Kakashi stepped out of the Hokage's office, his mind adrift with tangled thoughts. It wasn't the Third Hokage's authority that surprised him—Kakashi was well aware of Hiruzen Sarutobi's weight in the village—but it was something the old man said that lingered in his head, leaving a subtle unease.
Still, Kakashi didn't want to dwell too long. Right now, strengthening himself remained the top priority.
Today marked the return of both Jiraiya and Orochimaru to the village. At this time, Orochimaru had not yet defected, though Kakashi recalled that day wasn't far off. His instincts were rarely wrong.
Jiraiya was a figure Kakashi had deeply admired in his past life—an icon, not only in Konoha but among Naruto fans worldwide. His death later in the timeline had shaken the entire fan community. The weight of that loss underscored the depth of affection people held for him.
Whether it was because of the original Kakashi's admiration for Jiraiya, or his own residual affection from his former life, Kakashi felt compelled to meet the man—a ninja who had walked the path of the shinobi with conviction until the very end.
With his chakra-controlled steps, Kakashi vanished from the spot, darting across rooftops with practiced grace. He didn't stop until he arrived at the entrance of Jiraiya's residence.
Though Jiraiya had been away from Konoha since the end of the Third Shinobi War, no one had dared touch his house. Naturally—who would dare tamper with the property of one of the legendary Sannin?
Jiraiya had returned this time due to Minato's death. It was a rare show of sentiment, a quiet act of mourning for his most promising student. Kakashi could only imagine what the Toad Sage must be feeling—Minato had been more than a pupil; he'd been a successor, a legacy.
But adulthood had taught Jiraiya to mask his grief. Where sorrow once lived, cynicism now wore the mask.
When Kakashi arrived, Jiraiya was seated by the window, leafing through a familiar orange book with a smirk on his face.
"Jiraiya-sama!" Kakashi called from the tree branch outside the window.
Jiraiya glanced up briefly, then returned his gaze to the book. "Oh, Kakashi. What brings you here today? Aren't you still with the ANBU? I thought you'd be drowning in missions."
"I just wrapped up one. I've got a few days off."
"Hmm? Then you're not here just for a chat, are you? You want something from this gallant sage?" Jiraiya chuckled.
"I want to ask you about Minato-sensei."
Kakashi ignored the banter and got straight to the point.
At the mention of Minato's name, Jiraiya grew visibly serious. He closed the book, laid it aside, and locked eyes with Kakashi.
"Minato, huh? What do you want to know?"
"Jiraiya-sama… Minato-sensei gave everything to protect Konoha. But look at how his son's being treated… Do you think it was worth it?"
Jiraiya's expression darkened as he scrutinized Kakashi. A heavy pressure washed over the younger ninja. For a moment, Kakashi felt as though he needed to draw his blade to breathe.
But just as quickly, the moment passed. Jiraiya softened, exhaled slowly, and spoke.
"Minato died to save the village. He's a hero, no question. But the way the village has treated Naruto… yeah, it's shameful. Still, this was the path Minato chose. You want to know why he made Naruto the jinchūriki, don't you?"
"Wasn't it because of his Uzumaki lineage?" Kakashi asked, recalling the resilience of that bloodline.
"That was part of it. But Minato believed in Naruto. He saw in him the potential to carry on his will—to complete what he himself couldn't. The Nine-Tails wasn't just sealed inside Naruto for containment—it was his legacy, a test and a gift."
"A test?" Kakashi frowned.
"Only those who've seen true darkness can understand what it means to seek the light. And only someone who's felt pain can truly heal the pain of others."
"But it's too cruel," Kakashi said. "What if Naruto had broken under it all? Did Minato not fear that?"
"Minato believed in his son, Kakashi. Not because of fate, not because of prophecy—just because he was his son. That was enough."
Kakashi gave a bitter smile. "To entrust so much to a child… I can't tell if that's noble or irresponsible."
He knew Naruto's future, but the present still gnawed at him. Even now, the boy faced prejudice and isolation. The villagers feared and resented him, and those who were supposed to care for him barely offered warmth. If not for the ANBU watching from the shadows, Naruto might not have made it this far.
"Don't worry," Jiraiya said, his grin returning. "The Third's still looking out for him. Naruto won't fall to the dark."
"I hope you're right."
Kakashi hadn't asked to criticize, only to make sense of the pain Naruto was forced to bear. He couldn't shake the image of that lonely little boy, reviled for something he never chose.
"Kakashi, you've changed," Jiraiya said suddenly.
Kakashi's chest tightened. The words caught him off guard. Did his transformation really show that clearly? The Third, Guy, and now Jiraiya—all had noticed something was different.
"You never used to ask questions like this," Jiraiya continued. "You kept everything buried. Now, you're starting to care. You're stepping out of the shadows."
Kakashi remained silent. After all, he wasn't the original Kakashi. Though he'd inherited the memories and feelings, he was still someone else. Perhaps that was why his "darkness" didn't run as deep. And perhaps that was why others sensed the shift.
"You're becoming more like Sakumo's son," Jiraiya added, his gaze shifting to the blade on Kakashi's back. "That's his White Fang sword technique, isn't it?"
"Yes. I intend to make his sword style shine again in the shinobi world."
"Good. That's very good." Jiraiya smiled, the nostalgia flickering in his eyes. "Sakumo would be proud. You've come a long way. I'll teach you a technique today."
"A technique?" Kakashi blinked in surprise.
"Yeah. You've got strong offense, but your defense is lacking. I'll teach you a jutsu called Needle Jizō. It uses your hair as a shield. Very handy in close calls."
"Thank you, Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi replied, his gratitude sincere. Defensive ninjutsu like that would definitely fill a gap in his repertoire.
"No need to thank me. You were Minato's student—that makes you like my grand-student. Passing on a little knowledge is the least I can do," Jiraiya said, the trademark grin back on his face.