"Manga Mania Hits Konoha"
Naruto was starting to realize just how far his manga had reached. Wherever he went, someone had a copy. Shinobi, civilians, even Academy students were obsessing over the mysterious author who seemed to know Naruto's life story so intimately.
The best part? Nobody suspected him.
Team 7's New Mission
Kakashi showed up at the training grounds with a scroll in hand. "Alright, team, we've got a mission. A curious one."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Curious how?"
Kakashi unrolled the scroll, revealing a mission briefing with the Hokage's seal. "We're tasked with investigating the origin of these mysterious scrolls."
Naruto froze. "W-what scrolls?"
Sasuke crossed his arms. "The manga, obviously. People are saying it's like the writer is spying on everyone. The Hokage wants answers."
"Exactly," Kakashi said, his tone unusually serious. "And we're not the only ones investigating. Other villages have sent agents to Konoha to find out if this is some kind of intelligence leak."
Naruto's heart raced. Agents from other villages? This is getting out of hand!
"Uh, is this really that big of a deal?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Kakashi nodded. "If someone is watching Konoha's shinobi and documenting their lives, it could be dangerous. We need to know who's behind this."
"Dangerous?" Sakura repeated, frowning. "It's just a silly story!"
"Maybe," Kakashi said, tucking the scroll away. "But it's our job to find out."
The System's Interference
As the team headed toward the village's printing district to begin their investigation, the System chimed in Naruto's mind:
New Quest:
Sabotage Team 7's Investigation without being caught.
Reward: Enhanced Stealth Skill, New Drawing Tool: Ink Clone Scrolls.
Naruto groaned inwardly. Couldn't this be easier?
The System added another line:
Bonus Objective: Divert suspicion onto another shinobi.
Extra Reward: Passive Skill: Artful Misdirection.
Naruto grinned. Okay, maybe this could be fun.
The Printing District
The team arrived at the printing district, a bustling area filled with shops that specialized in scroll production. Merchants were busy selling ink, paper, and binding supplies, and stacks of fresh scrolls were being loaded onto carts.
"This is where most written materials in Konoha are produced," Kakashi explained. "If the manga originated here, we'll find clues."
Sasuke and Sakura immediately began questioning shopkeepers, while Naruto lagged behind, pretending to inspect a rack of blank scrolls.
"Excuse me," Sakura asked one merchant, "have you seen any unusual orders recently?"
The man scratched his head. "Well, now that you mention it, there was a large shipment of scrolls last week. No name, just a payment in cash. Seemed odd."
Naruto's ears perked up. That's probably mine.
Sasuke frowned. "Did they say anything about what the scrolls were for?"
"Nope," the merchant replied. "Just paid and left. They were wearing a hood, so I couldn't see their face."
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief. The System had been thorough when handling his transactions.
Sabotage in Action
While Sasuke and Sakura continued their investigation, Naruto quietly slipped into a side alley. He summoned a clone to keep up appearances, then pulled out his notebook and began sketching.
The System chimed in:
Skill Activated: Speed Sketch.
In just a few minutes, Naruto had drawn a caricature of a generic shinobi in a hooded cloak, clutching a stack of scrolls. He added exaggerated sneaky movements for dramatic effect.
"Perfect," Naruto muttered, rolling up the drawing.
Rejoining the group, he "accidentally" dropped the scroll.
"What's this?" Sasuke asked, picking it up.
Naruto put on his best clueless face. "Oh, that? Just something I found in the alley. Thought it looked suspicious."
Sasuke unrolled the drawing and frowned. "A hooded figure… carrying scrolls? This could be a lead."
Kakashi examined it closely, his eye narrowing. "Hmm. It's not much, but it's something. Let's keep this in mind."
Naruto suppressed a grin. That was too easy.
Hinata's Unexpected Visit
Later that evening, as Naruto was working on the next chapter of his manga, there was a soft knock at his door.
"Who could that be?" he muttered, shoving his tools under his bed.
Opening the door, he was surprised to see Hinata, holding a small basket of sweets.
"H-Hello, Naruto-kun," she stammered, her face bright red.
"Hinata? What are you doing here?"
"I… um… I wanted to thank you," she said, thrusting the basket into his hands.
Naruto blinked. "Thank me? For what?"
Hinata fidgeted with her fingers. "For the manga. It… it made me feel braver. I-I know it's not real, but the way you never give up in the story… it's inspiring."
Naruto felt a pang of guilt. She didn't know he was the author, but her words struck a chord.
"Well, uh, thanks," he said, scratching the back of his head. "I'm glad you liked it."
Hinata nodded quickly and turned to leave, but before she could, Naruto called after her.
"Hey, Hinata?"
She paused, looking back over her shoulder.
"You don't have to be brave just because of a story. You're already pretty amazing, you know?"
Hinata's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she practically sprinted away.
Naruto chuckled to himself. Maybe this mangaka thing isn't so bad.
The Hidden Danger
Unbeknownst to Naruto, a shadowy figure watched from a nearby rooftop, their eyes fixed on him.
"So you're the one causing all this commotion," they muttered. "Let's see how long you can keep your secret."
The System chimed in Naruto's mind once more:
Warning: Threat Detected. Prepare for Unexpected Challenges.
Naruto's grin faded. "Oh, great. What now?"