Corazon, now back to his normal appearance, observed the young boys with a warm smile. He couldn't help but wonder about Law and hoped he was safe and well. These boys, just like Law, were orphans, fresh out of the Academy. If Aoto were here, he would have recognized one of them instantly.
Iruka Umino.
Iruka was Naruto's first teacher who believed in him when no one else did. He, too, was an orphan who had lost his parents a year ago, leaving a void in his heart. However, his attention was currently captivated by the story of Demon Slayer.
What resonated deeply with him was how Tanjiro prayed for the demons he had to kill. It wasn't just for the one that died during the trial, but even for the minions of Lower Moon, and even during his battles against Daki and Gyutaro.
Iruka could see that despite being demons, they were originally human beings with their own histories. Some were simply victims of unfortunate circumstances, blindly ostracized, and driven to act in ways they were never meant to.
The story deeply moved him.
"Uncle, can I get the whole story?" Iruka approached the counter and asked.
"Yes, but you'll have to buy it and take it home. You can't read the manga here even if you buy it," Corazon replied, brought back to reality by Iruka's question. Iruka nodded and instantly paid for the entire manga series, taking advantage of the discounted price when purchased together.
The manga volumes were already affordable, and Iruka had managed to save up money by doing side jobs. His friends cheered for him as he bought the entire set of Demon Slayer.
"You can read them once I'm done, but you'll have to come to my home," Iruka said, not wanting someone else to take his manga right away. He had spent his hard-earned money on it and wanted to enjoy reading it in peace.
"Don't worry, Iruka. Just give us a spoiler-free review. I'd love to hear more about the Hashiras. Rengoku was such a great character, if it's good I will buy later," one of his friends said.
"Yes, I will," Iruka promised as he picked up the bunch of manga and walked out. Someone else purchased the full volumes of Fullmetal Alchemist, and the small bookstore continued to cater to the eager readers and fans.
As a few more days passed since the incident, Shisui's father finally underwent the surgery. Initially, the nerves were connected to the skeletal part of the automail, a critical step that Winry and Pinako had to ensure worked without any problems. Shisui's father was given a day to rest and observe if he felt any pain or discomfort. Thankfully, there were no issues, and within a week, he received the full automail.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
"How do you feel?" Winry asked as she assisted Shisui's father to step down and walk again, although a bit slowly on his new legs.
"It's like I'm being born again. Shisui... I can walk again... I'm sorry, Shisui..." he expressed emotionally.
"Why are you apologizing, Father?" Shisui inquired, curious about his father's words.
"I've been a burden to you, and now that I can walk again, I hope to do all the work and maybe even become a ninja again," Shisui's father replied, showing his determination.
"Father, I've been telling you this for a long time. You were never a burden to me. Take your time to get used to it, and please don't rush. We're just happy to see you alright," Shisui reassured him, a great sense of relief and happiness washing over him.
"There might be some initial discomfort as you get used to walking with the exoskeleton. You'll need to come back for maintenance, and we'll upgrade it with better equipment and boosts," Winry advised. Both of them accepted her guidance and walked out of the workshop.
Meanwhile, Aoto was having a blast. While there weren't any Palico sales yet, the wine and pouch sales were soaring. On the very first day, he excitedly invited Hiruzen to his new shop, promising something intriguing.
Hiruzen couldn't resist the invitation, even leaving his unfinished work behind. Anything new from Aoto was a big deal. Thanks to computers, his tasks had become faster and easier, and he could rely on spreadsheets for calculations and graphical presentations to the Anbu and ninjas of Konoha, considerably reducing his workload. With his curiosity piqued, he wanted to see what novel creation Aoto had come up with this time.
"What is this?" Hiruzen asked as he examined a durable and stretchable cloth bag.
"A pouch that can hold a lot of things. Try inserting your hand, Hokage-sama," Aoto replied.
Curiously, Hiruzen inserted his hand and immediately received a mental image of the contents inside. It felt as if the chakra flow in his body connected to his brain, revealing the items within the bag. Among various items, the highlight was the vast space inside, capable of holding numerous things.
"What... is this?" Hiruzen was dumbfounded.
"It's a magical pouch with an extensive storage space for non-living objects."
"You created a separate space inside a cloth bag?" Hiruzen was in awe. This was yet another groundbreaking discovery. Had Aoto mastered Yin-Yang to such an extent that he could create an entirely different space now?
"Yes, after numerous trials and errors, it finally succeeded."
"You are a genius, Aoto! What you've created will make Konoha the greatest village ever," Hiruzen couldn't help but praise. With the assistance of Palicos, Konoha was already excelling at the borders with fewer casualties in missions. Now, this pouch would prove to be another game-changing addition to their arsenal.
"Isn't Konoha already the greatest village since it was established?" Aoto asked.
"That is true but Konoha needs constant improvements if it wants to continue being that. You will be one of the pillars of Konoha, I am sure."
"I don't want to be a Hashira, Hokage-sama. I am fine with what I am doing. By the way soon there would be special kunai being sold and you will have to come and look of what you want to do about it." Aoto said, not caring that his pouch had blown the mind of Hiruzen. (In Japanese Hashira = pillar )