Chapter 12: The Deal

Naruto didn't linger in the village. After buying a chakra paper, he headed straight back to training.

Jiraiya followed behind, hollow-eyed and despondent, his entire presence subdued and withdrawn.

Naruto ignored him and focused on the chakra paper, injecting it with his chakra.

Crack—

A faint sound echoed as the chakra paper split cleanly down the middle. One half crumbled into dry fragments, the other grew soggy with moisture.

Wind, Earth, and Water.

Earth and Water came from Asura's chakra his Wood Release. Wind belonged to Naruto himself.

Chakra, being a mix of mental and physical energy, should theoretically behave differently for a transmigrator like him. His nature transformation affinities shouldn't exactly match the original protagonist's.

Naruto figured that setting aside the influence of Asura's chakra, his personal nature affinities would most likely be Wind and Water. Possibly just one, maybe both.

Earth was the least likely mainly because he simply didn't like it.

"So it really is these three…"

He formed a hand seal. With a puff of smoke, more than twenty Shadow Clones appeared around him.

Naruto didn't need to say a word. The clones naturally paired off and began experimenting with the Rasenshuriken.

Bzzzzzzzzzz 

A sharp, piercing hum quickly filled the forest as Rasenshuriken after Rasenshuriken materialized in the hands of his clones.

Watching the chakra constructs spin, Naruto had the feeling that at this stage, he could probably slice through a waterfall with ease.

Because he had been stuck in an earlier phase for so long, his control over chakra had grown incredibly precise. Since nature transformation hadn't progressed, he'd had no choice but to refine his control.

That was the real reason why, once he understood the correct training method, his progress skyrocketed.

Compared to his earlier Wind Release: Rasengan, the Rasenshuriken in front of him was already close to its perfected form.

"Well now... that's one hell of a Wind Release jutsu."

Sensing the massive chakra fluctuations, Jiraiya finally came to his senses. His eyes widened in surprise as he noticed the Rasenshuriken in the clones' hands.

"If this technique can be completed, it might become the strongest Wind Release jutsu ever created. You really are a genius, Naruto."

Just as he finished speaking, the clones maintaining the Rasenshuriken all burst apart with a string of poof sounds.

"No good, Boss."

One clone responsible for infusing the Rasengan with Wind nature chakra looked back at Naruto. "The chakra's too unstable. Until we fully master this technique, Shadow Clones can't withstand the backlash. Better switch to Wood Clones for now."

Naruto nodded and formed two Wood Clones with a flick of his hand.

One of the Wood Clones had barely landed when it shot forward and kicked the complaining Shadow Clone into smoke.

"What, you think you're smarter than everyone else?!"

As that clone exploded, chaos erupted by the riverside.

"The hell, Boss? You saw that, right? The Wood Clone started it!"

"And what, you're not embarrassed? Useless trash, all of you…"

"What did you say? Get them, boys! There's only two of them! Don't bother with rules charge!"

"URA!!!"

A chaotic melee broke out, dust and dirt flying everywhere.

When the dust finally settled, only Naruto remained standing alone by the riverside. Nearby, two trees now twisted into grotesque shapes.

"Bwahahaha!"

Jiraiya doubled over laughing, slapping his thigh. "Your clones sure have... personality, Naruto."

Naruto ignored him and created two more Wood Clones.

The moment they landed, one of them crossed its arms behind its back and sneered.

"Trashy Shadow Clones."

Naruto sighed silently.

Jiraiya laughed even harder, but then rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his tone curious. "By the way, Naruto, where did you learn Wood Release?"

Naruto glanced sideways at him. "What's it to you? What do I get out of telling you?"

"Don't be so cold."

Jiraiya sighed. "I did teach you how to train for nature transformations, didn't I?"

"You think that's enough to trade for my biggest secret?"

Naruto chuckled. "Dream on."

"A secret, huh…"

Jiraiya fell into thought. Suddenly, he smacked his fist into his palm and grinned at Naruto.

"Then how about a trade?"

"All four remaining nature transformation training methods, Sage Mode, and the key to the Nine-Tails' seal."

Naruto didn't even blink. He already expected this offer.

Before Jiraiya could even name his terms, Naruto stated his own: "I want all of it. Miss even one, and the deal's off."

Training methods for chakra nature transformations weren't rare in themselves. Most Jōnin only mastered one or two. Still, the stronger a shinobi, the more experience they had, and Jiraiya was once at the top of the food chain. Whether or not he was a good teacher, his knowledge was without question.

As for Sage Mode perhaps because human bodies couldn't naturally generate nature energy the system hadn't registered it as a skill. That was why Naruto hadn't immediately kicked Jiraiya to the curb.

At the moment, Jiraiya remained his most convenient path to learning Sage Mode.

"The key to the seal…"

Jiraiya's expression grew grim. "Naruto, why do you want the key?"

Naruto didn't hide anything. "I made a promise to Kurama. I'm going to set him free. Of course, if you're not willing to give it, don't bother talking. That's the cornerstone of our deal."

"So it's the Nine-Tails manipulating you…"

Jiraiya sighed. "Listen, Naruto. A Jinchūriki's life is tied to their Tailed Beast. I don't know what Kurama told you, but if a beast leaves its host, the host dies."

"Stop acting like you care."

Naruto's voice was laced with impatience. "I have my own way of dealing with that. None of your concern. Are you giving it to me or not?"

Jiraiya fell silent.

He had no idea what Naruto was planning.

But one thing was clear Naruto knew a lot. Even without Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode, he'd probably go searching for another Sacred Land.

As for nature transformation training, that was just a bonus. Ask a few more Jōnin and you'd get similar guidance.

Which meant Naruto's true target… was the Nine-Tails' seal key.

Jiraiya absolutely didn't want to hand it over. But if he refused, he was sure Naruto would cut off all contact from that moment on.

He couldn't break his promise either. This kid wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated. Refusing now would only turn him into an enemy.

Jiraiya hesitated. "What exactly is your relationship with Kurama?"

Inside the seal space, Naruto turned and looked at the Nine-Tails.

He pulled a goofy face. "He's asking you a question, Kurama. What's our relationship?"

Kurama lay lazily across the water. With a grunt, he replied, "Well… I suppose you could say we're partners."

Naruto looked back at Jiraiya. "Forget it. I changed my mind."

"Hey! You damn brat!"

Kurama shot upright, gripping the bars of the cage with both claws, yelling, "I've been helping you disrupt your chakra this whole time!"

"Haha, just messing with you."

Naruto spread his hands. His expression said what can you do?

"He's family."