Hiruzen hears Jiraiya giggle and elbows him. "Shh, we'll get caught!" he whispers.
Jiraiya passes Hiruzen his binoculars and points him in the direction Jiraiya was looking. "Check that out," grins Jiraiya.
Hiruzen's eyes widen. Such perfect shape and smooth skin. So supple and firm… Hiruzen feels a trickle of blood running from his nose.
Oh, how he missed peeping at the hot springs.
Jiraiya pulls out a telescope and joins in, giggling lecherously. "That's right, turn around just a little more…"
A bird flies in front of Hiruzen's binoculars before crossing Jiraiya's line of sight. "Damn," curses Hiruzen. That young lady sunk down into the water while the bird flew past. They missed everything.
"Stupid messenger bird," Jiraiya scolds the bird.
Hiruzen tears his eyes away from his entertainment and turns to look at Jiraiya. "Who's sending you a message?"
Jiraiya takes the message from the messenger bird, who is perched on his arm. "One of my spies' contacts," says Jiraiya, all seriousness. "I'm needed in the Land of Snow, and in many other places too."
"You are needed here as well," says Hiruzen sternly. "We need you to help teach the sealing jutsu to Sasuke and Naruto, and to help protect them while they learn it."
"Iruka and Kakashi can help them learn the jutsu," says Jiraiya, feeding the messenger bird. "Kurama's Guards and Akatsuki can protect them." He tips his head back and looks up at the messenger bird as it flies away. "Kazama and Arashi will look after Kimiko for me while I am gone. But I must go. I've left my spy network alone long enough. Let me know when those kids master the jutsu."
"Suit yourself," says Hiruzen. He does not feel sorry for Jiraiya at all. "Good luck handling the tears and tantrum."
"What tears and tantrum?" asks Jiraiya, looking very worried.
Hiruzen laughs pitilessly. "You'll see. Now, I have to go bug Asuma about getting married." Hiruzen leaps down from the tree and ditches Jiraiya to go find Asuma. Hiruzen is going to have to swing by Naruto's house later to see how well Jiraiya handles the tears and tantrum.
After a relaxing walk, Hiruzen arrives at the training ground where Asuma is training his genin team. "Hello Asuma," says Hiruzen.
Asuma blocks a punch from Ino and glances over at Hiruzen. "Oh, hi Dad."
Shikamaru and Choji turn from their kunai practice and wave to Hiruzen. "Hey Old Man," says Shikamaru.
"So Asuma," says Hiruzen, deciding to lead up to the nagging. "How is your team doing?"
"They are doing well," says Asuma, taking a puff on his cigarette.
"And how's your love life?" asks Hiruzen, taking a puff on his pipe.
Asuma chokes on his cigarette smoke.
"He went on a date with Kurenai sensei the other day," says Choji, pulling out a bag of popcorn and munching down a handful.
"Oooh," says Hiruzen, grinning gleefully. "Kurenai, eh? She's a nice young lady."
"They are such a cute couple!" squeals Ino, giggling. "We were spying on them and they were so lovey-dovey!"
"Staying undetected was troublesome," adds Shikamaru, hiding a grin.
"Dad, stop!" chokes out Asuma, getting all flustered. "And you three can shut up!" he glares at his team.
"Shikamaru, stop lying," says Hiruzen. "Your time with Naruto and Hinata taught you how to hide well."
"It was still troublesome," says Shikamaru, taking some of Choji's popcorn.
Hiruzen laughs. Some things never change.
"Daddy, why are you packing?" asks Kimiko, a confused frown on her face.
"I have to go attend to my spy network," says Jiraiya, stuffing his writing materials into their storage scroll. "I'll be gone for a few months, but I will come back."
"Mummy left for a few months and never came back," says Kimiko. Her voice sounds curiously blank and yet, somehow, defensive.
"I am a legendary sanin," brags Jiraiya. "I'm not going to die that easily!"
Kimiko's frown gets slightly deeper. "If you leave and don't come back, I'll be an orphan," she pouts, crossing her arms.
"I will come back," says Jiraiya, wondering why Kimiko is being so unreasonable. "It's just some spy work - it's not overly dangerous."
"But I don't want you to go," says Kimiko, her frown getting bigger. "I want you you to stay here with me."
"But I have to go," says Jiraiya, patiently. He rolls up his storage scrolls and stows them in his backpack. "I'll be back before you know it."
Kimiko's glare increases a hundred fold. "But I want you to stay."
Rather than continue to insist that he must leave, Jiraiya simply gets up, hoists his backpack onto his back and exits Arashi's study.
Or, at least, he tries to.
Kimiko starfishes herself across the doorway in an attempt to block Jiraiya's path. "NO!" she growls. "DON'T GO!"
Jiraiya picks Kimiko up by the back of her jacket and places her out of his way. There is no point in trying to argue with an eight year old.
Jiraiya, who told Kazama and Arashi he was leaving before Kimiko got home from the Academy, turns and heads towards the door. All he has to do is leave. Naruto knows Jiraiya is leaving, but he does not care all that much. Kimiko is the only person so far to object to the idea of Jiraiya leaving.
"Can I come?" asks Kimiko, latching on to Jiraiya's leg.
"No, it's too dangerous," says Jiraiya, attempting to pull the kid off his leg.
"But I can fight now!" whines Kiimiko. "I've been learning at school! You have to take me!"
"A second ago you wanted me to stay," comments Jiraiya, hobbling to the kitchen to get help. "Make up your mind."
"TAKE ME WITH YOU!" whines Kimiko, beginning to wail loudly.
When Jiraiya arrives in the kitchen, Iruka, Kazama and Naruto are sitting at the table hovering over some blueprints.
"Oh, hello Jiraiya," says Kazama, looking up from the blueprints. "Ready to leave? By the time you get back, the extension will be built. Iruka found the solution to our dispute over the pool."
"That's good," says Jiraiya, taking a quick glance at the blueprints. "What do I do about this?" he asks, pointing to Kimiko. Kimiko has big tears rolling down her cheeks and snot pouring out of her nose. She is wailing loudly, and has her arms and legs wrapped around Jiraiya's legs. "Is this the tears and tantrum Lord Third warned me about?"
"That is definitely what he tried to warn you about," says Iruka, rubbing his temples. "I'll bet he laughed at you in advance, too?"
"Mercilessly."
"The only way to get her off you is to distract her," says Kazama. "Let's see now…" She thinks for a bit before saying, "Kimiko, do you want to look at the plans for the extension?"
"NO! I WANT DADDY TO STAY!" Kimiko screams, increasing her grip on Jiraiya.
"Kimiko, if you don't be quiet and let go of your Dad's leg, we won't let you have any gummy snakes for a month," threatens Iruka calmly.
"NO SNAKES!" Wails Kimiko. "I WANT DADDY!"
"Stop acting like a spoiled brat!" snaps Naruto, marching around the table and shaking Kimiko by the back of her jacket. "Pervy Sage is going to be back soon anyway. It's not he'll be gone for years or something, 'tebao."
"SHUT UP!" Kimiko unwraps one arm and hits Naruto.
Naruto grabs Kimiko's arm and tries to pull her off Jiraiya. Iruka grabs Kimiko around the waist and pulls hard. Kazama heads over and tries to pry Kimiko's other arm off Jiraiya. Jiraiya bends down and helps, but Kimiko just grabs onto his arms as well. Kimiko is crying louder, and is somehow stronger than Naruto, Iruka and Kazama combined. Or it could just be that they are at a disadvantage due to not wanting to hurt her to accomplish their goal.
Stomp, stomp, stomp.
The back door bangs open, and Namiko marches in through the music room. Her face is twisted into a thunderous glare. She storms up to Kimiko and says, through gritted teeth, "Stop. Screaming."
"NO!" screams Kimiko.
Whack! Namiko hits Kimiko hard, right across the face. "I said stop."
Kimiko stops struggling and stares at Namiko, aghast. "You're not the boss of me," Kimiko says, sniffing angrily.
"I don't care," says Namiko, straightening her shoulders dominantly. "You're being a big crybaby. It's disgraceful."
Kimiko lets go of Jiraiya and slaps Namiko awkwardly. "Stop acting like you're all grown up! You sound like an old lady!"
Jiraiya sneaks away while Kimiko is distracted.