Konohamaru was busy capturing everyone's heartfelt blessings on camera, moving from one person to the next without pause. His energy seemed boundless as he meticulously documented each message for Naruto and Hinata's upcoming wedding.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the village, another person was equally engrossed in his work, though his craft was far quieter. Sai sat at a small table, concentrating on his latest creation—a series of sketches he was drawing for Master Jiraiya.
Gazing at the picture he had just completed, Sai muttered thoughtfully, "Hmm… this expression should convey the charm that Jiraiya-sensei mentioned. If not…"
Next to him were the sketches he had prepared: a comic series adapted from Jiraiya-sensei's adult novels. One of them, titled Icha Icha Paradise: Making Love with Tenten One, was a special serialization from Jiraiya's infamous Icha Icha series. These novels had gained worldwide recognition and popularity, though their content was explicitly mature.
By chance, Jiraiya had discovered Sai's artistic talent and decided to collaborate with him—adapting the novels into comic form, confident that Sai's skill would bring them to life. Jiraiya thought, given the novels' popularity, converting them into comics could potentially generate enormous revenue. A clear business opportunity had presented itself.
Previously, Jiraiya had only needed to write the adult novels for fun; his lifestyle was carefree and extravagant. He was a prodigal, spending money recklessly whenever he pleased. Now, however, with his upcoming marriage to Tsunade, he faced reality: he had no permanent home and his savings were negligible. Accepting missions to earn money was impossible, and relying on his old habits would not suffice. Without funds, how could a ninja survive—and how could he support a married life?
Seeing Sai's potential, Jiraiya recognized him as a creative force capable of boosting his career once more. Naruto himself supported Sai's involvement, and the two quickly hit it off.
Taking his completed sketches, Sai set out to find Naruto. He arrived at Naruto's home just as Naruto returned.
"Oh! Sai, you're here!" Naruto greeted him cheerfully.
Sai stood and bowed slightly. "Naruto, you're back. I've been waiting for you here for quite some time."
Naruto nodded, glancing up at his home with a small smile. "Why don't you go upstairs? What are you doing waiting outside?"
"I knocked on your door, but no one answered," Sai explained with a slight smile. "So, I decided to wait for you downstairs."
Naruto raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "Maybe my parents aren't home. They probably went to Hinata's place. So… you're here for something?"
Sai nodded. "Yes. I've revised the sketches that Jiraiya-sensei requested, and I've also drawn a few new illustrations. I want to present them to him. If all goes well, I will continue developing the series."
"Oh! Really? Let me see!" Naruto said eagerly, taking the sketches from Sai.
At first glance, the scenes appeared ordinary—a normal narrative of interaction. But as the characters grew closer in the story, the scenes became increasingly intimate. Naruto's eyes widened slightly as he observed the sketches, and he found himself involuntarily captivated by Sai's artistry.
Sai's skill was remarkable. Even in black and white, the forms were precise: curves where needed, contours perfectly rendered. The expressions, body movements, and intricate details of the characters conveyed emotion and subtlety with masterful clarity.
"Wow… this is amazing," Naruto said, swallowing nervously. He handed the sketches back to Sai. "I didn't expect this level of quality from you, Sai!"
Sai smiled faintly, holding the sketches carefully. "It's all thanks to your guidance, Naruto. Also… I've been… developing feelings for someone recently, so I have some understanding of what you were explaining."
"Oh?" Naruto's heart skipped a beat. He recalled that Sai and Ino had officially announced their relationship around the time of Naruto's wedding preparations, often holding hands together in public.
"So… what exactly do you mean? Have you… engaged in in-depth communication?" Naruto asked, teasingly.
Sai's face flushed pale. He glanced around nervously and whispered, "What… do you mean by in-depth?"
Naruto smirked, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Like this—right here."
To demonstrate, Naruto exaggerated a subtle hand gesture mimicking a piston movement. Sai's eyes widened in shock, and he hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, no! Not yet! Definitely not yet!"
His face reddened further, almost comically white in contrast to his usual calm expression. Naruto chuckled and draped an arm around Sai's shoulder. "Look at you, still the shy Sai we know."
Sai remained silent, too flustered to respond.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing you for now," Naruto said, smiling. "Take care of your feelings. Now, come on—I'll take you to see Pervy Sage."
Tsunade's Home
Inside, the scene was chaotic. Tsunade was angrily tossing objects everywhere—vases, stools, books—all flying through the air.
Jiraiya dodged a pillow with a startled yelp. "Whoa! Tsunade, calm down! Please, don't destroy everything!"
"It's dangerous!" Jiraiya added, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Tsunade scowled, glaring at him. "Look at you, Jiraiya! After all these years, you haven't saved a single penny. How are you supposed to support me? How are you supposed to…"
Her hand paused as she glanced at her slightly swollen belly. The pregnancy was becoming noticeable, which only fueled her frustration. She urged Jiraiya to get his affairs in order quickly, for appearances' sake. As the Fifth Hokage and a member of the Senju clan, any scandal would reflect poorly on her status.
Jiraiya attempted to soothe her. "Tsunade, I'll find a way. Please don't be angry!"
Tsunade, unimpressed, grabbed another chair and hurled it across the room. "The place you're living in is still my house! If I weren't the Fifth Hokage, you'd be out on the street!"
The house, a legacy of the Senju clan, was technically village property. Like the remnants of the Uchiha clan, whose lands were partially absorbed by Konoha after their extermination, Tsunade's home was officially reassigned to her upon her return as Hokage.
Even so, Tsunade was short on funds, partly due to her own past gambling habits and outstanding debts. Her anger flared upon seeing Jiraiya, equally penniless, standing before her. Normally composed and formidable, she had lost her temper completely.
Jiraiya hurriedly tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, Tsunade! Remember, I'm still a best-selling author. The previous royalties… they weren't nothing!"
"What did you say?!" Tsunade demanded, eyes blazing.
"I mean… I will earn enough! Just leave it to me," Jiraiya said hastily. "I have skills, I have the talent, and with Sai's help, everything will work out. Trust me!"
Before he could elaborate further, Naruto and Sai arrived at the doorstep.
"Hey! Pervy Sage!" Naruto called, waving enthusiastically.
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