Author's Note: I do want the readers to keep in mind, I haven't finished the series and nor is this related much, I pretty much am starting somewhere along the lines of Sasuke being taken by Orochimaru and going on on my own from there, so if things are "wrong" just go with it, I'm not trying to duplicate the series these are my own inventions.
I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters they are the property and creation of 1999 Masashi Kishimoto All rights Reserved, Shonen Jump, and Viz Media.
Prologue: The Gentle Man, A Most Dangerous Ninja
.:Sake House:.
'With Naruto away on a mission, the village is finally quiet, but far from peaceful. At least now I can enjoy some peace myself!' an older male with long white hair thought to himself as he sipped his sake.
"HEY! PERVY SAGE!" a loud boyish voice rang through the air.
The man choked on his sake as he spun around in time to see a spiked blonde boy land before him.
"N-N-Naruto!"
"Pervy Sage! I heard you were back from your mission!"
"Uh... Yes! But weren't you sent on a mission?!"
"Eh?... Oh! I was on my mission but as soon as I heard you had returned to the village I made quick work of it and came straight here!"
"Lady Tsunade gave you a D-Rank mission didn't she?"
Naruto laughed nervously flailing his hands around, "No! No! It was a Super Classified S-Class Mission! A thousand times more important than yours!" He paused for a moment and thought, "Speaking of which, I want to hear every detail of your success!"
The man took another sip of his Sake and sighed, "I failed," he responded simply.
Naruto looked slightly shocked and confused for a moment, "Failed? The Great Pervy Sage failed?"
"Yes," he responded and nodded, "But... I had already assumed I would from the beginning of the mission. This would be the third time I attempted this, the third time I failed,"
"What kind of a mission would you be sent on three times, and fail all three times... Maybe your not as great as you seem..."
"QUESTION ME NOT! It was am impossible mission! I was not the only failure!" the old man composed himself and sighed, "I was sent to find a man who promised to never be found, always be needed, and one day return,"
Naruto looked more confused than before but just as interested, "Never be found? How long has he been able to keep this promise for?"
The man thought for a moment and smiled, "It's been about thirteen years since he left last, but he came of his own, and before that it was somewhere between twenty five and thirty years... It's hard to recall."
Naruto looked shocked, "Who is this guy?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know much about him, but Lady Tsunade could better inform you, she does after all know him personally," he explained
A shine in Narutos' eye was lit as he smiled, "Leave it to me Pervy Sage! I'll find out all the details!"
With that the blonde boy was off and the old man smiled as he went back to enjoying his sake, 'That will keep him out of my hair for now'
.:Entrance To Hidden Leaf Village:.
A girl with pink hair sat on a lone bench reading a scroll that was placed gently on her lap, 'Being outside feels so nice, but it seems Lady Tsunade was eager to get me out of her office,' she thought for a moment.
She thought back to the saddened look on the Fifth Hokages' face she had seen earlier and then sighed, 'Oh well, it can't be helped, besides... It's a nice day out!'
She smiled before hearing distant foot steps approaching the village, she turned a bit confused and tried to squint. Unfortunately she could not recognize the person, and was going to return to her scroll having not sensed a threat.
"HEY!"
She turned quickly and was able to make out it was a man, as he approached she noticed he was a handsome man looking to be between twenty eight and thirty five.
"Hey, is this Konohagakure?" he asked curiously and kindly
"Yes! Welcome!" the girl replied smiling
The man sighed in relief and smiled, "Finally! I've been traveling for weeks! I uh... Got a bit lost," he explained
"Well, you've made it! Hello I'm Sakura Haruno! Can I help you find something, or someone?" Sakura asked happily, 'Anything to get out of studying...'
"Uhm... Yes! Now that you mention it! I'm looking for Ramen!"
"Ramen? A Noodle shop?! You came all this way for noodles?!"
"Yes! The Best Noodle Shop in all the lands! Ramen Ichiraku!"
.:Fifth Hokage's Office:.
The Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, stood at her office window, staring desperately at a leather bracelet she was playing with in her hand.
'When will that day be... That you return... Now that I-' she thought before hearing a commotion outside her door.
"HEY! GRANDMA TSUNADE! LET ME IN!" Naruto yelled as he tried to escape the two men who were guarding the door.
Lady Tsunade sighed as she sat on her chair and crossed her hands in front of her, "Let him in," she commanded.
The doors flew open and Naruto fell onto the floor as a young lady followed behind him, "We tried to stop him-"
"That's enough Shizune, we both know keeping Naruto out is nearly impossible," Tsunade stated, "What do you want Naruto?"
Naruto grumbled slightly as he composed himself by sitting cross legged on the floor thinking, "Hm... Ah! Pervy Sage Jiraiya was telling me about his mission, he told me to come ask you for more details on the target since you knew him best," he explained as he stood up.
Lady Tsunade sighed as her head dropped, "Jiraiya was a student of his! I suppose he just wanted to get ride of you though," she explained slightly annoyed.
"It doesn't matter! I want to know! So I can find him!" Naruto explained cockily
"I'll tell you what I know but your not going anywhere, and I might as well considering the amount of eaves droppers!" Lady Tsunade yelled as she threw a few Kunai in various directions exposing a few Shinobi named: Guy, Lee, Kakashi, Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, Asuma, Hinata, Kurenai, Shino, Akamaru and Kiba.
"Forgive us Lady Hokage! We didn't mean to spy but great Shinobi's like Jiraiya don't fail missions quiet often!" Guy begged
"Does everyone know?!" Tsunade asked
"Well Jiraiya was pretty drunk earlier, seeped in disappointment," Kakashi explained
"Well, since it can't be helped, I'll tell you what I know," Lady Tsunade explained as she seated herself in her chair.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes thinking back:
"I'll start by saying this... He was a Gentle Man... And A Dangerous Ninja...
He was born here in the Hidden Village of the Leaf, his family of no particular reputation, and his father died before he was born. His mother named him Junjou Kagemusha, a tribute to a shinobi of legend. She alone raised him and cared for him, she was a sweet woman with a kind heart and soul, which is where he had his from. They were poor and barely got by, as Junjou got older he joined the Academy, his mother had more time to work without worry of her son. Junjou was nothing special, just another face in the crowd at the academy, because of this as a Genin he was placed with two remarkable students. He showed little interest in training, but when the Chuunin Exams came he was the only one in his Squad to pass. It was then his skills suddenly increased at alarming speeds, shortly enough he was a Jounin at age fifteen, but neglected any and all Genin teams. Instead he took an apprentice... Jiraiya. He was only six years older than us at the time, and Jiraiya looked up to him like a brother, Orochimaru was jealous of this relationship and was always close by observing and trying to gain knowledge as well, Junjou never singled him out. A few years later he became the leader of the ANBU, Sotaichou, never wearing his mask in the village as he felt nothing to fear, and the mask he did wear was that of The White Wolf. The village was at peace for a while and it was then he left with permission from the Hokage. Years passed, the Second Shinobi World War came leaving the village in shambles, and that's when Junjou returned from his travels. Seeing the shambles of a village he begged the Hokage to leave it's defense to him alone and the other Genin and Jounin could help rebuild the village. Unwilling to believe in the power Junjou could possibly posses he gave him a test, and impossible test. Of course Junjou accepted it-"
"What was the test!?"Naruto interrupted
Ino bonked Naruto on the head angrily, "If you keep listening she'll tell us!" she yelled
"Thank you, let me continue...
Junjou's test was to find the cloak that belonged to the Sage of Six Paths. And impossible mission considering no one knew where the sage had died, or even existed. Junjou promised to return in three days, no more no less. He paid a quick visit to his ill mother and then departed once more. As he said, in three days at the moment of sunset he re-entered the village wearing the cloak and the Magatama Necklace. Jiraiya was waiting with so much joy and excitement to see his brother again. Junjou told Jiraiya he had grown over the last few years and gave him the Magatama Necklace as a gift knowing he would one day need it. The Hokage recognized Junjou's powers and realized what a danger he truly was, true to his word Junjou protected the village from many dangers alone, other Genin and Jounin were giving the opportunity to go out on missions and grow. The village recuperated and Junjou felt his purpose was completed, the Hokage asked him to stay, to help train the shinobies but Junjou refused and said only 'I must leave, but I promise I will never be found, I will always be needed and will one day return.' Even after the attack of Kurama, Junjou didn't return. The gift he left Jiraiya was used to seal Kurama within Naruto, and the beads turned to the symbols on your stomach which seal the demon fox now. It was assumed Junjou died at some point, but Jiraiya says otherwise..."
"So... Junjou is suppose to be dangerous but you never really explained why," Choji mentioned as he ate his chips.
"It was said Junjou was able to use Rinnegan, not at the level of the Sage, but at about forty percent of the way," Lady Tsunade explained.
"But the Sage is just a myth," Kakashi responded looking up from his book.
"Just as Junjou is, but your speaking to someone who knew him personally," She retort
"So you sent Jiraiya to find Junjou, hoping their bond was strong enough that Jiraiya would succeed... I was wrong. I'd go myself but... Shizune wouldn't let me go,"
"You have an obligation as the Fifth Hokage! You are honor bound to stay and protect the village!" Shizune exclaimed.
"In any case, it was worth a try and Jiraiya gathered plenty of other information, so for now back to your duties, all of you!" Lady Tsunade ordered.
"Yes!" they all chimed and then left.
Lady Tsunade sighed and looked at the bracelet in her hand, 'Junjou... Where are you now, and why haven't you come back?' she thought sighing.
END
Author's Note: The excitement hasn't even begun yet but I hope the scene is set enough for you all to follow along!
Next time: "Jou-Jou! The Man She Once Fought!"