Chapter 555: Eleven Books

“Hmm… err…”

Nagato’s face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and steam rose from the top of his head.

Facing Konan’s teasing and probing gaze, he stammered, completely unable to explain why he would be reading such a book, let alone answer her question.

Seeing Nagato in such an extremely embarrassed state, Konan was secretly pleased.

Such a Nagato, having shed the indifference of a “God” and the stubbornness of the leader of the Akatsuki, appeared exceptionally real, and perhaps even a little… cute?

She stopped pressing him, instead taking the initiative to reach out and hold Nagato’s hand, which was slightly curled from nervousness.

“Since you like reading it,” Konan’s voice carried a smile, her purple eyes shining.

“Then let’s go buy it together! I also want to see just how good a book has to be to make Nagato so fascinated.”

Nagato:!!!?

Huh?!

Go… buy this kind of book together?!

Nagato’s head went “boom,” as if fireworks had exploded inside.

He imagined himself walking into a bookstore side-by-side with Konan, then pointing to that book with the suggestive cover, “The Romantic Ninjutsu Tales of Shimura: Volume 7,” and saying to the clerk, “Please give me one”…

No way! That’s too shameful! Absolutely not!

The blush on his face instantly spread to the roots of his neck, and the steam on his head seemed to thicken.

Seeing Nagato so embarrassed he was almost evaporating on the spot, Konan added slowly, a flash of cunning in her eyes: “I heard there is a normal version of this.”

Upon hearing this, Nagato, like a drowning man grabbing a piece of driftwood, his dull eyes instantly lit up, and he asked eagerly: “Eh? Is there a book with normal content?”

If it was just a regular adventure novel, then going to buy it with Konan would be absolutely no problem!

In other words, the version Nagato was reading really was the improper one, huh?

“Hmm,” Konan nodded, explaining with a straight face, “It’s two levels of books written by the same author. One is a normal adventure romance story, which is the normal version; the other is restricted, the content… Well, it’s quite bold, usually more expensive, and not all bookstores sell it publicly.”

She paused, then began to explain why she knew: “When I was chatting with Jiraiya before, he mentioned this book and complained about this tiered sales model.”

This was a lie!

The truth was, a few months ago, when Nagato was unconscious in Konoha Hospital due to the trap left by Uchiha Obito and the serious injuries he sustained, Konan took on the responsibility of caring for him and handling chores alone.

Once, when she went to the market to buy groceries, she inadvertently heard several pedestrians on the road gathered together, excitedly and mysteriously discussing the hottest reading material in the Shinobi World recently, titled “The Romantic Ninjutsu Tales of Shimura.”

They talked vividly about the “romantic and suave” protagonist Shimura, as well as the difference between the normal version and “that version,” and recommended purchasing channels to each other.

Konan just silently noted down the book title at the time and didn’t think much of it.

Nagato was on the verge of death at that time, so he naturally knew nothing about these street rumors.

However, pushing the source of this “improper” knowledge onto Jiraiya, Konan felt no ripples in her heart, and even felt a bit justified.

Ever since she learned that the “Icha Icha Paradise” series, which had been on the bestseller list for years and circulated privately by countless Ninja, was written by her own teacher, she felt that the teacher’s “integrity” and “reputation” in the field of “literature” had already hit rock bottom, and carrying another black pot of “knowing the graded reading market” was completely harmless.

Moreover, the first place on the bestseller list had been snatched away, and after it was snatched, he could only silently look at the peer’s book to learn.

“Oh! So that’s how it is!”

Nagato was visibly relieved, the blush on his face fading a little, and his eyes returning to their usual composure.

“Then… let’s just go buy the normal version.”

“Alright,” Konan agreed with a smile, naturally hooking her arm into Nagato’s, “Then let’s eat dinner outside today, and go to the bookstore while we’re at it. Consider it a celebration of your recovery.”

Nagato felt the warmth and strength coming from her arm, looking at Konan’s smiling face close at hand, the lingering embarrassment in his heart was gradually replaced by a warm sense of satisfaction called “companionship.” He nodded gently: “Hmm.”

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

At night, the streetlights stretched the shadows of the two very long.

Nagato contentedly carried a bulging paper bag containing the books he had just bought, walking side-by-side with Konan on the way back to their temporary residence.

The paper bag contained not only the first seven volumes of the main story of “The Romantic Ninjutsu Tales of Shimura,” but also four side stories.

The bookstore owner enthusiastically recommended them, saying the side stories supplemented many subplots and character backgrounds not detailed in the main story, making Nagato, the new fan, buy them all without hesitation.

“I didn’t expect there to be four side stories in addition to the seven main volumes.”

Nagato’s tone carried the joy of discovering a treasure, but then he sighed with some regret, “It’s a pity the owner said there are two more side stories that are R18 exclusives.”

He wasn’t particularly obsessed with the R18 content, just having a bit of a collector’s itch, feeling it was a pity not to have them all.

Moreover, he was becoming more and more interested in the world-building and characters constructed by that “Comical Author of Lanling.”

“If you really want them,” Konan suddenly quickened her pace by two steps, turned around lightly, walking backwards in front of Nagato with her hands behind her back, facing him, with a cunning and a hint of undetectable doting smile on her face, “I can help you buy them!”

She said, winking playfully.

Clearly in her thirties, after taking off the lip piercing and washing off the eyeshadow, she still looked as cute as a young girl when she smiled.

At this moment, Konan seemed to overlap with how she looked more than ten years ago when the Akatsuki was first established.

Nagato watched Konan walking backwards, the streetlight outlining her slender figure and smiling profile, his heart stirred slightly.

He subconsciously wanted to stop and remind her to be careful, but seeing she walked steadily, he just slowed his pace slightly, his stride smaller, watching her feet more intently so he could catch her in time if she accidentally tripped.

“That’s not necessary, I…”

Before Nagato could finish speaking, his gaze inadvertently swept across the intersection not far ahead, and he suddenly saw a familiar figure, Naruto.

Moreover, Naruto was standing at the intersection, seemingly having also seen them, and even raised his finger, placing it on his lips, making a clear “hush” gesture, with a hint of teasing in his smile, and his eyes glanced at the road next to him, signaling them not to make a sound or come over.

What’s the situation?

Nagato was stunned.

Seeing Nagato’s attention suddenly shift away from her, Konan also stopped her backward steps in confusion, and turned her head to look in the direction of his gaze.

Just in time to see Naruto standing at the intersection, seeing them look over, he waved at them, then pointed to the alley next to him, making an exaggerated mouth shape of “don’t come over, don’t make a sound,” then turned and walked quickly into the depths of the alley, seemingly avoiding or preparing for something.

“Is that the Sixth Hokage?”

Konan subconsciously stopped, feeling a bit confused.

But because she was walking backwards, this stop caused Nagato, who was following closely behind her and also distracted by seeing Naruto, to fail to brake in time.

“Oops!”

Nagato bumped solidly into Konan’s back. Although the force wasn’t great, it still made Konan stumble forward.

“Sorry! Konan, are you okay?”

Nagato quickly held Konan, one hand stabilizing her shoulder, the other subconsciously wrapping around her waist, looking apologetic.

“I’m fine.”

Konan shook her head, stood firm, and didn’t bother to pursue Nagato bumping into her, but looked at the alley where Naruto disappeared, and then looked at the place Naruto had signaled just now.

There, a pink-haired girl was walking slowly with her head down, seemingly full of thoughts, her brows slightly furrowed, completely immersed in her own thoughts, not noticing Naruto a short distance in front of her, nor Nagato and Konan further away.

Just then, Naruto walked out from another street and called out to Sakura.

He seemed to say something, Sakura raised her head abruptly, her face showing surprise, panic, and then changing into some kind of complex expression.

The two stood there talking in low voices for a few sentences, and then walked side-by-side in the opposite direction to Nagato and Konan, their figures quickly disappearing around the corner.

Nagato and Konan looked at each other, both understanding the meaning of Naruto’s gesture just now.

Until Naruto and Sakura walked away, Nagato let out a sigh of relief.

Konan, who was released, couldn’t help but curl her lips, complaining: “The Sixth Hokage is really a playboy.”

She remembered the rumors she had heard before about Naruto and several girls, and witnessed this scene again tonight, inevitably having some complaints about Naruto’s philandering behavior.

Clearly heard the Fourth Hokage was a very devoted man, how could his son be so fickle?

Upon hearing this, Nagato thought of the plot of the books in the bag he was carrying.

The protagonist of “The Romantic Ninjutsu Tales of Shimura,” Shimura, was also a character surrounded by many excellent women, swirling in complex emotions.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly, his tone carrying the calmness of a bystander: “Naruto… is a very amazing person. Whether it is the power he possesses, the responsibilities he shoulders, or his feelings for his companions and the village. For a person like him, being liked by many girls is perhaps a very normal thing.”

His words contained no judgment, more like a conclusion drawn based on observation and understanding.

After experiencing so much, Nagato’s perspective on people and things seemed to have become more complex and inclusive.

Konan glanced at Nagato, noncommittal about his somewhat understanding attitude, just hummed softly.

Whether she was dissatisfied with Naruto’s “fickleness” or had some complaints about Nagato’s detached commentary.

She turned to look at the heavy book bag in Nagato’s hand, changing the subject: “After we go back, lend me one to read. I’m also curious what kind of story it is that makes you like it so much.”

The blush that had just faded from Nagato’s face seemed to have a trend of recurring, but this time he steadied himself and nodded: “Okay.”

“Got it!”

Konan smiled and held his arm tighter.

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