The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release

"Humph, Shimura brat, interested in training with me?"

Jiraiya, in high spirits about being discharged from the hospital to do fieldwork tomorrow, hesitated for a moment after subduing Obito, then asked this question.

"Training with you, huh…"

Although he really wanted to learn Sage Mode, now that Jiraiya had actually asked, Takeshi began to hesitate.

If he took Jiraiya as his master, that would basically make the Third Hokage his grandmaster. If the old man found out, wouldn't he beat him half to death?

But Sage Mode was just too tempting…

Seeing Takeshi torn in hesitation, Jiraiya wasn't in a rush. He gave the boy time to think while turning away to admire the curvy figures of the nurses walking by.

...

"It's been a long time, Sarutobi-sensei..."

After receiving a summons from Hiruzen, Orochimaru came to the Hokage building and met his former teacher.

"Heh, I should be the one saying that, Orochimaru. You've been in the village this whole time, yet you never come to see this old man. Especially now that you've withdrawn from Danzō's group and become a regular Konoha shinobi again."

Looking at this most gifted student of his, Hiruzen even found himself in the mood to joke a bit.

"In any case, I have a mission for you this time."

Hiruzen pulled out a scroll he had already prepared and tossed it to Orochimaru.

Catching the scroll steadily, Orochimaru glanced at the "Top Secret" seal printed on it and opened his mouth in that signature raspy voice:

"'Top Secret,' huh? So this is an S-rank mission?"

"Of course."

Hiruzen nodded matter-of-factly.

"Not just you—Jiraiya is also participating. The one who recommended you two... was Danzō."

The mention of that name caused Orochimaru, who had just been in a good mood, to pause. His expression darkened.

That scheming bastard—after having a son, he tossed him aside like garbage. Never gave him a second thought...

Still, this wasn't the time to lash out. Though he was in a sour mood, the generous reward for an S-rank mission was enough for Orochimaru to rein in his temper and read the mission details.

"A mission targeting a Jinchūriki... Definitely sounds like Danzō's style."

Putting the scroll away, Orochimaru left behind that comment and turned to leave.

"I'll assign three ANBU to assist you."

Seeing how little his student wanted to stay any longer, Hiruzen sighed internally and added in a subdued tone.

"Understood."

Orochimaru quietly closed the door behind him and exited the Hokage building.

...

Takeshi had accepted Jiraiya's invitation to train, but before he even had the chance to begin, he received news that Jiraiya had already left the village on a mission.

So...

Slap!

Slap slap!

Slap slap slap!

Takeshi continued living his lifestyle. However, Danzō seemed a bit more idle than usual lately and occasionally showed up at home to offer some guidance on Takeshi's training.

And just like that, the days passed one after another.

"Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirrors!"

At the Konoha training ground, Takeshi was attempting to use Haku's signature jutsu from the original story—a secret technique that allowed the user to freely move within mirrors of ice: Crystal Ice Mirrors.

As an ice mirror formed before him, Takeshi extended his hand toward its surface.

As expected, no good.

Feeling the hardness beneath his touch, Takeshi shook his head.

All he had created was an ordinary mirror.

"Yo, brat. Practicing ninjutsu out here?"

A slightly playful voice rang out behind him. Without turning, Takeshi already knew who it belonged to.

"Jiraiya-sama, you sure took your sweet time on that mission. It's been nearly a year, hasn't it?"

Still focused on studying the ice mirror, Takeshi replied without looking back.

"Well, that's how life is for a ninja. Hmm, this mirror's not bad—you could probably take it home and use it as furniture."

Jumping down from a tree, Jiraiya curiously examined the ice mirror Takeshi had made and pressed a hand to its surface.

"With this thickness, it might be able to block shuriken or kunai at best," he commented, gauging the density of the ice.

"That's not the point. The key is being able to move freely within the mirror."

Takeshi shook his head and explained:

"Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirrors allows the caster to traverse freely between mirrors. But the scroll that recorded this jutsu has gone missing, so I can only rely on experimentation and trial to figure out the chakra ratios."

"Freely traverse, huh?"

Jiraiya raised a brow. If that's the case, then this was...

"Brat, this falls under the category of space-time ninjutsu."

Placing his palm against the mirror's surface, Jiraiya carefully sensed the composition of the ice and then nodded knowingly.

"If you don't incorporate a space-time formula into the structure of the mirror, it's impossible to achieve that kind of free movement."

"Of course, that's just my conclusion. After all, bloodline limits like Ice Release are passed down through families and often contain unique, mysterious formulas in their structure. Since the scroll is missing, all I can give you is my best guess."

"That was basically the same as saying nothing."

Takeshi was speechless after hearing Jiraiya's explanation. The guy went on and on and finished with: "But this is just speculation." Might as well have said nothing at all.

Still, under the current circumstances, he had no choice but to treat a dead horse as if it might still live.

"How do you train in space-time ninjutsu?"

Takeshi asked Jiraiya, who was standing beside him.

...

"I'll think... Uh, you should probably ask your father about that. I bet he could give you a more satisfying answer."

Jiraiya had been about to mention the Flying Thunder God technique, but then remembered that the boy's father was Danzō—who had once served as one of the Second Hokage's bodyguards. Of course he would know about Flying Thunder God; no need for Jiraiya to explain.

Just thinking about Danzō made Jiraiya grit his teeth.

That old bastard—he actually convinced Hiruzen to send him out on a mission to capture a Jinchūriki.

After lying in wait for over half a year, they finally caught a window when the Jinchūriki was unguarded. But both Jinchūriki turned out to be stronger than the ninja assigned to protect them.

They went semi-Tailed Beast mode on the spot, and a Tailed Beast Ball nearly grazed Jiraiya's face. If it weren't for Minato using Flying Thunder God, their whole team might've been wiped out.

Hmph! Danzō, you screwed me over. Don't blame me for being petty!

As he thought this, Jiraiya's gaze toward Takeshi began to shift.

"Uh, well... Jiraiya-sama, I just remembered I've got something to do at home, so I'll be going now."

Noticing the change in Jiraiya's expression, Takeshi felt a chill run down his spine.

He'd seen that look before—in the eyes of Shimura Ikku and Yamanaka Akira...

"Hahaha! Didn't we agree to train together? Why so eager to run off?"

Jiraiya rolled his wrists and began walking toward Takeshi, step by step.

"No, my dad's calling me home for dinner! Let's postpone the training—ow! Jiraiya, you son of a—ow!"

For a while, the training ground echoed with Takeshi's wails.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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