"..."
Jiraiya stood frozen before the tightly shut door, as though a bleak night wind had swept past, stirring up a few fallen leaves and flinging them against his petrified body.
My name was Jiraiya, and never in a million years had I expected to end up taking Naruto Uzumaki as my disciple after all.
The sunlight was just right, spilling warmly beneath the eaves of that familiar little house in Konoha.
Naruto had finally shed all his prickliness and wariness. He knelt properly before Jiraiya, holding a steaming cup of tea in both hands and respectfully raising it above his head.
His dazzling blond hair looked much softer in the light. The suspicion and disdain were gone from his blue eyes, replaced by sincere admiration for a powerful senior.
"I didn't realize how amazing you were before, and I misunderstood you in so many ways. Please forgive me."
"Master Jiraiya, please have some tea."
His voice was clear, his manner respectful.
Sakura and Karin stood nearby, watching Naruto formally become his disciple, both happy for him.
Jiraiya smiled and nodded, the sense of accomplishment in his chest almost overflowing.
See? Sincerity could move mountains. No matter how bad the start, all it took was showing some genuine strength and charm to win this stubborn brat over eventually.
Now that was more like it! That was the kind of respect the great Lord Jiraiya, heroic Toad Sage, deserved!
"Ahahahahaha!"
He nodded in satisfaction, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably into a perfect smile that said, "Just as it should be" and "Everything is under control."
He reached out to accept the cup of tea that would seal their bond as master and disciple.
Then...
His own laughter woke him up.
The grin froze on his face before he