Full-time comic artist

"I started drawing manga because of Mr. Tori Akino!"

A voice came from the other side. The speaker was a newcomer who had published a short story in Jump last year. His name was Hideaki Sorachi.

Unlike the withdrawn Kubo, he was a natural social butterfly, chatting happily with the super popular manga artist Masashi Kishimoto as soon as he attended the Jump New Year's party.

"Oh, you only became interested in becoming a manga artist after watching 'Slam Dunk', right?" Kishimoto said. He became a manga artist because he watched the "Dragon Ball" anime, became curious about Jump manga, and eventually got into it.

I imagine that Hideaki Sorachi, standing before me, is the same.

"No, no, that's not true." Hideaki Sorachi pouted. "Slam Dunk is very interesting, but I was a member of the school's basketball team at the time."

"Wouldn't you like it even more?" Kishimoto asked, puzzled.

"Because Slam Dunk was so interesting, everyone who watched it got the idea to play basketball and joined the basketball club. Someone like me, who has no talent, didn't have any chance to show it," he spread his hands, "so I had to quit."

"Pfft, hahaha." Kishimoto laughed heartily. "So that's how it is. Tori Akino-sensei deprived you of the space to express yourself, so you can only draw manga now."

Wow, that's really interesting.

Seeing Kishimoto's reaction, Hideaki Sorachi became smug.

Hibiki Higashino heard Masashi Kishimoto's voice, walked over, and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"Teacher, you've come at the perfect time," Kishimoto said, laughing so hard he could barely breathe. He put his arm around Higashino Hibiki's shoulder and gestured towards Sorachi Hideaki as he introduced him.

Hibiki Higashino looked at Hideaki Sorachi with curiosity. It turned out that this was the famous author of "Gintama".

Hideaki Sorachi never showed up, and Hibiki Higashino thought he looked like a gorilla.

It turned out to be a shy, slightly chubby, and somewhat awkward young man.

Under Hibiki Higashino's gaze, Hideaki Sorachi became shy and didn't know where to put his hands.

"Who is this?" he asked.

"This is Tori Akino, Tori Akino-sensei!" Kishimoto introduced loudly, with an air of great importance.

“My name is Miki Toriyama.” Higashino Hibiki held out his hand.

"Ah," Sorachi exclaimed in surprise. He instinctively reached out his hand and felt his palms were sweaty. He wiped them on his clothes before extending his hand, bowing and shaking hands with Higashino Hibiki.

"Hahaha." Kishimoto laughed again.

Hibiki Higashino looked at him. "What's wrong? Is Naruto doing well? You seem so happy."

Chapter 319 Hoping he can rest for a while longer.

When talking about Naruto, Kishimoto is not disappointed.

Instead, he became spirited, saying, "The merits of Paprika cannot be hidden, and the same is true for Naruto. Before long, readers will recognize the excellence of the Chunin Exams arc."

"Oh?" Hibiki Higashino was somewhat surprised.

Today's Masashi Kishimoto is completely different from when he poured out his grievances to himself; he has become much more confident.

It seems he has grown up.

“That’s more like it.” Higashino released Sorachi’s hand, patted Kishimoto’s shoulder, and said with great satisfaction, “Kishimoto-kun, you’ve grown up.”

He transitioned from a novice comic artist to a seasoned and skilled one.

"Ouch!" Kishimoto exclaimed.

"That's wonderful." Seeing this, Hideaki Sorachi bit his finger. "I wonder when I'll be able to start serializing?"

“Yes,” Kishimoto comforted him. “Someone as interesting as Sorachi-kun would make his manga interesting, and interesting manga can be serialized.”

“I hope so. By the way,” Sorachi’s eyes lit up as he asked Hibiki Hibiki, “Tori Akino-sensei, do you know anything about the ‘Golden Future Cup’? Do the selected manga actually get serialized?”

He's been eyeing the "Golden Future Cup" for a long time.

Kishimoto questioned, "How did the teacher know this?"

"About the 'Golden Future Cup,' I actually know a thing or two about it," Hibiki Higashino stopped Kishimoto and said with a smile, "According to Jump's current plans, the 'Golden Future Cup' will be the most important manga award. Not only the selected works, but also the runner-up works will have the opportunity to be serialized."

"Oh, that's great!" Hideaki Sorachi paced excitedly, then suddenly turned around, "I definitely have to participate! And then serialize it!"

He could no longer suppress his desire to serialize the story.

"The Golden Future Cup!" A woman exclaimed upon hearing Sorachi's words, "I'll participate too!"

This woman is not tall, but she has a lot of presence.

Sorachi was taken aback by her words.

"Ah, it's Mr. Akino," the lady said shyly upon seeing Higashino Hibiki. She touched her head and bowed repeatedly. "I've liked you for a long time. I'm so sorry."

"My wife can't hear me say that, haha," Higashino joked. "Otherwise, I'll be in big trouble."

"That's not what I meant!" she apologized repeatedly in a hurry.

“I was just kidding,” Higashino said amiably, “Seeing how energetic you new generation are, I can’t help but be infected by it.”

“The new generation? No, I was born in 1973. If you do the math, I’m three years older than you, teacher. I’ve been talking about Dansha’s manga for a while now, but it’s never really taken off.”

"It's unbelievable." Higashino exclaimed in surprise. Her face was fair and rosy, and she looked to be only in her early twenties. She was already thirty years old.

"I'm so sorry."

"fine."

"Teacher, what is your name?"

"Akira Amano, that's my pen name."

Akira Amano, author of the popular manga/anime series "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!".

Many people who watch the anime "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!" will say, "Our time is engraved on the ring." This is enough to show the power of "Katekyo Hitman Reborn!"

I never expected that the author of this action-packed manga is a woman.

He glanced at Oda, who was surrounded by a large crowd, and then at Masashi Kishimoto in front of him.

Kubo Tite was standing not far away, quietly watching him.

Togashi-sensei was still absent, but the two newcomers in front of him were full of energy.

Hibiki Higashino couldn't help but exclaim, "I see the future of Jump."

One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, Hunter x Hunter, Gintama, and Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

These are some of the most popular manga series since 2010, and they are also the backbone of Shonen Jump.

A new era is dawning.

……

"I'm not as good as you say," Sorachi Hideaki said shyly, twisting his body as if to feign embarrassment.

"Thank you for your recognition, Mr. Tori Akino." Amano Akira remained calm.

"If that's what Teacher Toriakino said... Good luck with the 'Golden Future Cup'!" Kishimoto cheered.

"I will."

Me too.

Higashino Hibiki chatted with them, but not long after, he was called away by Sasaki.

"Um..." Amano Akira wanted to say something, but as he watched Higashino Hibiki leave, his voice grew weaker and weaker, "Please give me an autograph..."

Because the voice was too low, Higashino Hibiki didn't hear it and left anyway.

“What a pity,” Sorachi said to her, “We met Mr. Tori Akino, but didn’t get his autograph, hahaha.”

Amano Akira didn't care. "Can I see the autograph you asked for, Sorachi-kun?"

"Huh?" Sorachi was taken aback. He patted his pockets and belatedly asked Kishimoto, "Kishimoto-sensei, didn't I ask Tori Akino-sensei for my autograph?"

"Of course not." Kishimoto rolled his eyes. He had talked to him for so long, but Kishimoto hadn't even asked for his autograph.

"Ah!" Sorachi screamed, "How unfortunate!"

"Kishimoto-san! Please give me your autograph. Someone has to sign it!"

"No!"

"why?"

"I just won't give it to you!"

"Ugh, that's so mean."

"Haha." Amano Akira covered his mouth and laughed.

……

Hibiki Higashino was called away by Sasaki and led to a corner of the hall where a table was set up. A man was sitting at the table and quickly stood up when he saw Sasaki walk over.

"This is director Shusuke Kaneko, whose representative work is 'The Great Monster Battle'."

"This is manga artist Mirai Tori, the author of Death Note."

Hibiki Higashino shook hands with Shusuke Kaneko, and finally fixed his gaze on Sasaki.

“Let’s sit down and talk,” Sasaki said.

He then explained that Shusuke Kaneko wanted to adapt Death Note into a live-action film.

Hibiki Higashino was somewhat puzzled, "Death Note... is going to be adapted into a movie?"

So far, neither "Hikaru no Go" nor "Slam Dunk" has received this treatment.

Adapting a long-running comic into a live-action film is a very risky endeavor.

Comics and live-action works can clash and have an inherent sense of incongruity.

Many manga adaptations die here.

"I really like your version of Paprika, but I don't have the ability to adapt it. I have to commend MADHOUSE for their boldness," Kaneko Shusuke said seriously.

Judging from his tone, he doesn't have a high opinion of the animated film "Paprika".

"Because of Paprika, I also started paying attention to the teacher's Death Note, which is an excellent work."

He raised his index finger, "First, comics have a tight plot and a fast pace, which is an advantage that most comics do not have, making them very advantageous for comic book adaptations into movies."