12 Rasengan

Jiraiya sat atop a large boulder, the rough surface digging into his muscular thighs as he looked down at the young blond with a mixture of excitement and admiration. The grin on his face was wide, revealing his slightly crooked teeth. He couldn't believe his luck in stumbling upon someone with such immense potential. Naruto was like a hidden gem, waiting to be polished and moulded into a true shinobi.

As he observed Naruto from his vantage point, Jiraiya's eyes sparkled with anticipation. The boy's progress had been nothing short of astonishing. A few months ago, Naruto had been dismissed as a fluke, barely scraping through the academy's exam. But now, witnessing his growth firsthand, Jiraiya knew that Naruto was no ordinary shinobi. He had the markings of a prodigy, a genius in the making.

Unable to contain his excitement, Jiraiya turned away from Naruto and reached into his travel bag, retrieving a small, collapsible telescope. He extended it with a satisfying click and peered through the lens. His focus shifted to a nearby hot spring, where steam rose lazily into the air. A perverted grin crept onto his face, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

Cheeks flushed with a tinge of embarrassment, Jiraiya watched the scene unfolding below. He let out a hearty laugh, his shoulders shaking with amusement. Despite his diversion, he couldn't help but steal occasional glances at Naruto, knowing that the boy's transformation was underway.

Meanwhile, Naruto's body underwent a remarkable metamorphosis. Unbeknownst to him, his physical form was being pushed to its limits and beyond. The green mark on his back pulsed with a vibrant energy, a testament to the immense power he had recently tapped into earlier. If Naruto had been awake, he would have experienced excruciating pain as his muscles tore themselves apart and regenerated, relentlessly forging themselves to become stronger.

His chakra surged within him, growing more potent with each passing moment. The dormant potential within Naruto awakened, and his mind became sharper, more attuned to the intricacies of combat. The martial arts techniques he had honed during his intense battle with Jiraiya were imprinted in his mind, analysed and improved upon with each repetition.

As Naruto's body underwent these profound changes, his experiences from the preliminary exams were etched into his consciousness, becoming permanent fixtures. The knowledge gained, the strategies employed, and the lessons learned all melded together, enhancing his skills to analyse any given situation and adapt accordingly. With each muscle fibre that tore and regrew, Naruto was becoming a force to be reckoned with, a shinobi on the path to greatness.

The air crackled with anticipation as Jiraiya continued his research, blissfully unaware of the incredible transformation taking place within Naruto. The young blond was evolving, becoming better and stronger with each passing moment, ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.

As the days flew by, Naruto's dedication to his training remained unwavering. The hours turned into weeks, and under Jiraiya's guidance, Naruto pushed himself to new limits. Summoning jutsu became second nature to him, and he honed his physical abilities through rigorous training sessions. But Naruto's thirst for improvement didn't end there.

After each session with Jiraiya, Naruto delved into an extensive regimen of self-improvement. He immersed himself in the vast knowledge contained within countless scrolls, eager to expand his understanding of the shinobi arts. He practised various martial arts techniques, focusing on precision and fluidity of movement. Flexibility exercises became a daily routine as he aimed to increase his agility and adaptability in combat.

Naruto's burning desire to surpass his limits led him to experiment with unconventional training methods. One aspect that fascinated him was the Sharingan, the powerful eye ability possessed by some members of the Uchiha clan. Although he didn't possess the bloodline, Naruto was determined to enhance his own eyes through relentless training exercises.

Amidst one of his chakra control exercises, Naruto was abruptly interrupted by a booming voice that called out his name. Annoyed, he opened his eyes and directed his gaze towards his mentor, wearing an expression of irritation.

"Pervy sage, I was in the middle of practising," Naruto retorted, a hint of frustration evident in his voice. In that moment, he wished he could blast the old geezer with a fireball for disturbing his concentration.

"Now, now, Naruto," Jiraiya replied, trying to pacify his young apprentice. "Today, I'm going to teach you something new. You seem to have mastered all the chakra control exercises. So, I think it's time for me to introduce you to my signature jutsu." With a flourish, Jiraiya extended his hand, creating a rapidly rotating ball of pure chakra.

Naruto's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before him. Even without knowing what it was, the jutsu appeared both powerful and awe-inspiring. In his stupor, he almost missed the water balloon thrown towards him. Naruto glanced up at Jiraiya, a puzzled look etched across his face. 'A water balloon?' he thought incredulously. 'How is this supposed to help?'

With a patient demeanour, Jiraiya proceeded to explain the training concept behind the jutsu known as the Rasengan. He outlined three crucial steps that Naruto needed to master.

The first step was rotation. Naruto had to learn to spin his chakra in multiple directions simultaneously. To aid in this process, Jiraiya handed him a water balloon. By bursting the balloon with his chakra, Naruto would mark his progress. It was essential for him to determine the natural direction of his chakra spin, whether clockwise or counter-clockwise.

The second step involved power. Naruto had to increase both the volume and density of his chakra output. To assist in this aspect, Jiraiya presented him with a rubber ball. Unlike the water balloon, there was no water inside to aid in bursting it. The rubber shell was thicker, testing Naruto's ability to apply a greater force with his chakra.

The final step was containment. Naruto needed to combine the first two steps into a contained sphere of chakra. To help him visualise the intended shape, Jiraiya provided him with another balloon. Naruto had to maintain the shape without popping or moving the balloon. Mastery of this step indicated successful completion of the Rasengan.

"Now then, Naruto, get to training. I've got research to do," Jiraiya said with a flushed face and a mischievous grin as he turned away.

Naruto let out a sigh of resignation. Rotation was the first step, requiring him to spin his chakra in multiple directions simultaneously. This rotation would churn the water within the balloon, causing it to explode. Holding the balloon in front of him, Naruto focused his chakra, spinning it in as many directions as he could.

Jiraiya's attention was suddenly caught by a loud explosion. Turning around, he was met with the remnants of a water balloon that had just burst in Naruto's hands. The surprise on Jiraiya's face was evident. The boy was a monster, a true prodigy, and his progress surpassed all expectations.

Regaining his composure, Jiraiya handed Naruto a rubber ball. The second step emphasised power. Naruto repeated the chakra rotation technique, creating the necessary force. Concentrating deeply, he increased the density and speed of the torque in his spin, resulting in yet another explosion as the rubber ball shattered.

Naruto looked down at his hand, marvelling at how easy it had been to achieve the desired results. However, he realised that the final step, containment, would likely prove to be more challenging. And indeed, for the next few hours of training, Naruto struggled to maintain the first two steps, no matter how hard he tried.

With perseverance and determination, Naruto continued his training. Hours turned into an hour, and his monstrous reserves of chakra dwindled. Finally, exhaustion took its toll, and Naruto passed out, his body unable to sustain the tremendous strain he had put it through.

Watching Naruto's unconscious form, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and amazement. The boy's potential was limitless, and with each passing day, he grew closer to realising his destiny as a shinobi of extraordinary calibre.

As Naruto opened his eyes, he found himself back in the familiar surroundings of his bedroom. Everything appeared normal, but a sense of curiosity nagged at him. How had he ended up here? Did Jiraiya bring him back to his apartment after their training session?

Glancing over at his clock, Naruto realised he still had a couple of hours before his next training session with Jiraiya. Despite feeling physically stronger, he noticed a distinct difference in his chakra. It felt more potent, yet strangely serene. There was a gentle, tranquil flow to it, devoid of any disruptions or disturbances. It was unlike anything Naruto had experienced before.

A thought crossed Naruto's mind. Could he try it? Closing his eyes, he allowed his chakra to circulate freely throughout his body. He could sense the rotation of his chakra, the familiar power coursing through his veins. Opening his palm and extending his hand in front of him, Naruto recalled the training he had undertaken just the day before—rotation, power, and containment.

With a surge of determination, Naruto focused on his chakra, feeling it rapidly rotating with an amplified force. All that remained was containment. He envisioned his chakra forming a perfect sphere, compacting the rotating forces into a harmonious balance. Through intense concentration, Naruto achieved it. He successfully executed the rasengan, a jutsu that had taken others years to master, in just under two days of training.

For the next couple of hours, Naruto tirelessly refined his rasengan, practising it repeatedly to further solidify his newfound skill. With each attempt, he gained more control and precision, moulding the technique into a devastating force.

Finally, it was time for Naruto to meet Jiraiya at the designated training grounds. As he arrived, his enhanced eyesight allowed him to perceive figures in the distance. They were unmistakable—Team 8. Hinata, Kiba, Shino, and their sensei, Kurenai. Naruto's improved vision allowed him to see them clearly, even from a distance, with greater detail and clarity than ever before.

While Kiba and Shino possessed their own unique and intriguing techniques, Naruto felt that they didn't align with his personal style or interests. However, Hinata's gentle fist technique captivated his attention.

Naruto had witnessed the power of the Hyuga's gentle fist during the preliminaries. This technique disregarded physical durability and focused on targeting internal organs, utilising the Byakugan to strike precise chakra points. Without the Byakugan, detecting these points seemed near impossible, but Naruto was determined to at least imitate and improve upon the gentle fist in his own distinctive way.

For over half an hour, Naruto observed Hinata's movements and analysed the subtle mechanics of her technique. He absorbed as much as he could, knowing that it was now a matter of trial and error. This particular training would prove to be challenging, as it contradicted his existing understanding of chakra. Naruto realised that he needed to study not only the Hyuga's techniques but also the human body itself to have any hope of developing a technique akin to the gentle fist.

Lost in his thoughts, Naruto was abruptly startled by a hand on his shoulder. He spun around to find Jiraiya standing there, eyeing him curiously. "You're a really strange kid, you know that?" Jiraiya mused, his gaze drifting toward Hinata and Kurenai in the distance. A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Hoho, do you have a bit of a crush on Naruto? You take the Hyuga, I want to talk to the red-eyed beauty."

Naruto's patience wore thin, and he reacted instinctively. With full force, he landed a punch on Jiraiya, his frustration boiling over. "Let's continue training," Naruto declared firmly, his hand extended, forming a perfect rasengan. Jiraiya's eyes widened in astonishment, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was witnessing. The technique that had taken the Fourth Hokage years to master, Naruto had accomplished in less than two days.

"You little monster," Jiraiya murmured under his breath, a mix of awe and disbelief in his voice. He stared at Naruto, his mind grappling with the sheer talent and potential that lay before him. The boy truly was a force to be reckoned with, a prodigy destined for greatness.