Credit where it's due—Jiraiya really lived up to his reputation as the great literary sage of the shinobi world... and a seasoned pervert.
With just a few creative suggestions from Kazuki, Jiraiya had written a masterpiece. The detailed descriptions inside were so vivid that even Kazuki started to worry he might get a nosebleed just from reading.
Especially one Chapter written from the perspective of a female character—it was so authentic, Kazuki began to suspect Jiraiya had actually transformed into a woman using the Transformation Jutsu just to experience it firsthand.
"Well? What do you think?" Jiraiya asked with a huge grin. He was technically asking for feedback, but his tone practically radiated smug satisfaction.
"It's excellent. Jiraiya-nii-san, once this book is published, it'll be an instant hit," Kazuki said, closing the manuscript. Kakashi, sitting nearby, said nothing, but Kazuki caught a subtle glint of regret in his eye.
Kazuki glanced knowingly at him. Oh? Kakashi-senpai, hiding that side of you already?
"Hahaha, I thought so too! I've already reached out to my old publisher. Once the royalties come in, I'll split them with you fifty-fifty!" Jiraiya beamed.
This project had been his labor of love for years, and seeing it finally come together—especially with support—was deeply satisfying for him. This wasn't about money. It was about recognition.
"Hehe..." Kazuki scratched his head bashfully. Half the royalties from Make-Out Paradise? Given how lucrative the series would eventually become, that could easily set him up for life.
Honestly, if he weren't living in the Naruto world right now, Kazuki could probably retire off this alone.
They had a great meal, full of laughter. Even Kakashi, though still blushing, began to relax.
"Kakashi, when Jiraiya-sama's book drops, want me to gift you a copy?" Kazuki teased after they finished eating.
"I... I don't really go for that kind of thing..." Kakashi murmured, touching the bridge of his nose awkwardly.
"Oh? I heard the first edition comes with illustrations. You're really passing that up?" Kazuki asked with mock shock.
Kakashi's face flushed crimson. He hesitated a long time before finally muttering:
"...I guess I wouldn't mind."
And so, Kazuki made a mental note: one signed copy of Make-Out Paradise, gift-wrapped for Kakashi.
Then his eyes lit up again.
"Kakashi, feel like sparring a bit? I want to test out the new Thunderball upgrade in combat."
Kakashi didn't object, and the two headed off to a training field outside the village.
One look. That was enough to start the fight.
Kazuki's hands blurred into a flurry of hand seals—but Kakashi didn't bother with any. Instead, he vanished with Body Flicker and lunged toward Kazuki, blade in hand.
He'd figured Kazuki out.
That annoying brat had this quirk—his seals were always faster than anyone else's, yet he deliberately held back just to rub it in. Kakashi wasn't playing that game.
Get in close, and Kazuki wouldn't have time to finish a jutsu.
But just as Kakashi got close, his body suddenly froze up. He couldn't move.
Shadow Imitation Technique.
In that instant, Kazuki's hands completed their sequence, and he released a Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique—with four Thunderballs hidden within the flames.
The blazing orb struck its mark. But Kazuki frowned slightly.
Right before impact, he felt his shadow technique be forcibly broken.
At the same time, he spun and parried a strike—only to be jolted by a surge of lightning chakra that left his muscles numb.
Kakashi stood behind him, his sword crackling with electricity.
"That's... Hatake-style kenjutsu?" Kazuki asked, startled.
Kakashi didn't answer. He thrust forward—but Kazuki didn't dodge.
The sword pierced his chest.
Kakashi's pupils shrank.
It looked just like that moment... when Rin died on his blade.
"Kazuki!" he shouted, panic rising.
Then, a blade rested silently across Kakashi's throat. The Kazuki in front of him vanished.
When did he cast it?!
Kazuki eyed Kakashi's sword with open curiosity. The lightning had faded, but damn—it had looked cool as hell.
"That was a technique?" Kazuki asked, eyes gleaming.
Kakashi sighed. "Yes and no. The lightning chakra is an enhancement. You channel it into your weapon—if the weapon can handle it. Low-grade steel will just fall apart."
Hatake-style kenjutsu was mostly swordplay. This was just clever chakra manipulation.
Kazuki looked slightly disappointed. Still, he'd been making solid progress with his own sword skills lately. Maybe, once he leveled them up, he could replicate something like that.
He lifted his blade, channeled chakra—and a layer of flames danced across the steel.
"From now on, you shall be known as the Blade of Fire Delight," Kazuki declared dramatically, then promptly dispelled the technique.
Because the damn thing felt like it was going to explode in his hand.
Sure, it looked flashy, but in practice? Useless. The sword felt unstable, and practically screamed: Burn me one more time, and I'll snap!
Kakashi offered a more practical suggestion.
"Lightning chakra's a better fit. Done right, it can disrupt an enemy's nervous system—make them go numb."
Kazuki nodded seriously, raised his sword again, and focused.
He let his fingers trace down the blade slowly, lightning crackling beneath his touch.
A soft hum, then a surge of blue light snaked across the weapon.
"...Okay," Kakashi said. "I'll admit. That looked damn cool."