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"Go apologize to Captain Mizuro immediately."
With a stern face, Jiraiya scolded Naruto seriously:
"Do you realize how hurtful your words can be? Mizuro is a qualified patrol team captain. He's teaching you the knowledge and experience he's gained. You can choose not to learn, you can be impatient, but you cannot disrespect his good intentions or call him rude names."
"…"
'I think I really said something I shouldn't have.'
Realizing Jiraiya wasn't joking, Naruto grew nervous too.
Thankfully, despite his impulsive nature, Naruto wasn't a bad kid at heart. After realizing his mistake, he quickly apologized:
"I'm sorry, grandpa. I won't call the captain that again. I'll apologize to him tomorrow."
"Silly kid." Jiraiya's stern expression softened, and he patted Naruto's head. He decided to share some secrets with him.
He hoped Nawaki's fate would help curb Naruto's reckless tendencies.
"Do you know why Tsunade sometimes stare at you like they're lost in thought?"
"Staring at me?"
Naruto tilted his head, thinking for a moment: "Because I'm handsome?"
"…"
"Ow!"
Naruto, having earned a solid smack on the head, clutched his skull with a wronged expression.
Jiraiya, forehead twitching with dark lines, grumbled:
"Cut the nonsense. Don't you know what you look like? You think you're Sasuke or something? No interruptions—listen to me."
"The reason Tsunade or even Orochimaru react that way is because when they see you, they're reminded of someone. His name was Nawaki, Tsunade's younger brother and Orochimaru's student. His personality was a lot like yours—really, a lot like yours."
"Nawaki?"
Rubbing his still-sore forehead, Naruto racked his brain but couldn't recall anyone named Nawaki.
"Jiraiya-grandpa, this Nawaki… he's the Hokage's brother, right? He didn't… die, did he?"
Naruto used to call Tsunade "Granny Tsunade" until she'd thrashed him a few times for it. He'd learned his lesson and stopped calling people random nicknames.
"Yes."
Jiraiya sighed:
"Just like you, he was too curious on the battlefield, too careless, and ended up getting killed by an enemy's exploding tag. Tsunade was heartbroken for a long time, and Orochimaru's been blaming himself ever since."
'No way, he died just like that?'
Words alone might not get through to Naruto, but a cautionary tale was different.
Telling it as a story could leave a deeper impression on him.
"Now, do you still think Mizuro is just an annoying, rule-obsessed old geezer who's too hard on you?"
After finishing Nawaki's story, Jiraiya reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair.
He hoped Naruto would take the story seriously, correct his behavior, and avoid Nawaki's path and mistakes.
The battlefield was a merciless place. It didn't favor you because of your status.
Enemies wouldn't go easy on you just because you were special.
"I'll definitely apologize to Captain Mizuro."
Shaken by the story, Naruto suddenly realized his personality might actually be a problem.
Too reckless, too careless, always acting impulsively.
"That's the right mindset."
Seeing Naruto acknowledge his issue, Jiraiya was relieved:
"Right now, Sunagakure and Kirigakure could go to war any moment, and Konoha risks getting dragged in. That's why I'm being so strict with you, putting you under Mizuro, a tough patrol captain, so you can learn valuable skills from him. Naruto, I don't want you to become a second Nawaki. I don't want to see your body on the battlefield. Even I've had close calls, nearly dying out there."
"What?"
Naruto was shocked:
"Jiraiya-grandpa, you're so strong, and you almost died?"
"…"
'Strong, my ass, back when I was young. Besides, who doesn't have some dark history?'
Thinking back to his past, Jiraiya instinctively wanted to cover his face.
His growth process was, frankly, a bit rough—rough enough that Orochimaru constantly wanted to kill him.
That alone showed how much of a screw-up he'd been.
Orochimaru was pragmatic. If he approved of you, you were a reliable teammate he'd trust with his back.
If he didn't, he'd want to eliminate you as a burden to avoid dragging everyone down.
If it weren't for Tsunade, Jiraiya might've actually died on the Land of Rain's battlefield.
And not just once or twice.
"Haha, let's not talk about the past."
Jiraiya laughed awkwardly, scratching his head, trying to change the subject.
He was afraid Naruto would keep digging, exposing his embarrassing history.
Unfortunately, as the saying goes, what you fear comes true.
Sure enough, Naruto's big blue eyes stared at him eagerly.
"Jiraiya-grandpa, how about you tell me about the old days? Please?"
"…"
'Kid, you're making this hard for me.'
Faced with Naruto's persistence, Jiraiya eventually surrendered.
Carefully omitting the less flattering parts, he started telling Naruto stories, and Naruto listened with rapt attention.
But the good times didn't last. Before Naruto could hear his fill, a ninja walked into the command post, interrupting them.
'Thank goodness, it's finally over.'
Jiraiya let out a quiet sigh of relief. He'd been talking so long his mouth was dry, yet Naruto was still listening eagerly.
If this kept up, he'd run out of stories to tell.
"Sir, the Land of Wind's daimyo has sent people to make a request. He hopes the camp can send ninjas to protect him and escort him to the daimyo's Residence."
"What the hell?"
Jiraiya almost thought he'd misheard. The Land of Wind's daimyo wants to go to the our daimyo's residence and needs us to send an escort? Shouldn't that be Sunagakure's job?
Jiraiya quickly realized why the Land of Wind's daimyo was at the border, making such a request.
He was scared for his life.
Afraid that Rasa had truly lost it and, after attacking the Land of Water's daimyo, might come for him next.
Thinking back to all the times the Daimyo clashed with the village and threatened them, the Land of Wind's daimyo was in a full-blown panic, fleeing with his entourage.
He figured he needed a safe place to hide, and compared to other nations, the Land of Fire's daimyo residence was undoubtedly a solid choice.