Chapter 33: Did the Old Man Send You Here to Slap My Face?
The fact that Uchiha Itachi became a ninja caused a huge uproar in the school, but it wasn't considered particularly unusual in Konoha Village as a whole... There were quite a few who graduated at this age in Konoha Village!
People knew that peculiar little boy definitely couldn't graduate through the normal process. Indeed, graduating on the first day of school was a bit astonishing, but it was within an acceptable range.
Konoha Village Gate.
Jiraiya was truly ruthless. He planned to leave the village the very next day. He decided to take Uchiha Itachi on his first ninja mission – to hunt down the S-rank rogue ninja, Orochimaru.
According to his judgment, Uchiha Itachi's chakra amount and taijutsu were already up to par, and his genjutsu was even more advanced. At the very least, he could contribute to intelligence gathering.
Taking a newly graduated Genin out of the village to undertake an S-rank mission... Is this what a teacher should do? People with strength are just willful...
Alright, actually, on one hand, it was a request from the Third Hokage. On the other hand, it was also because he had received news about Orochimaru. It definitely wasn't because Tsunade was also leaving the village today, so he wanted to accompany her for a bit.
The two gate guards watched the farewell party with expressionless faces... Uchiha Mikoto held her younger son, while Uchiha Fugaku looked worriedly at Jiraiya, who was shamelessly chatting with Tsunade...
"Senior Jiraiya, the Uchiha clan has always had strict family traditions... I hope you will be mindful of propriety!"
"Hahaha... Fugaku, you're still worried about me teaching disciples? Just look at Minato, and you'll know, right?" Jiraiya laughed in response, casually patting Itachi's little head.
...Soft hair... the feel... unexpectedly good?
Although this person was unreliable, his skill in teaching disciples was indeed praiseworthy... After all, being Jiraiya's student was Itachi's true future graduation certificate.
"So long-winded!"
Tsunade slapped Jiraiya on the head, then pushed Uchiha Itachi away... Shizune could only awkwardly apologize to Fugaku and Mikoto.
"Sorry, Lady Tsunade, she..."
"Her temper still hasn't changed much!" Mikoto covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, bowing slightly to Shizune, "Well then, please take care of him on the journey..."
This strange little team was surprisingly compatible.
Tsunade and Jiraiya walked ahead boisterously, while Shizune took care of the younger brother, Uchiha Itachi, behind them. Each of them held a pet... It was warm and harmonious... except for the crow occasionally drooling as it coveted Tonton.
This piglet is really well-raised... Whether it's made into roasted suckling pig or braised pork chops, the taste must be extremely good.
Unfortunately, Jiraiya didn't plan to continue traveling with the two women.
This person really had a problem with his brain. He was the one who shamelessly wanted to walk with Tsunade in the first place, yet he separated from them halfway... He'd be damned if he could ever Date Tsunade!
Tsunade didn't care. She looked at the serious Jiraiya and said disdainfully, "Tch, don't die. I can't save you..."
"Hahahaha..." Jiraiya could only scratch the back of his head and laugh awkwardly.
Campsite by the small river.
Jiraiya enjoyed the benefits of having a disciple by his side. Firewood, wild fruits, and grilled fish were all provided; he hardly needed to worry about anything.
"Well done! Itachi, take a look at this secret technique scroll..."
"Yes! Teacher Jiraiya." Uchiha Itachi nodded, casually taking the ninjutsu scroll from Jiraiya's hand, and frowned, "This is the Four Limbs Heavy Seal?"
"That's right. It seals the opponent's four limbs, restricting the chakra flow in their body... Not only is it an effective way to deal with enemies, but it's also very helpful for a ninja's training!"
"I want to temporarily seal your four limbs to strengthen your taijutsu training and chakra control..." Looking at the little boy's thin arms and legs, Jiraiya continued:
"Additionally, this sealing secret technique can be considered a supplement to taijutsu. Using the Four Limbs Heavy Seal to directly seal an opponent's ninjutsu is an effective way to protect yourself!"
Uchiha Itachi's fighting style was to use ninjutsu whenever he got the chance... While everyone was exchanging blows, he would suddenly start releasing ninjutsu... Who could stand that?
The crow, as an auditor, was delighted... This kind of technique was also very convenient for it. Dealing with ninjas' strange and varied ninjutsu was too troublesome. When the time came, it could just use Body Flicker to fly over, apply the Four Limbs Heavy Seal, then use Flying Thunder God to create distance, and finally unleash an ultra-long-range Tailed Beast Bomb!
After lunch.
After Jiraiya applied the Four Limbs Heavy Seal, he saw the little boy's tightly furrowed brow and suddenly revealed a mischievous smile...
The old man grabbed Uchiha Itachi by the collar and casually threw his disciple into the small river, "First, you need to practice your chakra..."
Even though the chakra flow in his body was sluggish, Uchiha Itachi still activated the chakra in his feet and stood firmly on the river surface, looking at Jiraiya in confusion, "Teacher?"
"You've practiced chakra control?" Jiraiya stroked his chin, feeling at a loss, "What exactly does the old man want me to teach him... Sharingan, I don't have that either!"
"Shisui and I often fight on the Naka River..." Uchiha Itachi explained as he walked back to the bank on the water's surface.
Since he could engage in ninja battles on the water surface, it probably meant that such child's play was unnecessary.
Jiraiya: "..."
"Teacher, I want to learn more ninja knowledge!" Uchiha Itachi said seriously. What he needed now was more basic knowledge, such as countermeasures for various techniques.
Jiraiya, who loved to teach, was stunned for a moment, "...I... I understand."
"Water Style ninjutsu is undoubtedly the counter to Fire Style ninjutsu. However, in the ninja world, nothing is absolute. There is a type of Fire Style ninjutsu that Water Style cannot counter, and will instead increase its power..."
Jiraiya proudly mentioned his specialty ninjutsu, "Using chakra to create oil, like this..."
"Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!"
The oil instantly ignited on the small river... Uchiha Itachi was stunned for a moment, then his hands suddenly began forming seals, "Water Style: Wild Bubble Wave!"
Countless white bubbles flew out, drifting onto the river surface, quickly extinguishing the burning oil... Uchiha Itachi said, "This is a not-so-practical Water Style ninjutsu, but..."
The little boy didn't have the heart to say the rest, looking at Jiraiya's stunned eyes... The Uchiha clan had obtained Water Style: Wild Bubble Wave from Mist ninjas on the battlefield; its practical combat significance wasn't great.
Adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, the clan members had recorded it.
Before starting school, Uchiha Itachi, who had been frantically cramming ninjutsu, besides learning the clan's Fire Style ninjutsu and Sharingan genjutsu, the rest were these battlefield spoils.
His elemental affinities were Fire, Wind, and Water. Coincidentally, the Uchiha clan had once been sent by the Hokage to die on the coastal battlefields, so they had learned quite a few Water Style ninjutsu from the Hidden Mist Village.
"...Kid, it's no good following that old man. What did he send you here for? Tell me honestly!" Jiraiya grabbed Uchiha Itachi by the neck and threatened fiercely.
"...Teacher, I don't understand what you're saying..."
The first day of teaching was temporarily muddled through by Jiraiya with introductions to elemental ninjutsu... He deeply felt that Uchiha Itachi as a disciple was the biggest challenge in his teaching career!
Any problem related to improving a ninja's combat power wasn't a problem... Until the evening, the small details about ninja camping and vigilance, on the contrary, made Uchiha Itachi gain a lot.
"I didn't expect you to be so interested in this aspect..." Jiraiya was somewhat incredulous. Nowadays, few ninjas were willing to understand these minor details. This kid possessed a determination and perseverance that most ninjas lacked!
Uchiha Itachi nodded seriously, "Very useful little knowledge."
"Let your crow keep watch tonight..."
"I'd better do it..."
(End of this chapter)