Tracking

After leaving the Hokage's Office Building, Kirito did not immediately go to Mito-sama to have his soul aptitude assessed. Instead, he obediently returned to school for class.

It was still school hours. If he went to see Mito-sama now, he would gain nothing but a scolding and make her angry.

Besides, Mito-sama's health had been worsening recently, and she spent increasingly longer periods resting in bed. He needed to wait until she was up and moving around before going to see her.

However, Kirito had long since mastered most of the school's courses. Since the upcoming classes were all Theory Classes that required no hands-on work, he left a Shadow Clone in the classroom to diligently read a pharmacology book Shikaku Nara had given him, while his real body slipped into the village.

"One, two... fifteen people in total. Two Anbu squads are following and watching me. What a grand show."

Kirito wandered aimlessly through the streets while secretly spreading out his senses, confirming the number and locations of everyone following him along the way.

They had been following him ever since he left the Hokage's Office Building.

As expected, they were all Anbu members. Whether they answered directly to the Hokage or belonged to Root was unknown.

But without a doubt, someone had their eyes on him now.

More precisely, certain people were using him as bait to lure others out.

Kirito had anticipated this long ago. The moment he revealed his Magnet Release, he had expected this outcome.

It could not be helped. Magnet Release was Sunagakure's famous Kekkei Genkai. The current Kazekage was a renowned Magnet Release Ninja in the Shinobi World. If anyone in the Shinobi World least wanted Konoha to acquire the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, it would undoubtedly be that Kazekage.

To prevent Konoha from thoroughly researching Magnet Release, the Third Kazekage would surely find every possible way to eliminate him, Konoha's Magnet Release Ninja.

Being targeted by a Kage-level Expert, and one who was also Sunagakure's leader, was thrilling just to think about.

That was right—thrilling. He did not feel the slightest bit nervous or afraid.

Naturally. No matter how powerful the Third Kazekage was, he could not possibly come to Konoha in person to kill him. With the village protecting him now, he was perfectly safe.

Konoha's F4 might not be reliable, but Konoha's strength certainly was.

The greatest threats had already been kept outside the village. Kirito only needed to watch out for hidden arrows that could come flying from anywhere.

As he wandered around the village, Kirito ate and drank to his heart's content.

He never skimped when it came to satisfying his appetite, spending money freely. Whenever he saw food he liked, he paid for it on the spot. If he did not have enough money, he put it on credit, and every shopkeeper he owed money to happily agreed.

As they watched Kirito happily devour all kinds of famous village delicacies, the Anbu ninja silently tailing him behind swallowed their saliva more times than they could count.

"Isn't this kid supposed to be an orphan according to his file? How is he so rich? The Three-Color Dango at this dessert shop is delicious, but ridiculously expensive. One skewer costs 200 ryo, yet he ordered twenty whole skewers."

A female Anbu ninja wearing a Cat Mask watched Kirito enter an upscale dessert shop she herself visited once a week, buy twenty skewers of Three-Color Dango in one go, and start feasting. She complained enviously.

"That was his situation a year ago. This kid isn't some ordinary brat. He's Mito-sama's prized disciple. He began interning with the Sealing Unit a year ago, and now he's already a team leader there. That shows just how outstanding his Sealing Jutsu is. Besides, he's very skilled at making Sealing Talismans and Sealing Scrolls. He often makes them in private to sell, so he's loaded."

The male Anbu ninja beside her, wearing a Dog Mask, explained to this colleague who had only recently joined the Anbu. His voice was thick with envy.

A Sealing Unit team leader earned far more than an ordinary Anbu member like him, and the work was easier and safer. As for Sealing Talismans and Sealing Scrolls, they were high-grade strategic supplies and outrageously expensive. One Sealing Talisman was worth a month's salary for him.

That was right. Kirito was actually quite wealthy now. If he were not raising a creature that burned through money like water, he would probably be the richest child in the entire village.

Sealing Jutsu was a type of ninjutsu that only highly educated ninja could master.

After all, it was capable of suppressing even Tailed Beasts and Kaguya Otsutsuki. Its value spoke for itself.

Once an ordinary ninja was sealed by Sealing Jutsu, even a Jonin would generally have no choice but to surrender.

Just think of those immortal ninja reincarnated through Impure World Reincarnation who had been sealed during the Fourth Shinobi World War, and one would know how incredible Sealing Jutsu was. It was a technique that specialized in dealing with all kinds of defiance.

Therefore, items such as Sealing Talismans and Sealing Scrolls, which allowed people unable to use Sealing Jutsu to wield it, had always been absurdly expensive.

Yet no one complained.

Because at a critical moment, these absurdly expensive items might very well save your life.

The male Anbu ninja in the Dog Mask had once bought a Sealing Talisman made by Kirito. Of course, he had not bought it directly from Kirito; it had passed through who knew how many hands before reaching him.

The reason he knew it had been made by Kirito was because the backs of Kirito's Sealing Talismans and Sealing Scrolls always bore the letters MITR.

Because he marked the Sealing Talismans and Sealing Scrolls he made with his maker's mark, and because their quality was exceptional, Kirito had become somewhat well-known in the market for Sealing Talismans and Sealing Scrolls. Many merchants enthusiastically called him Konoha's youngest Sealing Jutsu master.

"So amazing, and he's only eight years old. He's already much richer than I am."

After learning what Kirito could do, the female Anbu ninja stared wide-eyed beneath her mask and said sourly, wishing she could immediately go learn Sealing Jutsu.

The other silent Anbu ninja nearby all nodded inwardly, similarly developing the urge to work hard at learning Sealing Jutsu once they returned.

"Ahem, enough. You two, stop being jealous. He's rich because he's capable. You know how difficult Sealing Jutsu is to learn. If you don't have the brains for it, don't even think about it. Don't get carried away and waste your time trying to learn it. Keep focusing on following and protecting him."

Seeing his subordinates becoming restless, the Anbu Squad Leader coughed and reminded them.

"Understood."

Those who could join the Anbu were all elite among ninja, and their discipline was strong. At the Anbu Squad Leader's reminder, everyone acknowledged the order and continued watching Kirito attentively.

After making a round through the Food Street, Kirito finally arrived at a shop called Yakushi Gourmet House.

The moment he entered, a beautiful blonde young woman came up to greet him. A healing smile remained on her face, and she wore a pair of round-framed glasses, making her look intelligent and charming. It was Yakushi Nonō, using the Transformation Jutsu to play the role of an adult.

"Why do you have time to come here at this hour today?"

Yakushi Nonō asked curiously as she looked at the suddenly arrived Kirito.

"I'm bringing you business."

Kirito answered with a grin.

As soon as he spoke, several people entered one after another. They were the Anbu ninja, all using the Transformation Jutsu.

When Yakushi Nonō saw them, her expression changed slightly.

At the same time, two disabled middle-aged men leisurely drinking tea in a corner of the shop abruptly stopped talking and swept their eyes over the people who had followed Kirito inside.

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