Naruto: Akatsuki

"...Jiraiya." I whispered, just as surprised as Jiraiya currently was.

Was it that the world is small, or was it a fate?

Today, I got to know Minato by chance, with him coming across the scene of me with those street thugs. Then, Minato's teacher had to be Jiraiya of all possibilities, and Jiraiya himself was someone whom I got to know of in the past.

But... I suppose that it doesn't matter in the end. Surprised but in a pleasant way. Although sudden, I was quite gleeful to see Jiraiya once again.

"Long time no see, Jiraiya-san." Therefore, I replied with a respect in my tone.

"Heh, long time no see for sure, Akashi." Jiraiya too replied in a similar manner—he seemed to have a good impression of me.

"You two know each other?" Minato said questioningly as he looked back and forth between us, "And also, what do you mean by Akashi, Jiraiya-sensei? Isn't his name Kakashi?"

"Kakashi? What?" Jiraiya squinted his eyes, "The only Kakashi I know is that baby of Sakumo who entered the academy at the freaking age of 4."

...Great.

"Sorry about that, Minato. I'm actually Akashi." I said impassively, "I lied to you, because... I always wished my name to be Kakashi. I wanted to be called Kakashi for once."

"I knew it. No way 'Kakashi' is a common name." Minato nodded as he crossed his arms and closed his eyes, before stopping in realization, "But 'Akashi' isn't common either."

He then slapped my back repeatedly with a friendly grin, "Don't worry about it, 'K'akashi. I'm not someone who holds grudges for a small thing like that."

...Are you sure?

Meanwhile, running his hands over the backs of two women around him, Jiraiya took out a stack of ryo from his pocket, and spoke with a cheesy smile, "I'm sorry, my little honeycombs... it seems that I have to leave now."

Minato and I both held our mouths at the same time, trying to prevent ourselves from throwing up.

"Call us again anytime, handsome~!" The women blew kisses on Jiraiya's cheeks, before walking away with their hips swaying.

"...I'll never be like sensei when I'm older." Minato muttered, "Kushina's the only one for me."

"Kushina?" I asked in curiosity, "You have a girlfriend?"

"Is she my girlfriend? Hm..."

Here we go again.

"Akashi."

I was then forced to take my attention off of Minato, who was in a deep thought, as Jiraiya now stood right in front of me with a strained face upon sighting my scar on the right eye.

"That eye..."

I suppose that there's no way to hide it, huh.

I sighed, "Let's get somewhere better suited for a conversation."

"...No, I suppose not." Subsequently, Minato finally replied, causing me to deadpan.

__________

One. Jiraiya is a fairly kind person. Two, he is a perceptive shinobi. Three, he is the renowned Toad Sannin, someone that I won't stand a chance against.

These facts brought me to one conclusion: lying is nigh-impossible in front of this man.

If so, what should be done? I'd say... speak the truth, but not to the full extent.

"I fell from the cliff, and casted myself the genjutsu that you taught before fainting. Within that period, I was treated and cared by this man named Hidemitsu; I wonder if he's doing fine." I placed my hand on top of my closed right eye with a scar with a smile, "And yeah, this scar was lost before falling, by that shinobi."

The only thing that needed to be concealed, from my point of view, was anything related to my involvement with Gin—the ronin from Kiri.

Jiraiya let out a weak sigh, knowing that 'that shinobi' that I referred to was affiliated to Konoha.

"I—"

"No, it isn't your fault in the first place. You weren't involved in a single bit of it. Don't even think of apologizing, Jiraiya-san." I puffed my chest up proudly, "An apology itself is akin to a mock to me. I'm proud of this scar, for it signifies that I managed to protect what is truly important to me.

After all, an eye in return for three lives—it's pretty good of a deal, isn't it?"

The two of us were currently sitting atop one tree branch during the midnight, with Minato having returned back to the inn with his two other teammates. There were no other sign of life nearby, and I doubted that any would dare to eavesdrop the Toad Sannin.

"...I see." Jiraiya, whose head was turned to me on his right, smiled gently, "Though it is a harsh life, you managed to persevere up until now."

He raised up the bottle of sake that he's been holding with his left hand, before taking a gulp.

"...Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato." Gazing at the full moon, I asked with a wistful tone, "Are they here, in the land of fire?"

"Of course. I was wondering when you'll be asking." Jiraiya remarked, "They decided to remain in the land of rain, wishing to change that dystopia for better."

"...Peace, huh." I muttered.

"Peace indeed." Jiraiya nodded, "And such noble thought of theirs was born out of you, who showed them the kindness of the world."

"Is it." I placed my hand over my mouth, trying to hide my face that was about to smile without a control, "Then I suppose that just like hatred, kindness too transmits. What I did to them was nothing but giving them the same hope that I've once got from someone else."

"...Exactly." Jiraiya muttered as he took another gulp of alcohol, "Do you plan to go back to the Ame then?"

I nodded without any hesitation. The primary reason why I stayed in the land of fire lied on the speculation that those three ran away in the direction of the land of fire prior to our separation. Now that Amegakure wasn't involved in a war, and I was strong enough to fend off for myself at the very least, there existed no other thought than the desire to reunite with them.

'My family.'

To me that was the only home that I had to return in this vast world.

"Before you leave rashly, would you like to hear my suggestion?" Jiraiya then said, with his eyes fixated on the moon.

I listened.

"Currently, my team is on the mission, and will travel in a span of two weeks at maximum. During then, I can take you and give you the basic rundowns to a combat."

"Are you worried about me?" I couldn't help but ask in a low tone.

"Very." Jiraiya replied firmly, "You are just an 11 year-old boy. To have such a young child roam around the world full of danger alone... what kind of adult would I be to leave him without an offer to help at the very least?"

...My heart felt warm. Perhaps I was bound to feel this way for the rest of my life, even with the slightest amount of hospitality. The world around me was mostly cold, and I was too used to it, such that even an ounce of kindness was enough to elate my mood.

"I..."

I learnt kenjutsu, basic ninjutsu techniques, and some self-created genjutsu techniques. My current skill set was extremely imbalanced, for my current combat capability essentially depended on the availability of a sword.

Two weeks. An offer made out of Jiraiya's kindness.

"If it's alright with you, and if I won't be of any hindrance in your mission,"

There was no reason to refuse this chance.

"With thanks, I would like to."

So, I spoke with genuine thanks.

Jiraiya's smile seemed to have widened. Without turning to me, he placed his hand on top of my hair.

"By the way, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato received training from me for 3 years. If you return right now, you'd be the weakest."

"...3 years?"

3 years under Jiraiya himself—are those three stronger than me right now, even after accounting for what I'm fully capable of?

'...Weakest?'

Weakest, huh. Weaker than those three pricks... hell no.

I suddenly found myself even more motivated.

"2 weeks is enough for me."