Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and only use it for entertainment purposes.
Jiraiya stood at the gate to the temple he and Naruto had stayed for the last six months. In that time Naruto and he learned a few spells in exchange for a few jutsus. And while both sides had become close friends in the past eight months both sides refused to teach the other anything more than mid-level. Still considering that what Naruto and he learned gave them an edge against most other shinobi. "Let's get going Naruto?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yeah I'm ready Ero-Sannin," Naruto said. He looked back at the people that he were seeing him off. It was most of the temple, during their stay Naruto became well liked among the Dogons and Yogons. So just about everyone that was left in the temple, the Yogons left four months after they got there was here to see him off. The two that he knew best were Ro'la and Cre'to. "I learned a lot I wish I could have learned more," Naruto said.
"We also learned quite a bit from you," Ro'la said. He then glanced at his perverted Master, "Though not all of it was for the best." As soon as Jiraiya learned Cre'to's Stealth Goose, Jiraiya taught him his Ultimate Peeping Jutsu. Needless to say none of the Yogons ever relaxed during their bath time during their stay at the temple. Ro'la had a feeling that they left because of the two perverts and would not come back for a very long time as well.
Over with Jiraiya and Cre'to they were talking about the special Icha Icha Paradise: Godeshen Addition that Jiraiya was working on. "I hope you got enough material to finish the book. It would be a shame if you could not finish the book because they left so suddenly." Suddenly as in the Yogons all packed up and left on night after both men were caught using the Ultimate Peeping Jutsu one night.
"Don't worry my friend," Jiraiya smiles. "I have enough material to provide my loyal fans with the tales of Godeshen's beauty."
"You mean girls," Naruto said interrupting the two men. "Come on Ero-Sannin we need to catch the boat back home."
"Before you go did you remember everything?" Cre'to asked.
"Yeah I got everything right here," Naruto said gesturing to his pack.
"What about your sword?" Cre'to asked with a conspiratory look.
"What are you talking about it's right here," Naruto tried to emphasis by pulling the blade out only to pull out a sword handle with no blade. "WHERE THE HELL IS MY SWORD?" He rushed back into the temple and was about to tear the place apart looking for it when Ro'la's voice called out to him.
"take it easy Naruto!" Ro'la yelled. "I got you sword right here." He held up the wide bladed sword to show him.
"Why did you take my sword?" Naruto asked confused.
"Master thought it was fitting since you pranked him as a going away present," Ro'la admitted. That prank involved some smoke notes, a tub of butter and a large ox. Everyone is still trying to figure out how Naruto got the ox in the room when the door and windows were at best a fourth of its size. "It looked a little worn so we had the smith fix it up. We also added some of our own enhancements to add to the already existing ones."
"Hey thanks Ro'la," Naruto said taking the newly polished, sharpened and upgraded sword. After a brief inspection he said, "I don't think the smiths at Kiri could have done a better job."
"Thanks for the compliment," the smith said. When Naruto would ask for his sword to be repaired Naruto ended up telling him of the smiths in Kiri when he spent time there during his first year as a Gennin. Going from the stories and the quality of work Naruto's sword had the smith was most impressed and grateful for the comparison.
"Let's go Naruto," Jiraiya said walking down the path.
"I'm coming Ero-Sannin," Naruto responded.
"DON"T CALL ME THAT!" Jiraiya shouted as the left the view of the temple.
Not much time later Jiraiya and Naruto entered the port town that they first arrived in nearly two years ago. They noticed what little of the town had not changed much only a couple of different shops had opened while they were gone. It was still rather small smelled of the sea, and had various people walking about going about their daily lives. "Naruto why don't you go with check with the Harbor Mater and I'll get us a hotel," Jiraiya suggested.
Naruto looked at him for several seconds, "Nothing in the Red Light District."
"Bah your no fun," Jiraiya frowned. "And here I was willing to set you up. I merely thought it was time…"
"DON"T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" Naruto screamed. "I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT!"
"Well fine just go to the Harbor Master and find out when the next boat home is coming," Jiraiya said.
Naruto walked off saying, "Just remember nothing in the Red Light District!"
As Naruto walked away Jiraiya just started to grumble, "Last time I try to do him any favors. If he doesn't want to benefit from my years of experience with women that's his loss."
Naruto quickly made his way to the Harbor Master. When he arrived he entered the building that was set up for the Harbor Master's Office and saw an old guy with a bit of a gut and bald head lightly sleeping in a chair not far from the door. After a brief scan and not finding anyone else Naruto was forced to wake the guy up. "Hey you the Harbor Master?" Naruto said loudly enough to disturb the old guy.
The bald man woke with a start, "Huh? Oh what do you want?"
"I wanted to know if you're the Harbor Master?" Naruto repeated.
"Yeah that's me," the Harbor Master informed. "So what do you want Kid?"
"I was wondering when a boat from the Elemental Countries is coming by?" Naruto asked.
Sitting up the Harbor Master started to shift through some papers, "Hhhhmm looks like there will be one coming in about two weeks. Only one on the schedule, you'll have to book passage with the Captain when it comes in."
"Thanks," Naruto said.
After Naruto left the harbor he thought, "Now to find Ero-Sannin." He began to sniff the air and quickly caught the scent of toads and began to follow it. As he did Naruto could not help but think he was following a familiar rout. After a few minutes it dawned on him why the rout was so familiar. He took the same one the first time he was here when he was looking for Jiraiya.
As Naruto walked on already knowing where he was heading he started muttering about perverted old men. He was so lost in his thoughts he almost missed Jiraiya's call, "Hey Naruto over here I got us hotel we can stay at."
Naruto lifted his head and saw Jiraiya standing in front of a wooden building. He looked around and noticed he was in the Red Light District, "Her Ero-Sannin I said nothing in the Red Light District."
"This isn't Red Light District," Jiraiya said. "That's over there." He pointed across the street to where Naruto was standing. "You said not in the Red Light District you never said anything about near it." Jiraiya let out a perverted laugh as he thought about the close proximity to the hotels he wanted to stay at.
Naruto frowned as he made his way over to Jiraiya, "The Harbor Master said a boat from the Elemental Countries should be here in about a couple of weeks."
"That gives me plenty of time of time for further my research," Jiraiya let out another perverted laugh. Naruto ignored the laughed and entered the hotel.
For the next two weeks Naruto and Jiraiya stayed at the port city waiting for the boat to arrive. During that time Naruto would leave the city to train in order to stay in shape while Jiraiya often spent most of his time in the Red Light District across the street. The only time Naruto would set foot across the street was to drag Jiraiya back to the hotel because he was too drunk to make it on his own. Unfortunately for Naruto that happened on several occasions, as such several people knew him by name. Finally after two weeks the Harbor Master sent word that the boat finally came and Naruto and Jiraiya went to meet with him.
"So I hear you want to book passage back to the Elemental Countries," the Captain stated.
"Correct," Jiraiya nodded, "We simply want to go home."
"Considering my ship is rather small and the space is limited you had better be willing to pay the price," the Captain said.
"How much?" Jiraiya asked. He knew that he was at a disadvantage in any kind of negotiation on the price. The Captain was holding all the cards so it was just how much he was willing to take. That meant that he would say a price that was a lot higher than he was willing to take and would probably end up getting more anyway.
"Five thousand for the each of you," the Captain answered.
"Ten thousand?" Jiraiya asked. "I'll give you six thousand for the both of us."
"And loose space to a Kid and a Old man that could be used for a crew members? I don't think so for six thousand. Nine thousand total."
"Seven thousand and I through in the latest copy of my book," Jiraiya replied.
"Why would I care about some book a no name author wrote?" the Captain asked clearly showing he was offended.
"I am no mere author," Jiraiya responded with equally offended. "I am the Great Jiraiya Author of the World Renowned Book Icha Icha Paradise!"
"Did you say Icha Icha Paradise?" the Captain said suddenly standing up. "And you're the author?" Jiraiya nodded proudly while Naruto could not believe his ears.
"Wait a minute!" Naruto interjected, "You actually read that?"
"Of course Icha Icha Paradise is a Sailor's best friend on those long voyages out at see," the Captain said. "Tell you what I'll take the seven thousand if you through in your latest book as well as sigh my entire collection. How about that?"
"You got your self a deal!" Jiraiya said. "See Naruto I told you I could get us a good price!"
Naruto was not listening. He was just thinking, "That confirms every old guy is a pervert." Naruto based this on the fact that the Captain was an old guy that looked like he spent more time at sea then on land.
"The trip will take over a month and that's with good weather," the Captain said. "If the weather gets back it could take up to three months. So I suggest you take care on any business you have that you can only on land." Naruto was not sure what the Captain meant but Jiraiya nodded in complete understanding. He decided that tonight he would pay one last visit to a couple of bars in the Red Light District before they left in the morning.
The voyage back to the Elemental Countries was a long journey. With a few surprise storms that came up it took a little over two months to finally reach their destination. During that time Naruto and Jiraiya did the best they could to pass the time. Jiraiya mostly spent his time working on his book and Naruto spent his time helping out around the ship where he could. Considering his lack of knowledge of the sea he was regulated to spending most of his time cleaning the deck. Naruto could not help but be reminded of all those boring D-class Missions every time he took out the mop and bucket.
Still after two and a half months they finally made it to the Elemental Countries. "So where are we anyway?" Naruto asked the Captain.
"We're in Wave Country," the Captain answered. "A couple of years ago this place was once the poorest Country in all of the Elemental Countries. Now thanks to the Protector's Bridge it's now doing very well, especially with the trade agreement it's made with Fire Country and Konoha in particular."
"So all we have to do is cross this Protector's Bridge and we'll be in Fire Country?" Naruto asked he was really anxious to get home and see his friends.
"Yeah," the Captain said. "But I'll warn you I've seen the bridge it's pretty big so it'll be a good walk to cross."
"Thanks for the ride," Jiraiya said. "As soon as my book comes back from the Editor I'll send you a signed copy."
"No thanks are necessary," The Captain said. "If it wasn't for you're works of art I and my crew would have gone crazy a long time ago."
From the time they arrived in Wave Country to when they arrived at the Konoha Gates it took a total of five days to complete. It would have taken less time but the person in charge of the Bridge a guy named Tanzuna insisted the two spend the night at his house once he learned they were Konoha shinobi. He was apparently the person that hired a team from Konoha that protected him from Missing-nins and allowed the Bridge to be completed. And for that he always insisted that Konoha shinobi stay with him whenever they were in town.
After the four days of actual walking Naruto and Jiraiya finally arrived at the Konoha Main Gates. Since it was mid day the Gates were wide open and there were several people coming and going from the village. When they approached the Gates two Chunnin Gaurds stopped them and after a few minutes they were allowed to enter the village, "It's good to be home," Naruto said taking a deep breath. "It's just like when we left."
"Not entirely," Jiraiya said gesturing to the recently completed stone carved face of Tsunade on the mountainside. "Good thing they used her Genjutsu covered face, if not her real face would have scared off everyone in the Village."
Naruto looked up at Jiraiya a frown clearly on his face, "I wonder what Okasan would do to you if she heard you say that?"
"H...hey no need for her to find out," Jiraiya said nervously. "It'll be between just the two of us. Tell you what I'll even take you to that Ichiruka Ramen place you like so much."
Naruto thought about it for a long time weighing the benefits of each. After nearly a minute Naruto came to a conclusion, "I think Okasan might just treat me if I tell her." Naruto then ran as fast as he could toward the Hokage Tower.
"HEY GET BACK HERE BRAT!" Jiraiya quickly ran after him in order to keep himself alive.
In her office Tsuande was once again trying to avoid paper work and Shizune was not letting her. Every time she would try and take a sake break Shizune would come in and give her more work while standing there making sure she did it. Once Shizune left for the fourth time that day Tsunade sighed, "I swear she has this place wired." She was about to go over the latest reports from Gates when a Chunnin came busting into her office.
"Hokage-sama there are two people heading toward the Tower causing damage to everything on the street!" the Chunnin reported urgently.
"Are they attacking anyone?" Tsuande asked.
"No they're causing a huge mess!" the Chunnin said.
"Then why tell me?" Tsunade asked. "Can't you guys take care of a couple of trouble makers on your own?"
"Well Hokage-sama one of the troublemakers is your old teammate Jiraiya-sama," the Chunnin informed.
"Jiraiya's back?" Tsuande asked and the Chunnin nodded. "Then that means…I'll take care of them."
Out on the street Naruto was running all over the place. Jiraiya was desperate to keep Naruto from telling Tsunade what he said about her face knowing he would probably be in the hospital for a week. He would do anything short of leveling the Village to keep that from happening. It was too bad that their chase alerted the one person Jiraiya wanted to avoid, "Jiraiya what the hell are you doing?" Tsunade yelled.
"He was truing to keep me from telling you he called your face ugly," Naruto said from behind her. Tsunade acted on reflex and punched Jiraiya sending him flying through several walls. "Its good to see you again Okasan."
"It's good to see you too Naruto," Tsunade said pulling her son in to a hug.
