[The Summoning Technique relied on outside help. Inferior to the Nine-Tails.]
[The Rasengan was decent. A good fit for Naruto.]
[Strengthening Naruto's fundamentals and teaching him to use tailed beast chakra? A sound approach.]
Before Madara, Jiraiya, one of the once-renowned Sannin, looked like a private tutor interviewing for a job. Only after he had finished laying out all his plans for Naruto did Madara give a slightly satisfied nod.
"After today, go find Naruto. Work out how to get him to listen to you yourself. You have one month to teach him. If he hasn't shown any improvement by the official Chunin Ninja Exams a month from now, you won't need to teach him anymore."
Although Jiraiya had already told Madara his plans for the next few years, Madara knew nothing about him. Jiraiya might be one of the Sannin, but if he failed to live up to his reputation, wouldn't that only hold Naruto back?
After giving Jiraiya a month to prove himself, Madara left.
Watching Madara's retreating figure, Jiraiya gave a helpless, wry smile.
Each generation brought forth new talents.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. Under clear, bright skies, Konoha's Barrier was shut down for the day. Meanwhile, Lords and nobles from the Allied Countries arrived in Konoha to watch the matches.
Madara Uchiha stood before the Konoha Gate, watching the dignitaries' palanquins and countless spectators stream into Konoha, but his thoughts were on the intelligence he had received recently.
These Chunin Ninja Exams probably wouldn't be as simple as I imagined.
"Itachi, go watch the official matches. I'll guard this place. Once all the spectators are inside, I'll act according to plan."
Uchiha Fugaku appeared beside Madara with the Body Flicker Technique. As captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, Fugaku