Training Ground 3
Tsuyu focused on training Flying Raijin, specifically, a large-scale teleportation variation of Flying Raijin.
Tsuyu is able to use the teleportation aspect of the jutsu - but in combat it's still fatal for her. Her orientations in space are random, the loss of senses and the sudden gain of it, the splitting headache and nausea - mixture of it could lead to her death if she appears in front of the enemy in that state. She still needs time to get used to the jutsu to use in combat.
At the same time, a clone is observing and instructing Naruto and Sasuke's training. There's not much to say. For Tsuyu, the best training right now is a real life and death battle. Both of them had achieved a good enough combat level in 'theory' when fighting under zero risk. But in practice, it's always different. Still, since she doesn't have living training material, any training is better than nothing.
However, amidst her practice, she felt a gaze towards her back. She turned her eyes towards the direction. Why do so many people like to sneakily look for her?
Jiraiya hiding among the bushes was taken aback.
What a sharp perception…
Seeing he's already caught, Jiraiya comes out of the bushes looking closer.
Those markings… Flying Raijin…! Jiraiya looked shocked. She's just 11 and she already understands such a complex jutsu! And before that, to think she can get her hands on the jutsu in the first place is already a surprise. Even Minato had to contribute in war time first to get his hands on his trademark jutsu. It's apparent how much trust Konoha higher ups placed in Tsuyu to give her such a dangerous jutsu plus she is a jinchuriki who apparently can control its power fully.
The combination can only be said as terrifying.
Tsuyu too is judging the man, looking at him up and down. The long white hair, the straight red line marking down his eyes, the headband with the word 'oil' on them… she felt she had seen him in a book before.
Could he be…
"Could you be… one of the three legendary sannin…-".
Before Tsuyu could finish her guess, Jiraiya raised his head high feeling proud.
"It's the one and only, the Toad Sage, Jiraiya the sannin! Yosh!". Jiraiya made an introductory posture - bringing down Tsuyu's 100 respect point level to 90 points.
"It's a rare opportunity for me to meet you, Jiraiya-sama". Tsuyu bowed in respect.
"Hoho, you are flattering me too much!", Jiraiya felt high on being looked up to.
Just then; Naruto's scream immediately broke down Jiraiya's high stance.
"Ah! It's that pervert!!!".
Jiraiya looks at the yellow haired boy in annoyance.
"Who are you calling a pervert brat!".
"Nii-san, mind your words!", Tsuyu's sharp commanding word sent Naruto to a stop. It's one of the sannin, one of the strongest and most respected people in Konoha. She would have directly sewed Naruto's mouth if she knew he was going to make a fuss.
"Tsu-chan…! I swear he's really a pervert! He peeked at the public bathhouse-ttebayo!".
She frowned slightly, turning her head to Jiraiya.
"Cough. It's gathering inspiration! What do you know! You are slandering me. Slandering!".
Tsuyu's eyelid twitched after hearing that it's true. But to be fair, this person is the author of a smut novel. Maybe it's not surprising, Tsuyu thought. Naruto looks at Jiraiya with an unkind gaze.
Naruto then had a thought. "What are you doing here now?! Could it be…".
"You are peeking at us!? Oh no!", Naruto quickly runs and hides behind Sasuke who just came to see the scene.
"This brat…! Who's interested in a kid like you! Keep dreaming!", the veins on Jiraiya's forehead bulging with annoyance.
"Nii-san, stop making noise. He's one of the legendary sannin, Jiraiya. Show some respect".
"Eh? Sannin?". Naruto recalled hearing that term before.
"Like… Orochimaru?". Naruto only knows the title of 'sannin', but never really understood the implication behind it or the whole reason the three sannin are called sannin.
"Hmph. Yes. But do you really have to bring that twisted guy up?", Jiraiya felt dissatisfied that this brat didn't even care to know about him. Your name is even taken from my novel, brat!
Sasuke looks at Jiraiya in awe and shock. "The legendary sannin…". Unlike Tsuyu's respect, and Naruto's still not-so-good impression, Sasuke had a fiery look on his eyes.
If I can get his guidance…
"Jiraiya-sama, it's a great pleasure to meet you". Sasuke gives his respect after knowing his identity.
"Brat! See, this is how you should treat me!".
"I don't care. You are ero-sennin then!".
"Damn brat!".
"Naruto, show some respect!". It's Sasuke who repeated Tsuyu's words.
"Tch! What's up with you two!", Naruto felt wronged seeing these two treat this pervert like someone amazing.
"Enough enough. Call me what you want. I am just curious to see you guys training".
"Ha? Then you are really trying to peep on us!".
Pow! Naruto felt a heavy knuckle hitting his head - almost feeling a sense of deja vu.
Where did Sakura come from!? It wasn't Sakura. It's Sasuke who hit him.
"Teme!!". Naruto glared at Sasuke, feeling wronged even more.
Tsuyu ignored those two and continued to converse with the sannin.
"It would be my pleasure to have you oversee us, Jiraiya-sama".
"Hn. Hn. You are definitely as mature as they said. Hey! Kid, how about a little spar. It's been sometime since I moved around. I will go easy on you. Haha, no worry".
Tsuyu obliged without much words.
"Please teach me then, Jiraiya-sama". Tsuyu bowed in respect before backing off to create a distance, readying herself with the standard CQC of the Imperial Army. Naruto and Sasuke stopped their banters and immediately turned their eyes towards the two.
Sasuke felt a little jealousy seeing Jiraiya is willing to test Tsuyu. He wished it was him. But still, he wanted to see how Tsuyu would fight against a real powerful opponent, and how Jiraiya, the legendary sannin would fight.
What an unfamiliar stance. Is it a self made taijutsu style? Jiraiya didn't ponder too long.
"Go on, make the first move!".
Hearing the signal, Tsuyu's first action is to take out a few shuriken from her ninja bag; throwing them swiftly.
Swish- Swish-
Jiraiya easily deflected them with a kunai- and saw a few shadow clones summoned right after going in two different directions trying to approach him from different sides.
A third shadow clone that instead digs and burrows itself into the ground is not unnoticed by Jiraiya's keen perception.
Interesting.
Jiraiya felt interested in knowing more about this genius child.
Ninja Art: Raging Lion Mane! Jiraiya's long white hair is akin to a snake, sweeping at the incoming 2 shadow clones in one swift motion, grabbing them and destroying them in an instance.
Then- suddenly he stepped on the ground and jumped right before a hand stretching from below almost grabbed his feet.
Ignoring the shadow clone below him, Jiraiya's long hair retracted and he's about to launch needle attacks towards the real Tsuyu- but he hears some sizzling sound close to him.
Hm?! My hair! Boom! Boom!
Tsuyu's clones armed with Explosive Tags stuck to those when they were attacked just now.
"NHAHAHAH! His hair got burned!", Naruto seeing the situation laughed out loud.
Tsuyu didn't think much. Her shadow clones are always armed with explosives. And their decisions to stick it onto Jiraiya's hair were the shadow clones' own decisions. It's not like Tsuyu ordered them specifically to do that.
Jiraiya landed on the ground while checking his singed hair. My beautiful majestic hair! But suddenly he felt a slight tremor on the ground.
Wait, that shadow clone is still there!
Just in time Jiraiya managed to dodge an incoming uppercut from below the ground. But seeing the eerie smile on the shadow clone as it comes out fully, and the massive fluctuation of chakra in front of him- his expression turned bewildered.
This is… chakra overload? This shadow clone is going to explode!
But just when Jiraiya realised what the shadow clone was doing, Tsuyu had finished a set of hand seals from the moment Jiraiya jumped to dodge the shadow clone's attack at the very beginning.
Earth Release: Earth Dome.
Crumble- Crumble- the earth around Jiraiya about to form walls trapping him. But Jiraiya had a keen perception noticing the chakra fluctuation beneath his feat. In an instant he leaped above quickly and managed to barely escape right before the dome of earth closed up.
Just as the dome is completed, a roaring explosion from within shatters the dome to pieces.
Jiraiya had beads of sweat forming on his forehead. If he had been successfully trapped inside, he can't say for sure he could brush it off.
This kid… is dangerous…
While for Tsuyu, she feels it's not surprising that normal tactics won't work on Jiraiya. His perception is too keen to be catched into such a simple trap. And even if Jiraiya is trapped with the clone, Jiraiya has different ways to avoid it. Using Raging Lion Mane to wrap and protect himself, using sealing technique on the shadow clone to cancel its jutsu, summoning the inner stomach of a toad to cover himself etc.
But in Jiraiya's perception, it's only been less than 10 seconds and Tsuyu made such a decisive strike.
No wonder she's in ANBU unit. Jiraiya felt solemn.
Sasuke and Naruto at the sidelines watch in awe and amazement. The two had never seen Tsuyu go serious - at least she didn't bother to use any fancy ninjutsu and only used her fists to beat them up.
If it's me… could I react and escape?
Sasuke clenched his fist, thinking whether he could react in such circumstances. Even with his 1-tomoe sharingan, he's afraid it's not enough.
I need more power… Sasuke felt frustrated. He wanted his sharingan to evolve more if he could.
Jiraiya regained his composure as he observed Tsuyu more seriously. He realised he cannot take her lightly at all. And it's clear from Tsuyu's expression - she is not completely serious and had a lot hidden under her sleeves.