Naruto Zaraki

Chapter 9

The riverbank was serene, the gentle flow of water whispering across the stones. A peaceful scene, marred only by the tension in the air between two powerful figures. Jiraiya stood firm, his weathered face filled with regret as he regarded Naruto, who stood opposite him, arms crossed, his sharp eyes narrowed with disdain.

"Naruto," Jiraiya began, his voice firm yet imploring. "You've strayed far enough. It's time to come home. The village needs you..."

Naruto's laugh cut him off, a bitter sound. "Home? The village? Don't make me laugh. For thirteen years, that place treated me like garbage. And you… you're no different."

Jiraiya's face tightened. He stepped forward, hands slightly raised. "I won't deny I failed you, Naruto. I should've been there sooner. I should've..."

"Save it," Naruto growled, his reiatsu flaring around him like an invisible storm, causing nearby stones to crack and shift. Yachiru, perched on a boulder nearby, giggled and clapped her hands.

"Do your best to entertain Kenny, old man!" she chirped.

Naruto glanced at her, a small smirk tugging at his lips before his gaze hardened as he turned back to Jiraiya. "Thirteen years, Jiraiya. Thirteen. Why did it take you that long to remember I existed?"

The question struck deep, and Jiraiya faltered. For once, the Toad Sage found himself at a loss for words. "I… I wanted to protect you. I thought keeping my distance was best…"

"Best for who?" Naruto interrupted, his voice low and venomous. "For me? Or for your own conscience? You don't get to play the hero now."

"I made mistakes," Jiraiya admitted, his voice heavy. "But it's not too late to fix them."

Naruto's reiatsu surged, a sharp pressure that made the air around them seem heavier. "It is for me," he said simply, and then he lunged.

---

Naruto moved with blinding speed, his fist hurtling toward Jiraiya. The older ninja barely managed to sidestep, the force of the punch creating a small crater where he had been standing. Jiraiya leaped back, his hands already forming signs.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

The ground beneath Naruto turned to a sticky mire, threatening to trap him, but the boy didn't hesitate. His reiatsu surged, cracking the earth beneath him as he leaped out of the swamp's reach and launched himself at Jiraiya again.

"Shadow clones? No… pure speed," Jiraiya thought, blocking Naruto's punch with his forearm. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and Jiraiya slid back, his feet digging trenches in the dirt.

Naruto followed up with a kick aimed at Jiraiya's ribs. The older ninja ducked under it, countering with a palm strike to Naruto's chest, which sent the boy skidding back.

"You've gotten stronger, kid," Jiraiya said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Naruto wiped his mouth, smirking. "Stronger than you can handle, old man."

---

Jiraiya didn't waste time. He clapped his hands together and unleashed a torrent of oil from his mouth. "Toad Oil Bullet!"

Naruto dodged, his speed almost unnatural, but the oil spread across the ground, making it slick and difficult to maneuver. Jiraiya followed up with "Fire Release: Flame Bullet," igniting the oil in an instant.

Flames roared, engulfing the area, but Naruto emerged unscathed, his reiatsu acting as an invisible barrier. He shot forward again, this time aiming for Jiraiya's abdomen.

Jiraiya countered with "Needle Jizō," his hair extending into hardened spikes that lashed out like whips. Naruto dodged most of them, though a few grazed his arms, drawing thin lines of blood.

The boy didn't slow. He ducked under the spikes and delivered a powerful uppercut to Jiraiya's jaw, sending the Sannin stumbling back.

---

Jiraiya wiped his mouth, grinning despite himself. "You've really become something else, Naruto. But if you think raw strength is enough to beat me, you've got another thing coming."

"Talk is cheap," Naruto said, his reiatsu spiking again. "Show me."

Jiraiya weaved signs. "Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!" A concentrated stream of flames shot toward Naruto, who didn't move to dodge. Instead, he extended his hand, the flames bending away as his reiatsu flared.

"Is that all you've got?" Naruto taunted, charging forward again.

This time, Jiraiya was ready. He slammed his hands into the ground. "Earth Release: Rock Lodging Destruction!" A massive wall of earth erupted between them, forcing Naruto to halt.

Naruto grinned, raising his hand. A swirling ball of reiatsu formed in his palm. "Let's see how you like this. Rasengan!"

The Rasengan tore through the earth wall like paper, and Jiraiya barely leaped out of the way in time. He landed hard, panting.

---

The battle raged on, the once-peaceful riverbank now a battlefield of fire, earth, and raw power. The tension grew with each exchange, neither fighter giving an inch.

On a nearby rock, Yachiru cheered loudly. "Go, Kenny! Show him what you're made of!"

But even as she cheered, her eyes sparkled with something deeper—excitement for the clash to come.

As the smoke and dust began to settle, Jiraiya's hands moved into a familiar formation, his resolve hardening. The time for holding back was over.

"Naruto," he said, his voice low. "You leave me no choice. I'll show you the power of a Sannin."

Naruto's smirk widened, his reiatsu swirling violently around him. "Bring it on."

---

The battle raged on, the once-peaceful riverbank now a battlefield of fire, earth, and raw power. The tension grew with each exchange, neither fighter giving an inch.

On a nearby rock, Yachiru cheered loudly. "Go, Kenny! Show him what you're made of!"

But even as she cheered, her eyes sparkled with something deeper, excitement for the clash to come.

As the smoke and dust began to settle, Jiraiya's hands moved into a familiar formation, his resolve hardening. The time for holding back was over.

"Naruto," he said, his voice low. "You leave me no choice. I'll show you the power of a Sannin."

Naruto's smirk widened, his reiatsu swirling violently around him. "Bring it on."

Tbc