Ever since he was young, both his parents had been dead. From his teacher, he had learned what love was.
"Kid, why are you being so polite with me?"
Jiraiya patted Mirai on the shoulder. Watching Mirai grow from a child into a teenager before his eyes filled his heart with sorrow.
Before he knew it, he had already lost more and more disciples before him.
"Mm." Mirai nodded.
"That's right." Jiraiya smiled. "Then it's settled. I've already spoken to the Third Hokage for you, but I can't help you explain it to Kushina."
At the mention of Kushina, Jiraiya's expression changed, and cold sweat seeped from the corner of his brow.
Mirai's mouth twitched as well...
"But with your Flying Thunder God, we can train during the day and return to the village at night." Jiraiya leaned closer to Mirai, looking greatly relieved.
"At noon, we'll bring our own lunch..." Jiraiya muttered.
After overhearing his teacher's muttering, Mirai finally understood why he had done this.
He looked pained too, as though he recalled some unpleasant memories...
Early the next morning, Mirai went to Kushina Uzumaki's home and told her about his plans to spend the day training at Mount Myoboku.
When she heard that he would be going with Jiraiya, her expression immediately became complicated.
She would not hinder Mirai's growth, but she still hoped to set many conditions and put a little... pressure on him.
"Mirai, Jiraiya-sensei, I hope the two of you train well..." At Mirai's home, Kushina Uzumaki seemed to deliberately wave her fist in warning. Jiraiya gulped.
Poof! Poof!
A moment later, they turned into two clouds of smoke and vanished.
This was after Jiraiya had asked the toads of Mount Myoboku to notify the Great Toad Sage and summon both himself and Mirai