The group moved through the dense forest, the terrain eventually giving way to a jagged ridge. As they crested the rise, another sharp turn revealed a sprawling ravine ahead.
"Pervy Sage, who is she?" Naruto's voice drifted from the rear, sounding breathless. "You said she is a Sannin like you."
"Tsunade?" Jiraiya's voice turned distant, his hand drifting to his chin in a familiar gesture of nostalgia. "She is a woman renowned across the nations for her beauty... and feared for her legendary gambling addiction. He-he."
"Then it will be easy to find her if she's that famous!" Naruto chirped, a grin breaking across his whiskered face.
"Assuming she wants to be found," Shorai interjected, glancing sideways at the old man. "From what I've gathered, she is a master of escape. She should be roughly your age, Jiraiya-san, yet she remains a ghost to her creditors."
"Right you are. There isn't a gambling house in the world that doesn't know her face," Jiraiya snickered. "But because of her legendary ability to lose money, she's earned a different title: the Legendary Sucker. To stay ahead of the debt collectors, she has mastered the Transformation Technique. She can shift her appearance to look fourteen, twenty, thirty, or forty, depending on how desperate the situation is."
"What a swindler! How horrible!" Naruto huffed, crossing his arms.
"No luck and no skill—just a pure, unadulterated obsession with the roll of the dice," Jiraiya said, turning back toward Naruto with a sharp grin. "But we'll have time. While we gather intel on her whereabouts... it's time to make you stronger!"
"Great!" Naruto stopped in his tracks, his eyes shining.
"But don't even think about putting on that dorky green outfit, Naruto!" Jiraiya barked, noticing the boy reaching into his traveling bag. "Throw it away, or find a new master!"
The blonde boy looked down, his shoulders sagging as he reluctantly stuffed the spandex suit back into the depths of his pack.
They soon reached the edge of the ravine, looking down upon a town that seemed to have been carved directly into the rock.
"Wow! What a place! Are we going to find her here?" Naruto blinked at the bustling streets below.
"Maybe. We're on a reconnaissance mission. Anything that draws us closer to her scent," the Sannin observed, his gaze sweeping the town before he began the descent down the long stone staircase.
"Then gambling houses and bars are the logical priority," Shorai remarked, a thin smirk playing on his lips. "The locals are usually quite talkative when the sake is flowing."
As they moved through the streets, Naruto became a whirlwind of distracted energy, his head turning at every scent of street food and every shout of a performer.
"Down time is essential, Naruto, Shorai! We'll enjoy the festivities while we prepare for the training!" Jiraiya announced, catching the festive mood.
"Finally!" Naruto's nose caught the scent of grilled meat, and he quickly pulled a fat, green, toad-shaped wallet from his pocket.
"He-he!" Naruto opened it, revealing a belly stuffed to the brim with bills.
"Ho-ho! You're loaded! That's a fat one!" Jiraiya raised a brow, genuinely impressed.
"My cute Gama-chan! I've been saving every ryo from my missions," Naruto said affectionately, rubbing the cloth. "I can finally spend it! Here, I'll g—"
"Hold it!" Jiraiya barked.
"Careful..." Shorai noted the sudden shift in Jiraiya's weight. "...too slow."
Woosh!
Jiraiya snatched the wallet from Naruto's stunned hands.
"Hey! Give it back right now!" Naruto lunged, but Jiraiya raised a flat palm, blocking the boy's approach with effortless grace.
"No, no. This is not how a shinobi behaves," Jiraiya began, his tone shifting into a lecture. "I'll hold it for security."
"You, of all people, are teaching him about behavior?" Shorai raised a brow, leaning against a nearby wall to watch the theater.
Cough. Cough. Jiraiya cleared his throat, looking down at Naruto with mock gravity. "I am a Sage. And more importantly, your master. In the life of a shinobi, there are three grave sins—great taboos you must avoid at all costs."
"I don't care! Give it back!" Naruto jumped, but Jiraiya pivoted, making the boy miss entirely.
"Listen well, Naruto!" Jiraiya pointed a finger at the blonde. "If you don't master these, they will ruin you. These are the three temptations that end many great shinobi." He raised one finger. "Alcohol."
"Drunkard Sage..." Shorai muttered, his eyes narrowing.
A second finger rose. "Money."
"Rich bastard," Shorai added in a hushed voice.
A third finger appeared. "And women."
"Right... Pervy Sage," Shorai finished, crossing his arms. He noticed the passing crowd beginning to stare—his unique attire and white hair drawing the usual fasincated gazes.
"That has nothing to do with me! I'm too young to drink! And I don't even get the women part yet!" Naruto shouted. "Give me my money! I worked hard for it!"
"Idiot! Never underestimate the power of the impulse!" Jiraiya glared. "You don't want to end up like our target, do you? Drowning in debt and running from your own face? You'll end up just like her!"
With a practiced motion, Jiraiya reached into the toad's belly, pulled out a few small bills, and slapped them into Naruto's hand. "This is for moderation. Consider this your first lesson in the wisdom of a Sage: restraining the impulse."
"Like your restraint toward women? You have none!" Naruto looked ready to explode.
As Naruto grumbled over his meager allowance, Shorai sighed. "He has a point about the impulse, Naruto, even if the source is hypocritical."
Before the argument could escalate, Jiraiya tossed his traveling bag to Shorai. "Alright boys! I'm off to 'gather information.' The bag has my scent—if you get lost, I'll find you. Have fun!"
He vanished into the crowd in a blur of speed.
Shorai shook his head. "Let's go."
They wandered through the stalls. Shorai felt the weight of gazes following him—fascinated stares from younger girls and calculating, flirtatious glances from older women. Naruto, oblivious to all of it, had already fixed his attention on a throwing game.
"Shorai! A challenge!" Naruto called, pointing at a projectile stall.
Shorai caught the sly look in the boy's eyes. "You are planning to cheat with your reflexes, aren't you?"
"Don't be such an Iruka-sensei!" Naruto laughed, grabbing Shorai's sleeve and pulling him toward the stall.
"Hey! You, blondie!" the old man behind the counter barked, pointing at a wooden sign. NO JUTSU. "Read the rules before you start!"
As they played, whispers drifted through the crowd.
"What a charming young man…"
"Look at those clothes. Doesn't he resemble that model from the magazines?"
"Now that you mention it… in those clothes... you're right. You're right."
"He is handsome, and he clearly has money. A rare catch."
Shorai ignored the squeals, winning several small prizes and handing them all to Naruto, who tried to protest until Shorai came up with a string of logical excuses about why he didn't need "meaningless trinkets."
Suddenly, Shorai's eyes caught a colorful storefront with a familiar swirling logo. Heavenly Lotus. 'They even have a branch out here?'
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud Oof! Naruto, trying to walk with a festival mask over his face, crashed into Shorai's side, sending Jiraiya's belongings spilling across the pavement.
"Naruto, don't walk blind," Shorai said, helping him gather the items. He paused as Naruto pulled out a thick ledger.
"That bastard!" Naruto growled, seeing the numbers inside. "He's rich! He should be treating us instead of stealing my Gama-chan!"
As they continued through the town, Naruto glanced at Shorai. "You get a lot of attention, Shorai. How do you do that? It was the same with Sasuke..." His voice trailed off, a momentary shadow passing over him.
"Biological advantage manifest," Shorai replied flatly. "It appears the inherent aesthetics of this..." he whispered, "meatsuit," before continuing, "...are simply aligned with local standards of attraction. The clothing design just enhances the effect."
"Bio-logical advantage?" Naruto blinked, trying to parse the words.
"Some have an early lead, others are late bloomers, Naruto." Shorai patted his back. "Just be respectful and self-aware. You'll get your turn." He paused, his voice dropping. "Though, not all attention is pleasant. Especially when people are looking at what's inside you instead of who you are. That's more than just annoying."
Naruto fell quiet, his fists tightening at his sides. For a moment, the noise of the street seemed to pass around him. Then his usual energy surged back into place.
"No matter! Let's try the local food! My treat—with the Pervy Sage's money!"
"Sure," Shorai said, a faint smile touching his lips. With a subtle motion, he unrolled a scroll and produced several extra ryō, quietly adding them to Naruto's dwindling funds before the boy could empty Jiraiya's wallet completely.
After dining on the outskirts and clearing out a few more game stalls, they went in search of the Sannin. The sound of familiar, booming laughter eventually led them to a high-end bar.
"Ho-ho-ho! Right, ladies? The company of such beautiful blossoms is the only way to spend an afternoon!"
Jiraiya lounged on a plush sofa, two charming-looking women draped beside him. A half-empty bottle of sake sat on the table next to Naruto's flattened toad wallet.
"M-my... money..." Naruto's voice trembled with rising fury. "You damn bastard! You broke every sin you preached the second you walked away!"
"Now, wait a minute... I was gathering intel..." Jiraiya began as the women, sensing trouble, made a quick exit.
Naruto lunged at the old man. Shorai started to follow, but two men stepped into his path, cutting him off with a rude shove. Shorai's eyes turned cold as the bodyguard gave him a sharp, warning stare.
In the chaos of Naruto pummeling Jiraiya, a piece of a snack flew through the air.
Pluew!
The food struck the lead man's expensive-looking cloak.
"Hey, brat! Come here!" the bodyguard roared. "You just spoiled the Leader's brand-new exclusive suit from Heavenly Lotus! You'll pay for this right now! 100,000 ryo!"
"A bit of a stretch for a suit, isn't it?" Jiraiya said, his tone shifting into something dangerous as he looked at the man. "Especially for one that looks so... dorky."
"Watch your mouth, old man," the 'Leader' growled.
"Gentlemen," Shorai interjected from the rear, his voice like a razor. "No harm was done. You stepped into his trajectory. There's no need for an apology, let alone payment. Don't stand in the path next time."
"Are you courting death, brat? This man is a legendary dark ninja! A former Chunin of the Stone Village!" the bodyguard barked.
Jiraiya stood up, a smirk forming. "Legendary? More like a legendary dork."
"What was that?"
"Naruto," Jiraiya called. His eyes sharpened as he rose from the sofa, lifting one palm before him. "Pay close attention. This is the jutsu."
The argument, the bar, and the onlookers seemed to fall away. Naruto fixed his attention on Jiraiya's raised hand in open wonder, while Shorai watched with quiet anticipation.
The space above Jiraiya's palm began to distort. A translucent swirl of air gathered, tinged with pale blue, accelerating into a violent spinning vortex of visible chakra. The blue deepened as thin strands of chakra crossed and wound over one another, forming a tight, spinning sphere—like a ball of woven thread.
The 'Leader' dashed forward. Jiraiya's smile widened. "How kind of you to volunteer..."
Jiraiya stepped forward, connecting the blue sphere with the man's chest. The fabric of the suit instantly spiraled into the shape of the vortex. With a sharp, twisting motion, Jiraiya pushed. The man was sent spinning out of the bar, crashing through a water balloon stall in a spectacular explosion of rubber and spray.
"This... this is incredible!" Naruto gasped.
"Legendary dork, indeed," Jiraiya remarked, glancing at the downed man.
The man looked up, finally recognizing the old white-haired shinobi. His face drained of color. Without another word, he hurriedly offered up his wallet to pay for the damages.
Jiraiya accepted it with a satisfied hum and bought out the seller's entire stock of balloons. Then the trio departed toward the outskirts of town.
—
Inside a quiet, shaded forest clearing, Jiraiya tossed a water balloon to an eager Naruto.
"First step," Jiraiya said. "Do you remember what the jutsu looked like?"
"Can I participate?" Shorai asked.
"Sure," Jiraiya replied. "But let him try first."
Naruto described the spinning sensation. Jiraiya sighed and demonstrated on a balloon in his own hand. The water inside began to churn in wild, chaotic patterns until—Pop!
"Tree climbing was about gathering chakra at a chosen spot. Water walking was about a constant, gentle release at that same spot," Jiraiya explained. "Now, you create a stream. You make the chakra spin."
"Make it... spin?" Naruto looked at Shorai.
"Apply the steps you know, Naruto," Shorai said. "Push chakra into the balloon as if you were sticking to a tree. Then, steadily release more, as if walking on water. But instead of letting it sit, stir the water inside with that energy."
"I get it! Spin the water until it pops!" Naruto shouted.
"Good. You're here until evening," Jiraiya said. He gestured for Shorai to follow him to the side.
"In theory, the jutsu is remarkably simple," Shorai replied, studying his palm. "It is a high-density concentration of chakra, maintained in a specific shape through a continuous supply."
'Let's show him the essence behind what was copied.'
Shorai closed his eyes. His palm began to glow. A tiny, translucent blue sphere of pure chakra formed above it, gradually growing until it reached the size of an acorn. It was a dense, vibrating mass of energy.
'I need a Yang-healing layer... this output is too unstable...'
Bah!
The ball flickered and exploded. Shorai saw the small cuts on his palm begin to close instantly as his pre-applied Mystic Palm took effect.
"What the..." Jiraiya took a step back. "That wasn't it. You just gathered a pure mass of chakra and compressed it."
"I followed the underlying intent," Shorai said, wiping his hand. "Wasn't the technique conceived as an attempt to mimic the Tailed Beast Bomb described in the records?"
Jiraiya stared blankly. "M-monster... The Fourth Hokage created the Rasengan to mimic exactly that. But you went straight for the source logic."
"I see," Shorai half-smiled. "But I think the technique took a different turn for a reason."
Shorai raised his palm again.
"The Rasengan is not simply a ball of chakra. It is a contained vortex. Released chakra drives the air into rapid rotation, while finer chakra control keeps that circulation bound within a small space. The spinning layers create pressure, shear, and impact without allowing the force to disperse outward. That is why the technique can be so destructive without detonating in the user's hand."
Shorai kept staring at his empty palm. "The woven appearance is not decorative. It is the visible structure of interlocking air currents and chakra streams—a storm compressed into a sphere."
He looked at the Sannin. "Unlike the pure version, this one does not require massive chakra reserves to become deadly—or a way to protect its user from the recoil."
Jiraiya's lips parted in a dazed smile. He reached out and ruffled Shorai's hair.
"To grasp the essence so quickly…" Jiraiya whispered, his eyes misting. "Minato… he truly lives on in the next generation."