A Strange New Life || Isekai'd Reader To Naruto World

Shattered Tears

[Third Person's POV]

A sharp knock on the door startled (Y/n) awake. Blinking groggily, she sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes. The early morning light seeped through her window, casting a warm glow, but something felt… off. A strange unease settled in her chest.

"(Y/n)," Kakashi’s voice called from outside. "Tsunade-sama has summoned you and Naruto. Get ready."

Naruto? Summoned? A mission briefing, maybe? But the way Kakashi spoke—low, almost reluctant—made her stomach twist. She quickly got dressed and headed toward the Hokage’s office, catching sight of Naruto ahead.

"Oi, Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto jogged beside their teacher, his usual energy present, but there was a furrow between his brows. "Why’s Baa-chan calling us so early? And what’s with the toads?"

(Y/n) followed his gaze and froze. Gamabunta and Gamakichi sat near the Hokage’s office entrance, their expressions uncharacteristically grim. That feeling in her chest grew heavier.

Something is wrong.

The moment they stepped inside, the air felt suffocating. Tsunade stood by her desk, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Beside her was Fukasaku, the small but wise sage toad, his usual vibrant energy subdued.

Naruto frowned. "Oi, old man, what’s with that face? And why are you callin’ Pervy Sage a ‘boy’—"

"Naruto," Fukasaku interrupted, his voice carrying a weight that sent chills down (Y/n)’s spine. "Jiraiya… is dead."

Silence.

(Y/n) felt her breath catch. Her heart slammed against her ribs, but she didn’t react—not outwardly. She glanced at Naruto, watching as his entire world seemed to stop. His mouth hung open slightly, but no words came out.

"W-What?" Naruto finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

Fukasaku explained. The infiltration of Amegakure. The fight with Pain. The moment Jiraiya realized his opponent was Nagato, his former student. How he had been outnumbered by the Six Paths of Pain. How he fought until the very end… and how he left behind one final message before sinking into the depths.

(Y/n) listened, her mind processing the words, but her heart refused to accept them. Jiraiya—her grandfather figure, the man who had saved her, taken her in when she had lost everything—was gone?

No. No, this isn’t real.

Naruto took a step forward, fists clenched. "No way. That idiot wouldn't just—he wouldn't just die! You—!" His voice cracked. "You let him go alone! Why the hell did you let him go alone?!"

His anger turned to Tsunade. "Baa-chan, you shouldn’t have let him go! If he was the Hokage, he wouldn’t have sent you on a mission like that!"

Tsunade didn’t move. She simply stared at him, her expression unreadable.

"(Y/n)," Kakashi murmured, almost like a warning, as Naruto’s breathing grew heavier.

She stepped forward, placing a hand on Naruto’s arm. "Naruto, stop."

He turned to her, eyes wild with grief. "How can you just—?!"

"You know Jiraiya-sensei." Her voice was steady, even though her insides felt like they were shattering. "He was never the type to sit back and watch. He made this decision himself."

Naruto's lip trembled, his body shaking.

"Blaming Tsunade-sama won’t change anything," she continued. "And you know that. He fought because he believed in something. In you. In us."