"Nothing," replied Minato, an air of gloom about him.

"Well, I guess that's good," answered Jiraiya with forced cheer, feeling suddenly uncomfortable, as his cheer dropped a level.

Minato did not comment but instead sighed, as he continued to gaze unseeingly at the clear blue sky with the occasional puffy white cloud that drifted in his sight.

Jiraiya pretended not to notice and instead give him time to collect himself. He tried to do anything as he waited but he got bored quickly and of the inactivity.

Clearing his throat, Jiraiya hoped he'll gain his former student's attention.

Minato sullenly looked up and stared at him. There was a pertubed frown on his bronze face, while his somber cobalt eyes penetrated his jet-black pupils.

Eyebrows rising from surprise, Jiraiya swallowed and hoped he'll be able to go through with this. When the Sandaime had given him the news, he had devised up a subtle way of informing his favorite student but...maybe this wasn't the best time, really.

"Was there something you wanted from me, Jiraiya" asked Minato, his voice soft and silky.

Jiraiya shivered by the intensity in that low voice, since Minato had that affect on others when he spoke and hoped he wouldn't stumble in his approach, "Actually, yeah," he replied, a grin stretching onto his face, "I came to ask if you wanted to go and get a bite to eat with me at the Ramen Stand. I know it's been a long day and to me, it looks like you need it. Besides, there's something I need to tell you about and I'd rather you hear it on a full stomach than an empty one, considering there's spare time, before our mission reports for the day are due in the Mission Reception Office."

Minato gave a ghost of a smile to his sensei, before shaking his head in a no-he-wasn't-interested, gesture, "Jiraiya, how do you do it?" he then asked.

Jiraiya tensed from the unspecified question and Minato smiled ill-humorly, knowing if his voice sounded opaque to his own ears, it must sound worse to his sensei.

Minato didn't try to fight as he felt the fabric that made up his being, tear. Piece by increasingly small piece, as he wondered if anyone really cared or if it was an illusion he made up for himself that someone did. That there was someone out there, solely for him. Someone that he could depend on and let his guard down.

Someone like,. . .Jiraiya.

"Huh, what do you mean, Minato?" asked Jiraiya, cocking his head to the side, his white locks cascadding down his back as he regarded his former student more closely. What could possibly have his usually lively-like student in such a rut that he'd pass up a meal, to talk.

That's when Jiraiya noticed Minato's slumbed exterior like gravity was bearing down on him from the heaven's and the visible weariness in the stretch of skin on his student's face. With sleep-deprived bags under his eyelids, that matched his own. From a time ago, but a different reason and from a different regret.

Jiraiya didn't realize how bad off his favorite student was. He knew gloom hit everyone once in a while, as he had picked up when he came but at this extent.

He see's now that Minato had carefully hidden his appearance from his eye by deliberately standing in the shade of the trees. He was sure now, Minato did that, so that anyone that passed by him, would not see how things were getting to him.

The only glimpse he really got through the masquerade was when the sunlight cast its rays over him at the right point in time, to bring his full awareness overhead.

Shit, thought Jiraiya. To him, Minato looked like he lost his spirit. His drive. . .

"I mean, how can you do it. Take the orders, the diplomats, the in-between-the-lines lies stipulations, no matter how right or wrong they are...at the time."

Jiraiya paid close attention, like it was the most important thing in the world to do and if he failed by missing something, he never be able to forgive himself.

Hell, if he was willing to admit it to himself, the kid was the most important existance in his world. More than his team, the Sandaime, his friend.

Minato brought a light to him like no one other could. Able to ease reality away,... if just a few minutes of the day yet enough, to refresh his convictions.

But for there to be such conflicted conviction in his former student's voice now, at the pinnical of Minato's career as a great shinobi - it unnerved him more than he'd ever let on and the thought that Minato would end his own life by the heaviness of the world, slipped in his mind, by the way this talk was going.

Removing himself from the business he was going to conduct with the kid, Jiraiyainstead became the needed listener, the needed shoulder, that Minato so desparately needed to lean on, right now.

So, with no blame whatsoever in his voice from the asked question, Jiraiya answered Minato in kind, his own voice resigned. Accepting, this wasn't going to be what the kid wanted to hear but giving a hell of a try anyway, "Well, there's really no choice in the matter when it comes to orders. ...It's what we're expected to carry out as shinobi's. That's why it's important for us, before we head out, to focus our minds and set aside any lingering emotions or humanity that may boggle us down from conducting the missions handed down to us from the folk higher up than us. It's what we all must follow to survive in this world. Forgetting it, could result in certain death."

"Death,...?" Minato let a bitter-sweet smile replace the frown on his lips, that twisted his heart and Jiraiya regretted bringing the blasted word up to describe the world they must live in.

"It's funny how you brought that up. Today, my team almost died, because I had to make the choice of killing a powerful young girl being manipulated by our enemy or sacrifice the lives of my team. A team that trusted me with their lives. Day in. Day out. Just like that. Choose one or the other, because I was the team leader. Like I was in control of the guliotine by the handle and it was upto me to make the more beneficial trade. Allowing my men to be slain, so we can gauge and capture the girl for our own country strength or allow her peace from the life she didn't choose for her self but was forced upon her by this war."

Damn, damn it all to hell, thought Jiraiya angrily to himself. He would of missed the tell tale signs if he hadn't spoken up. Of his student slipping over the edge like we all do at some point but this was too soon for this kid.

But Namikaze Minato always had a big heart.

Jiraiya assessed Minato more closely with a critical eye. Trying to pry loose the layers the kid built around himself over the years. He hate seeing him like this. His student was practically dripping with self-loathe and in effect, digging his own grave, over the remorse he felt over the girl's unfortunate end. But Jiraiya still took this ample opportunity of mute silence to interrupt his usually bright eyed student with his own thoughts, "Look, Minato,... you don't have to say anymore on the matter. I know all about it, " When he received a dubious look from the kid, Jiraiya clarified himself with a grim smile, "I read it in the mission reports from your team members."

And although Minato seemed to accept his reprise, it was obvious, his student was still grieving at what he had done.

There goes brunch, Jiraiya throught rather ironically, as he tried to soothe the hurt from his student's conscience, and blockade any thoughts of suicide by getting back to the news the Sandaime had given him. Maybe it will cheer the kid up. Give him something to look forward to instead of the needless body tolls he see's counting up and his hand in the midst of guaranteeing it, "But you haved to put these kind of things behind you or it'll eat you up inside until nothing is left. Instead, why don't you try to concentrate on the reason why we go out there in the first place, day in and night."

"You could remind me," prodded Minato in a low yet sad wistful voice.

"Well, really, I shouldn't have to but considering your glum mood and lack of enthusiasm, I suppose I could refresh your memory," abided Jiraiya, playing like he doesn't know the kid could be plotting for some reason to keep going, "It's to protect the people in our village and the loved ones waiting for us back at home but hell, don't worry yourself over this. What's done is done. Can't go and change that,... besides, " he added, changing the subject while he still could, before he sinks in the depths and finds himself belly up in the water, dead or worse in the sharks jaws, "The Sandaime has decided to give you a break from your usual routine for awhile."

Of hearing the news, the Yellow Flash was taken aback, "Huh, what do you mean,... I wasn't suspended was I?" asked Minato, worried that was the case. He had hesitated ending the girls life. It seemed like an act of mercy at the time but then killing an innocent child never did sit well with him, when it was over.

Jiraiya gave him a look of exasperation, "No, of course not." he explained in uncertain terms, "You did everything a leader should do. The reason behind it is, because starting today, you get to oversee your first gennin team!" announced Jiraiya cheerfully. As cheerfully he could with a hand squeezing his heart like some helpless father who couldn't comfort his only kid. Or a representation of one.

Still, regardless of how Minato felt, Jiraiya hoped this news would brighten his former student's mood to its original state of being. Melanchony did not suit Minato at all.

Minato was surprised, Shocked, "You mean,...I'm going to get to test 3 young students from the Academy just like I had been, when I was younger."

That got him, thought Jiraiya slyly, "Uh-huh and it says here that,..." Jiraiya's eyes widened considerably in size when he read over the graduates names on the file given to him, "Son of a gun. The cards have rolled in your favor, Minato. You seemed to have gotten the White Fang's brat."

"Huh?" asked the blond jounin. There was a glassy expression in Minato's eyes. One of admiration, respect and of sadness.

"You know, Hatake Sakumo. Silver hair, has a pony tail like me but wears a mask over half his face. I believe you've worked with him once or twice during S rank missions. It says here that his son, Kakashi, graduated yesterday at the Ninja Academy at the top of his class and get this,....he's only 5." That seemed to capture his former students attention back to him, enough to wake him up.

Good, maybe this Kakashi kid could distract him long enough, that he could think a way to bring Minato back before he fell over on his own two feet.

Kakashi will be a challenge for him. Minato liked challenges and the kid looked like a enigma to him compared to his dad, whom was easy going and friendly.

"That's quite an achievement. Whom else is on his team or is he traveling solo."

'Ah, so he was interested,...' "No, surprising enough, there's two more members to his team. Uchiha Obito of the prestigious Uchiha clan and a young misses that's interested in becoming a medical nin. Who knows, she might be the next Tsunade," grinned Jiraiya.

"And how exactly old are they. If I may ask."

Jiraiya watched as Minato slipped back into his shell and whistled at the transformation with admiration, "Ask all you want. They're your new team but it looks like Obito and Rin are at least one year older than Kakashi by their height."

There was a pinch of doubt. He could see it but Jiraiya hoped Minato would give these three a try. If not for them but for his own sake.

"I don't know,... aren't they a bit young to graduate."

"Ha! You got to be joking. You were almost half the age I was, when I graduated. It just means, the kids are getting brighter and stronger these days."

It won't take much more to convince Minato to take this. He just had to word it right.

"I still don't know,..."

"Well, you could at least give them a try. At least with the kids, they'll get your mind off the missions."

Was that too direct? thought Jiraiya.

"Hmm, I suppose I could see what they're like but if I find that they're not fit to be on the battlefield, I'm sending them back to the academy regardless whom child they are."

"That's the spirit." Yes. "Now don't let that stuff you talked to me about earlier, bother you. You're a good person, Minato and you look after your team. Besides, you'll have your hands full with these three in no time. I guarantee that," That Obito kid looked he'll be a handful, too.M.

"I guess your right. So where do I meet them? The usual."

"Yeah, you have to pick them up at the Academy and Minato,... here," Jiraiya threw a document over to him and watched pleased as he caught it, "Here's your new students files."

Namikaze Minato was surprised at how thick it was, "Geez, thanks," he replied, sardonically.

Jiraiya grinned, "No, thank you."

Now to make my leave before he changes his mind.

The Yellow Flash cocked a golden brow in wonderment, recognizing his sensei's intention.

"Now that I've found you and informed you of your assignmet, even though we didn't get a chance to sit down and eat, I can go to the bathhouse and research."

As it dawned on Minato what his former sensei meant, and got out of, he let out a resounding yell that echoed out in the village, "Jiraiya, you'll never learn you old pervert!"

"Pervert yes, old no." came a deep barotone voice from the distance, the huge scroll on his back disappearing from sight as minato stood astonished, a crooked smile on his lips.

Home. Jiraiya felt like home.

After figuring Jiraiya wasn't going to stop for anyone, even him for a free peep show of unsuspecting girls in bathing suits, Minato sighed lightly and headed to the Ninja Academy. Some fire to his step.

Time to see what these kids were about.