Uchiha's Taijutsu Supreme

Mount Myoboku~

High above the towering peaks, Jiraiya stood with his eyes closed on the sharp edge of a rocky outcrop, balancing delicately on a single toe. He was immersed in the rigorous training of chakra control.

For now, he had temporarily set aside his indulgence in life's pleasures—the allure of fine wine and charming women—and committed himself entirely to his training, something he hadn't done in a long time.

Since the last war, Jiraiya had witnessed the vastness of the world beyond Konoha. This eye-opening experience shattered his previously restless mindset, pushing him to refine and temper himself.

In the past, Jiraiya had held a dominant position within Konoha. While not invincible, there were few who could face him head-on.

Aside from individuals like Fuma, the Third Hokage, Danzo, and Sakumo Hatake, who could suppress him without question, only Orochimaru and Tsunade were evenly matched with him. The rest of Konoha's shinobi rarely crossed his mind.

It was an accurate assessment of his abilities at the time. Yet Jiraiya's current strength left him in an awkward position—neither weak enough to be dismissed nor strong enough to truly excel.

If he pushed harder, he might reach the Kage level, but he lacked the defining techniques needed to break through. Looking down, the average jonin didn't pose much of a challenge; Jiraiya could overwhelm most of them with his abundant chakra alone.

Seeing no clear path forward and already standing at a respectable position, he had allowed himself to rest. That had been Jiraiya's mindset for years.

But during the last war, he was shocked to discover just how far he had fallen behind the strongest in the shinobi world.

Whether it was facing Hanzō of the Salamander head-on or surviving an ambush by the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Jiraiya had reviewed those battles countless times. The conclusion he reached was disheartening:

"With my current abilities, I can't contend with enemies of such extraordinary caliber."

Today, the strength of Fuma appeared to him as a dense mist—an unfathomable force beyond evaluation.

Although Fuma was his close friend, Jiraiya had always harbored a subtle rivalry with him. His pride as the Hokage's disciple and his naturally competitive spirit refused to accept the widening gap between their abilities.

This stubborn determination likely stemmed from his pride, his refusal to lose, and perhaps even from Tsunade's choice...

As the sole heir of Mount Myoboku's lineage, mastering Sage Mode was the fastest way for him to surpass his limits.

Although the training was perilous—deadly, even—he had no choice. Behind him stood rows of stone frogs, once eager practitioners of sage arts, now silent reminders of failure and tragedy. They had become part of Mount Myoboku's scenery.

But Jiraiya had no other path. To gain power, he had to pay the price.

As time passed, Jiraiya showed no signs of fatigue. He seemed to merge with nature itself, forgetting his own existence.

After an unknown amount of time, a pair of small, elderly toads hopped over to the base of the rocky pillar, calling out loudly:

"Dinner time, little Jiraiya!"

Jiraiya slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his tranquil state. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he leapt gracefully down from the pillar.

"Yo! Elder Fukasaku, Lady Shima, is it already time to eat?"

However, his smile faltered when he saw the wriggling bowl of worms awaiting him. His expression darkened.

"If it's all the same to you," he said stiffly, "I think I'll keep training. Suddenly, I'm not very hungry..."

Lady Shima leapt up and smacked him on the back of the neck. "Still such a picky eater! These worms are a delicacy here in Mount Myoboku. Others would kill to have them! You'd better appreciate them!"

Sighing in defeat, Jiraiya reluctantly ignited a small fire, roasting the colorful worms on skewers. Inwardly, he lamented:

"Mount Myoboku is perfect in every way—beautiful scenery, fresh air—but the food... This is something I'll never get used to."

"They're not even bad, but I really miss those girls who would cradle me while feeding me tempura and sake!"

Fukasaku seemed to sense his thoughts and promptly smacked him with a cane. "You're thinking about things forbidden to shinobi again, aren't you? Focus on your sage training!"

Rubbing his head, Jiraiya grimaced. "Elder Fukasaku, this sage training is so difficult. At this rate, I won't be able to use it in battle for years."

Fukasaku softened, patting Jiraiya's leg in comfort. "Mastering natural energy has always been rare throughout history. Don't lose heart, little Jiraiya. Your talent is exceptional."

"Once you master Sage Mode, not only will your strength increase severalfold, but your jutsu will become exponentially more powerful."

Jiraiya nodded silently, chewing on his roasted worms. To his surprise, they tasted unexpectedly sweet.

"Chicken flavor? Crunchy? Have I actually gotten used to this? Not bad at all..."

As he restored his stamina through food, his mind wandered back to sage arts. Though he could now sense natural energy, the true practice of Sage Mode remained the most dangerous hurdle.

"Blending natural energy into the body to create sage chakra!"

Countless talented individuals had fallen at this step.

Observing Jiraiya's progress, Fukasaku nodded approvingly. "He's truly worthy of Mount Myoboku's legacy. To sense natural energy so easily within a year is remarkable."

"It's time," Fukasaku murmured. "This will determine the success of the prophecy..."

Lady Shima spoke up. "Little Jiraiya, you've done well preparing for Sage Mode. Are you ready for the next step?"

Setting down his skewer, Jiraiya's mind replayed scenes of overwhelming power:

Clouds darkening the sky with poison rain…

An untraceable body flicker…

The sheer devastation of a Tailed Beast Bomb…

The earth-shattering aura of Fuma and the Third Raikage's clash…

Exhaling deeply, Jiraiya locked eyes with the two elder toads and declared firmly:

"I'm ready, Lady Shima. The shinobi world is filled with too many powerful adversaries. Without strength, I can accomplish nothing."

"Even if I'm tasked with finding the Child of Prophecy, the Great Toad Sage's guidance won't matter if I can't ensure the journey's success."

Satisfied, the elder toads began explaining the next steps, though Jiraiya's expression grew increasingly troubled as he listened.

"Sage Mode's time limit is so short, and its requirements are too stringent. It'll be hard to use in real combat..."

To enter Sage Mode, one had to remain completely still for an extended period to gather sufficient natural energy. Even then, the transformation only lasted five minutes before the sage chakra depleted.

Faced with these limitations, Jiraiya frowned and asked, "If that's the case, isn't Sage Mode only viable for premeditated battles? How did the First Hokage manage to activate it instantly and maintain it indefinitely?"

Caught off guard, Fukasaku's cloudy eyes avoided Jiraiya's gaze. Coughing lightly, he replied vaguely:

"The First Hokage's abilities are unparalleled. Perhaps he was naturally attuned to natural energy. Don't dwell on it, little Jiraiya. With time and effort, you'll find practical applications for Sage Mode."

Though Jiraiya nodded, he remained deep in thought. Meanwhile, Fukasaku discreetly wiped the sweat from his brow.

"The secret of Asura's reincarnation must not reach Jiraiya. It would only burden him unnecessarily. His focus should remain on finding the Child of Prophecy."

Just then, a hulking toad with a gangster-like air hopped over—Gamabunta.

"Dad, Mom, Jiraiya, the Great Toad Sage has another prophecy for you," Gamabunta said, exhaling a puff of smoke.

Jiraiya's expression hardened, determination shining in his eyes. "No matter what this prophecy holds, I will gain the strength to face it head-on."

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