At night, Naruto had fallen into a deep sleep. After hearing Uchiha Itachi's story, he felt a deep sympathy for Sasuke, which was quite touching. But then, after eating too much for dinner, he passed out, leaving Jiraiya a bit speechless.
Jiraiya closed the door to Naruto's room and came out, sitting down on the couch in the living room. Across from him sat one of Naruto's shadow clones—or rather, Kurama.
"Looks like you're starting to believe me a little," Kurama's grin was still as mischievous as ever.
"So, what do you think now?"
Jiraiya's playful demeanor from earlier had vanished, his face serious.
"The most important thing right now is to find Tsunade and heal Naruto. After that, I'll teach you Minato's technique, so at least he'll have something to stand a chance against the Akatsuki."
"At least you've got your priorities straight." Kurama scoffed.
He had thought Jiraiya might send Naruto back to the village and rush to the Land of Rain to find Nagato and Konan. With Jiraiya's sentimental nature, it wouldn't have been surprising if he did. But with Naruto seriously injured, if Jiraiya wasn't there to watch over him, Uchiha Itachi and Kisame could easily snatch Naruto from the village.
At the very least, Konoha needed enough strength to protect Naruto. Otherwise, Jiraiya wouldn't feel at ease leaving.
Jiraiya understood this as well. His sense of loyalty wasn't just toward Nagato and Konan, but also Minato, Kushina, and Naruto. They were all his students, and each one was important to him.
Jiraiya then asked, "Have you told Naruto about Minato and Kushina?"
"No," Kurama crossed his arms.
"But Naruto isn't stupid. From what we've both said, that kid might have already figured something out."
He's been acting a bit odd lately.
But whatever, Kurama never intended to hide anything from Naruto. The only reason he didn't mention it before was to make Naruto suffer, nothing more. In fact, the sooner Naruto figured it out, the more Kurama looked forward to the moment Naruto met Minato.
That scene is going to be priceless.
"It won't do Naruto any good to know too early," Jiraiya sighed deeply.
Just as Kurama was about to mock him, Jiraiya suddenly laughed casually.
"But the old man's already dead. With you and me protecting Naruto, nothing's going to happen. Plus, it'll annoy those old geezers, and that'll be a sight to see."
Well, well, great minds think alike.
Kurama chuckled.
"And here I thought you were going to keep it from Naruto a little longer."
"Why would I hide anything from Naruto?" Jiraiya looked at Kurama, puzzled.
"He has every right to know all of this. The only reason I didn't tell him earlier was because he was still too young, and the old man wouldn't allow it."
"Now Naruto has grown up, and the old man is dead. There's nothing I can't say anymore." Jiraiya pursed his lips.
"If I'd found a good chance, I would've told Naruto everything a long time ago. It's not like it's some huge secret."
"Exactly. Keeping things like this, you're just asking for problem." Kurama nodded in agreement.
Jiraiya's face became strange when he heard this. He glanced at Kurama with confusion.
The more he talked to this Nine-Tails, the less serious it seemed. He was getting the same feeling he had when he first met the old man— the Third Hokage. On the surface, the man looked serious and dignified, but then you'd realize… he was just a dirty old man.
It's just an illusion… right?
Jiraiya scratched his chin and shook his head, pushing those thoughts away.
"So, what do you plan to do now?"
"Find the other tailed beasts," Kurama replied.
"I need to tell them about all this and make sure they go all out when facing the Akatsuki. They need to make sure they don't get captured. After that, I'll do what you're thinking—help Naruto get stronger."
Jiraiya was a bit skeptical.
"Are you sure Naruto can grow strong enough to face Uchiha Madara?"
Though Jiraiya's knowledge of Uchiha Madara mainly came from books and stories, from what he knew, Madara's power far exceeded the level of a Kage. There probably weren't many people in the current ninja world who could fight him.
"Do you really think Naruto can't do it?" Kurama shot back.
Seeing the understanding look in Jiraiya's eyes, Kurama continued.
"Naruto is one of only two people in the current ninja world who can grow strong enough to fight Uchiha Madara. Don't ask me why I know—just blame it on the Sage of the Six Paths' prophecy."
Jiraiya had been about to ask why, but since Kurama mentioned the Sage of the Six Paths' prophecy, that was enough to ease his mind.
He believed in Naruto because of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, so it made sense that the Sage of the Six Paths could make predictions too.
"No problem there," Jiraiya said, "but let me ask something else. You said there are only two. Naruto is one of them, so who's the other?"
From the people Jiraiya knew, there didn't seem to be anyone else who could compare to Naruto. Maybe Uchiha Sasuke was a possibility, but right now he was too weak, and his potential didn't seem to match Naruto's. Plus, he didn't have Kurama's power boost.
If anything, the girl Sakura in Naruto's squad had a lot of potential—just not much chakra.
"Why should I tell you?" Kurama answered with a sly grin.
"The other one will have to grow on his own. He can't be helped along like Naruto. The two of them are on completely opposite paths."
How much Sasuke grows has nothing to do with Kurama. Naruto will definitely surpass Sasuke in the end. For now, the most important thing is to heal Naruto's injuries, or else everything else is just pointless talk.
"Is that so?" Jiraiya frowned.
From the way Kurama was talking, Jiraiya started to think it wasn't Sakura but possibly Uchiha Sasuke?
Kurama yawned.
"Hey, Jiraiya, kid, at this rate, how soon can we find Tsunade?"
"At most a week," Jiraiya replied. "But... there's a bit of a problem with her. She might not help heal Naruto. But I'll try to convince her."
"Good luck with that," Kurama muttered, shaking his head in a way that made it hard to understand what he meant. Then his body vanished into a puff of smoke.
Watching Kurama disappear, Jiraiya's face turned serious. Sitting on the couch, he gazed out the window.
"Tsunade..."
If he could avoid it, he wouldn't want to bother her. Tsunade had already suffered enough. Now asking her to return and take the position of Hokage was like rubbing salt in her wounds.
But he had to do it—for the village, for Naruto, and for Minato and Kushina.
"Yahiko, Nagato, Konan... I wonder how you all are doing..."
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