- Four days later, with Naruto -
Standing in the clearing, Naruto observed the Rasengan in his hand. Around the Rasengan, blades spun so fast it sounded like a whine.
'This is….. dangerous.'
Naruto continued to observe the jutsu in his right hand as he felt a slight tingle running along his fingers through it, seeing flashes that he thought resembled tiny needles in the center and along the spinning outer blades.
Naruto stopped powering the jutsu a few seconds later, letting the jutsu fizzle out instead of testing it.
"What's wrong?"
Jiraiya asked, having expected a show of the new jutsu Naruto created.
"Double-edged sword."
Naruto replied simply, raising his hands to try something different, a version with less chakra.
Naruto summoned clones once more, 50 of them, as they worked for an hour to come up with another variant of the Rasenshuriken.
Eventually, a breakthrough was made thanks to experience with Rasenshuriken, which made the process easier.
Naruto dispelled the clones and raised his palm once more; this time, instead of a blue ball, his was a pale green, a ring of pale green wind swirling to life around the green Rasengan,n like the rings around Saturn.
Naruto smiled, not sensing the same danger he felt to himself as the Rasenshuriken had given him, reaching his arm back and launching the jutsu at a few trees, the jutsu slicing through the trees like a knife through butter.
Jiraiya watched as the jutsu continued its path, slicing through ground, trees, and rocks alike before carving a deep trench around the shores of the river, before exploding in the water.
"Haha, well done, kid. What's the name of this one and the other one you didn't test?"
Jiraiya asked as he looked upon Naruto, seeing the outline of another blonde-haired, blue-eyed man overlapping.
"The first one was Rasenshiruken, but the other one doesn't have a name yet."
Naruto hummed, seeming to think of a good name, missing Jiraiya's sigh of relief.
'I'm glad he didn't inherit his father's awful naming sense.'
"If you can't think of one, it's best to keep it simple."
Naruto thought for a bit, taking Jiraiya's advice as he couldn't think of anything.
"Wind Release:Rasengan. Simple and to the point."
Jiraiya gave a quick thumbs-up.
"So, do you want to go show Tsunade?"
"No. I'll rest for the rest of the day and then show her tomorrow."
Naruto started to leave the area he had been using for a training ground for the past 5 days, before his stomach growled, looking over his shoulder at Jiraiya.
"Know any good places to eat?"
Jiraiya chuckled at the ruined 'cool' exit Naruto had tried to pull off, walking up and wrapping his left arm around his shoulder and leading him into town.
"I know a few. What are you in the mood for?"
- With Kakashi -
Sitting in his living room, Kakashi had fuinjutsu material spread out all over the desk. Across from him was Karin, who had had her chakra unsealed 4 days ago and was now officially a Konoha genin.
"You're doing well."
Kakashi complimented Karin as he observed her practicing her calligraphy.
"Thanks, I'm not wasting as much ink now."
Karin smiled softly, genuinely enjoying the calligraphy.
"Once you get to a certain point in fuinjutsu, you can even imprint fuinjutsu using only chakra. Not all seals, but some important ones, like a paralysis seal, to name one."
Kakashi watched her eyes sparkle and couldn't help but smile.
'She's almost ready for the first beginner fuinjutsu book.'
Kakashi reached over and tapped her wrist.
"Relax your wrist more on that kanji. You're not doing it wrong, but it's best to let your wrist flow most of the time."
Karin nodded, going back to writing enthusiastically.
Kakashi picked up his own fuinjutsu book, on the final pages of the last fuinjutsu book, ready to start developing his own flying raijin formula.
---
The following day, Naruto met Tsunade and Shizune alongside Jiraiya.
"Well, did you do it? Did you create an elemental Rasengan?"
Tsunade got right to the point.
"No."
Naruto stopped a smirk from spreading onto his face when Tsunade's eyes lit up, and she held out her hand to accept the money.
"I made two."
Naruto finished, holding up both hands as the Rasenshirken spun to life on his right and his Wind Release: Rasengan in his left.
Tsunade blinked in surprise, and Shizune gasped in shock as she warily gazed at the two powerful jutsu.
Stepping forward, Tsunade reached a hand behind her neck and unclipped the necklace from her neck.
"What is your dream?"
Naruto smiled.
"I wish to achieve peace for however long I can, and to someday become a Hokage even greater than the Fourth or First."
"Ambitious, and foolish."
Tsunade replied, though despite the harsh words, she was smiling, seeing something in Naruto as she placed the necklace around her neck, leaning forward and placing a kiss on Naruto's forehead, not having to lean down much as Naruto was as tall as she was.
"You're already taller than your father was at this age. I wonder how big you'll end up being. Perhaps this will be the last time I can even reach your head."
Tsunade ruffled his blonde hair before looking over to Shizune, who held Tonton in her arms.
"This means we'll be going back to the village. I don't look forward to dealing with the Elders and that mummy."
Tsunade grumbled, walking ahead.
"You're not going to pack?"
Jiraiya asked
"Shizune and I have already packed everything into scrolls."
"So, you knew you were going to lose the bet?"
Naruto asked with a hint of surprise.
Looking over her shoulder at him, Tsunade smiled.
"Kid, I'm awful at gambling. When I win, I consider it a bad omen."
Tsunade turned back and began to walk again, Jiraiya walking up to her right side as Shizune and Naruto stayed a few steps behind.
"Oh, I think you should know before you get back to the Village, but Orochimaru and Danzo were killed by Kakashi."
Jiraiya informed, knowing Tsunade likely knew of Orochimaru's death but not how or anything about Danzo, as that was still a private matter.
Tsunade's eyes widened for a few moments before smiling.
"At least that's one less person going to interfere, wish he'd have taken out the other two fossils while he was at it."
"Tsunade."
Jiraiya lightly chided, not really caring, as he silently agreed to some degree.
"Don't 'Tsunade me', Jiraiya. You know, those two should have retired long ago; they're clinging to the little power they have like a couple of leeches."
Tsunade huffed, wanting to punch something just thinking about it.
"I'm afraid Danzo was more insane than we could ever imagine, Tsuna."
Jiraiya sighed, lowering his voice as he spoke.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes and glanced at Jiraiya out of the corner of her eye. The 'explain' was said through that look, and Jiraiya did. retelling all he learned about Danzo from Kakashi. Danzo's arm, the Sharingan, bodies, and body parts of various clans across the Elemental Nations.
If looks could kill, then Danzo would have lost all of his Izanagi lives if he were alive, because Tsunade was beyond furious, and she couldn't wait to give her sensei a piece of her mind once she got back to the village.
"Kakashi has always been good, and it's not surprising that he got stronger, but what changed? We both know the hand that life has dealt him, and I'll admit that I thought he'd never strive for anything."
Tsunade spoke, not judging Kakashi, as she admitted to herself that she, too, would be like Kakashi had she lost so much in her formative years. While she did lose some people growing up, she only lost the ones closest to her when she was an established and respected ninja, renowned throughout the world as the best healer, an S-Rank shinobi. Kakashi, while surely capable of reaching that level and perhaps more, was mentally hindered by the loss of his father, teammates, and his second father figure, Minato. Tsunade didn't know how Kakashi managed to do it, because she sure couldn't have; she had left after losing two of her loved ones, and if Jiraiya, Orochimaru at the time, or sensei had died, she would have been far worse off, likely losing the will to live.
Jiraiya thought back on his recent time with Kakashi.
"He's much stronger now. In fact, I'll be taking Kakashi to see the Great Toad Sage once we're back in the village, after your inauguration, of course, but the Great Sage wishes to meet him."
"The Great Toad Sage wants to meet Kakashi? Is he?"
"The child of prophecy? No. But according to the Great Sage, he's just as important," Jiraiya said, his tone turning serious. He motioned behind them with a nod to the left. "As for the actual child of prophecy? He's right behind us, talking to your apprentice."
- Chapter End -
Hope you enjoy.