Senju's Heir

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Senju's Heir

~~Years Ago, Daimyō's Villa~~

"It's freakin' simple!"

"The hell it is! And stop abbreviating crap! You know how Tsunade hates that."

Naruto very much disliked this back-and-forth arguing with his grandfather. Usually because he was always -not really- right. This time, it was about the logical approach to fighting off a superior ninja's thirst for blood.

"Fine!" Naruto clapped his hands together, forcing the circulation of chakra inside his arms. "DOOO IT~! I challenge you!"

"YOU FOOL!" Jiraiya smacked Naruto over the head, the latter squirming under the large bump forming over it. "Thirst for blood is no game! If you're not properly prepared, I could end up seriously traumatizing you. If anything I shouldn't have told you about it until you were older."

"Owie..." Naruto rubbed his head with care, his teary eyes glaring up at the large man standing before him. "I can do it!" he insisted. "I have to do it! I'm tired of having Tenzo-sensei lording it over me every time I spar with him! Plus..." He pouted as he crossed his arms. "Hazuki-chan keeps giggling at me every time I come back to the palace looking like I saw a ghost... She thinks I don't notice, but I do! And it pisses me off!"

Jiraiya sighed. "Look kid, I get where you're coming from. But it's dangerous. You're not ready for it. Killing intent is an art capable of dismantling the ranks of entire teams of ninja. It can freeze others in their tracks, and kill some who aren't properly prepared. I can't take the risk with you. You're far too young!"

"You said it yourself!" Naruto clutched his fists to his sides, his chubby face showing pure courage, like that time he stood before an army of Anbu. "I'm a Senju and an Uzumaki! I can take it! Besides... I'm gonna need it eventually, right?"

A Senju and an Uzumaki...

As the fact became more and more clear to him, Jiraiya closed his eyes shut and stared somewhere else entirely. 'You're right... All the more reason to teach you, considering who will be coming after you... But it's not that simple... Even if I did teach you to endure it, that snake bastard has a thirst for blood even larger than mine and Tsunade's combined... His sick nature grants him this, and only a few can measure up...'

"Ojii!" Naruto whined. "Just let me get a taste of it! I'll show you I'm tougher than you think!"

"You could be the greatest prodigy of all time for all I care!" Jiraiya poked Naruto's forehead, forcing the boy to take a step back. "One thing still remains unchanged! You're eleven years old! You won't be able to stay true, let alone on your feet."

Naruto snarled. "Try me...!"

Jiraiya groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. "If it'll shut you up...! I'll show you, but only for a literal second. And only if you grant me one thing in exchange."

"Eh...?" Naruto blinked. "Uh, sure... whatever you want..."

Naruto stood confused for a moment, but quickly nodded realizing he would actually show him. Constantly annoying his granddad didn't usually work on the old man. If anything, it just made him ignore his pleas more, not less. All the more reason to be wary, Naruto figured.

Jiraiya crossed his arms over his chest and stared at him, simply stared. The clearing remained mostly unscathed noise-wise, except for the birds chirping and going about their business. The rustling of tree branches presented itself as a gust of wind came passing by, driving leaves to begin orbiting their position once they came in contact with Naruto's aura.