Here I stand,
Strong with will.
Strength and skill
Contained in my hand.
Here I stand,
I will not move,
I will not budge.
To go without me,
We all would judge.
Naruto and Jiraiya stood ten feet apart in the open training yard. Naruto readied two of his hiraishin kunai. He still didn't know about what the seal had done.
Jiraiya scoffed, "You really think that's going to work on me? I taught the man w-" as he was talking a kunai slashed into his thigh.
"Shut up."
Jiraiya was confused. He never even felt the kunai approaching him. He must've been in some sort of genjutsu, "Release!"
"That wasn't genjutsu-ttebayo," Naruto laughed, getting a head tilt from Jiraiya, "I used lightning release to speed up the kunai." He looked past Jiraiya for a second before wincing and looking away. Jiraiya turned to see a long line of flattened trees behind him. He snapped his head back to Naruto, who was rubbing the back of his neck, "Yeah I... uhhh." After an awkward silence where Jiraiya stood doing nothing but gawking, Naruto tossed his kunai into a tree, and attempted to teleport to it. It didn't work. He tried again. No dice. Jiraiya charged, brandishing a kunai as a decoy.
Naruto noticed the man just a little too late, "Needle Jizō!" Jiraiya shouted as Naruto began to jump away. Jiraiya's hair grew to around 5 times its normal length, and he swung the whip at Naruto. The boy leapt back from the spikes, completely avoiding them. Until Jiraiya shouted, "Hair needle senbon!" Spikes shot from Jiraiya's mane, embedding themselves into Naruto, who vanished in a poof of smoke. When Jiraiya looked back at the forest, Naruto had created a shadow clone and tunneled underground. Jiraiya now noticed the hole, sending his jizō down into it. He turned, expecting Naruto to emerge from the hole, 'Dammit. He played me,' Jiraiya thought to himself as he smirked. Jiraiya's jizō found a separate hole, one that hooked back around. Naruto was tunneling back around to get a shot on Jiraiya's back.
Naruto emerged behind the sannin. Preceding the boy were 10 or so shuriken, coated with flame. As they got closer to Jiraiya, they duplicated. Jiraiya quickly turned and erected an earth wall, which the shuriken sunk deep into. The boy grabbed his left forearm, causing Nuibari to be released. The blade turned blue as Naruto pumped lightning chakra into it. He launched the blade into the ground and put his hand out, a chakra thread emanating from it. From behind Jiraiya, another shadow clone emerged and slashed at his ankles. At the same time, Nuibari from the other side. Jiraiya wrapped himself in the jizō, blocking both attacks.
Naruto smirked, "I'm not stupid-ttebayo," the lightning chakra from Nuibari discharged into the jizō. Jiraiya quickly whipped it around, destroying the shadow clone, before expelling all of his needles, causing Naruto to burrow again. Jiraiya tried to use the brief respite as an opportunity to gather nature energy, but was quickly interrupted by Nuibari once again. The blade came from right below him, and since there was no electricity, Jiraiya just kicked the blade away before leaping in the same direction and grabbing it. He sliced the chakra thread, forgetting the actual thread, and grabbed the blade by the hilt. He waited for a second, then thrust it down into the ground, only to hear a poof from underground. All around him, a large wooden dome formed, followed by a raised ring of dirt that was coated in flames.
"Gotcha," Naruto said underground as he cut Nuibari's thread, causing it to enclose around the sannin. There was another poof and Naruto heard a voice from behind him.
"Who are you talking about, bak-" Naruto interrupted him by exploding into a large, tangled mass of electricity, blasting Jiraiya out of the cavern. Naruto emerged by the forest. They both grunted. Jiraiya was able to partially erect his jizō, blocking some of the explosion. He was pretty beat up. Naruto was looking in much better shape. Jiraiya couldn't even remember if he hit the kid. The two squared off, holding an arm out to their side. A small blue ball formed in each persons hands and they charged.
"ENOUGH!" Came a shout from nearby. The two continued to charge, only to be stopped by a pair of long branches. They looked over to the voice to see Danzō standing next to the man responsible for the branches.
"Tenzō, let go," Naruto grumbled.
"Don't try to threaten me, Naruto. I know you can't break this that easily."
"Neither of you are going to the hidden rain," Danzō shouted, "Not yet at least. But Jiraiya, when you go, expect Naruto or myself to come with you," Naruto beamed as he looked at the man. Jiraiya just raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "The boy with the Rinnegan, me and Hanzō destroyed his home," he paused as he looked up, "In my quest for power and control, Hanzō and I attempted to destroy his group, Akatsuki. We forced him to kill his own friend."
"What was his name?" Danzō looked down, "Danzō. What. Was. His. Name?"
"Yahiko."
Jiraiya stood still for a while, his face twisting in anger, treachery, and most of all, sadness. "You son of a bitch! How could you, you monster?"
"Jiraiya!" Naruto shouted as he struggled to break from the wood. His rasengan fizzled out, "Danzō was a monster. He raised me. He isn't that person anymore-ttebayo."
"How could you side with him Naruto? He's killed so many people. He's the reason so much has been destroyed."
Danzō just nodded.
"Yes, you're ri-"
"He's my dad-ttebayo! He may not be my father, but he did raise me. You were so close to my father, yet you didn't even come into my life until ten years after I was born. How can you live with that?" Both of the men (and Tenzō) stared in awe at the tear-streaked boy. Tenzō released his wood from the two of them. Naruto ran off, leaving the other three in the field.
"Jiraiya," Danzō spoke, "I don't expect you or anyone to forgive me. For anything. I was a truly vile person and I am no doubt going to the worst place possible after I die." He took a couple steps towards Jiraiya, who refused to make eye contact, "Naruto will save all of us. He saved me. He can save Nagato. It would probably be unwise for me to go anyway," he then turned and began to walk towards Tenzō
'I clearly don't belong here," Tenzō thought, 'Why do I have to be so capable?'
"Danzō," Jiraiya muttered, still looking away. The man stopped and turned to face the sannin, "You did a good job with him. Although you really messed with my other student, you made Naruto strong," he looked down, "That should have been my job. Thank you. Thank you for helping Naruto." The sannin turned and began walking.
"Where are you going?" Tenzō blurted for some reason, 'AH! What am I doing? He's going to kill me!'
Jiraiya sighed, "I don't really know. I'm going to look for Naruto. I'll wait until you give us the go-ahead on the hidden rain."
"I'm g-giving the go-ahead?" Tenzō asked sheepishly, turning completely white.
Danzō just sighed and flicked the confused man, "Baka."
Naruto had been wandering around the village, mostly just trying to avoid anyone. He wasn't in a great mood. One comment from anybody could make him break. He had taken off his jacket and left it somewhere. It was all kind of a blur, he didn't have any recollection of what happened after the fight. It was late. He had made his way to his log by the little blue pond and sat down. He wasn't looking at the stars or the glistening blue water, it's like he was outside of his body looking in. He heard a snap next to him.
"Here. Ever had one of these?" Jiraiya was holding out a blue popsicle and his Naruto's jacket. His usual closed-eye grin was replaced with a stern face. Naruto took the popsicle and Jiraiya sat down, "I can't believe I messed up so bad to let Danzō be your dad."
Naruto thought about saying something snarky, but just laughed instead. He couldn't help it. There was just something about being by Jiraiya that made him want to laugh, "He taught me the birds and bees when I was 3."
Jiraiya snorted, "Well you would've learned it from around that time too."
After the giggling stopped, the two stopped to enjoy their treats. Naruto spoke up, "I met... I met my dad, Pervy Sage," Jiraiya cocked his head at that, "It was basically a dream, but I had a conversation with him and mom. Thanks to these-ttebayo," he pointed to his eyes.
"In the white space? I thought you were the only one ever in there."
"Yeah that's what I thought too. The first time I used it after getting Nuibari, she appeared there too," Naruto noticed Jiraiya's confusion, "She has some sort of consciousness. I don't know exactly what it is, but she has a voice in my head just like Kurama-ttebayo."
"Huh. You know if I heard that from anyone else they would be in the psych ward," he took a bite of his popsicle.
"Hey, I'm not crazy!"
"Sounds like something a crazy person would say."
"Hmph," Naruto crossed his arms, "you're one to talk, you old perv."
There was a long pause before Jiraiya spoke again, "Did you like them? You're parents?"
Naruto looked down and smiled, "I wish I had moms red hair. It looked sooo cool. Me and her were a lot alike-ttebayo. She even does that. Well kinda..."
Naruto and Jiraiya talked for a few hours, which was mostly Naruto telling Jiraiya about his conversation with his parents, followed by Jiraiya telling some stories, even some about Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan. During a story about his sage training, Jiraiya felt Naruto slide down his back, and light breathing. He smiled at the sleeping boy, "I'm proud of you, kid. We all are."
He scooped the boy up and was walking through town. He didn't really know where to take him. He knew the boy lived at "The Uchiha's" but Jiraiya never figured out where that was. After the coup, the remaining Uchiha relocated. The ones banished from the clan, who Naruto stayed with, moved to a separate area kept a secret by the Hokage. It was more a measure of safety for the other remaining Uchiha. The secrecy was unnecessary. Nobody would dare to do anything to Itachi or Shisui's mothers.
Jiraiya was lost in thought when he was interrupted by a high, quiet voice, "Excuse me?" He looked down to see a small girl smiling up at him, "Why are you carrying Naruto?"
"Do you know Naruto?" Hinata blushed. Yeah she knew Naruto. She more than knew Naruto. Him and her were like- "Hellooo? Dooo yoooou knoooow Narutoooo?" He emphasized every word, thinking the girl was hard of hearing.
She shook herself from her thought, "Yes. He's my..." what was Naruto? Was he her friend? Was he her boyf- she began to feel woozy at that. She crumpled to the ground.
"That's Hinata," Naruto mumbled, "you met her like two days ago. I know you're old, but I didn't think you were senile."
Hinata started to get up, brushing herself off. Jiraiya dumped the little shit known as Naruto into her arms, "So then you're in good hands Naruto!" Jiraiya held out a thumbs up and beamed, before realizing the girl had a broken leg. He quickly grabbed the boy back from her and apologized.
"No. I can do it," Hinata exclaimed, "Put him on my back, Jiraiya-sama!"
The two looked at her funnily before speaking simultaneously,
"-Uhh Hinata I"
"Kehiban that's-"
She activated her byakugan, "Put. Him. On. My. Back." Naruto and Jiraiya turned white
"OkayyeswhateveryousayHinata-sama," Jiraiya said with a salute.
"Hurry up Pervy Sage!" Naruto whined.
He plopped the boy on Hinata's back and watched as the slowly trudged up the path. Shisui rounded the corner and said something to Hinata. She looked at the man and he too went completely white before stammering. Jiraiya chuckled. 'Reminds me of Kushina.'
Hey all!
What a terrible assessment Jiraiya, Hinata is barely like Kushina at all! While I was writing it I fell into a YouTube rabbit hole that consisted mostly of Jiraiya and Naruto's last conversation. Made me so sad yet so appreciative at the same time. Weird, huh? If you haven't seen it, here's a link: . It was in a random filler in Shippūden, which I skipped the first time. After watching it, it became my second favorite scene, only behind Shikamaru v. Hidan.
Anyway~
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing it. It took me a little while to get back into the writing groove. You have two options: 1.) Have a good day, or 2.) Have a good night. You must pick both options. If you don't like it, I'm sorry. I don't make the rules. If your life is feeling very shitty right now, I'm very sorry. I know that might not mean a lot, but it's all I can do for you from here. If everything is bad right now, just remember that everything will turn out okay.
Sorry for talking your ear off,
Xoxo
Jerry