“Mom, that’s really how it happened!” Inuzuka Kiba said quickly.
Inuzuka Tsume rubbed her forehead.
“Wait.
Let me process this for a second.” This news was a bit hard to digest all at once.
Inuzuka Hana said curiously, “Kiba, where is this manga shop?
Take me and Mom to see it.” Hearing this, Inuzuka Tsume’s eyes lit up as well.
Inuzuka Kiba recalled the business hours posted at the entrance of the manga shop and said, “That manga shop is probably closed by now.
If you want to go, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” With that, Inuzuka Kiba asked tentatively, “Mom… you’re not mad, are you?” “Mad about what?
You did great this time!” Inuzuka Tsume, who had finally managed to accept the reality of the situation, stroked Akamaru—now evolved into Garurumon—with undisguised affection.
At the same time, her heart stirred with excitement.
“If what you say is true… then there’s hope for the rise of our Inuzuka clan!
What Akamaru evolved into is merely a Champion-level Digimon.
Yet in terms of combat power, even a jonin would find it troublesome.
And you said that beyond the Champion level, there are Ultimate and even Mega-level Digimon.
Just how powerful must those be?!
If the ninja dogs of our Inuzuka clan could all evolve… we could even become one of the foremost families in the entire shinobi world!” Seeing that he was being praised instead of scolded, Inuzuka Kiba said excitedly, “Mom!
Big sis!
I’ll take you there tomorrow!” … Kurenai Yuhi’s Home.
“As expected… Kurenai-nee’s eel rice bowl is the absolute best.” Shendai tasted the eel rice bowl Kurenai Yuhi had made and couldn’t help but voice his admiration.
Kurenai Yuhi’s cooking skills were truly beyond reproach.
Perfect in color, aroma, and flavor.
Praised by Shendai, Kurenai Yuhi’s face lit up with a brilliant smile.
She brought over more dishes for him and said gently, “Then eat plenty more.” Off to the side, the Poyomon hopped onto the dining table on its own and began devouring the eel rice bowl with great, noisy gusto.
Now that Digimon had been brought into the Naruto world, their dietary needs had been modified by the system to match those of humans.
They simply needed food for energy.
Shendai and Kurenai Yuhi ate and chatted, and their sake cups were refilled again and again.
Though the alcohol content of sake wasn’t high, it had a considerable lingering effect.
The intoxication crept up quickly.
Kurenai Yuhi was tipsy, a faint drunken blush coloring her cheeks.
It was incredibly beautiful.
Shendai looked up and happened to meet Kurenai Yuhi’s ruby-like eyes, faintly hazy in the dim yellow lamplight.
Kurenai Yuhi’s face instantly flushed an even deeper red.
A peculiar atmosphere hung in the air.
CLATTER!
The Poyomon, which had been lying flat on a plate to eat, suddenly slipped and knocked the plate to the ground.
The whole creature landed face-first in its meal.
“Poyomon!
The shards didn’t hurt you, did they?!” Only then did Kurenai Yuhi snap back to her senses.
She hurriedly scooped the Poyomon into her arms.
At the same time, The woman’s heart was in turmoil.
What had come over her just now?
Had she really gotten lost staring at Shendai like that?
The Poyomon looked up with its wide, innocent eyes, glancing between Kurenai Yuhi and Shendai.
It said in its childish voice, “Did I come at a really bad time?
Did I interrupt you two?” “Wh-What are you talking about?!
You little thing, don’t talk nonsense!” Kurenai Yuhi’s face burned.
She squeezed and kneaded the Poyomon’s squishy face hard.
The Poyomon’s face deformed into various geometric shapes as it said helplessly: But I can already smell the sour scent of a certain woman in lo~ove~ … Root Headquarters.
An elderly man with bandages wrapped around his head and right arm, gripping a wooden staff in his left hand, Stood within the dark shadows, silently gazing at the Konoha insignia before him, as if he had become the very darkness lurking beneath that symbol.
A shadow flickered.
A Root operative wearing a white mask knelt on one knee, appearing behind the old man.
The old man spoke in a hoarse voice.
“What have you uncovered?” “Reporting to Lord Danzo.
The investigation is complete.” The Root operative reported, “That manga shop does indeed possess the ability to grant abilities or items from within manga to those who read them.
Hyuga Hinata, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and others have all entered the manga shop and received rewards.
All of these rewards are bizarre things never before seen or heard of in the shinobi world.
The shop owner’s name is Shendai, the only son of Konoha genin Shendai Togo and Yamaguchi Murasaki.” Hearing this, Danzo’s single visible pupil constricted sharply.
A cold glint flashed within it.
“Such a figure has been lurking within Konoha all this time, and I knew nothing of it.
Gaining items from another world just by reading manga?
Even fabricating a story, one wouldn’t dare concoct something so outlandish.” The Root operative remained silent.
He, too, had thought the information was false when he first heard it.
But as his investigation continued, he had no choice but to believe it.
It was all true!
A manga shop that defied the world’s understanding truly existed!
Danzo turned slowly.
“Did you not attempt to probe this manga shop?” The Root operative replied, “By the time I confirmed the information, the manga shop had already closed.” Danzo was about to speak again when he stopped.
A masked Anbu figure materialized like a ghost.
“By order of Lord Hokage, no one is permitted to offend that manga shop without explicit authorization.
Violators will bear the consequences themselves.” “Oh, it’s you, A.
Or should I call you Yamato now?” Danzo’s gaze was sharp, boring into the Anbu.
Yamato stiffened.
He was the sole surviving test subject from Orochimaru’s experiments with First Hokage Senju Hashirama’s cells, having inherited the First Hokage’s Wood Style.
Though the level of his Wood Style was a far cry from the First Hokage’s, it was still a unique Wood Style nonetheless.
After Orochimaru defected from Konoha, he had been taken in by Danzo.
Later, unable to stomach Danzo’s dark methods, he had switched his allegiance to Sarutobi Hiruzen with Kakashi’s help.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had named him Tenzo, which was later changed to Yamato.
But he still harbored a faint fear of Danzo.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen was the Hokage of Konoha, the ruler of the light… Then Danzo was the shadow of Konoha, the enforcer of the darkness.
He had secretly carried out countless cruel and despicable acts, using any means to achieve his goals.
His black hand lay behind many conspiracies.
This was the very reason Yamato had found it unbearable and chosen to leave Root.
Danzo’s gaze was like a flaying knife, stripping away pretense.
He looked at Yamato and spoke slowly.
“Does Hiruzen not understand the danger that manga shop represents?
If allowed to continue unchecked, it could very well destabilize Konoha.
But if we could seize control of it, the value it could yield would be immeasurable.” Yamato said, “Lord Hokage stated that should anyone offend the owner of that manga shop, he will not intervene in any resulting conflict.
He said this is for Konoha’s own good.” “Hmph.
Hiruzen is still the same sentimental fool as always.” Danzo snorted coldly.
“I will go speak with him myself.
I want to hear what excuses he has to offer.” (End of Chapter)