Overcoming the Odds.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Much Needed Talks.

"You heard that too?"

"Well?" Jiraiya asked seemingly interested in what he had to say, but no response came from the boy beside him. "Oh come on," he nudged him in the shoulder, "You can tell me."

The boy, however, was in turmoil. 'Should I?' He pondered. On one hand, there was a part of him that leaped at the thought of telling someone his troubles and sharing his burdens, but on the other hand there lay a feeling of dread that his admission would be held against him. What would his master think of his situation?

A silence ensued among the pair as Naruto's thoughts rained on.

The cool night air tousled their hair before leaving a soothing and calm atmosphere they could bathe in, and after some time, the blonde sighed in conclusion that he had nothing to lose.

"Yeah," he admitted in a small voice.

A second passed before the man next to him spoke. "No kidding?" He asked in an almost disbelieving tone. "My pupil's got a girl with the hots for him?"

Naruto blushed slightly at the choice of words. "I guess so."

Jiraiya's eyes sparkled and a rush of pride for his apprentice filled his senses. He gave his student a big pat on the back and a profound grin that only served to creep out the male next to him.

"Haha! I knew all those lessons on women would come in handy one day!" He exclaimed while hooking his arm over Naruto's neck once more.

"You found yourself a girl..." He continued in a dreamy voice. "Finally all my hard work has paid off, that's all I've ever wanted you know."

He was mostly talking to himself by now, and had dramatic animated tears of happiness streaming down his face.

Naruto gave the older man a confused look at how easily he seemed to forget such a significant detail in his story. "She's locked up, remember?"

Jiraiya's comical behavior visibly vanished and turned more appropriate and serious. He recollected himself and cleared his throat.

"Right," he muttered while resting back against the tree and looking at the illuminated forest in front of him. "How did you guys meet then?"

Naruto thought back to the day when he first got to know the redheaded girl. "At her cell. They allow visitors, so I went to see her one time." The wind picked up slightly and blew at their hair. "Next thing I knew we were seeing each other more and more."

The older man made a humming sound and reflected on what his apprentice just told him. "Jail huh? Tough stuff. But how did that happen anyway?"

Naruto fiddled with the zipper on his jacket.

"She... She did some bad things," he admitted. He wasn't in any mood to provide broader details.

"Not too bad, right?" Jiraiya asked.

Feeling somewhat truthful, he replied with a simple no, which earned another 'hm' from his master.