Chapter 30 A Blaze in the Village

"Money… is that really all there is to it?"

Uzumaki Naruto's voice was calm, but his blue eyes had turned ice-cold.

Did this fool really think he didn't understand the market?

A single copy of Taimanin sold for 5,000 ryo at the lowest, and in some places, the price went as high as 8,000 or even 10,000 ryo.

At the base price—5,000 ryo per copy—with 14,000 copies sold, the total revenue should be 70 million ryo.

And yet, this shopkeeper was trying to hand him a mere 8 million ryo? That wasn't even a fraction of what he was owed.

The shopkeeper's expression darkened for a split second before he forced a chuckle. How the hell does this brat know all this? Hasn't he never even left Konoha?

Still trying to play dumb, he gave a nervous laugh. "W-Well, the distribution fees are really high…"

Naruto's voice remained indifferent.

"My book is better than Icha Icha Paradise. The distributors wouldn't dare take an excessive cut, and the retailers' margin isn't that high either."

"After printing, sales, and distribution costs, the net profit should be around 40 million ryo. Even at a 30-70 split, my share should be at least 12 million."

The moment Naruto exposed the deception, the shopkeeper's fake smile vanished.

Straightening his posture, he sneered.

"Well, well, seems like the little monster actually did his homework."

"Twelve million? Your appetite's bigger than I thought."

"But what if I don't give it to you?" The shopkeeper leaned in, his voice dropping to a taunting whisper. "You think Hokage-sama would let you keep writing this filth if I reported you?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Naruto's expression didn't change.

But something shifted.

Where the shopkeeper couldn't see, Naruto's usual bright blue eyes turned colder—empty, indifferent.

From the outside, it would be impossible to connect this Naruto to the loud, foolish prankster Konoha knew.

One was warmth.

The other, an abyss.

After a few seconds, Naruto tilted his head slightly, looking out the window.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he turned back to the shopkeeper with a bright, cheerful smile.

"Hey, boss, just to check… You didn't tell anyone about my Mienma identity, right?"

The shopkeeper, thinking Naruto had backed down, smirked.

"Relax. I didn't tell a soul." He sneered. "As long as you behave, I'll keep it a secret."

Naruto nodded, still smiling. His lips parted slightly.

"I see."

Then he raised his hand.

"Scorch Release: Steam Kill."

A faint whoosh sounded as a flicker of flame ignited in Naruto's palm.

Before the shopkeeper could react, the fire spread across his entire body.

The flames devoured him instantly.

No screams.

No struggle.

Within seconds, the man's body withered, skin cracking, flesh boiling—until he was nothing but a dried-up husk.

Thump.

The mummified corpse collapsed. The impact split it in half.

Naruto stared at the remains in silence.

Then, after a moment, he raised his foot and stomped down.

Crack!

The brittle body shattered into dust.

With a flick of his wrist, another Scorch Release flame swept through the room, reducing the entire shop to a raging inferno.

---

By the time the villagers noticed, the fire had already spread.

A crowd gathered, murmuring in alarm as the flames consumed the building.

Naruto stood among them, hands in his pockets, watching quietly.

Hah… It really went up fast.

In his mind, a voice stirred.

"Oi, brat… What's going on with you?"

The Nine-Tails.

Naruto barely reacted, still watching the blaze.

"Kurama," he murmured, "if I really wanted to destroy this village, do you think I could do it with your help?"

Inside the sealed space, the giant fox froze.

His crimson eyes studied Naruto carefully.

"…Naruto, what happened?"

"No, nothing," Naruto said lightly. "Just thinking."

"Doesn't this village feel disgusting to you? Like a rotting fish left out in the sun—ugly inside and out."

His voice was steady, even casual. But there was something unsettling about how calm he was.

Once, he had wanted to belong here.

Once, he had dreamed of being Hokage.

But as time passed, he realized—

Konoha never saved me.

If I hadn't met Hinata, I might've just broken your seal the moment I arrived.

For a moment, his hand twitched.

Just a little more.

Just a little push, and he would move.

Then, he exhaled, shaking his head.

"Well, it's just a joke."

"Even if I went crazy, even if I released you, I'd just end up sealed in the Shinigami's stomach." He chuckled. "That's not really my style."

The villagers' anxious chatter continued.

"That fire got big fast. What was in there!?"

"It was a bookstore, right? If there were people inside, they're done for."

"Damn it, we can't even get close! Where are the shinobi!?"

At that moment, Kakashi arrived, leading a squad of Anbu.

His single eye narrowed at the raging flames.

"Tch. Too late."

"Water Release! Put it out!"

A series of jutsu were launched.

"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"

"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"

"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"

The powerful torrents slammed into the fire, finally smothering the last of the embers.

As the smoke cleared, the Anbu moved in.

After a moment, one of them emerged from the ruins, holding up a handful of charred dust.

"No survivors. The fire burned everything beyond recognition. Not even a corpse left—just ash."

"Judging from the intensity, this wasn't a normal blaze." Another Anbu frowned. "Could be a Fire Release user. But there are no traces left behind."

Kakashi clenched his fist.

"Damn it. Too late again?"

His eye flickered over the crowd.

"Round up all witnesses. See if anyone noticed anything unusual."

The Anbu immediately began questioning the gathered villagers.

Then, Kakashi's gaze landed on a familiar face in the crowd.

A boy with blond hair and blue eyes.

"N—" Kakashi hesitated, then corrected himself. "Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

Kakashi studied him carefully before speaking.

"How long have you been here?"