A New Master
In the end, despite Naruto's initial reluctance, Jiraiya managed to become his master—though Naruto would argue it was more due to Jiraiya's persistence than his own willingness. The next day, Jiraiya proudly showed up at Team 7's training session.
"Yo, Kakashi! Look at you, all grown up now," Jiraiya greeted with his usual playful tone.
"Master Jiraiya," Kakashi replied respectfully, his visible eye curving into a smile. "When did you return to the village?"
Kakashi's deferential attitude surprised Sakura and Sasuke. They hadn't expected the eccentric old man to be the legendary Jiraiya, one of the Sannin of Konoha.
"I just got back yesterday," Jiraiya said, grinning. "And look at you, Kakashi, a capable teacher now. You've done well with your students."
"Thank you, but my students' talent speaks for itself," Kakashi replied humbly.
Though Kakashi and Jiraiya hadn't crossed paths often, Kakashi held a deep respect for the man. Jiraiya might not look like a typical ninja, but his strength was undeniable. Among the Sannin, Jiraiya was arguably the most formidable in combat.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," Jiraiya said, though his tone suggested he didn't particularly care.
"Not at all," Kakashi assured him.
"Great! Then I'll be taking my disciple now," Jiraiya declared, winking at Naruto.
Naruto, for once, played along. "Well, Uncle Kakashi, we'll be going now," he said with a rare mischievous grin.
Kakashi blinked, momentarily stunned. "Wait, what?"
…
A few minutes later, Sasuke's voice echoed across the training ground. "This is ridiculous! Naruto gets trained by a Sannin, and I'm stuck here? Kakashi, teach me something useful! I can't fall further behind!"
"Please, Kakashi-sensei, teach me stronger ninjutsu!" Sakura chimed in, her fists clenched in determination.
Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "My dear students, from a seniority standpoint, Naruto is technically your grand-teacher now. Why are you comparing yourselves to him?"
A Lesson in Power
Jiraiya, in high spirits, led Naruto to a secluded area near a waterfall. The sound of rushing water filled the air as Jiraiya turned to Naruto with a serious expression.
"Alright, Naruto, before we start training, I need to know—what's your dream?" Jiraiya asked.
"Shouldn't you already know from others?" Naruto replied, tilting his head slightly.
Jiraiya chuckled. "People's dreams change. I want to hear it from you directly."
Naruto's smile didn't waver. "It's the same as before."
Jiraiya groaned, clutching his chest dramatically. "You're killing me here, kid! Fine, then why do you want to get stronger?"
"To protect the people I care about, to uphold the Will of Fire, and—"
"Alright, alright, I get it," Jiraiya interrupted, waving a hand. "Let's move on. Your Bloodline Limit is impressive, but you can't rely on it entirely. You need to learn ninjutsu to complement it. And don't think I haven't noticed the flaws in your Bloodline Limit."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Flaws?"
Jiraiya smirked. "Every technique has weaknesses. Yours is no exception. But don't worry—I'm here to help you overcome them."
Naruto's smile turned sly. "Want to experience it for yourself?"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up. "Oh, you're on! Use your full power. Show me what you've got."
With a flick of his wrist, Naruto drew Kyoka Suigetsu. "Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu," he murmured.
The world around Jiraiya seemed to distort, like a ripple spreading across a still pond. Jiraiya blinked, his vision shifting unnaturally. Before he could react, Naruto's voice echoed through the air.
"Way of Destruction, Number Thirty-Three: Blue Fire, Pendulum."
A torrent of fiery energy erupted from the sky, crashing toward Jiraiya. The Sannin reacted quickly, his hands forming seals. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A massive earthen barrier rose from the ground, effortlessly blocking the flames. The fire dissipated harmlessly against the wall, leaving Jiraiya unharmed.
"Not bad," Jiraiya said, grinning. "But let's see how you handle this!"
Naruto didn't respond. Instead, he vanished, reappearing behind Jiraiya in a flash. His blade sliced through the air, but Jiraiya's body dissolved into smoke—a substitution jutsu.
"Over here, kid!" Jiraiya called, his voice coming from above. Naruto looked up to see Jiraiya perched on a tree branch, his hands already forming another seal. "Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya's silver hair hardened, forming a protective barrier around him. Naruto's blade struck the hair, sending sparks flying but failing to penetrate.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Jiraiya said, his tone smug. "This is one of my original techniques. Want to learn it?"
Before Naruto could respond, Jiraiya's hair shifted again, forming the shape of a lion. "Ninja Art: Lion's Mane Binding!"
The hair shot toward Naruto, wrapping around him tightly. Jiraiya grinned, confident in his victory. But then, Naruto's form dissolved into mist.
"What?!" Jiraiya exclaimed, his eyes widening as Naruto reappeared above him, Kyoka Suigetsu gleaming in the sunlight.
Jiraiya barely managed to dodge, using another substitution jutsu to create distance. He stared at Naruto, his earlier confidence replaced by a mix of awe and unease.
"You… you've been toying with me this whole time," Jiraiya said, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Naruto smiled, his expression calm. "Your perception is impressive, Master Jiraiya. Most people don't realize they're under Kyoka Suigetsu's influence until it's too late."
Jiraiya shuddered, the implications sinking in. If he hadn't been actively monitoring his chakra, he might have fallen victim to Naruto's illusions without even realizing it.
"This Bloodline Limit… it's terrifying," Jiraiya muttered. "If others don't know about Kyoka Suigetsu's abilities, they'd be dead before they even knew what hit them."
The sun shone brightly overhead, but Jiraiya felt a chill run down his spine. Naruto's power was far greater than he had anticipated—and far more dangerous.