I Really Didn't Read That Kind of Book

Chapter 4

After being thoroughly berated by the teacher, spit flying everywhere, Aokiji returned to his seat, only to be greeted by the criticism and mockery of those around him. "You've got some nerve, sleeping in the hallway."

Aokiji yawned and ignored them, pulling a pillow from his backpack and leaving the student beside him dumbfounded.

"What exactly do you come to school for?"

Aokiji answered bluntly, "Sleeping."

"Hey, Kashio, say something too."

The child called Kashio rested a finger against his chin, thought for a moment, then lifted his eyelids and spoke at a moderate pace. "When you go to sleep later, lend me your pillow for a bit."

"Get lost."

How could he allow someone else to snore beside his bed?

This child named Kashio was Nara Kashio. He and Aokiji had been childhood friends, and they shared the same habit of enjoying naps during class whenever they had the chance.

"What a pain. Looks like I'll have to bring my own pillow from now on." Kashio scratched his pineapple-shaped hair. "Well, whatever. If Mom finds out I secretly brought a pillow to school, she'll probably chew me out something fierce..."

Aokiji collapsed onto his pillow. "Wake me when class starts."

Watching Aokiji swiftly enter sleep mode, Kashio said admiringly, "Among everyone I know, nobody can sleep better than you. I, Kashio, hereby declare you the strongest."

"Really? Then I'm truly grateful for your high opinion of me."

Aokiji replied groggily.

A white-haired boy nearby heard their entire conversation. He looked at the sleeping Aokiji and narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly plotting something.

Not long after, the class bell rang.

Aokiji was awakened by the noise and silently stuffed his pillow back into his backpack. He had the nerve to sleep during class, but sleeping on a pillow during class would have been far too outrageous.

He muddled through a lesson, and when lunchtime came, the students took out the carefully prepared lunchboxes their parents had made for them, with balanced and nutritious combinations of vegetables and meat.

Aokiji was an orphan and a slacker. Luxuries like lunchboxes were beyond him. He could only honestly go to the school shop and buy a few buns to chew on.

When he entered the school shop, a long line had already formed in front of him. It was incredibly lively.

The school shop introduced different products from time to time. Today's featured item was a type of red bean bun, which was selling like crazy. Aokiji had tried one before and found it rather ordinary.

Having lived in the great foodie empire in his previous life, Aokiji had developed a very picky palate.

If his family had not insisted that he attend school, Aokiji would have wanted to drop out and open a restaurant.

The prerequisite for developing high technology was money. Aokiji felt that doing business seemed like a pretty good option.

He could use some of the delicacies from his previous life to crush this world's food industry and surely make a fortune. Then he could hire a few trustworthy people, become a hands-off boss himself, and spend his free time training. Wouldn't that be better than being constantly reprimanded by Konoha's higher-ups and risking his life every day?

Then, with the money he earned from his shop, he could become a wealthy patron and hire Konoha's ninja to work for him.

That scene would be absolutely wonderful.

At the thought of it, Aokiji could not stop his shoulders from trembling. He laughed aloud, drawing strange looks from those around him.

"Cough, cough..."

Aokiji pretended to cough twice. Keep a low profile, keep a low profile.

He casually bought two rice balls and ate as he walked. By the time he returned to his seat, he had nearly finished them. Without another word, he took out his pillow and lay down to sleep. When some classmates wanted to invite him to play ninja games, he flatly refused.

"Hey, who are you inviting? Why pick that sleepyhead who does nothing but sleep all day?"

After his companion's warning, the student glanced at Aokiji, found the point reasonable, and turned to leave.

Aokiji spent all day sleeping at school and barely interacted with anyone. Everyone thought he was a weirdo.

Aokiji did not like interacting with people. First, he did not have the time. Second, he did not want to form too many emotional ties with them.

If nothing unexpected happened, the students in this class would all become ninja after graduation. Aside from a handful of lucky people who survived to the end, most of them would probably die during some mission.

People sought benefits and avoided harm. Since Aokiji already knew they would die on missions, he naturally would not socialize with them. He did not want to be heartbroken when the time came.

Even if that might have been an opportunity to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan...

With his eyes closed, Aokiji suddenly sensed someone standing before him. He opened his eyes and saw a white-haired boy with spiky hair.

He had white hair, but unfortunately, his looks were utterly ordinary. What a waste of that tuft of white hair.

"My name is Jiraiya." The boy acted as though they had long known each other. "You're Aokiji, right?"

"Do you need something?"

Aokiji could not understand why Jiraiya had come looking for him out of nowhere.

As one of the future Sannin, Jiraiya was someone Aokiji intended to win over. He had been wondering how to get acquainted with them, yet Jiraiya had delivered himself right to his door.

Jiraiya looked around. After confirming that no one was nearby, he leaned close and spoke mysteriously. "Can we talk somewhere private?"

Talk somewhere private? Jiraiya was acting so mysteriously that Aokiji did not understand. "I don't know what you mean."

Jiraiya said with certainty, "I know what you've been doing at night."

Aokiji's eyes widened. Did Jiraiya know he had been secretly training at night? How was that possible? Who the hell had nothing better to do in the middle of the night than monitor him? Was he insane?

Aokiji's plan was to act useless in front of everyone and create the image of a good-for-nothing.

Then, he would wait for the right moment. To save his companions, he would awaken his Ice Release, defeat the enemy, realize the importance of his companions, strive to improve himself, inherit the Will of Fire, and ultimately become a Hokage.

A prodigal son returning was worth more than gold.

What a perfect story to package into teaching material and promote.

By then, even if his Sharingan abilities were exposed, it would be too late. He would already hold great power in his hands.

But if people found out he had been secretly training at night, his plan would definitely go down the drain, especially if it was someone as loose-lipped as Jiraiya.

Feeling guilty, Aokiji asked weakly, "What do you know?"

Jiraiya grinned wickedly. "Have you been secretly reading dirty books at night lately?"

Huh? Aokiji was dumbfounded. What was he even talking about? How could he possibly be that kind of person?

Seeing that Aokiji refused to admit it, Jiraiya smirked. "Still pretending? Otherwise, why do you look so groggy and half-asleep every day?"

Aokiji covered his face with one hand. He had actually been afraid of this idiot exposing his secret.

Jiraiya was judging others by himself. It seemed this guy had been a pervert since childhood, just like Shin-chan.

"What's the title of the one you've been reading?"

Jiraiya opened his mouth and immediately used professional terminology.

As for what exactly a title number was, there was no need to discuss that for now.

In short, without a certain degree of relevant "cultural" knowledge, one could not possibly say something like that.

Aokiji said speechlessly, "I really haven't been reading dirty books."

"Don't worry, I won't take it for nothing. We can trade and share resources." Jiraiya chuckled. "I like beautiful older sisters with generous figures, wearing leopard-print underwear. That image is just too tempting."

"What do you know? What's truly tempting is a maid outfit with white stockings..."

As a scholar, Aokiji felt that he ought to offer an academic opinion at this moment.

"Ohohoho~~~"

Jiraiya drew out his voice with a wicked grin.

"Cough, cough."

He had spoken too bluntly just now. Aokiji wanted to find an excuse to explain it away, but unfortunately, a little blonde girl returning to her seat overheard him. She looked at him as though he were a maggot and spat out two words. "Pervert."

Aokiji hurriedly gave a solemn explanation. "I, Uchiha Aokiji, have not read dirty books."

Tsunade picked up a book and ignored him.

The impression that Aokiji read dirty books had already taken root in her mind. No matter how he explained himself, it would be useless.

Aokiji wanted to cry, but no tears came.

"Oops, it seems you were misunderstood." Jiraiya scratched his cheek.

Misunderstood my ass! Aokiji was furious. He grabbed Jiraiya by the collar with both hands and shook him violently, roaring, "Beep—give me back my innocence."