"What I mean is," Jiraiya continued, "you know what the ninja's path is like. No one can guarantee they'll live to see tomorrow's sun."
"Maybe it'll happen on a mission, or in a battle against monsters like those on the Canopy Screen. If one day I suddenly disappear, just like that—or go somewhere far away like your mom and dad, somewhere I can never come back from—what would you do?"
Naruto's face flushed red. He hurled his towel to the ground and shouted at Jiraiya, "Pervy Sage! What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean, gone? How could you ever be gone?!"
He took a step forward, his finger almost poking Jiraiya's nose, an unwavering fire blazing in his blue eyes. "I'm going to become Hokage! I'm going to earn everyone's acknowledgment! And you're my teacher! The teacher who taught me the Rasengan and took me out to train! How could I... how could I let something like that happen?!"
"I don't care if the future brings the Jashinist Cult, Nine Nether, or even Madara Uchiha coming back to life! As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you!"
"If you dare casually say something like 'I'll be gone' again, I'll use a thousand Shadow Clones to tie you up and drag you back! I keep my word. That's my Ninja Way!"
Jiraiya froze as he looked at Naruto's eyes, slightly reddened with emotion.
He wanted to laugh at the boy's naivety and sheer audacity, at how he dared promise to protect him even from legendary enemies.
But his throat tightened, and a bittersweet warmth welled up in his chest.
Yes, this was Naruto, always challenging the barriers of fate in the most direct, most powerful way, always protecting the people and things he held