"...I told you not to call me that."
Jiraiya's brows twitched slightly as he spoke, clearly displeased.
Kotetsu Hagane, standing opposite Naruto, calmly formed a series of hand seals. His chakra surged, spreading outward in subtle ripples.
"Demonic Illusion: Hell Visualization Technique!"
In an instant, the scenery around Naruto distorted.
The air seemed heavier. Space itself felt strangely twisted. Naruto felt a brief moment of dizziness, as though his balance had been stolen—but when he blinked, everything appeared exactly the same as before.
"Ha?" Naruto scratched his head and looked around. "Where's the genjutsu?"
Kotetsu Hagane smiled faintly. "It's already been activated."
"Huh? But I don't feel anything!"
Jiraiya snorted angrily. "If you could feel it, would it still be called genjutsu?!"
He crossed his arms and continued, "Genjutsu doesn't rely on brute force. Its purpose is to drag the target into an unconscious illusion or a distorted perception of reality. If the victim can clearly sense it, then the illusion has already failed."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "You mean… I'm already under a genjutsu?!"
"Exactly."
Naruto immediately recalled what Jiraiya had taught him. He focused intensely, forcing his chakra to circulate violently through his body.
"Genjutsu: Release!"
Nothing happened.
The scenery remained unchanged.
Jiraiya let out a long sigh. "Naruto, understanding the principle alone isn't enough. If you don't know what kind of genjutsu it is—or what kind of illusion it creates—you won't know what you're trying to break."
Naruto's heart began to race.
Kotetsu Hagane had clearly announced the name of the technique earlier.
"Demonic Illusion: Hell Visualization Technique…"
"That means…" Naruto murmured to himself.
"Is this a genjutsu that alters spatial perception? Or geographical location?"
Naruto's sharp deduction was the result of his recent academic studies. In the past, he wouldn't have noticed such details at all—or even if he had, he wouldn't have understood them.
Jiraiya nodded approvingly. "Very good."
Naruto immediately scanned his surroundings again. This time, something felt off.
"…That's it."
"The place you brought us to earlier was a secluded corner of the village," Naruto muttered. "But this is the training ground."
"The training field makes sense for practice… but switching locations like this—was it meant to delay me and catch me off guard?"
With renewed focus, Naruto channeled his chakra once more.
"Genjutsu: Release!"
The illusion shattered.
The scenery flickered, and in the next instant, Naruto found himself standing outside the quiet, secluded area they had originally entered.
Kotetsu Hagane nodded in confirmation. "I've heard that you're the top graduate of this class, Naruto. A true genius—worthy of the rumors."
Naruto puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course I am!"
Jiraiya immediately poured cold water on him. "Don't get carried away. You succeeded because I gave you hints, and Kotetsu used genjutsu right in front of you. His technique isn't particularly advanced—that's why it was easy to dispel."
Naruto pouted. "I still did it! You should be praising me!"
Jiraiya waved his hand lazily. "Fine, fine. Anyway, it's unlikely that your future opponents will all be genjutsu specialists."
"Still," he added seriously, "countering genjutsu is a skill you'll need sooner or later."
"You don't need to become a genjutsu expert—but understanding how to resist and dispel it is absolutely essential."
He yawned loudly and lay back.
"Alright, you two continue. I'm going to take a nap."
Naruto: "…"
Kotetsu Hagane smiled wryly. "Since Jiraiya-sama says so, Naruto… shall we continue training?"
Naruto clenched his fists. "Alright!"
"By the time he wakes up," Naruto declared confidently, "I'll be strong enough to break any genjutsu instantly!"
"I'll scare him to death!"
Kotetsu Hagane twitched. "…I don't think you can reach that level in such a short time."
"And besides," he added carefully, "Jiraiya-sama is incredibly knowledgeable. He won't be frightened that easily."
"I don't care! Let's go!"
"…Ah."
---
Ordinary ninjas like Kotetsu Hagane represented the standard attitude of most shinobi in Konoha.
The villagers' feelings toward Uzumaki Naruto had always been complicated.
Because they didn't know the full truth, prejudice had taken root naturally.
Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.
Loser.
Annoying brat.
These labels had once defined Naruto in the eyes of many.
However, through relentless training and sheer determination, Naruto slowly changed those perceptions.
"What?! That loser graduated as the top student?!"
"That Nine-Tails kid defeated Momochi Zabuza?!"
"I heard Uzumaki Naruto performed incredibly well in the Chunin Exams…"
"Really? That's hard to imagine…"
These discussions spread quietly—not only among villagers, but also among ordinary ninja.
Kotetsu Hagane watched Naruto, who continued training tirelessly in front of him, and felt a deep emotional surge.
So-called recognition was nothing more than this.
You become strong enough.
Outstanding enough.
Until others can no longer ignore your existence.
And Naruto wasn't just talented—he was absurdly hardworking.
Someone like that was impossible to overlook.
They trained until midnight.
Naruto still showed no signs of stopping.
Kotetsu Hagane, however, was already gasping for breath.
"No… Naruto…"
"I really can't anymore…"
"Even if it's just a basic genjutsu, using it over and over again…"
"This is already the eight-hundredth time…"
"I don't have a single drop of chakra left…"
Naruto couldn't help but sigh.
"Kotetsu-ojisan, your stamina is kind of weak."
"You collapsed after only eight hundred attempts?"
Kotetsu Hagane snapped back angrily. "Do you think everyone is like you?! With chakra reserves like a monster?!"
"Oh? Really?"
"Of course!"
Their argument woke Jiraiya.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes, glanced around, and realized that the sky was pitch-black.
"How long did I sleep?"
Naruto shouted angrily, "All day! You perverted sage!"
Jiraiya laughed. "Is that so? Is that so?"
"Teaching students really is exhausting…"
"You didn't teach anything!" Naruto protested. "Kotetsu-ojisan was with me the whole time!"
Kotetsu Hagane coughed awkwardly. "…Um, I'm actually still in my twenties. You don't need to call me 'uncle.'"
Jiraiya yawned deeply. "So? How were the results?"
Kotetsu Hagane replied seriously, "Jiraiya-sama, Naruto can already resist basic genjutsu. His grasp of Genjutsu Release is excellent. As long as he doesn't face a true genjutsu specialist, ordinary illusions shouldn't pose a threat."
Jiraiya nodded. "Good. Then my effort wasn't wasted."
Naruto muttered, "…You're talking like you did everything."
Jiraiya laughed heartily. "Alright, alright. You both worked hard today."
"How about this—I'll treat you to a meal!"
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Really?! Perverted Sage!"
"Of course! And stop calling me that."
"So, Naruto, what do you want to eat?"
"Ichiraku Ramen, obviously!"
"Ichiraku Ramen…" Jiraiya chuckled. "That place Teuchi runs, right?"
"Hahaha… that brings back memories. Tsunade, Orochimaru, and I used to go there all the time."
Kotetsu Hagane asked cautiously, "Can I come too?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you, Jiraiya-sama!"
---
"Hey, Teuchi!"
Jiraiya pulled aside the curtain and greeted the shop owner.
Only then did Naruto realize that Ichiraku Uncle's real name was Teuchi.
"Oh?! Isn't this Jiraiya-sama?!"
"What a rare guest—truly rare!"
"When did you return to the village? Please, come in!"
Jiraiya, Naruto, and Kotetsu Hagane sat at the counter.
"This place hasn't changed much," Jiraiya said fondly.
"I still remember when you first opened. You were a young man back then."
Teuchi laughed heartily. "Time spares no one!"
"That white-haired kid we used to see is now one of the legendary Sannin, famous across the land."
"So, what will you have?"
Naruto shouted eagerly, "Tonkotsu ramen, of course!"
"And you, Jiraiya-sama? Kotetsu?"
"Hm, I'll have the same as Naruto."
"Coming right up! Ayame, get ready to serve the guests!"
"Yes, Dad."
Ayame stepped out with a bright smile. "Jiraiya-sama, would you like some sake?"
Jiraiya's eyes sparkled. "Oh? Teuchi, is this your daughter?"
"She's grown into a beautiful young lady…"
Ayame blushed deeply. "Jiraiya-sama, please don't say things like that…"
She hurriedly prepared sake for Jiraiya and Kotetsu Hagane, and the two began chatting and drinking as the night at Ichiraku Ramen grew lively.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)