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Walking out of the Sealing Room, Sawara Kiri recalled the figure from earlier, a sense of emotion welling up within him.
Just like many classmates who went their separate ways after graduation, even though Sawara Kiri and Minato Namikaze were in the same class at the Ninja Academy, they lost touch after graduating.
Or perhaps, there was never supposed to be any connection.
Unlike Sawara Kiri, who maintained only average grades even during his Ninja Academy days to conceal his identity, Minato Namikaze displayed extraordinary talent from a very young age.
Before even graduating from the Ninja Academy, he was taken under Jiraiya's wing as the Hokage's direct disciple; Uzumaki Kushina, whose identity was clearly not ordinary, also became very good friends with him without anyone realizing; and at just over ten years old, he already possessed the impressive strength to directly defeat two Kumogakure spies.
If the Ninja world had web novels, many people would probably exclaim, 'Terrifying as such,' and 'Protagonist template'!
Even Sawara Kiri, in his early years, had considered latching onto the golden thigh of this 'Child of the Era,' hoping at least to become a supporting character used to set up the plot, or even to establish a connection with Konoha's highest echelons.
But unfortunately,
The role of a passerby that he performed did not qualify him for the genius club.
The people Minato Namikaze frequently associated with were either two or three years older than him, or even seven or eight years older, all of them new-generation powerhouses known throughout Konoha for their strength and talent among the younger generation.
Akimichi Choza, Nara Shikaku, Uchiha Fugaku.
Clearly, from a very young age, Minato Namikaze had consciously laid the groundwork for his path to becoming Hokage.
This was the path Minato Namikaze had set for himself.
'So, how should I walk my path?'
Sawara Kiri had been pondering this question ever since he left the Sealing Room.
Up until now, survival remained the first hurdle he had to face, and acquiring Heart Points for this purpose naturally became the top priority.
However, Sawara Kiri had walked from morning until now, and whether it was his familiar colleagues, neighbors he had known for years, or the Big Sister at the breakfast stall he had coveted for years...
Everyone's heads were blank.
This phenomenon made him instinctively recall the specific line of text he had seen on the panel last night.
"Bond Level Increased"
Sawara Kiri gently stroked his chin, his brows slightly furrowed.
"So, it requires... people with a 'closer' relationship to me?"
"It seems the time for Hidden Mist will have to be extended even longer."
"But that's good."
Sawara Kiri muttered, a piece of paper silently appearing between his fingers.
It was the intelligence he was preparing to send to Hidden Mist.
It detailed the S-rank mission the Tsunade Squad was currently undertaking.
"Assassinate the Third Raikage."
Besides that, it also recorded several key supply points where they would stop along the way.
Although Konoha's Sealing Technique was considered sufficiently secure for most people, under the "Six Eyes" capable of deciphering Chakra flow and composition, the intelligence hidden in the sealed cabinet still had nowhere to hide.
This way, he could at least extend his development period by another three months.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw someone ahead suddenly wave in his direction:
"Hey--!"
"Sawara-kun! Come help me move your intelligence department's bento boxes!"
"The delivery cart's wheel broke."
"Coming!"
The paper in Sawara Kiri's hand vanished abruptly, and he turned to respond to the person.
However, when he turned his head and saw the person's face, his steps paused involuntarily.
The abundant computational power provided by his "External Brain" instantly brought the person's face to mind, but his brows couldn't help but furrow slightly.
If he remembered correctly, he should be Kojima from the first-floor logistics office?
But that guy seemed to have a bit of a cleanliness obsession, didn't he...?
Observing the behavioral characteristics of strangers is an elective for Ninja, but a required course for spies.
Catching a glimpse of the subtle mud stains on the edge of the other party's trouser leg, the heavy dust on his shoe soles, and comparing it to his impression of the person, Sawara Kiri instinctively felt a hint of suspicion.
With just a tiny, insignificant doubt, he unhesitatingly activated "Six Eyes" and turned to look at the other party.
Under this vision, all Chakra flow was visible to him.
Very lucky.
Beneath the Chakra-constructed shell was a body that completely mismatched its figure—this was the reaction of a special transformation Ninjutsu.
So, it's a fellow agent?
I thought it was Anbu testing me again.
Seeing this, Sawara Kiri's body finally relaxed slightly, and even his smile became much more genuine.
"Sawara-kun?"
Kojima seemed to notice his steps had stopped and asked, feigning confusion, his knuckles naturally touching the other side of his trouser leg.
"Um, excuse me, you are...?"
Sawara Kiri looked at him with some confusion.
"I'm Kojima, Kojima Kenta!" He mumbled, seemingly a little displeased, but his hand on his trouser leg loosened by half. "I've been delivering lunch to your office all week, you couldn't possibly not remember me at all, could you?"
"Eh? Is that so? My apologies, my apologies." Sawara Kiri scratched his head shyly like a typical big boy, clearly a bit embarrassed.
"I've been working too much overtime recently, my head's a bit fuzzy. You guys in logistics shouldn't be this busy, right?"
"Hmph! Don't even mention it, we left even later than you guys last night..."
Perhaps to ease the awkwardness from before, he proactively struck up a conversation, chatting with this Kojima about small office topics, each carrying their bento boxes and walking towards the end of the hallway.
Inside, he was pondering the other party's objective.
Is he trying to get information out of me? Or trying to sneak into the intelligence department with me? Or...
Years of undercover life had cultivated his suspicious and distrustful habits, making him instinctively wary of any abnormal movements from those around him.
However, it was also natural.
Who made him an undercover agent too?
But just as he was still thinking, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the wall behind him.
"Boom--!"
The sturdy outer wall of the Hokage Building was completely blown open by a special explosive Ninjutsu, revealing a large gap five or six meters wide. The hot wind from the explosion blew debris, which clattered against the hallway.
At the same time, several suicide bombers rushed fearlessly into the gap, launching a desperate charge towards a certain spot on the third floor without hesitation.
However, these few people had only just rushed into the building when more than a dozen Anbu in full uniform and Konoha Ninja in combat attire rushed out from all directions, surrounding and intercepting them.
The moment he noticed this scene, Sawara Kiri turned to look at his companion beside him and immediately understood their objective.
—Once the identity of the enemy spy is exposed, it's easy to deduce his intention to break into certain key departments during the chaos.
It seems that Hidden Mist isn't the only one who wants the intelligence in his hands, huh?
Sawara Kiri's gaze deepened.
In that case...
"Sawara-kun!"
As expected, before he could speak, the Kojima beside him had already thrown down his bento box and urged him on with an anxious tone, fearlessly: "Quick! Let's go block those bastards too!"
However, Sawara Kiri unexpectedly protected the bento box, reached out to stop him, and calmly said:
"Don't worry."
"There's only one room there, the Secret Sealing Room, and Hokage-sama is guarding it. They can't get in!"
As he spoke, Sawara Kiri gave him an incredibly confident smile.
( ω < ) ☆
"Hmm?!"
Just that one sentence immediately froze 'Kojima's' steps, which were ready to move, and even the Kunai he was attempting to use to hijack him remained in his pouch, motionless.
Above, that's the weak point?
At that moment, he looked at Sawara Kiri's back, his eyes gleaming.
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