"Of course I understand that," Naruto replied with obvious hesitation, his earlier confidence suddenly dampened by the reminder of potential consequences.
Since early childhood, his mother had drilled into him the fundamental taboos that all ninja must observe, and the thought of Kushina discovering his newly invented technique filled him with genuine dread. The potential punishment would likely be far worse than anything any enemy could inflict upon him.
"You should head home first," Minato said gently, brushing dust and debris from Naruto's training clothes with paternal care. "I need to have a private discussion with Jiraiya-sensei about your training program."
"Okay, Dad," Naruto nodded obediently, though he cast one last curious glance at his teacher before turning and jogging toward the village proper.
After ensuring that Naruto was well out of earshot, Minato turned his attention to Jiraiya, who was still dabbing at his nose with a cloth while maintaining an expression of barely suppressed satisfaction. The Fourth Hokage's eye twitched involuntarily as he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Teacher," Minato began with forced calm, "would you mind explaining exactly what just happened here?"
When he had entrusted Naruto's training to Jiraiya, he had expected intensive combat instruction and perhaps lessons in advanced chakra control. He certainly hadn't anticipated witnessing such an... unconventional approach to ninja arts on the very first day.
While Minato held deep respect and affection for his former instructor, he couldn't deny that Jiraiya's behavior regarding women was consistently problematic. This particular weakness might very well explain why Tsunade had continued to reject his romantic advances despite decades of persistence.
Jiraiya's eyes still held traces of that disturbing look of nostalgic pleasure, but Minato's pointed question snapped him back to the present situation. With visible effort, he composed himself and provided a complete account of the afternoon's training session.
"While the application method is admittedly absurd and completely contrary to conventional ninja principles," Jiraiya concluded with professional seriousness, "the ability to identify an opponent's psychological weaknesses and exploit them decisively does demonstrate a certain tactical brilliance."
After hearing the full explanation, Minato found himself caught between irritation and grudging admiration. The situation was simultaneously ridiculous and impressive in ways that defied easy categorization.
Beyond his mixed emotions about the technique itself, however, Minato felt genuinely surprised by what the incident revealed about his son's problem-solving capabilities.
The challenge that Jiraiya had set was genuinely impossible for Naruto to overcome through conventional means. The gap in their respective power levels was simply too vast for any straightforward approach to succeed.
Yet Naruto had managed to identify his opponent's specific vulnerability and devise a completely original solution that achieved the supposedly impossible objective. In a very real sense, this represented exactly the kind of innovative thinking that only truly gifted strategists could produce under pressure.
"You know, I'm beginning to realize that your decision regarding the Nine-Tails may have been more insightful than I initially understood," Jiraiya mused thoughtfully.
"Although Naruto is definitely your son, his approach to problem-solving is completely different from your own methods," he continued with growing appreciation. "Where you would analyze a situation and develop an elegant technical solution, he tends to find the most unexpected and unconventional path to victory."
Jiraiya had been somewhat skeptical when he first learned that Minato had split the Nine-Tails into two portions and sealed half of it within Naruto. After all, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy was notoriously vague, and there was no guarantee that Naruto was actually the predicted child of destiny.
However, today's demonstration had provided new insight into Naruto's unique potential. His complete willingness to abandon conventional ninja methodology in favor of creative alternatives might indeed represent exactly the kind of unpredictable factor that the prophecy had referenced.
Minato nodded slowly, beginning to understand his teacher's reasoning despite his lingering concerns about the specific technique involved.
However, just as the conversation seemed to be reaching a thoughtful conclusion, Jiraiya's expression shifted back to its earlier state of inappropriate enthusiasm.
"Speaking of which," he said with obvious relish, "Naruto's natural talent for that particular art form is truly exceptional. The proportions were absolutely perfect, and that voice..." He shivered with obvious pleasure. "It sent chills down my spine in all the right ways."
"Teacher..." Minato sighed deeply, recognizing that some aspects of Jiraiya's personality would never change regardless of age or circumstances.
"I should return home now," he said with resigned formality, offering a respectful bow before disappearing in a flash of yellow light.
This time, Minato made absolutely certain not to extend his usual invitation for Jiraiya to join them for dinner. If Kushina were to discover even a hint of what had transpired during today's training session, the consequences would be catastrophic for everyone involved.
While Naruto was completing his unconventional training and making his way home through Konoha's rebuilt streets, another group was preparing to depart from the village on a mission of far greater significance.
At the main gate, members of the reconnaissance squad stood in formation, their gear checked and their mission parameters confirmed. However, several team members cast uncertain glances toward one particular figure among their ranks.
Sasuke's presence in the group seemed distinctly out of place. While he had undoubtedly demonstrated exceptional abilities during his time as a genin, the mission they were about to undertake represented a completely different level of risk and complexity.
The reconnaissance work they would be conducting could easily escalate into direct combat with unknown enemies, and the stakes involved potential intelligence about threats to the entire village. It seemed highly unusual for someone of Sasuke's age and experience level to be included in such a critical assignment.
"I really don't understand what the Hokage is thinking," one team member muttered quietly, expressing the confusion that several of his colleagues were feeling.
Although Sasuke had graduated from the Academy months earlier and had gained significant experience through various missions, the work performed by standard genin teams was fundamentally different from the high-stakes intelligence gathering that the reconnaissance squad specialized in.
"Move out," came the terse command from their squad leader, cutting off any further speculation about mission assignments.
Behind dark sunglasses and wearing his characteristic high-collared coat, Aburame Shibi had assumed command.
As the reconnaissance team departed Konoha through the main gate, none of the standard security personnel noticed an additional figure following at a discrete distance. The shadowy pursuer possessed skills far beyond those of typical chunin-level guards, allowing him to pass completely undetected.
Moving through the forested terrain beyond Konoha's borders, the reconnaissance team maintained formation while covering ground at impressive speed. Their leader, however, was acutely aware of more than just his official team members.
"Still following us, I see," Aburame Shibi thought to himself, though he gave no outward sign of concern.
Minato had briefed him thoroughly before the mission began, so the presence of an additional operative caused no alarm. However, the skill level required to remain undetected by most of the team's sensor-type ninja was genuinely impressive.
"As expected of someone who became ANBU captain at thirteen years old," Shibi mused with professional appreciation. "None of our sensory specialists have noticed anything unusual, and only my insects detected the presence."
For his part, Itachi was well aware that his surveillance had been discovered. His Sharingan activated briefly as he scanned his surroundings, quickly identifying the tiny insect that had somehow attached itself to his clothing without his knowledge.
In the entire ninja world, no one could match Aburame Shibi, when it came to reconnaissance and intelligence gathering through insect manipulation. During the Third Great Ninja War, his abilities had provided crucial advantages that helped secure Konoha's ultimate victory.
The knowledge that he was being tracked by such methods actually reassured Itachi rather than concerned him. If Shibi's techniques were being employed, it meant that multiple layers of security were in place to ensure the mission's success.
Over the following days, Naruto's routine settled into a pattern of completing simple village assignments in the morning followed by intensive training with Jiraiya in the afternoon. His frustration with the repetitive nature of his official missions was increasingly offset by the challenges and insights provided by his unconventional instructor.
In the training ground, the sound of combat had become a familiar afternoon occurrence as Naruto continued his attempts to overcome seemingly impossible odds.
"Hah!" Naruto shouted as hundreds of shadow clones arranged themselves into multiple attack formations, approaching Jiraiya in carefully coordinated waves rather than the chaotic rush he had employed during their first session.
Surrounded by the complex tactical arrangement, Jiraiya moved with fluid grace, demonstrating why he was considered one of the legendary Sannin. Rather than employing devastating counter-attacks, he relied primarily on evasive maneuvers that caused Naruto's clones to interfere with each other, resulting in their eventual dispersion.
As the training session continued, Naruto's growing frustration became increasingly evident. Despite days of practice and tactical refinement, he had yet to achieve another successful strike against his instructor.
"In that case," he muttered with grim determination, "it's time to try something different."
This time, the remaining shadow clones simultaneously began forming the hand seals for transformation jutsu, their coordinated movements suggesting a plan far more elaborate than Naruto's previous attempts.
"Are you really going to use that technique again?" Jiraiya asked, though his expression showed eager anticipation rather than concern or disapproval.
"Harem Jutsu!" Naruto shouted triumphantly.
With synchronized precision, dozens of shadow clones transformed simultaneously, each taking the form of an attractive, scantily clad woman. The resulting scene was far more overwhelming than his previous single-target version of the technique.
"Oh my, Jiraiya-sama," the transformed clones called out in sultry, feminine voices as they surrounded the stunned Sannin.
At precisely that moment, two additional figures entered the training ground from the village direction. Chiharu, accompanied by Kushina who was carrying a picnic basket, had come to check on Naruto's progress and perhaps share an afternoon snack.
"Brother! Master Jiraiya!" Chiharu called out cheerfully, but her greeting died abruptly as she processed the scene before her.
Chiharu's cheeks immediately flushed bright red as she quickly averted her gaze from the shocking display. However, she couldn't help but notice that her mother's expression was undergoing a far more dramatic and ominous transformation.
Kushina's face had gone pale with shock before rapidly darkening with a fury that seemed to make the very air around her crackle with dangerous energy. The temperature in the training ground seemed to drop several degrees as an aura of maternal wrath began emanating from the legendary kunoichi.
The picnic basket fell from nerveless fingers as Kushina's hair began to fan out behind her like the tail of an enraged fox, her chakra fluctuations becoming visible to the naked eye as her legendary temper finally reached its breaking point.