[Nadeshiko Kagami: Shizuka, you've already surpassed your teacher from back then.]
[Jiraiya: By the way, how is Nagi still this popular even without taking off those glasses?]
[Tsunade: Isn't that obvious? Nagi is powerful. And although we don't know exactly what he said, judging from your reactions, it must've been something profound.
Even Orochimaru admires Nagi's knowledge—let alone Shizuka, who's barely older than Naruto and the others.]
[ Kūshina Uzumaki: That's right! Being popular isn't just about good looks. What's inside matters too.]
[ Kūshina Uzumaki: And look how gentle and considerate Nagi is toward girls. That's important, Naruto—you should learn from him.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: But Nagi's gentle and considerate to me and Sasuke too.]
[ Kūshina Uzumaki: …]
Late at night.
Naruto lay sprawled on the ground, fast asleep. Nagi rested lightly against a tree branch above.
Shizuka had fallen asleep with her head in Kagami's lap.
Jiraiya and Kagami kept watch beside a small campfire.
As Kagami stroked Shizuka's hair, she asked quietly,
"Jiraiya… what do you think of my disciple and Nagi?"
Jiraiya coughed. "A golden boy and jade girl. They suit each other."
"Yes… I think so too."
After a moment of silence, Kagami spoke again.
"Truthfully, I don't want Shizuka to continue walking this path."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Perhaps… it's time that tradition changes."
Jiraiya seemed unsurprised.
"Because of what Nagi said?"
"Mm. According to him, the path our village has followed is too limiting. It leaves little room for long-term growth."
"You're thinking of reform?"
"Yes. Only reform can welcome a new era.
Jiraiya… you see it too, don't you? Nagi's ambitions aren't small. One day, he'll accomplish something great.
I'm looking forward to that child's future."
"Yeah…"
Jiraiya looked up at Nagi resting in the tree, his thoughts complicated.
When Jiraiya had once asked Nagi whether he believed in the Child of the Prophecy, Nagi had replied:
"I don't believe in prophecy. I believe in my own strength.
For you, Jiraiya-sensei, searching for the Child of the Prophecy is your spiritual anchor—your conviction. But it isn't mine.
Everyone has different beliefs. As for me, I won't place my hopes in something intangible. I'll use my own hands to make things happen.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Rather than place hope in others, it's better to strengthen oneself."
Just as he refused to entrust everything to the power sealed within him, Nagi had never stopped training. Improving his own strength—that was what mattered most.
Kagami gazed at him quietly.
"Yes… no matter what, increasing one's strength is paramount. I'll help Shizuka grow stronger as well. It will benefit our future."
After a pause, Jiraiya said,
"Do your best. And if things don't work out, Konohaga Kūre's gates will always be open to you."
Kagami nodded.
"Don't worry. This much, I can handle. I look forward to the day Shizuka can stand on her own."
Her words weren't empty. From the moment she met Jiraiya again, her fighting spirit had returned—and Nagi's words had reignited the fire in her heart.
Besides, her own strength was her greatest confidence.
The next morning—
Kagami turned to Jiraiya and the others.
"Shizuka and I will return to the village to prepare breakfast.
Nagi, Shizuka is quite skilled at cooking. I hope you'll like it."
Shizuka smiled shyly at Nagi.
"Please wait here, Nagi. Master and I will be back soon."
She followed Kagami, glancing back every few steps before finally disappearing from sight.
Nagi and Naruto walked to a nearby river. Naruto said he wanted to show off a new technique.
Nagi was curious.
Naruto formed hand seals and created shadow clones. Just like before, Naruto's original body supplied the chakra while a shadow clone handled the shape transformation—spinning the condensed chakra at high speed to form the Rasengan.
But this time, it took longer. Nagi noticed Naruto steadily increasing the chakra output.
The sphere grew larger and larger in Naruto's palm—until it became a massive orb.
"Big Ball Rasengan!"
Naruto had only recently mastered this technique. He had successfully used it for the first time not long ago in battle. Now that he grasped the trick, becoming fully proficient was only a matter of time.
Naruto slammed the Big Ball Rasengan into a nearby tree.
Boom!
The surrounding trees were completely obliterated.
"Well?!"
Naruto grinned excitedly at Nagi.
"That's an impressive technique, Naruto," Nagi praised. "Looks like you've trained hard these past six months."
"Hehehe! Of course I did!"
Naruto beamed at the compliment.
"Nagi, want me to teach you? Pervy Sage, that's okay, right?"
"No problem," Jiraiya replied. He was also curious how far Nagi could push the Rasengan.
Naruto eagerly began,
"First, we start with learning the Rasengan—"
"Uh… Naruto, thanks. But I already learned the Rasengan a long time ago."
"Listen, the principle behind the Rasengan is—huh? Wait! Nagi, did you just say you already learned it?!"
"Yeah."
Nagi casually formed a Rasengan in one hand.
Naruto stared, dumbfounded.
"Y-you really learned it already? And why don't you need a shadow clone?!"
"…Shouldn't the question be why you need one? This technique was originally designed to pair with your father's Flying Thunder God Technique. Using shadow clones makes rapid assaults harder to execute."
Naruto was momentarily speechless—but quickly recovered.
"Then I'll explain the trick behind the Big Ball Rasengan!"
"Sure."
Nagi casually tossed his Rasengan toward a distant boulder.
The stone was instantly obliterated, leaving only a massive crater.
"Alright, you can start explaining… Naruto?"
Jiraiya and Naruto both stared blankly at the crater in the distance.
[Minato Namikaze: Hmm? He's already developed the Rasengan into a ranged attack? Impressive, Nagi.]
[ Kūshina Uzumaki: Hehehe! Nagi always finds a new twist on every jutsu.]
[Jiraiya: …So it really can be thrown, huh?]
[Naruto Uzumaki: Huh? Pervy Sage, you never tried it?]
[Jiraiya: Ahem! Of course I did! What kind of man do you think I am?]
In truth, Jiraiya was slightly bewildered. It wasn't that he had never tried throwing the Rasengan—but once it left his hand, maintaining the shape transformation was extremely difficult. Either it detonated prematurely or dispersed entirely.
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