Teaching the Rasengan

Three days later, Jiraiya and the others, their injuries mostly healed, began their journey back to Konoha.

"Brother Tianqi, our injuries were almost healed the next day. Why did you insist on staying two more days? We're traveling so slowly now. Don't you want to get back to Konoha quickly?"

Tianqi shot Jiraiya a glare. "You talk too much. Do you still want to learn ninjutsu from me?"

"Of course I do!" Jiraiya nodded frantically upon hearing Tianqi mention ninjutsu.

"I'll start teaching you on the way. I might be in a bit of trouble when we get back to Konoha." Tianqi spoke of a serious matter with a relaxed expression, as if nothing was wrong.

"How could there be trouble? We completed the mission beyond expectations, we should be rewarded! How could there be trouble?" Tsunade frowned upon hearing Tianqi mention trouble.

"Yeah, the village shouldn't make things difficult for us. After all, this was beyond a C-rank mission," Orochimaru analyzed directly.

Tianqi shook his head. "You didn't understand what I said. I said I might be in trouble, not you. You guys are fine."

"You? How is that possible? I don't believe the village would be so unreasonable. If they give you trouble, I'll definitely demand an explanation from Master Sarutobi!" Tsunade said indignantly upon hearing Tianqi might be in trouble. She couldn't believe the village would act that way.

"This time, I'm afraid even Sarutobi will be powerless.

Thinking about how I beat Iwagakure into such a mess, Sarutobi probably won't be able to protect me this time. But at most, it will be a minor punishment. They probably wouldn't dare to punish me severely."

While Tianqi and the others were traveling, an event was being held in the village. Sarutobi looked happily at Danzo. That's right, today Danzo officially became an elder. Sarutobi, knowing Tianqi was out of the village, quickly made Danzo an elder and held a village celebration.

If Tianqi were in the village, Sarutobi would have only announced it briefly and ended it. A celebration might have turned into something else entirely.

Danzo, standing nearby, looked unhappy. Elder? He wanted the position of Hokage, not this so-called elder.

As the village celebrated, Tianqi began his teaching.

"It's just a small bit of trouble, I don't care. Jiraiya, come with me, I'll teach you the Rasengan. If you guys want to learn, you can follow."

"But..." Tsunade was about to speak when Tianqi directly pulled Jiraiya aside.

"If the village gives you trouble, I'll definitely go to Grandma Mito to get justice for you," Tsunade said silently, watching Tianqi's retreating back.

"Orochimaru, do you think the village would really be so unreasonable? We completed the mission beyond expectations, and Tianqi still has to be punished?"

"I don't know. I have a feeling things won't be that simple." Orochimaru shared his thoughts when Tsunade asked him.

The two did not follow Tianqi, but stopped to rest.

"Jiraiya, the Rasengan has three stages. The first stage is rotation," Tianqi said, then took out a water balloon he had prepared and filled with water in his Kamui space.

"Jiraiya, watch carefully. This first stage is simple. It's just about gathering chakra in your hand, making the chakra rotate, and then popping the balloon." Tianqi held the water balloon, explaining as he demonstrated for Jiraiya.

"This is easy. Give me a water balloon, let me try." Jiraiya thought it looked simple and immediately wanted to try.

"You can try, but there's a small trick when you start this step. Lower your head, let me see." Tianqi didn't immediately give him a water balloon but asked Jiraiya to lower his head.

"As long as the direction of rotation of the energy within your body matches the direction of rotation of the chakra used to pop the water balloon in your hand, it will greatly speed up the process. Popping the balloon becomes very easy."

"As for how to determine the direction of your body's energy rotation, you can tell from the swirl on your head. Your swirl is to the left, so when you try, rotate your chakra to the left." Tianqi looked at Jiraiya's head and then gave him a water balloon.

"No problem, Brother Tianqi. Watch me succeed on the first try!" Jiraiya said confidently and began his experiment.

Then, Jiraiya just stood there staring at the water balloon, unmoving.

"What are you spacing out for? Start!" Seeing Jiraiya frozen, Tianqi urged him on.

"Uh, Brother Tianqi, that, that I've already started," Jiraiya said sheepishly.

"What? Started? How can there be no movement at all?" Tianqi doubted himself. Had he not explained clearly? "Jiraiya, did you understand what I said earlier?"

"Don't rush, don't rush, let me try again."

"Break!" Jiraiya tried again.

Tianqi's face darkened. It was clear there was still no movement. "You're too terrible. You stay here and practice by yourself. Don't come back until you succeed!" Tianqi said, then left without looking back.

"Brother Tianqi, don't go! Give me another chance! I'll definitely succeed next time!" Jiraiya called out as Tianqi was leaving.

Tianqi showed no intention of stopping. He ignored Jiraiya and ran directly to where Tsunade and Orochimaru were.

As soon as he arrived, Tianqi saw the two had started a small campfire, with several chickens roasting on it.

Tianqi didn't say a word and plopped down by the fire.

"Brother Tianqi, what's wrong? Where's Jiraiya? Was his training not going well?" Tsunade asked, seeing Tianqi sitting there silently.

"I thought Jiraiya wouldn't be as dumb as Naruto... I mean, he wouldn't be too dumb. I didn't expect something so simple would stump him." Tianqi had intended to say he wouldn't be as dumb as Naruto, but then realized he'd slipped up and quickly corrected himself. He didn't want his words to alter Naruto's life path.

"Hahaha, is that so? Brother Tianqi, don't worry about it. That guy is just like that. Give him some time," Tsunade said with a laugh upon hearing it was about training.

"That idiot." Orochimaru chuckled, thinking of Jiraiya being unable to learn such a powerful ninjutsu right in front of him.

"Forget it, give him some time. He'll learn it sooner or later anyway."

"Orochimaru, can I ask you a question?" Tianqi looked at the smiling Orochimaru.

"What question?" Orochimaru looked at Tianqi strangely, wondering why he suddenly wanted to ask him something.

"Do you think it's more important for a person to rely on their Kekkei Genkai, or to rely on their own hard work?" Tianqi asked Orochimaru with a serious expression.

Orochimaru thought for a moment and quickly replied, "Although some Kekkei Genkai are very powerful, I still feel it's more important to rely on one's own efforts. Someone with a Kekkei Genkai who doesn't work hard is still useless."

"Hmm," Tianqi nodded in agreement. "I hope you can maintain this original intention."

"Orochimaru, do you know the true meaning of life?" Thinking of Orochimaru's future, Tianqi wanted to give him a hint.

"Huh? What?" Orochimaru and Tsunade stared blankly at Tianqi, unsure why he was saying these things.

"In my opinion, everyone alive has their own meaning of existence. The true meaning of life, as I see it, boils down to six words."

"Endure."

"Fate."

"Destiny."

"Power."

"Understand."

"Wait."

"These six words are my gift to you, Orochimaru. I hope you can truly see through and comprehend them in the future."

Orochimaru nodded, even though he didn't quite understand what Tianqi meant.

"Brother Tianqi, what's wrong? You seem a bit strange today," Tsunade asked, looking at him with confusion.

"It's nothing. Just thinking about some things, feeling a bit emotional," Tianqi replied slowly.

"Alright, while Jiraiya is practicing his ninjutsu, Tsunade, I'll write something for you." With that, Tianqi picked up a scroll and wrote a ninjutsu for Tsunade.