Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Tail of Two Bijus ❯ Enter Jiraiya! ( Chapter 13 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: This episode will see the introduction of Jiraiya! Instead of Naruto learning to summon during his month's training, he'll learn the Rasengan (and the one handed one too, none of that kage bunshin help, because he's already understood the basics of it from the Rasengan scroll.)
 
The thing you'd never hear a character say quote for this chapter: NARUTO: "Sasuke's right! I AM a dobe! *prances around and sings* I'm a dobe! I'm a dobe! I'm a dobe!"
 
To NekoGuyFan: Thank you for explaining that to me. My faith in Naruto is restored.... Somewhat. I still don't like it how Sasuke was able to enter Naruto's mind, though...
 
As always, I hope my creativity gives you some semblance of pleasure to read.
 
Legend:
 
'...Thoughts...'
 
“...Speaking...”
 
“...TWO PEOPLE CASTING THE SAME JUTSU...”
 
'...Biju Thoughts...'
 
...Biju Talking...”
 
&&&&&&&&&...Scene Change...&&&&&&&&&&
 
A Tail of Two Bijus:
 
Chapter 12:
 
Enter, Jiraiya!
 
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Day One of Training, Team Seven's Training Area:
 
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Yukiko had turned up to hear what Kakashi had in sotre for them. Apparently he had found the three of them who were entering the main matches teachers to personally train them. In an unprecedented moment in history, Kakashi was already there waiting for them. They stopped, looked at each other, and left. Kalashi looked at them in confusion. About thirty seconds later, they came back and stared at Kakashi, who was still there.
 
“Is something wrong?”
 
“You're... Early?”
 
“Hmmm? I guess so.”
 
“You're a fake aren't you? Kakashi-Sensei is NEVER early!”
 
“No! Wait! I'm not a fake!”
 
“GET HIM!”
 
The four of them jumped at Kakashi, who was waving his hands and sweating bullets. They jumped on him and began pummeling him. After a while, they let up and stood back, the Kakashi look alike however, did not release his henge like they thought he would. He got up with bumps on his head and began swaggering, rubbing his head.
 
“Did you guys have to hit me so hard?”
 
“You're... The real Kakashi-Sensei?”
 
“I thought you would have seen that I wasn't using a henge.”
 
“Eh heh heh, gomen, Kakashi-Sensei.”
 
“Anyway, I've aranged a teacher for you, Naruto and Yukiko.”
 
Sasuke looked suspicious.
 
“What about me?”
 
“You're coming with me to train.”
 
Naruto looked crestfallen at this. Kakashi noticed this and smiled.
 
“Don't worry, Naruto. The teacher I got you and Yukiko is one of the best.”
 
“Really? Who is it?”
 
“That would be me.”
 
Naruto turned around at the voice. When he saw who it had come from, he screeched and pointed at the man.
 
“EH?! THE CLOSET PERVERT!? I BEAT HIM WITH A KAGE BUNSHIN AND A HENGE! I COULD KICK HIS ASS!”
 
“Really Naruto? Ebisu is a special Jounin like me. He's trained many Hokage hopefuls. He knows the skills required for being Hokage better than anyone apart from maybe the Hokage himself.”
 
Naruto accepted defeat and started walking off with Ebisu before he remembered something. He ran back to Kaakashi and started pulling him over to the side.
 
“Naruto? What are you doing?”
 
When Naruto had separated himself from the other, he pulled out the piece of paper that Kabuto had given him during the second test.
 
“Get this to the old man hokage NOW. This is a tip off to an invasion from the Sand and the Sound during the main matches.”
 
Kakashi became deadly serious.
 
“You do realise that if this is one of your practical jokes Naruto, the punishment will be severe.”
 
“Do you think I would joke about something like this?”
 
Kakashi nodded and took the note. He slipped it into his pocket before returning to the group.
 
“Sorry Sasuke, there's something I have to take care of before we start training.”
 
“The invasion?”
 
Kakashi again became deadly serious.
 
“How many of you actually know about this?”
 
“Just us four and Kabuto, who was the one who tipped us off.”
 
Kakashi didn't question them as to how Kabuto was related to all this, he already had a fairly good idea as to what it was.
 
“Well then, I'll be back this afternoon, or tomorrow at the latest. Naruto, Yukiko. You two head off with Ebisu while I sort this out.”
 
Naruto grumbled and began trudging off, following Ebisu with Yukiko by his side, leaving the other two of Team Seven with Kakashi.
 
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At the Konoha Hot Springs:
 
“Neh, Ebisu-Sensei, why are we coming to the hot springs? I thought we were training!”
 
“We are, Naruto-Kun. I am going to teach you how to walk on water.”
 
“EH?! SWEET!”
 
“Ok here we are. I assume you've been taught the tree climbing exercise?”
 
“Yup!”
 
“Good, well this is a simmilar concept, however the tree climbing exercise requires a set amount of chakra to stick to the tree. The tree is solid under you and all you have to do is stick to it. In other words, it's a lesson on how to build up a certain amount of chakra. Water walking on the other hand requires you to expell the appropriate amount of chakra from your feet into the water and you must make it match only to the amount necessary to make you float. This chakra control is mutch more difficult than to simply continue to create the same amount of chakra and is meant to be used for control training were you learn to create a set amount of chakra needed to expel for the use of a jutsu. I'll show you know how this knowledge is applied when using the jutsu. Watch closely.”
 
Ebisu gathered the chakra to his feet and stepped onto the hot springs. Suprisingly, he didn't fall through. He just kept walking until he reached the middle of the springs.
 
“That's how it's done.”
 
“Ok. Ready Yukiko-Chan?”
 
“Yup. Good luck, Naruto-Kun.”
 
“Same to you Yukiko-Chan.”
 
They both gathered chakra to their feet and took a step onto the water. Yukiko executed it flawlessly due to her perfect chakra control. Naruto on the other hand, wobbled a bit before he fell into the water. Yukiko looked over and laughed, breaking her own concerntraition and she fell in too. They both came to the surface and yelled out in unison.
 
“HOT!”
 
“Oh, I should probably have told you this earlier, but this water is 60 degrees. If you continue to fail you'll be turned into a boiled egg.”
 
Naruto and Yukiko got back onto the side of the springs and tried again. Yukiko once again performed flawlessly, steeling herself to not laugh at Naruto if he fell in again. Naruto wobbled again, but he managed to stand upright. Ebisu was beond impressed.
 
'To think he'd grasp the concept pf chakra control so quickly... Who'd have imagined you'd progress like this. It is true... There are no short cuts, no matter what you do... Looks like I was wrong about you. You were a much smarter techer than I was and you weren't just a monster fox... You were... A proud Leaf ninja!'
 
At this moment, Naruto caught sight of something and shouted, pointing his finger at what he had seen. He lost his concerntraition completely, falling into the water. Yukiko looked at what Naruto had seen and performed something simmilar to Naruto. Ebisu turned in the direction Naruto had pointed and saw an old man spying through a hole in the wall that screened off the women's baths. He was giggling like a little school girl, scribbling furiously on some paper muttering something about 'information gathering' (guessed who it is yet?). Ebisu pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose.
 
“I don't know who you are, but I will not allow such shamless acts in my presence!”
 
The old man turned and gave a slight “Huh?” at the sight of Ebisu charging him before he bit his thumb, going through a few hand seals and summoning a slightly larger than human frog. Ebisu recognised now who this man was.
 
“Yuo... You are-”
 
Ebisu didn't get to finish, as the frog's tongue shot out and gave Ebisu a whallop on the head, knocking him unconcious. Naruto had been analising this, and he finally figured out who this guy was from the description in his dad's box.
 
“Ji... Jiraiya?!”
 
Jiraiya turned at the mention of his name to see a blonde boy wearing a smaller version of the Yondaime Hokage's clothes. Jiraiya began visably fuming at this, and charged at the boy, picking him up by his collar.
 
“How dare you think you're good enough to wear the clothes that my student wore?!”
 
Naruto opened his eyes in shock. There was no doubt about it now. This guy was his father's sensei.
 
“You... You're my father's sensei?”
 
Jiraiya dropped Naruto and stared at him in disbelief.
 
'Now that I think about it, they look almost exactly the same.. If I can just find out his name to make sure....'
 
“Naruto?”
 
“Yeah?”
 
Jiraiya dropped Naruto and made a slight bow in appology.
 
“Gomen. I get angry when people defile the name of such a great man who meant so much to me.”
 
“Don't worry, I would too. You fit the description my dad left perfectly.”
 
Jiraiya brightened considerably at the mention of a chance to hear about other people's opinions of him were.
 
“Oh what was that? A great, irrisistable, charming man of power?”
 
“No.”
 
“Eh?”
 
“He said you were a super perverted, white haired old man who loved frogs.”
 
Jiraiya facefaulted. He couldn't believe his student thought so little of him.
 
“However, he did say that if I ever saw you, to give you this.”
 
Naruto took out a sopping wet letter. Jiraiya looked at him questioningly.
 
“You know this letter is useless now, right? The ink would have run making it illegible.”
 
“Do you really think so little of my dad? Just read it.”
 
Jiraiya opened the letter to find that the ink and paper had been strengthened by chakra, making it perfectly legible, despite the outter envelope being saturated. He began reading.
 
'Hey sensei. If you're reading this letter, the boy who gave it to you, my son, needs your training. This is my final request to you. Please, train him so that he can protect himself and his friends from Akatsuki. I may have died, but I can't afford to let the last of the Uzumakis die so easily. Personally, I suggest when you get the chance to take him and possibly one of his closest friends away on a trip for two and a half years or so to train him and make him fit to become the future Hokage. Oh and sorry if the description I gave my son of you was a little blunt, but it's true to an extent.
 
P.S: If you DARE pass on your pervertedness to my son, I swear I will come back from my grave to haunt you for all eternity.
 
Yours,
 
Uzumaki Arashi.'
 
Jiraiya laughed. This was definitely going to be interesting.
 
“I suppose I could grant your dad's last wish. Alright, sorry about knocking your sensei out cold. Why don't we leave him here and I'll teach you something cool?”
 
Naruto brightened considerably.
 
“Really? Like what?”
 
“I'll show you when we get there. Come on, Naruto.”
 
“Eh, only me? What about my girlfriend?”
 
Naruto hugged Yukiko to emphasise his point. Yukiko blushed at the sign of love in front of a stranger. Jiraiya looked at Yukiko with hearts in his eyes. A trickle of blood came out of his nose. Naruto used Hiraishin no Jutsu to warp behind Jiraiya and grapple his neck.
 
“You may have been my father's sensei, but NO ONE looks at my girlfriend like that... Well, except maybe me, but definitely not you!”
 
“Alright alright, you made your point!”
 
Naruto released Jiraiya and walked back to Yukiko's side. Jiraiya decided to teach them the summoning technique.
 
“Well, I'll teach you guys an awesome move! The Kuchiyose no Jutsu!”
 
They both looed non plussed.
 
“What? Do you know how great summoned frogs are?”
 
“They're not as cool as kitsunes and cats.”
 
To illistrate their point, they both bit there thumbs and formed the hand seals before slamming their hands down on the ground.
 
“KUCHIYOSE NO JUTSU!”
 
Two puffs of smoke appeared. When they cleared, Naruto was sitting atop a four tailed golden kitsune, while Yukiko was sitting on top of a two tailed black cat. Jiraiya was impressed.
 
“So, you two know how to summon already! That's great!”
 
Secretly, Jiraiya didn't know what he could teach them. Naruto broke him out of his line of thought.
 
“Neh, Ero-Sennin?”
 
Jiraiya facefaulted. Who would call him 'Ero-Sennin?'
 
“Don't call me that!”
 
“But my dad said it would be funny to call you Ero-Sennin in front of others. He said it would really piss you off.”
 
Jiraiya restrained himself from punching Naruto clear into next week. He came up with an idea.
 
“If you ever call me Ero-Sennin again, I won't train you.”
 
“And ignore my dad's last request?”
 
'This kid knows how to get people to do what he wants...'
 
Jiraiya slumped his shoulders in defeat.
 
“Well, I assume you got that box your dad left you?”
 
“Yeah.”
 
“Are there any techniques you specifically want to learn from it?”
 
Naruto remembered one specific one.
 
“Yeah! The Rasengan!”
 
Jiraiya brightened considerably. This wasn't going to be so bad after all.
 
“Well, to teach you the Rasengan, I'll need a few supplies. I assume you know there are three stages?”
 
Naruto nodded.
 
“For each stage, I need something to help you train. Can you get everything on this list?”
 
Jiraiya pulled out a list that had obviously been prepared for just such an occasion. Naruto read over the list.
 
“Water ballons.... Rubber balls? Are we going to have a giant water fight and a game of catch?”
 
Jiraiya snickered.
 
“Nope. Just get everything on that list and bring it back here. You'll see why I needed them.”
 
Naruto turned around and walked off towards the shopping district. Yukiko glnced back at Jiraiya.
 
“Do you have any techniques I could learn, Jiraiya-Sensei?”
 
Jiraiya thought for a moment.
 
“Ah! I think I have the perfect technique for you! I'll teach you it once Naruto gets back. In the mean time, why don't you take this closet pervert to the hospital? I'll wait here and continue my... eh heh heh... research...”
 
Yukiko gave him a disgusted look before she picke Ebisu up and took him to the hospital, leaving Jiraiya to his 'research'.
 
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About an Hour Later, Back at the Hot Springs:
 
Naruto had arrvied back to see Jiraiya continueing his 'research'. Naruto went over and tapped him on the shoulder.
 
“Oi, Ero-Sennin. I got everything.”
 
“That's good. Go take a seat and wait until Yukiko gets back.”
 
Naruto went and dumped the bags of rubber balls and water balloons on the ground and took a seat, trying to ignore Jiraiya's giggles. About five or so minutes later, Yukiko appeared again. Naruto pegged one of the rubber balls at Jiraiya's head, causing him to knock his head against the wall. The women in the bath suddenly stopped and looked at where the sound of the thump had come from to hear an old man and a boy arguing.
 
“Naruto! What the hell did you do that for?”
 
“You really shouldn't be peeking at the woman's baths anyway, Ero-Sennin.”
 
Once the girls heard this, they ran out of the bath, screaming and covering their bodies with their hands. Jiraiya just sighed.
 
“Ok, well, let's get started with the training. Firstly, I suggest we go somewhere where we can train in peace. Let's go you two.”
 
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About Thirty Minutes Later, Somewhere In the Forest:
 
Jiraiya suddenly stopped next to a stream and turned around. Yukiko and Naruto stopped in front of him.
 
“This should do nicely. Alright, Yukiko, can you wait for a moment, I'll get Naruto set up then I'll come and teach you.”
 
Yukiko nodded, and sat down beside the steam and began meditating. Jiraiya turned back to Naruto and pulled out a water baloon, filling it with water. He chucked it to Naruto.
 
“Ok, the first stage. Basically, you have to try and pop that baloon using only chakra. It combines the principle of the tree climbing exercise, which I'm sure you've done, with the principle of the water walking exercise. Watch.”
 
Jiraiya took out another one, filled it with water and sealed it. The baloon started stretching out at odd angles, as if something was struggling to get out. Finally, the balloon popped, water going everywhere. Naruto looked on, trying to analyze what had just happened.
 
“To further explain it, like with the tree climbing exercise, you must maintain a constant amount of chakra by focusing your mind and keeping that concerntraition. With the water walking exercise, you were taught to release a fixed amount of chakra continuously. So, to do the first step of the Rasengan training, you have to combine those two exercises by creating a continuous flow, and once you have released it, control it. Anyways, I'll leave you to figure out how to apply it. Good luck, Naruto.”
 
Jiraiya walked over to Yukiko, tapped her on the shoulder and began teaching her Ninpou, Hari Jizou. (Ninja Art: Guardian Spikes)
 
Naruto was focusing on spinning the chakra in the balloon. After about three hours, he had managed to get the ballon almost as flat as a pancake, but it just wouldn't pop. Naruto almost threw the balloon away with fustraition when he remembered something. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the 'Rasengan' scroll. He opened it and began reading the teaching of the first step.
 
'There are several ways to make the balloon pop. Probably the easiest way is to get a feeling for spinning the chakra inside the balloon in one direction, and then try adding a counter spin to the already existing spinning chakra.'
 
Naruto once again began spinning the chakra, although not as much this time. He then slowly introduced a counter spin into the balloon. It felt very foreign at first and it took him another two hours to understand it. Jiraiya had finished teaching Yukiko the Guardian Spines technique, and they were getting ready to leave.
 
“Oi, Naruto. We're leaving. You coming?”
 
“Yeah, just let me try one last time.”
 
Jiraiya and Yukiko were watching now. He could NOT afford to fail in front of them. He focused, and began the first spin. When he felt ready, he created the counter spin, however the ball still held up. Naruto got desperate and decided to add a third direction to the spin, although it took a moment to gently introduce it to the balloon, the balloon started to warp and eventually it popped, sending water all over Naruto's hand and arm. Jiraiya whistled. Yukiko ran up to Naruto and gave him a hug.
 
“Congratulations, Naruto-Kun!”
 
“Heh heh, thanks, Yukiko-Chan.”
 
Jiraiya thought about how long it had taken his student to create this technique, in each of its three component stages.
 
'It took the Yondaime 3 entire years to complete this Jutsu. Almost half a year to create and master the first stage. Naruto completed it in just one day... Arashi, you created a genius, didn't you?'
 
Jiraiya patted Naruto on the shoulder. He then noticed a scroll laying beside Naruto labeled 'Rasengan'. Jiraiya debated whether or not to stop Naruto from looking at that scroll to help him understand the complexity of the jutsu by himself. He then decided to let him have it.
 
'It'd probably make him feel more comfortable, more like it's his father training him instead of me.'
 
Alright, I want to see both of you here tomorrow morning at 9 am sharp, got it?”
 
“Yes sir!”
 
“Ok, Jiraiya-Sensei.”
 
With that, Jiraiya walked off leaving Naruto and Yukiko to head back to their house.
 
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9 am the Next Day:
 
Naruto and Yukiko turned up to see Jiraiya peeking through some bushes giggling. They both knew what was on the other side of that bush. They glared.
 
“Oh well, at least he's punctual...”
 
“I'd almost prefer a late teacher to a super pervert...”
 
At the sound of the voices behind him, Jiraiya turned around to see his two newest students glaring at him. He got up and walked over to them, taking a seat infront of them, motioning for them to sit down as well. When thet both sat down, he began to tell them about what their fate held.
 
“I'm going to tell you two something that will be very stressful.”
 
They both looked at him questioningly.
 
“You are both demon containers, that much I know. I will not hold it against you. Infact, I see both of you as normal people with an abhorantly large stamina capacity. However, there is a group of people who see both of you as a trophy, something that they must collect.”
 
Naruto bristled with anger.
 
“Akatsuki.”
 
Jiraiya turned to Naruto.
 
“Yes, Akatsuki. How much do you know about them?”
 
“I only know what my father left me, which said that they would hunt me and the other demon containers to the ends of the earth, until they either caught all of us, or they were killed. Do you know why they want to capture us, Ero-Sennin?”
 
Jiraiya let the insult slide, as this wasn't the time to argue about small things.
 
“I don't know for sure, but I can take a well educated guess. Both the Kyubi and Nibi have been heralded throught the ages as the king and queen of the demons, held in awe for their pure destructiveness. I'd say that Akatsuki want to capture you to harness the two tail's and nine tail's powers. I'm not absolutely positive on that, but I'm pretty damn close to it.”
 
Naruto and Yukiko looked at the ground, contemplating the life of hardship they had ahead. Jiraiya tried to lighten up the mood.
 
“Well, it's unlikely that Akatsuki will move for a while, so you're safe for now.”
 
“Ero-Sennin?”
 
“What is it, Naruto?”
 
“What do these 'Akatsuki' guys look like?”
 
“You'll know them when you see them. They're always covered by a full length black cloak with red clouds on it. They can also be identified by the staw hats with white stips of paper attached to the rim. The last way to identify them is by their forehead protectors.”
 
“What symbol do they wear on their forehead protectors, Jiraiya-Sensei?”
 
“Their forehead protectors are the ones from their original village, however, they've put a huge gash through the symbol of their former village. That's the three ways visually to identify them.”
 
“There's other ways?”
 
“The other way to identify them is their monsterous power. Even one of them could kill the Sandaime with ease.”
 
Yukiko and Naruto's eyes widdened almost to the size of saucers.
 
“What's worse is they always travel in pairs. Two above Kage level ninjas is enough to wipe out entire villages.”
 
Naruto leaned over and put an arm around Yukiko to comfort her. Yukiko leaned against Naruto. Naruto looked over to Jiraiya with determination.
 
“Then we need you to train us. We need to be able to protect ourselves and each other.”
 
Jiraiya smiled and got up.
 
“Yukiko, can you go and meditate while I start Naruto on the next stage of the Rasengan?”
 
“Hai.”
 
Yukiko turned and walked over to the stream, sitting down and began to meditate. Jiraiya turned back to Naruto and began explaining the second stage.
 
“Naruto, the first stage of the Rasengan training is child's play compaired to this. If you master this in one day, I'll renounce my title as a Sanin.”
 
Naruto looked more determined than ever. Jiraiya took out a rubber ball and threw it to Naruto.
 
“Eh? A rubber ball? What do I have to do this time?”
 
“Watch closely.”
 
Jiraiya took out a rubber ball and focused for a moment. The ball ripped to shreads in his hand, swirls of chakra coming out from the ball. Naruto looked on in wonder.
 
“Cool!”
 
“The first step required you to spin. The second step requires you to add power. Since there is no water in the ball, it's hard to power it up or control it. Practice like this for a bit.”
 
Jiraiya turned and walked over to Yukiko and began talking with her. Naruto turned back and began to use the method he had to pop the water balloon. The rubber ball morphed slightly, before Naruto realised that even if he added another few chakra rotations, this ball was no where near popping. Naruto tried for the rest of the day, trying unsucessfully to even put a hole in the ball. Naruto collapsed, totally exhausted. Jiraiya looked up and see that his prediction of Naruto not being able to pop the ball in one day turned out to be true. He stood up and began walking over to Naruto.
 
“Seems like I get to keep my title of Sanin, eh Naruto?”
 
Naruto just turned his head away and pouted. Jiraiya began to walk off.
 
“Ok guys, training's over for today. Go home and get some rest. Meet here at the same time tomorrow.”
 
Jiraiya walked off, leaving Yukiko to help Naruto get to his feet and walk home.
 
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Two weeks later:
 
Naruto had been trying unsuccessfully to pop the ball. On the second day, he had looked at his father's scroll, however it had provided only one obscure hint.
 
'The trick to the second step of this training is to focus all the chakra in your hand into one point. From there, it's up to the individual person as to how they choose to apply that knowledge. Some ways work well for some, while not so much for others. There really is no hint for this step that can be used by everyone.'
 
Naruto was starting to get pissed off. He'd been at this damn jutsu for over two weeks, and he was still on the second stage! He laid down trying to think of any of his previous lessons any of his teachers had given him to try and use it as a solution. He closed his eyes and concerntraited. After a few minutes he felt something soft and cool touch his forehead. It wasn't a person, or anything that was dangerous, so he opened his eyes to see a leaf had landed on his forehead. Naruto suddenly had an idea.
 
'That's it! I remember an exercise that Iruka-Sensei had given me, Kiba, Shikamaru and Chouji when he had us on detention! He was teaching us to concerntraite by putting a leaf on our foreheads! We blew them off and jumped out the window, thinking nothing of it. How could I have not realised how powerful that exercise was? I'm sorry, Iruka-Sensei, I realise what you were trying to teach me now...'
 
Naruto got up, and picked up the rubber ball in his hand again. He focused on an imaginary point in the center of his palm and focused all his chakra to that point before releasing it into the ball. The ball started morphing.
 
'More! I need to focus more!'
 
The ball was now morphing hideously.
 
Just a little more and...'
 
Suddenly the ball exploded, sending Naruto flying back. Yukiko looked up at this explosion. Jiraiya was quicker to react, and he body flickered behind Naruto and stopped him from going any further. Naruto looked up and smiled.
 
“Second stage complete. Let's start the third stage.”
 
Jiraiya noticed it was late in the afternoon. He shook his head.
 
“It's getting late, plus you're exauhsted. Rest up tonight and we'll start the third stage tomorrow.”
 
Naruto groaned in dissapointment. Jiraiya just laughed.
 
“Don't worry. I garuntee you'll master this last stage in two weeks or less.”
 
Naruto smiled before getting up and started limping home, helped along by Yukiko.
 
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9 am the Next Day:
 
Naruto and Yukiko arrived expecting to find Jiraiya 'researching', but found that he was actually meditating. Jiraiya opened his eyes when he heard the two aproach.
 
“Morning you two.”
 
“Good morning, Jiraiya-Sensei.”
 
“Morning, Ero-Senin.”
 
Jiraiya sighed.
 
“Are you ever going to stop calling me that?”
 
Naruto smiled.
 
“Nope.”
 
Jiraiya slumped. He got up and motioned Yukiko to go over to the stream and meditate for a bit. Yukiko did as she was told. Jiraiya turned back to Naruto.
 
“Ok for the third step, you have to use the spin from the first step and the power from the second step.”
 
Jiraiya pulled out a balloon and blew it up, throwing it to Naruto before making one for himself.
 
“Ok, basically, this is what the third step should look like when completed.”
 
Jiraiya just heled the ball infront of him. Naruto was skeptical, but he soon caught on.
 
“So the thrid step... Is to get the power from the second step... Apply the spin from the first step and maintain it inside the balloon?”
 
“You're a smart one Naruto. Yes, that's right. Watch my left hand closely.”
 
Jiraiya held out his other hand, and a perfect sphere of chakra formed in his hand. It looked like the chakra was spinning out from the centre to the outside like a typhoon. Naruto whistled.
 
“Sweet!”
 
Suddenly, Naruto had a question.
 
“Neh, Ero-Sennin, if the second step was to add power, what happened if I just used the second step on an opponent?”
 
Jiraiya was actually quite pleased Naruto had asked this.
 
“This is what would happen.”
 
Jiraiya put the balloon down and formed a very crude looking version of the Rasengan in his right hand. He then slammed it into the tree next to him. The tree had a spiral cut in it, with the centre of it where the level two Rasengan had been.
 
“Now, this is what happens when you use a level three Rasengan.”
 
Jiraiya used his left hand, which still had the Rasengan formed in it. When he hit the tree with it, the trunk of the tree in the way of the Rasengan just disintergrated, taking a chunk out of the tree. Naruto whistled Jiraiya turned back to his student.
 
“I think you can see why it's so important to maintain that raw power in its form. Well, I'll leave you to it. Good luck, Naruto.”
 
Jiraiya began to walk off and begin his training with Yukiko. Naruto focused on the balloon.
 
'This step seems kind of strange... It has the exact opposite objective of the first two steps, yet I have to incoperate the lesson of both of the previous steps into this one and NOT pop the balloon! This... This is on an entirely different scale than the last two steps! If step two took two weeks to learn, how the hell will it take LESS time to complete this step?!'
 
Naruto didn't wait a day before he looked at the scroll, he immediately took it out of his back pocket and began reading.
 
'There is one trick to mastering the third and final step of the Rasengan, and that is focus. You must be able to focus the Rasengan into a small sphere that has a barrier of air between it and the inside edge of the balloon. The second you let the Rasengan touch the balloon's edge, the balloon will pop, meaning you have to start again.'
 
Naruto was glad he knew how to keep the balloon from popping, now he just had to apply the knowledge. Naruto began to form the power he had from the second step and tried to bring it under control by spinning it in every way he could. Unfortunately, he quickly lost control of the power and the balloon popped, releasing chakra everywhere.Naruto stummbled back, cursed and got another balloon.
 
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The day of the Chunin Main Matches:
 
Jiraiya had personally overseen Yukiko's and Naruto's training for the last month. He was confident that they would have no problems.
 
“Well you two, it's been a pleasure training you for the past month. You two are among the best students I've ever had. I guess you're both off to the main matches now?”
 
“Yeah! We're going to kick ass, right Yukiko-Chan?”
 
“Yup.”
 
Jiraiya laughed.
 
“I'll tell you what. It's been over 10 years since I last saw my sensei, so I think I'll come with you and watch you two in the matches. Sound good with you?”
 
“Yeah, that'd rock Ero-Sennin! Come and watch me beat up that Gaara guy!”
 
“Gaara?”
 
“Yeah! He's the demon container for the Shukaku, the one tailed demon Tanuki.”
 
Jiraiya took interest in this.
 
“Well, now I'm definitely coming. Come on guys, if we go now, we can be there by the first match.”
 
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20 Minutes later, At the Chunin Stadium:
 
The referee was watching the last few seconds tick down until Naruto was disqualified.
 
'5
 
4
 
3
2
 
1
 
Ze-'
 
Just at that moment, a dark shadow overtook the stadium. Everyone saw three dark shapes launch over the stadium wall and land in the center of the stadium. There was an orange and black striped frog, a four tailed golden kitsune, and a two tailed black cat. On each of the creatures heads was a person. On the head of the frog was a long white haired old man. On the head of the kitsune was a chibi version of the Yondaime Hokage, and on the head of the cat was a blue haired, violet eyed girl. The white haired old man looked up at the two Kages.
 
“Yo! Sorry we're late, Sarutobi-Sensei.”
 
“Jiraiya?”
 
“The one and only. Good to see you, sensei. I was personally training these two students for this exam and decided to tag along to see how they did.”
 
“I see. You arrived just in time. Naruto was less than a second away from being disqualified for being late.”
 
Jiraiya sighed in relief. He turned to his two students.
 
“I'm going up to the Kage box. Good luck, you two.”
 
Jiraiya dispelled the frog and jumped up next to his sensei. Naruto and Yukiko dispelled their summons and gave each other a quick good luck kiss and hug before Yukiko ran up to the waiting room. Naruto turned back to Neji.
 
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I had to finish off some important business. Shall we?”
 
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A/N: OMG, CLIFFHANGER NO JUTSU!!!!! Sorry guys, but I'm going to immediately start work on the next chapter, which I hope to get all of the Chunin final matches into to make it up to you for cutting this chapter off at such a critical point in time. Well, until next time, my avid readers!
 
Ja ne,
 
Specula.