Naruto Turned the Tables, Leaving Jiraiya Stunned

What could I do to earn Lord Jiraiya's forgiveness?

Waiting online.

It was urgent.

Iruka panicked, searching his mind for a solution.

But after standing there anxiously for a long while, he still couldn't say any of the things filling his heart. In the end, Iruka could only force out a few words:

"Lord Jiraiya, you're back?"

You made it sound like I was dead.

Speechless, Jiraiya rolled his eyes.

"HAHAHA, I can't take it anymore. Will you two please spare me? My stomach hurts so bad."

If he weren't worried about dirtying his clothes, Yan really would have rolled around on the floor. He was laughing so hard his stomach hurt, and tears had come to his eyes.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Iruka hurried out of the office.

"Lord Jiraiya, please wait a moment. I'll go get Naruto right away."

Iruka ran off in a flash.

Jiraiya glared at Yan irritably.

"I brought you here to help, not to watch me make a fool of myself!"

"You two were being funny. Am I not allowed to laugh?"

Rubbing his stomach, Yan wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, still somewhat out of breath.

"Honestly, you're completely unqualified as a guardian. It's been years, and you only came to see the kid now. No wonder the teacher didn't recognize you. If it were me, I'd definitely think you were some criminal trafficking children."

"..."

Jiraiya was utterly numb.

"Naruto, your guardian is looking for you!"

At the classroom door, another teacher was teaching while Naruto was busy sleeping.

Hearing the shout, Naruto raised his head in confusion and wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. "Who's looking for me?"

"A guardian?"

The teacher in class thought he had misheard.

"Teacher Iruka, did you just say Naruto's guardian?"

"There's no time to explain. I'll tell you later. Naruto, come out quickly. Hurry up."

Iruka beckoned repeatedly.

Still groggy, Naruto had no choice but to walk out of the classroom.

But the classroom instantly erupted.

"Isn't that fox demon an orphan? Since when did he have family?"

"Yeah, I heard he was an orphan too."

A group of children chattered among themselves.

"Quiet! Continue the lesson! No discussing other people."

The teacher slammed his hand against the desk, redirecting the students' attention.

Truthfully, he was curious too and wanted to gossip a little, but as a teacher, he still needed basic moral standards.

"Teacher, what guardian? I don't have a guardian."

On the way, Naruto gradually came to his senses and began to feel that something was wrong. He was an orphan, okay?

Other than the old Hokage who occasionally came to visit him, he had no other family at all.

"Stop talking and keep up!!"

At this point in time, Iruka's attitude toward Naruto was still terrible. He wasn't like he would become years later, gradually maturing, coming to understand Naruto, and even counseling him at one point.

It had to be said that the Third Hokage's brainwashing skills were first-rate.

He had forcibly made Iruka let go of the hatred in his heart and devote himself wholeheartedly to taking care of Naruto.

"Okay."

Even after being snapped at, Naruto didn't react much.

He had long since grown used to Iruka's attitude toward him. Looking completely unconcerned, he clasped his hands behind his head and followed at an unhurried street punk's pace.

The veins on Iruka's forehead bulged as he walked ahead.

"Lord Jiraiya, Naruto is here."

Iruka wore a fawning expression.

Jiraiya smiled and nodded. "Thank you for your trouble."

"It was nothing, nothing at all."

Iruka bowed repeatedly before slowly backing out of the office.

"Huh! The uncle who ate ramen last night, and the white-haired uncle who stinks."

When Naruto looked up and saw Yan and Jiraiya, he immediately gave them both names that left them speechless.

What did he mean, the uncle who ate ramen?

What did he mean, the white-haired uncle who reeked?

After that look, Yan was sure this kid needed a beating.

Yan didn't care about the consequences. He kicked Naruto right in the butt.

Then he turned and left, not forgetting to wave at Jiraiya and casually raise a middle finger.

"Don't ever come looking for me for something like this again."

This Police Department squad captain had such a terrifying temper. Not only did he dare kick Naruto, he even dared give Lord Jiraiya the middle finger.

Iruka stared dumbfoundedly at Yan's departing back, warning himself that he absolutely must not provoke anyone from the Police Department or the Uchiha.

"Why did you kick me!!!"

Bar­ing his teeth in pain as he rubbed his butt, Naruto looked deeply aggrieved.

Jiraiya shook his head with a bitter smile. He looked at Naruto as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, feeling a little nervous and not even knowing how to introduce himself.

Yan had already left, so there was no use yelling at him.

Still rubbing his butt, Naruto could only glare at Jiraiya in dissatisfaction and shout:

"Stinky old man, what do you want with me?"

"You can call me Grandpa Jiraiya."

After agonizing over the form of address, Jiraiya decided to go by seniority.

Given his age and standing, there was nothing wrong with Naruto calling him Grandpa.

Even though Jiraiya was not Minato's father.

"Grandpa?"

Naruto's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

"That's right, Grandpa."

Jiraiya grinned, secretly delighted.

"Tch, I don't want to."

But Naruto crossed his arms, turned his head aside, and said unhappily, "I don't have a grandpa."

This wasn't right.

Where had things gone wrong?

Hadn't Yan said Naruto lacked affection more than anything?

Shouldn't Naruto have rushed tearfully into his arms the moment he appeared?

Jiraiya nervously stepped forward.

"Naruto, I was your father's teacher, so it's only right for you to call me Grandpa.

"I'm sorry. You've had it hard these past few years. I only just returned to the village, and I didn't know you'd been living such a difficult life."

"Ptooey!!!"

"Liar, you big liar!!!"

Naruto reacted fiercely, spitting at Jiraiya. With red-rimmed eyes, he waved his arms and shouted:

"I've been alone since I was little. I don't have any family, and I definitely don't have a grandpa. You're a liar."

Naruto had always longed for attention from others, for the love and family care that other children had. Unfortunately, all he ever received were cold, rejecting stares and the name fox demon.

Now, someone had suddenly appeared and claimed to be his family.

Naruto couldn't accept it all at once. Or rather, he was giving up on himself and resisting it.

If I have family, why didn't you show up sooner?

Why did you make me live alone?

Why did you make me suffer all that unfair treatment alone?

Where were you back then?

Overwhelmed by his emotions, Naruto even began to cry before turning and running away.

"Naruto!!!"

Faced with this situation, Jiraiya could only chase after him.

Naruto's emotional outburst and his reaction upon learning he still had family only strengthened Jiraiya's resolve to stay by Naruto's side.

Whether the Third Hokage was willing or not, he would never abandon Naruto again and leave him to live all alone.

"As expected, touching scenes aren't meant for someone like me."

Yan, who had been watching from the shadows, shook his head and quietly left.

As for the two Anbu brothers, they seemed not to have noticed that someone had been secretly observing the Ninja Academy right under their noses.

Naruto's intense reaction was perfectly normal.

After all, he had unexpectedly received the love and care that belonged to him, yet couldn't accept it for the moment, causing an inner conflict.

As long as Jiraiya stayed with him, Naruto would surely accept Jiraiya soon enough.

Jiraiya found Naruto at the back mountain. Sitting beside him, he began telling his own stories, and gradually, Naruto's attention was drawn in.