His Strength Was Pretty Impressive

Jiraiya had thought he had already rated Naruto highly enough...

Yet after Gamabunta was sent flying by Naruto Uzumaki's Rasengan Punch, half of Jiraiya's expression still fell apart.

Perhaps Gamabunta's underestimation of his opponent had played a part.

The problem was that Gamabunta, who had once fought alongside him through the great ninja wars, had been so easily defeated by Naruto that he could only flee back to Mount Myōboku in disgrace. Jiraiya could not help feeling a little embarrassed.

"Damn it!"

Jiraiya turned to Kakashi Hatake, who was equally stunned. "Hey, Kakashi, what's with that look? I've never seen this ninjutsu before. Did he develop it himself?"

"Just how many dangerous techniques has that brat Naruto developed? As his jonin instructor, did you really just let him create such dangerous ninjutsu?"

"..."

Kakashi gave a bitter smile and tugged at his mask. "Senior Jiraiya, Naruto had already developed the Rasenshuriken before I became his jonin instructor. During the Survival Exercise, he nearly sliced off my shoulder..."

"How embarrassing!"

Jiraiya covered his face and sighed. After pondering for a long while, he said, "Looks like this test won't be easy to continue..."

"The good news is that Naruto has mastered such a powerful ninjutsu. At least we won't need to worry about his safety if he runs into a battle..." Kakashi Hatake nodded thoughtfully, then called out, "Hey, Naruto, you passed the test!"

On the way back to the hot spring inn.

Kakashi Hatake looked full of wistfulness, while Jiraiya looked deeply troubled.

Naruto Uzumaki stood beside Jiraiya, tirelessly asking questions. "Pervy Sage, what Rasengan ninjutsu have you developed so far? Can we compare notes? I have lots of ideas!"

"...Shut up."

Jiraiya gritted his teeth and glared at him darkly. "Don't bring that up again! Every ninjutsu a ninja develops is top-secret intelligence. How could I casually tell a brat like you?"

"Hmm, really?"

"Of course!"

Naturally, Jiraiya was too embarrassed to tell Naruto Uzumaki that, after all these years, he still had not developed a single nature or shape transformation...

Moreover, Jiraiya did not use the Rasengan very often. Not every ninja possessed the Uzumaki Clan's enormous chakra reserves.

Looking at Naruto's somewhat disappointed expression, Jiraiya suddenly turned his head. "Hey, brat, do you want to train with me?"

Kakashi Hatake raised his head in confusion. "Hm? Does Senior Jiraiya have time to train with Naruto?"

In his impression, Jiraiya was not someone who stayed put!

"Before, I really didn't have the time..."

Jiraiya turned over his palm and spoke indifferently. "But I just happen to be staying in Konoha for a while recently. Even if you hadn't found me, Yugakure would have been the last stop of my journey. The old man has been sending people to look for me lately..."

"I heard it's because of the Chunin Exams being jointly held with Sunagakure. He wants me to go back and take a look. He's probably worried something might happen during the exams..."

Jiraiya had traveled through much of the ninja world during this time, yet he had still not seen any sign of the child of prophecy spoken of by the Great Toad Sage.

And judging from Naruto's performance today, his exceptional talent for ninjutsu and status as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki somewhat overlapped with the prophecy of the child of destiny.

At the very least, he needed to observe him for a while.

"The Chunin Exams?"

Naruto Uzumaki was rather curious about the Chunin Exams. He could not help looking up at Kakashi Hatake. "Can we become chunin if we pass? Sensei Kakashi, can we take part?"

"Well, you can."

Kakashi Hatake pondered for a moment. "But these Chunin Exams won't be safe, especially since they're being jointly held with Sunagakure this time..."

"That's right."

Jiraiya grinned and patted Naruto's head. "Brat, casualties are allowed in the Chunin Exams!"

Naruto Uzumaki suddenly retorted, "It sounds like the Chunin Exams might be more dangerous than leaving the village to carry out a C-rank Mission?"

"...In truth, the Chunin Exams are far more dangerous than C-rank Missions."

Kakashi Hatake helplessly glanced at his subordinate and sighed. "It's just that our team's mission was an accident... Anyway, let's talk about the Chunin Exams after we return to Konoha!"

The Chunin Exams were indeed more dangerous than C-rank Missions.

The genin participating in the Chunin Exams were not only numerous and experienced, but some of the elite genin could already rival chunin. There might even be super genin like Maruboshi Kosuke among them.

However, judging from both their strength and mental maturity, the three little ones of Team Seven had already reached the standard for participating in the Chunin Exams.

They would not fear their enemies.

If Team Seven entered the exams, victory should be all but guaranteed. Leaving aside Naruto Uzumaki, Team Seven's strongest member, Sasuke's improvement alone had been obvious.

That brat had never shown the slightest fear when facing enemies. He might occasionally be reckless, but his strength had improved at an astonishing rate!

These past few days, Kakashi Hatake had been considering whether to teach Sasuke the Lightning Release: Chidori he had developed, as well as its later derivative, the Lightning Cutter...

The most active chakra natures within Sasuke were fire and lightning. Combined with the dynamic vision of his Sharingan, he was the most suitable candidate to learn Chidori.

Kakashi Hatake considered it for a while. Whether it was the swordsmanship passed down by his father, the Lightning Release Ninjutsu he had developed himself, or his experience using the Sharingan over the years, they were indeed all best suited for Sasuke.

That would also prevent Sasuke from growing too jealous as he watched Naruto's strength soar. That would not be good for Team Seven's development as a whole.

Sasuke Uchiha bore hatred that was too deep and too heavy, to the point that it made him overlook his own future. Kakashi Hatake let out a quiet sigh. "That brat..."

He was far too much like his past self.

When they rushed back to the hot spring inn, they heard voices talking inside.

Sasuke Uchiha, still recuperating from his injuries, sounded somewhat impatient because Sakura Haruno beside him kept trying to lean against him.

Sakura Haruno looked at him tenderly, her cheeks flushed. "Sasuke, shall we go soak in the hot springs together?"

"First, we're still injured."

Sasuke Uchiha's voice was somewhat cold. "Second, we're different genders. Only Naruto and I can go to the men's hot spring bath."

Jiraiya: "..."

Naruto Uzumaki: "..."

Kakashi Hatake: "..."

Their conversation reached the ears of the three people outside the door. Middle-aged Jiraiya looked at young Kakashi, and young Kakashi glanced at teenage Naruto.

The three of them—middle-aged, young, and teenage—were all single.

Jiraiya looked at Team Seven's jonin instructor with an indignant expression. "Kakashi, why does your subordinate have such a problem? How can he refuse a girl's invitation? Especially an invitation to bathe in the hot springs together!"

Kakashi could not help rolling his eyes. "..."

Jiraiya abruptly pushed open the door and looked seriously at Sasuke Uchiha. Yet the corner of his eye unconsciously glanced at Sakura Haruno beside him, and he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. "You brat... did well..."

She looked like a matchstick!

No wonder the brat did not want to agree to her request!

Seeing the unfamiliar person who had barged in, Sasuke Uchiha tightly gripped his shuriken. "Who are you?"

"Relax, Sasuke."

Naruto Uzumaki leaned against the doorway, knocked on the door, and explained softly, "He's the Pervy Sage we were looking for. Um, his strength is pretty impressive."

"The Big Reveal: Who Is Jiraiya's True Biggest Hater?"

First, let's look at what these people call Jiraiya...

Orochimaru: Jiraiya.

Tsunade: Jiraiya, idiot, moron.

Kakashi Hatake: Senior Jiraiya, Lord Jiraiya.

Minato Namikaze: Sensei Jiraiya.

Nagato, Konan: Sensei Jiraiya.

Sage Fukasaku: Little Jiraiya.

Hinata Hyuga: Lord Jiraiya.

Naruto Uzumaki: Pervy Sage.

(Note: This form of address never changed until Naruto's death.)

Jiraiya: As long as Naruto lives, he'll keep ruining my reputation...