The Regression Of Jiraiya

At the Uchiha clan compound, specifically within Madara's personal training ground. 

The training ground was a rugged, open space, scarred by countless battles..

The ground was littered with training dummies, some bearing the scorch marks of fire techniques, others the telltale slashes of sharpened kunai.

The training ground was alive with the rhythmic sounds of combat. 

Jiraiya, his brow damp with sweat, moved with focused intensity, his fists a blur as he practiced the intricate movements of the customized Uchiha intercepting fist. 

Madara, his movements a whirlwind of power and precision, pushed Jiraiya to his limits, his voice a sharp counterpoint to the clash of their blows.

"Remember," Madara's voice boomed, "speed and precision are key. Don't hesitate!"

Each exchange was a lesson, a proof to the vast gulf in experience and skill that separated them. 

Jiraiya, despite his progress, found himself constantly outmaneuvered, his attacks anticipated and countered before they could fully form. 

Madara's strength was awe-inspiring, a force of nature that left Jiraiya humbled and yearning for more.

'He's on another level,' 

Jiraiya thought, his breath coming in ragged gasps. 

'He could take on a Kage and emerge victorious without breaking a sweat.'

Jiraiya had heard the tales of Madara's prowess, the legends that painted him as a ninja equal to the god of shinobi. 

But witnessing it firsthand was an entirely different experience. It was a reminder of how far he had to go, how much he had to learn before he could reach his goal of becoming the strongest.

A spark ignited in Jiraiya's eyes. 

'I can't give up,' 

He told himself, his resolve hardening with each blow. 

'I have to push myself harder, train harder. I won't stop until I reach the pinnacle of strength.'

While they were sparing. Someone was watching them from afar with two tomoe sharingan.

It was Uchiha Kengo, the heir to the Uchia clan.

Kengo's fists clenched, his knuckles white with the force of his anger. 

The audacity of it all was simply unbearable. 

"That... that nobody!" 

He spat, his voice laced with venom, 

"How dare he gain recognition from Madara-sama!"

For years, Kengo had dedicated his life to the Uchiha clan, training relentlessly, pushing his body and mind to their limits.

He yearned for Madara's approval, dreamed of the day he would be acknowledged as his true disciple, the one worthy of carrying the Uchiha true legacy.

But now, those dreams lay shattered, replaced by a bitter resentment that gnawed at his soul. 

Uzumaki Jiraiya, the outsider, the one who had refused Madara's offer of discipleship, was now the recipient of the very training Kengo had craved.

It was a cruel twist of fate, an injustice that Kengo couldn't comprehend. Jiraiya had no right to Madara's teachings, no claim to the Uchiha heritage. 

And yet, he was welcomed into the clan, trained by the legendary Madara himself, while Kengo, the direct blood of Uchiha, was left to watch from the sidelines.

The injustice of it all made Kengo's blood boil. How could the clan elders stand by and allow this to happen? 

Were they so blinded by Madara's power that they couldn't see the insult to their own clan?

"Cowards," 

Kengo thought bitterly, 

"They're all cowards, afraid to speak out against him."

But Kengo was not a coward. 

He would not let this injustice go unchallenged. He had to do something, anything, to stop Jiraiya from receiving Madara's training.

"I won't let this stand," 

Kengo muttered, his voice filled with a steely determination. 

"I'll find a way to expose Jiraiya for the fraud he is. I'll show Madara-sama the truth, even if it costs me everything."

Jiraiya, feeling a sudden tickle in his nose, sneezed abruptly. 

His eyes instinctively flicked towards Kengo's position, his seasoned ninja senses instantly picking up on the subtle cues that hinted at his impending recklessness.

"That kid's definitely going to do something rash," 

Jiraiya thought to himself.

His gaze then shifted towards Madara, whose face was etched with a disturbingly self-satisfied smirk. 

The man seemed to be relishing in the chaos that was about to unfold, as if it was all part of some grand, twisted plan.

"You know," 

Madara began, his voice dripping with a dark, tempting lure, 

"I'm almost considering plucking out one of my eyes and just handing it over to you. You've got Uzumaki blood coursing through your veins, so the strain of wielding the Sharingan might not be as severe for you as it would be for others."

His words were followed by a chilling, maniacal laughter that sent shivers down Jiraiya's spine.

Jiraiya felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead. He was caught in a very dangerous situation, trapped between the unpredictable actions of a hotheaded young ninja and the sinister machinations of a power-hungry madman. 

He had to stay vigilant, ready to react to whatever Kengo might unleash and to counter any further moves from the increasingly unstable Madara.

'Fuck, why becoming strong is to meet these people.'

Jiraiya tried his best to ignore Madara's madness. He then saw what Kengo was about to do.

"Don't tell me he's actually going to sneak attack with a Kunai?" 

The very thought was absurd. How could he be this stupid. Didn't he see what he was capable of?

Kengo's actions were swift and decisive, a blur of motion as he launched the kunai with deadly accuracy. 

The razor-sharp point gleamed ominously in contrast to the gentle sunlight filtering through the training ground. 

Jiraiya reacted, his years of honed reflexes kicking in. With a flick of his wrist, he parried the incoming projectile with his own kunai.

"Are you crazy? Do you think you can kill me with that sloppy throwing technique?" 

He sneered.

"Pathetic. Truly pathetic," 

He continued, his voice dripping with disdain. 

"Perhaps you should have spent less time honing your wit and more time practicing your aim."

"You! How dare you!"

Jiraiya was merciless. If Kengo just messed around with him it was fine but if he dared to try to kill him. It was another matter.

And Madara was satisfied with him.

"You are good. At least don't act like Hashirama. Don't be an idealistic idiot."

Kengo served his purpose so it was time for his punishment and Madara would be the one who did it.

...

Craze: 2/2 give me power stone and review. New deal 10 review 300 power stone in exchange for 3 chap per day the whole week.

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Preview of Chapter 30 Unknown feelings ([email protected]/phelio - currently at chapter 40)

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He had closed himself off, built walls around his heart, impenetrable barriers to protect himself from the cruelty of the world.

"So I became a pervert…" 

He muttered, the self-deprecating humor a thin veil over the pain that still throbbed beneath the surface. 

He had immersed himself in pleasure, in fleeting moments of physical connection, anything to avoid the risk of emotional intimacy.

"So I became a spy master…" 

He continued, his voice taking on a harder edge. He had become cold, calculating, manipulative. 

He had learned to use people, to exploit their weaknesses, to keep them at a distance.

"So I became a sage…" 

He finished, a hint of bitterness in his tone. He had retreated from the world, sought solace in knowledge and solitude. 

He had become detached, emotionless, a mere observer.

He had never again allowed himself to be so vulnerable, so trusting. 

He had never again experienced that agonizing pain. 

But he had also never again experienced the joy, the warmth, the love that he had once known. 

He had traded his heart for safety, and in the process, he had lost a part of himself.

He thought by regressing he would get them back but no. It was already too late.