Jiraiya's Decision

At that thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and went back to a hidden room in the Hokage Office. He opened the Scroll of Sealing to a certain page.

Uzumaki Clan Forbidden Technique—Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

After leaving, Jiraiya didn't go straight to look for Tsunade. Instead, he first went to find Uzumaki Naruto's home.

After all, Naruto was his student's son. Even though he was a Jinchūriki, Jiraiya had finally returned to the village, so he should at least go see him.

Thinking of Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya looked up at the statue on Kage Rock and sighed.

What a shame. Everything had happened so suddenly, and he'd been away on a mission at the time. Otherwise, things wouldn't have ended up like this.

When he arrived at Uzumaki Naruto's home, Jiraiya was shocked by what he saw inside.

The place was a complete mess, with belongings piled haphazardly everywhere. The room wasn't short on food, but most of it had expired.

Seeing this, Jiraiya couldn't help wondering:

Old man, how long has it been since you actually checked on him? He's Minato's son—your great-grandstudent!

And you promised Minato you'd take good care of him.

Thinking of what it meant to take good care of Naruto, Jiraiya lost the courage to face him.

Because he'd done even less than his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He'd been gone from the village for years, never once thinking to come back and check on Naruto.

Jiraiya had no right to criticize his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He hadn't done what a teacher should, either.

In all the years since Minato's death, Jiraiya had used searching the Shinobi World for the child of destiny from the Great Toad Sage's prophecy as an excuse to wander. He had never returned.

At that thought, Jiraiya quietly tidied up the room, threw away the expired, spoiled food, and bought fresh supplies to replace it.

When he was done, he sat in the room and fell into thought.

He didn't know how long had passed when he heard the door open. Jiraiya had wanted to meet Naruto, but he still couldn't bring himself to do it. In the end, he slipped out through the window.

He watched Naruto's life from the shadows.

Uzumaki Naruto was surprised to see his room clean.

Then he seemed to realize something and cautiously began looking around the house.

After searching carefully, he finally confirmed that no one had broken in.

There was even a lot of new food.

But the food he'd been saving for so long because he couldn't bear to eat it was gone.

Oh well. If it was gone, it was gone!

There was new food now, so why worry about it?

Then little Naruto skillfully climbed onto a stool and boiled water to make instant noodles.

After happily finishing his noodles, Naruto's mood sank again, and loneliness closed in around him.

...Why don't I have any family to be with me?

...Why do they all call me the Demon Fox?

...I'm just a kid, too.

Watching Naruto sink into loneliness, Jiraiya made up his mind.

He rushed toward the Hokage Office, where the lights were still on.

I'm sorry, Great Toad Sage. I'll put the child of destiny aside for now.

Minato, let me fulfill my duty as your teacher one last time. I'll take care of Naruto.

With a loud bang, the door to the Hokage Office flew open.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had just finished reading the forbidden technique. He froze for a moment, then blurted out,

"Jiraiya, weren't you going to look for Tsunade?"

At that, Jiraiya grew angry. But Sarutobi Hiruzen was his respected teacher, so he forced down the anger roiling inside him and said coldly,

"Old man, have you really taken good care of Naruto?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen understood at once why Jiraiya was angry.

He gave a wry smile and explained,

"You know I'm the Hokage, and Naruto is a Jinchūriki. The village still hasn't recovered from the Nine-Tails Incident."

"You should understand why."

"Besides, I'm busy as Hokage. I can't stay by his side all the time. Whenever I have the chance, I really do go and look after him."

Jiraiya's anger eased somewhat, but an explanation wasn't what he wanted.

"I'm going to take care of Naruto. I'll also be taking him with me soon, and we'll look for Tsunade together."

Sarutobi Hiruzen froze at Jiraiya's words. Then he rejected the idea without hesitation.

"Impossible. Naruto is a Jinchūriki. He can't leave the village."

Jiraiya answered bluntly,

"I'll protect him. He won't be in any danger."

"And, old man, I'm going to take care of Naruto whether you agree or not."

"If you won't let me take him, then I won't go looking for Tsunade, either."

"I've made up my mind. I'll take good care of Naruto until he grows up."

Jiraiya's resolve seemed to leave Sarutobi Hiruzen troubled.

He picked up his pipe and began taking puff after puff.

Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen remained locked in a standoff.

After a short while, Sarutobi Hiruzen thought it over. In the end, he decided to agree, considering Jiraiya's strength. There were a couple of reasons.

First, only Jiraiya could bring Tsunade back. Even if someone else found her, they might not be able to persuade her to return.

Second, there was Uchiha Fugaku.

Ever since Uchiha Fugaku had met Naruto, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been deeply uneasy. He feared Fugaku might change his mind, take control of the Nine-Tails, become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and use it to pressure the village and the clans. Then he could seize the position of Hokage by force and make the village a vassal of the Uchiha Clan.

"Fine, I agree. But whether Naruto is willing to go with you is up to you to work out."

With Sarutobi Hiruzen's answer, Jiraiya ended his confrontation with his teacher. To be honest, he hadn't wanted things to come to this. But now that he'd returned to the village and seen Naruto, he couldn't just abandon him and let him keep living like this.

Because he was Jiraiya. He couldn't bring himself to abandon Naruto, just as he hadn't abandoned Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan when he spent three years looking after them.

Then Jiraiya leaped out the window.

He began preparing to meet Naruto.

But before meeting him, he needed to clean himself up. He wanted to make a good impression at their first proper meeting.

So Jiraiya roused countless Konoha residents who had already closed up for the night.

"Who is it? Who's knocking on our door in the middle of the night?"

When the villager opened the door, he froze.

"The legendary Sannin—L-Lord Jiraiya! May I ask what brings you here?"

Jiraiya walked right in.

"Sorry for the trouble. I'd like to buy a new set of clothes."

Hearing Jiraiya, the Konoha villager immediately replied respectfully,

"Not at all, not at all. It's an honor to serve Lord Jiraiya."

Jiraiya took a new set of clothes, then knocked on the door of the next shop.