The village of Sunagakure Village lay under a cloudless sky.
After enduring the Chunin Exams, the training atmosphere in Sunagakure Village had grown even more intense.
"Everyone, I've got great news!" Sankai shouted, waving the latest volume of One Piece manga above his head. "Whoever wins tomorrow's training match gets this entire manga book! Second through fifth place will have borrowing rights. Sixth to tenth, your training load stays the same. Everyone else must double their training within three days!"
Sankai held up the manga for all to see.
He hadn't even read the second volume himself yet—it was sealed with a basic text barrier that kept anyone from viewing its contents.
"What? We have to fight for top five just to read the manga?"
"That's ridiculous!"
"Lord Sankai, could you please loosen the requirements a bit?"
The Genin of Sunagakure Village began to protest. There were always twenty or thirty people at the training ground. Now only five would get the chance to read the updates, while everyone outside the top ten faced doubled training. This was practically hellish training.
"Loosen the rules? Sure. If you can hold out until the next update, you'll be able to read the second volume then."
Sankai smirked coldly, sweeping his gaze around the group as he warned, "And I'd also advise those in the top five not to lend the manga to others. If we catch you doing so, we'll confiscate the books and triple your training load."
"What?!"
Several faces instantly changed. Originally, they had planned to borrow it somehow, but now this rule completely blocked that path.
The cost was simply too high!
"These are Lord Kazekage's orders. If you have any objections, feel free to take them directly to Lord Kazekage."
A faint smirk tugged at Sankai's lips, his meaning unmistakable.
If someone actually approached Shamon with complaints, all they'd receive would undoubtedly be harsh scolding and punishment.
In Sunagakure Village, where the environment was harsh and resources scarce, discipline was far stricter than in Konoha.
Therefore, nobody dared to protest further after hearing this.
"I can flip through it and show everyone to confirm."
With that, Sankai opened the manga to two pages.
The first two pages weren't sealed, so many shinobi standing at the front could clearly see what was written there.
However,
from the third page onward, the entire book contained only encrypted characters behind the seal.
If they had never seen it, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but now that they'd caught just a glimpse, their curiosity was even stronger.
"All right, everyone, train hard. Tomorrow at the training grounds, we're holding our first competition."
Sankai put away the manga with a small smile.
Then he turned and left.
Everyone looked at each other in silence. Soon afterward, some quickly got back into training mode.
"For the manga!"
"To reduce our training!"
They shouted these slogans enthusiastically, clearly more motivated than ever before.
Watching from a hidden spot, Sankai let out a deep breath in relief.
Looks like this method is proving effective!
With his mind at ease, he turned toward the Kazekage's office building.
"This kid stirred up quite a storm in Sunagakure, only to end up becoming a tool for motivating subordinates instead. Hmph!"
On the street, an ordinary-looking civilian from Sunagakure shifted his gaze away.
He took several steps forward and slowly made his way toward the Kazekage's building.
After being worn out from training, Akaba slept straight through until the next morning.
Akaba pigged out like there was no tomorrow before finally stepping out to visit the manga shop.
"Kid, you're finally here! Done with your training?"
Yunlang Sakuma had just finished stocking the shelves when he looked up and saw Akaba walk in.
"More or less. How are the manga selling? Did you greet Mr. Yamano yet?" Akaba asked.
"I've already greeted him. I told him I'd deliver the manga tomorrow. Also, Mr. Yamano asked when 'One Piece' would be updated. He said sales are pretty good in many places and hopes we can release a new volume soon."
"Tomorrow then. I'll work overtime today and make some progress on both manga volumes," Akaba replied without hesitation.
"Yes, but please also take care of your health," Yunlang Sakuma said with concern.
He'd just gone through such an intense training session yesterday. After only one day's rest, he must be feeling pretty worn out.
After all, that was the physical condition of a bloodline limit inheritor from the clan.
"Don't worry, there won't be any problem." Akaba waved his hand dismissively, then left behind a shadow clone here.
Adding the one he had previously left at home, there were now two shadow clones working simultaneously.
As long as he didn't move around too much, having two clones wouldn't push his chakra usage past normal levels.
Reaching 100 points of spiritual power had significantly improved his endurance, so he wouldn't collapse from exhaustion caused by the clones' feedback.
At this moment, footsteps of three people echoed down the hall.
After walking a few steps, the trio turned the corner. Just as they were about to ask something, they looked up and saw Akaba standing at the entrance.
"Huh, you've already finished training?"
Loe took out a small jar.
But seeing Akaba was perfectly fine, he started preparing to put it back.
"Wait! What is that in your hand?" Akaba immediately stopped him.
"It's our clan's special Military Rations Pills, co-developed with the Nara clan. We originally planned to give them to you, but judging from your condition, you probably don't need them anymore," said Yizhong Akimichi while stuffing a handful of jerky into his mouth.
"You've already taken them out, how can you take them back now?" Akaba snatched them over without ceremony.
The Sakuma clan also had Military Rations Pills, but their taste and effectiveness couldn't match the special version developed jointly by the Akimichi and Nara clans.
"Well actually, I really can take them back."
Loe helplessly found a place to sit down, showing no shame whatsoever at his own response.
Military Rations Pills weren't cheap!
"What have you been doing these days? I've tried finding you several times without success."
Yizhong Akimichi asked curiously.
"Experimenting with a ninjutsu technique. I trained all night in the forest."
Akaba suddenly remembered something when they mentioned it—the Third Hokage wanted him to write a report explaining the Ninjutsu's name and mechanics.
"The deer in the forest were really restless after you trained all night the other night," Loe couldn't help pointing out.
Take Yamano glanced outside and reminded them, "We should get going now. It's almost time for our meeting."
"Oh, do you have a mission today?"
Akaba took out the bottle of Military Rations Pills again. Seeing their attire, he realized this wasn't going to be a simple village task like weed removal or catching cats—it was an off-village training mission.
"A C-rank mission."
Yizhong Akimichi didn't elaborate further since it was classified information.
"Just take this bottle with you. It might come in handy."
Thinking for a moment, Akaba took out a sealing scroll from his pouch.
Then he formed a series of hand seals and retrieved several poison-coated needles.
Poison wasn't exclusive to Sand Hidden Village, but it had to be admitted that those people used it best.
Akaba thought for a moment and handed it to Take Yamano.
The Yamanaka clan's secret technique was handy enough, but honestly, it just didn't hit hard enough during the early stages.
"I got these poison-coated needles from Sand ninja. You can use them if you encounter difficult opponents in battle."
"Understood."
Take Yamano nodded gratefully.
Pairing poison needles with the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique basically made every attack land.
For them, that kind of weapon really came in handy.
"Forget the Military Rations Pills, we still have some left."
Loe lazily stood up and waved his hand toward the village entrance before walking off.
Akaba stared at the pill in his palm, a strange wave of nostalgia washing over him.
The fact that these genin were taking on C-rank missions meant the village was already gearing up for war.
Storm clouds were gathering over the Land of Whirlpools.
After this reflection, Akaba turned to Sakuma Yunlang and said, "I'll temporarily write reports inside. Remember to knock and greet when entering."
"Yes!"
With these instructions, Akaba entered the rest room, spread a piece of paper on the table, pondered for a moment, then began writing his report.
The shadow clone originally planned to slack off momentarily, but seeing Akaba enter to write, had no choice but to pick up his pen again.
One original and one shadow clone worked side by side, focused and hard at work inside the room.
However,
The content of the ninjutsu wasn't lengthy, and since parts had already been thought through earlier, they finished quickly.
When it came time to name it, Akaba actually found himself stuck.
As everyone knows, when playing games, creating a character ID is the most headache-inducing part.
A jutsu name was even worse—it was permanent once chosen, no take-backs.
"Hazy Mirage? Mist Illusion? Mist Phantom Scene?"
After tossing around three names in his head, Akaba couldn't decide which one fit best. He turned to his clone. "Which one sounds better?"
"Don't ask me, I'm busy."
The clone bluntly refused.
Why should he have to pick between such a pointless dilemma anyway!
"Fine, I'll let the old man decide."
Akaba put away the scroll.
Since The Third had been on his case since yesterday morning, he figured he might as well hand it over now that it was done.
There was a clone at the Manga Shop, so he left confidently without worry.
All the way to the Hokage Tower
"You idiot, bringing such boring stuff again!"
A familiar roar.
But from the voice, it seemed somewhat embarrassed too.
"Teacher, just tell me if this works or not! I only want to publish it—please acknowledge my work!"
Jiraiya pleaded.
If even this piece didn't pass review, he couldn't think of any other work that would win his teacher's approval.
"Consider yourself passed—just don't bother me anymore!"
The Third snapped back.
The first time was bad enough—he didn't need another round of embarrassment ruining his peace.
"Really?"
Ecstatic, Jiraiya dashed out of the office.
Akaba immediately activated Transformation Jutsu, turning into a potted plant hiding in a corner downstairs.
Meeting Jiraiya now would surely lead to another awkward entanglement.
Jiraiya didn't notice anything.
Overjoyed, he completely neglected to pay attention to his surroundings, rushing straight down from upstairs, running all the way toward Akaba's manga shop.
After he left the Hokage Tower, Akaba dispelled his clone.
He looked upstairs, hesitating slightly. Would it be wise to enter so soon after the Third had just finished reading that manga?
Smart people know better than to embarrass their superiors—especially when they're the ones who set up the whole mess.
Akaba, holding the jutsu report, decided to come back another day.
But just as he turned around,
"Come up here!"
The voice was cold and sharp. At the same moment, an Anbu appeared in front of him, blocking his path out.
With no choice, Akaba forced himself to go upstairs, only to find the Third casually wiping his nose with a piece of paper.
"Lord Third, I've finished the jutsu report."
"Put it here."
Without expression, the Third crumpled the paper, then picked up the report and glanced at it.
Then he couldn't help but ask, "Where's the jutsu name?"
"Cough... I came up with three names. Please help me choose one."
As Akaba spoke, he listed off the three names.
The Third could feel a headache coming on—what idiotic names were these!
After thinking for a moment, he finally wrote down the third option: [Mist Phantom Scene].
"Yes, sir. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."
Akaba prepared to make a quick escape.
Before he could leave, the Third tapped on the table and said, "Akaba, since you're teaching Jiraiya how to draw, take some responsibility. Don't let him run wild all day."
"Please rest assured, Lord. Once his manga gets printed, it'll mainly be sold overseas."
Akaba made the promise with a straight face.
The Third coughed lightly. "Well, that won't be necessary. Just make sure it doesn't cause too much of a stir."
If it's only sold overseas, he'll have me peering through the Telescope Technique again from a distance—it's such a hassle.
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