Naruto's POV (Forest of Death - Hidden Leaf Village)
He panted as he continued to run. Eyes darted from side to side, panting heavily as he ran on his top speed. He had run until he encountered a vast fenced-off forest. Typically, he was fearful of places like this, but he was in no mood to be disturbed and figured, at worst, he could deal with some animals. With this declaration in mind, he raced through the forest.
Naruto quickly discovered it was no ordinary forest. Even in his disturbed state, he considered turning back as he dodged a lunge from a comically large ant. Kicking over a large plant that attempted to wrap him up in vines. He landed on the water with a panicked gaze and jumped as a large fish attempted to swallow him whole.
"GOD DAMMIT I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK!" Naruto roared into the forest. With a growl, he landed on a tree and drew his blade. "Piss Off! Uzumaki Style: Seafoam Slices!" He sliced through the air, sending small bundles of chakra blades through it. Cutting through the large ant. The vines of the plant. And the large fish who had attempted one last dive to eat him. He watched as they fell before body flickering away to leave the corpses to whatever would eat them. He assumed the plant based on its odd hiss and the rustling of more approaching vines.
He arrived at a small clearing. He landed into it, shrugging off his jacket and leaving him in his orange shirt, which he often wore beneath. The back was marked with the kanji Uzumaki in red. He sighed as he raced forward and struck with his fist. "SHIT!" He roared as his fist lodged into the tree, the entire thing shaking as he hit it. He growled as he ripped it out, causing the tree to collapse. He fell to the ground.
"It's just not fair!" Naruto roared.
"Life rarely is kid." A deep voice countered.
Naruto sighed heavily in disbelief. "I don't have the energy for any more fighting. If you're just here to beat, get it over with; just know I won't let myself die here." Naruto said coldly.
"Jeez, a real sad sap." The voice countered. "Can you at least turn and face me while we talk?"
"I'm not in the damn mood to talk. So screw off." Naruto declared. His patience now thinned as the odd man pushed him further.
"Well, you said I could hit you." The voice countered before Naruto felt a body-shaking blow hit him, sending him skidding across the clearing. "Kind of pathetic, but I can sadly relate."
Naruto raised with a growl, facing a long, white-haired, tall, old man. Unknowing faced off against Jiraiya of the Sannin. His body flickered forward in an attempt to blitz him and punch him. But the man merely caught his punch and hauled him upwards. "Thought you were too tired to fight? By the way, while the body flicker allows you to move much faster than even Jounin, it is limited by your ability to react. So it won't allow you to blatantly land a blow on someone as great as me." He slammed him into the ground with one hand. "Let's not fight, kid. Talk to me."
To his credit, Naruto was relatively unharmed, showing off his durability. He casually asked, "Why should I?"
"Seems you could use it. Looking pretty torn up and pathetic right now." Jiraiya replied with a smile.
Naruto growled but soldiered through the insult. Knowing responding would only make him look childish. "Maybe I do. How would you know anything useful? You are Leaf, right?"
"Well, you have nothing to lose, right? And, of course," Jiraiya countered as he sat on the ground across from the blonde. He flashed his headband at the blonde, who noticed it was marked with "oil," though he was unsure how he knew the man was no threat. Naruto rearranged himself to sit across from the man.
"Fair enough. You're a bastard, ya know?" Naruto replied, annoyed.
"It takes one to know one. Now go ahead and tell me your tale, " Jiraiya said merrily.
Naruto pondered leaving, but the man seemed the type to follow. Naruto could somehow tell he did not follow social norms. "I've known I was a jinchuriki for a long time. I can feel Kyuubi all the time. A dark presence at the back of my mind. Powerful darkness somewhere deep inside my body. I knew it made me different and made it hard to befriend people. After all, it's hard to make friends when you can't trust them. I'd always worry once the few friends I had found out, I'd be left alone. But I managed to find people who accepted it. Hell, I even found others like me. I almost felt okay about what I am. Then that weird Ikam bastard exposed it to everyone. He seems to want to kill my mom and me simply for being Uzumaki. When the weird bastard is one himself! Some of them stood with me even with the knowledge in mind. Yet others who didn't care about me before suddenly seemed alerted by me. The samurai showed detestation towards me, and the villagers were more similar. For choices I never would've made, I've become a pariah. Worse yet, my mom's going into full defensive mode. She just plans to kick their ass and don't get me wrong, I love her for it. But I'd like to one day earn their trust and respect. Figure if I become Hokage, and that'll do it. Can't do that if they hate me… but it might be too late. Oh, not to mention my mom, who's willing to bleed for me and won't tell me who my father is. Or why I became a jinchuriki when she was already one. Instead, she'll only tell me if I pass the exams. How is it fucking fair? Oh, and a group of S-rank shinobi is interested in capturing me." Naruto asked angrily.
"That is quite a bit for a guy to have on your mind. Would you like the advice sequentially, and if so, how blunt do you want me to be?" Jiraiya replied casually.
"That means… in a logical order or something?" Naruto wondered out loud. "And I prefer blunt things… I guess. No need to sugarcoat it at the end of the day."
"Mostly, and alrighty then." Jiraiya started while pulling out a pipe and lighting it in a way similar to the Third Hokage. "Don't tell the old Kage I smoke, would you? Wouldn't due for him to know he rubbed off on me." He inhaled smoothly before exhaling with a sigh.
"I can't say I can fully relate to your burden being a jinchuriki. I've met some throughout the years, and many were miserable. Powerful without a doubt, but usually miserable. But I've lived a long life full of failures, so I can relate to self-resentment. I've found it does little to worry too much about winning people over." Jiraiya continued.
"So I should just accept being hated? How can I achieve my dream like that? The Hokage is beloved by everyone." Naruto countered.
"No, of course not, but you realize the Hokage becomes the Hokage because they are beloved. You don't earn it after the fact." Jiraiya chided. "Instead, you should aim to be the best man you can be. Once you've grown enough, you'll find achieving your dreams to be a natural thing."
"So how do I become a better man then?" Naruto asked with a raised brow.
"Not for me to decide. People have to decide who they are for themselves. It's only right to do so." Jiraiya replied with ease.
"Cop out the answer," Naruto said sourly.
"Seems so I know. But you must experience the world for yourself. Form values off of what you've learned to treasure, form morality off of what you've learned to be wrong. And if you plan to lead the village, what will you lead it? Will you conquer the world?" Jiraiya questioned.
"What? No, just maintain peace!" Naruto protested.
"What about growth?" Jiraiya continued questioning.
"Growth? You mean like economically?"
"Well, that's one aspect. Large villages like that are expected to grow at a rate that coincides with population growth. As well as social growth. As I said, becoming knowledgeable, wise, and tempered, a man people simply cannot deny, is worthy of praise. Luckily, you have a few in your corner more than some are given. You'll have to shoulder it; I assure you if you move with guts, you'll make it through."
Naruto was silent at this. Seeing some logic in his words, but not feeling it fully yet. He still had more problems.
"Now, about the groups following you, I know two guys hunting Ikam. He'll be lucky to survive if they catch them. Nothing escapes their eyes." Jiraiya responded merrily. Thinking of a particular Uchiha duo. "As for those other guys, I know a few guys keeping an eye on them. It's easy to be overwhelmed, but remember, you can deal with these things with time. Break them down, form a plan, and enjoy the little things in the meantime. Life is rarely fair, but we have no choice but to live it. We should strive to improve it for ourselves and those we care about."
"What about other people?" Naruto posed earnestly.
"Well, we can only do so much," Jiraiya said nervously. "But I support attempting anyway. See, I hope to find peace one day. Once I find it, I'll try to give it to someone else."
"That sounds nice; what led you to pursue that?" Naruto asked, somewhat interested.
"A story I was told and a prophecy, one I intend to uphold." Jiraiya counters simply. Naruto rolled his eyes at the odd man.
What are some details? I also don't believe in prophecy, or fate, or whatever. We can always change the way things are." Naruto asked sarcastically.
"Ah, I do as well. I simply use it as a frame to achieve my dream. If it is true, it would be nice.
Naruto was silent, pondering the conversation, unable to think of a response. He looked up to see the strange man gone. He wondered where he had gone or why he had even offered him the advice.
Jiraiya watched on sadly as Naruto seemed to silently contemplate things. From what Kushina had told him, he was a spunky boy with a heart of gold and a strong will. He could see it even in this stressed state. Not many would have a conversation like that while so emotionally exhausted. He would have the chance to aid him further soon enough. It was quickly time to earn his title of Godfather.