Jiraiya was at the hot springs, busy with his usual "research," when suddenly the sky above the forest darkened. The people of Yugakure looked up in shock as an unnatural phenomenon unfolded before their eyes. Moments later, countless bolts of lightning began striking the forest in rapid succession. "That place… that's where I left Naruto. Don't tell me something happened to the kid!"
Without hesitation, Jiraiya dashed toward the forest, ignoring the danger of the violent lightning storm. His only concern was Naruto's safety. Using multiple Body Flickers, he arrived within minutes.
When he reached the area where the lightning had struck, he froze.
Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
All that remained were massive craters filled with black ash.
"I hope he went back to the inn to rest…" Jiraiya muttered, though unease crept into his voice.
Activating his sensory ability, he scanned the surroundings. To his surprise, he felt a presence coming from a nearby river. He immediately rushed toward it.
When he arrived, he saw a boy standing in the water, his long hair flowing down his back. Jiraiya let out a sigh of relief and approached him.
"Hey, sorry to bother you, but have you seen a blond boy with blue eyes around here?"
Fang Chen turned his head and looked at him. He wasn't surprised that Jiraiya didn't recognize him.
"Pervy Sage… it's me. Naruto. Sorry for worrying you."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in shock.
"Why are you lying, kid? I know my student you look nothing like him!"
"Pervy Sage, I'm not surprised you don't recognize me. I don't fully understand it myself, but I was struck by several powerful lightning bolts… and my appearance changed."
Jiraiya studied his face carefully and noticed the familiar whisker marks. After a moment, he reluctantly accepted the explanation.
"Kid, I told you a few hours ago to go back to the inn and rest. Why didn't you listen? If something happened to you… I'd never forgive myself."
Fang Chen remained silent, but inwardly, he was slightly surprised. In his entire life, only his mother and his master had ever shown concern for him like this.
"Alright, Pervy Sage… I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
In truth, Fang Chen didn't care about this man he had known for only a day. But in this unfamiliar world, he needed a guide. If Jiraiya's attachment to Naruto ever became an obstacle in his way, he wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him.
Still… for now, this man was useful.
With his current Nascent Soul cultivation, Fang Chen was confident that very few people in this world could threaten him but he was not foolish. Maybe there are many techniques here he didn't understand yet. Before making any moves, he needed knowledge.
And Jiraiya would serve as his guide.
"It is his honor," Fang Chen thought coldly, "that the Heavenly Demon acts humble before him"
"Good. As long as you're safe. Now let's head back to the inn," Jiraiya said.
"Alright, Pervy Sage. But first… could you get me something to wear? My clothes were destroyed by the lightning."
Jiraiya glanced at him, noticing how much taller Naruto seemed now.
"Fine. Wait here I'll go into the village and buy you something."
"Pervy Sage… please get me a black robe. I feel uncomfortable in my usual clothes."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"After all that lightning, not only did your appearance change your taste did too, huh?"
"Just go," Fang Chen replied calmly.
"Alright, I'll be back soon."
After Jiraiya left, Fang Chen stepped out of the river. With a simple wave of his qi, the water on his body evaporated instantly.
Half an hour later, Jiraiya returned.
"Here. This toad sage picked something that should suit your new look."
"Thank you, Pervy Sage."
As they walked back toward the inn, Jiraiya kept glancing at Naruto's back.
"What happened to him?" he wondered. "He's changed too much in just one day… Long hair, red eyes… He looks completely different. Almost like a different person."
There was something else too.
The way Naruto carried himself now it was Calm and Dominant. Almost like a ruler looking down on the world.
"Is it because of the Nine-Tails? Or the lightning?" Jiraiya thought.
Those strange bolts had been powerful enough to destroy buildings… yet Naruto stood here unharmed.
Suspicion crept into his mind. He wanted to question him further but when he looked at Naruto's expression earlier, something stopped him.
Naruto clearly didn't want to talk about it.
Meanwhile, Fang Chen could feel Jiraiya's gaze on his back but he ignored it.
"Naruto," Jiraiya said, breaking the silence, "tomorrow we head back to Konoha. The two-and-a-half-year training period is over. I've already taught you how to perform the Odama Rasengan. With a bit more practice, you'll master it."
"Pervy Sage… you mean this?"
A large, dark red sphere suddenly formed in Naruto's hand two meters ahead of Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's jaw dropped.
"How is that possible?! You've already mastered it? And why is it red? The Odama Rasengan isn't supposed to have a chakra nature!"
"I don't know, Pervy Sage. It just turns red when I use it."
Inside, Fang Chen sneered.
"How difficult can it be to condense qi into the palm? This technique is nothing more than a toy for a cultivator who has lived for six hundred years. At my peak, I could split mountains with a single sword strike."
Jiraiya suddenly burst into laughter.
"Haha! As expected of my disciple! Tomorrow, we head out!"
"Pervy Sage, there's no need for us to walk such a long distance."
Naruto casually waved his hand through the air.
A sharp tearing sound echoed as the space in front of him split apart like fragile fabric. A crack appeared in midair, widening as Naruto grabbed its edges with both hands and pulled it open.
Inside the rift, there was nothing but endless darkness an abyss that seemed to devour even light.
Jiraiya's jaw dropped.
"Brat… what is that? What did you just do?!"
Naruto glanced back at him calmly.
"This is a technique I developed over the past few days. Your explanations about space-time ninjutsu helped me create it. I wanted to surprise you." He paused slightly. "It's a portal. It can take you anywhere as long as you know the exact location."
He looked at the dark void with indifference.
"I call it… the Heaven-Shattering Void Passage. This portal now leads directly in front of Konoha."
Without waiting for a response, Fang Chen stepped into the rift.
Jiraiya remained frozen in place, still trying to process what he had just witnessed. This was the same kid who, just yesterday, had been shouting and acting like an idiot.
After a few moments, he took a deep breath and followed.
The moment he stepped through, the world twisted and then stabilized.
When Jiraiya emerged, his eyes widened in disbelief.
They stood just a few hundred meters away from the gates of Konoha.
"…Naruto," Jiraiya muttered, still stunned, "how many more surprises are you planning to show this sage today?"
Fang Chen didn't respond.
His gaze was fixed on the village gates the so-called "home" of the boy whose body he now possessed.
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head, still unsettled.
"Naruto, I still have some matters to take care of in Yugakure. We'll be heading back there for now. You should go prepare your things. Tomorrow morning, we'll return to Konoha properly."
"Alright, Pervy Sage."
The two of them walked through portal once again in silence.
For the first time, Jiraiya didn't know how to behave around his own disciple.