Chapter 576: None of Them Are Over Ten
As an experienced reader, after finishing that part of the story, Kakashi immediately flipped to the last page of the book.
When he saw the line at the end—[Special Thanks: Chiyo-sama of Sunagakure]
He instantly felt relieved.
'So that's why it felt like the author had some blood feud with my old man.'
'Turns out they really do.'
'Then that's fine.'
Kakashi accepted it so quickly mainly because not long ago, Zabuza had come looking for him over another book.
At the time, Kakashi had wondered how he had never read such a classic before. Something had to be off.
Sure enough, that book had only recently started spreading in Kirigakure and hadn't yet reached the rest of the ninja world, so naturally he hadn't seen it.
Likewise, it looked like 'Gyūbi's Night' had also first become popular in Kirigakure.
Chiyo-sama had come here on vacation and, while she was at it, had even provided inspiration for someone else's bootleg novel.
Kakashi had no intention of holding Chiyo-sama responsible.
First, she had already let go of her hatred.
Second, for the sake of the ninja world, she had even sacrificed her own reputation some time ago by cooperating with them to put on a show for Uchiha Madara.
So what if she made up a few stories about the White Fang now?
Thinking about Kisame giving this book to Itachi, Kakashi guessed Kisame was probably trying to remind Itachi that, as the son of the White Fang and the inheritor of the Thousand Years of Death, Kakashi might also have the same evil tendencies as the White Fang in the novel.
Kakashi, however, didn't care.
As long as he was alive, all those rumors would eventually be disproven.
The important thing was staying alive.
Once you were dead, people could throw any kind of slander at you, and you'd have no way to defend yourself.
As for him, all he had to do was openly read lots of erotic novels in public.
The rumors would collapse on their own.
With that thought, Kakashi picked an erotic novel, tucked it under his arm, left the tent, and went to see how things were going on Itachi's side.
When he arrived at the beach, he found Itachi standing there alone while Naruto and Konohamaru were happily playing in the sea.
"So, you're done talking?" Kakashi asked as he walked over.
"...Even though I already knew about him beforehand, Naruto's stubbornness is still beyond imagination."
Itachi nodded.
"Did you come up with a solution?"
Kakashi continued.
"Yes. But right now, I need some assistance."
Itachi pointed at his own eyes.
"Uh... Right, I almost forgot."
Kakashi suddenly realized that Itachi no longer had Tsukuyomi.
Even if he wanted to give Naruto the same treatment Sasuke had received, he simply couldn't.
That was a serious problem that needed to be solved as soon as possible.
"Kakashi-sensei? Um... could you go out for us? Could you buy something for Konohamaru and me?"
Naruto ran over while Kakashi was thinking. He picked up his little frog wallet from the ground and took out a pile of loose change.
"What? You two can't go out yourselves?"
Kakashi looked puzzled.
"Yeah. That shark lady said she was worried that us Konoha people would affect Kirigakure's atmosphere, so only one 'perverted' person from Konoha is allowed out at a time, and they still have to be monitored."
"..."
What did she mean by only one perverted person from Konoha could go out at a time?
What kind of rule was that?
Kakashi had clearly seen Sakura, Ino, and Tenten going shopping and watching movies together earlier.
...So those three didn't count?
In other words, Naruto had been stopped because Kakashi, the designated "perverted person," had already gone out, meaning no one else was allowed to leave?
"Then what about Neji? Why didn't you ask him?"
Kakashi glanced at Neji, who was sitting cross-legged not far away without moving.
Neji had his back to them, so Kakashi couldn't tell whether he was meditating, resting, or watching Purple Might Guy training in the distance.
"Neji's also banned from going out. After he found out why he was banned, he just became depressed over there."
Naruto scratched his head as he answered.
"..."
As one of the people involved in the incident where 'Neji called Ao 'Dad,' and Ao confessed to Kakashi', Kakashi naturally had no idea why Neji had also been classified as a perverted person.
He could only assume Naruto and Konohamaru had somehow ruined Neji's reputation.
"Fine then. What do you want me to buy? I happen to be going out to take care of something anyway, so I'll bring it back for you."
Kakashi helplessly covered his face.
Perfect timing.
Itachi needed helpers, and Kakashi was planning to head to the Flying Thunder God teleportation array to bring a few people over.
"Popsicles! Buy us some popsicles!"
Konohamaru eagerly raised his hand.
"Popsicles? Makes sense. The sea breeze's a bit warm. Something cold would be nice. What flavors do you want?"
Kakashi nodded.
"I want strawberry."
"I want..."
"Kakashi! I want Bílian!"
Might Guy suddenly dashed over from who knew where, looking incredibly excited.
"Huh?"
Kakashi was completely confused.
What was that supposed to mean?
What was Bílian?
The only phrase he'd ever heard was 'Don't Shake the Bílian.' (This is word play. Here 碧莲 is used. 碧莲 = 逼脸 = bī liǎn.)
"Stupid Guy-sensei! It's not Bílian, it's Xuelian!"
Konohamaru complained helplessly before explaining to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, Xuelian is a small, round sweet ice treat."
"Xuelian? Bílian? Xuebi (Sprite)? Are 'Xue' and 'Bi' the same thing?"
Names always confuse Might Guy. After hearing Konohamaru's explanation, he rubbed his chin and seriously started thinking about it.
"Guy, don't say things that sound so perverted! Konoha's reputation is already bad enough!"
The moment Kakashi heard Guy muttering to himself, he immediately scolded him sternly.
The reprimand completely bewildered Guy.
Perverted?
What was perverted about what he said?
But... it actually was.
"Xue" and "Bi" really were connected.
Nearby, the observer Hoshigaki Nanami silently recorded another note.
He added Might Guy to the list of ninja whose movements would be restricted and raised Kakashi's "pervert danger level" by another rank.
"Forget it, Kakashi. Besides that Bi... I mean Xuelian, get these too."
"Kakashi-sensei! Me too, me too!"
Naruto finally managed to get a word in and started listing several kinds as well.
As for how he knew about them...
Naturally, he'd heard about them from Sakura, Ino, and Tenten after the girls had gone shopping and spent the day happily eating snacks.
By the end of it, even Chiyo-sama—who had gotten bored of vacationing and wandered over to kill time—joined in and asked Kakashi to buy her some ice cream bars.
"Does any one of you happen to be over ten years old?"
Kakashi was speechless.
Konohamaru was understandable.
Naruto was understandable too.
But why were Guy and Chiyo-sama also acting like little kids fighting over snacks?
"Kakashi!"
Guy suddenly shouted at him with a serious expression, just like Kakashi had scolded him moments earlier.
"It's illegal if they're under ten! Just because you've been reading too many of those books doesn't mean you can walk down the path of crime!"
Guy grabbed Kakashi by the shoulders and gave him a solemn warning.
"...?"
Kakashi's mind went completely blank.
(End of this chapter)