Ch. 2: The Other Meeting
Jiraiya sauntered through the village whistling a tune to himself, masking his inner frustration at… well everything.
He and his sensei got into disagreements before, but never had it been over something like this, never before had it been so vitriolic. And unlike those arguments, where he would later force himself to admit being wrong, Jiraiya didn't see the previous hour's events panning out like that.
Not for the first time he was wondering if his sensei's age was finally catching up to him. The sandaime should be 8 years into retirement by this point. He should be doting on his grandson, working part-time as an advisor, and making occasional trips to the academy to inspire the kids. But the death of his successor turned predecessor put a sharp stop to that possibility.
At times Jiraiya would wonder if he should just step up to the plate and take the hat from the professor. At least as a placeholder until a proper successor became apparent.
Those thoughts would quickly be dashed, he better served the village working in the field and as a spymaster then sitting behind a desk doing paperwork. Besides he wasn't suited for the political maneuvering and games of diplomacy it took to lead a village.
It was about 7 o'clock and the setting sun was just above the horizon. Most civilians were either closing shop or already in their homes with family. Meanwhile this time of day actually had a lot of shinobi out and about.
That's because the hours from about 6 to 9 were a dead zone for mission assignments. Most daytime commissions have been processed and completed and the more covert missions couldn't be issued until much later in the night. So most ninja had a couple hours of free time to hang about and relax in the village.
Most shinobi he passed didn't pay much attention to him, the majority being too young to recognize the sanin for what he was.
Jiraiya was currently in one of the middle class market areas when he passed by a familiar ramen stand.
He knew it pretty well. Ever since it opened it was Minato's favorite place to eat, for a few reasons, not the least of which was a certain redhead who also loved the stand. so Jiraiya would often find himself there with his apprentice between missions and training. There was also the fact that he knew the owner personally as well, but that was a story for another time.
As he passed he heard what sounded like a young boy happily talking, well yelling, at the Chef about his day at the academy. Jiraiya didn't pay it much attention but when he heard the "'ttebayo" that came from within he froze and his heart skipped a beat. Kushina had a similar verbal tic and if that wasn't her son in there he would eat his geta.
Jiraiya came to a stop just to the right of the stand, taking a moment to center himself. He peered inside the cloth and saw him. A seven year old boy with sun blond hair and sky colored eyes animatedly telling Teuchi about his first day at the academy. Jiraiya quickly retreated. There was no doubt in his mind now, that was Minato and Kushina's son, his Godson, Naruto.
Jiraiya wanted nothing more in that moment then to walk in there and hug the boy, tell him all about his parents, his heritage, and a thousand other things before promising to never leave his side again.
Cold reality quickly set in, he couldn't do anything even approaching that. Heck he could be in trouble already for being so close to him right now, no matter how accidental.
Checking his surroundings with a small flick of nature chakra he could just barely detect an anbu on the opposite building, who would likely report this to Sarutobi. But Naruto was right there damnit, right there.
all he had to do was walk through the drapes and sit down, the will of the Hokage be damned. Before the part of his brain that ran on logic and forethought could kick in he did just that.
'Besides' he thought 'its a stupid ass desicion anyway'
Naruto was feeling pretty good at the moment. Today was his first day at the academy and the first step in achieving his dream of becoming the Hokage. And now he got to have his favorite food at his favorite restaurant with his favorite two people.
"Hey Ojisan can I get a large bowl with extra pork please, 'ttebayo!"
"Coming right up Naruto-kun, Ayame start slicing some pork, extra portion"
"Hai tou-san," Ayame started slicing the meat at the front of the stand as her father moved to the back to prepare the rest of the dish. "So Naruto how was your day?"
"Oh it was awesome Ayame-chan today was my first day at the Academy!" the blond announced
"And how did that go? Did you pay attention to your teachers?" Ayame had finished slicing and placed the pork on a table behind her before turning to give her full attention to Naruto.
"I sure did Ayame-chan, but a lot of the stuff the teachers talked about went over my head."
"Well if you're struggling you can always ask them for help, it's their job after all" Ayame lectured as Teuchi placed the ramen bowl in front of his favorite customer.
"But I tried that Ayame-chaaaaan" Nartuo complained "when I asked questions they didn't answer me, maybe I just need to talk louder?"
Ayame looked perturbed, both at the instructor's behaviour and Naruto's suggestion, but let the blond continue.
"Luckily there was a nice pink haired girl who sat behind me, she always asked the same questions afterward and they would answer her."
"Well that's good at least" Ayame said uncertainly, her father spoke up then "what about your other classmates Naruto, what were they like?"
"They're really weird, but I kind of like it, there's this one kid who slept through the entire day and his hair looked like a pineapple. And then there was another boy who-"
Naruto would have continued his speech but it was at that moment that a large white-haired man entered the establishment, causing Naruto to stop short and shrink in on himself in an attempt to not be noticed by the newcomer.
"Boy does that smell good Teuchi-san, pour me up a bowl of miso please"
The ramen chef smiled and nodded at the man "of course Jiraiya-sama" he said and turned to make the order.
Meanwhile the man apparently namedJiraiya turned to the quiet boy who had been so energetic a moment ago.
"Hey kid, is this seat taken?" he pointed to the stool at Naruto's right.
"Oh, uhh, no?" the boy seemed to deliver his response as a question, still unsure of the stranger.
"do you mind if I take it then?"
Naruto seemed to perk up "Really? You wanna sit next to me?"
"Sure, why not" Jiraiya responded, taking the seat as the chef set his ramen on the placemat. "Thanks Teuchi, so did I hear you say you're starting at the academy kid?"
Naruto immediately regained his previous energy and then some at the question "YEAH! Today was my first day and I already know so much! Like how ninja use this thing called catra and that's how they use all that awesome jutsu stuff!"
"It's called chakra, kid" Jiraiya corrected offhandedly
"What, really? Uhhh I mean, ha ha I was just testing you to see if you really were a Ninja, 'ttebayo!" Naruto said, trying to impress the inexplicably nice man sitting next to him.
"Oh? And what makes you so sure I'm a Ninja?" was the white-haired man coy response
"Well your headband- oh. Why's your headband different? you not from around here?" Naruto asked.
"Nah kid, I'm from Konoha, born and raised" he dug around his pouches and produced an old Hitai-ate, cracked and scratched up on a deep brown cloth with the leaf symbol boldly displayed in the center.
"But why don't you have the normal headband on? Can't you get in trouble for that?"
Jiraiya smirked at Naruto's question and said "HA! If I were any other ninja I may have gotten in trouble, but that is not an issue for me, for you see…"
The white haired man then spun out of his chair, flipped his hair, and began a set of Kabuki poses as he continued his speech "I am the gallant and noble JIRAIYA! Toad sage, ninja supreme, master of sealing, and seducer of many women."
The two ramen chefs politely clapped in the background, though Ayame did have a small frown on her face from that last line.
Naruto, meanwhile, just stared at the man in confusion "So why can't you get in trouble exactly?"
Jiraiya let out a sigh and muttered something along the lines of 'kids these days, can't appreciate a quality performance' before sitting back down to eat some more of his noodle soup.
"Other than all those other things my loyalty to the village is unquestionable, so I don't need to wear it" Jiraiya finally said
"But you should still wear it, isn't it like a symbol of our unity and the will of fire and all that stuff."
"Yeah it is but- wait didn't you just start the Academy? How'd you know about all that stuff already" said Jiraiya, usually that kind of talk happened later in the academy, when the the kids who decide they are going to civilians drop out and the curriculum shifted into more advanced aspects of being a ninja, like actual chakra control exercises and the basic three. It got the students who were more likely to be ninja to gain a sense of pride in their future roles.
Naruto simply responded "Jiji told me"
Jiraiya then turned towards the Ichiraku chef "Teuchi-san i'm surprised with you, to think you would attempt to indoctrinate one so young and inexperienced with the would. For shame, for shame." the toad sage said with mock disapproval.
Naruto spoke up indignantly "no not Ojisan, Jiji 'ttebayo. wait, why do you think Ichiraku-san indoctermated me, whatever that means."
"Indoctrinated," Jiraiya corrected "because even if he poses as a simple ramen chef Teuchi over here was a shinobi too, once upon a time."
"WHAT! Ojisan you were a ninja?!"
"Dad you were a ninja?" the blond boy and brunette girl squawked at the same time.
The chef looked bashful "it was a long time ago Ayame-chan, before you were born"
"That's so cooool" naruto gushed "Ojisan you have to teach me some jutsu! Comeon i'm your most valuable customer"
"Aha," Teuchi started nervously "sorry Naruto-kun, I'm a bit too rusty to be teaching you that stuff, besides that would give me less time to make you ramen."
That last statement made Naruto gasp in horror "Nevermind then."
Which in turned caused the group of three to laugh uproariously. Naruto tried to look upset by this reaction, but he quickly broke and began giggling as well. The laughter eventually died down and Jiraiya asked "so who is Jiji then?"
He already had a solid Idea who it was but figured it would be better to confirm his suspicions and not just assume.
"Oh Jiji's Jiji" Naruto supplied unhelpfully before Teuchi clarified "he's talking about Hokage-sama."
"Yeah and he's just the coolest, he comes by to talk to me sometimes whenever he has the time, he's a super important person and I'm gonna be the Hokage, just like him!" Naruto stated proudly.
Jiraiya's right eye twitched slightly at the glowing praise given to his sensei, he couldn't blame the kid for liking the old man, it's likely that he is one of the handful of people that actually acknowledged Naruto. So he didn't voice any criticisms of the man, not wanting to bring the mood down or expose Naruto to the fact that the Hokage was still just a man, a man whose decisions unintentionally lead to Naruto's abhorrent social situation.
"I see" he said simply "well that sure is a lofty goal, but I think you could pull it off"
"You really think I can be Hokage?" when he announced his dream to his classmates during introductions he was laughed at and embarrassed, and this reaction tended to happen with everyone else he told of his dream.
"Yeah kid, I really do" Jiraiya seemed to look right through Naruto in that Moment "I can see it in your eyes, you've got the eyes of a great man, a leader."
Naruto looked ecstatic at the praise, not recognizing the secondary meaning in Jiraiya's words. "so anyway, I think you were telling everyone about your other classmates"
"Oh yeah, I was sitting next to this kid with red arrows on his face and he had a puppy with him. A puppy!" The rest of the night continued like this, with Naruto telling what was now his three favorite people about his first day at the academy. As the sun began to set Naruto started to slump in his seat, rubbing his eyes sleepily. The snow haired man
"Alright kid it's getting late and you need to get to sleep if you want to wake up in time for school, want me to walk you home?" Naruto gave the man a grunt that sounded like approval. He hopped off his seat and grabbed Jiraiya's hand without thinking, leading the man down the street to his apartment complex.
On a roof across from the ramen stand an Inu masked anbu pulled out a small journal that acted as his mission log and began writing on a blank page. Decoded, the log states the following.
Continual guard mission S9
Date/time; August 28/19:47
'The guarded subject approached the restaurant stand "Ichiraku Ramen!" at approx 18:55. Subject ordered food and engaged in verbal conversation with owner, initial I.T. and assistant, initial I.A. Subject ate consistently throughout the duration. At current time the subject left to return home. Nothing of note occurred throughout the time frame. Report concluded.'