Chapter 16 (Patreon)

Two hours later, Kenshin reached the city, noting that he was almost not tired - his daily training was taking its toll. The young man wanted to get into the best possible shape, wanting not to lose face compared to his stronger children.


After having lunch at a local cafe, he began to walk around the city, learning a lot of new things. It was the first time he had seen a Konoha shinobi up close, and outwardly, the man standing ten meters away from him did not inspire any awe. At first glance, an ordinary man of about thirty, about 170 centimeters tall, and with a physique not distinguished by pronounced muscles, but the next moment, Kenshin ceased to consider him "ordinary" because the man turned sharply towards the young man, as if feeling the gaze directed at him with his back.


Kenshin quickly averted his eyes and walked on, trying not to attract too much attention. A minute later, he came across a store with a shuriken on the sign and went inside. In the store, he found a huge variety of paraphernalia for shinobi, ranging from vests with additional pockets to shurikens and kunai.


- Hello, do you have a basic guide to chakra control? "He asked the fat salesman, who was lazily lounging in a rocking chair.


- Yes, but you can't afford it. "The fat man answered with contempt, casting a single appraising glance at the young man, and then closed his eyes again.


- How much it costs? Maybe I can find the right amount...


- The Basic Guide to Chakra Control costs 50,000 ryo, and contains explanations on chakra control and hand seals. If you find money, come, and until then, don't come into my sight. Now get out, you are poisoning the aura of my pious store with your poor presence! "The fat man muttered irritably and closed his eyes again, not at all afraid of the displeasure of the seemingly strong young man.


Kenshin realized that this fat man was acting completely relaxed for a reason, and understood who he could be rude to and who he should wag his tail in front of. The young man decided not to argue and left the store, heading to a clothing store.


Having looked at some simple pants and a T-shirt, the young man paid, becoming 200 ryo poorer, and went out into the street. The sun was already setting, and Kenshin decided that he would not have time to return before dark, so asking a passer-by for the location of the nearest shelter, he headed in the right direction, deciding to spend the night in the city and go home in the morning. Aya was aware of this plan, so Kenshin didn't worry about her panicking.


Finding himself in a back alley, the young man belatedly realized that he had gone into the wrong place when he heard a shout three meters away.


- Hey, why are you hanging around here? This is my territory. Pay 500 ryo for the passage, and you can move on. - Said the big bald guy who appeared out of nowhere.


- Yes, pay for the passage, otherwise you will be finished! – Added one of his two hangers-on.


"Damn, I managed to get into trouble out of the blue!" - Kenshin thought, bracing himself with his whole body, preparing to fight back. He absolutely did not want to give 500 ryo to unknown bandits, and he understood perfectly well that when they saw his money, the matter would not be limited to 500 ryo, and the robbers would take everything.


- Why are you silent? Give me the money! – The bald big man raised his voice again.


- Maybe we can just disperse peacefully? I don't want any trouble. – Kenshin stated, smiling and waving his hands in front of him.


- Trouble? Ha ha ha, no, did you hear? He's going to give us trouble. Who are you, puppy! "The big man's smile instantly grew into an animal grin, and he extended his hand to hug Kenshin's neck, but he swerved to the side and struck twice with his fists. The first one hits the big man's solar plexus, and the second hits the chin, hoping to knock him out, taking advantage of the effect of surprise.


A blow with his right hand to the chest achieved its goal, but at the last second the big man changed his position a little, and Kenshin's fist hit the pectoral muscle, strong as steel, without much harm to the bald big man. The planned blow with the left hand did not achieve its goal at all. The big man deftly jumped back a meter.


- Stand! Don't interfere! – The big man ordered his two henchmen, who were going to attack Kenshin from both sides.


- We didn't intend to, Koga-san. - A skinny boy, who looked about twenty years old, said in an ingratiating tone, and added: - And the kid is not a mistake, since he dared to resist the elder... Baby, you apparently don't know, but Koga-san studied at the shinobi academy in Konoha!


- Yes! So what if he was kicked out? In any case, he will make you with one left! – The second henchman, just as thin as the first, a guy of about eighteen, with a large scar on his cheek, added ingratiatingly.


- Shut your mouth! – The big man growled at him, and the second henchman instantly fell silent.


- Do you want to cause trouble for me? Come on, show what you can do! – Koga said with a laugh and headed towards Kenshin.


Kenshin took the usual boxing stance, surprising the bald big man, and as soon as Koga was one and a half meters away, Kenshin made a sharp swing with his right hand, aiming for the enemy's chin, but he dodged quite easily and made a return blow to Kenshin's chest area.


Kenshin blocked the blow at the last moment, placing a block with his hand, and took two steps back. His left hand exploded with pain, and the young man could hardly use it. Koga chuckled in surprise and made another lunge with his fist. Kenshin had difficulty reacting to the speed of the big man, and dodged only at the last moment, swerving to the side, and the next second he met a direct punch to the stomach.


The young man's eyes almost immediately darkened, and his stomach exploded with unbearable pain, and Kenshin fell to his knees, reflexively lying on his left side, bending his knees and arms at his elbows, protecting himself from future blows.


But there were no further blows, but a loud cry was heard: "Hey, what's going on there?!"


- Damn, let's leave! – Koga commanded, and the trio instantly disappeared around the nearest bend.


- Hey, are you alive there? – A man in a green vest, with a Konoha protector on his forehead, asked Kenshin. In this shinobi, the young man recognized that same "inconspicuous" man, with eyes in the back of his head.


- Kha, kha! – Instead of words, a cough and half-digested miso soup came out of Kenshin's mouth.


- Let's get up and get out of here. – The shinobi commanded, completely uninterested in helping the young man. He had been observing the whole situation from the very beginning, but did not interfere, wanting to see what the unusually curious guy was like. Seeing how the young man was "blown away" with one weak blow from the sub-genin, he instantly lost interest in him, and called out to the trio only to give them time to escape, not wanting to detain them and complicate his work.


Kenshin somehow got up, coughed a few more times, and, holding his stomach, slowly trudged towards the exit of the alley.


Having found the desired inn, the young man hardly booked a night in a room; once inside, he locked the door and collapsed on the bed, almost immediately falling into a deep sleep. During the night he woke up several times and vomited the remains of his dinner, his left arm hurt a lot, but not as much as his stomach. The young man hoped that the internal organs were not damaged and everything would work out.