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Konoha: Burial Grounds of the Brave

“People of Konoha.” Jiraiya said, stepping forward, his usual playful grin replaced by a rare, serious expression. The crowd fell into a stunned silence as he began to speak, his voice carrying through the air with unexpected weight.

“I know I’ve said I’d never take the Hokage seat,” Jiraiya began, bowing dramatically with a flourish. He straightened up, his characteristic grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “But for Minato, I’ll make an exception.”

A few gasps rippled through the crowd. The murmurs began—questions, confusion, and disbelief, but Jiraiya held up a hand to quiet them.

“Minato was not just my student. He was my closest pupil, like a son I never had. Way braver and courageous of a man I could ever be watching him fight in countless battles, and I watched as he gave everything to protect this village—his life, his legacy, and his heart.”

His voice grew quieter, more somber, as he looked out over the crowd, catching the eyes of familiar faces—Naruto’s, Kakashi’s, Hiruzen’s,Kushina’s and even the clans that lined the gravesite.

“When Minato became Hokage, he didn’t just do it for his own glory. He did it because he believed in this village. He believed in you. In all of us. And when he sealed the Kyuubi away, he didn’t just save Konoha—he saved us from a darkness we couldn’t even begin to understand.”

Jiraiya paused, his eyes briefly flickering toward the tombstone where Minato was laid to rest, his face softening with unspoken grief.

“I’ve spent a lot of my life running from responsibility, avoiding the weight of leading. But Minato’s death has reminded me of something I’ve known all along: We can’t run from the things that matter most. Not anymore.”

He straightened, lifting his chin with renewed resolve. His earlier lightheartedness returned, though there was a rare steel behind his words.

“I’m not here to be a perfect leader. Hell, I’m not even here to be the best leader. But I’ll be a leader who fights for this village—just like Minato fought for it. I’ll be a Hokage who stands with you all when the storms come. I’ll be a Hokage who never forgets the sacrifices that have been made to keep Konoha safe. And I’ll be a Hokage who keeps moving forward, even when the path ahead seems impossible.”

He looked at the villagers and shinobi gathered before him, his grin growing larger, more mischievous.

“You might think I’m too old for this, or that I’m not the Hokage you expected. Maybe you're wondering if I’ll be too busy with my... research to lead properly.” Jiraiya winked, earning a few chuckles from the crowd, despite the heaviness of the moment.

“But what I can promise you is this: I will always put Konoha first. I will protect you, guide you, and fight for this village until my last breath.”

Jiraiya’s eyes darkened slightly, his voice growing more serious. “And I’ll do it in honor of my fallen Student, the Fourth Hokage. The Will of Fire burns in me just as it did in him—and now, it burns in all of you.”

He raised a fist to the sky, the gesture bold and defiant, his confidence pouring into every word he spoke.

“So, Konoha!” he called, his voice ringing clear and strong. “Let’s not mourn what we’ve lost. Let’s honor Minato and many others that fell during the attack by standing together, rebuilding, and ensuring that this village continues to shine with the same light he gave us. Together, we will protect this place, and together, we’ll make sure that the Will of Fire will never die!”

A cheer rose from the crowd—hesitant at first, then growing into something powerful, something united. Despite the sorrow, despite the uncertainty, there was a renewed sense of hope in the air. Jiraiya’s words, though reckless at times, had a way of reaching people. His promise to honor Minato, to stand with the village—despite everything—struck a chord in the hearts of the people.

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The flame of hope flickered brightly again, and even in the face of loss, Konoha’s future seemed a little less uncertain.

Jiraiya turned to Naruto, giving him a wink, and for a brief moment, the boy saw the weight of responsibility in the man’s eyes. But even so, Jiraiya’s grin never faltered, and the promise of a new Hokage—someone who had known both victory and loss—felt like a beacon in the dark.

"Let’s go, Konoha,” Jiraiya finished with a smile. “We’ve got a village to rebuild.”

The entire crowd had paused, the tense silence hanging in the air for a moment before it erupted into cheers. The atmosphere, once heavy with uncertainty, now seemed lighter, filled with newfound hope.

Jack stood in awe, his gaze fixed on Jiraiya as he delivered his inspiring speech. The words resonated deep within him, filling him with a sense of purpose. “He’s right,” Jack thought, his mind racing. “I have to start acting on what I’ve promised. I need to rebuild my family, step up as the new head of the house, and honor the legacy my father left behind. I’ll do my best to imitate his confidence and positive outlook. I’ll be strong—for Mom... and for my little brother.”

He looked down at Rock Lee, the baby boy in his mother’s arms, and with a smile—one full of hope.

His mother noticed the smile and nodded, clearly moved by Jiraiya's words. She had always seen Jack as the quiet, thoughtful type, but he looked like he had new resolve.

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Konoha: 1 yr and 2 months later

"I’m going to fail this! I’m already doomed!!" Jack's voice cracked with panic as he slammed his forehead onto the desk, groaning in frustration. The book he had been reading, Ninja Basics for Idiots by Jiraiya Ogata, lay open in front of him. The words seemed to blur together as he stared at them through his growing frustration.

His mother walked into the living room carrying a giggling one-year-old Rock Lee on her hip. She raised an eyebrow at Jack’s dramatic outburst.

“What’s wrong, Jack?” she asked, her voice soft yet concerned.

“The Fifth Hokage’s entrance exam for the ninja academy is coming up... and I’m going to fail it,” Jack groaned, his voice filled with anxiety.

“Entrance exam?” Jackie blinked, clearly confused. "Back when your father was around, I remember him saying that the exams were much easier than most people realized. He talked about how even as a villager, it wasn't too hard to pass and make it into the academy."

Jack lifted his head from the desk, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "You’re right, Mom. Back in Dad’s day, it was easier. But ever since Jiraiya started the A over C initiative for the new academy class, the bar's been raised. It's a lot harder now."

"A over C?" she tilted her head, still a bit lost. "What kind of program is that? Is it something to do with phonetics or language skills?"

Jack laughed, though it lacked much humor. “No, Mom. A over C stands for 'A-class over C-class.' Jiraiya-sama wants future Jonin, not just Chunin, to come out of the academy. He believes in quality over quantity. It’s why there are stricter prerequisites now. He’s pushing the academy to train better, stronger ninjas.”

His Mom's eyes widened as the meaning clicked. "Ah, so it's about producing more highly skilled ninjas rather than just filling the ranks?"

"Exactly," Jack nodded. "That’s why Konoha’s been tackling more B-rank and higher missions recently. They’re pushing the village’s ninjas to get better, faster."

"Well, it certainly sounds like you've been paying attention," she said with a warm smile, clearly proud of her oldest son.

Jack gave a small, grateful smile back. "I have to. General knowledge is the first thing we’re tested on in the exam. If I don’t know the basics, I’m done for."

"Well, tell me more," Jackie said, taking a seat beside him. “What else are you being tested on?"

Jack adjusted his posture, feeling a little less stressed now that he was talking through his concerns. "Well, there’s the written part, which has multiple-choice questions on village history, policies, and ninja traditions. There are also some essay questions about what it means to be a ninja. Then, there’s the practical test. We have to navigate an obstacle course while collecting ramen recipes—"

"Wait, ramen recipes?" She interrupted, looking slightly confused.

Jack grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I know. It's kind of weird. Apparently, Jiraiya’s idea was to make the test practical and a bit more fun. But there are rumors that there might be a hidden challenge in the obstacle course itself."

Her brow furrowed in concern. “I don’t know, Jack... sounds like a lot for someone your age to handle.”

“I know,” Jack muttered, looking down at his hands. “But the worst part? After that, we have to use the ramen ingredients we collected to cook a dish. The Chunin will judge it to decide if we pass or not. The first test is next month and the final test is three months after the practical, so there's a lot of time to prepare... but I just don’t know if I’m ready."

His Mom placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, her voice warm and reassuring. “You’ve got this, Jack. I’m sure you’ll do great, just like your father would have.”

Jack’s smile faded slightly, his eyes drifting toward the photo of his father on the living room mantle. He gently hugged his mother back, his voice quiet but filled with uncertainty. “I just... I don’t know how I can live up to Dad’s legacy. How can I be as strong as he was?”

His Mom's heart swelled with emotion, but she smiled gently. “Jack... you don’t have to be exactly like him. You’re your own person, and that’s enough. You’ll find your own way, just like he did.”

Jack stared at the picture of his father for a long moment, his thoughts swirling. He wasn’t sure how to make it through the exam, or if he could live up to his father's legacy. But one thing was for certain: his mother believed in him, and that gave him the smallest flicker of hope.

“I hope so,” he whispered, his gaze still fixed on the photograph.

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