the evening.

Although today was New Year's Eve, there were still quite a few vendors out on the commercial street.

Or rather, it was precisely because it was New Year's Eve that there were even more vendors; after all, one could earn more money today.

Walking along the street, Uchiha Hikari would occasionally look around subconsciously.

Then, she naturally took Tokiju's hand and whispered a complaint to him: "Those gloomy fellows following us every day are truly annoying."

Upon hearing this, Tokiju did not speak, but instead squeezed Uchiha Hikari's hand in return, pulling her along as they walked quietly.

Tokiju's current height was actually a head shorter than Uchiha Hikari's.

Therefore, as the two walked down the street, it gave the impression of a younger brother being led by his older sister, with the sister looking at him with doting eyes.

However, the two were completely indifferent to this and continued their stroll as if no one else were around.

After arriving in front of a rather luxurious shop, Tokiju immediately pulled Uchiha Hikari inside.

This was considered the largest shop in Konoha, gathering all sorts of goods transported from other countries.

Once inside the shop, Tokiju spoke casually to Uchiha Hikari: "A while ago, didn't I ask you to mark those few people with Yachihoko? How is that coming along?"

Uchiha Hikari sighed and spread her hands helplessly: "It's difficult. They usually move in groups of three. Even if my genjutsu is strong, it's hard to place the mark on them without alerting anyone."

Tokiju frowned upon hearing this, then suggested: "Since you can't mark multiple people at once, we'll take them one by one."

"There is currently one Anbu and three Root members following us, and because my surveillance priority is higher than yours..."

"So, after we finish buying our things, you take the goods and head straight home. By then, only one Root member will definitely be following you."

"When that Root member is isolated, you make your move. That's simple enough, right?"

Uchiha Hikari let out a cold snort: "Hmph! As for those gloomy fellows, if it weren't for you saying we shouldn't alert others, it wouldn't be this much trouble!"

In truth, they could have just picked a fight to beat them up and placed the marks on them in the process.

But doing so wasn't cost-effective. After several months of living a quiet life, the Hokage faction's trust in them had increased significantly.

At least in the eyes of the Fourth Hokage, this was the case; the original surveillance of four Anbu had now been reduced to two, which was the most powerful evidence of this.

As for the Root side, the six-man surveillance team remained as immovable as ever.

After all, that Shimura Danzō was an old schemer who trusted no one, and Tokiju had never intended to earn his trust anyway.

After all, Tokiju was already figuring out how to set a death trap for Shimura Danzō.

Seeing Uchiha Hikari looking dissatisfied, Tokiju quickly comforted her: "Alright, alright, there will be opportunities for you to take out all those gloomy fellows later, so please be patient for now."

"Hmph!" Uchiha Hikari snorted again, then ran ahead to engage in some retaliatory spending.

Seeing this, Tokiju shrugged helplessly, but still followed behind her, silently paying for her purchases.

Tokiju and Uchiha Hikari browsed the shop for a while, selecting some fresh ingredients and snacks characteristic of various countries.

That was until Tokiju suddenly raised an eyebrow; he saw an item with exquisite packaging that looked completely out of place among the other goods.

Tokiju picked it up and immediately saw a peculiar trademark printed on it.

The pattern of the trademark was a Western dragon breathing fire, with a warrior holding a long sword standing on its back.

Seeing this, Tokiju exclaimed: "Whoa, I didn't expect the Nibelungen Chamber of Commerce's goods to have circulated all the way here!"

Uchiha Hikari looked over curiously and asked: "This looks like a sea fish, right? What is there to be surprised about?"

Tokiju shook his head and immediately checked the price tag on the side.

The price tag read: Nibelungen Chamber of Commerce special catch, rare deep-sea fish species, three portions available for special sale today, priced at 280,000 ryo per portion, no rain checks.

Looking at the price, he was stunned. He remembered that Sigurd's pricing for this kind of fish was something like 50,000 ryo each!

How did the price of this fish jump more than five times after arriving in Konoha? Doesn't this just make it look like I lost a lot of money?

Although he kept complaining in his heart, Tokiju understood the specific reason.

Although the Land of Fire had a coastline, Konoha was located inland, and it was indeed difficult to see seafood on a daily basis.

Furthermore, most of these deep-sea fish were rarely seen even by fishermen at the coast, which made them even rarer.

Of course, these sea fish were difficult for ordinary people to catch, but for ninjas skilled in Water Release, it was quite simple.

Especially since Obito was still creating the Bloody Mist Village in Kirigakure, which led to many Kirigakure ninjas skilled in Water Release fleeing.

With those members of the Hozuki Clan from the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools around, it was easy for Sigurd to hire a few Kirigakure rogue ninjas to join.

The current Nibelungen Chamber of Commerce had already assembled an excellent deep-sea fishing team.

Moreover, Sigurd targeted the high-end market with these goods, specifically to earn money from the nobles.

After all, those nobles had plenty of money, and when they ate, they were mostly eating for the sake of appearances.

In other words, they didn't eat for flavor, but specifically for things that were flashy and rare, because only then could their vanity be satisfied.

If you told them how cheap or how good value for money these things were, they wouldn't even bother to listen.

But if you told them how rare and expensive these things were, that was when they would become interested and have the desire to spend money.

It was precisely because Sigurd had grasped the vanity of those nobles that he was now earning a fortune.

However, with the rise of the Nibelungen Chamber of Commerce, it had also attracted the covetous eyes of many other merchant guilds, bringing quite a bit of trouble to the chamber's development.

Fortunately, Sigurd's strength was decent enough to deter the petty scoundrels who wanted to stir up trouble.

Hearing Uchiha Hikari's question, Tokiju gently patted the ornate insulated box and asked, "Do you know whose business this Nibelungen Chamber of Commerce is?"

Uchiha Hikari scratched her head in confusion upon hearing this, her interest piqued as she pressed, "Oh, whose business is it? Do I know them?"

After all, she had lived in Konoha for several months and had come to know a few famous people.

Tokiju's lips curled upward slightly at her words, and he leaned in mysteriously to whisper into her ear, "It's Sigurd's."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Hikari exclaimed in shock, "Wha... Mmph!"

At that very instant, Tokiju reached out and pressed his index finger against her lips, whispering, "Shh, that's a secret~"