Naruto and his team were not the first to reach the tower.
Gaara from the Sand Village was faster.
Even with several unexpected events, Konoha neither stopped the exam nor sent additional personnel to inquire about Naruto.
Only Kakashi made subtle inquiries.
Konoha showed little interest in Karin's presence as well.
Five days passed quickly.
The number of examinees passing seemed to exceed Konoha's expectations.
In the tower, an individual preliminaries were held.
This preliminaries had nothing to do with "teams." Genin were allowed to forfeit without affecting their teammates' continuation in the exam.
Kabuto Yakushi chose to forfeit here.
Naruto wasn't surprised; it aligned with his earlier speculations.
Sakura Haruno didn't pass the preliminaries, finishing in a mutual knockout with her opponent.
Sasuke and Naruto emerged victorious with ease.
Hinata faced Neji, intensifying the Hyuga clan's internal conflict.
Gaara's strength was overwhelming, and although Rock Lee shone brightly, he only managed to inflict minor non-lethal damage.
Sasuke gripped the railing, staring at the green-scaled boy lying on the ground, deep in thought.
With all battles concluded, it was time to draw lots for the final examination match-ups.
Naruto looked at the tampered drawing box, then glanced up at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was watching him with a sly smile.
He reached in, unsurprisingly ending up matched against Gaara from the Sand Village.
Besides him, Konoha could hardly find another who could match him.
The preliminaries ended here.
They gained a month's time of respite.
This month isn't entirely for rest, it seems.
Naruto turned to look at Kakashi.
"I'm sorry, Naruto." Even before he could speak, Kakashi interrupted. Although everything had long been arranged, he realized just how difficult it was to voice these thoughts as he looked at the golden hair and blue eyes. "I won't be able to teach you this month."
"Besides, I'm afraid there's nothing more I can teach you at this point."
"But rest assured, the village has found someone more suitable for you."
Naruto nodded, his tone calm. "I understand."
He didn't say much.
He had long understood that "love" is not something you can demand. Those willing to give it will show unconditional affection, while those unwilling will remain unchanged despite the world turning upside down.
"He should be coming to see you any of these days," Kakashi spoke gently, his gaze lingering on the red-haired girl behind Naruto. "The village has already resolved the issue regarding Uzumaki Karin's status."
"You can safely leave her here."
"The Grass Village won't say anything."
With that, he left, almost as if escaping, with Sasuke in tow.
Naruto watched the threads of their spiritual connection drift away.
Regarding this month's arrangements, he actually had a plan in mind. Karin had quite a few Uzumaki clan secrets, mostly related to sealing techniques, which were knowledge he needed.
His demands weren't high.
He just hoped that while Kakashi was training Sasuke, some time could be spared each day to teach him a bit about sealing techniques.
But the village had other plans?
Who could it be?
Unless the Third Hokage himself were to teach, there wasn't anyone more suitable than Kakashi, was there?
With these thoughts, he left, taking Karin with him.
That night.
On a rooftop near Naruto's residence, two figures appeared.
One was Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The other, with a head full of white hair and a forehead protector inscribed with the word "oil," was Jiraiya, summoned back to the village.
"Has the Nine-Tails' seal been broken?" he asked, his tone slightly grave.
Hiruzen nodded. "Without realizing it, he's already reached the Four-Tails transformation. Now, Danzo and Koharu are making quite a fuss, causing me a headache."
"You haven't been back to the village for years, so you might not be aware."
"Naruto. He's always been a good kid. Although there's been some significant changes recently, I'm sure his core hasn't changed."
Jiraiya laughed heartily, "After all, he is Minato and Kushina's child."
"Who does he resemble in personality?"
Hiruzen pondered. "He used to be more like Kushina. Nowadays, he resembles Minato more. Kakashi says he's a mature and dependable ninja."
"I hope so,"
he paused, sighing. "Lately, Naruto has been surrounded by too many secrets."
"He possesses two peculiar swords for which we have yet to trace their origin."
"We can't even find similar weapons."
"Then there are the strange, undocumented jutsus he uses."
"These aren't powers the Nine-Tails could grant him."
"Yet, we haven't noticed Naruto contacting anyone from outside the village."
Jiraiya stared at the still-lit window, "Secrets, huh?"
"If we could learn where he got those swords and where he learned those techniques," Hiruzen murmured, "Koharu and Homura wouldn't react so intensely."
"And Naruto could continue to live peacefully in the village."
"Jiraiya—"
He was about to continue speaking. Just then, the window suddenly opened, revealing Naruto's head, his dazzling blond hair unmistakably eye-catching. In the background, a red-haired girl was tidying up the dining table.
Jiraiya was taken aback.
Time seemed to weave through the years as a kunai, spanning over a decade, pierced his heart.
"That red head?" he inquired aloud.
"She's a member of the Uzumaki clan that Naruto encountered during the Chūnin Exams," explained Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Jiraiya nodded absentmindedly, observing as the blond boy turned back to speak with the red-haired girl before leaping out the window. This behavior made him realize something else: "Did he notice us?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag from his pipe. "Although Naruto has inherited Minato's hair color, he's perfectly inherited the Uzumaki clan's talents as well."
"His sensory abilities are quite strong."
"Intel from the ANBU indicates that his sensory range is at least five kilometers."
"If one gets too close, certain stealth ninjutsu would be rendered ineffective."
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
In an instant, Naruto was beside them. "Grandpa Third, what brings you here so late? And who is this?"
His gaze lingered on the white-haired man.
He's got strong chakra.
And there's a unique aura about him, different from others.
It's at the level of that "Orochimaru" he encountered in the Forest of Death.
Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, "Kakashi should have mentioned to you that the village arranged for a ninja to train you this month."
"This is him."
"His origins..."
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could finish his sentence, Jiraiya burst into hearty laughter. With both hands forming seals, he unleashed the Summoning Jutsu.
A puff of white smoke trembled as a colossal toad with crimson skin and long black stripes appeared, a necklace marked with the kanji for "loyalty" hanging around its neck.
A white-haired man stood proudly atop the toad's back, spreading his arms wide. The toad beneath him mimicked his movements with identical expressions.
"I am the great Toad Spirit Sage of Mount Myoboku, known as the Toad Sage, Jiraiya!" he declared flamboyantly.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, in silent contemplation as he stared at this man. "Sage?" It was a title he'd never heard before. Yet, should he agree to keep him by his side?
"His origins are not insignificant," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a gentle smile, continuing the sentence that Jiraiya had interrupted. "He is one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, a formidable force alongside the rogue ninja Orochimaru, and he was also the teacher of the Fourth Hokage."
"If you don't like him, Naruto, I can arrange for someone else," Hiruzen added, "or even have Kakashi bring you along."
Naruto's gaze towards Jiraiya subtly shifted. The Fourth Hokage's teacher? He shook his head decisively, "I'll stick with this Toad Sage."
"Please guide me well over the next month," he said respectfully.
Inside, both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya felt a cold shudder.
The village was bustling with whispers of the legendary Toad Sage. Naruto stood with a look of awe as Jiraiya made his dramatic entrance. He exuded an air of mystery and power, his presence leaving a lasting impression on the young ninja.
'That man,' Hiruzen Sarutobi explained to Naruto, 'is not just any shinobi. Jiraiya is one of the Legendary Sannin and was the mentor to the Fourth Hokage.'
Naruto, filled with determination, made up his mind. 'I want to train with him,' he declared.
The stage was set for the beginning of Naruto's training under Jiraiya, the man whose reputation preceded him as one of the most skilled and influential ninjas of their time.
(End Of Chapter)