The next morning, sunlight filtered gently through the narrow window, thin golden beams cutting through the quiet room and illuminating the space little by little.
The dust motes drifted lazily in the air, dancing as the light spilled over the two beds positioned across from one another.
Jiraya lay sprawled across his bed without a care in the world, one arm hanging off the side, his chest rising and falling steadily. His travel bag sat neatly near the wall, and beside it rested the large scroll.
Each time he inhaled, a deep, rumbling grrrrhhhk echoed through the room, followed by a sharp snrrrk that rattled the window faintly.
On the other bed, Naruto shifted.
The sunlight crept across his face, warming his skin. His brows twitched, then furrowed.
"Mmn…"
A low groan slipped past his lips as his eyes cracked open, the brightness stabbing straight into his vision.
'Too damn early,' He thought irritably.
Another thunderous snore tore through the silence.
Naruto's eye twitched, and he rolled onto his side, glaring at the source of the noise.
Jiraya remained blissfully unaware, mouth wide open, snoring like a broken summon beast.
Naruto stared at him for a long moment, jaw tightening.
'I swear… one of these days, I'm burying you under your own research notes...'
Naruto pushed himself up with a soft rustle of sheets and stretched his arms high above his head, joints popping quietly.
"Nnngh…" He yawned deeply, eyes watering, then glanced back at Jiraya with an unamused frown.
As if sensing the hostility, Jiraya suddenly shifted. His snoring cut off with a rough hrrk, and he groaned, rolling onto his side.
"Tch… damn…" He muttered, eyes still closed.
Naruto crossed his arms, his tone full of teasing.
"Pervy Sage," He said flatly, "you should really control your snoring."
Jiraya's eyes snapped open halfway. His face twitched.
"Oi… brat," He grumbled, voice thick with sleep. "You're one to talk. You grind your teeth like you're fighting someone in your dreams."
Naruto scoffed, rolling his eyes. "At least I don't sound like a dying toad."
"Hah! Ungrateful little—" Jiraya snorted, pushing himself up on one elbow. He paused, then let out a long yawn of his own, stretching with a loud crrk. "Morning already, huh…"
Naruto watched him, irritation fading just slightly. Despite everything, moments like these felt oddly familiar, almost grounding.
They both eventually dragged themselves out of bed, the wooden floor creaking softly beneath their feet.
Naruto gathered his things efficiently, movements calm and practiced.
Jiraya, on the other hand, took his time, muttering to himself while double-checking his bag and securing the scroll with extra care.
Soon after, they headed to the large bathroom.
The warm steam filled the space as hot water poured down with a steady shhhhh.
Naruto stood under the spray, eyes half-lidded, letting the warmth soak into his muscles.
'Another day filled with a new adventure,' He thought quietly. 'Another step closer to my goal....'
For just a moment, shadows stirred faintly beneath his feet before fading back into nothingness.
No one noticed the strange scene.
Once dressed and refreshed, they made their way downstairs and sat together for breakfast. The clink of utensils and low chatter filled the inn as Naruto ate calmly, while Jiraya shoveled food into his mouth with enthusiasm.
"So," Jiraya said between bites, "we head out right after this."
"Yeah." Naruto nodded his head, clearly excited a little.
Outside, the town was already waking up. The vendors called out, carts rolled over stone with a clatter, and the air buzzed with life.
After settling the bill, the two stepped beyond the inn's doors. Naruto paused for half a second, glancing back at the town behind them.
'Next stop… Tsunade,' He thought. 'The Hottest Grandma in the entire Ninja World!'
Then, without another word, they set off down the road, leaving the town behind and heading straight toward whatever awaited them next.
------
The road stretched long and quiet ahead of them, pale dust crunching softly beneath their sandals with every step.
Crunch… crunch…
A cool breeze swept across the open land, tugging lightly at Naruto's jacket and making the tall grass along the roadside sway in slow waves. The town gradually faded behind them, its noise replaced by the distant call of birds and the rhythmic sound of travel.
Jiraya walked with his hands tucked into his sleeves, eyes half-lidded as if lost in thought.
After a few moments, he glanced sideways at Naruto, studying him with a seriousness that made Naruto notice immediately.
"Since I brought you along on this journey," Jiraya said casually, though there was weight behind his words, "it's only natural that I teach you some powerful techniques."
Naruto blinked, then looked up at him. Jiraya continued, voice calm but firm. "You're a genius, you know that? Just like your father—"
He paused, then shook his head slightly. "No… you're even more talented than him."
Naruto's steps faltered for half a second.
"Already mastering the Rasengan," Jiraya went on, "and your taijutsu is amazing too. Your instincts, your adaptability… It's rare."
Naruto felt a warmth bloom in his chest. He grinned, rubbing the back of his nose sheepishly. "Heh… you don't have to praise me that much, Pervy Sage."
Still, the smugness crept in no matter how hard he tried to suppress it.
"So," He added with a chuckle, "what kind of trick are you gonna teach me now? I didn't think you knew any more techniques worth showing me."
Jiraya let out a sharp hmph, his lips curling into a confident smirk. "Brat, don't get ahead of yourself."
He shot Naruto a sideways glance. "There's no doubt you're talented, but you can't say something like that."
Naruto tilted his head slightly, curious.
"What do you know," Jiraya continued, "besides fighting techniques and ninjutsu? Being a ninja isn't just about throwing punches and flashy jutsu."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Then what?"
Jiraya's grin widened, almost mischievous. "The art of infiltration."
Naruto slowed his pace, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"As a ninja," Jiraya said, tapping his temple with one finger, "you need to know how to slip into enemy territory, gather information, extract your target, and disappear without a trace."
He puffed out his chest proudly. "And when it comes to infiltration, there's no one in Konoha who can match me."
Naruto let out a small huff of amusement, but he didn't dismiss it and thought about it seriously.
"That's… not a bad idea," He admitted after a moment. "It'd definitely be useful."
He hesitated, then clenched his fist lightly at his side. "But can't you teach me something more?"
His voice dropped a notch. "Something to increase my strength."
Jiraya noticed the change instantly.
Naruto's gaze hardened, shadows flickering briefly in his blue eyes.
"Who knows when I'll run into that red-haired bastard again?" He said quietly. "Next time… I want to defeat him."
The wind picked up, whoooosh, carrying Naruto's words into the open road.
Jiraya stopped walking.
Naruto halted as well, surprised.
Jiraya's brows slowly furrowed, his playful demeanor fading. He remembered that overwhelming pressure, that crushing strength.
The enemy they faced wasn't something Naruto could brush off with talent alone.
"…You're right," Jiraya said at last, and his expression hardened, eyes sharp with resolve. "The enemy is too strong. You need more power...r."
He turned fully toward Naruto. "So first, we find Tsunade. Once that's done…"
A confident grin returned, though it was edged with seriousness.
"I'll teach you jutsu that'll make you stronger."
Jiraya placed a heavy hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Strong enough that next time, you won't just survive."
Naruto's lips curved into a determined smile. "Yeah… next time, I'll win."
Without another word, they resumed walking, footsteps steady, the long road ahead filled with purpose and unspoken resolve.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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