After parting with Jiraiya, Naruto went straight to the Hokage Tower. The moment he saw Jiraiya coming back, an idea popped into his mind.

‘I can’t handle Ino’s parents alone. No matter how strong I am, I’m still the guy trying to date their daughter. With the generation gap, I am naturally at a disadvantage.’

‘Even if I go to her house, I will be treated coldly, which may make the relationship even more strained. But now… If Pervy Sage is willing to explore the way for me, then it is another matter.’

With these chaotic thoughts swirling in his mind, Naruto arrived at the Hokage Tower and knocked on Hokage’s Office door.

"Come in." Kakashi looked up, "Oh, it's you, Naruto. Take a seat."

"What happened?" Naruto asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down, "Don't tell me it's a mission. Just so you know, I'm not taking missions anymore."

The way he said it is like he was a girl not going to receive the guest anymore, which left Kakashi momentarily speechless.

"It's not a mission. Whether you take missions or not is your choice. The village won't force you. You have every right to refuse." Kakashi said after a pause.

"I came to you this time mainly to talk to you about the Hyuga Clan and the Yamanaka Clan."

"What? The village is meddling in free love now?" Naruto was dumbfounded and then said indignantly, "This is my personal business. The village has no right…"

"Actually, the village wants to help you…"

"The village really values friendship and loyalty. All those years studying the Will of Fire weren’t wasted." Naruto suddenly changed his tone, tears welling up in his eyes. "So... how exactly is the village planning to help me?"

"Naruto, this matter involves the harmony between the two great Shinobi Clans. Whatever your thoughts are, the village will do its best to provide necessary support."

"The village has to help me prove my innocence. This time, it really has nothing to do with me!" Naruto declared, "It's all because of the remnants of the Akatsuki."

"Sure." Kakashi nodded.

"And you have to help me smooth things over with Ino’s parents and explain that this is all a misunderstanding. It would be best to find someone to take the blame. Say that person is a Missing-nin from Konoha and he kidnapped Ino and Hinata mainly to take revenge on the village."

"You're going too far. No one would buy that." Kakashi was awkward, "Besides, where can you find someone to take the blame for you?"

"Wouldn't Uchiha Itachi be a perfect fit?"

"He's dead."

"Fake death, just say he faked his death." Naruto shrugged, "That's even better, since there's no evidence anyway, isn't that perfect?"

‘Perfect?’ Kakashi was so confused that he thought Naruto might have gone insane due to the excessive pressure.

"I'm afraid the village can’t do that." Kakashi said awkwardly.

"Fine." Naruto nodded, not the least bit disappointed, "I didn't expect much anyway. It doesn’t matter now."

Finally, after Naruto’s relentless nonsense, the conversation fell through. This was also Naruto's intention, since the village can’t help him, he’s not getting involved with it too.

…

Tavern.

"The Child of Prophecy?" Naruto looked shocked, "Pervy Sage, how long have you been searching? Why are you still unwilling to give up? The Child of Prophecy does not exist."

"Great Toad Sage contacted me recently and told me about a new dream." Jiraiya held his sake cup but never raised it.

"What was it about?" Naruto asked, and then added, "About the Child of Prophecy again?"

"Yeah. Said the child was born in the Land of Sea Salt."

"Hmm? Is Great Toad Sage getting senile?" Naruto propped his chin on his hand, looking speechless, "Pervy Sage, trust me on this!"

Jiraiya shook his head and said with a frown, "The Land of Sea Salt... the only place I can think of is the island of Land of Whirlpools. Haven't you been there? What's it like there? I’m planning to check it out."

"You'd better not go there." Naruto recalled the countless ruins in the abyss of the Land of Whirlpools and the endless corpses and the reanimated armies of Kirigakure and Kumogakure.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It’s just a deserted island. There is no living person on it." He said.

"How come?" Jiraiya looked a little troubled. After a long silence, he turned back to Naruto, "Let's not talk about that for now. Didn’t you need my help with something?"

"Well, it’s a long story." Naruto took a deep breath and said with an exaggerated expression, "It's actually not a big deal, just..."

Ten minutes later.

Jiraiya drank another bottle of sake, and his shocked expression finally eased a little. He stared at his youngest disciple like he was seeing him for the first time.

"So... you’re saying you like both Ino and Hinata. Then Uchiha Obito storms into Konoha and kidnapped both of them just to force out the Kyubi?"

"Yeah."

"You’re joking, right?" Jiraiya’s brain short-circuited. There were so many things to complain about at once that he didn't even know where to start.

"That guy called himself Uchiha Madara, but he was actually Uchiha Obito. He never died." Naruto picked out some key points to explain, "The ‘Uchiha Madara’ who controlled the Kyubi and attacked the village many years ago was Uchiha Obito in disguise."

Hearing this, Jiraiya’s fingers twitched. He realized that Naruto knew far more than he should, and most likely, he also knew about his parents.

"Are you sure?" Jiraiya took a sip of sake to calm himself.

When he investigated the Akatsuki, he mainly focused on Nagato and the others. After the matter in Amegakure was resolved, Jiraiya no longer paid attention to the Akatsuki’s members who had scattered everywhere.

"It's true. How could I lie to you, Pervy Sage?" Naruto raised his chopsticks to pick up some side dishes, sighing dramatically, "I really have nothing now."

Looking at Naruto who was acting pitiful, Jiraiya couldn't help but frown, "You’re really... couldn’t you be loyal? Either Hinata or Ino, choose one."

"Pervy Sage, you are just talking nonsense." Naruto grumbled, "Look, I’ve never asked you for much. Just help me out this once, okay?"

Hearing this, Jiraiya’s eyelids twitched. His instincts told him that this must not be a good idea. But after listening to Naruto crying miserably, he felt a little bit reluctant.

"Fine. What do you need?”

"Pervy Sage, could you talk with Ino's parents for me? Put in a good word?" Naruto deliberately kept the request simple so that Jiraiya would not be able to refuse.

"What?! You want me to march up to their doorstep?" Jiraiya was immediately shocked and was about to stand up, "You are pushing me into the fire pit!"

"Weren't you pretty thick-skinned when you peeped into the women's bathhouse?" Naruto muttered.

"That's different."

"How is it different?" Naruto retorted, "I have no elders. You are my teacher, which is equivalent to half a godfather. Are you going to leave me to die alone?"

"Besides, you think Ino’s great too, right?"

"This..." Jiraiya hesitated for a long time, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I'll do my best. But never ask me for this again!"

"Okay!" Naruto beamed, showing the picture of innocence.