"Oh? Jonin already?"
Kakashi Hatake smiled faintly as he looked at Naruto Uzumaki.
"Yes, Naruto. With your current strength and your ability to lead a team during missions, you already meet many of the requirements."
He folded his arms thoughtfully.
"The only things you still lack are age and experience."
Naruto laughed softly, showing no impatience at all.
"That doesn't matter. As long as I can bring Sasuke Uchiha back."
Kakashi nodded, but then something came to mind.
"Naruto, I heard from Hinata Hyuga that you promised Jiraiya you would convince him to guide Sasuke and help bring him back. Is that true?"
Naruto answered immediately.
"Yes. That's exactly what I said."
Kakashi hesitated.
"But that was only your promise. Jiraiya may not agree to it."
Naruto's expression became serious.
"No matter what the Perverted Sage says, I'll convince him somehow!"
He clenched his fists tightly.
"Even if… even if I can't continue training under him myself, it doesn't matter!"
Both Kakashi and Hinata were visibly startled.
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata whispered.
Kakashi studied him carefully.
"Naruto… are you really willing to go that far for Sasuke?"
For a moment, Kakashi was reminded of his own youth—of Team Minato, of bonds once taken for granted and later lost.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Yes," he said quietly. "I believe you can do it. Jiraiya isn't an unreasonable man."
A loud voice suddenly echoed from the window.
"What kind of nonsense are you saying about me?"
Everyone turned in surprise.
"Huh?"
"That voice…"
"Perverted Sage?!"
With a loud thud, Jiraiya climbed in through the hospital window as casually as if it were a front door.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing his usual carefree grin, he stepped inside and crossed his arms.
"Naruto," he said with mock seriousness, "you used my name as bait to trick Sasuke into staying. And you did it without asking my permission."
Naruto panicked instantly.
"T-that's because…"
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
"Relax, relax. I'm not angry."
His expression softened.
"It's only natural to make such a choice if it means saving a dear friend from darkness… from throwing his life away."
He glanced at the unconscious Sasuke lying nearby.
"In fact, compared to what I failed to do in the past… what you did was far more admirable."
Naruto frowned.
"Are you talking about Orochimaru?"
Jiraiya let out a long sigh.
"Orochimaru wasn't born evil."
His eyes became distant.
"Back then, we were comrades. We fought side by side through countless life-and-death battles. We trusted one another completely."
He lowered his gaze.
"But in the end… I failed to stop him from walking down that path."
"That failure remains one of the greatest regrets of my life."
Then he looked directly at Naruto.
"Naruto… in this matter, you are already far better than I ever was."
Naruto blinked in surprise, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"What are you talking about? I'm only doing what anyone should do."
Kakashi stepped forward carefully.
"So, Jiraiya… what do you think about Sasuke?"
Jiraiya turned his attention toward Sasuke.
"You want me to take him as a student?"
"There's no issue with talent. But right now, his entire life revolves around revenge."
He shook his head.
"That kind of path never leads anywhere good."
Naruto immediately spoke up.
"Perverted Sage, the pain Sasuke carries is something we can't fully understand."
"If he never gets revenge, I don't think he'll ever truly be happy."
He lowered his voice.
"I don't want him to live only for revenge… but I can't force him to give it up either."
"The only thing I can do is help him."
"When he finally settles things, maybe then he can start living for himself."
Jiraiya smiled wryly.
"Naruto, your view of life is very simple."
He walked closer and leaned against the wall.
"When someone lives only for revenge, then once revenge is achieved, they don't suddenly find peace."
"They feel emptiness."
"The thing that kept them alive disappears. And many people fall into even deeper despair afterward."
Kakashi nodded silently.
Those were not words from theory. They came from experience.
Naruto and the others were still young. There were truths they had not yet lived through.
But Naruto did not back down.
"At least revenge can give Sasuke hope right now."
He looked at his unconscious friend.
"He would rather die than rely on a monster like Orochimaru. That shows how desperate he has become."
Hinata stepped forward softly.
"Naruto-kun is right."
She clasped her hands together.
"Sasuke's obsession is too deep. If he relies only on himself, he'll trap himself in a dead end."
"He needs all of our help."
Jiraiya scratched his head.
"Sasuke really does have good friends."
Then he sighed.
"I just wish he could realize it on his own."
He looked around the room.
"His hatred is not the only thing in his life anymore. Even if he cannot let go of it now, he still has bonds."
Kakashi gave a faint smile.
"He'll understand eventually. Otherwise, he would never have returned with Naruto."
"Hm. I hope so."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Then… Perverted Sage…"
"Does that mean you agree?!"
Jiraiya looked directly at him.
"Naruto, are you truly willing to give up your own training so Sasuke can train under me?"
Naruto froze.
He admired Jiraiya not only because he was one of the legendary Sannin, but because he was one of the rare masters respected throughout the ninja world.
More importantly, Naruto had already formed a deep bond with him.
But if it was for Sasuke…
Naruto inhaled deeply.
"Yes."
Before he could say more, Jiraiya suddenly laughed loudly.
"Uchiha Sasuke really has no idea how lucky he is."
Naruto blinked.
Jiraiya grinned.
"I said I'd take another student."
He raised a finger dramatically.
"I never said I could only teach one."
Naruto understood instantly.
His eyes widened.
"That means—?!"
He jumped straight up from the hospital bed, sending the blanket flying.
"That's amazing!"
"Long live the Perverted Sage!"
Kakashi and Jiraiya exchanged helpless smiles.
Hinata covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Naruto-kun… I'm happy for you."
Then she pointed around the room.
"But this is still a hospital."
Naruto immediately stiffened.
"Oh!"
He quickly sat back down properly.
"I got too excited. I almost forgot…"
Jiraiya looked at Naruto with amusement.
Naruto, you're lucky too… and you don't even realize it.
Kakashi sighed dramatically.
"So Naruto and Sasuke will both train under Jiraiya…"
"I suddenly feel a little lonely."
Jiraiya glared at him.
"Kakashi, Konoha is facing internal and external problems right now."
"You won't have time to feel lonely."
Kakashi scratched his head awkwardly.
"Fair point."
Hinata watched Naruto's smiling face and felt genuinely happy for him.
But deep inside, another feeling quietly surfaced.
Naruto-kun and Sasuke will both grow stronger under Lord Jiraiya…
I couldn't help much this time.
Will I only fall further behind them in the future?
I won't give up… but what should I do?
Jiraiya glanced at her briefly, as if he had already guessed what she was thinking.
Hokage Office
Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat upright behind a mountain of documents.
Beside her, Shizune sorted files with practiced efficiency.
Jiraiya pushed the door open casually.
"I never imagined hot-tempered Tsunade could look this serious."
Without looking up, Tsunade snorted.
"This is because you refused to become Hokage and dumped all of this on me."
Jiraiya laughed.
"It's not about willingness. It's about suitability."
"A free spirit like me belongs outside, wandering the world."
Tsunade finally looked up.
"I heard you agreed to train Sasuke alongside Naruto."
"Mm."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You can be surprisingly sensible when you want to be."
Jiraiya placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"What kind of man did you think I was?"
Tsunade answered immediately.
"Lazy."
"Perverted."
"Gluttonous."
"Drunk."
"Homeless."
"Sloppy."
Jiraiya coughed.
"Alright, alright. That's enough."
He smiled.
"Anyway, helping solve Sasuke's problem is helping you, right?"
Tsunade frowned.
A dangerous feeling rose in her chest.
"Jiraiya… what are you trying to say?"
He laughed shamelessly.
"As expected of Tsunade. You still understand me so well."
"I only have one small request."
The veins on Tsunade's forehead bulged instantly.
She clenched her fist so hard it cracked.
"Jiraiya… if you say something stupid…"
Jiraiya raised both hands quickly.
"Tsunade, what are you imagining? You're the Hokage now. Behave appropriately."
"You're the one with the problem!"
He grinned wider.
"What I meant was simple."
"Since you've returned to Konoha…"
"Why don't you take a student too?"
Tsunade froze.
"A disciple?"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"So… who exactly do you have in mind?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)