Chapter 172: Master Jiraiya, Let’s Discuss Some Novel Ideas!

Sasuke strolled into Nagano Town, wandering aimlessly yet determinedly as he sought out a hot spring.

He had barely taken a few steps when a white banner with the large characters “Hot Springs” came into view.

“This is the place!”

Sasuke glanced around briefly, then walked straight to the entrance, pressing one hand firmly against the door.

Buzz!  

Immediately, a surge of chakra radiated outward, forming a distinct seal on the door.

“Mark complete,” he murmured to himself.

Two characters materialized on the door: “Flying Thunder.”

It was the Flying Thunder God technique!

Sasuke had thought it through: a thorough, door-to-door search might cause him to miss something. Instead, he decided to mark the entrance of every hot spring with the Flying Thunder God seal.

This way, every potential location in Nagano Town would fall under his control.

After inscribing the seal, Sasuke didn’t enter immediately. Instead, he continued down the street.

Before long, he spotted another hot spring.

Again, he placed the Flying Thunder God seal on its entrance.

Then, he moved to the next one.

...

By the time Sasuke had marked seven or eight hot springs, he witnessed an older man wearing a red vest being thrown out of one of them.

The man stumbled right into Sasuke’s line of sight.

Clad in a green jumpsuit with a long red vest over it, the man’s silver hair reached his waist, exuding an air of carefree eccentricity.

A ninja headband rested on his forehead, emblazoned with the kanji for “oil.”

The red markings on his face resembled tear streaks, complementing his helpless expression.

It was Jiraiya!

Sasuke’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected to meet Jiraiya in such a peculiar fashion.

This is just…

Seeing Jiraiya being thrown out like this gave Sasuke a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

“Get lost! If you can’t pay, don’t even think about soaking in our hot springs. Go cool off somewhere else!”

A middle-aged man yelled angrily, pushing Jiraiya out the door.

“This place does feel pretty cool,” Jiraiya replied sheepishly, still peeking inside with a longing expression.

“This is a hot spring, you fool!”

The middle-aged man glared at Jiraiya, thinking he might be here just to tarnish the establishment’s reputation.

“Well, uh, you see, I’m actually a writer,” Jiraiya said, scratching the back of his head, clearly embarrassed to admit it. After all, being an author wasn’t exactly a respected or lucrative profession. No matter how hard one worked, readers were often few and far between.

“I don’t care who you are! If you want to enter, pay up. If you don’t have money, it doesn’t matter who you are—you’re not getting in!”

The middle-aged man’s voice brimmed with disdain. He figured he was already being polite by not kicking Jiraiya out like a beggar.

“Ah…”

Jiraiya let out a deep sigh. He was completely broke.

“Looks like I’ll have to think of something…”

Spreading his hands in defeat, Jiraiya turned to leave.

“I’ll pay.”

A voice rang out at that moment, stopping Jiraiya in his tracks.

It sounded like music to his ears.

Jiraiya turned to look.

Standing before him was a strikingly handsome boy, no older than twelve or thirteen.

Above Sasuke’s vision, a small number floated: +10.

“Kid, what did you just say?”

Jiraiya’s initial excitement waned. How much money could a kid this age even have?

“I said, I’ll treat you. How about it?”

Sasuke pulled out a hefty wallet, its weight sufficient to ensure a carefree stay in Nagano Town for some time.

+15.

The number in Sasuke’s view increased again.

“You… want to treat me?”

Jiraiya scrutinized Sasuke, doubt clouding his tone.

“Let’s go.”

Sasuke didn’t waste time convincing him, striding inside decisively.

+20.

The number ticked up once more.

Jiraiya hesitated for a moment but followed after seeing the Uchiha clan emblem on Sasuke’s back.

An Uchiha? A Leaf ninja?

Initially unsure about accepting the boy’s generosity, Jiraiya quickly decided it was worth figuring out what this kid wanted.

Once inside, Sasuke went straight to the front desk, paid for both of them, and entered the bath area ahead of Jiraiya.

Jiraiya followed, still unsure what to make of the situation.

The hot springs here were different from those Sasuke had seen in his previous life. They featured artificial hills, small trees, and a pool made of stone, with steam rising steadily from the water.

After changing into bath attire, Sasuke revealed a physique brimming with muscle definition. He paid no attention to Jiraiya and entered the hot spring alone.

Since stepping into the bath, Sasuke hadn’t spoken a word to Jiraiya.

Reclining with a towel draped over his forehead, Sasuke closed his eyes, fully immersed in the warmth of the water.

Jiraiya, standing nearby, was full of questions.

This feels like he’s genuinely just treating me.

Doesn’t he have something to ask?

Jiraiya had never encountered such an unusual approach.

“What’s your name?”

Jiraiya stepped closer to the spring, curiosity evident in his voice.

“…”

Sasuke remained silent, his expression unchanged as he continued to enjoy the bath.

+25.

The number in Sasuke’s vision rose again.

Ignoring him.

Sasuke knew that staying aloof would leave Jiraiya intrigued.

If he were too direct, Jiraiya might grow wary. But by saying nothing, he could heighten the mystery.

Right now, his plan was simple—enjoy the hot spring.

Sasuke fully immersed himself in the soothing water, feeling utterly relaxed.

Jiraiya, seeing that Sasuke wasn’t responding, decided not to push further. Instead, he began wandering around the bath area.

Still in his clothes, Jiraiya eventually found a gap in a wooden partition through which he could hear faint laughter and chatter from the other side.

“Heh heh heh…”

Jiraiya’s face lit up with an exaggerated grin as he leaned closer, peering through the tiny opening.

As time passed, the people on the other side of the partition came and went.

When Jiraiya felt he had lingered long enough, he stood up and prepared to leave.

“Master Jiraiya, leaving so soon?”

Suddenly, Sasuke’s calm voice broke the silence.

The unexpected remark stopped Jiraiya in his tracks, prompting him to turn back with a confused expression.

+30.

The number in Sasuke’s vision climbed once more.

“You know who I am?”

Jiraiya’s demeanor grew serious. This situation was no longer simple.

The boy not only knew who he was but had approached him deliberately.

This wasn’t a coincidence.

“Of course,” Sasuke said, removing the towel from his forehead and opening his eyes to meet Jiraiya’s gaze.

"If I don’t know who you are, why should I invite you?"

+35

As soon as Sasuke said this, a number flickered in front of him.

"Who are you?"

Jiraiya stared at Sasuke. This was the second time he had asked for Sasuke's identity, but his emotions were completely different each time.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Sasuke replied calmly. His expression remained utterly unchanged.

+40

Sasuke didn’t expect that simply stating his name would make the system register it as "showing off."

"You’re the surviving member of the Uchiha clan?"

Jiraiya had already guessed as much, but hearing Sasuke confirm it still left him deeply shocked.

To think that he would see a survivor of the Uchiha clan here!

The events of that time...

Jiraiya remembered them well.

Though he had never met Sasuke before, he knew that the one who wiped out the Uchiha clan was none other than Sasuke’s brother, Uchiha Itachi.

"That’s right. It’s me," Sasuke replied lightly, as if the matter was trivial.

But…

He didn’t have the original Sasuke’s memories.

His understanding of the Uchiha massacre was limited to the scenes he had seen in anime.

He lacked the emotional depth.

He hadn’t lived through it to feel the same pain.

So...

He could face it all with complete composure, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

+45

The number in front of Sasuke flickered again.

Jiraiya stared at Sasuke, observing every nuance of his expression.

He was mildly astonished.

This Uchiha boy was no ordinary teenager.

He exuded a maturity far beyond his years!

"Sasuke, what’s your reason for seeking me out?" Jiraiya asked curiously.

"Of course, I have a reason."

Sasuke nodded, his hands gliding through the water, creating ripples in the hot spring.

"Jiraiya-sama, I’m a fan of yours."

Sasuke delivered a statement that completely caught Jiraiya off guard.

Jiraiya’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected Sasuke to say such a thing, leaving him momentarily stunned.

"Your books are amazing!"

Sasuke gave Jiraiya a big thumbs up, openly praising him.

Sasuke was being very strategic.

Appealing to someone’s interests.

It’s the fastest way to build rapport between people!

When someone talks about a topic you’re passionate about, it’s easy to find common ground and become friends.

Sasuke had always enjoyed reading novels on the Qidian app, often leaving encouraging comments for authors.

Encouragement!

It pushes authors to improve!

Every writer loves hearing words of praise, especially when they’re persevering through tough times, like writing while sick. That dedication not to keep readers waiting deserves more encouragement.

And right now, Sasuke was encouraging Jiraiya.

"You… what did you say?"

Jiraiya’s lips twitched slightly as he stared at Sasuke in disbelief.

"You’re sure you’ve read my books?"

Jiraiya knew very well what kind of books he wrote—they weren’t exactly kid-friendly! Definitely not suitable for someone Sasuke’s age!

"Yes, I have. I think your descriptions are incredibly detailed, the plot twists are gripping, and the suspense is masterful. Especially your… uh, in-depth explanation of group dynamics. It’s truly enlightening—a testament to your expertise as a master storyteller!"

Sasuke didn’t hold back his praise, showering Jiraiya with every compliment he could think of.

+40

The number before Sasuke flickered again.

"Uh… you…"

Jiraiya was completely flabbergasted.

Even he hadn’t realized he was this amazing!

It was a bit over the top. But still...

Hearing such compliments, he couldn’t help but feel a warm glow in his heart.

See?

There’s no such thing as too much flattery. The more flowery, the better, as long as the person can handle it!

"Sasuke, what exactly are you here for?"

Jiraiya still hadn’t figured out Sasuke’s intentions, but with a fan in front of him, the distance between them had already shrunk significantly.

"Jiraiya-sama, I want to discuss some novel ideas with you," Sasuke said calmly.

+45

The number before Sasuke jumped sharply again.

"What?!"

Jiraiya was now utterly dumbfounded. After all, this was a twelve or thirteen-year-old kid!

"Stop joking!"

Jiraiya waved his hand dismissively and shook his head.

"You’re just a brat. What do you know? Go home, kid. I’m not playing with you!"

Jiraiya turned to leave as he spoke.

"Jiraiya-sama, if you don’t hear me out, you’ll regret it," Sasuke said with a confident smirk, his expression practically screaming, You know you want to listen.  

+50

The number before Sasuke flickered again.

"What ideas?"

Jiraiya stopped in his tracks. Rationality told him not to bother with Sasuke, but he wasn’t the most rational person.

"Jiraiya-sama, as a bestselling author, I know some plots and concepts that you’ve definitely never heard of!"

As Sasuke spoke, he slowly rose from the hot spring, wrapping a towel around his waist.

"I can make your books even more popular."

"I know so many stories—Brother Bin’s story, Sister Bai’s story, Candy’s story, and more..."

"In short, I’ve read widely and have a wealth of knowledge. I can help elevate your writing career."

Sasuke rattled off a list of names that left Jiraiya utterly baffled.

+55

The number before Sasuke flickered again.

"Are you sure these stories will help me?"

Jiraiya asked skeptically.

He didn’t fully believe Sasuke.

Writing wasn’t easy!

Even for him!

He constantly needed inspiration to fuel his creativity!

And this little brat?

He was just a kid—what could he possibly know?

"Jiraiya-sama, let’s go somewhere more private to discuss. Once I share these stories with you, you’ll know they’re gold," Sasuke said as he headed toward the changing area.

+60

The number before Sasuke flickered yet again.

"Alright!"

Jiraiya figured he had nothing better to do. Since the kid insisted, why not hear him out?

"Let’s go to my place," Jiraiya offered.

"Sure."

Sasuke smiled faintly. Step by step, he was building rapport with Jiraiya, executing his plan perfectly.

Before long, the two of them left the hot spring.

Both were quite satisfied.

Sasuke had enjoyed a relaxing soak.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, had enjoyed the view.

Once outside, Jiraiya took the lead.

The two arrived at an inn, and Jiraiya led Sasuke into his room.

The moment they entered, Sasuke was greeted by utter chaos.

Clothes were scattered everywhere, tissues littered the floor—it was a complete mess.

"Jiraiya-sama, I don’t think this is the best place for a discussion. Let’s go somewhere else," Sasuke said, standing at the doorway, catching a strange odor wafting out from the room.

---

(The chapter ends here.)