Hi, I guess. Been a long time. I don't think I'll be updating this for weeks. I'm trying to work through my issues for the moment. Sorry... till then, enjoy, I guess? ;;

-I own nothing- - also unbetaed -

Prologue

The sun was setting, painting the village with an autumn glow and gradually turning the temperature into cooling. Adults laughed and imbibed, gossiping or just enjoying the breeze. Children stayed outside and played to their hearts content. Everything seemed peaceful until the door to the Hokage's office was slammed to open and Jiraiya entered.

"Jiraiya," The Hokage said calmly, "what brings you here? Have you gathered more information pertaining to the mysterious Uchiha who attacked Kushina and Minato?" He asked as he puffed his tobacco and stared transfixed through the window. Jiraiya couldn't see his sensei's face but his tone made the Sannin's hands curl into fists.

"You know why I'm here, sensei," He said darkly, "or did you think I wouldn't find out?" Jiraiya continued to glare at his sensei and he was struggling to remain calm. The way his sensei spoke non-plussed and nonchalantly, as though nothing occurred, struck the Sannin badly and it frayed his remaining self-control.

"Why?!" Jiraiya harshly whispered. "Why didn't you send me a messenger bird and tell me to come over? I had to find out the damn information myself." Jiraiya seethed and Sarutobi-sensei finally turned around.

At his sensei's continued silence, Jiraiya reared back as though hit by an invisible force. "You didn't want me to know," He said oddly and eyes widened before narrowing into slits,"How dare you, they're my godchildren – you had no right -!" He shouted as his blood boiled and a myriad of emotion bursted from his chest. Guilt, fear, worry, sadness, and anger. So much anger. It was cloying to feel, and toward his village leader no less. But Jiraiya didn't care and continued to fire accusation per accusation to the man. Sarutobi-sensei seemed to age before his very eyes.

"Jiraiya – I –," The Hokage haltingly said, "I never meant for this to happen. I see them as my own grandchildren." Jiraiya scoffed and grit his teeth.

"If you did, this wouldn't have happened!" Jiraiya slammed his hands on Sarutobi-sensei's desk.

"I can hardly control the villager's actions, Jiraiya! Believe me when I say that if I could, they wouldn't have done that to them, and they twins would still be innocent of this world's cruelty!" He said angrily and was simultaneously deflated of all anger at once.

"You did have control of their actions, sensei," Jiraiya closed his eyes, for once unable to stand the sight of his sensei. Not right now. "If you hadn't declared them as the Kyuubi's new Jinchuuriki, they would live a normal life and be normal children like Minato and Kushina would've wanted. But you - ," Jiraiya shook his head and turned his back from his sensei.

"Jiraiya - ," Sarutobi-sensei said and Jiraiya sighed.

"I can't even stand looking at you right now, sensei," He said with a dull tone, "I'll be taking them with me and raising them as they should've been raised. As I should've done long ago." The Hokage's eyes widened.

"But what about your spy network?" He asked, desperate and sad. Jiraiya shook his head. He can't keep the kids here or they might die.

"I can manage it just fine. I could've done so long ago. I should've done it. And if I can't, maybe I'll look for Tsunade," He said with his back still turned before glancing at his sensei one last time, "I'll contact you when I have more information about Minato and Kushina's murderer. Until then, don't send a messenger hawk after me." And he left, taking with him Naruto and Hangaku; leaving Konohagakure behind as the sun set fully in the horizon and setting a whole new course of events in motion. Events that would shake the world to its core.