Chapter 239: Talent
Under Jiraiya's gaze full of suspicion, Naruto—to prove he hadn't cheated by puncturing the water balloon but relied on genuine chakra control—picked up another new water balloon, concentrated, and controlled chakra to flow and rotate precisely in his palm.
Pop!
The water balloon burst on cue, water splashing everywhere. The process was clean and efficient.
Watching Jiraiya's expression rapidly transform from initial doubt to undisguisable shock, Naruto's complexion couldn't help but become somewhat peculiar.
Though Naruto indeed didn't know the standard Rasengan, he'd long since mastered its advanced version—the Rasenshuriken, even the Massive Rasenshuriken.
From a certain perspective, the Rasengan could be seen as a simplified version or basic form of the Rasenshuriken, requiring neither extreme chakra compression nor mixing in Nine-Tails chakra.
For Naruto, this was simply like having already mastered advanced calculus, then going back to solve linear equations—a feeling of dimensional reduction attack.
Jiraiya seemed to forcibly suppress the surging emotions within. He took a deep breath, then used Body Flicker Technique, disappearing from his spot with a "whoosh." Less than a minute later, he reappeared with another "whoosh," holding several just-purchased, tough-textured rubber balls.
"Hmph... hmph... you kid actually have some skill, completing the first stage so quickly."
Jiraiya tried to make his tone sound calm and normal, but his slightly rising inflection still betrayed his composure. "Well then, try this next! These rubber balls are a hundred times tougher than water balloons!"
Saying this, he personally picked up a rubber ball, chakra surging in his palm as he demonstratively burst it.
Bang!
The rubber ball's bursting sound was duller than the water balloon's.
However, when Jiraiya handed a new rubber ball to Naruto, almost the instant the rubber ball touched his palm—
Bang!
Another crisp bursting sound! That tough rubber ball couldn't even last three seconds in Naruto's hand before instantly being expanded and disintegrated under a powerful rotating chakra impact!
Though mastering an advanced jutsu then going back to learn the basic version was indeed somewhat "unreasonable"... to make Jiraiya truly take him seriously and recognize his potential, Naruto felt it necessary to appropriately display this "talent."
"Then... the Rasengan, in complete form, should be like this."
Without waiting for the dumbstruck Jiraiya to speak again, Naruto had already calmly raised his right hand. As his thought moved, massive chakra rapidly gathered toward his palm, rotating!
Almost instantly, a blue chakra sphere emitting a low hum had formed, spinning rapidly in his palm!
Jiraiya watched helplessly as Naruto casually pressed this freshly made Rasengan against another nearby tree trunk—
Boom!
Another neat circular gap was instantly gouged out! Amid flying wood chips, the tree groaned in pain, slowly toppling over.
You must know, Jiraiya's original psychological expectation was to spend at least a month teaching Naruto to master this A-rank jutsu.
He'd planned that if Naruto could learn the Rasengan within a month, he'd consider taking him as a disciple.
The result? How long did this kid take from hearing the explanation to perfectly executing it? The time it took to eat a bowl of ramen?! This could no longer be described as genius... it was like... no, this terrifying learning speed and control even surpassed his father!
Could it be... the child before him truly was that person from the prophecy?! Jiraiya forcibly suppressed the joy and excitement nearly bursting from his heart, striving to maintain a senior's composure as he strode before Naruto and vigorously patted his shoulder.
"You kid... are much more impressive than I imagined!" Jiraiya's tone carried undisguisable amazement. "You know, this A-rank seal-less jutsu 'Rasengan'—even the Fourth Hokage spent a full three years to completely master it back then!"
When he said this, he held some probing intent, wanting to see what kind of proud or excited expression Naruto would show upon learning his talent even surpassed that legendary Hokage.
However, Naruto's reaction completely exceeded his expectations. Naruto knew very clearly that the so-called "three years to learn Rasengan" statement was a complete misunderstanding of his father Namikaze Minato.
First, the Fourth Hokage didn't "learn" but rather "developed" this technique from nothing—these were two entirely different concepts. Second, Minato was in an era of raging war fires. In such a tense environment, independently conceptualizing and successfully creating such an exquisite jutsu—its difficulty compared to simply learning along a path predecessors had paved was worlds apart.
"Really? The Fourth Hokage actually..."
Naruto appropriately showed surprise on his face, but then his words took a turn: "But, Jiraiya-san, this is actually completely different."
"Because the Fourth Hokage 'learned it himself' with no path ahead to follow. And me? I'm running forward on a path you and he already paved, so naturally it's much faster. This doesn't prove I'm better than him."
Jiraiya froze momentarily, then an indescribable warmth surged in his heart. Having spoken such modest and perceptive words, the result actually sounded more like showing off.
His gaze toward Naruto filled with relief and admiration. This child possessed not only exceptional talent but also rare character.
"Hahahaha!" Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter, reaching out to vigorously ruffle Naruto's golden hair. "What's this! You dare lecture this great Jiraiya-sama! But don't get cocky over this achievement, Naruto!"
While speaking, ignoring Naruto's helplessly ruffled expression, he continued his "head massage" while declaring: "Alright! Since you've already successfully mastered the Rasengan, today's training ends here! Of course—tomorrow I'll teach you a super difficult jutsu! Prepare yourself mentally!"
Just as Jiraiya excitedly planned future teaching curriculum, a crisp notification sound that only Naruto could perceive rang out.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host: Established Bond Level 2 with original character "Jiraiya"!]
[Points Obtained: 600!]