Naruto listened from the side for a while, then let out a yawn.
"Pervy Sage, what are you guys talking about? I don't understand it at all."
"It's only natural that you don't understand," Jiraiya replied without looking back. "This is a conversation for adults."
Naruto rolled his eyes.
He stood up, walked to the riverbank, and began practicing walking on water again.
The sunlight was pleasant.
The river water was bright.
Nobunaga sat there, discussing matters regarding writing with Jiraiya.
He recalled his original plan.
To let Jiraiya take the blame. To let him take the heat. To let him face Mei Terumī.
But now—
He looked at Jiraiya's serious face.
"What's wrong?" Jiraiya noticed his gaze. "Is there a problem?"
Nobunaga shook his head.
"Nothing."
Jiraiya smiled and continued looking down at the manuscript.
Nobunaga withdrew his gaze.
The sunlight fell on his body, feeling warm and cozy.
In the distance, Naruto was walking unsteadily on the river surface, shouting, "Pervy Sage, look at me!"
Everything was fine.
Except somewhere in his heart, it felt a bit soft.
...
Naruto walked back and forth on the water a few more times, finally jumping back to the shore with satisfaction.
He shook the water off his feet and suddenly remembered something, slapping his forehead.
"Right! Pervy Sage, I want to go to the hospital later to see Lee and Sasuke!"
Jiraiya was looking down at Nobunaga's manuscript and gave an "Mm" without looking up.
Naruto looked at Nobunaga again.
"Nobunaga, do you want to come along?"
Nobunaga was stunned for a moment.
"To the hospital?"
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded. "I heard Lee's injuries are quite serious, and Sasuke is still in the ward. I want to go see them."
He scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Even though I don't usually get along with Sasuke, he's my teammate after all... and Lee, you know, he's an idiot, but he's a good guy."
Nobunaga looked at him.
The sunlight fell on Naruto's face, making his golden hair shine.
There was light in those blue eyes, a very pure and direct light.
"Okay," he said.
Naruto grinned.
"Then let's go!"
He turned around, ready to run.
"Wait."
Jiraiya's voice came from behind.
The two stopped and looked back.
Jiraiya stood up and walked over to Nobunaga.
He looked at Nobunaga, and there was light in his eyes—a deep light.
"Kid," he said, "what name are you using to write your book?"
Nobunaga was stunned for a moment.
"Name?"
"A pen name," Jiraiya said. "I use a pen name for 'icha icha paradise,' not my real name. You should have one too, right?"
"Pen name..." Nobunaga murmured.
He thought of many things.
The first simulation. Fifteen years in the Hidden Mist Village. The girl standing in the rain calling his name.
The second simulation. Twenty years in the Hidden Sand Village. The children he watched grow up, the people who fell one by one.
"Kage," he said.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"Kage?"
"Yeah," Nobunaga nodded. "Just call it Kage."
Jiraiya looked at him.
There was light flickering in his eyes.
"Kage..." he repeated. "This word is quite heavy."
Nobunaga didn't speak.
Heavy?
Maybe.
During the first simulation, he only watched Mei Terumī carry the burden.
Watching her go from an isolated little girl to becoming the Mizukage step by step.
Watching her shoulder the entire Village, the expectations of those who had died.
Back then, he didn't understand. He just felt that she had suddenly changed, become different.
In the second simulation, it was his turn to carry the burden.
Twenty years in the Hidden Sand Village. The children he watched grow up. The people he promised to protect.
When Kankuro died, he was far away. He could only watch, unable to do anything.
When Gaara died, he was still far away. He could still only watch, unable to do anything.
When Sasori died, he was also far away. He could still only watch, unable to do anything.
He carried that promise, the expectations of those people, and the title of 'Kazekage.'
But he still couldn't protect everyone.
This is what a 'Kage' is.
Entrusted with the beautiful hopes of the entire Village, carrying everything.
Jiraiya looked at him.
"Kid," he said, "have you been through something?"
Nobunaga looked up.
In Jiraiya's eyes, there was light.
It wasn't scrutiny or curiosity; it was a kind of... understanding.
"No," Nobunaga said.
Jiraiya smiled.
"Fine, if you say no, then no." He patted Nobunaga's shoulder. "The pen name 'Kage' is not bad. Quite cool."
Nobunaga didn't speak.
Jiraiya withdrew his hand and looked at Naruto.
"Aren't you going to the hospital? Get going, don't dawdle."
Naruto gave an "Oh" and turned to run.
After a few steps, he turned and shouted, "Nobunaga, catch up!"
Nobunaga nodded.
He glanced at Jiraiya.
The white-haired man stood there, the sunlight falling on him, making his whole person shine.
"Master Jiraiya."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment.
Then he laughed. He laughed very happily.
"Go on," he waved his hand. "Remember to write the third chapter."
Nobunaga turned and followed Naruto.
Sunlight fell on the two of them.
After running a distance, Naruto suddenly slowed down.
"Nobunaga."
"Hm?"
"That 'Kage' you just mentioned," Naruto scratched his head, "what does it mean? It couldn't be Hokage, could it?"
Nobunaga looked at him.
"It doesn't mean anything, and it's not Hokage."
"Liar," Naruto pouted. "It definitely means something. You had a weird expression when you said it just now."
Nobunaga didn't speak.
Naruto didn't press further.
He just said, "Anyway, Pervy Sage is right, it's pretty cool."
Then he continued running forward.
Nobunaga followed.
The houses on both sides of the street receded rapidly. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, falling on the two of them in a mottled pattern.
In the distance, the white building of the hospital drew closer.
On the way, they met Shikamaru.
The young man walked slowly with his hands in his pockets, as if taking a stroll. Seeing Naruto and Nobunaga, he lifted his eyelids.
"Yo."
Naruto stopped.
"Shikamaru? You're going to the hospital too?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru nodded. "To see Lee. That guy... he's in pretty bad shape."
He spoke nonchalantly, but Nobunaga noticed his brow was slightly furrowed.
The three walked forward together.
Shikamaru glanced at Nobunaga.
"You're going too?"
Nobunaga nodded.
Shikamaru didn't say anything more.
He was always a man of few words. Or rather, he was too lazy to talk about things he found troublesome.
The white hospital building loomed closer.
As they walked in, the smell of disinfectant hit them.
The corridor was very quiet, with the occasional nurse pushing a cart past, the wheels making a slight squeaking sound on the floor.
Shikamaru walked in front, clearly having been there a few times already.
"Lee is on the third floor," he said.
The three went upstairs.