Chapter 47 — Art Is Priceless
Aneki drank his sake and told the story of his bitter past.
To sum it up: a writer couldn't make a living, wanted to switch careers, and ended up writing adult stories instead.
But that wasn't what Kinoshita Hikaru wanted to hear. Aneki simply didn't understand.
What Hikaru wanted was the plot of the novel. The kind with in-depth explanation and detailed analysis.
"Do you want to become famous? Do you want to build a real career?"
As a writer, Aneki was already immune to motivational talk. He took a big gulp of sake and didn't respond.
Without wasting words, Hikaru gave him another two punches to the eye sockets. For a drunk, sometimes only the fist of love could wake him up.
Looking at Aneki's embarrassed face, he tempted him, "Ten thousand ryō a month. How about it?"
"What exactly do you want? What are you hiring me for? I only know how to write books—proper books. I'm not doing anything illegal."
Only then did Hikaru realize he hadn't even said what he wanted to hire him for yet. Smiling faintly, he explained his idea for a newspaper office, then asked,
"Why do you keep emphasizing that you only write proper books?"
Aneki: _
"That idea's not bad. But I think you're messing with me."
What was this?
Where had the trust between people gone?
Hikaru was speechless. "Fine. If you're not in a hurry for the payment, I can buy the equipment first. That way you won't have to doubt me."
"And if the newspaper opens, you'll be one of the founding members. You'll be the chief editor. Everyone will listen to you. You can write whatever you want, publish as much as you want. What you write will be sold all across the Land of Fire. By the way, what's your name?"
"Aneki."
"Alright, Big Sister, your name will also resound throughout the Land of Fire."
"Aneki."
"Big Sister."
Hikaru stretched his legs until he was level with him in height, then patted Aneki's face with a sincere expression.
"Are you willing?"
Aneki's head felt a little dizzy. Maybe it was because he had drunk too much. Or maybe he was simply stunned by Hikaru's pitch.
But if he had to choose between dreams and money, then he chose money.
"Not a single ryō less. At most, I'll give you twenty percent off. Otherwise, no deal."
Hikaru was startled. I'm recruiting you, not bargaining with you.
"Deal!"
An unexpected bonus—he couldn't refuse it, or that would be disrespecting Big Sister.
Three hundred thousand, with twenty percent off... how much was that?
Probably two million, right?
After leaving, Hikaru headed straight for Konoha Hospital. As soon as he entered the ward, he saw that Jiraiya was already able to get out of bed.
"Big Brother Jiraiya, you seem in good spirits."
"Call me Uncle. Show some respect," Jiraiya said, clearly annoyed by him. Every time he showed up, nothing good happened.
They had only known each other a few days, yet Jiraiya had already been conned out of money and beaten into the hospital. At this point, Jiraiya felt this brat was his natural enemy.
(︶︿︶)=凸
For money's sake, endure it. Nothing shameful about that.
"You know, Big Brother Jiraiya, after the last failure, I found the core of the problem. I only came to ask whether you still want to pursue Tsunade-neesan. But judging from the way you're treating me... I guess I should just leave?"
Hikaru looked dejected, his face filled with the sorrow of someone thinking, I care so much about you, yet you don't even like me.
He turned and left without the slightest hesitation, only leaving Jiraiya with a lonely back.
3
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"Wait!"
A smile appeared at Hikaru's lips, but vanished just as quickly when he turned back.
"What is it?"
"Um... that... do you really have a way? (︶.︶)"
Hikaru's expression turned serious. "Not me. You."
"Me?"
"That's right. Why did we fail?"
"Because you were peeping."
"But why were you peeping?"
"You were doing it for art."
"How can a scholar's business be called peeping?"
Jiraiya's expression changed rapidly, like a flashing neon sign, while Hikaru continued,
"You need to make Tsunade understand your dedication to sacrificing yourself for art... understand?"
A dedication to sacrificing himself for art?
Continue gathering material?
That, Jiraiya was very good at.
He wiped the drool from his mouth and said solemnly, "You're right. I'll definitely go."
Hikaru froze. I haven't even finished talking—where are you going?
But seeing the lovestruck look on Jiraiya's face, he immediately knew the man had misunderstood again.
He quickly shattered Jiraiya's fantasy and said at once, "Big Brother Jiraiya, wake up. Art needs to be carried by words."
Jiraiya looked a little displeased at having his daydream interrupted, but when he heard that art must be carried by words, he hesitated.
Wasn't that a little bad? Looking was one thing, but actually writing it down too?
But then again... if he used words to record their beauty, then under his writing, wouldn't they remain eighteen forever?
No, wait—if he drew it too, then wouldn't that mean... wouldn't that mean...
This...
This...
This...
This is art!!!
Jiraiya, you've found another goal worthy of devoting your entire life to.
Seeing Jiraiya's suddenly holy expression, Hikaru was baffled.
"Big Brother Jiraiya, what's wrong with you?"
"Hikaru, thank you. I've found a goal worth striving toward for the rest of my life."
After Hikaru got the full explanation, only one thought remained in his head.
This... this was beyond ridiculous. Ridiculous opening the door for you is ridiculous—ridiculous all the way home.
He realized that with an old pervert like Jiraiya, there was no point trying to sound literary. You had to be direct.
So Hikaru stopped hiding it and directly explained the idea for the newspaper office.
What Hikaru didn't expect was that Jiraiya agreed after hearing just one sentence.
"That way, your art can spread throughout the entire ninja world."
One sentence.
Three million ryō.
Now that the money was in hand, Hikaru no longer cared about the rest.
Sorry, Minato. I wonder if Jiraiya will still write The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi.
He'd probably just go straight to writing Icha Icha Paradise.
You probably can't have the protagonist's name from The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi anymore, but I'll definitely save the protagonist's name in Icha Icha Paradise for you.
This is the only thing your brother can still do for you.
Forgive me, Minato. This is the last time, I swear. Σ(|||▽|||)
...
Carrying a huge sum of three million ryō, Hikaru's heart began pounding uncontrollably.
Calm down, Kinoshita Hikaru. You're a man with a system.
"Kinoshita Hikaru!"
"Who's there?"
Hikaru clutched his chest and looked over warily. The newcomer was dressed like an Anbu operative, but the mask on his face was slightly different.
"Root?"
"Since you know who I am, then by Lord Danzo's order, I am here to invite you to Root."
"Sorry. I refuse."
Was this a joke?
If I go to your place, do you think I'll come back alive?
Even if I did return alive, I'd probably come back with dozens of cursed seals on my body.
"You have no right to refuse."
Hikaru straightened his body, his face calm, even indifferent.
"Although I do not harm comrades, don't push your luck."
He was already prepared to fight. He had a bright future ahead of him—there was no way he was entering Root.
How could he kill this man without ruining his image?
"Two invitations failed. Then I'll be leaving."
After saying that, the man vanished.
???
Hikaru was stunned.
He just left like that?
Hikaru had already prepared to summon Manda, pretend the summoning beast had gone out of control, and use that chance to get this Root operative killed.
Who would have thought the man would simply leave like that? It gave him the strange feeling of throwing a punch into empty air.
Hikaru couldn't figure it out. Danzo seemed to have some kind of obsession with him, determined to get him no matter what.
"Could it be that Danzo has already discovered that beneath my ordinary appearance lies an extraordinary soul... and has been deeply captivated by me?"
(Note: For those who don't get the joke, the word Aneki, in Japanese, means Big Sister.)