Life is like this—some people only walk with you for part of the road. There is no banquet that never ends. Kimimaro had chosen, and Shigeo had no right to stop him.
"Why?" Haku asked, puzzled.
"Because different paths cannot be forced together. Doesn't matter. In the end, we'll just see who can beat who." Shigeo handed him the letter.
Haku nodded. "Maybe one day I'll leave too. You're both so strong. I have to work hard."
"Tell me first if you do. But Haku, not everyone seeks power. Live true to yourself."
"Yes…" Haku had feared Shigeo would be hurt. Instead, he was stronger than expected.
The two boarded a ship to the Land of Hot Water. There, they parted—Haku went to seek his purpose, while Shigeo, sensing Jiraiya's summons, warped back to the Land of Fire.
The summoning seal was still burning when he appeared. Jiraiya pulled him into a hug. "Brat! Where've you been? Two months gone! Miss me?"
Shigeo struggled but gave up, muttering, "Who are you? I don't know you."
"Hah! If you don't know me, why'd you come running as soon as I lit the seal?"
"More like you ran around lighting it to find me!" Shigeo retorted.
Jiraiya let go, crouched, peered closely. "Shigeo, have you felt anything odd lately? Sudden rage? As if something inside you wants control?"
Shigeo knew he meant the tailed beasts. Since Fukasaku had warned him, Jiraiya had worried.
He shook his head. "No. Everything's been fine. I made two friends, but we split."
Jiraiya nodded, though still uneasy.
"Here. With the Sandaime's approval, I brought Uzumaki sealing techniques. If strange power stirs, use these seals. I'll train you in them."
So began months of study. Shigeo had already learned much from Minato, but delving into the Uzumaki arts showed their true depth. Intricate, interlocking, like solving chained puzzles. Disassemble one ring and the rest fell in sequence. Arrange one seal, then build others upon it.
Half a year later, Shigeo had mastered them. His cloned tailed beasts matured: Kyūbi had grown to fist size, gaining will of its own; Yonbi and Gobi to finger length; Sanbi and Rokubi to the size of fingernails. Small, but their chakra made him formidable.
He had even created two new kekkei genkai:
Jiton (Magnet Release): manipulating magnetic sand from the earth.
Ranton (Storm Release): a laser-like evolution of Raiton, faster and stronger.
One day, he released his time barrier. Jiraiya had left months earlier, chasing "novel research." Now Shigeo was alone.
"Finally done!" He stretched, breathing deep, then launched skyward, soaring to the clouds. Looking down on the land filled him with exhilaration.
Then he heard a cry: "Shigeo, help!" Jiraiya's voice.
He blinked down, body flickering to a nearby town. Dust clouds rose. Jiraiya's geta clattered as he ran past, pursued by women in swimsuits wielding sticks and stones.
"Kill the peeper!"
"Help me!" Jiraiya darted back and hid behind Shigeo.
The women surrounded Shigeo instead.
"Wow, such a cute boy!"
"So handsome! Look at that hair!"
"Little brother, what's your relation to that pervy old man?"
They smiled sweetly at him. Two crouched, stroking his cheeks. Their closeness made his face burn. He looked at the ground. "No relation!"
The women swarmed Jiraiya instead, beating him senseless.
One even returned to kiss Shigeo's forehead. "So cute!" she said, waving as they left.
Jiraiya lay bloodied, grinning. "How was that, Shigeo? Beautiful, right? You see why I picked this mountain for training? These hot springs draw the prettiest women."
"You're disgusting. Getting beaten on purpose…"
Shigeo rubbed his forehead, shouldered his pack, and walked toward town. After months of ration bars and game, he wanted a proper meal.
(End of Chapter)
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