Kakashi arrived at the hospital carrying a bag of fruit, his steps measured and deliberate.
Jiraiya had been kicked by Naruto hard enough to require hospitalization. The Legendary Sannin couldn't take care of himself at all. Even though the incident was Jiraiya's fault, he shouldn't have gone to the hot spring hotel to peek at Hinata and the others bathing, the kick he'd received seemed excessive.
Still, Jiraiya was Kakashi's teacher's teacher. That relationship demanded a visit, regardless of the circumstances.
More importantly, Jiraiya had served as the enlightenment mentor for many young people across the village. Without Jiraiya's, shall we say, educational materials, countless individuals would never have discovered certain forms of happiness.
Jiraiya had provided spiritual fulfillment and creative inspiration to Konoha's population. From a certain perspective, he'd also reduced crime rates by giving people healthier outlets.
From that angle, Jiraiya was rather admirable.
Arriving at the ward's door, Kakashi reached out to knock, then hesitated. He carefully concealed the copy of Icha Icha Paradise he'd been carrying and made sure it was completely hidden before proceeding.
Knock knock knock.
Inside, Jiraiya heard the sound and immediately assumed Naruto had returned. His expression soured. "Hokage-sama, don't come see me!"
Naruto's... been here already?
Hearing the angry response, Kakashi spoke up. "Jiraiya-sama, it's me. Kakashi."
"Oh, Kakashi. Come in then." Not Naruto. Jiraiya's tone softened considerably.
Kakashi opened the door gently and entered. "Jiraiya-sama, are you alright? I came to visit."
"I'm fine, thanks to our Hokage-sama not kicking me to death." Jiraiya's words dripped with sarcasm, his anger at Naruto still clearly present.
Hearing the tone, Kakashi chuckled. "Jiraiya-sama, I think you've misunderstood Naruto. Besides, you did break into the hot spring hotel. Naruto was protecting Hinata. His reaction was understandable, if perhaps a bit heavy-handed."
Jiraiya's face flushed with indignation. "Kakashi, Naruto is your student. But what did you teach him? He killed Konoha's Hokage!"
The accusation made Kakashi's visible eye turn cold. His usual lazy demeanor vanished, replaced by steel. "Jiraiya-sama doesn't actually think Hiruzen Sarutobi was a good person, does he?"
"When Minato died, he entrusted Naruto to Hiruzen's care. But Naruto killed him. How does that look to the outside world?" Jiraiya's voice carried genuine distress.
"Care?" Kakashi's voice cut like a blade. "Leaving a three-year-old child to fend for himself, giving him barely enough money to survive each day, not enough for proper meals, is that what you call care? Deliberately hiding his identity while making sure he faced indifference, coldness, and hatred from the villagers? A child with no friends, completely isolated and excluded. You call that care?"
Jiraiya's lips trembled. Disbelief colored his words. "But... Hiruzen told me Naruto was doing well."
"Yes, Naruto did well. But he managed it through his own abilities." Kakashi's anger bled through every word. "As a child, he had to support himself. He worked hard to build a business, trained every day while managing a farm, and tried desperately to resolve the villagers' grudges against him. He put himself out there, made friends, fought to escape that loneliness."
"If not for Hiruzen's deliberate concealment of Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son, if not for Danzō leaking that he was Nine-Tails jinchūriki, Naruto could have had a much better life." The words came out sharp and final.
Jiraiya's expression grew complicated. He met Kakashi's eye. "Is this... the truth?"
Regret flooded through him. He'd never particularly liked Hiruzen, but he hadn't imagined the Third Hokage would treat Minato's son so callously. He believed Kakashi. There was no reason to lie about something so easily verified.
Now Jiraiya finally understood why Naruto had turned and left in anger. He'd misunderstood everything.
"Actually, Naruto met his parents long ago." Kakashi's tone softened. "According to them, he always regarded you as family, Jiraiya-sama. During those dark years, he hoped you would appear and care for him. But you never came. His disappointment must have been profound."
"Of course I see Minato's child as family!" Jiraiya closed his eyes, pain etched across his features. "I trusted Hiruzen too much. I thought no matter how flawed he was, he wouldn't harm a child."
"If you truly regard Naruto as family, talk to him properly. Stand by his side without hesitation." Kakashi spoke from experience. "Naruto's heart is actually very soft. As long as you take the initiative, he'll be happy to accept you."
"Thank you, Kakashi." Genuine gratitude colored Jiraiya's voice.
"You're welcome, Jiraiya-sama. After all, you're my teacher's teacher. You're my teacher too. Helping you reconcile with Naruto benefits everyone involved."
"You've done well, Kakashi. I shouldn't have blamed you. As for Hiruzen, he..." Jiraiya couldn't bring himself to say what the man deserved. Hiruzen had been his teacher, after all.
Dead. Let the past stay buried.
In the Boruto World
Because of Naruto's departure, the Seventh Hokage emerged from his depression. The next morning, he woke up cheerful, humming a little tune as he got ready.
However, when Himawari and Boruto woke to find their young father gone, both children looked devastated. Himawari burst into tears on the spot.
After comforting them and finishing breakfast, the Seventh Hokage suddenly spoke up. "Boruto, why don't I walk you to school today? I haven't done that yet."
Boruto eyed his father with obvious reluctance. "No need, Dad. Your work is so busy. I'm not a child anymore. I can go to school by myself."
The Seventh Hokage felt Boruto's resistance clearly. He thought back to how happy Boruto had been when young Naruto walked him to school. Why the resistance now?
Could it be... could a beating really improve the father-son relationship?
Thinking this, the Seventh Hokage immediately beat up Boruto.
After finishing, he looked down at his son with genuine concern. "Do you feel the fatherly love now? Would you like Dad to walk you to school?"
Boruto's face, already bruised and swollen, now bore fresh fist marks. Two lines of tears flowed silently down his cheeks. In his heart, he screamed: Fuck this "fatherly love"!
"Well? Do you want Dad to walk you to school?"
"Yes. Thank you, Dad." The words came out mechanical, defeated.
The Seventh Hokage nodded with satisfaction. This method really works. I don't feel any resistance from Boruto anymore.
He completely missed the dead look in his son's eyes.
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