A day passed quickly.
Naruto lay sprawled on his bed, one arm tucked behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling. The room was quiet—too quiet. His thoughts kept drifting back to the mission, to that ominous feeling he hadn't been able to shake since returning to the village.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Naruto closed his eyes for a brief second and let out a tired sigh. He already knew who it was. Pushing himself off the bed, he crossed the room and opened the door.
Kakashi stood there, his visible eye calm as ever, hands tucked into his pockets.
"Hey, Naruto," he said casually.
Naruto didn't bother with greetings.
"Is he dead?" he asked flatly.
Kakashi's eye softened as he exhaled. "He's… close. But no. He survived."
For a moment, Naruto just stared at him, shock flashing across his face. Without another word, he grabbed his jacket and bolted past Kakashi.
The two moved swiftly through the village, rooftops blurring beneath their feet until the hospital came into view.
They rushed inside.
The smell of antiseptic hit Naruto first.
There, lying motionless on the bed, was Jiraiya—his body wrapped in bandages, tubes and seals connected to him from every direction. His chest rose slowly, weakly, each breath looking like it took effort.
Tsunade stood beside the bed, arms crossed, her expression tired but steady.
When Naruto stepped in, she turned toward him and offered a small, reassuring smile.
Naruto forced one back, though his chest felt tight.
On the desk beside Jiraiya sat a small orange toad. He had been watching Naruto closely the moment he entered. With a soft hop, the toad leapt down and landed neatly on the bed's railing.
"You're Naruto, right?" the toad said. "Jiraiya's disciple. Name's Pa."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. I remember you… from a few days ago."
Pa folded his tiny arms, his gaze drifting back to Jiraiya. "Don't misunderstand his condition. Jiraiya fought well. Really well." His voice grew heavier. "But we didn't manage to get the information we needed about the leader. He had a chance to retreat earlier… but he didn't."
Naruto clenched his fists.
"He told me," Pa continued, "that before he died, he wanted to see you become Hokage."
Naruto's lips curved into a faint smile, eyes still fixed on Jiraiya.
"I'd argue that's the best decision he's made in his life."
Tsunade let out a quiet laugh. "You're not wrong."
Pa smiled, then nodded to himself. "Well then. He also told me something else. You wanted to learn Sage Jutsu. And as his disciple, that was meant to be your final lesson before you truly graduated."
The room fell silent.
"But seeing his condition," Pa went on, "he entrusted that role to me instead. So… what do you say?"
Naruto didn't hesitate for even a second.
"I accept."
Pa's grin widened. "Good. Then we leave immediately. Every second matters. Go get your things."
Naruto nodded sharply—and vanished in a blur of movement.
Pa watched the doorway for a moment before chuckling softly.
"Looks like he raised one hell of a student. Maybe… even better than Minato."
Kakashi and Tsunade exchanged a glance, then nodded in quiet agreement.
Tsunade finally let out a long breath, her shoulders relaxing just a little.
' It paid off,' she thought.
Naruto packed his things quickly, stuffing the essentials into his bag before slinging it over his shoulder. He adjusted the strap, took a breath, and stepped out of his apartment, locking the door behind him. His body was already leaning forward, eager to leave, his mind focused on what lay ahead.
Just as he turned the corner—
Thump.
"Hey—what's up?" Naruto said, stopping as he realized who he'd run into.
It was Sakura Haruno.
She blinked in surprise, eyes immediately scanning him. One look told her everything—his posture, the bag, the urgency in his movements.
"You're in a hurry," she said. Her gaze dropped to his bag. "Where are you headed?"
"Oh," Naruto replied casually, scratching his cheek, "I'm going to train. I'll be back in a few days though."
"Nice… nice," Sakura said slowly. She hesitated, clearly debating something. "I actually wanted to tell you something, but… seeing as you're in a rush, I won't stop you."
Naruto smiled. "Great."
She opened her mouth again. "See y—"
She never finished.
Naruto suddenly leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
Sakura froze for a split second, eyes widening in shock—but then her cheeks flushed deep red as she melted into the kiss, responding eagerly. Her hands clenched lightly into his jacket as she kissed him back, the moment charged and heated.
They finally pulled apart, both breathing slightly heavier, a thin string of saliva still connecting their lips before breaking.
"See you, Sakura," Naruto said with a grin.
Before she could react, his hand slipped down and squeezed her ass firmly.
"Eh—?!" Sakura gasped, completely caught off guard.
Naruto laughed and took off instantly, disappearing down the hallway before she could even yell at him.
Sakura stood there, stunned, heart racing, one hand unconsciously touching her lips as she watched the direction he ran.
A slow smile spread across her face.
' I truly love that guy, ' she thought.
..
At the village gates, Naruto stood still for once, the morning breeze tugging lightly at his jacket. The massive wooden doors loomed behind him, while the open road ahead felt like the start of something far bigger than just another training trip.
Pa sat calmly on his shoulder, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded as if this was all routine.
"This might feel… uncomfortable at first," Pa said casually. "But you'll get used to it."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Uncomfortable how—?"
Poof.
The world vanished.
In the blink of an eye, the air around them warped, space folding in on itself. Naruto felt a strange pulling sensation, like his body was being stretched and compressed at the same time. His stomach lurched violently.
And then—
They reappeared.
Naruto stumbled half a step forward, eyes widening as he sucked in a sharp breath.
They were standing high atop a mountain—so high that the clouds drifted lazily below them, close enough to touch. The air was crisp and clean, filled with an earthy, ancient presence that made his skin tingle.
Towering trees surrounded them, their leaves glowing in shades of deep green, crimson, gold, and violet. Strange plants lined the stone paths, some pulsing faintly with chakra, others shaped in ways Naruto had never seen before. Waterfalls cascaded down distant cliffs, their mist catching the sunlight like drifting stars.
And everywhere—
Massive frog statues.
Some were carved in meditation poses, others gripping weapons or gazing sternly into the distance, their stone eyes seeming almost alive. The place felt old… impossibly old, like it had existed long before shinobi ever walked the earth.
Naruto slowly turned in place, jaw slightly slack.
"Whoa…"
Pa hopped down from his shoulder and landed on a stone railing with a solid thud.
"Welcome to Mount Myoboku," Pa said proudly. "This is where you'll learn to die."
Naruto snorted, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Heh. Guess I'm ready to die then."
Pa glanced back at him, eyes sharp despite the smile tugging at his mouth. "Good."
Then his expression softened just a bit.
"But first," Pa added, hopping toward a nearby path, "let's eat."
Naruto laughed and followed, the weight of what awaited him settling into his chest—heavy, dangerous… and exciting.
TO BE CONTINUED