Chapter 21 New Technique! (Please read on)
AI Model: gemini-2.0-flash
One in front, one behind, Xuan Yi and Jiraiya moved away from the core area of Konoha and stopped in a wide open space.
Snow was still falling, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of snow.
Jiraiya smiled and extended his right hand, palm open.
The next moment, a blue Rasengan rapidly appeared in his palm.
Xuan Yi immediately smiled and gave a thumbs up: "As expected of Jiraiya Sensei, you've mastered it so quickly."
Jiraiya smiled proudly: "Not just that!"
Xuan Yi was surprised.
The next moment, the Rasengan expanded, and the surrounding air currents spun rapidly, making a whistling sound, causing the snowflakes to swirl around it.
Xuan Yi's eyes widened as he watched the Rasengan in Jiraiya's hand undergo a drastic change, accompanied by a piercing hum, and his familiar Wind Release: Rasenshuriken appeared.
Seeing Xuan Yi's surprised expression, Jiraiya was very pleased: "Xuan Yi, this is the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
"As expected of Jiraiya Sensei, one of the Sannin, amazing!"
This time, Xuan Yi's praise came from the heart.
It had been less than a year since he proposed this idea to Minato Namikaze, and Jiraiya had already completed this Ninjutsu.
Although compared to Naruto, it was still a bit slow.
But Naruto had enormous Chakra, able to split into hundreds or even thousands of clones for training, so the efficiency was completely incomparable.
Not to mention Jiraiya was also a wanderer, traveling everywhere.
It could only be said that Jiraiya truly deserved to be the ceiling for a civilian Ninja.
Facing Xuan Yi's praise, Jiraiya became even happier.
"Jiraiya Sensei, can it be thrown?"
Xuan Yi quickly asked.
Jiraiya's smile froze, and he said with some helplessness: "No."
"Alright, this is just a half-finished product."
"Of course, it can still be thrown."
Jiraiya smiled again, then dispersed the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken: "Nah, I'll show you the throwable version next time!"
Xuan Yi nodded, knowing that it could definitely be thrown in Sage Mode.
However, Jiraiya's Sage Mode required the cooperation of the two Sages of Mount Myōboku.
Unfortunately, with his current Chakra reserves, Sage Mode was out of the question.
"Xuan Yi, if there's any Ninjutsu you want to learn, I can teach you!"
Jiraiya said with a smile, looking as if he could produce any Ninjutsu with great generosity.
Xuan Yi fell into thought upon hearing this.
Before, he was particularly lacking in Ninjutsu resources.
But now... it seemed he wasn't anymore.
The Ninjutsu he currently mastered was sufficient.
What he most urgently needed was more Chakra.
Should he ask Jiraiya to help catch the Zero-Tails?
Xuan Yi secretly shook his head; now was not the time.
So, after thinking for a moment, Xuan Yi said: "Jiraiya Sensei, why don't you teach me a defensive Ninjutsu!"
Defensive Ninjutsu?
Jiraiya stroked his chin in thought, then formed hand seals: "How about this?"
As his words fell, his white hair grew longer and harder, wrapping around him, leaving only his face exposed.
And his hair stood up like a porcupine.
Needle Jizo!
Xuan Yi naturally recognized this Ninjutsu; it was a secret Ninjutsu created by Jiraiya himself.
He just didn't know what nature transformation it used.
Was it Earth Release, or Yang Release?
However, Jiraiya knew his situation, so it shouldn't be an Earth Release nature transformation.
At this moment, Jiraiya said: "Xuan Yi, try attacking it, like with a Shuriken."
Xuan Yi nodded, leaped backward, then flicked his hands, and several Shuriken flew out, landing on Jiraiya and being deflected with a clanging sound.
The defense was quite good.
Let's try again.
Xuan Yi leaped up, drew his sword with his right hand, and chopped down from the air.
He used his full strength in this strike.
Not just his physical strength, but also the Chakra burst technique taught by Sakumo Hatake.
Jiraiya watched, unable to help his eyelids twitch: "This brat, he's really not holding back."
"Good thing my defense is sufficient."
Indeed.
Xuan Yi's short sword landed but was blocked by Jiraiya's hair.
This made his eyes light up.
This defensive move was no less effective than Kakuzu's Earth Spear.
Sheathing his sword, Xuan Yi gave a thumbs up: "This Ninjutsu was created by you, Jiraiya Sensei, wasn't it?"
Jiraiya dispelled the Ninjutsu and smiled: "Of course, it's pretty good, isn't it?"
Xuan Yi nodded repeatedly and asked: "Jiraiya Sensei, what nature transformation is this Ninjutsu?"
Jiraiya counter-asked: "What do you think?"
Xuan Yi said: "Yang Release?"
Jiraiya nodded, then sat down on the snow and smiled: "I remember you've mastered Yang Release nature transformation?"
Xuan Yi said: "Yes, but I'm not proficient; I've only mastered Medical Ninjutsu."
Jiraiya smiled: "Medical Ninjutsu is not a simple Medical Ninjutsu; mastering this Medical Ninjutsu is already enough."
"Alright, let's start now."
"First, from the hand seals; Minato said you have a knack for hand seals!"
With that, Jiraiya began to teach.
The hand seals for Needle Jizo were not complicated, only six seals, and if done quickly, it wouldn't even take a second.
Tiger - Horse - Boar - Ram - Tiger - Snake!
Xuan Yi memorized the sequence of hand seals after just one demonstration.
But this was just the beginning.
In the second step, Jiraiya had Xuan Yi familiarize himself with the hand seals.
Xuan Yi followed suit, practicing only ten times, and the hand seals were already very smooth, completed in just one second.
The third step was to activate Chakra for nature transformation while forming the hand seals.
This was the most crucial step.
And for this step, Xuan Yi took half an hour to grasp the trick.
Finally, a formal attempt.
Tiger - Horse - Boar - Ram - Tiger - Snake.
Xuan Yi formed the hand seals, not quickly, completing the six seals in two seconds.
The next moment, his short black hair rapidly grew and hardened.
However, it only grew to his waist and stopped, only able to cover half of his body.
Jiraiya reached out and tapped the black hair, saying: "The hardness isn't quite enough either!"
"You still need to practice a lot."
"Length and hardness must both be present."
Jiraiya smiled: "Hmm, starting today, Xuan Yi, grow your hair long, just like me, how dashing."
Xuan Yi nodded.
He had no objection to growing his hair long.
For his own safety, what was this?
Moreover, Jiraiya's white hair did look pretty good!
"Alright, that's enough for today!"
"I'm going to Minato's; if you need anything, find me there!"
With that, Jiraiya had already turned around, waved his hand, and gradually walked away.
Xuan Yi waved goodbye to Jiraiya, then continued to ponder the Needle Jizo Ninjutsu.
For this kind of defensive Ninjutsu, the fewer seals, the better.
That way, it could be used in combat.
"I must continue to study the Nine Syllable Mantra Hand Seals."
Xuan Yi mused to himself.
He couldn't be complacent; even if there was no more progress to be made in Ninjutsu, the research into seals couldn't stop, especially the Nine Syllable Mantra Hand Seals.
Three days passed in a flash.
On this day, Xuan Yi arrived at the village gate wearing a white stand-collar robe for assembly.
The first mission after the New Year began.