Naruto: In Search of Hokage
Disclaimer: I am just a fan. I do not own Naruto.
Prologue
In a decimated forest outside the Main gates of a well known ninja village called the hidden leaf, Konohagekure, men and women could be heard screaming. The forest floor was littered with the dead bodies of many brave ninja who had sacrificed their lives in order to defend their village against an unyielding and unrelenting nine tailed demon fox known as the Kyuubi. Standing among the carnage of bodies, the Kyuubi lifted his head to roar announcing to the world the deeds of an enraged beast.
Elsewhere in a dimly lit corridor two figures cloaked in shadow stand in front of a door speaking in hushed tones.
"Have all the preparations been made," asked the first figure.
"He is finishing the last steps now." The second figure responded as relief mingled with remorse.
"Good, because I don't think we can keep it at bay much longer. The losses are catastrophic, and the numbers are still rising." The first figure shifted uneasily, sadden by the decision they made.
The second figure voices his remorse aloud, "I wish there was another way."
They briefly share their mutual concern as they stood in the corridor, ready to enter the next room. The two figures take their places within the room completing a circle which has been formed around a small child, and a man with blond hair who has just finished performing some type of jutsu. He made the last hand symbols required and bent over to kiss the child on the forehead. Only the child can hear him whisper, "I am sorry my son. Be strong, and know that your mother and I will always watch over you. I love you, farewell." The man left the circle to face the cause for all this suffering. As he exited the door, an old man was waiting.
"This is the last we will see of each other for awhile, so I just wanted to say Good Journey, and there could have been none better to have succeeded me. I am honored to have known you," said Sandaime.
"Will you honor me with one last request? Watch over my son, and when the time is right give him this. It is my parting gift and the last thing that I will be able to do for him," replied Yondaime.
"I will," said Sandaime as he took possession of a small box.
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At the Main Gates, the Yondaime summons Gamabunta the Boss of all frogs.
"Hey Pipsqueak, long time no see. I hope you have a good reason for summoning me because I was just in the middle of my favorite soap and am very put out" said Gamabunta annoyed.
"Some things never change. I need a ride and a distraction. There's no time to waste, so let's get hopping," Yondaime said shaking his head.
As Gamabunta and the Yondaime arrived at the scene of carnage, he activating his portable transmitter and made hand signs, saying "It's time, begin."
The circle of men surrounding the child began forming hand signs and chanting. The child cried. Yelling over the roars of the Kyuubi, Yodaime asked Gamabunta to gain the Kyuubis attention; Gamabunta let loose a water bullet gaining the Kyuubi's undivided attention. The Kyuubi faced the Frog boss and let out a roar covered in demonic chakra, but it is too late. The Yondaime finished his last jutsu in life and introduced the Kyuubi to the Shinigami (Death God). The hands of the Shinigami reached through the ethereal image of the fourth Hokage and took hold of the Kyuubi, pulling out his soul and sending it up and into the stratosphere. The Kyuubi's physical form vanishes sealing the pact made between the Shinigami and all who dear to summon him. Those whom survived this terrible ordeal will name the Yondaime one of the greatest ninja to ever walk the face of this earth. Arguments erupted over him being the greatest Hokage as well.
Back in the small room a red mist slowly finished entering the child as the men within the circle performed the last of their hand signs and chants. Perspiring profusely and near collapse with exhaustion, one of the men within the circle turned to the Sandaime. "The sealing is done."
Another man at the back of the circle retrieved a kunai hidden underneath his shirt and lunged toward the child. Before this attacker could succeed in his attempt to kill the child, the man facing the Sendaime snatched the child away while leveling the attacker with a well-placed side kick sending him flying across the room and crashing into the wall where he is quickly greeted by two Anbu guards.
"Jiraiya, how could you? You know the child's death will also end the life of the demon that caused all this devastation," said a stranger.
"How could I? How could you? You gave your word to the Fourth, as did we all, promising never to harm this child. Yet you attempt to murder him!" responded Jiraiya with a menacing growl.
The stranger was livid. "I said what needed to be said in order to rid the world of a vicious demon and to save my village! A village nearly destroyed because of the demon within that child!"
Jiraiya's eyes were cold as he responded, "The demon may be within this child, but he is not this child."
"You speak of a demon, yet are not all within this room no better than the monster we seek to contain for what we have done to this poor child?" interjected Sandaime, taking a step forward.
"We did what we had to for the good of the village! In order to save that which we love!" spat the stranger.
"By condemning the love of another, and is this how you plan on repaying that sacrifice, and the sacrifice of his family, by becoming a demon yourself! I suggest that each of you burn these words into your memory; this child is a hero, just as his father is a hero. I cannot stop you from feeling the way you do, but I can stop you from harming this child any more than we already have. As I will be resuming my duties as Hokage, from this day forward the following laws apply to all within this village. Any who so much as utters that this child is the demons container to anyone other than those whom already know, shall be put to death, and anyone who is caught lifting a finger to harm this child, shall be put to death, and by anyone, I do mean anyone. Am I understood!" announced Sandaime in a very serious tone, suggesting no one should test the limits of his words.
Everyone nodded in acceptance of the newly passed laws solemnly. They began to filter away back to their homes; all but one left the small room.
"Do you think that they will obey?" asked Jiraiya, as they watched the group disperse.
"If I thought it was going to be that easy, I would have foregone the death penalty. Although I am sure bitterness and rumors will flourish in the older generations who survived this ordeal. I do believe they will adhere themselves to obedience in the first law. As for the second law, I am afraid he will still have to face great suffering, but it will at least curtail the murderous intent for the most part. His chance to become a part of the village and to not be seen as a monster will rest in the hands of the younger generation; that is the best I can do without having to finish what the Kyuubi started. I am hopeful it will be enough, but only time will tell." Sandaime spoke softly, contemplating the events that happened today.
Standing by the Sandaime Jiraiya his former pupil analyzes everything he has seen and heard before parting ways with his Master.
"Well I am off, Janna!" said Jiraiya, as he turned to depart.
Chapter 1: The Disappearance: part 1
In Hokage's office, Tsunade and Jiraiya discussed the current situation.
"Jiraiya, it has been a month since his disappearance, and still we have nothing. If he wasn't captured by Akatsuki then he must be …., or he would have reported in a long time ago," said Tsunade.
"I am certain he is not in Akatsuki's hands; I have exhausted all my contacts on that matter, and there are no signs showing him having been killed; so there is no point in jumping to that conclusion," responded Jiraiya.
"Then what?" asked Tsunade.
"I don't know; it's like he ceased to exist after that day. I didn't think it would come to this and I am not saying that we halt all the searches, but we are out of options, and right now our major priority is in fortifying Konoha. We are just going to have to wait and see what comes."
"I know what needs to be done Jiraiya! I am pestered and plagued by the elders every chance they get. Damn irritating old geezers are always putting their two cents in whenever they can. I am starting to wonder why they even bothered to ask me to assume the mantle of Hokage in the first place, and as if I didn't have enough on my plate already, it would appear that Danzou and his Anbu root are up to something," replied a frustrated Tsunade slamming her hands down on the desk. Shesat listening while Jiraiya relived the events of that day for the one millionth time, searching for some clue he might have missed that would help him to find Naruto.
Jaraiya sat quietly for a moment remembering back to one last conversation.
"For such a hard head you have improved greatly Naruto; if you keep training as hard as you have these last two years you just might reach Hokage," said Jiraiya.
"No duh pervy sage, I wouldn't be here wasting my time if it wasn't going to help me become the next Hokage." replied Naruto.
"Don't get too cocky kid. You still have a long way to go yet, but this is a good start. Now it's time to rest. Tomorrow we start back to Konoha." Jiraiya retorts before turning in for the night.
.
Naruto stared off into the night sky listening to the sounds of the crickets and Jiraiya's light snoring deep in thought before joining him. "Konoha, it's hard to believe that I have been away for two whole years. I wonder how much everyone has grown. Wait until they see how much I have changed and how strong I have become; they won't even recognize me. Sakura-chan, I will definitely be able to keep my promise and bring back Sasuke-kun!"
Both master and pupil sleep soundly unaware of three mysterious cloaked figures watching them in the distance. "Is everything in place?" asks the leader of the trio. His two companions nod their heads in unison. "Good, by tomorrow we will have acquired the Jinchuuriki. He won't escape us this time."
The day came and left quicker than Jiraiya and Naruto had expected; they had travelled far but still had some ways to go before reaching home. It was mid afternoon when the two had agreed to set up camp rather than pressing on into the late night to reach Konoha. Instead they would finish the last leg of their journey with the greeting of the suns first rays. "Naruto go gather some firewood while I unpack and set up the site." Jiraiya barked. Naruto sprung into action; shouting excitedly "I am on it!" as he disappeared into the forest. What the unsuspecting duo did not know was that Naruto was rushing into an elaborate genjutsu; there are not many people in existence who could pull the wool over the eyes of a legendary Sannin, but then few existed that could claim to be a genius with the surname of Uchiha. Finished with setting up camp Jiraiya busies himself with skinning rabbits while awaiting Naruto's return. Hearing a rustling of the foliage behind him Jiraiya turns.
"Great timing Naruto, start a fire while I finish skinning the rabbits I caught for supper."
"No problem, Jiraiya-sama." responded Naruto.
"That's a first" Jiraiya stated nonchalantly.
"What?" Naruto questioned as he began blowing on embers and slowly adding kindling.
"You know exactly what I am talking about. It is about time you showed your sensei some proper respect." Jiraiya boldly stated.
"Well after all this time I figured there is a first for everything Jiraiya-sama." Naruto quipped as he finished encircling the fire with stones. Jiraiya turned and placed a rabbit on a rock and began skinning it. Naruto seeing Jiraiya occupied with skinning the rabbit drew a kunai and began closing the distance between them stealthily, but quickly hid the Kunai and assumed an innocent posture when Jiraiya cocked his head over his shoulder and asked " Excited to reach Konoha tomorrow Naruto? "
"Aren't you?" Naruto replied.
"True, it will be nice to visit the hot springs after all this time, to relax of course." Jiraiya stated smiling perversely as he imagined himself in a hot spring surrounded by beautiful women. Regaining his composure, Jiraiya returned to skinning the rabbit when Naruto lunged forward aiming his kunai in the direction of Jiraiya's heart; at the last second, spikes of white hair shoot out everywhere impaling Naruto in the shoulder, chest and legs. Blood began to slowly drip from the side of his mouth.
"Why", is all Naruto could muster before entering a coughing fit and spitting up blood.
"I give you credit for your hengen jutsu (transformation technique), but you obviously did not do enough homework." Jiraiya calmly stated.
"How" Naruto rasped as he finished spitting up more blood.
"Your first mistake was when you were so formal, for as long as I have trained Naruto and been his sensei this is the first time he has openly shown me so much respect. Second, was your reaction to my question of returning home to Konoha, the thought of home makes Naruto anxious, yet you were calm, but your biggest mistake was in under estimating my teaching abilities and the abilities of my student to grasp what I have taught; after the last two years he has spent training with me, as thick headed as he can be, Naruto has at least come to learn never to be so obvious with his intent and movements." Jiraiya explained in a confident manner.
Naruto gasping in his last breathe spasms and dies the hengen dissipated revealing the form of an unknown ninja. Jiraiya examined the body for any tell tale signs that might give away the identity of his would be attacker. Discovering nothing, he bolted into the woods; his thoughts betrayed worry for his student. "The days in which Naruto needs to rely on others for help in fighting his own battles from what I have seen in these past two years of training are surely numbered, but for now I need to find him before it is too late."
Returning to the spot where he believed he entered the forest, Naruto heard the rustling of leaves, and quickly jumped back pulling out a Kunai while dropping the wood he had just finished gathering, and assumed a fighting stance when Jiraiya stepped out of the bushes.
"Oh, it's you pervy sage, since when did you begin announcing your presence? I thought we agreed upon stealth at all times to help sharpen my awareness." Naruto blurted out.
"My apologies Naruto; I guess old age has finally managed to catch me off guard." Jiraiya said avoiding the question. Thinking the statement out of character for the perverted hermit, Naruto cautiously holstered his Kunai, and slowly began picking up the wood he just discarded. His eyes never leaving Jiraiya, Naruto pressed the issue. "So old man, I thought you said you were going to be setting up the camp site?"
"I did; I was waiting for you when I decided maybe you needed some help and came to find you." Jiraiya's responses did nothing but fuel Naruto's suspicion as to his true motives for being there causing Naruto to ponder the whole situation.
"Now that's odd, that old pervert is always finding some reason to disappear when there is work to be done. He is always going on about how he has to do some fact finding missions for the village. As if I would believe that! We both know he just wants to go scout for girls so he can do what he calls research for his perverted book, dirty old perv. What are you planning old man? I bet it's a test to see if I am as gullible as before or if I have truly learned my lessons. Well, bring it old man! I'll be waiting; finally I get to try out my new jutsus ….hehehehe." Confident that he had his perverted master all figured out Naruto played along dismissing his sensei's odd actions. "Thanks, but no thanks. I got it old man."
Jiraiya turned and began to leave only slowing down to allow Naruto to pass; he pulled out a rope in which to subdue Naruto thinking it would do no good to take the chance in seriously injuring or killing the Jinchuuriki before they had extracted the Biju. Jiraiya lassoed Naruto making him drop the wood and then spun him around punching him hard in the gut making Naruto cough up a mixture of bile and saliva. Falling to his knees, Naruto gasped for breathe while Jiraiya stood over him with an air of superiority.
"Two years of training and you fall for something as simple as this. You truly are a pathetic ninja. Konoha must have fallen farther than I thought to allow someone like you to dawn the mantle of a leaf ninja." berated Jiraiya as he leveled a kick to Naruto's face. Naruto's head reeled from the impact, as his body began to lift off the ground from the force of the blow, Poof!! He exploded into a thick cloud of noxious smoke completely enveloping Jiraiya. Jiraiya's eyes began to water as he gagged and coughed uncontrollably.
All that could be heard through his uncontrolled gagging and coughing was the loud laughter of one Uzamaki, Naruto. "HAHAHAHA…. you thought I would be tricked that easy. HAHAHA…. how do you like my new technique?…..HAHAHA …the expression on your face…..HAHAHA…."
Naruto's merriment at his sensei walking into his trap was cut short as the tree he was hiding in began to fall; quickly jumping down and away from the tree while searching for the cause, Naruto is surprised by the figure of a pale blue skinned man with the visage of a shark standing next to the tree that had once helped to conceal him.
Elsewhere, the real Jiraiya took notice of the falling tree, and shot forward at a surprising speed in the direction of where it last stood as he whispered "Hold on Naruto. I am on my way."
"Akatsuki, here, How did they know where to find me? It doesn't matter; I better get back to sensei, from what I can remember in my last encounter with fish face he usually travels with Itachi, and I didn't see him which means he has to be hiding." Naruto thought to himself.
Naruto quickly reached the spot where he left Jiraiya gagging and coughing in a cloud of unpleasantness and anxiously surveyed the area for his master, but as the smoke began to dissipate he was greeted instead by a vomiting and very angry Uchiha, Itachi. "Oh boy, this is not good!" fumbled Naruto while he formed hand signs. Finished he yelled Kage Bunshin no jutsu (Shadow clone technique), Kage Bunshin Sendo Nioi no jutsu (Shadow clone a thousand times stench technique), Kage Bunshin Ma-Ka no jutsu (Shadow clone marker technique) forming an army of shadow clones which he separated into three rows of twenty five clones each and prepared himself for battle.
