The Ninja was expressionless, merely nodding slightly in response to Li Yi's thanks.
Li Yi didn't dwell on it and followed the Ninja into the main camp. At this point, the Ninja dispelled the green light in his hand, bowed to the few people inside the camp, and then instantly disappeared.
At this moment, within the Konoha Main Camp, seated at the head was a rather dignified Ninja. Li Yi could vaguely discern the younger appearance of the Third Hokage. In Li Yi's opinion, this person was likely Hiruzen Sarutobi, the future Third Hokage of Konoha.
Beside him were five other people. One of them had choppy hair and two scar-like marks below his forehead. He exuded a serious aura, showing no hint of his future gloomy demeanor.
Danzo Shimura at this time was not yet the 'Root' buried beneath the great tree of Konoha.
The others, presumably, were members of Konoha's F4: Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado.
The other two were the plump Akimichi Kyokufū and Uchiha Kagami.
Seeing all six people looking at him, Li Yi said, "Sirs, my name is Li Yi. This is the scroll that the Second Hokage-sama gave me to deliver to Hiruzen Sarutobi of Konoha."
With that, Li Yi took out a scroll from his pocket and held it in his hand.
The person in the very middle spoke, "I am Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Li Yi's guess was indeed correct, so he respectfully placed the scroll on the table in front of them. Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the scroll, nodded, and said, "It's Sensei's item."
After speaking, he formed hand seals, and soon, the scroll opened.
Hiruzen Sarutobi began to read it. After finishing, he looked at Li Yi again and then said, "Sensei said he wants you to join Konoha. Are you willing to join?"
Li Yi hadn't expected the Second Hokage to mention such a thing in the scroll, so he quickly nodded. It was a joke; right now, only Konoha was safe. As for other small Villages, heh, who knew how they might be wiped out.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tossed the scroll to Li Yi, who fumbled to catch it. He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with some confusion. Why was this scroll being thrown back to him?
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "This scroll also contains two Ninjutsu. They are Sensei's gift of thanks to you! Li Yi, your name is strange. Do you not have a surname?"
Li Yi smiled and said nothing. Many people here didn't have surnames; after all, not everyone came from a clan.
Hiruzen Sarutobi obviously didn't dwell on this, but instead said, "Sensei rarely gives out Ninjutsu scrolls. I hope you practice these two Ninjutsu on it diligently. In the future, you might well become an excellent Ninja."
Li Yi was overjoyed. A Ninjutsu scroll was a good thing! He hadn't expected the Second Hokage to be so generous.
Afterward, Hiruzen Sarutobi clapped his hands, and a Ninja walked in. Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Go tell Maruboshi Kosuke to escort Li Yi back to Konoha. From now on, he is a member of my Konoha."
The Ninja acknowledged and then flashed out.
Li Yi also quickly expressed his thanks and followed them out. As for what Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others discussed, it had nothing to do with Li Yi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had just been discussing how to rendezvous with Sensei. Now with the intelligence, they immediately began to deploy.
As for Li Yi's matter, none of them took it seriously. After all, they could all see that Li Yi was just an ordinary person—a lucky ordinary person, who just happened to meet the Second Hokage. The key was that he also met Maruboshi Kosuke; otherwise, Li Yi would have no way to reach the Konoha Main Camp.
Outside, Maruboshi Kosuke had evidently received Hiruzen Sarutobi's order and said, "You're Li Yi, right? Come with me, I'll take you back to Konoha!"
Li Yi smiled and said, "Thank you, Elder Brother Kosuke."
Maruboshi Kosuke nodded and then led Li Yi away from the camp, speeding towards Konoha.
Along the way, Kosuke didn't waste any words. When Li Yi occasionally couldn't run anymore, Kosuke would carry him. At this time, Li Yi took out the scroll and began to read it. He was very curious what Ninjutsu the Second Hokage would give him.
Opening the scroll, the text at the beginning was gone, apparently erased by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Further on, there was text. Li Yi looked at it and found it was actually a kenjutsu, and a very famous one: Dance of the Crescent Moon.
Li Yi remembered that this was used by Gekkō Hayate in Naruto. He hadn't expected it to be a kenjutsu developed by the Second Hokage.
Continuing to flip through, Li Yi then saw Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
There were only these two Ninjutsu on the scroll. Li Yi sighed, realizing he had overthought things. He had originally imagined something like Flying Thunder God, but now it seemed he was just dreaming.
However, having two was already very good. In this era, obtaining Ninjutsu was still very difficult.
Family legacies would not be leaked casually. At this time, it wasn't like decades later when some Ninjutsu were practically commonplace. Now, even a Great Fireball Jutsu was probably a family secret technique.
On Kosuke's back, Li Yi memorized the scroll. Li Yi didn't know why, but he could remember it after just one look. However, he currently had no Chakra at all, so attempting to perform them was undoubtedly a fool's errand.
Tucking the scroll into his chest, Li Yi asked, "Elder Brother Kosuke, can you teach me the Chakra Cultivation Method? The Second Hokage-sama gave me Ninjutsu, but he didn't teach me the cultivation method."
Kosuke paused, then remembered that Li Yi would also be a member of Konoha in the future, specially recruited by the Second Hokage. Not only that, but the Second Hokage personally gave him two Ninjutsu. So, teaching him the Chakra Cultivation Method should be fine.
"Alright, I'll teach you when we get to Konoha!" Kosuke agreed.
Li Yi was also overjoyed. This way, he wouldn't have to figure out how to get the Chakra Cultivation Method anymore.
After several days of travel, on the way back, they didn't encounter any Ninja, or Ninja from other Villages, which made Li Yi breathe a sigh of relief. He had finally arrived safely at Konoha.
Konoha at this moment was not as prosperous as it would later become, but there were already many people selling things on the streets, and it still looked like a thriving scene.
Kosuke brought Li Yi to his home and said, "You can stay here with me until the Second Hokage-sama returns. Here's some money, it should be enough for your living expenses during this time. Also, this is the Chakra Cultivation Method. I still have to go to the battlefield, so I won't stay and accompany you."
With that, Kosuke left the key and hurried away.
Li Yi opened his mouth, but in the end, said nothing. Kosuke had arranged everything so clearly, what more could he say?
The End.