Ayato stared at the utterly still ground. Under normal circumstances, that Flying Thunder God kunai would already have been summoned to him, yet now there was no response at all.
Ayato frowned, but he did not panic. He slowly closed his eyes and searched for that connection through his senses.
His mindset is good, and he found the right approach so quickly. It seems this trial will not hold him back for long. He just needs to summon it a few more times, and he should pass. Jiraiya's eyes lit up at the sight. The Third Hokage truly had not deceived him about this talent.
Moreover, the Third Hokage had not mentioned this temperament at all in his letter. Jiraiya had thought Ayato would be at least somewhat flustered after his first failure, but there was nothing of the sort. Just how confident was he in himself?
Soon, Jiraiya saw Ayato move again, and his eyes brightened further. Had he sensed it already?
Ayato opened his eyes, seized the faint connection he had finally detected, and used the Summoning Technique once more.
Yet it still failed. The familiar Flying Thunder God kunai did not appear before Ayato's eyes, causing a ripple in his heart. He took a deep breath, determination filling his gaze. No matter what, he would master Flying Thunder God.
What Ayato did not know was that Jiraiya and the Third Hokage were staring at the trembling Flying Thunder God kunai. They exchanged glances, both seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes.
He had actually connected with the Flying Thunder God kunai on his second attempt. They had used a Sealing Technique on it. Though it was a special kind of Sealing Technique rather than a complete seal, it still revealed a great deal.
"Hiss..." Jiraiya sucked in