Summary: Naruto reflects on all the good memories he had with Pervy Sage after the war.

Age: 15-16 and then a timeskip

Category: Jiriaya tribute

Note: I've done so many tributes for Itachi, it's time I do one for Jiraiya. Heaven knows he deserves one. His death was one of the most heartbreaking things in the entire anime. I remember not being able to think clearly, or care about anything else. It was too hard to see through the tears. It still hurts today.

So this one is for Pervy Sage. May he rest in peace, wherever he is. We love you and miss you, Ero Sennin.

(Dangit I have to write and not cry, or this whole thing will come out cringey...)

((Beware, guys, I can't stop crying.))

~ 🐸 ~

Naruto's eyes widened in shock at the revelation. The words that left Granny's mouth hadn't fully registered until now.

He shook his head and turned around, leaving the office. His head hurt from processing what that meant. As he left the building, he grew increasingly more numb.

He couldn't feel anything. Nothing. He couldn't bring himself to wave when Kiba walked by, he couldn't smile at the strangers. His eyes stayed on the road.

No, he didn't feel anything. He was just...

Just numb.

~ 🐸 ~

It was over. Finally. Naruto was missing an arm, sure, but he was happy. His best friend Sasuke had been returned- he'd fulfilled his promise to his other best friend, Sakura. They''d saved the world from a psychopathic rabbit goddess.  Naruto felt fulfilled.

Staring out the hospital window, he remembered another time he'd been in that room. He crossed his arms over his chest. Right after his first massive fight with Sasuke. When he showed up with his giant frog.

"Training?"

"That's right! You are now officially my apprentice. Within 3 years, I'll make you a full fledged ninja."

"That means I can go after Sasuke again!"

"But listen. Forget about Sasuke. He's gone."

"Huh?"

"Sasuke went to Orochimaru of his own will. No matter what you do, he will not change.

"But Sasuke is..."

"Trust me, you should just forget about bringing him back. It's the tragic path of self righteous fools."

"HE MAY MEAN NOTHING TO YOU, PERVY SAGE, BUT SASUKE IS MY FRIEND!"

"CAN YOU HONESTLY CALL HIM A FRIEND? JUST LOOK AT WHAT HE'S DONE TO YOU!"

"It's..."

"He was destined to leave sooner or later. Don't blame yourself. Dismiss him from your mind, and move on. To be a ninja, you need more than strength and jutsu. You must acquire the judgement to make the right decisions. If you want to live as a ninja, you must become smarter. This world is no place for a fool. That's the reality."

"I understand. If being smarter means what you say it does, I'll remain a fool for the rest of my life. I'll create some incredible jutsu! And I'll rescue Sasuke no matter what!"

"... If you try this on your own, the only jutsu you'll come up with is some terribly smuddy thing, no doubt. But... this is so colossally foolish, it might actually work! We have a lot of work to do when you get out, so be ready. You incredible fool, you. Alright, then."

"Okay!!"

Naruto smiled a little. "I guess.... I am a fool, huh?" He asked the window. He remembered sliding it open when Jiraiya showed up. "But hey! It got Sasuke back, right, 'ttebayo?!" He grinned briefly. It sank into a frown again soon after, though, which was mildly confusing. He'd succeeded in everything he'd needed to do- except being Hokage, but he'd do that too.

He fell into a silence, being overtaken with memories of Pervy Sage. Those three years with him... had undoubtedly been the best three years of his life. The most fun, most memorable... in those three years, Naruto felt like he had a home. Even though he and Jiraiya moved around a lot.

"Home is wherever someone is thinking of you."

"I guess I did what you never could do." Naruto sighed. "I got my friend back. Deep down, I think you were still searching for Orochimaru. No matter what you said, about it being a tragic path of self righteous fools... you were always looking out for him, too." His eyes became more downcast and sad than they were, and his bit his lip. Almost waiting for a scolding, defensive reply from his master.

Jiraiya didn't reply. Of course he didn't. He was dead. Naruto didn't know why he was expecting a response.

"I miss you so much, Pervy Sage..." Naruto said, resolve finally breaking. He was talking to himself, and he knew it, but wasn't really thinking much of it. His eyes filled with tears. He brought his good hand up to his mouth to keep the sobs in. "I miss you more than words can express." He mumbled through it. "I wish you were here. I wish you were sitting here with me."

Naruto looked at the visiting chair to his right. Sakura had been in it hours before, and Hinata had just left.

The tears spilled from his eyes faster. "Why aren't you here with me? Why did you have to die too?" He choked out, staring at the chair. Jiraiya was the closest thing to family he had left, being his godfather. He was gone. Now he had nothing.

"Granny Tsunade sent you on that mission... I don't blame her, you were the perfect man for the job." Naruto whispered, hand moving to grasp his temples, covering his eyes. "But why couldn't you have just let me handle Nagato... why couldn't you have just... just come back, report to Tsunade-no-baachan... and..." Naruto stopped. He sighed and put his hands to his sides. He sat, tears silently streaming down his face. "And stay with me..."

"I hate you, ya know!" He finally yelled. "You left me! You left me alone! It was your job to take care of me, my parents left me to you! But you left!"

He closed his eyes. He could almost hear Jiraiya's voice.

"Now, settle down, kid, I have an explanation!"

"Yeah, whatever, Ero Sennin. You just wanted to go spy on the pretty women."

"Not true! I was just... helping an old lady with her groceries!"

"Whatever, old man."

The tears only fell faster and harder.

Naruto regretted every bad thing he had ever said to Jiraiya. He regretted every time he had not come to go eat with him, claiming he needed a nap. All those times he knew the man needed a hug, but Naruto hadn't given him one. All those times that he had smiled at him, and Naruto had only given him a bitter look. He regretted not going with his master on the mission. He regretted not talking to him when he was lonely, and he regretted all he times Naruto was annoying. He regretted all the times he insulted Jiraiya's books. He regretted all the times he was ungrateful for what Jiraiya did for him. He regretted not thanking him more. He regretted not telling the old man he loved him more.

He regretted everything.

Especially yelling at him now.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I'm sorry..." He laid his face in his hand, and cried into it.

Then there was a pair of arms wrapped around him. "Shh, kid, it's okay." Naruto buried his face in Tsunade's shoulder, sobbing. "It's okay." She whispered, running her hands through the boy's hair. "I miss him too." She said, squeezing Naruto's shoulder's harder.

Naruto only cried harder. Tsunade knew Jiraiya as deeply and intimately as he did, and he knew the emotional torture she must be going through. He felt a few drops of water land on his head too, and knew immediately that Tsunade was crying as well.

"He left us both." Tsunade whispered into his blonde hair. "It's okay. He left us both." Her voice was shaky. Naruto gripped her tighter, not wanting to let go.

"You won't leave me, right Baa-chan?" Naruto whispered into her green jacket.

"Never, Naruto." Tsunade said firmly into his blonde locks. "Never."

"I love you, baa-chan." Naruto said, closing his eyes.

Tsunade hadn't heard those words from anyone since Nawaki. Naruto reminded her of him more and more now. She had always said it back, knowing it was the truth. For Naruto... She didn't have to think for long. She knew the answer. Tsunade closed hers, letting another tear roll freely down her cheek. "I love you too, kid."

"Granny?" He said after awhile.

"Mm?"

"Do you think Pervy Sage is happy wherever he is?"

Tsunade thought about it.

Images flashed through her head. Jiraiya's family was mostly dead. Minato and Kushina. His little students, Konan, Nagato and Yahiko, who were all dead. Nawaki and Dan, both of which Jiraiya had befriended quickly. Being reunited with them would be a joyous occasion all around.

"Yes, Naruto." Tsunade pulled back to smile at the boy. "I have a feeling Jiraiya is happy wherever he is." It was too bad she and Naruto were stuck here. Not like she would have it any other way. These Konoha idiots couldn't run themselves.

He nodded, smiling back. "So what happens now?"

Tsunade took a swig of the drink she had brought in and set on the desk. "Now, Naruto, we move on."

~ 🐸 ~

The day of Boruto's birth was the cause for much celebration. Hinata and Naruto couldn't be happier together, and now they really were set in stone. Boruto was a blessing, although much later on in his life they would forget that for a time. Naruto was truly excited about the idea of being a father. He was always interested in a challenge, especially if it was against Sasuke. Those were always the most competitive ones. Who could be the better father? Hah. He had this one down. Soon after Boruto, Sarada was born a few days after her mother's birthday.

And as much as Naruto wanted to be a good father... The nights of staying up with Boruto were agonizing. Sadly, these were things good fathers did. Hinata couldn't do all the work. The only thing that brought him solace was the fact that Sasuke would be going through the same thing right about now with his daughter.

He sometimes wondered what would have happened if his parents HAD survived the Kyūbi attack. Boruto would have grandparents, that's for sure. And Naruto's childhood probably would've been better. But at the same time, as much as he loved and missed his parents, he appreciated how things were now. He had good friends, an amazing wife that stood by him no matter what, and a new son. He couldn't be happier.

Plus... he would see his parents again. Though, hopefully, not anytime in the foreseeable future. This world still needed him yet. Plus, Boruto wasn't ready to handle things by himself yet. Naruto couldn't leave until the boy could defend himself and the village from any harm. Be it from enemy ninja, or celestial beings.

Naruto sighed contently, keeping his feet moving. He had a location to reach, and he would never get there if he kept dawdling. It was a beautiful, chilly day in the late fall. Naruto's own birthday had been just a few days ago. As for now... Naruto felt the need to visit his family. He brought the baby with him, all wrapped up tight. Soon, Boruto would be a one year old. It was about time Naruto brought him here.

Naruto stopped in front of the metal plaque, sitting down in the grass that was covered in leaves. He held Boruto in his arms securely, looking down at the names.

Three graves, next to each other, as Naruto had requested, sat in front of him.

"Hey mom, dad, Pervy Sage." He grinned. "It's been a long time. Sorry about not coming to visit you like I promised. I've been kinda busy taking care of this little guy, ya know." He lifted the boy up, as if he was showing him to them. "Yes, he is mine, meaning he is your grandson. Hah. Don't you just feel old. Yes, mom, I have been taking care of him. Or, Hinata has. She's much better at it than I am. No, dad, he does not have Mom's red hair. Thank God. That would be hard to explain to Hiashi. Yes, Pervy Sage, I do plan on having more kids. Even though they're a pain at this stage, I'm sure it only gets better."

He spent the rest of his time talking to them and hanging out, letting Boruto play around in the soft glass as he spoke. Soon, he knew it was dinner time. Boruto began to fuss, letting him know it was definitely time to hand him off to Hinata for him to eat.

"Well... Boruto's getting restless. I have to go soon. Sorry I couldn't stay long, I'll come back again soon. Hopefully I'll have more time, then. I love you guys." Naruto grunted and began to stand up, bringing Boruto with him. He waved a little, then turned to go. Then, he swung back around again.

"By the way, Pervy Sage, I keep forgetting to tell you this, but... I think we've achieved that dream of yours for the most part. I'm working to make sure that people who are hurting are surrounded with people that understand their pain. It hasn't been easy, obviously, but... we're working on it." He chuckled bitterly. "I only wish you were here to see it, even though it isn't entirely complete yet. Maybe in Boruto's generation..." He trailed off. He was doing exactly as his dad and Ero Sennin had done with him. History was repeating itself. He smiled down at Boruto, who had temporarily quieted down. He guessed that sometimes, history repeating itself wasn't all that bad. "Maybe Boruto can complete our dream, mm? After all, his generation is the new us. And the new generation always surpasses the old one. Or so Kakashi-sensei likes to say."

Naruto stared at the graves for a minute more, then nodded. "I had better get home to Hinata. I'll see you all later. Love you." He said, turning around and sending them a quick wave. Oh how he wished they could reply.

Kushina watched her son leave, nearly in tears at how cute her grandson was. Minato smiled, satisfied with who Naruto had grown up to be, and happy for him.

Jiraiya was quiet for a few minutes. No one really knew why. But when he lifted his head, he had the widest smile on. "I knew he could do it!" He laughed, pride shining in his eyes.

"He did marvelously, although it's not entirely finished yet." Minato reminded him. He couldn't say he wasn't proud of his son. No, he was the most proud a dad could be. "I can't wait to see what Boruto's future has in store." He tilted his head curiously, watching Naruto walk away with Boruto.

Kushina nodded, clapping her hands in excitement. "It's like a whole new story!" 

"I can't wait either." Jiraiya let out a great belly laugh. And he really couldn't wait. Because Boruto was the key to the future.

The new child of prophecy.

First off... Honestly, it was not my intention to go that way with this oneshot... by that way, i mean suddenly turning it to be about Boruto. My bad. Sorry. idk how this failure happened... I hope you guys like it anyway, because that was hella hard to do.

SECOND! SHUT UP, DON'T GET OFFENDED.I have mixed feelings about Boruto and his condescending, narcissistic bratty self. I was doing this because it's freaking cute, and you can't go denying it, no matter what your feelings about Boruto are. We all know that Minato and Kushina would be extra supportive of their grandson. And Pervy Sage would go the mile too. So don't go yelling at me about this!

Besides, he came from HINATA. He can't be THAT bad. Or, if he is that bad, I hope to God he gets better. Because Hinata doesn't deserve THAT child. Hima is perfect in every way.

Anyway, it's late. I'm probably going to regret getting all emotional and making this in the first place. Oh well. Love you all! GOOD NIGHT!

-- @Silverwolf735 or temporarily @Silverwolf765... I'll figure this out, I swear...