I Want You To Help Me Cultivate!

Jiraiya's suggestion tempted Uchiha Shingen, but after careful consideration, he still refused.

Not only was the Check-in Device bound to the Police Force, but the current situation in the ninja world was far from stable.

Several years had passed since the end of the Second Shinobi World War, and the major nations had gradually recovered; their suppressed ambitions were resurfacing, and the outbreak of another war was only a matter of time.

Jiraiya's return to Konoha at this very moment was the best proof of that.

Leaving Konoha at a time like this would make his Uchiha identity far too conspicuous.

Almost any ambitious power in the ninja world would never pass up the chance to claim a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Staying in the Police Force was safer by comparison.

Moreover, since the Third Hokage had just made his stance clear on this matter, even with Danzo's typical methods, he likely wouldn't dare to do anything to him for the time being.

This was the perfect window for rapid development.

Ninjutsu training had to be put on the agenda!

Thinking this, Uchiha Shingen looked at the Jiraiya before him, a thought stirring in his mind:

"The twenty percent royalty from last night can be voided; I have a different request."

"What?!"

"I want you to help me train!"

"Me?!"

Jiraiya pointed at himself.

"I thought, given your personality, you would avoid contact with me after what happened last night."

"How could I?! After all, it involves hundreds of millions in royalties~"

Uchiha Shingen shook his head, putting aside his playful demeanor.

He knew clearly that until he was fully developed and possessed true self-preservation power, he had to obtain the protection of a powerhouse.

Last night's events had already proven that having the Uchiha name alone in Konoha was far from enough.

But by adding the identity of being Jiraiya's student on top of that, even Danzo would have to hesitate for fear of the consequences.

"Just tell me whether you're willing or not!"

"You're certainly blunt about it!"

Jiraiya let out a laugh.

With his experience, he could naturally see that Uchiha Shingen's ulterior motives were practically written all over his face.

Yet, he didn't dislike this frankness.

"Then call me 'Teacher' first, let me hear it."

"Old... geezer!"

Uchiha Shingen curled his lip, glanced at the discarded drafts on the table, and a mischievous smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth:

"Sigh, I had insomnia last night and a burst of inspiration for a brand new idea, but it seems someone isn't interested. Oh well, I'll just..."

"Wait!"

Jiraiya hurriedly called out to stop him. Seeing that mischievous smirk on Uchiha Shingen's face, he knew he had fallen for the trap.

But with the inspiration for his new book on the line, he couldn't care about his pride:

"I'll teach you, but on the condition that it doesn't affect our writing!"

"That goes without saying. After all, I'm still counting on those royalties to buy a bigger house."

Jiraiya was now entirely focused on the inspiration for his new book and urged:

"Enough talk, tell me your idea!"

Uchiha Shingen sat down immediately, took a sip of tea, and began to speak eloquently:

"It's like this: I think that previous idea of yours about the hot spring inn proprietress can be taken out and revised. I've even thought of a title."

"What?!"

"Shirako's Unhappy Married Life."

"Using Shirako, the proprietress who runs the hot spring inn alone, as the entry point, the story focuses on the ambiguous relationships she develops with all sorts of patrons..."

"Hiss--!"

Jiraiya's eyes lit up.

As a professional pervert, the moment the character design of a widowed hot spring inn proprietress was brought up, he already had a corresponding image in his mind:

A beautiful woman in a pure white yukata, her brows lowered as she knelt on a cushion. She held a hair tie in her mouth, raising her hands to pin her hair behind her head.

Her exquisite figure was faintly visible, and her lovely face was enough to stir one's pity...

"I've got it! I've got it! I've got it!"

Following Uchiha Shingen's guidance, the inspiration in Jiraiya's mind surged forth like a floodgate bursting open.

The pencil in his hand raced across the paper, capturing the fleeting images flashing through his thoughts.

By the time Jiraiya stopped, the sun had already climbed high into the sky.

Exhausted, Uchiha Shingen was dozing on the coffee table; his breathing was steady, and in his quiet state, his face held a touch more of a youth's innocence.

"Hmph~"

"This brat is only cute at times like this."

A smile appeared on Jiraiya's face.

He had not taken on any new disciples since Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.

Those Rinnegan, identical to the Sage of Six Paths, had all but confirmed that Nagato was, in all likelihood, the Child of Prophecy destined to change the ninja world, as foretold by the Toad Sage.

Uchiha Shingen might not be able to reach that level, but he was more than sufficient to serve as a bridge between the Uchiha and Konoha.

In particular, this talent, which did not lose out to Orochimaru, destined Uchiha Shingen to be a leader of the Uchiha in the future, provided he did not die young.

The future of the Uchiha and Konoha might truly fall upon Uchiha Shingen's shoulders, who could say.

When Uchiha Shingen awoke, the time had already reached the afternoon.

Jiraiya was still buried in his work, organizing his manuscripts; the nib of his pen scratched against the paper, producing a crisp sound, clearly indicating he had entered his flow state.

Seeing this, Uchiha Shingen did not disturb him. After eating some rice balls brought over by Shisui and checking in with Tezaku to confirm nothing had happened, he simply chose to remain at the teahouse.

He began to organize his training plan for the future.

"Sword Leap Flame is undoubtedly the focus of my training. As for genjutsu, with the Sharingan as an aid, it shouldn't be difficult to master."

"But the real priority right now remains the Shadow Clone!"

"If my hypothesis from last night is truly feasible, I could slack off at the Police Force while having my clones do the training!"

Thinking of this, Uchiha Shingen felt a surge of excitement.

Soon.

The sun sank into the west, and the time passed five in the afternoon.

After Uchiha Shingen handed over his duties to the night patrol squad, he left with Jiraiya, who had been waiting all day, to train outside of Konoha.

Outside of Konoha, in the endless sea of forest, a gentle breeze stirred, causing the leaves to rustle.

A few birds swept across the low sky and landed on the branches, only to be startled away by the dangerous aura below!

This was because two figures, one tall and one short, stood facing each other.

Jiraiya crossed his arms over his chest and said:

"Before I begin your special training, it is necessary to understand exactly what level you are capable of."

He had not taught many disciples, but every one of them was a genius that their peers could hardly hope to catch up to.

Nagato, who possessed the same Rinnegan as the Sage of Six Paths, went without saying, and Minato, the hottest new star in Konoha today, was likewise a monster.

His mastery of the Flying Thunder God was so superb that it could even be mentioned in the same breath as the Second Hokage.

Although he had observed the battle between Shisui and Uchiha Shingen last night, Shisui had been almost unilaterally suppressed by Uchiha Shingen, which was far from enough to force out Uchiha Shingen's true level.

As a teacher, Jiraiya truly wanted to see just how far Uchiha Shingen could go when facing him.

Jiraiya beckoned to Uchiha Shingen:

"Use your full strength!"

"What a drag~ If I could, I really wouldn't want to engage in such a boring fight at all!"