How Can This Count as Plagiarism?

Jiraiya hadn't been having an easy time lately either~

Who were that group of old men and women dancing?

Most of them were no simple folk. They all had several children and grandchildren, so when they had nothing to do, they mentioned it to their sons and grandsons at the dinner table... Good heavens!

The village was only so big!

So.

By the next day, practically the entire village knew.

Things like, "My mom and grandma may have been beauties back then, but they're old now. Who would've thought Lord Jiraiya would actually be like this..."

Of course.

Jiraiya didn't care about such gossip at all. It was just peeping... What could they do to him?

This was research material!

It was just that this time, his research subjects...

His lifelong reputation as the Toad Sage!

The Third Hokage's student, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, one of the leading figures of the modern ninja world, peeping on old ladies dancing.

This was practically killing him!

Jiraiya let out a long sigh and looked at Fuyou, who was holding back his laughter. He shot him a glance. "If you want to laugh, then laugh!"

"Don't worry, I'm a professional." Uchiha Fuyou smiled at Jiraiya. "Under normal circumstances, I won't laugh."

Who would've thought that after not seeing each other for a while, Teacher Jiraiya would be this bold?!

Impressive! Impressive!

As for why he called Jiraiya his teacher?

That went back to when he had persistently studied for Konoha's prosperity under the Third Hokage's leadership, with the First Hokage's ideology as his core and the Second Hokage's theories as his practice...

Handsome, ideologically steadfast, naturally talented, and capable of writing excellent works on the Will of Fire—since Konoha's founding, there had never been someone like him. Naturally, he caught the eye of the Third Hokage, the creator of the "Will of Fire Theory."

Originally, he had wanted to become Tsunade's student. With Kushina acting as the matchmaker, he could have learned excellent Medical Ninjutsu. It definitely wasn't because she was so big, pale, and bold.

Unfortunately.

The Uchiha clan had inherited Indra's powerful Yin Release. As for Yang Release... although he had a tiny bit of it, it didn't meet Tsunade's requirements for taking on a student. And he had no patience for learning Medical Ninjutsu anyway.

Thus, because of his innate limitations, he could only regretfully give up.

After all, taking a master was a mutual decision.

Meanwhile, the clan hoped he could become Orochimaru's disciple. Orochimaru had a pretty good reputation these past few years and was a popular candidate for Hokage. If he were chosen... then the Uchiha clan could ride the wind and soar to great heights.

However.

Uchiha Fuyou worried that one day he might end up lying on Orochimaru's operating table. Besides, in a few years Orochimaru would defect, and that would give the higher-ups another excuse to hold against the Uchiha clan. It simply wasn't worth it.

So in the end... if he wanted someone reliable to lean on, Jiraiya was the best choice. Yet he hadn't expected that after graduating, he would go into business.

Fate sure toyed with people!

In the end, becoming his disciple came to nothing. Jiraiya didn't mind, though, so he still called him Teacher Jiraiya, just like Minato did.

Of course, Jiraiya still didn't know that Fuyou's dream teacher had been Tsunade. If not for going into business, he might have become a Medical Ninja.

"Rumors stop with the wise. Teacher Jiraiya, there's no need to worry. Maybe after some time, everyone will understand that you aren't that kind of person?"

"I hope so~" Jiraiya nodded with a sigh, picking up the tea Rinne had poured beside him. "In a few more days, I'm planning to go out and avoid the spotlight. The atmosphere in the ninja world is getting heavier too, so I might as well head out early and make preparations!"

This Konoha!

It wasn't worth staying in!

If the three-year period hadn't ended and the old man hadn't asked him to come back, he wouldn't have wanted to return at all.

"Then Teacher Jiraiya, why did you come to see me today..." Fuyou didn't say much else. Anyway, once Konoha fought one against four, Jiraiya would have to go. So whether it was a day earlier or later didn't matter.

Before he could finish.

Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter and said confidently, "I saw you returning to the village just now, so I came over specifically." As he spoke, he pulled a thick stack of papers from his robes and handed it over like a manuscript. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "This is my confident masterpiece. Minato read it and said it was good too! Come on, take a look and give me some suggestions!"

"..."

A new work?

Was this Icha Icha Paradise, the book that would eventually become famous everywhere?

Uchiha Fuyou froze for a moment before taking the manuscript.

Then, under Teacher Jiraiya's expectant gaze, he began flipping through it carefully.

The office reception room immediately fell silent.

Time slowly passed.

After who knew how long.

Uchiha Fuyou's mouth twitched as he closed the book.

This story... felt a little familiar!

It told the story of a genius boy from a remote ninja village—Crow Ninja Village. For some reason, one day he suddenly became unable to use ninjutsu. His chakra circulated slowly and diminished every time, turning him into a cripple. His fiancée broke off their engagement, but after declaring, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river," he strengthened his ninja way. He discovered why his chakra was disappearing: an unparalleled ninja from the Warring States period was inside him, devouring his chakra. A few days later, enemies destroyed his village. To take revenge, he set out on a journey, and under the unparalleled ninja's guidance, became a powerful warrior.

Uchiha Fuyou silently picked up the hot tea beside the table. Looking at Jiraiya's confident expression, he hesitated before saying, "Teacher Jiraiya, plagiarism... isn't good!"

When he had explained wish-fulfillment webnovels to Jiraiya, he had mentioned something similar.

"How can an author's work be called plagiarism? This is reference, reference!"

"That makes sense..."

Teacher Jiraiya was merely writing the same type of story, with a few similarities. How could that count as plagiarism?

The characters were all different!

His protagonist was Uzumaki En.

Uchiha Fuyou lowered his head and glanced at the title: "Ninja Perseverance Chronicle."

It had been changed beyond recognition, yet it could still be given this title. Impressive, impressive.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "How about calling it Ninja Sky Revolution?"

"That wouldn't be good!" Jiraiya rubbed his hands awkwardly.

Changing the title would make it seem a little too much like copying.

"No, it'll be called Ninja Perseverance Chronicle! Anyway, what do you think of this book?"

"A good book! It'll definitely make you famous with one book. It's just that the female leads..."

"Of course I want them all! I wrote this book to be happy. What's with all that coyness and giving people away?"

"Teacher Jiraiya, after not seeing you for so many days, I didn't expect your writing skills to improve so much!"

"It's all right! Hahaha!" Jiraiya laughed awkwardly. "Then this book..."

"I'll publish it! I know all the publishers in the Land of Fire." Fuyou nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, I won't let Teacher Jiraiya suffer a loss!"

"I'll have to trouble you!"

And so, Jiraiya's confident masterpiece, Ninja Perseverance Chronicle, was handed over to Fuyou. Then Jiraiya left with a beaming smile, seeming as though even the wind accompanied his steps.

Suddenly.

Uchiha Fuyou seemed to remember something. "Oh, right. The barbecue restaurant opens in a few days. Teacher Jiraiya, will you come?"

"No problem!"

Having gotten Teacher Jiraiya's answer, Uchiha Fuyou smiled and shook his head.

Inviting one of the Sannin as the opening-day celebrity should give things quite a boost.

He stretched, accepted the tea Hyuga Rinne handed him, took a light sip, and asked, "Has anything happened on the Uchiha side?"

At those words.

Rinne's movements paused for a moment. Then she smiled faintly and shook her head. "It's nothing! The Great Elder has also been very helpful to Rinne."

"Great..." Uchiha Fuyou froze. "Elder???"

That old fossil?

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