In the toad cottage's living room, steaming rice porridge sat on the clean wooden table, with tender white meat in it.
"Ah, the weather's lovely today." Having finished making Naruto's breakfast, Shima wiped the beads of condensed cooking steam from her forehead.
"Isn't that perfect? We can take little Naruto out to experience what Sage Mode feels like." Fukasaku had already finished the day's cleaning and tossed the Cleansing Insect, squeezed dry of every last drop, into the trash.
"Oh, is little Jiraiya still asleep?" Looking at the morning light streaming through the window, Shima suddenly asked.
"He is. Ah, never mind. He has a hard time out there. Let him rest a little longer." Fukasaku sighed. They knew what Jiraiya had been through over the past few years.
He had wandered all over the Shinobi World like a drifter, searching for Orochimaru and the Child of Prophecy.
But the Shinobi World was still the Shinobi World. Danger could strike in an instant, and even in his sleep, Jiraiya instinctively stayed on guard to avoid being killed in a sudden attack.
Mount Myōboku was one of the few places where he could completely let down his guard and get a good night's sleep.
"Hey, Grandpa Fukasaku, Grandma Shima, good morning."
Naruto came out of his room in adorable pajamas and raised a hand to wave at the two toads in greeting.
"Oh, little Naruto, you're up! Come see if you like the porridge Grandma made." Seeing Naruto emerge, Shima hurriedly called him over for breakfast.
Yet Naruto's expression turned sorrowful. He stood there for a while, then spoke in a tearful voice.
"Um, Grandpa Fukasaku, Grandma Shima, I might never be able to eat your cooking again."
Seeing that something was wrong, Shima quickly hopped over, patted Naruto's shoulder, and