NaruHina: Duty

Chapter 4: The Toad and the Fox

The long-awaited summons finally came the next day, early next morning when the toad assigned to pick them up rushed in breathlessly and with an apology for Jiraiya.

"Gamataro!" Jiraiya exclaimed. "Finally! Took you long enough to find us!"

Naruto peeked at the toad who was still bowing apologetically to his godfather.

Gamataro suddenly stopped speaking and glanced at Naruto with curiosity.

Jiraiya introduced them. "Naruto, this is Gamataro from Mount Myouboku. He's going to help us get to our destination quickly."

"Hello," Naruto said, eyes wide as saucers as he looked at the mystical creature.

"Naruto, nice to meet you!" Gamataro said with a bow. Then he turned to Jiraiya. "We can all chitchat when we get to our destination. I'm sorry again for being late, but we have to go now. Are you guys ready?"

"Ready for what?" Naruto asked as he looked at Jiraiya, too.

Jiraiya ignored the question but grabbed Naruto's hand and held it as Gamataro made his hand seals. The two humans disappeared in a puff of smoke.

The next thing Naruto knew, he was staring at a mountain that towered over giant mushrooms and colorful toadstools. There was a waterfall rushing a few yards away from where he and Jiraiya stood. He could hear frogs croaking and birds chirping in the background. Dense vegetation crowded his senses, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. In fact, the air felt light and crisp, filling his lungs with a kind of calmness when he breathed it in.

Gamataro suddenly appeared with a bang and smoke shimmered over him. When the haze cleared, Naruto clearly saw that behind the summoner were giant stone carvings of what looked like...toads.

He tugged at Jiraiya's hand and pointed with his other at the stone creatures, their faces frozen in grotesque expressions of fear and pain. "Jiraiya," he whispered. "What are those?"

"Hm?" Jiraiya said as he looked at what Naruto was pointing at. He grinned at him. "Oh, those are just the bad toads who didn't listen and they had to be punished."

Naruto paled and took a closer step to Jiraiya. His grip on his godfather's hand tightened.

Jiraiya laughed and ruffled his blond hair. "Nah, just kidding, Naruto. Those are just toad statues."

Naruto nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay."

Gamataro was motioning for them to follow him so Jiraiya tugged at the little hand he still held and they all walked towards the Hall of the Great Toad Sage.

"Jiraiya-chan!" Fukasaku greeted with a wide smile. "He's waiting for you."

Naruto looked at the little toad with the faded green cloak and smiled.

"Naruto, this is Fukasaku, my own master. One of these days, when you're old enough to handle it, we'll teach you what you need to become even stronger."

Naruto beamed wider.

"But right now, we've got to go see the Great Toad Sage," Jiraiya said.

Fukasaku was nodding at him. "Oh, Naruto-boy. So tiny, compared to Jiraiya-chan."

They quickly walked into the hall where Naruto finally met the original Great Toad Sage. It was underwhelming, but he felt himself smiling at a strange creature lying in what looked like a giant, green, faded, dog cushion. The giant toad's eyes were closed. He looked like he was sleeping, but there was no snoring, though.