Volume 1: Demon Slayer Reaction

After Masashi was a quarter of the way into creating a volume, he heard mutters and whispers among the people walking the streets.

"The Hokage's son looked excited at that stand and ran off"

"The advisor's kid also looked pretty interested"

"Should we check it out?"

"It couldn't hurt, could it?"

"..might be interesting"

The bystanders spoke to one another before a crowd formed around his stall.

He answered their questions and spoke a bit about his manga and told them the price.

Quite a few left being uninterested in the so-called manga but quite a few of them decided to buy some considering the price is lower than the more popular comic books.

These people are older men and women who have children plus it's human nature to want entertainment, so quite a few bought some for themselves.

The ruckus caused a bit of a commotion and a few others simply came over to see what's going on.

After the commotion died down a bit, he managed to sell 15 volumes.

 Masashi was quite satisfied with himself, as he was about to start making more volumes, a man approached.

He would never be annoyed with not being able to sit so long as sales are to be made.

This feeling was quite addicting.

He looked up and saw Yamanaka Sai. Masashi, being surprised, didn't show it on his face but inside he was happy.

An art connoisseur would definitely buy at least one, but I know he has a son, so at least 2 more volumes will be gone.

Soon he will have enough to get the Entertainment Shop.

The man didn't say much and walked up to the stand and grabbed a volume. 

Masashi quickly checked his EC as they were converted.

EC: 2.2

Already a fifth of the way there. Considering he has a week here, he could do it. Sure, that commotion was temporary, but Boruto could come back for the next volume. Whether that be today or tomorrow.

You could say that Masashi was farming him for more customers. It's hardly malicious considering they are both getting what they want.

"These are very well made. Are you the illustrator?" Sai asked in a monotone voice looking at the seller.

"Yes. I'm the author and illustrator of Demon Slayer." Masashi informs the ex-Root shinobi, and wasn't that a crazy thing to learn from his previous life's memories?

Sai just hums and looks straight at him.

"I'll take three." He pulls out his wallet at hands it to the man.

Masashi probably should have expected that. Sai was always a blunt person adding in those..nicknames.

He accepts the cash and Sai picks up three volumes and places them in a sealing scroll and leaves without saying anything else.

If only all customers were like this. Masashi mused before sitting back down. He hopes to actually get some work done now.

'Time to crank out some more volumes.' He summons his computer and opens the corresponding application and grinds some out.

+=[ES]=+

Naruto

+=[ES]=+

The Hokage has a lot on his plate this morning if the stack didn't tell you that. He has quite a few meetings later in the day and he's expecting another stack sometime in the later afternoon.

Naruto rubs his eyes before placing one document in the correct pile.

'Looks like I'll be home late again.' He sighs thinking about how long the day is going to be and it has just started. Shikamaru went out 15 minutes ago, so he is alone in the office.

At that thought, he remembers the manga he just bought for Boruto and opens a drawer in his desk where the book is laid.

'Perhaps a break will help.' He grabs the manga and remembering to read it the correct way, opens it to the first page.

The first page turned into the next and then the next and the next…

+=[ES]=+

"Nezuko…Don't die. I'm going to save you. Your onii-san will definitely save you!"

…

"Tanjiro. Your face is pitch-black. Come here!"

…

"Tanjiro, are you going down today?!"

"I wanna go too!"

…

"Tanjiro."

"Nezuko."

"I was just putting Rokuta to sleep. He has been sad ever since otou-san passed."

…

"Life isn't easy, but we're happy. When happiness ends, there's always the smell of blood."

…

"Tanjiro! She's accusing me of breaking it! Smell it!"

"It's a cat."

"Tanjiro! I'd like some charcoal!"

"Me too!"

…

"Tanjiro! Come inside, it's dangerous!"

"It's alright, I'll be fine!"

"Hurry inside. Before the demons come."

…

"Demons prowl around at night around these woods. Never go outside at night."

"Could they come in?"

"Yes."

"Then wouldn't we die?"

"The Demon Slayers will cut them down. Light's out."

"Saburo-oji-san has been lonely. Maybe I'll bring down my siblings. Are demons real? My grandmother said something similar before she passed.

…

"WHAT HAPPENED?!"

"Okaa-san, Hanako, Takeo, Shigeru, Nezuko…Rokuta."

+=[ES]=+

Naruto was horrified. The volume started pretty lighthearted and even reminded him a bit of his own family that he got lost in it. Seeing Tanjiro's kindness and his strange sense of smell brought a smile to his face. He knew Kakashi-sensei had a great sense of smell so he probably could do something similar, but this Tanjiro guy seemed pretty average.

It wasn't until he heard of Saburo's warning that caused him to remember the summary and along with Tanjiro's narration of happiness being destroyed where one could smell blood.

When he saw that house…he had no words. The level of artwork was beyond the original so it made it that much more gruesome, especially in color.

'Maybe I shouldn't give this to Boruto…' Naruto didn't want his child to see this brutal display. He understood how Sasuke could end up like he did that night his clan was massacred. If this is even a fraction of what he felt…

Too engrossed to stop, he continued.

+=[ES]=+

"Was it a bear? I will save you, Nezuko!"

…

"The snow saved me…Nezuko?"

"A demon?! Nezuko has always been a human! Fight it Nezuko."

Tears spilled onto his face.

+=[ES]=+

Naruto was shocked at finding out Nezuko transformed so early in the story, but also at the fact that she regained her senses. He felt that perhaps that isn't common at all.

+=[ES]=+

"Who is that?"

"Why did you protect her?"

"She's my sister!"

"You call that your sister?"

…

"Demon blood got into her wound. That's how they multiply."

…

"Please don't do it! She's all I have left."

…

"Don't cry! A weak-willed and timid person will always roll over and die!"

'Don't give up. I know it's hard. I know you're hurting."

…

'The hatchet! So that's when he threw it!'

+=[ES]=+

He was grinning. This guy reminded him a bit of Sasuke. He may act cold and distant but he genuinely cares, and that tactic was pretty nice with the misdirection. Maybe Tanjiro could be a pretty good shinobi if he trained hard. That Giyu guy is a demon slayer and a good one since Tanjiro couldn't even see him move.

+=[ES]=+

"...She protected him. Maybe they could be different."

…

"Go see an old man named Urokodaki Sakonji. Keep her out of sunlight or she'll burn up."

…

"Please take it! It's not much!"

…

"Is my sister a mole? Get smaller Nezuko, you can do it!"

…

"This is my turf! What are two humans doing here?"

"Wait one of you is a demon! Why?!"

…

"You can't kill it with that."

+=[ES]=+

This chapter was a rollercoaster. So Nezuko can both grow and shrink which was pretty cool. Tanjiro is also pretty crafty with making that bamboo basket. Perhaps a bit stubborn though.

'I wonder who that old guy is. Could he be Urokodaki that Giyu said to find?

He thought it was a bit strange that demons are weak to the sun. Aren't vampires supposed to be the ones with that weakness?

+=[ES]=+

"Take your sister and follow me."

…

"The test begins now. Climb the mountain."

…

"Descend before sunrise."

…

"I…made…it…back."

"Kamado Tanjiro. I accept you as my student."

…

"There are a few hundred members of the Demon Slayer Corps. They are unrecognized by the government."

…

"The first thing I learned is that Katanas are fragile. You must attack straight ahead."

…

"Nezuko hasn't woken up yet."

…

"I have nothing to teach you. Slice this boulder and you can go to the Final Selection."

"Is a boulder something you can slice?"

…

"Half a year and I still haven't been able to cut it. What if I wasn't enough? Will Nezuko die?"

"SILENCE! A man should not be acting like that!"

…

"The fight was over in an instant. After another half a year, I cut the boulder."

…

"Tanjiro. How do you know the name of those two dead children?"

+=[ES]=+

What's this? He took out a small cutout of Tanjiro that had a rainbow shine. The scar on his forehead is also quite different. He turned it over and saw, "Volume 1: Rainbow Shiny Kamado Tanjiro"

Is that supposed to be a rarity? Could this be something similar to those trading cards? He didn't care much for them but decided to pocket it as his thoughts started to wander.

'I wonder why Nezuko is asleep for so long. Keeping a journal for her is pretty smart. The training also seems pretty brutal but effective. Total Concentration Breathing? Water Breathing? Seems simple but also easy to understand.' Naruto had a lot of fun with this chapter.

Could Tanjiro speak with the dead? How was that even possible? There were quite a few scenes with that.

He also felt happy for him when he finally cut the boulder after feeling like he hadn't been making much progress, but it seemed that Makomo and Sabito helped him a lot.

Training to death is a good motto to have especially with that crazy regeneration that demons have.

The special swords are pretty cool. A special metal? Nichirin? What makes them special?

+=[ES]=+

"You must survive for seven days. Now go."

…

"It's been a long time since I tasted human flesh!"

"The Opening Thread!"

"Total Concentration…Water Breathing: Fourth Form: Striking Tide!"

+=[ES]=+

"Woah! That's Water Breathing?!" Naruto was amazed at the technique and art quality of the attack. How could he do that? Is Tanjiro using some kind of water technique with his kenjutsu? He wonders if there's Lightning Breathing. Sasuke would love that.

+=[ES]=+

"Taisho? Damn you Urokodaki!"

"I've eaten 50 of you brats!"

"Your masks. That's how I know you're his students. I will eat all of them, number 14!"

…

"Stay calm, Tanjiro."

…

"Wake up, onii-san!"

…

"Water Breathing: First Form: Water Surface Slash!"

+=[ES]=+

Naruto put the manga down in astonishment. He was quite enraged seeing that grotesque demon mocking Makomo and Sabito, but it seems that Tanjiro actually did it.

He also wondered about the Edo Period, Taisho Period, and an emperor. Are they similar to Feudal Lords? His family was also speaking to him again. What's that about?

His mind is running with so many thoughts and speculations.

The masks were also an unfortunate tell that notifies the demon that they are one of Urokodaki's students. He felt quite bad if he were to ever find out. 

He liked the chapter page art and the full-page spreads. This was incredibly high quality.

It was so long too! Almost 200 pages worth of content. That completely blows every comic book he knows out of the water, and only 1000ryo?

Naruto smiled, 'he really could revolutionize comic books with this.' 

He was so invested that he wanted to reread a couple of parts like the training arc and the explanation of the Demon Slayer Corps. It seemed very interesting. He wanted to know more about this world and go back in case he missed anything.

"Ahem!" A voice startled him and he looked at the door and saw Shikamaru with a frown.

"What are you doing, Naruto? The stack hardly decreased after I was gone an hour." He chastises him with a disappointed look.

Naruto was shocked and immediately looked at the clock.

He was reading for 45 minutes! The time went by so fast!

"Ah…well, you see, I can explain!" He rushes to defend himself but Shikamaru catches him red-handed. 

Shikamaru looked at the desk and saw some sort of book.

"What is that? I didn't know you were into comic books." Shikamaru asked switching the subject.

"Ah! It was the manga's fault! It was too addicting! I just got it for Boruto." He shifted all the blame onto the book that Masashi sold to him.

"You? Reading? For an hour straight? What's a manga?" Shikamaru looked at him as if he didn't know him. Naruto which is so enraptured by a book, even if it was a comic, sounds so foreign.

"Ah, Masashi sold this to me and called it a new style of comic book, a manga. I wanted to read it to make sure it's fine for Boruto." He explained and Shikamaru hummed.

"So troublesome. Isn't Masashi that one kid we promoted to Chunin two years ago? What's he doing creating…manga?" He sighed before walking over and picking up the book.

"He came by today and wanted to cut his hours at the assignment desk to focus on his new business," Naruto informed him and Shikamaru nodded.

The advisor began flipping through the book with an astonished look.

"He made this? Even Sai doesn't have this level of quality and he has been an artist for decades. Where does he intend to sell them?" He shook his head in disbelief before handing it back to his friend.

"Masashi went down to the Open Market to set up a stand. He's probably there now." Naruto put the manga back in his drawer and grabbed a document.

"I see. Maybe I'll check it out after. It would be nice to have something that's nice to look at. Oh right, are you going to give it to Boruto?" He asked before Naruto sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"I don't know. At first, I wasn't since there's a particular page that was pretty damn gruesome, but after that, it seems fine. Boruto's gonna become a ninja anyway, so maybe it won't be so bad. Can't let Hinata find out about it though or I'm doomed." Naruto looked a bit scared at the end considering how scary she could get, but he also wanted to bond with his son.

It was a startling scene but Boruto could handle it. He'd have to if he were to become a shinobi. The world isn't completely safe even after everything he's done. Perhaps they could even have something to talk about. He felt happy and assured at that thought.

"Hmm. If you say so." Shikamaru smiled while shaking his head.

'Perhaps I should head down there and get one for Temari and Shikadai? Temari always said to be more spontaneous and to be more romantic. What a drag." He sighed pulling out his cigarettes.

A surprise gift is pretty romantic, even if it is a comi…manga, right?