Jiraya paused for a moment to catch his breath and scan the surroundings for pursuers. He doubted that they would risk encroaching this far into the land of fire and Konoha's jurisdiction, but he'd thought the same when they'd left the rice country and didn't want to make the same mistake twice. Apart from anything else, it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain an air of superiority over Naruto – the young ninja had no implicit recognition of authority, an attitude that would have caused him a lot more trouble if it hadn't been for Naruto's unique situation.
Naruto landed on the branch beside him displaying his usual mix of single-minded determination and impatience. His lips were parted to reveal clenched teeth, but he didn't seem at all out of breath.
Naruto shook himself out of the moment and smiled.
"Don't worry, we're not being followed," he said jovially, referring to his sensei's previous mistake. Jiraya didn't know if he was bluffing or if he'd actually sensed the enemy fall back. Either was possible – while for the most part Naruto was foolishly impulsive and only survived through luck and the astonishing regenerative power that playing host to the kyuubi provided him, when Sasuke was concerned Naruto was a different shinobi and could be unusually perceptive. He considered reminding Naruto to be respectful – pushing him off the branch into the dense foliage below should do the trick – but settled for merely berating him instead.
"Like you have a clue," he jibed "you don't even know why they followed us this far." Jiraya assumed they were pursuing him, since as far as he knew Orochimaru had interest in neither Naruto nor the Kyuubi, but unless it was a simple warning to stay away from their affairs, he didn't know why they kept at the chase for so long. Jiraya couldn't help but smirk at his old friend's obsession with amassing laboratories, prisons, and the network of secret bases that their upkeep required. It was much easier to keep your affairs private when you carried everything around with you.
Naruto's impatience got the better of him and he leapt onwards, snapping the branch that Jiraya was still standing on with the force he'd exerted. Jiraya, cursing Naruto's apparent obliviousness to his affect on the world around him, caught the trunk of the tree in time, and after casting a final glance behind them, set off as well.
The thought of returning to Konoha had clearly dispelled the dark mood that had been plaguing Naruto since their aborted attempt at confronting Sasuke. Though Naruto continued to insist they'd been attempting to "rescue" him, Jiraya remained undecided about the best position to take. Sasuke's possession of the Sharingan and relationship to Naruto complicated the matter – things would be much simpler if they could apply a blanket assassination order to all missing-nin.
"I wonder if Neji's a chunin yet," thought Naruto out loud. After hearing of the resentment Naruto had felt during the Chunin exams, Jiraya had initially been apprehensive about suggesting that they recruit the young Hyuga to help them navigate the warrant of caves that stood between Orochimaru's latest hideout and the outside world, but Naruto had a limitless capacity to accept and acknowledge when people had grown and changed, and had embraced the suggestion that Neji join their team.
The terrain had been becoming increasingly familiar throughout the day and as they crested a hill, Konoha revealed itself, nestled in the shadow of the hokage monument. Naruto's eyes lit up, his excitement manifesting itself as redoubled speed. Jiraya couldn't help but empathise – it would be nice to return to the closest thing he had to a home, and it was comforting knowing where Tsunade was for once.
Naruto had gained a sizable lead, and Jiraya struggled to keep up. They would reach the gates by nightfall.