Naruto, hearing Jiraiya's words, thought it was his own strength that had intimidated this pervy old man. Proudly, he declared:
"Listen up! This great me goes by the name of Uzumaki Naruto—the future Fifth Hokage of Konoha!"
"Uzumaki Naruto?"
Jiraiya repeated the name to himself, then carefully studied Naruto.
That yellow hair, just like Minato's. Those faint whisker marks left behind by the Nine-Tails' influence.
He should have realized it sooner. This blond kid was none other than Minato's son.
Even the name "Naruto"—that was one he himself had chosen back then!
So many years had passed in a flash, and now this child had grown so much.
Not only that, he'd even learned Minato's signature jutsu, the Rasengan. It really gave him the feeling of seeing an old friend again.
"And him?"
Jiraiya pointed at Shinju.
"Shinju."
Shinju introduced himself calmly.
Jiraiya frowned. It was a name he had never heard before.
But seeing that red hair, he wondered—could this boy have ties to the Uzumaki clan?
And since he was Naruto's good friend, it was only natural for Jiraiya to think of Kushina.
Could he be Naruto's cousin or something like that?
"Then that just now… was it the Flying Thunder God Jutsu? The very same Flying Thunder God that the Fourth Hokage once used?!"
Jiraiya asked in shock.
Shinju nodded.
He wanted to say that it was something he had developed on his own, but since everyone insisted that his teleportation technique was the same as the Fourth's Flying Thunder God, he might as well acknowledge it—made things easier to explain.
Jiraiya sucked in a sharp breath.
This kid looked to be about the same age as Naruto.
Where on earth had he learned the Flying Thunder God Jutsu?!
When the Fourth died, this kid had probably still been in his mother's womb!
"Did you sneak a look at Konoha's Scroll of Seals?"
Jiraiya asked instinctively.
Shinju: (ー_ー)!!
"No."
After exchanging a few words, Naruto tugged on Shinju, eager to have him help with training.
Before leaving, Naruto turned his head back casually.
"By the way, old man, stop peeping on women when they're bathing. That's really bad behavior. Shameful, even."
"This time we'll let you off since we need to train, but don't let it happen again."
Jiraiya stuck to his excuse.
"I told you, I was gathering material for my writing!"
"You know Icha Icha Paradise, right? That best-selling book famous across the nations! That masterpiece was written by none other than me, Jiraiya-sama! (ﾉ∇︎〃)"
Shinju and Naruto shook their heads in unison.
"Never heard of it."
Jiraiya sighed helplessly.
"Fine… it's an adults-only book, eighteen and over. No wonder you two brats are so ignorant."
At that moment, the three of them heard faint noises from the forest.
It sounded like fists and feet colliding—someone was fighting.
Driven by shinobi curiosity, they followed the sound.
Pushing aside the brush, they spotted a clearing ahead. There, Hatake Kakashi was sparring with Uchiha Sasuke.
"Too slow. Weren't you always saying Shinju is your goal? With taijutsu this sloppy, you'd never beat him," Kakashi said, blocking Sasuke's strike with one hand while taunting him.
"Shut up!"
Sasuke burned with anger at Kakashi's mocking words and struck harder.
"Who said I set him as my goal? I am an avenger! My one and only goal is to kill that man!"
Kakashi only chuckled softly.
"Whatever your purpose, you're still far from it."
Bang!!
Another clash sent Sasuke skidding back several dozen steps.
He quickly formed hand seals.
Whoosh!!
Lightning chakra surged in his hand, crackling with a sound like chirping birds.
Behind the bushes, Naruto muttered,
"Huh? I remember Shinju using that jutsu before."
"I think it was called… Piercing Hand or something…"
Jiraiya deadpanned.
"Piercing Hand? What a lame name. ┐(´-｀)┌"
Shinju: "…"
(✘_✘)
Thanks. I feel personally attacked.
Jiraiya explained,
"That Uchiha boy's jutsu, covering his hand in lightning, is the S-rank ninjutsu developed by Kakashi back in the day—Lightning Cutter."
"S-rank?"
Naruto turned, wide-eyed, staring at Shinju.
So that random move Shinju had used back then… was actually that powerful?!
...
In the clearing, Sasuke's right hand blazed with lightning chakra. He steadied it with his left hand, then charged straight at Kakashi.
The violent arcs of electricity crackled, sounding like a chorus of birds.
Sasuke had named this technique—Chidori!
"Chidori!"
He shouted, activating his Sharingan and accelerating toward Kakashi.
But Kakashi stood calmly in place, full of confidence.
Just before Chidori could strike, he vanished with a substitution technique.
Reappearing behind Sasuke, Kakashi's voice was low.
"A shinobi must never show his back to the enemy."
He pressed his hands together.
"Time you learned a lesson… Konoha Style: One Thousand Years of Death!!"
His strike aimed straight at Sasuke's rear.
Shff!
Sasuke: (σ;Д)σ
His poor backside: (̿▀̿ ̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿ ̿)̄o(╥﹏╥)o
Naruto, Shinju, and Jiraiya, watching from the side: (ｷ｀ﾟДﾟ´)!!
Both boys felt an involuntary chill in a very specific spot.
Jiraiya's eyes bulged.
"Teachers nowadays are way too harsh… he actually used that technique! ▌°Д °;)っ"
Naruto instinctively grabbed Shinju's hand tightly.
"Good thing we're not training under Kakashi-sensei right now, or we'd be suffering the same fate as Sasuke! (ㅎ.ㅎ)"
Shinju nodded in solemn agreement, taking a deep breath.
After the "Thousand Years of Death," Sasuke collapsed to the ground, clutching his backside, face full of despair: (:D)∠)
Just then, Kakashi's expression turned sharp.
"Who's there?! Who's watching?!"
Sasuke froze in horror.
(´ཀ`」 ∠)_
Someone nearby?!
That means… they saw his humiliation just now?!
Unforgivable! He'd have to leave Konoha someday!
Right after Kakashi's shout, Jiraiya emerged from the bushes with Naruto and Shinju.
"Yo, long time no see, Kakashi!"
Jiraiya greeted warmly.
Kakashi, the Fourth's student, naturally recognized Jiraiya, who had been Minato's teacher.
When Kakashi saw him clearly, he nearly lost his composure.
"Jiraiya-sama?! (´◊ω◊｀)"
"I've read Icha Icha Paradise dozens of times! When's the sequel coming out?!"
Kakashi asked excitedly.
Jiraiya spread his hands.
"You know how it is. Writing needs inspiration. I was just searching for some today when your two students interrupted me."
"It's exactly because of brats like them that Icha Icha Paradise Part Two is still unfinished. ╮(╯_╰)╭"
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