[OP: "Cold is the Night"--The Oh Hellos]

Day 55:

https://youtu.be/Q4wm1LgxPR0

[Jiraiya AMV to "See You Again" by KennOP --I'm not really a fan of Jiraiya, as you can guess, but, for those of you who are, I thought this was a pretty good AMV.]

It was raining the following morning, sure enough, but it was a light drizzle still.

The weather was starting to get to everyone's energy though, and they wished it would clear up again.

However, when they heard what they were doing today, from Shikamaru, they thought the weather was appropriate.

It wasn't a very official ceremony by any means. They all just gathered by the lake, the one that Camie was sure was the one Jiraiya had sunk into when he died.

It was kind of sombering to think of that for the Leaf Ninja. Most of them didn't know Jiraiya at all, but to think one of their own Sannin had perished right here in this spot, and alone...well...they all thought he was brave for coming here at all.

"Still, it makes you think," Temari said to Shine, aside. "He fought to get into this and to get out of it--and failed... We walked right in."

"You read that book I gave you?" Shine asked. "About the woman who accused the gods...and she did those tasks?"

"Yes," Temari said. "Your favorite book, if I remember right."

"Yes. Remember what she said about the tasks: what cost her painstaking effort was easy for the other woman, because one of them had help, and the other was trying to do it on her own strength." Shine glanced around. "Jiraiya might have been one of the strongest ninja ever to live, for all I know, but he was a man. You must never forget that we who have divine help, we will always do things other people cannot do--but we should never let it make us proud. I'm very sure that if we came here in arrogance, or even fear and desperation, we would not have gotten in. Though maybe we wouldn't have died... Pain is gone, after all."

"I wonder if you could have stopped Pain," Temari said.

"It's not a question I need the answer to," Shine said. "Maybe, maybe not. It no longer matters. This is for Naruto. Leaf can forget Pain...and maybe they will forget Jiraiya too, because people are forgotten most of the time. That's why you should have people who really cared about you to remember you by. Some people think we are what we leave behind."

"You didn't think much of Jiraiya's methods, did you?" Temari said. "Or of his character. Why did you want to do this?"

"For Naruto of course," Shine said. "Naruto and I do not understand each other very well, but I think we both understand what it feels like to lose someone and not be able to do anything about it." She looked sad. "I think about it often, still. You know, I was never so careful with my students before that happened to me. I wouldn't have done a lot of things I do now: the rule about not going anywhere alone, the rule about taking stupid risks. I took many in my previous missions, and I never stopped anyone else from doing it. I didn't invoke authority the way I do now. After Wally's world, that changed. I began to take more responsibility for my students...to act as a leader, not just a helper."

"But do you think you could have prevented what happened by acting like a leader?" Temari said.

"No, that wouldn't have changed a thing about it," Shine said. "Funny, isn't it? I know that, but I changed anyway because of it."

"But your precautions make sense, with how dangerous our lives are."

"No doubt...but at times I miss when I didn't think about it. It was less real to me then, but I was more carefree." Shine tugged her hair. "But with age comes responsibility. I know it's better this way. It's just the wish to spare ourselves worry and pain that makes us not want to take it."

"Well, you sound like a shinobi sensei now," Temari said, which Shine took to be a compliment. "This is a rare side of you. But I understand it well. Naruto would probably understand you better if he knew that's how you felt."

"It's not the kind of thing I'd like to explain to him," Shine said. "Because to encourage him to think that everything can be stopped is a bad idea. And if I told him, he would only reply that he would prevent it from happening again, maybe out of concern for me as well as the others. And I wouldn't ask someone his age to take on that kind of burden for me."

She looked up. "Wally is better at making sure people don't die. I've yet to lose a student on a mission with him that wasn't their own fault. That's a good track record. Maybe I always needed him."

Temari pursed her lips. The more she learned about Shine and Wally, the more she saw they were like anybody else. They had their scars and their losses and their needs.

She felt she should already have known this, but how often did she assume they were untouchable also?

Still, Naruto might listen to them more if he knew they'd taken some of the same hits he had.

As it was, Naruto did think they were nice to encourage him to do this, in their way. Maybe he had been a little too quick to judge them before.

Even Sakura had admitted that this was more than what she had expected from them.

"I know Jiraiya meant a lot to Naruto," she said. "I feel bad for him, you know..."

"I'm glad to hear it," Dabi said.

Sakura glared at him.

Dabi coughed nervously. "Sorry...that wasn't...funny. I'm serious. I mean, this isn't a joke. Not that I really get it--I never liked Jiraiya either, but I guess to Naruto, he was a big deal."

"You have to remember," Momo said, "that he spent a lot of time with Naruto, more than most of his teachers did. At least he made Naruto a priority. Kakashi never did that much till after...you know."

"Kakashi probability thought Sasuke needed the most help," Camie said. "I guess, anyway. Why, when he was already so stuck up, I dunno. But Jiraiya would have been cool if not for that...gross stuff."

"I don't think we should talk about him that way," Shoto said. "Whatever we feel, he was important to Naruto. "

"Yeah," they agreed somberly.

Sakura was surprised that they acknowledged it.

Sasuke startled them by approaching.

"What exactly happened to Jiraiya?" he asked.

"Hi to you too," Dabi muttered.

"Didn't you hear?" Sakura asked Sasuke.

He gave her a look that said "would I have asked if I did?"

Sakura shrugged. "He went after Pain... I'm not sure he knew who Pain really was at the time. But he found him here. But he never made it out. I don't know beyond that. He sent us a message on a frog."

"Toad," Momo corrected.

"Oh, whatever, they look the same," Sakura said.

"Actually, toads and frogs do have several significant differences--" Shoto began.

"Shut up," Sakura cut him off.

Shoto gave her a look, and she backed off.

"J-Dude did put up a big fight," Camie said. "But Pain had too many cheat powers. Jiraiya honestly probably could have got away if he hadn't stopped a few times. Should have just brought Tsunade with him so she could do her invincibility thing. Pain couldn't have killed her then."

"I'm not sure that would have worked," Momo said. "And he could have deprived Leaf of their Kage."

"Naruto took it really hard," Sakura said. "Though I didn't talk to him about it."

"That's a surprise there." Dabi was sardonic.

Sakura shot him another dirty look. 

"Dabi," Momo said.

"Whatever." Dabi shrugged. "Just saying, he's your friend. At least Shikamaru tried to make him feel better."

"I didn't know what to say anyway," Sakura said. "It's never happened to me. And I hope it doesn't. Lady Tsunade is a needed shinobi."

"At least no one has to feel bad about Sasuke's Sannin dying," Dabi said.

Sasuke made no disagreement with that, just looked disgusted. "Really, for all that actually helped me later, I might as well have not done it."

That remark shook them all, including Sakura.

But they decided not to react, on second thought.

"So Jiraiya died here," Sasuke returned to the subject. "I think I did hear of it, but not how. And then Pain went on to destroy Leaf Village. Didn't one of you say that Pain was once Jiraiya's student though?"

"When he was Nagato," Shoto supplied, "yes."

"Well, that worked out." Sasuke was sarcastic.

"About as well as Orochimaru being Sarutobi's student did," Bakugo pointed out. "Leaf really doesn't seem to win too much respect from their mentees."

Sasuke looked like he agreed with that.

"At least Jiraiya had a dream of better Leaf in the future," Momo said. "We should be glad someone did. Naruto and him were on the same wavelength."

"I think Naruto is going to say a few words," Dabi redirected their attention.

Naruto and Shikamaru had stepped up.

Shikamaru cleared his throat and looked at some notes.

"Well, I'm not really the official to do this," he said, "but since we don't have anyone here who is, I guess...I'll just say that, here lies one of Leaf's legendary Sannin, Jiraiya...and he died protecting Leaf, which is the highest honor shinobi can have."

Sasuke looked a little annoyed, but thankfully he didn't scoff out loud.

"There's not a lot else for me to say," Shikamaru said. "Naruto, did you want to say a few words?"

"Sure." Naruto cleared his throat. "Uh...I don't really have a knack for writing speeches, and, honestly, I doubt Pervy Sage would have really cared about it. But...he was...my teacher, and he was a good friend too." He looked at the lake a bit sadly. "I guess this was where he wanted to be...so...I'm glad that we got to come here and fulfill his dreams of making peace with Rain Village after the war. Even if he didn't get to see it, I believe that he knows, somehow."

Hinata nodded, thinking she might cry.

Momo was crying. She couldn't help it.

Naruto looked around. "I guess the only thing left to say is...goodbye, Pervy Sage." He glanced at the lake again.

There weren't any real flowers to throw in the water, but Shikamaru had asked Guren if she wouldn't mind donating a few of their hand made ones to the cause, and when she heard what it was for, she agreed to it.

She, Yukimaru, and Gozo were there, though they said nothing since they didn't know Jiraiya at all.

Naruto dropped one of the flowers into the lake.

Then the rest of the Leaf followed suit.

Sasuke didn't do it. He didn't feel it was something he should or wanted to do. He was too far removed from this.

Shine had made attending it optional anyway.

Everyone had turned out, though. No one wanted to be asked why they sat it out later.

Shine moved closer to Naruto.

"In our world," she said, "it's a tradition to play songs during a funeral. I don't know if you mind, but it doesn't feel right somehow to just talk, at least to me."

Naruto knew he shouldn't be surprised Shine had a song for this occasion too.

"If you want," he said.

Shine was pretty sure he was trying not to cry anyway.

She nodded and hummed a few notes before she began:

"It don't matter to the sun if you go or if you stay. No, the sun is gonna rise, shine down on another day.

"There will be a tomorrow, even if you choose to leave.'Cause it don't matter to the sun--it matters to me.

"It ain't gonna stop the world if you walk out that door. This old world just keeps spinning round, like it did the day before. 

"'Cause to them it makes no difference. It just keeps on keeping time. 'Cause it ain't gonna stop the world. It'll be the end of mine....

'"Cause it don't matter to the moon if you're not in my life. Oh, the moon will just keep hanging round like it's just another night. 

"You'll find another place to shine...'cause it don't matter to the moon--it matters to me."

https://youtu.be/VuYg00_uCSY

["It Don't Matter To The Sun"--Rosie Thomas. I know that this is kind of a break up song, but I thought with just a few lyrics taken out it really fits more as a grief song. The movie I first heard it in was Instant Family, where it was also used more about loss, so I must not be the only one who thinks so.]

It was hard not to cry after hearing that song.

Momo understood Shine's choice, actually. To the world, the idea of losing a Sannin was just a troubling event.

But to Naruto it was personal. Ninja dismissed loss so often as just part of life, it didn't really seem like they ever stopped to think about it--and really, neither did heroes.

Naruto wasn't the only one thinking about it; Shikamaru and Ino were both thinking of their fathers, as well as Asuma.

Choji looked at them sympathetically.

Ino wiped some tears away.

Hinata thought of Neji's father. Really...all this killing was so unnecessary. Pain didn't really need to kill Jiraiya. Jiraiya wouldn't have been able to stop him anyway... No one needed to die who had died because of the attacks in the war or the rivalry between the Villages. All of it was so foolish.

She glanced at Hanabi and wondered if she was thinking the same thing. Maybe she was; she was a thoughtful young lady.

Even Karin was finding it hard to not let the mood get to her.

Gaara nodded at Naruto sympathetically. "I'm sorry about your mentor," he said. "I don't know that I ever told you that before."

Naruto nodded silently.

"I guess this is part of it, huh?" Kankuro said, closer to where the others were standing, and Sasuke and Sakura were still by them.

"Part of what?" Bakugo asked, surly. This kind of thing always made him uncomfortable.

"Gaara's whole thing about sharing bonds," Kankuro said, "and Naruto's sharing pain and stuff. I thought so when Shine suggested this idea. I think she said something about that, even, that we can't share...joys and not sorrows, something like that."

"Miss Likstar is a wise woman," Shoto said somberly. "I know she's had her losses also, but she doesn't shy away from them the way we do. I've noticed that heroes are often expected not to act upset by things, but, when All Might lost his quirk, I think it was hard on many of us."

Bakugo looked uncomfortable even more.

"Or Sir Nighteye," Momo said, "for Mirio and Midoriya. I felt bad for them."

"But it's like I told Deku," Todoroki said. "I think heroes cry when they need to. All that...'smile always' stuff, just doesn't really make sense to me. I don't think I could do it, anyway."

"Bro, you don't smile all the time even when you're happy," Camie said. "But hey, even I have bad days, and I'm, like, the happiest person out of all of us."

"I think we all have bad days," Momo said. "It's something that we never talk about. I guess UA puts an impossible standard on us...sometimes. Not that it's not a wonderful school."

"Not as wonderful as we thought," Shoto said. "I've started to see that nothing is really as perfect as you think it is."

"You can say that again," Kankuro said. "None of the Villages are perfect. But, on the other hand, maybe they're not all as terrible as people think. This place is a mixed bag."

Temari moved to join them. "It seemed strange to do this after being so busy helping people," she said. "I think Shine did this for Naruto, really. But I have to admit, it wouldn't hurt us in Sand to be a little more aware of loss."

"That's...unusual for you to say," Karin said. 

"I was talking to Shine about it, and, though she didn't say that outright, I got to thinking of it on my own," Temari said. "It does seem a little easier to share this...not that I'm one to complain, but, Gaara seems more at ease this way."

"You know, I like that you want to help Gaara," Momo said, "but I think you could worry about yourself sometimes too. Don't you need support as much as he does?"

"For what? I'm not the Kage," Temari brushed it off awkwardly. No one ever worried about her, but leave it Momo to worry about everyone.

"I used to think that way," Bakugo said to her. "Still don't like help, but now and then it's fine, if you can win faster that way."

"You really have changed since we started last year," Shoto said. "But then, I think of what I said back then and I feel...ashamed. Like when I declared war on Midoriya."

"The wrong person," Bakugo grumbled.

"But really, why declare it on anyone in class?" Shoto said. "Now that I've seen a real war, even for one day, I feel like I was a little flippant about it. I won't throw that word around again."

"I believe none of us will throw around words like that again," Momo said. 

"You guys all took that festival too seriously anyway," Camie snorted. "All us hero students should be totes allies anyway, not going to war with each other."

"Unless it's the Paranormal war," Dabi said. "But even that seems like we're just playing with the idea. It's not funny anymore."

"What is your life that you play with that idea?" Temari asked them.

"I guess our dangers are ones that we choose, mostly," Mmo said. "Unlike yours... They find you. You don't really get a choice. I suppose I never saw that as a privilege on our part, till now." She tapped her chin. "Do you think we're getting more serious?"

"I hope not," Camie sighed. "All this gloom and doom talk doesn't suit my aesthetic. Can we cheer up already?"

Temari pulled out a scroll.

"I don't know if this might cheer us up," she said. "I just got this from Sand Village, but I haven't read it yet. I thought Gaara might want to read it first. But it's from Matsuri."

"Matsuri?" Shikamaru joined them right then. "Why is she writing to you?"

"Because she's Gaara's disciple and one of those people who knows about our secret method of sending communication," Temari said. "So no risk of it being intercepted like that messenger hawk was. I prefer not to let people know about us being here till we're ready. I told you I had spies in Sand."

"In your own village?" Momo said.

"They're not spying to try to take it down," Temari defended herself. "Just to make sure no one there gets too greedy while we're gone. In case we need to come home and clean house."

"I suppose that makes sense..." Momo still thought it was weird.

"Trust me, in Sand Village, that's just smart," Shikamaru told her. "I really thought it was necessary anyway."

"But isn't she a kid still?" Dabi asked.

"She's older than Hanabi, and she's with us," Temari retorted. "Matsuri is smart enough, when she needs to be. And she's loyal to Gaara, which is more important, and she knows our true intentions, which is the most important in this case. I'm sure she has a good report."

"Report?" Gaara joined them. "You received one?"

"From my special source," Temari said significantly.

Gaara knew who it was.

"Well, we're safer from being overheard here than inside the Village, so let's look at it," he said.

Temari opened it. "Should I read it out loud?"

"Go on. I assume there are things they should know," Gaara said.

Temari began to read.

* * *

Matsuri, who took her asking about helping Gaara quite seriously, had been giving the people of Sand Village updates all along on his quest. Not that they knew it was her; she was smart enough to know she could be a target with her age and lack of family if they knew she was Temari's informant. So she worked through the senseis Gaara trusted the most.

But it was true that most of Gaara's loyal fans and more humble supporters in the Village were still invested in this peace mission going well. The news of them leaving Stone had yet to reach the council itself, so for all they knew things were just going well there.

Of course, when Matsuri had learned they had gone on to Rain, she had been quite understandably terrified for their lives, but the subsequent reports had reassured her that they were fine.

But she also had heard that they were trying to get funding...

Well, Matsuri was a smart girl, it turned out.

She was quite unlike the Sand Siblings in that they would have assumed a grand gesture would be necessary to get what they wanted. Instead she did what, to her, seemed like the most simple and innocent solution.

She just went around the shinobi she knew from training--which were many, since, as Gaara's student, she was quite well respected by them--while mentioning to them that Lord Gaara's funds were potentially running out.

Of course, she made this sound like it was the fault of the expenses they were racking up trying to establish peace--which was true--and that the council since was not sure if they could afford to send more than the allotted amount.

Shinobi are not given to charity, but no one thought of supporting "their beloved and inspiring Kazekage" as charity. It was simply not the justice of the world that Gaara would be falling short when his cause was so good and would benefit their Villages so strongly.

As usual, it was the younger shinobi who were the most in favor of Gaara, as the older ones both either still didn't like him much or just were wary of the changes he caused, though many had come around since the war.

But it didn't matter. Matsuri, ever pragmatic about it, just asked all of them if they'd pitch in a few of what would have been their equivalent of dollars. Maybe enough to pay for a meal.

For many people in Sand, it was difficult to pay for much, but thanks to Gaara's emphasis on sharing, they weren't in nearly as bad a shape as Stone was, so they weren't starving, and they could spare a little.

But some of his more loyal fans, many of whom he'd helped directly in the past, went above and beyond that and contributed whatever they could without going broke.

"This will make our Village better," they told Matsuri. "And Lord Gaare deserves our help. If not for him, Madara would have wiped us all off the map."

Matsuri agreed.

But it didn't stop there; word spread around the Village, and more people showed up to her house to drop off either money, or food, or even clothing to help the Kazekage's cause.

What they could spare, they said.

Matsuri could hardly believe it. This kind of generosity was unprecedented.

Finally, Gaara's old teacher caught wind of what she was up to and found her out.

Matsuri half thought he'd be angry, but he just was amazed.

"The Village really gave all this just to support him?" he said.

"They love that Gaara has put them first before his own safety." Matsuri shrugged. "But he's always been that way."

"Not always..." the sensei said. "But...well...this is...something else." He shook his head. "But we have no way to get it to him. Didn't you think of that?"

"No, I didn't," Matsuri said. "But I think I know a way to get it to him. Can I try?"

"Is it legal?"

"Yes, perfectly, but he wouldn't like me to tell you. It's...a Kage special way." Cryptically.

This was kind of a lie, but she felt it was better than saying she knew a mysterious woman who could summon objects.

She'd barely met Shine in person actually, but she'd seen her after the war, talking to Gaara.

"As long as it's not forbidden, I don't care," his sensei said. "But see to it that you don't lose any of this. The council is tight-fisted with their funding...but it's best not to say anything. Still, they would pay more if they thought they needed approval more than money."

Matsuri nodded.

And that was when she sent Temari her update.

* * *

"Matsuri has proven to be resourceful." Gaara was astonished. "I wouldn't have thought it was possible the Village could spare anything."

"But if everyone gives a little, it's not so bad," Momo said. "Still...that's amazing."

"What a remarkable girl." Shine had come out to listen to this while they were reading. "To even think of that. Gaara, I hope you promote her later."

"I should," Gaara said.

"Matsuri will live up to her name at this point," Dabi said. 

"Whaddya mean?" Wally asked.

"Her name means 'festival'," Momo said. "Celebration, you know...and that would be appropriate. But, Shine, can you bring the stuff here?"

"No," Shine said. "I can't bring it here without having seen it first, and I don't know where she has it anyway.  But not to worry, I have a solution for this."

"I hope it's not me running for it," Wally said.

"Not at all. I'll just bring her here and she can bring it with her," Shine said. "And you can thank her in person. We'll have to be careful about it, though. It's a lot of things, and we'll have to run it out the door."

"I can do that part. I don't mind if it's a few feet," Wally said.

"Feet?" Tenten said.

"Like a meter, but smaller," Momo said tirelessly.

"Americans and their weird measurements." Dabi rolled his eyes.

"I'll have to portal all that into the living area, though," Shine said. "No way I want someone to see that. I'd better go. Te, can you send her a warning about it?"

"Yes, I'll do it right away," Temari agreed.

"Well, that did cheer me up," Camie said.

* * *

It wasn't too much longer before they had opened the doorway and the items were pushed through.

Matsuri didn't really need to come through herself to accomplish this, but she wanted to anyway, so she did.

Of course, she was a little surprised to see how many of them were there now. Many people in Sand had not even known Sasuke was going to be on the mission, and none of them knew about Team Taka or the addition of Rock Lee and Choji.

"Hello again," Naruto said to Matsuri. "I remember you. I used to think you were a boy, but--"

"Naruto!" Ino cried, mortified.

Matsuri took it surprisingly well. "A lot of people thought that at first... I had kind of a low voice as a kid," she said. "But I hope it's easier to tell now."

"There're a couple things that would make it easier, yeah," Suigetsu said before Karin could slap him.

"Thank you for doing all this," Gaara said. "I...almost don't know what to say. How did you convince everyone to do it?"

"It didn't take much," Matsuri said. "I didn't even convince all of them. Some of them just volunteered."

Temari sorted out the donations.

"It's not enough to really do much here," she said. "Not for the entire Village...but it could help us at least get some material in here. It's more than I would have expected. And thankfully, they did send us food. I admit, I've missed Sand Village food."

"Really? I thought it was kind of plain when I visited," Shikamaru said.

"Pfft, you Leaf overdo flavor," Temari retorted.

"At home that's European-versus-any-other-culture-in-the-world debate," Shine said. "Personally, I can't handle spices, but Wally manages to try."

"Try is the key word," Wally said. "I mean, hot cheetos are good, but full on hot peppers? I don't know about that."

"I don't like hot spices that much," Shoto said.

"Bakugo and I love it," Camie said. "But I admit, he's probs got a higher tolerance than I do... So Sand Village food is bland?"

"No, it's restrained," Kankuro said. "Refined. You can try some of this, you'll see. It'll go bad if I leave it out anyway. Our mini fridge in the office space is not gonna hold all of this."

"Just tell me if anything's not that hot and I'll eat it," Shine said. "Matsuri, you're welcome to stay with us for the night. You can catch them up on Sand Village."

"Sure," Matsuri said. "Don't worry, I told the people who have to cover me I had a mission. I just didn't say it was a solo mission."

"I'll have to tell Neji about this," Hinata told Hanabi. "He'll be shocked at their care for us. It's humbling."

"It's awesome," Hanabi said. "To think, after Stone Village, I really thought we were screwed. It's like they don't even care."

"They don't know," Temari told her. "But, with any luck, if we pull this off, they won't care when they do find out."

"Isn't that deceitful?" Momo worried.

"No, I think it's fine," Wally said. "They're supporting Gaara's efforts, no matter where he is, right?"

"Minor suggestion," Shine told Temari. "If you give some part of this to Rain Village, make them sign a paper that says it will be used only for restocking their supplies, or for sure someone will keep it to themselves. Starvation does not bring out the generosity in most people. And neither does property, but they'll be like to be more desperate about it right now."

Temari saw the wisdom of that suggestion once she pictured it. 

So when they did that, they made sure that the Council understood that, if they found out they had misused the funds, they would be expected to repay them.

This threat worked well, as they thought it would, since they now could see that Rain would never want to go to war with Sand Village.

Mirai, at first, didn't want to accept their "underserved support" for nothing, but Temari managed to convince her that it was just repayment for their hospitality and that it was customary...which was stretching the truth a little, though some Villages did give aid like this, but not usually to this extent. However, it worked.