For someone who knows the plot, certain trials hardly count as trials—they're more like tests of acting skills. Luckily, Aburame Shigeo excelled at that.
When Jiraiya handed over the bell, a flicker of surprise flashed across his eyes, and he couldn't help but offer a reminder:
"Are you sure you want to give it back to me? If you do, it means all three of you will face punishment and go hungry. Are you certain about this?"
"Yes, I'm sure!" Aburame Shigeo nodded immediately, his face full of determination. "I won't abandon my comrades, and I trust they wouldn't abandon me either."
"Is that so?"
Jiraiya turned to Namikaze Minato and Akimichi Jirōmaru.
"What about you? Are you willing to be punished with him?"
"Yes!"
Following Shigeo's lead, Minato and Jirōmaru also nodded firmly, their young faces filled with seriousness.
Hearing their responses, Jiraiya burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha! What an excellent answer. Then I declare that all of you have passed this test!"
As Jiraiya spoke, Minato and Jirōmaru's faces lit up with joy. Although Shigeo already knew the outcome, he feigned excitement, grinning widely. After all, with sunglasses on, no one could tell if his expression wasn't entirely convincing.
After passing the test, Jiraiya dismissed them to go home. Starting the next day, he began leading the team on missions while mentoring them.
The ninja academy taught only the basics, like the Three Basic Techniques (Transformation, Substitution, and Clone Jutsu), kunai and shuriken skills, basic taijutsu, and elementary hand signs. More advanced techniques weren't part of the curriculum.
Shigeo's use of the Insect Clone Jutsu, for example, wasn't something he learned at the academy—it was a secret technique of the Aburame clan, taught exclusively within the family shrine.
This wasn't unique to the Aburame clan; all of Konoha's prestigious families had their own secret techniques and signature moves. These were their foundations for survival.
Thus, for ninja from such clans, the guidance of a jonin wasn't about teaching them new techniques. Instead, it focused more on imparting combat experience and philosophies for navigating the world.
On the other hand, civilian-born ninjas, like Namikaze Minato, typically learned more techniques from their jonin mentors.
Compared to Shigeo and Jirōmaru, Minato had no clan inheritance despite his exceptional talent. Naturally, Jiraiya gave him special attention, spending more time mentoring him individually.
After teaching chakra control exercises like tree climbing and water walking, Jiraiya devoted most of his teaching time to Minato.
With Jiraiya's careful guidance, Minato improved rapidly over the next year, leading their team to excel in completing missions.
Jirōmaru also performed admirably. Combining his clan's Multi-Size Technique with Jiraiya's battle strategies made him a formidable force, particularly in group combat. His success earned him the title of "Rising Star" within the Akimichi clan.
In contrast, Shigeo shone mainly during early D-rank missions involving search and retrieval. During the later, combat-heavy C and B-rank missions, his primary role was to scout using his kikaichū insects. Otherwise, he stayed in the background, providing morale support with cheers of "666" and praising his teammates after battles.
This frustrated Jiraiya. Yet Minato and Jirōmaru admired Shigeo's loyalty, often reminding him to stay safe.
Because of his cautious approach, Shigeo remained a genin even as Minato and Jirōmaru advanced to chunin.
However, Shigeo had a unique strength: his organizational skills. During missions, he handled logistics impeccably, allowing the team to focus entirely on their objectives. Even Jiraiya had to admit that Shigeo's contributions were essential to the team's efficiency.
"This kid doesn't seem to enjoy combat," Jiraiya mused. "Maybe I should recommend him for a role in Konoha's logistics department."
Before Jiraiya could act on this thought, he received orders from the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, to deploy to the Land of Rain for battle.
The situation on the battlefield was dire. The leader of the Land of Rain, Hanzo the Salamander, was a fearsome opponent who had never lost to Konoha forces. If this continued, Konoha was at risk of losing the war—something Hiruzen, known as the "Professor," could not accept.
Unable to intervene personally, Hiruzen dispatched his three most capable disciples—Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—to the battlefield.
Obeying the Hokage's command, Jiraiya gathered his students—Minato, Jirōmaru, and Shigeo—for a final lesson before departing.
"I'm leaving soon and don't know when—or if—I'll return. So consider this your last lesson from me. Pay close attention!"
He bit his thumb, smeared the blood onto his palm, and rapidly formed hand signs before slamming his hand on the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A loud boom accompanied by a cloud of smoke revealed a massive toad wearing a necklace inscribed with the word "loyalty" and holding a scroll in its mouth.
"Wow!" Minato and Jirōmaru gasped in unison, while Shigeo's jaw dropped. Seeing such a colossal creature up close was far more impactful than watching it in an animated scene.
Jiraiya, noticing their amazement, smirked proudly.
"This is the Summoning Jutsu—one of the space-time techniques that lets you summon contracted creatures to your aid. It's a legacy of our lineage!"
Following Jiraiya's instructions, the toad unfurled the scroll and laid it before the three students.
"Open it!" Jiraiya said. "This is the contract scroll for summoning toads."
Minato eagerly stepped forward, unrolling the scroll to reveal four red signatures with handprints, Jiraiya's being the fourth.
"Write your name in blood and press your handprint below," Jiraiya instructed.
Without hesitation, Minato bit his thumb, wrote his name in the fifth slot, and pressed his handprint.
Satisfied, Jiraiya turned to Shigeo. "Your turn, Shigeo. Sign your name."
"Me too?" Shigeo asked, surprised.
Jiraiya laughed. "Of course. You're my students, and I'll teach you everything I know—if you're willing to learn. Now, sign your name."
Touched, Shigeo immediately followed Minato's example, signing in the sixth spot.
When it was Jirōmaru's turn, he shook his head regretfully. "I've tried before and don't have the talent for it."
Jiraiya nodded understandingly, then addressed Minato and Shigeo. "Once you've signed, focus your chakra where you want to summon a toad, place your hand there, and perform these signs: Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram."
He smiled encouragingly. "Now, give it a try!"
*(To be continued...)*