If you think about it, Jiraiya is an "almost hero".
He almost mastered Sage Mode
He almost brought back Orochimaru
He almost romanced Tsunade
He almost talked Nagato out of insanity
He almost saved Hiruzen
He almost saw Naruto become Hokage
He almost reached the end of the story
He almost mastered Sage Mode
He almost brought back Orochimaru
He almost romanced Tsunade
He almost talked Nagato out of insanity
He almost saved Hiruzen
He almost saw Naruto become Hokage
He almost reached the end of the story