Full-time comic artist

After finishing the storyboard, Kishimoto remarked, "Although there are parts I don't understand, it's still just as interesting."

Only then did he begin his work.

Today, Kishimoto needs to draw the backgrounds for pages 10-14 of the storyboard, which is a very easy task.

Moreover, the story only takes place on the tram, so there's nothing difficult to draw.

Kishimoto arrived at Tori Akino's studio at 10 a.m. and worked until 7 p.m. before finally finishing.

Tanakai left after Kishimoto refused to help.

Kishimoto found it a bit strange that the beautiful Ms. Akimiya stayed behind after finishing her work and was now busy in the kitchen.

"Phew, this was really tough."

Constantly drawing manga and keeping up with weekly serializations is a very tiring task, and Kishimoto experienced this firsthand as an assistant.

"The serialization will be even more challenging in the future, so you'd better keep up the good work." Hibiki Higashino came up to him, holding two cups of coffee, and encouraged him with a smile.

He placed a cup in front of Kishimoto.

Kishimoto took a sip and perked up a bit. "My dream was to play baseball. In middle school, I joined the school's baseball team, but unfortunately, I didn't have Uesugi Tatsuya's baseball talent. All I had was passion, and in the end, I gave up baseball."

"Then I remembered my childhood dream. I loved Dragon Ball and wanted to become a comic artist. So I picked up my original passion and started working hard to draw comics, and I also drew a lot of doodles that were not recognized."

"So teacher, I will not be defeated by hardship, but will only find joy in it."

His gaze remained unwavering.

Higashino nodded in approval.

“My former assistant, Oda, after starting One Piece, now only sleeps two to three hours a day. He is just like you, passionate about manga.”

"Two to three hours?" Kishimoto's face turned pale instantly. "Is it that strenuous?"

"You said you'd enjoy it, so it's not a big deal, right?"

"Hmm...hmm." Kishimoto nodded blankly.

Higashino couldn't help but smile.

After finishing his coffee, he sat down next to Kishimoto. "I noticed you have a folder with you. Is it the concept art for Naruto? Can I take a look?"

"Please...please!" This was exactly what Kishimoto wanted to do, but he hadn't found the right opportunity. He didn't expect Higashino to bring it up first.

He respectfully handed the document bag to Higashino Hibiki.

It contains eight storyboard panels and a rough outline of future content.

Higashino Hibiki started reading.

It was very different from the animation he had watched before.

“That’s interesting,” Hibiki Higashino said, pointing at Kakashi after reading it. “Is this character design based on Toru Okabe from Blade of the Immortal?”

The same gaze and the same covered lower half of his face, except Kakashi didn't have the imposing physique and flamboyant hairstyle of Daito.

“That’s right!” Kishimoto nodded excitedly. “Ah, I really love ‘Blade of the Immortal’. Hiroaki Samura’s paintings are amazing, beyond my reach!”

"Yes, Mr. Hiroaki Samura's painting skills have reached another level."

Higashino Hibiki also felt inferior to him.

"Tori Akino's drawing skills are also very strong. His skillful use of speed lines and simple art style can perfectly express the movement and confrontation of the characters. This is the skill I most want to learn."

Kishimoto had a clear vision: a ninja theme, so there would definitely be a lot of battle scenes, and lots of fancy fighting styles.

Pebbles, shurikens, bitter pills, steel cables, etc.

In order to express the sense of "movement" in the manga and make it easy for readers to enjoy, he must learn these two special skills of Akino Mirai.

In Japan, no manga artist uses speed lines better than Akino Toriyama, the creator of "Slam Dunk".

Kishimoto wanted to call it the strongest.

Mirai Toriyama was also a student of Akira Toriyama, from whom she learned a simple and clear art style, which is truly exceptional.

He is arguably the most suitable cartoonist for me to learn from.

So he came here.

"I'll teach you everything, it's nothing." Higashino Hibiki looked at the comic and clicked his tongue in amazement.

At first, Sakura Haruno had an alternate personality, but he had almost forgotten about that.

"Why give the female protagonist a personality?" Hibiki Higashino asked.

It would be very abrupt to delete it later.

"Isn't this cute?" Masashi Kishimoto sucked on his index finger, a smug expression on his face.

Do you think Sakura Haruno's different personalities are part of her charm?

"Definitely! If Naruto were to be serialized, readers would definitely adore this character! She'd be incredibly popular!" Masashi Kishimoto gave a thumbs up, brimming with confidence in his creation of the female protagonist, Sakura Haruno.

"Ah, yes, yes, yes."

Hibiki Higashino actually quite likes Sakura Haruno because when he watched Naruto, he didn't pay attention to the character's double standards and thought Sakura Haruno was a cute girl with a love-struck mind.

During the Chunin Exams, she cut off her beloved long hair in order to break free from the enemy, which shows a pretty good level of determination.

However, most readers of Naruto dislike Sakura Haruno, who was once the most hated female protagonist in Japanese manga.

This character is not likable.

"And what about this character?" Hibiki Higashino pointed to Kakashi again.

"No one should like Kakashi, right?" Kishimoto scratched his head. "A character who only shows one eye will never be popular."

Hibiki Higashino pursed his lips and patted Kishimoto on the shoulder. "It seems you still have a lot of room for improvement in character development, plot control, and market research."

"Huh?" Kishimoto was confused. "Is this a compliment?"

"If you think so, then so be it."

Kishimoto left with a smile, along with a 10,000 yen assistant fee.

After going downstairs, he looked at Higashino's house on the fifth floor and felt that he had benefited a lot today. He couldn't help but want to create something.

only……

"Is that Ms. Akimiya still at Mr. Toriakino's house?"

"Why is this?"

Chapter 216 Basketball Magazine Ratings

After Kishimoto left, Akemi Akemi came out of the kitchen.

"Didn't you even try to keep Kishimoto-kun here?" she complained playfully.

Akemi Akemi held a pair of black sesame cookies in her hands. They were fresh out of the oven, still warm, and smelled of sesame and buttery cookies.

This flavor made Higashino Hibiki eager to try it.

He picked up a cookie, still warm from the oven, and tossed it around, reluctant to put it down. After seven or eight seconds, he finally popped it into his mouth. "Wow, delicious, so delicious. How should I put it? The sugar is just right, so it's not cloying. The sesame flavor is unique, getting more fragrant the more you chew. There's also the aroma of wheat, leaving a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth. Hmm, as expected of Ms. Akimiya."

Akemi Akemi listened with delight, and seeing Higashino Hibiki reach out to take it again, she gently slapped the back of his hand, saying, "You still haven't answered the question I asked you."

“What? Oh,” Hibiki Higashino recalled, “Kishimoto-kun was in a hurry to go home and draw manga. Isn’t that how it is in our line of work?”

Akemi Akemi understood.

She placed the cookies in the box, carefully wrapped them up, and smiled with satisfaction.

Hibiki Higashino saw this and licked his lips. "Wasn't this for me to eat?"

"I'll make it for you next time." She took the package back to her bedroom, and after more than twenty minutes, she came out looking refreshed.

"Come out with me."

She carried black sesame cookies and walked out of the gate one after the other with Hibiki Higashino, then knocked on the door of their neighbor across the street.

I've been living here for a few days now. My neighbors across the street are a mother and daughter. The mother is probably in her forties, and the daughter is still in junior high school. They're usually there after 6 p.m.

Higashino Hibiki then understood what was going on.

This is a Japanese custom: after moving, people bring small gifts to visit their neighbors. You can often see this kind of scene in anime.

He always forgot to visit his neighbors, but Akemi Akemi remembered it.

Not long after I knocked, someone opened the door; it was my neighbor's mother.

She wore a ponytail that hung down from her chest, and an apron, exuding a gentle beauty.

The wife turned to look at Higashino and the other man with suspicion.

"Hello, I'm Akemi Akemi from across the hall. This is my boyfriend, Hibiki Higashino. I'm so sorry it's been so long since we moved that I'm only now visiting."

Akemi Akemi bowed and handed over the gift, saying, "It's just a small gift, please don't mind it."

"You're too kind," the lady said, opening the door, glancing at the room number, straightening up, and covering her mouth with a smile. "Please come in and sit down."

“No…” Akemi Akemi was about to refuse.

A voice exclaimed, "It smells so good!" from the room. A short girl ran out, grabbed Akemi Akemi's cookies, and hurried back home.

"Akane, that's very impolite of you," the lady scolded sternly, then turned to Akemi Akemi and Hibiki Higashino and said, "Please come in."

The two had no choice but to go inside.

The neighbor's house was decorated very warmly, with a photo of the mother and daughter hanging on the wall. Although the living room was large, it did not feel cold at all.

"I need to wash the dishes, please wait a moment," the wife said politely.

She always had a gentle smile on her face, possessing an elegance that time could not diminish.

As she spoke, she took the gift box her daughter was opening and returned to the kitchen with ease.

“Mom,” the daughter complained.

"We should eat with the guests." The lady turned around and smiled, a smile that Higashino Hibiki recognized.

This is how Higashino Shio looks when she's angry.

Sure enough, the daughter shivered and dared not do anything reckless.