The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over Konoha, stretching shadows long across the village streets as Naruto made his way toward the hot springs.
Kakashi had been unusually vague when he mentioned that Naruto was getting a new master for the finals. He just said it was someone powerful, a legend. That sounded promising, but Naruto had learned to take Kakashi's words with a grain of salt. After all, Kakashi had also described the Chūnin Exams as "just another step in the journey," and Naruto had almost been eaten by a giant snake. Twice.
Still, if this so-called master was strong, he wouldn't complain.
The scent of steam and minerals thickened in the air as he neared the hot springs. According to Kakashi, the man would be easy to find.
Naruto paused.
There, by the bathhouse wall, stood an old man with long white hair, clad in a red haori and wooden sandals. He was hunched over, his hands gripping the top of the wooden fence as he peered through a tiny hole in the wall.
Naruto blinked.
Was he spying?
The old man didn't even acknowledge his presence.
Naruto tilted his head, watching. The man was staring so intently at whatever was beyond the wall that he didn't even twitch when Naruto stepped close.
"What are you looking at?"
Silence.
Naruto frowned. Maybe he was deaf?
"Hey. You. Old man. What's so interesting?"
Nothing. The guy didn't even blink.
Now Naruto was intrigued.
What could possibly be so fascinating that it made an old shinobi lose all awareness of his surroundings?
There was only one way to find out.
Shrugging, Naruto turned, grabbed the wooden door leading into the women's side of the bathhouse, and slid it open.
Steam billowed out, thick and warm. Inside, several women lounged in the natural hot spring, chatting and relaxing. Their conversation died instantly as all heads turned toward the intruder.
Naruto casually stepped inside, letting the door swing shut behind him.
"Oh. Karin. You're here?"
There was a brief moment of absolute silence.
Then...
"AHHHHHH!"
The air exploded.
Water splashed, towels flew, and in the chaos, Naruto barely managed to register Karin's face, redder than her hair, before she launched a bar of soap at his head.
A barrage of objects followed. Wooden buckets, sandals, even a shampoo bottle.
Naruto dodged effortlessly, weaving around the projectiles with the fluid ease of someone who had spent his entire life avoiding things being thrown at him.
"Are you all trying to kill me?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.
"OF COURSE WE'RE TRYING TO KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE PERVERT!" a woman shrieked, still hurling whatever she could get her hands on.
That made sense.
"Ah," Naruto said, bowing deeply. "My apologies."
Then, without another word, he turned and stepped back outside.
The old man was still standing there.
Now, though, he was staring at Naruto with an expression of absolute shock.
Naruto frowned. "Why do you look so surprised?"
The old man opened his mouth, closed it, then rubbed his chin. "Kid," he said slowly, "did you just walk into the women's bathhouse?"
"Yes?"
"Casually?"
"Yes?"
"And you lived?"
Naruto blinked. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
The old man exhaled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've got some nerve, kid."
Naruto tilted his head. "Why were you looking at them so much?"
The old man scoffed, grinning. "For research, of course."
Naruto stared. "What are you researching?"
"Women."
Naruto thought about that. "You could just go inside and ask them things."
The old man choked. "That's not how research works!"
"Why not?"
"Because—"
Naruto considered this, then shrugged. "Humans have weird rules."
The old man looked at him for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he grinned. "I like you, kid. What's your name?"
"Naruto Uzumaki."
The old man blinked. "Uzumaki?"
"Yes."
The grin widened. "Well, well, well. This just got a lot more interesting."
Naruto blinked. "Why?"
The man straightened up, crossing his arms. "Because, brat, I'm Jiraiya. The Toad Sage. One of the Legendary Sannin. And starting today," he jabbed a thumb at his own chest, "I'm your new master."
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. "You?"
"Yes. Me."
"You're a pervert."
"I'm a super pervert!" Jiraiya declared proudly.
Naruto stared at him blankly.
Jiraiya cleared his throat. "But also a great shinobi. The best you'll ever meet."
Naruto was unconvinced. "You spied on women instead of training."
"It's called multitasking."
"That's not how multitasking works."
"You sound like Tsunade."
Naruto didn't know who that was, but she sounded reasonable.
Jiraiya sighed, stretching. "Alright, listen, kid. I get it. You're skeptical. But trust me, by the time I'm done with you, you'll be stronger than you ever imagined."
Naruto considered him for a moment. Then...
"Prove it."
Jiraiya's grin returned. "Oh?"
"If you're strong, prove it."
Jiraiya laughed. "I like you, brat. Alright. I'll prove it."
And just like that, Naruto's real training for the finals began.