Training the Rasengan

"Ninja Art: Toad Mouth Bind!"

In the distance, Jiraiya slapped both hands against the ground. The entire corridor turned to flesh, as though they were inside a vast, living intestine.

Sasuke, whom Itachi had pinned against the wall, was quickly swallowed by the flesh. Kisame's and Itachi's feet were sinking into it too.

The sight was horrifying enough to unsettle them both.

"This is the stomach of Iwabuchi from Mount Myōboku. You're already inside him!"

Jiraiya grinned at Itachi and Kisame.

"You're both wanted criminals anyway. You might as well become Iwabuchi's dinner!"

Naruto watched with shining eyes. The toads of Mount Myōboku had all kinds of useful abilities. He had to learn them from Jiraiya.

So following the original story and becoming Jiraiya's student really was the right choice!

"Follow me," Itachi said hurriedly to Kisame.

Kisame grabbed Samehada and followed him toward what had been the far end of the corridor.

"Hmph. It's no use. No one has ever escaped from here!"

Jiraiya spoke confidently as he made the surrounding flesh contract. Pillars of meat erupted toward the two men, threatening to bury them.

But Jiraiya had no idea what the Mangekyō Sharingan could do. With Amaterasu, Uchiha Itachi burned a huge hole through one end of the intestine and escaped with Kisame.

The blow to Jiraiya's pride left him looking sour. All he could do was seal away the remaining Amaterasu flames.

As Naruto watched those flames, his own Mangekyō Sharingan seemed eager to activate on its own.

For an instant, he wanted to pit its power against Uchiha Itachi's.

But he forced the impulse down.

Uchiha Itachi's strength was not limited to his Mangekyō. He was a genius who had honed his Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu, and Ninja Tool Throwing to near perfection.

Naruto still had a