Chapter 76: Offline Meeting

Her physique is growing stronger!

Kurama Yakumo could not believe it; she clenched her fists tightly, feeling the power surging up continuously.

To say it was surging continuously was perhaps an exaggeration.

But after eating this candy, her naturally frail physical constitution had indeed grown stronger.

She was certain this was not Genjutsu.

Or rather, she was confident that no one could play with Genjutsu in front of her; even the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan was not qualified.

"Who are you, and do you have any more of that candy?"

Kurama Yakumo knew it was very impolite to ask like this, but she still could not help but say it.

Because she dreamed of becoming a ninja.

But because her physical constitution was too poor, she could not train at all, let alone complete ninja missions, and was forced to withdraw from the Ninja Academy.

In her heart, all subsequent misfortunes were inextricably linked to her inability to become a ninja.

If she could become a ninja, none of these misfortunes would have happened.

Becoming a ninja had become an obsession in the depths of her heart, an obsession just like her desire for revenge against Konoha.

"My name is Fang Yi, and I am a merchant who sells the Samsara Game."

Looking at the leek that had already taken the bait, Fang Yi's smile remained unchanged as he explained: "It is not candy, but a Blood Qi Pill from another world; it has the effect of strengthening the body."

The price is fifty Reward Points.

Using fifty Reward Points to harvest a leek with Gold Potential was a very worthwhile deal; he would squeeze more out of the other party later.

A piece of information regarding the Samsara Game was thrown into the girl's mind.

"This is too hard to believe."

As a member of the Kurama Clan, who possessed powerful spiritual energy, although they were now a small family in Konoha, they had once been glorious.

They had a rich heritage and tradition.

This kind of thing had never been heard of in the records left by the family.

There was no need for too much explanation; Fang Yi just smiled and said: "Regardless of whether it is true or false, since there is something that interests you, what is the harm in trying?"

These words struck a chord with Kurama Yakumo.

No matter what, the effect brought by that candy—the Blood Qi Pill—was real, and she simply could not resist it.

A black envelope was handed to her.

Kurama Yakumo took the envelope, but did not rush to open it; instead, she said worriedly: "You entered the village with the status of a Noble; if you contact me rashly, you will be troubled by the Third Hokage. It would be better to find a safe place."

Whether they were civilians or ninja, most people in Konoha Village would not use the full title "Third Hokage" when referring to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Only Kurama Yakumo, who had hatred in her heart that she could not vent, would do so.

"It doesn't matter; I have already greeted the Hokage, and he will not mind."

Fang Yi signaled that it was fine, helped her pack up her drawing board and easel with practiced ease, and then said: "Let's go. Since you don't want to start the game right now, for the sake of that half a Blood Qi Pill, be my tour guide and show me around the village."

Kurama Yakumo was stunned and asked: "Is this kind of thing allowed?"

"That's right."

Fang Yi smiled and nodded.

He did indeed need a guide, because the real Konoha Village was very large, with more and denser buildings than in the anime.

Furthermore, he wanted to show the Hokage his attitude that he had come to Konoha to recruit high-quality players.

Of course, it was just a simple expression of attitude; as for whether the other party agreed or not, Fang Yi did not care.

"Then, let's go to the commercial street first."

She was a young girl after all; after being under house arrest for a long time, she really wanted to go to a lively place.

Having said that, Kurama Yakumo glanced at Fang Yi with trepidation, fearing she would be refused.

"Let's go."

A moment later, the two appeared in the center of the commercial street.

Kurama Yakumo sat inside the ramen shop and took two crumpled advertisement coupons from her pocket; they were old coupons from an Ichiraku Ramen promotional event two years ago.

"Can these two still be used?"

When not involving hatred, Kurama Yakumo was just an introverted young girl, and she asked nervously, somewhat haltingly.

Teuchi, with his eyes squinted, took the ramen coupons, frowned slightly at first, then relaxed and said: "Of course you can. I didn't expect a customer to have kept our ramen coupons for two years; I am very grateful."

An Anbu operative hiding behind a utility pole quickly returned to the Hokage Building to report the situation.

"Kurama Yakumo?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and said with a headache: "I heard from Tsunade that if he encounters someone he takes a fancy to, the game merchant will take the initiative to invite them to become a player. It seems Kurama Yakumo has been chosen by the game merchant."

This was not very good.

Kurama Yakumo's situation was very complicated; she was full of resentment toward the village and the Hokage, and Yuhi Kurenai had not yet untied the knot in her heart. Once she became a player and possessed powerful strength, she would be different from an ordinary ninja.

The Anbu did not speak, waiting for the Hokage's orders.

"Send Yuhi Kurenai to tactfully persuade Kurama Yakumo not to open the envelope for the time being. Remember, this must be done without angering the game merchant."

After closing his eyes and pondering for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order.

Tsunade had returned to the village not long ago; although she had no intention of being a ninja for the time being and spent all day in the old mansion left by the Senju Clan fiddling with various antiques to sell for money, she had also revealed some information about the game.

The Invitation Letter gifted by the game merchant needed to be opened to become a player.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want to offend the game merchant, so he certainly could not refuse the other party's game invitation, but as long as Kurama Yakumo was made to not open the envelope for the time being, he figured the game merchant would grant him this favor.

After the conflict between Kurama Yakumo and the village was resolved, he would let her become a player then.

Thinking of the Kekkei Genkai of the Kurama Clan, even Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a sense of dread. If it weren't for the fact that the Kurama Clan was thin in numbers and could not compare to large clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga, they would definitely be a family that stood above the Ino-Shika-Cho and was beyond the Hokage's control.

After thinking carefully,

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly; he had already warned the Anbu not to provoke the game merchant, and all registered ninja would receive the order.

As for those ninja from other countries participating in the Chunin Exams, he quite deviously did not warn them, even secretly hoping in his heart that they would clash with the game merchant to test the game merchant's true strength.

There shouldn't be any oversights.

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself, but he always felt as if he had forgotten something very important, and his heart felt somewhat empty.

"By participating in the trial, can one obtain a profession that resonates with one's soul?"

Kurama Yakumo ate her ramen, showing a thoughtful expression.

Five thousand Reward Points.

Relying on the Kurama clan's inheritance, she could certainly pay it, but it would be quite a heavy blow to her foundations, so she had to consider it carefully.

"That's right, you wouldn't want to have a near-infinite amount of chakra and yet, instead of becoming a turret Mage, act like an idiot and change your class to a Shield Warrior to engage in melee combat, would you?"

"Eh, Merchant Uncle, did you actually come to Konoha?"

Just as the words were finished, the person in question arrived.

Fang Yi turned his head and saw the white-haired Kakashi Hatake, who had brought a blonde, a brunette, and a pink-haired person to the ramen shop.

The one speaking was the curious-looking Naruto Uzumaki; he was among the first batch of Game Players, so naturally, he had seen Fang Yi's appearance in the Novice Village.

Following closely behind were Yuhi Kurenai, who had received the Hokage's order, and the Konoha Troops Captain-Commander, Sarutobi Asuma, who had followed out of concern.

(End of chapter)