45.Looking For Me?

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"Save it! I'm not interested."

Hearing this, Jiraiya immediately showed a pleading expression: "Stop it, I was wrong, it was my fault for provoking you."

Naruto, who was eating ramen, just found the whole thing strange.

Glancing at the two odd people beside him, Naruto quickly finished his ramen, even drinking the last drop of soup. Satisfied, he patted his belly and cheerfully left.

After Naruto left, Jiraiya, red-faced and reeking of alcohol, looked dejected. It was clear his mood was very bad.

Despite his busy life, Jiraiya still cared a lot about the child of his disciple. But after asking around, he was disappointed with what he found out.

Naruto wasn't doing well.

The Third Hokage hadn't kept his promise to take good care of Naruto. Compared to the Third Hokage's own children, Naruto's situation wasn't much different from other orphans, perhaps even worse.

The only advantage Naruto had over other orphans was some level of protection and not lacking money as much. But having money was useless because the people of Konoha refused to sell anything to him.

Naruto's plight brought tears to even the eyes of the usually perverted and tough Jiraiya.

"Can we talk?"

Kazuki guessed that Jiraiya's tears had something to do with Naruto. However, these matters weren't his concern, and he was ready to head home to rest. Unexpectedly, Jiraiya wanted to chat.

After a moment's thought, Kazuki decided to sit down and be a spectator.

"Ramen's ready."

Teuchi placed the cooked ramen in front of Jiraiya, sighed, and closed the shop, leaving the place for the two of them.

"I'm starting."

With a grim smile, Jiraiya clapped his hands and began eating, speaking as he did:

"I never thought Naruto's life would be like this. Before Minato passed, the old man promised him he would take care of Naruto."

"I haven't been a good teacher. I left Konoha on my own and never came back to check on Naruto."

Kazuki listened quietly.

"The old man always told me Naruto was safe, living well, and very mischievous..."

Kazuki couldn't help but think: What a poor fool tricked by the Third Hokage.

Don't you know your teacher's personality?

While you were away, would he really tell you the truth?

If Jiraiya had known Naruto was living like this, he would have rushed back immediately. But the Third Hokage had fooled him for years.

That's pretty impressive. Kazuki admired the Third Hokage's ability to lie and deceive.

Disciple? Deceived without hesitation.

"I've been wondering what I've been doing all these years."

Jiraiya lost his appetite, put down his chopsticks, and seemed to mock himself for his ignorance and stupidity.

"Fortunately, Naruto is still growing up healthily, although a bit mischievous..."

This was the only comforting thought for Jiraiya.

Kazuki couldn't help but smirk and said:

"If living off expired milk, having to sneak into stores like a thief to buy things and being refused service everywhere is considered a good life, then yes, he's doing well."

"..."

Jiraiya's grim smile froze.

He hadn't had enough time to get all the details about Naruto's life. He thought things weren't too bad, but hearing Kazuki, he realized that Naruto's life was far from good.

"If he ever ate a proper meal like barbecue, he might swallow his tongue in joy."

"Lies and deception are always there; you just can't see them. Stop pretending; it's disgusting."

"..."

"Sorry, I accidentally spoke my mind."

Kazuki waved his hand, opened the door, and left, leaving Jiraiya standing there like a wooden statue, nailed in place.

So, the Third Hokage is great, huh? Always making promises he never keeps.

When people live with a mask for too long, they might find they've lost their face entirely.

Night.

The window of Naruto's house was pushed open, and Jiraiya looked around inside. The place was a mess, resembling a garbage heap, and he stood there in shock.

Naruto, exhausted from a day of mischief, was sound asleep, unaware that someone was in his house, standing by his bed and staring at him, filled with deep remorse.

Jiraiya sat by Naruto's bed all night.

The next morning, with bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep, Jiraiya went to the Hokage's office and bluntly said:

"I can go find Tsunade and do everything I can to persuade her to come back, but I want to take Naruto with me. From now on, I'll live with Naruto."

"No way!!!"

The Third Hokage's refusal was swift.

The first part of Jiraiya's statement pleased him, but the second part was unacceptable. The village had been through too much recently, and the exhausted Third Hokage didn't want to worry about Naruto anymore.

But after refusing, the Third Hokage froze. He had become accustomed to such refusals.

Looking at his teacher with disappointment, Jiraiya smiled bitterly:

"Teacher, I'm very disappointed in you. Don't you really know what kind of life Naruto is living?"

"But Naruto is the village's Jinchuriki; he can't leave Konoha easily."

The Third Hokage knew he had disappointed Jiraiya and tried to persuade him to abandon the idea. It was safer for Naruto to stay in the village.

Shaking his head, Jiraiya, who had given up, sighed: "Fine, then I'll stay in the village too, to accompany Naruto as he grows up. But you'll need to assign someone else to find Tsunade."

"Old man, Naruto is more important to me than anything else."

Jiraiya kept the thought to himself: If things can't be resolved, perhaps Danzo should be sent to the Daimyo for punishment. Saying that out loud would make the Third Hokage furious.

Unable to come to an agreement, Jiraiya chose to compromise.

This was the only way he could oppose the Third Hokage without causing a fallout. For Naruto and the village, he had to use soft threats.

The Third Hokage didn't relent but remained stern.

Knowing it wouldn't be easy, Jiraiya didn't force the issue. He left the Hokage's office decisively and went to the market, buying new furniture, clothes, and household items for Naruto's house.

Whether or not the Third Hokage agreed to let him take Naruto, Jiraiya needed to do something to make up for the years of neglect.

He intended to repay the debt he, his teacher, and the village owed Naruto.

"Captain, the perverted guy from yesterday is looking for you."

Izumi opened the office door and called out.

"The perverted guy?"

Kazuki was puzzled. A pervert... could it be Jiraiya? Why would he be looking for him?