As Uchiha Makoto listened to the lively bustle around him, the corners of his mouth rose of their own accord.
Peaceful, bustling days like these were rare in the world of Naruto. Soon, the major shinobi villages would be dragged into the mire of war.
The Third Shinobi World War... It hasn't broken out in full yet, but the smell of gunpowder is getting stronger.
He passed through an alley and headed toward another, busier shopping street.
There were noticeably more people on the street than there had been a while ago. Many were dressed like members of foreign merchant caravans, haggling with Konoha's merchants as they bought up all kinds of supplies.
Medicinal herbs, grain, cloth, and even basic materials for ninja tools.
Every country is stockpiling, Uchiha Makoto muttered inwardly.
Looks like the village leaders aren't idiots. They've all caught the scent of the coming storm. I just wonder how long this false peace can last.
But none of that was his concern for now.
His main objective at the moment was... getting Kakashi to take him somewhere to "broaden his horizons."
"We're here."
Kakashi led Uchiha Makoto to an ordinary-looking bookstore with a sign that read "Jieying Hall" and stopped outside.
Makoto looked up at the sign, then glanced around.
The bookstore was a little out of the way, and its storefront wasn't large, but the people coming and going... Well, most had shifty eyes and hurried footsteps. After buying their books, they wrapped them tightly in brown paper, as though they were stealing something.
"Are you sure this is the place?"
Makoto gave Kakashi a skeptical look. No matter how he looked at it, this place didn't seem like a respectable bookstore.
Kakashi nodded and said nothing more.
"Tsk. Just as I thought, all the good