Jiraiya can't breathe. He's sitting in a chair- Orochimaru, his best friend- no- and he can't. Breathe.
Three little brats on a hospital bed, there's a notation in their files that he doesn't bother to notice- other than the fact that they have files to take notes in oh gods- and they're breathing. They look peaceful, in the bed, Raiko with a red armguard and hair curlier than his ever could be, Kirara has her face under a pillow, and Yayoi is almost reaching for him in her sleep but how can that be- that's.
No.
He can't breathe.
He can't.
It's like there's a snake around his throat, the arms of a woman dead, her head resting atop his and the faint whisper of 'Aren't they just-?' and oh gods they're like him they're the near perfection in looks of their mother but their temperaments are all himself and oh god.
Jiraiya no Sannin doesn't notice when he falls asleep- doesn't notice Tsunade putting him in an adjacent gurney because he fought Orochimaru too and it was Sensei and the Hokage who took him down eventually- he'd lost his mind and now-
Jiraiya definitely doesn't notice when his daughters climb into bed with him because it's dark and monsters are real and one tried to kill Raiko and Mother's never coming back never never and he feels so-
safe-
and that's it that's the arc i don't know what the fuck's going on but i do know the one burning question(s) that are going to plague the next arc:
Where is Kirara going to find moar sheep for her herds?
Will Raiko be okay?
Does Yayoi have a character?
WHY HAS NO ONE NOTICED THAT THEY'RE THE DAUGHTERS OF JIRAIYA?
all these and more will be answered next time