Jiraiya: The Outside World is Dangerous!

"I'm going to the Land of Stars!!"

Naruto's ringing words, filled with every ounce of his resolve, exploded through the forest clearing like a clap of thunder, the echo startling several birds perched in the distant treetops.

After that, the woods fell into dead silence.

The smile on Jiraiya's face froze too.

"What the hell are you talking about, brat!!"

Jiraiya suddenly bent down, his palm as broad as a fan cutting through the air as he clamped it over Naruto's mouth!

"Mmph! Mmmph mmmph!!" Caught completely off guard, Naruto could only make muffled sounds of protest. His hands flailed wildly as he tried to pry open Jiraiya's iron-pincer grip, his blue eyes full of confusion and dissatisfaction.

Did I say something wrong?

"Mmph! Pervy Sage, what are you doing?! Let me go!" Naruto finally struggled free of Jiraiya's hand, jumped back a step, and rubbed his aching mouth, glaring at Jiraiya with a face full of bewilderment and anger.

"I just want to go find Menma and ask him what's going on!"

"Listen, Naruto!" Jiraiya had lost his usual joking grin by now. His expression was grave as he placed both hands on Naruto's shoulders, bent down, and brought his gaze level with Naruto's. Enunciating each word, he said, "For a ninja, leaving the village without official mission authorization or the village's approval is called 'defection'!"

"It's a serious crime! You'll be branded a rogue ninja and hunted by the entire village! Didn't you learn even these most basic ninja rules back at the Ninja Academy?!"

"De... defection?" Naruto blinked. Of course he had heard the word before, but he had never imagined it could have anything to do with him.

In his mind, he simply wanted to go find a friend and ask a question that had been