Chapter 190: A Conversation

"If it were you, what would you do?"

"Enough. We don't have anything worth talking about. I'd much rather speak with Kazuki." Orochimaru smirked.

"Gekko Kazuki? He's involved too?" Jiraiya's disbelief was evident. In his memory, Kazuki was someone who sought nothing beyond himself. How could he possibly be working with Orochimaru?

"People have many sides, Jiraiya. What you know of him may not be the full picture, nor the true one. Goodbye, Jiraiya."

"Wait!"

But before Jiraiya could say more, Orochimaru disappeared without a trace.

Jiraiya tried to pursue him, but no matter how he searched, he couldn't sense the direction Orochimaru had gone. Evidently, it had only been one of Orochimaru's shadow clones speaking to him! The real Orochimaru had already vanished to some unknown location. Using a shadow clone to divert Jiraiya's attention, Orochimaru still showed no interest in confronting Jiraiya directly.

...

At Naruto's House,

Jiraiya, familiar with the place, climbed in through the window, startling Naruto.

"Pervy Sage! Where have you been?"

Naruto had gone home when he couldn't find Jiraiya, already starting to eat instant ramen.

"You're eating ramen already? Wasn't the ramen from earlier enough?"

"It's all digested!" Naruto slurped down another mouthful of noodles, grinning.

Jiraiya wasn't convinced. Sure, food digests, but not that fast.

Naruto clearly just craved more! Jiraiya eyed the ramen, sniffing it. Not bad, it did smell pretty good.

"You still haven't said where you went."

"I just ran into an old acquaintance and stopped to chat."

"Oh, got it!"

Naruto accepted this explanation without a second thought, finishing off his noodles.

"All done!"

Jiraiya sighed, Naruto had said the same thing an hour ago.

"Rest up for now. Tomorrow, we're meeting someone."

"Who?"

"Your friend, Gekko Kazuki!"

...

The Next Morning,

Kazuki's home received unexpected visitors.

"Jiraiya, Naruto? You're back." Kazuki greeted the two casually.

Nearby, Karin went to prepare tea, sensing the purpose behind their visit.

Jiraiya and Naruto settled on the sofa, glancing around the room. It was their first time visiting Kazuki's place.

"You live in a big house, Kazuki," Naruto said with envy.

"If you like it, I could give you one."

"Really?"

"Sure, I have plenty of homes like this."

This life, one Kazuki could never have imagined before, no longer stirred much excitement within him. Perhaps it was because everything had come too easily.

"Lucky guy."

"Have some dignity!" Jiraiya playfully bonked Naruto on the head. "It's just a house. No need to act like you've never seen one before."

"Hehe, I just never lived in one," Naruto scratched his head, not offended in the least.

Hearing this, Jiraiya felt a pang. He couldn't understand how the son of the Fourth Hokage, Naruto, could live in such hardship. His favorite food was ramen, his usual meal was instant noodles, and he lived in a tiny room.

If the Fourth Hokage were alive, things would be different.

Jiraiya shook his head, pushing aside these 'what ifs.'

Karin returned, bringing tea for them all. They sipped together. Kazuki drank gracefully, Jiraiya heartily, and Naruto—"Hot! Hot! Hot!"

"So, is there a reason you came by?" Kazuki asked, glancing at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya returned his gaze, then shook his head with a smile. "Just checking in."

"Alright, have some tea."

Kazuki sensed Jiraiya had a purpose for visiting, though perhaps he withheld it due to Naruto's presence.

"Have you started teaching Naruto Sage Mode yet?"

Kazuki changed the subject, asking, "You promised you'd teach him Sage Mode two years ago, right?"

"Ah, that... soon! Haha." Jiraiya scratched his head, feeling a bit sheepish for not keeping his word.

Kazuki glanced at Naruto, who didn't seem bothered. Nodding, he said, "Alright, do as you wish."

With his strength now unmatched in the Shinobi World, the addition of Sage Mode no longer mattered much to him.

After some casual talk, Naruto suddenly interrupted.

"Kazuki, do you know where Sasuke and Sakura went?"

Although Naruto had never been teamed with them, the bonds he shared with both were unbreakable. Sakura remained his idealized first love, though he no longer held any illusions.

After all, Sakura liked Kazuki, who was Naruto's friend and benefactor. Without Kazuki's help, he wouldn't even be a ninja now.

"Sasuke went to train far away, while Sakura is now a Chunin."

"Wow, she's already a Chuunin!"

When Jiraiya and Naruto left Konoha, Danzo hadn't yet assumed his position officially. Kazuki's promotion to Jonin and Sakura's to Chunin had occurred afterward.

"Kazuki, if you don't mind me asking, do you still keep in touch with Sasuke?" Jiraiya couldn't help but ask.

"I do," Kazuki answered without hesitation.

"But you know, he's a... rogue shinobi..." Jiraiya trailed off, subtly hinting that personal relationships shouldn't interfere with a ninja's duties.

Kazuki dismissed the notion.

"My profession is just that—my profession. It doesn't interfere with my personal life or friendships. I believe they should remain separate. Capturing rogue ninja is the responsibility of the ANBU. I have no obligation to act against Sasuke, nor would I shun him because of his status," Kazuki replied calmly.

Jiraiya sighed deeply, realizing he no longer had any place in Konoha, thus lacking the authority to say much. Memories of his time as a Leaf ninja resurfaced, and he worried Kazuki's connection to Sasuke could harm his future. Yet Kazuki seemed to need no warnings.

"Why did Sasuke do it?" Naruto wondered aloud. He had heard of Sasuke's actions but couldn't understand his friend's motives. Could revenge and killing truly be justified?

Kazuki didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Naruto and asked,

"If you knew your parents had been wronged and killed—what would you do, Naruto?"

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg