Chapter 76: Offline Encounter
Her constitution was getting stronger!
Kurama Yakumo could hardly believe it. She clenched her fists tightly, feeling the strength rising within her.
"Rising endlessly" might have been an exaggeration.
But after eating that candy, her naturally frail body had indeed become stronger.
She was certain this wasn't genjutsu.
Or rather, she was confident no one could manipulate her with genjutsu. Not even the Uchiha clan's Sharingan was good enough for that.
"Who are you? Do you have any more of that candy?"
Yakumo knew how rude her question sounded, but she couldn't help herself.
Because she had dreamed of becoming a ninja.
But due to her poor physical condition, she'd been unable to train, unable to complete ninja tasks, and had been forced to drop out of the Academy.
To her, every misfortune in her life could be traced back to the moment she was denied that path.
Becoming a ninja had become her obsession—just like her desire for revenge against Konoha.
"My name is Fang Yi. I'm a merchant who sells the Reincarnation Game."
Seeing that the bait had been taken, Fang Yi's smile didn't waver. He explained, "That wasn't just candy. It was a Blood Qi Pill from another world—known for strengthening the body."
Retail price: fifty reward points.
To spend fifty points and harvest a golden potential player—what a bargain. He'd make it back and more once the investment began paying off.
A stream of information about the Reincarnation Game was transmitted directly into Yakumo's mind.
"This is... hard to believe."
The Kurama clan, though now considered a minor family in Konoha, had once known glory. As a family with a strong spiritual lineage, they had deep-rooted traditions.
Yet none of their ancient scrolls mentioned anything like this.
Fang Yi didn't feel the need to explain further. He simply smiled and said, "True or false, if it interests you, what's the harm in trying?"
Those words struck right at Yakumo's heart.
After all, the effects of that "candy"—the Blood Qi Pill—were undeniably real. She couldn't deny it.
He handed her a black envelope.
Yakumo took it but didn't open it right away. Instead, she said with concern, "You came into the village under the identity of a noble. If you're seen speaking to me, the Third Hokage might come after you. It's safer to move elsewhere."
Most people in Konoha—whether ninja or civilian—would never refer to Hiruzen Sarutobi by his full title, "the Third Hokage."
Only someone like Yakumo, who harbored resentment, would do that.
"It's fine. I already greeted the Hokage. He won't mind."
Fang Yi waved it off, then casually gathered up her easel and drawing board. "Let's go. Since you don't want to activate the game yet, at least show me around the village. Think of it as repayment for half a Blood Qi Pill."
Yakumo blinked in surprise. "Is that... even allowed?"
"It is."
Fang Yi smiled and nodded.
He really did need a guide—Konoha Village in reality was far larger and denser than its anime counterpart.
More importantly, he wanted to signal to the Hokage that his purpose here was to recruit high-quality players.
Of course, it was just a gesture. Whether the Hokage liked it or not… Fang Yi didn't care.
"In that case, let's start with the shopping district."
She was still a girl, after all. After being cooped up for so long, she wanted to go somewhere lively.
After saying that, she glanced nervously at Fang Yi, afraid he might reject the idea.
"Let's go."
Moments later, the two appeared in the heart of the shopping district.
Yakumo sat inside a ramen shop and pulled out two wrinkled coupon tickets from her pocket. They were from a promotional campaign Ichiraku Ramen had held two years ago.
"Are these still valid?"
When she wasn't drowning in resentment, she was just a shy girl. Her voice trembled slightly with nervousness.
Teuchi squinted as he took the coupons. His brow furrowed—then relaxed.
"Of course they're valid. I'm surprised you held onto them for two years. Thank you so much."
Meanwhile, an ANBU hidden atop a telephone pole quickly returned to the Hokage Tower to report.
"Kurama Yakumo, huh?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, rubbing his aching temples. "Tsunade told me that if the game merchant takes a liking to someone, he'll personally invite them to become a player. Looks like Yakumo's been chosen."
This wasn't good.
Yakumo was a complicated case—full of anger and resentment toward the village and the Hokage. Yūhi Kurenai still hadn't helped her work through those emotions.
If she became a player and gained real power, she wouldn't be like the average shinobi.
The ANBU said nothing, waiting for orders.
"Send Kurenai. Have her politely persuade Yakumo to refrain from opening the envelope—for now. But make sure she doesn't provoke the game merchant."
After a moment of contemplation, Hiruzen gave the order.
Tsunade had recently returned to the village. She wasn't taking on missions, instead spending her days at the old Senju estate, sorting through antiques and selling them for cash. But she had shared some details about the game:
The merchant's invitation only turned someone into a player if they opened the envelope.
Hiruzen didn't want to offend the merchant, so he wouldn't reject the invitation outright. But if Yakumo could be convinced to delay opening it, perhaps the merchant would understand.
Once her issues with the village had been resolved, she could join the game then.
Just thinking of the Kurama clan's bloodline made Hiruzen uneasy.
If their numbers had matched the Uchiha or Hyūga, they might've become a clan even the Hokage couldn't control—one that stood above the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.
After considering it all, Hiruzen nodded.
He had already warned the ANBU not to anger the game merchant, and registered shinobi would all receive orders to be cautious.
As for the foreign shinobi participating in the Chunin Exams... he had "forgotten" to inform them.
In fact, a small, dark part of him hoped they'd provoke the merchant—just to see what would happen.
Everything should be under control.
Or so he told himself.
But something felt off—like he'd forgotten something important. An emptiness lingered in his chest.
"By joining a trial, I can get a class that matches my soul?"
Yakumo slurped her ramen thoughtfully.
Five thousand reward points.
She could probably scrape that together from her clan's inheritance, but it would be painful. She had to consider it carefully.
"Exactly. You wouldn't want to have nearly unlimited chakra, only to pick a class like Shield Warrior and spend your time getting punched in the face, right?"
"Hey, merchant-uncle, you're really in Konoha?"
The voice came from the entrance—and it belonged to the last person Fang Yi wanted to see right now.
He turned his head to see a silver-haired Kakashi Hatake, flanked by a blonde, a raven-haired teen, and a pink-haired girl—Team 7 in full.
The one who had spoken, wearing a face full of curiosity, was Naruto Uzumaki.
As one of the earliest players in the game, he instantly recognized Fang Yi from the starting village.
Right behind him was Yūhi Kurenai, sent by the Hokage to intercept Yakumo.
Following her was the captain of Konoha's main force—Sarutobi Asuma.
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