Chapter 284: Jiraiya
Chapter 284: Jiraiya
"This time, we're focusing on hitting the shadow clones with full force to win," Mu Yue said after creating three shadow clones of herself.
As it was Kakashi's first time participating, Mu Yue explained the rules and consequences of the special training once more.
"Then I'll have to end this quickly and strike the shadow clones as fast as I can," Kakashi thought to himself after hearing the rules.
Since it was a graded training session, Kakashi naturally wanted to perform well, and he certainly didn't want to be burdened with a mountain of questions.
While he wouldn't mind simple questions from the Ninja Academy, Mu Yue's questions were far from simple. Occasionally, Kakashi enjoyed tackling a few of her questions, but he found it exhausting if there were too many.
A more manageable number for Kakashi was around thirty questions per training session. That way, he could finish them within a week, averaging only four to five questions per day, which he could easily accomplish during his post-training breaks.
"Begin!"
"Breath of Lightning, Full Concentration Breath!"
Kakashi silently adjusted his breathing rhythm, focusing his breath to its maximum potential.
As soon as Mu Yue signaled the start, Kakashi drew his White Fang Ninjato and rushed towards the shadow clones in attack.
Special training was different from real combat. In actual battles, one needed to conserve their chakra and stamina to deal with unforeseen circumstances, but there was no such need in this timed ten-minute training.
Kakashi converted a large amount of chakra into lightning-natured chakra and released it in his lower body, suddenly boosting his speed. In the blink of an eye, he reached the shadow clone.
A flash of white light, and the tree next to the shadow clone was sliced in two. However, the shadow clone, having dodged just in time, remained unharmed.
"Even with that speed, they can react? It seems that using my full strength won't be enough to end this training quickly," Kakashi thought.
Since it was a training exercise, the shadow clones wouldn't attack him, so Kakashi had just pushed his speed to the limit. Even so, he had barely missed hitting the shadow clone, leading him to conclude that using his full strength wouldn't be enough to finish the training early.
The training was challenging, but it was within Kakashi's expectations. After all, even someone like Obito, who progressed at an incredible pace, found this training excruciatingly difficult.
Kakashi made a few more attempts, but no matter how much he pushed his limits, he always fell just short.
After three minutes of testing, Kakashi changed his tactic. He threw a smoke bomb to conceal himself, while his shadow clone distracted the others. Then, the real Kakashi moved underground.
After a brief close-quarters battle with the shadow clone, Kakashi decided to reveal himself and use Purple Electricity. To ensure he hit Mu Yue, Kakashi split the purple lightning into over a dozen bolts, all aimed at her.
Mu Yue calmly sidestepped, creating a small distance between herself and Kakashi's shadow clone, and then she formed a seal with her hands. She exhaled a massive amount of fire, blocking all of Kakashi's purple lightning.
"Even a simple tactic won't work," Kakashi paused his attack, quickly replaying the events in his mind to gather more information.
Based on Mu Yue's performance, Kakashi deduced that she had always known where his real body was hiding. Her smooth and seamless movements were too perfect.
When the time reached nine minutes, Kakashi still hadn't landed a single hit on the shadow clone.
"I guess I won't be able to finish early this time. But with this experience, I can come up with a specific tactic for next time," Kakashi thought. Clearly, one minute wasn't enough time for him to organize an effective offensive against the shadow clone.
During those nine minutes, Kakashi wasn't just blindly charging at the shadow clones like a headless chicken. He was trying to gather as much information as possible.
So far, Kakashi had deduced that the shadow clones were just a little faster than him. Additionally, their ninjutsu was far superior, making it impossible to win through a ninjutsu battle. Furthermore, if he didn't use ninjutsu, the shadow clones wouldn't either.
The second and third points reinforced each other. The shadow clones' ninjutsu was so strong that if they used it freely, their strength would likely double, making it even harder to touch them.
After the ten minutes were up, Mu Yue reported the results.
"No one managed to hit the shadow clones within ten minutes. All three of you will receive fifty questions."
"Fifty again? Oh no..." As Obito thought about the horror that awaited him that evening, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.
Kakashi, panting from his efforts, had also attempted a strategy this time, but it hadn't worked. Moreover, he noticed that the shadow clones were faster than the last time.
"Let's all work hard on the questions. This time, I won't set a deadline for completion. Feel free to come to me for help if you get stuck," Mu Yue said with a smile.
This time, he had reset the shadow clones' strength. Unless his disciples made a breakthrough or devised an effective strategy during training, the ten-minute sessions would automatically end.
However, now that most of his students had graduated, Mu Yue removed the time restriction, allowing them to complete the questions at their own pace. The real value of these questions wasn't in answering them but in the thought process they stimulated and the knowledge he shared afterward.
"Okay!" Obito's lifeless eyes suddenly regained some sparkle at the thought of no more deadlines.
While the installment plan had once given him some respite, the mere thought of extra questions appearing out of thin air made him view it as an evil concept.
"Haha, it's quite lively here. Looks like we've arrived at just the right time," Jiraiya laughed heartily as he entered Mu Yue's home with Minato.
With the war against Iwagakure coming to a temporary halt, Jiraiya returned to Konoha for some much-needed rest, even though the conflict hadn't entirely ceased.
"Sensei, Jiraiya-sama," Obito greeted them.
"Who's Jiraiya-sama? I'm the Toad Sage!" Jiraiya corrected him.
"Ahem, the Toad Sage is a title known only to a few. I am more famously known as one of the Sannin, the strikingly handsome Jiraiya with silver hair!" Jiraiya introduced himself grandly, especially for the benefit of the two unfamiliar children.
"Are you the renowned Jiraiya-sama who is on par with Tsunade-sama?" Yahiko asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
The Sannin were well-known figures in Konoha, and even recent academy graduates like Yahiko were aware of their fame.
"Indeed, the legendary Jiraiya stands before you!" Jiraiya boasted, his chest puffed out with pride.
Minato watched Jiraiya's antics in front of the children and gently rubbed his forehead in amusement.
Itachi's expression turned peculiar as he thought to himself, "This Sannin doesn't seem very reliable."
"Your timing is impeccable. I was just about to prepare a grand feast," Mu Yue said with a smile.
Jiraiya's arrival was indeed fortuitous, as it had been a while since he had chosen the Palm Sage Technique as a reward. Now, he had a perfectly valid reason to ask Jiraiya to introduce him to Tsunade so he could seek guidance from her.
"A feast!" Jiraiya's eyes sparkled at the mention of food. He was sure that this was the most wonderful phrase he had heard in days. Mu Yue's feast would undoubtedly include an array of delectable dishes.
Upon hearing Mu Yue's words, Minato immediately offered to help in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya regaled the children in the living room with tales of his travels throughout the ninja world.
"Toad Sage, do you have so much free time that you can travel to so many different countries?" Obito asked, intrigued by Jiraiya's stories.
He himself had only visited a few neighboring small countries, and even then, his stays had been brief.
"I didn't travel the ninja world for leisure. I had a very important mission, one that concerns the fate of the entire ninja world," Jiraiya said, raising an eyebrow.
Jiraiya had been searching for the child of prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage in his prediction, and after the war ended, he would continue his journey.
"What matter could be so important that it concerns the fate of the entire ninja world?" Obito asked, his skepticism evident as he glanced at Jiraiya. Although he knew Jiraiya was powerful, the notion that he held the destiny of their world in his hands seemed far-fetched.
"It's something you wouldn't understand even if I told you. Besides, a fool who can't even get his own name right, like you, could never be the child of prophecy," Jiraiya teased, laughing heartily.
If he had to choose among those he had taught, Jiraiya would pick Nagato as the one who most resembled the child of prophecy, as he possessed the legendary Rinnegan, the eyes of the Six Paths. His second choice would be Minato, who possessed exceptional ninja talents.
"I'm not a fool! The elders of the Uchiha clan all say I'm a genius," Obito retorted.
Yahiko was right there, and Obito didn't want to be labeled a fool in front of her.
"Only a fool would feel the need to explain when called a fool," Jiraiya added with a smirk.
"I..." Obito began, his expression conflicted as he wanted to defend himself but found himself at a loss for words due to Jiraiya's teasing.
"Hahaha, you're an interesting kid. You're nothing like the other Uchiha," Jiraiya chuckled, clearly enjoying Obito's flustered and daringly cute expression.
This was the first time he had met an innocent and naive Uchiha like Obito, and he couldn't resist teasing him a little.
Kakashi: ...
What could he say? He could only watch as his image of Jiraiya continued to crumble.
Kakashi silently took mental notes of Jiraiya's teasing tactics, intending to use them on Obito in the future.
"Jiraiya-sama, could you tell me about Tsunade-sama?" Yahiko asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Jiraiya thought for a moment and immediately recalled Tsunade's infamous gambling habit and her tendency to skip out on paying her tab. However, seeing Yahiko's eager expression, he chose to focus on Tsunade's strengths and shared a few kind words about her.
"Here's the chicken soup," Mu Yue announced as she brought a large pot of steaming soup to the dining table.
Soon, the table was filled with various dishes, most of which were from Mu Yue's previous life, representing a fusion of diverse culinary traditions, with a small portion of local Fire Country specialties.
As each fragrant dish was placed on the table, the conversation ceased, and everyone swallowed their saliva, their eyes glued to the mouthwatering spread.
As Mu Yue set down the last dish, a silent, yet intense, culinary battle commenced.
(End of Chapter)
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