Chapter 10
Jiraiya rushed through the rain. Ignoring the cold, his feet jumped from one tree to another. Usually, someone would be chasing him for him to run with such abandon. But there was nothing behind him.
It was his worry that made him rush through the land. He didn't even care that he shouldn't be here. Nor did he care that nobody knew where he was going. The chance he got, he left.
It had been more than half a year since he left those kids all alone. Many things had happened. He was deployed from one battlefield to another. As his fame spread, he had to spend more time on the front lines to support his allies.
One skirmish after another followed in this never-ending war. So, no matter how much he wanted to return to the kids, he simply couldn't. Even he didn't expect it would take so long to find any time for this trip.
He hoped that the current peace talks would succeed. Even if he didn't think it would last—even if they succeeded. The hatred the countries had for each other was far stronger than it had ever been before.
And the cycle continued. And the killing will soon follow. Jiraiya felt truly helpless, stuck in the middle of it. He wanted to slap those idiots in the face and tell them to stop this nonsense already.
"Phew."
Seeing that his traps were still intact, Jiraiya could finally calm down. He had been away for far too long. He thought that at least he could visit those kids now and then between his missions. But the war didn't allow it.
He was now quite nervous. Those kids must be quite angry for being abandoned by him. Well, that was why he brought candy with him. Seeing the light coming from inside the warehouse, he got ready to announce himself.
"Jiraiya-sensei?"
"Wow, you scared me," Jiraiya was surprised to see Konan waiting outside. "What are you doing in the cold?"
"What are you doing being so late?" As cute as Konan was with her pout, Jiraiya didn't think he could say it aloud without making her even angrier.
"Sorry, let's go inside. I have gifts." He was left with no other choice but to bribe his way out of her anger.
Inside, he found Nagato sitting by himself, reading one of the books he had left behind. In the time he hadn't seen them, they had sure grown quite a bit. And even the warehouse looked different.
Walls of blankets separated the rooms. Every corner was adorned with paper flowers and animals. Books lay astray in what looked like a living room. There was even a kitchen with plates and cutlery placed side by side by the burner.
"Jiraiya the Gallant has returned." Seeing that Nagato was still stuck in his book and that he didn't see Yahiko, Jiraiya decided to announce himself.
"Sensei? Welcome back." That was the only thing he got back from Nagato before he returned to his book.
Now Jiraiya felt depressed. He didn't expect a warm welcome, but at least he didn't want to be greeted so coldly. His last hope still didn't seem to show up as he looked around, so finally he decided to ask, before the worry killed him.
…
"Eat up, there's plenty to go around," Jiraiya gave out all the candy and cookies he had for the kids. "And since Yahiko is enjoying his sweet time in the town, you don't have to leave anything to him."
"That bad, sensei," Konan said, though she didn't mind having another chocolate chip cookie after saying it.
"Sensei, tell me more about yin and yang release," Nagato just wanted to learn more; still, he was a kid, and even as he asked questions, he ate to his fill.
"There will be time for that; no need to rush things. We still need time before you can use your chakra to see what type it is. Then I will explain them one by one."
Jiraiya was very impressed by the maturity of these kids. They had been training and learning on their own. But it also showed how they lived. Even alone, in the middle of nowhere, they found their own ways to entertain themselves and make a home out of it all.
They had all of it figured out. To the point where Jiraiya felt silly to worry about them. From what Konan and Nagato said, it seemed most of it came from Yahiko. That boy continued to surprise Jiraiya.
And speaking of the devil, he just so happened to return from a trip to town. He had grown his hair out, still wild as ever. And still with a happy smile as he entered. Though it soon disappeared upon seeing Jiraiya.
"Konan, Nagato, get away from this old creep."
"Old? Creep?" Jiraiya felt his heart getting crushed upon hearing it. "How can you be so mean to your master?"
"I'm not listening to an old creep dressed in a toad costume, and don't corrupt Konan and Nagato with it either." Yahiko dragged the other kids from Jiraiya. "You've lost every last bit of respect I had for you. And you two don't have to listen to everything he says."
"Don't worry, I have another one for you." Jiraiya pulled out another toad costume, the same as Konan and Nagato were wearing.
Yahiko looked at Jiraiya and threw something at his face. There was a beat of silence as both of them looked at each other, before Yahiko burst out laughing as milk ran down Jiraiya's face and, worse, inside his costume.
"You little…" Before Jiraiya could finish his words, he was surprised by a hug from Yahiko.
"I was worried, stupid master. Why are you so late?"
Not only was Yahiko a mature kid, but he also had a big heart. If only he had a chance at a better world. A world without war and a cycle of hatred. Where he could live as a child should be. Without worry and always laughing.
It was a good reminder for Jiraiya, as he looked at those kids' smiles and knew why he was trying to find an answer for everlasting peace. So, kids like them wouldn't fall into this never-ending cycle of violence, hatred, and pain.
…
After the welcoming dinner, Jiraiya heard all about what they had been up to while he was away. All three of them had worked hard, and Jiraiya could see it. And he was more than happy for it.
"Since you've got some muscles now, it's time I taught you basic taijutsu."
When Jiraiya announced it, they were quite happy to hear it. But now, sprawled on the ground and groaning in pain, they didn't look like they enjoyed it that much. Sadly, for them, the basics of taijutsu were defense.
If Jiraiya had more time to dedicate to them, he might have gone easy on them. But he didn't have time at all. Who knows when he would get a message to return, and he shouldn't even be in this country to begin with. All he could do was prepare these kids as best as he could.
Because the more they sweated and bled now, the less he would have to worry about them once he left again. It wasn't easy for him either; they grew on him way too quickly. Jiraiya didn't even have time to prepare for it before he was hit with how much he cared about them.
It didn't help that they were cute kids. Konan, especially—it was impossible not to like how sweet she was. She wasn't born to destroy or kill, but to create. She was as far away from the cycle of hatred as one could be.
Yahiko was the mature one, always worrying about the other two, taking all the responsibility on himself, and making Jiraiya worry the most. What surprised Jiraiya the most, though, was his hatred. Hatred of violence. Yet he didn't believe in peace either. It was an odd mix that made Jiraiya wonder what was going on inside that mind of his.
Nagato was so far the quietest one. But he was a hard worker. Always studying and trying to help. Jiraiya saw how this kid looked at the other two. They were his family, and he would do everything to keep them.
That's why Nagato couldn't hide his eyes from Jiraiya, no matter how hard he tried. He didn't say anything and let them believe that he didn't notice them under Nagato's red hair. If they didn't want to bring it up, he wouldn't either.
Rinnegan was as mysterious as it could be. Aside from ancient records describing them and mentioning that they only ever belonged to the Sage of Six Paths, there wasn't anything else about them. Maybe they were nothing but colorful eyes. And hopefully it will stay this way.
He didn't even want to think of what someone might do to get those eyes once they heard about them. Even without a clear description of what those eyes were capable of, the fact that they were famed and mythological was enough for power-hungry people to rush here to take them by force.
He didn't want to worry the kids with that kind of information. And it seemed that Nagato was keen on hiding them, too. Neither Yahiko nor Konan had mentioned them to him, so they would not speak of it lightly.
Those kids already had too much trust on their tiny shoulders. He despised this world that made them like this. Then Jiraiya was suddenly taken aback by a mudball hitting his face, with Yahiko laughing his ass off.
His dirty hands were enough evidence to tell who did it. But before he could do anything about it, he suddenly found himself under attack from all three sides, getting mud in his hair and face. They sure were quite accurate with their throwing.
"You little rascals, don't even think you'll get away with it." Jiraiya joined his hands. "Earth Release: Mud Slide."
Mud washed away all three of them, getting them dirtier than Jiraiya was. But just as he thought it was his victory, suddenly Yahiko jumped on him. Tackling him to the ground, the boy sure had more strength than he looked like.
"Now!" Yahiko yelled out, and suddenly, Konan and Nagato jumped on Jiraiya, too.
Now it was a matter of pride for all of them. It was a fight to make the other side dirtier, and neither was backing away from it. Especially Yahiko—he seemed dead set on making Jiraiya eat mud.
…
"No peeping."
Sometimes it was hard to remember that Yahiko was just a kid. Especially as mud dripped through his hair and face while locking his eyes with Jiraiya. His expression reminded Jiraiya of his sensei. The same eyes that told him he wouldn't take any bullshit Jiraiya might throw at him.
Konan and Nagato were now watching up, while Yahiko and Jiraiya stayed outside. Covered in mud and letting the rain wash it down for now. Yahiko was not keen on leaving him out of his sight.
"What do you take me for, little rascal?"
"Old perverted creep," Yahiko replied.
"Old? I am still in the spring of youth, you know. And I certainly am not a creep. Didn't you know? I am one of the legendary Sannin. Great shinobi that is respected as I am feared throughout the world."
"Still a pervert though," Yahiko replied.
"A man should be true to his heart. I am not ashamed of what I am. But don't worry, you can keep your dear Konan to yourself; I have no eyes for little girls."
"I know," Yahiko smiled. "You like them blonde, busty, and with a strong fist, don't you?"
"How?" That got Jiraiya flustered.
"I saw how you looked at her," Yahiko replied. "You know, if you could give me some of your materials for me to browse, I wouldn't mind telling her how awesome you are the next time we meet."
"You little rascal," Jiraiya didn't expect Yahiko to be curious about stuff like this, but in the end, he was a boy. "Sorry, but I don't need help from a kid like you."
"Or I could tell her how you left us alone in the middle of nowhere in the cold of winter. And when you returned, rather than making sure we were fine, you beat us up, while carrying things no respected person should be near."
"What?"
"Give me your stash, old man. Or I will ruin your chances with any woman you will ever meet in the future. The more famous a person is, the more he is vulnerable to rumors. It is up to you to decide what people want to hear about your adventures."
This kid was dangerous. His mind was as perverted as his, but also as intelligent as Orochimaru's. And even though he would never admit it, he had a handsome face. This kid was a dangerous combination that would bring demise to many a fair maiden in the future.
And it fell upon Jiraiya to stop him. If this monster were unleashed on the world, who knows what kind of consequences would follow soon after? Not only was his future at stake, but that of every man.
A.N. As always, thanks for reading and supporting me, so I can continue writing without any concerns, and if you want more, up to 7 more chapters and 28 chapters in total with all my other stories, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852.