Steam drifted thickly through the hot spring.
It blurred the figures of the people inside into hazy silhouettes.
Teizawa and Jiraiya traded words back and forth.
Their conversation wandered from ninjutsu to women.
From women to novels.
Before long, Jiraiya's brows drew together again.
"Young man, have you ever heard of Make-Out Paradise?"
Jiraiya leaned against the pool wall, holding a cup of wine in one hand while gesturing with the other. His eyes shone like twin stars.
"That is the number one bestselling book in the entire shinobi world! Men and women, young and old, everybody loves it!"
"I'm telling you, the plot inside is—"
"Oh, that? It's fine."
Teizawa set down his cup, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather.
"I've read a few pages. The writing is average."
Jiraiya's smile froze.
He lowered his cup and sat up straight.
"Average? You're saying my Make-Out Paradise is average?"
He had finally run into someone willing to listen to him promote his work, only for the man to call it "average"?
He was Jiraiya the Toad Sage, the prophet of Mount Myōboku, the student of the Third Hokage, the teacher of the Fourth Hokage…
How could his book possibly be "average"?
"Don't get upset."
Teizawa glanced at him, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
"That book of yours has a dragged-out plot, thin characters, and emotional scenes that only skim the surface."
"You call it erotic fiction, but it doesn't even handle basic romantic tension properly."
"You call it a hot-blooded novel, but the fight scenes aren't exciting enough either. In short… it doesn't commit to either side."
Jiraiya's face shifted between green and white.
He had been writing novels for decades.
Every single one had been a bestseller. Every single one had received glowing reviews.
This was the first time a young man barely in his twenties had criticized him like this.
"You…"
He took a deep breath and forced out a smile.
"If you say my books aren't good, then tell me. What kind of book counts as good?"
Teizawa leaned against the pool wall and laced his hands behind his head.
He closed his eyes and thought for a moment.
"My Teacher Bai Jie." He paused. "A-Bin, the Poor Student."
"There are a few others, but I won't list them one by one."
He opened his eyes and looked at Jiraiya. "Those are true classics. Your Make-Out Paradise is far behind."
Jiraiya's eyes widened. His mouth opened, then closed again.
He had never heard those names before.
Bai Jie? A-Bin?
Who were they?
He racked his brain, searching through every memory he had.
Not a single impression of those names surfaced.
Could they be works written by some secluded literary master?
"Those names… Why haven't I heard of any of them?"
His voice sounded a little dry.
Teizawa smiled.
"Because you aren't worthy."
Jiraiya drew in a deep breath.
His whole body seemed to swell like an inflating balloon.
Just as he was about to blow up, a long-absent mechanical voice suddenly rang out deep in Teizawa's mind, crisp as colliding jade.
[Ding… Detected deep interaction between the host and Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin. This character is wild and uninhibited by nature, and highly compatible with the "romantic rogue" template in the system database. A mission is now being issued…]
Teizawa focused and listened.
[Option One: Defeat Jiraiya and prove your strength exceeds the Sannin level. Reward: Mount Myōboku Sage Art inheritance, complete version.]
[Option Two: Become close friends with Jiraiya through shared interests and gain his recognition and trust. Reward: Summoning Beast — Mount Myōboku Toad, random variety.]
The corner of Teizawa's mouth twitched slightly.
Wasn't Option Two a little too casual?
What kind of joke was that?
Choose a toad as a summoning beast?
He was the dignified Fifth Kazekage, the leader of Suna.
Riding a toad onto the battlefield?
What would people say if word got out?
That would be far too undignified.
Besides, he did not lack summoning beasts right now.
Magnet Release and a Wood Release body were far more useful than any toad.
Option One, on the other hand…
Mount Myōboku's Sage Arts were Jiraiya's core power.
They were a top-tier trump card capable of contending with the Six Paths of Pain.
Once he had Sage Arts, combined with his Wood Release body and Magnet Release, his strength would undergo a massive leap.
Almost without hesitation, Teizawa said silently in his heart, "Option One."
[Ding… Selection confirmed. Mission initiated: Defeat Jiraiya. Reward: Mount Myōboku Sage Arts. During battle, please do not use abilities other than Magnet Release and the Wood Release body, to ensure the evaluation remains valid.]
Teizawa flexed his fingers.
His knuckles cracked.
That restriction against "other abilities" was no problem at all.
He needed a hard fight anyway to test exactly what level his current strength had reached.
Jiraiya happened to be the perfect touchstone.
"Jiraiya-san…"
Teizawa stood up, water sliding down his body.
Droplets fell into the pool, sending circles of ripples across the surface.
Jiraiya lifted his head and looked at him.
In the mist, that young face looked especially cold and severe.
The smile at the corner of Teizawa's mouth had already vanished.
"That Sage Art of yours…"
Teizawa's voice was soft, but every word landed with weight.
"I'm very interested in it. So please, fight me."
Jiraiya froze for a moment.
Then he laughed.
He slowly rose to his feet, sending water splashing around him.
Barefoot, he stepped onto the stone floor beside the pool.
His red robe hung from the rack.
He reached out, took it, and draped it over his shoulders.
"Young man…"
His voice was deep and powerful.
"Are you sure you want to fight me? I'm one of the Legendary Sannin. I'm not some nobody you can push around."
"I'm sure."
Teizawa leaped onto the edge of the pool and swept a hand through the air. Magnetic force surged.
The pool water split apart as if pushed aside by an invisible hand.
The dry bottom of the pool was exposed.
He turned and looked at Jiraiya.
"I have one condition. We stop when the outcome is clear. No killing."
Jiraiya looked him up and down, the teasing in his gaze turning serious.
"Interesting. Then I'll play along."
Naruto shrank into the corner.
Watching the two of them suddenly stand on the verge of a fight, his mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.
"Pervy Sage… Kazekage-dono… What are you two doing? Weren't you getting along just fine? Why are you suddenly fighting?"
Neither of them answered him.
Teizawa and Jiraiya had already left the hot spring inn.
They arrived on a wide, empty stretch of grass.
Moonlight spilled over them like water. The cries of insects rose and fell around them, like a prelude to the battle about to begin.
Several withered trees in the distance shivered in the night wind.
As if afraid of the storm that was about to arrive.
Teizawa moved first.
He did not use any ninjutsu.
He simply stepped forward into a bow stance and drove a punch straight toward Jiraiya's face.
The wind around his fist howled, carrying the sharp sound of tearing air.
(End of Chapter)
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