The Slums of Ogicho

Yashui was quick-witted and fast-handed, grabbing the club from the shopkeeper's grip. "Don't underestimate her; she is a ninja. I'm not stopping you to protect her, but to protect you."

The shopkeeper looked at the two children before him. He had been dismissive at first, but he didn't expect that once Yashui grabbed the club, no matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't break free.

Only then did it dawn on the shopkeeper that although the two children were young, they were already Genin of Konoha. Even a Genin was still a ninja! In the eyes of ordinary people, the power of a ninja was something they could never hope to reach.

"Hmph, do as you please. Don't ever show your faces in my shop again!" The shopkeeper let go and picked up a rag from the counter to wipe the club he had grabbed in a hurry, as if he were deeply dissatisfied that Yashui's dirty hands had touched his ninja tools.

Yashui and Hachiko exchanged a smile and ran out of the ninja tool shop together.

This was the first time Yashui and Hachiko had truly interacted. Yashui had previously thought Hachiko was just a girl who wasn't good with words, but now he realized she was actually quite helpful. If Hachiko hadn't stepped in to assist today, Yashui would certainly have been swindled out of a lot of money by that profiteer.

"I'm telling you, you rich kids just don't know how to save money. At this rate, you'll end up a beggar sooner or later," Hachiko said with a proud look on her face. Since she had "saved" Yashui, she certainly had the right to be proud.

"Thanks a lot." Yashui smiled and nodded at Hachiko. "What do you want to eat? Let me treat you to something."

He felt a bit embarrassed that Hachiko had helped him out like that. Yashui wanted to show his gratitude through some action, but the only way he could express it right now was by treating her to a meal.

"Hmm..." Hachiko paused, letting out an incredibly cute sound. She turned to look at Yashui with a speed that even a Jonin would struggle to match, her eyes already sparkling like stars.

Following Hachiko, Yashui went to a place he had never visited before. It was just as bustling as the center of Konoha, but with one difference: the environment here was extremely chaotic.

In this place, trash and sewage covered the ground, piles of garbage were visible everywhere, and stray cats and dogs scavenged for food while some children played nearby.

Despite the slum-like environment, there were many snacks here. There were takoyaki, tonkotsu ramen, and even Chinese cuisine. Although there were many snacks, the nauseating smell of sewage on this street was enough to wipe away anyone's appetite.

"This is..." Yashui had never heard of a place like this in Konoha.

"This is Konoha's lawless zone~" Hachiko pointed to a street sign, telling Yashui what this place was.

"Ogicho." Yashui read the name of the street aloud.

This street was Ogicho, and it seemed Hachiko's surname was also Ogicho. The street was only a few hundred meters long and was located on the outskirts of Konoha. It seemed one didn't even need to pass through the main gates to leave; one could easily reach the outside world just by walking through the gaps in the perimeter.

Logically, a place like this should be under the strict control of ninjas, yet not a single ninja could be seen on the street. Occasionally, one could spot people who clearly had the features of ninjas, though they had tucked their Konoha Headbands into their pockets.

For instance, members of ninja clans like the Aburame clan or the Inuzuka clan. Even these people, who were obviously ninjas, tucked away their Konoha Headbands once they reached Ogicho, enjoying the delicious snacks just like any ordinary person.

"Hachiko... your surname..." Yashui asked weakly.

"Ogicho is just a slum in Konoha." Hachiko was much more candid than he had imagined. She admitted the fact that Ogicho was a slum quite easily.