At this moment, within [Mount Myoboku].
"Clone Technique!"
Seven-and-a-half-year-old Naruto sealed his hands together, concentrating hard as he suddenly activated the Clone Technique.
The next moment, a puff of white smoke exploded outward.
Beside him, there stood a perfect clone of young Naruto.
Seeing the complete clone standing beside him, Naruto couldn't help but feel delighted.
Immediately getting excited, he rushed toward Jiraiya, who was reading an 'Icha Icha' book nearby, and shouted joyfully.
"Pervert Sage! Look, look!"
"I did it!"
"I successfully used the Clone Technique!"
Jiraiya closed the book, glanced at Naruto and his clone, then nodded slightly.
He replied dryly with just one line:
"Not bad. Keep practicing."
Hearing that, Naruto immediately pouted,
"Come on! Don't be so dismissive. This is the Clone Technique we're talking about!"
"You said yourself it's one of the 'Three Transformation Techniques' required to graduate as a Genin, right?"
"Now that I've learned it, isn't that pretty impressive?"
Jiraiya: "Just so-so."
"There are plenty of people stronger than you."
"One of the Fourth's apprentices holds the record at the Ninja Academy—had graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, and became a Chunin at six."
"In short, that guy mastered the Three Transformation Techniques at age five. What exactly do you have to be proud about?"
"There are also many who graduated and became Genin at six or seven years old."
"If you want to aspire to become the Hokage, you can't get complacent over just one small success!"
Rarely speaking like this, Jiraiya deliberately tried to deflate Naruto's excitement.
Not because he wanted to dampen the boy's enthusiasm, but to prevent him from getting overly confident.
"Wow! There are really people that strong?"
"No way! I must become stronger!"
"In the future, I will become a great ninja just like First Uncle and Second Uncle Gamamaru!"
"I will earn everyone's recognition and become Hokage!"
Naruto clenched his fists tightly, once again igniting boundless passion in his heart.
Then immediately resumed his training.
Observing Naruto continuing to practice diligently,
Jiraiya showed a trace of smile across his face, murmuring involuntarily,
"Young people sure have it good!"
"This kid really does resemble the Fourth more and more..."
Though Jiraiya had intentionally attempted to challenge Naruto,
To be fair,
To master the Clone Technique at this age was indeed quite rare.
This boy's talent for the Clone Technique was genuinely astounding.
Just as Minato had shown extraordinary talent in reflexes and Space-Time Ninjutsu back in his day.
However, when it came to other ninjutsu techniques,
Naruto clearly struggled.
Techniques like the transformation jutsu and substitution jutsu—he'd been learning them for two or three months already, yet made minimal progress...
Truly a one-sided prodigy!
Of course, being one-sided wasn't necessarily bad.
As long as one could reach the peak,
Even with imbalanced abilities, one could still become an outstanding ninja.
"Maybe later I should teach him some other types of ninjutsu and see which direction suits him best..."
As for the [Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu], listed as a Kinjutsu (forbidden technique), it was definitely not something Naruto could handle at this stage.
Unless this kid really had an unmatched talent for creating clones.
Otherwise, Jiraiya wouldn't have casually taught him any kinjutsu...
"Pervert Sage, do you know why the Uchiha clan defected?"
Naruto, who was in the middle of training, suddenly stopped and asked Jiraiya.
"Hmm? Why are you concerned about them?"
"Because people in the village keep saying it's the Third Old Man's fault. They say he drove the Uchiha away and brought disaster to the village!"
"Who said that?"
"I... I don't know exactly. I overheard it while eating ramen last time..."
Naruto shrank back slightly.
He hadn't expected Jiraiya's reaction to be so intense.
He'd just heard these rumors and felt uncomfortable inside, so he specifically asked.
After all, in Naruto's eyes,
the Third had been the only kind old man willing to help him during his childhood...
"Ahh!"
"People just see things from different angles."
"The old man did make some mistakes; but he also sacrificed himself for the village. People shouldn't speak ill of him like this!"
"These people really are getting more foolish by the day!"
Anyway, Naruto, this isn't something you should concern yourself with...
Jiraiya sighed, unsure of what else to say.
People!
They always love blaming others, especially the dead...
Back when the Third was still around, those villagers never dared to gossip like this!
Naruto hurriedly continued:
"But they also say whoever brings back or eliminates the Uchiha clan will surely become the next Hokage!"
Jiraiya immediately became extremely anxious, shouting furiously:
"Don't even think about it!"
"Naruto, listen carefully from today onward."
"If you encounter anyone from the Uchiha clan, run away immediately without hesitation!"
"And if you can't run away, send out a distress signal right away!"
"Never attempt to confront them or try to subdue any Uchiha ninja!"
"Especially those Uchiha around three or four years older than you!"
Jiraiya's outburst shocked Naruto into silence.
He simply couldn't understand why the Pervert Sage got so emotional.
Only Jiraiya himself knew the truth.
The Uchiha clan—the two terrifying individuals, old and young—possessed an utterly horrifying strength!
Strength capable of easily destroying the entire Konoha!
If Naruto ever encountered them, there would be absolutely no hope of survival!
Trying to subdue the Uchiha clan was pure fantasy...
Even Nagato, whom he once regarded as the "Child of the Prophecy",
appeared fragile before such power...
Especially that kid, Shimoku Uchiha.
Just 11 years old yet already so terrifying.
It completely shattered the Ninja World's (Shinobi Sekai) understanding of strength.
Not even the word 'monster' could accurately describe that opponent anymore!
Therefore, upon hearing that Naruto had thoughts of going after the Uchiha Clan,
Jiraiya naturally became extremely anxious and immediately and sternly stopped Naruto's idea...
"I-I understand!"
Though puzzled, Naruto nodded in agreement, giving his assurance.
He always listened to Jiraiya's words carefully.
After all, after spending this much time together, he had come to truly respect and care for Jiraiya as a cherished elder.
"Just remember that."
"That's definitely not something you should be worrying about!"
"Those are problems for the First Hokage and Second Uncle Gamamaru to handle."
"With them around, Konoha will surely remain safe!"
Jiraiya took a few large steps forward, gently patted Naruto's head, and solemnly comforted him.
"That's right! Lord First Hokage and Second Uncle Gamamaru are both so amazing!"
"Second Uncle Gamamaru even said he'd teach me an incredibly powerful ninjutsu someday!"
Naruto enthusiastically agreed, filled with anticipation for the future.
Jiraiya also gave a nod.
He really couldn't see anything stopping those two great men.
It's all thanks to them that Konoha still exists!
However, just at this moment—
"Kero kero!"
Two croaks echoed out, as a toad suddenly jumped beside Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-sama, there's an urgent situation!"
The message toad shouted loudly, immediately spitting out a scroll and handing it to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya unfurled the scroll and began reading immediately.
In an instant,
His expression involuntarily changed, and his eyebrows knitted tightly together.
"Pervert Sage, what happened?"
"The [Land of Earth] has officially declared war on the [Land of Wind]! Ninja from both [Iwagakure Village] and [Sunagakure Village] have already rushed to the border, preparing for battle..."
"Eh? But weren't they both allied with our village already?"
Naruto looked totally dazed.
"Exactly! Because we were allies, our [Konoha Village] has been dragged into this too..."
Jiraiya replied with a furrowed brow, equally perplexed inside.
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