Jiraiya's eyes lit up. He snatched the money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and broke into a wide grin:
"Thanks, boss! Pleasure doing business with you!"
"Money and goods exchanged hand for hand. A fair deal!"
The boss waved a hand, then leaned forward over the counter toward Jiraiya, lowering his voice. His eyes gleamed with both shrewdness and gossip:
"Um... Teacher Jiraiya, what I'm really interested in is the 'new goods.'
Those adventure stories were certainly good, but what this old man's really been thinking about... are those few pages of the 'new series' outline and opening you secretly showed me last time..."
Jiraiya understood immediately. Thick-skinned as he was, even the tips of his ears could not help heating up. He glanced around and lowered his voice as well:
"Boss, do you mean... the Make-Out Paradise series?"
"Shh—!"
The boss made a silencing gesture, but his eyes shone even brighter, and his voice dropped to little more than a whisper:
"That's right! That one! Although... given Konoha's current atmosphere, selling it openly might be a little, well... but!"
He rubbed his fingers together and gave Jiraiya a knowing smile:
"There's always a way! The world outside is vast, and there's a huge market out there! That writing, that imagination... tsk, tsk, it's got potential. Definitely got potential!"
Jiraiya felt an itch in his heart at the praise, though he was also a little embarrassed. Scratching his head, he said:
"Well... to be honest, it's graduation exam season lately. I've been so busy I can barely keep my head above water, and inspiration... it's been a little hard to deliver.
But don't worry, boss!"
He patted his chest in assurance:
"Once I get myself back in the groove and inspiration starts pouring out, I'll bring it to you