Naruto: I Am Uzumaki Naruto!?

I hesitated at the entrance of the bookstore, fumbling through my pocket for some loose change.

"Well... no harm in taking a look."

Stepping inside, I scanned the shelves. If I were outside the village, I could make money easily with my Scorch Style—take on a few missions, burn a few targets. Even if A-rank jobs were off-limits, B-rank ones would be enough to get by.

But not in Konoha.

My situation was too... delicate. Any reckless move could bring unwanted attention. The fights and blackmailing I pulled off before? They might already have caught the old man's eye. Best-case scenario, Hiruzen calls me in for a 'friendly chat.' Worst case? I'm put under round-the-clock surveillance.

So, for now, I had to play it smart.

As I wandered deeper into the bookstore, my eyes landed on a particular shelf.

My lips twitched.

"Kiss Paradise."

"My Youthful Romance with an Older Sister."

"An Unknown Love Story with Cloud Village Kunoichi."

...

Oh.

This was that kind of shop.

I glanced around, taking in the half-empty containers. Seemed like these books were selling like hotcakes.

Curious, I picked up a copy and flipped through it.

After a moment, my expression turned blank.

This is it?

I checked the price tag.

"Five thousand ryo?!"

I nearly choked. Five thousand ryo for... this?

A single explosive tag costs about a thousand. A kunai? Five hundred. For the price of this book, I could buy five explosive tags—literal lifesavers in a battle.

And the limited-edition version? Sixty thousand ryo. That was half a year's living expenses!

Who the hell was paying this much for a book that could, at best, be used as expensive toilet paper?

At that moment, I heard voices near the entrance.

"Boss, where's the latest limited edition of Icha Icha Paradise? I need five copies."

I froze.

That voice...

Hatake Kakashi.

At the front of the store, Kakashi stood with a few familiar faces—Kotetsu Hagane, Izumo Kamizuki, and Aoba Yamashiro.

Unlike Kakashi, the other three were shifty-eyed, nervously glancing around like thieves about to commit a crime.

The shopkeeper, already used to this routine, gave them a knowing look and pointed to a corner. "You know the drill. Help yourselves."

Kakashi remained as cool as ever, but his three comrades sighed in relief.

Like they had just survived a battlefield.

"Where is it? Where is it?" Kotetsu muttered, eyes darting over the shelves. "Come on, Icha Icha Paradise...!"

His hands trembled as he searched.

And then—

"It's here," I said, handing him a copy.

Kotetsu barely looked at me as he took it. "Thanks, man."

Then he froze.

So did Izumo. And Aoba.

All three slowly turned their heads toward me, their faces draining of color.

I smiled.

"Uzumaki Naruto!!!"

Kotetsu practically leaped back, clutching the book like it was explosive.

"You—you—you—why are you here?!"

Izumo and Aoba weren't much better, their expressions a mix of horror and embarrassment.

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. "Kotetsu, Izumo, Aoba... all proud Konoha shinobi. And here you are, sneaking around to buy this kind of book... How disappointing."

Kotetsu's face turned as red as a Sharingan. "I—I'm just appreciating the writing! From a literary perspective!"

I raised an eyebrow.

Liar.