R E A D
P L E A S E
R E A D
P L E A S E
R E A D
P L E A S E
R E A D
P L E A S E:
I hope I got your attention, xD
Okay, I finished the dedication video!
And it's not so much of a 'this is dedicated for you' but more of a 'thank you for being so dedicated!'… cause you really have to be to make it this far.
53 CHAPTERS IS A LOT.
Like you didn't know that…xD
Anyway, I wanted to share it with you guys before Chapter 54 was done [since it's gonna take rather a long time] so I picked up what I said I was going to write back around Chapter 26: Jiraiya's journey in collecting data for his new novel 'ICHA ICHA, SENSEI' just so that I had something to give you guys something more than just a link to the video.
You know how sometimes manga have those little side-stories that only a few people read before skipping to the next real chapter… this 'chapter' is that kind of side-story.
But I hope you enjoy the short, unedited, quick-write blurb [I might elaborate on it later, and actually edit it, but not any time soon], and I'm really sorry if you were looking forward to Chapter 54 when you got the alert e-mail and your now feeling kinda bummed that you won't see the resolution to that horrible cliffhanger yet.
Sorry. But I hope this 'dedication' video makes up for it! :D
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P L E A S E
R E M O V E
T H E
S P A C E S :
http: /www . youtube . com/ watch?v = alHAemRVwgw
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SIDE STORY:
The Great Jiraiya-sama's Data-Gathering!
(this takes place right before the Asaka mission and is told entirely from Jiraiya's POV)
As a writer two things are crucial for creating the zesty, steamy , and downright gloriously smutty plots of my novels, and they are:
INSPIRATION: it can strike at any moment and any time.
And it has again, for my upcoming taboo-drama-bonanza 'ICHA ICHA SENSEI'
And as for the second most, if not the most important, thing needed to rightfully complete a 'sexy' book is:
RESEARCH.
Of course this can be found at any local onsen, except the all-males ones… I don't see much of a point for those. But all I have to do to get an idea is to track down the ever-so rare MIXED bathhouse, camp out and wait for the smoking ladies to come to me.
Me, watching sexy women… just add hot water and there you go:
INSTANT RESEARCH.
…
But sadly, this novel will require less bath-time and more field-time.
Now that I'm sticking my brush into the endlessly entertaining world of forbidden relationships, it is now necessary to scope the civilians, ask naughty surveys, and get their thoughts on what they think of the taboo love between Teacher and Student!
… … … … … …
After wandering the streets for a few greatly progressive hours, in which I've learned that slightly older women will generally hesitate for a moment if you pat their bum before clobbering you, giving you enough time to run away, I finally zeroed in on a rather fitting interviewee.
The honest, awkward, and unimposing Iruka-sensei settled down for a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku and I took the opportunity to ask him a few of my inappropriate questions:
"I'm collecting data for my next novel, and I wanted to get your professional opinion, Iurka-kun."
He made a double take, as if he had to check if I was really talking to him.
He smiled awkwardly. As usual.
"O-of course." He answered with the stiff respect I was too used to. "I don't know what I could give you a 'professional' opinion, on Jiraiya-sama … but it probably wouldn't be on anything to do with… uh… romantic novels." He tip-toed around the exact title of the genre of which I wrote proudly for, looking back to the counter with an air of embarrassment.
I ignored that and moved on.
"As a teacher, how do you feel about your students once they've grown up and become chuunins and all that?" I asked the first question on my list.
He smiled with relief as if he was enjoying this. I could already tell he wasn't going to like why I was asking him for his opinion.
"I always try to keep tabs on their progress and help them grow if they need it even if they no longer attend my class." He definitely had more dedication to his student than normal, even when I had that job I didn't hang around the kids that much after they were grown.
"Hmmm…" His answer wasn't really what I was looking for, so I moved onto the next question.
"How do you feel about teacher and student relationships?" I asked bluntly.
He hesitated for a moment, his smile fading slightly before he shook his head to himself and regained the cheerfulness from before, as if he was probably convincing himself that I wasn't asking what I was really asking.
"I think it's important that teachers develop a strong role in their student's lives… within reason, though." He added nervously.
I decided to reword my question:
"What about romantic relationships between teachers and students?"
He took a moment, his chopsticks pausing as he was about to pick up a tangle of ramen. I was almost sure that he seemed nervous…
This suddenly got interesting.
"I-um… I think that they shouldn't really be… encouraged." He replied meekly, still making no attempt to eat his ramen.
"So you don't approve of them?" I asked further, poising my pencil on my note tablet.
His face cringed a little with something like concentration.
"I just think that there can be some exceptions… " He answered finally. "But only a few." He added with a sense of urgency turning to me, waving his hands a little as I scribbled his answer down.
A man with his heart on his sleeve. I could tell he'd probably experienced something to do with this matter before.
"Have you ever taken a second look at any your old students and found them at all attractive?" I asked more than a little bluntly, with almost a business-like tone… this was serious research.
"No!" He answered a little too quickly and loudly, "I-I just… I just care about my students the way I do for nieces and nephews… It would never be my intention to… take a 'second look.'" He answered vaguely, his voice dropping at the end of the sentence after he suspiciously used the phrase '…it would never be my intention…'
I never understood this type of man. The kind that could be so shy and unsure of themselves anf get uncomfortable with anything slightly inappropriate. I didn't stop with the questions though.
One particularly good one came to mind. I looked back to my notepad.
"As the man in charge of Konoha's youth how can you not notice the blossoming beauties bustling all around you?" I worked with my trademark alliteration.
"Beauties?" He took a moment to digest my literary prowess. "Blossoming?" He repeated another word, his face growing a sinly shade of rose as he no doubt thought through the analogy of that word.
"Most of the other kunoichi of your generation have either married, moved, or are workaholics. What do you think about the fact that the only available girls in your future may very well be ones you taught in your class?"
"What?" He did another double-take, obviously dealing with the impact of my question. "I-I never thought about it that way… but…" He slowed down, his face even a darker hue of pink than before. "I think that I might be a bachelor for a long time, then." He joked badly, the wryness showing through his awkward smile as if he knew just how pathetic that sounded. At least it was pitiful to me.
But this man would definitely make a good character for my novel. The kind, trustworthy, refreshing, older-brother type of teacher who no one would ever expect, not even himself, of falling for a student. He'd probably drown himself in denial before admitting it though… then again, if something happened and he was forced to look at his own feelings, that would create so much amazing, reader-grabbing, drama!
I scribbled all the possible plot twists and turns on my notepad quickly before I spoke up again.
"Iruka-kun, you've helped me greatly. Did you want to hear a bit of the plot?"
"O…k.." He agreed hesitantly trying to eat his now cold ramen.
I took a deep breath.
"Ok, so it's about young highschool girl, …. 'Hanako'…. Her everyday life and her opinions of a certain teacher begin to change after an awkward encounter at a local onsen… no… at an onsen on a field trip!" I improvised on the spot with a glorious revelation.
"Soon her beloved homeroom teacher, … 'Katsumi' (using the kanji for 'self-controlled one')-sensei, begins to slowly and tentatively realize his dangerous feelings for his young student, who is making some personal discoveries herself. After some fateful happenings and nervous confessions, the two give into each other's feelings, committing a great taboo. But just as soon as Hanako-chan and Katsumi-sensei think that all they have to worry about is keeping their after-school romance a secret, they are suddenly confronted by a surprise third-party!" I announced heartily, making the pony-tailed shinobi jump a little at my energy.
"The seemingly kind… Nezumi'-sensei," I improvised again,"… discovers them, and quickly tries to step between the two, revealing his true seedy and jealous nature. What happens if Nezumi-sensei manages to steal Hanako's heart as well?"
I stopped suddenly, finishing my plot summary with a craftily sculpted cliffhanger.
…
He stared blankly at me, no doubt in awe.
But his expression did strike me as a little… shocked… like something about my story had severely shaken him.
Perhaps our own Iruka-sensei does have something to hide after all?
I'd have to learn more about that later, but what intrigued me more at the time was that I also got the same reaction when I approached Kakashi-kun only an hour later when he, too, decided to stop for some ramen. I, not hesitating to divulge the same plot-notes to my number 1 fan before he could try and stop me, noticed the similarity between his reaction and the dolphin's.
Much like the suspicious Iruka-sensei his eyes suddenly darted around the aged booth, he didn't say a word for a few seconds until he smiled and spoke up.
"That really realistic, Jiraiya-sama."
I could've sworn I heard a quiver in his tone.
Nervous, perhaps?
I entertained that thought for a couple seconds before I tried to coax more of a reaction out of him.
"I hope you don't mind that I used your persona i
n inspiration for the main character." I asked out of nowhere.
"I… don't… mind." Something told me he wasn't surprised by the fact he was a source of inspiration, "But don't you think you could use that character for a different story?" He asked casually.
"Why?"
"Because I am a teacher. People might start thinking weird things if they read that." He reasoned unnecessarily.
"Never mess with a writer's muse, boy!" I lectured him shortly, "And besides, I hate to say this out loud but do you know anyone in Konoha who reads my books… besides you." He paused for only a moment, his eyes falling to the pocket of his pants that was reserved for my latest novel 'Icha Icha Tactics', "Of course not!" I answered for him loudly. "They're a big hit in the Land of Rivers though. They love me over there, especially the women."
"That's nice." He replied shortly. I would've thought he'd have more to say about my success, given his love of my work. But I didn't care about that long when I suddenly got down to business:
"Now, would you ever consider partaking in a student-teacher relationship?"
He choked on his drink, being careful not to spill any on his mask as he pulled it back up out of sight.
"What?" his voice was still coarse.
"What do you think about a love relationship between student and teacher?" I asked differently this time.
He took a few seconds before he spoke again, his voice stronger than before.
"They're right to be forbidden."
"Oh?" I asked.
This was interesting.
"If a teacher ever did start that kind of relationship with his student," His voice sounded really stern, "it's only because he was too weak and couldn't control himself the way an adult should."
"Guilty Type!" I shouted triumphantly, cutting short that moment of his.
"Huh?" He was back to normal.
"You're the Guilty Type." I explained again, feeling all the more like a genius for managing to categorize this man after only a few sentences. "The kind of guy who would torture himself and take the blame for everything, picturing himself as a man lower than dirt and not worthy of any sort of future happiness for even thinking about one of his cute little students in an ero way."
. . .
His eyes seemed to glaze over after I said that. He was winning a staring competition with his bowl of ramen.
"Really?" He asked the bowl.
"Of course! I'm never wrong!"
I scribbled down the notes. This was going to add so much depth to my main character. Just imagine it, a man who loathed himself because of what he couldn't help but want!
I would hate to be him.
But I get chills thinking about the amount of drama and dilemma this character-complex could create!
Now to interview the other side of this relationship!
I quickly left Kakashi-kun, promising him a signed copy once it was published, he still seemed pretty shocked by my character-categorizing skills.
I caught up with the little ladies only an hour later, lucky enough to catch them in a group.
Yamanako-chan, Hyuuga-chan, and even the inspiration for 'Hanako', Haruno-chan was there. It was the jackpot!
"How are you ladies today?" I asked lightly as I caught up with them.
"We're fine, Jiraiya-sama." Yamanaka spoke up for the rest of them, all of them seemed a little wary.
I wasted no time.
"I need to ask you three some questions for my next novel." Their wariness seemed to double, but I didn't hesitate, "What're your guys' thoughts about teacher-student relationships?"
A long moment of quiet passed as they all show different reactions.
The blonde one just kept looking at me dumbly, the brunette bowed her face towards the ground, I remembered that was the shy one. The pink-haired one, though. She staggered on the spot for a second before looking between her other two friends, as if she was waiting for someone to say something.
The blonde one said something first.
"You mean like how good of teachers they are?"
"No. Romantic relationships."
"EH? What? Ew!" The loud blonde one offered three reactions, as if making up for the shy Hyuuga clan heiress and the now stony-faced Tsunade-junior. "I could never think of Asuma-sensei like that!" She bellowed, attracting stares from the shoppers. I didn't pay them much attention, this was highly important RESEARCH.
"Kurenai-sensei's a woman so…" The Hyuuga girl barely mumbled her response.
The pink-haired Tsunade still didn't say anything.
"It wouldn't have to be your teacher." I offered. "Pick a teacher you admire."
"Aren't these questions a little too-" Haruno finally spoke up, but only in an attempt to cut short the interview, her brunette friend surprisingly cut her off, but only speaking with a whisper now.
"Iruka-sensei has always been really nice." She named one of my previous interviewees as she hid her face a little more.
"Iruka?" Ino nearly shouted, "But he's so… awkward." She complained with a gossipy tone. "I think Kakashi-sensei is kind of cool, though." Yamanako graded the silver-haired inspiration for Katsumi with little thought.
I saw Haruno twitch a little.
"What about you Sakura-chan? What do you think about romance between teachers and students?"
She stood there for a long quiet moment. We all just stared at her.
"I… I guess… they're… ok…" She said slowly, as if checking her words.
"EH?" Ino thought differently.
"I mean, as long as the teacher and student know what they're doing and they really… love each other…" She finished, hiding her face a little like the brunette next to her.
I suddenly praised myself for picking Haruno as the inspiration for Hanako.
That's the exact kind of character she needed to be.
"Thank you, ladies."
I walked off, leaving those three in their awkward silence, proudly scribbling my notes, feeling like this could be the most legendary novel of mine so far!
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Further name-irony:
Hanako = sound familiar?... This was where Kakashi got Sakura's undercover name, though he'd never tell her.
Nezumi = literally translates into 'mouse, or rat'… but when a second word is attached (Nezumi-Iruka), it means 'porpoise'….
I'll let you think through the character-name parallel there… XD
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Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the dedication video and this kind of sloppy Side-Story.