"Over three hundred."
Seeing Orochimaru's intense curiosity, Jiraiya finally answered. He had hesitated earlier, fearing it might discourage Orochimaru and Tsunade.
"..."
"..."
Tsunade and Orochimaru's eyes widened as their jaws dropped.
Right now, they both wanted to give Jiraiya a good beating.
Are you kidding me? Splitting three hundred shuriken is already ridiculously impressive! Yet here he was, saying it's a minor improvement and not worth mentioning.
Was this even human speech?
Seeing their expressions, Jiraiya shook his head.
He hadn't wanted to dampen their spirits, but they had insisted on knowing.
Still, being a genius sure felt good.
"Orochimaru, how many can you manage now?" Jiraiya asked.
"I can split fifty," Orochimaru replied in a low voice, recovering from his shock.
He had thought he was doing great—until this moment when he realized the clown was himself.
"Fifty is already quite impressive," Jiraiya said sincerely. Orochimaru's progress was remarkable. Compared to most people, he was undeniably a top-tier genius. But compared to Jiraiya? It was a different story.
"And you, Tsunade?" Jiraiya turned to her with a grin.
"None of your business," Tsunade huffed, turning away with a sharp harrumph.
"Come on, Tsunade, it's okay if you haven't learned it yet," Orochimaru said, trying to comfort her.
"After all, the Shadow Shuriken Clone Jutsu is an A-rank technique. It takes a lot of time to master."
Tsunade's fists clenched tightly. Without a word, she sent Orochimaru flying with a powerful punch.
"Why did you hit me? What did I do wrong this time?" Orochimaru asked, utterly baffled and aggrieved. He was genuinely trying to console her.
"Who asked for your sympathy?!" Tsunade roared.
Talk about hitting a sore spot. She had deliberately avoided mentioning her progress, only for Orochimaru to expose her in one sentence. Did she not have her dignity to uphold?
'Women are terrifying creatures. I must stay far away from them in the future,' Orochimaru thought, stepping back cautiously as he watched Tsunade erupt in anger.
"Jiraiya, are you sure you're not exaggerating when you say you can split three hundred shuriken?" Tsunade turned her attention to Jiraiya, her tone skeptical.
She couldn't accept how far ahead Jiraiya was—not when she couldn't even manage one.
"A true genius can withstand doubt," Jiraiya replied with a faint smile.
He threw a specially prepared shuriken toward the forest and rapidly performed hand seals. A series of explosive sounds echoed as the shuriken multiplied into hundreds, streaking through the air and cutting down trees in their path.
"That's... amazing," Tsunade murmured, unable to suppress her awe. This time, she was genuinely impressed.
Jiraiya, catching the admiration in her eyes, was more than satisfied.
Women adore strong men.
If he kept getting stronger, it wouldn't be long before he won Tsunade over.
He only hoped Hiruzen Sarutobi would assign them a mission outside the village soon. A joint mission would give him the perfect opportunity to strengthen their bond.
Now that they were Chūnin, they were eligible for such assignments.
"Jiraiya, how did you train to reach this level?" Orochimaru asked, unable to hide his curiosity. He knew all too well how challenging the Shadow Shuriken Clone Jutsu was to master. Despite his relentless effort, he could only manage fifty clones. Yet Jiraiya had far surpassed him—it was staggering.
"I don't have any special tricks," Jiraiya replied nonchalantly. "Just hard work. If I had to name a secret, I'd say it's because I'm a genius. That's my biggest advantage."
"Don't let small achievements make you complacent, Jiraiya," a voice interrupted.
Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared at the training ground in a flash, his tone kind yet firm.
Jiraiya's recent accomplishments—defeating the Rabbit-Masked Ninja and mastering the jutsu—had not escaped Hiruzen's notice. The Third Hokage saw great potential in him, not only as a skilled ninja but also as a loyal one without the backing of a powerful clan. With the right guidance, Jiraiya could become a vital asset to the village.
'I should find time to teach him the Will of Fire, so he inherits it fully,' Hiruzen thought to himself.
The Will of Fire, first introduced by the First Hokage and refined by the Second, had become Hiruzen's philosophy. It emphasized that the older generation must protect the younger, ensuring the village's future.
While Hiruzen often spoke of this ideal, his actions didn't always align, especially during wartime. But in this era, his resolve remained untainted.
"Sensei!"
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade greeted him respectfully.
"Orochimaru, Jiraiya, you've both done well," Hiruzen said. "As for you, Tsunade, you need to train harder. Protecting the village will one day fall on your shoulders, so you can't afford to slack off. Especially now, with tensions rising at the borders, war may break out again soon."
His words carried a weight that silenced the trio, reminding them of the responsibilities that came with their strength—and the turbulent times they lived in.
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