"The Midnight Rendezvous"
Naruto crouched behind a bush near Training Ground 3, glancing nervously at his surroundings. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows over the clearing.
"Who even writes mysterious notes like this?" he muttered under his breath.
The System chimed in.
Hint: Use "Silent Sketching" to document the meeting without being noticed.
Naruto groaned. I haven't even unlocked that yet! Guess I'll have to wing it.
Just as he was about to retreat and abandon the whole thing, he heard a rustle in the bushes. A figure emerged from the shadows. Naruto's eyes widened—it wasn't the masked shinobi from before.
It was Shikamaru.
"Shikamaru?!" Naruto blurted out, stepping into the clearing.
"Keep your voice down, idiot," Shikamaru said, glancing around cautiously. "Do you want everyone to hear?"
The Mastermind Unveiled
Naruto relaxed slightly but remained on guard. "What's this about? Why are you sneaking around?"
Shikamaru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Troublesome. I was hoping to confirm my suspicions quietly, but I guess subtlety's out the window now."
"Suspicions about what?"
Shikamaru pulled a small, folded booklet from his pocket. Naruto's stomach dropped when he saw it—it was Naruto Vol. 1.
"You're the one making these, aren't you?" Shikamaru asked, his tone even.
Naruto panicked internally but forced a laugh. "What are you talking about? I'm just as surprised as everyone else!"
Shikamaru gave him a flat look. "Don't bother denying it. The clues are all there. You're the only one reckless enough to pull something like this off. Plus, I saw you sneaking around Takeda's shop yesterday."
Naruto's mind raced. What do I do? Deny it? Distract him?
Before he could respond, Shikamaru continued. "Relax. I'm not planning to rat you out."
Naruto blinked. "Wait, you're not?"
Shikamaru smirked. "Nah. This whole manga thing is actually kind of entertaining. But you should know that not everyone's going to take it so lightly. Some people might see it as a threat—or an opportunity."
The Growing Craze
The next day, Naruto tried to go about his usual routine, but the manga mania was reaching fever pitch. Everywhere he went, people were talking about the latest volume.
At Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi and Ayame were animatedly discussing their favorite scenes.
"That part where Naruto pranked Kakashi with the eraser? Classic!" Teuchi said, laughing.
"And Hinata's bravery during the sparring match—so inspiring!" Ayame added, glancing at Naruto with a curious smile.
Naruto slurped his ramen nervously. "Y-Yeah, it's pretty cool, I guess."
Meanwhile, at the training grounds, Sasuke was glaring at a group of genin who were reenacting scenes from the manga.
"This is ridiculous," Sasuke muttered. "Why is everyone so obsessed with this nonsense?"
Sakura, flipping through a borrowed copy, shrugged. "I think it's kind of fun. Besides, whoever's writing this must really understand us."
Naruto coughed to hide his smirk. If only you knew.
An Unexpected Challenge
Later, Naruto returned to his apartment, only to find another note waiting for him.
"Your manga has potential, but you're holding back. Show me what you can really do. Training Ground 3, tonight. -J"
"Another one?" Naruto groaned. "What is this, a scavenger hunt?"
The System chimed in.
New Quest: Accept the Challenge.
Objective: Meet the sender and prove your artistic skills.
Reward: Skill Upgrade: "Dynamic Character Sketching."
Naruto sighed. "Fine, but this better not be another trap."
Enter Jiraiya
That evening, Naruto approached Training Ground 3 with trepidation. The moon was high in the sky, and the clearing was eerily quiet.
Suddenly, a booming laugh broke the silence.
"Well, well, if it isn't the infamous mangaka!"
Naruto spun around to see Jiraiya leaning casually against a tree, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Jiraiya?! What are you doing here?"
Jiraiya held up a copy of the manga. "I've been following your work, kid. Not bad. But you're still rough around the edges. If you're going to cause this much chaos, you might as well go all out."
Naruto froze. "Y-You know it's me?"
Jiraiya laughed. "Of course! I've been around long enough to recognize talent when I see it. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me—for now. But you're going to need to step up your game."
"What do you mean?"
Jiraiya tossed him a blank scroll. "Draw me something. Show me what you've got."
Naruto hesitated, then summoned his sketchbook. He quickly drew a scene of Jiraiya as a heroic, larger-than-life figure battling a massive toad.
When he finished, Jiraiya examined it closely, nodding in approval. "Not bad. You've got potential, kid. But if you're serious about this, you're going to need some guidance."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Guidance? From you?"
Jiraiya smirked. "That's right. Stick with me, and I'll help you take your manga to the next level."