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The rhythm of turning manga pages changed inside the Art Store in Konoha. Almost everyone stopped flipping pages. At that moment, silence filled the store.
It wasn't the usual silence of anticipation for what would happen next, but a silence of confusion over what was already clearly before their eyes.
The scene that ended with the appearance of the talking turtle scolding Rock Lee made even the veteran shinobi rethink how they should present themselves in the future.
It was impossible to imitate that man's ridiculous entrance!
…
In the most famous section of the store, the elders of Konoha sat in a tight circle.
Hiruzen studied the manga page while slowly exhaling smoke from his pipe, a weary look on his face.
"A summoning turtle…" Hiruzen muttered.
"This…" He slapped his forehead as he saw the next scene, where Rock Lee's teacher appeared from the smoke in a bizarre pose.
He looked at the father and son. "As expected… that child…"
[— Manga Scene —]
"Isn't that pretty obvious, idiot!"
The turtle shouted, scolding Lee while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stared in shock.
"So, how can a turtle become a ninja and a teacher?" Naruto asked foolishly.
"You fool!!"
The turtle continued berating the trembling Lee:
"You think you can get away with these silly excuses?!"
"Consider the repercussions of a shinobi—any shinobi—baldly explaining all their secrets!"
Lee bowed respectfully. "Y-yes sir!"
Meanwhile, Sasuke clenched his fist in frustration. "Damn it… To think I lost to someone so flippant."
"Well then… he's all yours, Gai-sensei."
"Boom!!"
Amid a cloud of smoke, a man appeared who looked like an adult version of Rock Lee—same green outfit, same thick eyebrows, same hairstyle.
"Whoaаааа!! Another intense guy came out!!"
With his round bowl cut and caterpillar-like eyebrows, Gai-sensei appeared in his iconic pose with a dazzling wink.
[— End Scene —]
"This… this is me!"
Young Gai shouted loudly. He couldn't comprehend that his future self possessed such an overwhelming aura.
He looked at his father, stars shining in his eyes.
As for Maito Dai, he burst into tears and hugged his son.
"Look, Gai! That wink… those eyebrows… it's the flame of youth that never fades! You'll become a great man just as I foretold! Even the manga predicts it!"
Young Kakashi covered his face with his hand in embarrassment for his teammate.
"Gai… please tell me you won't wear that green jumpsuit in the future… It hurts the eyes more than the Sharingan."
Sakumo simply smiled. He even laughed at the comedic scenes that followed. Then his eyes narrowed as he thought.
'Faster than Kakashi, huh?'
…
"Hahaha!"
At that moment, Jiraiya burst out laughing.
"To think Dai's son would turn out this impressive… He's a spitting image of his father."
"But unlike the father, who's still a genin, it seems the son somehow found his path and became a jonin," Tsunade said with a smile, looking toward the father and son who were now the center of attention in Konoha Art Store.
"That little brat will become stronger than Kakashi? What a joke…"
Nawaki couldn't believe what Maito Gai had said in the manga, even after seeing the speed that stunned Sasuke—who considered him faster than Kakashi.
…
Orochimaru, standing in a secluded corner flipping pages with his pale fingers, hissed softly.
"Interesting… This teacher, Gai. He is an 'anomaly' within the shinobi system as we know it."
…
Back where the father and son stood under everyone's gaze, Maito Dai was completely silent.
The tears froze in his eyes as he looked at the image of his future son, introduced in a comedic scene alongside Rock Lee—but did that matter?
"Gai…" Dai called in a low voice.
"Did you see that pose? That is the stance of someone who has mastered the rules of youth. He doesn't care about Naruto's mockery or Sakura's disgust. He lives in his own world, where effort is the only law."
Young Gai trembled with excitement.
"Father… will I really become like that? 'The extreme bowl cut'… 'Those raging brows'… The other readers mock him, but I can feel his power! He looks like he could move mountains with a single kick!"
Young Kakashi, sitting nearby, temporarily closed Volume Five.
"Gai… I'll admit one thing. That teacher in the manga… when he appeared, Sasuke completely froze. He couldn't even think about attacking."
"That's not just taijutsu, that's the terrifying presence of a fighter who has reached the peak. Looks like I'll have to reevaluate our rivalry, Gai."
Sakumo nodded at his son's words. If Rock Lee possessed that kind of strength, enough to completely suppress Sasuke, then one could only imagine the taijutsu power of his teacher.
…
Far from Konoha, in the Land of Rain, Rob's clone faced Hanzo.
"The Land of Rain does not need hope—it needs obedience," Hanzo repeated, the blade in his hand gleaming.
Rob replied calmly, "Obedience is built on fear, and fear fades when people find something worth living for. Look at your men, Hanzo."
Hanzo turned to see that some of his soldiers, despite fearing him, were sneaking curious glances at the golden-doored store covered in posters, driven by natural human curiosity.
"The poisons you boast about do not affect minds that seek freedom," Rob added.
A terrible tension filled the air before Hanzo suddenly sheathed his blade.
"I'll let you go today… not because I believe your words, but because I want to see how despair will crush this hope you claim to offer. And if you fail… I will cut off your head myself."
"Oh? I didn't expect that…"
Rob smiled, placing his hands in his pockets.
It wasn't that he truly hadn't expected Hanzo to back down—Hanzo wasn't a fool.
Hanzo knew what had happened, how Kumogakure had ended up in a pitiful state, and how the other four great villages had submitted to the authority of the Art Store.
Even if he was Hanzo of the Salamander, the greatest shinobi of his era, how could he deal with a man who had single-handedly subdued the Five Great Shinobi Villages? Deep down, Hanzo knew it was impossible.
That was why, from the beginning, he had no intention of confronting this man directly.
First, he needed to understand what had brought this man to the Land of Rain… and for that, he would have to enter the Art Store.
"Well then, it doesn't matter… please, come in…"
Rob's Ame clone, walked into the Art Store, waiting for his first customers in this place.
After the Art Store in the Land of Waves, this was the seventh Art Store to open in the ninja world.
…
While everyone in Konoha laughed at the scenes of Gai-sensei and Rock Lee and Team Seven's comedic reactions to the duo,
And while Kakashi and his father were pleased by the final scene of the chapter, where Kakashi showed pride in Sasuke and Naruto for not abandoning Sakura and for coming together to face the Chunin Exams.
The Third Hokage noticed something in the background of the next chapter pages… shinobi wearing forehead protectors that were not from Konoha, nor from the Five Great Villages, nor even from the smaller villages he knew.
"Danzo," the Hokage whispered, "I believe the manga has begun to reveal new shinobi villages that will form in the future."
"I can see that clearly," Danzo replied coldly.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 123: The Nine Rookie Generation… and the Clash of the Clans!
Chapter 124: Kabuto.
Chapter 125: The First Exam!
Chapter 126: Cheating Is Required to Pass the Exam, but It's Forbidden.
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