Hinata had discovered that her Byakugan gave her a surprising advantage in learning medical ninjutsu. In the Hidden Leaf, ordinary medical-nin needed specialized instruments to glimpse inside the human body. But Hinata? Her eyes were like an X-ray machine. With a glance, she could study bones, tissues, even chakra pathways.
Learning medical techniques felt almost like cheating.
She herself laughed softly at the thought. Technically, her Byakugan wasn't even "open" right now, but that hardly mattered. To her, it meant she would never struggle the way other students did. My Hinata will forever be a green-level player, she thought proudly, borrowing a phrase from video games.
Her focus now was on meridians and acupoints. This knowledge was passed down within the Hyuga clan, yet its potential went far beyond sealing chakra or restricting movement. With the right stimulation, meridians and acupoints could strengthen the body, amplify chakra, and even unlock hidden capabilities.
While Hinata trained in this art, Naruto was testing his limits elsewhere.
At the Uchiha training grounds, his breath came hard and heavy as he heaved a massive boulder off his shoulders, tossing it aside with a dull thud. Sweat poured down his face, soaking his shirt. Grabbing it, he wiped himself off and rolled his neck until a sharp crack echoed in the air.
Without looking, he called out to the trees nearby. "You've been watching me for a while. Care to come out already?"
A tall figure stepped from the shadows.
Naruto's eyes narrowed. The man was broad-shouldered with long white hair and an easy grin. "I'm impressed," he said warmly. "Most people wouldn't notice me while in the middle of such intense training."
Naruto shrugged, his expression calm. "I sensed you the moment you arrived. You hid your chakra well, but you forgot one thing. The wind carries everything to me."
The stranger chuckled.
Naruto's eyes sharpened. "So, white-haired old man, who are you? Someone here to assassinate me?"
He had never seen this person in the village before. With his identity as the Fourth Hokage's son becoming less of a secret, enemies would eventually come. The Leaf had already captured spies who were willing to die just for a chance to eliminate him.
"Good question," the man said, straightening proudly. "Allow me to introduce myself!"
He bit his thumb, slammed his palm against the ground, and in a puff of smoke, a giant toad appeared beneath him. Striking a dramatic pose atop its head, the man tossed his mane of white hair with exaggerated flair. "I am Jiraiya of Mount Myoboku, known as the Toad Sage, master of senjutsu, writer, traveler, and legendary shinobi. Pleased to make your acquaintance!"
Naruto stared at him, deadpan.
The two froze in silence. A crow cawed somewhere in the distance.
Jiraiya stayed frozen in his pose.
Finally, Naruto broke the awkwardness. "Wind Style: Vacuum Bullet!"
A burst of compressed air shot toward Jiraiya.
"Whoa, hey now!" Jiraiya leapt aside. "Attacking already?"
But Naruto was faster than he expected, closing the gap with a flying kick aimed directly at Jiraiya's head.
Jiraiya blocked with his forearm, grunting as the impact forced them apart. Landing heavily, he felt the ground soften beneath his sandals. His feet sank. A swamp? Since when?
This boy had transformed the battlefield without him even noticing.
Before he could react further, the tongue of Jiraiya's summoned toad lashed out, pulling him clear of the mire.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!" Naruto's voice rang out. A serpent of fire formed midair, coiling before it dove straight toward him.
"Ha! So you do pack a punch!" Jiraiya grinned, puffing out his chest. He gathered his chakra and exhaled a blazing fireball to meet the dragon head-on. "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!"
He followed with a quick string of seals. "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The earth rumbled as a dragon-shaped torrent of soil surged forward, mixing with the flames. Fire and earth combined, creating a blazing inferno that roared back at Naruto.
But Naruto ignored the outcome of their clash. Instead, he lunged forward again, fists raised.
The two collided in a flurry of blows. Jiraiya's body, hardened and strengthened by years of training and the touch of sage chakra, met Naruto's strikes with equal force. Each clash of fist and kick echoed like thunder.
For Naruto, the fight was exhilarating. Few could match him evenly anymore. The Third Hokage was strong, but age had dulled him, and Naruto could never bring himself to unleash his full power against a man who treated him like family. Orochimaru might have been a contender, but that snake cared only about Sasuke and had no desire for a direct clash.
Jiraiya, however, was perfect. Skilled in both ninjutsu and taijutsu, strong and unyielding. He fought back without hesitation.
Their battle raged for half an hour, tearing apart the training grounds. Trees snapped like twigs, the earth split in cracks, and craters dotted the field. Sasuke would probably fume later about the cost of repairs, but Naruto wasn't worried. His friend had landlord money to spare.
Finally, after trading a pair of heavy punches, the two stepped back simultaneously, panting.
Naruto wiped his brow, then grinned broadly. "That was amazing. Thank you, Jiraiya-sensei."
Jiraiya blinked, lowering his fists. "Wait… you knew who I was this whole time?"
"Of course," Naruto replied easily. "Your toad summons are famous across the shinobi world. I actually paid attention in the academy's history lessons, you know."
Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "Then why on earth did you attack me?!"
Naruto's grin widened. "Because when I meet a worthy opponent, my hands get itchy. Didn't you enjoy yourself too?"
The white-haired sage rubbed his wrist and let out a sheepish chuckle. Truth be told, he hadn't had this much fun in years.
"As an apology, let me treat you to ramen," Naruto offered. "Ichiraku is the best."
At the mention of the name, Jiraiya's eyes lit up. "Ichiraku Ramen, huh? Haven't had that in forever."
Soon the two were seated side by side at the counter, slurping steaming bowls of noodles. When they finished, Jiraiya bought a popsicle from a nearby stand. Snapping it in half, he handed one piece to Naruto.
"You'll get a stomachache eating this right after ramen," Naruto warned, though he accepted it anyway.
Jiraiya laughed. "Nonsense. Nothing beats ramen followed by something cold. Trust me."
They sat together on a park bench, the quiet evening settling around them. Naruto nibbled his half, his words muffled. "So, Jiraiya-sensei… why did you come find me?"
Jiraiya's smile faded. "I spoke with the Third about you, but I needed to see you myself." His tone was heavy now, his eyes filled with something deeper than amusement.
Naruto looked up, his blue eyes locking on the man's weathered face.
"You deserve the truth," Jiraiya said quietly. "Your father, Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, was my student. He was like a son to me. And your name… it was I who helped choose it."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Already hooked by this cosmic shinobi journey? Share what drew you in your words and reviews keep the flames of youth burning bright. And every 300 Power Stones will unlock a bonus chapter, pushing Naruto's path to the stars even faster!
Naruto's dream has only just begun, and the Unbound Evolution of his destiny is far from over. Stay with Naruto: Set a Goal, Conquer the Universe and reach beyond the horizon together!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a