I'll Develop the Rasengan!

Menma and Jiraiya looked at each other, neither knowing what to say.

In the end, Menma broke the silence and began explaining what kind of Ninjutsu the Rasengan was:

"The Rasengan is a Ninjutsu I imagined.

It gathers Chakra in the hand, making the Chakra continuously flow in different directions while compressing it, forming a high-density rotating 'Chakra sphere' with tremendous destructive power.

The advantage of this Ninjutsu is that it requires no hand seals, and its power increases along with the user's strength.

The drawback is that it is difficult to master. So far, it has remained only an idea."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya was amazed by Menma's idea.

Ordinary Ninja at Menma's age simply followed the established path and learned the Ninjutsu created by those before them. Very few could think of, much less devise, ways to develop new Ninjutsu like Menma did.

Jiraiya thought it over and realized the idea truly seemed possible. Curious, he asked, "How did you come up with it?"

Menma froze for a moment, but then he thought of an excellent excuse. "A few days ago, Kakashi-sensei and I went to the Land of Waves on a mission. We encountered the Six-Tails jinchūriki from the Hidden Mist Village going berserk. While berserk, the jinchūriki used a move called the Tailed-Beast Bomb, and it was incredibly powerful.

So I began wondering whether I could imitate the Tailed-Beast Bomb to develop a new Ninjutsu, one that needed no hand seals and only required gathering and compressing Chakra.

As long as I gathered and compressed enough Chakra, then the power it could unleash when attacking should be enormous, right?"

Jiraiya was once again stunned by Menma's words. He had actually drawn inspiration from the Tailed-Beast Bomb!

The more Jiraiya considered it, the more feasible it seemed. He stretched out his right hand and began experimenting.

A large amount of Chakra gathered in his right hand, but he could not compress it. Just as he managed to keep the Chakra on one side from running wild, the Chakra on the other side leaked out.

Jiraiya stopped, pondered for a while, then said to Menma, "Your idea is very feasible, but I can't verify it right away. Let me study it properly first!"

Menma was somewhat disappointed. His planned Rasengan training had been put on hold for the time being.

He hesitated over whether to tell Jiraiya about Naruto's balloon-and-rubber-ball training method from the anime.

After thinking it over, Menma decided not to meddle. He could barely explain proposing a Ninjutsu development concept by claiming to be a genius. But if he even knew the training method, then what awaited him would definitely be an interrogation by the ANBU!

Jiraiya shook his head, setting aside the matter of developing the Rasengan. He said to Menma, "Since you already have the training method for Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere, I won't waste time on that. Just follow the method and train step by step.

Once you've learned enough Wind Release Ninjutsu, I'll teach you Wind Release nature transformation and shape transformation.

For now, though, what can I teach you?"

Jiraiya felt rather troubled. Menma already had a way to train in Wind Release Ninjutsu, while he could not learn Ninjutsu of other attributes.

Taijutsu would work too, but training in Taijutsu was a gradual, painstaking process. It could not bring a qualitative improvement in a short time.

"How about teaching me that hair Ninjutsu? I happen to lack defensive Ninjutsu too!" Menma suggested. He had been coveting Jiraiya's Needle Jizō for a long time.

"That would be possible, but it still wouldn't solve your lack of powerful offensive methods," Jiraiya said. "Right, if Ninjutsu isn't enough, use summons to make up for it! Since you, Menma, don't have any high-powered offensive techniques, why not find someone who does to help you?

Menma, I've got it. I'll teach you the Summoning Technique! With your amount of Chakra, you can definitely summon a powerful helper to fight alongside you!"

"Mhm, mhm!" Menma nodded repeatedly. "I want to learn the Summoning Technique, and I want to learn the hair Ninjutsu too!"

Jiraiya's expression turned stern as he said seriously, "Menma, avoid greed during training! If you want to learn everything, you'll end up learning nothing!"

Menma hurriedly explained, "Master, I learn Ninjutsu very quickly! Wind Release: Great Breakthrough only took me a few minutes, while the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere took three days.

I learned Sealing Techniques a little more slowly, but I still mastered the Object Sealing Method within a week."

Jiraiya was once again astonished by Menma's talent. He himself was an exceptionally gifted Ninja, but comparing his younger self with Menma now was like comparing an ordinary person to a genius!

But he had just lectured Menma about biting off more than he could chew. He could not take back his words and slap himself in the face, so Jiraiya coughed and said in a deliberately profound tone, "Menma, there is a huge difference between learning a Ninjutsu and mastering a Ninjutsu.

As the saying goes, jack of all trades, master of none. You need to constantly study the Ninjutsu you've already learned and thoroughly understand every aspect of them! Only then can you build a solid foundation, making it twice as easy to learn new Ninjutsu in the future!

How about this? If you can learn the Summoning Technique within a day and summon a toad larger than yourself, then I'll teach you that Ninjutsu, Needle Jizō!"

Jiraiya thought he had set a very demanding condition.

Menma agreed immediately. He did not tell Jiraiya that when he learned the Shadow Clone Technique and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, he had spent only an hour learning them. The rest of the time had been spent practicing, coordinating tactics and positioning with his Shadow Clones!

Jiraiya looked at Menma and began teaching the Summoning Technique in earnest:

"The Summoning Technique is a space-time Ninjutsu and is generally divided into two types.

One is the more common blood-contract summon. It can summon creatures from other spaces to assist in battle, but it requires making a contract with the summoned creature.

The other is non-blood-contract summoning. It allows you to place objects somewhere and summon them when needed. Your Object Sealing Method is actually a type of Summoning Technique as well.

What I'm teaching you now is the first type, blood-contract summoning. I have already formed a contract with the toads of Mount Myōboku, so the creatures I summon are toads.

Later, I'll speak with Mount Myōboku's administrators and ask them to allow you to become a contractor of Mount Myōboku as well.

For now, I'll teach you how to perform the Summoning Technique. First, use any method to draw a little of your own blood and smear it onto your palm.

Then form the hand seals 'Boar–Dog–Rooster–Monkey–Ram' in sequence, but you must complete them within three seconds. Then press your right hand onto the ground to complete the technique.

Finally, inject Chakra according to your needs. The amount of Chakra you put in determines the strength of the summoned creature.

All right, the lesson is over. Now I'll demonstrate it once.

Boar–Dog–Rooster–Monkey–Ram!

Summoning Technique!"

With a bang, a gigantic toad appeared on the ground.

The toad was orange-red all over, with black flame-like markings across its body. It held a scroll in its mouth and wore a necklace around its neck. On the large bead at the center of the necklace was the character for "Loyalty."