Tsunade's Test

"Besides that, you also need to further strengthen your control over the form of Fire Release. The next step is to use Wind Release to enhance the flames' speed and impact. Without a solid foundation in Shape Transformation, you won't be able to maintain control over a Fire Release jutsu's trajectory, form, and power amid raging winds.

"As for what comes after that, it'll involve Chakra Nature-related content. That falls within the realm of jonin-level material, so we'll talk about it after you've mastered at least one Chakra Nature Transformation related to Wind Release or Fire Release."

Jiraiya put away his little yellow book and looked at Uchiha Gen as he continued explaining the details.

Uchiha Gen raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead, listening quietly to Jiraiya's words and occasionally asking a few questions.

Jiraiya, in turn, gave the most detailed answers he could based on Uchiha Gen's questions.

Jiraiya was skilled in both Wind and Fire Release. It could even be said that aside from Lightning Release, he was excellent at combining the other basic elemental ninjutsu. Clearly, he had inherited Hiruzen Sarutobi's teachings well.

Before long, after one round of explanations, Uchiha Gen threw himself back into training.

No matter how thorough the explanation was, real gains could only come through practice.

Jiraiya apparently felt that he had explained enough, so he left Uchiha Gen and the others behind and ran off somewhere to enjoy himself.

Maybe he had not gotten his fill at that bathhouse earlier and planned to go back for another look.

He did not reappear until several hours later.

"Let's call it a day for now."

As he looked over the traces scattered across the Training Ground, Jiraiya nodded to himself and pointed behind Uchiha Gen.

Utsuki Ruri, pale-faced, supported Sarutobi Enju, who looked ready to vomit and could barely walk, as they approached from the other side of the Training Ground.

Uchiha Gen felt that Jiraiya had chosen to end things now because if he did not, Utsuki Ruri and Sarutobi Enju might collapse.

Was Gamabō's genjutsu really that terrifying?

"Little Jiraiya, I'll be taking my leave first. Remember to visit Mount Myōboku often when you have time. I'll definitely prepare the most lavish feast for you."

Gamabō continued speaking to Jiraiya in that deliberately seductive voice of his.

"Ahem, ahem. There'll be a chance, Gamabō. Next time, for sure."

Thinking of the so-called "feast" the Mount Myōboku toads talked about, Jiraiya answered with an awkward expression.

"Then I'll be off!"

Gamabō gave Jiraiya a flirtatious look, dispelled the Summoning Technique, and vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"Senior Jiraiya, can we use a different training method next time? After this round of Genjutsu Resistance Training, I feel like I've lost ten years off my Lifespan."

Sarutobi Enju twisted his face as he bitterly complained to Jiraiya.

Utsuki Ruri pressed her lips together and nodded heavily.

Training with Orochimaru was simply exhausting to the extreme. Training under Jiraiya, on the other hand, was mental torture.

"Well, Orochimaru specifically told me to train your Genjutsu Resistance. At your current level, I don't seem to have any other way to help you."

Jiraiya scratched his head.

It was not as if he could personally use genjutsu to train them.

He was extremely good at resisting genjutsu, but he was not particularly good at casting it. He made up for that weakness with Mount Myōboku's summoned beasts.

If he cast genjutsu himself, the effect would not even be as good as Gamabō's.

"Is it really that scary, Enju?"

Uchiha Gen poked Sarutobi Enju's shoulder and asked in a low voice.

"It's ten thousand times more messed up than the most messed-up thing you can imagine! Brother, trust me, never dig into the secret behind it. You'll go crazy. Luckily, the genjutsu world Ruri experienced was different from mine, or I'd definitely have gone insane already!"

The eldest son of Konoha's top second-generation clan and the Third Hokage's family was now weeping bitterly, tears streaming down his face.

In all of Konoha, Jiraiya was probably the only one who would use such a torturous method to train him.

"Ahem, ahem. The process may be a little unpleasant, but the results are good, aren't they? As long as you train until you can break free from this genjutsu in a short time, you'll have the ability to resist most conventional genjutsu. Raise the difficulty a little more after that, and it won't be impossible to train until you reach my level!"

Jiraiya heard Sarutobi Enju's complaints and immediately patted his shoulder.

Unexpectedly, that was an even more terrifying shock to him.

"You can raise the difficulty even further? Senior Jiraiya, how exactly did you survive it back then?!"

The young master of the Sarutobi family was utterly stunned.

"I think I know why Senior Jiraiya has this kind of personality. Peeping into women's bathhouses and reading little yellow books—it must be because this training inflicted indescribable physical and mental trauma on him, forcing him to use such methods to make up for the void in his heart, right?"

Utsuki Ruri spoke with complete seriousness and conviction.

Jiraiya opened his mouth, wanting to retort, only to realize that he had no way to refute her.

What could he say?

That he was not like that, and had simply been lecherous by nature?

"Alright, enough nonsense. I'll take you to Tsunade to recover, and while we're at it, this kid can learn some Medical Ninjutsu from her."

Jiraiya impatiently waved his hand and strode forward, signaling for them to hurry up and follow.

The three members of the Orochimaru Squad exchanged looks, seeing the delight in each other's eyes, and eagerly ran after him.

With Snake Uncle, it was hardship. With Jiraiya, it was torture. But with Princess Tsunade, it was pure enjoyment.

"Ah... feels so good..."

Sarutobi Enju leaned against the bedside like a drooling fool of a child, even after being cured, his eyes vacant.

"Th-thank you very much, Lady Tsunade!"

Utsuki Ruri lay facedown on the bed, her face red as she thanked her softly.

"No need to be so polite. I happen to be free around this time every day lately. If training wears you out, you can come here to relax too. After all, Jiraiya is really... sigh."

Tsunade shook her head.

Others might not know what sort of person Jiraiya was, but how could she not?

When it came to things where he needed to be dependable, Jiraiya was extremely dependable. But in other matters...

"Lady Tsunade, I've finished the test. Please review it."

At the wooden desk nearby, Uchiha Gen set down his pencil and handed the fully completed exam paper to Tsunade.

She accepted the paper, her beautiful eyes turning toward Uchiha Gen as she said crisply:

"Are you sure you don't want to check it again? A doctor saving someone isn't the same as answering questions on a test. You can pass a test with sixty points, but saving a life allows no room for the slightest mistake."

"Saving lives also depends on timing. Once the surgery is over, even if you discover an error, there may not be a chance to correct it."