Adventure 7: Great Sage Training!
They did this for the next week. Minato was doing his best to understand the chakra and their various natures. At night when the others went to bed, he'd stay up, staring at the ceiling and trying to recover a memory but to no avail. Also, he couldn't get the whisker faced kid or the toad sage out of his head. He wondered where the kid was and if he was ok. He then wondered why he cared so much.
It was about a week and a half later of training when Minato left early from the training. He'd actually managed to get into an interesting sparring match with Usagi. Usagi had proved to a formidable opponent. After some intensive training, they all took a late lunch break. Minato happily munched some bon bons. It was funny, like his stress had taken a hike at least temporarily. Now that he knew that Alu and Miku had at least made it to their final part of the Chuunin Exam, he felt confident in both of their abilities.
"I'm going to take a break," Minato panted with a small smile.
"Alright, you don't get into mischeif while we're not around," Usagi said good naturedly, already blocking another air-cutter kick move that Miku was trying to perfect. Minato nodded.
"I understand," he said and he turned and walked away. Walking in the village, his hands in his pockets, Minato enjoyed the simple moment he was in. He decided he'd try meditating once again on the Hokage stone faces. Since Miku had suggested it at the time, now it sounded actually like a good idea. Arriving at the stone faces he hid behind some trees, realizing that he was not alone. In front of him, a little ways past, was Jiraiya and the whiskered faced kid. Minato couldn't hear what they were talking about but his eyes widened when he saw Jiraiya push Naruto against the jagged rocks.
Minato found himself running towards them both, "What the hell are you doing!?" Jiraiya looked up startled as he saw Minato running towards him. Minato skidded to a halt at the edge and got on his hands and knees staring down at the dark cavern like he was staring at hell.
"…What are you doing here?" Jiraiya asked taken aback.
"This isn't about me! What the hell are you thin-" but Minato was cut off when he felt himself engulfed by white smoke. Coughing, he startled stumbled away from the edge, not being able to tell left from right. As the smoke cleared, he saw a giant toad or frog…or whatever, with a pipe in its mouth, a small vest with Gambunta on the back of it, and a giant scar over one eye. On it's head, he saw a small blonde haired kid. It had to be Naruto. Minato felt both relieved and oddly pissed off. Jiraiya was staring at Minato like he'd appeared out of nowhere which Minato sort of had.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Jiraiya started but whatever he was going to say died out as Minato was not paying attention to him anymore but the giant toad.
"What the hell….what is that?" Minato said in surprise and confusion.
"Eh…that's…that's a giant toad… " Jiraiya started.
"Where is that slippery snake, Jiraiya? I have a bone to pick with that skirt-chasing childish perverse fool!" Gambunta roared loudly, from his sitting position in the middle of all of the trees by Konohagakure.
"…and someone you really don't' want meet on a good or bad day," Jiraiya concluded with a meek grin, quickly backing away.
"Wh-what hold on, you're not just going to leave the kid, are you?!" Minato asked incredulously.
"It's fine, it's fine…the kid can handle himself, the question is…what are you doing here?" Jiraiya pressed, turning his back on what was going on behind him and instead focusing on Minato.
Minato felt uncomfortable. "I came here to meditate…" he honestly replied, fidgeting a little.
"To meditate?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
"Yes," Minato responded a little irritated although he tried to be level.
"Ah, don't get pissed at me, I can assure you, it was all for the sake of training," Jiraiya quickly said, and Minato figured he must've sensed his obvious dissaproval of Jiraiya's training methods.
"It's not that I particularly care…I just didn't understand why you'd push the kid off a cliff," Minato said rigidly.
"Ah….well…I knew the kid would need a certain…stimulus in order for him to perform a certain summoning technique…after all, he's wanting to be like me…a toad sage," Jiraiya explained quickly.
"Certain stimulus?" Minato repeated.
"Yes," Jiraiya nodded, and Minato looked to where the kid was currently being bucked around like he was a bullfighter at a rodeo.
"Right…" Minato muttered.
"Ah since you have some time, care to join me?" Jiraiya steered Minato away and Minato was surprised to find that the old man had such a firm grip.
"Wha-No I don't want to," Minato protested but Jiraiya was already dragging him away from where Naruto and Gambunta were.
"Look, Naruto and er…the Toad have some talking and…uh…stuff to get to…so in the meantime, why not keep me company or something? I've been meaning to talk to you anyhow," Jiraiya said breezily and Minato bit his lower lip trying to think of the nicest possible way of saying no that didn't involve him insulting the old man.
"I-I really have other things I need to do," Minato started but the Toad sage raised his eyebrows.
"Really? What could possibly more important than talking to one of the three legendary Sannin," and he puffed out his chest all important. Minato found this guy to be a little bit…full of himself.
"Well…lotsa things…I need to go get groceries," Minato fibbed.
"What are you, a man or a woman?" Jiraiya snorted and Minato felt incredibly insulted.
"For your information, getting groceries is a gender nuetral profession," Minato said defensively.
"Hey, want to assist me with my incredibly important research?" Jiraiya asked Minato seriously. Minato found himself dragged along against his will. Well, he wasn't trying too hard to get away. A part of him wanted to see where this guy was headed. About fifteen minutes later it became evidently clear. They had arrived outside of a bar of sorts.
"You over 18?" Jiraiya asked, smirking suspiciously at Minato. Minato furrowed his brow not quite getting why this mattered, although a sign on the window said that only those 18 and over could enter.
"Yes," he responded with a nod. Jiraiya seemed to grin only wider.
"Whatever you say," Jiraiya shrugged nonchallantly, and then he sneakily added, "…kiddo."
"Wha- don't call me a kid!" Minato fumed.
"But why not? You've got the baby cheeks," Jiraiya teased, poking Minato's face. Minato swatted the old man's hand away.
"Haha. I'm leaving," Minato said prickly.
"Ah, don't be like that, it was just a joke," Jiraiya tugged Minato into the small bar before Minato could protest any further.
"I need a young attractive man to assist me in gathering very, very important information," Jiraiya said good naturedly. Minato looked to where the old man's eyes had wandered. His face fell. They were looking at a few young kunoichi, in their 20's, and Minato instantly yanked his arm away from the old man.
"I don't have time for this," he said stiffly and formal.
"Ah, just stay for a mo- hey, wait!" Jiraiya ran to catch up to Minato who had quickly left the bar already.
"Look, you perverted hermit, I want to make sure that kid is ok, and you should care more about your students!" Minato fumed.
"Oi, I do care!" Jiraiya said defensively.
"Really? It really doesn't look like it!" Minato retorted.
Jiraiya was silent for a moment. "I do care," he looked at Minato with a serious glare, "That kid…he is much stronger than you seem to care to give him credit for."
"I get the kid is strong! But no matter how strong kids are, they need an adult to guide them!" Minato retaliated.
"That may be true," Jiraiya nodded, "…but that kid, he doesn't' need crutches. He's strong in his own right, and…I can feel it, in my gut, that kid will be ok, Gambunta is an apethetic short fused dangerous fellow, but with Naruto, he'll be gentle….I think," Jiraiya replied, trying to keep up with Minato's fast paced walk.
"You think?" Minato repeated. "Oh forget it…"
"Why do you even care?"
Minato hadn't expected that question from Jiraiya. He honestly didn't know why he cared so much. He didn't even know the kid that well. "I don't know, I guess because I see him walking around with a pervert who'd rather oggle ladies than do anything actually useful, and then abandons him after shoving him into a jagged cliff to be a bull rider on the top of a smoking toad's head," Minato retaliated stiffly.
"…When you put it like that…but I'm not all bad," Jiraiya quickly said.
"Really?" Minato retorted.
"Yes. Really," Jiraiya sighed deeply. "I'll show you the same technique I showed Naruto, if it helps any," he said sneakily.
Minato was curious about jutsu but he didn't feel like labeling himself personally a ninja. He knew he'd use his ability if Miku or his other companions needed assistance but all three worked together, Minato felt that he didn't have to be a ninja in order to protect those that were important to him. "I'm good, thanks anyway," he said, slowing and pretending to be fascinated by a stand selling watermelon.
Jiraiya stood beside him and was silent for a moment. " Well, if you really don't want to see a jutsu by the great Jirai-" but he quickly dashed after Minato who had already walked away.
"I'm sorry, but I really am busy," Minato said, weighing two grapefruits in his hands.
"I see…oh, I didn't know you liked the smaller…melons," Jiraiya noted.
Minato rolled his eyes, not getting the sexual innuendo. "It's not that I prefer them, I just don't mind them."
He turned away so he didn't notice the foxy smirk that spread across the perverted hermit's face. He draped an arm over Minato's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "You like em juicy?"
Minato blushed hard, suddenly realizing what it was the perverted hermit was driving at. He punched Jiraiya instinctively, but the old man intercepted his punch easily. With a chortle, Jiraiya backed away. "You- you…you perverted hermit!" Minato griped.
"I'm only trying to keep you entertained," the old man replied breezily. "Now, from what I can sense, your chakra is kinda faint…you don't practice summoning it much, do you?"
Minato shook his head. "No, but it shouldn't matter to you," he said with a sigh, setting the grapefruit he was holding in his non punching arm down. He turned and walked away back into the path. Jiraiya followed him and was quiet. Minato wondered if the perverted Hermit would go away.
"Hey, where are Gambunta and Naruto…?" Minato wondered aloud, realizing that they weren't by the village.
"Oh, Gambunta probably took him to a nice place away from here so while he's havin' his giant tantrum, he won't accidentally kill people," Jiraiya said airily.
Minato found himself being steered in another direction. He realized it was the direction of the training grounds. Or so he thought. He was taken on a twist and turn and was brought to a small waterfall pond. "Where are you taking?"
"Welcome to my little hide away spot, it's a great place for meditation," Jiraiya said, sitting cross legged on the small rather smooth rocky surface by the fall. Minato sat across from him but only because it struck him as a polite thing to do. He was oddly enough a little curious about this persistent fellow.
"I already said, not interested," Minato said,facing the perverted hermit. Jiraiya nodded.
"At least let me show you," he pressed.
"Show me what?" Minato asked curious and yet a bit wary.
"What I'm made of," Jiraiya grinned. He formed some hand signs and in front of him poofed….a tad pole?
"Wow, impressive, is this what you're renowned throughout the land for?" Minato couldn't help but smirk.
"…Very funny, but I'll have you know, I'm showing you what I expect you to summon," Jiraiya said, making a small mock-annoyed face.
"I already said-" Minato started but the old man crossed his arms.
"Don't be a quitter," Jiraiya said, "just give it a shot…you may surprise yourself,"
Minato didn't know why this old hermit wanted him to do any of this. With a sigh he figured he'd just try it once, then leave. "Fine, I'll do it, but after this, I really need to get going…" Minato caved.
"'Atta kiddo!" Jiraiya said good naturedly.
Minato shot him another glare. "I'm not a kid!"
"You'll always be a kid to me," Jiraiya teased.
"If I'm a kid to you, then you must be a gramps," Minato retaliated, but not harshly, more like humorously.
Jiraiya made a face. "I'll have you know, I'm livin' a good solid young style of life!"
"Oh yeah, what did Gambunta call you again? 'Skirt chasing childish perverse fool?'" Minato grinned at the pervy sage who blushed a little and looked defensively glaring at Minato.
"I'm not that old! I'm not even fifty yet," he huffed.
"Really?" Minato was surprised.
"This isn't about me! Come on, show me what you've got," Jiraiya said, waving his hand dismissively. Minato smirked at him. He hit a nerve. Accomplishment.
"Don't be like that, it's alright to act the age you are," he said humorously.
" I prefer to act as old as I feel," Jiraiya retorted, showing Minato the hand signs for the summoning.
"Really? So you act 12 every day?"
Minato felt Jiraiya poke his forehead in response. Rubbing his forehead but feeling in a good mood, Minato tried to copy the hand seals.
"Kuchiyose no jutsu!"1 and Minato saw a small seal form and out of the white smoke appeared….a tad pole.
A.N: I hope you all enjoyed that! Kuchiyose no jutsu means SUmmoning no jutsu to be clear :) . I hope you all stick around for more. The Chuunin exams will be coming up. For those who read this but feel like it strayed from the main plot of Naruto, just a friendly reminder that this is Minato's life technically, not Naruto's. I will keep his actions within synche of the storyline because the storyline is very important to the plot obviously, but don't worry. I'm not straying or going in circles. I'm making sure that Miku's character is developed, as well as the others. Minato is currently learning something new from the Jiraiya and although i know they seem buddy-buddy, Minato is just being really polite. THe old hermit is the persistant one. ANyhow, I hope you all enjoyed. I enjoy reviews, no flaming. If you feel this story isn't to your liking, please, don't read, or if you feel you have a request or a suggestion as to how I can make it more interesting, I'm all ears, just PM me. I take PM's for more critical things that involve pointing out how my story may be ...well...not sufficient or something. I do enjoy critique. You readers may catch something I miss. But please understand, this is just for fun. I love Naruto and I've always wanted to write a story about his dad being alive since I was in sixth grade, no lie. ^_^ Anyhow, enjoy! review! Favorite and follow.
