At Konoha's Ninja Academy, the school schedule isn't nearly as rigorous. Classes aren't held every day, and the curriculum primarily focuses on basic skills. Most students return home to learn their family's specific techniques. For many clans, foundational training occurs at home, and attending school is mostly for learning the Will of Fire.
Just as Jiraiya was lost in thought, Naruto's impatient voice broke through. "Do you even have anything to teach us? If not, we're leaving!"
"Alright, it seems I need to show you something impressive," Jiraiya said, rolling up his sleeves and looking seriously at Naruto. "Get ready, because this Sage is about to get serious."
With that, he extended his right hand, causing chakra to swirl rapidly in his palm. Naruto and Sasuke stared in amazement, and Jiraiya felt a surge of pride. This should impress these kids, he thought, trying to boast, "How's this? But I must warn you, you can't learn this yet. You see, this is—"
"Rasengan?!" Before he could finish, Naruto exclaimed, eyes wide with recognition. "Isn't that a fourth-grade technique? How do you know it?"
Jiraiya's expression froze at Naruto's words. How did he know about it? Of course, it was a jutsu invented by Minato. But... what the hell? Did he just say this was a technique taught in fourth grade?
Before Jiraiya could respond, Naruto continued, "I saw the senior students practicing it at the training ground. It looked really cool, so I asked Uncle Akihiko about it. He said my chakra control was good enough to give it a shot, but he advised against learning such advanced jutsu right now. But, as expected, I'm a genius!"
"Idiot!" Sasuke scoffed from the side.
"Are you jealous?!" Naruto teased, a grin spreading across his face.
"Hmph," Sasuke replied, turning away. He was also learning a similar technique but had been told by Uncle Akihiko not to push himself too hard because of his developing body.
"Idiot!" Sasuke muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Stupid Sasuke!" Naruto shot back.
"Enough!" Jiraiya's face twitched as he watched the two bicker. However... since when had the Rasengan become so common? How did the Grass Ninja Village even have this technique? How did they learn it?
He quickly intervened, "Your academy teaches the Rasengan? This is an A-rank jutsu! How did the Grass Village even acquire it?"
"Hey, old pervert, watch your words!" Naruto snapped, clearly irritated by Jiraiya's dismissal of his village. "We have all kinds of jutsu at Grass Ninja Village. Not just the Rasengan, but advanced techniques like the Big Ball Rasengan and Rasenshuriken. Uncle Akihiko said he'll teach me if I study hard. We also learn various A-rank jutsu, like Fire Release and Water Release. As long as we meet the requirements, anyone can learn them."
"What?! Anyone can learn them?" Jiraiya exclaimed, taken aback by the revelation.
"Of course! Sasuke and I will be in second grade next year, and then we'll start learning C-rank jutsu. It's all in the textbooks. Plus, Uncle Akihiko said if we want to learn something specific, we can just ask him," Naruto added casually, as if it were nothing extraordinary.
Textbooks, he said? Grass Ninja Village's textbooks include C-rank to A-rank jutsu, available for anyone to learn? What the hell! Jiraiya was genuinely stunned by Naruto's words.
Ninjutsu is incredibly valuable. Outside of family teachings, it's typically learned only after graduation, through merit and the Hokage's approval, or from a team leader. Especially B-rank and higher jutsu—they're exceptionally rare.
And Grass Village has integrated all of this into its 'standard curriculum' for anyone to learn?
Jiraiya's expression grew complex as he murmured, "The leader of Grass Ninja Village... truly a remarkable ninja."
Even the Hokage would never offer up his clan's jutsu to everyone.
"Of course!" Naruto boasted, seemingly picking up on Jiraiya's murmuring. "That's Uncle Akihiko for you!"
Noticing Jiraiya still in a daze, Naruto's tone shifted to impatience. "Are you going to teach us or not? If not, we're leaving! You call yourself a Sage? You're worse than the idiot in our class who knows nothing!"
"Alright, I'll teach!" Jiraiya snapped back to reality, fixing his gaze on the two kids. "After all, I am Jiraiya, the Toad Sage!"
However, he found himself momentarily at a loss for what to teach. After all, the jutsu he knew had already been covered in Grass Ninja Village, and even more advanced techniques were taught there. As for summoning jutsu... it wasn't that he was stingy, but given Naruto's current identity... Well, he decided to play it by ear and see how things unfolded.
With a sigh, Jiraiya cleared his throat and said seriously, "To become a strong ninja, it's not just about powerful jutsu. Knowledge, experience, and willpower are equally important. You're still too young to learn my advanced techniques, but since I have the time, feel free to ask me any questions about your studies."
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged skeptical glances. "Really?"
"Of course!" Jiraiya replied, refusing to believe he could be stumped by a couple of kids. He patted his chest confidently. "Ask away!"
Naruto nodded, choosing to trust Jiraiya. "Alright, I do have some questions. I was going to ask Uncle Akihiko, but he's busy, so I planned to ask my teacher tomorrow. But since you're offering, I'll ask you."
"Go ahead, Ask anything!" Jiraiya responded with a confident grin.
Seeing Jiraiya's confidence, Naruto decided to test him with a question. "Your partner is injured and losing blood rapidly. You're trying to transfuse blood to them, but the enemy is also cutting them, causing further blood loss. You know that if you only transfuse blood, it will take ten minutes, while the enemy can cause fatal blood loss in fifteen minutes. If both happen simultaneously, how long will it take to save your partner?"
Jiraiya, who had been confident just a moment ago, now stared wide-eyed. The assured expression froze on his face. What did he just ask? What are they teaching in Grass Ninja Village?
But Naruto wasn't finished yet. He paused for a moment before continuing, "Someone throws a kunai from 800 meters away at a ninja. Knowing that the kunai travels at..."
Jiraiya listened, completely baffled by the question. What did all of this mean?
Naruto pressed on, muttering more complex scenarios. "Two people start using the Body Flicker Technique towards each other from opposite ends..."
By this point, Jiraiya was utterly speechless, trying to wrap his mind around the barrage of questions. What the hell are these questions?
After a while, having finally exhausted his questions, Naruto looked up at Jiraiya and noticed his stunned expression. Hesitating, he asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Jiraiya replied, finally recovering from his shock.
"And the questions?" Naruto pressed, his tone hopeful.
"Sorry... I... don't understand any of it," Jiraiya admitted, overwhelmed by Naruto's expectant gaze. He responded with an embarrassed chuckle.
"You don't know anything? Weren't you just saying you were a great ninja? Were you lying?" Naruto's skepticism returned as he looked at Jiraiya with narrowed eyes.
"I... I..." Jiraiya sighed deeply, lifting his head to gaze into the distance, a melancholic expression crossing his face. "I'm just an ordinary student who went through six years of ninja school. I never learned these things."
With that, before Naruto could respond, Jiraiya turned and walked away, his figure appearing dejected as he left.
Naruto and Sasuke watched in confusion until Jiraiya disappeared from sight. After a moment, Naruto frowned and muttered, "How can he not know anything? Maybe he's one of those idiots Uncle Akihiko mentioned—people who think they're great after just a couple of years, apply for early graduation, and end up knowing nothing."
Sasuke sensed something was off about Naruto's statement but couldn't pinpoint what it was. After all, while the questions weren't easy, they shouldn't have been too difficult for someone at Jiraiya's level. He remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Naruto sighed, shaking off his frustration. "Never mind, let's head back!"
Meanwhile, as he walked away, Jiraiya glanced back, still feeling disheartened. He muttered to himself, "Have I... gotten old?"
With that thought weighing on him, he hunched his shoulders even more and abandoned his research, trudging slowly back to his lodging. "Looks like... it's time to leave," he sighed.
…
The next day, Akihiko looked at Jiraiya, who seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, appearing several years older and filled with melancholy. He furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "You're leaving?"
"Yes. I'm sorry for disturbing you during this time," Jiraiya replied, his tone noticeably downcast.
"So soon? I was planning to hire you as a special tutor to teach Naruto and provide some lessons to the other children. After all, you are a senior ninja of great repute in the ninja world," Akihiko said, his tone laced with disappointment.
Before Akihiko could finish expressing his regret, expecting Jiraiya to laugh and say, 'You have a good eye,' followed by a pat on his chest and the words, 'But I'm not that old; I'll come back to teach them next time,' he was instead met with an unexpected response.
The Toad Sage sighed heavily, his demeanor suddenly desolate. Before Akihiko could react, Jiraiya raised his head, a struggling expression on his face. He slowly closed his eyes and, with a trembling voice, said, "Sorry... I am not worthy!"
Akihiko was momentarily taken aback by Jiraiya's words. He couldn't comprehend why he would feel unworthy of such a simple request to teach. Was the Legendary Sannin of Konoha really this humble?
Yet, no one was there to explain to Akihiko that Jiraiya's humility stemmed not from modesty but from the harsh blow he had received from Naruto and Sasuke.