"Is this really all the money there is!?"
Uzumaki Naruto fixed the shop owner with a cold stare.
Did he think Naruto did not know the market rates?
A copy of Taimanin sold for as much as five thousand ryo, and in some places, as high as eight thousand or even ten thousand.
Taking the standard price of five thousand ryo.
14,000 × 5,000.
That came to a staggering seventy million.
Eight million was not even a fraction of it.
The shop owner's face darkened slightly as he cursed inwardly. How did this damned monster know? Had he not spent his entire life without ever leaving Konoha?
The shop owner still tried to cover it up, piling on a smile as he said, "Well, distribution fees are expensive..."
Uzumaki Naruto said coldly:
"The quality of my books is better than Icha Icha Paradise. Distributors cannot possibly charge exorbitant fees, and the retailers' share would not be especially high either."
"After printing, sales, and distribution costs, the net profit should be around forty million. Even if we split it thirty-seventy, my compensation should be at least twelve million."
Seeing that the truth had been exposed, the shop owner stopped pretending. Straightening his back, he sneered, "Damned monster, you certainly investigated things thoroughly, didn't you!?"
"Twelve million? You sure have quite an appetite."
"But what can you do if I refuse to give it to you!?"
"Do not forget, if I report you to the Hokage, do you think you will still be able to write this kind of thing!?"
As the shop owner revealed his true colors, his face became utterly grotesque. Uzumaki Naruto turned his head slightly to look out the window.
Where the shop owner could not see, the blue in Uzumaki Naruto's eyes gradually turned cold, devoid of even a trace of emotion.
Anyone who saw him now would have been unable to connect this Uzumaki Naruto with the Naruto from before.
Their temperaments were worlds apart.
One was the sun.
One was a frigid mountain.
A moment later.
Uzumaki Naruto turned back, and a warm, sunlike smile appeared on his face again. "Hey, Boss, have you told anyone else about me being Menma?"
Thinking Uzumaki Naruto had backed down, the shop owner sneered. "Relax. I have not told anyone else this monster's real identity."
"As long as you obediently listen to me, I will help you keep it hidden."
Uzumaki Naruto smiled and nodded, his lips parting slightly.
"I understand!"
"Scorch Release: Excessive Steaming Murder!!!"
"Blaze!!!"
A flame appeared in Uzumaki Naruto's hand. With a soft laugh, he pressed it against the shop owner's body.
In an instant.
Roaring flames surged upward, immediately swallowing the shop owner whole.
The shop owner did not even have time to scream before the blazing flames roasted him into a shriveled mummy.
"Thud!!!"
The mummy hit the ground, and its decayed body shattered directly into two halves.
Uzumaki Naruto silently watched the shop owner's remains. After a moment, he lifted his foot and stomped heavily on the corpse's head.
"Crack!"
The dried corpse immediately shattered into countless pieces beneath his foot.
Another blast of Scorch Release ignited the dried remains on the floor. As the flames raged, Uzumaki Naruto walked into the sea of fire.
"Ninety million ryo..."
Uzumaki Naruto pocketed the shop owner's life savings. Then, with a wave of his hand, he set the entire shop ablaze.
On the street.
Passersby who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion packed the street in a dark mass.
Uzumaki Naruto stood among the crowd as well, quietly watching the fire grow ever larger while the crackling sounds of collapsing buildings gradually rang out.
"Hey, Kurama, if I borrowed your power, could I completely destroy this village?"
Uzumaki Naruto asked.
Inside the Sealing Space.
The Nine-Tails froze for a moment and raised his head in surprise. "Naruto, did something happen?"
"No. I just feel that this village is too disgusting, like a salted fish that has rotted for three days, filthy inside and out."
Uzumaki Naruto's voice was abnormally calm, even carrying a hint of coldness.
Long ago, he too had wanted to live peacefully in Konoha and become the Uzumaki Naruto who saved the world.
But Uzumaki Naruto gradually realized.
Not only could he not save the world, the entire world could not save him.
If he had not met the adorable and gentle Little Hinata, he likely would have chosen to undo the Nine-Tails' seal at the very beginning of his transmigration.
"Well, I was joking."
Uzumaki Naruto patted his cheeks and smiled again. "Even if I went berserk and entered the Nine-Tails state, I would only end up sealed in the Shinigami's stomach until I died. That is not what I want."
The anxious discussions of the villagers rose one after another:
"The fire got this huge so quickly. What on earth was stored inside!?"
"It was a bookstore, after all. Everything inside was flammable. I just do not know whether anyone was in there. If there was, they are done for."
"Damn it, the flames are too intense to get inside. Is anyone still in there?"
"The ninja are here! Hurry, save them! There might still be people inside..."
Kakashi hurried over with the Anbu ninja.
Looking at the blazing inferno before him, Kakashi's expression turned grim. He shouted, "Quick, use Water Release."
"Water Release: Water Trumpet!!!"
"Water Release: Water Trumpet!!!"
"Water Release: Water Trumpet!!!"
Three consecutive Water Release techniques barely extinguished the blaze.
The Anbu ninja quickly rushed into the ruins, but what they found made them shake their heads.
An Anbu ninja emerged from the ruins left behind by the flames, holding a handful of gray-white powder. He shook his head at Kakashi.
"No good. It has been burned beyond recognition. Not even a corpse remains, only some ashes."
"Preliminary judgment is that a Fire Release ninja did it, but we do not know who it was. There are no clues in the building either."
Kakashi clenched his fist tightly. "Damn it, were we a step too late?"
"First, detain everyone nearby and see whether there are any clues."
Not long after.
Everyone in the vicinity was called over, including Uzumaki Naruto, who had not gone far.
Kakashi spotted Uzumaki Naruto in the crowd. His brows furrowed slightly as he asked, "Uzumaki Naruto, how long have you been here!?"
Before you continue