"You're avoiding her, you know."
Jiraiya froze, the color draining from his face. He slowly turned to see Naruto Uzumaki staring at him with a knowing grin.
"Perverted Sage," Naruto continued, his posture straightening with an air of smug authority, "you didn't come here to ask for writing advice, did you?"
Jiraiya nearly choked. "A mere ghostwriter? As if I'd need your help!"
He grabbed Naruto by the collar, yanking him away and turning his back on Tsunade, who stood watching from a short distance.
"I'm not asking you anything. I just need to talk to your other half. Tell Menma to come out."
Naruto's expression turned wary again. "Menma?"
"I already gave Kishimoto Hirohiko the manuscript yesterday. The printed copies are out tomorrow. Don't even think about getting my work for free!"
Unlike Kakashi, who'd pay later, Jiraiya was a shameless moocher. There was no way Naruto would let him see the plot ahead of time.
Jiraiya: "..."
Smack!
"Don't be an idiot! I have something important to discuss with Menma!"
Jiraiya slapped the still-swollen lump on Naruto's head. Naruto clutched his skull, crouching down with a choked gasp. He looked like his brain had been rattled loose. After a long moment, he stood up, glaring daggers at the Sannin.
"Menma's been ignoring me. He probably just doesn't want to talk to a freeloader like you."
Jiraiya frowned, unconvinced. "Stop messing around, Naruto. This is serious."
"Just take over his body, like you did with Danzo. I'm sure he'll listen."
Naruto sighed, realizing he wasn't getting out of this. "He's been acting strange for days. Barely pays any attention to me. I think he's training. He's powerful, so he's probably making every second count."
He'd tried to reach Menma in the mindscape multiple times. Every time, he found Menma sitting there with his eyes closed, and Kurama lying next to him like a docile pet. They'd both told Naruto to get lost and stop disturbing them. It was all just... mysterious.
Jiraiya wasn't giving up. "If I talk to you, can Menma hear me from inside?"
"Don't try to fool me, kid. I know that after Menma comes out, he knows everything that happened."
Naruto pouted. "I know, I know! Why ask me, then? You're such a pain, Pervy Sage."
He spread his hands and shook his head with a look that said, Adults are such a hassle.
In the past, Jiraiya would've fought him over that. Now, he just sighed in relief. He tucked the scroll he was holding into his robes.
"I just wanted to ask Menma if he wanted to separate from you and become his own person."
Naruto's eyes went wide. "Huh?"
"Sharing one body is inconvenient. The village is planning to research soul-based ninjutsu."
Jiraiya didn't mention Tobirama's specific plan. He was Hokage now; the village came first. Besides, according to Tobirama, Menma had been using Shadow Clone Jutsu to control clones outside the village. He'd infiltrated Akatsuki and even fought Hashirama Senju.
If Jiraiya hadn't gone to Mount Myōboku and heard the Great Toad Sage's prophecy—acquiring forbidden techniques targeting the soul—he never would have told Naruto any of this.
"Separate?" Naruto's jaw dropped. Then, pure joy exploded across his face. "That's amazing!"
"I can give Kurama to Menma! Then I can borrow Kurama's chakra from him, just like Sasuke does! No more rampages, no more worrying about losing control!"
Naruto had been jealous and frustrated for years watching Sasuke wield that pure Tailed Beast chakra. But what truly moved him was the possibility of Menma becoming a separate entity. He wouldn't have to live with that constant, nagging feeling that Menma was the better one. He wouldn't be the secondary personality anymore.
But then a new problem hit him. "Wait. Where do we get a body? We can't just steal someone else's, right?"
Jiraiya had an answer ready. "That's not a problem. Danzo had deep ties to Orochimaru. His Root organization had been researching human bodies. Lately, he handed that data over to the Sarutobi Clan. They're working on graftable arms and legs."
"We can use that to grow a body for Menma. One with the same bloodline as you."
Jiraiya didn't know if it would actually work. But he had to make empty promises, because whether it was sealing or separation, something was inevitable.
It was just too dangerous letting Menma have full control of the Nine-Tails' chakra. And annihilation? Jiraiya hadn't even considered it. He didn't believe someone from the Great Toad Sage's prophecy could be killed that easily. Besides, he'd never get past Naruto to do it anyway.
His real goal here was to probe Menma's strength and give him a warning: a deterrent. He wanted Menma to know the village had a way to give him a normal life, and that he shouldn't cause trouble outside, or separation might turn into a permanent seal.
Unfortunately, Menma hadn't appeared, so Jiraiya could only deliver the message through Naruto.
"They can actually make a body with my bloodline?" Naruto didn't doubt him for a second. After the initial shock, he started screaming the news inside his own head, trying to broadcast it to Menma.
Inside the sealed space, Menma heard Jiraiya clearly. He didn't reply. He just watched coldly from the shadows. Everything Jiraiya said sounded too idealistic, too easy. Menma didn't believe it.
Seeing no response, Jiraiya looked disappointed.
"Menma, I know you can hear me. I'm just telling you this: the village is trying to make things right. So stop with the hatred. Not just for yourself, but for Naruto. For everyone who cares about you."
Jiraiya sighed and patted Naruto's shoulder.
"Naruto, you should try talking to your brother, too. Don't let him turn into a mass of hate like the Nine-Tails, losing himself. Minato Namikaze entrusted you all to me. I really don't want to fail him..."
Jiraiya trailed off, but Naruto understood. He nodded vigorously.
"Alright. Wait here. I'll be right back."
With that, Jiraiya turned and sprinted toward the Hokage's Office. He planned to hand Tobirama the forbidden soul techniques so he could focus on the separation research.
He needed them because even though he had soul techniques now, they were just references. The actual ninjutsu to split a soul? That was still Tobirama's specialty.