Naruto slumped onto his desk, his room littered with crumpled sketches, ink-stained brushes, and half-finished scrolls. His system screen hovered beside him, displaying a glaring red warning:
DEADLINE: 2 DAYS
Volume 4 Progress: 40% Complete
"Ughhh!" Naruto groaned, banging his head lightly against the table. "Why did I think I could finish this volume in time?!"
The system chimed in its usual monotone voice. Suggestion: Activate Skill 'Turbo Sketch Mode' for faster drawing efficiency.
Naruto glared at the screen. "Turbo Sketch Mode? That's what got me into this mess last time! I accidentally gave Sakura Sharingan powers in one panel!"
The system remained silent, clearly unbothered by his complaints.
Hinata's Surprise Visit
A soft knock on the door broke Naruto's pity party. He quickly shuffled his mess into a pile and yelled, "Come in!"
Hinata stepped inside, carrying a small basket of snacks. "I thought you might need something to eat," she said shyly, placing the basket on his desk.
Naruto's face lit up. "Hinata! You're a lifesaver!"
She blushed at his enthusiasm. "Are you still working on the next volume?"
"Yeah," he said, scratching the back of his head. "But it's a total mess right now. The deadline's killing me!"
Hinata glanced at the sketches on his desk. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she picked up one of the completed panels. "This looks amazing, Naruto. You've really captured Gaara's intensity here."
Naruto grinned sheepishly. "Thanks. But there's still so much left to do…"
Hinata hesitated for a moment before saying, "Maybe I could help?"
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Naruto blinked. "You want to help? I mean, it's not easy work, you know. Drawing, inking, adding details—it's a whole process."
"I can try," Hinata said, her voice steady. "I've always liked art, and I think it could be fun."
Naruto's system pinged with a new notification:
New Collaboration Detected: Hinata Hyuga
Skill Activated: Dual Draft Mode
Effect: Drawing speed increased by 25% when working with a partner.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Whoa, the system likes this idea! Let's give it a shot!"
He handed her a clean scroll and some brushes. "Okay, you ink the outlines I've already sketched, and I'll work on finishing the next scene."
Hinata nodded, her determination shining through.
The Chaos of Creation
For the next few hours, the two worked side by side. Naruto focused on sketching dramatic action sequences, while Hinata carefully inked the existing panels.
"Careful with that line," Naruto said, peeking over her shoulder.
Hinata smiled. "Don't worry, I've got this."
At one point, Naruto's stomach growled loudly, breaking the concentration. Hinata giggled softly, handing him a rice ball from her basket.
"Thanks," Naruto said, scarfing it down. "Man, I'd starve without you."
Hinata's cheeks turned a soft pink, but she kept her focus on the work.
A Visitor Interrupts
Just as they were making good progress, there was a loud knock at the door.
"Yo, Naruto! Open up!" came Kiba's voice.
Naruto groaned. "What now?"
He opened the door to find Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji standing there, looking unusually serious.
"What's with the squad?" Naruto asked.
"We've got a problem," Shikamaru said, stepping inside. He glanced at the mess of papers and scrolls on Naruto's desk. "Still working on your manga, huh?"
"Yeah, why?" Naruto asked.
"There's a new rumor going around," Shikamaru said, crossing his arms. "Apparently, some guy in the Land of Waves is claiming to have the original copies of your manga and is selling them to the highest bidder."
Naruto's jaw dropped. "What?! How's that possible?!"
"No idea," Shikamaru said, "but if it's true, it could mess up your whole operation. We need to investigate."
Naruto clenched his fists. "Damn it, this is getting out of hand. I can't let anyone mess with my manga!"
Hinata stepped forward. "Naruto, maybe you should focus on finishing this volume. We can handle the investigation."
Naruto hesitated. "Are you sure? I mean, it's my responsibility…"
Shikamaru smirked. "Don't worry. We've got this. Besides, you're no good at stealth missions."
Naruto glared at him but relented. "Fine. Just keep me updated."
A Burst of Inspiration
As the others left, Naruto turned back to his desk. Hinata gave him an encouraging smile. "We'll finish this, Naruto. Together."
Her words lit a fire in him. "Yeah, you're right. Let's do this!"
He picked up his brush, his movements more confident and precise than before. The panels came to life under his hand, each one more dynamic and detailed than the last.
Hinata's steady inking complemented his work perfectly, and before they knew it, they had completed another significant chunk of the volume.
Naruto leaned back with a satisfied grin. "This is gonna be my best volume yet!"
Hinata smiled warmly. "I can't wait to see everyone's reactions."
As they worked late into the night, Naruto felt a newfound determination. No matter what challenges came his way, he was going to protect his manga and the joy it brought to the ninja world.