First, I don't own Naruto, if I did, I wouldn't be writing this, not fanfiction, it would still be fun, but this specifically. Jiraiya should not have died!! Well, I believe he can still come back, please!!! The song in this songfic is goodbye by Audio Adrenaline. It just inspired me to write this. I did it in about an hour while watching the anime chapter in which Jiraiya leaves (I'm not really sure of which number it is, I think it was 126) It was definitely more emotive than the manga... well, read and review!

You'll be fine tomorrow
The sun will rise again
It's never easy to say goodbye

Even before he left, he knew he wouldn't come back. When the time came to say goodbye to Tsunade, it was harder than he thought it would ever be. But even then, he wanted to keep her hopes up; after all, he was the only companion she had left. Even though she didn't know it, he knew she was strong enough to get through it.

You know I'll always love you
You know I always will

He loved her; he always had, and was not sure if he could stop. Seeing her sitting there, looking so alone already almost made him sit down beside her, hug her, and stay. Maybe if she had spoken, or cried as she said she would once he was dead. But none of that mattered, because she didn't, and he didn't. All he knew is that he kept on loving her.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
My old friend
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
We've reached the end

It was the last time he would ever see her; it was the end. If only it didn't have to be like this, if only they had grabbed what little chance at happiness they had had. They had been friends for life, and that he did appreciate. Even though she had left the village, it was not as if she had been lost forever. Orochimaru was; he probably had never been there to lose in the first place, and it hurt to see the same mistakes made all over again. Well, the end was the end, and all he could give her now was hope, if not for them, for the new generation.

I don't cry for sorrow, I cry with joy
The memories we've made can't be destroyed

Even though she had never openly loved him back, he knew that she loved him, and she knew it too; somewhere. He would always remember all of the things they had gone through together, and how her doting over Orochimaru's talent was always a reason for him to get better. She had made him get stronger, not only as a shinobi, but as a person as well. He had understood that you cannot rely on somebody to make you happy, for they always let you down. If you want to achieve happiness, you have to achieve it by yourself. And he was happy, happy to have Naruto, happy to see the village well and in good hands. He knew she might not be the ideal Hokage, but he also knew that she cared for everybody in the village, and that she had changed.

You know I won't forget you
You know I never could
And when I say I loved you
You know I meant for good

He never forgot her, he could never have. He even remembered their first meeting "Hello" he had said "I'm Jiraiya. You can send me a love letter later". The letter had never come, but he had gotten to know his princess like no one else did. Every time he said he loved her; every time he asked her out, he had meant it. He had loved her not only for her body, but for who she was. Why? He couldn't explain, but then, there was no need to, not any more. It was too late to get her to understand that, to her, he would always be only a pervert.

You know I'll always love you
Goodbye

And thus, he walked away, having said I love you in his own way, and she having understood it. It was the last time he would see her, and he would remember her just as she was, sitting on a bench in the sunset, cheeks a light shade of pink because of the sake, and a small smile in her face. "Beware of Root. Farewell" he said, and walked into the night never to return to her again.