Jiraiya the Tester

"Hah, Orochimaru, you're way too pathetic! You actually got beaten by that idiot Jiraiya!" Tsunade mercilessly mocked Orochimaru's bedraggled state after he fell into the water.

Among their group of four, Tsunade and Orochimaru had never gotten along very well. At its root, it was probably because Orochimaru had been the first to train with Sarutobi Toru, and Tsunade felt a little jealous.

Not long after she began training with Sarutobi Toru, Tsunade became one of his biggest fans. Part of the reason was that, after incorporating medical knowledge from the real world, Sarutobi Toru had reached an exceptional level in developing Medical Ninjutsu, completely winning Tsunade over. The other part was the effect of the Hormone Fruit.

Compared to the Okama King of the pirate world, Sarutobi Toru's development of hormones focused mainly on improving the body, unlocking potential, and bewitching people's hearts.

As the saying went, everyone believed their feelings were special, when in truth they were initially nothing more than vulgar hormonal reactions.

Happiness, joy, sorrow, anger—even pain and pleasure—all produced hormonal responses. Conversely, hormones could also be used to easily manipulate every kind of emotion in a person. That was the most terrifying aspect of the Hormone Fruit.

Of course, Sarutobi Toru was nowhere near that level yet. After all, he could only manipulate the hormones in his own body. His influence on others relied entirely on the hormones he released; he could not directly manipulate the hormones in someone else's body unless he injected them directly.

His friends weren't idiots. Why would they agree to be injected with something strange?

Still, even the hormones he released from his own body were already terrifying enough. A few words were enough to make someone his friend; a day or two, and they became close confidants; half a month, and they would be devoted to him unto death. It was practically cheat-level charisma.

Besides, to test the effects of directly using the Hormone Fruit, Sarutobi Toru had already come up with a plan and prepared a grand gift for his lab rats... ah, no, his friends.

Orochimaru's Shadow Clone being exposed was only a minor interruption. In any case, they would all graduate before long, and during the final few weeks of classes, the Chunin instructors would not pursue the matter.

Because the war had only recently ended and there was an urgent need to replenish manpower, the Ninja Academy now allowed anyone who passed taijutsu and throwing techniques and could use the Three Body Techniques to graduate directly.

By comparison, although early graduation had also been permitted during wartime, the requirements for ninjas had been far stricter.

They were going to the battlefield, after all. If they were too weak, they would be completely useless. They couldn't seriously use human lives just to wear down the enemy's kunai and Chakra, could they? That would be an outrageous loss.

Before long, just as the three of them were nearly done training, Jiraiya came storming over in a rage.

After biting Orochimaru's Shadow Clone to pieces, Jiraiya had truly been scared out of his wits. Only after the Chunin instructor explained the Shadow Clone Jutsu and praised Orochimaru's talent did he realize that he had been fighting nothing but one of Orochimaru's clones.

So as soon as class ended, the irritated Jiraiya intercepted Sarutobi Toru and the others. He knew these top students were always together, so following them would definitely lead him to Orochimaru.

Then he watched Sarutobi Toru and Tsunade vanish into smoke with a "poof," which only made him angrier.

Seeing Jiraiya's suspicious gaze, Hiruko—the only one who was actually real—was crying inwardly. What was wrong with having too little Chakra to make a Shadow Clone? Did having little Chakra mean he deserved to be abandoned? You guys were seriously too heartless! Didn't you know I'm garbage in practical classes and can't beat Jiraiya?

Aggrieved.exe

In the end, the pitiful Hiruko had no choice but to lead Jiraiya to the Ninth Training Ground.

"Damn it, you guys have been secretly training behind my back, Jiraiya's back! You really don't think much of me!"

As Jiraiya loudly spouted nonsense, Orochimaru—who had just been knocked into the water by him—narrowed his eyes slightly, killing intent surfacing within them.

"Alright, Jiraiya, what did you come here for? Don't tell me you just came to complain?"

Sarutobi Toru smiled at Jiraiya, radiating a friendly aura.

After hearing Sarutobi Toru's words, more than half of Jiraiya's anger abruptly vanished. Instead, he felt that he had acted somewhat rudely. Embarrassed, he said, "I... I just wanted to train with you guys. And... I still haven't settled things with Orochimaru!"

A smile lingered on Sarutobi Toru's lips. While releasing friendly hormones, he was already thinking it over. Jiraiya had decent potential, but he was not a research-oriented ninja, so he would not be much help to my research. Still, he had already discovered this place. If I refuse him, he might keep pestering us. Besides... if he can't do research, he can be researched!

"Challenge Orochimaru? That's no big deal. I'm sure he'll be willing to accept your challenge too. (And beat you up.)"

"But we're not simply training together. Our main task is researching and developing ninjutsu together!"

"Jiraiya, your practical combat ability may be strong, but you're at the bottom of the class in theory, aren't you?"

Jiraiya blushed. "Theory class... do ninja theory grades... even count as grades...?"

"That's fine. You may not be good at researching ninjutsu, but the ninjutsu we develop still needs practical testing. Would you like to be a tester?"

"Sure! I was just looking to test your strength anyway. Leave the ninjutsu testing to me, Jiraiya!"

After hearing Sarutobi Toru's words, Jiraiya immediately thumped his chest.

Orochimaru, Tsunade, Hiruko: ...

This guy had to be an idiot.

"Oh, right, Orochimaru! Our challenge isn't over yet!"

"Hehe, fine. Since you insist."

Three minutes later.

"Damn it, let me go!" The battered and bruised Jiraiya lay facedown on the ground, a small mound of earth pressing down on his back with Orochimaru's Earth Release, making him look like the Monkey King trapped beneath a mountain.

"Hehe, don't worry. Whenever we develop new ninjutsu in the future, I'll keep coming to you for testing."

Jiraiya shuddered all over at those words. Suddenly, he felt that he might have agreed a little too rashly.

Watching Orochimaru's performance, Sarutobi Toru shook his head inwardly. What if Orochimaru scared Jiraiya away? He really didn't understand sustainable development at all!

His hands formed seals. "Earth Release—Earth Rock Release!" The small mound immediately split apart and collapsed into two halves, and Jiraiya hurriedly scrambled to his feet.

"Don't worry. I'll teach you the Shadow Clone Jutsu first. Once you learn it, most of our future tests will definitely be done using Shadow Clones!"

As Sarutobi Toru used hormones to influence Jiraiya's emotions—soothing away his fear and regret while stirring up courage and excitement—he tempted him with the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Haha, how could Hero Jiraiya possibly be scared? Once I learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu, I'll definitely show Orochimaru how strong I am!"

Sure enough, Jiraiya immediately forgot what had just happened and went back to putting on a brave face.

In response, Orochimaru gave a sinister, cold smile. Clearly, he was in an excellent mood now that he had found a lab rat.

Hiruko, Tsunade: He really was an idiot!

However, Sarutobi Toru did not cut any corners in his subsequent teaching of the Shadow Clone Jutsu. As someone from modern society who had received a higher education, his educational standards far surpassed those of the Ninja Academy, which only emphasized practical combat.

The Ninja Academy's education often taught students how to do something without teaching them why. As long as they learned and mastered a ninjutsu, that was enough; the underlying principles were rarely addressed. After all, they were merely training killing machines.

Only Jōnin-level ninjas, or ninjas born into certain ninja clans, would truly study the principles behind ninjutsu.