Water-Nature Chakra

"Legend has it there's a Konoha, with a Hokage who never washes her feet. Every ninja she guides hopes for a better world..."

The Nine-Tails' sudden humming nearly made Naruto trip and fall flat on his face.

Sneaking a glance at Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune and seeing that none of them had noticed him, Naruto hurriedly replied through their mental link, "Wait, Kurama, what did you change? What the hell are you singing? Don't think I haven't seen it before—what's with suddenly belting that out? Who are you trying to scare?"

"Tch, wasn't it because you'd been sulking the whole way? That's completely unlike the protagonist of a hot-blooded shonen manga. How long have you been hung up on this? Even Awen doesn't overthink things as much as you do. Would worrying even help? A day passes no matter what!" the Nine-Tails complained weakly.

Naruto replied feebly, "What are you talking about? I'm not overthinking anything. Like you said, every day passes either way. I was just thinking about the Rasenshuriken. In the future, did I have to learn Sage Mode, or play tug-of-war and bump fists with you, Kurama, before I could use it? How did the future me ignore the Rasenshuriken's side effects? I just can't figure it out!"

The Nine-Tails raised his voice a few notches and said bluntly, "Ha... So that's what this is about. Tch, then why were you putting on such a deep act? You said nothing and made the people around you worry. You know what? Right now, you're like one of those useless protagonists who always show up in novels and TV dramas. The moment they run into even a little trouble, they start brooding dramatically without saying a word, making everyone around them miserable too..."

Naruto's eyes widened, and a shiver ran through his whole body. He hurriedly apologized through their mental link, "Stop, Kurama, stop! I was wrong, I was wrong! I won't do it again!"

"Hmph..." The Nine-Tails snorted disdainfully, but still explained, "Experience has to be accumulated. Even if you know the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, the experience you accumulate still requires growth and interaction with the outside world. If you stubbornly do everything alone, you won't accomplish anything. Even if you hate it, you humans are a species that needs to communicate with one another!"

"I understand. Thank you, Kurama!"

After thanking him, Naruto asked Tsunade and Jiraiya, "Granny Tsunade, Pervy Sage, there's a ninjutsu I want to ask you about regarding my training!"

"Huh, ninjutsu..." Tsunade found that a little strange.

Having spent so much time with Naruto, Jiraiya immediately thought of it. "You mean that Wind Release Rasengan of yours, right? Adding the wind-nature transformation of chakra into the Rasengan—that's a ninjutsu even the Fourth Hokage never managed to complete!"

Naruto gathered a Wind Release Rasengan in his palm, and Tsunade and Shizune moved closer as well.

"This Wind Release Rasengan is only a half-finished product right now. If all the wind-nature chakra is fused into the Rasengan, it causes backlash to me, with extremely serious side effects. I've been trying to figure out how to solve that problem!"

Tsunade blinked in surprise, noticing something. "That's strange, Naruto. Aside from wind, do you have another chakra nature that you're naturally gifted in?"

"How did you know, Granny Tsunade?" Naruto asked in surprise. He had never even told Jiraiya about his naturally strong Water-Nature Chakra. He had gotten that from Awen.

Tsunade smiled. "Your Wind Release Rasengan contains traces of a Water-Nature Chakra transformation. You must have unconsciously mixed it in. Naruto, wind has powerful cutting force and speed, but water changes shape according to you. Train your Water-Nature Chakra transformation!"

"Water..." Naruto had always overlooked that chakra nature of his.

Jiraiya said, "The hot springs of Hot Spring Village are just ahead. Naruto, come on. Once we get there, we can soak in the hot springs while teaching you how to train your Water-Nature Chakra transformation!"

"Yeah, yeah! Then what are we waiting for? Pervy Sage, Granny Tsunade, Sister Shizune, let's hurry!" Naruto looked impatient. Kurama had been right—rather than thinking by himself, he really did need to communicate with others. Naruto eagerly imagined the day when he could casually throw Rasenshuriken around.

Shizune sighed. "Didn't we say we needed to hurry back?"

"A little while won't make a difference. Let's all go soak in the hot springs. Oh, right!" Tsunade suddenly remembered something. Smiling, she rubbed Naruto's head and said, "Naruto, I heard they have mixed bathing there. Boys your age must be very curious about the opposite sex, right? Maybe you'll run into some very pretty girls."

"Heh..." Naruto said with great disdain, "Granny Tsunade, I'm not that easy to fool. Even if there are women who like mixed bathing, most of them are old ladies in their fifties or sixties. Those old ladies especially like looking at young, innocent boys. Young, beautiful girls would never go to a mixed bath. So mixed bathing with cute girls or beautiful older women is impossible!"

"What? It's impossible? Tsunade, you lied to me!" Jiraiya, who had been indulging in wild fantasies, instantly snapped back to reality.

"Did I say anything to you?" Tsunade asked, looking at him like he was trash.

At the Hot Spring Village hot springs, Jiraiya was currently upset and grumbling, "Damn it, Tsunade. This bathhouse doesn't even have a crack to peek through. There's no way to spy!"

Bang!

Naruto gathered Water-Nature Chakra in both palms and slammed them hard onto the water's surface, sending up two explosive splashes.

Looking at his hands, Naruto asked in confusion, "Pervy Sage, is this all I need to do for training?"

Jiraiya said casually, "That's right. Water-nature training is much easier than wind-nature training. Gather chakra with water-nature properties in both palms. Once you can slap Water-Nature Chakra onto the surface of the water and leave it completely undisturbed, you'll have succeeded!"

"Then I'm still a long way off!" Naruto said dejectedly. That last impact had sounded just like an exploding tag going off. His control over his own Water-Nature Chakra was a complete mess.

Naruto continued training and asked curiously, "Pervy Sage, by the way, why did you insist on bringing me into the mixed bath?"

"Quit yapping. What you said only applies to most cases. That means there's still a tiny possibility!" Jiraiya refused to concede.

"You're still thinking about such pointless stuff?" Naruto continued training, and another slap produced a thunderous boom.

Jiraiya grew somewhat impatient from waiting. Wrapping himself in a bath towel, he left, while Naruto remained in the hot spring, still enthusiastically training.

As he lifted the curtain, Jiraiya reminded him, "Hey, Naruto, don't soak for too long. Be careful not to pass out!"

"I know!" Naruto replied casually and continued training.

About five or six minutes later, Naruto heard footsteps behind him and turned around curiously.

The curtain lifted, revealing Tsunade with her blonde hair tied into a ponytail, wrapped in a bath towel. Her incredibly exaggerated figure delivered another powerful visual impact.

Naruto was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped. He stammered, "Granny Tsunade, why are you here? Th-this... It may be mixed bathing here, but why are you..."