"Ahem." Jiraiya cleared his throat and brought himself back to the point. "Anyway, I'm not here to debate whether bringing him back was right or wrong. That was your choice. I respect it, and I trust your judgment."
Then his tone shifted.
"You know, don't you? Minato... turned down my proposal."
There was a trace of regret in Jiraiya's voice. "I'd hoped he would take up the mantle of Fourth Hokage again."
Jiraiya sighed and looked at Naruto with mixed feelings.
"I understand him. After all... he owes you more than he can ever repay." Naruto listened quietly, his gaze softening a little.
"So..." Jiraiya suddenly stood, walked around the desk, and took a neatly folded set of clothes from an elegant box he had prepared in advance.
It was a well-made, tailored formal Jonin uniform: a dark, high-collared jacket, matching trousers, and a tactical vest.
"Here, Naruto." Jiraiya held out the clothes. "You became a Jonin years ago, but you're still wearing your old outfit. It probably doesn't even fit properly anymore, does it? I had a new set made especially for you. See if it fits."
Naruto blinked and took the clothes, somewhat bewildered. Jiraiya had summoned him all the way to the Hokage Office so solemnly... just to give him new clothes?
It was unexpected, but he nodded anyway. "Oh... I see. Thanks, Jiraiya-sensei."
He glanced down at the clothes, intending to put them away and try them on later.
But what Jiraiya did next stopped him cold.
From the bottom of the wooden box, Jiraiya carefully lifted out another garment: a robe folded with meticulous care.
The robe was pure white, with flame-like patterns along its hem. It looked both dignified and graceful. Across the back were several large characters: "Sixth."
A God Robe.
And a