HPDBC Chapter 248 Decision
Chapter 248 Decision
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the window. Jiraiya woke up groggily to find himself in a small, unfamiliar apartment that was neat and tidy.
Memories of last night gradually returned—being rejected when trying to chat someone up, getting slapped, passing out drunk on the street… and then being found and helped back by Naruto.
Looks like I've caused that kid trouble again... He rubbed his temples, feeling a little guilty, but then quickly made excuses for himself. However, the girls here are still the same as always, they really have fiery tempers.
Then, he recalled a scene he had seen earlier—Naruto helped the child, but was met with fear and disgust from the villagers because of their gossip and prejudice… That sight made Jiraiya’s heart sink.
How should he judge the villagers' behavior? Stupid? Ignorant? Or pure malice? Just because of some unverified rumors, to inflict such heavy malice on an innocent child? The thought that Naruto might live in such an environment for a long time made him feel an indescribable sense of unease.
At the same time, he couldn't help but worry that this continued rejection might leave deep, unhealable wounds in Naruto's heart, affecting his character...
He turned to look at the bedside; the bedding on the floor had been neatly made. Just then, a faint cooking sound came from the small kitchen in the inner room of the apartment.
Jiraiya got out of bed and curiously looked around the simple room. His gaze was quickly drawn to a conspicuous object on the bedside table: a huge egg painted with strange green patterns?
This size… I’m afraid only Orochimaru’s summoning snakes would lay eggs this big, right? He clicked his tongue in amazement, filled with curiosity about the origin of this egg.
Just as he was staring at the egg in a daze, the door to the inner room was opened, and Naruto appeared carrying breakfast.
"Good morning, Mr. Jiraiya. Would you like breakfast?" Naruto's face wore his usual warm smile, as if the unpleasantness of last night had never happened. He put down the tray he was carrying and considerately handed over a cup. "But before that, have some of this first, it'll make you feel better."
Jiraiya took the cup and took a sip, discovering that it was warm honey water, which perfectly relieved the dryness in his throat and the discomfort of his hangover.
Seeing Naruto's cheerful smile, Jiraiya smiled too, temporarily suppressing his worries. "Of course! After all, with your cooking skills, I'd really be looking forward to even breakfast!"
He was indeed looking forward to Naruto's cooking skills, but at the same time, he was determined to have a good talk with Naruto about some things.
Breakfast is a classic fusion of Japanese and Western styles: a bowl of steaming miso soup, a few slices of golden-brown toasted bread, and a sandwich made with perfectly fried ham and tender eggs.
Jiraiya picked up a sandwich and took a big bite—his eyes instantly lit up! The aroma of the toasted bread, the savory flavor of the ham, and the tenderness of the egg blended perfectly, simple yet incredibly delicious. He began to enjoy it heartily, nodding repeatedly.
Halfway through his meal, Jiraiya suddenly remembered his business. He put down his sandwich, his expression becoming more serious. Looking at Naruto, who was eating quietly, he carefully considered what to say.
"By the way, Naruto, I noticed... your living environment in the village doesn't seem to be very friendly right now."
Naruto paused for a moment upon hearing this, then replied in a relaxed tone, "Living conditions? I think it's alright. The rewards for ninja missions are pretty good..."
I'm not talking about material things.
Jiraiya interrupted him, looking directly into Naruto's eyes, his voice lower, "...It's those hurtful rumors about you. Aren't you angry? Didn't you ever think of rushing up to those people, grabbing them by the collar, and beating them up, or shouting at them 'I'm not a demon fox'?"
He looked at Naruto, trying to find the suppressed anger or grievance in those blue eyes.
However, Naruto paused only slightly before speaking in an almost casual tone, "Hmm... that impulse, perhaps I did have it a long, long time ago. But now, it really doesn't matter anymore."
"There's nothing shameful about expressing your resentment and anger," Jiraiya encouraged, worried that Naruto was just putting on a brave face.
"It's really okay, Mr. Jiraiya." Naruto's face showed a clear smile, a smile without bitterness, only relief and clarity.
"Because one can't just focus on the dark side of life all the time."
"Although there are indeed many people in Konoha who hate me and reject me," he continued, his tone calm, "there are also so many people and things in this village that I cherish and want to protect."
He recounted them one by one, his eyes warming and brightening. "Ichiraku-san and Iruka-sensei, who always treat me to ramen and care about me, as well as Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and them... these are all very important companions and friends of mine."
"And... the person I want to protect most is here. I don't want her to get hurt, I don't want her to be stranded outside, I want to give her a safe place, a place I can call 'home'."
"So you see, my time and energy are actually very precious, and I only want to use them all to protect the most important people and things in my little world. As for those discordant voices outside... let them be, I don't care, and I don't have time to care."
Hearing Naruto's calm words, Jiraiya slowly lowered his head and remained silent for a moment. When he raised his head again, his carefree smile had returned to his face.
"Hmph, you brat..." He ruffled Naruto's blond hair roughly, his tone teasing, "You're not that old, but you spout off a whole bunch of grand principles. You're quite the preacher!"
Faced with this teasing, Naruto simply responded with a shy smile that said "It's alright," without saying anything more.
However, Naruto knew in his heart that Jiraiya's heart was not as relaxed as he appeared. This clear perception stemmed from the voice within his heart, a reminder of the rapidly deepening bond.
Jiraiya finished the last bite of food on his plate, wiped his mouth contentedly, and then stood up. "Alright, Naruto, I have something to do, so I have to go first. Once you're done with your business, wait for me at our usual spot. I'll be there soon."
After giving his instructions, Jiraiya left and turned to walk in a direction he had been intentionally or unintentionally avoiding these past few days—the Hokage Building. He decided it was time to have a proper talk with the Third Hokage.
------
(Thank you! The owner of Hermit's Tomb is the king of gifts! Thank you so much, boss! You're so generous!)
(The author plans to briefly describe the system lottery, skipping over it in a few sentences.)