He'd already worked out four potential ways it could be used as a defense technique. Six possible attack techniques using it. Not to mention the possibilities for noncombat use.
"So, the old man," said Naruto, sitting down across the table from this other old man.
"That's right," said Jiraiya, pouring a beverage into a tall glass filled with ice. "I'm Jiraiya, one of the three Great Sages. I'm also an author. Sip on this. It'll help."
"Huh?" asked Naruto.
"You're near the point of exhaustion," said Jiraiya, not without a certain degree of kindness. "How many teleports have you done so far today?"
Naruto sipped on the drink, eyes widening slightly at the flavor and how it DID seem to put a trace of life back into him almost as soon as it hit his taste buds. "Uhm. I dunno. I had to teleport to each of the Five Shinobi Nations, then over to Candlekeep, then to the Dalelands..."
"Those are in this other world?" asked Jiraiya.
"Yeah, then I had to go to Evermeet on some business of that old sage guy, though Hinata said he was studying my jutsu," said Naruto. "Then I had to come back and go to some stuffy old place the Hokage wanted set up."
"Yes," said Jiraiya agreeably, "the Hidden Ninja Valley Monastery and Commune."
"Yeah, the place they make those ninja food-bars," said Naruto with a trace of grumpiness.
"It's a retirement community for ninja who want to live out their end days in peace and quiet," said Jiraiya. "However, as it is also a neutral ground as regards all the ninja community - it can also be a hotbed of trading secrets and information."
"Yeah, whatever," grumped Naruto as he continued to sip at the drink. "What is this anyway?"
"It's a mix of dragonfruit and a few other juices," said Jiraiya. "Replaces fluids that you use up using a lot of jutsu."
"So where do you want me to port to?" asked Naruto.
"I just need to see one of your marker-seals," said Jiraiya. "Then I can set them up myself at a few places that are more fun than the Hidden Ninja Valley."
"More fun?" asked Naruto.
"Beaches," said Jiraiya. "Ski resorts. Tropical island getaways. I mentioned I'm an author, right?"
Naruto frowned as he went back over the conversation. "Yeah. What kinda books?"
"Oh, various kinds," said Jiraiya, waving it off. Also not mentioning a scenic overlook to a women's hot spring spa that was on his list of places to put those seals. "There's another reason for that though. I've been asked to oversee some of your training."
"Training?" asked Naruto.
"Yes, well, there were some objections to your continuing to use your jutsu," said Jiraiya, shrugging. "Mainly from representitives of shipping companies, mail and transport services, and so on."
Naruto sipped at his drink some more, face scrunched up to look particularly foxlike as he pondered this. "Fun places, huh?"
"All work and no play," said Jiraiya, "just leads to a stressed out ninja. Besides, you've got a fiancee, right? Think how nice it would be to go someplace like a beach resort in between missions with her."
"Ohhhh," said Naruto, eyes widening again as he considered that. "Training?"
"Yes, there are some basic jutsu I'll show you, then you can practice those, then we'll step things up," said Jiraiya.
"Really, like what?" asked Naruto, trying and failing miserably to not look interested at the prospect of new jutsu.
Jiraiya merely got up, put one foot against a wall, then walked up that wall to stand on the ceiling looking down at Naruto.
"Whoaaaaa," said Naruto. "That's a BASIC?"
"Oh yes," said Jiraiya. "This also emphasizes control and endurance. I'll explain the technique, you'll get a good night's sleep, and then there's your mission tomorrow."
"I got another mission tomorrow?" asked Naruto. On the one hand he wanted to sleep in late. On the other hand he felt his importance to the village was increasing with all this work thrown at him.
"Yes," said Jiraiya, not immediately explaining that:
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(Posted Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:49)
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