The First Kill

"Money, is this all there really is!?"

Uzumaki Naruto stared coldly at the shop owner.

Did he think I didn't know the market?

A single copy of "Taimanin" sold for as much as five thousand Ryo, and in some places, it went for eight thousand or even ten thousand.

Just taking the normal price of five thousand Ryo:

14,000 × 5,000.

That's seventy million.

Eight million isn't even a fraction of that.

The shop owner's face subtly darkened, and he cursed inwardly, How did this damned monster know? Didn't he spend his whole life never leaving Konoha Village?

The shop owner still tried to cover it up, saying with a forced smile, "Well, the distribution costs are very high..."

Uzumaki Naruto said indifferently:

"The quality of my books is even better than Icha Icha Paradise. There's no way distributors would charge such exorbitant prices, and the cut for retailers wouldn't be particularly high either."

"Excluding printing, sales, and distribution, the net profit should be around forty million. Even if we split it seventy-thirty, my compensation should be at least twelve million."

Seeing that his deception was exposed, the shop owner stopped pretending. He straightened his back, sneered, and said, "Damn monster, you've certainly done your research, haven't you!?"

"Twelve million, quite an appetite you have."

"But what if I just don't give it to you!?"

"Don't forget, if I report you to the Hokage, do you think you'll still be able to write this kind of stuff!?"

Seeing the shop owner drop his facade, his face twisting into something incredibly ugly, Uzumaki Naruto slightly tilted his head to look out the window.

In a spot invisible to the shop owner, Uzumaki Naruto's azure eyes gradually grew cold, devoid of any emotion.

To anyone looking, it would be impossible to connect the current Uzumaki Naruto with the Uzumaki Naruto from before.

Their temperaments were worlds apart.

One was the sun.

One was a cold mountain.

A moment later.

Uzumaki Naruto turned his head back, a warm, sun-like smile reappearing on his face: "Hey, boss, have you told anyone else about my identity as Menma!?"

The shop owner thought Uzumaki Naruto was backing down, and sneered, "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone else about your true identity, you monster."

"As long as you behave, I'll help you keep it hidden."

Uzumaki Naruto smiled and nodded, his lips parting slightly:

"I see!"

"Scorch Release: Incinerating Evaporation!!!"

"BOOM!!!"

A ball of flame appeared in Uzumaki Naruto's hand, and he chuckled softly as he pressed the flame onto the shop owner's body.

In an instant.

Blazing flames surged, instantly engulfing the shop owner's body.

The shop owner didn't even let out a scream, instantly being scorched into a shriveled corpse by the raging inferno.

"THUD!!!"

The dried corpse hit the ground, its decaying body splitting into two.

Uzumaki Naruto quietly watched the shop owner's remains, then after a moment, he lifted his foot and stomped heavily on the corpse's head.

"Snap!"

The shriveled corpse was immediately crushed into pieces.

Another burst of Scorch Release ignited the dried remains on the ground. As the flames burned fiercely, Uzumaki Naruto walked into the sea of fire.

"Ninety million Ryo..."

Uzumaki Naruto pocketed the shop owner's lifelong savings, then with a wave of his hand, the blazing flames ignited the entire shop.

On the street.

Pedestrians, attracted by the noise, flocked to the street, forming a dense crowd.

Uzumaki Naruto also stood among the crowd, quietly watching the fire grow larger, gradually hearing the crackling sounds of collapsing buildings.

"Hey, Kurama, if I used your power, do you think I could completely destroy this village?"

Uzumaki Naruto asked.

In the seal space.

Kurama paused, looking up with a hint of surprise. "Naruto, did something happen to you?"

"No, I just feel this village is too sickening. It's like a salted fish that's been rotting for three days, filthy inside and out."

Uzumaki Naruto's voice was unusually calm, even revealing a hint of indifference.

A long time ago, he too wanted to live peacefully in Konoha Village, to become the Uzumaki Naruto who would save the world.

But Uzumaki Naruto gradually realized something.

Forget saving the world; the entire world couldn't even save him.

If it weren't for meeting the kind and gentle Little Hinata, he probably would have chosen to break Kurama's seal at the very start of his transmigration.

"Well, I'm just kidding."

Uzumaki Naruto patted his cheek, smiling again. "Even if I went berserk in my Nine-Tails state, I'd just end up sealed inside the Shinigami's belly. That's not what I want."

The anxious murmurs of the villagers rose and fell:

"How did the fire spread so fast in such a short time? What was inside there!?"

"It's a bookstore, after all. Everything inside is flammable. I just don't know if anyone was inside. If there was, it'd be terrible."

"Damn it, there's no way to get in with a fire this fierce. Is anyone still inside?"

"The ninja are here! Quick, hurry and save people! Maybe someone's still inside..."

Kakashi, leading the Anbu ninja, rushed over.

Gazing at the soaring flames before him, Kakashi's expression was grim. He shouted, "Quick, hurry and use Water Release!"

"Water Release: Water Trumpet!!!"

"Water Release: Water Trumpet!!!"

"Water Release: Water Trumpet!!!"

Three consecutive Water Release techniques barely managed to extinguish the large fire.

The Anbu ninja quickly rushed into the ruins, but the sight that greeted them made them shake their heads repeatedly.

An Anbu ninja emerged from the ruins after the fire, holding grayish-white powder in his hand, and shook his head at Kakashi.

"It's no good. It's burned beyond recognition. Not even a body is left, just some ashes."

"Our preliminary assessment suggests a Fire Release user was responsible, but we don't know who it was. There are no clues in the house."

Kakashi clenched his fist tightly. "Damn it, were we too late?"

"First, secure the people around here and see if there are any clues."

Not long after.

Everyone nearby was called over, including Uzumaki Naruto, who hadn't gone far.

Kakashi spotted Uzumaki Naruto in the crowd, his brow furrowing slightly, and asked, "Uzumaki Naruto, how long have you been here!?"