Chapter 89 – Jiraiya's Death
"Talk"
'Think'
A/N: I want to say thank you to fagyei305, Iceleigh, Itzhobomaster, kells12670, KimiAshinhurst and N1CkHast for your supports.
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei.
Shisui was taking his daily walk around Konoha when he felt a familiar tinge on his Hiraijin's seal and stopped; moments later, the Goei Shōtai appeared, sans Jiraiya. Noting the battle-worn look and a very pale Iwashi, Shisui ordered them to go to the hospital immediately for a check-up.
Shisui ordered his ANBU to call Gai, Kakashi, Sai and Shizune to wait for him at the office.
Konoha Hospital
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama" said Raidō. Genma and Iwashi were half-sitting on hospital beds due to broken ribs and chakra exhaustion.
Shisui shook his head "You were following orders and because of that, we have received the confirmation that we need. Had you disregarded that, we might never know where Akatsuki is and might have wasted resources to track them down. So, don't worry about it. Get some rests". Shisui pat Raidō's shoulder, gave a nod to Genma and Iwashi before left the room.
Myōbokuzan
"I did it!" Naruto shouted in happiness when suddenly his teacher, an elderly toad name Fukasaku disappeared in a smoke.
"Huh? Gamakichi? What happened?" Naruto asked Gamakichi who was there with him.
"I think he's been summoned" said Gamakichi "Let me check with Dad" as he jumped off.
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"Something is wrong" said Gamakichi as he reappeared "Dad said Gamaken was summoned too and returned hurt!"
"Who else can summon him?" asked Naruto.
"Just you and Jiraiya"
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"I need to get back to Konoha and tell Shishui-ojisan" said Naruto.
"I'll tell a toad in Konoha to reverse-summon you" said Gamakichi.
"Shisui-ojisan ! Something bad is happening to Jiraiya-ojiisan!" shouted Naruto as he burst into Hokage Office and skidded off when he realized that the room is fuller than normal.
Shisui made a small chuckle and gave a nod to the others who left the room immediately "Welcome back, Naruto. How's your training?"
"Ok. I've succeeded in- Hey! That's not why I returned!" said Naruto.
"How do you know about Jiraiya?" asked Shisui.
"I was training with Fukasaku-sama when he disappeared. Then Gamakichi found out that Gamaken was summoned too and got hurt!" said Naruto earnestly.
"I know, Naruto" said Shisui "I've sent Gai, Kakashi, Sai and Shizune to back-up and retrieve Jiraiya. With Sai's jutsu, they can reach there faster and hopefully, in time"
"So, what are we doing now?" asked Naruto.
"One of the worst things to do as Hokage…to wait" said Shisui "To wait and hope for their safe return, while preparing for the worst and at the same time, planning for the next move"
Naruto was quiet as he looked into Shisui's face; he noted that this face is different than the face he and Noriko typically see at home, this is the face of Shisui-the-Hokage.
"Is there anything I can get for you, Hokage-sama?" asked Naruto quietly.
Shisui turned to Naruto and gave him a small smiled "Thank you Naruto, why don't you tell me about your training?"
Naruto wants to protest when he realized that Shisui asked him question to take his mind away from Jiraiya, so he complied "Well, you see… … …"
Team Kakashi returned at the crack of dawn with the body of Jiraiya
Konoha Hospital
"What happened?" asked Shisui as he scanned the room; Gai, Kakashi and Sai were lying on the bed although only Kakashi was awaked.
"When we arrived, we saw six figures huddling a body on the ground. Fearing the worst, Gai jumped in the middle of them while I used Raikiri on one of them. They jumped away and we saw that it was Jiraiya-sama on the ground, with 5 black rods protruding from his back and a small toad on his right shoulder. Gai and I carried Jiraiya-sama whil Sai blocked them with his jutsu. Shizune immediately attended to Jiraiya-sama. As we were about to leave, they came at us including one large summon; Gai opened his Seventh Gate to keep them at bay when one of them shot explosive projectiles in our direction. I used Kamui to remove them when he shot another round. Gai was preparing to open the Eight Gate when I told him to hold on while I used Kamui again. We waited then for another attack but never come; apparently Sai used his jutsu to confuse and hold them at bay, an action which saved our lives although it depleted his chakra significantly. By that time, Gai had already succumbed to the effect from using Seventh Gate and my chakra already depleted. I turned to Shizune; she said that Jiraiya suffered from fatal injuries and his last moment was used to carve a message on the back of the toad" reported Kakashi.
Shishui nodded his head and said "There will be a meeting tomorrow to discuss Akatsuki. I've had a feeling that we'll receive them soon so we need to prepare counter-measure. I know you are not up to it yet, but we need your intel. I'll send someone to pick you up. Funeral for Jiraiya will be held the next day".
"Hait, Hokage-sama" said Kakashi.
"Are you leaving again, nii-san?" asked Sasuke as he looked around at the tidy room belonging to Itachi.
"Yes"
"How long this time?"
"I am not sure, Sasuke" Itachi turned to Sasuke "With Jiraiya-sama gone, there's no one Konoha can rely on to collect news from outside. I offered my service to Shisui and Tekka; they accepted"
Sasuke frowned "Does that means…you are going to peep at the hot-spring, nii-san?"
End Chapter 89
Goei Shōtai – Hokage Guard Platoon
Hiraijin no Jutsu - Flying Thunder Formation Technique
Myōbokuzan – Mount Myōboku
Raikiri – Lightning Blade