Jiraiya and Naruto

Morning

Today, Uchiha Fugaku didn't go out to train his Taijutsu.

Instead, he continued studying the Qi Refining Technique.

He also dumped everything on his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Itachi had no choice but to accept it.

Then he began his busy day: taking Sasuke to school, training in Taijutsu, and spending time with Izumi Uchiha...

Uchiha Mikoto was a little displeased as she watched Uchiha Fugaku become completely absorbed in his book.

It was one thing for him to ignore the family's affairs, but yesterday he hadn't even handed over the household allowance.

Still, Uchiha Mikoto understood that Uchiha Fugaku was undoubtedly working on something very important, so she didn't disturb him and went off to take care of her own affairs.

Meanwhile

Jiraiya stood looking dashing outside Uzumaki Naruto's little house.

To be honest, Jiraiya was a little nervous about meeting Uzumaki Naruto for the first time. After all, he had no idea whether Naruto would accept him.

But it hadn't been long since Uzumaki Naruto had become old enough to remember things.

Jiraiya thought that if he started taking care of him now, it wouldn't be too late.

Jiraiya hadn't been waiting at the door long when Uzumaki Naruto opened it.

Then Naruto looked at the white-haired man in front of him, Jiraiya, and froze.

After all, of the Konoha villagers Naruto had met, aside from Teuchi, the owner of Ichiraku Ramen, everyone else had hated him. Now there was someone standing outside his door, and Naruto couldn't figure out why. He asked in confusion,

"Hey, white-haired mister, what are you doing outside my house?"

White-haired mister? Was he talking about him?

Jiraiya quickly caught on. After all, he was the only one there with white hair.

Then Jiraiya took a deep breath and, for once, spoke with complete seriousness.

"My name is Jiraiya. I was your father's teacher."

"How would you like me to take care of you from now on?"

Hearing such a direct offer, Uzumaki Naruto was stunned.

He had always hoped for a family member who could take care of him, but now that someone had suddenly shown up at his door offering to do just that, Naruto wasn't sure he could accept it.

Then Naruto decided he must be hallucinating.

He silently stepped back inside and shut the door with a bang.

????

Had he not prepared enough?

Jiraiya was plunged into deep self-doubt. In the end, he could only give up on his decision and prepare to leave.

But before Jiraiya could go, Naruto—who had just washed his face to make sure he was awake—opened the door again. Once he'd confirmed that he hadn't been hallucinating, he burst into tears.

Seeing Uzumaki Naruto cry left Jiraiya even more flustered.

"What do I do now?"

Jiraiya looked at Uzumaki Naruto, unsure what to do.

Still, Jiraiya did have a little experience looking after children.

A present. Right, he could give him a present.

Jiraiya remembered that whenever he bought presents for Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, they were all delighted.

So Jiraiya took out the present he'd prepared for Naruto.

Then he began trying to comfort him.

"Naruto, I got this for you. Please stop crying, okay?"

As he spoke, Jiraiya pulled a funny face, trying to make Naruto laugh.

Seeing how worried Jiraiya was, Naruto's sobs gradually quieted.

This guy's pretty funny. But is he really my family?

Is this what it feels like when someone cares about you?

After he stopped crying, Uzumaki Naruto asked the question he cared about most.

"White-haired mister, will you stay with me forever?"

"My classmates at the Ninja Academy all have parents who stay with them."

Hearing this, Jiraiya fell silent. After all, he had promised the Great Toad Sage that he would find the Child of Prophecy.

He couldn't stay with Uzumaki Naruto forever.

But then Jiraiya thought that it was just a child's question. He decided to promise for now. By the time Naruto was grown and Jiraiya had to leave, perhaps Naruto would understand.

Before Jiraiya could answer, Uzumaki Naruto changed the subject.

"White-haired mister, do you know where my parents went?"

Hearing Naruto ask about Minato Namikaze made Jiraiya's heart ache even more. Minato had been his proudest student.

But should he tell him?

After thinking it over, Jiraiya finally decided to tell Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto had the right to know who his parents were.

Jiraiya picked Uzumaki Naruto up and pointed toward Kage Rock in the distance.

"See him? That's your dad, the Fourth Hokage."

????

The Fourth Hokage was his dad?

But even though Naruto now knew who his father was, he only felt sadder. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he asked Jiraiya through his sobs about what troubled him even more.

"But... but why do the people in the village hate me so much? Why do they call me the Demon Fox?"

"They chase me away and won't let me buy anything, even though I can..."

Then Uzumaki Naruto could hold back no longer. He buried his face against Jiraiya's shoulder and sobbed.

Jiraiya could only comfort Uzumaki Naruto. The matter involved decisions made by his own teacher.

He couldn't criticize him freely. The old man had made some mistakes over the years, but he was Jiraiya's teacher, and that didn't erase everything he'd done for Konoha.

Then Jiraiya personally took Naruto to school.

With Jiraiya's comfort, Uzumaki Naruto had cheered up again. But as one of the Sannin, Jiraiya could also see the fear Naruto kept hidden inside.

He was afraid Jiraiya had only appeared out of nowhere to give him a little light, only to leave him afterward.

He was afraid of losing him.

Jiraiya hugged Uzumaki Naruto even tighter and made up his mind.

I'll take care of you until you're grown.

Just then, Uzumaki Naruto cried out weakly,

"White-haired... white-haired mister, loosen up. Let go, I'm gonna be crushed!"

Hearing him, Jiraiya instinctively loosened his arms.

With a thud, Uzumaki Naruto fell to the ground.

Then Uzumaki Naruto managed to struggle back to his feet, thanks to the special constitution of the Uzumaki Clan.

Now, Uzumaki Naruto couldn't help having some misgivings about the white-haired man who had suddenly appeared that day.

Is this white-haired mister really here to take care of me? Or is he trying to kill me and steal my newly acquired ramen?

Jiraiya saw Naruto looking at him suspiciously, and could only rub the back of his head sheepishly.

"Sorry. I'm really sorry. I promise I won't do it again."

Seeing Jiraiya's promise, Uzumaki Naruto finally decided to forgive the white-haired man he felt close to.

But in the end, Uzumaki Naruto wouldn't let Jiraiya carry him again.

Instead, he took Jiraiya's hand and headed to the Ninja Academy.

After seeing Uzumaki Naruto into the Ninja Academy, Jiraiya—who'd been holding back all day—decided to get back to his research on the local scenery.

After all, he'd soon be taking Naruto out of the village to look for Tsunade.

If he didn't go now, he wouldn't have time later.

With that thought, Jiraiya headed for one of Konoha's Hot Springs.