Hello all Storm here with a new idea! Here we'll be seeing Naruto during his "training trip" with Jiraiya, only for things to take a very different turn after the Sannin loosens the seal. So, without further ado.
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Naruto groaned as his eyes fluttered open, the whiskered blonde groaning again at the sun shining right in his face, along with his entire body feeling sore.
'Damn, what happened? And…where am I?' Naruto thought, looking around in confusion, seeing that he seemed to be in some strange mountain range, though would admit it was a rather beautiful sight to see.
But it was still confusing for the Uzumaki, as he was sure that he had just been in a forest, in an abandoned arena with Jiraiya during his training trip. Only for Naruto's eyes to immediately widen, as he began remembering what happened.
The training trip he went on with Jiraiya, though he so far hasn't really learned anything, besides making a bigger Rasengan and somewhat being able to dispel Genjutsu. While the Sannin just went off to peek on girls or pay them to hang out with him, usually after taking Naruto's own money.
But then one day, Jiraiya said they were going to be working on improving his control of the Kyūbi's Chakra. Something Naruto hadn't agreed to, given he didn't want to just rely on the fox's power, along with preferring they did it in a more secure location. Plus, given how he could use up to one-tail against Satsuki, despite how recently he started using the Kyūbi's Chakra. With the only reason Naruto lost, being due to him having to hold back, so he didn't accidentally kill his crush and former teammate.
So, Naruto felt like he was already making good progress, and knew he'd go berserk if he used too much. That's not even counting, how when he tried using it against Kisame and Itachi, the former just used his sword to literally rip the Chakra away, leaving him defenseless.
Unfortunately for Naruto, Jiraiya didn't hear any of it and believed he could handle him if he went berserk, before then summoning a red toad that seemed to also be a scroll. With the Toad Sage then loosening the seal before Naruto could protest or stop him, before everything went blank for him.
"I tried telling the pervert, but no, it had to be his way just because he's a Sannin and I'm his apprentice. Seriously, how did he become a Seal Master, because I'm sure even an Academy Student would know that was a stupid plan?! I hope that I at least hurt the idiot, before he somehow suppressed the fox." Naruto muttered as he stood up, while looking for any sign of where Jiraiya was, along with figuring out where the Sannin even took them.
"Aaah, you're awake, good." Said a sudden voice, making Naruto jump and look around rapidly.
"Who's there?!" Demanded Naruto while pulling out a kunai, as he searched for where the sudden voice came from.
"Down here boyo." The voice said, with Naruto looking down, only to blink in surprise at the sight of two elderly looking toads, one being green and male, and the other being a lighter shade of green and purple.
"Uh…who are you?" Naruto asked, guessing they must be members of the Toad Contract.
"I am Fukasaku and this is my wife Shima, we are the Two Great Toad Sages. It's a pleasure to meet you Naruto-boy." Said Fukasaku, surprising Naruto at their titles, since he wasn't sure if Gamabunta had a title like that, and he's supposed to be the head of the Toad Contract.
"It's um…it's nice to meet you as well Fukasaku, Shima." Naruto replied.
"Well, at least you have better manners than Jiraiya, and aren't jumping around doing some stupid dance." Shima said, with the Jinchūriki nodding slowly.
"Right. And since you brought it up, where is Pervy-Sage and where are we exactly?" Naruto asked, looking around again, while wondering if Jiraiya went off to peek on more girls again and left these two to look after him.
"This is Mt. Myōboku, home of the toads. This is where all toads reside, when we are not summoned by our summoners. We brought you here, after Jiraiya-boy's foolish stunt in trying to make you access the Kyūbi's Chakra." Fukasaku revealed, surprising Naruto again.
"Oh, well thanks for the help. I'm guessing Pervy-Sage is somewhere around here." Naruto guessed, only for Shima to scoff.
"HA! No, we dropped the stupid boy off at Konoha to let Tsunade deal with him for this crazy stunt. Even more so, after what it did to you." Said Shima, with her words immediately setting Naruto on edge and worrying him.
"What it did to me?" Naruto asked nervously at else could have happened.
"No, no, no it's nothing too bad…maybe. It's just that…due to how Jiraiya-boy didn't really have a plan for loosening the seal and helping you control the Kyūbi's Chakra, outside of simply believing you would be able to control it. There had been some…unforeseen side effects." Fukasaku said while trying to reveal what happened carefully, with Naruto slowly beginning freaking out more and more at the suspense.
"Oh just come out with it, Pa! You're scaring the poor tadpole half to death!" Said Shima as she smacked her husband on the head, making the male toad flinch and rub his head.
"Right, sorry Naruto-boy. What happened is that…you're growth and physical aging has stopped." Revealed Fukasaku, as Naruto's eyes widened at what he just heard.
"Wh-what?" Naruto asked, hoping he didn't hear them correctly.
"You're growth and physical aging has stopped. While you'll still age like everyone else, you won't change physically, you're now stuck at your current height and appearance…permanently." Shima said as gently as she could, as the whiskered blonde looked between them with wide eyes.
"…ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!" Suddenly Naruto shouted, making Fukasaku and Shima jump in surprise at the sudden shout.
"I was already the shortest on my damn team and my graduating class! Now I'm stuck like this forever, all because that dumb fucking pervert couldn't use his Kami damned head for five seconds! Where is he, where the hell is he?! I'll show him what it's like to be short, I'll cut his damn legs off at the knees, so he sees what it's like to be a fucking pipsqueak for the rest of his fucking life!" Naruto yelled, before grunting when Shima jumped up and smacked him on the head, repeatedly.
"Language, language, language, LANGUAGE! I will not have that kind of language spoken in my home!" Said Shima, giving Naruto a final smack before landing back on the ground, as the Uzumaki rubbed his head.
"Sorry, but my height's always been a sore spot for me, and I was really hoping to actually get taller on this training trip. Now that's not going to happen, I can't even be seen as a threat while being this tall." Naruto said bitterly.
"Well, if it's any consolation, it would also make your enemies more likely to underestimate you, while making it difficult to hit you." Fukasaku pointed out to try and cheer him up, with Naruto just sighing.
"What happens now then?" Naruto asked, wondering what he was supposed to do.
"That would be entirely up to you. While Tsunade is aware you're here, she did wish to be informed of when you woke up. She's willing to give you the option to either continue your training trip with Jiraiya-boy, or remain in Konoha to be trained by a new sensei." Said Fukasaku, making Naruto scowl at the idea of continuing the training trip with Jiraiya, knowing he likely would end up cutting the Sannin's legs off, if he saw him again.
And while it was tempting to go back to Konoha to hopefully get some actual training done, Naruto wasn't sure he'd be able to face anyone, once word got out that he's now stuck as a runt for the rest of his life. With it not helping that he doesn't even really have anything to show for his training so far, outside of a bigger Rasengan.
"If it's alright with you two, would you just be able to send me back to where I was and tell granny that I'm going to continue the training trip on my own." Naruto said, figuring that if he wanted to get any training done, he'd have to do it himself.
Plus this would provide him with a lot more freedom to travel the nations and even beyond them, if he wanted. Along with not being worried about the Akatsuki hunting him down, given how his history as a prankster helped him develop his stealth. To the point, where he wouldn't be found by anyone, if he didn't want to be. With the only exception being Iruka, who had always been able to find him, somehow.
And at least this way, when he eventually returns to Konoha, Naruto could be confident in the strength he would gain, to compensate for being short forever.
Fukasaku and Shima both frowned at the request, not liking the idea of sending Naruto off on his own into the world, especially as he is now. But they could also understand his reasons for wanting to go off on his own, and couldn't fault him for it.
"I…suppose that's doable. But before you go, let us help with your training for the remaining six months of your first year, into the training trip. It's the least we can do, after how Jiraiya had mishandled your training." Said Fukasaku, with Naruto in nodding in response.
"Okay, I might as well take advantage of the offer, while it's on the table." Naruto said, knowing that while he plans to go on his own from here, it would be dumb of him to not accept any help that was offered to him.
"Good, now lets see if we can find Gerotora and see if we can retighten your seal." Shima said, as she and Fukasaku left with Naruto to get started on the young Uzumaki's training.
*Later-Konoha Hospital*
"Well, I hope you're happy Jiraiya. Because now, Naruto is off on his own!" Tsunade yelled, glaring murderously at her teammate as he laid in his hospital bed, still recovering from his near death experience.
When Tsunade had first seen Jiraiya appear in such a state, she had been shocked, worried, and horrified at what could have done this to her teammate. Even more so, at the fact Naruto hadn't appeared with him, making her worried that the Akatsuki must have attacked them.
Though when she learned the full story from Fukasaku, Shima, and a reluctant Jiraiya when he woke up. Tsunade had been tempted to rip his wounds open again, and do even worse than what Naruto ever did. Not believing he'd do something so dangerous and irresponsible, as loosen the Eight Trigrams Seal. Something which could have very well resulted in the Kyūbi breaking free and Naruto dying.
But after thinking about it for a while, Tsunade realized that actually yes, Jiraiya really would do something that dangerous and irresponsible. Making her curse herself, for not having the foresight to disapprove Jiraiya's request to take Naruto out on that training trip.
Now she'd just gotten word from the Two Great Toad Sages, that Naruto has woken up and definitely wasn't happy to learn about his new condition. With him being angry enough to actually go off on his own. Leading her to go straight to the hospital to chew Jiraiya out, and possibly put him into a full body cast.
"Wh-what're you talking about?" Jiraiya asked nervously, rarely seeing Tsunade this angry, the last time being when she caught him peeking on her in the hot springs and she nearly killed him.
"I'm talking about the fact Naruto's now awake and knows what your stupid decision did to him! He left Mt. Myōboku to continue the training trip, on his own! He could be practically anywhere by now!" Tsunade growled, making the Toad Sages eyes widen in shock before he tried getting out of bed.
"I'll go find hi-" Jiraiya said, only for Tsunade to push him back down, a little rougher than necessary.
"The hell you will! Not only are you still recovering, but you've already done enough damage and I'm not letting you do anymore. You promised, Jiraiya! You promised that you would take this seriously, only to betray mine and Naruto's trust!" Said Tsunade.
"He needs my help, if he's going to prepare for the Akatsuki!" Argued Jiraiya, only to flinch when Tsunade gripped his should tightly.
"Naruto needs your help, about as much as he needs the Akatsuki after him! No, you'll be staying here, where I can see you and get a hold of you, because if anything happens to him, I'm holding you personally responsible. And if you even think of trying to get away, I will surgically remove your vocal chords, neuter you, and seal away your Chakra. You've already destroyed mine and Naruto's trust in you! Along with how lucky you are, that I'm not using his Jinchūriki Status to have you arrested your for treason, for sabotaging his training like that! So, you better do what I say and leave Naruto alone, or else I'll tell Gai and Lee that you've discovered the "Power of Youth" and let them dress you up in green spandex, while hugging you!" Tsunade threatened, with Jiraiya turning even paler than their ex-teammate at imagining such a horrible fate, but also rapidly nod his head.
Both at the threat of Tsunade sicking Gai and Lee on him like that, along with knowing that Tsunade was right. From a military standpoint, his actions and the result of them could be considered treason, with Tsunade being well within her rights to have him arrested. Really, the only reason Tsunade didn't mention anything about having him executed, was because despite his actions. Jiraiya was still her teammate, along with being Konoha's Spymaster and last remaining Fūinjutsu Master, with the death of Minato and Kushina.
Seeing her threat had the desired effect, Tsunade left the room, but not before giving Jiraiya one last glare as she returned to the Hokage's Tower. With the Senju mentally hoping that nothing will happen to Naruto, while he's out on his own.
So, what did you think, good. Yep Naruto has now become a Shota after Jiraiya loosened the seal like he did, learning this from Fukasaku and Shima, who had taken Naruto to Mt. Myōboku, while dropping Jiraiya at Konoha. With Naruto definitely not being happy that he'll remain a chibi for the rest of his life, along with planning to finish the training trip on his own, but not before finishing the next six months of the first year on Mt. Myōboku. While we see Jiraiya getting chewed out by Tsunade for his reckless actions which will lead Naruto to go off on his own, along with her threatening what she'll do if he tries leaving and bringing up what she should do for endangering a Jinchūriki, as no matter what Naruto's still an asset due to containing the Kyūbi. So, review if you liked, go away if you didn't, and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Storm out
