Chapter 66: Spy

Author's Note: I have no control over the app thing, Webnovel decided to make their website even worse than it already was and forces people to download the app to even read fanfictions. I will still be uploading here, but for anyone on PC I will be cohosting on fanfiction.net. For anyone interested, go check the comments.

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Tanzaku was filled with as much good and bad.

I specifically asked Roka to watch from the shadows and not reveal himself as I did my part by dodging the darker parts of the city.

I first went to one of the bigger shops in the city, and there I bought a beautiful red qipao, a traditionally Chinese Dress in my old world. I also bought shoes, before moving to the next shop where I got myself black undergarments.

Finally, I headed to a more specialized shop where I bought myself two long silver needles to attach my growing hair.

But as I looked at myself in the mirror, I was struck by what I saw. I guess I never really realized before, but today, as I looked at my reflection, I thought I wasn't seeing myself, but another anime character from an anime I had really liked. A younger version of her, but still.

Yor Forger, from Spy X Family. Lovely airheaded housewife the day, deadly assassin the night. She was a personal favourite of mine, so it struck me I didn't recognize it until today.

But now that I dressed in similar clothes to her, I couldn't unsee it. Although my dress was red while hers was black, my hair was tied exactly like hers, and the style of dresses was the exact same.

Did I reincarnate as Yor then? Is that where my assassination skills come from?

But I'm pretty sure this is my body, and my current physical state is something I could have achieved in my past life if I had a similar lifestyle, and chakra.

And it would be a little weird to reincarnate as Yor, of all people in Naruto. I get she's an assassin, but I didn't get any of her skills, I had to learn everything I know by myself. Maybe I got her talents? But again, what kind of sick fuck would throw someone in Naruto as Yor?

Hmm, no thunder in the sky or earthquake at my insult, I guess I am myself… well, it doesn't really matter whether this is my body or Yor's. In the end, it's my life, and I don't believe any transcendental force is manipulating me.

Anyway, with one existential crisis dealt with, and my shopping finished, I walked out of the store, intended on heading back to the palace.

But I was barely able to cross a couple of streets before a group of men appeared before me. Looking over my shoulder, I saw a group just as large behind me, and by the look of things, they were a bunch of thugs.

This was quite unusual, as while I looked good, especially in my new clothes, and looked like I had money on me, thugs usually knew better than target people like me. Moreover, I still wasn't out of the rich neighbourhood of the city, a place thugs normally avoided like the plague because of the many guards patrolling.

But speaking of guards, I couldn't see a single one anywhere near. How convenient.

Those thugs weren't really much of a threat to me, weren't one at all actually, but my identity shouldn't be able to deal with them. Thankfully, I had seen this one coming, and had taken appropriate measures.

One of the thugs stepped forward as the passer byes quickly evacuated the street, not wanting to have anything to do with this, they were mostly a bunch of gamblers anyway.

"You look quite exotic girl. Probably why you don't know you shouldn't walk around those parts alone."

Looking at him with apathetic eyes, I said, "If you don't move away, you are going to die."

A few of the thugs laughed at that, and the one who stepped forward asked, amused, "What, are you going to kill us?"

I shook my head and replied, "Whoever hired you seemingly failed to tell you my identity. Since she failed to do so, I can tell you that if you dare to take another step forward, your head will roll on the ground."

He scoffed, but he did not dare take another step. Instead, he said, "Look, it ain't personal. We all have mouths to feed, don't we?"

Raising an eyebrow, I asked, "If we are speaking straightly professional, then maybe we could reach an agreement."

He was about to reply when one of the guys behind me groaned, "Chiko, stop wasting our fucking time speaking to the girl and let's do our job!"

Then, although I couldn't see him, I could hear it in his voice that he had a wicked grin as he continued, "If you want to speak with her that much, we can simply bring her somewhere else…"

And here I thought I could have a civilised conversation with a bunch of thugs, that'll teach me.

Looking nowhere in particular, I said, "Roka, kill him please."

I didn't need to say another word for the unknown thug to suddenly freeze. Looking back, I saw a long, thin needle stuck in his forehead.

He fell backwards, straight as a sword, and the surroundings got quiet. I could see some of them panicking, so I said, "If any of you dare to try to flee, you will get killed, so now, you listen."

Looking back at the one who stepped forward, Chiko, I said, "As you can see, I am well protected."

Chiko's eyes were now wide open, and I could see the fear in them. After using a second to find his words, he gulped and said, "Please, I didn't mean to…"

I shook my head and cut him off, "I don't care. As you said, you accepted a job. Were you paid already?"

He shook his head, so I smiled and said, "Good. Then, would you be interested in getting back at the old cow who sent you on a death mission?"

Some of Chiko's fear disappeared, and was quickly replaced by mirth.

"Then, are you not going to kill us?"

I shrugged and replied, this time looking at all of them, "Depends, I might spare my associates."

Some of them looked confused, probably too stupid to understand what I meant, but Chiko grinned and asked, "What can we do for you then, Lady…"

I replied, "Takayama, soon to be Princess."

As I said that, Chiko's eyes increased dramatically, and even the slower ones among the thugs showed a reaction.

I added, "I need a force, and with my stepmother's machinations, you may be my best choice. For now, return to your lair, and wait for my orders."

Actually, I didn't care about them, this was nothing more than an act. I held no doubt Roka would report everything I did to Kisame, and feigning I was building up a force to take over the country would help cement my identity.

It didn't matter whether Kisame believe I was the Princess or not, all that mattered was for him to exclude the possibility of me being a ninja. After all, he had no reason to be wary of a power hungry girl.

Chiko and his men quickly retreated, not even bothering to take the dead guy's body with them. I didn't care to do so either, as I simply walked toward the palace, Roka following me like my shadow.