As 3 weeks went by, Yoichi couldn't believe that those shinobi from Konoha could die easily so he left subtle traces and even a symbol of the leaf village as a trademark near the alleys.
However, there was still no response or any reaction. So he went into the same schedule for the past days of steady grinding life.
[Heavenly Demon Posture: (Great Success 200/500] (+15)
[Mountain Crushing Fist: (Entry) 29/100] (+15)
[Phantom Steps (Entry) 70/100] (+41)
[Lightning Spear Thrust: (Entry) 32/100] (+22)
[Blacksmithing: (Entry) MAX]
As a result, his blacksmithing has been maxed out while Yoichi has refined the Phantom Steps as the highest earned technique in his skills.
His proficiency over other Martial Arts Techniques also made some substantial progress but due to the depletion of Qi Blood, his gains in the different departments became steadily decreasing as if a clogged drain in the middle of the rain, blocking the free-flowing and smooth-sailing water.
Luckily, there was a monthly ticket supply which Yoichi desperately required for drawing such mystical items in the Silver Roulette. At this point, Yoichi gradually understood that Qi Blood was a staple provision for healing injuries, Martial Arts training, and stage advancement.
Speaking of the stage, his Copper Skin became nearly done and on the cusp of breaking through the Iron Skin. What he truly demanded was time to cultivate and resources such as both Qi Blood Pills and Blood Ganoderma Ointment.
'Soon! I'll stack these tickets more and pull out their items once I've got that Golden Ticket in September...' Yoichi thought.
"Yoichi, did you hear the rumors?" Looking at Yoichi's wistful expression, Hikari tapped his shoulders and modestly smiled at him.
"What rumors, Hikari?" Yoichi turned around and glanced at Hikari, feeling that something wasn't right.
"Eh, you didn't hear that news? How surprising!" Hikari teased him with a blush on her face.
"...Come on, just tell me." Yoichi momentarily closed his eyes and sighed, looking at Hikari's flushed cheeks with an innocent expression on his face.
He couldn't deny the appeal of a gentle and modest girl like Hikari but his goals and ambitions were far away from these lands, completely acting clueless amidst Hikari's subtle cues.
Hikari slightly felt resentful but her adorable face wasn't threatening as she continued, "Oboro Kai and Kurotora-gumi have some conflicts very near to your blacksmith shop, be careful!"
'Hmmm... This event is too peculiar. I wonder if it's a smoke bomb for something else or a time bomb for every shinobi in Amegakure...'
"...Thank you for your information, Hikari. Is there anything I can do for you?" Yoichi gave his gratitude and asked her.
"No.. Nothing!" With a huff, Hikari slowly left and whispered, "Idiot, why can't you understand it?"
Her words traveled into his ears yet Yoichi merely ignored the little complaints and practiced Martial Arts in the morning, optimizing his time into his training with diligence in mind.
'Hoooh... I might be able to level up my Phantom Steps in Small Success proficiency in a few more days, let's begin!'
Therefore, Yoichi's swiftness along with his robust physique let out a phantom-like figure in his original spot, vanishing and appearing in different locations as if faster than a bolt of lightning.
「Phantom Steps EXP +1」
「Phantom Steps EXP +1」
「Phantom Steps EXP +1」
...
In the hidden bar within Amegakure.
"Did you actually learned about it?" On the counter, Ishida was pressed for time. With an urgent message after he sent his report, Ishida felt like the process must be hastened since the Hokage was requesting them to retreat from their critical task.
But with benefits on the line, Ishida was having a hard time staying afloat from this high-risk, high-reward mission without any assistance.
"Sort of," Yoshiro replied, "After all, I only just comprehended some of the hand gestures in a brief time..."
In 1 month and a half months, Ishida taught him hand gestures and other secret signs. At first, Yoshiro was so confused about the teachings, scratching his head from time to time from the troublesome memorization and appropriate communication.
Now, he currently understands most of the basic and rudimentary hand signs since the child was not susceptible to the curse seal even with the intent to reveal the confidential information.
"I'm ready to—" Yoshiro exclaimed until...
"Ishida-sama, there's an ongoing fight happening between the Oboro Kai and Kurotora-gumi!" A shinobi urgently reported with haste on his speech.
Upon hearing the newcomer's news, Ishida and Yoshiro were perplexed before Ishida's eyes gleamed with delight as he spoke, "Yoshiro, go to the location secretly! Perhaps the child would be there. Try and look for him, don't even think about anything... Understood?!"
With an executive order, Yoshiro reluctantly nodded and said, "I understand, Ishida-sama... Then, let's go!"
I hope that brat would be there... Those old ANBU Executives were harshly reprimanding me for disobeying and delaying the retreat! They actually don't know how difficult this high-ranking mission is!
Therefore, the Chūnin left with the shinobi in tow for questions about the ongoing incident while Ishida gave some of the shinobi an order to request reinforcement for a last emergency resort.
...
In a luxurious estate.
"Masaru-sama, the preparations are ready."
"Good, now we should wait to catch a fish and pin those haughty bastards from Kurotora-gumi!"
On the desk, Masaru smiled with malicious intent while Sabito merely looked at him to the side.
After one month, the benefits Sabito received were too plentiful, thanks to the nobility's sponsorship. In his mind, this kind of abundant resource was something only he fantasized about but with the resources such as food, training equipment, and lodging, his life became much smoother than children still living in the slums.
Maybe... Masaru's trying to pin the blame on a Kurotora-gumi Member and finish our trial easily. Painting the truths with falsehoods... Tricky!
Sabito thought. In the past, such dirty tactics were vile on his part but as he understood the social norms and loopholes in the system, he gradually learned the fact that only those who had power could remain unscathed against ordinary people.
If a man is full of hunger and desperation and he sees an opportunity, would he be able to adhere to his principles or solve his desire just to survive?
Unfortunately, Sabito wasn't a righteous boy.
"Sabito, come on..."
Therefore, Masaru and Sabito went to the site and waited for the right chance to paint those fools in a bad light, potentially sacking any rival members without any evidence or proof.
I'm very sorry, everyone... But trying to shake this massive royal anthill would be a one-sided massacre... I hope they will be alright...
...
In the basement room.
"Should we go too, Yoichi? That place would surely be a warzone once the fight has started!" Genji exclaimed and began to worry about Yoichi's well-being.
"Yeah, that's right! We must unite and see what Oboro Kai and Kurotora-gumi look like!" Haruhiko insisted.
Hearing his party's call for valor, Yoichi learned he couldn't sway them and replied, "... I knew you all were adamant about it. Let's get going..."
Soon, the party rejoiced as they went into the spot but the sounds of metal banging at each other and the cries of killing appeared, shocking the party including Yoichi, who was completely bewildered.
The fight was no normal altercation. Instead, it was a manslaughter with alleyways filled with naked upper-body men, who had intricate tattoos on their backs and arms while the opposition were dressed in extravagant outfits with weapons on their backs.
Blood was scattered over the walls and mixed up to the muddy grounds, multiple men from both sides suffered numerous injuries, and the atmosphere was suffocating, unrelenting until the other side surrendered in a seemingly pointless fight.
Essentially, this was a clusterfuck of events.
After seeing the sheer brutality of the upheaval, Yoichi and the rest felt so complicated.
"If— If this is only a fight between commoners, then what about a war?!" Haruhiko was horrified.
The party fell silent. It never occurred to their minds that questions...
"M-Murder!"
Until their thoughts were interrupted by a screaming voice as all of the eyes were suddenly focused on the dark skinned youth soaked in blood with a sword in hand.
Earth Release: Falling Earth Spears!
Unexpectedly, the earth rumbled and Chakra flared out then the multiple sharpened spikes beneath the ground protruded, resulting in numerous casualties with several men injured by the unknown pointed pillars of mud and rocks.
"AAAAHHH! Run!"
"Who are these bastards?!"
"Retreat!"
"Kumogakure dog, stealing the limelight huh? Looks like some of your kin never knew how to be sneaky!" Upon hearing this, the dark skinned boy furrowed his eyebrows and looked at the youth with a rock symbol in his forehead protector.
"Heh, rockworms! Do your best and don't whine with your pathetic display of skills!"
Suddenly, the dark skinned youth killed another ordinary man with a swing of his sword, submerging his body in the blood and flesh of his victims.
"Everyone, don't try and act funny. Attempt to save those idiots and I'll stop these foreign shinobi..." Seeing the massive devastation of the land, Yoichi stared at his party with the severity of the situation.
"But we—" Munekatsu wanted to reply until...
"There are no buts! This is our chance to kill them and finish our task. Your priority was to be alive and just make an effort to save them. Hikari and Towa, call the Amegakure Shinobi nearby!"
Phantom Steps!
Soon, Yoichi faded away as the blur on his spot gradually disappeared.
"Come on! Anything that can help Yoichi would do fine. This is a fight we can't even get into no matter what!" Genji relented.
"Then, why did Yoichi put himself at risk? I'm so worried about it!" After Hikari's concerns, the rest looked at Genji for answers.
"It's because his colleagues were there in the workplace! He will do anything to save them... What are we waiting for? Be quick!"
Therefore, Genji and the rest did their respective work even if it was a disobedience to their beliefs.
_____________
(Current Progress)
[Heavenly Demon Posture: (Great Success 200/500]
[Mountain Crushing Fist: (Entry) 29/100]
[Phantom Steps (Entry) 70/100]
[Lightning Spear Thrust: (Entry) 32/100]
[Blacksmithing: (Entry) MAX]
_____________
The fight was still on its way to be written so please, do your duties and enjoy this chapter first.
Thanks for reading the chapters and bookmarking the novel. See ya! XDD!