It was ten days since they found Sousuke in the forest and Jiraiya couldn't be happier. He had gotten much more research done in the last ten days than he had been able to in three months time without Naruto screaming 'Ero-sennin' scaring away the females.


Naruto was in the hotel tending to the older boy who still was pretty much refined to the bed. Sousuke had healed faster than he thought he would, being able to walk with the help of crutches but his muscles just weren't up to par for longer walks. So he had spent the last days mostly in bed, reading some books he had found lying around in the room.

"So when do you think you will be up and about Sousuke-san?" Naruto asked as he looked up from the sword he had been looking on.

"A couple of days and I will be able to perform light exercises, I should be able to walk by myself in two days though." Was the response he got from the injured nuke-nin.

"Why do you have so many scrolls, it's like forty of them in total, all of them seems to be used!" Naruto asked looking at the pile of scrolls that that they had found on Sousuke's person.

Sousuke just finished reading the papers and was about to read a bunch of papers he had found that seemed to be of similar nature as the books. 'This Icha Icha stuff sure is interesting,' he thought to himself.

"It's never anything wrong with being well prepared. One of those scrolls contains my favorite nodachi and some of the finest katana and wakizashi I have. Around twenty of the scrolls contain shuriken and kunai. The rest is…" Sousuke suddenly had a star struck look as something major had just dawned on him.

"What is it Sousuke-san?" Naruto asked. Wondering what it was that prompted him to stop talking.

"Just give me the scrolls with red seals on them," was the command given to him. Naruto did as he was told and soon eighteen scrolls found a place in the lap on Sousuke. "Now where is it?! I know it's here somewhere."

"What are you looking for?"

"Ah! There it is!" Sousuke cried out in victory holding a scroll. He quickly bit his thumb and streaked blood over the seal, unraveling the scroll. There was only three items sealed within the scroll, surprising Naruto as all the scrolls he had been able to open had been filled to the last centimeter, though it had only been what he supposed was the kunai and shuriken holding scrolls and one containing a couple of katana and wakizashi pairs.

"What is it? Is it some really powerful weapons?" Naruto asked.

"No, much better, just look," Sousuke exclaimed as he smeared some blood over the sealed items. With a puff of smoke three books came into existence with a purple frame, all of them sporting the name 'Engagements' with a different volume and a all to familiar, at least to Naruto, red symbol on the backside.

"Ah, you're a pervert just as Ero-sennin and Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed pointing at Sousuke. "I shouldn't have taught you that jutsu." He added almost inaudible.

"Pervert?" Sousuke questioned befuddled as he held the books. "There isn't anything especially perverted with these books!" He stated.

"Then why do they have that!" Naruto said, pointing to the red emblem.

"Huh? That just means they aren't supposed to be read by underage. But I just say to hell with it. Here let me show it, this was actually a big hit when I still was 'alive'." Sousuke said as he handed Naruto volume one.

Naruto cautiously took the book opened up the first page. To say that he was surprised was an understatement, the book wasn't like he expected it at all. True to what Sousuke said the book wasn't very perverted, only the occasional perversion occurred during the span of the book, and it all seemed liked it really did belong there as well, not as Jiraiya's Icha Icha. The reason why it had the emblem he supposed was due to the huge amounts of blood and gore featured throughout the book, courtesy of the action. Just as he was finished and was about to ask for the second book he saw Jiraiya standing looking down at him impatiently.

"Oi, Ero-sennin, I didn't notice you there." Naruto said embarrassedly as he rubbed the back of his head nervously. He noticed a smiling Sousuke who pointed at the clock, revealing that Naruto just spent the entire day reading the book.

"Yeah, so I've noticed," Jiraiya huffed, "Really what could be so consuming, for you not to detect the presence of me, nothing short of Icha Icha should have that effect."

"Well it was this book Sousuke gave to me, though it have the same symbol as your books it's much better than yours." Naruto responded.

"Really, what's its name?" Jiraiya asked, intent on killing of the one who apparently had beaten him and his books, at least in his pupil's eyes. 'Damn it, no one beat's Icha Icha in its category!'

"Engagements" Naruto told him, instantly capturing Jiraiya's attention.

"But that thing isn't even in print anymore, it's like eighteen years since it was popular and it's not even finished yet. Only three volumes were released of the stuff. True it's really good, though it doesn't even compete in the same class as Icha Icha." Jiraiya said. 'Phew, thought it was a threat to me for a moment.'

"But if it came into print it would surely beat yours." Naruto said.

"Actually Naruto, I have to say that they would pretty much tie." Sousuke said as he said his first words in the conversation. "They both compete in different genres, Engagements is an action series featuring someone who strikingly resembles a younger Kīroi Senkō and is a manga, Icha Icha on the other side is an erotic novel, and thus they have different audiences. Besides just as you actually yourself stated, it's a big if it came to print now."

"Then what if one were to combine the two books?" Naruto asked. "Wouldn't that result in like super large sales?" Receiving no response from his two companions he just saw them standing, or sitting as Sousuke's case was, with a glazed over look in their eyes and he could even swear he saw some drool leaving their mouths.

"The profits of that!" Jiraiya exclaimed as he dried his mouth with his arm. "Just think, 'Icha Icha Engagements', the perfect mix. Too bad I can't draw." Then in an instant his demeanor changed to that of a depressed. Though soon it was replaced by a more sinister. "Naruto, you don't happen to be good at drawing are you? I heard that you painted the Hokage monument." He asked innocently.

"No," was the flat reply from Naruto.

"Sousuke, can you draw?" Jiraiya asked, turning towards the bedridden boy. He received no answer though, instead he saw the boy leaned over something working hastily with his hands. He soon walked over to the boy and as he reached the bed he got a sheet of paper pressed into his face.

"Answer enough?" Sousuke questioned. Jiraiya carefully inspected the sheet, it was obviously a rough sketch, but it was good, and the style was familiar somehow. The scene he realized was from his latest book, one of the more detailed scenes actually.

"Boy, you're good. I recognize the style from somewhere." Jiraiya said. Sousuke pointed to the book Naruto still held. "You've copied Han-Wu's style?" Jiraiya questioned.

"No," was the bland reply from Sousuke. Slowly the wheels started turning in Jiraiya's head as he started connecting the strings. Looking around him he saw several other sheets of paper sprayed around, and it wasn't his notes. The boy had been frozen for around seventeen years. The Engagements series had stopped being published after a year of production, the author Han-Wu disappeared without a trace, which was seventeen years ago as well. The boy in front of him painted in the same style, though his name was Sousuke. Then like a ton of bricks everything fell in place, the author of Engagements used another name for his books, just as he did.

"You're Han-Wu!" Jiraiya screamed, making Sousuke cringe at the volume but he was still nodding.

"What? You made this?" Naruto questioned.

"Yeah, the other seventeen scrolls contain book four through seven in its unedited form." Sousuke said.

"So what's your real name then gaki, Sousuke or Han-Wu?" Jiraiya questioned.

"Both of them are my real name. Sousuke is my shinobi name used in public, Han-Wu though was the name given to me by my father. I decided to use it as my pen name as not many knew me under that name."

"I see." Jiraiya said. "Then I only have one important question for you!" Jiraiya declared, pausing for effect, "Will you co-write Icha Icha Engagements with me?" The question caused Naruto to face fault and Sousuke to smile.

"With pleasure. Now lets get down to the important stuff, what to take from our series in this combination and finalizing a contract." Sousuke said.

"I'm going to bed." Naruto declared. 'I definitely shouldn't have taught him that technique' He declared in his mind as he walked into his own room.


"Okay, I have to say, your fighting scenes are definitely out of the question, those are better left to me though you will write the plot with some assistance of me."

"I know, though they can't be as bloody as yours were either. But we need to retain the loss of articles during the fights with the fairer sex."

"I think we actually should have more romance than yours have, then the book might appeal to the kunoichi as well, I heard that I had quite a number of female readers."

"Well that was because you had Kīroi Senkō in yours."

"I know, though now that he's out, can't dishonor a dead guy you know, we have to find another main character, someone who resembles him, but isn't him."

"Yes I totally agree, can't dishonor my dead student. I also feel like this is best left like a running series, aiming for more than thirty books. Just think of the profits then."

"You know character design should fall under my jurisdiction don't you agree?"

"I am content as long there is action and I get to decide how it plays out."

"You know, Naruto looks a lot like the Kīroi Senkō. How about we take him and alter him a little for the sake of the story, what I've been told we could use some of his experiences, and it was he who came up with this magnificent idea."

"That's… actually not a bad idea, I like it."

"I think we should give him ten percent of our winnings, then split the rest evenly between us."

"Sounds fair."

"Okay so here is the finalized version. I take care of Character design and how the action scenes look. You decide the plot and the outcomes, though I should have a final say in everything just as you have in everything I make. The books contain a moderate amount of blood. You and I both take forty-five percent of the earnings each and Naruto gets ten percent for us using him and for coming up with the idea in the first place. Do you know who would be willing to publish?"

"All sounds good to me, we have a contract partner. And I do know who would want to publish. I would bet one million ryō that my publisher would be interested in it, and I should mention that they have been wondering where Engagements volume four are, and now then up to volume seven."

"You mean you are publishing under my old publishing company? It still exists?"

"Yup, and I think they still are waiting for your books to arrive."

"Where is the office located now?"

"Konoha"

"Then I need to find a courier-nin and send Engagements four to seven so they can edit them. I want you to get working on a new story as soon as you can at the side of the ordinary Icha Icha."

"I only have one question though, how are we going to collaborate?"

"Easy, I follow you guys and help Naruto train, thus we can split the time. Then you can do 'research' and writing for a day while I train him and then we switch where I do the drawing you train him, and train him seriously, I've heard what you've done for the last three months from him."

"Okay, that could work out."


It had taken Sousuke a total of twenty days before he had fully recovered, but at last they were setting out from the village they had stayed at. Naruto was in a happy mood though he just had spent nearly four months wasting his time he had gotten himself a new friend and sensei. His new sensei was currently walking beside him in his newly purchased black hakama and white gi, sword strapped to his back.

"So what are you going to teach me Sousuke-sensei?" Naruto asked as they walked on the road in the general direction of Sunagakure.

"I am going to teach you how to wield two swords technique I myself developed called the Mameiryū." Sousuke said. Jiraiya listened in interest, Kenjutsu was something that could be beneficial in case Naruto fought Orochimaru who could use his Kusanagi.

"So when are we starting training?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"Now, though not active training until we reach our destination." Sousuke told Naruto as he took out one of his scrolls with a green seal on it. He quickly unsealed four thin straps from the scroll. "Here put these on your arms and legs."

Naruto did as he was told. "So what are these for?" he questioned as he didn't understand what they were for.

"Wait a second and you'll see." Sousuke said smiling as he reached for the bands with his hand.

Naruto saw the chakra coming out from Sousuke's hands for a second being absorbed into the bands. "What's supposed to happen?" he questioned. All he received was something he in a soon to be future dubbed 'the evil glint of impending doom' from Sousuke, making his skin crawl before with a sudden pull from his arms he fell to the ground.

"Sure is nice eh?" Sousuke asked innocently. Behind him Jiraiya stood laughing at his blond student.

"What did you do?" Naruto asked as he slowly rose.

"Just added a weight of twenty kilos to each limb, it really isn't that much, and no using chakra to enhance the muscles either. I used to have one hundred fifty kilos, though that was, and still is, because of a special condition I have. It's somewhat similar to you and Kyuubi." Both Naruto and Jiraiya stared at the boy, they hadn't told him that Naruto held the Kyuubi and outside Konoha it wasn't a well known thing. And just what did he mean similar to Kyuubi, was he also a jinchūriki?

"So you're also a…" Naruto started but was cut of when Sousuke lifted his hand.

"No, I am not. I had at one point another being sealed within me that somewhat possessed the same power as a bijū, though much weaker. Now the main reason as to why I have a somewhat similar condition as you is that my mother was a jinchūriki of the Gobi. Some of the traits were transferred to me, such as the healing abilities. Most of the traits have been sealed away in a seal that I control, that's the tattoo I have in my forehead." Sousuke explained. Naruto was surprised while Jiraiya was awed, this was the first time he heard of a descendant of a jinchūriki. 'This is indeed going to be interesting,' he couldn't avoid thinking.

"Well then let's go now that you've managed to stand up Naruto," Jiraiya exclaimed sensing they would learn more later on.

"Hai, Ero-sennin," Naruto said as he trudged slowly with the weights. He could feel the leer that Sousuke directed at him seeing him struggle with the weights. 'I'm gonna pay him back for this.' Was all that ran through his mind as they slowly traveled to Suna.


It was five months since Naruto left Konohagakure no Sato with Jiraiya and the village hadn't been as quiet as it was in years. 'Without the energetic Uzumaki Naruto it just wasn't the same as it used to be,' the Godaime Hokage thought as she peered out over the village that she bossed over. She had just finished a fight with her mortal enemy, paperwork, and emerged victorious. She felt that she could take a break.

"Shizune!" she yelled. Moments later her attendant emerged from the door.

"What is it Tsunade-sama?" she asked.

"Come on, we're going for some food and sake." Tsunade commanded, leaving the office with Shizune in tow.

"But Tsunade-sama, the work?"

"All done. It's Thursday today, right?" Tsunade asked.

"Yes Tsunade-sama."

"Perfect." Tsunade exclaimed joyfully. Shizune just had a puzzled look wondering what could make the Godaime Hokage exclaim something joyfully. As she followed her master throughout Konoha they ended up outside a barbeque restaurant. From the inside loud noises from conversations could be heard, the voices slightly familiar but she couldn't place them.

"What are we doing here Tsunade-sama?" Shizune questioned.

"Eat of course, and meet some people," Tsunade said as she opened the door and walked in followed by Shizune. Soon Shizune saw who they were meeting, the remnants of the rookie nine and team Gai. The Jōnin instructors of the teams were there as well, though not the tardy sensei of team seven, Kakashi.

"Tsunade-shishou, what brings you here?" Sakura exclaimed as she saw her master coming towards their table. 'I haven't forgotten a training session that was now right?' She questioned herself, she was utterly confident she hadn't a scheduled training session this afternoon. The conversations had died down when they saw the Hokage approach the table.

"I'm here to eat, even a Hokage must eat," Tsunade said, "Mind if we join you?"

"No, go ahead Hokage-sama," Kurenai said. Soon the conversations flared up as the two females sat down at the table.

"Oi! Waiter, give me some sake here!" Tsunade exclaimed loudly.

"So, Hokage-sama, have you heard anything from Jiraiya-sama?" Asuma asked Tsunade casually, effectively silencing the conversations around the table. Just as she was about to open her mouth to answer a sudden gust flew through the room rustling their clothes. Before them stood a frantic Hatake Kakashi. He seemed be unable to form words as he waved his arms in the air holding a book with the familiar red emblem in his hands, though this one was pink in color instead of the usual orange.

"What is it Kakashi?" Tsunade asked him.

"New… New… New…" he said incoherently as he still waved his hand holding the book.

"What Kakashi, a new book?" Kurenai said, seeing the nod she was about to pummel him. 'That's what made him so exalted!?' she mentally screamed. The other Kunoichi was of a similar sentiment.

Kakashi seemed to wind down a little, trying to collect himself. "Gai, you must buy this book, I promise you won't regret it." he managed to puff out.

"I will never do such an unyouthful act my eternal rival." Gai exclaimed.

"No, no, you get me wrong," Kakashi said, "It isn't Jiraiya's book, it's he, they released his books, four of them today."

"Then what is that?" Asuma asked and pointed towards the book Kakashi held in his hand.

"Ah, wrong book. That one is the new from Jiraiya though. But behold." Kakashi said sweat dropping as he saw he held the pink book he bought as well. He pocketed the pink book and took out four books with a purple frame though they sported the red emblem, marking them as books that should be read by adults.

"Ah! Do you read such unyouthful books Gai-sensei?" Lee exclaimed, fear evident to his voice.

"Ah, but Lee, these books aren't unyouthful but youthful." Gai exclaimed. Some of the older Shinobi instantly recognized the book though all the genin, and one chūnin, were perplexed. "These are the great books called Engagements," Gai proclaimed.

"So that guy released his books at last, why'd he take so long?" Asuma said.

"He said that he laid the project on ice for some time, though now he's back but he won't make new ones very often, he apparently have an obligation to perform and are working on another book together with another author." Kakashi said. The spectators could swear on that they saw Kakashi's visible eye shape into a heart at the last piece of information.

"Can we have a look at those?" Gai asked.

"Sure, just don't harm them," Kakashi said in a voice that promised pain, "Or else I'll kill you." The last tidbit accompanied by a massive killing intent, the genin thought that if the books were harmed Kakashi would go through with his threat.

The Jōnin and Hokage all looked through the books with great interest as Kakashi seated himself between Sakura and Tenten.

"So Sakura how is the training with Tsunade going?" he asked as he took out the pink book they had seen earlier.

"It's going well, though her strength is freaky, I swear she's going to kill me." Sakura responded quietly.

Asuma had quickly lost interest in the books Kakashi let them read, instead his interest was on the pink one he held in his hands. He still hadn't had a chance to see its name. "Oi, Kakashi, come here," he said as he leaned over the table. Kakashi who leaned forward was unable to act when he saw the true purpose of Asuma's call, taking his newly bought book. Asuma nimbly took the book and leaned back, the barbeque protecting him from Kakashi jumping at him. It was rather pathetic when Kakashi started wailing about how he didn't even had read a single line of the book, not to mention even opened it.

"A new unyouthful book from that unyouthful author Jiraiya-sama." Gai as he caught sight of the book. Across the table the genin, and chūnin had gotten the purple books. It was soon revealed that these books were different than the Icha Icha books. It was a manga skillfully drawn featuring the Yondaime Hokage. It was almost entirely based on action and drama, containing little or no perversion what they could tell.

"This guy Han-Wu has made pretty good books, just look at the fighting. It is accurate in almost everything except the amounts of blood, though I like it." Kiba said. He received only affirmatives from the other Konoha-nin.

"Really detailed weapons too." Tenten said, more focusing on the weapons than the fight themselves. The weapons were drawn with great accuracy of their real looks, almost as if he studied every weapon before he used them.

"How can an author be so good at details though, they are seldom ninja themselves." Sakura questioned. The younger konoha-nins conversation about the books was however cut short when a loud exclamation from Gai about unyouthfulness rang throughout the restaurant, and probably Konoha as well. Men around Konoha looked up from their newly bought pink books, only to shrug it off as nothing.

"What is it Gai-sensei?" Lee asked. Maito Gai sat as if petrified in his seat. "What happened to Gai-sensei?"

Asuma took a deep breath and held the pink book in front of him. "We bring you new Icha Icha series, Icha Icha: Engagements. This series combines the great plot prowess of the author of Icha Icha Paradise and Violence with the graphic style of Engagements, all in color." Asuma said reciting the text on the front of the book. The elder kunoichi who had seen a little in the book was seething, to put it lightly.

"The guy just fell in my eyes," the younger kunoichi said simultaneously.

"Wait, there is more," Asuma said, half smiling. He flipped up the first page and read the gibberish that usually was ignored. "Plot and text; J-sama, character design and pictures; Han-Wu."

"So what, he's the one drawing the thing, like we didn't get it before." Kiba exclaimed.

"No, no, the thing is this." Asuma said smiling pushing up a page centimeters from Kiba's face, making him the only one able to see it. As Asuma drew back the book he closed it before anyone else had a chance to see the picture.

"What was it Kiba-kun?" Hinata asked hesitantly. At first he turned around to answer her but as soon as he saw he face he turned down his head and faced the floor. Kiba's face was a crimson color that would make a tomato proud as he sputtered. Kakashi couldn't help but laugh at the scene, the obnoxious Kiba was sputtering, over one picture, the book was obviously up to par with Kakashi's expectations if it could reduce one of the loudest and most brash genin to a sputtering wreck in a few seconds. Though he did not understand as to why Kiba would have a problem facing his own teammate.

"What's so troublesome making him quiet?" Shikamaru questioned.

"Sure you wanna know?" Asuma asked them, seeing only nods, even though they were hesitant, except Kakashi who swung his head up and down furiously. "Okay, here we go." Asuma said dramatically. He swung open the book on its first page.

"NANI!!!" was heard throughout Konoha from several females. Every genin was sitting there looking at the picture that they were shown. They each stared down at an older version of the Kunoichi seated at the table and other kunoichi in manga form. That wasn't the upsetting part though, it was their state of dress, or rather undress. Kakashi just sat there, having the modesty to actually blush, though most could not be seen because of his mask. 'Such detail, he sure is skilled. I hope he lives long enough to finish this series.' He thought to himself.

"You haven't seen it all. These first pages are just showing a future to come, many of these characters will either never come into play or only be featured little time." Asuma said. He flipped up another page. This page was much nothing upsetting, just some weapons and a picture of Jiraiya. The next page featured the genin sitting there and Shikamaru grown up but dressed. The next page made Tenten seethe, she wanted this Han-Wu's head on a platter. It was a picture of her and that Suna-kunoichi, Temari, making out in an onsen. 'Gotta hand it to him, he knows his stuff.' The males thought when they looked on the picture. There were several more pictures of that nature. Then they happened upon a picture that resembles the Yondaime, though it definitely wasn't him. 'It's Naruto,' Kakashi concluded when he saw the whisker marks and the orange attire he wore. Underneath the picture there was a text that was almost impossible to read but Kakashi used his sharingan enhanced sight to read it, 'Our inspiration for this book'. The next page showed yet again the kunoichi, this time dressed in their panties, which was an improvement compared to some of the other pictures where they featured no wear. They also wore what resembled chakra strings around their necks, held in the hands of one Uzumaki Naruto. That had been the last page which was of that nature, the next page thanking them for buying the limited edition, only printed in fifty copies, the only one featuring those pictures.

"A-S-U-M-A! Hand me the book, now." Kakashi said threatingly as he saw the looks the kunoichi gave the book. He would protect it at all costs. 'Main objective get the book to safety. Survival is not necessary as long as the book makes it to safety. This mission is a double S class mission.' He said to himself. As soon as he got the book he used Shunshin to get to his apartment.

In the restaurant the atmosphere was to say the least uncomfortable. The kunoichi was after blood, but with no targets. The male shinobi did what they called a 'strategic retreat' though one could argue that it was mindlessly running away in panic. As soon as they were a good distance from the restaurant they all coincidentally ran into each other outside a bookstore with the exception of Lee and Gai. They were all about to say something at the same time blaming coincidence that they were outside the store.

Ten minutes later that all walked away from the store, promising to never tell a soul of what they did. Asuma walked away with pockets slightly heavier than when he came. 'Hehe, knew it,' he said to himself.

It was almost time for the store to close when a last customer for the day walked in clad in garb that covered the body of the one wearing it. "What do you want?" the owner asked.

"Engagements one through seven and Icha Icha: Engagements please." Was the response from the customer.

"Sure, here you are, that will be two thousand ryō. You're lucky, that's the last of that Icha Icha book, all sold out, in one day no less." The owner said proudly. He had never had such a great business day as this had been. He saw the customer leave the money on the counter and hurry out the door. 'Even young people buy the book, not that I will stop them because of that age restriction, business is business no matter the age.' He thought as he looked on the fleeing form.


A/N: Chapter 2 for you, though it became mostly filler like. And about that tattoo i mentioned, yeah I know I haven't described my OC yet, it will come gradually. Well yeah, Sousuke will have known Zabuza, actually he would have been Zabuza's senior by seven years, so he went through the bloody mist's genin exam. Sousuke is not gonna be almighty, as it is now he'd most likely lose against Kakashi for example (lack of experience), though he will have freaky amount of stamina, nothing compared to Naruto though. The books will actually have a role for the story.