"Old man!"
Jiraiya stormed into the Hokage's Office, his face filled with indescribable anger and resentment. "You're going to give me an explanation about Naruto today!"
He was no fool. After talking to Teuchi, he had asked plenty of other people around the village about Naruto.
He discovered that whenever he mentioned the name "Naruto," the villagers' faces twisted with disgust and hatred. He immediately realized Teuchi hadn't lied to him. It was all true.
Now he understood why Shinichi had looked at him that way. No wonder the boy had chewed him out. If he had been in Shinichi's shoes, he probably would have torn into himself too.
So he had come straight to the Third Hokage to demand answers.
"Didn't you tell me in your letters that Naruto was doing well in the village?"
Jiraiya raged, "This is what you call doing well? Fucking hell, everyone in the village shunned and bullied Naruto! He lived on instant noodles and expired milk! What kind of Hokage are you? How could you do this to Minato and Kushina?"
There was no denying that Jiraiya wore his heart on his sleeve.
His concern for Naruto was genuine, too. Otherwise, he would never have spoken to his teacher in that tone.
"So you've found out, Jiraiya."
After a long silence, the Third Hokage sighed softly. "This was never what I wanted. You must understand that even as Hokage, there are times when my hands are tied. Naruto is Minato's child. Like you, I wanted to take good care of him, but some things truly are beyond anyone's power to stop..."
"Are you kidding me?"
Jiraiya grew even angrier and slammed his palm onto the desk. "You let a helpless child suffer so much, and now you're trying to dodge responsibility with excuses