Little one shot I have felt like rewriting and developping into a short novel. I hope you like it!

Chapter One : Jiraiya Fell

The forest bordering Konoha was one of the most beautiful forests of all the Five Nations, which explained the name of the village of Konohagakure itself. The trees were high and strong, their leaves were painted in a rich palette going from emerald red to golden yellow. The light drifting through the warm air looked like shimmering hands coming straight from the clouds, touching the moist, grassy earth like a divine blessing. It was an immense forest full of animals and all sorts of vegetation going on with their peaceful lives within that little piece of Heaven, shielded from the madness of the human world.

However that day, the little piece of Heaven was somewhat troubled by vigorous screams.

"Raaaaahhhhhhh!"

"That's it Konohamaru-chan! You almost got it! Come on ttebayo! Come on!"

"KONOYAROUUUU!"

A family of offended birds rose in the sky to flee from the racket, in the quest for a quieter spot.

Down by the little stream that was happily crossing Konoha's forest, a brown boy was rightly holding a rubber ball into his hand, all his face contorted in concentration, covered in sweat. Beside him, a young, handsome man with golden hair, strange whisker marks and immense blue eyes was comfortably sitting down under a sunray, playing with a few yellow leaves that contrasted with the saturated green of the grass. He was smiling softly, watching the little boy who was roaring, sweating, screaming, pushing and swearing. Chuckling silently, he closed his eyes briefly and threw his head backwards to better catch the warmth of the sun, enjoying its comforting caress over his skin.

Ero-Sennin would be proud of him when he would be back. Not only had he succeeded in mastering the Rasengan the old man had taught him, but in addition to that, he was now passing the knowledge to his little protégé, Konohamaru. He couldn't wait for his old friend and master to come back. He hadn't seen him in quite a long time now, and he couldn't wait to hear the thunderous, barking laugh, feel the virile hand upon his shoulder drag him right to Ichiraku's for them both to share their adventures while stuffing their faces with their favorite ramens. Naruto loved to think about Jiraiya as the closest thing he had to a grand-father. He adored his slightly crazy, non-comformist behavior, his loud and annoying humour. Yet most of all, Naruto truly admired Jiraiya for his incredible will to cling desperately to his dream of a shinobi world where people would understand each other. In spite of all the horrors he had seen and lived, Jiraiya would never give up, he would never let himself be dragged down by the stupidity of humanity, and he would persist in loving it in its entirety.

Yes, Jiraiya was a freaking idealist, and Naruto truly felt inspired by his vision of life.

Hurry up, Ero-sennin ttebayo, I have so many things to tell you!, Naruto sighed in his mind, smiling like an idiot, until he heard a little thump followed by a most exhausted whine.

"Dame da yo, Naruto nii-san...I can't..." Konohamaru complained.

"Oh come on Konohamaru-chan, don't give up now!" Naruto said, jumping on his feet, his blue eyes shining like the water which was gently slithering close to them.

"But Naruto nii-san, I have been trying for three days already!"

"And I have worked for an entire week just to master the first step of the Rasengan!"

"A week?"

"Ha! This is the price to pay if you truly want to become stronger, Konohamaru-chan!"

The little brunette contemplated his feet. Naruto smiled and kneeled down, putting his hands on the younger boy's shoulders.

"Konohamaru-chan, look at me."

The boy raised defeated, sad eyes.

"You will succeed, Konohamaru, I trust you, as Ero-sennin trusted me when he taught me that technique. Don't give up, I know you..."

"Hem. Naruto." a drawled, lazy voice sounded behind the blonde haired boy.

Naruto turned around.

"Shikamaru!"

The dark-haired, quiet ninja was standing a few feet away from them. The light was falling delicately on his handsome face, the golden rays mixing with the green colour of his Chuunin vest.

"Haa.." he said, his eyes closed.

"Nanda?" Naruto asked.

"Hem...I know this is troublesome but...Tsunade-sama wants to see you right away."

"Oh come on Shikamaru, I'm busy right now ttebayo." Naruto protested.

"Yeah, go say that to Godaime yourself." Shikamaru sighed.

Naruto put his hands into his hair, growling in exasperation.

"Damn that Tsunade no obâ-chan ttebayo! She will never ever leave me alone for one freaking second. I'm sorry Konohamaru-chan, keep training, you're on the right way. I'll be right back as soon as I have dealt with that old bat."

"Naruto, watch your language..." Shikamaru sighed.

"Ahh come on Shikamaru-chan, Tsunade knows I adore her."

"Mmh...If you say so..."

As they were heading towards the village, leaving an exhausted Konohamaru behind them, Naruto noticed that Shikamaru looked tired and more preoccupied than usual. He frowned.

"Shikamaru, is everything all right?"

"Mmh...Not really...But I can't tell you anything..." Shikamaru answered without looking at him.

"Ehh? Ah come on don't give me that ttebayo, what's going on?"

"Naruto, please don't start." Shikamaru drawled, already regretting his words.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Naruto exclaimed loudly.

"Ahhh, mendokusai nee..."

Shikarmaru sighed, knowing that Naruto would keep pestering him until they arrived in front of Tsunade's office. Yet he couldn't tell him. Tsunade had been very clear about that, she wanted to be the one to take responsibility for announcing the terrible news to Naruto, and Shikamaru was rather relieved with that. He knew Naruto was going to be heartbroken, and as much as he truly loved Naruto as one of his best friends, he didn't have a clue as to how to deal with such a blow. It was definitely better if he was surrounded by his closest friends...

...and Kakashi would be there. Of all the people who could comfort Naruto, Shikamaru was convinced that Kakashi was the best man for the job. For he was older and wiser, Kakashi knew Naruto better than anyone, and both men had become much closer since Sasuke had left the village. Shikamaru was convinced that Kakashi was now the closest thing Naruto had to a best friend, more than Iruka or himself.

After a walk that seemed to last for an eternity, they finally arrived at the Hokage Tower. As they were climbing the stairs, Shikamaru bravely kept silent, resisting the urge to punch Naruto through the wall as the blonde was indeed excelling at the art of pestering people and driving them mad with his never ending questions and talking. Yet deep inside, he enjoyed Naruto's vivid talk and protests. He liked Naruto very much, and he was very worried about how he would take what was probably going to be the hardest news he had been confronted with in all his life. He didn't want to see Naruto heartbroken, yet that was unavoidable, and Shikamaru wished deep inside that he could freeze time. He wished the stairs of the Hokage Tower would keep going on forever, just to have Naruto beside him chirping joyfully and so, so annoyingly, for he knew that incredible energy would most certainly never be the same once he had entered Godaime's office.

Yet much too soon, they had arrived at the Hokage's door, and before Shikamaru could utter a word, Naruto had practically destroyed the door, bawling like a trumpet.

"All right Tsunade no obâ-chan, what the fuck is going o..."

Naruto stopped dead in his tracks.

So did his heart.

God, what the hell is going on?

The atmosphere within the office was so heavy it was palpable.

There was not a sound.

There were several people in the room, but they were all silent and totally still, frozen like statues.

They were all looking at him with eyes so sad Naruto felt his blood fill with dread.

What happened?!

He did a quick visual check-up. Kakashi, Sai, Sakura, Iruka, Yamato...Ah, thank goodness they were all there. Tsunade was not going to tell him that one of them had died.

Then what?

That's when he noticed a small, hunched figure with green, crinkled skin standing next to Tsunade. They had their eyes closed and their head bowed in pain.

Naruto's heart missed a beat when he recognized Fukasaku, the toad sennin...

...one of Jiraiya's great friends and mentor.

A terrible, insidious intuition rose slowly deep within his gut, crawling up his spine and compressing his chest.

Masaka...

His blue eyes crossed the particularly worried look of his friend and mentor, Kakashi. The silver-haired man was looking at him with a mixture of concern and woe, and Naruto noticed that he was clenching and unclenching his fists, as though he was fighting the urge to pull him into his arms.

Anywhere he cast his eyes, Naruto met the same expression. Sakura's teary, green eyes, Sai's concerned stare, Iruka's hand pressed over his mouth, Yamato's bowed head.

No...It cannot be...

His closest friends were here in the office.

His closest friends except Sasuke and...

Ero-sennin...

The name of his shishou drifted through his mind.

Ero-sennin… Don't tell me that…

Fukasaku's presence couldn't be a coincidence; neither could the painful, deeply sad expression on his face.

"Bâ-chan...What is this about?" Naruto almost whispered, terrified to know the answer.

Like Fukasaku, the proud, beautiful Konoha Hokage had her head low, and her eyes were dull, sad and slightly red. She looked incredibly tired and old. Naruto could tell she had been crying, and the dread in his heart intensified.

The certitude was horrible.

He was thinking about the man just ten minutes ago.

That's impossible. That's downright impossible ttebayo.

Tsunade opened her mouth.

No, I don't want to hear it.

"Naruto…"

I don't want to hear it.

He knew. His heart terribly knew what Tsunade was going to say.

He knew.

He gritted his teeth, bracing himself, ready to take the blow…

… and the words came.

The atrocious, devastating, unbelievable words.

"Jiraiya fell."