Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the intellectual property associated with Naruto.
Hi all,
Here's the next chapter. Naruto learns more about how the Shinobi world works, and continues his training.
Chapter 9
The old man freed Naruto from the seal that had held him to the ground. Naruto retreated from the array, keeping a close eye on him. He was remarkably tall, surpassing even Jiraiya in height. His long red hair, streaked with grey, flowed down to his waist. His most notable feature, however, was his beard, which nearly matched the length of his hair.
When he met a stranger, he usually used his chains to ascertain their intentions. He released his chains and sent them forward, but they passed through the man's body.
The old man approached him, stopping at the array's edge. Was he unable to leave the array etched on the ground? If this was a projection, it makes sense that he had a limited range of motion. Naruto stepped forward and poked the man. Like the chains, his finger phased straight through his body.
"Stop that," the old man said, his annoyance evident in his voice.
Naruto took a few steps back, surprised. "How are you reacting to what I am doing? I assumed you were some kind of pre-recorded message that would play whenever someone came down here."
"This array is far more complicated than a simple image projection," the elderly man explained. "My name is Hisashi Uzumaki. Who am I speaking to? Who are your parents?"
Naruto regarded him with suspicion. Although he had no reason to suspect Hisashi was malicious, the man's independence made him feel cautious. He concluded that the man posed no threat because he appeared unable to leave the array. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki were my parents."
"Your Kushina's son? A direct descendant of the mainline?" Hisashi's smile quickly turned into a frown as he fully comprehended Naruto's words. "Is Kushina truly dead? What happened to her?"
"When my mother gave birth to me, the Kyuubi escaped his seal and attacked Konoha," Naruto explained. "How did you know my mother?"
"She was my niece," Hisashi answered.
"That makes you my great uncle," Naruto said, smiling. "It is nice to meet family, even if they are dead. You are dead, right?"
"That's correct. I suppose I should explain my presence here."
Naruto took a seat on the ground, sensing that the conversation would take a while.
"Are you all right, Naruto?" Jiraiya yelled from the top of the stairwell.
"I'm fine," Naruto shouted in response. "The only thing down here is an old ghost from the past who wants to hang out and talk with me."
"What!?"
"Who is that person outside?" Hisashi asked.
"That is my godfather, Jiraiya. My mother disclosed the secret of this location to him."
Hisashi stroked his beard softly as he considered his words. "I have heard his name before. Kushina must have had a great deal of faith in him to reveal our most valuable secret."
"Well, it is a good thing she did, because I wouldn't have known about this place otherwise," Naruto replied.
"Do you trust him? Although I have great faith in Kushina's judgement, she is no longer with us. People can change dramatically in a short amount of time."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "The man took a huge risk in rescuing me from my prison. "I am fairly certain I can trust him."
"That sounds like a story I would like to hear," Hisashi said as he closed his eyes for a moment. "I have granted Jiraiya access to this chamber, so you may summon him here."
"Jiraiya!" Naruto shouted. "Get your butt down here! It's safe for you to enter the chamber."
Jiraiya descended the stairs slowly and entered the chamber. His expression mirrored Naruto's astonishment upon first seeing Hisashi. He approached Naruto and carefully examined Hisashi.
"I see you practise fuinjutsu as well," Hisashi observed, noticing the scroll on Jiraiya's back.
"That's right," Jiraiya said. "Based on your red hair, it is reasonable to assume you are from the Uzumaki clan."
Jiraiya took a seat next to Naruto after they exchanged greetings.
"Before I reveal my reason for being here," Hisashi said. "Can you provide me with an update on recent events? How long has it been since the destruction of Uzushio?"
"Nearly thirty years," Jiraiya replied. He began by providing a concise summary of the world's history, starting with the downfall of Uzushio. The summary covered the Second Shinobi War, the Third Shinobi War, and the events that led them to Uzushio.
"It is a shame Hiruzen died," Hisashi said. "I remember meeting him during the chunin exams. Our battle was without a doubt the highlight of the entire exam."
"Did you win?" Naruto asked.
"That jerk cheated, and that is all I have to say about it," Hisashi declared.
"You must be a sore loser if it is still bothering you after all this time," Naruto smirked.
"Quiet, brat," Hisashi said with a glare before turning serious. "I'm glad to see that Uzushio has inhabitants once more. Are there any other survivors from the Uzumaki clan?"
"Yes," Jiraiya replied. "There are quite a few who have hidden themselves. "The man who brought us the island is from a Uzumaki civilian family who escaped the invasion."
"That is a relief," Hisashi said, beaming. "I expect you, Naruto, to find the remaining members of the Uzumaki clan and bring them back to the island so you can rebuild the clan."
"That is not a problem," Naruto assured him. "I already planned on rebuilding the clan."
"You understand your duty to your clan," Hisashi said with approval. "Then I expect you to breed with all of the viable Uzumaki females so the main line can continue."
"I can... wait, what are you saying?" Naruto exclaimed. "I will breed with whomever I damn well please!"
"I'm disappointed by your response," Hisashi sighed.
"It is getting late, so we can't stay here much longer," Jiraiya said, returning the conversation to the main topic. "What exactly are you, and what is your purpose for being here?"
"Haven't you figured the array out yet?" Hisashi asked. "It's a variation of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. It doesn't summon the Shinigami to seal away a person's soul but rather confines it to a specific location. I can stay here indefinitely as long as I have chakra feeding the array."
"Fascinating," Jiraiya said, looking at the array with interest. "But why would you go to such lengths to stay here? I doubt the Shinigami would be pleased to let a soul slip through its fingers."
"I stayed in the hopes of passing on our greatest secret to our descendants," Hisashi replied. "Tell me, do you understand the limitations of fuinjutsu?"
Naruto looked at his godfather, interested in hearing his answer.
Jiraiya gave him an odd look before responding. "Fuinjutsu is also known as "Sealing Techniques," which refers to the ability to seal objects, living beings, chakras, and other entities within various objects. Fuinjutsu can also be used to impose movement restrictions or to free objects from confinement, whether they are contained within something or someone."
"Your description is adequate," Hisashi observed, "but you don't seem entirely confident in your answer."
"I recently encountered something that appears to contradict its limitations," Jiraiya explained. "Should I reveal the secret of your mindscape to him, Naruto?"
"I don't see any reason why not," Naruto replied.
Jiraiya described the nature of Minato's seal to Hisashi. The Uzumaki clan invented the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. This seal was thought to be nothing more than that. But the abilities Naruto displayed within his mindscape had left Jiraiya perplexed, as they were beyond anything he had seen before.
"Ha!" Hisashi exclaimed in delight. "This leads directly to the secret I want to share. The truth is that Kushina had to have helped Minato create the seal. There is no other way for such a seal to exist otherwise."
There was something that Naruto didn't understand. "Wait a minute, is fuinjutsu really that limited? What about the seal on the Hyuga clan's forehead? Isn't that considered fuinjutsu?"
"That is juinjutsu, not fuinjutsu," Jiraiya clarified. "It's also known as cursed seal techniques. They are a chakra application that gives the victim control over their abilities and actions."
"That was the seal that Orochimaru gave to Sasuke," Naruto realised.
A shiver ran down his spine as he considered the secondary effect of his Adamantine Sensing Chains. He was well aware of their ability to exert control over people, having previously used them to manipulate Kiba. Even though they had not worked on Mizuku, a chunin, it was possible that he needed to improve his mastery of the chains. The question was whether the chains were some kind of cursed seal. He knew fuinjutsu was used to create the typical sealing chains, but his were different. Why were they so dissimilar, and what was the golden chakra that provided them with their strength?
"Didn't Kakashi use fuinjutsu to seal it away?" Naruto asked.
"He did, but it was only a temporary fix," Jiraiya said. "Fuijutsu can permanently seal cursed seals if one fully comprehends their creation and devises a corresponding countermeasure."
"similar to the way you dealt with the cursed seal of the Hyuga clan."
"Yes, but it took me a long time to figure out a solution, Jiraiya admitted. "Did you know that the main house can inflict pain on branch members as a form of punishment? It works by sending signals to the brain, which then activates its pain receptors. In extreme cases, it can even destroy brain cells. Because the seal is directly connected to the brain, I needed to create a fuinjutsu seal that could safely seal it without causing harm to the recipient's brain."
"Truly a heinous use of chakra," Hisashi sighed. "Getting back to the main point. Fuinjutsu is typically limited in what it can do, but we made a discovery that changed everything."
Jiraiya straightened up, an alert expression on his face. "Do you mean the rumours were true? The four hidden villages that attacked Uzushio claimed that your clan's use of fuinjutsu was dangerous, but I have always suspected it was a fabricated excuse designed to weaken Konoha by removing a powerful ally."
Hisashi's eyes closed, his face filled with grief. "They weren't wrong. The Uzumaki clan discovered a secret that allowed them to use fuinjutsu to create almost anything as long as they had the necessary chakra. Given enough time, it would have turned us into a true force to be reckoned with. However, some of our clan members were not as discreet as they should have been and ended up revealing too much information to the outside world, which alarmed the other hidden villages. They never fully grasped the true scope of what we could accomplish, but it was sufficient to spur them into action."
"Did it alarm Konoha as well?" Jiraiya asked shrewdly.
"Yes, but perhaps not in the way you think," Hisashi replied. "I believe one of the main reasons Konoha never helped us during the invasion was because they were told not to by the Daimyo."
Naruto was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Forgive me," Jiraiya said before Hisashi could respond. "But I haven't taught Naruto the true nature of the world yet. He doesn't understand why Konoha wasn't allowed to assist one of their closest allies."
"Explain to me," Naruto demanded.
"Naruto," Jiraiya said. "In the simplest terms, everything that occurs in the Elemental Nations serves a single purpose. Ensuring that the feudal lords remain the sole governing authority."
"Do you mean the Daimyo?" Naruto asked. "Are you saying that they refused to help Uzushio because they were afraid of them gaining too much power? Why were civilians given power in the first place when Shinobi possessed all military power?"
"It's simple. During the Warring States period, there was so much pain and bloodshed that it demonstrated that Shinobi did not know how to govern themselves or their people. A Shinobi's average life expectancy was less than thirty years old.
"The first Shinobi village was established through a collaborative effort between the Senju and Uchiha clans, who allied with the Land of Fire. It was not an easy decision, and the Shinobi did not give up all of their power carelessly. They realised that Shinobi were not well-suited to govern large territories, so they decided to serve as the Land of Fire's general staff. They agreed to lend their military expertise to support the feudal lords, leaving the civil service administration to them."
"There have been three Great Ninja Wars since then," Naruto deadpanned. "So it doesn't appear that everything went as planned."
"Well, good intentions don't always equate to a good outcome," Hisashi explained. "The feudal lords began to assemble their own armies, including Shinobi and displaced Samurai from the Land of Iron. The balance of power shifted over time, and the hidden villages were given less autonomy. Although the villages have the strength to revolt, the majority of them are content with the current system. While it is still heavily flawed, it's better than what it was during the Warring States period. Furthermore, feudal lords ensure that shinobi never become obsolete, ensuring that they always have a reliable means of income."
"How do they accomplish that?"
"The primary method is to ensure that civilians are reliant on Shinobi," Hisashi said. "Aside from the major hidden villages, cities, and capitals, most villages lack adequate protection. As a result, civilians are left vulnerable to threats posed by bandits, rogue shinobi, and, in some cases, wild creatures. They must hire Shinobi to deal with these threats."
"Another approach involves imposing restrictions on the technologies that are permitted to exist," Jiraiya added. "How is it that we have computers that make our lives easier, but we still lack a reliable method for long-distance communication, which is more important?"
"I don't know." Naruto shrugged.
"The truth is, a method was invented decades ago," Jiraiya said. "Telephones were invented to allow instant communication between everyone in the Elemental Nations. They were not, however, permitted to build the infrastructure required to support their operation. What was the reason for that?"
"Everyone would feel more connected to one another and less isolated from one another," Naruto said after a brief thought. "They wouldn't have to rely on Shinobi for communication. It may also lead to improved relations between the different nations."
"Exactly," Jiraiya said, clapping his hands. "There are numerous technological advancements that have yet to be developed, such as advanced weaponry and faster modes of transportation. All of these aim to make Shinobi indispensable in civilians' daily lives. The Land of Iron is the exception. They developed differently as a result of their isolation and differing philosophies."
Naruto reflected on everything he had just learned. Although he understood why the Shinobi chose the path they did, he didn't believe it was the best choice. There was still an excess of conflict and death, all while ironically attempting to maintain the status quo. There must be a better way to create a future in which civilians are not vulnerable to bandits and entire clans are not exterminated. He was not arrogant enough to believe he knew of a better path for the Elemental Nations, but he was determined to find it. Perhaps it was as simple as observing how the Land of Iron did it and following its lead.
"We have gotten off track," Hisashi said, jolting Naruto out of his thoughts. Before I reveal the clan's secret to you, Naruto, what is our current level of fuinjutsu mastery?"
"I don't have any training whatsoever," Naruto confessed without a hint of shame.
"What?" Hisashi glared at Naruto before turning his ire on Jiraiya. "What have you been teaching him all these years?"
"I haven't been involved in Naruto's life that much," Jiraiya admitted, bowing his head in shame.
"Well, this delays my plans a little," Hisashi said. "He needs a solid foundation in fuinjutsu before we proceed any further."
"He is a bit stupid, but he is an Uzumaki," Jiraiya smirked. "It shouldn't take long to catch him up to speed."
"Oi!" Naruto protested.
"Then I will wait until he is up to speed," Hisashi nodded, his gaze shifting to Naruto with a gentler expression. "I am glad to see that Kushina lives on in you, Naruto. Don't be a stranger. I will entrust Jiraiya with the task of teaching you the fundamentals of fuinjutsu. I lack the patience to teach anyone."
"Okay, gramps," Naruto grinned.
"Let's call it a night," Jiraiya said. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Hisashi. I look forward to talking with you in the future."
Naruto awoke early the next day and began his training by running laps around the area to warm up his body. One positive outcome of his time in the compound was the development of a work ethic that had previously been lacking in his training. While he had previously demonstrated that when properly motivated, he was capable of intense training, his dedication was not always consistent.
Hinata and some of the other Genin joined him. Kiba's predictability was evident as he turned the warm-up into a race. Although Naruto initially entertained the boy, he eventually left him far behind. The supposed alpha, discontent with this outcome, stood up and confronted Naruto face-to-face.
"You think you are so great!" Kiba growled. "Why don't we spar so I can kick your ass?"
"I don't know," Naruto said, rubbing his chin as he considered the idea. "At my current skill level, sparring with you would be considered bullying, and I am aware of your fragile ego."
"Asshole!" Kiba pushed him back.
Filled with anger, Naruto was determined to take Kiba down a notch and humiliate him. He had been considering this idea for quite some time, and now was the perfect time to try it out. Naruto released his chains and ensnared Akamaru, who was standing behind Kiba. He dispatched a command through the chains and waited for the results of his experiment.
"Kiba, that's enough," Hinata said as she walked up to them.
"Hinata, this has nothing to do with you... ouch!" Kiba shrieked.
Naruto had given Akamaru the order to bite Kiba in the ass. Kiba tried desperately to reach behind him to remove the ninken, but his efforts were futile. Naruto collapsed to the ground in fits of laughter, and the rest of the group soon followed suit.
"Does he taste good, Akamaru?" Choji chuckled. "Perhaps I should include Kiba cheeks on the menu!"
Hinata covered her mouth to conceal her laughter, but her eyes revealed her mirth.
"Oh boy, it looks like we have got a new alpha male in town!" Ino snorted. "And he has made Kiba his bitch!"
Naruto eventually regained enough composure to relinquish command of the ninken. Akamaru let go of Kiba and looked around, confused by what was going on.
"What the hell was that for, Akamaru?" Kiba cried.
Akamaru appeared aggrieved, barking at his companion as if he were trying to explain his actions. Naruto felt bad for upsetting the ninken.
"Perhaps he was trying to say something to you, Kiba," Naruto said. "Try not to chill out a little."
Kiba growled and stormed off, with Akamaru following behind him.
"What will you practise today, Naruto?" Hinata asked.
"I am working on a new wind release jutsu," Naruto explained. "I started practising in the compound, but I still haven't mastered it."
"What is the name of the jutsu?"
Naruto turned around to see the three Suna siblings standing in front of him. Temari was the one who had spoken. He remembered their agreement to help each other with their training.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm," Naruto replied.
"I have already learned it," Temari said. "Why don't you show me your progress so far and I will make some suggestions?"
"That would be great," Naruto replied.
He took aim at a dummy target that had been set up nearby and performed the sequence of hand seals; Snake → Ram → Boar → Horse → Bird, and then finished the jutsu by clapping his hands together.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm."
Shouting the jutsu's name was completely unnecessary, but a little showmanship on the training grounds never hurt, as long as it didn't become a habit.
A compressed orb of air appeared between his hands, and he presented his palms in the direction of the target, sending a powerful gust of wind towards it. At least, that is what is supposed to happen, but the wind died before it even reached half a dozen feet. When used correctly, it was intended to unleash a powerful surge of wind capable of knocking opponents off their feet.
"What am I doing wrong?" Naruto asked.
Temari advanced, placing herself next to Naruto and facing the target. "Watch as I demonstrate the jutsu and try to figure out where you went wrong."
She performed the same hand seals before releasing a gust of wind from her hands. Unlike his, her attack persisted and surged forward, striking the target with force. As a result, the target was ripped from the ground and launched backwards through the air.
"I don't see any difference between your execution and mine," Naruto said.
"Your execution was flawless, with one exception," Temari said. "You are not feeding the jutsu enough chakra. You are only spending enough to produce the wind, but it requires more to maintain its momentum. Depending on the distance to the target, the amount of chakra you use will need to be adjusted."
"I understand," Naruto said. He channelled three times the amount of chakra into the jutsu. However, his efforts went above and beyond what was required, causing the wind to veer sideways and almost hit Temari. Fortunately, she was able to avoid it just in time.
"I am sorry," Naruto said sheepishly.
"It takes practice," Temari said, looking annoyed. "Gale palm can also be used in conjunction with kunai and shuriken to increase their velocity. But I suggest you master the jutsu first."
"It's why I chose to learn it."
"How about we have a spar? I need to improve my taijutsu, as it's a weak point of mine."
"You might want to go with Hinata instead," Ino said, rolling her eyes. "Naruto is terrible at taijutsu."
"You're one to speak," Naruto retorted. "Was your fight with Sakura in the chunin exams supposed to be a fight between two Shinobi? To me, it looked more like an alley catfight. Meow!"
"What did you say?" Ino growled. She was about to take a step forward when Choji grabbed her and whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened, and she decided to ignore his rude remark.
A larger crowd had gathered to watch them spar by this point. Naruto and Temari took their respective stances and faced each other. He released his chains and attached them to one of her legs.
"We won't use any ninjutsu. Taijutsu only," Temari said. "Based on your stance, you have some proficiency in taijutsu."
"There were some advantages to being imprisoned in the compound," Naruto confirmed. "Although, I would have proffered a less extreme method of training."
They performed the Seal of Confrontation before beginning the spar. Temaru charged forward to engage Naruto in close combat. Since he faced a single opponent, he reverted to his usual strategy of remaining on the defensive until he found an opportunity to counter.
Temari had been downplaying her taijutsu abilities. While she didn't have the same speed as someone like Sasuke or Hinata, she made up for it with her sheer strength. The punches and kicks that were being aimed at him packed a powerful force behind them. If any of the strikes had connected, it would inflict considerable damage.
Nevertheless, Naruto's uncanny ability to dodge each attack rendered Temari's efforts useless. Despite her outward composure, she began to display signs of increasing inconsistency in her strikes. Utilising his Adamantine Sensing Chain, he astutely identified the perfect moment to launch a counterattack. He grabbed her arm quickly and executed a flawless shoulder flip, sending her tumbling to the ground.
Temari reacted quickly after landing on her back by bringing her legs together in an attempt to trap his head in a scissor hold. He let go of her arm and took a step back before seizing her elevated legs, hoisting her up, and slamming her to the ground. Temari let out a groan as she felt the back of her head smash against the ground.
The fight had devolved into a wrestling match. Temari was a formidable opponent, but she was no match for Naruto. He pinned her to the ground, grabbed her arm, and applied an arm bar. She cried out, twisting her body in an attempt to break free, but he held on tight.
"Do you yield?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, dammit," Temari huffed, and he let her go. She stood up and brushed herself off, looking disgusted with herself. "You countered every move I made. I was completely powerless."
"I wouldn't go that far," Naruto said as he performed the Seal of Reconciliation. "I am just used to fighting a stronger opponent. I learned how to read an opponent's moves during a fight. It's a big part of my taijutsu style."
"My speed isn't good enough," Temari sighed.
"I recommend using chakra weights," Naruto advised. "I had to wear them all the time while I was in the compound. But I believe you are being too hard on yourself. Taijutsu is not your primary means of offence. Based on your fight with Shikamaru, it is clear that you are skilled in wind release jutsu and have a lot of chakra. Your area of expertise is mid to long-range combat."
"Thanks for the spar," Temari said, smiling and walking off to join her brothers.
"Can I spar with you next, Naruto?" Hinata asked.
"No problem," Naruto replied. "I know I am going to have a difficult time with you."
Especially considering he refused to use his Adamantine Sensing Chains on her.
Jiraiya didn't return until late in the afternoon, so Naruto kept himself busy by practising his calligraphy. He was given scrolls of paper, ink, and brushes to practise because fuinjutsu demanded that his kanji be flawless. It had killed all of his enthusiasm for learning fuinjutsu, but he knew it was necessary to move forward. If he made even the smallest error when writing the seal, then it would fail.
Naruto spent the rest of his time meeting and talking with the other villagers. He was relieved that most of them had no ill will towards him, but this also left him feeling guilty about his actions towards them. With the ability to read people's intentions to some extent, he felt a strong sense of duty to protect the village by ensuring that no one was harbouring betrayal thoughts.
Thankfully, no one he had examined so far had expressed any desire to betray the village. Although he had yet to approach Sai, who was the most likely to betray them if he managed to escape. He couldn't understand why Jiraiya had bothered to bring him along. Why didn't he knock Sai out and leave him in the compound?
He also considered going into his mindscape to speak with Kurama, but he was still angry at the fox for not telling him about his parents. Furthermore, Kurama did kill them, despite knowing this beforehand and coming to terms with it. He would have to deal with it eventually and see what Kurama had to say for himself.
"Naruto, I'm back!" Jiraiya entered the tent. "Oh good, you are practising your calligraphy."
Naruto sighed and returned the brush to the inkpot. "Yes, and it's the most boring thing ever. Where have you been?"
"You requested that I take you to Tsunade, but I am unable to do so without first obtaining permission from the toad to take you to Mount Myoboku."
"But I signed the contract."
"Well, it's not so much about permission, but more about being polite. You haven't been there before, so some may not recognise you immediately and attack."
"Doesn't Tsunade want to come here?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "Tsunade is being incredibly stubborn and refuses to leave."
"Stubborn old hag. When are we leaving?"
"We will leave early tomorrow morning."
"Great," Naruto said as he clenched his fists. "If necessary, I will drag that old hag back kicking and screaming."
"I wouldn't call her old if you want to keep on living," Jiraiya said, wincing. "She goes to great lengths to hide her real age."
"I like to live dangerously," Naruto smirked.
"It's your funeral. Anyway, I have got something for you," Jiraiya said, reaching into his kimono and pulling out a storage scroll. He placed it on the ground and unrolled it. He performed a hand seal, causing the contents to spill out over the floor.
"A bunch of water balloons?" Naruto's brow furrowed. "I appreciate the gesture, but I'm not in the mood to prank anyone right now."
"It's not for pranking," Jiraiya said. "What if I told you that these water balloons are the first step towards learning a powerful jutsu that your father invented?"
"Hell yeah!" Naruto exclaimed, brimming with excitement. "What's the name of the jutsu?"
"The Rasengan," Jiraiya said, raising his hand. In an instant, a swirling ball of blue chakra materialised in his palm.
"Woah!" Naruto closely examined the jutsu. "It doesn't use any hand signs. How is that possible?"
"Shape manipulation," Jiraiya answered. "Minato created this jutsu after witnessing the power of the tailed-beast bomb."
"I am learning it right now," Naruto declared.
"Do you think it is that easy?" Jiraiya grinned. "Mastering shape manipulation is a difficult endeavour in and of itself, and the Rasengan can be considered the pinnacle of the discipline."
"Whatever. "Show me what I need to do," Naruto said, refusing to be discouraged by the apparent difficulty.
"Grab a balloon," Jiraiya said. "This is the first of three steps to mastering the Rasengan. To complete the first step, you need to rotate the chakra in your hand sufficiently enough to make the balloon burst."
Naruto focused his attention on his hand, determined to make his chakra circulate. It felt sluggish and unresponsive, requiring him to exert considerable effort to get it moving. Finally, the balloon shifted slightly, causing a small ripple to appear on its surface.
"Oh, it will not take long at all," Jiraiya laughed.
"Shut it! I will master this step in no time. Believe it!"
So, what do you think? In the next chapter, Naruto goes to Mount Myoboku, and Danzo is surprised by Orochimaru's new appearance.
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Thanks for reading.