In addition to the readers online and in person, the industry was also paying close attention to the serialization of "Fate/stay night."
Especially the group of manga artists affiliated with Shonen Jump.
They had heard the legendary story of a complete newcomer whose very first work passed the serialization meeting long ago, which had already sparked a wave of heated discussion.
Now that this manga had finally begun serialization, naturally, some people couldn't help but want to see what all the fuss was about.
The moment he received the latest issue of the magazine from his editor, Eiichiro Oda couldn't wait to read "Fate/stay night," and he read it over and over three or four times with great relish.
—"Teacher Oda, aren't you finished yet?"
"If you keep delaying like this, you'll have to pull another all-nighter to finish the manuscript before the deadline this week!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
Eiichiro Oda put down the magazine with lingering interest and picked up his brush again, preparing to continue drawing.
However, a moment later, he still couldn't resist chatting with his assistants:
"Seriously, I think you guys should take a look too. This new serialization is called 'Fate/stay night'
is really good!"
"A new serialization?"
Hearing this, one of the young assistants became interested and said:
"Is it the work of that super rookie? I remember, the person's name seems to be..."
—"Mochizuki-sensei."
Eiichiro Oda took over the conversation and said enthusiastically:
"Mochizuki-sensei not only has excellent drawing skills but is also very ambitious. To dare to set up suspense and foreshadowing like this in the first chapter, he simply doesn't seem like a rookie author!"
Rookie manga artists starting their first serialization basically don't dare to take risks at the beginning. The vast majority follow the rules, trying to tell a complete story in every chapter as much as possible.
Only after their performance gradually stabilizes and they have a certain level of confidence will they gradually start trying to intentionally set up foreshadowing and suspense...
Even he himself was like that at the beginning.
Those who dare to start laying down foreshadowing and suspense in the first chapter, or even pull off some flashy maneuvers, are mostly veteran authors who already have experience with serialization.
For example, people like Togashi Yoshihiro and Araki Hirohiko.
And...
"I didn't expect that his one-shot manga would actually be connected to this new serialization. How bold..."
"A one-shot manga?"
Hearing Eiichiro Oda's statement, the young assistant asked in confusion:
"Wasn't it said that this new serialization is his very first manga?"
"That's just a rumor."
Eiichiro Oda explained:
"The new serialization is his second work, while his first work was a one-shot manga called 'Emiya Kiritsugu'."
"I see..."
The young assistant realized.
But even so, it's quite exaggerated.
But then, he asked curiously:
"But Teacher Oda, how do you know?"
"Good question!"
Eiichiro Oda chuckled:
"Because I am one of the judges for the Tezuka Award in the second half of this year, and his one-shot manga was submitted exactly to the Tezuka Award for the second half of the year."
The reason he became interested in Akira was precisely that when he went to grade the competing manga a while ago, he happened to see the other's 'Emiya Kiritsugu' and was amazed by that one-shot.
"In other words, he created two manga at the same time, one submitted to the Tezuka Award, and the other submitted directly to the editorial department."
"And the latter directly passed the serialization meeting..."
At this point, another middle-aged assistant couldn't help but click his tongue:
"Isn't that too exaggerated?!"
The young assistant also deeply agreed, and then he curiously asked Eiichiro Oda:
"So Teacher Oda, what do you think of his one-shot manga?"
"Hmm..."
Eiichiro Oda pondered for a moment and said:
"I think that his one-shot is very likely to win the 'Selected' award."
"What—?!"
As soon as these words came out, the assistants were all shocked.
One must know that the 'Selected' award, as the top prize of the Tezuka Award, has extremely harsh winning conditions.
Although the Tezuka Award is held twice a year and countless manga artists submit their work each time,
under such circumstances, sometimes a 'Selected' award might not be given for two or three years in a row.
And if it's really as Eiichiro Oda said...
Akira, as a complete newcomer, created two manga—one directly passed the Shonen Jump serialization meeting, and the other won the 'Selected' award of the Tezuka Award...
Is he still an earthling?
Is he really a creature of the same species as them?
Just where did this monster come from!?
At this time, the middle-aged assistant, not knowing what he thought of, sighed with a face full of emotion:
"Come to think of it, he seems to be only 18 years old? Frighteningly young..."
"Indeed."
Eiichiro Oda nodded in agreement, then grinned somewhat proudly:
"But speaking of which, I was only 17 when I debuted."
Eh?!
There's another master?!
The assistants instantly looked over.
At this moment, looking at Eiichiro Oda's handsome and young face, they suddenly realized that the manga artist in front of them also seemed to be an out-and-out monster!
In 1992, Eiichiro Oda submitted his one-shot manga 'WANTED!' to the Tezuka Award under the pen name 'Tsuki Hi Mizu Ki Kin Do,' eventually winning the 'Runner-up' award and officially debuting from then on.
And at that time, he had just turned 17.
In 1997, at the age of 22, he burst onto the scene with 'One Piece' and, at a terrifying speed like a rising rocket, quickly grew into an indisputable pillar-level manga for Shonen Jump.
Perhaps because they had been together for a long time, the assistants habitually regarded Eiichiro Oda as a top-tier manga artist, but if they calculated carefully, he was only 24 years old even now!
At this age, many university students haven't even found a job after graduating.
Realizing this, the assistants looked at each other, speechless.
Numb.
Completely numb.
First Eiichiro Oda, and now Akira... Why are there so many monsters in the manga world nowadays?
Taking in the reactions of his assistants, Eiichiro Oda chuckled contentedly and looked back at the "Weekly Shonen Jump" at his side.
Akira...
If there's a chance in the future, I really want to get to know him.
---
"Is this Mochizuki-sensei's work? It's really amazing...!"
After reading "Fate/stay night" several times, Kishimoto Masashi couldn't help but exclaim, with envy and admiration showing in his eyes.
Ever since he accidentally saw the color pages drawn by the other in the editorial department, he had been paying close attention to information related to Akira.
Therefore, when he learned that the other's work was officially being serialized, he also bought and read this manga immediately, and was instantly won over by the other's ability.
He had long known that the other's drawing skills were excellent, but what he didn't expect was that the other's control over the plot was also so outstanding. No wonder he was so highly valued by Shonen Jump.
So amazing!
Kishimoto Masashi exclaimed again.
However, after reading the other's work, he immediately realized that this was a manga he couldn't draw, nor would it be his path.
As for his path...
He looked at the "Naruto" he was currently drawing.
After discussing it with the editor last time, he had made many more revisions.
If everything went well, "Naruto" would participate in the serialization meeting in August.
According to what the editor said, this time it would definitely work!
This was also his expectation.
At this time, he looked down at the Shonen Jump in his hand and thought to himself:
If I can catch up with Mochizuki-sensei's footsteps...
I must work even harder!