Chapter 24 - 6: The pickpocket

The city of Edo is one of the great cities of the land of the earth, gambling, woman, drink, thermal spring, everything was pleasant there.

The streets were bright, the buildings made of high quality marble and metal stood throughout the city giving it an atmosphere of wealth.

In the streets the crowd of wealthy visitor were crowding around dressed in smart clothes mixing with the local inhabitants but among this visitor was a young man with black hair with a scar on his left eye, carrying a short sword to his waist as he walked the streets.

"My clone has already given Onoki's answer to the Hokage, I think it's better to take advantage of this mission to have some fun." He said as he admired the architecture of the city.

Then he entered a traditional bar at the end of a nearby street, he was quickly greeted by several young girls who made him sit on a fûton and began to serve him sake.

The atmosphere was calm and the customers were separated by several partitions, Nori drank slowly enjoying the slightly sour and sour taste of the drink.

"Lord your cup is empty.." Says one of the girls before pouring the alcohol into Nori's guinomi.

"Thank you" says Nori calmly, continuing to drink.

Then Nori left the bar aftet an hour or so, walking in the streets with a slightly red face, hen he started singing as he crossed the streets.

"....I'll tell you all about it when I see you again..."

But a young boy with red hair ran towards him, hitting himself against him before getting up and apologizing and then continued on his way as Nori stopped and watched him disappear into the crowd.

Further on, the young boy stopped in a dark alley and took a few bills out of his pocket.

"Wow!!!!! This guy is really rich jackpot hahahaha" Suddenly said the young boy with a joy laugh.

But suddenly a hand appeared behind him and took back the money.

"It's not good to steal Kid."

A shiver crossed the boy's back then he turned his head.

"Ow... Ow... Ow... stop, sir... I won't steal anymore... aaaaa."

.....

....

Then he continued his walk in an onsen before heading to a good barbecue restaurant.

"It's time to find a good inn."

Nori suddenly stopped walking with a dark expression

"Why are you following me, kid?"

The boy hiding behind a wall then came out with a few drops of sweat on his forehead, took a deep breath and hurried to kneel down in front of Nori.

Nori's lips tensed slightly at the sight of this scene.

Kid, you think we're in a f.u.c.ki*ng roman xianxia?

But he quickly came to his senses and said.

"What do you think i can teach you, I'm just a poor traveler, unless you want to learn the art of dumpster diving."

The young boy still kneeling then said

"I saw your ID for a brief moment when I went through your pockets, you're a konoha ninja."

On hearing this Nori was starting to get a slight headache, in fact he had deliberately let the kid steal from him to see if any other ninjas had tricked him, but finaly he see the kid was just a simple pickpocket.

But the kid found out his identity, he didn't want to kill him and he didn't have any Genjutsu to erase his memory.

Finally Nori sighed and asked

"Why do you want me to teach you, trust me, there's nothing good about ninja work, you risk your life for next to nothing, the mortality rate is horrible and you'll spend your whole life killing, the value of a ninja's life is no different than a dog's in the end."

"Then go home and give up this idea." He said as he passed the boy kneeling on the ground walking slowly towards a nearby street.

But the young boy quickly caught up with him and knelt down once more, attracting the eyes of passers-by this time.

"Master I want to become stronger to help my friends in danger and protect them please teach me."

Nori looking at the boy's determined face and seeing the line of tears running down his cheeks couldn't help but sigh again.

"Well, let's find a quiet place and explain to me in more detail why you want to help your friends in danger."

"Master follow me, you will understand." He said with a determined facial expression as he wiped away his tears.

Then Nori followed him through several old alleyways and reached the outskirts of the city. He took Nori to a neighborhood full of old houses and dilapidated streets, then he stopped in front of a wooden house with a small chimney on the roof and shouted

"Friends, I'm back!"