"B-rank missions… Higher techniques… Tutors…" I murmur, sifting through a few books.
Taking in the smell of paper and mahogany wood, my fingers flicked a page over what I was currently reading. The book's title was "Basics of Medicine", which wasn't something I originally thought would be useful.
Thankfully, Sensei recommended a few books to me to read, which would be useful in the long run.
'Especially the information of private massages.'
You could hire a medical shinobi to perform such miracles to help you recover faster using chakra, lessening any pain and whatever else a normal massage could do. This was the best of both worlds, but the service did cost a penny.
With my own bank account starting to stack up money, investing in my body and lots of food is the play.
Other than that, everything else was some boring information with surface-level stuff on the Anbu, niche clans without any Kekkei Genkai, such as the Tatsumo Clan, who are good at medical ninjutsu and how to manage a team as squad leader.
Which will help me in the long run.
I'm at that part of shinobi life where shoving myself into a room and training would see continuous growth. I didn't have to work hard for any techniques, and as I already "had" them all. [Rasengan] by itself would comfortably make me a Jounin if fully mastered.
There is a clear path for me to pave. The only thing I was really lacking at this point was some fuinjutsu.
"How do I even start that? Hiruko is still on a mission…" I contemplate. My mind paused for a second before the gears in the old head started to turn. "Maybe making cards."
The next few days were just a repeat of rest, reading, and buying some stuff from the market. With the lack of entertainment, making UNO cards seemed to be the most productive thing to keep my mind occupied while also improving my calligraphy.
I bought some paper, scissors, a brush and ink. Surprisingly enough, crayons did exist, so I was able to colour-code everything.
'I'd rather buy normal ink and practice for now. Chakra ink is like gas prices…'
"Should I make a plus ten just for the fun of it…" I thought in amusement. Making the rulebook was pretty simple, besides a few rules. Stacking wasn't allowed because it was too prone to cheating, and you could stack a plus two on another plus two.
A plus four can stack on a two, but not the other way around.
Drawing and colouring in all the cards was an unexpected method to calm myself down. I spent around two days properly making the whole set, adding layers to make the cards thicker and double-sided.
'I wonder how I can sell this game? I've never really done anything like this. Maybe sensei can help me, he's the ninja president after all.' I think to myself with a self-assured nod. Sensei always seemed to know what to do.
He's reliable for everything besides keeping his boyfriend in line.
On the third day, a letter was under my doorstep. Bending down a little and picking it up, a familiar name could be seen.
---
From - Tsunade
Jiraiya, meet up at Akimichi BBQ on Main Street with Orochimaru. I've got something to chat about.
Don't be late >:(
---
"At least tell me why." My complaint was heard by no one. As I got my big back ass out of my couch and on the way to the restaurant. Who could refuse a good meal? Eatting was one of the few pleasures I had in this life anyway.
…
A few hours later, I was staring down at the cards in my hand with a thoughtful look. Across from me were Tsunade and Orochimaru, waiting for our food. In the meantime, we played some Uno. The game wasn't complicated, so they got the rules down quickly.
I noticed a few eyes watching us, although I couldn't tell if it was because of the card game. Or because of our standing as the Hokage's students.
We were sitting inside the usual place we ate with Sensei, the three of us around a table.
"Draw two Orochimaru!" Tsunade says with a smug tone.
Watching Orochimaru carefully, he placed another plus two, adding to the pot.
"You've got to be kidding me," I mutter, before placing a plus two of my own.
Tsunade, watching in glee, hurriedly placed a plus four. Orochimaru, with a little smirk this time, put a plus four of his own. Watching this go down, I stared down at the plus four in my own hand. A devil and angel on each of my shoulders started to whisper.
The type of destructive power an +18 could do to a person…
Look at her joyful face. Do you want to take this away from her?
'No, no, I can't do that to her.' I shook my head. Tsunade's small giggles could be heard from across the table which made my heart ache, grabbing my temples at a loss. The irreparable damage this could cause to her innocence.
And totally not the killing at such a young age… Uno is the true demon.
"Haha! Jiraiya draw the cards already!"
Taking the plus four, I hold it up. Making both Orochimaru and Tsunade shut their mouths, the tension thickens. Tsunade especially had some sweat go down her face, having the immediate next turn.
'I'll take this loss this time.' I thought with a sigh. We wouldn't want her to never play this game ever again. This can be called a sort of investment, I suppose. Maybe she'll help me sell this game sometime in the future.
Putting the card away, the tension fizzled off.
"You almost had me there, Jiraiya!" Tsunade laughed, holding her stomach. Orochimaru himself was chuckling, which was new.
Drawing the cards with an exaggerated dread. We kept on playing for a few minutes before Orochimaru got first. With Tsunade barely beating me out, with myself having one card left…
"That was so close! We have to play another one, Jiraiya! Please!" Tsunade begged, but with the food coming, I refused.
Taking the cards and putting them all back in a stack, my mouth watered a little at the sight of food. All kinds of assorted meats, bread and other condiments were placed on the table.
The only thing bad about this meeting is that it's coming out of my bank account.
"Tsunade, what did you call us here for?" Orochimaru asks with curiosity.
"Oh yeah! My grandma wants to meet you two." She simply answered, before digging into her meal.I blinked.
Mito Uzumaki wanted to meet us? Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, confused as to why, but didn't question it. Maybe it was because of the Chunin exam, perhaps because we were Tsunade's teammates and friends.
…
"He looked at me funny, so I threatened to punch him in the face!"
"Tsunade, you just do that," I said, eye twitching a little at her words. Orochimaru and I both looked at each other with the same speechless look. We conversed about their little time in the hospital.
While walking, we unommonly got stopped and congratulated on the road for the Chunin exams. Which was neat, although the attention was a bit annoying.
In the hospital, Orochimaru spent most of his time on the theory side. Absorbing every bit of knowledge he could. While Tsunade was more hands-on, it didn't lessen her theoretical smarts. If anything, her future accomplishments supported this.
Our walk took several minutes and was towards the north-west of the village. The Senju compound was near the centre of the village, taking up a huge chunk of land. With large Hei walls with mini-roofs.
'This place is really spacious.' I thought to myself, staring through the large gates in awe. Through the vibrant grass clearing, there was a large traditional house with a combination of deep blue tiles and a sheen of dark wood to contrast.
The place was simply stunning. Further back were more houses which seemingly belonged to other people. Like a small gated community of family members who lived close by.
On the left, in a medium-sized clearing, was a pond, with a bridge going over it. Beautiful trees scattered around, adding to the peaceful feeling this place generally brought.
'How did a place like this make Tsunade… Tsunade.'
This place seems so chill. Watching the servants moving around, maintaining everything. It felt different from the rest of the village. We were led inside without much trouble, with Princess Tsunade walking in with confidence.
Looking around like tourists, we made our way inside the house.
Sitting calmly in one of the rooms, attendants nearby. Was a woman with a calm look.
Red hair.
THE Mito Uzumaki.
"Grandma!" Tsunade shouts in glee, jumping into the woman's embrace.
Orochimaru and I followed with our own greetings. Giving curt bows, which made her nod in approval.
"Nice to meet you two, my name is Mito Uzumaki. I'm Tsunade's grandmother. Thank you, too, for taking care of her."
She observed us for a moment. Staring right into her eyes, the eye contact unconsciously made me look away. Mito Uzumaki's gaze felt uncomfortably piercing, which was something I realised quickly.
As if she could see past me.
'Off the top of my head, she should have some sort of emotion sense because of the nine-tales. Though I don't remember if it's a general emotion or purely negative.'
Was this a test? How bothersome.
"I'm glad to know that Tsunade has such wonderful friends. If you're ever free, you're able to visit the Senju compound with my permission, of course. Tsunade told me she's been lonely because of the lack of team meetings-"
"Grandma shut up!" Tsunade shouted with a blush. Covering Mito's mouth, she started to pout, hearing her grandma talk about such a private matter.
I guess the telling of your "children's" secrets for a small laugh still exists in the Naruto world.
Bruh.
"Ma'am, I've read up on the Uzumaki clan and was wondering," I speak up, getting everyone's attention in the room. Mito looked the most interested with a gleam in her eyes. "Are you able to teach me Fuinjutsu?"
As my words finished, a sudden pressure made my heart drop and breathe pause. Hashirama's wife didn't have such a happy face with squinted eyes and a dangerous aura surrounding her.
'Ah fuck,' I thought.
"While you are a good friend, it seems that you need to be taught some manners… You're just like your sensei." Mito mutters, getting up and slowly walking towards me. My body couldn't move as she crept up until she finally got in front of me.
"Ah-" I groan, the woman pinching my ears and dragging me out of the room.
"Get out."
Soon after kicking me out, as well as Tsunade and Orochimaru following from behind. Watching Mito walk back into her room and giving us a wave with a fake smile, the hairs on my body went up.
Maybe asking to be taught wasn't a good idea.
Learning from a hard-ass woman like that was a recipe for disaster.
"Jiraiya, why the hell do you think grandma would teach you her clan specialties?" Tsunade asked, exasperated at my stunt.
Orochimaru, who also had the same question, nodded along in interest.
"Hehe, it was worth a shot… The Uzumaki clan are known for their fuinjutsu. So I thought perhaps I could learn even the basics from an expert." I say, scratching the back of my head.
With that meeting over, we made our separate ways. Promising to meet up often whenever we could. Thankfully, Mito wasn't so mean and did give me a few books to read and learn from.
Which didn't seem to relate to the Uzumaki clan in the slightest, unfortunately. Taking this as a small victory, I went to the store that same day to buy some Chakra Ink.
…
[Warning: Small Info Dump that may not be explained further in the story.]
The next day, Hiruko showed up early at my apartment after sending him a letter the day prior. We ended up on the floor of my apartment, backs against the wall, books spread out between us.
One beginner fuinjutsu book and one very complicated book.
The latter one was a bit much to swallow. One specific line about moulding your own chakra into a seal without any ink. Which is most likely what Minato does in the future, considering he doesn't have a brush and ink in battle.
'So technically, Minato could just print paper bombs all day with enough paper and motivation. That's actually crazy.'
It highlighted that fuinjutsu is highly connected to ninjutsu, such as [Contract Seal], which can sever the connection of a user and his summon for as long as the seal is active. Made by Hashirama.
It kept going on about intent and structure and how there isn't a concrete "way" to make seals. Some scribbles don't resemble any symbols and are just swooshes to lead the chakra to a certain area of the seal.
Kind of like how in a fire release ninjutsu, using intent moulds the face of a dragon at the end of a fireball. Especially since most symbols are probably being gate-kept by the Uzumaki or other clans in general.
"This is a mess," I mutter in frustration. This felt less like actual magical ninja stuff and more philosophy. Can I just bullshit half my seals, and as long as I think about what to do, will it bend to my will?
Hiruko, who's already somewhat started, took his time reading the book before nudging me in the right direction.
"We can start on the paper bombs, it's the easiest seal. I've already read the beginner guide." He quietly says.
"Really?" My surprised face made him gain some confidence.
"A paper bomb has six lines. Each line isn't identical but has the same function." Hiruko points towards a 2d lego hand on the book. Explaining that this redirects the chakra to a single point, which was the middle of the paper.
While the crooked scythe and the elongated "z" sealed and redirected chakra.
'So the Kanji in the middle is more of a label and doesn't do anything…' My mind was already made up to focus on the basic seals for now. Throughout the day, we focused on the paper bombs and how to write each line.ine.
When activated, all the chakra from the seal rushes into a singular point, which makes the explosion. A singular line didn't pose a threat and was more of a puff.
"Hey Jiraiya, if we make the paper bigger and the seals a bigger size. Would it work?" Hiruko asks, bringing up a good point.
"Ehh, probably? Isn't that a bit awkward to bring around and use, though?"
"I'm thinking more along the lines of setting up traps."
"Damn…" I unconsciously said, hearing his idea. 'To make it even better, just straight up use hand seals instead of ink. Although that would take up your own chakra.'
Destroying any building would be a breeze.
"How about a seal that continuously takes chakra and releases it. So when put on an enemy, it drains them. We reverse the lines and make it so the exit isn't in the middle but the edges."
"Oo~ You'd need a bigger seal or multiple seals on the person, depending on how much chakra they have…" I think out loud. "Wouldn't the seal already have chakra, though?"
"No, theoretically the seal doesn't blow up, so it continuously takes chakra and releases it."
Hiruko seemed to be pulling ideas out of his ass, but half of them actually seemed dangerously good.
We spent the rest of the day repeating it with normal ink to not waste any money. Going on to practice the different symbols for around half a week. Both Hiruko and I were able to write about one line consistently out of three attempts.
Making it not safe in the slightest to attempt to make a real paper bomb.
...
---
[A/N: Sorry for the yapping session…
Seals are just not explained at all in Naruto, and are confusing. So I'll try my best to sort of give it some sense. But obviously, it's whatever, and making seals like coding doesn't make sense to me. It seems that about half of Fuinjutsu overlaps with Ninjutsu, adding to the confusion.
Also, did you know the FTG is a ninjutsu/space-time technique and not Fuinjutsu? So the formula of the technique could actually be just random bullshit go scribbles made out of chakra.
But I assume it's some sort of reverse-engineered storage scroll (the dimensional void), paired with the summoning/reverse-summoning technique. Perhaps using ideas from gate-kept Uzumaki seals, which is why Jiraiya and Hiruzen struggled to learn it. I thought about this using the Naruto Wiki's description of the technique.]