Jiraiya sat on the rooftop of his small apartment, the soft glow of the evening sun casting long shadows over the village. The day had been intense. His training with Orochimaru and Tsunade had pushed him to his limits, but he had held back just enough to avoid suspicion. He knew he was walking a fine line—showing improvement without revealing the full extent of his future knowledge.
His mind, however, was already racing ahead. There was so much to do, and he needed to take action quickly. His first step? Strength. He had to grow stronger, much stronger, if he was going to change the future.
He had decided—tonight, he would push his Sage Mode to new heights.
---
As the moon rose over Konoha, Jiraiya slipped through the darkened streets, moving toward the outskirts of the village. His destination? Mount Myōboku. He had summoned Fukasaku and Shima in the past, but he had never truly mastered Sage Mode—not to the level of Naruto or even Minato. This time, he wouldn't accept failure.
Finding a quiet clearing, he bit his thumb and performed the summoning jutsu. With a puff of smoke, the small, wizened form of Fukasaku appeared before him.
"Jiraiya-boy? What's all this, summoning me so late at night?" the old toad croaked, rubbing his eyes.
Jiraiya knelt down, his expression serious. "Fukasaku-sama, I need your help. I want to train in Sage Mode again, but this time, I won't fail."
Fukasaku studied him for a long moment, his small eyes narrowing. "You've always been reckless, Jiraiya-boy, but something's different about you. What's going on?"
Jiraiya hesitated. He couldn't tell the full truth, but he could be honest about his resolve. "I've realized my weaknesses. If I don't become stronger now, I'll never be able to protect the people I care about."
Fukasaku sighed before nodding. "Alright. But be warned—Sage Mode isn't something you just master overnight."
Jiraiya smirked. "I wouldn't be me if I didn't try."
---
Arriving at Mount Myōboku, Jiraiya immediately felt the shift in energy. The natural chakra was potent here, pulsing through the air like a living force. Fukasaku wasted no time, guiding him to the familiar training grounds where he had once struggled before.
"Sit still," Fukasaku instructed, placing the oil of the giant toad on Jiraiya's skin.
As soon as the sensation took over, Jiraiya gritted his teeth. The oil amplified his ability to absorb natural energy, but it was also dangerous. He remembered his past failures—how his body had partially transformed into a toad because he couldn't balance the energy correctly.
But this time, he had an advantage. He knew the mistakes he had made before. He knew how Naruto had succeeded.
Closing his eyes, Jiraiya focused. He took in the natural energy, feeling it swirl inside him. The sensation was overwhelming, but he gripped onto his control, refusing to let it overpower him.
Fukasaku watched closely, his expression unreadable. Minutes passed, then an hour. Jiraiya remained still, his breathing steady.
Then, finally, he opened his eyes. His pupils had shifted into the familiar toad-like pattern, but his skin remained unchanged.
Fukasaku's eyes widened. "Jiraiya-boy… you're controlling it."
Jiraiya grinned. "Told you I wouldn't fail."
But this was only the beginning.
---
The next few days were grueling. Jiraiya pushed himself harder than ever before, refining his Sage Mode in ways he never had the chance to in his past life. He focused on efficiency, minimizing the amount of time he needed to enter the state. He trained his reflexes, his sensory abilities, and his ability to merge natural chakra with his jutsu seamlessly.
He even attempted a new technique—one he had theorized before but never dared to attempt.
A Rasengan infused with Senjutsu chakra.
The first few tries were disastrous, the sphere bursting apart before he could stabilize it. But Jiraiya had seen Naruto do it. He knew it was possible.
And after three days of relentless effort, he finally succeeded.
Standing in the center of the training grounds, he extended his hand. Chakra swirled into the familiar Rasengan shape, but this time, it pulsed with an added layer of power. Natural chakra surged through it, making the attack exponentially more potent.
Fukasaku and Shima watched in awe. "Jiraiya-boy, that's… that's a true Sage Art."
Jiraiya grinned, his heart pounding. He had done it. He had taken a step beyond his past self.
But he wasn't finished yet.
---
Returning to Konoha days later, Jiraiya felt different. Stronger. More in control. His training had paid off, but he knew he couldn't stop here. He had to apply what he had learned, test his limits in real combat.
And there was one person who could give him the challenge he needed.
Walking through the village, he made his way toward a secluded training ground, where he knew Orochimaru would be. His former teammate was always seeking new ways to refine his own strength, and Jiraiya knew he wouldn't refuse a spar.
Sure enough, Orochimaru was there, practicing his snake-like movements and jutsu. When he noticed Jiraiya approaching, he raised an eyebrow. "You look different," he noted. "More confident."
Jiraiya smirked. "Why don't we test that?"
Orochimaru's golden eyes gleamed with interest. "Very well."
The battle began in an instant. Orochimaru was as fast and unpredictable as ever, striking with his snake summons and deadly precision. But Jiraiya was ready.
He entered Sage Mode instantly, his reactions sharper, his attacks more powerful. He countered Orochimaru's strikes effortlessly, dodging attacks he wouldn't have been able to before.
Then, he decided to test his new technique.
Gathering natural energy, he formed the Senjutsu Rasengan and launched forward. Orochimaru's eyes widened as the sphere made contact, sending him skidding across the ground.
Silence followed.
Then, Orochimaru smirked. "Interesting. You really have changed."
Jiraiya grinned. "And I'm just getting started."
---
As he walked away from the training grounds, Jiraiya felt something he hadn't in a long time.
Hope.
For the first time, he truly believed he could change the future. He had grown stronger, but more importantly, he had a plan.
And nothing was going to stop him now.