You're all probably wondering why I'm making a companion fic for The Tale of Nagato Uzumaki. To be honest, this one is just for fun. I have much planned for the Tale of Nagato Uzumaki, and it's going to be fast-paced for a while, up until about Naruto graduating from the Academy, which is Chapter Eight or Nine, and then we stop the time skipping for a while. The purpose for the time skips is to get to the main events, while simultaneously glossing over 'little' things that will be returned to at a later time in the grand scheme of things. However, what of the tiny, precious moments that aren't quite 'important' to the plot? What of the hilarious moments, the heart-to-hearts missed? This fic will feature those moments and more.
Admittedly, because of the nature of this fic, it won't be quite as 'organized'. I'll write what I feel like writing out at the time, and maybe even take suggestions from you guys from time to time. As a warning, though, the main point is not to satisfy romances; I will stick with canon pairings largely, if there's ever any 'moments' like that, such as Minato and Kushina, or Obito reflecting on Rin. I might pair up Obito and Rin, I might not. Same with Yahiko and Konan; they seemed to like each other in the anime, but it never seemed to happen (if only because of Yahiko's death). If you're looking for fluffy romance fics, then this probably isn't the place for you. It will have a pinch of romance, but it'll basically have a pinch of everything, bar 'Spirituality' and 'Western', maybe. Oh, and 'Poetry'. I suck at poetry. At any rate, I've rambled long enough, so let's get to the first summary. Each chapter will have a summary that explains the omake (the extra), so you guys can get an idea of whether you want to check it out or not.
Summary: Jiraiya, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko lived together for three years in Rain Country. They had good times and bad times, but at least they stuck together. Nagato is the hardest for Jiraiya to bond with, and Jiraiya wants to bond with all three of the kids. So what does he do to try and bridge the gap between them? Throw Nagato a surprise Birthday party, of course! Will Jiraiya's convoluted plan succeed, or severely backfire?
"Yahiko, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Yahiko looked to his Sensei and nodded exhaustedly. The three orphans had been doing their sixth training session for the week, and were now taking a small breather. It had been about a month since the incident that led to Jiraiya agreeing to take them on as students, and they were getting stronger and bonding as a family.
Well, mostly. Nagato was still wary of Jiraiya, but he was slowly coming around. A little too slowly for Jiraiya's tastes.
Yahiko and Jiraiya went back to the shack that the four shared as an abode, and sat cross-legged at the table.
"What's up, Jiraiya-sensei?"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully, thinking of how to word it.
"You guys are coming along fine, and are adjusting pretty well to the training regimen… But I can't help but notice that Nagato isn't… comfortable just yet. Well, not as comfortable as I'd like him to be. Don't get me wrong, I understand his reservations about being taught by a Leaf Shinobi like myself, but I still want to reach out to him somehow. Which brings me to you… You've known Nagato longer than I have, what can I do to lighten him up a little?"
Yahiko shrugged and gave his Sensei a wide grin.
"Nagato will come around, Sensei. Just give him time. I guess if you really wanted to do something for him, you could throw him a party, though I can't guarantee how he'll react."
Jiraiya's eyebrows rose and he drummed his fingers against his chin as he leaned on his knee.
"When's his Birthday? When's your and Konan's Birthday, for that matter?"
Yahiko laughed lightly and rubbed the back of his head.
"Konan and I share the same Birthday, February 20. Nagato's is next month, September 19. In the past, we haven't done much for festivities."
Chuckling, Jiraiya crossed his arms and began to brainstorm.
"Well, we're gonna change that. I'm not sure how, but we're gonna celebrate your Birthdays properly from now on. Cake, presents, and everything!"
Yahiko shook his head, his grin never leaving his face.
"You don't have to do this for us, Sensei. It's not like we'll die without a party!"
Jiraiya waved him off, still pondering.
"You only live once, and it's the little things that matter! Just gimme a month and I should have something special set up for him. And I'll make sure your and Konan's is EXTRA special!" Jiraiya wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Yahiko's cheeks pinked.
"NOTHING PERVERTED, SENSEI!" Yahiko blurted out, but then covered his mouth. Konan and Nagato could be back anytime, after all.
Jiraiya boomed with laughter.
"Oh, you're gonna love it! I'm never gonna let you live it down that you share your birthdays!" Jiraiya said, grinning like an idiot.
Yahiko's face matched Nagato's hair now. And that's the first thing that Konan and Nagato saw as they walked into the shack.
"Sensei? Why's Yahiko all red?" Konan and Nagato chorused, just standing in the doorway.
Jiraiya chuckled, and Yahiko tried to regain his composure, but was failing miserably.
"Don't worry about it. You'll find out at a later date." Jiraiya taunted playfully, leaving his other two students in the dark about his plans. Well, Yahiko wasn't filled in either, but he was more… informed… than his fellow students.
Now all that was left to do was set everything up. Jiraiya was going to take them 'sightseeing' for Nagato's birthday, and take them away from the ever-present rain for at least that one day. The birthday dinner would naturally consist of grilled fish and stew. Shima wouldn't like preparing something other than bugs, but then, this wasn't for Shima, it was for Nagato.
Presents might be an issue. Jiraiya had enough money to buy the cheaper things in life, but he probably couldn't afford a decent present for the kid. Not to mention he didn't know what Nagato would want for a present. Asking him outright might make the boy suspicious, and it would have similar results if he asked Konan. Yahiko might not cooperate if he asked now; he was sufficiently teased. The baby.
Oh well… I'll think of something…
The Toad Sannin thought to himself as they made to prepare dinner…
Four weeks had passed, and Jiraiya had yet to get Nagato a present. It wasn't so much that Jiraiya was incapable of choosing a gift, it was that nothing seemed quite 'right'. It was extremely easy to just pick out some random trinket and hoped that he liked it, but it wouldn't be from the heart if Jiraiya did that.
And then an idea hit him, the day just before the big day. He talked to Fukasaku about it.
"Now let me get this straight, Jiraiya boy… You want us to snap a picture of all three kids just as they arrive on Mount Myoboku, and just as they take in the sights?"
Jiraiya grinned, arms crossed.
"Yup! I couldn't find a gift for Nagato before today, and I think a picture of him, Konan, and Yahiko on their first trip out of Rain will be just perfect! Nagato treasures those two above all else!"
"And what about you, Jiraiya boy? You won't be in the picture…?"
Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Well… Nagato isn't too trusting of me yet. I think it's better if it's just him and his friends. Maybe later I'll let them bring me into the picture, but for now I'm fine not being in it with them."
Fukasaku shrugged his tiny shoulders.
"If you say so, Jiraiya boy. I'd think they'd want you in it with 'em, but it's your call. Everything else is set up, and Ma is ready for preparin' the dinner all day tomorrow."
Jiraiya blinked profusely.
"I told her it doesn't have to be extravagant! Sheesh. Shima sure loves preparing meals…"
Fukasaku rolled his eyes, but allowed himself a small chortle.
"You know how Ma gets when it comes to dinners, Jiraiya boy. And we can't wait to meet yer students. Hopefully you haven't corrupted 'em too badly, Jiraiya boy…"
"They're only kids, Lord Fukasaku!" Jiraiya wilted under the small frog's heated stare. "W-Well… Maybe one of them has a knack for picking up my more… 'eccentric' qualities. It's creepy how Yahiko has my pervy grin down to an art form."
Jiraiya shuddered at the memory of the orange-haired boy, in a frog costume, showing off HIS trademark pervy grin. Fukasaku just groaned, shaking his head.
"I hope your students in the Leaf never pick up those 'qualities' from you, Jiraiya boy. One pervy student is bad enough!"
"I'm not that bad!" Jiraiya said indignantly, but quickly retracted his denial after another heated stare from the Toad Sage. "Okay… Maybe I'm that bad… Anyway, can I also ask for you to pick up a frame for the kids' picture? I'd do it myself, but there's really no place to shop for something like that in the nearby village."
Fukasaku nodded affirmatively.
"It'll be done, Jiraiya boy. Just ready your kids for tomorrow."
Jiraiya boomed with laughter again.
"I can't do that, it'd ruin the surprise!"
Fukasaku sighed exasperatedly.
"Do as you must, Jiraiya boy…"
And with that, Fukasaku disappeared in a cloud of dust, reverse summoning himself back to Mount Myoboku.
The Next Day… -
Early the next day, Jiraiya woke up his students for their surprise trip. The kids were not expecting to be reverse summoned to where they were going, and they were at a loss for words when they arrived on the mountain of the Toads. And Fukasaku even managed to take the picture without the three orphans realizing it!
While the picture developed, Jiraiya let them roam around Mount Myoboku, giving them the day off from training. It took some getting used to for the orphans; no rain, and the only other inhabitants within several hundred miles being Toads. They were aware that Jiraiya could summon Toads, but never in their wildest dreams did they imagine that there was a place like Mount Myoboku.
"Well, giant Toads have to come from SOMEWHERE!" Yahiko would later joke.
Overall, the day was very relaxing, and true to his word, Jiraiya did not make them go through a single training exercise. When the day was wrapping up that was when Nagato received his gift from Jiraiya.
"Here," Jiraiya had said simply, handing over the unwrapped present. "I would have at least wrapped it up, but in all the planning, I forgot to get wrapping paper, so… My bad."
Jiraiya grinned sheepishly, and Nagato gazed at the framed photo in awe. Admittedly, they could've at least smiled for the camera, but they were too shocked when they arrived, and the picture was taken secretly, so it wasn't a traditional, nicely positioned camera shot. Still, it was the thought that counted. No one had ever done this for Nagato. Well, he and his friends didn't know too many people, and the Rain natives treated them like the plague, but this was still a refreshing change of pace, even if it was from an ally of the people that took his parents away.
Maybe not all that came from the Leaf Village were that bad, Nagato learned that day.
"Th… Thank you, Sensei." Nagato murmured, still in awe of the gesture.
Jiraiya placed a reassuring hand on Nagato's right shoulder, and smiled warmly at the boy.
"I'm glad ya like it, Nagato. Sorry if you would've preferred another gift, but I wanted your first, celebrated Birthday Party after a few years of not celebrating it to be a surprise, so I kinda had to improvise."
"It's perfect," Nagato quietly uttered, and then shyly smiled up at his Sensei. "But there is one thing missing in it."
Jiraiya quirked an eyebrow.
"Oh…?"
Nagato's cheeks flushed, but he had to be honest with himself and Sensei.
"… You."
Last-minute-note: Yeah, a little cheesy, and it does take a little bit of suspended belief that Jiraiya took the orphans to Mount Myoboku, but I hope you guys liked it all the same. I've done up two more omakes for y'all, so feel free to check those out, too. Not all will be fluffy like this one, mind you, so be warned.