As Jiraiya pulled off his robe, his upper body came into view—revealing a large, jagged scar that stretched across his chest. The wound had clearly been severe, a reminder of just how close he had come to death.
He gestured to the scar with a wry smile. "There've only been two times in my life when I thought I might actually die. The first," he said, glancing sideways at Tsunade, "was when I got caught peeking into the women's bathhouse. Tsunade hit me so hard, I swear I saw the Pure Land."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, but didn't interrupt.
"The second," Jiraiya continued, his tone shifting to something more serious, "was when Naruto transformed into the Four-Tails form. A few months back, while I was helping him train to control the Nine-Tails' chakra, he lost control. When the fourth tail appeared... his power exploded. He didn't recognize me. His strength was monstrous—and he nearly killed me."
He pulled his robe back over his shoulders, fastening it slowly. Then he turned to Inoiki, his expression firm.
"That's why you need to be extremely cautious around Naruto. If he ever reaches that state again, it won't be like suppressing two tails. If he could injure me like this, then his strength—especially under the Nine-Tails' influence—should never be underestimated."
Inoiki's expression turned serious. "Don't worry. I'll be careful around Naruto. And if he loses control again, I'll make sure to help him suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra."
Jiraiya gave a satisfied nod, visibly relieved by the assurance.
Tsunade straightened. "Good. Then it's settled. Tomorrow, Team Kakashi and Inoiki will depart on the mission to locate and, if possible, capture Orochimaru and Sasuke."
Everyone present nodded in agreement.
Inoiki stepped back. "Alright, I'll take my leave. There are a few things I need to prepare."
Tsunade gave him a nod of dismissal, and with that, Inoiki vanished in a blur, sprinting off into the village.
Tsunade turned and made her way back to her office, her mind already shifting to the logistics ahead. That left only Jiraiya and Kakashi standing at the training ground.
Kakashi glanced over. "So… this new novel of yours."
Jiraiya grinned, his eyes gleaming. "Even better. Want a sneak peek?"
Kakashi chuckled. "Why-not."
----
After leaving the Third Training Ground, Inoiki activated his Observation Haki to sense chakra signatures across the village. It didn't take him long to locate Naruto—and as expected, Sakura was with him. Without hesitation, he made his way to them.
He appeared in front of the two as they walked quietly through the streets, neither speaking. Their thoughts were elsewhere—both weighed down by the same unspoken concern: Sasuke.
Naruto and Sakura looked up as Inoiki approached.
"Hey," Inoiki greeted with a light smile. "I came to invite you both to a barbecue party. It's been a while since we've all been together—and Naruto, you've only just returned. With all the missions and chaos, we never got the chance to celebrate properly."
Naruto's face lit up, his energy returning in an instant. "A party? For me? Then what are we waiting for—let's go!"
Sakura smiled too, the tension easing from her expression. "That sounds great. But I've just gotten back from Sunagakure—I should stop by and let my parents know first. How about we meet this evening for the party?"
Inoiki smiled and said, "That sounds good. Everyone from Team Kakashi and Team Guy is probably exhausted after the mission, and I'm tired from training too. Some rest will do us all good. Let's meet this evening."
Naruto gave a thumbs-up. "Alright, it's decided—party tonight!"
Inoiki nodded. "Great. I'll go let the others know. It's going to be a proper reunion to celebrate your return, Naruto. And not just that—I've brought a little something for everyone from the Land of Iron."
Naruto grinned. "Oh, you mean the gifts you got after stirring up trouble over there?"
Inoiki chuckled. "Exactly."
With that, he vanished in a flash, off to make preparations.
As the wind settled, Sakura turned to Naruto. "Alright then—see you at the party tonight."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. See you."
They gave each other a small wave before parting ways, each heading home with something lighter in their hearts.
----
After leaving Naruto, Inoiki made his way across the village, stopping by to invite Neji, Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Shino, Kiba, Lee, and Tenten to the evening party. None of them declined—everyone was more than happy to join. Choji, in particular, lit up with excitement at the mention of barbecue, his favorite meal.
----
That evening, the group gathered at their usual barbecue restaurant, the air filled with laughter, the warmth of reunion, and the sizzle of food being prepared. They took their seats and placed their orders, the smell of grilled meat already drifting from the kitchen.
As they waited, Inoiki stood and pulled a scroll from his coat. He unrolled it carefully across the center of the table, revealing thirteen distinct seal marks.
"This," he said, resting his hand on the scroll, "is the gift I've prepared for all of you."
He formed a quick hand sign and activated the seals. With a series of soft pops and puffs of white smoke, a line of identical black swords began to appear on the table, one after another. Each sword was uniform in design—sleek, elegant, and deadly—with a single word etched in kanji between the hilt and blade: Friend (友).
"These are chakra swords," Inoiki explained, his voice steady and sincere. "They not only conduct chakra but also enhance the power of your attacks when used with it. I brought them back from the Land of Iron—for all of us."
He looked around at the faces of his friends.
"They're a symbol of our bond. A reminder that no matter what happens, we stand together. These swords represent our friendship—and the strength we share as a group."
He gestured toward the neatly arranged weapons. "They may look the same, but each of you should choose the one that feels right. One by one."
----
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