One by one his senses returned to him. He could hear his own ragged breath and the darkness in his vision receded. The rock beneath him was rough and the ocean water soaked him to the bone. He focused on those sensations, trying his best to avoid the agonizing pain that coursed through his body. Through sheer will alone, he had revived himself and it would not be in vain.

With the last of his will, he inscribed his final message on Fukasaku's back. Even though his world suddenly clashed and thundered from a sudden attack, he smiled as Fukasaku disappeared just in time to avoid Pain's rocket hand assault. His body was thrust deep into the water from the impact and as it swallowed him, the mighty Jiraiya, broken and battered, let his mind wander to a time he almost, finally, found love.

3 years ago…

In the vast and powerful Land of Fire, it was a day full of sunshine and harmony for all - save for an odd pair of Shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Naruto, a 13 year old boy with bright blonde hair and wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, walked along side a towering Jiraiya. The Toad Sage's long white hair, pulled into a ponytail, swayed with every step he took. The tall and muscular ninja would have been menacing looking were it not for the jovial expression on his face. Naruto's face was far from jovial, however.

"Come on Pervy Sage! You're supposed to be training me to be a 'full fledge Shinobi,' right? You said so yourself! Why do we have to go to another hot spring? We're running out of time," Naruto whined.

Keeping his smiling eyes in the direction of the hot spring, Jiraiya tried to sweet talk his apprentice.

"Calm down Naruto, consider this part of your training. A true Shinobi knows when to relax. Plus, you know it's been awhile since I last did some research. I just started my next book and I've hit a roadblock. Nothing like some relaxation and thorough research to clear the mind!"

Jiriaya's giggles erupted as his imagination took flight on what kind women he would be doing his "research" on. Oh, I wonder what delicacies await! I haven't seen a delectable pair of bosoms since leaving the village, and that was weeks ago! A harem of naked, well endowed, women flooded his imagination. Their large breasts bouncing as the women gleefully beckoned him to join them in their bathing. Oh yeah, baby!

To Naruto's annoyance, his Sensei was quickly getting lost in his day dream and his pink cheeks told Naruto exactly what his Sensei was giggling about. Naruto stuck his tongue out in Jiraiya's line of vision, but the antics went unnoticed.

Not this again, Naruto thought. All he wants to do is be pervy and look at naked girls, the big pervert! Girls, pft! Who cares about girls, anyway? A moment later and Naruto's thoughts inadvertently went to Sakura. He pictured her lovely pink hair and beautiful green eyes, even her big and endearing forehead. His frown immediately turned into a soft smile as he mused.

Jiraiya, suddenly very aware of the unusual silence from his pupil, looked at Naruto who had his hands behind his head as he walked. He noticed that Naruto was smiling and… blushing?

"Well, well now," Jiraiya quipped. "Looks like I'm rubbing off on ya already, huh?"

His comment quickly pulled Naruto out of his musings.

"What!? No way!"

"Oh yeah?" Jiraiya asked with a hint of mischief in his eye. "Then what were you thinking about?"

Defensively, Naruto tried to explain.

"I was just thinking about, well, I don't think about girls like that! In fact, if I did think about girls, it would only be one girl!"

"One girl, huh? If you can only think about one girl, then you might just be in looooove," the Toad Sage teased.

Naruto's eyes went wide as he felt his blood rush to his face. His hands, that moments ago were lazily holding the back of his head, were flailing wildly in the air as if to dissipate Jiraiya's comment.

"What!? No! That's – that's not it!"

Jiraiya only laughed at the very agitated Naruto.

"It's okay kid! In fact, I'd say you're a really lucky guy, especially if the lady feels the same about you."

At this, Naruto's face fell, which did not go unnoticed by his Sensei.

"Yeah, well, whatever…"

Poor Naruto, Jiraiya thought, just like me and Tsunade way back when. If it's anything like me and Tsunade, then it's just not meant to be. Although, hopefully he has better luck than I've had!

Naruto wanted to put the topic to rest, but he couldn't help but ask one question.

"What about you?"

Jiraiya knew where this was going but decided to play dumb anyway.

"What about me?"

Naruto found that he couldn't look at his teacher while asking his question.

"Have you… have you ever been in love?"

Jiraiya burst out laughing.

"Me? You think someone like me could settle down? I am the mighty Jiraiya! I have to leave myself available for the ladies. It just wouldn't be fair to women all over the world if I just chose one, now would it?"

Naruto eyed his Sensei with suspicion but Jiraiya's confident smile did not falter.

"Humph. Figures."

Jiraiya chuckled, but inwardly his thoughts turned solemn. Sorry kid.

Had Tsunade welcomed his advances back then, he probably would have asked her to marry him sooner or later. He really had been in love with her. Her rejection ran so deep, that he stayed away from the village as long as he could when he starting training in Mount Myōboku and later when missions called him away.

His destiny to find the Child of Prophesy was the only thing he could use as an excuse for his long absences when Tsunade finally fell in love with another.

Jiraiya's "research" did, in fact, seem to help him write captivating love stories for his hero's in his books, but it never led to finding his own true love story. Maybe that's why I've scoured the world as well, he thought. As he was searching for his destiny, maybe he was also searching for love.

Jiraiya quickly shook off that train of thought. Why even think about that kind of stuff now, anyway? I never found love again and I doubt it'll ever find me at this rate.

Not far behind the silly pair of Leaf Ninja, was a woman headed in the same direction. Dressed in forest green robes and a black cloak that hid half her face, she walked at an even pace with the aid of a walking stick. The wooden stick had the shape of a scorpion carved at its head. The mysterious woman, every few paces, lightly tapped her walking stick in front of her.

The woman stopped suddenly, sensing powerful chakra about a mile ahead. Who on earth? And I thought my chakra needed subduing! Well, it seems they are headed in the same direction.

The woman wondered for a moment if it could really be one person emitting all that chakra. She focused her senses and in her mind's eye she saw one figure… No, two, there are two. However, one is more subdued than the other. Very curious.

A curious smile lifted at the corner of her mouth. The woman tapped the ground ahead of her and continued to walk towards the village.