"...So you're saying we split it fifty-fifty?"In the woods near the women's bathhouse, Kakashi and Nara Kazuki squatted low, whispering.Kazuki had a camera tucked carefully into his hands.
"Of course," Kazuki grinned."I came up with the idea — I deserve half. You're just providing stealth ninjutsu; fifty percent is generous."
He fiddled with the camera, sighing internally.
The tech tree in the shinobi world was pure chaos — TVs, refrigerators, electricity — all mashed together with feudal relics.Kazuki remembered some obscure manga panel where a random background character tried to shoot Naruto with a gun.Proof that this world's tech made no goddamn sense.
But right now wasn't the time to ponder that.Kazuki crouched even lower, blending into the environment like a stalking leopard.
After returning yesterday, they had caught wind of new intel —"The white-haired pervert is still hanging around the hot spring town."
Hearing that, Kazuki's interest skyrocketed.
Jiraiya-sama... you wouldn't want Tsunade finding out about your 'research trips,' right?
If they caught him red-handed, there was a good chance he'd either pay up —Or better yet, agree to return to Konoha.
Kazuki suppressed his excitement, focusing on camouflage.Kakashi, skeptical but unwilling to object, busied himself double-checking their cover.
"By the way," Kakashi murmured, "what were you doing at the bookstore earlier?"
Kazuki had borrowed money from him to buy a camera — and then made a side trip.
"Adult business. Mind your own," Kazuki waved him off.
Kakashi's eye twitched.I'm only three years younger than you, bastard.
But Kazuki clearly wasn't going to explain, so Kakashi simply grumbled internally and waited.
From burning noon to starlit night, they waited in silence.
Patience — a ninja's eternal lesson.
Finally, when the women's bathhouse reached peak activity, they spotted him —That unmistakable mess of white hair sneaking along the outer wall.
Even at this distance, it was obviously Jiraiya.
Kazuki and Kakashi exchanged a glance.
Kazuki raised the camera, silent as a shadow, finger tightening over the shutter—
"Little guys, what exactly are you trying to photograph?"
A warm, cheerful voice spoke behind them.
Kazuki froze.Kakashi's pupils shrank.
Before they could even move, a hand landed on each of their shoulders.
Cold sweat beaded on Kazuki's forehead.He slowly turned—
Face-to-face with Jiraiya himself.
Shit.No wonder he's a Sannin.
Despite his sloppy appearance, Jiraiya was deadly serious when needed.Kazuki had been ready for this possibility —He knew their target was a living legend, after all.
If they succeeded in catching Jiraiya on camera, great.If not, even just making face-to-face contact was a victory.
After all, if they couldn't even meet him, there was no way in hell they'd convince him to return to Konoha.
"So, you two brats from Konoha on some sort of mission?"Jiraiya grumbled, his tone annoyed but not truly angry.
He'd spotted them yesterday and intentionally avoided contact —But damn if these kids weren't persistent.
Still, he wasn't heartless.Especially when one of them — Kakashi — was basically a grand-student, the disciple of his own beloved student Minato.
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama,"Kakashi said immediately, stiff with tension.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.He half-expected Kakashi to stay silent, but apparently Jiraiya's presence forced some manners out of him.
"Alright, whatever,"Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively."Finish your mission and get lost. I'm busy."
He clearly didn't want to waste time talking.
Kazuki coughed lightly."Actually, Jiraiya-sama, we're both big fans of your writing."
At that, Kazuki pulled a book from inside his shirt.
Jiraiya squinted —The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja.
"You've read it?"The old sage's eyes lit up.
This was one of his proudest works —Though it paled next to what he planned to write later, it still held a special place in his heart.
"Of course,"Kazuki said smoothly."The protagonist's indomitable spirit... it moved me deeply."
He remembered Naruto Uzumaki had been named after the hero of this very book.Even the Fourth Hokage had been inspired by it.
As expected, talking about his novels lured Jiraiya in.He laughed, smiling widely, settling down to chat.
But Kazuki knew —Talking alone wouldn't secure anything long-term.
When the conversation started winding down, Jiraiya showed signs of wanting to leave.
Kazuki made his move.
"Jiraiya-sama, I've also had some... ideas for stories."
"Oh?"Jiraiya raised an intrigued eyebrow.
Kazuki leaned closer, lowering his voice—
"Abin's ninja exam scores were less than ideal...""And the night guard of the women's dormitory, Old Qin, recently..."
He spun a wild, scandalous tale —And Kakashi, who initially just listened out of curiosity, quickly turned beet red.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, looked like he was ascending to heaven.
His breathing grew heavier.
He stared at Kazuki as if gazing upon a fellow spirit.