Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto


Sarutobi sadly stared down at the sleeping infant, wondering about its future. He was bone weary although it was neither his age nor old injuries that weighed on him now. The Kyuubi was sealed and it had truly been in a class of its own. Unconsciously he straightened his wet clothes, remembering the recent battle.

The Kyuubi had shrugged off their most powerful attacks as if they were nothing. That was until Kakashi Hatake had cut a bolt of lightning in such a way that it had struck the Kyuubi. It seemed to be the only thing that actually had heard it, for its response had been instantaneous and terrifying.

Swinging its tails into the air it parted the storm to reveal a full moon. No matter how long Sarutobi lived, he would remember that. The sheer raw power needed to disperse a thunderstorm instantaneously was something he could never even approach and to think, all of that chakra was now sealed inside of this little body.

The child woke suddenly and immediately started crying. He wished there was a blanket nearby so he could pick him up to comfort him. Unfortunately, no one had the forethought to bring one and he was still soaked with rain and sweat. He stroked the child's head a familiar motion that had always comforted his children.

"At least the brat's lungs are healthy." Jiraiya shouted over the cry of the child as he approached.

He turned, "what took you so long?" His tone was accusatory and he regretted it.

"Kushina just died."

Sarutobi's hand paused in stroke; this was going to make things even harder on the child. "Did you tell her?"

"What would've been the point but, I think she knew." Jiraiya leaned forward to examine the still visible seal on the child's stomach. "I'm going to be honest; Minato surpassed me a long time ago when it comes to these sort of things. If anyone asks though, I'll back his work to the very end."

"So, your official statement is the seal is strong and it will be no threat to this village."

"Yeah, now if you don't mind I'm going to get drunk. Orochimaru's buying, so, I'm not going to be sober for a while." Jiraiya left without a backward glance.

Sarutobi nodded wondering if he should pass along the suspicions about his favorite student or not. No, he wouldn't, they were just suspicions and Minato had said he just was suspicious of him.

He also remembered the last request that Minato had asked of him before he had set out to delay the Kyuubi's advance. His son should be treated as a hero. Would that even be possible? He still didn't have an official count of the casualties and the ending of the battle had been less than satisfactory. There was so much anger and fear left over from the battle, how could he just dispel that?

"Excuse me," a quiet voice broke into his thoughts. The voice began again even meeker, "um, excuse me Hokage. I'm here for the baby to take it to the hospital."

Sarutobi started. He had been so deeply in his thoughts that her approach had gone unnoticed. She was young thirteen or fourteen and was clearly nervous. That was odd because although he did not remember her face she was young enough that he had talked to her class at least once and surely she had received missions from the Yondaime. So, it must be the child that was unnerving her.

He decided that if he cannot convince her, he could convince no one. "You're studying to be a Medical-ninja?" She nodded." Have you held a baby before?"

"I had a baby brother, I mean I still have him but he's not a baby I mean he still little but…"

Sarutobi laughed softly to calm her, "here give me that blanket." He wrapped the child and held him for a minute. "This baby has already done more to help this village than I ever could and yet, he is still so fragile."

He gently handed the baby to her but he noticed a hesitation on her part. She held the child properly but she held him as if she didn't want to touch it, like if their skin came into contact she would be burned. It was subtle and if he had not been so observant he would've missed it.

As he watched the girl leave he sighed. Konohagakure would be no different than any other hidden village that had created a Jinchuriki. They would fear its very existence. Anger surged through his weary body and he left the room heading towards an office he thought he would never see again.

Nodding to the guards as he passed, he entered the office and found it no longer to be his. Things were different even if only subtly so. The smell of tobacco that had been so thick was gone. Not only that, but there were smaller things, a plant was in the corner, a cluttered desk and even new paint on the wall. He felt like an intruder.

Forcing himself foreword he sat behind a desk. The chair was set for a taller man and he felt guilty for adjusting it. He wrote one draft and then another and another before being satisfied with the wording of his first proclamation of his second appointment.

By this time the sun had started to rise and he rose to attend the first meeting that would confirm the obvious. He tucked the paper in his sleeve to make sure it would be his first official business.

As he left the room he passed the pictures of his predecessors and of his successor. He paused in front of the last, "I'm sorry. I don't think anyone will see him as a hero, but I think you knew that. I will make sure that he is treated as normally as possible and that's a promise."