I don't own Naruto. This one is for you Jiraiya, may you rest in peace.
The Meaning of Failure
By:
CrazyGirlOfManyNames
"Are you sure you want me to do this, Tsunade," asked Naruto, solemn. Tsunade nodded. She was looking older by the minute. Jiraiya's death hit her hard, but not as hard as Naruto. When Naruto, the rest of Teams 7 and 8 (Including an unconscious Sasuke) and Team Hebi arrived back in town with the news that Itachi and Kisame were dead, Naruto learned that Jiraiya had died too. Naruto locked himself in his apartment; Tsunade was the only one to get inside to talk to him. She asked him to speak at Jiraiya's funeral.
"The ninja can't see their Hokage burst out in tears can they," said Tsunade, trying to crack a joke, but failing miserably. The funeral day came and Naruto stood in front of the crowd. They had no body so there was just a picture of Jiraiya and then his name will be engraved into the Memorial Stone. All the ninja were there, out of respect, even Karin, Suigetsu, and Juugo were there.
"I don't really know what I'm supposed to say," started Naruto, "Jiraiya was a good guy. He trained me and taught me a lot of things, but he was not without his flaws. He was the biggest pervert out there! But I think we all knew that, heh. You know he thought he was a failure. He told me so one night when we were up in the mountains training and he was wasted. He thought he failed everyone. He still thought about how he should have saved his friend Orochimaru from the darkness, how he should have saved his student the Yondaime Hokage and his teacher the Old Man…But he didn't fail, there was only so much he could have did…BUT ERO-SENNIN YOU BETER BE LISTENING TO ME CAUSE I'M ONLY SAYING THIS ONCE! You haven't failed me, you helped me so much. I appreciate you and even though I never showed it, I do respect you." No one moved as they watched Uzumaki Naruto, self-proclaimed next Hokage and hyperactive loudmouth, cry. Unshed tears that he has been keeping in for days came pouring out. And no one could blame him. Soon it began raining and the ninja began to depart, Naruto stayed.
"Naruto, let's go now, you're going to a cold," said Sakura, in a mere whisper.
"You go on Sakura-chan," muttered Naruto.
"Sakura," said Sasuke, in a voice that said to back off right now. His two friends left him alone. Naruto just stood there until his clothes were drenched and he was not crying anymore.
"Ero-sennin," whispered Naruto, as he smiled bitterly.
'Goodbye
Goodbye
I will miss you…until we meet again.'
End.