' I never realized how much Kakashi failed as a Sensei' Jiraiya sighed, watching his godson and apprentices perfect behavior. The boy was the model of a good shinobi. Quiet, respectful and aware of his surroundings. He never relaxed, his hand ready to reach for his sword or kunai at a moments notice. ' The kid would fit in with war time soldiers.'

Naturally this made Jiraiya wary as much as it made him proud.

They had been traveling for four days, making their way closer to their target. Ironically enough that target was Tazunka Gai, where Naruto has first met Tsunade. It was a clever little twist of fate.

A tiny rustle, a squirrel fleeing it's perch, gave Jiraiya permission to tense. That squirrel was a clone ahd it was the signal.

"Secret Art:Frost's Folly!" At the sound, all of the morning dew gathered into a thick sheet of ice.

Chaos exploded into the caravan, horses neighing in fear, people falling off of the carts. Only Jiraiya and Naruto failed to fall victim to this trap.

Naruto actually started to clap, shher sarcasm radiating from every pore. " Very good, now you've expended a considerable amount of chakra before fighting a Sanin and his apprentice. Really, this is a wonderful performance. Why don't you show us who we should praise." Jiraiya sighed at Naruto's taunts, wondering when he became so sarcastic. " What, nothing... that's rude... come on out!"

Sixteen swipes of his katana sent out sixteen sharp chakra waves, knocking down dozens of trees. The six ninja trailing them leapt from the woods, one holding their clearly bleeding leg in pain.

Jiraiya snorted at their stupidity." Not the wisest choice. Now, get ready to fight the legendary Jiraya the Gallant!" He leaped up,summoning a nameless toad and did his dance. No one was impressed Naruto actually slapped his forehead.

" Your an embarrassment... "In that instant, the fight began... or rather Naruto's fight began. Jiraiya sat back as guard, wanting to see just what the kid would do.

Unfortunately that wasn't to be as Naruto smashed open a pepper bomb amd dived into it's cloud.

' Shit... brat, why'd you do that?' Jiraiya scowled at the cloud intensely, not turning when the caravan leader crawled over to him.

"Is the kid going to be okay?" His voice was weak and rough, very tired. " Seems a bit young to fight them all by himself."

Without looking a way from the cloud, The Toad Sage nodded. " Naruto isn't weak. There have neen ninja younger then he is, that are stronger then I am. Age is rarely a measure of strength."

Two bodies went flying, bloody and covered in kunai. Both collapsed near Jiraya, still alive. The smoke was blasted away a second later by frigid wind that seared the trees and ground.

Naruto was coughing hard, signs of freezer burn on his skin. His right-hand was clearly broken. The ninja next to him both had cuts and bruises, though less then Naruto.

Two stood out, one with a rock armor fist and smother was an icey black wind wrapping round his hands.

" Hmmn, What are Frost Ninjas Doing here so far from home. " Deciding it was better to intervene now, Jiraiya leapt over to his god son. The reek of burnt meat healing at super speeds made him almost gag. " You'd have to be something to use that secret technique. "

Naruto suddenly stopped coughing, standing and falling into a light stance. " He's got a point." The two ninja growled, though it sounded oddly weak. " Your hungry aren't you?"

Naruto tried not to flush as everyone stared at him. Instead he rolled his eyes, fixing the earth using ninja with a bored stare. "Seriously? Why else fight someone like Jiraiya over something petty like this caravan? Seems obvious with your skills this is under your paygrade."

Jiraiya actually gaped for a minute before nodding. " Kid had a point. Not to mention your looking particularly thin."

" And who's fault is that tree hugger!"The Frost wielding ninja growled, stepping forward with sheer hate in his eyes. " Your fucking village is taking all of our missions, were starving and getting laid off left and right!"

Actual pain shot through Naruto at those words. 'The more I learn about my world, the worse my old perspective seems. Nothing is so simple as how we view it as children...' sighing, Naruto stepoed forward. " I am sorry that happened, but tell me this. If it were the other way around, would you complaining?"

Naturally, like most humans, he gave a hypocritical shake of his head. "No, your privileged villages deserves some suffering."

'Kill him Naruto.' Kyuubi's request rang clear, and so channeled chakra into his body.

The world blurred as he found himself behind the stronger two Ninja with his sword swinging. Both men fell as their heads rolled across the ground.

Without turning, Naruto spoke to those behind him. " Jiraiya is a sanin, if we want you dead you will be. Go."

Wisely, they vanished in a puff of smoke.

As Naruto looked up, he saw Jiraiya staring down at him with cold eyes. " Make clones to repair the caravan, send one with my clone. We need to talk in private."

'Sigh... wish me luck furball. Oh and guide a clone to checking out this area... caves hopefully, any place to run and hide to should things get ugly.'

Real naruto aided Jiraiya and his main clones with the slight repairs and guarding of the caravan.

Waiting for Jiraiya's chat with his clone.

Two hundred meters away, Naruto's clone waited for Jiraiya's clone to calm down enough to speak. It took several minutes of awkward silence but finally he spoke.

"Do not lie to me. Who trained you and just what are you capable of?"

Angry took over, only it wasn't an explosion of force. This was a glacier,slowly progressing and wiping all in it's path.

" And why should I tell you anything?" Jiraiya spiked his killing intent and Chakra in an attempt to bully Naruto into obedience only to quickly find himself overwhelmed by Naruto much stronger chakra and shockinging level of killing intent. " Don't bully me Jiraiya, you have earned none of my respect or trust. I owe you nothing."

Oddly those words were enough to mildly deflate Jiraiya." Why do you say that? I taught you the Rasengan, Summoning Jutsu and gave you two and a half years of my life to train you. How haven't I earned your trust or respect."

"You told me about the Rasengan, I figured it out. The summoning was am excuse to force me into relying on Kyuubi's power instead of teaching me actual combat skills." Clone Naruto stepped forward, getting close to Jiraiya's face. "When I fought Neji, nothing you or Kakashi taught me mattered bar walking on a vertical surface. Using Kyuubi, which you tried to teach me, had more to do with his pride then your teaching." A nasty smirk crossed his face as he watched honest discomfort cross Jiraiya whole being. " I've used the Summoning a handful of times and it was useful once, during my unplanned fight with Garra. The rasengan is useless with my previously garbage combat skills.

Snort, and then there's my behavior, delusion and overall mentality. I was obsessed with myself, lazy, and obsessively manic. I refused to listen or grow in anyway. I had no concept of how to prioritise, train or act on a mission.

You are supposed to be my sensei and you've given me nothing. You spend your time drinking and whoring and generally ignoring my existence when your not stealing my money or giving me useless platitudes.

Sure, I was in the wrong alot, but damn it it is your job to help. To actually teach me to move past my flaws or at least try. Attempting to push me to a better mind set or actually giving out consequences for piss poor behavior.

I made myself, using what my sensei taught me, to become more then what you let me. My sensei and I are soley responsible for my skills and personal growth. You've earned nothing. As far as I'm concerned, all you are is a temporary guardian to ensure my safety from the Akatsuki. Don't test me. You may be stronger then me, but inside of my body is a being a thousand times greater then you. He hates you as much as he hates my father."

The sudden horrified full body cringe told Naruto he way overstepped. Jiraiya gaped, hurt and filled with great sadness.

"So you know..." the words were wistful, filled with longing toward a different time.

Naruto, for the slightest moment felt pity for Jiraiya. "Wasn't hard to figure out, I am practically his doppelganger. Add in the fact that Jinchuuriki's tend to be related to the Kage to ensure loyalty and my birthday... it makes sense." Sighing, Naruto pulled back. " I don't hate him, Jiraiya. I understand why he did it. However he is a total failure as a father and had no issue in enslaving an intelligent being who had been forced to attack. I claim him as a sperm donor, nothing more."

'Good save kit.' Kyuubi's soft rumble reminded Naruto of his constant audience. 'His emotions have settled a little, he is less suspicious... play on this.'

'Will do, thanks furball.' Sighing loudly, Naruto stepped away from Jiraiya. " Jiraiya." The older man focused on him finally. "I am still loyal, to be honest your lucky I am with my treatment. Don't push me away any more. Don't disgrace my father's sacrifice then you already have."

Without waiting for a response, Naruto poofed away. Things were going to change...

He just hoped it would be in his favor. Three months and he would be strong enough to leave Jiraiya, or so he hoped. He just had to hope...

"How do you respond to something like that..." Clone Jiraiya looked skyward, sighing. " Is this my choice, elder sage..."

Naruto's words weighed heavey on Jiraiya's heart. He couldn't find fault with them...

" If I push him to far, I'll lose him or be forced to kill him... sigh..." Rubbing his face hard, he sighed again. "I have to give him a reason to stay... to earn his trust. Kyuubi would blast out mental intrusion... this is all I have..."

So despondent was he, thar Clone Jiraiya never noticed the bird staring with unnatural concentration... nor did he sense the clear Yamanaka chakra oozing from it's tiny body...

...

Chapter end and arc over, tell me what you think on the reviews.

Jiraiya is observant and Naruto is still impulsive... growth has limits. Jiraiya response will be great.

Lov, your ninja Overlord,

Mika, SPN