Sarutobi Hiruzen, better known as the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf village, sighed in despair and pinched his brow. He was aware of the hatred the villagers had for Naruto, but never thought that they would go so far as to bribe medics in the hospital to poison him instead of giving him treatment. It was only due to the intervention of a certain white-haired pervert that Naruto was still alive.

After Naruto was left lying on the ground, having been beaten up for protecting Hinata, a group of drunken men had stumbled upon him and beaten him to within an inch of his life, delivering injuries to him which would have killed any normal person. "It's the first time he's had you to thank for anything," Hiruzen thought, directing these notions at the Nine-Tailed Fox which had attacked the village.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Wearily, Hiruzen told them to come in, and Jiraiya entered.

"Sensei, I can't believe you are going to let those men go unpunished, and why aren't you taking any action after those medics either?" Jiraiya exclaimed thunderously.

"The council are defending them too well, claiming that the medics simply mixed up the bottles and that the men who beat him up were not in control of their actions, so I can do nothing."

"Nothing! What if I got drunk and went to beat up all those involved in this! Would you be able to take action against me?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"But nothing! This kind of crap is the exact reason I left the village. You're the God of Shinobi for crying out loud, how can you let the council do this!" Hiruzen turned his head away in shame. He knew it was true, but he was getting old and could not deal with Danzo and fight against the council at the same time. "Fine then, if you won't do anything, then I will. As Naruto's godfather, I am invoking the law which will allow me to take him away with me and train him, so that he won't be beaten up by thugs." Now it was Hiruzens turn to become enraged.

"Jiraiya I will not allow such an act!" He stood up and slammed him hands onto the desk, splintering the wood. "Naruto is a citizen of the Hidden Leaf village, and I will-"

"A citizen? Pfft. I would hardly call him a citizen after all that this village has put him through. He deserves better! His parents were two of the finest shinobi I knew, and it tears my heart apart that you can't even protect from civilians! End of discussion!" The Third Hokage sat down weakly and waved a hand.

"Go," he said, before flickering away out of the office. Jiraiya sighed and headed out to the hospital.

Naruto lay on his bed in the ward, only barely awake after being beaten up the day before. He looked around and saw a man sitting next to his bed; head slumped forward in his chair. The man glanced up and saw Naruto sitting there, looking confused. "Ah, Naruto, you're awake!" he said, reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair. Naruto flinched away from him, causing Jiraiya to look concerned. "Don't worry lad! I'm your godfather!"

"My godfather?" now Naruto looked confused. Then he brightened up. "Hold on, doesn't that mean you knew my parents?" Now he was excited. "Ooh tell me about them! Were they cool? Were they awesome shinobi? Could they defeat all of the enemy ninja with a wa-ta! Hi-yah!" Naruto made chopping motions with his hands, making nurse come in and scold Jiraiya for over-exciting him. Naruto went to talk again, but Jiraiya shushed him.

"Now now Naruto, don't get too excited. I'm not allowed to tell you about your parents," Naruto looked down, crestfallen. "However," he continued "that law only applies in the village."

"You're, you're taking me away?" said Naruto

"Exactly!" replied Jiraiya "I'll take you away and train you so that you can get stronger than everyone else in your class."

"Even that jerk Sasuke!"

"Even him. Now go home and get packed, we're leaving tomorrow! I've already spoken to the Hokage about it, so make any goodbyes you need to."

Naruto gulped down a seventeenth bowl of ramen as Teuchi and Ayame wept with the prospect of their favourite customer being gone for four years. "Don't worry about it guys, I'll be back before you know, believe it!" Naruto got up and left to meet Jiraiya at the gate.

"Uchiha Sasuke," called out Iruka

"Hn,"

"And Yamanaka Ino,"

"Here!" she called enthusiastically.

"S-s-sensei," said Hinata meekly, "Isn't N-n-naruto-kun coming in?"

Iruka sighed. "He isn't coming anymore, Hinata. He has left."

"Left?!" she squealed "What do you mean! Will he never come back!" she said, not noticed her stammer had gone.

"Yes, he has gone away with an esteemed shinobi and will return when it is time to graduate. He isn't of any importance anyway."