It could be Orochimaru. Since Orochimaru has a long - standing feud with Jiraiya and is always up to no good. If Naruto ditches Jiraiya, Orochimaru might see this as an opportunity to manipulate Naruto. He could try to convince Naruto that Jiraiya was holding him back and that he can offer Naruto more power, all while having his own evil plans for Naruto.
I'm not familiar with the specific 'the hero jiraiya novel' so I can't say for sure who the author is. It could be an independent author or part of a series written by a well - known writer in the genre of fantasy or adventure, but without further research, there's no way to know.
The dad in 'A Christmas Story' was a memorable character. He was often frustrated but had a soft spot for his kids. His interactions with the family made the Christmas experience both funny and touching.