Documents lay scattered across the floor, with a few sheets drifting to Naruto and Sakura's feet.
The office was a mess. All that remained was Hiruzen Sarutobi's heavy breathing, Jiraiya's awkward silence, and Sakura's icy stare, which seemed capable of freezing the air itself.
"I think you can say that a little louder."
Naruto picked up the conversation, his usually sunny, cheerful face now betraying neither joy nor anger.
He tugged at the corner of his mouth, his gaze pinning Jiraiya like a nail.
"Doesn't this esteemed senior Jiraiya... look awfully proud of himself? Like he's done something honorable?"
He deliberately stressed "esteemed senior" and "honorable," his words dripping with sarcasm.
Big Yellow seemed to sense the hostility in his owner's tone and let out a low "woof" at Jiraiya from Naruto's arms, as though agreeing.
Sakura glanced at Naruto in mild surprise.
She rarely saw Naruto show such blatant, persistent disgust toward someone he had just met. It seemed that this time, even Naruto-usually so easygoing and optimistic, always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt-was truly angry.
"Lord Third."
Naruto turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, his tone unusually serious and formal for a conversation with the Third.
"How do you intend to punish him?"
He had not used softer words like "deal with" or "teach him a lesson." He had gone straight to "punish," making it clear that he insisted on taking this seriously.
It looks like even the usually good-natured Naruto is angry!
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly, his brow furrowing even more deeply.
Looking at his student standing before him with his head lowered, unusually uneasy and clearly in the wrong, he found himself at a complete loss.
Punish Jiraiya?
Given his status and strength, ordinary punishments would barely affect him. Confinement, fines, mission restrictions... none