Jiraiya had spent his entire life chasing a ghost: the Child of Prophecy. He believed it was his great mission, the purpose he was born to fulfill. In reality, it was more like a curse.
As long as he was alive, he could never stop searching for the one who was foretold to change the world.
It's a funny thing about life. Sometimes, the most important people are the ones you meet at the very beginning. But because they're always there, you don't see them for who they truly are. You overlook them.
Emiya Shirou had just accepted a rare 4S-rank request. He looked up at Tsunade and asked, "Has your friend left Konoha already?"
"That idiot Jiraiya? He's probably off on his travels again," Tsunade grumbled, not looking up from the patient she was examining. "He's always off chasing that so-called Child of Prophecy from the Great Toad Sage, rambling on about changing the ninja world..."
She didn't bother hiding it; it was no secret among their circle. Whenever things in the village got quiet, Jiraiya would get restless and sneak off on his quest.
Neither Tsunade nor Orochimaru had ever bought into it. The whole thing sounded like a fairy tale.
But as she mentioned it, an idea sparked in Tsunade's mind. She looked up at Emiya, hoping he might have an answer that could help her friend.
After all, there was no one in the world more knowledgeable than him.
"Lord Emiya," she began, "are prophecies and all that... actually real?"
Emiya Shirou met her bright brown eyes, his voice taking on a distant, ethereal quality. "If you believe in it, then it is real."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "If you believe something exists, and you're willing to work to make it happen... then in a way, the prophecy becomes real. The future holds countless possibilities. A prophecy is just a reflection of one of those possibilities, shown to us ahead of time."
Hiding just outside the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in approval. Emiya's take on prophecy was positive and empowering—exactly the kind of lesson he loved to teach the village's children.
"I have to go," Emiya announced, standing up. "Naruto should be getting out of school soon. I promised I'd take him fishing."
"That brat Naruto again!" A playful pout crossed Tsunade's face as she thought of all the treats she never got as a child. "You never took me fishing..."
"You're not a kid anymore," Emiya said, gently tapping her on the forehead. "Besides, today is his birthday. A promise is a promise."
"Oh!" Shizune, who was standing by holding a small pink pig, piped up. "Should we prepare a birthday cake for him?"
"No, don't," Emiya said, shaking his head. His gaze drifted to the window, where villagers walked by holding bouquets of white flowers. "Today isn't exactly a happy day for everyone."
Outside the door, Hiruzen quietly slipped away. He knew what Emiya meant.
This day wasn't just Naruto's birthday. It was also the anniversary of the day so many people had died. It was the anniversary of the Nine-Tails' attack.
For Naruto himself, it was the day his parents died, though he didn't know that yet.
-----
Down by the river, Naruto Uzumaki was happily trying to assemble a makeshift fishing rod. Life had been good lately. He'd finally found someone in the village who accepted him, who treated him like a real friend.
Emiya was even better than Grandpa Hokage, patient with all his antics.
Sure, the guy had a permanent scowl and never cracked a joke, but Naruto could feel the kindness underneath.
He'd even started calling him "Emiya" instead of "senior," and the man didn't seem to mind. That kind of acceptance was a rare thing in his life.
Most villagers treated him like dirt, and he was often yelled at in shops for no reason he could understand. He just figured he had to try harder to get people to like him.
He was convinced that if he could just become Hokage, everyone would finally recognize him. He'd have friends. Even his new friend, Emiya Shirou, thought it was a great idea.
When that happens, Naruto thought, chewing on a fishing line, I definitely won't be alone anymore. Maybe I'll even have friends to celebrate my birthday with me!
He smiled, lost in a daydream about a future where he wasn't lonely. When you're all alone, sometimes all you can do is imagine a better world to keep yourself going.
But Naruto believed he was different.
He wasn't just dreaming; he was working for it. He studied hard at the academy, even though ninjutsu was a struggle and his chakra always seemed to go haywire.
Speaking of which... Naruto glanced up at the setting sun. A knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach. Where is Emiya? He's not going to bail on me, is he? He promised...
Today was his birthday. Maybe, for the first time, he wouldn't have to spend it alone.
Inside Naruto's seal, the Nine-Tails let out a mental snort.
Hmph, this brat. Does this idiot really think Emiya Shirou is just here to hang out with him?
If only he could talk to the kid directly, he'd tell him to stop being so sentimental.
And doubting Emiya Shirou? Unthinkable.
Emiya's friends never doubted him.
The Nine-Tails knew Emiya wouldn't break a promise to a child. He was probably just late. Maybe he ran into a difficult case at the clinic?
While Naruto grew more anxious by the second, the Nine-Tails calmly pondered the reasons for Emiya's tardiness.
The sun finally dipped below the horizon, painting the clouds in streaks of red. Just as Naruto's hope began to fade, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"I'm a little late." Emiya's voice was as calm as ever. "But it seems I'm not too late."
"Emiya!" Naruto spun around, a huge grin on his face. A long, wrapped package flew through the air, and he fumbled to catch it.
Thud.
He stared down at the package in his arms. "Is this... a fishing rod?" he asked, tearing it open. Inside was a complete, professional-looking set.
"Wait... is this a gift?" A wild thought began to form in his mind.
He'd never gotten a real gift before. No one ever remembered his birthday, and he never dared to celebrate it.
Realizing what this might be, he hugged the package tightly, his eyes turning red. He looked up at Emiya, his voice barely a whisper. "Is this... a birthday present... for me?"
"Mmm," Emiya confirmed with a nonchalant nod.
"Why?" The question slipped out before Naruto could stop it. He immediately wanted to take it back, afraid he'd said the wrong thing.
"Because..." Emiya was silent for a moment, then placed a hand on Naruto's head and ruffled his hair. "You were the first person to call me Emiya."
What kind of bullshit reason is that! the Nine-Tails raged internally.
Even the old Sage of Six Paths had to call him Lord Emiya! This brat is just being rude!
And he gets a reward for it?
This is so unfair!
The more the fox thought about it, the more annoyed it became. Was this brat, his own despised jinchuriki, going to win Emiya's favor too?
"You need to grow up quickly, Naruto," Emiya said, his hand still on the boy's head. His voice was full of expectation, as if he was genuinely looking forward to the man Naruto would become.
"Hehehehe..." Naruto giggled, clutching the gift. He didn't understand what Emiya meant, but he didn't care. All he wanted was to run home and put his new treasure in a safe place.
He knew he would never forget this birthday.
Sadly, it was a joy he couldn't share. He'd learned that on his birthday, the villagers were always extra angry, hating him even more than usual. Even his classmates seemed gloomy.
So, he kept his happiness to himself. But it didn't matter. On this birthday, he had already received more than he could have ever hoped for.
-----
Just as Naruto and Emiya's bond was growing stronger, Jiraiya returned to Konoha from Mount Myoboku. The first thing he did was seek out Emiya.
He didn't care if Emiya already knew; he had to tell him about the new prophecy from the Great Toad Sage, trying to subtly gauge Emiya's reaction.
He didn't tell Tsunade. He knew his plan was dangerous, and she would never approve. No one would ever believe that Emiya Shirou could pose a threat to the world.
But this was a warning from the Great Toad Sage himself. Jiraiya couldn't ignore it. He was torn, wanting answers but terrified of pushing too hard.
"Lord Emiya..." Jiraiya began cautiously, hoping for the best. "Do you believe in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy? Do you think a child who can bring change will appear in the future of the ninja world?"
"Gamamaru's prophecy..." A faint smile played on Emiya's lips.
He didn't call out Jiraiya's awkwardness and seemed genuinely interested. "You find an excellent disciple, and this disciple has the will to change the world. It follows that when he grows up, he will be able to change it, just as Hashirama did. That seems logical."
After laying out his analysis, Emiya turned the tables with a question of his own. "But in Gamamaru's prophecy, the most important person is you, the teacher. So... where is your disciple now?"
Jiraiya's face fell. He'd had only four true disciples in his life.
The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had died in the Nine-Tails' attack.
The other three—Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan from the Village Hidden in the Rain—had all died in the chaos of war, according to intel from the toads.
The ones he had pinned his hopes on, Nagato and Minato, were the most likely candidates for the Child of Prophecy.
But they were gone. All of them.
"They're... all dead."