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For a ninja, intelligence is of utmost importance, especially when carrying out infiltration and reconnaissance missions. Accurate intelligence can mean the difference between life and death.
After entering the Land of Earth, Ye Zi used the Transformation Jutsu to change into the appearance of a middle-aged man who resembled Kimura Takuyoshi, a somewhat ordinary-looking figure, making him blend in easily.
Kimura Takuyoshi had been a spy Ye Zi had personally exposed. This man originally came from Iwagakure, and even Genya Yamanaka from the Yamanaka clan couldn't extract any useful information from his mind.
The reason Ye Zi chose to transform into someone who resembled Kimura was that his plain appearance and unremarkable aura made him inconspicuous. Since Ye Zi wasn't aware that Kimura was from Iwagakure, he didn't hesitate to adopt a similar look.
Dressed in worn-out clothes that had been battered by the desert winds, Ye Zi carried a bamboo basket filled with a few herbs on his back and staggered into a city built from stone.
This small town, surrounded by mountains on all sides, had buildings constructed from stacked stones, likely made from local materials. The architecture was solid and rugged, mostly in gray tones, and dominated by pointed towers.
Each building had numerous windows, with only a few balconies displaying green plants. The town's gray and somber atmosphere was a reflection of the Land of Earth itself.
Ye Zi managed to enter the town unnoticed. The people of the Land of Earth, known for their rugged demeanor and distrust of outsiders, didn't show any hostility toward him. His dust-covered, weathered clothes and the hardened look on his face, sculpted by mountain winds, made him look like a native of the Land of Earth. Naturally, they assumed he was one of their own.
Infiltration was a basic skill for Root members, and despite the Transformation Jutsu being considered somewhat limited, it was a technique that had to be mastered. Ye Zi's appearance seamlessly blended with his surroundings, his demeanor natural and unforced. He kept his speech and actions minimal, gathering information slowly and subtly by listening to the conversations around him, processing and filtering out the useful bits.
These were the skills he had learned from Root, and now they were being put to good use.
For gathering intelligence, a tavern was one of the best places to start. Another source was the black market, but intelligence there was more circulated. If someone went to the black market to inquire about Iwagakure, word would spread that someone was looking for information on Iwagakure.
As a poor middle-aged man, Ye Zi needed to display a fondness for alcohol to justify entering the tavern, a place known for its mix of people.
Although Ye Zi rarely drank, he could perfectly play the part of an alcohol addict.
Standing outside the tavern, he pretended to hesitate for a moment. After some internal deliberation, his expression shifted to one of decision-making, followed by a look of longing. He then pushed the door open and entered.
Inside the tavern, there were only a few tables occupied, with plenty of empty seats available.
Ye Zi scanned the room briefly without lingering too long and then looked toward the server, his face showing a craving for alcohol. As the scent of alcohol filled his nostrils, he even put on a look of intoxicated pleasure.
Among the patrons was a table of Iwa-nin.
The server, a tall young woman with tanned skin, exuded a confident and spirited air. Upon seeing Ye Zi's appearance, she immediately understood his intent and put on a bright smile, walking quickly toward him.
"Right this way, sir," she said cheerfully.
Ye Zi snapped back to reality and smiled at her, showing a mouth full of broken, yellow teeth. His cloudy, aged eyes gleamed with desire.
A flicker of disgust flashed through the server's eyes, but her smile remained unchanged. She gestured in a direction and slightly stepped aside for him.
Ye Zi slowly walked over, his gaze never leaving the server's body, openly lecherous. He sat down casually at an empty table, just one seat away from the table of Iwa-nin.
The server followed and asked what he wanted to drink.
Ye Zi shakily pulled out a few coins from his pocket and asked, "Is this enough?"
The server's eyes briefly showed disdain, but she smiled and replied, "It's enough."
"That's good, that's good," Ye Zi grinned at her again, revealing his broken yellow teeth.
The server's smile grew strained as she promised to return shortly and walked away.
Ye Zi leered at her as she walked off, but beneath his gaze, his eyes were as calm as still water.
His convincing performance didn't draw any unwanted attention. Right now, he was nothing more than a poor middle-aged drunkard, plain and ordinary. The Iwa-nin naturally wouldn't pay much attention to him and didn't notice that he was using a Transformation Jutsu.
After a while, the server returned with a large bowl of murky liquor and left. Ye Zi stared after her for a moment, then took a big gulp of the liquor, his face showing a look of satisfaction. Only after the second drink did he begin to sip slowly.
The other patrons in the tavern, seeing Ye Zi drink like this, looked at him with disdain, and even the Iwa-nin gave him a quick glance before showing the same look of contempt.
Ye Zi, pretending not to notice their reactions, continued drinking, his ears focused on the conversation at the Iwa-nin's table.
There were four people at the table, three men and one woman. One of the men was older, while the other two men and the woman were younger. It was clear this was a team, with the older man being stocky, broad-faced, and serious, his eyes steady and strong, giving off an impression of stability, much like the mountains of the Land of Earth.
"This guy isn't to be underestimated," Ye Zi thought, casting only brief glances at the Iwa-nin, pretending to be interested in the server, but still observing the team carefully.
In his judgment, this was a team that had just returned from a mission. The team's overall level was high, especially the leader, who was likely at jonin level.
This was a mission team, different from newly graduated genin teams.
Ye Zi continued listening in on their conversation.
"Yōtsuchi, your strength is already sufficient for the jonin exam. When we get back, I'll recommend you for the test," the older Iwa-nin said seriously.
"Understood," Yōtsuchi replied calmly.
"What about me, Sensei Kitsuchi?" another young male ninja asked eagerly.
"You're still lacking, but you're getting there," Kitsuchi said coolly, looking at the boy.
"Ah?" The young ninja slumped onto the table like a deflated balloon.
The black-haired, black-eyed female ninja giggled, "Tsuchibō, I think Sensei is overestimating you. With your level, you're far from becoming a jonin."
"That's not fair!" Tsuchibō pouted.
"Then fight me," the black-haired girl teased with a smile.
Tsuchibō immediately looked dejected; he was the weakest of the team.
Ye Zi listened carefully to their conversation, but there wasn't any useful information. This was just a small team, and he couldn't directly eliminate them. What he needed was a lone Iwa-nin.
After finishing the last gulp of liquor, Ye Zi stared at the bottom of the bowl for a moment before licking it clean with his long tongue, showing a regretful expression.
This act caught the attention of the black-haired female Iwa-nin. She sneered and tossed a few coins onto Ye Zi's table, saying, "That's enough for another bowl."
With that, she left the tavern with her teammates.
Ye Zi stared at the coins in a brief daze, but instead of watching the Iwa-nin leave, he called the server over to order another bowl of liquor.
This small town was on the outermost edge of the country, and returning Iwa-nin often came here for a drink. The money left behind by the black-haired female ninja had given Ye Zi a reason to stay longer.
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Currently on Chapter 182 - Minato's Brush with Death