Chapter 320: Disguised as a Spicy Meatball Seller

Sakura stared at Haruto with an expression of disbelief, then suddenly covered her face with both hands. "Damn... How can your plan succeed if you don't even know who they're targeting?! This is ridiculous!"

Haruto remained calm, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Sakura. His voice was low, but there was firmness in his tone. "Calm down. Kaori and Kyoko are downstairs."

Sakura fell silent for a moment, then swallowed. She realized she had overreacted. "Uh, you're right..." Sakura mumbled, feeling a bit guilty about her emotional outburst.

Kakashi looked at Haruto, his expression still flat. "So, does that mean you're going to place some Shadow Clones around the City Academy in the next few days?"

Haruto nodded. "Yes, you could say that."

Kakashi let out a long sigh, then smiled faintly behind his mask. "Well then, good luck. Sakura and I will keep an eye on Kaori and Kyoko, so don't worry about them."

Haruto looked at Kakashi and then smiled faintly. "Thank you."

Sakura also smiled slightly. "No problem. After all, Kyoko is our daughter too."

...

...

...

Two days had passed since the Sports Festival at the City Academy began. During that time, Haruto had spread Shadow Clones to various corners of the City Academy. They disguised themselves as spectators, mingling among the crowd, watching for any suspicious movements.

However, Haruto chose a more unique method—he disguised himself as a spicy meatball seller.

Haruto's small tent stood outside the stadium, among rows of other food stalls. From the outside, the tent looked like an ordinary stall, with the aroma of grilled meat wafting through the air, mixed with thin smoke rising up. Some customers occasionally stopped by, buying skewered meatballs and enjoying the spicy flavor that tingled on their tongues.

How did Haruto end up in this position? Simple. Haruto approached one of the meatball sellers who had obtained permission to sell during the festival. At first, the seller flatly refused.

However, after Haruto handed over a bag full of money that was hard to refuse, the seller finally relented and agreed to give up his spot for a few days.

Haruto was now wearing a worn apron and a woven hat that covered most of his face. His hands skillfully flipped the meatball skewers on the grill, occasionally blowing on the embers to keep them glowing. From the corner of Haruto's eye, he continued to observe the people passing by, searching for signs of the Soul Collector's presence.

This disguise was not just for fun. If Haruto continued to use his identity as a student of the City Academy, he would easily attract attention. If the Soul Collectors were targeting Haruto, his presence would only complicate his plans. As a seller, Haruto could observe the situation freely without raising suspicion.

And most importantly, if something happened, Haruto could quickly change his appearance without drawing further attention.

A gentle afternoon breeze blew, swaying the tents around him. The bright blue sky stretched wide, indicating that the sun had reached its peak. The Sports Festival was still in full swing, accompanied by laughter and cheers echoing throughout the academy area.

However, Haruto knew... behind this commotion, danger lurked.

This was just the calm before the storm.

...

...

...

The morning sky at the City Academy was filled with golden rays of light, signaling the start of an energetic day. Students rushed to the main stadium, where the Sports Festival would be held. The air was filled with a low hum of excitement as groups gathered, each busy with their preparations.

In the midst of the crowd, a young man in a neat academy uniform approached a group of second-year students. The man's face was slightly tense, but he tried to smile warmly as he asked.

"Uhm, hello... have you seen senior Haruto?" William asked politely, hoping to get an answer that would help him.