"White hair, likes hanging around women's bathhouses, always sneaking around, right? Pervy Sage, here I come—!" Naruto dashed off almost before Qingwu finished speaking.
Like a bird eager to spread its wings and fly.
His ninja sandals clattered over the paving stones.
As he passed the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, he nearly knocked over the Miso Soup Teuchi had just brought out. He left only a muffled "Sorry, Uncle Teuchi!" before disappearing around the corner.
Teuchi raised a hand to greet him. "Hey, Naruto... Ah, has that kid eaten yet?!"
But Naruto was already far away.
Watching that figure recede into the distance.
Qingwu couldn't help smiling. Good, go on. Jiraiya might be a pervert who goes out to gather "material," but he's a true ninja, one of the Sannin.
He can teach you the true Ninja Way.
Jiraiya is the best teacher for you.
I'll restore this bond for you.
Qingwu brushed his fingertips over the rough bark of the tree, a complicated look flickering in his eyes.
He had been drawn into this chess game called "Naruto."
In the original story.
He had seen Naruto's later loneliness, his desperate struggles to bring Sasuke back, and his despair when facing Pain. The dead silence in his heart after Jiraiya's passing.
There was no grief greater than a heart gone dead.
Naruto had embodied that completely.
So when he had the chance to stand here, he only wanted to give things a quiet nudge—he had to restore this bond for Naruto.
At first.
When Naruto heard that the teacher Qingwu had found for him was a "pervert," his reaction had been absolutely priceless.
At the time, he had been squatting on the sandy ground of the Training Ground, clutching a half-eaten piece of Grilled Meat.
"Huh?!! Qingwu, what did you just