Short update, the next one should follow shortly. I don't own.

Disgusted, Naruto snapped Pein's neck over his knee like a twig. There was a general murmur throughout the Iwa crowd, and fear clutched their hearts. The furious blond shifted both his stance and his gaze to where his sensei was bleeding in the dirt, and a wide path opened up in the crowd for him.

"Smart of them. Go, check on the old one," Kurama's voice was low and deceptively calm. Naruto could feel the rage boiling off of him through their link.

No one spoke aloud as Naruto appeared near Jiraiya's side, and when he took in the damage the cloak of chakra around him faltered and then fell.

"Sensei…" his voice choked with emotion as he wrapped his arms underneath the obviously dying man.

"Hey there, kiddo," a wet, bloody cough interrupted the white-haired man, "you're lucky I loosened him up for you, brat."

Naruto couldn't help but to laugh as his hands wiped at unbidden tears. "We've gotta get you to Tsunade, you old fart."

A weak fist bumped into Naruto's wet nose, and the dirt on Jiraiya's knuckles mixed with his son's tears. Godson's tears. "Respect your elders, brat. I'm not going anywhere like this, I won't survive a Hirashin and I won't let you…" another bloodied cough, "bring the Hokage here."

"No!" Naruto stood and ran his forearm across his face. "I'll think of something!"

Hands and fingers twisting through his hair, Naruto did his best to brainstorm under the pressure. He had minutes, at the most.

"You will finally know what you and your father put us through, Namikaze," one man hissed under his breath, but it wasn't nearly quiet enough.

Naruto's muscles surged with his anger, and the crowd shrank back whilst shooting glares the speaker.

"Restrain yourself, kit! Focus on the issue here."

"You're right. What do I do? I need… something here, Kurama!"

There was silence between the two as they thought, and Naruto went back to support Jiraiya's frame.

"Put him in a toad."

The command came tersely, enough to get the idea across and let Naruto fill in the blanks.

And he filled in those blanks quickly, still thinking while he flew through the summoning signs faster than he ever had before.

A mid-sized toad appeared in a poof of smoke, and Naruto quickly relayed his plan to it.

"Heh, clever… brat," Jiraiya smiled to himself even as blood briefly poured from between his lips. His chakra was doing its best to stabilize his lungs and keep the blood where it was supposed to be, but even he could only hold off for so long. He'd have been dead by now if Tsunade hadn't forced him to learn the trick years ago.

A Naruto clone gently picked him up, but the movements still disturbed the rods in his chest. The pain blurred Jiraiya's vision, and in the lapse of concentration his lungs filled further. Every breath was pain, and every sound his chest made was less and less reassuring.

"Alright, sensei," the original Naruto said as he escorted the toad over to the clone, "You and the Clone should fit inside of our friend here, and then he'll wait for my summon. I'll only be a minute, okay?"

Jiraiya could only nod wearily as his vision threatened to go dark on him. Next thing he knew he was in darkness, but it was the familiar darkness of the inside of a toad summon. Kami damnit, he raised a smart boy! He shouldn't feel anything from in here, and now all he had to do was stay awake…

Tsunade sat at her desk, head resting on open palms as she stressed over both the paperwork in front of her and the whereabouts of a certain pair of idiots. Jiraiya had been doing this kind of stupid shit his whole life, but Naruto had never fought in a war before. If he was anything like Kushina though… maybe she was worried about the wrong brat.

Suddenly she could hear shouts from down below, both from her secretary and… the ANBU? Before she could wrap her head around that, her door blew inward off the hinges. She flicked it away, and it smashed into the wall hard enough to shatter the window next to it. A direct assault on the Hokage, eh? The enemy must be getting ballsy… Naruto?

"Tsunade! Sorry about the door but I can't flash in here I need you to go to the hospital come on we don't have time!"

Tsunade was shocked, she had never seen the brat lose his cool like this, not even during the whole Hinata debacle. "All right, calm down and let's—"

She couldn't say anything else because Naruto grabbed her arm and then her world warped. She fought down the urge to leave her lunch on the floor of the hospital and was about to start yelling at the irresponsible blond.

"Uh, operating room? Or ER? Uh… surgery! Yeah!" he was mumbling and looking around at various signs erratically. Tsunade would be more upset with him if she wasn't so worried.

"Naruto—" and then he was dragging her along behind him, making a beeline for the operation rooms in the surgery wing. SOMETHING was horribly wrong, but she had no idea what it was.

Tsunade got her feet back under her and was about to demand an explanation when a doctor backed by an ANBU operative strode down the hallway to intercept them. They did technically need clearance, Tsunade was adamant about that when she took the place over.

When the pair got close enough, the doctor spoke as the ANBU reached a hand out tentatively. Who in their right mind would apprehend their Hokage right?

"MOVE!" Naruto snarled at the pair, his teeth snapping at the hand of the ANBU as they shoved themselves into the far wall, as far away from him as possible.

Tsunade was, once again, shocked. She caught a glimpse of half of the teen's face as his gaze drilled the doctor and ANBU to the wall. The pain, panic, and fury she could see in his one eye made her double-take. He was the reason the ANBU didn't want to intercept.

"Okay, Naruto, I've played along this far, what the HELL is wrong?" Tsunade demanded.

There was no immediate, verbal response, but they finally came to an empty operating room. Naruto rushed them inside.

"Jiraiya is dying. I need, I need you to save him," despite not truly exerting himself, Tsunade could hear his voice plagued by heaving breaths. A coming panic attack?

Then there was a toad in the room, and what he said finally hit Tsunade full force. Naruto wasn't the one who needed her help. It was… it…

"I got him out of Iwa," Naruto said, shaking as he coaxed the toad's mouth open wide enough for a clone to step out.

Tsunade felt her stomach drop and her mouth go dry. In any other scenario, seeing Naruto (who was not small by any means) carrying someone who relatively dwarfed both him and most grown men like a child would be humorous.

Not when that large man was Jiraiya.

Not when he had black rods in both of his lungs.

Her own voice now plagued with its own tremble, "Lay him on the bed. Get me Shizune and her team. NOW!" the last bit was aimed at the ANBU team she knew was following her.

Tsunade gently moved Naruto to the opposite side of the bed, her hands struggling to stay steady as the blood pooled on the sheets. Did he remember how to sustain himself with his chakra? Kami, she should have pressed that harder when they were younger!

"Can't say I'm used to being the one to get penetrated," Jiraiya's voice was low, weak, and riddled with the telltale gurgling of filling lungs.

"Stop talking, you stupid pervert," Tsunade covered her sob with a small chuckle, and wiped her face dry.

"I, I'm sorry. I should have gotten you here sooner," Tsunade's eyes snapped to Naruto's face, the grief and pain visible to all who looked. There was a tint of guilt there as well, but it was hidden the moment it tried to show itself.

"You did…" Jiraiya started slowly, using what little strength he had, "I'm so proud."

A single sob escaped Naruto's mouth as he hung his head, and Tsunade finally managed to get her gloves on. "I said stop talking!" a bit of her usual steel was back now, "Save your strength, dumbass."

The white head of hair plopped back onto the pillow in what appeared to be relief, "And now this feels like home."

Tsunade started the preliminary checks, and she didn't even feel the not-so-familiar-anymore fear of blood underneath the worry. He wasn't in good shape at all. At some point, Shizune and two others bustled in, and someone ushered Naruto out into the hallway.

Time to get to work. Deep breaths.

Naruto sat in the lobby of the hospital for three hours before anyone approached him. Unfortunately, it was a genin running errands for the Hokage.

"Um, are you Naruto?" the little girl asked shyly.

Snapping out of his reverie enough to try and avoid worrying the kid, Naruto responded with, "Yeah, that's me. Whatcha need, kid?"

"The, uh, Hokage's administrative building got reports in from the war fronts. They said your teammates are free to take leave and ready for ex… extraction? Yeah. If, you know, you wanted to see them."

Naruto gave the girl a nod in thanks, and after she had left the room he sat in thought for only a second or two before Kurama voiced his thoughts. "Your team would probably do nothing but help you, kit."

"I know. But do I want to drag them into this?"

"That's a poor excuse. We both know how upset they'll be if they learn you didn't ask them to be here."

That was really all that needed to be said. Naruto nodded to himself and sent two clones to retrieve his team. Hopefully, Kakashi was with Sakura.

"I hate to say it, but I MAY be starting to like them. If only a little bit because you like them."

That drew out the first half smile from the blond since he got to Iwa. "Is that your roundabout way of saying you like me?"

"Hmph," the low grunt came in response. "I'll leave you to your team." Naruto smiled, hung his head, and cut the connection. Kurama's support, in his own way, was a relief.

Sakura was the first to flash in with her clone, Kakashi nowhere in sight. "Naruto? What's the rush to get back?" She took in his hung head moments before surveying the room they were in. "Why… are we in the hospital?"

The blond she was questioning took a deep breath, unsurprised that she'd recognize the building she spends so much time in. "Jiraiya."

Sakura moved before thinking about the ramifications of what he said. She was standing in front of his chair in a heartbeat, his head pressed against her sternum and wrapped protectively in her arms.

No more words were said between the two, and they stayed like that for only a few seconds before another flash brought Sasuke in. He wasn't in the immaculate condition that Sakura arrived in, more than a few cuts, bruises, and rips in his clothing visible.

Sasuke dropped his eyes to his best friend's head cradled in his girlfriend's arms, and he could see the pain even without his kekkei genkai. His eyes rose to Sakura's as he walked forwards, questioning her without so much as a raised brow.

'Jiraiya' she mouthed at the Uchiha, her arms only tightening around Naruto's head.

With a nod, Sasuke sat down in the chair to Naruto's left, dropped a heavy hand on Naruto's right shoulder, and gave one slow squeeze. "We're here," was all he said in support.

Sakura felt Naruto's breath hitch once, then twice, before the front of her shirt started to soak through. She bit her lip and let her eyes dart between Sasuke's somber face and Naruto's gently shaking head, regretting not being able to get their sensei to come back with her.

It was an unspoken agreement between the couple that they would stay with their hurting teammate for as long as needed, and they settled in for the long haul.

Very little was said between the three, most of the support coming silently. What little Naruto managed to say was explaining what had happened and how long he had been there.

Around the five hour mark of the surgery, two hours after Team Seven was reunited, Karin and Haku came into the hospital lobby. They carried food with them, and they made a beeline for the trio as soon as they saw the team.

"Naruto," Karin called softly as she approached. "ANBU dropped by and explained some of what was happening. I guess the Hokage figured you three would forget to eat?"

Haku raised three bento boxes from behind the redhead, who carried her own bento and to-go ramen from Ichiraku's.

"I…" the blond teen's voice was raspy and broken, but one look at his team told them that they were indeed hungry. It was concealed, but in the same way that they tried to conceal it when they were on a mission. "Thank you, Karin. Haku. Will you eat with us?"

The next few minutes found Team Seven sitting side by side in the halfway-comfortable chairs of the lobby, Naruto sandwiched lovingly in the middle and the two members of his clan in front of him. Haku had pulled a chair up for herself to sit in, but Karin opted to lean back against Naruto's legs. The five ate in relative silence, all their eyes occasionally drifting to the hallway they were waiting for Tsunade to come striding out from.

Five more hours passed. His godfather had been in surgery for ten hours now, almost to the minute. Naruto was keeping a close watch on the time. His head was resting against the wall behind him, everyone around him asleep in one position or another for a couple of hours now.

Sakura was clutching his right arm, her head resting on his shoulder as she quietly snored. Naruto didn't have to be a sensor to tell that she was absolutely exhausted from her mission. Sasuke was to his right, black hair pressed similarly against the wall as he too dozed on and off. Sasuke's knee was in contact with Naruto's, the gesture of support monumental coming from the Uchiha.

Karin was still sitting cross-legged on the floor, her head resting back on Naruto's lap. He found that his free left hand running through her red locks, and the perpetual motion was calming for him. Haku was in a chair to his front and right, sitting up properly with hands folded in her lap. Her chin was finally resting on her chest, after doing her best to stay awake with Naruto.

That's how Tsunade found them as she shuffled down the hallway. Naruto was up in an instant, meeting her before she even fully entered the lobby, his companions still waking up from his sudden absence.

"Well?" he asked almost impatiently.

She didn't make eye contact with him. "His wounds… those black rods that were in his chest, I mean. They were… they made his body very resistant to chakra. I was able to mostly stop the bleeding and empty his lungs of blood. I just can't seem to… I can't close his wounds," she said with astounding finality. Her voice did waver, but not as much as Naruto would have expected.

His breathing picked up slightly before he got himself under control. "What," his voice broke and he had to restart, "What does this mean… long term?"

This time her eyes locked onto his. Her tears were evident, both those already spilled and those yet to be shed. "I've already said my goodbyes to him, Naruto. He… he asked to see you alone before he goes. He'll only last as long as he can support himself with his own chakra."

Naruto stumbled backward almost as if struck, into the waiting arms and chest of his dark-haired teammate. He didn't hear any of them come up behind him, but there they all were.

Naruto nodded blankly, his eyes overcast as he brushed arms with his Hokage. He said only one thing when they brushed arms, "Thank you for trying, Tsunade."

Naruto slipped into the room almost gently, as if he was afraid to disturb the air itself. His eyes immediately fell to Jiraiya, age apparent on his wrinkled face. Their eyes met, but nothing was said as Naruto went and sat at the end of the bed. The silence stretched, but Jiraiya broke it before Naruto could speak up.

"Naruto…" his voice was weak, but his breath didn't sound plagued by the wetness of blood anymore, "I am… so proud of the man you've grown into."

Any words Naruto was preparing caught in his throat, and new tears sprang into his eyes.

"I'm sorry you never got to know your real parents," a deep, shuddering breath filled with both physical and emotional pain, "but I am so glad I got to call you my son. If… if only for a little while."

Naruto let a single sob ring throughout the room, and he dropped his head to the bedside. He felt Jiraiya lay a single hand on his head, and he choked out a single word.

"Dad.."

"I don't blame anyone for this, so please… please don't lose yourself?" the dying man asked. He pushed through the pain of not comforting his son and made sure he'd be okay after he was gone.

"I won't, I won't. I promise. I swear," Naruto hadn't lifted his head yet, nor had Jiraiya lifted his weak hand.

"Good. There's so much, so much more for you to live for. You've got all these beautiful girls around you…"

Naruto didn't have to look up to hear the grin that came onto the old man's face. "Shut up, pervert," a wet sob was the only accompaniment to the old, familiar joke.

Jiraiya would have laughed if he was able. "But really. One of my biggest regrets was never marrying that terrifying woman we're calling Hokage now."

The shock wasn't too much for the blond, but it was still present.

"Granted she only recently stopped assaulting me for looking at her."

Naruto let loose a more genuine laugh, wiping his eyes on the sheets before looking up with a grin.

"I should have asked her well before this. Find what you love, Naruto. Who you love. And grab on tight. Marry those girls of yours, before anything happens. Okay?"

Naruto nodded, agreeing with the sentiment.

"I'm sorry I won't be there to see you get… married."

"It's okay," Naruto finally found his voice. "I don't think the bridesmaids would be safe with you there anyway."

That drew a pained chuckle from the man, "Promise me you'll protect what you love, and whatever they love too, if you can."

"I promise."

"Good boy. Now, I have a few minutes left. Would you mind bringing Ma and Pa here?"

Naruto obliged immediately, bringing the toads in question to the room with a white puff of smoke. He also brought Kurama's link back to ask the fox a few questions.

"How are you holding up, kit?" the fox asked before Naruto could speak.

The old toads were sitting right by Jiraiya's head as they spoke in low tones. Naruto didn't bother trying to listen in. "I'll be alright. He seems at peace, in his own way."

"I will not lie. I'm going to miss the old one."

Naruto accepted that odd form of condolences, knowing it was a lot coming from Kurama. He then asked, "Why could your chakra heal my wounds from those rods but Tsunade's can't heal his?"

"Hm. I can't be sure. I would hazard a guess that it has something to do with the rods being made of something strange. Something affected by Nature chakra itself, maybe even pure Ying and Yang chakra. I do not know."

"Do you think if he went into sage mode his body could… I don't know, filter the chakra out of his system or something?"

"Kit… he would need a biju's chakra to heal the wounds regardless. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Thank you anyway, Kurama."

"Naruto?" Jiraiya called weakly.

"Yes?" the toad sages were sitting adjacent to each shoulder, their respective places when the three fought together.

"Will you bring Tsunade back in? I'm… I'm almost out of chakra. She would be the last of my precious people, and I'd like you all to be here for the end."

Naruto didn't trust himself to speak, or breath, so he simply nodded and spun on his heel. He was torn. "I could transfer him chakra! Just to buy Tsunade more time to find a way. Or… or I could come up with a seal to let your chakra heal him! We just need more time…"

Tsunade sat on a bench not too far away. Her eyes met his and were immediately filled with grim understanding. "Kit. Let him rest in what peace he can gather around him. Mourne him, and remember him, but first you have to let him go in his own peace."

With a resolute nod, Naruto led Tsunade back into the room, heart heavy and mind set.

Jiraiya of the Sannin. Time of death; 3:21 am.