Just then.
The spot where Naruto had stood was suddenly empty. A golden flash burst through the air.
"What?!"
Jiraiya's pupils contracted.
For an instant, he hadn't even seen the boy move.
"What was that?!"
Kakashi, who had been lounging against a tree, straightened abruptly. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Whoosh!
A breeze stirred the white hair at the back of Jiraiya's head, and his body tensed.
Then the golden light stopped, and Naruto appeared.
A Rasengan spun in his right hand as he drove it toward the back of Jiraiya's head without a moment's hesitation. The strike was swift and decisive.
Jiraiya reacted as though struck by lightning. He whipped around, both hands shooting toward Naruto.
Boom!
A ring of air rippled outward. Jiraiya stared at the Rasengan halted just short of his nose as sweat dripped from his chin to the ground.
He stared at the blond boy in shock and swallowed.
"The Flying... Flying Raijin Technique?!"
"Who taught you that?!"
His voice rose to a shout.
Even Kakashi, who had been watching from the side, rushed over and stared at Naruto in alarm.
"W-what's wrong?"
Naruto grew nervous under their stares.
"Who taught you Flying Raijin?" Jiraiya repeated.
"Uncle Xia Le!" Naruto said, puzzled.
"Xia Le!"
"He knows Flying Raijin?"
Jiraiya turned to Kakashi.
"I've never known everything my teacher can do."
Kakashi sighed and shook his head.
Jiraiya fell silent.
Then he seized Naruto by the hand.
"Starting today, you'll train with me."
"Once you're strong enough, I'll take you to find Sasuke!"
Naruto was confused, but he nodded anyway.
"He was your father's teacher, Naruto," Kakashi said from the side.
At that, the way Naruto looked at Jiraiya changed.
At the same time.
Inside the dim Underground Laboratory, a body like an ancient tree