So another disclaimer note: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.
When Naruto felt it he wanted to run straight there.
Kakashi had yet to train his eye to fully utilize the sensory ability that it had so he probably didn't even notice; but Naruto did.
Like a familiar humming, a warmth, his eye zoned in on the direction it was coming from and he was about ready to bolt.
But he didn't.
The Man was heading to the hokage's tower and he had to let him hear the situation firsthand before he talked to him. Naruto had to admit that he was lucky that he had gotten out of the house so early and had decided to stroll around a bit because he was too far away now to reach the man before he got to the tower.
Too far to run into that man's arms
Too far to see Jiraiya.
So it gave him time to think. Time to recoup and think about what he was going to have to talk to the man about, because although he wanted to handle everything himself; he knew he couldn't. Yes he could handle Amegakure alone but to what end? He needed Konoha to be continuously involved so that they wouldn't fall again, and if they could get Nagato and Yahiko on their side… Endless possibilities. This was to change the future so even if he left it wouldn't go back. And then he had another issue that he didn't have time to handle himself but if he could issue the people of this time, things would change.
Everything was a gamble now a days.
Everything had risks and he was taking the ones with the least probability. There was no time redo things.
"It will only get more strenuous as the time passes."
Shikamaru said as he walked past the board that he had hung up the plan that he had remarkably come up with.
"I don't doubt that you can get the hokage and others to believe you; it's in your nature. But after that things will get difficult. I'm only guessing by the information that we have how people in the past will act like. And that's only IF we get you to the right time, and IF you come out normally, and IF…"
"Shika"
Naruto said calmly breaking the pessimistic hold on the Nara's thoughts. Shikamaru knew he was smart he was the number one tactician after all but the fact of the matter was that if something wrong happened in the transfer…
He didn't want Naruto to die.
Naruto's blue eyes watched him and shikamaru couldn't help think, when had Naruto become so cool? When did that super hyperactive, knuckleheaded ninja become the strongest person and now 7th hokage? When did he begin to think rationally or even read Shikamaru's mind like he was doing now?
"I trust in you Shikamaru, it will be fine."
No real explanation. No supporting details. Like it will be fine because Kakashi was slaving mindlessly over the jutsu for the past 6 months. Because Shikamaru had plan after plan going through the alphabet with back ups, Because Kurama was slowly putting chakra aside for this to work.
Naruto didn't need to say things like that. What he said was enough and blew away the doubts in Shikamaru's mind like they were insignificant. Shikamaru smirked as he looked back at the hokage,
His hokage…
"Still you have to understand if anything gets messed up, there is no do over. A do over will without a doubt kill you."
They stared at each other Blue eyes understanding,
"You only get one shot"
So Naruto had to tread carefully choosing the branches of the present that would lead to a more bearable future
He had to withstrain himself and be patient…
Even if it killed him
Jiraiya sat in the tea shop. Or course he wasn't drinking tea; there was too much on his mind for such things.
Amegakure.
Civil war.
Terrorist and treaties.
Time traveler.
There was a lot to take in. He left his three students knowing they were going to Amegakure, but he had faith in them to change things; Now he was being told otherwise.
He knew Amegakure was not in a good place at the moment. Hanzo was a strict and oppressive leader who built his village in fear. But with Nagato and his rinnegan eyes he was sure they could handle anything thrown at them.
Bull.
Jiraiya sighed as he took another swing of the sake letting the liquid burn as it ran down his throat. The elders didn't even want his help apparently they already had a plan, they just wanted information. But it bothered him because he knew if they found out about Nagato's Rinnegan that they would bring him back to the village and cage him here.
What could he do?
"Brooding won't help you figure it out"
Jiraiya jumped. He wasn't normally surprised. In fact no one had been able to sneak up on him since he was a chunin. He turned to see a blonde haired child leaned against the window outside. He could have been minato's double for all he knew but he only had one eye the other wrapped in bandages. Still the blue eye that he could see was rich, full of depth and happiness and if Jiraiya had known the kid he would say that it was because they haven't seen each other in a while,
But he didn't.
"So how about this? I help you and you help me"
Jiraiya glared at the child who was this kid? He didn't think he should be taking a brat seriously but there was nothing besides the physical form that was childish,
"Common don't look at me like that, I know you care about your precious students and we'd both hate to see Nagato, Yahiko or Konan hurt right?"
Jiraiya jerked to a stand, as the boy smiled fondly,
"Name's Naruto just like the hero from your story…"
More words that struck Jiraiya's core disorientating him,
"And i'm from the future."