I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 25 Don't be too attentive to strangers

"Kid, not only are you learning my ninjutsu, but you're even starting to copy my hairstyle?"

Under the scorching summer sun, Minato and Tatsuma, standing on the water, were trying to keep their hair moving and their bodies upright when a hand landed on their shoulder and a voice reached their ears.

"Splash splash~"

Startled, Tatsuma and Minato both fell into the river. Their hair, which had been tied up in a topknot, suddenly turned short again. The two thrashed about in the water, clearly forgetting that they could swim.

"Hahaha~ You two little devils, you're still a long way off."

Two large hands lifted the two people out of the river and carried them to the bank. At this moment, the two people finally had the mind to see who had come.

"Lord Jiraiya?"

"Lord Jiraiya, you're back?"

Jiraiya smiled as he looked at the two drenched figures before him and said, "Yeah, we had a few days off. By the way, did you guys style your hair yourselves?"

Minato nodded and looked at Tatsuma, saying, "It was Tatsuma who suggested breaking down ninjutsu into different stages for targeted practice, a method to master advanced ninjutsu."

"Haha, it was Minato who realized this first; I was just offering some suggestions."

Chenma quickly waved his hand. Although it felt good to be praised, he couldn't accept praise that didn't belong to him.

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya stroked his chin and said, "Tell me about it."

Tatsuma and Minato briefly explained the decomposition learning method they had developed half a year ago to Jiraiya. Jiraiya nodded repeatedly and said, "As expected of a genius like me, you have a sharp mind."

Furthermore, your understanding of the Needle Earthly Treasury and the Lion's Mane Technique is also correct. It is indeed possible to reduce the difficulty of learning through segmented learning as you suggested. Come on, demonstrate it!

After saying that, Jiraiya gestured for the two to demonstrate their results. The two nodded, looked at each other, and then formed the Unknown Hand Seal. Soon, their hair grew longer.

Seeing that the two of them could control their hair to grow so quickly, Jiraiya was somewhat incredulous. As a Jonin, he could tell at a glance how precise these two kids' control over chakra was.

Let alone other ninja academy students, even genin or some chunin might not be as good as these two in terms of chakra control.

Minato controlled half of his hair to activate its growth, while Tatsuma, after several days of practice, was able to control about three-quarters of his hair to activate its growth.

After the two finished their demonstration, Jiraiya rubbed their wet hair and said, "Your control over chakra is already quite remarkable, and your taijutsu is also very good. Why don't you apply to graduate early?"

At your age, you must really want to be admired by your peers through outstanding performance, right?

After Jiraiya finished asking, Tatsuma shook his head and said, "That's true, but we haven't even learned any ninjutsu that requires chakra. We've only learned the Escape Technique and the Cloak Invisibility Technique."

"Hmm?" Jiraiya blinked and said, "With your talent, you haven't learned it yet?"

Minato then said helplessly, "Transformation Technique is for next semester, and Substitution Technique and Clone Technique are for the semester after that. I've also heard that there will be other ninjutsu and genjutsu to learn later."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya finally realized that although the two people in front of him were geniuses, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice.

Jiraiya didn't immediately understand the reason. It was because when he enrolled, the Ninja Academy's system and procedures were not yet perfect, and they had already been taken in as disciples by their teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Therefore, Jiraiya was actually exposed to quite a few ninjutsu very early on, but he was too impulsive at the time and didn't learn them at all, while Orochimaru learned quite a lot.

After calming his thoughts, Jiraiya smiled again and said, "It's better to graduate later. After all, if you graduate early, it means that the big tree can't protect you saplings and you have to grow strong on your own."

However, that being said, it will be good for you to learn it sooner. So, I'll take care of the ninjutsu; you just need to focus on your training.

"No, Jiraiya-sama, ninjutsu scrolls are too expensive. I can't let you spend the money."

Minato refused, but Jiraiya shook his head and said, "How expensive can low-level ninjutsu be? You can treat me to a few baths later when you become capable ninjas."

"Huh? Is a bath as expensive as a ninjutsu scroll?"

Minato was somewhat taken aback. He clearly remembered that the bathhouse was free for children under ten. Jiraiya laughed and said, "A bath can be very expensive. You're too young to understand."

As he spoke, Jiraiya suddenly noticed Tatsuma's look of sudden realization, and on a sudden impulse, asked, "Tatsuma brat, do you know why baths are so expensive?"

"It's probably because of the different services, right? Just taking a bath is definitely not expensive, but if you add other services..."

Tatsuma carefully chose his words, while Jiraiya, with a mischievous grin, asked, "What kind of service?"

Minato looked at Tatsuma with great curiosity. Tatsuma coughed and said, "It's probably... um... scrubbing, gua sha, and having tea and meals in the bathhouse. They'll probably charge extra for that."

Upon hearing Tatsuma's explanation, Minato nodded in understanding, while Jiraiya patted Tatsuma's head again, leaving the same assessment as Tsunade had given him half a year ago: "Small in stature but big in talent!"

"By the way, this method of learning ninjutsu is best kept to yourself; don't spread it around."

"Huh? Why?"

Minato was somewhat puzzled, because this method could help ninjas master difficult ninjutsu more quickly. If it was effective, wouldn't it be better to let other ninjas in the village learn it?

Jiraiya nodded and said in a rather serious tone, "This method should be very effective, but the problem is that this method has no threshold. Once more people know about it, our enemies will find out."

If we in Konoha can use this method to reduce the difficulty of learning ninjutsu, then ninjas from other villages can too. A ninja still needs to keep one or two trump cards up their sleeve. Anyway, let's not talk about that anymore.

Jiraiya's tone changed, and he said with a smile, "There's one more thing. I just came out of Sarutobi-sensei's office. Cough cough, I mean Sarutobi Hiruzen-sensei, not your teacher."

Upon hearing the mention of the Third Hokage, Minato's attention instantly focused. Tatsuma wasn't as excited, but he also adopted a focused expression. Jiraiya smiled and said:

"One student was eliminated from your class. Are you curious about who will fill that spot?"

Upon hearing this, Minato and Tatsuma both showed expressions of disinterest. They had originally thought it would be some major event between villages or even countries, but it turned out to be just this?

"Hey! This is no small matter. Shimura Danzo was so angry about this that he turned against the Third Hokage."

Hearing about this kind of gossip, Tatsuma's attention focused a little more, and Minato also looked back at Jiraiya, waiting for his answer. Seeing that the two of them seemed indifferent, Jiraiya was a little annoyed, but still said:

"I heard that a female ninja from another country will be coming this time, and she's even a member of Lady Mito's clan. But I still want to remind you all to try not to get too close, so as not to cause trouble for yourselves."

"Get into trouble? Why?"

Minato asked, puzzled, "Isn't interacting with new classmates a way to build relationships? It would also help people from other countries integrate into Konoha better. Why does Jiraiya disagree?"

Tatsuma vaguely guessed the reason, but Jiraiya didn't explain much. He simply said, "Just treat her like an ordinary classmate. It's okay to interact and keep in touch, but don't be too enthusiastic, or you'll be seen as having ulterior motives."

"Don't treat her like you treated Lady Tsunade? I understand."

Tatsuma nodded, and Jiraiya nodded in agreement, but a second later, Jiraiya realized what was happening and flicked Tatsuma's forehead with a flick.

"You brat! You stupid brat! Who are you saying has designs on Tsunade?! And where did you hear that from? Tell me!"

(End of this chapter)