"Hey, Perverted Sage, what do you want?" Naruto approached the door weakly, his voice lacking any enthusiasm.
"What's with the tone?" Jiraiya shot back, clearly offended. "I just got discharged. I was planning to teach you training, help you control Kurama's chakra. Aren't you happy about that?"
Jiraiya's expression soured. As one of the legendary Sannin, when had anyone ever treated him with such disdain? Well, except for when he got caught peeping.
"Training? Mastering Kurama's chakra?" Naruto finally remembered that Jiraiya had unilaterally declared him a disciple.
He remembered how right after that, when Jiraiya tried to show off his skills, Menma had beaten him to a pulp. And later, when the older man tried to continue the lesson, he'd been nearly killed by a sealing technique!
Naruto's face twisted with disgust and suspicion.
"Perverted Sage, are you sure you can handle this? Maybe we should just forget about it. You just got out of the hospital, and I really don't want to send you back there..."
Jiraiya: (╬◣д◢)
What are you saying?! What are you saying?!
Well, he'd just have to show Naruto something else today.
"Looks like I have to prove it to you. My excellent chakra control!"
With that, Jiraiya grabbed Naruto and dashed out of the hospital, arriving at a nearby open space. He set Naruto down and extended his right hand confidently.
A second later, a rapidly spinning chakra ball appeared in his palm.
"Could it be..." Naruto's face lit up with surprise.
The destructive power of Menma's technique flashed through his mind. Was he finally going to learn it?
"That's right, this is—" Jiraiya grinned, satisfied with Naruto's expression. He really couldn't let this brat underestimate him.
"Tailed Beast Ball!"
"Rasengan!"
Their voices rang out simultaneously, and then both of them froze.
Naruto: "???"
Jiraiya: "..."
"Huh?"
"What's a Rasengan?"
"This chakra ball... isn't it one of those Tailed Beast Balls that can blow up a mountain?" Naruto even made a huge gesture with his hands.
Honestly, the more excited he'd been moments ago, the more disappointed he felt now. Looking closer, the colors were definitely different. This blue looked completely non-threatening—totally lacking the terrifying, oppressive aura of the dark red one.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, looked utterly defeated. Even the Rasengan in his hand didn't seem impressive anymore.
If he could make a Tailed Beast Ball as easily as a Rasengan, would he have gone through all that trouble to find the damned Child of Prophecy? Jiraiya was supposed to be the one who could change the ninja world!
"But I won't lose face!" Jiraiya dismissed the Rasengan in his hand, as if he'd made up his mind. "In that case, I can only teach you my own unique technique!"
"Unique technique?" Naruto's interest perked up again.
Jiraiya nodded. "That's right. The Third Hokage asked me to teach you... In short, it's a very useful ninjutsu!"
Thinking of what Hiruzen Sarutobi had done to Naruto and the things that had been exposed, Jiraiya stopped himself from saying more.
At the mention of the Third Hokage, Naruto's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Alright, Perverted Sage. I'll trust you one last time."
"You definitely won't be disappointed!" Jiraiya formed a hand seal.
At the same time, a wicked grin spread across his face as he looked at Naruto's lower body.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Yellow underwear? You're quite the little pervert, Naruto~"
"Huh?" Naruto didn't react at first.
Jiraiya continued, "Now let your sage uncle see how old little Naruto is getting~"
Howl—!
In that instant, Jiraiya seemed to freeze. He heard a roar from an ancient, ferocious beast.
Naruto finally realized what was happening and jumped up with a scream.
"Ah!!!"
"You... you... you!!!"
"You big pervert! So you were going to teach me a peeping jutsu?!"
This was Jiraiya's Transparent Escape, the technique that let him become invisible and see through things! It was also used for Moonlight Gale, his invisible sword technique!
Facing Naruto's outburst, Jiraiya completely ignored him. He just muttered blankly, "How could this be..."
"What is it?" Naruto instantly understood Jiraiya's meaning. He blushed, covered his crotch, and glared at the older man.
Naruto didn't know why, but his size had suddenly increased every three months. Especially two days ago, when he left Jiraiya's hospital room to use the bathroom, it had grown even bigger again!
If he didn't know he wasn't popular with women, he would've thought he was the male lead in a pornographic novel!
Just as Naruto was lost in thought, a masked ANBU suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Lord Jiraiya, Lord Jinchuriki. The Second Hokage requests your presence."
The ANBU's appearance brought Jiraiya back to his senses.
"The Second Hokage wants to see me and Naruto?"
Naruto also suppressed his anger. "Huh? Why do they want to see me?"
"Probably to see Menma?" the ANBU suggested.
The ANBU nodded. "It's about Lord Jiraiya becoming Hokage, and Lord Danzo sending Lord Jinchuriki to receive compensation."
"Make me Hokage!?" Jiraiya's voice rose sharply.
He immediately grabbed Naruto and rushed toward the Hokage's office.
"Are you kidding me? I'm not becoming Hokage! I'm recommending Tsunade!"
The Hokage's Office
Jiraiya had barely stepped inside, before he even spoke, when Tobirama spoke up.
"Naruto, go with the Root people. They've prepared the compensation for you to count."
A masked Root ninja approached Naruto respectfully.
"Jinchuriki-sama, Lord Danzo ordered me to lead the way."
"Counting compensation? Great!" Naruto happily followed immediately.
Having experienced a life of wealth, he felt his previous life had been too hard. He had to work hard to make money!
"Naruto, I'll go with you..." Jiraiya started, worried, but Tobirama interrupted him.
"Jiraiya, you have something more important to do right now."
"My brother and I have decided. You will be the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf."
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