Jiraiya's Decision

With this thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and returned to a hidden chamber within the Hokage Office, where he retrieved the Scroll of Sealing and opened it to a specific page.

Uzumaki Clan Forbidden Jutsu—Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

After leaving, Jiraiya did not head directly to find Tsunade; instead, he first sought out the residence of Uzumaki Naruto.

After all, Uzumaki Naruto was the son of his own disciple. Even if the boy was a jinchuriki, since he had finally returned to the village, he felt he should at least pay him a visit.

Thinking of Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya could not help but look up at the statue on the Hokage Rock and sigh.

It was a pity; the events back then had unfolded too suddenly, and he had been away on a mission. Otherwise, things would never have turned out this way.

Upon arriving at Uzumaki Naruto's residence, Jiraiya was shocked by the scene inside.

The room was in total disarray, with various items piled up haphazardly and without a shred of order. Although there was no shortage of food, most of it was long past its expiration date.

Seeing this, a sense of doubt could not help but rise in Jiraiya's heart.

Old man, just how long has it been since you actually came to check on him? He is Minato's son, your own grand-disciple!

Furthermore, you promised Minato that you would take good care of him.

Thinking of the responsibility to care for Naruto, Jiraiya lost the courage to face the boy.

He was no better than his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Every time he left the village for years on end, he had never once thought of returning to check on the boy.

Jiraiya had no right to blame his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, because he himself had failed to fulfill the duties of a master.

In the years following Minato's death, he had spent his time drifting, using the excuse of searching for the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage to escape his reality, never once returning.

With this thought, Jiraiya silently tidied up the room, threw away the expired and spoiled food, and bought fresh supplies to stock the shelves.

After finishing these tasks, Jiraiya fell into deep contemplation within the room.

He did not know how much time had passed before the sound of a door opening echoed from outside. Jiraiya, who had intended to meet the boy, still could not muster the courage and ultimately chose to depart through the window.

He continued to observe Uzumaki Naruto's life from the shadows.

Uzumaki Naruto looked at his clean room with a hint of surprise.

Then, something occurred to him, and he began to cautiously inspect the house.

After a thorough search, he eventually discovered that his home hadn't been robbed.

On the contrary, there was an abundance of new food.

It was just that the stash of food he had cherished and saved for so long was gone.

Forget it, if it's lost, it's lost!

There's new food anyway, why worry about it?

The small Uzumaki Naruto then skillfully stepped onto a stool to boil water for instant noodles.

After happily finishing his meal, Uzumaki Naruto's mood plummeted once again, and he sank into loneliness.

...Why is there no family to keep me company?

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

...I am clearly just a child.

Jiraiya, observing everything from the dark, watched the lonely Uzumaki Naruto and made a firm resolution.

He rushed toward the still-lit Hokage Office.

I'm sorry, Great Toad Sage, but the matter of the Child of Prophecy will have to be set aside for now.

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

With a loud "bang," the door to the Hokage Office was violently pushed open.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had just finished reading the forbidden jutsu, was startled and spoke instinctively.

"Jiraiya, didn't you go to find Tsunade?"

Hearing this, Jiraiya felt a surge of anger. However, since Sarutobi Hiruzen was his mentor, Jiraiya suppressed the rising fury in his heart and said in a cold voice:

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

Upon hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally understood the reason for Jiraiya's anger.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could only offer a bitter, explanatory smile.

"You know that I am the Hokage, Naruto is a jinchuriki, and the village has yet to recover from the Nine-Tails Incident."

"You should understand the reasons behind this."

"Besides, as Hokage, I am very busy and cannot stay by his side at all times, though I truly did go to look after him whenever I had the spare time."

Hearing this, the anger in Jiraiya dissipated somewhat, but for Jiraiya, excuses were not what he wanted.

Then, Jiraiya spoke up.

"I am going to look after Naruto, and I will also be taking him away soon to go find Tsunade together."

Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen was momentarily stunned, then refused without hesitation.

"Impossible. Uzumaki Naruto is a jinchuriki; he cannot leave the village."

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Jiraiya replied directly.

"I will protect him well; there won't be any danger."

"Besides, old man, I am determined to look after Naruto, whether you agree or not."

"Furthermore, if you do not let me take Naruto away, I will no longer go to search for Tsunade."

"I have already decided: I will take good care of Naruto until he grows up."

Seeming to sense Jiraiya's resolve, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help but feel troubled.

Sarutobi Hiruzen then picked up his pipe and began to puff on it incessantly.

Following that, Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen remained at a stalemate.

After a short while of contemplation, Sarutobi Hiruzen, considering Jiraiya's strength, ultimately chose to agree. As for the reasons:

First, only Jiraiya could bring Tsunade back; even if others were sent to find her, they might not be able to persuade her to return.

Second, it was due to certain reasons regarding Uchiha Fugaku.

Ever since Uchiha Fugaku and Uzumaki Naruto had met, Sarutobi Hiruzen had felt deeply uneasy, fearing that Uchiha Fugaku might change his mind, seize control of the Nine-Tails to become its jinchuriki, force the village clans into submission, and ultimately use military might to seize the position of Hokage, turning the village into a vassal of the Uchiha Clan.

"Fine, I agree. However, whether Uzumaki Naruto is willing to follow you is something you will have to work for yourself."

Having received Sarutobi Hiruzen's response, Jiraiya ended the confrontation with his teacher. To be honest, he did not want things to be this way, but since he had returned to the village and seen Uzumaki Naruto, he naturally could not bring himself to leave him be and continue letting Uzumaki Naruto live like this.

Because he was Jiraiya, he could not bring himself to abandon Uzumaki Naruto, just as he had spent three years looking after Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.

Jiraiya then leaped out through the window.

He began to prepare for his meeting with Uzumaki Naruto.

However, he still needed to tidy himself up before the meeting; after all, he had to leave a good impression for their first formal encounter.

Subsequently, countless Konoha villagers who had already closed their shops were ruthlessly awakened by Jiraiya.

"Who is it? Knocking on our door in the middle of the night when we're trying to sleep?"

As the villager opened the door, he froze.

"The legendary Sannin, Lord Jiraiya... I don't know what business you have with me?"

Jiraiya walked in without ceremony and said.

"Sorry to bother you, but I would like to buy a new set of clothes."

Hearing Jiraiya's voice, the Konoha villager immediately replied respectfully.

"No bother at all, no bother! It is my honor to serve Lord Jiraiya."

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