As one of Konohagakure's most iconic landmarks, Hokage Rock had always stood as a monument to the achievements of successive Hokage, a symbol the villagers looked up to and trusted.
Ever since the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had sacrificed himself, only four enormous faces had watched over the village as it changed.
Plans for the Fifth Hokage's stone likeness had actually been put on the agenda after Jiraiya reluctantly accepted the responsibility.
But with the village still needing to be rebuilt, resources and manpower had gone toward the more urgent reconstruction and defenses. Jiraiya himself had shown little interest, so the carving had remained on hold, with nothing more than a space reserved on the plans.
Naruto had sought out Jiraiya, hoping to learn Sage Mode.
Since he couldn't figure it out himself, he might as well take a look at the Sage Modes of the Three Great Sage Lands and learn from their strengths!
No one else knew exactly what the two had murmured about in the Hokage's Office.
All anyone knew was that, not long afterward, Jiraiya had hurriedly dragged Naruto out of the office with an expression that practically said, "I'm saved."
As they left the Hokage Building and crossed the square beneath Hokage Rock, Naruto, the teenager, casually glanced up at the bare space reserved for the fifth stone likeness.
"Come to think of it," he said lightly, as though he had suddenly remembered some trivial matter, "the Fifth Hokage's face still hasn't been carved."
Jiraiya was busy preparing the Summoning Technique. Without even looking back, he grumbled offhandedly, "Oh, whatever. It's not like I care about that stuff."
Naruto nodded.
"Then... I might as well take care of it."
He had barely finished speaking, and hadn't even come to a complete stop.
He simply extended