"Wow, it's only been overnight, I guess you do recover easy," said Jiraiya.
"Huh? What? Where's that old..." asked Naruto as his surroundings came into focus.
"We left port at sunset," said Jiraiya. "I don't really LIKE Happosai, but a certain degree of respect is due him. Besides, he's a fan. If you're going to be an author you have to learn to tolerate the occasional obnoxious fan."
"That guy's even more pervy than YOU are," said Naruto.
"You see why I don't like you calling me a pervert? You're lumping me in with HIM?" asked Jiraiya.
"Well... you're still pervy," grumbled Naruto.
"Do you really want me to arrange you to train under Happosai for a few months?" asked Jiraiya. "All I'd have to do is promise him a cameo role in the next book and he'd do it."
Naruto opened his mouth, ready to make a quick reply. He sat like that for a few seconds before closing his mouth again, letting it remain unsaid.
Jiraiya noted mentally that even Happosai, as much as he disliked the little fellow, had his uses.
"So where are we going?" finally asked Naruto.
"Ah, we're sailing aboard the Wave Dancer, what they call a 'free merchant' owned by someone I rescued from some bandits a few years back," said Jiraiya, fondly reminiscing.
"Isn't a 'free trader' a phrase usually used to say they're thieves?" asked Naruto.
"You're reading entirely the wrong kind of literature," chided Jiraiya. "Actually what this ship mainly does is raw fabric and wood products from Port Anchor to the port of Konmei. From Konmei they get tools and metal manufactured items. Apparently it isn't a huge profit, but the owner prefers a steady profit over trying to guess what the market's going to do at any given time."
"Eh?" asked Naruto. "So we're going to Konmei?"
"Yes, now be on your guard there," said Jiraiya. "Konmei is a busy port, twice the size of Port Anchor, and far more lawless as well. The person you bump against could be a smuggler, a pirate, an S-class missing-nin, a member of ANBU or a similar hunter group, adventurers of just about any type, a beggar, an exiled prince, a monster in human form... Konmei's slogan is 'you're never sure quite what you'll find next' or words to that effect."
"You're pulling my leg," said Naruto. "'exiled prince'? 'Monster in human form'?"
"Considering what you've got sealed inside you, are you SURE you want to be skeptical?" asked Jiraiya.
Naruto frowned. "Point."
Jiraiya nodded, and sat back in his chair. "Well, we've got two days aboard ship. That gives me time to start you on the next training exercise."
"Lay it on me," said Naruto with a grin. "Is this going to be some awesome move like the Rasengan?"
"No," said Jiraiya, waiting for Naruto to slump a little before continuing. "Right now I've got to build up your strength and stamina, but especially your speed before I can even show you the next major exercise. Oddly enough, it was something I learned about from Happosai. He traded the technique to me for a copy of Makeout Paradise."
"Wow, so there's actually a use for your books?" asked Naruto.
"Careful kid, that's my livelihood you're mocking," replied Jiraiya.
"So what's this killer technique called?" asked Naruto eagerly.
"That is... a secret," said Jiraiya. "I'll tell you when the time comes for you to learn it. You have to get to the point where the training can take place first."
Of course, Jiraiya himself had no idea that at Konmei they would run into:
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(Posted Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:58)
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