"Hey, Naruto! Don't drown yourself!" said Jiraiya.
"I'm not drowning myself." said Naruto. "I was just wondering how a fish would feel."
"No you were not. You seem depressed. What's wrong?" Jiraiya stopped with trying to make a peephole.
Naruto looked up and sank with his nose underwater again. He made bubbles and said something not understandable. It sounded a bit like:
"Bwbble blob blubbb"
"What did you say?"
Naruto stopped bubbling, came with his head out of the water and said;;
"I said nothing."
"You said something!"
"I did not!"
"Yes, you did!"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Naruto! Just spit it out!"
"NO!"
Jiraiya was starting getting irritated.
"SPIT! IT! OUT! NOW!"
Naruto looked sad. "It's just something stupid….."
"I like stupid things! Tell me about it."
Naruto was sinking underwater again, but Jiraiya stopped him.
"If you don't tell me, you have to pay this and I'm never paying your Ramen again!
"NO! You're so mean Ero-sennin!"
"Love you too, Naruto."
Silence fell again.
"Naruto, you know that you can tell me about it." Said Jiraiya.
Naruto didn't say anything.
Jiraiya started the conversation.
"Is this about home?"
"… Something like that."
"Wait your not homesick aren't you?"
Naruto looked at Jiraiya.
"No I'm not homesick, I miss Iruka-sensei and my friends, But I'm not homesick."
"Do you want to share your thoughts?"
"…I'm afraid I'm not strong enough to help my friends… and I'll never be strong enough to bring Sasuke back…"
These words hitted Jiraiya. The pain and sadness was so pure. And Naruto looked so broken and vulnerable. So un-Naruto.
It reminded Jiraiya of himself after Orochimaru left.
But Jiraiya knew Naruto was strong, stronger than anything. He knew pain, but was strong enough to laugh and smile. Naruto would bring Sasuke back, no matter what!
"Naruto," started Jiraiya "you are strong enough, because you have still hope and you believe in him."
Naruto's eyes started twinkling. "…really?"
"And…" Jiraiya continued, "You have the power to change people. Tsunade came back to Konoha because of you. You have helped Gaara. And I heard from brat… I mean, you're Kakashi-sensei that you changed many other people."
Naruto started smiling.
But Jiraiya wasn't done yet. "And even if you aren't strong enough to defeat Sasuke, you have many friends to help you. Sakura is probably training her ass off, like the rest of the Genins. I even bet Kakashi is killing himself with training!"
Jiraiya smiled to himself.
"But, Naruto you will be strong enough, because you are trained because you are trained by ME!"
Naruto started yelling "Don't brag! Orochimaru kicked your ass, remember?"
"I was going soft on him!"
"No, you were not!" And with those words Naruto launched himself at Jiraiya.
And soon the sound of laugher filled the hot springs.
'You really are a special boy, Naruto.'
END