Chapter 24 - 24: Kakashi Hatake

"Oh, Shimi, Where are you from? And what are you reading?"

Chouki met Shimi on the streets. It felt a little weird that Shimi would go outside during the holidays instead of staying home.​​

"Oh Chouki, I just visited Akabane's comic store and went to buy his comic. Surprisingly I got a poster as a reward for being his first customer or something like that."

Shimi showed his poster to Chouki.

"Let me take a look."

Chouki leaned forward curiously. Although Shimi was in a hurry to get home, he didn't mind a chit-chat with his best friend.

Chouki's eyes widened.

"Wow, is there still any poster left?"

"I think so, but a lot of people might be there already."

Shimi seemed to get a little impatient.

"Ah, okay, then bye Shimi!"

After hearing it, Chouki hurriedly left Shimi and ran to Akabane's store.

It wasn't hard to found the comic store since Chouki knew where Shimi went before.

Not long after he arrived near the store, he saw several figures passing away behind him.

"That's…Sakumo? And, Orochimaru too!?"

Chouki became anxious and immediately quickened his pace.

However…

If it's about speed, Chouki has a disadvantage over his classmates, and he can only see both of them disappear out of his sight.

"Is this buying comics or competitions? Why are there so many people!?" he thought.

On the street, he saw another classmate run in the same direction.

Sakumo, Orochimaru, Murasaki, and even Ryo himself! They were like competitors that won't fall behind.

"Ahem… Ryo-kun, let's go get Akabane's comic!"

Chouki coughed excitedly.

"Hmph, I didn't go there for comics. Kurama Akabane has dishonored me last time, and I demand a rematch!"

Ryo said angrily while clenching his fist.

But soon, he noticed that it was just a distraction from Chouki to surpass him in an instant.

"Damn it, don't cheat!"

He hurriedly chased him.

Ryo had forgotten his first intention to take revenge on Akabane and only thought of competing with the other to get to the store as soon as possible.

This meaningless competition continued until they reached the store. After Shimi left, Akabane immediately received his second customer.

Unlike the first customer, the second one is someone who has the highest authority in the village.

"Hokage-sama, why are you here too!?"

Akabane was baffled by the fact that the Third Hokage himself became his second customer.

"Hahaha, I grew to like your comic and decided to come and buy one. And also Shinnosuke asks me so."

Hiruzen lighted his cigarette and said with a smile.

"Yeah, very convincing Sarutobi-sensei.."

Akabane complained silently.

As a high-ranking ninja, Hiruzen could arrive faster than his son Shinnosuke.

"Shinnosuke, he umm.. asked me to buy one copy and the poster.."

Akabane who was listening to the Hokage suddenly took notice of some commotion in the distance.

He saw Sakumo was in the lead, followed by Orochimaru, Chouki, and Murasaki. Behind them were also Akabane's classmates who he didn't recognize.

Shimi was the first one to arrive, as he was about to ask Akabane for a copy. He saw the Third Hokage walking out of the store.

"Uhh… Sarutobi-sensei?"

Then, Orochimaru and the other arrived together

Hiruzen paused for a moment, then he lifted his smoke pipe and cleared the way for Sakumo and others to enter.

"Is Sarutobi-sensei here to buy Akabane's comic?"

Orochimaru asked lightly

Hiruzen looked embarrassed, and he didn't know how to reply.

"Do you still want the poster prize Sarutobi-sensei?"

Akabane's clone enjoyed the scene in front of him, he saw how an old man came to the comic store to buy a comic and fight for the prize poster with other children.

Hiruzen coughed and said hesitantly, "Of course not. I just came to buy a comic for my son and support Akabane. I.. I'm not… going to take the poster.."

"As expected from the Third Hokage, here is your comic Hokage-sama."

Akabane's clone smiled and gave the comic.

Hiruzen took the comic and left silently.

As a highly respected Hokage, he can't be seen snatching a poster from a bunch of children.

After watching him leave, Orochimaru glanced at Sakumo, then looked back at Akabane. Then he said, "I've managed to save one poster from getting snatched by Hokage-sama. Do I get a reward for it?"

"Of course you can't!"

Sakumo rebukes him.

"Please remain calm… I'll consider the Third Hokage as a special guest, and the next customer must still obey the rules that the first come first to serve."

Akabane's clone said.

Orochimaru nodded silently and said with a disappointed tone, "Well, then that makes me the third customer. "

Orochimaru accepted it without resistance. At least he was in the top three…

Since when did this become a competition?

Chouki coughed a few times before he could argue, but Orochimaru had already stepped forward to get the comic.

"Line up one by one, don't worry, there is plenty for everyone."

If these people make trouble, the store will become very noisy.

As a clone, he can't waste his energy to stop them.

"Huh!? I don't care about any of your rules. Akabane, come out and have a rematch with me!"

Ryo finally arrived and shouted from the front door.

Akabane's clone frowned slightly.

He is a clone after all, but just like the real Akabane, he didn't like trouble, and Ryo Uchiha was indeed a big trouble.

"Akabane, don't pretend you didn't hear me! Come out and fight with me. I didn't prepare well last time, and I wouldn't lose this time!"

Ryo continued to exclaim.

Sakumo and Orochimaru looked back on Ryo.

The two didn't interfere because this was Akabane's store, but if he asks for their help, they will stop him without hesitation.

"What's the matter? I'm here for a rematch, not making trouble!"

Whether Sakumo or Orochimaru, they had the best at combat prowess. Even if Ryo was from the Uchiha Clan, he has no confidence if he has to fight with either of them.

"Um… I don't mind the rematch, but since you've already here, why don't you buy my comic first? I'll treat you the same as the other customer."

Akabane's clone pointed to the comic shelf.

"what?"

Ryo didn't expect this kind of response and didn't know how to reply.

The clone smiled inwardly while Ryo sat on the ground, thinking about his request.

"If I bought your comic, you would fight with me?"

Ryo looked fierce and murderous.

"Yep.."

The clone nodded lightly.

Anyway, he was only a clone, and when the time comes, Akabane himself will have to deal with Ryo.

At this time, Orochimaru and Sakumo had picked their comic and asked for the prize poster.

"Since you both are the top first three, you will get a free medium-size poster, umm… wait, let me see…"

The clone chose what poster was suitable for the duo, then finally gave Sakumo and Orochimaru their prize poster.

Sakumo excitedly took it over.

He had been waiting for it from the first he heard about the prize and rushed as soon as he knew that Akabane's store had opened.

"Come come! Open it now!"

Murasaki ranked fifth, and when he saw Sakumo get the poster, he immediately asked him to show it.

Sakumo planned to open it at home, but since the store has hyped up for a few days now, everyone wants to take a look at everyone's prize.

Ryo looked disdainful, but he couldn't help to also look curiously.

The poster portrayed a masked man leaned against a big tree while reading a book called "Icha-Icha Paradise."

On the lower right, there was his name.

"Kakashi Hatake!"

"This… this is awesome!"

Exclaimed all the children who saw the colored pictures of Kakashi.

"Orochimaru, let us see yours."

Chouki looked at Orochimaru expectantly, but what he got was

"Nope, I'll go back and open it alone."

Orochimaru kept the poster unopened and shook his head.

Hearing this, everyone was disappointed, including Ryo, who couldn't help but felt disappointed too.