A few days later, evening. The setting sun had drunk the sky into a flush of crimson, like wine seeping into dusk.
In the glow of the fading sunset, Kakashi walked along the main street of Konoha toward home, copy of the deluxe edition of "Make-Out Paradise" in hand, his expression carrying a bone-deep weariness.
He needed a proper rest.
The Eight Inner Gates was a forbidden technique that already placed enormous strain on someone with his constitution.
Add to that Naruto's monstrous physique and seemingly inexhaustible energy.
Even he, said to be Konoha's foremost technical master, was starting to feel the strain.
And on top of that, he still had to split off a Shadow Clone to guide Sakura and demonstrate various Earth Release techniques.
It felt as though his body had been hollowed out entirely.
"Hey, Kakashi. Even when you're dead on your feet, you still find time to study the classics. Quite the dedicated learner, aren't you."
A lazy, deeply amused voice drifted down from above.
Hmm?
Kakashi paused, his dead-fish eyes drifting in the direction of the voice.
A tall, white-haired middle-aged man in a red haori over a brown shirt was leaning against a railing overhead, looking down at him.
"Lord Jiraiya!? You're back?"
Recognising the familiar face, Kakashi was genuinely startled.
He quickly composed himself and called out a greeting, his voice carrying something close to the excitement of meeting an idol.
"Come on up, Kakashi. I was actually looking for you as well."
Jiraiya laughed heartily and waved him up.
Kakashi leaped up to Jiraiya's side. "Lord Jiraiya, it's been a long time. It's been several years since you last came back to the village, hasn't it? Did you come back to Konoha because you'd heard news about Orochimaru?"
At the name Orochimaru, a flicker of something melancholy crossed Jiraiya's eyes. He nodded. "That's part of it."
"The other matter is that kid."
Jiraiya turned to look at Kakashi and said in a low voice: "How is Naruto doing?"
Kakashi smiled slightly. "The little guy has plenty of energy. He's found his own comrades and people he cares about."
"Is that so."
Jiraiya nodded, the corner of his mouth curving slightly upward.
After a moment of quiet he spoke again: "Kakashi, for the time being, let me take over Naruto's training."
"You're still guiding that other sweet little girl too, aren't you? This way you can focus on one student at a time."
"Lord Jiraiya, having you guide Naruto is more than I could ask for. It's just that—"
Kakashi's brow furrowed slightly. Rather than agreeing immediately, he asked in return: "Lord Jiraiya, has something happened?"
"I heard about what happened during your team's last mission, from the old man." Jiraiya spoke gravely: "The Uchiha Itachi and the other three ninja you encountered all belong to an organisation called Akatsuki."
"Kakashi, you know that over the years I've been traveling the nations away from Konoha. I've gathered a great deal of intelligence along the way and written a few books on the side."
Seeing Kakashi nod, Jiraiya continued: "I've found that this organisation called Akatsuki has been taking in missing-nin from all across the ninja villages. There are many more dangerous, high-level wanted ninja like Uchiha Itachi among their ranks. Beyond that, I've also found that they appear to have been systematically gathering intelligence on the Jinchūriki of the major villages. I believe their organisation's true goal is the tailed beasts."
"Your encounter with Akatsuki members in the Takigakure was no coincidence. It was a carefully premeditated operation."
Kakashi's brow furrowed deeply, his expression growing considerably heavier: "You're saying they may come after Naruto as well in the future?"
"Not may. They will." Jiraiya shook his head and said without any hesitation: "Those people will certainly come for Naruto one day. Before that happens, he must have the power to protect himself, and he must inherit the legacy Minato left behind for him."
"Regarding this Akatsuki organisation you mentioned, I suspect they have deep ties to the Hidden Rain."
Kakashi calmly recounted the encounter with Rain ninja that his three students had during their mission to the Hidden Waterfall.
Jiraiya was silent for a long stretch after hearing it. "What you've described, the old man also told me. I had originally intended to slip in and take a look myself, but then—"
He shook his head and left it there.
A month ago, while traveling the ninja world, Jiraiya had received intelligence from the Third Hokage and had been ready to set out for the Hidden Rain Village.
But then the messenger toad from Mount Myōboku had brought word from the Great Toad Sage, warning him that now was not the time to go to the Hidden Rain — that he should focus on finding the Child of Prophecy.
So Jiraiya had set aside the idea of going to the Hidden Rain for the time being and returned to Konoha to begin teaching Naruto.
The two previous candidates he had identified as the Child of Prophecy had both died young. Now only Naruto, the boy named after the protagonist of his own book, remained as a possibility for the legendary Child of Prophecy.
"For now the priority is to focus on teaching Naruto. The sooner he grows, the better."
"Understood. Then I'll leave Naruto's training in your hands from here on." Kakashi nodded solemnly, accepting Jiraiya's words.
"That said, Lord Jiraiya, Naruto will need to stay with me for a few more days. He hasn't finished his Eight Inner Gates training yet. A few more days and it should be done."
"The Eight Inner Gates!?"
Jiraiya was taken aback. "You taught him that forbidden technique too?"
Seeing Kakashi nod, Jiraiya recalled Naruto's constitution and the pieces fell into place. "All right then. I'll come by in a few days to take over Naruto's training."
"To think Naruto has already mastered such a powerful technique at his age. That really is something."
A faint reminiscent gleam passed through Jiraiya's eyes as he said it.
Kakashi smiled slightly and said in an easy tone: "Lord Jiraiya, once you spend some time with Naruto, I think he'll surprise you even more than that."
"Then I look forward to it."
At that, the corner of Jiraiya's mouth curved into a smile as well.
"Well then, that's enough for today. Until next time, Kakashi."
With that, Jiraiya made to turn and leave.
"Wait, Lord Jiraiya!"
Kakashi quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Something else?" Jiraiya turned around and looked at Kakashi with mild curiosity.
Kakashi scratched the back of his neck with an awkward laugh and said haltingly: "There's that, that — uhh—"
"Oh, I see. That's what you wanted to bring up." Understanding dawned on Jiraiya's face immediately.
"The next volume of Make-Out Paradise has no release planned in the near future. However—"
His tone shifted, and Jiraiya reached into his pouch with a grin and produced a manuscript.
"This is the rough draft. You can take it home and study it."
"Thank you, Lord Jiraiya. I will study it very carefully."
Kakashi received the manuscript with both hands, reverently, as though he had just been handed something priceless.
Jiraiya blinked and said in a conspiratorial tone: "Studying is a fine thing, but do take care of yourself. Don't stay up too late studying."
"Understood!"
The two men looked at each other and broke into the same grin — the kind only men share.
___
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