"…There is a Genjutsu I can teach you," Hiruzen's shadow clone said, voice steady. "This one in particular comes from the Kurama clan. It's through words."
I sat on the grass while he spoke, leaning forward slightly so I didn't miss anything. Sound-based genjutsu wasn't something you just got information on often.
The clone continued, "You form chakra on your tongue, then release it through your voice. The chakra enters the opponent through their ears. Whatever genjutsu they're placed on is up to your own control and imagination."
'Hold up, this technique is actually sounding very overpowered. Especially against small fry and potentially in one-versus-one battles.'
Imagine calling someone's mum a hoe, then they see their mum wearing lingerie soon after. That's like some next-level trickery in the middle of a fight. To be fair, I wouldn't use it like that, but that sounds funny as hell for banter.
Sensei's words made me sit up straighter, my voice eager in anticipation. "What rank is it?"
"It's B-rank, and you'd need to purchase it, but it suits the direction you're aiming for. I was going to give it to you for free, but the only reason I won't is because the Kurama Clan needs to make their money." He says, his lecture mode starting to activate. "Just like how you make money from your ninjutsu, clans can also get money from techniques, but with a higher percentage."
His first few words made me pause.
"Huh? I make money off my transparent technique?" The sensei who heard my words had a deadpan expression.
Wait a second.
"At the end of today," the clone says, pinching the bridge of his nose, "check your account."
"…Check my account?"
"Yes. At the bank."
"That's a great idea, sensei, why didn't I think of that..." I mutter. In retrospect, I've only ever gotten straight-up Ryo from the missions. So I've never thought to store my money somewhere other than my house or some cash in my pouch.
I could get robbed.
"Your Transparent Escape Technique has been circulating for a year. The village pays royalties when shinobi purchase the technique. Considering how it isn't an elemental technique, extremely versatile, probably important for basic espionage, and relatively cheap compared to other ones. It's very popular."
'That makes a lot of sense.' Especially considering that every shinobi should have a method to hide.
"Now." The clone didn't waste time shifting topics. "About the techniques I mentioned earlier. First, the sensing method."
I nodded.
"This one is a ground-based sensory style," he said. "Place chakra in the soles of your feet, press it into the earth, and release it as a controlled pulse. Anything the pulse touches with chakra will echo back to you."
I tested the stance immediately, placing both feet firmly onto the dirt.
Making a half-ram seal
I pushed a steady stream of chakra downward. It took a few tries until I somewhat got it down, as my sensing circle was more like an attempt to draw one on paper. Like a puddle you see on the side of a road.
Still, it did its job.
The range, though? Like half a meter... Barely even a circle to be honest.
"Whoa, sensei, you're quite literally like a torch in the middle of a cave." My words caused him to chuckle.
"Can you believe I'm suppressing almost all my chakra, as a shadow clone no less?" the clone said. "Your range is limited for now, and anyone with sharp chakra control may slip past it. But this is good progress."
Because of how easy it is to locate Sensei, it makes it easier to train. This went on for a few hours before we moved on.
"Next, Lightning Release: Thunderbolt. The foundation is simple. Compress lightning chakra in your arm, then release it forward in a direction of your choosing."
Hearing this, I nod, making the hand signs.
Tiger → Snake → Tiger → Bird → Tiger → Ram
After making the hand seals, I raise my arms as a few sparks occur. They soon after fizzled out, which disappointed me greatly.
"Damn, not even staying for a little longer," I mutter.
I know that lightning isn't my element, but it felt a little pathetic. Hiruzen, who saw this, didn't talk but encouraged me to try again. Making a few more attempts with each one, not really making too much progress.
Doing the hand seals once again, on my fifteenth try. The spark was as big as my hand while lasting for over ten seconds.
"Nice one, Jiraiya!" Hiruzen said with a warm smile. Grinning at his words, the giddy feeling of using ninjutsu was still on my face.
Was it even half the way to make the technique?
Not really, but it was progress, plus the lightning covered my entire hand.
"Let's call it a day, for now, go to the bank and check your earnings," Sensei says, patting my head. Doing a curt nod, I start to head my way out of the training grounds and into the busy streets of Konoha.
"See ya, sensei!"
It was only a half-hour walk as I entered the place.
Before I knew it, a number I wasn't expecting was looking straight at me.
[1,550,106 Ryo]
'Damn, I'm rich!'
This was the equivalent of doing almost two S-rank missions, which the more I think about it. How rich was Itachi? Didn't that man grind those missions like they were cake walks?
On top of the original Jiraiya being a mission grinder as well. No wonder Tsunade always had some amount of Ryo to gamble. With the savings I have inside my home, it should be around the two million ryo mark.
...
The next two of weeks slipped into a rhythm. Of repetition, sweat, and Hiruzen's clone correcting me every time I thought I'd made progress.
Most mornings started with the Earth Pulse Sensory Method.
I pushed chakra into my soles and let it spread through the ground like Hiruzen showed me. The first pulses were still clumsy, scattering too wide. But with each attempt, I learned to compress the chakra first before releasing it.
"Compress, then pulse," the clone kept reminding me, tapping the ground with a staff he didn't actually need. "The tighter the pulse, the cleaner the feedback."
I tried it again. A compact push of chakra shot downward, rippling across the training field.
My range was now around ten meters, which is pretty neat.
"Better," he says, satisfied at my progress.
Next, we drilled the Kurama sound-based genjutsu. This one took more concentration. The chakra had to gather cleanly at the tongue, not sloppily across the whole mouth. Sadly for my bank account, it cost 230,000 Ryo, which I'd say is a steal.
Especially considering the fact that I'm not really shopping for other techniques right now.
Sensei has been giving me all the techniques I've wanted so far for free. But asking for a clan contributed technique is a bit much; they have to make money, too, which makes sense.
"If you spread it too much," the clone warned, "you'll either fail the Genjutsu or numb your own tongue. Both are inefficient."
I learned that second part firsthand after a slip, my tongue buzzed for a solid minute after trying to talk, and I let the chakra spread out.
We practiced simple phrases, short bursts of sound that carried chakra. Not enough to actually trap the clone in an illusion, just enough to get the chakra out of my mouth right.
"Yo mama so fat, I took a picture of her last Christmas and it's still printing!"
"What's Christmas? Hey, why are you talking about my mother..." He says, narrowing his eyes.
"I don't know? Wait, sensei, don't be rash!" My hand was held out in a slight panic. He was not having it as he immediately blitzed behind me and grabbed me by the collar. He threw me across his shoulder like a bag and headed for the river.
"We haven't sparred in a while, Jiraiya, let me see your progress..."
Ah, isn't it the consequences of my own actions?
After a one more week of training, the Genjutsu was finally able to be used on weaker targets. Although I'm still unsure of what to make them hallucinate or just make them straight up see god.
Like, maybe I could make their vision full of memes.
'Now that's psychological warfare.' I thought amused. Unfortunately for Hiruzen, who had to witness a few memes due to letting me put him in a Genjutsu, was not amused in the slightest.
"Ugh, why does that shark have sandals. Jiraiya is your head, okay? This might be why your grades were so bad in the academy." Hearing this, I look at the patch of grass below me, holding in my laugh.
"Whoa, whoa! Sensei, that's too far. I'm just trying to confuse the enemy. Through brain rot."
"I wouldn't doubt it. Is your brain rotting?"
Okay bruh.
Uncalled for.
A few more days go by, and a few changes had to be made for my training. The Genjutsu and Sensing technique were working fine, but the lightning ninjutsu?
I had to scrap it as it wouldn't improve me in the short run, which sensei agreed with.
In all honesty, it was better to train it after the exams.
...
Break day. Finally.
After three straight weeks of training and constant meditation in Mt. Myoboku. I've gotten a small break, so I decided to invite some friends and make food.
Even better, make pizza dough with them.
Though I already had some dough ready, so we didn't need to wait for them to rise. Watching Sakumo and Hiruko make some dough for the first time would be funny as hell.
The marketplace was crowded and loud, but I strode through it with purpose, hand on my coin pouch, humming to myself as I checked off ingredients.
Flour? Easy. Tomatoes? Plenty. Basil? A bit pricey, but splurging a little was alright.
Especially the cast iron pan with a lid, which was basically a dutch oven no?
Just use some fire release and bam, we got lunch!
Perfect.
Making my way back to my little home, it took just ten minutes before the first person arrived.
*Knock* *Knock*
Sakumo arrived first, knocking politely. Opening up the door, the sight of him holding a bag made me pleasantly surprised.
"I brought some meat," he says, doing a short bow, then holding them out like a peace offering.
"Appreciate it, come inside!"
Hiruko soon after showed up next, clutching some drinks. He stepped inside, saw Sakumo, blinked twice, and froze.
'Oh, I didn't tell him someone else would be here. Haha...'
One thought crossed all three of our heads. We all had white hair.
"Guys, we all have white hair, you think we are all the Second Hokage's secret children?"
Sakumo snorted in amusement, while Hiruko's frozen state cracked with a thoughtful look.
"Alright, guys," I clapped my hands. "Sakumo, this is Hiruko, the one I told you was practising medical ninjutsu. And Hiruko this is Sakumo Hatake."
"I-I know who he is. He's our past senior who was said to be a genius by the teachers. It's nice to meet you." Hiruko says, moving his arm in a robotic way.
Sakumo, who saw this, had a warm, wide smile.
"Hello Hiruko! It's nice to finally meet you!"
Watching them slowly but awkwardly get to know each other. I soon showed them how to make pizza dough.
I showed them how to mix flour with water and salt, rolling up my sleeves like a professional chef. My kitchen had just enough space. Both kids followed my movements carefully.
But then a noise rang through the place, which confused me.
*Slap*
Turning to my right, the sight of Sakumo slapping the dough nearly made my eyes pop out. Hiruko, who was next to him, looked on curiously and soon after started to slap his own dough instead.
"No, no, stop! Hiruko, don't copy him!" I say in a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Don't slap the dough, man, knead it, you weirdos."
"But wouldn't slapping it be better? I'm putting more force in." Sakumo answers, giving it a few more hits with a cheeky look. Hiruko, who heard my words, just silently looked away from my gaze a little nervous.
"I don't know, but just knead it," Two fingers now on the bridge of my nose.
"Haha!"
"Pfft"
Hearing my chuckle, the other two started to join in. After a while, we soon put the dough aside and let it set, which was for the future me to consume. For now, I took out my already premade dough and put it on the cast-iron pan.
Next came shaping the crust, spreading tomato sauce, adding heaps of cheese, basil, and whatever meat Sakumo Hatake brought.
The two watched with interest on each of my sides.
After covering it and placing it over the gaslit flame until the smell started filling the room. The different aromatics and the smell of the melting cheese hit our noses.
"That smells great..." Sakumo mutters.
"Umu!" Hiruko agrees.
We spent the rest of the time chatting with each other before the pizza was finally ready.
"This is good," Sakumo said around a bite, eyes bright. "If you keep making this, I'm coming over every break day."
Hiruko nodded, eyes closed as if in bliss, cheeks puffed up like a squirrel. "Cheese..."