Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

"What's the plan? Let's hear it!" Jiraiya's interest was instantly piqued.

Naruto chuckled mischievously and said, "Kakashi has the Sharingan, which gives him remarkable insight. With his eye for detail and investigation skills, he'd be able to spot the top-tier ladies for you, which would save a ton of time on the initial scouting."

"Brilliant!"

Jiraiya couldn't help but clap his hands in approval.

In the past, in order to find 'materials', Jiraiya would peek into each hot spring house one by one, but this method risked overlooking some gems.

Not only that, whenever he stumbled upon a group of old ladies, he felt like his eyes were going blind, which really destroyed his creative mood.

He would feel very satisfied just thinking about Kakashi doing all these tasks for him.

He turned to Kakashi, looking at him with a fondness that was almost familial. Lifting his cup, he said with a warm smile, "Kakashi, I sincerely invite you to join this work on the new book. The pay will be excellent, so please say yes!"

"You are too polite, Jiraiya-sama. If you need me, I'm at your service."

Kakashi replied without hesitation, eagerly raising his cup.

Being able to assist one of the legendary Sannin, even if it was just as a tool, was no small honor. After all, he was technically Jiraiya's grand-student. And as an ardent fan of Icha-Icha Paradise, participating in the creation of the new book was the ultimate privilege.

"The meat is ready. Now that we agree, let's discuss further while we eat. It won't taste good if it gets cold."

Naruto said, taking the first bite of beef.

The marbled beef was beautifully layered, and as soon as it touched his tongue, it practically melted without even needing to chew… an exquisite 'melt-in-your-mouth' experience!

Although Naruto hadn't tried Kobe beef in his past life, this was undoubtedly the best meat he'd ever tasted. He could almost sense the carefree spirit of the cow it came from.

The only downside was the special dipping sauce, which was so spicy it felt 'rude' in its intensity!

Naruto quickly scooped up a spoonful of the restaurant's signature dessert - tofu milk pudding.

It looked springy, but the moment he bit down, it collapsed instantly, as if unable to withstand even a gentle chew.

Luckily, the smooth, milky flavor balanced out the lingering spiciness.

Abandoning the fiery dipping sauce, Naruto opted for freshly ground wasabi mixed with soy sauce. The fresh, mild sweetness exploded in his mouth, making it a much more 'agreeable' choice.

With the wasabi cutting through the richness, paired with crisp lettuce, Naruto found himself taking bite after bite, unable to stop.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Kakashi chatted and laughed, enjoying the camaraderie.

Before they realized it, an hour had flown by.

Suddenly, the system prompt sounded in Naruto's mind.

[It is detected that the host stayed in the barbecue restaurant for one hour. Sign-in was successful. Reward: Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique. ]

As the reminder sounded, Naruto felt a rush of heat within him, and a new Ninjutsu was imprinted in his mind. When he received the memory, he couldn't help but look happy.

[Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique: The user refines intense flames with Chakra, shaping them into the form of a giant dragon to attack enemies with astonishing power. The user can even launch multiple fire dragons simultaneously, increasing the range of the attack. Proficient users only need the 'Tiger' seal to activate this Ninjutsu.]

Since it's given by the system, this Ninjutsu's mastery was fully maxed out, so Naruto could now activate the Great Dragon Fire Technique with just the 'Tiger' seal, unleashing an impressive, streamlined dragon fire compared to the Water Dragon Bullet Technique that required a whole series of hand seals.

Both are powerful B-Rank Ninjutsu, which are more than sufficient for most situations.

However, now that he had both water and fire dragon techniques, Naruto couldn't help but dream of more.

'If there is a chance in the future, I must obtain the Earth Dragon, Lightning Dragon, and Wind Dragon, and make up the 'Five Dragons into One'!'

Imagining the sheer spectacle of it filled him with thrill.

After finishing their meal, Jiraiya, being the oldest and of the highest rank, naturally picked up the tab, especially since Naruto and Kakashi would be assisting him in his research endeavors.

As they left the barbecue restaurant, Kakashi headed off first to gather information on top-notch ladies, while Naruto followed Jiraiya for some casual reconnaissance.

When they arrived in front of a hot spring house, before Naruto could go in, Jiraiya stopped him and said, "Alright, you should head back now."

"Huh? Head back?"

Naruto was stunned.

'The 'rewards' are right in front of me, so how can I go back?'

'Was Jiraiya planning to enjoy the experience alone? Damn it!'

"You are still too young, and there are many things you cannot do yet. For example, at the restaurant earlier, I didn't allow you to drink alcohol. Now, I can't let you get close to women either." Jiraiya advised him earnestly, "Your parents aren't around, so as your elder, it's my duty to guide you."

Naruto said helplessly: "I don't drink because I don't like it. Soda's way better. Besides, in the memory I inherited, my mother also mentioned the rules I need to follow. If I followed them strictly, you'd have no reason to lecture me."

"Your mother? What did Kushina say?" Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.

Naruto spread his hands and said, "She told me to beware of that pervy old man Jiraiya."

"…"

Jiraiya was speechless for a moment, but when he thought about it carefully, that did sound exactly like Kushina.

Naruto continued, "So, from the moment I met you, I have already broken the rules, so you don't have to nag me. Once we get in there, you collect your material, I look at my ladies, we don't interfere with each other. Oh, and there's one more thing you need to know."

"What's that?" Jiraiya asked.

Naruto explained, "My view of beautiful women is different from yours, which is vulgar and dirty. Everything I do is to seize my future!"

"Seize your future?" Jiraiya was puzzled.

Naruto nodded and said, "I realized that being tempted by women isn't just about weak willpower. It also comes from seeing too little, which breeds interest and fantasy. So, if I look enough now, then someday in the future, no matter how beautiful the woman, she'll be just another skeleton underneath. Now, can you understand my good intentions?"

"Well... alright then."

Jiraiya could only relent, as Naruto's reasoning held a certain logic.

Feeling triumphant, Naruto was pleased with himself. Even if he came off as a hypocrite, so what? Peeping now had a legitimate excuse.

After all, what bad intentions could a kid possibly have? It was all in the name of learning...

Before long, the two snuck behind the hot spring's women's bath, ready to get started.

Jiraiya observed and recorded the material in a notebook, showing the calmness and composure that only a seasoned professional could have.

Unlike an old pervert like Jiraiya, Naruto knew that he lacked self-control and experience and could not resist temptation, so all he could do was to watching, watching, and watching some more to keep up with the master, or even surpass him.

For this reason, Naruto didn't dare to relax at all. All he could do was to stare with his eyes wide open.

Even as his eyes turned bloodshot, and his nose began to bleed, he refused to look away or miss a single detail.

After all, success lies in the details, and seizing the future starts in an instant...