In the original story, Kakashi effortlessly taught Chidori to Sasuke after briefly mentoring him during his early training phase under Hiruzen Sarutobi's supervision. Compared to that, Chinatsu's situation was clearly more complicated, since she was not a straightforward disciple and her chakra nature combination was still being analyzed through observation and copying rather than structured training.
However, Chinatsu knew she couldn't rush things. After all, compared to Sasuke, she was still an "uncertain factor" in the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups like Danzo Shimura. Kakashi teaching her even basic elemental ninjutsu like Earth Release and Lightning Release variations was already a significant step forward.
She would slowly build up his favorability and opportunities for exchange techniques.
Besides, this "Lightning Release: Black Panther" variation she had just copied from Kakashi wasn't bad at all. With her Three-Tomoe Sharingan, she instantly replicated its chakra flow and timing, reaching a level close to Kakashi's proficiency in a single attempt, similar to how Kakashi had once copied a vast library of jutsu during his ANBU years.
Feeling slightly disappointed at not obtaining Chidori, Chinatsu waved goodbye to Kakashi. Without Kakashi personally demonstrating it, getting Chidori later in front of people she knew would be difficult without raising suspicion.
And so, Chinatsu returned toward the Uchiha residence with her limited gains.
The people on the streets of Konoha were chatting as usual. Although this was a ninja village founded by the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and maintained through generations of shinobi warfare, not everyone walking around was a ninja. Many were civilians who had lived through the aftermath of wars involving the Five Great Nations.
Chinatsu honestly couldn't imagine what these gossiping uncles and aunties were like when they were younger shinobi during the warring clan era.
Chinatsu had intended to head straight home, but a casual glance revealed a public bathhouse.
"A Konoha bathhouse…"
Chinatsu blinked. A strange sense of curiosity rose inside her. Even though the Uchiha compound had a private bathhouse with better facilities, there was something different about public civilian spaces where information and gossip often flowed freely, just like intelligence gathering in ANBU operations.
Just as Chinatsu hesitated, she noticed someone lingering suspiciously outside the bathhouse entrance.
If it were a woman, it would have been normal, but this was clearly a man. Chinatsu frowned slightly. A grown man loitering near a women's bath entrance in Konoha… even if she didn't want to assume the worst, experience from shinobi surveillance instincts told her the probability was high.
She walked up behind him quietly, intending to tap his shoulder and question him, but the moment she got closer, she froze.
That silhouette… that white hair…
He looked familiar…
That back view… could it be "him"…?
Chinatsu narrowed her eyes, then reached out and tapped his shoulder.
She took a breath and subtly adjusted her voice tone using chakra control to sound slightly deeper and more neutral.
"Excuse me, what are you doing?"
"Doing something important!"
"Doing something important?"
"Hehe~ can't you tell?"
The man didn't even turn fully around. His voice was casual and overly confident. Since the bathhouse staff here were mostly women, he was clearly relaxed, which made Chinatsu immediately suspicious.
"Speaking of which, little brother, want to come with me? I'm looking for inspiration for a new novel… holy crap! A woman!!!"
He finally turned halfway, then jumped in shock when he saw Chinatsu standing behind him.
Chinatsu sighed, one hand on her hip.
"…A senior I can neither fully respect nor ignore."
Jiraiya.
One of the legendary Sannin of Konoha alongside Tsunade and Orochimaru, students of Hiruzen Sarutobi, all possessing Kage-level strength. If all three Sannin had remained united in Konoha, even the other Four Great Nations would have hesitated to initiate large-scale conflict.
However, reality was different: Tsunade had left the village, Orochimaru had become a rogue ninja involved in forbidden experiments, and Jiraiya had become a wandering spy and novelist specializing in "Icha Icha Paradise."
Pervert. Extremely problematic pervert.
Chinatsu briefly imagined what would have happened if she had entered the bathhouse earlier and encountered surveillance techniques or hidden peeping positions used by shinobi-level individuals like Jiraiya.
Her irritation spiked instantly.
Her Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated on reflex, locking onto Jiraiya. Jiraiya, who had initially been about to explain himself, immediately stiffened when he saw it.
"Sharingan? You're one of the surviving Uchiha?"
"Mm."
Chinatsu gave a short response. Jiraiya's interest sharpened instantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already informed him via correspondence about the remaining Uchiha survivors and potential political instability involving Danzo Shimura's faction. Jiraiya had even returned partly to observe the situation.
"You… become my apprentice!"
"No."
"......"
A clean rejection. No hesitation.
Jiraiya blinked, stunned. As one of the legendary Sannin, this was the first time he had been refused so bluntly.
He cleared his throat.
"I can teach you powerful ninjutsu. Train under me and you'll grow much faster than you will alone."
"I can become stronger without you."
"Why are you so stubborn?! I admit I was peeping, but that aside my training methods are top-tier. I can teach S-rank techniques!"
"Oh? Show me one."
Chinatsu's calm tone irritated him slightly.
Jiraiya exhaled and stepped back, forming hand seals with experienced precision.
Chakra began rotating rapidly in his palm, spiraling into a dense compressed sphere of energy.
"Rasengan!"
An A-rank technique created by Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, based on the principle of chakra shape transformation without nature transformation.
"See this? Highly compressed chakra rotationno hand seals required. If you train under me "
Before he could finish, Chinatsu raised her hand calmly.
A perfectly formed Rasengan hovered in her palm, slightly smaller but structurally identical.
Chinatsu: Please continue. I'm listening.
Jiraiya froze.
"…I was too hasty."
He stared at her, then scratched his head.
"That damn Sharingan copying ability…"
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