Jiraiya is dead, we get to see how Naruto processes the grief. It was heartfelt and showed the growth of his character over the years. I had to rewatch twice to catch all of the subtle references to Naruto true growth.
2 Reviews
Mourning Jiraiya
tomasmmc-7719823 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Another excellent and heartfelt episode. This is what Jiraiya causes. After Naruto leaves saddened, Fukasaku says that this was expected as he just told him the news. Tsunade then falls deep on her memory of Jiraiya's farewell, and Fukasaku brings her back to reality. The others notice this, and the old toad tells her to stay strong to protect the village. Fukasaku reveals the two other things that Jiraiya left to solve the mystery of Pain's abilities. First, he tells that the toad next to him contains a hostage from Hidden Rain village, with information. And second, he invokes the toad that contains one of Pain's bodies. Tsunade, Sakura and Shizune go downstairs with Fukasaku, who has to return to Mount Myoboku. Still, he tells them to contact him when they discover something, besides, Naruto's matter involves him as Jiraiya's legacy. Then, the three go to the morgue, and Tsunade orders Shizune to gather a medic team to analyze Pain's body. Later they call Shikamaru, update him about what happened, and the Hokage orders him to gather a team to decipher the code on Fukasaku's back (a picture was taken). He complains about the hour, and other things, but Tsunade doesn't want to hear this, and walks away. When he protests, Sakura makes him understand that it has been a long day for Tsunade, implying she couldn't take a personal time in all day. And a little further on the hallway, the memories of Jiraiya, shared moments though the years, from the farewell to the day she met him, run on Tsunade's mind. She finally allows herself to cry. This was a perfect side of the episode. Because Naruto is not the only one with grief. Tsunade loved Jiraiya in a special way, they were partners a whole life. He loved her since the day he met her, protected her during the war (like in the battle with Hanzo), was there when Nawaki died, and so many other untold times. He helped to bring her back to Konoha when she needed it. And he was the last person of her generation to pass away. Now she has no one else, because Shizune, Naruto, Sakura, even Kakashi, are all younger. Can be implied that she lost her parents, and it's known what happened to Nawaki, Dan, Hiruzen, and now Jiraiya. And remembering the farewell, seeing the flashbacks, becomes tearful. He said by the twilight, that he would be honored if she cried for him, and also joked that she cried more for Dan. All the dialogues were perfectly written, the reactions were very well depicted, the cinematography too. And Tsunade is a wonderful character, the leader of the village, who always seems strong, she inspires respect, but she is also sensible and keeps the memory of every beloved person she lost.
Then, there's Naruto's mourn. He keeps walking on the street, in a similar way than Shikamaru after Asuma died. He sees a poster from Jiraiya's novel and remembers his pervert spy moments on a hot spring. But then he also remembers moments of their training during those years, where Jiraiya showed him that he could make clones too. Then, Iruka sees Naruto, yet he doesn't know what happened and invites him to eat ramen like usual. When the saddened Naruto declines and keeps walking head down, Iruka is left surprised. Later, Naruto is shown depressed on his bed, gets up in the middle of the night, and goes to buy a double ice cream. He sits on a bench outside, while the ice cream melts, and his tears fall. He remembers the moment when his old clothes started to break, and so Jiraiya took him to buy new ones. The current black and orange jacket, to which the Sannin said that the clothes make the man. Then, Iruka joins him, now aware of the bad news. Naruto tells that he wanted Jiraiya to keep watching over him, and to see him become Hokage. He somehow feels that Jiraiya only saw his bad things, his whining, so Iruka tells him what the Sannin told him. He did see all the good things, and had no doubts that he would become Hokage one day. He considered him like his grandson, and will still watch over him from where he is now. Iruka tells him to not change the kind of person he is, the person Jiraiya met and chose as his student. Naruto thanks him and feels a little comforted. In the meantime, Shikamaru tries to decipher the code, but on the respective area is told that it doesn't match any normal code numbers from Konoha intelligence. Shihou (a woman with glasses who unfortunately turns into a fangirl) thinks that the key to decipher the code has to be known by someone close to Jiraiya. The man thinks the same considering the Sannin wrote it during his last moments alive. Shikamaru then asks Tsunade, off screen, to get nothing. He asks Kakashi, who remembers that Jiraiya used some of those to numbers: they were the measure of Tsunade's breasts. Kakashi realizes he got nothing either, and sends him to ask Naruto, and also to watch him, since he is worried. Shikamaru finally goes, and finds a still depressed Naruto on his dorm. He looks at the picture, but soon loses on his grief and Shikamaru has to bring him back. To wake him, he takes him to the hospital, where they find Kurenai. After a comedic relief given Naruto's naivety, Shikamaru tells him about Asuma's son. When Kurenai leaves, he explains that Asuma left him in charge of his son, to be his sensei. He knows about Jiraiya's death, so he knows exactly how he feels. Shikamaru tells Naruto to think about the things that Jiraiya wanted him to take care of, the important ones and the not. He also tells that it's their time to grow, one day they will be sensei, and Naruto sensei is going to take his pupil for ramen. That way they will be as great shinobis like Jiraiya and Asuma, that's how they will continue their legacy. Naruto is inspired by Shikamaru's words, and agrees to do what Jiraiya wanted him to do. This side of the episode was also excellent. Naruto had his mourning process of crying, being depressed, comforted but still saddened, and finally remembering what Jiraiya entrusted him. The memories and flashbacks were tearful, were showed new moments of the past training between Jiraiya and Naruto. And seeing the younger Naruto, more like the grandson of the good Sannin, was nice and emotive. Iruka was important to remind Naruto that he still has someone there for him, the familiar face who comforted him at the beginning. He made him realize that he was not alone then, and that he is not alone now. Iruka is that kind of old brother that Naruto needs on these moments. Sakura could have shared a scene with him here, but probably she wasn't the person he needed now. Still, he knows she cares about him, and how close they became. And seeing her worried face after Fukasaku left, implying that she was thinking about Naruto, just proves that she wants to be there for him, like she showed at the end of last episode. Anyway, here she had to take care of Tsunade. She allowed her to grief after the long day. It's clear that Sakura was the second person (behind Naruto) of the young generation to meet Jiraiya and Tsunade. She knows what they feel, and could imagine if she loses her sensei. To finish, Shikamaru once again proved to be the real friend for Naruto. The secondary character, as important as a protagonist. Losing Asuma (another loss that produced brilliant moments on the anime), allowed him to say what Naruto needed to hear. They are the legacy of their senseis, and they must continue that legacy. Imagining Naruto as sensei is a good sensation, at least by this stage of the story. Shikamaru can do things that other characters can't. The memory of Jiraiya and Asuma will live on their pupils, and that way, will remain alive.
Then, there's Naruto's mourn. He keeps walking on the street, in a similar way than Shikamaru after Asuma died. He sees a poster from Jiraiya's novel and remembers his pervert spy moments on a hot spring. But then he also remembers moments of their training during those years, where Jiraiya showed him that he could make clones too. Then, Iruka sees Naruto, yet he doesn't know what happened and invites him to eat ramen like usual. When the saddened Naruto declines and keeps walking head down, Iruka is left surprised. Later, Naruto is shown depressed on his bed, gets up in the middle of the night, and goes to buy a double ice cream. He sits on a bench outside, while the ice cream melts, and his tears fall. He remembers the moment when his old clothes started to break, and so Jiraiya took him to buy new ones. The current black and orange jacket, to which the Sannin said that the clothes make the man. Then, Iruka joins him, now aware of the bad news. Naruto tells that he wanted Jiraiya to keep watching over him, and to see him become Hokage. He somehow feels that Jiraiya only saw his bad things, his whining, so Iruka tells him what the Sannin told him. He did see all the good things, and had no doubts that he would become Hokage one day. He considered him like his grandson, and will still watch over him from where he is now. Iruka tells him to not change the kind of person he is, the person Jiraiya met and chose as his student. Naruto thanks him and feels a little comforted. In the meantime, Shikamaru tries to decipher the code, but on the respective area is told that it doesn't match any normal code numbers from Konoha intelligence. Shihou (a woman with glasses who unfortunately turns into a fangirl) thinks that the key to decipher the code has to be known by someone close to Jiraiya. The man thinks the same considering the Sannin wrote it during his last moments alive. Shikamaru then asks Tsunade, off screen, to get nothing. He asks Kakashi, who remembers that Jiraiya used some of those to numbers: they were the measure of Tsunade's breasts. Kakashi realizes he got nothing either, and sends him to ask Naruto, and also to watch him, since he is worried. Shikamaru finally goes, and finds a still depressed Naruto on his dorm. He looks at the picture, but soon loses on his grief and Shikamaru has to bring him back. To wake him, he takes him to the hospital, where they find Kurenai. After a comedic relief given Naruto's naivety, Shikamaru tells him about Asuma's son. When Kurenai leaves, he explains that Asuma left him in charge of his son, to be his sensei. He knows about Jiraiya's death, so he knows exactly how he feels. Shikamaru tells Naruto to think about the things that Jiraiya wanted him to take care of, the important ones and the not. He also tells that it's their time to grow, one day they will be sensei, and Naruto sensei is going to take his pupil for ramen. That way they will be as great shinobis like Jiraiya and Asuma, that's how they will continue their legacy. Naruto is inspired by Shikamaru's words, and agrees to do what Jiraiya wanted him to do. This side of the episode was also excellent. Naruto had his mourning process of crying, being depressed, comforted but still saddened, and finally remembering what Jiraiya entrusted him. The memories and flashbacks were tearful, were showed new moments of the past training between Jiraiya and Naruto. And seeing the younger Naruto, more like the grandson of the good Sannin, was nice and emotive. Iruka was important to remind Naruto that he still has someone there for him, the familiar face who comforted him at the beginning. He made him realize that he was not alone then, and that he is not alone now. Iruka is that kind of old brother that Naruto needs on these moments. Sakura could have shared a scene with him here, but probably she wasn't the person he needed now. Still, he knows she cares about him, and how close they became. And seeing her worried face after Fukasaku left, implying that she was thinking about Naruto, just proves that she wants to be there for him, like she showed at the end of last episode. Anyway, here she had to take care of Tsunade. She allowed her to grief after the long day. It's clear that Sakura was the second person (behind Naruto) of the young generation to meet Jiraiya and Tsunade. She knows what they feel, and could imagine if she loses her sensei. To finish, Shikamaru once again proved to be the real friend for Naruto. The secondary character, as important as a protagonist. Losing Asuma (another loss that produced brilliant moments on the anime), allowed him to say what Naruto needed to hear. They are the legacy of their senseis, and they must continue that legacy. Imagining Naruto as sensei is a good sensation, at least by this stage of the story. Shikamaru can do things that other characters can't. The memory of Jiraiya and Asuma will live on their pupils, and that way, will remain alive.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
