Success

Watching the ninjutsu Ranwu unleashed, Jiraiya revealed a look of satisfaction—just as Tsunade had said, neither Ranwu's grades at the Ninja Academy nor the strength she displayed at this moment could fully account for her talent.

Her mastery over the nature transformation of Water Style chakra was what truly deserved attention.

Under her manipulation, the very essence of the Water Style chakra had been completely altered!

As for her strength... as long as she didn't die young, it would improve sooner or later.

However, Jiraiya certainly wouldn't go easy enough to get caught in this oil net. He drew a kunai while leaping into the air, looking as if he were about to tear through the center of the net.

It was at that exact moment, as the oil net descended, that Akaseki leaped up...

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

After Akaseki finished his hand seals, the flames he spat out transformed into small fireballs, raining down from all directions onto the nodes of the oil net.

Back at the Ninja Academy, their teacher had specifically taught them that in a ninja confrontation, once you are outnumbered, the most important thing is to create opportunities for your teammates to perform hand seals.

In Akaseki's worldview, aside from certain special Kekkei Genkai, ninjas were generally high-damage but low-defense; one move to destroy, or one move to be killed, was the norm.

If a Jonin allowed a Chunin to perform hand seals for an attack, the probability of them capsizing in a gutter was extremely high!

Especially now that Akaseki and Ranwu were coordinating, once the nodes of the oil net were ignited simultaneously, it was as if several fire dragons were attacking Jiraiya in the center all at once.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wave!"

Jiraiya performed hand seals in an instant, spitting out a massive amount of sand and soil from his mouth. It surged like a wave, circling around him to block the flames.

Water Style and Earth Style, being physical ninjutsu, could be released using real matter or by condensing chakra to simulate matter. The former had greater power and lower consumption, but the latter was more flexible and free.

Since Jiraiya was in mid-air, he didn't have time to draw soil from the ground, so he synthesized it directly using his chakra.

Jiraiya's chakra nature transformation began with Fire Style, and later, he awakened Earth Style.

Just as Jiraiya's swirling sand and soil wave extinguished the flames surrounding him, several kunai thrown by Minato arrived...

Jiraiya's current "Earth Flow Wave" was a typical large-scale fire-extinguishing and electricity-blocking ninjutsu; it wasn't as effective at physical defense as the rigid "Earth Style Wall." Unlike a solid wall, the kunai pierced through the flowing sand barrier and shot toward Jiraiya.

Looking at these kunai, the corners of Jiraiya's mouth curled slightly, and he dodged them with apparent ease.

However, just as one of the kunai passed by Jiraiya's waist, it "poofed" into Minato's true form, who reached out and snatched the bell from Jiraiya's belt.

"Got it!"

"Nice work!"

Akaseki and Ranwu cheered immediately.

"Not bad. Minato's final surprise attack was quite creative."

"And Akaseki and Ranwu, to have this level of coordination on your first attempt..."

"Although you are still far from being qualified ninjas, well... I suppose I can give you a passing grade!"

As he spoke, Jiraiya took out three Konoha Headbands from his robes.

Jiraiya was the same as ever; he was "indulgent" toward children in his actions, but he always used "suppressive education" with his words.

At the final moment, Jiraiya had sensed Minato's plan, yet he still "gifted" the bell to them so they could taste the sweetness of success.

Akaseki and Ranwu did not realize that Jiraiya had gone easy on them, assuming he had simply been careless. Minato, however, vaguely sensed something, but he didn't bring it up to spoil the mood in front of the others.

Although they weren't entirely sold on the "coordination" comment, Akaseki and Ranwu obediently accepted the headbands without argument.

Akaseki and Minato both wore theirs properly on their heads, while Ranwu tied hers around her neck in a more personalized style.

"Then... from now on, we are a ninja squad. I am your lead Jonin. Until one of you is promoted to Chunin, you will be going on missions with me. You can call me Master Jiraiya. It's getting late today, so be at the Hokage Building at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning. I'll take you to pick up some missions!" Jiraiya said.

"Yes, Master Jiraiya!"

Master—ever since the Second Hokage pioneered the ninja school system, the teacher-student relationship had become a part of the ninja legacy.

Aside from the teachers at the academy, the lead Jonin who guided a team upon their graduation usually became the ninjas' primary mentors.

After the three of them agreed, Jiraiya announced that they were dismissed for the day.

However, Akaseki stayed behind...

"Hmm? Akaseki, is something the matter?" Jiraiya asked.

"Jonin Jiraiya... no, Master Jiraiya, do you know many Earth Style ninjutsu?" Akaseki asked with bright, expectant eyes.

"That's right. Want to learn?" Jiraiya smiled slightly. He had guessed that Akaseki might ask—after all, the name said it all; he sounded like an Uchiha with Earth Style chakra nature.

He just hadn't expected Akaseki to be so eager.

Akaseki nodded repeatedly. Yashiro wasn't in the village right now, and besides... what if Jiraiya knew Earth Style techniques outside of the Uchiha heritage?

If it were a ninja from another clan, they might be hesitant to teach ninjutsu to an Uchiha.

Although common ninjutsu weren't highly classified and a lead Jonin usually wouldn't be stingy, but...

Teaching an Uchiha was different!

Once you taught one Uchiha, soon every Uchiha capable of copying would learn it too.

Even if there was no actual loss, it still felt somewhat uncomfortable, especially considering that the Uchiha Clan's reputation in the village was... exceptionally unique!

"I can... but... after moving around just now, my shoulders are a bit sore... hmm... I'm afraid I can't perform hand seals slowly like this." Jiraiya said, deliberately moving his shoulders.

Seeing this, even though he wasn't very willing, Akaseki still stepped forward to massage Jiraiya's shoulders.

As Akaseki kneaded his shoulders from behind, Jiraiya grinned broadly—the massage certainly wasn't the point; the most important thing was that he wanted to grind down that "Uchiha temperament" of Akaseki's.

Jiraiya didn't let Akaseki massage him for nothing; afterward, he slowly demonstrated three B-rank Earth Style ninjutsu to Akaseki. Akaseki successfully copied two of them, but failed to copy one because it was considered relatively difficult among B-rank techniques, exceeding the capabilities of his Single-Tomoe Sharingan.

Akaseki reckoned that Jiraiya probably had a rough idea of which Earth Style techniques the Uchiha Clan possessed—after all, they were all ninjas from the same village, and there must be a general impression of what Earth Style techniques the Uchiha clansmen had used.

These three B-rank ninjutsu were not part of the Uchiha Clan's inherited techniques...

Among the B-rank Earth Style ninjutsu Jiraiya knew, these were the only three the Uchiha didn't have, since when ninjas from the same village fought in coordination, the Uchiha would often copy them from the sidelines!

The Single-Tomoe Sharingan still required slow demonstrations, whereas those with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan could directly copy ordinary A-rank ninjutsu on the battlefield...

After Akaseki copied the three Earth Style techniques, his ocular power was already exhausted.

Seeing that Akaseki was already panting, Jiraiya specifically began to explain the theory to him, essentially giving him private tutoring.