Jiraiya could be seen standing over a grave with something in his hands. "Sorry, it took so long to come back and visit you. You see, our little boy Naruto has kept me pretty busy. He's really a handful, just like you"he said with a chuckle. At that you could hear a baby like giggle. In Jiraiyas arms was a baby with short spiky white hair and orange and yellow eyes. "See even Naruto said, you should cut me some slack" he mused. He remained silent after. Unsure of what to say. Until he spoke again. "If I'm being brutally honest, I'm scared. I'm scared because, I don't know, if I'll be the right example for Naruto. Because I'm not a perfect guy. I'm far from perfect. And he's gonna need a mother's love. And I'm sad that you won't be here to raise him as well.
But I will do my best to make sure that he is well fed, he's well trained, and he's well mannered. And he won't become perfect like me"he added indignantly. He looked back down at Naruto. He had his hair and his face but he had his mother's eyes. Something that Jiraiya greatly appreciated. "They remind me so much of you" he thought sadly. He looked up at the moon and thought about that day.
Flashback
In a hospital in the Land of Iron, Hikari could be seen sleeping. "What do you mean there's nothing you can do!"yelled an irate Jiraiya." The nurse in the hallway did not falter. "I'm sorry Jiraiya-Sama but it appears that she's had the sickness for a long time but never received any medical treatment for it. It started off in her stomach and normally she would simply require surgery and a heavy dose of medication to heal and then she would slowly get back to great shape but that wasn't the case." He nodded slowly, listening with a frown. "The sickness slowly started to spread to her heart and then eventually her brain. It's amazing how she was able to deliver the baby. Shinobi or not, she is a strong woman. She would have made a great mother" the nurse said sadly.
"How much longer does she have, Nurse? My teammate Tsunade is the best medic in the world"asked the hopeful white haired man. "As much help as Lady Tsunade would be, Hikari is in pain and I regret to inform you that she won't make it through tonight"said the sympathetic woman. "He lowered his head in defeat. A lone tear slipped from his eye. "Well at least let me and our child spend the rest of the night with her" he pleaded. The nurse nodded sadly and went to retrieve Naruto. Moments later she came back with the baby wrapped in blankets. He was sleeping peacefully and Jiraiya gave a sad smile. He walked in the room and saw Hikari with half lidded eyes and a strained smile. "Hey, how you feeling?"asked the sickly woman. "I should be the one asking you that Hikari"he replied with a sad chuckle. Silence rang over the room until he spoke again. "I-i don't know how to tell you this but-" a finger to his lips silenced him.
"I know. I've come to terms with that long before Naruto was born" she said. "You knew you were going to die? Why didn't you receive treatment?"he asked. "Because my family never believed in it. My father would say, "let Kami work on you" she chuckled. "And he believed in what he said. That's how he went out, as did my mother." "But still, you had a life ahead of you. A baby even, something to look forward to" he replied.
She gave a pain filled chuckle, "Don't you think I know that? I know that I'm leaving a child behind. My own child behind. It hurts to live every single day. It hurts even more to know that I was too late. Too late to be able to correct my mistake. Jiraiya, you over these last few months that we've spent each other, at first I thought you were just a lousy old pervert, but you showed me the real you. And I fell in love with you. And I know that you still have feelings for the teammate. I don't blame you, but you showed me that in life, even if you're dealt with a bad hand, you still have to make the best of it. And I know that you will be great father. You just have to work that much harder to raise him for the both of us." Tears were freely flowing down the man's face as he clang on to the baby like a lifeline. "Let me hold him for one last time"she said. He gently placed Naruto in her arms and she smiled sadly at her sleeping baby boy.
"Hey Naruto, it's your mother. I'm sorry that I won't be able to raise you or see you grow up. But I know that you will become a fine man and a strong Shinobi. Please listen to your dad and do what he says. He may be a an idiot at times but he means well. Look out for him. I know he's already had a rough life. You are his light now. You can bring him out of that darkness. I know he's slowly ascending to. Jiraiya said that you were going to be the child of prophecy and rid the world of evil and bring about true peace. At first I thought that idea was outlandish and foolish. Your dad was really passionate about it and he made me believe in him. So now it's up to you my baby boy. I leave my faith in you. You were destined to be great. I hope you find a beautiful wife one day and have lots of grandchildren for me and your father. You have a hell of a life ahead of you young man and I will be your guardian Angel. Just remember Naruto, no matter what path you choose, mommy and daddy will always love you." She gave him a kiss and he smiled in his sleep. In turn, she slowly drifted into unconsciousness.
Flashback end
Tears were once again flowing as he knelt down with Naruto. "I promise you Hikari, no harm will come to our boy. I will walk through hell and back to protect him and I'll guide him through life to make sure he succeeds his prophecy."
5 years later
A young Naruto could be seen laughing and playing with some small toads. "Hey Gamakichi, watch this"said a mischievous looking Naruto. He had a bucket of water balloons and was about to do something foolish until a poof of smoke appeared. There stood Jiraiya, arms crossed with an amused expression on his face. "Oi Dad!"Naruto exclaimed as he jumped into the arms of his father. Jiraiya laughed at the boys antics. "And just what were you about to do with the bucket of water balloons gaki?" Jiraiya asked knowingly. "Uh nothing-right Gamakichi?" As Naruto turned around, the young toad was nowhere to be found. "That traitor!"thought a depressed Naruto. He decided to change the subject. "So Dad, when are you finally going to train me to become a ninja?"asked the chibi Jiraiya. "So you've decided that you want to become a shinobi?" asked a smirking Jiraiya. "Of course not! I'd rather just relax, read books and write literature"said the blond in a matter of fact tone. "It's just that i know how much being a shinobi means to you and how much mom wanted me to be one from what you said. So i have to keep my promise to right?"he said. Jiraiya just smiled.
"You know Naruto, you really do have a way with words. I'm half tempted to just let you live here and hang out with the toads for the rest of your life and I'm pretty sure most of them if not all of them wouldn't mind." Naruto grew hopeful at that- "But you know why you must become a shinobi. The Great Elder said that you were the child of prophecy. The one that will bring true peace to the world." "How can there be such things as true peace when you have to constantly sneak into villages to spy on them and report them back to Konoha?"asked an indignant Naruto. Jiraiya did not have an answer for that immediately like he normally would. "He also has his mothers brain too"he thought jokingly. "Naruto if I'm being honest, I don't know. I've searched for that answer for well over 20 years. I've been through 2 world wars, done dozens of high class missions and killed way more people than i can remember. Hell I even trained a hokage that i thought would become the child of prophecy before you but as you know, he died a few months ago" he added sadly.
A few months ago Konoha was attacked by the nine-tails. It destroyed half of the village and killed countless shinobi and civilians. The fox would've continued to rampage if it wasn't for the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze defeating it. It was said that he used the reaper death seal to seal of half of the fox into his newborn child and the other half into himself. His wife Kushina, a woman that Jiraiya looked at as a daughter in law, also perished in the attack. Nobody knew how the fox broke out considering, it was sealed into Kushina but rumors were that the Uchiha clan was behind it. Jiraiya on the other hand thought it was something much deeper than that but he couldn't ponder on it for now. He put Naruto down and gave him a grin. "We will start your training soon. I just have to take a trip back to Konoha to deliver some information on a group that was recently discovered"he said. "Is it a good group or a bad one?" Naruto asked. "I honestly don't know yet. They've only been doing missions for money and haven't caused any problems with any major villages that i know of"replied the Toad Sannin.
"When can i travel with you again Dad? Life outside of Mount Myoboku intrigues me and I'd like to explore it" said Naruto. "Hmmm, well Konoha is currently being rebuilt and is on high alert, so it's best if you don't go there. But i also have contacts in the land of wind. Maybe I'll take you there one day. I just hope you know that it's extremely hot and dry out there." "Hmph, a little heat doesn't scare me. I'm never hot!"he exclaimed. "Jiraiya wanted to retort but the kid was right. He was hardly ever hot or exhausted. Jiraiya had suspected that it had something to do with his eyes. He remembered the first time he realized Naruto had a dojustu.