Minato Learns the Summoning Jutsu

That's why!

Minato and Jiraiya were ultimately different.

Though they were both commoners, Minato's extraordinary talent was unique in the entire Shinobi World.

He was the only ninja after Tobirama Senju to learn the Flying Thunder God, and he even improved the technique.

Though he wasn't especially skilled in Sage Jutsu, he could enter Sage Mode instantly! Even Jiraiya needed the help of two old toads.

He died after sealing half of the Nine-Tails, yet after being revived through Edo Tensei, he could activate Nine-Tails Chakra Mode...

Even when he was Hokage, the pile of official work on his desk was the smallest!

It could only be said that Minato was far too modest.

Calling him the fastest man in the Shinobi World wouldn't have been an exaggeration at all.

Unfortunately, Jiraiya didn't know about Minato Namikaze's future development at this moment.

There was a faint, hidden trace of pity in his gaze.

"Minato, are you interested in becoming my disciple?" Jiraiya asked solemnly.

"Jiraiya-sensei," Minato Namikaze said, a hint of boyish confusion on his face, "aren't you already my teacher?"

"No!" Jiraiya shook his head. "I'm not talking about an instructor, but a real master! Minato, I want to take you as my personal disciple!"

"You don't want to watch Mirai and Zhili get farther and farther ahead while you can only chase their backs, do you?"

Minato Namikaze's smile vanished for a moment. He had to admit it.

Seeing Mirai Uzumaki's speed today—so fast that even he couldn't follow it—and Zhili's Three-Tomoe Sharingan...

It would've been a lie to say he felt no pressure.

But it wasn't much. He believed that his future would never be inferior to anyone else's!

Minato Namikaze's humility was genuine, but deep down, he possessed a different kind of pride!

However, that pride didn't conflict with becoming Jiraiya's disciple.

Minato bowed deeply. "Jiraiya-sensei, I'm willing to become your disciple!"

"Good, good, good! Hahaha!" Jiraiya grinned broadly.

Jiraiya brought Minato to the riverbank.

Then, he took out a finely preserved scroll.

He untied the cord and spread it out over the grass.

The scroll was densely covered in names and jutsu formula patterns. At the very top was a name—Jiraiya.

"Minato," Jiraiya said, looking up at the blond youth before him, "I wasn't just saying it casually when I said I'd take you as my personal disciple.

Now that you've become my disciple, I should teach you some real skills."

"Bite your finger and use your blood to write your name on it, right beneath mine."

Minato nodded and, without hesitation, pricked the pad of his index finger. He squeezed out blood and neatly wrote the four characters for "Minato Namikaze" on the scroll.

He trusted that Jiraiya-sensei wouldn't harm him.

Jiraiya watched the name settle onto the paper, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. Then he rolled up the scroll and tucked it back into his clothes.

"This is Mount Myoboku's Summoning Contract Scroll! By signing your name on it, you've formed a summoning contract with the toads of Mount Myoboku.

You'll be able to use the Summoning Jutsu to summon the corresponding summoned beasts." Jiraiya sat cross-legged and patted the grass beside him. "Come, sit."

Minato sat beside him, his eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity. "Sensei, what is the Summoning Jutsu?"

"The Summoning Jutsu is a type of space-time Ninjutsu. Simply put, it uses a contract to summon a summoned beast from somewhere far away to your side."

Jiraiya raised one finger. "When performing it, you need blood as a medium. The hand-sign sequence is Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram. Then you slap both hands onto the ground, and the technique activates."

He paused. "Of course, what you summon is directly related to how much chakra you expend.

The more chakra you have, the stronger the summoned beast will be—at least under normal circumstances."

"I'll demonstrate it for you."

Jiraiya stood, bit his thumb, and smeared a streak of blood across his palm. His hands rapidly formed seals—Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram—before he slammed both palms onto the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

The Summoning Jutsu formation spread outward.

"Bang—"

A cloud of white smoke exploded forth. When it cleared, an enormous toad stood on the grass.

It was roughly five meters tall. Squatting there like a small hill, it held a thick pipe in its mouth, smoke curling around it.

A short sword hung at its waist, while one front paw lazily propped itself against the ground. It looked thoroughly unruly.

"Yo, Jiraiya," the toad said, glancing down at him with a hoarse, lazy voice. "What'd you summon me for this time?

I'm telling you now, we still haven't settled that bug-catching thing from last time. When are you gonna get me some decent ones?"

Jiraiya coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, Bunta, I'm not calling you out to work today. I'm just giving my disciple a demonstration."

Only then did Toad Bunta shift his gaze to Minato beside him. After looking him over twice, he snorted. "Jiraiya, have you started a new business? Babysitting brats?

Fine. Once the demonstration's over, I'm heading back. I've still got to find somewhere to sleep tonight."

White smoke burst forth again, and Bunta vanished from where he stood.

Jiraiya didn't feel embarrassed at all. He dusted off his hands and turned back to Minato.

"See that? That's the Summoning Jutsu. Bunta may not have the best attitude, but he's definitely a powerful helper."

"Do you remember the hand-sign sequence? Give it a try and see if you can successfully summon a toad helper."

Minato took a deep breath. "Yes."

He bit his finger, copied Jiraiya's hand signs—Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram—and then slapped both hands onto the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A painfully hollow sensation surged up from deep within his body.

Minato felt as if his chakra had nearly been drained dry in that instant!

His entire body went weak, and he nearly lost his footing.

White smoke burst out with a bang, much smaller and thinner than when Jiraiya had summoned Bunta.

After the smoke cleared, a palm-sized little toad was squatting on the ground.

It was emerald green all over, with smooth skin and two large, round, bright eyes. Its most striking feature was the two long, thin whiskers by its mouth, which swayed gently as it bobbed its head.

"...So this is it." Minato looked down at the tiny toad, somewhat disappointed, but he still crouched and earnestly held out his hand. "Hello, I'm Minato Namikaze."

But Jiraiya froze.

He stared wide-eyed at the palm-sized little toad. His mouth opened and closed, closed and opened again, until he finally managed to force out, "Lo-Lord Fukasaku?!"

The little toad slowly turned its head and looked at Jiraiya with its round eyes. "Yo, little Jiraiya! Long time no see~."

Its voice wasn't loud, yet it carried the composed bearing of an adult.

"Lord Fukasaku, why are you—" Jiraiya's voice cracked. He hurriedly crouched down and pressed his palms together. "Lord Fukasaku! This kid is the disciple I just took in. I didn't know it was you who had arrived, so please forgive my failure to welcome you properly!"