"The Village Votes with Their Wallets"
Naruto sat cross-legged in his room, surrounded by piles of crumpled papers. His latest chapter of Naruto was nearing completion, but his mind kept wandering to the rival mangaka.
"This isn't just about me," he muttered. "The pride of Konoha's mystery artist is on the line!"
The System chimed in.
System Notification: "Competitor's next volume release imminent. Sales comparison will determine audience loyalty."
Tip: "Use the 'Audience Pulse' feature to track reader reactions and adjust your approach."
Naruto blinked. "Audience Pulse? What's that?"
A small holographic panel appeared, displaying glowing dots representing the village. Each dot showed reactions like laughter, excitement, or confusion.
"Whoa," Naruto said, leaning closer. "This is amazing! Okay, let's see what's working and what's not."
He noticed that scenes with Kakashi's quirky behavior and Hinata's sweet moments scored highest. Inspired, Naruto dove back into his work.
The Market Showdown
The next morning, the streets of Konoha were bustling. Two competing stalls stood side by side: Naruto's unofficial distributor and the rival mangaka's flashy setup.
Naruto, disguised in a hooded cloak, peeked out from behind a corner. His heart sank as he saw a long line at the rival stall.
"This is bad," he muttered. "I need a miracle."
At that moment, Hinata appeared, holding a stack of freshly printed Naruto volumes. "N-Naruto-kun, I thought you might need some help distributing these."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Hinata! You're a lifesaver!"
Together, they set up a simple stall, offering a free rice ball with every purchase. Hinata's kind smile drew in customers, and soon a small crowd formed around them.
Jiraiya's Intervention
Jiraiya, ever the opportunist, strolled up to Naruto's stall with a stack of signed copies of Icha Icha Paradise.
"Kid," he said, placing the books on the table, "use these as raffle prizes. Readers love freebies."
Naruto scowled. "I'm not giving away your pervy books!"
"Suit yourself," Jiraiya said, shrugging. "But don't say I didn't try to help."
Instead, Naruto offered a raffle for custom sketches. The idea worked, and more people flocked to their stall.
Audience Reactions
At the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi observed the unfolding drama through his crystal ball. He chuckled softly.
"Competition breeds excellence," he murmured.
Kakashi, sitting nearby with a copy of the latest Naruto volume, added, "At least the kid's story is better written than the competition."
Even Sasuke, who had grudgingly taken a copy, found himself flipping through it. He scowled at a scene featuring a brooding rival ninja. "He's making fun of me again, isn't he?"
The Rival's Move
In a hidden workshop, the rival mangaka smirked as they unveiled their latest volume. The cover depicted an epic battle between the masked hero and a monstrous villain.
"This will crush the competition," they said confidently.
They sent copies to key locations across the village, ensuring maximum exposure.
The Final Tally
As the day ended, Naruto's System flashed a notification.
Sales Comparison Complete:
Naruto Volume 3: 600 copies sold.
Shinobi Chronicles Volume 2: 580 copies sold.
Victory!
Naruto punched the air. "We did it!"
Hinata smiled shyly. "I knew you could do it, Naruto-kun."
The System chimed in again.
Reward Unlocked: "Speed Sketch" Skill.
Description: Allows rapid creation of high-quality art, saving time for more story development.
Naruto grinned. "Now I can outpace that rival for good!"
A New Challenge
As Naruto celebrated, the rival mangaka stared at the sales numbers, their expression dark.
"This isn't over," they muttered, crumpling the sales report. "Next time, I'll crush them completely."
They began sketching furiously, determined to reclaim their audience.