"Alright, alright, we'll talk about it later." Jiraiya sighed, reluctantly giving in as he thought about how this blonde rascal was his student, "First, get rid of that smug look on your face."
Upon hearing this, Naruto dropped his cheeky expression and returned to normal.
"It would be more dangerous to sneak into a place like the Land of Rain alone, right?"
"You little brat," Jiraiya laughed, "I am the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, not some small fry. I've been to countless dangerous places in my life, and I've come out unscathed every time."
"I'm not bragging, no matter how dangerous the place is…"
"Hey hey hey! Don't walk away! You brat!"
"Uzumaki Naruto! Didn't the Academy teach you about respecting your teachers?"
"Tsk." Naruto had already walked off, completely ignoring Jiraiya. As the so-called 'Child of Prophecy', his mind was now solely focused on figuring out how to take down the Akatsuki.
In the past, he didn't mind taking his time, thinking he had plenty of it. But now, he needed more power, even though his current strength already allowed him to stand tall in Konoha.
But that wasn't nearly enough. Facing the Akatsuki's overwhelming numbers, he needed much greater strength. Stronger opponents were on the horizon, so he needed to be even stronger.
Later that afternoon, Naruto stopped by Sakura's house to check at her, but after finding out that she was still asleep, he returned home. After thinking it over on the way back, he decided to just wait and see how things unfolded with Sakura.
In the days that followed, he remained idle, doing only simple training exercises each day.
Right now, Team 7 was in shambles, with only him remaining. Since Tsunade allowed him some time off, delaying the team's reorganization, he had plenty of free time.
The other Genin Teams are very busy as they had to prepare for the upcoming Chunin Exams.
After a year of training, the genin who graduated last year were gradually maturing. Being promoted to Chunin meant a higher status and more mission rewards.
More importantly, it's a necessary motivation. After working as a Genin for a whole year, who wouldn't want to climb up the ranks?
Not everyone could afford to be half as laid-back as Naruto. Strength is indeed crucial for a Shinobi, but so is the title that comes with it.
At least, it's essential to have a notable achievement in one's Shinobi career.
Take Shikamaru, for example. Thanks to his cool-headed command skills, he earned the title of Konoha's only Chunin during last year's joint Chunin Exams. The value of this title surpassed that of an ordinary Chunin who passed the Chunin Exams.
In any case, aside from the higher-ups, most people's attention was now on the upcoming Konoha's Chunin Exams.
"Are you going to take part in the Chunin Exams?" Jiraiya sat astride the roof in a frivolous manner, put down the telescope he was loving so much, and looked at Naruto in some surprise.
The rooftop is just opposite of the bathhouse.
"Just for the heck of it." Naruto said, leaning against the wall, "Anyway, I don't have much to do recently, and staying idle all the time is pointless."
"If Tsunade hears you say that, she'll rip your head off." Jiraiya shook his head and said, "She's been busy with your affairs lately, working herself to the bone."
"That can't be helped. I'm having a hard time too, Pervy Sage. Being idle all day isn't as easy as it seems." Naruto gestured while speaking.
"I need to find ways to have fun everywhere and train occasionally. But it's really boring without any missions. How about we just head to the Land of Rain now?"
"Don't even think about it. Tsunade would go crazy." Jiraiya coughed, "And lately, with you insisting on becoming the Clan Head of the Uzumaki…"
"Oh? You might as well marry three hundred wives, little brat."
"Huh? Why aren't you saying anything?"
Jiraiya turned to look at Naruto, only to find the blond was rubbing his chin, as if he was seriously considering his suggestion. Jiraiya's expression fell, his forehead was full of black lines, and he looked utterly exasperated.
"You're not seriously thinking about it, are you?"
"Uh, I didn't say anything." Naruto was slightly embarrassed. He was obviously distracted just now and didn't hear Jiraiya's comment at all.
"Well, you are indeed growing up. In a few years, you'll be ready to settle down."
Jiraiya, straddling the railing and casting a shadow over the rooftop, looked at Naruto with a parental air and asked, "Come to think of it, last winter, you brought that girl from the Yamanaka Clan to meet me, didn't you?"
"So, how's she doing now?"
"Nothing much has changed." Naruto said, hiding in the shade and yawning as he looked at the dense sunlight under the eaves, "Everyone is busy, and I haven't seen much of them lately."
"You're quite the slacker, huh? They're still Genin, so naturally, they can't compare to you." Jiraiya put away the telescope directly, as today's 'research' session was over.
"But I still suggest you not to take part in the Chunin Exams. In a few days, there will be news from Tsunade. You are waiting, and so am I."
"Once those idle Konoha's higher-ups loosen their grip, you'll just need a title to avoid being restricted everywhere because of your status as a Jinchuriki."
"Because of Kyubi?" Naruto looked up at Jiraiya.
The atmosphere between them was light and casual, just a pervy old man chatting with a regular blonde Genin in his free time.
The summer was long, and the sun was scorching.
Jiraiya had not yet realized the gravity of the situation and just thought that Naruto was just feeling a bit down.
After all, knowing that you have a monster sealed inside you, facing constant wariness or even hostility from the villagers, is a burden that's hard for anyone, even an adult, to bear.
Not to mention that these burdens fell on the shoulders of an orphan who, from a young age, couldn't escape being feared, manipulated, or even being seen as a weapon by default.
Such is often the fate of a Jinchuriki. Those chosen for this role are inherently unlucky. Jiraiya, lacking a better solution, could only teach Naruto Ninjutsu to the best of his ability and support him whenever possible.
Maybe it was too late for these efforts, but Jiraiya understood that some things were beyond his control. At least, for now, things were manageable.
For a Shinobi, gaining true fame is not easy, and power is even harder to grasp. Although Jiraiya was initially hesitant about Naruto joining the higher-ups, Tsunade managed to convince him.
As long as Naruto holds a position among the higher-ups, his future path might not be as difficult. Even if Jiraiya were to die one day, at least Naruto's situation wouldn't be too dire.
"Yeah, the Kyubi is indeed troublesome." Jiraiya was still choosing his words carefully, thinking about how to comfort Naruto, "It's not something that can be changed. The relationship between a Biju and its Jinchuriki is complex."
"If the Biju is forcibly removed, the Jinchuriki could die at any moment."
Naruto understood Jiraiya's point. He was being told to keep his emotions in check. To look on the bright side as much as possible, and as the person directly involved, he should maintain a strong mindset.
But while that logic made sense, applying it in reality was far more complicated.
Jiraiya paused for a long time, hesitating before speaking again, "The Kyubi is not entirely uncontrollable. If you can gradually learn to harness its power, it would be a significant boost for you."
"No thanks." Naruto said.
"Hmm?"
Jiraiya was surprised by Naruto's response. He had expected Naruto to be exhausted, perhaps struggling with his mindset, which would be understandable.
After all, teenagers are often sensitive, especially when they have a Biju sealed within them.
"This isn't about wanting to or not..." Jiraiya began to say. He was more inclined to let Naruto master the power of the Kyubi, but seeing Naruto's unstable mood, he thought it might be better to delay the matter.
"That's not what I meant." Naruto interrupted with a cough, his expression turning serious as he looked at Jiraiya, "Pervy Sage, there is no Kyubi in my body anymore."