Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Finally Found ❯ Welcome Home ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1 --- Welcome Home

“How long have I been out?” Naurto asked as he tried to sit up in his bed. After waking up so many times in the same place he knew exactly where he was.

“You've been in here for 4 days. Why did you go after him again?” Jiraya was sitting on the window sill looking out at Konoha. He had been there all morning.

In extreme pain, Naruto was having trouble sitting up in his bed and just laid back. “I have to. I promised Sakura-chan I would bring Sasuke back. I promised her.” Naruto was staring at the ceiling.

Jiraya was still staring out the window. “Naruto, what do you want in life?” Although Naruto couldn't see him, Jiraya's eyes were closed in quiet thought. Caught completely off guard Naruto continued to stare at the ceiling, the pain in both his arms and legs increasing.

“What… what do you mean, Ero-sennin?” Something caught his attention and he turned his head to the side. The sun from the window had reflected off of a small glass vase with a day-old lily inside of it.

“Naruto, I need you to pretend you're still asleep, and don't wake up no matter what you hear.” Naruto started to ask why, but without looking at him, “shut up,” was all Jiraya said. Naruto could hear footsteps coming and not wanting to explain to anyone that his 3rd attempt to bring Sasuke back was a complete failure just yet, he quietly complied.

Just as Naruto shut his eyes he heard a knock at the door and it quietly creaked open. “Hello, Hinata,” Jiraya spoke without looking at the new visitor.

“Oh… um, hello, Jiraya-sama.” Her eyes quickly shot from Jiraya's to Naruto to the floor. “ I… I came… to… to check on Na… Naruto-kun.” Her face grew red and she held a fresh lily in both hands close to her chest.

“He's still not awake Hinata, but I'm sure it won't be too much longer.” He turned from the window to her. “I'm sure he'll be thankful to know that you've come to visit and I'll tell him that the flowers are from you.” Hinata's red face turned a fierce shade of violet. She walked to the vase with her face down and replaced the day-old lily with the new one she held in her hands

“Thank you, Jiraya-sama,” Hinata muttered as she walked very fast out of the room without a further glance at either of them. With Hinata safely out of earshot Naruto dropped the façade and turned his head again to look at the new lily by his bedside. Jiraya also put his gaze on the lily.

“Why did you want to me to pretend to be asleep, Ero-sennin? And why did Hinata bring me a flower?” His face scrunched up as he tried to figure out the answers to his own questions.

“Naruto,” Jiraya repeated, “what do you want in life?”

Naruto's eyes opened wide as he said the first thing that came to mind, “I want to save Sasuke, and kill those damned Akatsuki.”

“Really? So in order to accomplish that what do you need to do?” Jiraya's gaze went back out the window.

“I need to train and become stronger. I need to be much stronger.” The images of his recent defeat at Sasuke's hands flew threw his mind. “LET'S TRAIN NOW, ERO-SENNIN! I'M READY!” He tried to sit up again but the pain was too much. He surrendered back to his old laying position. “Ok, maybe tomorrow.”

Jiraya let out a little laugh and continued on, “is there anything else you want? A dream maybe?” How could Naruto have not said it? Naurto had said it so many times that he was almost tired of hearing it, but he needed Naruto to understand.

“What? OH! I want to become Hokage. NO! I AM GOING TO BECOME HOKAGE!”

-- That sure did take him a while…

Jiraya was glad Naruto was taking the bait. He took the lily from the vase and held it outstretched in front of his face. Although he was sure Naruto would follow his train of thought he was doubtful that Naruto would fully understand. “And why is that, Naruto?”

Naruto thought for a second, “Because I want to prove to everyone that I am the best ninja in the leaf. I want to be acknowledged and loved by everyone in the village.” Jiraya turned on the window sill and faced Naruto, still with the lily in his hand.

-- Perfect…

“Is there anyone that acknowledges you now Naruto? Anyone who loves you?” Naruto thought about everyone he knew. Of course he had friends like Sakura-chan, Lee-san, and Kakashi-sensei and he always thought that they might acknowledge his skills if even only a little. They did cheer him on during the Chunnin exam and Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan have seen him grow in skill. But love him?

“What does it matter right now?” Naruto asked, clearly angered that he couldn't answer the questions. Jiraya frowned at the lily, Naruto clearly did not understand.

Jiraya's eyes met Naruto's for a second before returning to the lily. “Because there is more to life than dreams Naruto. It's great to have them and I do hope that you bring back Sasuke and one day become Hokage kid, I do, and I've promised myself I'd help you fulfill those dreams.” Naruto was surprised by this. Jiraya always laughed about his dream to become Hokage. “But, that cannot consume your entire life. If this last mission has taught you anything it should be to enjoy the time you have now because it may come to a sudden, unexpected end.” Naruto's eyes reverted back to the ceiling as he tried to understand Jiraya's words, but something hit Naruto. Why didn't Sasuke kill him?

“Naruto, I believe that you are really lucky that Sasuke did not kill you. If you want to go after him again I will train you even harder and I promise to make you stronger; but as for your other dream.” Jiraya's eyes became almost sad. “Before you try to gain the love of the entire village, why don't you accept the love of someone who already acknowledges and loves you?” Naruto looked back at Jiraya who had not taken his gaze off of the lily in his hand.

“What are you talking about, Ero-sennin?” Jiraya was right about Naruto not understanding. He put the lily back in the vase and started to walk to the door. (What a shame.) “Maybe some day you'll understand it Naruto. Until then I guess we can stick with training to make you stronger. But try to think about what I said. I'll be back soon.” Jiraya left Naruto alone in his room.

Naruto tried to understand Jiraya's words but he just couldn't. The vase caught his eye again and he looked at the single lily. Why had Hinata brought that for him? The thought quickly left his mind.

 

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