"Why are you two looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?"
Jiraiya chuckled at the murderous glares from Orochimaru and Tsunade, finding their expressions more amusing than threatening.
After a long day of training, Jiraiya was exhausted, but teasing Orochimaru and Tsunade served as an excellent way to unwind. Sure, it might annoy them, but seeing their frustrated faces gave him immense satisfaction.
"Jiraiya, you're so petty. If you don't want to share your little trick, fine, but don't think I care," Tsunade scoffed, crossing her arms.
She was convinced that Jiraiya had discovered some secret during their training session. Otherwise, there was no way he could have mastered the technique so quickly.
"That's enough training for today," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile. "Since Jiraiya has already mastered this technique, you can ask him for guidance if you run into any difficulties. Don't be shy. I hope both of you can learn this jutsu within the week."
"Sensei, even if I never master this jutsu in my life, I'd rather die than ask Jiraiya for help! And Orochimaru won't ask him either. Who does he think he is?" Tsunade declared with absolute confidence.
Hiruzen didn't respond to her outburst. He simply activated the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from the training ground. He had a mountain of paperwork waiting for him, and if he didn't get started soon, it would mean another long night of overtime. That, in turn, would cut into his "reconnaissance" time at the women's bathhouse—no, wait, his village security duties. After all, Konoha was on edge with tensions rising between the villages.
"Orochimaru," Tsunade snapped, "why are you asking Jiraiya for advice?"
"Because he already mastered it. Should I ask you for help instead?" Orochimaru shot her an indifferent glance.
"You bastard!"
Tsunade lost her temper and punched Orochimaru, sending him flying across the training ground.
"Why did you hit me?" Orochimaru stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes, looking genuinely confused. "I didn't say anything wrong. Sensei's gone, and I want to master the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique quickly. Who else should I ask?"
"The reason your chakra keeps dispersing when you're forming the clones is simple," Jiraiya interjected, giving Orochimaru a pitying look.
"What's the reason?" Orochimaru asked, ignoring Tsunade's glare as he dusted himself off.
"It's because you're rushing the process without fully controlling the chakra flow. Once you can meticulously manage every bit of chakra you channel into the shuriken, the clones will form without issue," Jiraiya explained.
Mastering every ounce of chakra was the hardest part of the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique. If not for his Sage Body, which he'd received through one of his fortuitous training accidents, he wouldn't have been able to pull it off so quickly either.
Orochimaru nodded thoughtfully, already deep in concentration as he resumed his training.
"Tsunade," Jiraiya said, walking up to her with a sly grin, "it's time for you to keep your promise."
"I always honor my word," Tsunade replied, though her expression betrayed a hint of regret.
"Whatever you want, just say it. As long as it doesn't go against my principles, I'll do it."
"After dinner, come to my place. I'll tell you my request then," Jiraiya said with a smirk.
The task he had in mind would require a lot of energy, and after an entire day of training, he didn't want Tsunade to be too exhausted to carry it out.
Jiraiya and Tsunade left the training ground, leaving Orochimaru behind to train tirelessly.
"1,001... 1,002... 1,003..."
As Jiraiya neared his house, he spotted a young man in a green bodysuit doing rapid push-ups on an open field. It was none other than Might Duy, the father of Might Guy.
Duy was known as the Eternal Genin of Konoha, perpetually overlooked and ridiculed by his peers. Few knew that this seemingly unimpressive man had mastered the Eight Gates, a legendary taijutsu technique.
In the future, during the Third Shinobi War, Duy would sacrifice himself to save his son, Guy, and his comrades from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. By opening the Eighth Gate, he burned his youth to the fullest and turned the infamous swordsmen into nothing more than a cautionary tale.
"Duy-san," Jiraiya called out with a smile.
Duy froze mid-push-up, then turned to Jiraiya, tears streaming down his face.
"The Hokage's student is speaking to me! This is a glorious day! I'll run 100 laps around the village to celebrate!"
"Duy-san, there's no need to overdo it..." Jiraiya said, taken aback by Duy's intensity.
But Duy didn't hear him. "You're right! 200 laps it is! Youth burns brightest when we push ourselves to the limit!"
Jiraiya sighed, realizing it was futile to stop him. He decided it was best to leave before Duy pushed himself into oblivion.
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