Land of Wind, Sunagakure.
After spending a great deal of time and effort gathering material, Naruto successfully upgraded the Sexy Jutsu, venturing ever further down the path of harmony!
As Naruto's teacher, Jiraiya naturally had an obligation to keep him in line, lest he go astray. He checked on him three or four times an hour on average, and his already aged face grew more haggard by the day. Even his hair had turned white!
Though it had been white to begin with.
That day, Jiraiya had come to inspect Naruto again, only to be interrupted.
"Lord Jiraiya, your companion has arrived."
A Sunagakure Anbu said respectfully.
"Oh? Who did Tsunade send?" Jiraiya was somewhat disappointed, but he could not show it. He had to maintain his image, so he asked calmly.
"It is Lord Copy Ninja Kakashi," the Sunagakure Anbu replied. "Lord Ebizo is receiving him at the Kazekage Building."
Naruto, who was nearby, was overjoyed when he heard that. "That's great, it's Kakashi-sensei! Granny Tsunade agreed to let me join this rescue mission!"
"Naruto, your flaw is that you're too impulsive whenever something happens. That won't do." Jiraiya crossed his arms and spoke seriously.
"Yeah, yeah, got it."
Naruto waved him off carelessly and hurried toward the Kazekage Building.
"A fledgling eagle must eventually take to the skies." Jiraiya did not follow him. Instead, he turned and went to gather material. Otherwise, he always felt empty inside, and it was unbearable.
Inside the Kazekage Building, Kakashi had already learned from Ebizo how Gaara had been captured. "So you completely lost their trail. But that's alright, Elder Ebizo. My Summoning Beasts are exceptionally skilled at tracking scents. As long as they left behind even the slightest trace of their smell, they won't be able to hide from my Summoning