Chapter 77 – Grief, Anger, and Guidance 悲伤愤怒与开导

Days passed quietly. A few weeks later, the atmosphere in Konoha was so oppressive that it was suffocating. The once bustling streets became deserted. The villagers talked in low voices, their faces full of sorrow and regret. On that day, Konoha lost a great ninja, Jiraiya.

Inside the Hokage's office.

"Why did you send Jiraiya-sensei on such a mission!" Naruto slammed his hand on the table in the Hokage's office. His hands were tightly clenched, and the veins on his hands were bulging. His voice was full of anger and sadness. His eyes showed deep shock and he shouted, "You knew he'd be in big danger alone. Why send him? It's like sending him to die!"

Tsunade sat behind the desk, her eyes downcast and her face haggard. Since learning of Jiraiya's death, she hadn't had a peaceful sleep. Jiraiya was not only her companion but also one of the few important friends in her life. However, now, he would never come back.

"Naruto..." Tsunade said in a low voice, trying to soothe him. "This was Jiraiya's own choice. He had a mission he couldn't shirk..."

"Stop saying these high - sounding words!" Naruto interrupted her. His fists shook and his eyes were red. "You don't care if he lives or dies! If you did, you wouldn't let him face such danger!"

Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew that Naruto needed to vent at this moment, not to argue.

"Naruto, I understand how you feel, but please calm down..." Tsunade still tried to persuade him.

However, Naruto didn't listen anymore. He turned around and strode out of the office, leaving cold words behind: "If Jiraiya - sensei were the Hokage, he would never send you on such a mission. I need to be alone."

Tsunade watched Naruto walk away, her eyes showing mixed feelings.

Naruto sat alone under a big tree, holding the scroll Jiraiya left him.

Memories of his time with Jiraiya kept playing in his mind: that person loved to joke, always peeked at girls, and loved to mooch off his money for meals, but at the same time, he was also the great ninja who had stepped forward countless times in critical moments.

"Sensei..." Naruto murmured in a low voice, his voice filled with endless sadness and self - blame. "I originally wanted to show you how much I've grown, but why did you leave like this..."

He wiped his eyes with his hand, but the tears kept falling.

Iruka stood beside Naruto.

"Naruto, I know you're in great pain now." Iruka's voice was soft but serious. "Losing someone important is really hard for anyone."

Naruto looked up at Iruka and said in a low voice, "Iruka-sensei, why did Jiraiya-master have to go to such a dangerous place? If he hadn't gone, maybe he wouldn't have died..."

Iruka was silent for a moment and then said slowly, "Because he was Jiraiya. He was the kind of person who would step forward no matter how dangerous the mission was. He didn't take risks for himself but for us, for the village, for everyone."

Naruto lowered his head, pondering Iruka's words.

"I've also lost someone important, just like you." Iruka went on, his eyes full of memories and determination. "But later, I realized they wouldn't want us to stay sad. They'd want us to carry on their will and move forward..."

At the same time, Shikamaru and Lin Yuan also found Naruto. Shikamaru leaned against a tree, with a piece of grass in his mouth. His tone was lazy but meaningful: "Naruto, I heard you're angry with Lady Tsunade."

Naruto looked up at him and didn't say a word.

"You know, my teacher died too." Shikamaru said straightforwardly. "At that time, I was also very angry. I thought it was the village's fault, the mission's fault, everything's fault."

Lin Yuan thought, "I can't say anything. My teacher's still alive..."

Naruto was surprised and looked at Shikamaru.

"But later, I realized that anger and self - blame are useless." Shikamaru's eyes became deep. "We are the hope of Konoha's future. If we don't move forward, their sacrifices will be meaningless."

Naruto was silent for a long time and finally nodded heavily.

Naruto returned to the office and looked firmly at Tsunade.

"I want to go to Mount Myoboku to learn Sage Mode." He said, his voice filled with a determination he had never had before.

Tsunade looked at him, paused, then nodded. "Okay, go. Be a disciple Jiraiya would be proud of."

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日子就这样平静地度过.几个星期后的某一天,木叶的气氛压抑得令人窒息.原本熙攘的街道变得冷清,村民们低声交谈着,脸上满是哀伤与惋惜.那一天,木叶失去了一位伟大的忍者,自来也.

火影办公室内.

"为什么要派自来也老师去做这种任务!" 鸣人猛地拍着火影办公室的桌子,双手紧握,青筋暴露.他的声音充满了愤怒和悲痛,眼中带着深深的不甘与震惊," 您明知道他一个人很危险,为什么还要让他去!?这不是让他去送死吗!"

纲手坐在办公桌后,目光低垂,面容憔悴.自从得知自来也的死讯后,她就未曾睡过一个安稳觉.自来也不仅是她的同伴,更是她这一生中为数不多的重要挚友.然而,现在,他再也不会回来了.

"鸣人..." 纲手低声开口,试图安抚他, "这是自来也自己的选择,他有着无法推卸的使命..."

"别再说这些冠冕堂皇的话了!" 鸣人打断了她,双拳颤抖,眼眶泛红,"您根本不在乎他的死活吧!要不然,您怎么可能让他去面对这样的危险!"

纲手愣了一下,随即闭上了眼睛,深吸了一口气.她知道,此刻的鸣人需要的是发泄,而不是争论.

"鸣人,我明白你的心情,但请你冷静..." 纲手依旧试图劝说他.

然而,鸣人没有再听下去.他转过身,大步离开办公室,留下冰冷的话语:"如果自来也老师是火影,一定不会派您去执行这种任务的.我需要静一静."

纲手看着鸣人离去的背影,眼神复杂而沉重.

鸣人独自坐在一棵大树下,手里紧握着自来也生前留下的书卷.他的脑海中不断回荡着与自来也相处的点点滴滴:那人爱开玩笑,总是偷窥女生,还爱蹭他的钱吃饭,但同时也是那个无数次在危机关头挺身而出的伟大忍者.

"老师..." 鸣人低声呢喃,声音中透着无尽的悲伤和自责, "我本来还想让您看看我变强了,可是,为什么您就这么走了呢..."

他用手擦了擦眼睛,但泪水却止不住地滑落.

伊鲁卡站在鸣人身边.

"鸣人,我知道你现在很痛苦." 伊鲁卡的声音温和而带着几分沉重,"失去重要的人,是任何人都无法轻易承受的."

鸣人抬起头,看着伊鲁卡,低声道:"伊鲁卡老师,为什么自来也师父一定要去那种危险的地方?如果他不去的话,也许他就不会死了..."

伊鲁卡沉默了片刻,缓缓说道:"因为他是自来也,他是那种无论面对多么危险的任务,都愿意挺身而出的人.他不是为了自己去冒险,而是为了我们,为了村子,为了所有人."

鸣人垂下头,沉思着伊鲁卡的话.

"我也曾经像你一样,失去了重要的人." 伊鲁卡继续说道,目光中透着怀念与坚定,"但后来我明白,他们希望的不是我们沉浸在悲伤中,而是我们能够继承他们的意志,继续走下去..."

与此同时,鹿丸和林远也找到了鸣人.鹿丸靠在一棵树上,叼着一根草,语气懒散却意味深长:"鸣人,我听说你在生纲手大人的气."

鸣人抬头看了他一眼,没有说话.

"你知道吗?我老师也死了." 鹿丸直言不讳地开口,"当时我也很愤怒,觉得这是村子的错,是任务的错,是一切的错."

林远心想:"插不上嘴,我老师还在..."

鸣人愣了一下,转过头看着鹿丸.

"但后来,我意识到愤怒和自责没有用." 鹿丸的目光变得深邃,"我们这些人,是木叶未来的希望.如果我们不走下去,他们的牺牲,就没有任何意义."

鸣人沉默了许久,最终重重地点了点头.

鸣人回到了办公室,目光坚定地看向纲手.

"我想去妙木山,学习仙术." 他开口道,声音中透着从未有过的决心.

纲手看着他,沉默片刻后点了点头:"好,去吧.成为一个连自来也都感到骄傲的弟子."