In front of Shueido.
"What? The entire latest season of Icha Icha Paradise is sold out? Didn't it just arrive yesterday?" Kakashi's eyes widened, his mouth hanging slightly open in disbelief.
Although Icha Icha Paradise was popular, Shueido ordered hundreds of copies every time. How could that many books possibly sell out in a single day!?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
"You don't know this, but the latest season's plot is incredibly captivating. Everyone loves it!" the owner said animatedly.
The hundreds of books had brought the owner a hefty profit. He was in a great mood and did not mind chatting with Kakashi for a while.
Hearing the owner say that only made Kakashi even more eager to know what was in Icha Icha Paradise.
But as the captain of an Anbu squad, Kakashi could also tell that something was very suspicious about this.
So Kakashi politely asked the owner, "Boss, I'm a regular customer here too. Please tell me, how did Icha Icha Paradise sell out so quickly?"
The owner was delighted and answered directly, "Since you're a regular customer, I'll tell you!"
"You know what? I found a kindred spirit. Yesterday, a young boy spent lavishly and bought all hundred-plus copies of Icha Icha Paradise in one go!"
Hearing the owner's reply, Kakashi frowned, as if he had a bad feeling.
Kakashi asked.
"Do you know who bought the books?"
Kakashi only needed one copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Any more would be useless.
He hoped the buyer would sell him one for the sake of a loyal fan like him.
Even if it cost a high price, that would not be a problem.
Even double or triple the price would do!
The latest plot had already reached the point where the male and female leads went to soak in hot springs together.
Those fiery scenes and gripping plot were like countless ants crawling all over Kakashi, making him unable to bear it any longer. He was desperate to know what happened next.
The owner hesitated greatly upon hearing that. He slowly said, "Don't let our little shop fool you. We have moral standards and personal dignity. We would never reveal customer information."
"Since we chose to do business, we have to know how to protect our customers' privacy!"
The owner's attitude was extremely firm, his words righteous and imposing!
Kakashi pulled out a five-hundred-ryo bill and held it out.
The owner's face darkened as he spoke coldly.
"You think I'd sell out a customer's information for a mere five hundred ryo? Impossible!"
Kakashi raised it to one thousand ryo.
The owner laughed, seemingly disdainful.
"I've run Shueido for over ten years. Our reputation has been passed on by word of mouth, and we have never leaked a customer's information!"
One thousand five hundred ryo.
"Stop trying to bribe me. I'm not that kind of person!"
Kakashi was already angry. He said one last time, "Two thousand ryo. That's my final offer."
Although he could use his Anbu connections to find out who had bought Icha Icha Paradise, how could he ever show his face again if his teammates learned that the dignified Anbu squad captain Kakashi had actually used Anbu resources just to find out who bought Icha Icha Paradise?
So Kakashi chose to buy the information at a high price!
"Deal!" As if afraid Kakashi would change his mind, the owner hurriedly agreed and snatched up the bills.
"It was a young boy, around eight or nine years old, wearing Uchiha clan clothes." The owner had a deep impression of Genya and answered without hesitation.
The moment he heard the word Uchiha, Kakashi had a bad feeling.
"Oh, right. He had another striking characteristic!"
Kakashi hurriedly asked, "What characteristic?"
The owner answered honestly, "He was extremely handsome!"
Kakashi glanced at the owner and resisted the urge to strangle him. That counted as a characteristic?
Ridiculous!
Kakashi guessed that there was a ninety-percent chance all the Icha Icha Paradise books had been bought by that Uchiha brat from before!
That Uchiha is no simple matter if he managed to learn that I like reading Icha Icha Paradise! Genya's counterattack had struck at an awkward angle, making Kakashi feel miserable.
No, no!
I have to restrain myself!
I can't bow my head to an Uchiha!
"Ah, no, I can't take it anymore!" Kakashi let out an enraged roar in public.
He immediately used the Body Flicker Technique.
Kakashi's figure vanished in an instant...
Uchiha Compound.
Genya's residence.
At that moment, he was sitting beneath the warm sunlight, carefully reading the latest season of Icha Icha Paradise.
Genya usually trained diligently, but from time to time, he still broadened his horizons through reading. It was one of the main ways to increase his knowledge.
A cup of clear tea.
A good book.
Refreshing to the heart.
Warming through spring and winter.
No wonder Kakashi was so obsessed with Icha Icha Paradise and could not put it down. There was a reason for it.
This book had some substance to it.
And it was quite big...
Just as Genya was reading attentively, a knock sounded by his ear. He raised a brow and said, "Come in."
Then Itachi walked in with an unfriendly expression.
"Well, if it isn't our Uchiha prodigy. What wind blew you here?" Genya took a sip of tea and teased him casually.
Genya did not need to think to know why.
It was definitely because Itachi had been caught red-handed by Uchiha Izumi peeking at Icha Icha Paradise that day, so he had come to demand an explanation.
Itachi sat down beside Genya and said with heartfelt anguish, "Genya, I never thought you were this kind of person!"
"What kind of person?" Genya asked in confusion.
"You actually bought books like Icha Icha Paradise to read!"
"Utterly immoral!"
"The store sells them, and I buy them. What's wrong with that?" Genya rolled his eyes, feeling that the other boy was too rigid.
"But we're still children. We shouldn't read that kind of book!" Itachi argued, hoping Genya would turn over a new leaf!
"You think I read Icha Icha Paradise just for those messy pictures and scenes? Your perspective is too narrow."
"This book contains the cultural customs and lifestyles of many countries and villages in the Shinobi World. It's an important way to obtain information about the outside world."
"You actually thought so poorly of me. I'm truly heartbroken!"
Hearing Genya say that, Itachi froze and asked tentatively, "Really?"
"Of course." Genya's firm attitude made Itachi hesitate.
Had he really misunderstood him?
Genya opened the book and began explaining.
"Look, this passage's character portrayal is simple yet profound. It uses a small point to reveal the deep truth of how difficult it is for shinobi to survive on the battlefield."
"Look, rogue ninja are running rampant here in broad daylight. We'll need to pay attention to safety when going out in the future."
Genya spouted nonsense with a straight face, rambling on without end.
Finally, he patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"With our relationship, how could I possibly lie to you? I'll give you another copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Take it back and study it slowly."
Looking at the solemn-faced Genya, Itachi fell into deep thought. Could what he said be true?
But Itachi still accepted that copy of Icha Icha Paradise, comforting himself inwardly that this was a way to gather information.
He was innocent. He had no other intentions.
Just after seeing Itachi off, there was another knock on the door.
Genya raised a brow.
Why were so many people coming to his door?
It was really lively today.
Then Uchiha Yashiro entered the courtyard, along with the unexpected Kakashi.
When Kakashi saw Genya close Icha Icha Paradise, anger surged within him. But Uchiha Yashiro noticed his reaction and gave a cold laugh before speaking threateningly.
"Kakashi, this is the Uchiha Compound. Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're an Anbu squad captain."
"If you dare cause trouble here, I guarantee that Sharingan will be gouged out before you leave."
Although Fugaku had previously agreed to let Obito's Sharingan remain with Kakashi, some clan members were still dissatisfied. Information about their Kekkei Genkai was extremely important to the Uchiha. After all, the Sharingan in an outsider's possession was a hidden danger.
Besides, Kakashi currently belonged to the Anbu.
What the Uchiha hated most was Root, followed by the Anbu.
Yashiro turned to Genya, who was basking in the sun, and said, "Genya, while patrolling, I saw him sneaking around the clan grounds. After questioning him closely, he said he had something urgent to discuss with you."
Then Yashiro walked over to Genya and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Provoke him. Leave that Sharingan with the Uchiha."
Yashiro was part of the Uchiha Radical Faction.
He had always wanted to destroy Kakashi's Sharingan.
Genya shook his head and explained, "It's not time yet."
Kakashi's identity was rather special.
He was the Third Hokage's directly subordinate Anbu and the Fourth Hokage's disciple. If they really gouged out his eye, they might directly enrage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Things had not yet reached the point of mutual destruction.
Seeing Genya's response, Yashiro said no more. He knew Genya's intelligence was practically monstrous, so he surely had his own plans.
Genya stood up, stretched lazily, and asked, "Captain Kakashi, what can I do for you?"
Kakashi gave a cold laugh and asked, "Was it you who bought out every copy of Icha Icha Paradise in the village?"
"Yes." Genya did not deny it. He had bought out the books precisely to fish, and now the fish had begun biting.
Kakashi took a deep breath and made his expression look more natural. "Sell me one."
"Fifty thousand ryo!"
"Fine, I'll pay—" Kakashi exclaimed, "What?"
One copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
And it cost fifty thousand ryo?
Had Uchiha Genya gone mad?
Genya explained expressionlessly.
"I bought every copy of the latest season of Icha Icha Paradise in the village. It cost quite a bit of money."
Before you continue