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A week after the ninth manga volume had been closed, leaving behind a storm of questions and speculation, the village of Konoha was buzzing with activity and movement, like a great beehive.
The air was thick with anticipation for the weekly anime episode, which had become a sacred ritual bringing young and old together alike.
In front of a giant glowing screen, its vivid colors shimmering above the art store, young Kakashi stood among the gathered crowds, following the weekly anime episode with intense focus, his silver eyes reflecting the light of the screen as though they were two windows onto the future.
"Assassin of the Mist, huh? Zabuza," Kakashi said to himself in a voice so low he could barely hear it himself.
His eyes watched the scene with sharp focus, analyzing every movement, every technique, and every expression on the face of the character who would become, in the future, one of the most dangerous rogue ninja.
He watched Zabuza hiding with masterful skill in the thick mist, using Water Clone techniques with supreme proficiency to confuse the senses of both Kakashi and Team Seven.
He tried to understand how a single ninja could possess such terrifying skills that made him a ghost who could not be seen.
Or rather, how his future counterpart had been able to keep up with such a monster, and even surpass him in the end.
"His ability to conceal his presence in the mist… and how he weaves illusions around his opponents… Kirigakure's techniques are truly very good."
He recognized that this style of combat required not only physical strength, but also sharp intelligence and the ability to manipulate the surrounding environment.
Young Kakashi pondered how one would face such an opponent, and what intense experiences his future counterpart must have gone through to be able to confront an enemy like Zabuza with such composure.
"We saw everything in the manga, but seeing this battle again in the anime is amazing, isn't it!?"
Sakumo, who had been standing behind him the whole time, smiled before speaking.
"That's true, Dad. The anime is far more spectacular, it's as though the future reality is being filmed with this level of quality."
…
Elsewhere, young Gai was leaping with indescribable enthusiasm, imitating the moves of Lee that he had seen in the manga, every muscle in his body pulsing with energy.
"This is the spirit of youth! This is the true power that knows no impossible! I have an overwhelming urge to stop reading the manga and focus only on watching the anime!"
Gai shouted in a loud voice that filled the air with his infectious enthusiasm, expressing his admiration once again for the anime, which many had recently begun to prefer over the manga.
While watching, Gai imagined himself as part of the battle currently unfolding between Zabuza and Kakashi. The Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi, seeing his future counterpart's rival, and watching him reveal his own Sharingan for the first time in the anime, made Gai far more eager to follow the rest of the episode.
Seeing such an exciting future up close made Maito Gai even more determined to train harder and become stronger than his future counterpart.
After all, even Kakashi had suffered greatly against Zabuza, which meant that future opponents would be extremely fierce.
Becoming stronger than his future counterpart had become his philosophy in life.
"I will never give up! I will train until I reach these levels, and surpass them!"
This was his vow to himself as he raised his fist in the air, as though challenging the entire world.
"Beautiful! Magnificent! The flame of your youthful spirit is blazing!"
His father Dai gave a great thumbs-up, a gleam appearing at the tips of his brilliantly white teeth from the sheer width of his smile.
Then he quickly returned his focus to the events of the weekly episode.
…
"All that mist, I think only the Byakugan could see through it…" said young Kurenai, who was the same age as Kakashi and Gai, as she watched the first clash between Zabuza and Kakashi and Team Seven, her red eyes observing every detail with precision.
"There must be other, more powerful methods of observation."
"That is true, my daughter. The shinobi world is never without solutions, for every style, there are several countering methods to neutralize it."
Her father, Yuhi Shinko, spoke at that moment.
…
In the Hidden Mist Village, always shrouded in secrets and mystery, in front of a giant screen above the art shop, young Zabuza, six years old, stared at his future self on the screen, his eyes fixed on his future counterpart, just as he had done the first time he saw him in the manga.
"Seeing him on the animated screen gives a completely different feeling…"
Zabuza whispered, as though the words were strange on his tongue.
He watched himself committing acts he had never imagined, carrying the Kubikiribōchō.
The image before him was of a grown man, harsh, merciless, completely different from the small child he was now.
'Is this really me? Will I become a monster like this?' These questions circled in his young mind, planting seeds of fear and confusion, even though this same monster would, at the end of his life, reveal that weak and tender part of himself.
Beside him, his father, a member of the distinguished Momochi clan, watched the scene in silence.
"This is no longer your future now, remember that, my son. You will not become a rogue ninja no matter what happens…" the father murmured, feeling deep shame at his son's future being laid bare before everyone, but he was prepared to prevent that future from coming to pass.
He would not allow his son to become a rogue ninja, and he would not allow him to die.
Not after seeing how Zabuza and Haku had departed together, and how deeply moving that ending had been. In truth, he was not ready to see that again, in sound and image, neither he nor the boy's mother.
The entire Momochi clan felt shock and confusion, as the future of one of their own had become a story told in public.
Would the manga continue to reveal the fates of other powerful characters in Kirigakure? Was there more to come?
These questions echoed through the corridors of Kirigakure, stirring anxiety and fear of the unknown.
The father was thinking about how to change this future, and how he could protect his son from becoming "the Assassin of the Mist."
This moment was not a turning point in the clan's life, but it continued to add to the desire for change, as they realized they were no longer able to conceal their secrets, and that they had to face the new reality imposed upon them by the pages of the manga and these screens.
The reactions were not limited to Zabuza's family.
In the corridors of Kirigakure, the leaders were once again discussing the implications of this revelation.
"If Zabuza is going to become a rogue ninja this dangerous, what about the others?" one of the advisors wondered.
"Are there other ninja in our village who will appear in this manga or anime as enemies?"
"I believe that is possible, and it is coming, inevitably."
"And why do you think that!?"
"It's obvious, just look at the state of Konoha. Has not one of their Sannin become a rogue ninja?"
"Man, you're right. What a terrifying future."
"Everyone will suffer equally from this manga, that's what comforts me the most."
This information was stirring doubts about loyalties and pushing the leaders to reassess the village's security and intelligence.
"We must intensify surveillance, and identify these potential individuals before they become a real threat." This was the new strategy beginning to take shape in Kirigakure. a strategy built on anticipating events based on information from the future.
…
In the Hidden Rock Village, renowned for its physical strength and earth techniques, young Gari, nine years old, was training in Taijutsu techniques, drawing inspiration from the fast and powerful moves of Lee that he had seen in the manga.
"True strength does not lie only in ninjutsu… but in the ability to push the body to its absolute limits."
Gari muttered as he tried to push his body to its utmost, recognizing that physical power could be decisive in battles and could even surpass the strongest ninjutsu techniques.
He saw in Lee a model of physical strength that knew no impossible, and was determined to become stronger than him.
"I will train until every muscle in my body becomes a lethal weapon, until I can shatter any defense."
This was his new training philosophy, a philosophy built on unyielding determination and resolve.
"But alright, I'll do that after the anime episode is over…"
His attention quickly returned to the giant screen glowing with the latest scenes from the weekly anime episode.
"The Sharingan is truly amazing…"
At that moment, the episode displayed the scene of Kakashi opening his eye containing the Sharingan to face Zabuza.
…
These villages were not the only ones affected by the airing of the anime episode.
In every corner of the shinobi world where an art store existed, the giant screens were broadcasting the seventh episode and stirring varied reactions.
In the Hidden Grass Village, children were gathering around the screen, shouting with enthusiasm at every combat move, and dreaming of becoming powerful ninja like the heroes of the anime.
Mothers were trying to pull their children away from the screens, fearing exposure to scenes of violence, but curiosity was stronger than any warning.
In the academies of the five shinobi villages, teachers were facing a new challenge.
Students were asking questions about the techniques they had seen in the anime and trying to imitate them in training.
"Can we really run on water? Can we create copies of ourselves?"
These questions filled the classrooms of the younger children, pushing teachers to rethink their curricula.
"We must harness this enthusiasm and channel it toward proper training."
This was the idea forming in the minds of teachers during this great age of revelation, the age of manga and anime, an idea built on integrating publicly disclosed knowledge with traditional training in educational curricula.
In the secret councils of the villages, leaders were discussing how to deal with this massive flow of information.
"Should we ban the broadcasting of these episodes? Should we impose censorship on what people see?"
"That's impossible, have you forgotten that the art store owner can summon you to the shop regardless of your wishes?"
"And besides, anyone within the village's range carrying a device can watch the episode…"
These questions sparked sharp debates, with some seeing these episodes as a threat to national security, while others saw them as an opportunity to raise awareness and develop techniques.
"We cannot stop the flow of information," one of the leaders said wisely.
"We must learn how to coexist with it, and how to exploit it to our advantage."
This was the conclusion they reached, a conclusion built on adapting to the new reality these screens had imposed upon them.
…
The seventh anime episode, "Assassin of the Mist!", was more than just an entertainment episode.
It was a mirror that reflected the future, bringing back to life what had been revealed in the manga, not merely in pages of paper, but in vivid, moving form.
…
"The anime is starting to become more interesting than the manga,"
"But sorry, the manga is still the main focus of the art store."
Rob smiled as he watched the continuous flow of Art Coins through his system screen.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 185: Naruto Manga Volume 10!
Chapter 186: Rock Lee Face to Face Against Gaara!
Chapter 187: Lee's Secret!
Chapter 188: Amazing!
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