Chapter 81: Naruto’s First Encounter with Jiraiya

The next day—

At Naruto's exclusive training grounds—

"What!?"

"You want me to train on my own!?"

Naruto glared angrily at Kakashi, standing before him.

He had been waiting at the training grounds all morning, hoping to see Sasuke and Sakura, but neither showed up. By noon, only Kakashi had arrived.

The silver-haired teacher nonchalantly informed him that Sasuke was off for special training, while Sakura had gone to Konoha Hospital to train in medical ninjutsu.

"Yeah…"

"You've always trained alone before, haven't you?"

Naruto gritted his teeth, clearly unhappy with Kakashi.

Technically, Kakashi wasn't wrong, but still… the blatant favoritism was getting under his skin.

And he knew exactly why Kakashi was so focused on Sasuke—it was because of Obito…

The thought only made Naruto angrier. He mentally added another reason to the long list of why he wanted to deal with Obito once and for all.

"Don't worry."

"Someone will come to train with you."

Kakashi gave his usual deadpan look, though Naruto noticed a brief flicker of recognition in his eyes as if he were recalling someone.

"Oh, right…"

"Naruto, do you still have any of those special meat patties from last time? You know, the ones that supposedly make you dream of the dead?"

Naruto: ???

Was it possible…?

Was Kakashi suggesting that the last time he ate that meat patty, he had momentarily died and thus ended up in the Pure Land, where he saw the deceased?

Naruto's face twisted into an expression of disbelief.

But, wanting to humor his beloved sensei, he pulled out a rainbow-colored meat patty and thoughtfully handed over an immortal totem alongside it.

Kakashi's face lit up upon seeing the colorful meat, but then he went stiff when Naruto presented the totem.

"Naruto, what's this for…?"

"Kakashi-sensei, if you want to see the dead, you need to hold onto this statue while you eat the meat patty."

"How does that even make sense?!"

Naruto explained his absurd logic with a serious face, somehow convincing Kakashi.

But really—why did this totem have so many uses? It could be a weapon, and now it supposedly helped people meet the dead? Even Kakashi seemed at a loss for words.

"Um… maybe the spirits of the dead are attracted by the statue?"

"Don't ask so many questions. Just follow the steps. Trust me, you'll see the dead."

Naruto wasn't even bothering with a proper explanation anymore. He simply made it clear to Kakashi that if he wanted results, he had to follow the instructions.

After a brief pause, Kakashi—against his better judgment—decided to go along with Naruto's outrageous suggestion. He had, after all, seen his father last time…

Clutching the statue and tucking the meat patty into his cloak, Kakashi left, full of anticipation.

Naruto watched him go, his expression slowly morphing into one of sympathy. He made a small cross over his chest and gave a silent prayer.

Kakashi-sensei, I forgive you.

Still, despite the amusement of the situation, Naruto couldn't help but feel a little miffed at Kakashi's blatant favoritism towards Sasuke—likely because of Obito.

Fine, if that's how it is… Maybe it's time to visit Obito's grave and settle a score or two.

Naruto grinned, opened a space-time portal, and arrived at Uchiha Obito's gravesite.

The first thing that greeted him was a row of neatly arranged headstones.

This was the Konoha cemetery, where all the village's fallen heroes were laid to rest.

Naruto couldn't help but scoff.

In his eyes, Obito was long dead. The cheerful boy who once smiled in photos had perished under the rocks, alongside Kakashi's guilt.

What remained was merely a shadow—a tool used by a certain long-haired, spiky-headed man behind the scenes.

Naruto glanced at Obito's headstone. A smiling picture of the boy from years ago was affixed to it, and in front of the grave were fresh fruits, skewered dumplings, and flowers.

Next to Obito's grave was one for Nohara Rin, also adorned with fresh flowers and offerings.

From the dewdrops on the petals, Naruto surmised that these were placed recently, likely by Kakashi.

Both graves were much cleaner than the others in the vicinity.

Kakashi-sensei, do you visit here every day?

Naruto was starting to piece things together. Kakashi's perpetual single status… Could it really be because of Obito?

Naruto glanced around cautiously, ensuring no one was watching. Then, with a nonchalant shrug, he sat down by Obito's grave.

He grabbed an apple from the offerings, wiped it on his shirt, and took a big bite—imagining it was Obito's smug face.

After finishing off the fruit, Naruto's gaze landed on the vase of flowers. His eyes twinkled with mischief.

Making sure no one was around, he stepped up to the vase, undid his pants, and…

"Well, these flowers could use some extra nourishment," he thought, snickering to himself.

He even made sure to aim, though he still managed to make a bit of a mess.

"Huh?"

"Am I eating too much spicy food lately?"

With a final shake, Naruto was done with his impromptu gardening. It wasn't malicious—he just figured the flowers might live a few days longer this way.

"Hey! You there, brat! What do you think you're doing?!"

A voice suddenly boomed from behind him.

Naruto, startled, hastily pulled up his pants and prepared to bolt. He opened a space-time portal and took a step toward it before pausing.

Wait… What am I afraid of?

Who in Konoha could possibly cause him any trouble?

Realizing his own fearlessness, Naruto turned around, hands on his hips, and confidently faced the newcomer.

It was an older man with spiky white hair, wearing geta sandals that clicked with each step. A forehead protector with the kanji for "oil" was prominently displayed.

Even without any further hints, Naruto knew exactly who this old man was.

It was none other than Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin.

And amusingly enough, Jiraiya was holding an apple in his hand.

What the hell?! This old guy's also here stealing offerings!?

"Hey, brat!"

"What on earth do you think you're doing, desecrating a hero's grave like that? Don't you have any respect for the dead?"

Jiraiya's voice was full of righteous indignation… while he took a big bite out of his apple.

Naruto: …

"Hey, old man…"

"Maybe you should put down that offering before lecturing me."

This was definitely not how Naruto had ever imagined meeting Jiraiya. Not in a million years did he think their first encounter would be at a graveyard, stealing food from the dead.

"That's not important!"

"Offerings are just a way for the living to express their grief and remembrance for the departed… Better to eat them than let them rot, right?"

"Wait… What did you just call me?!"

Jiraiya had been waxing poetic about the meaning of offerings when he suddenly realized what Naruto had said.

"White-haired old man."

In case Jiraiya hadn't heard clearly, Naruto slowed down his speech and enunciated every syllable.

A vein bulged on Jiraiya's forehead. His fists clenched.

"You listen here, brat…"

"I am—"

Jiraiya had barely begun his introduction when Naruto turned and started walking away, completely uninterested in hearing more.

Jiraiya's expression froze mid-sentence, his face contorted in disbelief.

He had traveled all over the world, but never had he encountered a brat as rude as this one!

"Hold it right there!"

"Do you really want the Hokage to find out what you've done here?"

Naruto didn't even slow down, his steps growing faster as he walked away.

Jiraiya, enraged by being ignored, charged forward, ready to give Naruto a piece of his mind—and maybe a good beating, too.

This brat! Can't he at least let me finish my sentence?!

As the two ran out of the cemetery, a space distorted near Rin's grave, and a masked figure—Obito—emerged.

In his hand, he held a bouquet of flowers. He glanced at Rin's photo before kneeling to place the bouquet in front of her grave.

Before Obito could speak, his attention was drawn to the flower vase near his own grave.

"That idiot Kakashi…"

Obito gritted his teeth, disgusted that Kakashi would bring flowers to his grave.

He killed Rin with his own hands, and now he has the audacity to visit?

Annoyed, Obito strode over to his own grave, grabbed the flower vase, and tossed it aside in disdain.

As he shook the remaining droplets off his hands, he noticed a strange smell.

"Hm?"

"What's this stench…?"

He sniffed his hand again, his face contorting with rage.

"Is this…?!"

Throwing off his mask, Obito stomped on it in a fit of anger.

"Kakashi!!! What the hell have you done now!?!"