I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 17 The Troubles of Curly Hair

"That... Ah, that's it."

Tatsuma scratched his old lady-like, trendy, frizzy hair and said, "I heard that Jiraiya-sama created a unique ninjutsu using hair."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya paused, looking at Tatsuma's expression, which was a mixture of longing and shyness, and said, "Yes, do you want to learn?"

"Um, may I?"

Tatsuma felt a little embarrassed. After all, he and Jiraiya didn't have much contact. Today was their first meeting, and he had already asked to learn ninjutsu. Tatsuma himself felt that he was being a little shameless and excessive.

Jiraiya didn't mind at all; instead, he laughed heartily. After all, the several ninjutsu he created related to the application of hair had never been recognized by anyone, and Orochimaru even looked down on them in various ways.

"Haha~ Of course you can, it's not like it's some advanced or dangerous ninjutsu. But, I'd like to ask, why do you want to learn my ninjutsu?"

After laughing, Jiraiya looked at Tatsuma seriously, hoping to hear words like "admiration," "powerful," and "cool" from him, but Tatsuma scratched his sideburn and said:

"Because I have naturally curly hair, I want to learn some hair-related ninjutsu to see if I can straighten it."

Jiraiya, whose face was full of seriousness and anticipation, stiffened for a moment before asking, "Is this why you want to learn my ninjutsu?"

Jiraiya felt he had misplaced his trust, but Tatsuma anxiously said, "Lord Jiraiya, you have no idea how terrifying and troublesome Jiraiya is."

Take washing your hair for example. If you don't wash your hair, it will swell up the next day, just like it does now. But if you wash your hair and don't dry it properly, it will become flat and shiny the next day, just like the seaweed in seaweed soup.

Even if I blow-dry it right away, if I accidentally use the hot air from the hairdryer, sharp points will sprout from my hair, like there are swords hidden in my hair. You have no idea how much I want smooth, straight hair.

As Tatsuma grew increasingly distressed, Jiraiya suddenly felt for a moment that Tatsuma wasn't describing his own curly hair, but rather that he had contracted some incurable disease.

But Jiraiya quickly regained his senses, shook his head, and said, "It doesn't matter what your reasons are for wanting to learn my ninjutsu, but there's one thing I need to make clear beforehand."

My ninjutsu might not straighten or soften hair, are you sure you still want to learn it?

Tatsuma thought about it and realized that he had already reached 15% of the ninjutsu development talent. Now that he was willing to put in the effort, he could develop some E-rank ninjutsu.

With Jiraiya's Needle Jizo and Lion's Mane techniques as a foundation and reference, developing a hair-smoothing technique in the future should be very promising. So he nodded and said:

"Yes, Jiraiya-sama, I want to learn your ninjutsu regarding the application of hair."

Jiraiya nodded, looked at Minato, and asked, "Minato, why don't you study with me too?"

He had originally intended to test these two children and see if they had any talent for learning. Minato was stunned for a moment, then excitedly asked, "Lord Jiraiya, really? Thank you so much!"

Jiraiya was satisfied with the two's reactions and also knew why Minato was so excited. For a ninja from a commoner background, any ninjutsu, as long as it wasn't a joke, was extremely precious.

"Aha~ The ramen is here. Let's eat the ramen first. Later we'll go to the training ground and I'll demonstrate for you. But as for learning, you'll still need to work hard on your own."

I will leave you ninjutsu scrolls, containing the principles and my insights, but I don't have much time to personally teach you.

Jiraiya took the ramen from the shopkeeper and smiled at the two of them. Tatsuma shook his head and said, "We are already very grateful that you can teach us ninjutsu."

"Ouch! That's hot!"

Jiraiya had just smiled when he was scalded by the soup. Seeing this, Tatsuma's eyes lit up and he said, "Lord Jiraiya, you are such a powerful ninja, yet you are afraid of getting burned?"

Let's have a contest and see who can finish their ramen the fastest!

Minato covered his forehead, realizing that his friend's strange competitive spirit had flared up again. Jiraiya was also a little stunned, but before he could come to his senses, Tatsuma picked up the large bowl and started eating it in big gulps.

"Kid, don't get really burned!"

Jiraiya said, then picked up a ramen noodle with his chopsticks and said, "Besides, I, this great one, will not lose to anyone! Ninja Art! Ramen Blowing Technique!"

Minato looked at Jiraiya with some surprise. Could it be that this Jonin-sama also had a strange competitive spirit? To win the ramen-eating contest, he actually used ninjutsu?

However, Minato immediately understood that Jiraiya's so-called ninjutsu was nothing more than blowing air into the ramen to cool it down faster.

A moment later, Tatsuma finished his ramen, burped, and before he could even wipe his mouth, he looked at Jiraiya. Seeing that he was still eating, he breathed a sigh of relief and said:

"As expected of you, Jiraiya-sama! You can even practice ninjutsu while eating ramen. However, I won this match!"

"Ding~ Talent [Ninja +10], Special Talent [Emotional Expert (Jiraiya Limited Edition) 100%]"

Upon seeing the pop-up message, Chenma was excited, especially since a special talent had appeared. However, after clearly understanding the special talent, he smirked and thought to himself, "Pick up the [Ninja +10] talent, but not the special talent."

Goodness, Jiraiya's love life is truly a complicated story. Now in his prime, the young Jiraiya probably doesn't know that he won't be able to win Tsunade's heart for the next thirty-five years.

And most likely, he gave up the chance to escape from the enemy for the sake of the village and his disciples.

Jiraiya's story is indeed touching, but Tatsuma doesn't want his own love life to be like Jiraiya's. Therefore, even with his limited special talent, Tatsuma still gave it up.

Moreover, Chenma was already very happy to be able to gain ten points of the normal talent cap, after all, their competition was just about eating a bowl of ramen.

As expected, Jiraiya was a good teacher, even towards the two children who had not become his students.

"Boss, the bill!"

After Minato finished eating, Jiraiya generously paid the bill, but the few bills he pulled out of his pocket seemed a bit meager. Fortunately, the ramen wasn't expensive, costing only sixty ryo per person.

After paying the bill, Jiraiya stood up, stretched, looked at the two kids with dark circles under their eyes but were incredibly excited, and said with a smile, "Let's go! Now it's time to teach you ninjutsu!"

(End of this chapter)