Sarutobi Hiruzen felt like his heart was bleeding.
Of all times, this misunderstanding had to happen now.
Now it was like yellow mud smeared on his pants—no matter what he said, people would assume the worst.
Utatane Koharu stared at the small golden object vibrating and skittering across the floor.
She was instantly petrified.
Hiruzen… what is the meaning of this?
He said he had something to discuss with me… Could it be…?
Danzo and Mitokado Homura turned their heads.
Seeing the object on the floor, they too were momentarily baffled.
Then, they immediately looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with expressions of pure, teasing amusement.
Hiruzen, who usually acts so dignified… is into this sort of thing?
At your age?
Really?
What’s the plan here?
Were you two going to go at it right here in the office after we left?
Nice.
Seeing the looks Danzo and Mitokado Homura were giving him, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew any explanation was futile.
He felt a sharp pang of angina.
Why didn’t I just throw this thing away earlier?!
No—better yet, I never should have set foot in that manga shop to begin with!
This is all a misunderstanding!
My image is completely ruined!
Danzo coughed and said to Mitokado Homura with a strange smirk, “Homura, what are you standing there staring for?
Hurry up.
Unless you planned on staying to study the matter further?” “Ah.
Right, right.” Mitokado Homura scurried after him, closing the door behind him on the way out.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu, alone in the Hokage’s office late at night… this scene was… Too spicy!
Alright then!
Time to bail!
With a soft click, the door shut.
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utatane Koharu remained in the office.
Bzzzz— Bzzzz— The small golden object continued to vibrate, running around wildly.
Utatane Koharu coughed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hastily snatched up the egg and switched it off.
“Koharu, actually, I…” Utatane Koharu blushed and whispered, “There’s no need to explain.
I understand.” You understand nothing!
Sarutobi Hiruzen internally coughed up three liters of blood.
Utatane Koharu added, a note of gentle reproach in her voice, “But in front of those two just now… you really shouldn’t have been so impatient.
Such things should be discussed in private.” I @#$%… Sarutobi Hiruzen fought back the urge to spray blood on the spot.
He decided that being upfront was better than hiding it.
He held out the vibrating egg in his palm and said, “Koharu.
The truth is, I got this from reading a manga at that manga shop.
I—” Utatane Koharu’s face flushed an even deeper red.
She reached out and took the object from Sarutobi Hiruzen’s hand.
“Alright, alright.
I’ll accept it.
Just… don’t go waving this thing around.
You’re the Hokage.
It’s unseemly if others see it.” Utatane Koharu tucked the object into her own pocket.
She cast a sidelong glance at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“If you have something to say, come to my house tomorrow to discuss it.” With that, Utatane Koharu turned and left.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood frozen in place, like a stone statue.
Four philosophical questions looped endlessly in his mind.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I doing?
How in the hell did it come to this?!
… Shendai returned to the manga shop from Kurenai Yuhi’s house and slept soundly until past seven the next morning.
He washed up and got dressed.
The moment he opened the door, he saw Konohamaru, Moe, and Udon already waiting outside.
The three of them were seated on a bench by the street.
Moe asked curiously, “Konohamaru, is this manga shop really as amazing as you said?” “Of course!” Konohamaru stroked Pochi’s soft fur back and forth and said proudly, “I got Pochi from reading a manga here.
You two just saw Pochi’s combat form.
Isn’t he cool?!” Recalling the combat form Pochi had displayed earlier, Udon adjusted his glasses and said, “It really is strong.
Stronger than any ninja summon I’ve ever seen.
But it costs five thousand ryo just to read one.
That’s so expensive.
Moe and I don’t have that kind of money.” “What’s there to worry about?
I’ve got you covered.” Konohamaru said lavishly, “I brought all the allowance I’ve saved up from the family.
A whole thirty thousand ryo.
That’s definitely enough for all three of us.” “Whoa!
Konohamaru, you’re so loaded!” Moe said excitedly.
In her eyes, Konohamaru was practically glowing with the radiant light of “wealth.” “Thirty thousand ryo!” Udon counted on his fingers.
“How many toys and kunai could you buy with that?!” “We’re about to enter the ninja academy!
We’ll have real kunai then!
Why would we buy toy ones?!
Can’t you aim a little higher?!” Konohamaru couldn’t resist smacking Udon upside the head.
Just then, The manga shop opened.
Seeing Shendai, Konohamaru’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Boss!
I’m back again!” Konohamaru slapped a stack of bills—twenty thousand ryo in total—onto the counter.
“For the three of us.” Shendai took the money and smiled.
“The manga are all on the shelf.
Go ahead and choose.” “One Piece: East Blue Arc?
Velvet Kiss?
Two new manga since yesterday?” Konohamaru immediately noticed the two new volumes that hadn’t been there when he visited yesterday.
Eyeing the visually arresting cover of Velvet Kiss, Konohamaru grinned mischievously.
“This one looks promising.
I’ll take this one!” Konohamaru took the manga and headed for a seat.
“You’re such a perv, honestly!” Moe huffed and spat out a “gross,” then selected Sailor Moon—Part 1.
Gazing at the five Sailor Guardians on the cover, she said wistfully, “I’m so jealous of long-legged pretty girls like this.
It would be so nice if I had a figure like that someday.” Udon finally stepped up to the shelf.
He rubbed the back of his head and muttered, “Konohamaru got his thing from reading that Akame ga Kill!
book.
So I’ll try that one too.
Maybe I can get a super cool Imperial Arm as well.” The three of them chose their manga and sat down together at a table.
“Whoa, this plot development is insane!” “A young lady that forward?!
Give me a dozen!” “Oho ho ho~ A bath scene this bright?!
This is so lewd~” Konohamaru read his manga, growing more and more excited by the page.
Beside him, Moe and Udon were also drawn deeply into their respective stories, utterly absorbed.
Shendai brewed himself a cup of black tea and sat with his legs crossed.
He gently blew the steam from the surface of the tea, took a sip, and savored the sweet aftertaste.
There had been thirteen customers yesterday.
After a night of word spreading, business was sure to multiply today.
Just then, Naruto arrived at the manga shop.
He lingered outside, pacing back and forth, seeming hesitant.
Finally, he walked in.
Shendai said, “Looking to read a manga?” “Uh, boss… Could I possibly owe you six thousand ryo for now?
I scrounged up everything in my house and only managed to scrape together four thousand.” Naruto looked utterly pitiful.
“Sorry.
No credit.” Shendai shrugged.
Hearing this, Naruto’s face fell.
Konohamaru, who was reading his manga, looked up at the sound of a familiar voice.
He said in surprise, “Boss Naruto?” “Konohamaru?” “Boss Naruto, you came to read manga too?” “N-No, that’s not it.” Embarrassed to admit he didn’t have enough money, Naruto said, “I just came to browse, see if there were any new manga.
Doesn’t look like there are, so… I’ll be heading back.” (End of Chapter)