A shadow emerged from the stage where Yoichi and the rest of the children were leisurely staying for the day.
While the unfamiliar shinobi appeared, another guy casually walked onto the stage wearing a breather and filled a dominant temperament.
"Stand up and greet before you, the leader of our glorious village, Hanzō-sama!"
Upon hearing an imposing voice, the children's eyes were deeply focused and they thoroughly looked at Hanzō, who was standing on the stage.
'Is this the Demi-God of the Shinobi World?! He looks younger than I thought he would be!'
Yoichi thought. Although Hanzō's information on his past life was too hazy or unknown to a certain extent, the reality of Hanzō's age became conspicuous with his youthful eyes and good stature.
"Roughly 23 years of age, clothing that overshadows his slightly firm physique, and average black eyes that reveal his overwhelming ambition," Yoichi whispered as he stated Hanzō's current physical appearance one by one with his keen eyesight.
"Greetings, children," Hanzō said, "Now that you all are rested up from the exhausting journey to this paradise, I will gladly explain about these trials and why I started them."
"As a veteran who experienced the Warring States Period and First Shinobi War, it pained me to see our troops fight valiantly against these major villages on our borders.
"We suffered so much to the point that we could only bow and reluctantly kneel in front of them..."
"But I didn't! Along with the heroic spirits of the founders and shinobi, who fought courageously with blood, sweat, and tears... This village should rise against these malicious tyrants and fight for what is ours!"
"You, children are our future! The stability of this village should carry on within your hands!" Hanzō's persuasive words struck deeply into the heart of the children but Yoichi remained composed, unimpressed by this display of flowery bullshit.
"Wow, what a leader! This is a true commander, fighting with heavy responsibility on the line!"
"Yeah... That's so cool!"
"I will dutifully serve this village with all I've got!"
While the admiration and respect for Hanzō crammed the atmosphere with a jovial mood, Yoichi slightly shrugged his shoulders and attentively looked at Hanzō, who was glad about the result of his speech.
'Haaahh... Every leader would deliver a grand and outstanding speech before they indicate a high-difficulty task. I have played these games before!'
"Silence!" Hanzō continued, "So now, I will say the next trial. Starting from today, all of you will live on the streets of Amegakure and find informants or shinobi of the major villages. These spies were deeply entrenched in our lands, encroaching on the village's safety and peace!"
As if like a thunderclap, the shocking reveal left the children stunned and bewildered including Yoichi.
"Yes, you will live in the slums of Amegakure for an exceptional disguise among all the inhabitants."
"Of course, there will be additional assistance once you find these rats. Tell the information to the nearby shinobi around you and your team will receive bountiful rewards!"
Once the children heard the rewards, their thoughts became swamped with greed and desire, competitively igniting their determination.
However, Yoichi felt like being manipulated. In his mind, living on the streets sounded reasonable for him since he had 10 Million Ryō and 10 Gold Bars in his Interspatial Pouch, collecting dust and waiting for him to be squandered.
But finding shinobi from enemy villages? That was so sketchy and dangerous! There is no apparent information about the skills of their hidden opponents.
Furthermore, they are merely minors, basically worthless, and just cannon fodder for these skirmishes once these forces fought nearby.
"As long as you find even one informant or a shinobi spy, you can be recruited by the village, passing to the next trial with a guarantee of your admission! You all have a timeframe of 1 year so think carefully, scheme wisely, and fish patiently..."
Hanzō added a sentence that increased the fervor and ambitions of the children inside the facility. His eyes looked satisfied and he left the venue to his respective subordinates.
"Do not leave yet! There are still other children who are waiting for the trial's instruction. Rest and prepare, we'll start the trial once the participants are done with the preliminary test."
As the children went to their groups, Haruhiko exclaimed, "Did you hear that? We can be certified shinobi once we are done with this trial!"
"Huh? Where are you going, Yoichi?" Hikari paused to see that her friend had suddenly gone into the bathroom, tilting her head in curiosity before she and Haruhiko talked about the trial.
'Instant shinobi status? It should be a bait for countless fish around. The big stakes are on the groups behind Hanzō and the nobility!'
In the bathroom, Yoichi closed the door and thought carefully until he spoke, "It's no use... I need to destroy this seal... I must wait for 4 months before the yearly gold ticket. For now, let's begin to pull for the resources!"
[Silver Ticket: 8 -> 0]
As he ripped the materialized silver tickets in his hand, his consciousness was sent into his magical space with a Silver Roulette in front of him.
「Silver Roulette」
[Introduction to Alchemy]
[Miscellaneous Item: Black Sleeves]
[Food](30 Portions)
[...]
"Whoa, the blacksmith book was crossed... So that means any book I hold in my possession should be a limited edition... Bless me heavens!"
While the roulette suddenly began to revolve, Yoichi's eyes shone with thrill as if like a man addicted to gambling.
[Congratulations on winning (Food)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Miscellaneous Item: Long-Sleeved Black Shirt)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Qi Blood Pills)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Miscellaneous Item: Solar Smartwatch)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Blood Ganorderma Ointment)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Food)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Qi Blood Pills)!]
[Congratulations on winning (Crimson Orchid Medicinal Powder)!]
After a bunch of prompts overwhelmed his eyes, Yoichi looked at the items on the ground, littering the bathroom.
"Hell yeah! 2 Bottles of Qi Blood Pills and another 30 portions of ointment for the Skin Refining Stage! What the hell?! I'm so lucky!"
Taking the items one by one, he checked and analyzed each item with bright eyes, satisfied with his luck in the roulette.
[Solar Smartwatch]
—A modern smartwatch with a unique function: it can charge just by putting this device into sunlight!
[Long-Sleeved Black Shirt]
—A tightly fitted black shirt with a nice texture, this clothing is extremely durable and can be used for all ages!
(Note: It has a growth function, usable until your eventual death!)
"These things are so useful for me! Now, I can finally know the time and get rid of my clothes. But I'll equip them later, not with these gossipy children around."
Then, he took them into the Space Pouch and immediately returned to his friends, finally relaxed from the results of his gamble.
"It always took you so long to pee, do you have any deficiencies or what?" Haruhiko was piqued by Yoichi's suspicious behavior.
"Hikari, did you see Genji and Sabito around?" Yoichi ignored his remarks and glanced at Hikari until he was looking at the innumerable children.
"Still no clue about them... Perhaps they are still on the line or being tested..." Hikari grew worried and excited, frequently peeking side by side.
"Do not be too anxious, they will definitely be here..." Yoichi reassured his friend, eventually sitting down on the ground and patiently waiting for his faraway friends to come back.
_________
(Current Progress)
[Heavenly Demon Posture: (Great Success) 135/500]
[Tickets: 1 Prismatic, 2 Gold, 0 Silver]
[Silver Roulette Rewards]
—[2 X 30 portions of food]
—[2 X Bottle of Blood Qi Pills]
—[1 X 30 Portions of Blood Ganoderma Ointment]
—[1 X 30 Portions of Crimson Orchid Medicinal Powder]
_____________
I don't have anything to say for now.
Thanks for reading the chapters and bookmarking the novel. See ya! XDD!