[Naruto: Superpower Roulette] Chapter 329 (Patreon)

"An onmyōji? Never heard of it. And you're saying this person used fire release techniques without chakra? Hanabi, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

Inside the Hokage's office, Naruto furrowed his brow as he considered what Hanabi had reported.

"I'm certain," Hanabi replied firmly. "There's no way I could be mistaken. Even without refining chakra, a ninja's meridians would still show traces of it. That shopkeeper's meridians are entirely unlike those of someone with chakra."

Hearing Hanabi's confidence, those present—including Shikamaru and Sakura—accepted her claim. After all, Hanabi was a jonin, and few in the village could rival her Byakugan.

Coincidentally, Tsunade had returned to the village after receiving Sakura's letter and had come to the office. Upon seeing the secret pills' effects, she couldn't hide her surprise.

"If we'd had these kinds of pills during the Shinobi World Wars, Konoha's casualties would have been significantly reduced," she remarked.

"So, Naruto, what do you plan to do now?" Tsunade asked. "Even though there's no war among the Five Great Nations, pills with such effects could cause serious problems if they fall into the wrong hands."

"Well, I don't really know," Naruto admitted, scratching his head. "If he's running a legitimate business, there's not much Konoha can do. Even if he's not here, this onmyōji could just move to another country."

"What exactly is an onmyōji? Even you don't know, Lady Tsunade?" Sakura asked curiously.

Tsunade shook her head. "I've never heard of it."

Naruto suddenly had an idea. "Maybe the Great Sage at Mount Myōboku knows something. I'll ask him!"

He bit his thumb, quickly formed some seals, and slammed his hand on the desk. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

Poof!

In a burst of smoke, an elderly toad appeared on the desk, holding a bowl filled with worms. The sight immediately nauseated some of those present who weren't used to such cuisine.

The elder toad, Shima, glanced around, then kicked Naruto in the stomach. "Naruto, you're just like Jiraiya, summoning me without considering what I might be doing!"

"Sorry, sorry! Great Sage, I have a question for you," Naruto apologized, quickly changing the subject. "Do you know about onmyōji?"

"Onmyōji?" Shima's expression shifted, showing genuine surprise. "Naruto, where did you hear that term?"

"So they do exist? I've never heard of them before," Naruto replied, his surprise mirrored by everyone else in the room.

"It's no wonder you haven't. Onmyōji as a group disappeared long ago. By the time I was born, they'd already been extinct for nearly 300 years," Shima explained. "Did you encounter one?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes, someone claiming to be an onmyōji. We couldn't confirm it, so we thought we'd ask you. Hanabi's Byakugan confirmed they had no chakra, yet they used fire to refine medicines and might have other abilities."

"No chakra… Then it's likely they are an onmyōji," Shima said. "Chakra came with the Rabbit Goddess. Before the Divine Tree descended, onmyōji ruled this planet. They wielded natural energy directly, creating gods, controlling life and death, and guiding humanity."

Hearing this, everyone in the room was shocked. Even Mount Myōboku had once been under the onmyōji's command.

"Onmyōji were that powerful?" Naruto asked in awe.

"Yes, but even they became history. When the Rabbit Goddess appeared, the onmyōji were the first to resist her. However, she was too powerful, and they suffered devastating losses. They faded into obscurity and were gone long before I was born," Shima explained.

The room fell silent as they processed this revelation.

After a moment, Naruto spoke. "So Hanabi's Byakugan wasn't wrong. That shopkeeper doesn't use chakra but natural energy. The Byakugan can't see natural energy; it can only sense it."

Tsunade frowned slightly, deep in thought. "I never expected onmyōji to still exist. What could this person want? They seem to be searching for something."

"It doesn't matter what they're looking for," Shikamaru interjected. "The important thing is that we now know their background. Sakura has confirmed the pills are genuine and harmless. Sai, just gather information on their past before they came to Konoha. Let's avoid unnecessary contact for now."

"Shikamaru's right," Naruto agreed. "If they use natural energy, surveillance won't work. Sai, focus on intelligence gathering about their past, and hold off on monitoring them here in the village."

Sakura spoke up. "I could use the pretext of buying pills to visit the shop frequently. I'll buy just one or two at a time, giving us more chances to gather information."

She thought to herself that this might also allow her to send the pills to Sasuke, whose missions were far more dangerous than most.

Naruto grinned. "That's a good idea. Sakura, I'll leave those pills to you."

The meeting concluded, and Shima stayed briefly to discuss another matter with Naruto before returning to Mount Myōboku.

...

Yoichi's Shop

That day, Yoichi wasn't refining medicine. Instead, he had purchased the building next door, planning to open an izakaya (a Japanese-style pub) and restaurant to indulge his taste buds.

Though his lifespan spanned millennia, Yoichi never abandoned his love for food. Whenever he encountered a dish he hadn't tried, he felt compelled to taste it—a habit likely tied to his Ōtsutsuki genes.

With ample funds, Yoichi quickly acquired the three-story shop next door. He planned to renovate it, using the top floor as additional space and the first two floors for the izakaya and restaurant.

As he finalized arrangements with the renovation team, a familiar voice spoke behind him.

"Hey, wasn't this a toy shop? Why's it closed?"

Turning around, Yoichi recognized the speaker—Yamanaka Ino. Though her tone was as sharp as ever, her curiosity seemed genuine.

"I bought it. It'll be an izakaya and restaurant now," Yoichi replied.

"You bought it? What happened to the previous owner? And why open a pub and restaurant? That doesn't suit you at all," Ino asked, surprised.

"Who knows? They probably took the money and left. As for me, it's for convenience. This way, I can eat without leaving the building," Yoichi replied, his gaze briefly scanning Ino.

Feeling uncomfortable under his scrutiny, Ino put her hands on her hips. "What are you looking at?"

"You," Yoichi said bluntly. "For a ninja, you always seem idle, and your temperament isn't great. Did you have a fight with your family recently?"

"You…!" Ino clenched her fists, feeling infuriated. His words were too irritating! While it was true she hadn't spoken much to Sai recently, her family relationships were fine!

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll—"

"Have you heard of the seven-year itch?"

Ino blinked, her anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "Huh? No, what's that? And what does it have to do with what you just said?"

"It's relevant. Your situation resembles it. You should resolve it soon."

With that, Yoichi turned and walked back to his shop. A master fisherman always baits the hook carefully, and Yoichi was laying the groundwork for Ino to take the bait.

"Wait!" Ino called, following him into the shop. "What do you mean by the seven-year itch?"

Once inside, Yoichi poured two cups of tea, placing one before Ino.

"Thank you," Ino murmured, accepting the tea. When he wasn't talking, she found him far less aggravating.

After taking a sip, Yoichi leaned back and said, "It's a phenomenon identified by combining medical knowledge and social observation."

He was ready to set the hook.

(End of Chapter)

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