Jiraiya's palm still rested gently on the egg.
The sensation was incredibly peculiar.
His chakra seemed to resonate with the unformed life within the egg.
With each breath he took earlier, the energy within his body had guided the white luminous mass inside the egg to slowly transform.
It was as if the life within was listening to his presence, reshaping itself.
"This..."
Jiraiya paused, unable to hold back a soft exclamation.
The life inside the egg... was actually changing form in response to my chakra?
It seemed... as though it existed to adapt to me.
"Is it reshaping itself... in accordance with human will?"
Jiraiya looked up, a flicker of seriousness in his eyes.
"Exactly so."
Shiroishi smiled faintly, his tone as calm as if stating a simple fact.
"This is probably... what I call my bloodline ability. Nurturing, shaping, and guiding life."
Jiraiya stared at him in silence for a long moment.
Then, he took a deep breath and suddenly reached out to pat Shiroishi's shoulder, laughing as he said, "Isn't that ability of yours a bit too exaggerated?"
Shiroishi swayed slightly from the pat, his face immediately turning pale.
He coughed lightly, his expression weary.
Jiraiya quickly noticed something was wrong and reached out to examine him.
After a moment, he frowned.
"Your body... is extremely weak. Your chakra flow is unstable too. It's as if your life energy is being constantly drained."
Shiroishi managed a faint smile. "It's a side effect. Every time I awaken it, a portion of my life force is reclaimed and infused into it to maintain balance."
"I see..."
Jiraiya murmured softly, his gaze gradually growing complex.
This power truly exceeded what ordinary people could comprehend.
The ability to create life, genes that resonated with chakra, a balance mechanism paid for with life force.
That was the ultimate Yang Release.
"This unique bloodline... it's truly remarkable."
But soon, his astonishment was replaced by a certain calmness.
Because at that moment, he caught sight of Nagato standing quietly nearby.
After all, the Rinnegan had already appeared, so a bloodline user like Shiroishi who could create Ninja Beasts out of thin air didn't seem so strange anymore.
"Haha," Jiraiya sighed lightly, shaking his head with a smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "It seems fate really enjoys playing jokes."
He studied the children before him.
Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, and Shiroishi.
This encounter, seemingly accidental, felt like a chapter written in destiny long ago.
If someone hadn't peeked at the script beforehand, how could such coincidences exist in this world?
In the turbulent times of the Land of Rain, four young souls had met because of a single hatching.
This felt more like an arrangement of fate.
Jiraiya sighed inwardly.
Regardless of Shiroishi's true origins, he understood at least one thing:
There was some inexplicable bond between this youth and these three children from the Land of Rain.
Perhaps he was the one meant to assist the Children of Destiny.
As for who that Child of Destiny truly was?
Was it Nagato with his Rinnegan?
Or was it Yahiko, who always smiled and spoke of changing the world?
Or perhaps all the hope-bearing children of their generation?
These questions didn't seem important at this moment.
As Jiraiya looked at them, the passion that had lain dormant in his heart for years was reignited once more.
He clenched his fist lightly, a self-mocking smile on his lips.
"Whoever it is, I'll do my best to teach them to become true ninjas."
By the end of his words, he felt slightly moved.
The laugh lines at the corners of his eyes deepened, his voice low yet filled with tenderness and resolve.
Yes, Jiraiya had fallen into self-satisfaction.
Shiroishi stole a glance at Jiraiya.
Then said nothing more.
The clouds hung thick, humidity lingered, and mist coiled unceasingly by the stream.
The gentle murmur of water intertwined with the drizzle, embellishing their training.
Jiraiya sat cross-legged on a rock by the stream, an old notebook resting at his feet.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan sat neatly below him, while Shiroishi watched quietly from a short distance away.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya to truly treat him as one of the students.
"Alright, today's lesson is simple," Jiraiya stretched lazily, his tone casual yet carrying a hint of a teacher's authority.
"To become a qualified ninja, the most important thing is understanding and controlling Chakra, as it is an extension of one's soul and will."
He dipped his finger into the stream and drew a simple circle in the air.
"The essence of Chakra lies in the balance between spirit and physical energy.
Physical energy is your body, spirit is your will. Only when the two combine can Chakra flow steadily."
Shiroishi stared at the trail of water on his fingertip, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.
He listened intently to every word Jiraiya spoke.
In the Land of Rain, ninjutsu was often chaotic.
More a means of survival than a system of cultivation.
So-called ninja education was merely repeated trial and error, trading lives for experience.
Even those with exceptional talent could only advance through arduous exploration.
Yet now, every word Jiraiya spoke carried a sense of systematic completeness.
This was the foundation of Konoha.
Something Shiroishi, as an outsider, lacked most yet desired most.
Yahiko raised his hand and asked deliberately, "Sensei, what if one's physical energy is too weak? Does that mean Chakra becomes unstable?"
"The flow of Chakra is like breathing. It's a natural cycle born from the body and mind."
Konan nodded slightly, holding Squirtle in her arms, softly repeating the words...
Shiroishi sat behind them, the wind rustling his light gray sleeves.
His gaze never left Jiraiya's hands.
To him, Jiraiya's explanation wasn't just theory—it was a transmission.
He closed his eyes, slowly adjusting his breathing, the Chakra within him flowing with his breath, gradually stabilizing.
Jiraiya noticed his actions and smiled faintly at the corners of his mouth.
"Not bad, Shiroishi."
He stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes. "You learn quickly."
Shiroishi opened his eyes and smiled calmly. "You teach well."
"Haha, that sounds pleasing to the ear." Jiraiya scratched his head, looking quite pleased. "Actually, you're just here to help Yahiko and the others. I haven't taught you anything."
Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato all laughed.
The atmosphere grew relaxed and warm.
They gathered by the stream again, continuing to listen as Jiraiya explained the basic structure of ninjutsu and combat philosophy.
Although these concepts were already familiar to Yahiko and the other two, they remained fully attentive.
Because they all understood.
These words were actually meant for Shiroishi.
Shiroishi knew this very well.
What Jiraiya taught might be the most fundamental knowledge from the Konoha Ninja Academy.
Yet this foundation was precisely what Shiroishi needed at this moment.
Because in this era, while residing in the Land of Rain, he had virtually no access to such systematic training in basic ninjutsu.
After all, Konoha represented the largest and most orthodox school of ninja arts in this age.
Even these fundamentals held immense significance.