"I need you to help me find someone named Ci Xian, who should look like an ascetic monk."
"But don't make a fuss, find him discreetly."
Ji Ba and the other two nodded. "Yes!"
Baji felt that Lin Yu wasn't too much of a jerk and whispered, "But wouldn't it be easier to find him if we made a big announcement? Or do you have a portrait of him, my lord?"
Lin Yu was helpless. He just didn't want them to die too quickly. He said sternly, "Ci Xian is a flower-picking thief whose strength has reached the Kage level. His power is terrifying! Just inquire about his whereabouts secretly."
"Kage-level expert?"
"Flower-picking thief!"
Ji Ba and Baji were both surprised and then looked at each other.
"Ji Ba, what do you think?"
"Baji, what do you think?"
Ji Ba plucked a whisker from his chin and said seriously, "Kage-level experts are not common. Almost all Kage-level experts in the ninja world are on the bounty list, but I've never heard of this Ci Xian."
Baji stroked his smooth chin and said, "This is the first time I've seen someone become a flower-picking thief while being an ascetic monk. This Ci Xian must be quite a character. I'd like to have a chat with him if I get the chance!"
*Slap!*
"Would an actual Kage-level expert even spare a glance at a nobody like you? Are you trying to die?"
Ji Ba looked at Bo Gang, who remained silent, and asked, "Gangzi, what's your opinion?"
Bo Gang, with a pale face, glanced at Lin Yu and said in a deep voice, "I'll do whatever the lord arranges!"
Lapdog!
Ji Ba and Baji cursed internally and then both said obsequiously, "We'll do as the lord commands."
Lin Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Continue with your usual business, and inquire discreetly."
"Yes!"
Ji Ba asked, "Then how should we contact you, my lord?"
"Someone will notify you when the time comes. Remember not to leave the Land of Rice."
Lin Yu waved his hand. He didn't expect these three minor characters to find Ci Xian. Their greatest use was to annoy that person in the future.
Lin Yu took a large stack of banknotes from the pile the exchange office manager had brought and threw it to Ji Ba and the other two. "This should be enough for you to live on for two to three years."
"Thank you, my lord!"
"Don't linger after you leave. This place will be gone soon."
Ji Ba and the other two suppressed their joy. It seemed the other party wasn't as easy to deal with as they thought. This was a pre-emptive strike, a warning to the three of them.
After Ji Ba and the others left, Lin Yu flipped through the bounty handbook in his hand.
"Third Hokage, let's see where he is... Found him! Third Hokage, Ai, bounty of 80 million Ryo!"
Isn't this a bit low?
Hanzo, that weakling, is worth 200 million Ryo. Third Hokage should be at least comparable to Hanzo, if not 300 million Ryo. Why is there such a huge difference?
Lin Yu felt that in terms of combat power, Sanjiao Wu Hanzo would be no match for the Third Hokage. As long as he was careful of Sanjiao's poison, it would be easy for the Third Hokage to defeat Hanzo with his "One-Finger Stab."
At most, his finger would turn black when it came out. He could just cut it off, no big deal!
Lin Yu asked the exchange office manager, "Why is the Third Hokage's bounty so low? Is there a problem with your exchange office's combat power assessment?"
"Replying to my lord, our exchange office does not assess bounties based solely on strength. For example, if someone offers a sky-high price for a Jonin's head, their bounty will naturally be higher." The exchange office manager replied respectfully.
"In other words, he hasn't made enough enemies. It seems I need to find an opportunity to make more enemies for the Third Hokage. Otherwise, with such a low bounty, I wouldn't even bother with him."
Lin Yu felt regretful. The end of the Third Great Ninja War had been completely disrupted by him. The Battle of Kannabi Bridge had already ended, yet the Third Hokage hadn't been surrounded by ten thousand Iwagakure ninja. This pace had been thrown off by Lin Yu. He needed to speed up the war's progress, or how else could he fool Jiraiya!
Lin Yu came back to his senses, hefted the leather case, and asked, "How much in total is in here?"
"A total of 150 million Ryo."
"Good work, you can go on your way now!"
*Boom!*
A few minutes later, Lin Yu appeared on the street. Behind him, buildings were gradually collapsing. He roughly discerned the direction of the Land of Fire and then disappeared from his spot.
...
Three days later, Konohagakure.
Without Lin Yu, the lost child, leading them astray, Obito and Kakashi, who had rushed back at full speed, stood in the Hokage's office. Facing a grim-faced Hiruzen Sarutobi, Obito felt a little guilty and quickly lifted the "heavy" backpack on his back.
"You're saying that these past few days... you encountered bandits?"
"Yes!"
"And your money was all plundered?"
"Yes!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Obito, who was nodding like a pecking chicken, and had no desire to get angry. This act was too unconvincing; anyone could see it was fake.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then looked at Kakashi and asked, "Is what Obito says true?"
"Tch, who knows!"
That's it. This one isn't even bothering to pretend. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt they were making things difficult for him and regretted taking on this task again!
Hiruzen Sarutobi said impatiently, "Then what about Uzumaki Lin Yu? He hasn't returned yet, has he?"
"Teacher Lin Yu sprained his leg and is probably still on the way. He should arrive in a few days!" Obito quickly found an excuse for Lin Yu.
"Idiot! Dead last!"
Kakashi turned his head away, not wanting to look at Obito anymore. Why was his teammate so stupid!
"Sprained his leg? Still on the way? Won't arrive for a few days?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't hold back anymore. The more Uchiha Obito spoke, the more absurd it became!
"Uchiha Obito! Are you telling me a joke? Where is Uzumaki Lin Yu!"
Obito instinctively stood up straight, as if being lectured by a teacher. "Report! I don't know where Teacher Lin Yu is either. He really didn't tell me how to answer this question!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, worried about Obito's naive demeanor. What would happen to Obito in the future!
"Then tell me all the questions that Uzumaki Lin Yu told you how to answer!"
Obito hesitated and glanced at Kakashi. Seeing that Kakashi was completely ignoring him, he blurted it all out.
"Report! We went to the Land of Hot Springs a few days ago... then we bought some local specialties, and Kakashi even bought a large bag of comic books!"
Kakashi, standing beside him, could no longer maintain his composure. His face under his mask turned red. "Idiot Obito! What nonsense are you spouting! How could I buy that kind of thing!"
Kakashi argued, "Lord Nara, I, Hatake Kakashi, swear to the heavens! I would never buy comic books! I have no interest in comic books!"
"That's not necessarily true!"
Obito sneakily reached out and unzipped Kakashi's backpack. *Rustle!*
A pile of comic books fell out...
Kakashi froze on the spot, his entire body seeming to turn into a piece of paper, swaying in the wind~
"Ahem! Alright Obito, put these things away! You can go now. Remember to tell Uzumaki Lin Yu to come here when he returns."
After all, he was the son of his friend Sakumo Hatake. Hiruzen Sarutobi still had to give Kakashi some face, even though it was almost gone.
"Then I'll leave with Kakashi."
Seeing that Kakashi was still motionless, swaying like a piece of paper, Obito picked him up on his back.
Sigh, he really worried if Kakashi could take care of himself alone in the future.
Just as Obito was about to walk out the door, he suddenly remembered one more thing. He turned back and said, "Oh, right, Teacher Lin Yu also asked me to ask if the specialties we bought this time can be reimbursed, since we bought quite a lot~"
"Get lost!"
Someone's shoe flew and hit the closed door. The cunning Obito had already slipped away...