A moment later, Jiraiya appeared on the rock. His white hair was somewhat disheveled, with stray strands hanging down from his forehead.
"Pervy Sage, you didn't get caught peeping again, did you?" Naruto looked at the somewhat disheveled Jiraiya and couldn't help but shake his head.
Jiraiya hurriedly tidied himself up, then pointed a finger at Naruto. "Nonsense, I was out gathering material. And this time, I wasn't caught. A bathhouse landlady threw a washboard too far and it nearly hit me. I am a dignified Sannin, would I get hit by a washboard?"
"It is absolutely impossi..."
Jiraiya trailed off halfway through his sentence, looking down to see a small patch of soap foam residue still on his pant.
"This was just because I didn't notice the soap in the corner while dodging."
Naruto continued to maintain a blank expression.
"Ahem!"
"Anyway, Naruto, for tomorrow's Chunin Exams, with your current strength, it is more than enough."
"I have also heard Guy talk about that Hyuga Clan kid from Team Guy, he is indeed a rare genius."
"However, you have already learned the Rasengan and Summoning Technique, and your Wind Release transformation is also proficient. In terms of attack power and tactical reserves alone, you are no worse than any Chunin."
"However, official matches are different from private training after all, so absolutely do not let your guard down."
Naruto nodded. "Got it. Thanks, Pervy Sage."
The smile on Jiraiya's face faded slightly. "I might not be able to go watch your match. I just received some intelligence and discovered the trail of an old friend. This matter needs to be followed up and confirmed as soon as possible, it cannot be delayed."
Naruto's heart stirred slightly.
Jiraiya's old friend, someone who could make one of the Sannin decide to leave Konoha to pursue them in a short amount of time...
There was no need to guess who it was.
Orochimaru.
At this point in time, Jiraiya being suddenly lured away was one hundred percent because Orochimaru had discovered that Jiraiya had returned to Konoha and had had contact with him, so he had deliberately released his trail to lure Jiraiya out of the village.
Tomorrow was the Chunin Exams, and Orochimaru himself, as the mastermind behind Otogakure, would appear around the exam venue. Jiraiya staying in Konoha would undoubtedly bring him extra uncontrollable factors.
However, Naruto did not voice these analyses. He just nodded. "Got it, you take care of yourself too."
Jiraiya nodded, then his expression became serious. "Naruto, I haven't taken the initiative to ask you during this period, but with your intelligence, you should have long ago realized what the thing sealed in your body is, right?"
"Yeah, I know."
Jiraiya looked at Naruto's calm appearance and sighed silently in his heart.
This child really had known all along. For a twelve-year-old child to know that the strongest Tailed Beast that had almost destroyed Konoha was sealed within him, and yet still be this calm...
This meant that this child knew the weight he carried better than anyone else, and also knew the reason he needed power better than anyone else.
"If you can borrow its Chakra to fight, that is the best-case scenario. But if you cannot do it, or if it tries to backfire on you, absolutely do not force it. Nine-Tails is not an ordinary Tailed Beast, its hatred far exceeds your imagination."
"This power is meant to protect yourself, not to be consumed by it. So remember, before you become strong enough, do not casually touch its core power."
Upon hearing this, Naruto really wanted to say: "Sorry, Pervy Sage, I not only touched it, but I have already successfully controlled Kurama's Chakra."
But he kept these words in his heart and then nodded. "Understood."
Jiraiya let out a long breath and raised his palm to pat Naruto on the shoulder. He believed that, given the rationality and judgment Naruto had shown during this period, he would not do things that exceeded his own control.
"That's good, I'm leaving."
Jiraiya gathered Chakra at the soles of his feet, and his figure disappeared at the end of the layered rooftops of Konoha after a few leaps.
After watching Jiraiya leave, Naruto officially ended his month-long outdoor training and walked toward his apartment.
On his way back, he spotted two familiar figures in the crowd on the street.
Sakura and Ino were standing in front of a dango shop, chatting and laughing while holding two skewers of dango.
Sakura's hair was a bit shorter than it had been a month ago, making her look much more energetic and tidy than before. It seemed that over this past month, not only had she recovered, but she had also reconciled with Ino.
Naruto took one look at the pair and then turned into another alley, heading toward his apartment.
However, when Ino was biting into her dango, she glanced into the crowd inadvertently and caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing past.
She nudged Sakura with her arm. "Hey, that looked like Naruto just now."
Sakura looked in the direction Ino was pointing, but only saw a blurry figure and that iconic blonde hair flashing past the alley entrance.
Her expression dimmed slightly, then she popped the last piece of dango into her mouth and whispered, "Let's go, Ino. We need to cheer them on properly at the match tomorrow."
Ino looked at Naruto's retreating back with interest. "Don't be like that, Sakura. We ran into him, aren't you going to go say hi?"
Sakura shook her head. "Naruto has been away training for this past month. Now that he's finally back, we should let him get some good rest."
Ino said, "Fine, but I'm really curious. When did Naruto start changing after becoming a ninja? Not just his temperament and strength, but most importantly, he became so handsome."
Sakura recalled the changes in Naruto after the Land of Waves mission.
"It was probably after we experienced our first life-and-death battle against a ninja."
"Oh, tell me about it, I'm a bit curious."
"Alright, let's go. I'll tell you when we get back."