Chapter 85: Jiraiya
The Anbu were quite fast, finding Jiraiya in less than half an hour.
However, after Jiraiya received the news, he didn't go to see the Hokage immediately, only heading to the Hokage Building at noon.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sensed the person outside the window and knew that Jiraiya had arrived.
"You're being a bit much!"
Jiraiya laughed heartily and said, "Old Man, don't be so stubborn! Haven't I come now?"
"Sigh! Jiraiya, come back! Konoha needs you now."
Jiraiya shook his head and said, "I can't, Old Man. I still have to find the child of prophecy! Besides, with you presiding over the Village, what could possibly go wrong?"
"Jiraiya, I've grown old!"
Jiraiya glanced at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said with a chuckle, "Old Man, you're the Hokage now. Is anyone really going to give you trouble? Relax, relax!"
"Jiraiya, I'm not joking with you. You should be the Fifth Hokage."
"Are you kidding? With my personality, how could I possibly be the Hokage? You'd better find someone else! If there's nothing else, I'm going to do some research."
After saying that, Jiraiya was about to leave, but Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly said to him, "Wait!"
"Is there anything else? If it's still about making me the Hokage or something like that, don't bother."
"It's not about that! It's about Minato and Kushina's child."
"Naruto!"
"Yes!"
"What's wrong with Naruto?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long while, not knowing how to answer Jiraiya's question.
He couldn't exactly say that as soon as Narutocould walk, he had been taken out of the Orphanage to live alone, spending his days being shunned by everyone and called a demon fox.
Now Naruto had the strength to protect himself, but his attitude toward the Village was still uncertain.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi remain silent for so long, Jiraiya guessed that he and Danzo Shimura had done something unsavory again, so he stopped pressing.
"Where is Naruto now?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and explained about Naruto being at the Wooden Hut by the river.
Having obtained the exact location, Jiraiya left quickly.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi forgot that a Genjutsu Barrier had been set up around Naruto's Wooden Hut by the river.
When Jiraiya reached the location of the Wooden Hut by the river, he didn't see the hut. Instead, he started searching around and accidentally entered the Genjutsu Barrier.
Jiraiya noticed the moment he entered the Genjutsu Barrier.
"Why is there a Genjutsu Barrier in Konoha Village? Who set it up? Who permitted it?"
His curiosity piqued, Jiraiya began to look around inside the Genjutsu Barrier.
Sensing someone intruding into the Genjutsu Barrier, Naruto used a Shadow Clone to quickly check and found it was Jiraiya.
Naruto sighed helplessly but didn't pay much attention. Jiraiya hadn't gone deep into the Genjutsu Barrier, and with his abilities, he should be able to leave soon.
As expected, after wandering for over half an hour without finding Naruto, Jiraiya left the Genjutsu Barrier and returned to the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then told Jiraiya that Naruto had set up the Genjutsu Barrier.
Upon hearing this, Jiraiya frowned and said, "Old Man, what on earth have you all done? Why is the Jinchuriki living on the outskirts of the Village? This is very disadvantageous for the Village. What if someone with ill intent kidnaps Naruto?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi realized he couldn't avoid it anymore, so he told Jiraiya everything about Naruto, though he shifted all the dark deeds onto Danzo, maintaining his own image as the righteous Hokage.
Hearing this, Jiraiya clenched his fists in anger, wishing he could go and eliminate Danzo right then.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also saw Jiraiya's rage and quickly tried to persuade him, "The matter with Danzo is in the past. I have another important task for you."
"What is it?"
"It's about Minato and Kushina's inheritance."
Jiraiya's face darkened at this. Hiruzen Sarutobihad just described Naruto's living conditions; if Naruto had money, how could he have lived from hand to mouth?
"Don't tell me you guys split Minato and Kushina's inheritance among yourselves?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at Jiraiya and said, "It was a last resort at the time. After the Nine-Taileddestroyed the Village, a large amount of funds was needed for reconstruction. Konoha's finances were tight, so we temporarily used that inheritance."
As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, a powerful Chakra erupted from Jiraiya.
"Old Man! That was left for Naruto by Minato and Kushina. Even if you used the money, you should have taken proper care of Naruto. But what kind of life did you let him lead? Old Man, you've gone too far this time."
With that, Jiraiya prepared to leave through the window.
Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly said, "Jiraiya, I know we were wrong, but what's done is done. We should do our best to make amends."
"How? Are you suggesting I tell Naruto that his father was the Fourth Hokage who died protecting the Village, but after he died, the Villageimmediately seized his family's property and left him to live in poverty, and now we hope he won't hold a grudge? I can't say that."
"That's not what I meant! We've managed to scrap together a portion of Minato and Kushina's inheritance. Go and give it to Naruto later!"
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment. After thinking it over, he glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "You make it sound so simple. Minato and Kushina's inheritance was at least two billion Ryo. I don't believe rebuilding the Village used it all up at once. Don't tell me what you're giving me now is just what's left after all these years of the Villagespending it? Old Man! You've gone too far."
This time, Jiraiya didn't stay a second longer. He immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and left through the window.
After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Jiraiya felt he had failed Naruto, Minato, and especially Kushina.
Jiraiya returned to the Wooden Hut by the riverand waited at the entrance of the Genjutsu Barrier, hoping to see Naruto and how he was doing.
But he waited until dark and Naruto still hadn't come out, so he left a Shadow Clone there.
For the next two days, Jiraiya personally guarded the entrance of the Genjutsu Barrier during the day and used a Shadow Clone at night.
Hard work pays off; at noon on the third day, Hinata came to find Naruto.
Recently, Hinata had been receiving guidance from Hyuga Hiashi at home. However, Hiashi had no idea how to practice the Tai Chi Fist that Hinatawas using, so he had no choice but to let Hinata go find Naruto.