In The Leaves | A 'Naruto' fan story | SasuNaru

Loss of parental love

"The fifth Hokage summoned you." Kakashi-senpai said to Naruto, who was laying on his bed recovering from his mission.

Naruto didn't question it and got up to get changed, and left his home to walk with Kakashi to the Hokage.

As they walked, Naruto mused about Sasuke.

~

"Thanks for bringing Naruto, Kakashi." Lord Tsunade said, the air around the room was heavy and thick. As if someone could cut it with a chakra blade.

"What's going on?" Naruto eyed the toads. "Why are they here?"

"Naruto-" Tsunade was interrupted by the eldest toad.

"I'll tell the boy," the toad looks at Naruto. "You are Jiraiya's student, correct?"

"Yeah..." Naruto responded, feeling a bit uncomfortable from the vibe in the room.

"Then i'll tell you straight out...Jiraiya was killed."

Naruto felt as if time had stopped and the world stopped moving. "W-What did you say?"

~

Naruto had completely pushed away his thoughts about Sasuke, and was musing in thought about his teacher, Jiraiya.

Pervy Sage wasn't just a sensei to him nor an old man with a creepy thing for peering on young ladies. He gave Naruto a sense of grandpa love, parental love-he filled the empty void Naruto subconsciously kept empty without realizing.

Naruto always respected Pervy Sage for his skills and strength, he never doubted him once, or thought of him as weak.

The bond he made with Jiraiya was genuine and true, anybody with eyes could see that Naruto took Jiraiya's lessons and words to heart.

The skills Naruto perfected today is thanked by Jiraiya, the Rasengan, beta reading-although it wasn't training Naruto still did it for Jiraiya so he could train him, and many more things that anyone wouldn't believe Naruto did.

"Pervy Sage..." Naruto muttered, tears streamed down his face.

He held a blue popsicle that reminded him of the time Jiraiya shared one with him years ago, he let the popsicle melt to the ground, and went absentminded about all the adventures he did with Jiraiya.

He wished he called him 'Grandpa Sage' at least once. Because that would've showed Jiraiya that Naruto thinks of him like family.

"Naruto?" A voice interrupted Naruto's thoughts.

Naruto looked up to see Iruka-sensei. "Yes sensei?"

Iruka sat next to Naruto. "What happened?"

Naruto looked at Iruka-sensei and shook his head, his sobs becoming more audible. "P-P-Pervy S-Sage...he's d-dead."

Iruka looked down to the ground. "I'm sorry, Naruto, he was a strong shinobi with a legendary story that will live on."

"Iruka-sensei..." Naruto looks at him, his tears blurring his vision. "H-He didn't live long enough to see my wish come true. To see my dream come true."

"What was your wish and dream, Naruto?"

"To marry Sasuke and to be Hokage."

Iruka went silent for a few seconds before smiling, he grabbed the melting popsicle from Naruto's hands to break it in two. He handed one back to Naruto and places one hand on Naruto shoulder. "I believe he is living amongst us, in our hearts, and is watching us in the sky right now. His soul did not die. And you know what...he told me something."

"W-What did he tell you?"

"That if he ever couldn't make it to see something incredible happen in your life, then I could step up to the role for him because he believes I can do what he can't just fine."

Naruto looked at Iruka-sensei, who was still smiling, and realized that Iruka never judged him for being himself. Yeah he scolded him for acting bad, but he never blamed him for being a vessel.

And till this day, Naruto viewed him like a father, a father that gives the son what he needs in his life to survive-support.

"He really trusts you, huh?" Naruto sniffs.

"Seems like it."

Naruto manages to smile a little but it quickly dropped. "Hm."

Iruka-sensei stood up and sighs. "I bet he left something for you, he wouldn't die without thinking of you one last time."

"I guess..."

Iruka-sensei walked away after a while, and Naruto walked home after sitting there for a few more minutes.

His mind couldn't wrap around the fact that Jiraiya was dead.

His sensei, his grandpa figure was dead.