A Fateful Encounter with... Torturous Training
After concluding their meeting with the Hyuga Clan, Satoru and Eren leisurely strolled toward Jiraiya's house.
The late afternoon sun cast golden rays over Konoha, painting everything in a soft, warm glow.
A small path wound through a bamboo forest, the chirping of birds echoing in the air, and a gentle breeze rustling the lush green leaves.
It was an oddly peaceful atmosphere.
Yet, both of them... felt something was off.
---
**Jiraiya's House – Awaiting Two Unfortunate Souls**
As they stepped into Jiraiya's home, the perverted sage was already sitting cross-legged on the floor, waiting for them.
Scattered scrolls lay on the table, with a steaming teapot nearby.
Jiraiya lifted his gaze, and the moment he saw Satoru—
He froze!
Then… his face twisted in jealousy.
"What the hell is this!?"
Jiraiya stroked his chin, scrutinizing Satoru from head to toe.
"Why did this brat suddenly become so good-looking!?"
"That celestial aura—what's going on!?"
Then, he furrowed his brows and questioned seriously:
"Brat, spill it! What did you do!?"
Satoru awkwardly scratched his head, giving the same explanation he had used with the Hokage earlier:
"I had a breakthrough in training and opened my Governing Vessel, so… I became more handsome."
Jiraiya: "…"
He was speechless.
"Damn it, I've been training for decades! If getting handsome was a side effect, why the hell didn't it happen to me!?"
In Jiraiya's heart, a storm raged, but outwardly, he maintained his dignified sage-like demeanor.
"Ahem… never mind that."
The truth was, both Jiraiya and the Third Hokage were sharp enough to suspect that Satoru had used some sort of pill. The rapid changes in his skin texture, muscle density, and chakra aura were too drastic.
However, geniuses who could undergo such transformations purely through training weren't unheard of. Take Orochimaru, for example—he changed his entire appearance like a snake shedding its skin.
And if Satoru truly had access to some sort of miraculous pill, revealing it would only invite unnecessary trouble.
Jiraiya simply patted both Satoru and Eren on the back, laughing heartily.
But both of them exchanged glances…
Could they really trust this old man?
---
**The Sage's Teaching – A Quote That Will Resonate for Eternity**
Suddenly, Jiraiya became serious, his deep gaze locking onto the two young men.
"Listen, a great teacher can raise great students, but that only matters if you're willing to put in the effort."
"No matter how talented you are, no matter how many advantages you have—whether it's a cheat system or the best teacher in the world—if you don't train yourself, you'll always be weak."
He clasped his hands behind his back, his voice calm yet commanding:
"They say that palm lines tell your fortune…"
"But have you ever realized something?"
"Those palm lines are in *your own hands*."
"That means the heavens are telling you one thing—your fate is in *your* hands, and no one else's."
This sentence…
Would later echo throughout the world, ingraining itself into the hearts of the strongest warriors.
But right now…
Satoru and Eren just nodded blankly.
---
**The Training Schedule – A Completely Insane Plan!?**
Jiraiya clapped his hands together, a devilish grin forming.
"Alright! Now, let's get to the real deal."
Satoru felt a chill run down his spine, while Eren remained silent, observing.
Jiraiya snapped his fingers, his tone cheerful yet chilling:
"Your training schedule is simple, super easy!"
Satoru: "…"
Eren: "…"
"Satoru, you're going to sit all day!"
"Eren, you're going to lie down all day!"
"Whoever fails will go hungry!"
"After three days, you'll have a duel, and only the winner gets to eat!"
Satoru: "WHAT!?"
Eren: … (silently staring at Jiraiya).
Fasting?
Eren scoffed internally.
He had gone without food for three days before, without even flinching. The harsh world of Titans had conditioned him far beyond such trivialities!
In his mind, he sneered:
"Perverted sage… you're too naive."
But little did he know, if Jiraiya had heard his thoughts, he would've just laughed uproariously.
---
**The Start of Training… with Being Buried Alive!?**
Jiraiya led them to a large waterfall, with a dense forest beside it.
He pointed at a lush apple grove, casually saying to Eren:
"Eren, this is your training spot."
Eren and Satoru scanned their surroundings… confused.
Jiraiya continued:
"Eren, this is an apple orchard. There are plenty of apple trees here, so just sit tight. If you get hungry, pluck an apple and eat."
Satoru frowned, something felt off.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly realized something.
Raising his hand enthusiastically, he called out:
"But sensei, it's March. Apples only ripen in October!?"
A giant question mark appeared over their heads.
Jiraiya… smacked Satoru on the head.
"Shut up, you idiot! Now, dig me a hole as deep as Eren is tall!"
Satoru: ???
His confusion grew even larger.
But, begrudgingly, he used Earth Release to dig a hole just big enough to bury Eren.
Satoru internally cursed: *Jiraiya, you just hit me because I pointed out the obvious! Apples don't grow this season, what kind of nonsense training is this!?*
---
**Eren – Becoming One with Nature!?**
Jiraiya laughed loudly, pointing at the hole:
"Eren, get in."
Eren: "…"
He slowly stepped in… then suddenly shuddered.
Turning around, he asked cautiously:
"Wait, are you planning to bury me alive to awaken my hidden potential!?"
Jiraiya cackled, then *kicked* him in.
*BOOM!*
Eren was officially buried alive, with only his head sticking out.
Jiraiya clapped his hands in satisfaction, smirking:
"Eren, your mission is to sense the growth of the trees around you."
"Plants have an intricate root system, a network that communicates. Learn to connect with nature."
Then, he snapped his fingers, summoning a stack of scrolls—records from the First Hokage himself on Wood Release! He carefully placed them where Eren could read from his half-buried position.
To top it off, Jiraiya placed five seals around the hole, preventing Eren from moving an inch.
Jiraiya grinned:
"Oh, and by the way, no meals for you. If you get hungry, use Wood Release to make the apple tree bear fruit. If that doesn't work… maybe begging the tree will create a miracle!"
Jiraiya crossed his arms, proud of his training method.
Eren: "…"
He was speechless.
Satoru stood off to the side, completely stunned.
He realized his fate was sealed.
Jiraiya laughed, clapped his hands, and declared:
"Perfect! Your training has officially begun, Eren!"