Chapter 17

I arrived at the training ground in the morning. This time I wore my favorite black coat. "Ebisu can suck a lemon if he doesn't like it." It wasn't like I was getting paid to be there. I leaned against a tree with my arms crossed to wait for Ebisu.

"I've gotten taller," I noted to myself. When I first found it in that wardrobe, it would reach my ankles. Now it was still ridiculously oversized but only reached below my knees. It still hid my face just fine though. "Maybe I should look into getting a proper Black Coat made?" I tried to estimate how much it would cost until I heard Ebisu flicker in next to me.

"Are you Haru?"

That was not Ebisu's voice.

I looked out from under my hood at the person who had just spoken to me. White hair, red haori, scroll poking from his back, and eerily early to be in Konoha, I knew who it was.

"Let me introduce myself! The legendary sage of Mount Myoboku, they call me the Toad Sage!" During his speech he had summoned a toad to stand on and made a majestic pose.

"Jiraiya-sama. Where is Naruto?" I asked without moving.

He suddenly because very serious as he dismissed his summon, scrutinizing the cloaked figure in front of him as he spoke, "Why do you think I would know where Naruto is?"

"I haven't seen him in two days. He disappears and suddenly the legendary Toad Sage introduces himself to me? Are you telling me that you aren't here because of Naruto?"

"Actually, I'm here for you, Haru," he admitted in a friendly voice. "You're lucky I was in town. Your teacher told me that you wanted to learn the Shadow Clone Technique but was having some problems with the hand seals. And he mentioned that you were working on a very interesting technique that I wanted to see." Jiraiya's painted face looked as kind and inviting as ever, but I knew there was a keen mind behind those eyes.

I felt like a member of Akatsuki in a standoff with the Sennin. I pulled back my hood and continued to stare at him. "What kind of technique did Ebisu describe?"

Jiraiya's friendly face grew a little more menacing, like a cat that was playing with its mouse before the meal. "Let's not play dumb. I'm a busy man. You should appreciate the fact I took the time off to help you."

Resentfully, I brought my hands up, summoning my mini-Rasengans between three clawed fingers in each hand. They shook violently as they threatened to dissipate. I already knew that I hadn't perfected the sphere shape or reinforced the chakra enough.

With ice in his voice, Jiraiya growled, "Who taught you this?"

"I learned it from you."

"I can see the future."

"Is it so weird to copy the Fourth's techniques?"

"I just figured it out on my own."

"I have dreams about the Silver Millenium."

"The Kyubi taught me."

So many lies. Too many lies.

"No one taught me."

Suddenly, I found myself on the ground, staring up at Jiraiya's intense glare. The large man was holding me to the ground and pressing a kunai to my throat. "I don't like repeating myself. How do you know the Rasengan?"

Shamefully, I admitted, "I don't know. I really don't know." "And I really wish I knew."

He stared at me, obviously not liking the answer.

"Let the boy go, Jiraiya," commanded a grizzled old voice.

"Tsch." Jiraiya stabbed the kunai down into the ground next to my head. "Stay away from Naruto," he warned threateningly. He flickered to the side of the Hokage in an instant. Cautiously, I rose to my feet. I think this was the first time I ever felt such deep shame in this life. And I didn't really even understand why.

"I had the head of the intelligence division verify that he is just a child," Sarutobi reassured Jiraiya. "Haru is not being manipulated by anyone. He merely has a strong intelligence and overactive imagination."

My eyes widened. "Inoichi? When did he...?"

"Even so, I can't stand this kid. He reminds me too much of someone I know. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Find someone else to teach him," Jiraiya spat out, not caring whether I heard him.

"Haru-kun, I have something for you." Sarutobi walked up to me and handed me a thin, manila folder. "I am sorry I could only find so much about your parents." I took it wordlessly. The Hokage turned back to Jiraiya and asked, "You are leaving then?"

With as much respect as he could muster at the moment, Jiraiya responded, "I've checked over the seal. But it'll still be a while before I know for sure if everything is fine. I'll have him back to you in time for the academy." With a bow, he flickered away in a puff of smoke.

"Wait, he's taking Naruto? Why is he taking Naruto?" I asked Hiruzen, unable to comprehend the situation.

The Hokage spoke in his gruff voice, "Well, since you made it clear that the Nine-Tails was able to communicate with others, I had Jiraiya inspect the seal. He said that everything was fine but wanted to take Naruto with him for a while to be sure."

"But I haven't taught Naruto the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu yet. And..."

I was almost four. That meant the academy was two years away. I wouldn't see Naruto for the next two years. "I never got the chance to say goodbye." As I stood helplessly in the training ground, the mysterious shame from earlier burned in my eyes. I pulled my hood over my face and waited for the feeling to pass. By the time it did, the Hokage had already left and I was alone.