As the Hokage, he had his own exclusive training ground. After being Hokage for so long, he occasionally needed to train to maintain his combat level.
First Class conducted their daily training here.
It was quiet and sparsely populated.
Looking at the three little ones in front of him, the Third Hokage rubbed his cheek.
Tsunade looked distracted.
The Third Hokage knew it was due to lack of rest from Mito's teaching.
She often drifted off.
In any case, Tsunade wouldn't learn any powerful Ninjutsu from him, but he would teach some useful basic Ninjutsu.
For example, the Shadow Clone Technique.
Tsunade already had her own path to follow, and the Third Hokage wasn't worried about her training.
She was just here to gain experience and accumulate Shinobi knowledge.
Orochimaru, however, was very intelligent and could inherit his mantle, becoming a comprehensive Shinobi proficient in all five elements and various Earth Release.
But unfortunately, Orochimaru already had a Summoning Technique, so he couldn't bring out his Enma.
That left Jiraiya as the only one who still needed a Summoning Technique.
The Third Hokage looked at the unhappy and dejected Jiraiya and said, "Today I'll teach you a powerful Ninjutsu."
Oh dear, he's upset.
"How should I put it, what I'm going to teach you is the Summoning Technique."
The Third Hokage rubbed his cheek; this time he was really going all out.
Of course, it pained him, but what could he do, they were his disciples after all.
It was the first time the Sarutobi Clan's ancestral Summoning Shinobi Beast was being taught to an outsider.
"Summoning Technique?" Tsunade, snapping out of her daze, said, "I thought it was some amazing Ninjutsu. I already have the Summoning Technique; I don't need it."
She looked completely uninterested.
Her mind was still occupied with the difficult concepts her grandmother taught her.
Besides, the Slug was cute, gentle, and obedient; Tsunade was already very satisfied and didn't want any other Summoning Shinobi Beast.
"Me too, I already have the Summoning Technique," Orochimaru said, looking at Jiraiya.
Saying he was teaching 'us,' but in reality, he was specifically teaching this idiot, wasn't he?
Jiraiya, hearing this, looked at the two of them.
They both have it? What about me?
The Third Hokage's face darkened, and he said, "Less talk, all of you watch closely, the hand seals for the Summoning Technique."
Jiraiya perked up and watched as the Third Hokage formed the hand seals.
To make sure Jiraiya understood, the Third Hokage deliberately slowed down and called out the names of the seals.
"Summoning Technique: Monkey King Enma!"
Biting his finger, he squatted down and pressed his hand firmly on the ground.
From the smoke, a human-sized, muscular ape appeared.
"Sarutobi, are we fighting again?"
The Third Hokage glanced at his old partner, too embarrassed to say he had deliberately called him out just to show his disciples.
"Perform that thing…"
"What is it, a monkey? So ugly," Tsunade said innocently, speaking her mind.
"Indeed," Orochimaru added, twisting the knife. How cool are snakes?
The Third Hokage and Enma both scowled.
Jiraiya blinked, a hint of envy in his eyes.
Damn it! Even if it's ugly, I don't even have one!
Thinking this, a sudden impulse struck Jiraiya, and he raised his hand to form hand seals.
"The Summoning Technique is simple! I got it!"
"What an idiot, you won't succeed like that."
He doesn't even have a Summoning Beast, what is he summoning?
Air?
"You have to form a contract with a Summoning Shinobi Beast…"
The Third Hokage said helplessly, but then something unexpected happened.
"Summoning Technique!"
Jiraiya bit his finger, and with a loud shout, he squatted down and pressed his hand to the ground. Accompanied by the swirling air currents and dust from the space-time fluctuations, he instantly vanished without a trace.
???
The Third Hokage reached out his hand…
What just happened?
Is this the Reverse Summoning Technique?
I didn't teach that!
And Jiraiya didn't even make the wrong hand seals!
Besides, when did Jiraiya become so smart? He learned it in one go. Isn't that something only Orochimaru would do?
"Sarutobi-sensei!" Tsunade suddenly perked up, asking worriedly, "Where did that idiot Jiraiya go?"
Where did he go?
He probably went to that place...
"Hiruzen, it might be those shameless Toads. This kid has a problem," Enma, beside him, said in a deep voice.
This confirmed the Third Hokage's thoughts.
A problem?
The Third Hokage couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried.
His gaze, looking into the distance, became serious. He didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Don't worry, it might be a good thing," the Third Hokage said.
Since Sarutobi-sensei said so, then it must be fine.
Tsunade and Orochimaru relaxed.
In the distance, at home, Miki's expression behind her mask became serious.
She had seen something extraordinary.
So, it's really like that?
Then, what kind of prophecy would the Great Toad Sage make?
It made her a little curious.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya fell from mid-air and hit the ground hard, getting up with a wince.
He flew over in a flash, his mind still a bit dazed. When he looked up, he saw a giant Toad staring back at him.
"So ugly!" Jiraiya said truthfully.
The large Toad in front of him, smoking a cigarette and looking like a thug, silently drew its sword.
Their eyes met.
The next second, Jiraiya turned and ran!
The Toad, sword in hand, gave chase.
"Stop! Let me cut you down, you stinky brat!"
"Is anyone there! Help! A Toad is killing someone!"
One person and one frog ran youthfully through the mountain forest.
On the other side, at Konoha's training ground, the Third Hokage said, "Since that kid Jiraiya isn't here, today's training ends now."
Yay!
Tsunade was completely energized again. Without another word, she turned and ran.
"Sarutobi-sensei! See you tomorrow!"
As Orochimaru was about to leave, the Third Hokage called out to him.
"Orochimaru."
Orochimaru looked at the Third Hokage, puzzled.
"Be careful of Ryūchi Cave; those cold-blooded snakes are not easy to deal with."
How could that be? Snakes are so cute.
"I know, sensei," Orochimaru said, going along with it, not wanting to argue.
Seeing Orochimaru's indifferent expression, the Third Hokage knew he hadn't listened, and felt a headache.
Among the three Great Holy Lands, only the Slug Sage of the Senju Family was the most docile.
The other two were not to be trifled with.
"If possible, try to learn Sage Mode," the Third Hokage instructed.
"Sage Mode?" Orochimaru asked, puzzled.
"If you don't pick up the pace, Jiraiya will surpass you," the Third Hokage said gravely.
"?" That idiot Jiraiya? Orochimaru looked at the Third Hokage in confusion.
"Over this period, you must have felt Jiraiya's improvement, haven't you? At first, you could easily defeat him, but now it takes some thought and effort. What about in the future?"
"Time waits for no one, Orochimaru."
Is that so?
Orochimaru thought carefully and felt a sense of urgency.
This kid is secretly catching up.
"What is Sage Mode?" Orochimaru asked.
"It is a powerful strength that only the strong can master," the Third Hokage said.
"Can you do it, sensei?" Orochimaru asked.
"I cannot!" the Third Hokage replied. "My father could! In the Warring States Period, he was one of the few strongest! Even the First Hokage would not underestimate his power!"
It sounded impressive; Orochimaru grew slightly interested.
"Tsunade will inevitably master that power, and even Jiraiya has gained the qualification. If you don't hurry, Orochimaru, you will be left far behind."
Speaking like this, the Third Hokage almost treated Orochimaru as his own son.
"What about Mushi-Hime?" Orochimaru asked.
"I don't know," the Third Hokage said. "Perhaps she will, perhaps she won't, but she will definitely be a powerful Shinobi. Without mastering Sage Mode, you cannot defeat her."
"I understand, sensei," Orochimaru said, bowing to the Third Hokage.
"No need to be so polite, Orochimaru," the Third Hokage smiled.
Orochimaru looked thoughtful.
It seems necessary to make a trip to Ryūchi Cave and ask about Sage Mode.
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