Chapter 75: Rare Companionship

Natsuhane had left the Hokage Tower, still mulling over the conversation with the Third Hokage. Meanwhile, Jiraiya found himself standing before Naruto's house, having just experienced a rather eventful day with the young boy.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"Who am I? Haha, good question!" Jiraiya took a deep breath, then, like a stage performer, struck an exaggerated pose and loudly proclaimed, "I am the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, the magnificent Jiraiya-sama, also known as the Gallant Jiraiya!"

Naruto's jaw dropped. "A sage... like you?"

This guy must be a total nutcase, Naruto thought. He had never met anyone as flamboyant as himself.

"That's right! A sage is exactly what I am! Now, kid, stop eating that stuff. Let me take you to get some real food!"

"Really?"

"Yep! Ichiraku Ramen! All you can eat, until you're full!"

The mere mention of Ichiraku Ramen made Naruto's eyes turn into hearts. "You said it! You can't back out now!"

Jiraiya chuckled, "If I were to break a promise to a kid, I wouldn't be fit to be a sage. Turn off the kettle, let's go!"

Confident in his own generosity, Jiraiya had no idea how much Naruto could eat, nor how much damage this outing would do to his wallet...

Half an hour later, at Ichiraku Ramen.

Naruto was shoveling noodles into his mouth at an astonishing pace.

"Another bowl, please!" Naruto called out.

That was his tenth bowl...

Watching Naruto, it was clear he had no intention of stopping anytime soon. Jiraiya, glancing at his thinning wallet and the passing time, began to look distressed. He hadn't planned to spend all his energy and money here.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Naruto asked between slurps.

"Cough... I don't have your kind of appetite," Jiraiya replied, a bit embarrassed. "Hey, kid, after this bowl, how about we go to the hot springs? As men, we should be open and honest, both in attitude and... physically!"

"Sure! I've never been to a hot spring before!" Naruto said excitedly.

"Great! Hurry up and finish..."

"Okay! But... I want one more bowl, hehe~"

"Uh..." Jiraiya sighed, "One more bowl, please."

After eating, Jiraiya took a thoroughly stuffed Naruto to a nearby hot spring.

"Ah, so warm!" Naruto's face was red with contentment, only his head sticking out of the water.

Jiraiya, sitting next to Naruto, downed a small cup of sake and sighed, "Indeed, after a long day, soaking in a hot spring with a drink is the best..."

Suddenly, laughter from the next room caught his attention.

It was the sound of girls.

"Hey, sis, stop it~"

"Haha, sis, you're developing well. Don't block, let me see..."

Jiraiya couldn't sit still.

The sake in his hand suddenly seemed tasteless.

"Plans really can't keep up with changes. Kid, I can't stay with you for now. As a novelist, I can't miss any chance for inspiration."

"Huh?"

Before Naruto could react, Jiraiya had already dashed out and was peering through a gap in the bamboo fence.

"Hehe, young girls are the best~"

"..." Watching Jiraiya's sleazy behavior, Naruto's eyes were full of disdain. Realizing something, he angrily pointed at Jiraiya and shouted:

"You said we were going to the hot springs as men! And you said it was for inspiration! You're just here to peep on girls, you pervy sage!"

Naruto's loud voice carried over to the next room.

"Ah! A peeper! Run, sis!"

"Wait for me, sis!"

Within seconds, the girls were gone.

"You idiot! Your yelling gave me away! Damn brat!" Jiraiya cursed.

"Hmph, you pervert!"

"I am not a pervert! I'm gathering inspiration to create better works! It's all for the sake of art! You wouldn't understand, you little brat!"

"You're lying! Stop making excuses!"

"Damn it!" Jiraiya's teeth ground together in frustration. But being angry wouldn't help; the girls were gone, and staying longer was pointless.

"Kid, it's getting late. Get dressed, I'm taking you home."

"Huh? Already?"

"Yes! Can't you see it's dark already? Come on..."

They dressed and left the hot springs, wandering through the streets until they reached Naruto's home.

"Go on up, kid. I'm leaving."

As he turned to leave, Naruto suddenly called out, "Hey, Pervy Sage!"

"I am not a pervy sage! You disrespectful brat!" Jiraiya turned back, glaring.

He noticed Naruto looking at him with a face full of longing.

"Pervy Sage, when will you come to see me again? Today was so much fun. It was the first time I felt like this, the first time someone stayed with me."

Seeing Naruto's expression, Jiraiya's anger melted away, replaced by a pang of sadness.

He walked over, gently patting Naruto's head.

"Don't worry, I'll come back to see you soon."

"Really?"

"Yes, really!"

Satisfied with Jiraiya's answer, Naruto beamed and ran up the stairs.

"Sigh..."

Jiraiya stood alone in the street, looking at Naruto's house. Only when he saw the lights come on did he turn to leave.

He hadn't gone far when a woman's voice called out to him.

"I was wondering what you were doing. Turns out you were with a kid. Do you know him?"

"Oh, it's you, Tsunade." Jiraiya walked up to her. "This kid is the legacy of the Fourth Hokage."

Tsunade was shocked. "He... is the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Jiraiya nodded.

After the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade, disheartened by the deaths of her brother Nawaki and her lover Dan, had left Konoha with Dan's niece, Shizune. She did not know Naruto.

"Tsunade, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here for you. The old man told me that Natsuhane Uchiha has already taken the Root division to the Land of Rice Fields. Let's go, we need to move out too..."

"...Alright."

"Oh, and the old man added another task."

"Hmm? What task?"

"After dealing with Orochimaru and Natsuhane, eliminate everyone in the Root division as well."

"Huh? But aren't they his people now? Why kill them?"

Tsunade shook her head. "I don't know. He didn't give a reason. But I think it's because they know too much..."

"..."

Jiraiya frowned deeply. "Tsunade, what's wrong with our master? Since I came back, he feels like a different person."

"Shh, lower your voice!" Tsunade cut him off, glancing around cautiously. "Jiraiya, don't you see? There are ANBU around..."

Jiraiya said, "I know. They are here to protect Naruto. After all, he is the village's valuable Jinchuriki. They've been following me and Naruto all day. Sigh... Let's go. We can talk on the way."

"Alright..."