New Rule: One Meal Every Two Days
Jiraiya stretched lazily, let out a long yawn, and clapped his hands together.
"Alright! Starting today, you two will get to eat once every two days."
He smirked devilishly and continued, "Each meal will be just enough to keep you going. At the end of the month, you'll be able to eat freely. Eren, every two days, you'll also be allowed out of your pit for... necessary bodily functions."
Hearing this, Satoru suddenly burst into laughter. He imagined Eren's grimacing face as he waited for his "bathroom privileges."
Eren's expression darkened, but he only shot Jiraiya a cold glance before lowering his head into silence.
However, what surprised Jiraiya was that neither of them complained.
No objections.
No grumbling.
No resentment.
Perhaps… they were simply too exhausted to care anymore.
---
**Two Months Later – The Tranquil Forest of Konoha**
Time flowed on.
Day by day.
Month by month.
Until, finally, the last day of the second month arrived…
The golden morning sunlight filtered through the lush canopy, casting a warm, serene glow over the dense forest.
In the distance, a gentle stream trickled between the rocks, birds chirped in harmony, and the wind whispered through the leaves.
Everything seemed peaceful.
And yet…
Beneath this tranquility, two of Konoha's greatest prodigies were undergoing a remarkable transformation.
In the center of the rushing waterfall, Satoru sat motionless atop a large stone, meditating amidst the relentless force of nature.
His face no longer bore the weariness of starvation but instead radiated an eerie calm.
Every now and then, a small smile played on his lips.
Not because anything was particularly amusing, but because he was beginning to unravel the intricate laws of nature.
A truth that those in the modern world—glued to their screens, distracted by the noise—would never comprehend.
Meanwhile, beneath the ancient tree where Eren had been buried for two months, the scenery had changed drastically.
Surrounding the pit, flowers had bloomed in a perfect circle, framing Eren at the center like an offering from nature itself.
Vines from the towering trees had stretched and intertwined, forming a natural archway that shielded him from the rain and sun.
But most astonishingly…
The apple tree branches near Eren had bent toward him, heavy with ripe, crimson apples.
Despite the fact that it was only May—far from apple season.
Jiraiya crossed his arms and nodded in satisfaction.
"Well done, Satoru. Well done, Eren."
He grinned, then clapped his hands.
"Alright, you two can stop now. Today marks the end of your training."
---
**Jiraiya, the Shameless Master**
Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh, patting his own hip with pride.
"You two are truly the prodigies of Konoha—lucky enough to be trained by none other than the great and illustrious Jiraiya!"
Hearing this, Satoru and Eren exchanged glances.
Then, in perfect synchronization, they both pursed their lips in an unimpressed expression.
Silent.
Unmoved.
But deep inside, both were cursing Jiraiya's self-flattery with every fiber of their being.
Jiraiya's face fell, and with lightning speed, he knocked both of them on the head.
"Oi! Show some respect, you little brats!"
Satoru clutched his head, gritting his teeth in frustration.
"If I had known this would happen, I never would have taught you Observation Haki!"
Jiraiya smirked, his eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Oh, you naive little fool. Did you forget? Ever since I learned Haki from you, I can hear people's thoughts."
Satoru felt his veins pop in irritation.
If there was ever a moment he wanted to punch someone into another dimension, this was it.
But he swallowed his anger, silently vowing revenge in the future.
---
**The Final Test Begins**
Jiraiya clapped his hands again, his expression turning serious.
"Alright! Your two months of hell training are over. Now, it's time to show me what you've learned."
His arms crossed, eyes filled with anticipation.
Satoru glanced at Eren, then flashed a cheeky grin.
"Big bro, allow me to go first."
He then flipped backward, landing gracefully on a distant rock.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "What's this? A circus act? You got a flair for the dramatic, kid."
Satoru's smile didn't falter.
He chose this position for a reason.
He was deliberately distancing himself from the river.
A true master of Water Release doesn't need to rely on a nearby water source.
Satoru took a deep breath, eyes closing for a moment before snapping open with fierce determination.
His hands formed seals with lightning speed.
**"Water Style: Supreme Water Dragon!"**
BOOM!
A massive, serpentine dragon made entirely of water erupted from thin air, twisting and coiling through the sky. Its massive form stretched over 15 meters, droplets cascading off its sharp, defined scales.
The dragon roared, circling above Jiraiya, its luminous eyes filled with challenge.
Jiraiya's brow twitched.
"This brat…"
Satoru grinned. "Sensei! Attack it."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, swiftly forming a hand sign.
**"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"**
A colossal fireball blazed toward the dragon.
But instead of colliding head-on…
The water dragon twisted, smoothly dodging the attack before turning back and… smirking?
Jiraiya: "..."
A water dragon… dodging attacks?
And grinning smugly!?
Veins popped on his forehead.
He bit his thumb, then slammed his palm onto the ground.
BOOM!
A massive puff of smoke exploded across the field.
From the mist, a towering toad emerged, pipe in mouth, katana resting on its shoulder.
Jiraiya pointed at the dragon. "Gamabunta! I need you to handle a certain arrogant reptile!"
Gamabunta took a long drag from his pipe, exhaled, and lazily glanced at the water dragon.
Then, his eyes squinted.
And squinted even more.
Finally…
He turned back to Jiraiya, deadpan.
"Jiraiya… You woke me up for this?"
Hearing the unimpressed tone, Jiraiya clenched his fists.
"What do you mean 'this'!? That thing is MOCKING ME!"
Gamabunta glanced back at the water dragon.
Sure enough…
The dragon was smirking.
Huffing, Gamabunta muttered, "What kind of ridiculous water jutsu is this…?"
**END OF CHAPTER 74**