A/N: Ok, so this one turned a bit more serious, even if I tried to inject more humor. Guess you can't really joke around with things like this.

Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Kishimoto Masashi and his band of dream crashers.

"Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yes dad."

"Are you really certain…?"

Jiraya rolled his eyes, sick of his student's worrywart temper.

"Oh for the love of Kami Minato! Leave the boy alone already; if he says he's ready that means he's ready!"

Or at least, ready to face the consequences of him not being ready… But Jiraya, just like Minato (even if he vehemently denied it) knew Naruto was ready to take the third chunin exam round by a storm. Literally.

Jiraya couldn't be prouder of his godson more; true, he wasn't genius like Minato, or had a natural grasp of nature like Nagato, but he was one hell of a unpredictable ninja.

Like master like student, they say. And Naruto certainly proved that saying true; he wasn't a prodigy, like Jiraya, he had poor chakra control, like Jiraya, he was average, at least, when it came to the theory part of learning, just like Jiraya… And just like Jiraya, he was hardworking, gutsy and grueling when it came to overcoming his shortcomings. He left no place in his mind for failure; Naruto always looked at the positive, winning side of the future. He believed in himself, and that's all Jiraya needed to see to know Naruto will one day become a great man, the one to lead the shinobi world to the better tomorrow.

He wouldn't like anything more than to take the boy into the world and teach him everything he knows. Minato's overprotective tendencies stumped his plans and he immediately jumped into training with them, leaving a solidified and fortified shadow clone to do his Hokage duties.

"I know, I know…" Minato sighed and Jiraya could swear there was a tear in his eye. "It's just… Whenever I think about somebody hurting my precious baby boy, I get all… jittery and scared and…"

Jiraya sighed, thanking the spirits he never had a child. Yes, he did get fright whenever his precious people are to be, or already harmed, but he always held belief in them to overcome anything that's in their way.

"He's your kid Minato, don't tell me you don't believe in him."

Minato's chest puffed and Jiraya could already see the nose rising in the air.

"Of course I believe in Naruto! I just don't like him getting hurt, that's all."

Pansy.

Naruto rolled his eyes, just like Jiraya (and boy, was he proud), before turning to his father.

"Dad, I'm a ninja. You can't coddle me and protect me from the big bad world anymore."

Minato opened his mouth to say something, but Naruto rebuffed him.

"Ok, you can, but you shouldn't. I need to grow up someday and see the dark side of the world by myself. If I'm ever going to surpass you, I have to start now and I have to do it by my own volition."

So it turns out Jiraya could tear up as well.

Minato watched his son trudge down the road to Konoha and even though he felt immensely proud of his boy, his little boy who was already growing up, he can't help but cling to his daddy side that wanted nothing more but wrap his boy up in a blanket and safeguard him at home.

He wonders if there will ever be a time he'll stop wanting that.