Uzumaki Naruto had originally planned to turn around and leave, but then he felt the few coins in his pocket.
"Well, there was no harm in taking a look..."
Uzumaki Naruto stepped into the bookstore.
If he were not in Konoha, he could rely solely on his Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai to take missions and earn money.
Even if he could not take A-rank missions, taking a few B-rank missions would be enough to support himself.
But not now.
His identity was simply too sensitive. Any even slightly out-of-line action could bring rather serious consequences.
Forget taking dangerous missions outside; even his previous fights and extortion might draw Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention.
In the best-case scenario, Sarutobi Hiruzen would come over and give him a few words of warning.
In the worst-case scenario, he might be monitored twenty-four hours a day from now on.
Arriving at a corner of the bookstore, Uzumaki Naruto looked around and gave a slight smile. He knew what this bookstore sold.
"Icha Icha Paradise"
"My Youth and the Mature Big Sister"
"My Unknown Romance with a Kumogakure Ninja"
"..."
"A shop selling erotic novels, huh."
Uzumaki Naruto looked around briefly. A glance at the bookshelves revealed that they were filled with every variety of erotic novel.
And they seemed to be selling extremely well; a few of the shelves were nearly empty.
An idea formed in Uzumaki Naruto's mind, but he still needed to investigate carefully.
He casually took a book from the shelf, opened it, and examined its contents.
"Icha Icha Paradise... eugh!!!"
Uzumaki Naruto shook his head slightly as he looked at the copy of Icha Icha Paradise in his hands.
"A bland erotic novel with no meat to be found anywhere in it costs five thousand Ryo!?"
"The limited edition costs tens of thousands of Ryo, equivalent to half a year of my living expenses... It's really expensive. Would anyone buy this kind of book?"
Uzumaki Naruto frowned slightly.
Icha Icha Paradise was extremely expensive.
An Explosive Tag cost around one thousand Ryo, while a kunai cost around five hundred Ryo.
This copy of Icha Icha Paradise cost five thousand Ryo, equivalent to five Explosive Tags or ten sharp kunai forged from refined steel.
The limited edition of Icha Icha Paradise was even more expensive, costing a full sixty thousand Ryo—equivalent to sixty Explosive Tags and half a year of his pension.
Explosive Tags could save your life at a critical moment.
Icha Icha Paradise... could it be used to wipe your ass!?
Just then,
A voice came from the shop entrance.
"Boss, where's the latest limited edition of Icha Icha Paradise? I want five copies."
Uzumaki Naruto frowned faintly.
"That voice... Hatake Kakashi!?"
At the bookstore entrance stood
Hatake Kakashi, Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, Yamashiro Aoba, and Namiashi Raidō.
Other than Kakashi, the remaining four ninjas—Izumo Kamizuki and the others—were furtively looking around, afraid someone might notice them.
At the same time, their eyes held anticipation, curiosity, excitement...
All sorts of strange expressions as they looked at the shop owner.
The shop owner was already used to this. He gave them a knowing look, pointed toward a corner of the bookstore, and whispered, "I understand, I understand. The books are over there. Go get them yourselves."
Kakashi had long since grown accustomed to it.
But Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, Yamashiro Aoba, and Namiashi Raidō, the four ninjas, let out long sighs of relief.
"Icha Icha Paradise, Icha Icha Paradise... where was it again!?"
Izumo Kamizuki stared feverishly at the surrounding bookshelves, constantly searching and exploring for that legendary forbidden book.
It was said that
that book contained the most "wonderful" material.
It was the book with the most meat in present-day Konoha—no, in the entire Ninja World.
"It's here."
A young voice rang out. At the same time, a fair hand passed Icha Icha Paradise to Izumo Kamizuki.
Izumo Kamizuki's eyes lit up, and he instinctively accepted Icha Icha Paradise.
"Thanks!"
Then...
Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, Yamashiro Aoba, and Namiashi Raidō, four Special Jonin of Konoha, stared at Naruto as though they had seen a ghost.
"Uzumaki Naruto!!!"
Izumo Kamizuki's eyes nearly popped out as he stared at Uzumaki Naruto.
"Y-you... you... you... why are you here!???"
Kotetsu Hagane, Yamashiro Aoba, and Namiashi Raidō were no better off, nearly jumping straight up from where they stood.
Heavens!!!
Why was Uzumaki Naruto here!!!
For no reason at all, the four of them felt as though they had been caught in an affair on the spot.
"Heh heh heh!"
Uzumaki Naruto folded his arms and looked at the five ninjas with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, Yamashiro Aoba, Namiashi Raidō... heh heh heh... all of you are ninjas of Konoha."
"To actually come and buy this kind of book, it truly is... disgraceful, disgraceful."
"If this got out, what would outsiders think of us Konoha ninjas..."
Izumo Kamizuki, Kotetsu Hagane, Yamashiro Aoba, and Namiashi Raidō all lowered their heads in shame.
If this got out...
How would they ever find wives afterward...
Izumo Kamizuki's face reddened like a monkey's backside. Lowering his head, he muttered, "I-I only wanted to appreciate it, purely from an artistic perspective..."
Uzumaki Naruto gave a soft laugh.
Who was he trying to fool!?
Before you continue