One week into the training trip. 2 years, 3 months, and 3 weeks remaining.
Jiraiya was a religious man, he believed in the many different deities taught to him by his sensei, the Sandaime Hokage - Sarutobi Hiruzen. He grew up an orphan after all despite being an infamous shinobi.
He was a pervert, no, a super-pervert even. He has a greater than healthy amount of appreciation for the female figure than most men, and is proud of it, but then again, he was more than lesser men, for he was the Gallant Jiraiya!
And so, one week into the trip as he and his godson, Naruto established camp inside the confines of Hi no Kuni, in a long stretch of forest. He found himself gazing at the face of Naruto, one so familiar to him that it hurt so much and reminded him of his failure. No teacher should ever bury his own student, and yet he had to bury his apprentice whom he treated as his own son.
The boy looked very much like his father, Minato. But acted very much like Kushina, his mother, a fiery woman and strong in her own rights, a fuinjutsu master, and a terror on Kenjutsu, but she was known for her innate sensor abilities and Chakra chains which were enough to hold down Bijuu, and in turn other Jinchuurikis.
As the crackles of fire lulled him to sleep, he summoned toads to act as sentries and killed the fire with a small earth jutsu, to avoid detection from common bandits, as well as to avoid smoke which would create a signal.
As Jiraiya slept, he did not know what he was getting into.
Jiraiya's dream
Inside a gazebo within the Senju clan compound, he was talking to Tsunade, he had a grin on his face, but his eyes showed acceptance.
"Let's make a bet! If I come back alive then you'll agree to going out on a date with me, Tsunade-hime"
This time he was in what seems like Ame?
"How is Hanzo of the Salamander?"
A man bound to one of his techniques shouted.
"He is all knowing, Pein!"
He gasped as he saw his student, Konan, at her side was an orange haired man, Nagato?
"You're thinking that you should have followed Orochimaru's advice back then aren't you, sensei?"
"By becoming a God, my words and thoughts become the laws of nature."
Yahiko? When did he get the Rinnegan? The scene changed fast in a flash of bright light.
.
"Gamaken-san that's already enough, I'll take care of the rest."
Gamaken left and he was bulldozed into the wall by a bull summons, which eerily had Rinnegan eyes.
"Jiraiya-chan, let's retreat for now."
Fukusaku-sama, Shima-sama? He had on the markings of a sage, were his previous students that strong?
"Kid yer left arm!"
Jiraiya couldn't hold back a gasp as his left arm was torn, he already knew he would never escape the place alive. Naruto-, he would be leaving behind his godson, he could not imagine the pain Naruto will feel if he left him too.
Six oranged haired men stood in front of his eyes, all wearing familiar black robes imprinted with red clouds - Akatsuki.
Jiraiya's mouth was open as he saw these men with glowing purple eyes. What kind of-, before he could react the scene changed again.
"Behold! The six paths of pain!"
Yahiko spoke, it was monotone and he could not sense an ounce of ill intent from his previous student. The scene changed again, this time he stood tall, blood dripping from his torn arm, Ma and Pa on his shoulders looking troubled.
"This is like the Great Elder prophesied, now's the time for me to make my choice!"
"You figured it out too late!"
His figure was stabbed with multiple black rods.
Suddenly, Jiraiya heard his own voice, he could not help but chuckle dryly, Orochimaru had been right, he always was. Did he regret teaching those children? No, but would he accept that it had been a mistake? Yes. But it was a mistake he would do, over and over again.
"Looking back at it, my own life was a failure. Tsunade kept rejecting me, I couldn't even stop my friend. I failed to protect both my student and teacher. The Great Toad Sage prophesied that I would lead a revolutionary, A revolutionary that would bring great change to the world of Shinobi, and that I -, that I would also have to make a big decision."
"It's a wonderful name, Naruto."
"There aren't many shinobi who are greater than you."
"Never go back on your word, and never give up, no matter what… If that is your way of the ninja, Naruto, I'll leave the rest to you."
Jiraiya gasped as the dream ended, he stood up and expected to see Naruto sleeping across him, but all he saw was white.
He sat down on the spotless floor as he tried to catch up with what he dreamt of. It was a very vivid dream, prophetic even.
He lost his left arm, accessed sage mode and fought the man who leads Akatsuki, his student whom he had no news of, fought him and died at the process. Yahiko, or rather, Pein spoke of figuring something out, he racked his brain out thinking what it meant, but everything came to blank, like where he was right now.
"Jiraiya no sennin" A voice spoke, as Jiraiya looked around, his eyes narrowed. He clasped his hands together and shouted "KAI!" as he burst forth his chakra.
He wasn't the best in Genjutsu, but damned if he couldn't escape from one!
"This is no Genjutsu or tricks, let me introduce myself. I am Otsutsuki Hagoromo, you may know me as the-"
"Rikudo sennin!" Jiraiya's eyes widened as the legendary shinobi appeared in front of him, he wore a white robe, and levitated. He had a staff at his back, and his legendary Rinnegan stared at him, all powerful and mighty.
Nagato's Rinnegan paled in comparison to the real deal.
"I'm not the most intelligent person, but shouldn't you be alive?" Jiraiya asked warily, he couldn't break the Genjutsu, and whoever casted an illusion he couldn't break is someone he should be wary of. Naruto he thought, He worried for his godson.
"Naruto is fine, you are safe. You are in a space where time simply does not exist."
"Why am I here, and what did I see?" Jiraiya asked, he eyed the floating black balls that exudes power. Nevermind the fact that the old man in front of him literally read his mind.
"I had made you glimpse into the future, one full of pain and terror. Naruto will in time defeat Nagato, after the latter attacks Konoha. He will even turn his mindset around, reviving all the people that died during his attack."
Jiraiya's eyes widened, then he grinned. "I know that this dumbass could do it, even now I could sense something in him that I couldn't sense from my previous students!"
"I have shown you flashes but not the whole future, or else everything will change too much and more chaos will come in turn."
Jiraiya nodded, the visions he saw, they were mostly flashes, like vague memories, or deja vu.
"Then why me? If you're really the legendary Rikudo no Sennin, why choose me?" Jiraiya asked as the man stared at him. He shivered under the man's gaze, which made him felt like a child, it felt like one of Sarutobi-sensei's lectures once again.
"Truthfully? You are a great man, and while you are not perfect, you are one of the people who inherited my dream of peace. I created Ninshuu as a tool for peace, but greed turned it into a weapon for chaos. And quite frankly, I am a big fan of the Icha-Icha series!"
Jiraiya's eyebrows raised as he assessed the legendary man's statement. Then laughed mightily as the fellow sage procured a copy of his book and it was even signed!
"How? You know what I don't even want to know, but I'm extremely grateful you like my work! I'm working on a sequel right now and I'm sending you an advanced copy, hardbound and signed!"
The sage cried rivers as he thanked Jiraiya for his promise.
"Ehem, well moving on to more serious matters, I have shown you this visions as a warning. A figure known as Zetsu has changed history so much, and I don't want to let him continue, without changing too much I want to counter his work, I suppose. And that's where you come in, train Naruto. Make him ready for whatever comes into the future. He is a legacy of a clan long forgotten, in his blood and soul run the determination and might to back his dreams."
Jiraiya nodded, he supposed the Sage was speaking of the Uzumaki. He could start the child on seals, anything to prepare him for the future that is to come.
"Beware of the man in mask, he has tainted his hands in many things, started many conflicts and plagued this land of sickness and war. You might find him the cause for the attack during Naruto's birth."
Jiraiya clenched his fists, Sarutobi-sensei's theory has been correct after all. Two fuinjutsu masters, an elite medic in Biwako, and two squadrons of elite ANBU, all dead.
"We had suspected dirty play, but I will keep an eye on this masked man, my contacts should hopefully have heard rumors about this man." Jiraiya never felt as cold a rage as when he heard Orochimaru had been conducting illegal and immoral research.
"No matter what happens from now, his fate is in your hands, Gama-sennin. My old friend Gamamaru indeed has warned you didn't he? After all, I was the first friend of the Toads."
Jiraiya gasped at that revelation, and the last thing he saw before waking up was the smirking face of the old man.
"Ne ne, are you all right Ero-sennin?" His hazy vision focused on the blond child in front of him.
"Better than ever brat, break camp and pack up your things, let me get a moment." Jiraiya closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Vaguely he felt natural energy around him, but paying it no heed he continued his brief meditation.
"Already finished Ero-sennin! You woke up late today huh? I tried shaking you awake earlier but you wouldn't wake up. I fished in the nearby river too, there's leftovers by the fire!" Naruto bounced around the small clearing they were staying in, stretching his arms then his legs, then jogging around while swinging his arms wildly.
"You have too much energy brat! But thank you for the meal, I know you had it in you to care for your master!" Jiraiya laughed as Naruto pouted at him, then glared.
"Yeah yeah, I know an old man like you will need all the rest you can have! I know the old man did…" Naruto turned somber towards the last part, despite being months after the Sandaime's demise, the Jinchuuriki still felt sadness while remembering his pseudo-grandfather.
"It hurts right?" Jiraiya spoke, Naruto stared at him, eyes watery. "I had to bury my sensei, he was like a father to me, I also had to bury my student, whom was like a son."
"Student? The Yondaime right?" Naruto asked as he fingered the green necklace Tsunade had given him.
"He was the brightest and most talented student I have!" Jiraiya boasted while Naruto pouted.
Jiraiya laughed as Naruto crossed his arms and grumbled. He spoke, clearing his throat, "But I'm sure you will surpass him one day, Naruto." Jiraiya's heart broke when he saw Naruto tear up.
"For a pervert you aren't so bad after all Ero-sennin!" Naruto showed his tongue out.
"I take back what I said, you are the worst!" Jiraiya laughed heartily as Naruto shouted obscenities.
A few minutes later after Jiraiya ate Naruto's catches, and a few nuts and berries, he stood up and forming a tiger seal, slight grumbling can be heard and the earth where they stayed from overturned and churned. Changing the seal to dog, he gathered water from the nearby stream and washed the overturned earth, finally, returning to the tiger seal he blew a large fireball which scorched the earth.
"Why do that Ero-sennin, wouldn't we be tracked faster?" Naruto asked, scratching his head.
Jiraiya nodded in approval as Naruto asked a good question, "Good question brat, but in this case I burn out most of our scent, overturning and churning the earth will hide most of our scent and possibly any DNA tracks we leave behind."
"Like hairs and skin right!?" Naruto raised his hand while grinning.
"Right again brat, what do you know? You aren't stupid after all no? In any case, water make sures to spread anything I may have missed, and Fire make sures that any tracks left behind will be left. Fire will also hide any scent we may have." Jiraiya smiled as Naruto looked serious in absorbing his teachings.
"While in a normal mission this may be too effort, but in long term missions, hiding your tracks even in this manner, will make the difference between life or death. Not everything needs to be silent and hidden to be untraceable, a lesson I'm sure you're familiar with?"
"Heh, I ran the so called Elites of the village around when I pranked the village old man!" Naruto boasted as he pointed at himself. Jiraiya couldn't help but laugh as he was reminded of a familiar person, albeit red haired and a woman.
"Ohoho, you have to tell me that story on the road!" Jiraiya started walking northwards, his apprentice following him at his left.
XxxxxXxxxxXxxxxXxxxxX
That afternoon
"Ne, Ero-sennin! How long do I have to do this?" Naruto asked as he was going through the motions of the kata the toad sage showed him earlier. He was standing on top of the small lake by the waterfall as he went through the motions.
They stopped by a waterfall and Jiraiya took this chance to make Naruto practice his chakra control and Taijutsu. Meanwhile he wrote something on a scroll, some plans. If He had to train Naruto to face those monsters in two years, then he'll have to train him right.
"Until I say so brat! Now swing with your hips as you kick, you'll generate more power if you do, and always mind your balance!" Jiraiya shouted as Naruto grumbled, but the blond nodded and did so.
Jiraiya smiled, even though the kid was hard headed he always followed his orders, and completed it to a T. He suppose introducing Naruto to Frog Kata won't harm things, just a few motions here and there.
"Do ten more sets Naruto, then come here." Jiraiya said somberly, he had to talk to the kid now and clear out some things. He had already prepared their trip and made the necessary changes, he would train this kid so hard nobody could ever hope to face him.
Done with what he was writing, Jiraiya summoned a toad and gave him the scroll he had written on. Hopefully, Tsunade will understand, if Naruto would hope to face the challenges he'll be facing then he'll have to realize who he is.
And that means facing his regrets too.
He wished he could have been there for the kid. Sarutobi-sensei did send him updates every now and then, and he gave the kid money but like hell was it enough. He had half a mind to crush the village when he heard how the villagers treated the Jinchuuriki.
Minato would be turning in his grave right now.
Kushina? Well lets just say he felt sorry for the villagers once they meet the Red Hot Habanero in the promised land.
As for him, maybe his student and his wife would be satisfied with dipping him in hot oil? Or maybe a little disembowelment?
Jiraiya snorted, that would be paradise to Kushina's wrath.
"Ero-sennin! I'm done!" Naruto huffed as he lied down by the shore, sweat or water seemed to cover his whole body and his face was flushed red.
"Here brat, drink this." Jiraiya threw his canteen at the panting blond, who caught it with his hand and drank like it was the last canteen of water in the world.
"I'm amazed brat, a few moments of rest and you're already good to go, how about twenty more sets?" Jiraiya laughed as Naruto screamed at him. "Just joking kid, before we continue on with your training, let's talk."
"Talk about what Ero-sennin?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion, his previous exhaustion gone now. Uzumaki vitality or simply Jinchuuriki stamina he did not know, maybe a mix of both?
"The truth." Jiraiya answered vaguely, the clearing was quiet except for the sound of the waterfall and the rustling of leaves.
Naruto visibly gulped, what truth?
"The truth about your birth, about who you are." Jiraiya closed his eyes, he could feel Naruto's anxiousness.
"H-how, y-you know my p-parents, Ero-sennin?" Naruto's eyes were watery now, confusing emotions filled him.
"Yes, in short story yes. However I will not tell you about them right now, we will go somewhere more private, your parents are just one part of the bigger story, I promise you I'll tell them to you but not now. We'll go somewhere safer for that, maybe at the end of the week after I arrange some things." Jiraiya steeled his heart as Naruto looked at him in contempt, he understands how Naruto feels. As an orphan himself who never even knew his parents, knowing who they are, its the best gift anyone could ever give him.
"WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT?!" Naruto screamed, all his life he wondered, did his parents hate him? Did they leave when the fourth sealed the Kyuubi inside him?
Jiraiya sighed.
"Look, Naruto, I know how you feel. But what I will say is such a dangerous secret that when the wrong ears hear this, you'll be hunted down, not just by Akatsuki, but also by the people scared of your parents. They were great people, heroes of Konoha, but our enemies thought of them as monsters." Iwa in fact still shakes in its boots when they hear the word flash.
Naruto was gritting his teeth. He waited 13 years to know his parents, what's a few days?
"Fine, but you better!" Naruto exhaled harshly, he was still angry. But if his parents were truly badass and Jiraiya recognized them as such, then he would believe him.
"Speaking of Akatsuki, do you truly know what you are facing?" Jiraiya asked
"I know they have really strong members right? Sasuke's brother, Itachi is there, and that fish faced guy!" Naruto remarked.
"Yes, both S-ranked threats. And according to my sources, they have 8 more similar leveled members, all capable of wiping out armies by themselves." Jiraiya spoke, his voice deep and warning.
"The difference between A-rank and S-rank is bigger than the gap between A-rank and B-rank. Where A-rank shinobi could handle multiple squads by themselves, S-rank shinobi are Kage level, and would laugh in front of an army." Jiraiya looked at the blond straight in the eyes.
"Right now, you're barely a fly to them, even with the fox's chakra. There's a reason why only few people can claim that they are S-ranked." Jiraiya continued, he grabbed something from his vest and throwed Naruto a book.
"Eh! This is Icha-Icha, you PERVERT!" Naruto screamed and pointed at him.
Jiraiya looked sheepish, he grabbed the correct book and threw it to the child, before getting Icha Icha and hiding it safely inside his vest.
"Huh, what's this?" Naruto asked, Jiraiya-sama's list of Dangerous Shinobi.
"That contains all the dangerous criminals, and powerful shinobi from all the Elemental Nations. Dead or Alive, dating back from Shodaime-sama's period. Of course not everyone literally, A-ranked threats and above only." Jiraiya sat crossed his arms, searching for info took a while, but it had been worth it.
"Eh? Sandaime-jiji also wrote this?" Naruto asked, as he noticed the name Sarutobi Hiruzen at the cover page.
"Of course, he was not called the Professor for nothing, he gave valuable info on the shinobis of his time. What I want you to realize, gaki, is that you have to be strong to face S-ranked shinobi, not just strong, but crazy strong. The level you can only reach by training like hell." Jiraiya flared a bit of his chakra so that Naruto can feel his point.
"You're an S-ranked shinobi too right, Ero-sennin?" Naruto noted, he was sweating profusely as he felt the older man's heavy presence.
"Yes, that's why I know how much you still lack, and we'll try to get you to that level within this two years." Naruto's mouth gaped open.
"Is that possible Ero-sennin?" Naruto wondered, he knew the older man was strong, strong enough to make a man who killed an entire clan in one night without anybody noticing, and a man who is said to be even stronger than Zabuza, run away from his presence.
"No, it is impossible to think of, not even the Fourth could do that." Jiraiya shook his head. Naruto visibly deflated, how could he face those monsters then?
"But I only know one person who can do it, and it's you." Jiraiya hid back a smirk as a previously down Naruto stared at him with stars in his eyes, as well as tears.
"Really?" Naruto asked as he sniffed, nobody had ever believed in him before.
"I know so. But to get there, know that you'll be trained so hard you'll be begging Shinigami-sama to save you. Are you prepared?" Jiraiya blasted killing intent on the blond to prove his point.
Naruto who was sitting felt the massive killing intent from his master, different from Orochimaru. The snake's KI was a threat, a kunai to the throat, however what he felt from the toad sage was a promise, it felt like gamabunta was sitting on top of him.
But the blond was not normal. He would never give up, even if he had to die then he would just fight the Shinigami himself.
"I'll never give up! I'll never falter! I'll defeat you in two years Ero-sennin! Then I'll be Hokage, this I promise you, and I never go back on my promises! Dattebayo!" Naruto stood up, shrugging of the killing intent, and glaring at the smiling Toad sage.
Jiraiya cut off the pressure, and caught the exhausted blond who fell after standing up to him. It was nearing night time anyways so he decided to set up camp and prepare a meal for two.
XxxxxXxxxxXxxxxXxxxxX
The following day. 2 years 3 months, 2 weeks and 6 days remaining.
"Ne, Ero-sennin, what's the difference between an A-rank and S-rank, 'ya told me yesterday that the difference between those two are bigger than the gap between a B-rank and A-rank?" Naruto said as he munched on their breakfast, roasted wild rabbits and some roasted sweet potatoes.
Jiraiya gulped as he swallowed his food before answering Naruto. "Well, let me see. A-rank shinobi are commonly Jonin-ranked. Most elite Jonins in the hidden villages are A-ranked."
"Like Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-sensei, Bushy brows-sensei, and Kakashi-sensei?" Jiraiya nodded at Naruto's words.
"Correct, they outpower most shinobi. However they lack power that separates them from other shinobi. Your sensei, Kakashi-brat, has potential to become S-rank. He became rusty after leaving ANBU, but he is the top Jonin in the village for a reason." Jiraiya said, he chewed on the roasted sweet potatoes, carbohydrates were always good for energy.
"What power sensei? Like Shodaime-sama's Mokuton? Or Yondaime's hiraishin?" Naruto asked. He never was a fan of history, but in the matters of Hokage he did all he could to learn about this topic, he wanted to be one after all!
"You are right brat! What do you know, you aren't stupid after all!" Jiraiya ruffled the blond's spiky hair. Naruto swiped at him angrily.
"Don't mess up my hair old man! But what about you? How were the sannin considered S-ranked?" Naruto asked
"You already have seen our summoning techniques, but aside from that, we each specialize in some things. Tsunade-hime specializes in medical ninjutsu and her inhuman strength, Orochimaru is a Ninjutsu master only being second to Sarutobi-sensei. I the Gallant Jiraiya specialize in Fuinjutsu and Senjutsu!" Jiraiya pointed his thumb at himself as he smiled proudly.
"Fuinjutsu... That's what the Yondaime used didn't he?" Naruto asked
"Of course! I taught him after all, but it was safe to say that even he outmatched me in that department. But moving on, S-ranked Shinobi are commonly Kages, like those you have mentioned, they have defining powers that are unstoppable and go beyond what a normal person can."
"Wow! How strong are you Ero-sennin!" Naruto's eyes widened once more. Jiraiya laughed inside, the kid reminded him so much of Kushina.
"More than you can imagine, and in two years I'll make you into a finer shinobi! After all there's no better sensei than Jiraiya the Gallant!"
Naruto paused for a moment, before laughing. "You look stupid Ero-sennin!"
"BRAT!" Jiraiya smacked the blond. "Anyways, clean up and then we'll start the training for today." Naruto nodded and stood up, he folded up his sleeping bed and sleepwear and sealing it into a scroll.
Jiraiya cleaned up too, he went by the small lake and washed his face and gargled some water. He went back to his sleeping site and fetched something from his pack, a few notes on training that he prepared.
"Before we get started on your training there are some things we'll go over." Jiraiya said, he stood up and held up his hand.
Naruto nodded his head in agreement.
"First! No quitting!" Naruto snorted, as if he'll do that.
"Second! No complaining, everything I say is law." Jiraiya said, and Naruto squirmed. But agreed, not like he complained much. He just complained about things like the 3 minutes it take for ramen to cook, Kakashi-sensei's tardiness, Sasuke's coolness, you know what? He did complain a lot.
"Yea sure Ero-sennin!" Naruto put up his thumb.
"And third, everything remains a secret. Even from your friends. Its good to share some information with your friends but keep it to a minimum, fewer people know your capabilities, the better. Remember Naruto, information is key."
Naruto pursed his lips, but nodded in agreement.
"Good, now that its done. I'll teach you the secret to how you can get stronger in two years." Jiraiya said. The blond Jinchuuriki was attentive now, he had a certain focused look in his eye that screamed Minato.
"Kage bunshin." Jiraiya said, Naruto scratched his head, how can his clones help him?
"If you actually read the scroll better brat, you'll find that this clone retains memories after you dispel them. That means-"
"That I retain whatever they learn!" Naruto interrupted him shouting excitedly
Jiraiya nodded "Correct, however not everybody can do this as most shinobi don't have the chakra to summon large amounts of clones. And the mental strain using this clone is quite serious, but I believe that you can handle it, provided I am there."
"Hai! Ero-sennin!" Naruto saluted, Jiraiya closed his eyes in exasperation.
"Everyday you'll summon ten clones, and ten clones only. What takes a year for you, you can half that with two copies of yourself. With ten copies, you more than double that amount."
"Then why don't I just summon a thousand clones Ero-sennin, wouldn't that be faster?" Naruto asked.
"A valid question, but all that would do is send you faster to Kami-sama with the mental strain it would give you. You wouldn't want to die early, no?" Jiraiya asked.
The blond shook his head in rejection. "Okay maybe ten is safe for now hehe."
"Right, we'll move on in increasing that amount once we safely determine how many is your limit. Moving on, there's some things we have to go through that you absolutely have to learn, I can't blame you for skipping class with how they treated you." At this Naruto bowed his head, remembering his treatment back in the academy, only Iruka-sensei was kind enough to teach him fairly.
"And we'll use this first few weeks to cover up any gaps. Information is key and should be your mantra. Every morning after summoning 10 clones, you'll do warm ups and exercises, I'll place resistance seals on you, to be adjusted once your body has adapted."
"What's the use of resistance seals Ero-sennin?" Naruto asked, his mind was already swimming with all the information Jiraiya said.
"In short, resistance seals exert force on the surface they are applied. Force you have to fight through, your friend Rock Lee used the same principles but with actual weights. Resistance seals are more expensive but you're lucky that you have me as your sensei!"
"You're actually useful no, Ero-sennin!" Naruto laughed as the white haired man's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.
"Brat! Anyways, you'll train your body and strengthen it, your clones cannot improve physical conditions, only your mental capacity. We'll separate your clones, one will study geography and basic navigation, one will study chakra theory."
Naruto nodded, before scrambling and catching a notebook his master threw him, as well as pen and ink. "What's this for Ero-sennin?"
"Write down everything you need to do and organize it well. You should keep track of your training and note which things you may have missed or not completed yet. Being a Hokage means being organized after all!" Jiraiya smirked as Naruto's eyes widened, he opened the first page and started writing immediately.
It was double purpose, to practice the kid's handwriting for fuinjutsu besides organization.
"Continuing on, another one will study hand seals, clone four will read basic fuinjutsu theories, clone five five will memorize fuinjutsu symbols. The final five clones will be practicing chakra control. While it may not increase your physical prowess, their chakra returns to you."
"Why do I need to practice chakra control Ero-sennin? I already know how to do Tree-walking and Water-walking?" Naruto asked
"That was close to a complaint brat, what was rule 2? But since that was a good question, you have massive chakra stores. In comparison mine would be the size of this small lake, Kakashi's would be half of this. Average shinobi would be happy enough with a large puddle. Yours? A never ending ocean."
Naruto knew he had large chakra reserves, but now that his teacher had said it the more he realized it.
"Most shinobi would kill to have what you have, hell I had to train hard to have the amount of chakra I have now. You'll have to do the opposite and work on controlling your reserves. You don't need a perfect control, which I think would be impossible even for you. But good enough that you can perform techniques much more efficiently."
"I understand Ero-sennin! Lets start!"
"Too much energy brat! Anyways, summon the clones, have the five who will be working on chakra control practice the kata I showed you yesterday while walking on water."
Naruto nodded, he looked at his notebook and flinched at his handwriting. It wasn't the best exactly, and he had to improve it but it was well organized. Some lessons from the Sandaime stuck with him after all.
"What kind of handwriting is this brat? In any case at least your organization is good. Now git! Where's the clones?"
Naruto grumbled, but crossed his fingers and summoned ten clones. "Hokage-jiji, he taught me how to organize his files as a way to pass time when he was busy." Jiraiya's eyes softened, but he stood up straighter and clapped his hands together.
He procured a slip of paper and an ink container and a brush. Quickly writing some symbols and Kanji he infused the slip of paper with a small amount of his chakra. "Naruto, apply a small amount of chakra to this slip of paper." Jiraiya handed him the slip and watched the blond breath deeply.
Slowly but surely a small amount was channeled and Naruto looked at him as if to ask if that was enough. "Good, now give it back to me. I keyed it to our chakra signatures, so you or I can disable it anytime. Let me just set the resistance."
The sannin applied a few more symbols then holding a ram sign he channeled more chakra then he previously did.
"Remove your shirt kid, I'll apply the seal, this should make you feel like gravity is forcing you down." Jiraiya said
Naruto did as he was told and removed his shirt. The older man approached him and placed the slip of paper on his chest. The paper glowed blue for a moment, then the ink vanished and there was no more ink on the paper.
Then immediately he felt as if he was in water. Not enough to impede his movement but still enough to make him slower.
"There that should be enough, you know what dispel the clones and summon ten new ones." Jiraiya said.
The clones looked at each other then shrugged, then they disappeared in a puff of smoke. Upon summoning ten new clones, Naruto understood why the toad sage asked him to summon new ones. They too were affected with the seal.
"It wouldn't help you physically, but the clones practicing chakra control would have a harder time with this challenge, now Naruto!" Ten heads looked at him, and Jiraiya already felt a headache coming.
"The original only, do warm ups and stretches. Then do the exercises I showed you last time, now increase the reps to 100 and increase the sets to five. No chakra usage, if you use chakra I'll make you feel hell." Releasing a small amount of KI made the blond gulp, but he nodded and began warming up.
"Now as for the clones, you five go to the lake and start practicing water walking again, it should be new to you again, practice the katas once you get used to water walking." The clones nodded and saluted, he was then left with five clones.
He summoned four clones of his own, "Each of you follow my clone, you in the left stay here!"
Once the other copies separated and settled in a place of their own, Jiraiya finally sat and urged the Naruto clone closer.
"Okay, so what do you know about fuinjutsu?" Jiraiya started and with the clone's groan he knew that he was in for a treat.
Later that noon.
"Alright, you learned the basic symbols used in fuinjutsu, we'll move into more advanced lessons once you can prove that to me tomorrow." Jiraiya enjoyed teaching the child, sure he was not as intelligent as Minato perhaps, but he was soaking knowledge like a sponge, what he lacked with natural intelligence he more than made up for with enthusiasm and drive.
"Naruto! How are you?" Jiraiya shouted, he laughed as the blond child sweating and face full of grime and dirt groaned at him.
"That's enough, it's almost lunch time, come here and we'll dispel your clones." Naruto nodded at that and together with his clones approached the sannin.
"Okay, dispel the chakra control clones first brat, less strain for later." Jiraiya said
Five clones disappeared and smoke filled the vicinity, Naruto looked like he gained a little more energy when the chakra returned to him.
"Good, now start with the clone closest to you, wait until you have fully acclimated to the new memories before dispelling another one." Naruto nodded and looked at the closest clone and the clone also poofed out of existence.
Suddenly memories filled his brain, he was disoriented for a moment but regained balance immediately and felt fine. "I feel fine already Ero-sennin!" Naruto said.
Jiraiya's right eyebrow raised. That was fast, "Quick quiz kid before moving on, what did you learn from that clone?"
"Well he studied Basic Fuinjutsu symbols with you, all in all there are six basic symbols. A spiral, a circle, a triangle, a square, a line, and a squiggly. Do I need to say their functions too?" Naruto asked, it was weird. He didn't study those but it sorta felt like Deja vu like it's just something you already know.
"No need, move on to the next clone gaki." Jiraiya observed as the blond closed his eyes for a moment before opening it again.
"I assume its okay no? Tell me what you learned, just the basics." Jiraiya said.
"Uhm, this time its geography, I hate geography!" Naruto shouted
"I know, your clone shouted it too and I suppose you know what rule you're breaking?" Jiraiya glared at the blond, who looked sheepish.
"Fine, well we started with Hi no Kuni, there are few mountains to be found in Hi no Kuni, but it is filled with dense forests and farmlands. To our west is Kaze no Kuni, and to our North is Tsuchi no Kuni. You also told me how to navigate without a map by using senbon in water, as well as star formations." Naruto felt ecstatic as he answered questions he wouldn't have in the past. It also helped that Jiraiya was a patient teacher and always assisted him when he couldn't understand something.
Continuing with the pattern, Naruto dispelled another clone, the recovery time was much faster he noted. He did not even feel the need to close his eyes but seeing double vision from the clones disoriented him so he just closed his eyes.
"Basic Fuinjutsu huh? Well Fuinjutsu is a complex form of Ninjutsu, it involves symbols and formulas, the symbols are shapes but the formulas are Kanji. It involves sealing, storing, barriers, and many more possibilities." Naruto's eyes widened with what his clone learned. Fuinjutsu was awesome! If it could seal a monster inside him then what could its limits be? Dispelling another clone, he smiled as he run through the new set of memories.
"This one's hand seals! Basically they help you mold chakra into whatever you need it to be, and each animal stands for a specific element!"
"Close, but some animals only, and they do not stand for an element, they are in tuned with that element, meaning it will help you mold chakra to that element easier." Jiraiya felt bad as Naruto look down
"Hey cheer up kid! You did good, it was a small mistake, don't beat yourself up by it bounce back!" Jiraiya ruffled his hair again and this time Naruto reacted positively, swiping at him but with a hint of a smile on his mouth.
Naruto dispelled the last clone and breathed deeply, "Chakra is a mixture of both physical and spiritual spirit. One can strengthen their chakra by training not only their body, but also their minds through meditation."
"Good brat, you got the basics down fast. We'll stop right now and move to a nearby town, there we'll practice your calligraphy and meditation. We'll also have time for a night workout, so rest for now and eat up, here's some field rations." Jiraiya tossed Naruto a small scroll.
It was a small scroll that contained a full set of meal with high amounts of calories that can support a training shinobi.
"I'll clean up the camp this time, just rest for a while. You did good kid!" Jiraiya ruffled the kid's hair who groaned but continued eating onigiri from the scroll.
It was a tough first half but he had more challenges later.
XxxxxXxxxxXxxxxXxxxxX
That afternoon, undisclosed town.
"Wait, what do you mean meditation?" Naruto shouted
Jiraiya raised his eyebrows and looked at him pointedly. Naruto had the decency to blush at his master's stare.
"I mean, cool meditation! Wooo!" Naruto pumped his fist halfheartedly.
"Brat, you don't actually have to do meditation yet. It will be done at the end of the day, and it will have multiple benefits!" Jiraiya raised his fist and held up his pointing finger.
"You'll be able to go back over the memories your clones gave you. After today, you'll meditate after every training session." Naruto nodded, while he could remember many points, he knew he would forget it sooner or later. Good thing the toad sage gave his clones separate notebooks. Jiraiya told him it was practice for paperworks and Naruto was determined to do so, after all he would become the best Hokage there ever was!
"Second point is to get control over your emotions. Before you contradict me, emotions are important, but not inside the battlefield! Going in head first is just an invitation to hell dumbass! I may be an initiator in combat, but I don't attack without a plan." Jiraiya knocked Naruto's head as a point and the blond swiped at him and glared, but let it go and wrote on his notes.
"Third, you can actually practice chakra control. Once you meditate, you can actually "calm" your chakra, right now I reckon it's like a raging river through your tenketsu points. It'll stay that way until you get enough practice on chakra control and meditation." Jiraiya proved his point by channeling chakra, enough to make it visible.
"Look at my aura, no wild flares right? The flow of chakra is steady and continuous, it took me years to get to this level. Get enough control and you can even produce a chakra aura that is still. Tsunade's chakra aura is the stillest I've seen. Though Sarutobi-sensei told us that Hashirama-sama's was even more calm." Naruto gaped at that information. It would be in his wildest dreams to get that kind of chakra control, but damn it if he won't atleast try!
Jiraiya mulled for a moment, truthfully, meditation more than helping the brat calm down was preparing him for when he would finally train in Senjutsu. As of now his chakra was too wild to even consider indulging in natural energy, best outcome he would turn into a toad, worst would be a stone toad.
"However meditation is still for later, for now summon ten clones again. No studying for this afternoon before you complain." Jiraiya said as he chuckled.
"I won't even complain Ero-sennin!" Naruto argued, he won't, well… Maybe?
"This afternoon, five clones would continue with chakra control, however since there's no water source nearby, have them practice leaf sticking while going through katas." Naruto winced at this, he could make the leaf stick while stationary, but making it stick while moving will be hell.
"You won't join them for katas this afternoon, you'll be with me and we'll start practicing your calligraphy." Jiraiya said.
"Why train me in Fuinjutsu Ero-sennin? Not that I'm complaining of course -ttebayo!" Naruto chuckled nervously as his teacher stared at him.
"You're an Uzumaki after all, and Uzumakis were the best at Fuinjutsu." Jiraiya revealed, the blond's eyes widened at this information then it became focused.
"I see, if I'm a real Uzumaki, then I'll be the best Fuinjutsu master there is!" Naruto screamed
Jiraiya looked at him with familiarity, truthfully, Minato and Naruto weren't as different in attitude at all. They showed the same enthusiasm in training, but Minato was just more reserved outside of training.
"Yeah yeah, maybe in a hundred years brat!" Jiraiya challenged the blond who narrowed his eyes.
"I'll show you! By the end of this trip, I'll surprise you!" Naruto vowed
"I will be happy to be surprised. Moving on, five of your clones will be working on the Rasengan. Master it and we'll move on to elemental jutsus." Jiraiya said. Mastering the rasengan, the pinnacle of chakra formation would make it easier for the Jinchuuriki to master elemental jutsus.
"But I already can form the Rasengan!" Naruto argued, and it was true. Technically he did need a clone, but he could form a fully functioning and fully dangerous Rasengan.
"True but you need a clone brat! Those few seconds means life or death in the battlefield! You're lucky Kabuto underestimated you and Tsunade-hime was present. The next time you're in battle, you can't always rely on Kyuubi chakra, and Tsunade-hime won't be there either." Jiraiya spoke some hard truths, but alas it was lessons his godson needed to learn if he was to survive the shinobi world.
Naruto clenched his fists, he was angry, yes. He did not know why, but he knew what Jiraiya told him were true. Its just frustrating to hear of his weakness.
"I know you feel frustrated right now, but take that frustration and turn that into motivation for training. Your biggest enemy is yourself Naruto, if you can't accept yourself and your weakness then you won't truly be strong." True to his title as a sage, Jiraiya said some sagely advice.
"I know -ttebayo! Its just I hate feeling weak, I hate losing and I don't like to be helpless!" Naruto glared at the ground.
"You aren't brat, as far as I know you did technically master the Rasengan faster than I or Kakashi even could. Being weak isn't necessarily a bad thing, being weak allows you to know what you are incapable of. Losers are the true winners after all, take it from me. I'm the loser on my team but I could confidently say I could kick both my teammate's asses!" Jiraiya boasted
"Orochimaru-teme, sure. But baa-chan? Hell no!" Naruto crossed his arms.
"Have faith in your master brat! Now, summon those clones and we'll start training!" Jiraiya had a tick mark on his forehead.
"Yeah yeah Ero-sennin!"
"Brat!"
CHAPTER 1 END
A/N;
I got this idea one night. What if the sage was a massive pervert? We know that ultra powerful beings are pervert, case in point - Kaguya. And deciding to help the good side, and going against Zetsu, showed a little bit of future to Jiraiya.
This will be a light story but it may get dark at one point. I'm looking at a long story spanning the Shippuden, canon storyline but AU events.
I'll try to get my own take at fuinjutsu, I see it as something close to programming, and I'm quite familiar with C++ so I hope it helps in this matter.
Regarding the Kage Bunshin hack, the chakra returning is a theory I've been keeping in mind. If Naruto summoned 2000 clones and all of them popped, how much chakra would he have left? So I think its a thing to consider that some chakra does indeed go back to the user. Naruto's trick with the clones during his sage training and fight against pain is the reason why I think this theory to some degree is true. However I still think that chakra coming back has a distance limit, I think clones which are close to him would return all chakra, however the more distant they are the less chakra they return.
I'll integrate this idea into the story as it progresses. Thank you for reading!