Chapter 248: Decision
Early the next morning, sunlight streamed through the window into the room. Jiraiya groggily awoke to find himself in an unfamiliar yet meticulously clean small apartment.
Memories from last night gradually returned—failed flirting, a slap to the face, passing out on the street... then being found by Naruto and brought back.
Looks like I've troubled that kid again... He rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat guilty, though he quickly made excuses for himself. Still, the girls in this place are the same as always—quite fiery-tempered.
Shortly after, he recalled an earlier scene—Naruto helping children, only to be met with those eyes full of wariness and disgust from villagers due to rumors and prejudice... That image weighed heavily on his heart.
How could he describe the villagers' behavior? Foolish? Ignorant? Or purely malicious? Inflicting such heavy malice on an innocent child based merely on unverified rumors? Thinking about how Naruto might have lived in such an environment long-term, an indescribable irritation rose within him.
Simultaneously, he found himself worried—would such continuous rejection leave unhealable scars in Naruto's heart, affecting his character...?
He turned his head toward the bedside. The floor bedding was neatly arranged. From the small kitchen in the next room came the faint sounds of cooking.
Jiraiya got out of bed, curiously examining this simple room. His gaze was quickly drawn to something prominent on the nightstand—a massive egg with strange green patterns?
This size... only Orochimaru's summoned snakes would lay eggs this large, right? He silently whistled, filled with curiosity about the egg's origins.
Just as he was pondering the egg, the inner door opened, and Naruto appeared carrying breakfast.
"Good morning, Jiraiya-san. Ready for breakfast?" Naruto's face bore that characteristic warm smile without a trace of gloom, as if last night's unpleasantness had never occurred. He set down the tray and thoughtfully handed over a cup. "But before that, drink this first. It'll help you feel better."
Jiraiya accepted the cup and took a sip, discovering it was warm honey water that perfectly eased his dry throat and hangover discomfort.
Watching Naruto's fresh smile, Jiraiya also smiled, temporarily pushing aside his worries. "Of course! After all, your cooking skills make me look forward to even breakfast!"
He truly anticipated Naruto's cooking, but simultaneously, he'd resolved to have a proper conversation with Naruto about certain matters.
Breakfast was a classic blend of Japanese and Western styles—a steaming bowl of miso soup, several pieces of toast toasted golden and crispy, a sandwich layered with perfectly-fried ham and tender egg.
Jiraiya picked up a sandwich and took a large bite—his eyes instantly brightened! The bread's aroma, the ham's savory freshness, and the egg's tenderness blended perfectly—simple yet incredibly delicious. He began enjoying it enthusiastically, nodding repeatedly.
Halfway through, Jiraiya remembered his purpose. He set down his sandwich, his expression becoming more serious. Looking at Naruto quietly eating, he chose his words carefully.
"By the way, Naruto, I've noticed... the living environment for you in this village now doesn't seem very friendly."
Naruto paused momentarily before responding in a relaxed tone: "Living environment? I think it's fine. The pay for ninja missions is quite..."
"I'm not talking about material things," Jiraiya interrupted, his gaze directly meeting Naruto's eyes, his voice lowering slightly. "...Those hurtful rumors and gossip about you. Don't you feel angry? Haven't you ever thought about grabbing those people by the collar and beating them, or loudly telling them 'I'm not a demon fox'?"
He watched Naruto, trying to find suppressed anger or grievance in those blue eyes.
However, Naruto simply paused briefly before speaking in an almost casual tone: "Well... that kind of impulse might have existed a very long time ago. But now, honestly, it doesn't really matter."
"There's nothing shameful about expressing your grievances and anger," Jiraiya encouraged, worried Naruto was putting on a brave face.
"It's really okay, Jiraiya-san," Naruto displayed a transparent smile, one without bitterness, only relief and clarity.
"Because you can't always focus only on life's dark side, right?"
"Even though there are indeed many people in Konoha who hate me, reject me," he continued, his tone peaceful, "for me, this village also has too many people and things I cherish deeply and want to protect."
He counted them one by one, his eyes growing warmer and brighter. "Like Teuchi-ojii and Iruka-sensei who always treat me to ramen and care for me, Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and them... they're all incredibly important companions and friends to me."
"And besides... there's someone here I most want to protect. I don't want her to suffer any harm, don't want her adrift outside. I want to give her a stable place I can call 'home.'"
"So you see, my time and energy are actually quite precious. I want to devote them entirely to protecting these most important people and things in my small world. As for those discordant voices outside... let them be. I don't care, and I don't have time to care."
Listening to Naruto's calm words, Jiraiya slowly lowered his head, remaining silent for a moment. When he looked up again, his face had returned to a carefree smile.
"Hmph, you kid..." He vigorously ruffled Naruto's golden hair, his tone teasing. "Not even that old, yet you're full of grand principles—quite the preacher!"
Facing this teasing, Naruto only responded with a sheepish smile saying "not really," without saying much more.
However, Naruto understood clearly that Jiraiya's heart was far from the relaxation he displayed. This clear perception came from the voice in his own heart—the deepening bond notification.
Jiraiya finished the last bite of food on his plate, contentedly wiped his mouth, then stood up. "Alright, Naruto, I have something to do and need to leave first. After you're done with your business, go wait for me at our usual place. I'll be there soon."
After this instruction, Jiraiya left and headed toward a direction he'd been unconsciously avoiding these past days—the Hokage Tower. He'd decided it was time to have a proper conversation with the Third Hokage about certain matters.