Chapter 97: Morpheus (Not Really)
The next morning, when Haruko arrived at the training ground, three people were already waiting there.
Uchiha Izumi and Inuzuka Hana were full of energy, clearly looking forward to the new day of training.
"Yo, morning."
Haruko greeted them weakly, his gaze sweeping over the people who had been waiting for a while.
"So, why are you here too?"
Kakashi obviously couldn't have arrived earlier than Haruko; the third person was...
"Anko-sensei?"
"Yo, Haruko." Anko leaned against a tree trunk, still in her signature outfit. "You had quite an intense fight with Kakashi yesterday."
"Hah... it was alright." Haruko yawned again.
"Alright?" Anko looked him up and down, especially the faint dark circles under his eyes.
"With that look on your face, it doesn't look 'alright' no matter how you slice it."
At that moment, Kakashi arrived as well, looking like he hadn't slept well either.
Anko looked at Haruko, then at Kakashi, and couldn't help but laugh. "Tsk tsk, what's going on with you two? You both look like you've been hollowed out."
"Cough." Kakashi gave a light cough. "Yesterday's battle was quite draining."
"Same here."
"I'll give Kakashi-senpai a pass; it's normal if he hasn't recovered yet." Anko leaned in close to Haruko and poked his waist with her elbow. "But you, kid, shouldn't you have rested well after going back yesterday? Why do you look even more drained than him today?"
"Cough cough, I just haven't recovered yet..." Haruko shrugged. "Look, I'm a Genin who fought a Jonin. It's only natural that I haven't bounced back, right?"
Despite saying that, Haruko couldn't help but recall the Konoha Secret Taijutsu Esoteric Art he had taught Kaguya Kaede last night...
Haruko shook his head to clear the memories and changed the subject.
"So, Anko-sensei, what are you doing here?"
"I asked her to come."
Kakashi took over the conversation. "I'll probably need another two or three days to recover. During this time, I'll mainly be instructing Izumi and Hana."
He looked at Haruko and shrugged helplessly. "As for you... Hokage-sama's opinion is that your personal strength is already at a level where I don't need to teach you anything. It just so happens that Anko has something to discuss with you, so you're free to do as you please for the next couple of days."
"Yay—!" Before Haruko could say anything, Inuzuka Hana cheered.
Then she realized she had lost her composure and quickly covered her mouth, her face turning red with embarrassment. "I mean... what I meant was, it's amazing that Haruko gets special arrangements..."
In reality, she was breathing a sigh of relief.
After witnessing Haruko's monster-like strength yesterday, the pressure of training on the same field as him today would have been far too much.
"Then I'll just..." Haruko was about to turn around and head home to catch up on some sleep.
"You're coming with me." Anko threw an arm around Haruko's neck and forcibly dragged him away. "I happen to have something to talk to you about."
"What for? Where are we going?"
After leaving the training ground, Haruko broke free from Anko's grip and adjusted his collar.
"FUNFUN Street." Anko pulled a list from her bosom and waved it. "Didn't you ask me to keep an eye out for materials to set up a Barrier Ninjutsu? With your status, going through official channels would definitely be difficult. It's more convenient to go to the black market."
"By the way, do you have enough money? If not..."
She leaned into Haruko's ear and whispered, "I can lend you some~"
"No thanks, I have money." Haruko refused immediately. If he borrowed this money, he feared he'd have to pay it back with his body.
...
Two hours later, the two of them arrived at FUNFUN Street.
It was still the same den of iniquity, though it seemed even more bustling than the last time Haruko had passed through.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, both of them had donned simple disguises.
Haruko wore a large grey cloak and a half-mask, while Anko had changed into tight black leather clothes with a veil covering her face, leaving only her sharp eyes visible.
"How do I look?" Anko spun around. "Unrecognizable, right?"
"Yeah." Haruko nodded. "But that outfit..."
"What about it?"
"It's too conspicuous."
Anko looked down at her figure, then back at Haruko, a smirk playing on her lips. "Is that so? I thought you'd like it."
Passing through the bustling main street, Anko led Haruko into a slum alleyway filled with the smell of mold and garbage, stopping beneath a derelict building.
About a dozen ragged beggars were scattered around, seemingly dozing off, but in reality, their gazes occasionally swept over the entrance and every passerby.
Looking closely, several of them had clearly undergone training, with calluses on their hands that only come from years of wielding weapons.
Clink, clink, clink.
Anko tossed three coins into the jar of a beggar at the building's entrance, making a crisp sound.
The beggar glanced at the two of them, then quickly pocketed the coins and stood up to head inside the building.
Anko gestured with her eyes, and the two followed closely behind.
On the rooftop of the abandoned building, Haruko saw—
"Morpheus?"
It was a burly bald man with shiny dark skin, wearing round black sunglasses and an exquisitely tailored black leather trench coat that seemed out of place in such an environment. (Image)
He held a white pigeon in his hands, stroking it gently.
"" Morpheus "? What's that?"
Anko didn't understand the word Haruko blurted out. "This is one of the local big shots, the " Beggar King " Borigin."
" Bowery King? It really is Morpheus. Don't tell me the Ninja World has a Continental Hotel too... Oh wait, it actually does, it's called the Bounty Station."
The man known as Borigin didn't turn around; he simply opened his hands, letting the white pigeon fly into the murky sky.
"The wind brings a familiar scent of Chakra... and another, a scent of fresh blood that makes one tremble."
Borigin turned around, his eyes behind the sunglasses seemingly able to see through their disguises.
"Anko Mitarashi, a rare guest. As for this one..."
His gaze lingered on Haruko, and he broke into a white-toothed grin. "It's not your first time here either."
'Do all baldies love acting cool this much?"
Haruko didn't want to waste words and directly pulled out a list of materials.
"Barrier Ninjutsu materials, huh..." Borigin took the list and glanced at it. "Fifty thousand Ryo."
Haruko pulled a money pouch from his robe and counted out fifty thousand Ryo, placing it on the table.
Borigin froze for a moment when he saw the bills, then brought them to his nose to sniff, his smile widening.
Snap.
He snapped his fingers, and a subordinate who looked like a beggar brought over a piece of paper.
"The things you're looking for are here. But I must warn you, the source of this batch... is a bit special."
"I understand."
Haruko took the paper and turned to leave.
Borigin put away the money. "Pleasure doing business with you. If you need anything else, feel free to come find me anytime."
"We will. See ya."
Not long after the two left the abandoned building, a white pigeon flew from the rooftop, heading north.
Want To Read More Chapters? Check Out 80+Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/SloppyGuy