Nagi looked toward Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-sensei, you should know better than I do where the Rasengan originated."
Jiraiya snapped out of his daze and cleared his throat.
"Ahem. The Rasengan was created by the Fourth Hokage—Naruto's father—during the Third Great Ninja War. He drew inspiration from the Tailed Beast Ball used by the Tailed Beasts.
We spent three years developing it together for Naruto's mother.
The goal was to help her make better use of her enormous chakra reserves."
It was the first time Naruto had heard that the Rasengan was so deeply connected to his parents.
Nagi continued calmly,
"So the technique was originally modeled after the Tailed Beast Ball. Being able to use it for ranged attacks shouldn't be surprising, right?"
"That makes sense," Jiraiya nodded.
"The difference," Nagi added, "is that the Rasengan is a jutsu of pure chakra without a nature transformation. Tailed Beasts, however, naturally possess chakra with elemental properties."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in realization.
"I see… nature transformation."
(Nagi's earlier Rasengan had incorporated a small amount of Wind Release, which allowed it to maintain cohesion after being thrown.)
"Nature transformation?"
Naruto looked between them, completely lost.
[Minato Namikaze: Has Nagi already mastered nature transformation? Impressive. I hadn't taken the Rasengan that far.]
[Jiraiya: I'm still at the stage of shape transformation myself.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: So… what exactly is nature transformation?]
Nagi's thrown Rasengan had in fact been his first attempt at adding nature transformation—just a slight infusion of Wind Release.
Jiraiya and Nagi soon began exchanging insights.
Jiraiya explained how he had perfected the Rasengan's shape transformation. Nagi shared his thoughts on integrating nature transformation into it.
In the past, Nagi had trained with Tobirama Senju on the Rasengan. However, their focus then had been on Yin–Yang Release Chakra and Water Release.
Since their research into Yin–Yang Release had required precise manipulation of chakra nature, mastering nature transformation in ninjutsu came easily to Nagi.
At that moment, Nadeshiko Kagami and Shizuka returned, each carrying a basket.
Seeing Jiraiya and Nagi deep in discussion, they chose not to interrupt, quietly asking Naruto—who was still in a daze—what had happened.
Suddenly, Nagi stood up and turned to Kagami.
"Auntie Kagami, this area is sparsely populated, correct?"
"That's right. Nagi… what are you planning?"
"I'd like to test a technique."
Kagami answered boldly,
"Go ahead. No one lives on the mountain across from us."
Jiraiya immediately dragged Naruto aside and said gravely,
"Naruto, watch carefully. What you see next will greatly help your future training."
Nagi opened his right palm and formed a standard Rasengan.
He then altered its chakra nature, adjusting the ratio of Yin–Yang Release Chakra to an approximate two-to-eight balance, before compressing the shape transformation to its extreme—drawing on Jiraiya's explanation and his own mastery.
The Rasengan condensed further and further, its density increasing to an astonishing degree.
[Gyūki (Eight-Tails): Th-That's… a Tailed Beast Ball!!!]
[Shiranui Kūrama (Nine-Tails): Impossible! How could a mere human use our technique?!]
[Minato Namikaze: It does resemble a Tailed Beast Ball.]
[Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki: Indeed. The principle is similar, but it is not a true Tailed Beast Ball. Nagi's Yin–Yang Release Chakra quality already surpasses that of Shiranui Kūrama and the others.]
(Hagoromo had previously explained the history of the Shinobi World, so everyone now knew the true names of the Tailed Beasts.)
[Shiranui Kūshina Uzumaki: Hahaha! Hear that, Shiranui Kūrama? Nagi's chakra quality surpasses yours!]
[Shiranui Kūrama: Don't call me by name! And even if his quality is higher, his quantity is nowhere near ours!]
[Tobirama Senju: Then watch closely—this is my student's new technique.]
Nagi further elevated the quality of his Yin–Yang Release Chakra.
At last, the Rasengan compressed into a small sphere of crimson and black.
The bystanders felt overwhelming danger radiating from the tiny orb in his hand.
Suddenly, Nagi clenched it.
Everyone watching felt their hearts seize—as though that grip had tightened around their own chests.
He erected a massive Water Release: Water Formation Wall behind him to shield the others.
Then he thrust his palm toward the distant mountain.
Instantly, a gigantic dark-red shockwave erupted from his hand at blinding speed.
Everything in its path was annihilated. The mountain was pierced straight through.
Nagi quickly raised his arm, redirecting the blast upward. The shockwave soared into the sky before detonating within the clouds, staining the heavens crimson.
[Killer B: Yo! That move's insane! It rivals a true Tailed Beast Ball—no… it's even stronger! Oh yeah!]
[Orochimaru: Heh heh… substituting quality for quantity. Fascinating.]
[Minato Namikaze: I never imagined the Rasengan could be developed this far. Remarkable, Nagi.]
[Nagi: No. The Yin–Yang Release Chakra hasn't reached its theoretical peak, and the charge time is too long. I wonder how much faster it could be with further refinement.]
The people of the Shinobi World could only stare in disbelief.
Most shinobi celebrate for months after developing a new technique. Nagi was already analyzing its flaws.
[Shiranui Kūshina Uzumaki: Well, Shiranui Kūrama? Not bad, right?]
[Shiranui Kūrama: Hmph. Passable.]
Yet inwardly, Shiranui Kūrama was shaken. So were the other Tailed Beasts.
Because Nagi's technique resembled not so much their own Tailed Beast Balls… but rather the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball in its shockwave form.
Nagi studied the aftermath thoughtfully, contemplating its imperfections.
Behind him, the others were frozen in shock.
Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?
After a long moment, Jiraiya finally approached him, stumbling over his words.
"Th-that technique—I—uh—
Nagi, don't tell me you came up with that just now based on my explanation of shape transformation?"
Nagi nodded.
"Yes, Jiraiya-sensei. Your understanding of shape transformation was very enlightening."
"…Is that so? Fine. As long as you're happy. Alright, enough thinking. Let's eat."
Jiraiya hauled the still-dumbfounded Naruto to his feet and accepted the basket Kagami handed him.
After Kagami dismissed the Nadeshiko guards who had rushed over to investigate, everyone finally sat down to eat.
Shizuka shyly stepped forward and offered the breakfast she had carefully prepared to Nagi.
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