When Shimura Danzo entered the school gates, the bookstore owner outside was shouting at the top of his lungs, promoting his new stock.
"Newly published bestseller! The adventure of the protagonist 'A-Zang'! It's exciting and thrilling—don't miss it!"
"A-Zang?" Shimura Danzo paused and glanced that way. The name... was a bit similar to his, but it had to be a coincidence. He didn't take it to heart, simply finding the owner's shouting a bit too noisy, disturbing the morning peace he needed to contemplate the Will of Fire. He curled his lip and hurried into the school.
Senju Makoto, who happened to be arriving for class, saw this and could barely contain his laughter.
The Secret Under the Desks
During the morning cultural class, sunlight poured through the glass windows, warmly covering most of the classroom. An ordinary Chunin stood on the podium lecturing. His voice was as steady as a lullaby, and its hypnotic effect was top-tier.
The classroom appeared quiet and peaceful, but beneath the desks, shielded by textbooks, undercurrents were already surging. Fluffy heads were bowed low, yet eyes drifted uncontrollably into the depths of desk drawers.
The cheeks of many students were slowly turning red at a visible rate. Their eyes darted back and forth, vigilantly observing the teacher on the podium and the surrounding classmates, terrified that their small movements would be discovered.
But the book hidden in their drawers was like a thousand hooks, firmly snagging their eyes and minds. The plot... was simply too exciting, too novel. They couldn't help but hold their breath, flipping page after page, secretly and rapidly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen—the future teacher of Jiraiya and the current unofficial "Sect Leader of the Yellow Sect"—was particularly bold. Relying on the fact that his father was the Vice Principal, he was completely enthralled, fully immersed in A-Zang's adventure.
His heart raced, his young face flushed deep red, and he even had a secret nosebleed without noticing. It wasn't until his seatmate, terrified, nudged him hard with an elbow that he snapped out of the world within the book. He frantically grabbed a tissue to cover his nose, but the unnatural flush on his face wouldn't fade, and his eyes remained dazed.
The Noon Confrontation
By the time the lunch break arrived, a strange atmosphere enveloped the entire Ninja Academy, especially the sixth grade. Almost everyone's gaze toward Shimura Danzo had turned... off.
There was disdain, curiosity, and some unidentifiable looks. Many of the girls, in particular, looked at him with a hint of disgust.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, with two thick rolls of paper stuffed into his still-bleeding nostrils, tilted his head back. The unnatural flush on his face hadn't completely subsided. He truly couldn't hold it in anymore; his heart was itching like it was being scratched by a cat.
Amidst the noisy chatter of the lunch break, he nudged Shimura Danzo—who was buried in his notes, his brow furrowed enough to crush a fly, seemingly contemplating some grand matter of world peace—and leaned in mysteriously.
"A-Zang... have you been secretly writing a book lately?"
It wasn't surprising that Hiruzen asked. The protagonist's name was "A-Zang," and his character description was that of someone who appeared serious and upright on the outside but was... exceptionally "passionate" on the inside. Coupled with the similar physical descriptions, anyone who read it couldn't help but make terrible associations.
Shimura Danzo frowned, still mulling over how to continue his essay on the "Will of Fire." He didn't even look up as he answered, his tone carrying the impatience of someone whose train of thought had been interrupted.
"I am writing! My notes on The Spirit of Sacrifice and Practical Methodology in the Will of Fire are just beginning. Why do you ask?"
"I'm not talking about the Will of Fire!" Sarutobi Hiruzen rolled his eyes, wearing a "don't play dumb with me" expression. He peeked sneakily left and right, then leaned in even closer, almost touching Danzo's ear while winking toward his own desk.
"That story about the landlady... did you write it?"
"I didn't expect it, A-Zang. You, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, always talking about protecting Konoha, would actually play so dirty in private!"
Then, his voice shifted into a plea. "Can you... let me in on it? Please!"
Danzo's Fury
Seeing Hiruzen's winking, suggestive, and utterly bizarre expression, and feeling the uncomfortable, needle-like stares from all directions, Shimura Danzo's heart suddenly skipped a beat. A sense of foreboding enveloped him. He turned abruptly, grabbed Hiruzen's arm, and demanded sharply:
"What is going on? Hiruzen! Make it clear to me—what landlady?"
Hiruzen, wincing from the grip, waved him off and sneakily shoved the book toward Shimura Danzo, whispering.
"See for yourself. It's this one... Be careful, don't let my dad or the other teachers confiscate it. I haven't finished it yet..."
Shimura Danzo snatched the book and flipped through a few pages. His face turned redder with every second—from his ears to his neck, and finally, even his forehead was throbbing. It was hard to tell if it was from rage or... excitement.
But Senju Makoto, sitting between them and enjoying the show, knew better. This guy was definitely furious. His lungs were likely about to explode, and his very liver was probably trembling.
Sure enough, Shimura Danzo slammed the book shut, clenched his fists, and roared at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"This! Is this your doing again? To slander my reputation and destroy my prestige among our classmates, you actually... you actually came up with such a low, filthy, and unbearable tactic!"
"You're... you're simply too much! Absolutely shameless!"
Danzo's face shifted through shades of red, purple, and black like a color palette. It was a spectacular sight. His chest heaved violently; he was clearly beyond livid.
Hiruzen was stunned by the roar, then waved his hands frantically. "It wasn't me! You know me, A-Zang. I don't have such good writing skills. I only saw it for the first time this morning!"
Having said that, he lost interest in the fuming Shimura Danzo and took the book back, lowering his head to keep reading while muttering under his breath.
"This writing is so satisfying... this author, 'Carrying a Blade on a Rainy Night, Without an Umbrella,' is a total genius! How did he come up with this plot and these details?"
Watching Shimura Danzo's frantic state, Senju Makoto leaned back in his chair. Never one to let a good drama go to waste, he spoke up lazily, his voice laced with mock pity. Using Danzo's own favorite catchphrase, he said sorrowfully:
"Sigh, A-Zang—er, Danzo. If you're this angry over a few harmless rumors, how will you ever protect Konoha in the future?"
As soon as these words came out, the surrounding classmates couldn't help but burst into laughter. The looks they gave Shimura Danzo became even more peculiar. Danzo shook with rage, pointing at Senju Makoto for a long time without being able to speak. Finally, he squeezed out a single sentence:
"If you weren't the First Lord's disciple, I would have made you realize whether my fists and feet are sharp or not!"