"The Mystery Mangaka"
The day after Naruto's manga hit the streets, Konoha buzzed with curiosity and excitement. Everywhere Naruto went, villagers were gathered in small groups, discussing the strange scrolls.
"Did you see the part where he painted the Hokage faces?" one man whispered, waving a copy.
"I can't believe Iruka-sensei fell for the prank so easily!"
"It's so detailed. Do you think it's real?"
Naruto tried to hide his smirk as he walked through the market. He'd expected people to enjoy the manga, but the reactions were better than he'd hoped. The fact that no one suspected him made it all the sweeter.
Team 7's Training
At the training grounds, Naruto joined Sasuke and Sakura as they practiced kunai throwing. Kakashi was late, as usual, but that suited Naruto just fine—he needed time to plan his next move.
"Do you think the Hokage knows who made it?" Sakura asked, glancing at a copy of the scroll she'd brought with her.
Sasuke shrugged, adjusting his aim. "Does it matter? It's probably some random artist trying to get attention."
Naruto snorted. "Well, whoever it is, they're a genius!"
Sasuke glared at him. "Why are you so excited? It's probably embarrassing for you, being the main character."
Naruto feigned shock. "Embarrassing? I think it's awesome!"
"Of course you do," Sakura muttered, rolling her eyes.
Before Naruto could retort, Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke, holding one of the scrolls. "Good morning, everyone. Or should I say… good manga morning?"
Naruto stiffened.
"I've read it cover to cover," Kakashi said, his tone unreadable. "It's... entertaining."
Sakura flushed. "You're not supposed to read stuff like that during training, sensei!"
Kakashi ignored her, turning to Naruto. "It's interesting how accurately this artist captured you, Naruto. Almost like they've been watching your every move."
Naruto laughed nervously. "Yeah, super weird, huh?"
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly, but he said nothing more.
The Manga Reaches the Hokage
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat with a steaming cup of tea and a copy of the scroll on his desk.
"This… is troubling," he muttered, stroking his beard.
Iruka-sensei, standing nearby, frowned. "Do you think it's dangerous, Lord Hokage?"
"Not dangerous, per se," Hiruzen replied. "But whoever created this has remarkable observational skills. They know details about Naruto's life that only someone close to him could know."
Iruka's frown deepened. "Should I investigate?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "No. Let's keep this quiet for now. I want to see where this mystery mangaka takes their story."
Naruto's Next Mission
That night, Naruto sat in his room, surrounded by blank scrolls and ink supplies. He'd already started working on the second volume of his manga, but something nagged at him.
The System chimed in his mind:
New Quest:
Publish "Naruto Vol. 2" within five days.
Reward: Enhanced Chakra Reserves, Passive Skill: Artistic Deception.
"Five days, huh?" Naruto muttered. "Easy peasy."
But as he began sketching, another notification popped up:
New Side Quest:
Hinata Hyuga has obtained your manga. Interact with her to gain insight into your audience's thoughts.
Reward: Confidence Boost, Random Skill Unlock.
Naruto groaned. "Hinata? Why her?"
Then he remembered the way she'd clutched the scroll to her chest, blushing furiously. His heart skipped a beat. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
Hinata's Reaction
The next morning, Naruto spotted Hinata near the training grounds, sitting under a tree with a copy of his manga open in her lap. Her face was red as she read through the pages, occasionally letting out soft giggles.
Naruto hesitated, unsure how to approach her. He wasn't great at talking to girls—especially not ones who looked like they might faint at any moment.
But the System gave him a nudge:
Hint: Compliment her reading taste.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto walked over. "Hey, Hinata!"
She jumped, nearly dropping the scroll. "N-Naruto-kun!"
"Uh, I see you're reading that manga everyone's talking about," he said, scratching the back of his head.
Hinata nodded quickly, her eyes darting everywhere but at him. "I-It's very… interesting."
"What do you think of it?" Naruto asked, genuinely curious.
Hinata's face lit up. "I-I think it's wonderful! The story is so vivid, and it feels like the artist really understands what it means to be an underdog."
Naruto blinked, surprised by her insight. He hadn't expected such a thoughtful answer.
"Thanks," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Hinata's blush deepened, and she quickly buried her face in the scroll.
The Chaos Builds
As the days passed, more copies of Naruto's manga began circulating throughout Konoha. Ninja of all ranks were seen reading it—some openly, others in secret. The stories even reached the neighboring villages, sparking widespread interest.
At Ichiraku Ramen, Teuchi laughed as he read through the latest chapter. "This kid really captures the spirit of Konoha! Whoever they are, they've got talent."
Even the more serious ninja couldn't resist. Rock Lee trained while reciting dialogue from the scroll, and Shikamaru muttered complaints about how troublesome it was to get addicted to something so silly.
But not everyone was pleased.
In a darkened room, a shadowy figure flipped through the manga, their expression unreadable. "Whoever this 'mystery mangaka' is… they're becoming a problem. I must find them."
The System's next quest appeared before Naruto's eyes:
Main Quest Update:
Survive the growing attention of curious and dangerous individuals.
Naruto gulped. "This might get messy…"