The air in Mount Myoboku was thick with the scent of moss and the lingering warmth of Shima's healing salves. Jiraiya sat bandaged and battered, his severed arm stabilized but his spirit unbowed. Fukasaku and Shima, the Toad Sages, exchanged glances, their admiration for Naruto growing with every word Jiraiya spoke. The Great Toad Sage's prophecy echoed in their minds: a disciple of Jiraiya would change the world. Nagato had fallen to darkness, but Naruto—this brash, tearful boy radiating sage chakra—seemed to embody hope itself.
Fukasaku's eyes gleamed with approval. "This kid's got the spark, Jiraiya. More reliable than that Rinnegan boy ever was."
Shima nodded, her tone softer but no less impressed. "Those orange marks, no toad traits—his Sage Mode's cleaner than yours, Jiraiya. He's something special."
Naruto's lips curved into a small smile, but he stayed silent, his gaze fixed on Jiraiya. The sight of his mentor—alive, breathing, joking despite his wounds—felt like a miracle. In his past life, Jiraiya's death had been a wound that never healed, a loss that shaped Naruto's path as Hokage. Now, standing in this moment, tears welled up unbidden, a mix of relief and longing.
Jiraiya caught the look, his brow furrowing. "What's with you, kid? My Sage Mode's gone, but you're staring like I've still got the marks on my face."
Naruto wiped his eyes, forcing a grin to mask the ache. "Just… haven't seen you in a while, Sensei. Missed you, that's all."
Jiraiya's heart twinged, the sincerity in Naruto's voice cutting through his usual bravado. Nagato's betrayal had left him raw, but Naruto's raw emotion—his unwavering loyalty—stirred something deep. His own eyes glistened, and he tilted his head back, laughing to cover it. "Sentimental brat! Missing your old sensei, huh? How about you show me that Transformation Jutsu? Might inspire my next novel."
Naruto chuckled, the sound light but tinged with nostalgia. Shima, finishing the bandages, clapped her hands. "Alright, you two. Jiraiya's patched up, but he needs rest. Dinner's ready, Naruto—join us!"
Fukasaku's eyes lit up. "What's on the menu, Ma? Something good?"
Naruto's stomach lurched, memories of Shima's "dark cuisine" flooding back—wriggling earthworms, insect stew, dishes that had made him gag during his training at Mount Myoboku. He opened his mouth to decline, but Jiraiya beat him to it, his tone urgent. "Brother, sister, we need to get back to Konoha. Pain's secret—Nagato controlling corpses with the Rinnegan—it's critical. Tsunade needs to know."
Naruto stepped forward, supporting Jiraiya as he struggled to stand. Fukasaku frowned, reluctant. "Eat first, Jiraiya. Ma's got everything ready."
Shima nodded enthusiastically. "Fresh earthworm noodles, specially prepared!"
Jiraiya and Naruto froze, exchanging a glance of mutual dread. "Uh, thanks, but…" Jiraiya coughed, scratching his head. "We really need to get to the village. We'll come back another day."
Naruto nodded vigorously. "Yeah, another time! Promise!"
Shima's face fell, her voice tinged with disappointment. "You boys, passing up a delicious meal like that."
Fukasaku sighed, waving a webbed hand. "Fine, go. But don't keep us waiting too long."
Jiraiya bowed, wincing slightly. "Thank you, both of you. You've saved me again." Naruto followed suit, his bow deep with gratitude for the toads who'd fought beside them.
"Let's go, Naruto," Jiraiya said, his voice steady despite his injuries.
"Right!" Naruto placed a hand on Jiraiya's shoulder, focusing on the Flying Thunder God seal etched into a kunai in his father's old home. With a hum of chakra, they vanished.
The air shifted, and the two materialized in a dimly lit room thick with dust. Coughs erupted as Naruto and Jiraiya waved away the clouds swirling around them. "Naruto, where'd you teleport us?" Jiraiya wheezed, squinting through the haze. "This place is a dust trap!"
Naruto coughed, scanning the room. "Oops… storage room. My bad." He recognized the cramped space, untouched for over a decade, a relic of his parents' home. His eyes fell on a kunai hanging on the wall, its Flying Thunder God seal glinting faintly—the Sword of Shinobi's Love, his father's legacy.
Jiraiya followed his gaze, then wandered to a wardrobe, opening it to reveal a cascade of dust. Inside hung a cloak emblazoned with the Fourth Hokage's emblem. His eyes widened. "Naruto… this is your home? Minato's?"
Naruto's voice was soft, heavy with memory. "Yeah. My parents' place. I came here after the war, cleaned it up… spent a lot of time here." He stood before the kunai, emotions swirling—his father's sacrifice, his mother's love, the weight of their legacy. He took a deep breath, steadying himself to keep the tears at bay.
Jiraiya's expression softened, piecing it together. "So you know your heritage? Minato and Kushina?"
Naruto nodded, seizing the chance to deflect. "When the Nine-Tails' chakra went wild, I nearly lost control. Dad's chakra, sealed inside me, told me everything—my parents, my purpose."
Jiraiya's eyes gleamed with understanding. Minato's foresight—sealing his chakra in Naruto to guide him—was classic Fourth Hokage. "And the Flying Thunder God? Sage Mode? That came from him, too?"
Naruto hesitated, then nodded, grateful for the convenient excuse. "Yeah, Dad passed them to me." Sorry, Dad, he thought, but I need to keep the time-travel thing quiet for now.
Jiraiya's grin was wide, pride swelling. "Like father, like son. Minato was a genius, and you're no different. Flying Thunder God, Sage Mode, Rasenshuriken—all in perfect sync. You're surpassing him, kid." His voice softened, conviction growing. "You are the child of prophecy."
Naruto's heart swelled, but his focus sharpened. "Sensei, we need to get to Tsunade. Pain's regrouping, and Konoha's not safe. Nagato's coming for me."
Jiraiya nodded, his expression grim. "Right. Nagato… my failure." The betrayal of his former student stung, but Naruto's presence reignited his hope. "Let's move. Tsunade needs to know about the Six Paths, Nagato's puppets—everything."
Naruto helped Jiraiya stand, his Sage Mode senses alert for any trace of pursuit. The crow with Shisui's Kotoamatsukami rested in his scroll, a last resort against Nagato or the Otsutsuki. But for now, his priority was clear: protect Jiraiya, warn Konoha, and prepare for the battles ahead. Sasuke, Neji, Itachi, Nagato—their fates were in his hands, and Naruto Uzumaki would not falter.
As they stepped out of the dusty room, the weight of the past and the hope of a new future drove them forward. The ninja world awaited its savior, and the child of prophecy was ready to answer the call.