Chapter 38: I Have a Big Spear
Jiraiya had not returned to Konoha Village for a long time.
Of his former two teammates, Orochimaru had defected, and Tsunade had left.
Meanwhile, he himself remained obsessed with the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
Time, after all, is difficult to reclaim.
Jiraiya had spent these past years traveling the Ninja World.
First, it was to track Orochimaru's whereabouts.
But clearly, his teammate's ability to escape and hide was top-tier in the Ninja World; he hadn't even touched a single hair of his.
He didn't know when he would finally find him.
Second, it was to gather material from hot springs and Water Tea Houses everywhere.
Driven by his interests, he wrote novels and earned some royalties along the way.
After all, going around visiting... ahem, 'comforting' young ladies required capital.
Third, it was to gather intelligence on various hidden villages.
This was actually his serious work.
Otherwise, the Third Hokage and the two KonohaAdvisors would have called him to account long ago.
A powerful combat asset wandering around outside was clearly something that would hardly be permitted.
Half a year ago, the Uchiha clan massacre caused instability at the borders.
Jiraiya accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders to personally oversee the situation.
Now that things had stabilized and he had returned to Konoha, he thought of the son of his prized disciple, Minato.
Uzumaki Naruto.
After observing him for a while, Jiraiya understood Naruto's talent.
Thus, he wanted to become his teacher.
"He's too young, let's wait another two years."
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not agree to his request.
"Age isn't the issue."
Jiraiya shook his head; he understood his teacher's personality fairly well.
"Naruto's current strength already far exceeds his peers; staying in the Ninja Academy is just a waste of time."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment, tapped the desk, and said, "In school, one can learn the Will of Fire."
Jiraiya sighed inwardly.
His current teacher no longer possessed the heroic spirit of his youth.
The'Shinobi God' had grown old.
He had begun to focus on the so-called Will of Fire.
"Old man, you aren't Naruto. How do you know he hasn't inherited the Will of Fire?"
Jiraiya thought for a moment, intending to salvage the situation, and said, "It's almost the end of the term. Why don't you test him personally?"
"Test him?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly taken aback. He glanced at his disciple and said, "Very well."
He didn't believe that the brat who skipped class every day could pass a test on the Will of Fire.
And so, the content of the final exam for Class A of the second year was changed.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi received the assignment Naruto handed in, he was completely dumbfounded.
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes through the crystal ball, he would definitely have suspected Naruto of plagiarism.
But that wasn't right either.
This assignment was impossible to plagiarize.
It was the first time Hiruzen Sarutobi had seen someone's exposition on the Will of Fire reach such a level.
It was as if every single word was written directly into his heart.
It made him feel light as air.
I didn't expect that I was so great in his eyes.
"If you want to teach him, I won't object. But he is only eight years old, after all, and he is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. You cannot take him away from Konoha."
"Fine."
Jiraiya didn't push any further.
He knew this was Hiruzen Sarutobi's bottom line... Summer break.
It wasn't Naruto's first time.
But to him, it wasn't anything special.
After all, if you're bold enough, every day is summer break.
Aside from a few class hours, he really hadn't gone to school.
The only benefit of summer break was probably wasting less of a Shadow Clone's Chakra.
However, the second-year summer break was much lonelier than the first-year one.
After Kakashi's mission was completed, he returned to Konoha and took Sasuke away for training.
Naruto had thought it would be a world for just him and Hinata, but he didn't expect his future father-in-law to whisk away his future wife, saying they were going to visit relatives.
They wouldn't be back for ten days to half a month.
Thus, he was forced into solitude.
How miserable.
He could only play cards with the Nine-Tails to barely maintain a semblance of life.
"Hee! I won! I won!"
The Nine-Tails clapped its paws and laughed loudly.
A full half-year—half a year! Do you know how this fox has lived through it?
I couldn't even hold my head up in front of him!
Finally, I've beaten this brat once.
Boohoo, it was too hard!
The Nine-Tails wanted to cry.
"..."
Naruto was truly afraid this guy would be like Fan Jin passing the imperial exam—eyes going dark, legs kicking out, and fainting dead away.
Look at how happy this fox is.
He put away his hand, and just as he was about to start another round, the system notification sounded.
Did the Shadow Clone trigger another achievement?
Makes sense; it's been half a year, it's about time for one.
Naruto glanced at the dancing Nine-Tails and exited the Sealing Space.
[Congratulations to the host for achieving 'I Have a Big Spear'. You have gained three attribute points.]
What on earth?
System, what's with this name?
Naruto froze on the spot.
He couldn't for the life of him figure out what kind of ghostly achievement this was.
But three attribute points proved this achievement was not simple.
I really don't know what that Shadow Clone did.
Naruto couldn't figure it out and didn't bother thinking further; he would naturally know once the Shadow Clone dispelled.
As usual, the three attribute points were added to defense.
He stretched his body.
Including the previous points, he had four in total.
He could already feel some decent changes.
Not just the skin, but even the flesh and blood within were starting to become firm.
Naruto felt he had previously underestimated the effect of attribute points.
Once they were all maxed out, his body might truly become a Sage Body.
"Naruto, I've brought you a new teacher today."
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly appeared before him.
Naruto looked at Jiraiya, who appeared with him, and a sentence instinctively surfaced in his mind.
Your new cheat code has arrived, please check and accept.
"Naruto, hello there."
Jiraiya showed a hearty smile. "I am the old man's disciple and your new teacher, Jiraiya."
Naruto put on an Oscar-worthy performance.
A face of shock coupled with eyes full of adoration.
"You... You are Jiraiya, one of the Sannin? I totally adore you!"
"Not bad."
The smile on Jiraiya's face broadened.
He's completely different from Minato.
Mm, he knows how things work. I like him.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a bit disgruntled.
Naruto had never treated him like this.
But he couldn't find a reason to object.
Maintaining his persona as the Hokage, he said calmly, "I'll leave Naruto to you, Jiraiya."
"Don't worry, old man."
Jiraiya couldn't wait for him to leave, so he wouldn't interfere with him building a bond with his grand-disciple.
"Teacher, for our first meeting, I'll give you a gift."
"How can I possibly..."
Jiraiya was just about to refuse, but when he saw the 90% off coupon for the Konoha Hot Springs pressed into his hand, he froze.
He instinctively looked at Naruto.
"Teacher, don't you like it?"
Naruto blinked and asked.
"Ahem, teacher likes it very much."
Jiraiya calmly tucked it away, patted his shoulder, and said, "Little fellow, you're much more pleasing to the eye than your... than my previous disciples. It seems I'd be remiss if I didn't teach you something good."
He took out a scroll.
"Rasengan?"
Naruto took a glance and thought to himself, 'As expected.'
"This was created by the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. It represents the pinnacle of Chakrashape transformation. More importantly, it can grow with the user and has the characteristic of infinite evolution."
Why does this introduction feel so familiar?
It's you!
Flame Mantra.
Naruto made a silent quip.
"Take a general look, and then we'll begin the first stage of training."
Jiraiya had come prepared and took out two balloons filled with water, giving one to Naruto.
"Make your Chakra rotate irregularly inside the water balloon until it bursts. You've just started, so it might take some time to adapt. I'll demonstrate first—"
"Like this, Teacher?"
Naruto held out his hand, and a moment later, the water balloon burst.
"..."
Jiraiya, who had become unemployed at light speed, opened his mouth, but the words failed him.
Handsome readers, a new week of the recommendation period has begun. Don't just stockpile chapters, or the book will die!