Naruto: Saving the Universe by Stealing Attributes

Konohagakure. Uchiha Compound.

Basking in the sunlight, Uchiha Mirai lounged back in a recliner, lazily stroking the ninja cat curled up in his lap.

The cat had a striking tri-color coat of yellow, white, and black. It was a calico Mirai had painstakingly chosen himself.

Under the warm rays of the sun, the calico purred contentedly, yawning as Mirai's fingers glided through its fur.

"Purrrrr…"

The sound of the cat's rumbling purrs made the corners of Mirai's lips lift in satisfaction.

"Yamiko, if you're sleepy, go ahead and nap for a bit. Once you wake up this afternoon, it's back to training."

As if it understood him, the cat—named Yamiko—tilted its head slightly and settled down cozily on his legs, drifting off to sleep.

"Mirai!"

A gentle voice called out from behind.

As soft footsteps approached, a pair of slender hands reached over and began massaging his shoulders.

"Time for lunch."

At her words, Mirai nodded and carried the sleeping cat with him as he headed inside.

In the room, seeing the cat still in his arms, Kurenai couldn't help but ask curiously,

"Mirai, when did you get so into cats? I don't remember you ever having a thing for them before."

Hearing that, Rin and the others also turned their eyes toward Mirai.

Sitting calmly in his chair, Mirai replied with a serious expression,

"Back then, I was young and reckless. I picked a ninja crow as my summon just because I thought it looked cool. Now I see how childish that was."

"As an Uchiha, contracting a ninja cat is the only correct path."

"Luckily, I came to my senses. It's not too late."

Kurenai blinked. Something about his explanation just didn't sit right. A woman's sixth sense told her there was more to the story, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"…Is that so?" she asked instinctively.

Mirai's face darkened. "What, are you saying a man can't just keep a cat without having some ulterior motive?"

Even if he did have another reason, it was purely out of curiosity!

Seeing Mirai's irritation, Kurenai quickly tried to placate him, pouting.

"Mirai, don't be mad. I was just curious!"

"Hmph! Go stand in the corner and reflect on your behavior."

"…Okay."

Kurenai obediently shuffled to a corner, head down, repenting for her offense.

If he didn't discipline her for a day, she'd be climbing on the roof the next! There are things a man just does—who was she to question him?

With Kurenai's curiosity dealt with, Mirai casually asked, "Where's Tsunade?"

Rin answered right away, "Tsunade said she was going to talk to Jiraiya."

Mirai paused for a moment.

Talk to Jiraiya?

...

Konohagakure. Training grounds near the Hokage Tower.

Jiraiya stood alone at the entrance to the training field.

In front of him knelt four lifelike stone statues—etched with painful realism.

From left to right: Mitokado Homura, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and Utatane Koharu.

The statues were all facing the Hokage Monument, kneeling in eternal repentance.

Memories surged through Jiraiya's mind like waves, and he couldn't help but let out a sigh.

He still remembered the joy he'd felt when he first became Hiruzen Sarutobi's student.

Back then, Sarutobi was young, powerful, and brimming with confidence and edge. He could wield all five elemental natures with ease and fought with brilliant instinct. There were no weak spots in his technique.

His famed Five Release Great Combo Technique had made him a force of terror across the shinobi world, earning him the title "Shinobi Hero."

Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had all looked up to their teacher with immense respect.

But over time, Jiraiya had grown unable to understand the man he once revered.

A teacher who preached the Will of Fire from morning till night had committed act after act that sparked outrage and condemnation.

And in the end… he was reduced to this—kneeling in disgrace, condemned for eternity.

"Jiraiya."

A voice behind him pulled him from his thoughts.

Tsunade and Orochimaru walked over, eyes falling on Hiruzen's statue as they too fell into silence.

After a long pause, Tsunade spoke first.

"You called us here out of the blue. What's going on?"

Jiraiya looked up and gave a hearty laugh.

"Hahaha… It just hit me that the three of us haven't had a meal together in ages. I figured—why not?"

"I brought lunch. Let's eat."

Tsunade and Orochimaru exchanged a look. Neither of them could figure out what Jiraiya was up to.

But with Jiraiya urging them along, they took the lunchboxes and sat on the ground in front of Hiruzen's statue.

"Today's the anniversary of our teacher's death," Jiraiya said out of nowhere, placing one of the lunchboxes before the statue.

Orochimaru's raspy voice carried a faint trace of coldness.

"You're still the same as ever, Jiraiya—always doing things that won't change anything."

Jiraiya gave a helpless smile.

"Yeah… I guess I've always been a bit of an idiot. My life's just one failure after another."

"I admired our teacher, but I couldn't bring myself to support him completely. I hated what he became, but I couldn't stop him from falling either."

"I wasn't a good man… and I wasn't villain enough to play the bad guy."

"I talk about purging darkness and bringing peace to the shinobi world, but in truth, I've just been running from the hard decisions."

"I never got the woman I loved. My novels barely sell..."

"…I'm a failure."

With that, he pulled out a sake bottle and took a long swig.

Watching him drink, Tsunade and Orochimaru both frowned.

"Jiraiya…"

"I'm fine." He waved it off, then added, "But even if my life's full of failures, that doesn't mean it was meaningless."

"I've seen Konoha rise again. I've seen the shinobi world reach peace. I've seen people living happy, fulfilled lives… and that's enough."

"Heroes don't have to be the main characters in stories. Seeing the dream you believed in come true… that's reward enough."

He poured sake for Tsunade and Orochimaru, then filled a cup and placed it before Hiruzen's statue.

Only after doing all this did he speak again, smiling faintly.

"Tsunade. Orochimaru. I asked you two here today because… I'm leaving."

"Leaving?"

"Where to?"

Both of them immediately sensed something was wrong.

Knowing Jiraiya, if he was just going off somewhere, there was no need for a formal goodbye—he'd never bother. And certainly not ask them to meet like this.

Jiraiya's smile faded. His voice dropped to a low, steady tone.

"There's one last thing I have to do. I'm going to travel the shinobi world one final time… to find a place I'd like to be buried."

"Today might be… the last time the three of us ever meet."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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