Lotus Of The Leaf ~Book One~

Chapter 44! Senju Luck Turns Around!

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"Okay! Let's go!" Jiraiya screamed the next morning, and pointing off in a random direction. "Eh?"

"Let's go? Are you kidding me? Quit acting like a stupid little kid, will ya?" Naruto said in annoyance.

"What the-- why are you in such a bad mood?" Jiraiya asked.

"Well, what do you think?! We're still in the middle of my training! You said there were three steps to learn, right? Well, I've only learned two of them! Now quit holding out on me!"

Jiraiya laughed heartily. "Relax! You can work on the third one whole we're walking."

"What?! Are you serious?!" Naruto asked excitedly.

"It's amazing how fast you can switch moods." I comment dryly, patting my damp hair.

"Aw, shut it, Ren!" Naruto bellowed, taking a swing at me. I held my hand up and knocked his fist away as he crossed his arms with a huff. Jiraiya blew up a green and yellow balloon. "A balloon?" Naruto wondered with a grumpy expression.

"Here." Jiraiya tossed the balloon over to his pupil.

"Okay... so what's the deal?" Naruto asked, squeezing it a little. "An ordinary balloon?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya went into explaining the third step to Naruto as I zoned out. Why couldn't he walk and talk? All these explanations have nothing to do with me. I sighed inwardly before my mind drifted to Shikamaru. I felt a flush crawl up my neck. I shook my head, and my mind wandered to Sasuke this time. I slapped at my cheeks roughly concentrating on what Jiraiya was saying. By the time I decided to stop daydreaming, Jiraiya held the Rasengan in his hand.

"Woah!" I cooed, immediately becoming enthralled by it. "It's like a small typhoon!"

"So then, what you're doing in your left hand is also happening in the balloon on your right?"

"That's right! What do you think?" Jiraiya asked excitedly. "Nifty, huh? Now listen; In the third step, you've gotta draw up 100% of what you've learned so far. And then, maintain it. In other words, keeping the power and the rotation of your chakra at their maximum. First, visualize a thin membrane just inside the balloon, then of compressing the chakra inside it."

Naruto remained silent for a moment. "Hey, I think I get it now!" He cheered. "So, this stage is about keeping the power and rotation that I learned, only this time without letting them pop open a delicate balloon!"

"I thought it would've taken you a good twenty minutes to understand it, Naruto." I jeered, earning another half hearted glare.

"Wait, why exactly am I going through all this trouble?" Naruto asked curiously.

Jiraiya chuckled. "Come here." He commanded, tossing the balloon back to Naruto, who nearly stumbled to catch it. "I'll show you. Watch closely. After the first two steps of your training, you get this." He formed a loose Rasengan, and hit the wood, which created a spiral pattern in the bark. "Then, once you've master the third step -- you get this!" He formed yet another Rasengan, but this one held a lot more intertia and power. He slammed his palm into the tree, and the Rasengan ripped it open, creating a dome like crater. "If you can keep that small typhoon the size of your palm, then the energy will be unable to disperse. It'll spin faster and faster, and it's power will become more and more compressed." Another Rasengan formed in his palm. "And it's destructive power will reach it's max. So, there you have it."

Naruto gazed down at the balloon for a second before pocketing the first one he had, and started focusing his chakra. I half expected him to actually get it on the first try with that determined expression he held, but it burst after a few moments.