I gazed out at the rain falling densely over the foggy village from my seat on the balcony. Dawn slowly arrives, bringing with it a harmonic silence. My soul picked up on the sounds that my ears could not. The blanket of indigo that covered the sky with bold radiance slowly brightened to the rainbow's warmer shades. Hues of magenta and amber slowly started to drown out the glistening beams of stars. A new day had come, new possibilities, a fresh page yet to be written.

Despite that, my calligraphy supplies sat on the table beside me, long discarded. Naruto lay in an exhausted heap in the middle of the room on the other side of the sliding door. He'd been slumbering for an entire day, with no signs of waking up anytime soon. I crane my head to check on him through the screen door, my tea spilling a little onto the silk of my deep blue yukata.

This was generally the ideal time of day to work on my novel, without any irritating outbursts from the raspy-voiced brat to key me up. However, this entire time I've been unable to bring myself to write a single word- even with Naruto being completely asleep. I sighed heavily.

"Well, you have been slacking on your research lately," I contemplate, swallowing down my cold tea. That's not it and you know it. I winced, gulping thickly.

I purposely disregard my inner voice.

"It's not motivation you're struggling with," I grunt out as I willed my hand to set my cup of tea on the table. I glanced down at it dumbly, fiercely trying to ignore the agony shooting through my body at such a simple movement. "It is inspiration you lack!"

My arm erupted in pain, shattering the teacup to the floor. Stop this now. Swallow your pride and ask for help.

I reached over to grab my brush and ink, stabbing pain shooting from the center of my chest to both arms. I grit my teeth, saliva sputtering from my lips as I strain myself to write symbols to paper. The tension in my hands causes the brush to snap in my grasp. The broken pieces clatter to the floor, the sound mostly drowned out by the torrential downpour outside. Spilled ink mixed with tea on the ground of the patio. "Fuck," I bit out in frustration. I tried to reach for a new brush, but I overextended myself. The flimsy patio chair buckled beneath my weight. I crashed to the ground, howling in unbelievable pain.

"Fool! You have no choice," I sighed, using the blood still seeping from the wound on my chest to perform the Summoning Jutsu.

Kōsuke appeared before me in a puff of smoke, sitting obediently on the ground by my head as he awaited my orders. He was a small messenger toad, with red skin and blue markings around the eyes and a pair of green goggles that hung loosely around his neck. He had always been my favorite messenger because of his speed and the fact that he never complained. "Jiraiya," he nodded amicably. I shut my eyes, exhaling from my nose shakily while I tried to gather my thoughts. "You're injured," Kōsuke pointed out in concern. "What's happened?"

"I need you to convey a message to Lady Hokage."

The small toad scratched his brow. "The Hidden Leaf isn't exactly close by, boss. Shouldn't you send me to the nearest hospital or something? Or maybe even the front desk of the inn?"

I shook my head, attempting to disregard the agony I feel from merely being in motion. "My wound isn't an ordinary one. I received it at the hands of the Nine Tails; I'll need a seasoned healer, and she may know of one."

Kōsuke nodded. "How exactly do you want me to relay this to Lady Fifth?"

"I was injured after weakening the seal to the Nine Tails during Naruto's training. The demon spirit instantly possessed him, causing four tails to sprout right away. Neither of us has received any medical treatment. Naruto has been unconscious since the moment I subdued him. We are in the Hinagiku Room at the Tanpopo Inn, south of the Land of Waves. Ask her if she knows of any healers nearby that she could send our way. It's been over 24 hours, and I haven't been able to contact any staff since I dragged Naruto back to the inn. I am completely unable to move."

"Will that be all, Master Jiraiya?"

"Yes."

Kōsuke disappeared. I knew he wouldn't be long using the Transportation Technique. Tsunade would certainly spring into action if she knew Naruto's safety was at stake. Not five minutes had passed when Kōsuke appeared again.

"My lady asks if you can move well enough to place a jutsu formula somewhere in this area."

"A jutsu formula? What are her plans?" This was the last thing I would've expected her to ask of me. Was she physically sending someone here?

"I am not aware of her plans, Master. She said help will be on the way if you can put a seal on your location." Who is she sending? Could it be a student of hers, maybe? A healer she knows from the Mist, possibly one of Lady Mizukage's people? I placed a seal on the ground next to me, the symbols glowing blue and shimmering with my chakra. "I need to go back to her and tell her the seal has been placed. Is there anything else I should pass on?"

"Only my gratitude." Shit, maybe I should ask for her mercy as well...

Kōsuke bowed. "Will do, master."

And he's gone.

The rain continued to fall slowly. I concentrated on my breathing, which burned with each ragged breath. Naruto's claws had slashed my chest to bloody ribbons. It had taken every ounce of strength I possessed to hold him down and place the seal on his forehead. By the time I had finished towing him back to our room, I could scarcely move my arms. I was still running on pure adrenaline when I attempted to clean the angry wound in the bathroom. But I didn't have anything large enough to cover it with. I decided to throw on my robe, which ended up being a big mistake. All of that blood dried, cementing the silk to the skin of my chest painfully.

I didn't even try to move from the patio's ground, laying there on my back and listening to the rainfall. Regret and shame washed over me, cutting deeper than the claws of the Nine Tails. A teacher should never forfeit control. I could've died, endangering the life of a precious student and the lives of an entire village.

A sudden gust of wind and leaves washed over me, blowing my thick hair all around me. I shivered.

"I'll bet Tsunade is pissed," I whimpered pathetically, shame coloring my tone. A familiar aroma of amazon lilies cut through the scent of the rain. My breath hitched in my throat.

"You'd be right, Baka," whispered the soft voice of someone next to me. I would've recognized that velvety, irritated tone anywhere. I tried to sit up, but could only manage to lift my chin. Tsunade was on her knees at my side, her blonde pigtails falling forward as she hunched over my body. Her soft hair tickled my skin, and I shuddered.

"Tsunade," I breathed, my voice choking with emotion. Her eyes hurried up and down my body, assessing me with worry. We were still Jōnin the last time I remembered seeing such a look in those honey eyes. I broke down under her gaze. "Tsunade, I'm so sorry," I sobbed, unable to stop the fat hot tears rolling down the red markings on my face. "I lost control and put my grandson in danger. So many others could have been hurt, too. You had to leave your post because I overestimated my own abilities. I'm so sorry," I whispered the last part brokenly.

I fully expected her wrath. Deserved it, even.

Instead, I felt her soft hand grasp my cheek. A red-nailed thumb swiped away a plump tear. "Sshh… Jiraiya. I'm going to make everything better," she promised, stroking the white hair stuck to my sweaty forehead out of my face. I wanted to ask her how in the world she got here so fast, but everything suddenly became fuzzy and hard to make out. My eyesight blurred, but not from the tears. I could no longer see Tsunade's face above me.

The feeling in my body drained away until finally, all was black.