Born to Claim the World

Morning.

Birdsong chattered nonstop through the forest, its notes rising and falling like a symphony.

Naruto opened his eyes on a tree branch.

He had no habit of staying alert while he slept. Sleep was for resting and relaxing.

As for guarding against danger, he left that entirely to his keen senses.

Jiraiya was still asleep, hugging the tree trunk and rubbing against it. He was truly drunk, indulging himself in the pleasures of life.

Naruto didn't disturb him and practiced Rasengan alone.

Rasengan was a jutsu that was both simple and complex.

It required no Hand Seals. By continuously releasing Chakra and controlling it to spin and flow irregularly, the user ultimately compressed it into shape.

Its maximum output depended entirely on how much Chakra Naruto could release and compress. In theory, its power could increase without limit.

In essence, it was a close-combat technique held in the palm. But Naruto wanted to use it at range, so he wrapped the compressed Rasengan in a thin Chakra membrane, like glass—brittle yet hard.

It was harder to control, and its power was reduced, but it was more convenient in practice.

While learning from Jiraiya, Naruto had gained a fairly concrete understanding of the ninja world and the strength of its jutsu.

They had high output and all kinds of strange effects, but their defenses were relatively weak.

If he used magnetic force, his strength of thirty thousand horsepower would also enhance his physical capabilities. A Kunai wouldn't just fail to pierce his skin—it would snap.

The truth was that increasing output didn't strengthen the body. He'd have to train in Taijutsu separately.

But compared with a jutsu that could shatter forests and split rivers, the gains from Taijutsu were insignificant.

Even so, Naruto kept training in Taijutsu and martial arts. He firmly believed that the body and offensive power should advance hand in hand.

After all, he'd witnessed Killer Whale Orga's practically unkillable physique with his own eyes, and seen his adoptive father, Hell God of War, unleash invincible power.

Not long ago, Jiraiya had told him that Sunagakure possessed Magnet Release, which could control electromagnetic forces. Naruto had nearly burst with excitement.

Then Jiraiya told him about Kekkei Genkai—powers passed down through the family that Naruto couldn't learn.

Naruto didn't believe him.

Why could others do it, but not him?

Orochimaru could even gain power through reincarnation into another body. That proved that if you wanted something, there was always a way to get it with your own two hands.

The sun rose and set among the clouds. Naruto trained and pondered. The day passed like a progress bar, and by the time his stomach growled with hunger, darkness had fallen.

As if his body clock had gone off, Jiraiya opened his eyes, jumped up, yawned, and stretched.

"Morning, Naruto!"

"Morning."

Naruto hoisted his pack. "Are we still going to Tanzaku Street?"

Jiraiya nodded and rubbed his chin. "According to my investigation, Tsunade has borrowed another sum of money. She'll definitely come here soon to gamble big."

"Then let's hurry. I'm hungry."

"Which izakaya do you want to try today..."

"None. The portions are too small, and the food's too expensive. I want ramen." Naruto jumped down the slope.

Jiraiya stepped forward with a lecherous grin. "Then I'll go by myself. I could use some special service!"

The old man and the boy passed through the Vermilion Torii Gate and entered the bustling shopping street, alive with bright lights and crowds.

Compared to this place, Konoha seemed like a temple where ascetics lived.

Naruto wore a Tiger Mask, while Jiraiya wore a Big Bad Wolf mask. They'd both changed their clothes.

"End-of-the-month sale!" Two beauties in Cowgirl Outfits rose onto their toes, showing off their long, pale legs. "Care for a drink, sir?"

"If there's a discount, I have to come! Hahaha! Naruto, I'll gather intel here today!"

Jiraiya was led behind the curtain without the slightest resistance.

There was a ramen shop right next door, so Naruto took a seat there. "Boss, can I get extra noodles?"

"One refill per bowl."

"Good. Then give me ten bowls." Naruto pulled a handful of coins from his Frog Wallet and set them on the table.

"Should I wait until your friends arrive?"

Naruto waved him off. "Bring them out now. It's just me."

The boss gave him a surprised look but didn't ask questions. He kneaded the dough.

While Naruto waited, two middle-aged men in Gambling House bathrobes walked in.

"That was amazing! That lady really is the legendary easy mark. The rumors were true!"

"How much did you win?"

"Haha! Not much, not much! Boss, give me a fully loaded ramen without the noodles! Extra chili!"

Naruto grinned.

Jiraiya had been right. Gambling and vice went hand in hand. If you looked for the sleaziest place, you were sure to find the biggest gambler.

Naruto slurped down bowl after bowl as if drinking water. After letting out a loud, satisfied burp, he sat down in front of the gamblers.

"Is that lady still gambling?"

The middle-aged man answered openly. "Yeah, but she changed venues. She went to the arcade to play the slot machines. Otherwise, why would we have left?"

"Thanks."

Naruto asked where it was, then immediately rushed into the neighboring establishment, where Jiraiya was stripped down and slow-dancing cheek to cheek with one of the cowgirls. He dragged him out. "Tsunade's here."

The frivolous, resentful look on Jiraiya's face vanished in an instant. After a series of solemn, complicated expressions, it settled into the composed smile of a mature man.

"How's this expression? Do I look handsome?"

Naruto nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. "You look great. Remember what I taught you?"

Jiraiya puffed out his chest and recited, "With women, you have to give orders. Otherwise, they'll always think they're in charge and that the decision is theirs."

"Exactly." Naruto emphasized, "What's the first thing you say when you see her?"

Jiraiya clasped his hands behind his back and looked down at a forty-five-degree angle. "Long time no see, woman."

"Perfect." Naruto clapped. "Let's go!"

Thinking of Tsunade's fiery temper, Jiraiya had felt a little unsure of himself. But under Naruto's sincere praise, his confidence slowly grew.

In the past, he'd always been passive, believing that as long as the person he loved was happy, that was enough—and that he'd be happy, too.

But Naruto had said, "That's just a simp's way of comforting himself. If the person you like gets rich, will they give you any of their money? If they won't, what are you so happy about?

"People are born to claim the world. No one's born wanting to give everything to it, right?"

Jiraiya had wasted fifty years of his life, only to be lectured into silence by a child.

As they traveled together, Jiraiya was supposed to be the master, teaching and guiding his student. In practice, he taught Naruto, but Naruto taught him the Way.

Amid the packed crowds, he no longer saw the beautiful women around him. The smiling face in the old photo tucked into his left breast pocket revolved endlessly in his mind.

When Naruto pointed to the woman sitting on a high stool between two rows of arcade machines in the glass-walled arcade, memory and reality overlapped. She looked exactly the same as he remembered.

Tsunade was still as beautiful as she'd been when she was young.

Naruto raised his arm and pumped his fist. "Go!"

Jiraiya inhaled. His already burly frame seemed to swell even larger as he strode toward the arcade entrance with his head held high.

Just then, a chilling laugh rang out, and more than a hundred armed thugs poured from the alleys.

Gantetsu came out with Baldy. "Heh heh, I've been waiting long enough. You dared kill someone on my turf! You must have a death wish—"

"Get lost!!!"

His fury erupted like a volcano.

Jiraiya roared in anger. His wild mane of white hair expanded rapidly as an unmatched gale howled in every direction, silencing the whole street.

Strands of white hair lashed out and sent more than a hundred thugs flying. Chunin, Genin, or wandering mercenaries—it didn't matter. They all collapsed to their knees, hearts and souls shattered with terror.

At that moment, Tsunade turned around behind the glass wall. Her dark, furious eyes met his bewildered, bright-brown gaze.

"Jiraiya?"