No one expected the Anbu to actually show up, and so quickly at that.
Just as a potentially irreversible conflict was about to erupt between the two parties, the Anbu suddenly appeared. The meaning behind this, you ponder, you carefully ponder!
As for the appearance of the Anbu, Shinji had already anticipated it. Or rather, the words he had just spoken were not for the Konoha Enforcement Team, but for the hidden Anbu personnel.
It goes without saying that out of the four people who came from Mist Hidden, three left, and one remained in Konoha to open a shop and recycle chakra.
If you say there's nothing going on, who would believe it?
Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Hokage, must have sent people to monitor him in secret.
He wanted to know his purpose for staying and what tricks he was playing by recycling chakra.
The reason he didn't act against him was twofold: first, he didn't want to alert the enemy, and second, he didn't want to needlessly antagonize Mist Hidden.
Note the word 'needlessly.'
If it were discovered that his motives were impure and could harm Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi would be the first to send someone to kill him.
After all, he was merely an external consultant for Mist Hidden, with a title but not that much importance.
If he were killed, would Mist Hidden and Konoha go to war?
Impossible!
Old man Hiruzen had already planned everything meticulously, which was why the Anbu personnel appeared at the most critical moment to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Upon seeing the Anbu appear, everyone present knew that the matter had reached the Hokage's ears. No one wanted to get into trouble, so the people in line immediately dispersed without a sound.
Although the Enforcement Team members were displeased, they also knew that the Anbu were directly under the Hokage, considered his 'biological sons,' while they were merely adopted, with no official status.
So, after glaring at Shinji, they could only leave dejectedly.
As for the troublemaker, he also wanted to run, but with the Anbu here, how could they let him go?
"Chūnin Aoki Tetsuji, regarding this matter, the Hokage has already taken notice. You will be taken away by the captain of the Torture and Interrogation Department, Ibiki Morino, for questioning. I believe no one can lie in front of him. The truth will be revealed then."
Morino Ibiki?!
Upon hearing this name, Aoki Tetsuji's legs went weak. He immediately knelt down and cried, "No need! I confess! The entire thing was my doing. I just wanted to extort some money, but when the threat failed, I was beaten and humiliated. That's why I held a grudge and wanted revenge. I confess, I confess everything! Don't take me to the interrogation room!"
Seeing the genuine fear in the man's eyes, Shinji was truly curious about how terrifying the Torture and Interrogation Department captain, Morino Ibiki, must be to have built such a fearsome reputation. Just the name alone was enough to scare this guy into confessing readily.
The Anbu personnel seemed to have expected this outcome. "Since you have confessed, you will directly report to the Enforcement Team and surrender yourself later."
"Yes, yes! I'll go now, I'll go right now!"
Aoki Tetsuji was overjoyed and scrambled out.
Presumably, the Enforcement Team hadn't gone far yet.
Anyway, the situation wasn't too serious. Compared to the punishment he was about to receive, he was truly afraid of becoming an idiot if he went into the interrogation room.
After everyone had left, the Anbu personnel finally revealed their true purpose.
"Mist Hidden External Consultant Akagi Shinji, the Hokage wishes for you to cease your current activities and leave Konoha as soon as possible."
Are they starting to kick him out? Shinji suddenly felt like laughing.
"What's the reason? Konoha should have no regulations prohibiting outsiders from opening shops here, right? Moreover, I am conducting a legal business. Before opening the shop, I specifically checked Konoha's regulations, and none of them explicitly prohibit the 'buying and selling of chakra.' So, isn't the Hokage overreacting?"
"I will convey your words to my superiors without alteration."
The Anbu personnel did not engage with him on this matter and were very clear in their attitude. It was useless to argue with him. The final outcome depended on the Hokage's intentions.
As long as the Hokage said no, regardless of whether it was legal or not, he would have to close shop and leave immediately!
If he hadn't grasped Hiruzen Sarutobi's cautious and steady personality, Shinji wouldn't have dared to act so brazenly. If it were another Kage, they would have probably smashed his shop that very day.
Shinji also figured something out. The Anbu's swift appearance and direct communication of the Hokage's stance were somewhat beyond his expectations.
It was probably due to the negative impact of Sakura bringing Naruto here today.
Naruto's importance to Konoha needed no further explanation, right?
Now, the Konoha higher-ups couldn't figure out what he was doing, and it involved a Jinchuriki. Since they couldn't directly arrest him, they decided to make things clear and drive him away.
Shinji finally understood.
This whole mess, while Naruto's chakra was abundant and had multiple properties, it wasn't irreplaceable.
But the problem now was that he couldn't reveal this matter.
If he asked the Anbu to relay a message to the Hokage, saying, "Actually, you're all overthinking it. I have no interest in the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, nor will I do anything to him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably not let him leave Konoha alive.
...
Hokage's Office.
"Did he really say that?"
"Yes, and he also said he is willing to cooperate with Konoha. He just needs different chakra properties for related research, and in return, he is willing to donate a sum of funds to us, in his personal capacity."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair, leisurely smoking his pipe, exhaling clouds of smoke, lost in thought.
After a while, he spoke, "Do you think what this person said is credible?"
"Half true, half false."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"The need for different chakra properties is true, but the purpose and motive are unclear, which is false. His willingness to cooperate with us is because he is worried the Hokage might issue an order to expel him directly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly in agreement and then fell into deep thought again.
The Anbu's actions these past few days were not just surveillance. They had also randomly selected a group of people among those who had sold their chakra and sent them to Konoha Hospital for comprehensive examinations.
The final result was that there were no changes, no effects, just a slight consumption of chakra.
Therefore, he could only conclude that what the person was doing was temporarily harmless to Konoha.
As for future matters, no one knew.
He could completely drive the person away now, but honestly, the things he needed were not unique to Konoha. If he were determined, he could travel to other countries and collect them.
So why not take this opportunity to gain some benefits? A business worth nearly ten million Ryo was already quite substantial.
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