Konoha: Gu Master

Inside the Hokage's office.

Tsunade shut the file she had been reading and let out a sigh. 

When would the days of endless paperwork ever end? If she'd known it would be like this, she would have thought twice before accepting the Hokage position. It was pure misery.

She hadn't been able to indulge in gambling for ages. Life had lost its meaning. How depressing!

She tilted her head, mulling things over. How many years until that kid was ready to take her place? Four? Five? 

Just the thought made her vision dim. Another five years of this would be the end of her.

Then a thought struck her—why not train Shinho as her successor early? She could remain Hokage, and use this as an excuse to hand all the work over to him.

"I'm a genius!" Tsunade clapped her hands happily.

Suddenly, sensing someone, she looked up at the window.

"Tsunade!" Jiraiya jumped through the window with his usual enthusiasm, rushing toward her.

"Scram!" Tsunade raised a fist. "Stay away from me!"

"Come on, now!" Jiraiya stopped short, giving her a sheepish smile. "Why is it you're always so hostile when you see me?"

"You really need to ask?" Tsunade's voice was filled with exasperation.

"…Right," Jiraiya scratched his head, wisely letting it drop.

After all, he had quite a track record.

"We've located Castle of Neck on the northeastern border of the Land of Fire." Tsunade pulled out a map. "The Anbu have surveyed the area—it's mostly ruins now, with only one old building remaining."

"Thanks." Jiraiya took the map. He'd been searching for Castle of Neck ever since hearing tales of the legendary Chameleon summon in the Land of Honey. 

It was said to have a massive body that could cover the sky and was unmatched in power. Jiraiya thought it matched the Great Toad Sage's prophecy perfectly.

If the creature was still around, perhaps it had even spawned a whole clan by now. Either way, he'd check it out, just in case.

"Tsunade," he looked at her, his face split into a grin. "So why did you summon me back here?"

"The Chūnin Exams are coming up," Tsunade replied with a blank expression. "I need you to teach the Rasengan to Team Seven."

"Team Seven?" Jiraiya looked intrigued. "Naruto's team?"

"That's right." Tsunade nodded slightly. "Besides Naruto, there's also Sasuke and Shinho."

"Ah, no wonder." Jiraiya's face brightened as he considered the names. Those three were certainly capable of learning the Rasengan.

"I won't be staying long," Jiraiya shook his head. "I have to get to Castle of Neck."

It had been five years since the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, but he was no closer to finding the Child of Prophecy, nor a clan of summoning creatures with the potential of creating a sacred land. Mount Myoboku had been pressing him for results.

"Jiraiya!" Tsunade's brow furrowed as she looked at him.

"How about this?" Jiraiya glanced away. "I'll teach them on the way, but whether they master it will be up to them."

"Is that prophecy really so important?" Tsunade asked seriously.

"The Great Elder's prophecies have never been wrong." Jiraiya's expression was somber. "For the sake of peace, some things just have to wait."

"I don't believe it." Tsunade sighed. "Pinning all your hope on some vague prophecy only wastes time and resources."

Jiraiya fell silent, neither arguing nor swayed.

The tension in the room was thick until the door suddenly swung open.

"How many times do I have to tell you to knock, brat?" Tsunade managed a weary smile.

"Should I go back and knock?" Shinho pointed at the door.

"…" Tsunade shot him a glare.

What a time to get mouthy—right in front of someone! One day, she was going to shut that mouth of his, just to give herself some peace.

"Uncle Jiraiya," Shinho greeted with a smile.

"Kids these days grow up so fast," Jiraiya said, looking Shinho up and down. The last time he'd seen Shinho was right when Tsunade had become Hokage.

Then he caught sight of something around Shinho's neck and blinked in surprise. 

Is that the First Hokage's necklace?

As one of the Sannin, Jiraiya knew full well what that necklace meant to Tsunade. She had actually given it to this kid? Impressive.

"Lord Jiraiya," Kakashi greeted, entering the room behind Shinho.

"Oh, Kakashi, still the same as ever, I see," Jiraiya observed with a grin. "Looking a bit tired, though."

Kakashi didn't react, used to Jiraiya's jabs by now. 

Instead, his mind wandered to the latest chapters of ichi ichi Paradise, wondering why the second volume had yet to be released. 

Was Jiraiya even trying anymore? Not that he'd say that out loud.

"Kakashi, take a few days off," Tsunade interrupted, cutting off their banter.

"…?" Kakashi looked at her, confused.

"Team 7 will temporarily be under my charge," Jiraiya clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll be taking them on a mission."

"I see." Kakashi immediately relaxed. "Thank you, Lord Jiraiya."

"What's going on?" Naruto asked, looking utterly lost.

"Naruto, this is…" Kakashi began, but was promptly cut off.

"I'll handle this." Jiraiya stepped forward, jumped up, raised his right leg, and spread his arms wide.

"…?" Kakashi looked on, utterly bewildered.

Tsunade slapped her forehead, clearly losing patience, while Naruto just stared, startled, unable to react.

"I am the one and only, the famed Toad Sage of the Sannin! Jiraiya, the White-Haired Child of the Toads!"

"Never heard of you." Naruto scratched his head, genuinely confused.

Shinho nearly burst out laughing.

"Naruto." Tsunade sighed, unable to take any more. "He's your father's teacher."

"My dad's teacher?" Naruto's eyes went wide, lighting up with excitement.

What?

Jiraiya looked at Naruto, stunned. He had been away for so long that he didn't realize Naruto's true identity had been revealed. Seeing Naruto's reaction, however, he quickly put it together.

Just like Tsunade, he thought. She's more decisive than the old man was.

"That's right," he replied.

Jiraiya was quite pleased with Naruto's look of admiration and said, "I can claim at least half the credit for your dad becoming Hokage."

"Whoa, that's amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. "So, do you think I can become Hokage too?"

"You?" Jiraiya scratched his chin, "You'll have to work hard for that."

"If it's hard work, then I'm the best there is!" Naruto gave a thumbs-up, confidently adding, "I'll show you my shining spirit of youth!"

"...?" Jiraiya blinked, looking over at Tsunade. What's up with this kid?

"Alright, time for you to head out on your mission," Tsunade quickly redirected the conversation.

"What kind of mission?" Naruto's attention was immediately hooked. "Since Jiraiya-sensei's leading us, it has to be a high-level mission, right?"

"A-rank," Jiraiya answered casually.

"Yes!" Naruto cheered with excitement, "Then let's get going!"

Jiraiya couldn't help but find it odd; Naruto was so different from the calm and collected Minato he had taught. 

But he was bright and full of energy. With a wave to Tsunade, Jiraiya led them out of the Hokage's office.

As they walked, Shinho and Sasuke stayed quiet, while Naruto couldn't stop peppering Jiraiya with questions—not about the mission but about Minato and Kushina. 

Though pleased, by the end, Jiraiya couldn't shake off his guilt, remembering that he hadn't been in the village during the Nine-Tails' attack.

That night, after setting up camp, Jiraiya gathered the three of them.

"We'll reach the destination by tomorrow," Jiraiya said, raising one finger. "I may be your temporary teacher, but I'm still your teacher, so I'm going to teach you a jutsu."

"A jutsu?" Naruto perked up, "Not taijutsu?"

"This is a jutsu created by Minato, it's called the Rasengan," Jiraiya smiled, "Don't you want to learn it?"

"Of course I do!" Naruto answered immediately. If his dad had created it, then he definitely had to learn it.

"Wait," Naruto paused, squinting suspiciously. "The name doesn't sound like Dad's usual style. Are you pulling my leg?"

"It was originally called the 'Light-Ring Twin-Spiral-Pop Jiraiya Style Special,'" Jiraiya explained. "The name Rasengan was your mom's idea."

"Wow, that original name sounds way cooler!" Naruto's enthusiasm soared. "I'm ready to learn it!"

Jiraiya felt a pang of nostalgia. Naruto and his father had exactly the same taste in names.

Sasuke twitched. "Cool" was not the word he'd use! If not for the Fourth Hokage's reputation, he might not even be interested in learning it.

"Let me demonstrate." Jiraiya held out his hand, gathering chakra in a swirling rotation, compressing it tightly until it formed a spinning, light-blue sphere of chakra.

"A jutsu with no hand signs?" Sasuke blurted out, clearly impressed.

Jutsu without hand signs had obvious advantages in battle, allowing for nearly instant activation. But such techniques were rare and often weak. 

This one, however, radiated a lethal energy, and Sasuke felt a chill run down his spine. If he were hit by it, he was sure he wouldn't survive. No wonder the Fourth Hokage was so legendary!

Sasuke was determined to master this jutsu.

"Mastering the Rasengan has four stages," Jiraiya said as he dispersed the sphere. "The first stage is gathering chakra in your palm."

Without hesitation, Sasuke raised his hand, gathering a large amount of chakra there within seconds. It held for a moment but soon scattered.

"Not bad," Jiraiya nodded approvingly.

"Watch this!" Naruto shouted, eager to try.

Jiraiya looked on in anticipation. 

Minato had been one of the most naturally talented shinobi he had ever known; surely his son would be no different. 

But he was soon disappointed as he watched Naruto's chakra scatter uncontrollably across his hand, failing to form anything cohesive.

"Your chakra control is terrible!" Jiraiya exclaimed, confused.

"What's terrible about it?" Naruto retorted, unphased. "I'm great at taijutsu!"

"Jiraiya-sensei, I have an idea," Shinho spoke up. "Is it possible to create a 'Human Rasengan'?"

"Huh?" Jiraiya looked at him, puzzled.

"I've seen the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven—it combines chakra rotation with circular movement to create what they call an absolute defense," Shinho explained. "Since Naruto's chakra control is so poor, why not just expand the range?"

Jiraiya considered it. The Rasengan represented the peak of shape transformation and required exceptional chakra control. From what he'd seen, Naruto might struggle to learn it at all. And he couldn't wait around that long to teach him. 

And even if he did, could he even hit a target with control that poor? Shinho's idea was an interesting workaround, and expanding the range would lower the skill threshold.

Of course, it would also drain more chakra, but was that really a downside for Naruto?

"The two of you, train normally," Jiraiya said, turning to Naruto. "You, come with me."

Having helped create the Rasengan, modifying it was no trouble for Jiraiya. It wasn't a major change anyway, just a small adjustment to the radius, and internal structure.

"What a sight," Shinho commented, watching Naruto encased in a thick layer of chakra.

Sasuke, realizing how formidable it looked, frowned. 

How would you defend against that? It was both offense and defense—a real nightmare to counter!

[Achievement Unlocked: Naruto's 'Accuracy Lacking? Power Makes Up for It!' Reward: Galloping Horse Strength Gu.]

[Galloping Horse Strength Gu: Rank 3 Gu, Strength Type. It transforms the Gu Master's power by adding a horse's strength.]

Shinho's eyes widened in surprise. A reward from nowhere?

Along with his two-boar and one-crocodile strength gu, he now had one more—a horse-strength gu. 

With this Gu, the Phantom image of a galloping horse could be summoned to unleash its extra power instantly, though it wasn't guaranteed every time.

For a full-strength burst, he'd need a key Gu, the 'All-Out effort Gu.' It enabled a Gu Master to fully harness all innate and virtual powers. 

If Shinho's instincts were correct, once he neared Rank 4, the system would grant him the Rank 3 Gu necessary to access his full strength—it was only a matter of time.

After a full day of travel, they finally reached Castle of Neck at dusk.

What truly impressed Jiraiya was Shinho's progress—he had already mastered the Rasengan within two days, his chakra control almost superhuman. 

Sasuke, meanwhile, had reached the second stage, training with water balloons. Naruto's development, however, was... unique. He could now form a thick layer of chakra around himself, though he hadn't yet gotten it to rotate.

"Wait here," Jiraiya told them as he entered Castle of Neck.

An hour later, he emerged, carrying giant Chameleon's summoning scroll. Unlike Naruto's experience in the original story, Jiraiya had faced no real threats. Jiraya was high-level player raiding a beginner-level hunting ground. 

However, Jiraya's hunch proved wrong—there was only one lizard here, not a whole clan. It seemed the Giant Chameleon wasn't the prophesied creature after all.

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