He climbed into the room through the window and saw Naruto already sleeping on the bed, with his shadow clone sitting by the window.
Jiraiya immediately released his shadow clone, took off his clothes, and placed them on the brown wooden chest beside the bed.
He closed the window, leaving only a slight gap for ventilation. The weather was gradually turning to winter, and he didn't want Naruto to catch a cold while sleeping.
He covered Naruto with the quilt, lay down on the outer edge of the bed, and took another look at the sleeping boy before going to sleep himself...
The sunlight shone into the room through the window, bringing a hint of warmth.
Naruto slowly sat up in bed. The buttons on his light blue pajamas were unfastened, as if he had tossed and turned in his sleep. His gray nightcap sat askew on his head.
He stretched, yawned, and adjusted his hat.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked toward the bed—only to find no one else there.
"Uncle Toad!"
He shouted Jiraiya's name loudly and jumped out of bed in a panic. His face was filled with anxiety, as if something had suddenly gone missing from his heart. He didn't even stop to put on his slippers.
"Naruto, wake up and come have breakfast."
Naruto snapped out of his daze when he heard Jiraiya's voice coming from the living room.
He walked barefoot into the living room and saw two plates of breakfast already set on the table: toast, fried eggs, a cup of hot milk… and, unfortunately, the vegetables he hated the most.
Jiraiya untied the apron behind him and turned to look at Naruto.
"Haha! Naruto, I know you're hungry and eager to eat, but you don't need to rush out barefoot! Go put on your slippers and wash up first—then come eat! Hahaha!"
Naruto rubbed his eyes again, making sure this wasn't a dream but real life.
"Uh… I just woke up needing to use the bathroom in a hurry, that's all."
He turned back into the room, put on his slippers by the window, and ran to the bathroom to wash up.
Standing at the sink and brushing his teeth, he saw Jiraiya sitting at the table through the mirror's reflection. Tears silently rolled down Naruto's cheeks.
From as far back as he could remember, this was the first time someone had been by his side when he woke up.
After brushing his teeth, he wiped his face with a towel to hide the tears, then sat down across from Jiraiya.
They picked up their chopsticks at the same time.
"I'm starting!"
"I'm starting!"
—said in unison.
As they ate, Jiraiya suddenly spoke while chewing his toast.
"Hey, Naruto… thanks for letting me crash at your place last night. It was freezing outside—if I'd slept out there, I'd have caught a cold for sure."
Naruto suddenly paused.
Right… Uncle Toad had only stayed for one night. After this, he'd go back to being alone. His face immediately clouded with sadness.
Jiraiya noticed his expression and continued.
"By the way, Naruto… I saw you eat two bowls of super deluxe char siu ramen last night."
"I'm guessing you're some kind of ninja prodigy with strong chakra reserves. And since I've got no place to stay while I'm back in the village…"
"How about this—why don't you become my student? I'll train you, and in return, I'll stay at your place from now on. Sound good?"
Naruto looked up at the smiling white-haired Uncle Toad, tears bursting from his eyes again.
"Okay! Deal! From now on, you're my master!"
Jiraiya grinned and teased him.
"Heh! So my skills finally moved you to tears, huh?"
Naruto wiped his face and smiled through his tears.
"No! It's just… the breakfast was so good… it made me cry!"
Jiraiya burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! And I made that breakfast too! Doesn't that prove how amazing I am? Don't worry, I'm gonna turn you into the strongest ninja in the world!"
Naruto raised his half-eaten toast and shouted with spirit.
"Yeah! The greatest master is gonna train me to be the greatest ninja ever!"
As they continued eating, the scene reminded Jiraiya of the day he first became the Third Hokage's apprentice.
Back then, he'd been just as excited as Naruto.
And he hadn't been alone—Tsunade and Orochimaru had been with him too. But now… things had changed. One had left, one had turned traitor. And he… he was the only one who came back.
The man who had once been his revered master had grown old and tired, more like a politician now than a warrior. The bond between them had long faded.
But here, now, with Naruto…
The bond of master and disciple was beginning again.
Naruto, I gave you your name. Your father Minato was my proudest student. And now, taking you on… it's not just to atone for what I couldn't do for Minato.
It's because I see hope in you.
No matter what dangers lie ahead, we'll face them together—master and student.
I'll never let what happened to Minato happen again…
"I'm done eating!"
Naruto's voice snapped Jiraiya out of his thoughts.
He glanced at the plate—Naruto hadn't touched the vegetables.
Jiraiya's brow furrowed, and he forced a strained smile.
"Hey… Naruto… why didn't you eat the vegetables? I worked hard on that breakfast."
Naruto looked at the wooden board on the wall, pursing his lips and feigning calm.
"I just… don't like vegetables."
"You've gotta eat them! If you can't overcome even something this small, how can you become the greatest ninja in the world? How will you surpass the Fourth Hokage?!"
Naruto whipped his head around.
"The Fourth Hokage?!"
Jiraiya grinned, tapping his nose proudly.
"Yup. The Fourth Hokage was my student. So, if you want to surpass him, you better start by finishing those vegetables right in front of you!"
"Okay! It's said the Fourth Hokage gave his life to save the village and seal the Nine-Tails. I want to be just like him—a great ninja! I want to become Hokage!"
Naruto's words struck a deep chord in Jiraiya. Watching him focus on eating his vegetables, Jiraiya couldn't help but remember Minato's ideals.
It's true—we really are one family… carrying the same dream forward.