It truly was the Daimyo's library. A vast room occupying two or three hundred square meters, rising five stories high. Shelves upon shelves packed with books, categorized meticulously.
The servant handed Taiichi over to the curator, relaying the Daimyo's order: Taiichi could choose any ten ninjutsu books. Then, the servant retreated to wait outside.
Inside, the elderly curator guided the young ninja through the aisles. Thousands of books surrounded them—the crystallized wisdom of centuries.
Taiichi's fingers twitched. He wanted to pack the whole place up and take it back to Konoha. But he restrained himself. Patience. There will be other chances.
They ascended the spiral staircase to the third floor. Unlike the crowded lower levels, this floor was spacious, with only a few antique redwood shelves in the center.
"This is the collection of ninjutsu classics gathered by successive Daimyos," the curator said, stroking the shelf with pride. "Quantity is low, but quality is high."
Taiichi scanned the shelves. Each held forty or fifty scrolls and books, some yellowed with age. He noticed a scroll on the top shelf bound with gold thread and sealed with a "Secret" tag.
"That is a manuscript left by the Second Hokage when he traveled the Land of Fire in his youth," the curator explained. "But due to the seal, I do not know its contents."
Taiichi nodded and began browsing. He picked up Detailed Explanation of Fire Nature Transformation.
"Please handle with care. That book is nearly a hundred years old," the curator warned nervously.
"This library was built during the First Daimyo's reign. Every Daimyo has collected precious texts. That Earth Style Defensive Jutsu Research was a gift from the First Raikage," the curator boasted while supervising Taiichi.
Taiichi carefully selected ten books covering Nature Transformation, basic Sealing Jutsu, and Taijutsu training. For each one, the curator recorded it meticulously and nagged Taiichi about preservation, as if Taiichi were cutting flesh from his body.
Just as Taiichi was about to leave with his ten books, his eyes caught an unremarkable book in the bottom corner of a shelf.
On the Conversion of Chakra: Matter and Energy.
"Curator, what about this one?"
"That one? Hmm... It's very old. Older than the library itself. But everyone who reads it says it's nonsense, so no one pays attention to it anymore."
Taiichi stared at the book. An inner voice told him it was important. Following his gut, he swapped a Taijutsu book for it.
"Curator, I'll return this one and take On the Conversion of Chakra: Matter and Energy instead."
"Are you sure?" The curator confirmed. Seeing Taiichi nod, he wrapped the books carefully. "Please treat them well."
Taiichi accepted the package, feeling its weight. These books might be the most important harvest of this mission.
Leaving the library, he told the servant, "Please tell the Daimyo I won't disappoint him."
Then, he left the mansion.
Turning the corner, out of sight of the mansion, Taiichi broke into a cold sweat. His back was soaked. He panted heavily, trying to calm down.
It had been too intense. His Chakra Sensing had detected several auras equal to his own hidden around the Daimyo, and over a dozen slightly weaker ones nearby.
One wrong word could have cost him his life.
Damn it. Spy work isn't for humans.
Fortunately, the first step was done. He just had to be careful. What info to leak was the Hokage's problem.
Composing himself, Taiichi walked briskly toward the guest house.
Compared to Konoha's shabby guest house, the capital's was luxurious—a true reflection of the Land of Fire's wealth.
Entering their courtyard, he saw Saori sitting on a stone bench, reading under the moonlight.
Dressed in white training clothes, she looked tranquil and beautiful. The night breeze played with her hair, and she tucked it behind her ear absentmindedly.
Taiichi paused. When did Saori get so pretty?
Sensing his gaze, Saori looked up. Her eyes brightened.
"Taiichi! You're back!"
"Mn." Taiichi blushed slightly for staring. He walked over, glancing at her book: Advanced Sealing Jutsu Theory.
"Yohei isn't back yet?" he asked, feeling guilty.
Saori shook her head. "No. Probably still playing. I heard the night market stays open late."
"Did you have fun?"
"It got boring quickly. Just more people than Konoha. Might as well come back and study."
Good girl. If you don't get stronger, who will? Certainly not Yohei, wherever he is.
"I started learning Sealing Jutsu too. Can you help me if I have questions?" Taiichi asked.
Saori's eyes lit up. She closed her book excitedly. "Really? We can study together! I'm stuck on nested structures for multiple seals."
Taiichi realized this was the same difficulty he faced with the Multiple String Light Formation. He sat opposite her and pulled out Detailed Explanation of Sealing Jutsu Structures from his new collection.
"What a coincidence. I just got this. It has info on nested seals!"
He opened the yellowed pages to a diagram marked in red. "Look at this triple structure. Doesn't it match the concept of multiple nesting?"
Saori leaned in, her hair brushing the page, emitting a faint fragrance. "I see! If written like this, the flat structure becomes three-dimensional, allowing more seals!"
Epiphany struck. She grabbed a pen and started calculating furiously. Taiichi watched, supplying paper when she ran out.
He learned from her calculations, feeling his own understanding deepen.
They discussed until late night. When Saori finally solved the problem, a notification appeared for Taiichi.
> [Sealing Jutsu Study Session. Insight gained!]
> [Skill Sealing Jutsu improved. EXP +100]
"Great! Finally solved it! Thank you, Taiichi!" Saori grabbed his hand happily.
Taiichi smiled. "Oh, I almost forgot."
He took out two seal tags. "I meant to give you these before the mission. These are the Multiple String Light Formation tags I used in the duel. Lifesavers."
Saori took them, trembling slightly. Such tags were treasures even in clans. Precious materials, difficult creation, hard maintenance—they were priceless.
"This is too valuable..." Her voice was whisper-soft.
"Take it." Taiichi pointed at her draft paper. "Consider it tuition!"
"But remember, infuse chakra every three days and maintain the runes weekly, or they'll fail."
"Mn. I know." Saori put them away carefully. Seeing an ink stain on Taiichi's sleeve, she instinctively reached out to brush it off.
They both froze. The wind rustled the leaves.
Saori retracted her hand quickly, turned, and ran to her room. "I'm going to sleep!"
Taiichi watched the door close, amused. Maybe my body is affecting my soul. Appreciating an eleven-year-old loli?
He shook his head and looked at the moon. It was late.
"Where is Yohei?"
Taiichi sat on the bench, waiting. He opened On the Conversion of Chakra: Matter and Energy and started reading.
Time ticked by. The moon moved past its zenith.
Just as Taiichi was about to go search for him...
Screech.
The gate hinge squeaked loudly in the silent night.
The noise stopped abruptly. Then the gate moved inch by inch, silently.
When it opened fully, the person sighed in relief. But looking into the courtyard, he froze.
Taiichi sat on the stone bench, staring at him with burning eyes.
"Uh... Taiichi... let me explain!"
"Sneaking around!"
"Staying out late!"
"No discipline!"
Taiichi stood up, walking slowly toward Yohei, his aura forcing Yohei back.
Taiichi circled him, sniffing.
"You drank? I didn't know my teammate was an adult of twenty."
Suddenly, a scent hit Taiichi's nose. Not Saori's faint fragrance, but the pungent smell of cheap rouge.
Connecting it with the late hour, Taiichi spun around, disbelief in his eyes.
"You went to a brothel!"
"N-No! Taiichi, it's not what you think!" Yohei waved his hands frantically, explaining in a panic. "I... I was just pulled in! I just sat there! I didn't do anything!"
"Then what did you want to do?" Taiichi lowered his voice, sounding like a disappointed parent.
"This... that..." Yohei stammered, eyes darting around for an excuse.
"Main body or Transformation?" Taiichi asked abruptly.
"Transformation, of course!" Yohei answered without thinking. Then he covered his mouth and giggled nervously. "Hehe..."
Taiichi looked at him strangely, then sighed. "Forget it. I can't control everything. Just know your limits. A ninja must have self-control! Go sleep."
"Taiichi... you won't blame me?" Yohei asked, panicked. "I won't do it again!"
"It's fine. As long as you think it's okay. But during a mission, staying out this late is against protocol."
"Yes!" Seeing Taiichi wasn't angry, Yohei's cheeky side returned. "Taiichi, you don't know, that girl..."
"SCRAM!" Taiichi raised his foot to kick him.
Yohei anticipated it and bolted into his room.
Just before the door closed...
"Wait."
Taiichi threw two seal tags into the room. "For protection. Instructions are on the paper."
Yohei held the precious tags. A long moment later: "Thank you!"
The door closed.
Watching Yohei's light turn on, Taiichi rubbed his temples hard.
How did I get a teammate like this? Does he really see Jiraiya as a role model?
Remembering he used Tsunade as an example earlier, an image formed in his mind.
In the front, the older generation of Konoha's "Three Vices" (Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru) stood laughing hands on hips. Behind them, the new generation bowed and studied diligently.
A shiver ran down Taiichi's spine. He shook his head violently to dispel the image.
No way. At least Saori and I won't be like that.