Thanks a lot for the reviews! As always, they mean a lot to me. I'm hoping to update again soon.
Jiraiya woke up late the next morning to Naruto's cries of hunger. He sat up slowly with his head pounding and looked around sleepily. He was in his old apartment, and it took him a couple minutes to remember why he was here, instead of the distant village he been at. Then the memories of last night came back to him.
He remembered insisting Naruto should stay with him, so he could be sure of his safety. He remembered comforting Rin, before she headed home to get some much needed sleep herself. He remembered rocking Naruto until he finally settled down again, then creating a make shift bed out of pillows and blankets for him so he couldn't roll away and hurt himself. With a heavy feeling in his heart he also remembered how Naruto had become an orphan.
Jiraiya stood and picked up Naruto. He had just a little bit of milk from the hospital to give him for breakfast, then he was going to have to buy some. The baby stopped crying immediately and drank hungrily, making small gulping sounds. Jiraiya at least knew what he was doing, since as a genin he had accomplished several D rank babysitting missions. After Naruto finished, Jiraiya gathered most of his saved up money from missions to go on a large shopping trip.
As he walked down the streets with Naruto he received several glares from almost everyone. Looks of hatred and disgust were all focused at Naruto who watched this with wide blue eyes. Even as a baby he seemed to realize a little bit that he was not liked. Jiraiya scowled, wondering how this village could treat a baby so unfairly. He wondered how safe Naruto would be if he weren't with him, and he didn't have to think long before he knew the answer.
Many stores and houses were still being repaired, but there was some at the edge of the village with minimal damage where you could buy what you needed. Jiraiya bought baby formula, and other food to restock his apartment. Then he had to stop at his old student's house to get all of Naruto's old things. This had not been something he was looking forward to.
He gathered all of Naruto's clothes, and diapers. Then searched for anything else that he might need. He thought he had every important item he needed, and was just about to leave when something green caught his eye. With a twinge he noticed it was Minato's old frog wallet. Minato had bought that right after he had learned the summoning jutsu. It seemed like so long ago now. Jiraiya picked it up and pocketed it, then with his bags of clothes and food over one arm, and Naruto in the other, he left.
Several months went by like that. Jiraiya felt as though his entire life had been turned upside down. Now he was stuck in Konoha, protecting and taking care of his student's only son. This had not been how he had planned to live his life. It wasn't like he didn't love Naruto and enjoy watching him grow up, because he did. Naruto was such a happy and easy baby to take care of. His bright blue eyes were always so curious and alert, and it was very easy to get him to laugh.
On the other hand Jiraiya didn't like to be stuck in one place. He loved to travel and gather thoughts and materials for books. As it was he rarely left his apartment just to avoid the angry glares from villagers that were directed at Naruto. Another problem was how the village council members had quickly discovered that Jiraiya was living in the village again, and tried to assign him missions and give him work to do. Jiraiya did not want to risk leaving Naruto alone for a minute, and always had to turn these requests down.
One time when he had gone out for lunch, he had pulled up one of the high chairs for Naruto. Jiraiya had gone up to the sails counter to buy another cup of tea, which was only about five feet from the table where Naruto was sitting. He had taken his eyes off Naruto for only a few seconds to hand over his money, and when he turned around again Naruto was gone. Running out of the tea shop he saw a villager running away with Naruto crying softly from how roughly he had been handled.
Jiraiya had easily been able to catch up and snatch Naruto back before the villager even knew what had happened. Then Jiraiya had glared angrily so the villager ran away with a frightened expression. Since then Naruto was hardly ever out of Jiraiya's arms, and when he was all of Jiraiya's attention was focused on Naruto.
Jiraiya was able to watch Naruto's first steps that summer. Naruto was also now able to speak a few words. There was the memorable day Naruto had learned the word "no". After his first birthday passed Naruto was becoming more rebellious and a sort of wild child now that he was mobile. Not only did Jiraiya have to protect Naruto from revenge seeking villagers, but he had to protect him from himself.
Jiraiya was also almost out of money, and couldn't believe all his savings had been used up this quickly. He was going to have to find some way to leave Naruto so he could do a mission or two and make some money.
"One day I'm going to make you spend all your money on me," Jiraiya sighed to the toddler one night when he saw he had to buy more food.
"No!" Naruto shouted loudly. "No no no no no no," he yelled at the tops of his lungs as jumped on the couch.
Jiraiya scowled, "stop using that stupid word!" he demanded, as he placed Naruto back on the floor.
"NO!" Naruto had shouted back and tried to get back on the couch.
Another day when Naruto was taking his afternoon nap, Jiraiya had tried once again to continue his newest novel. He had only managed to write one page in a year. It proved to be so difficult to write when you were stuck in one area. Again he dreamed about being free to wonder and research whenever and wherever he pleased. A loud crash and cries of pain brought him out of his thoughts, and he rushed into the kitchen to find Naruto on the floor with a broken plate next to him. He had obviously been climbing on the table again, and this time Jiraiya had not noticed it in time.
The next thing that was happening was Jiraiya had to take Naruto to the hospital because of an injured leg. Rin was working there again, and she quickly diagnosed it as a sprained ankle. Naruto seemed to have landed on it hard when he fell. But in a matter of minutes between her ninjutsu skills and Naruto's healing abilities it was perfectly fine.
"How is everything going," Rin asked politely as a delighted Naruto realized he could run again.
"Everything's been ok. I'm realizing I need to earn some money again though, and I don't feel safe leaving him alone," he replied as Naruto zoomed back and forth as fast as his legs could carry him.
"If you wanted, I could watch him for you so you can do some missions," Rin offered. "All the village shinobi have settled down and are listening to hokage sama, and you know I can take care of myself against villagers."
Jiraiya considered this. He felt he could trust Rin. She had been one of Minato's students after all, and she knew Naruto was his son. She cared about Naruto almost as much as Jiraiya did. But Rin wasn't entirely right about all the ninja having calmed down. There were still a few days Jiraiya would catch looks of pure loathing coming from even some of the more advanced village shinobi. But things were still definitely a lot safer for Naruto now.
"I think I might take you up on that offer," Jiriya replied as he pulled Naruto off the window curtains he had been trying to climb. "I will go and talk to the third now. Then we are going home, and you are getting a bath," he said firmly to Naruto.
"NOOOO!" Naruto squealed and tried to break free of Jiraiya's hold as he was carried out of the hospital.
