After the funeral, life in the village did not heal, but it merely resumed.
People returned to their routines with quiet determination. The shops reopened with subdued greetings.
The shinobi patrolled half-repaired streets, hammering beams back into place, sealing cracks in walls still scorched by battle.
The children laughed again, but softer than before, as if instinctively aware that something precious had been lost.
Konoha was moving forward, but the shadow of the tragedy still lingered over every roof.
That afternoon, the Uzumaki residence received a visitor.
Inside the living room, the atmosphere was calm, almost deceptively so.
Jiraiya sat sprawled on the sofa, one long leg crossed over the other, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert. A faint, easy smile rested on his face, the kind he always wore when pretending that the weight of the world didn't bother him.
Across from him sat Naruto and Kushina.
Naruto leaned back casually, arms folded behind his head, while Kushina sat upright beside him, her posture composed but sharp-eyed. On the table between them rested two cups of tea, steam rising in thin, curling wisps, filling the room with a warm, familiar scent.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Naruto studied Jiraiya openly, his blue eyes glinting with mischief. The silence stretched just long enough to be suspicious.
Then, he spoke in his usual playful tone.
"So," Naruto said, grinning, "are you going to be the Hokage now?"
Jiraiya stiffened mid-sip.
The next second, he nearly choked, coughing violently as he jerked forward, tea sloshing dangerously close to spilling. He slammed the cup down and hacked into his fist, face twisting in shock.
Cough!
"W-What the hell, brat?!" He snapped, glaring at Naruto. "Why would I do that?!"
Naruto's grin only widened.
Jiraiya shot him a sharp look, rubbing his chest. "I'm not suitable for such a position."
Naruto hummed thoughtfully, tapping his chin in mock contemplation. "Well… aside from you, who else can take this position?"
Jiraiya paused, and for a brief moment, his expression softened, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.
Then Naruto continued.
"But now that I think about it," He said slowly, deliberately, "you're really not suitable for being Hokage."
Jiraiya frowned. "Oi—"
"After all," Naruto added casually, "letting a pervert like you become Hokage would be very harmful for the women in the village."
The words hit like a kunai.
"W-Wha—?! H-Hey! That's not—!" Jiraiya's face flushed red instantly. He spluttered, pointing at Naruto accusingly. "You little punk—!"
Then, as if seeking divine intervention, he turned toward Kushina. "Look at your great son that you gave birth to! He's calling me a pervert!"
Kushina didn't even blink. She just rolled her eyes slowly, unimpressed.
"Jiraiya-sensei," She said flatly, "he didn't say anything wrong."
"…Eh?" Jiraiya froze in his spot, his eyes staring at Kushina in surprise.
"You are a pervert who writes those pornographic novels," Kushina continued calmly, folding her arms. "And if you ever dare to teach your so-called 'skills' to my son—"
Her crimson eyes narrowed, sharp and dangerous. "—I will skin you alive."
The room went dead silent.
Then Naruto burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Kaa-san! That's savage!"
Jiraiya stared at Kushina as if she had personally stabbed him in the soul. His facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, his mouth opening and closing without sound.
"…You haven't changed at all," He muttered weakly.
Kushina smirked. "And you're still an idiot."
Jiraiya groaned and leaned back against the sofa, dragging a hand down his face. 'Why do I even visit this house…'
Naruto wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye, still grinning. "See, Pervy Sage? Even my mom agrees."
"Don't call me that!" Jiraiya snapped reflexively, then sighed. His gaze drifted toward the window, toward the village skyline beyond. The smile faded just a little.
For a moment, his thoughts wandered.
'Hiruzen-sensei… Tsunade… Orochimaru… Time really doesn't wait for anyone.'
Kushina noticed the shift. Her tone softened slightly.
"You came here for a reason," She said. "So out with it."
Jiraiya glanced back at them, his usual grin slowly returning. "Tch... Still sharp as ever."
Naruto straightened, interest piqued. "What? You didn't just come to get bullied?"
Jiraiya chuckled dryly. "Partly."
The three of them sat there, tea cooling, sunlight filtering through the window, the laughter fading into something quieter, but warmer.
Jiraiya let out a long sigh and shook his head, the earlier humor draining from his expression.
"I'm not going to be Hokage," He said plainly.
The words settled into the room, heavier than Naruto expected. The easy grin Jiraiya usually wore was gone now, replaced by something quieter.
"Looking at the current situation," Jiraiya continued, eyes lowering to the tea cup in front of him, "there's only one person suitable to be Hokage."
Kushina's posture straightened slightly. She studied his face, reading the seriousness in his tone.
"Are you talking about Tsunade-sama?" She asked softly.
Jiraiya nodded. "Only Tsunade could be the perfect Hokage for Konoha right now."
The name lingered in the air.
Kushina's brows furrowed, concern surfacing in her eyes.
"But… is it really alright?" She asked after a moment. "It's been years since Tsunade-sama left the village in anger. Will she even come back?"
Jiraiya's fingers tightened around his cup. For a brief instant, memories flashed through his mind.
"She will," Jiraiya said firmly. His gaze lifted, sharp and unwavering.
"No matter what… she's still the Princess of Konoha," He added. "She has to."
Naruto had been listening quietly, his playful demeanor completely gone now.
"…But is it safe?" He asked softly.
Both adults turned to him.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, hesitation flickering across his face before honesty won out. "I mean… from what I know, she's an addicted gambler."
Jiraiya stiffened slightly.
"What if she loses the village in a gamble one day?" Naruto finished, genuinely worried.
The room went silent.
After a few seconds, Jiraiya coughed lightly, turning his face away as his cheek flushed faintly. "…That's—"
Kushina raised an eyebrow. "He's not wrong."
"Tch," Jiraiya clicked his tongue. 'Brutal household…'
Naruto tilted his head, overseeing Jiraiya.
"I'm serious," He said. "Being Hokage isn't a joke."
Jiraiya looked at him.
'This kid… He's already thinking like a leader.'
"It won't happen," Jiraiya said at last. "Tsunade may be reckless, but when it comes to the village... she won't gamble with that."
Naruto wasn't fully convinced, but he nodded slowly.
Jiraiya leaned back against the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. His voice lowered, almost reflective.
"And besides… I don't want to be Hokage."
"Freedom?" Kushina glanced at him and asked knowingly.
Jiraiya smirked faintly. "That, and I've got my own mission."
Naruto's curiosity sparked. "Mission?"
Jiraiya's eyes sharpened slightly. "I'm searching for the Child of Destiny."
Naruto blinked. "That sounds… big."
Jiraiya chuckled. "It is."
Kushina watched him closely, arms crossed. "And you think dragging Naruto along on something like that is a good idea?"
Jiraiya turned his head toward Naruto and then smiled.
"He's already stronger than most chūnin," Jiraiya said. "And more importantly, he's got guts."
Naruto puffed his chest slightly. "See? Told you."
Kushina sighed. "…You two are impossible."
Then Jiraiya straightened, his tone firming.
"There's more," He said. "Naruto, you're coming with me."
Naruto froze. "Eh?"
"Tomorrow," Jiraiya continued. "We leave the village. We'll search for Tsunade together."
Naruto stared at him and repeated. "…Tomorrow?"
Kushina's eyes widened slightly. "That soon?"
"The sooner, the better," Jiraiya replied. "The village needs a Hokage, and Tsunade needs a reason to come home."
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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