Naruto flopped onto his futon, exhausted but buzzing with adrenaline. Thanks to "Clone‑A‑Sketch," he'd blitzed through Volume 2 in record time—and the village absolutely devoured it.
He yawned, rubbing his eyes, when a soft knock echoed at his door.
"Come in," he mumbled.
To his surprise, Jiraiya padded inside, arms folded and that trademark smirk playing on his lips.
"Kid," Jiraiya drawled, "that new volume of yours… impressive."
Naruto sat up, puzzled. "You saw it?"
Jiraiya plopped down beside him. "Oh yes. I read it cover to cover—twice. You've got real talent, Naruto." He tapped the scrolls piled on Naruto's desk. "But I have an offer."
Naruto's curiosity piqued. "An offer?"
Jiraiya's eye gleamed. "How would you like to take your manga beyond Konoha? I have connections in Suna and Kiri. Spread your art to even more people."
Naruto blinked. "You mean, like a distribution alliance?"
"Exactly," Jiraiya said, leaning in. "But on one condition—you train under me. Not just in art, but in life. If you're going to be the greatest mangaka the ninja world's ever seen, you need to understand its people."
Naruto's heart pounded. "Me… train with you?"
"Yep." Jiraiya rose, offering a hand. "What do you say?"
Naruto looked from Jiraiya's extended hand to the manga scrolls at his feet. A grin spread across his face.
"You got a deal!"
Jiraiya laughed, patting Naruto's shoulder. "Atta boy. Let's get started."
"Road Trip, Jutsu!"
By dawn, Naruto and Jiraiya stood at Konoha's gate. Jiraiya produced two scrolls—one marked Suna, the other Kiri—and handed them to Naruto.
"Your mission: deliver these and get feedback firsthand," Jiraiya instructed. "We leave in ten."
Naruto saluted, excitement coursing through him. "Got it, Pervy Sage!"
Kakashi watched them go, raising an eyebrow. "I sense great chapters ahead."
With that, Naruto and Jiraiya bounded off—one headed for a new adventure, the other grinning at the prospect of mentoring the Hidden Leaf's secret mangaka.