Fortunately, the worst-case scenario didn't occur, but Mizuki still hoped such a bizarre Kekkei Genkai would be better off not existing at all. Therefore, in Mizuki's opinion, confirming this kind of high-level battle readiness still held some significance—at least it could prevent being caught off guard when unexpected incidents occurred.
Autumn had already arrived, and after sunset, the air was quite refreshing. Taking an evening stroll was indeed a pleasant experience. Mizuki concealed his vest and forehead protector, hiding every detail that might reveal his identity as a ninja. His chakra fluctuations were also masked by the Breath-Sealing Art, making him appear just like a regular civilian. Dressed simply in plain clothes and wearing wooden sandals, he stepped out for a casual walk. Luck was on his side—he'd happened to show up during a festival marking the season's change and praying for a bountiful harvest, drawing huge crowds from the surrounding villages.
Walking along the bustling street, cheerful laughter filled his ears, revealing boundless joy.
"Truly a wonderful place!"
In his past life, he rarely attended such festivals. He'd been too busy dealing with schoolwork and exams since childhood, and as an adult, burdened by the pressures of corporate life, even brief moments to catch his breath were rare. Those few memories of temple fairs had gradually faded into obscurity. After so many years under city lights and neon signs, stepping into a rustic festival like this felt utterly fresh and alive.
"There are more and more people."
As night fell, individuals finished their daily work and began enjoying this precious moment of happiness. People were practically shoulder to shoulder; a wide street that once felt open now started to feel downright packed. Mizuki decided to stop aimlessly wandering and instead use this opportunity to thoroughly examine the local customs of this world.
"Boss, you've got quite a collection of masks here. Which one sells best?"
He approached a mask shop with decent business, seizing a quiet moment to strike up a conversation.
"This gentleman wants one too, huh?" The shopkeeper enthusiastically replied, "Check out this Goddess of the Rabbit Hour over here—it's our top seller. It symbolizes abundance and divine protection; many people love it."
"Abundance and divine protection? Abundance makes sense—nine out of ten villagers pray for a good harvest when offering sacrifices—but how does Kaguya otsutsuki tie into protection?"
"Isn't the Goddess of the Rabbit Hour associated with fertility and blessings?"
"My, my guest seems rather distinguished," laughed the shop owner. "I don't know these complicated matters clearly myself. During noble ceremonies called 'Shinkomono Iwai' (a noble wedding ceremony in which deities are honored), the goddess of Ueno is certainly favored, but most commoners aren't that particular. For us ordinary folk, abundance and protection feel more practical—and traditions passed down for generations naturally took root this way…"
"I see." Mizuki hadn't expected the same deity could be worshipped for entirely different reasons. This world's class divisions appeared quite severe—clear differences existed between civilians and nobles, and even more so between civilians and ninja.
"One mask of the Goddess of the Rabbit Hour, please."
"Alright then..."
Accepting the well-crafted mask, Mizuki examined it closely. The face was identical to Kaguya Otsutsuki's, but its expression appeared much softer, not as stern as the version Mizuki had previously encountered.
"Each person sees her differently—the Goddess of the Rabbit Hour truly leaves a strikingly varied impression depending on who's looking."
Of course, this difference wasn't particularly significant, but it served as a reminder to Mizuki that some things might be vastly different from what he had imagined.
Mizuki wore the mask at a slight angle but didn't stand out in the least. Many children running around were wearing masks too, and plenty of youths and adults were dressed similarly. Except for slight differences in aura, there really wasn't anything eye-catching about him. When something interesting caught his attention, Mizuki would stop to admire it. If he came across snacks that looked decent, he'd give them a try—but unfortunately, most didn't suit his taste.
Just then, Mizuki suddenly sensed that he wasn't far away from Utakata's location anymore. There also seemed to be signs of a crowd gathering up ahead.
"Already this close?"
Since he'd run into it by chance, checking it out wouldn't hurt. Mizuki adjusted his mask's direction, covering his face entirely except for his observing eyes.
Moving quickly forward, Mizuki silently pushed his way through the crowd blocking his path until he reached the very front of the onlookers. Curious, he focused his gaze—and immediately froze in stunned disbelief.
"Making a living as a street entertainer, huh? That's not something you see every day from a Six-Tails jinchuriki…"
From Mizuki's observations, this young man was several years his junior. He had his issues—paranoia being the biggest—but otherwise seemed decent. He never threw his weight around despite his power, avoided others deliberately, and was well aware of the danger his fugitive status posed to those around him. Most of the time, unless necessary, he preferred to act alone.
Mizuki had originally assumed that Utakata stayed here intending to pick up a few missions from the underground black market to earn some money. He hadn't expected this guy to go down such a path. Seeing how he'd set his sights on making a little extra cash during this temple fair really shocked Mizuki. All those previous thoughts Mizuki had praising him were wasted. No wonder Konoha ninjas found him so easily—he was pushing thirty and still had the street smarts of a toddler. Still, even though Mizuki felt worried about this fellow's future, he couldn't really say he disliked him either.
Without his ninja outfit, Utakata indeed looked like an exceptionally good-looking young man. Dressed in a light-colored long robe with a fairly handsome face and a somewhat hesitant demeanor, his voice tone was quite attractive. Ring after ring of uniquely shaped bubbles didn't just win over the kids' hearts—they also captivated many young women. Looks like tonight might just be his lucky break.
However, remaining calm, Mizuki glanced toward a suspiciously hurrying figure who abruptly changed expressions upon seeing Utakata's face before swiftly leaving.
"Looks like you've been spotted already. Seems like your days here are numbered."
This kind of flashy act — it was just a matter of time before he got caught. Whether he couldn't find a stealthier way to get by or just refused to make money through brute force, either way, this guy's short-lived leisure time was coming to an end.
Mizuki waited until the show ended and the crowd slowly scattered, making him the last one to leave. Watching the Utakata-controlled body gather up the spectators' rewards, Mizuki shook his head in disappointment and walked off.
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