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Disclaimer: all character's of Naruto belong to the creator of the Manga/Anime series.
Warnings: Spoiler Alert, mild language

Guilty Conscience
Chapter One




It was your responsibility to watch over him.

That phrase had haunted him to this day. It was part of the reason why he left the village in the first place, after the boy's sensei, or as the village better known him as, the Fourth Hokage, gave his life to seal away the kyuubi and save Konoha from impending doom and destruction.

It had been such a simple request made by the Fourth that even he, Jiraiya, known around the other countries as one of the three great sennin's, could not fuck it up. But hah, no, that was not how it happened. He had fucked up the request and in doing so, that was the reason why his former student and himself had been on neutral, well he wouldn't go quite as far as frosty, terms, since that day.

But that time long since passed and here he was back in the village, like it was yesterday.

Orochimaru was on the move again.
He had been, for a while now.

He had been tracking his former teammate and hai, former koibito's, progress even before Orochimaru left the organization, Akatsuki. A covert establishment consisting of 9 S class criminals, bent on capturing all the youma for total domination. For what other reason beside that, Jiraiya did not know; but in time, he will find out.

Upon his arrival back, Jiraiya had discovered a new egg while in the village. His name was Uzumaki Naruto. Age 12, blond hair, sharp blue eyes, and whiskers that underlined he held a sealed entity inside of him. He immediately took the boy under his wing. He knew of another secret that related to the boy but in time he will tell him.

Inevitably, Jiraiya ran into his new students, jounin Instructor. Hatake Kakashi. The other reason why he left.

He could not face that boy, for failing him.

But he did. Keeping enough space from the young man, the very one that he could not protect as a child, with the Yondaime's wish.

As Jiraiya spoke to him, he thought Kakashi grew up to be a fine gentleman but noticed from the younger man's body language that mimicked his own, why he was being cold towards him.

He could see Kakashi was hurt by this distance he was creating but it was for the best. If Kakashi only knew the true reason why he kept him at arm's length, he'd doubt the copy ninja would even be here by his side. So instead, Jiraiya concentrated on informing Kakashi of Orochimaru movements. As well as the fox demon sealed inside Naruto that the Akatsuki wanted to attain, by kidnapping Naruto and how he thought it best if the boy remained in his custody for the time being.

And while Jiraiya told Kakashi all this, Kakashi took it all in, nodding and asking the right questions at the right time. Never once disagreeing even after he gave him a last warning before they parted.

Jiraiya told Kakashi, Itachi was coming back to the village and how it was important for Sasuke to learn how to use the Sharingan.

Kakashi again nodded in agreement and remained quiet for the rest of their conversation as he too lost things to say further to him.

It was so hard to just be here; let alone remain eye contact with him.

It got so stagnant between them, Kakashi made an excuse to leave but not after thanking him for the heads up.

As for himself, Jiraiya tried to crack a smile as he waived goodbye to Kakashi but he could not look pass that misfortunate day of how he failed him when Kakashi was a boy and abducted by Orochimaru. Hell, the only reason why he hasn't high tailed it out of there yet even without his new student at hand was of the semblance of kindness he could offer Kakashi those 15 years ago.

The sealment of Kakashi's memory, the day Orochimaru stole him from under his nose.

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