A reader request. Reader was once working with Orochimaru due to her abnormal power. But she escaped upon realizing he never loved her like he claimed he did. Fate had lined up for her as she found Naruto and Jiraiya during their two and a half year journey. And rather unexpectedly, Jiraiya and reader quickly fell in love.
And Tsunade is mad jealous she missed her chance.
So it's true. Tsunade looks between her long time friend... to you. She kept doing this. It's a lot to digest. The rumours were enough, but seeing it was even more unbelievable. She could hardly get her head around the idea of Jiraiya finally committing to a relationship. It was a total punch in the gut, kick in the teeth shock when people kept telling her that Jiraiya had come home with a woman who looks ready to pop.
That was the hardest thing to really understand. What the hell happened during those two and a half years? The Jiraiya that left would have never been like this. Gripping the hand of his pregnant girlfriend whilst bashfully explaining how he kinda careened head first into love. He keeps looking at you and grinning in a way she's never seen him do before. Like he can't believe you're really his. It's the same kind of smile that Dan had once given her. You are fairly quiet. More or less just quietly but obviously dealing with some aches. Your face cringes every now and then. Your feet keep shifting. Your ankles and feet look swollen. Your belly is, no offence, quite large. Your free hand is bracing and rubbing your child heavy middle.
"Who are you?"
It came out harsher than she meant. Her expression must be harsh as well. You stare at Tsunade for several moments before answering. First you state your name.
"I... once worked for Orochimaru." You admit with shame.
"Doing what?"
You bite your lip and take in a deep breath. It's something you don't really like to admit. It's hard to talk about the past. Especially when that past is something you are not proud of.
"I was an aid, I guess. I helped keep the prisoners in line."
"With violence?"
Jiraiya was quick to step in. His loving expression towards you turned critical to Tsunade. He scowls at her.
"Come on, do you have to ask her this stuff now?" He asks. He gestured towards you. More specifically the prominent baby belly you got. "We've been traveling all day! I only came to you first so you can start up her paperwork to make her an actual resident here."
Tsunade scowls at him. He's.. very protective. More so than usual. Something about this relationship doesn't sit right with her. Anything that involves Orochimaru even a little bit never sits right. That man has a talent for finding people that are just as cruel as him or easy enough to manipulate into being like him. You shouldn't be any different.
Then her medical training prods at her... a little. It's easy to see you are uncomfortable. You have retreated to be as close to Jiraiya as possible. Your skin tone has gone ashen as it seems you are either getting lightheaded or sick. Your breathing is getting heavier as you try to remain calm and steady. It seems like a bout of morning sickness, or in this case late afternoon sickness. Not that this matters. A pregnant lady could still be evil. You could still be plotting something and it involved manipulating Jiraiya. After all this is quite the opposite of what he said he wanted when he left. He's no family man. He still doesn't come off as one. Not genuinely anyways. Perhaps your uncomfortable state will get the truth out quicker. Any woman in your state would be keen to speak in order to find a place to rest.
"Yes. I do have to ask this now." Tsunade came to her conclusion. She folded her hands on her desk and looked at you evenly. "It's my responsibility of who I let into our village. I can't let anyone dangerous in and jeopardize people's safety."
"Dangerous?" Jiraiya scoffed. "If you want dangerous, we can find the most squeamish villagers and have them watch her throw up! That's as dangerous as she gets."
You tug on his arm. He pauses and looks at you. Immediately his frustration towards Tsunade turned into concern for you. He braced his hand along the lower side of your belly. You nuzzle your face against his sleeve, seeking some comfort.
"Are you okay, babe?" He asks softly. He released your hand to run his fingers through your hair. "You're really warm."
"I'll be fine." You reply. You sneak a glance to the woman behind the desk. "I don't like the scary lady."
"She won't be scary forever. She's just cautious around strangers. The more she knows about you, the less scary she'll be." He assures you in a very sweet tone. He only uses that voice when he wants something. Which at the moment is to get this over with quickly. Tsunade will have her way for better or for worse. It'll be swifter to stay on the better. "Once were done here I'll take you to the nicest places in town, okay?"
"Okay."
You swallow down the wave of nausea and relish in his touch for a moment more before focusing on Tsunade again. The quicker you get this done, the sooner you can find somewhere cozy with your man. A place to simply relax with him sounds wonderful at the moment. Even if he does take you sightseeing. Any place would be better than here.
"No. I didn't do anything violent." You answer her question. "I calmed the prisoners down."
She leans in with interest.
"How?"
Another hard question. It's something you haven't even told Jiraiya. He's looking at you curiously. There's a difference between the two of them. Tsunade was still rather suspicious of you, while Jiraiya was simply curious to you could quiet riots on your own. But...
"I can influence emotions." You say slowly. Each word dragging on your tongue with hesitation. Jiraiya won't think less of you now, will he? "I-I don't know how I can. I just can."
The deathly silence that follows your confession was off putting. It is the truth. Sometimes truths hurt. This odd ability came about at birth. As a child you would fend off your bullies by telling them to go away, and they would. Their sudden apathy to you wasn't natural. You did what any child would do with such an ability, you took what you wanted from people. You are an orphan and you don't know your parents. Perhaps one of them had the ability too and you inherited it? That makes the most sense. What does it matter? It's not like you can ask them. It was clear you had to survive on your own without the privilege of parents to watch over you. Your antics had gotten you noticed.
Strange and parentless is what attracts Orochimaru. Is it so odd to have fallen to his lies? He told you such wonderful things. You'll have a family. You'll belong. He'll feed you. Clothe you. Give you a room to call your own. You will have a greater purpose in life. You thought he loved you. As any child would wish for the adult taking care of them. How foolish you were to only figure out three years ago that he's a liar. He only loved himself. You left once you learned you were only being used.
That's what so wonderful about Jiraiya. Same team, similar childhoods, completely different men. Jiraiya is so much more. A better man. Kinder and wiser. A man that actually loves you and takes care of you. He didn't step away after you admitted what you have. He closed his eyes as he is thinking deeply on what you said. Then accepts it. He sighs and opens his eyes. He smiles at you and reassured you with a firm squeeze of your hand.
"I always did wonder how you ended up in the hands of Orochimaru." He said. His expression falls into sadness as he recalls a true simple but no less horrible fact. "It's not like you're the only one with the same story."
"Are you mad? I just didn't know how to tell you."
"Of course I'm not."
You smile and breathe a sigh of relief. See? A much better man. You continue to smile as your partner places a kiss on your lips.
"Do you use these powers often?"
You sigh as Tsunade interjected with another question. It's fair enough for a question. She's looking at you but taking suspicious glances to your partner. It's pretty obvious she's drawing a twisted conclusion to your admission.
"No. Not really." You answer honestly. It won't do you any good to lie to any degree to this woman. She'd find out. "I sometimes use it to ask the little one to calm down. But other than that I don't like to use it."
"Why not? A power like that can be quite useful to get what you want."
From the corner of your vision you see Jiraiya's mouth open as his brow furrows. He has a snappy comeback for her. You squeeze his hand in a sign for him to remain quiet. He is quick to snap at anyone who is even slightly mean to you. He's a little too over protective sometimes. You do have to rein him more often as you get closer to popping. He nearly concussed Naruto for accidentally backing into you.
It's very sweet that he wants to look out for you, but there's no need for it. What's wonderful is that he listens to you without any use of your powers, which you have never used on him. You can fend for yourself. You have in the past. You can take care of yourself without him always stepping in. Sometimes he needs to be reminded of that.
He shifts on his feet, but remained quiet. He's not pleased. You can handle these questions. You are very different now. As a child you used your ability for survival. Then to quiet desperate hopeless souls that Orochimaru had captured as you grew into adulthood. It never felt good. Telling people how to feel isn't right. Even telling your baby to calm feels strange. It feels selfish sometimes. You do it to save your body the pain of their kicking and restless shifting but a part of your conscious reminds you that a normal mother doesn't have that option.
"I find no joy in controlling people." You answer simply.
Tsunade sighs and leans back into her chair. Okay. Fine. You seem okay enough... for now. But the slightest misstep and she will have you questioned. She looks you over again with a much more careful eye.
"How many months are you?"
A smile grows on your face, finally a topic you enjoy speaking about!
"Seven and a half."
Your excitement turns to worry as Tsunade frowns. Not the suspicious frown she has been critical of giving you, but one that is more confused and displeased.
"You're sure?" She asks.
"Uh yes. I think I would remember how long I've been pregnant for."
"And your eating habits?"
Okay this is getting a little strange. It's worrisome. Are you too big? Too small?
"About the same." You answer, your voice much more quiet as you try and figure out what she's getting at.
Her very analytical eyes are moving over you like she's calculating a hard equation. Her displeased frown didn't waver as she thought. Uncomfortable under that intense gaze, you turn to Jiraiya. He's looking between you and his long time friend with the same worried puzzled expression you have.
"Is there something wrong?" He asks.
"You're bigger than you should be for seven and a half."
"Hey! That's a little mean."
"Not you!"
"Well of course I know you meant not me!"
They began to snip at one another in a juvenile argument. Do they always bicker like children? You don't have friends, so this is all quite new to you. No one at the base you were stationed at would speak to you. The prisoners feared you. The few experiments you had to calm hated you. The others in Orochimaru's... care? Employment? Successes? They thought you were too weak to bother with. No one even noticed you left. They probably still haven't noticed. Your usefulness had died out before you left. It was only a matter of time before you were killed for sport or used for an experiment. If only you had known there was a man who felt as if he were made for you out and about the world living his life away from you. You would've left earlier.
"Would mind going for a checkup? I doubt it's life threatening, but it's still something worth investigating." Tsunade insists.
You agree. Throughout this whole pregnancy you have only been to a doctor once, and that was when you found out. It was in a small town that had one doctor that hardly seemed trained for anything, but she had enough equipment and whatnot to run a few tests. The reason you were feeling so under the weather had now seemed like the best side effect ever. You were happy, but nervous to tell Jiraiya. The subject of children had never come up in your very fast, passionate relationship with him. When you did ask, he was quick to put two and two together and squeezed you in a hug so tight it felt like your spine was permanently curved. Another visit would probably be best. Hopefully this odd abnormality will result in another spine curving surprise.
"Anything else?" Jiraiya asked, but his tone was baiting for her to say more.
"And I'll start the paperwork to make you a citizen of Konoha." Tsunade was somewhat reluctant to say.
"Sounds good!" He said with a cheery grin. He gently tugged on your hand to lead you away. "Come on, babe. Let's go get that checkup."
"Okay." You agree. "But what about those best places in town?"
"They can wait."
You roll your eyes. Jiraiya doesn't usually go back on his promises, but if your health is compromised then there's a chance you probably won't leave the hospital. Hopefully it's not that bad. But you're an expecting mother. All things that could go wrong are going through your mind. It can't be bad, right? Your child has to be okay.
Before exiting the office, you turn and offer a small wave to Tsunade. Despite her obvious suspicion of you, she's been fairly pleasant and helpful. She must care to some degree. It won't be today, but maybe someday you could be her friend. It would mean a lot to Jiraiya. He spoke of her often while on the trip. He cares for her greatly.
Her wave back to you was more or less her raising her hand. She gives off the impression that she's still not sure about you. Can you blame her? From what you heard, her run ins with her old teammate have been less than pleasant. It doesn't help that every run in with Orochimaru's lackeys haven't gone very well either. The last time they were involved they raided the village and stole the second to last living Uchiha.
You know the story quite well thanks to the few rumours in the base you were once at and Naruto's passionate retellings. Alas you hadn't seen his friend when you were in that dungeon. Your base had almost been completely abandoned aside from the crazy doctor still trying out the occasional cruel experiment. Thankfully the most you were exposed to was the injuries gained from walking too close to the bars of the prison. You'd get grabbed and pulled, clawed, screamed at. That's where your ability became most useful. The physical touch required for your ability to work ensured that the attacks were at least short. But it meant holding a few scars as those unfortunate souls were determined to leave a mark somewhere. They wanted you to have a taste of their misery. But it's not like you were much different from them.
That's another thing that made Jiraiya so wonderful. He was the first person to be sympathetic towards you. The cuts and scratches on your arms were treated properly for the first time. You were tied up as he didn't trust you at first, but he still cleaned and dressed your wounds. It was clear he didn't see you as a threat, but he didn't want you to be in pain despite the fact that you are an enemy. That's what made you realize that men could be more than what Orochimaru was. That's what made you fall in love. That boundless kindness.
Being in a real hospital is quite strange. It does have some similarities to the lab in at the base. There's strange machines and it smells like what one think when around medicine and sickness. The bed is more comfortable at least. Your anxieties are being calmed by Jiraiya. He's holding your hand. He's looking around with a frown. He probably hasn't been around the maternity ward before. All the strange contraptions are confusing him too.
Seeing him even a little upset does worry you. His head is somewhere else. It's hard to tell where. You grab his hand more firmly and hold it against your belly. Anything involving the baby puts him in a better mood. His gaze focused back on you. He hides whatever he's thinking about with a smile.
"I'm sure everything is okay." You say with a smile.
"Yeah..." He replies softly. His hand rubs in a circle along your middle. "I'm sure it is too. I guess I'm preparing for the worse... the worse always seems to happen to me."
"It won't this time."
His hand flinches back in surprise. The was the first kick he felt. He's missed the last few times. Not intentionally. The baby liked to kick more at night when everyone is asleep. You don't tend to bother him, no matter how he whines that he wanted you to wake him for anything. There's no need to bother him at such an unreasonable hour. Even if he does take notice that you're tired from all the restlessness from the baby kicking you. He pouts a lot, insisting that he'd rather be tired with you than well rested.
"See?" You say with a laugh. "They agree. Everything is fine."
From the corner of your sight you catch movement. You look over to see that woman from before, Tsunade. She took a step in, paused at the frame of the door at what looked to be an expression that was caught between a cringe and something else. She turned and left by the time Jiraiya looked up from your belly. He was star struck at finally feeling a kick and was completely enamoured with trying to feel around your belly for another one, as if he could bait the little one into doing it again. Perhaps if he pokes you enough they will. Then again you might kick him if he does.
Maybe she walked into the wrong room. She is a doctor after all. She must be aiding a different patient and got the rooms mixed up. You don't dwell on it. Not too long after another woman walked in. She was a doctor that was in charge of this ward. A nice woman who looked young despite her years of experience. Her hair is brown but has sliver stands mixed in to show she is older, but her enthusiasm and kind face was still quite youthful.
She was pleasant to work with. Since it was quite obvious that you and Jiraiya were totally new at this, she took the time to explain what she was doing. That included the big machine that was pulled up close to the bed. It had a screen and some contraptions under it the screen was hooked to, then it had some kind of handheld that looked like it was gonna scan you.
In the most basic terms that's what it did. It's amazing that medical equipment can be used for more than harming people. The idea of even seeing your child before they are born is a concept hard to grasp. The gel that was put all over your middle was cold, but that seemed like a small price to pay. That handheld was placed onto your skin and a grey image came to life on the screen.
"Okay." The doctor said rather casually. She moved the device around to inspect the images that came up carefully. "Let's see what we got here..."
Your eyes are glued to the screen. Your partner is doing the same. He's leaned in with great interest. The doctor laughed after a moment.
"It's no wonder you are larder than you should be for the beginnings of your third term!" She said with such joy it's hard not to get excited. "There's more than one baby in there!"
You share a look of shock with Jiraiya. That's... good news but unexpected. The device was moved around so you could see the images the doctor pointed out.
"That's one... there's two." She said as she moved the handheld around. Quite surprising she moved it sharply down and to the left. "And that's three."
"What?" Jiraiya said your thoughts exactly. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. You two are going to be the parents of triplets. Congratulations!"
The baffled expression on your beloved face was quite telling. He wasn't expecting news like this. He didn't know how to process this. Triplets? Three children all at once? Sure he worried about starting a family so late in life but this is just overkill.
He's somewhere far away. You stare at Jiraiya as his furrowed brow and confused frown stayed on his face. His eyes are staring at the screen but it hadn't seemed to sink in yet. You listen to the advice of the doctor while your partner seems to be having a crisis.
"The third baby is in a compromised position. He should move in place the closer you get to nine months, but we'll have to monitor it. If he or the other two get compromised we may have to look into an alternative way for you to give birth. Surgery is quite common for mothers with more than one baby."
That sounds scary. Every surgery you have seen has been a bloody torturous struggle for the person being operated on. Is it really any different in the hands of healers? Do they put their patients to sleep before? Or will you have to be awake and endure the pain of a surgical assisted birth?...
You got a second appointment and a picture of your womb out of this. As well as a lot of information to process. Triplets and the possibility of surgery. There's also the very plain fact that you shouldn't leave Konoha for several reasons. Most having to do with your pregnancy, but also because you aren't trusted by anyone here but Jiraiya and Naruto. Jiraiya had spoke about maybe moving along fairly quickly after returning to Konoha to drop off Naruto. But that was mostly hopeful dreaming. He was stuck on the idea of being nomadic even after you have his child... or in this case children. He didn't like that you lived so sheltered and wanted to show you what the world had to offer. You've seen enough for now.
Once outside again, Jiraiya finally broke his haze. He had slowed down to walking behind you, holding the picture of your womb that showed off his three children. Yeah he panicked. For a moment. Imagining the future shows one that'll be busy. One child is challenging. Three is a whole other level. It's thrice the work... He has so much to do. He looks forward to it.
You are... wonderful. Like everything that has involved you, it's been better than he thought. He's finally doing the things he's always wanted to do. Three kids. Three identical little kids. Two girls and a boy. Heh... that's enough to make a team.
You make this possible. To a girl that tried to do the right thing, to a woman that he'd lay his life down for. You have come a long way. You were timid around him at first. Hard to blame you since he had to tie you up and interrogate you. But you were honest and all you had said panned out. A few people got arrested because of your detailed accounts of them, their crimes, and their association with Orochimaru. You had the choice to leave after he let you go... but he didn't want you to. There was something about you that had him stuck. He didn't know why, but you somehow made things in his life complete. As if you were a large puzzle piece that he had lost, and once put in place the whole picture of his life make sense. Honestly he never expected to find the love of his life during that two and a half year journey... He never expected it to find it at all. You changed everything. In the best ways possible.
His arms wrap around you with his hands resting on your prominent baby bump. You stop as he holds you from behind. His body against your back firmly. That security that his touch always filled you with comfort. Light kisses press on your neck.
"Triplets, eh? Do you think we can handle it?" Jiraiya asks.
"I hope so." You reply. "I think we have enough love for them. The rest we can figure out as we go."
"Sounds like a plan." He said as his hands gently squeezed. "Are you scared at all?"
"A little." You admit. You place your hands over his. "I've seen what surgery is like and I don't want to go through it... but I don't think childbirth is any less painful the normal way."
"Proper surgeries use medicine to dull the pain. I promise that you won't feel it as much as you think you will." He pauses again. Part of his face presses into your hair. His voice lowered to a whisper. "I won't let anyone but the best work on you, no matter how this happens."
Jiraiya can make anything sound feasible. He makes it sound safe. In a way he makes it sound like it's not anything to worry about. As if is very gentle words had banished away the sights of screaming and blood you have witnessed countless times. It's something you don't have to worry about for another month and a half, but it feels as if it is right around the corner. It's not a lot of time for a baby to navigate itself. Why did one decide to cause trouble?
"At least we know one thing." You say.
"What's that?"
"Your son is already taking after you."
He laughs. You almost fall off your feet as your boyfriend rocks you about in his fit of laughter. You giggle with him. He seems to be much more at peace now. So are you. While it is uncertain how exactly your children will enter the world, you are content knowing Jiraiya is here to make sure they all arrive safely. Your fears of what happens on a proper surgery table is put at ease, but not totally laid to rest. Even with a loving partner assuring you it's much better than what you saw, it's still scary to lay so much trust in someone who is intending on cutting you open.
It's best not to think about it too hard. You may not even need to be cut open anyways. If your son is like his father, he'll quit his trouble making just in time to set things right. Jiraiya brought you out of your thoughts with a kiss to your cheek. He grabbed your hand and began to pull you back to the paths.
"Come on, I promised you a tour."
He grabbed your hand and led you around. The aches and pains you've grown accustomed to numb. Jiraiya had gotten more and more excited to show you around the days prior to coming to Konoha. Naruto too. They both wanted to show you places that meant something to them. That excitement had made you excited too. You can sit later. Your partner wants to show you his hometown. While you would have liked to include Naruto in this adventure, it's good for him to visit with his friends in town. He missed them greatly. Plus you get to have Jiraiya to yourself. With just him, you can really learn what he loves most about the place he grew up in.
Not surprising, Jiraiya liked outdoor areas. He was happy to show you the places he spent lots of time at while growing up. He likes the woods. A lot of his childhood memories seem to be around the patches of trees that are in the village. Playing tag with his team. Learning how to climb a tree without using his hands. Whether or not he liked these spots to peep at women as a whole different topic all together. Same with the river and bath house. Those childhood memories were more vague in his explanations as to why he likes them so much. He's a good swimmer... but it's like it's a hobby of his. By his smooth execution from when he spied on you, he must have had lots of practice at leering.
Not that you minded him spying. Adorably, he was shy to ask you out after he let you go. You stayed with them because you had no where else to go. Plus you liked them. Naruto was quick to accept you and made you feel like you could have somewhere to belong to. Jiraiya was a bit more stingy... but turned into a babbling mess of excuses whenever you caught him looking at you. He liked having you stick around, he just didn't want to say it outright.
It was more cute than weird. One time he broke the fragile old fence of an ancient bath house. He fell face first and stared at you owlishly under the mess of rotted wood he collapsed upon. The other women in the spring booked it, screeching in offence at the pervert gawking at them. But his eyes never left your body. He didn't care for the others.
Maybe you're weird too. No one ever looked at you like that before. It was very enjoyable. He sat up on his knees and tried to come up with an excuse. But his gibberish wasn't intelligible. The best you could understand was his saying something of how pretty you are. His voice went up a pitch when you approached, fear more evident in his eyes as he expected you to send him to god with a single blow. You have some prowess in battle and have shown great promise before when defending yourself by his side. With some proper training, you have shown you are able to hold your own. He didn't want to be on the other end of that. His jabbering fell quiet when you kneeled in front of him and gave him a timid kiss.
It's a special memory. It was your first kiss. Perhaps not as romantic as most people's stories... but special all the same. From that kiss started a relationship that you'd never thought you'd ever get. Jiraiya showed you a lot of firsts. There were lots of times he wasn't so sure what to do since he'd never done it before. Other times he was pro. All of it was good.
All the exploring and reminiscing led to hunger. As a late term pregnant lady, it lead to you getting cravings. Quite thankfully, Jiraiya knows the best places to get a bite. Taking the main streets instead of the backwards ways Jiraiya took you before had yielded different results. People stared. They stared when you first came to town and again on the way to the hospital, but it was more blatant this time. Perhaps they just didn't care to hide it anymore. You are a new person with a less than trustworthy past, who is together with one of the most famous shinobi to hail from this place and to top it off you are pregnant with his children. It would make anyone who is familiar with his reputation to at least do a double take. Those who know Jiraiya before he left don't know him now. He's changed and it's for the better.
In reality he's always wanted these things, he just never said it. A wife. Children. Maybe a nice home. Maybe living as a family with the same lifestyle he's always had. He could picture it either way. Watching his children play out in the backyard through a window while he helped his wife with chores or playing with them in a river he found beside a well travelled road. But once he hit mid forties he really stopped trying. It was best to just give into the fact that he'd never get these things than live so miserable in the wake of constant rejection. For a while he was convinced he was unlovable. No woman wants him longer than a night. In some cases no longer than a few hours. So why bother looking for more? There's no way he'd find one that would want him for a lifetime.
In some ways, Naruto changed that. That kid, as boneheaded as he can be, did make Jiraiya feel as if he could be loved. Maybe not in a romantic way, but in a fatherly way. If he can't have kids of his own, it's nice to be able to at least be somewhat of a parental figure to a child he knows doesn't really have one. He's not the first. Naruto had accumulated a few adopted parents. With a small collection of adults from the village who had accepted him and had grown protective of him. But the one on one, camping out in the wild with nothing else type of company was healing in a way. To have a child just talk to him without a filter and value everything he was filled that void. Then you came along after a year... and he did fall smitten.
There you were, covered in dirt, old blood, and wearing clothing that looked like it was held together sheerly because you wished it to. It was difficult to look away from you. You're really pretty. His heart did fall when Naruto explained how he found you and caught you. An associate of Orochimaru? You? Jiraiya didn't believe it. He didn't want to. Alas another pretty lass was fated not to be his because she's evil.
But then you started to talk. You were scared and spilled your guts out to him. It was clear you wanted to do the right thing. You wanted a different life. A second chance. A person as genuine as you didn't belong with the enemy. Someone as fair and thoughtful as you belonged with him. He wanted to take care of you. But he was so used to not having his feelings reciprocated that he was hesitant to say anything. When you decided to stick with him and Naruto, he was happy. Maybe he could try to flirt and see where it would go...
Maybe he would have actually taken you on a date sooner if Naruto didn't keep batting mocking flirty lashes and making kissing noises to annoy him. He had to smack that kid on the head a few times for embarrassing him in front of you. Then again he did somehow manage to woo you, a first kiss in a hot spring after failing in his mission to see you naked in a subtle way was pretty good too. The hours that followed still make him smirk. His only regret is not telling you sooner. After so many times of failing, he always seemed to forget that lesson. He really shouldn't wait anymore when it comes to his heart.
You sat with him on a bench munching on a made to order pastry filled with conflicting ingredients that your babies wanted to taste. Jiraiya was slightly more traditional and lacked your particular pallet with a fruit filled one. He wasn't as ravenous as you either, he was nibbling while smiling to himself about something.
You took a look around as you ate. It's easy to see why he's so fond of this place. It is beautiful. It's a mix of nature beside well tended buildings and roads. The nature of the forest is in harmony with the people. There's a real sense of peace here. The people walk around freely with smiles on their faces. There's children running around and playing. The air is filled with a warmth and welcoming. It would be a great place to raise your children. It feels like they could never be hurt here. Especially with their father around, who promised to always protect them.
"I love you." Jiraiya said. He looks at you with a smile that had you captivated. "I just wanted to tell you that." He takes a moment to glance around. As lovely as this village is, sometimes people don't know how to mind their own business. "I know to some we come off disingenuous."
"I love you too." You reply. You take hold of his arm and hug it tightly. "I don't really care about what other people think. I'm just happy to have you."
"I'm happy too... Which is why I want to ask you something." He paused and chuckled. He shifted so he was angled towards you. With his free hand he caressed your bump before placing a kiss on your lips. No more waiting. "Or I guess I should say propose."
"Oh... Jiraiya."
"We aren't all that traditional, but I think we should do this right. Once you have our children and we get a handle on being parents, I want you to marry me."
"Really? You want that?"
"I've finally found a woman I love and she's having my children. There's no reason I shouldn't marry her." His expression suddenly dropped into worry. "Unless you don't want to-!"
You grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss. He is quick to melt into it. It's heated and passionate. Almost too passionate to be done in public. It's the type of heat that has always been alive between you and him.
"I would love to marry you." You say.
No verbal reply came, Jiraiya can express his feelings in a different way you and him both enjoy. He pulled you as close as possible. To most it was probably obnoxious to watch. His hand moved down to squeeze your thigh. Your lips and tongue are fully occupied by his.
He's going to be a father. He's going to have a wife. With you in his life everything finally makes sense. After so long of all of it not... It's almost like being awake in a dream. You are his second chance. He's never been so glad to have finally taken it...
She should be happy, right?
With elbows propped on the table and hands folded at chin level, Tsunade stares at half done paperwork that would grant your citizenship. With a headshot of you smiling happily clipped to it. You hardly seem dangerous. But it's hard to trust you... It's hard to be objective.
Jiraiya is smart on all accounts, but he's a fool with women. Always has been. Tsunade is aware of his messy track record. He's tried in the past to find that companionship that she once had. It was easy to see how miserable he was when he saw the people he grew up with get spouses and he couldn't do it. She didn't know until recently that his misery was also because of her marriage. Before he left he said a few things that pulled at her heart.
It was saying it without saying it. He wished something did happen between them, and he missed his shot. But he was learning to be okay with it. It left her stewing in longing and confusion. Her best friend as a partner... again? Honestly she should've counted herself lucky to have been given another chance to love like that. Instead she pushed it aside, figuring she couldn't go through it again.
Now she sees she was the one who missed the shot. Jiraiya moved on. He has a girl. One he wants to marry. One that is having his children. So... she should be happy. Her best friend is getting everything he's wanted. Yet it hurts. She unfolds her hands and uses one to rest her cheek in while she pushed the paper out of the way to see the other. Which was a report on you of your actions since you left the office. Some of the details she already knew.
She tried. Helping out with your appointment may have smoothed things over with Jiraiya. He wasn't too impressed with her and her heavy suspicion. But seeing him grinning with an almost childish excitement as he held your middle was harder to bear than she thought. She got her best to do it instead, then got a report. Then got an Anbu to tail you more closely. She's not so good at being non confrontational. That surreptitious quality is more of Jiraiya's thing. It's not like she can ask him to spy on you, he'd blow up at her. Anbu are better anyways. They don't question her orders.
The details on the report is almost too much. It is unbiased, but it seemed even the wholesome affection and excitement had even made an elite close to weeping. Expecting triplets and planning to get married. It makes her blood heat and freeze back to back. The imagery of you and Jiraiya being so happy just... is irking. That should be her.
It's almost cruel. The realization of what she could be living if she had returned his feelings two years ago. Instead she's left on the side he has been on for so many years. It is a lonely side to be on. Then again... even now with all the hurt of seeing Jiraiya with someone, it's hard to tell. Does she love him? Or does she miss being loved?..
Maybe there is something to keep watching. You... have to be doing something wrong. Your ability is hidden and quiet. How easy it must be to have anyone under your influence. A part of her is hoping you are doing some kind of scheme. Once she proves it everything will fall apart. Not that she wants to see Jiraiya hurt, he clearly cares about you, but something just feels wrong. Can you simulate love? It can't be totally out of the question. He is head over heels for a woman he barely knows. That just doesn't happen.
Men don't change overnight. Least of all to that degree. You must be doing something to him. Tsunade scowls and scrunches up the papers. Not yet. She's the leader here. Even if there's but a small amount of suspicion, she shouldn't sign these papers. Any minion of Orochimaru isn't to be trusted. Regardless of how her friend feels about it. She threw the papers away and leaned back in her seat. Not now.
You must be controlling him. You just... have to be. You are criminal. You controlled people for self gain. You probably still are. You're ruining her friend with your lies and manipulation. The longer this goes on the worse it'll get.
She'll prove it if it's the last thing she does.