Jiraiya, under the tutelage of Ashina, delved into the wonderful world of Fuinjutsu.
Ashina, a master in the art, began his training with the fundamentals.
However, even these basics, in his hands, were imbued with a depth and complexity that Jiraiya had never encountered before.
Ashina's teaching style was unique. He would often start with a simple sealing technique that Jiraiya was already familiar with.
Then, through a series of subtle adjustments and ingenious modifications, he would transform it into something entirely new and far more powerful.
Jiraiya was bad at learning things in his previous life but after he was reborn his learning process became a lot faster. He could say that it might be as good as Minato.
He absorbed Ashina's teachings like a sponge, his natural talent for Fuinjutsu blossoming under the master's guidance.
Ashina was impressed. He had trained many students in his lifetime, but few had displayed such aptitude.
"You may have your father's silver hair,"
Ashina remarked.
"But your talent for Fuinjutsu rivals that of any pure-blooded Uzumaki."
Jiraiya was taken aback by the compliment. However, he was Jiraiya. He gladly took it.
Ashina's gaze lingered on Jiraiya, who was deeply engrossed in mastering the Fuinjutsu techniques he had been taught.
A flicker of sadness crossed Ashina's eyes as he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of tiredness.
"Jiraiya, once you have absorbed all the Fuinjutsu knowledge of the Uzumaki clan, I will send you to Konoha to continue your training. They have an excellent academy there, and a trusted friend of mine will watch over you."
Jiraiya's hands stilled, his attention snapping away from his studies to focus on Ashina.
He had noticed Ashina's gradual decline; the once vibrant leader was slowly fading, his energy waning with each passing day.
A heavy silence settled between them, the unspoken truth hanging in the air.
Ashina knew that the sands of time were running out for Uzushiogakure. It was only a matter of time before the tides of war would crash against their shores, the combined might of Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure bearing down upon them.
Despite the formidable strength and resilience of Uzushiogakure, the sheer numerical disadvantage they faced was insurmountable.
The impending conflict cast a long, ominous shadow over their future, a grim reminder of the harsh realities of the ninja world.
The decision to send Jiraiya away was not made lightly. It was a desperate gamble, a last-ditch effort to preserve the legacy of the Uzumaki clan.
Konoha, with its renowned academy and powerful allies, offered a glimmer of hope in the face of impending doom.
Ashina's friend in Konoha, a figure of great influence and respect, would ensure Jiraiya's safety and provide him with the guidance and training he needed to become a powerful ninja.
Jiraiya's silence was heavy with unspoken knowledge.
He knew the identity of Ashina's friend without needing to be told. It was Senju Hashirama, the man he had allowed to marry one of his daughters, Uzumaki Mito.
The intricate connections of the Uzumaki family tree were a source of endless fascination and confusion.
Uzumaki Sayoh, for example, was the daughter of his oldest granddaughter, yet she was the same age as Mito, his daughter.
Technically, Mito was Sayoh's aunt, even though they were peers. The complexities of their lineage were a direct result of their extraordinarily long lifespans.
Living for centuries, as many of their clan did, meant witnessing the passage of generations in a way that defied conventional understanding.
Children outgrow their parents, grandchildren become contemporaries of their grandparents, and the lines of descent blurred into a tapestry of interwoven lives…
Jiraiya released a silent sigh, his shoulders slumping with the weight of his contemplation.
The severity of the situation pressed upon him, and he longed to push them aside, if only for a moment.
'I am bound by my current limitations. I can go along with his words. But when the time comes,'
His thoughts shifted, resolved seeping into his mind.
'I will return. I will not abandon my family to their fate.'
He knew that the fall of Uzushiogakure was not an immediate threat; two decades, at the very least, stood between the present and that devastating event.
Yet, it wasn't the fall itself that haunted his thoughts. It was the sacrifice of Ashina, a man who gave his life to seal the village, buying precious time for his people.
Ashina's death, a tragedy that preceded the village's downfall, weighed heavily on Jiraiya's mind as he was his great great grandpa who was very kind and nice to him.
The valiant leader had made the ultimate sacrifice, only for his efforts to be undermined by treachery.
Someone, driven by malice or desperation, had betrayed the village, leaking the secret of its hidden entrance.
The consequences had been catastrophic, sealing the fate of Uzushiogakure and its inhabitants.
The knowledge of this betrayal gnawed at Jiraiya, making him want to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.
He knew that he couldn't change anything now, but he could shape the future.
And so, he vowed to return, to stand as a bulwark against the armies of enemies.