Chapter 1: Mount Myoboku
The road back to the Konohagakure was long and boring, at least to Naruto Uzumaki. The spiky, blonde haired ninja was sighing quietly, but loud enough for his Jonin Sensei to hear. This had been going on for over two hours now and both his teammates, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, had their patience worn thin.
The silver haired Jonin with gravity defying hair was busy reading the newest book from his favorite series of romance novels. He had been tuning out his energetic student for a while now, but even he had limits, "Yes, Naruto?"
"Can you teach us some new jutsu?" The student asked his teacher, "I mean it's cool that we learned how to climb trees, but I want to know more!"
Naruto's raven-haired team and the last loyal scion of the Uchiha clan spoke up, "That boy, Haku, pretty much had us beat and he was our age!" It irked Sasuke that he had been totally outclassed, "It would also shut Naruto up."
"Hey!" Naruto shouted in protest.
Sakura looked between the two, feeling a little uneasy, "I think they're right."
Kakashi looked between his three students, all the while quietly thinking, 'Lord Third, would be a little annoyed at us being late, but this mission was a wakeup call.' For the first time in hours he finally put down his book, 'These kids will need to learn something new.'
Sasuke was strong, and he had just awakened his family's bloodline, The Sharingan, but he needed to work out some kinks. Naruto had a pretty good handle on using the shadow clone jutsu, henge, and kawarimi. That was it for him though, he needed a bigger jutsu repertoire and probably work on his taijutsu. As for Sakura, well, she needed the most work out of his team. A genjutsu with her chakra control.
He would have to send word to the Hokage. Biting his thumb, Kakashi went through a series of hand signs, Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram, "Summoning Jutsu!" A puff of smoke revealed a small pug with a bored look.
"Whatchya need, Kakashi?" the pug, Pakkun, spoke to his summoner.
"I need you to deliver a message to Lord Third, my friend." As Kakashi relayed his message to the pug an idea crept up into his hyperactive student's head.
Naruto followed his sensei's example and bit his thumb and went through the proper hand signs, "Summoning Jutsu!" however instead of a dog appearing, or any animal, for that matter, in a puff of smoke Naruto simply disappeared.
"Naruto!" Kakashi was shocked that the boy had been dumb enough to even attempt a jutsu like this without even thinking.
His other two students were even more shocked, "Sensei, what happened to Naruto?" Sakura asked. Of course, she had heard of the summoning jutsu, but this was new to her!
"Without a summoning contract any ninja trying to use the summoning jutsu will be brought to the realm of whichever animal they have a natural affinity for!" Sasuke explained. He himself had looked into getting himself a summoning contract, but this was crazy, even by Naruto's standards!
Kakashi looked down at his summon who seemed to shrug, "Sasuke is right. That boy is truly unpredictable!" He didn't know how to feel, however, he figured that only one animal had the closest affinity for his student, "Pakkun, instead of sending a message to the Hokage I need you to track down Jiraiya of the Sannin."
"Lord Jiraiya, eh?" Pakkun thought, "I need something to track him with, Kakashi." The jonin held down his book to his ninken.
"This copy of Make Out Paradise is the original copy and it was signed by Lord Jiraiya!" Kakashi seemed awfully proud of that, too proud for Sakura's liking.
'Pervert!' Both of his students thought.
The pug took a good, long sniff of the book then looked towards the north, "I have his scent!"
"Tell Lord Jiraiya that Naruto has gone missing through means of the summoning jutsu!" Pakkun nodded and took off, "Well, let's go report to Lord Third of our mission and this!"
"But sensei what about Naruto and why do you think Lord Jiraiya would know what to do?" A myriad of questions was still meant to be asked, but Sakura could only get out a couple before Sasuke stepped forward.
"Why not go to the Hokage?" Sasuke wondered aloud, "How could Jiraiya of the Sannin be able to help find that dumbass?"
"Lord Jiraiya knows more about summoning then I'll ever know." Kakashi deflected, "While it would be smart to inform the Hokage of this development I doubt even he has the contacts that Lord Jiraiya has. If the toads don't know then someone he knows might have an idea where Naruto might be."
Sasuke seemed to accept this answer. He shoved his hands in his pocket then started walking again, "What animal do you think Naruto is aligned with?"
"My guess is an anteater!" Sakura replied, "Have you seen how he inhales ramen?" She soon followed her teammate, leaving Kakashi in the dust.
The jonin gave a small chuckle before looking off in the direction Pakkun went and sighing, 'The Hokage is going to have my balls!' He morbidly thought and went on his way.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
"I guess it didn't work, Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto said, but when he didn't hear his sensei he looked around. He saw that he was in the middle of a small house near a table where two toads sat in wooden chairs. They looked to be quite old with one have grey spiked up hair and a grey goatee while the other had a wrinkly face. both were wearing dark colored cloaks, and both looked flabbergasted, "H-Hello?"
"An odd time to visit, don't you think lad?" The toad with the goatee asked.
Naruto bowed, "Sorry, but I don't even know where I'm at!"
"Mount Myoboku," The second toad croaked, "It's quite rude to interrupt a quiet lunch, you know?"
"Again, I'm sorry!" Naruto just kept glancing at the two, "I tried to use the summoning jutsu, but I ended up here!"
"Interesting, just like Jiraiya-boy!" The male toad exclaimed, "My name is Fukasaku and this is my wife Shima! We are the toad sages of Mount Myoboku."
Naruto glanced out the window and saw other toads of all shapes and sizes hopping about in their day to day lives, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage!"
The blonde genin shouted out, but he was immediately hit in the back of his head by Shima, "Don't go causing a racket in my house!" She scolded the boy, "Now let's look him over, Pa!"
Both toads hopped back, inspecting their guest with eyes sharpened over hundreds of years. It was an odd experience for the boy, however, to him it wasn't a bad experience, "He's kind of scrawny."
"Also, a bit short, Ma." Pa replied.
"I can sense the Nine Tails sealed within him too!" Ma nearly shouted.
"Interesting, I think we need to test him!" Pa hopped up on Naruto's right shoulder while Ma hopped up on the left, "Naruto-boy, I think we'll let you sign our summoning contract, but before we do we need to test you!"
"A test?" The blonde boy began to sweat, "But I hate tests!"
Shima figured worked it out that Naruto thought it would be a paper test, "Worry not, young'un, you won't be writing, but you need to keep that nervousness for this test!"
"Bunta-Boy!" Fukasaku croaked loudly as they walked out into the humid air. It was hot, but not uncomfortable and a musty smell floated about. Mud buildings were surrounded by mushrooms and Lilly pads standing high in the air. In a flash a giant toad with a red tint and a scar over his left eye sped towards them.
He had a tanto at his waste and a pipe in his mouth, "Whatchya need boss?" His booming voice called out, "And who's the brat?"
"This is Naruto-Boy! He accidently reversed summoned himself here after attempting the summoning jutsu!" Shima explained to the oversized toad.
"Just like that bozo, Jiraiya!" Bunta's laugh was deep and throaty, "My name is Gamabunta, and I'm the boss toad!" A puff of smoke came out as he spoke.
"If you want to become one of our summoners you need to stay on Bunta-Boy's back for an entire day!" Fukasaku told the young Genin.
"What?" Nervousness had overcome Naruto as he looked up at the intimidating figure that stood proud in front of him. Gamabunta bent low so that his eye was looking over Naruto.
"Worry not, Naruto-Boy, Bunta-Boy looks rough, but he's a sweetheart!" Shima proclaimed. Gamabunta grunted, but said nothing, "We can begin whenever you want to."
"Do you have any ramen?" Naruto asked hopefully.
"You're right, you need a satisfying meal in you before we begin!" Fukasaku said, "Ma, can you fix Naruto-Boy a plate?"
"Sure can!" The two toads hopped off the boy and began their trek back to their house, "Come along Naruto-Boy!" Naruto celebrated at the idea of food, yet he didn't realize that toads and humans have different ideas of food.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Off in a distant part of the country tall shinobi dressed like a kabuki dancer with white hair was walking along humming to himself. He looked at road ahead with a carefree attitude thinking of the women he would see in Tanzaku Gai. A perverted grin broke out on his face, maybe he'd even see a certain busty blonde gambling, "Excuse me." A deep voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Who's there?" The man asked.
"Lord Jiraiya, down here." Jiraiya looked down to see Pakkun the pug sitting down, "I bring a message from Kakashi."
"Kakashi, eh?" Jiraiya crouched down, "If that brat wants a copy of my new book early, he'll have to wait a few months to buy it!"
The pug shook his head, "No this time it's serious." Pakkun related the events of what happened with Naruto, "I'm headed home now." With a puff of smoke, the pug disappeared back to his home.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes and exhaled, "Damn brat. Summoning Jutsu!" In another puff of smoke, a small red toad with green goggles popped into existence, "Lord Jiraiya, it's an honor to be summoned by you!"
"Hey, Kosuke, has there been someone reverse summoned to Mount Myoboku?" Jiraiya hoped he was right about Naruto, but had to be sure.
"Yeah, some blonde boy popped into the Lord Fukasaku and Lady Shima's house six hours ago! He's trying to stay on top of Gamabunta right now to become one of our summoners!" The toad excitedly explained. He seemed to be happy about there being a new possible summoner.
"Figures," The Sannin began, "Can you reverse summon me to Mount Myoboku, so I can see this boy?"
"Can do!" Kosuke grabbed onto his summoner's pant leg then slammed his palm on the ground. In a flash the once travelled forest path was now empty again.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
In a lavish office sat a diminutive old man smoking a pipe. He wore fine silk robes and a hat that read third in kanji. He had to admit that he felt years older when his subordinate, Kakashi, tell him of Naruto's attempt to summon, "Even when he's out on a mission that boy gives me a headache."
"I understand that, sir." Kakashi let out a deep sigh, "I sent one of my summons to tell Jiraiya of this, though!"
"You're still in deep shit, Kakashi, I hope you know that!" Hiruzen Sarutobi was laid back, but now was not that time. It was no secret that the old Hokage had taken a liking to Naruto, he even forgave him most times for his pranks, "You better hope to hell that he is with a friendly summons animal rather than a dangerous one."
"Yes, sir." Both of them seemed to keep quiet for a long time.
Sarutobi finally sat back down in his chair, "While I won't count this against you this time, this will be remembered in the coming months if you hope to enter the Chunin Exams."
Kakashi went to leave the Hokage's office, however a thought popped into his head, "Would it be possible to take my team into training ground forty-four for a month?"
A puff of smoke rose from the old man's pipe, "Taking a rookie team in there for a month to train?" Hiruzen asked rhetorically. To put the last loyal Uchiha and Nine Tails Jinchuriki in that forest was risky, however if Kakashi put his all into it he could get his team to be the strongest rookie team of this new generation of ninjas, "Come back in a day or so and I'll let you know my decision. On a lighter note your team has a few days off!"
The meeting ended soon afterwards with Kakashi jumping out the window. This left Hiruzen to ponder on Kakashi's request, 'Maybe it's time to let Jiraiya train Naruto.'
His thoughts were pushed to the side as the aging Hokage heard the sound of a tapping cane and soft footfalls, "What brings you to my office, Danzo?"
A man with short black hair and a bandaged right eye. His right arm was wrapped under his kimono and he walked with a short limp, "When a village loses their Jinchuriki it is a state of crisis for that village, but here we are, merely standing around talking."
"Worry not, Danzo, Naruto will return soon." It was always tense when these two aging titans met, "If you just wish to criticize how I run the village you may leave." The Hokage didn't have time for the likes of Danzo today. Danzo smirked then sat down, "Please, sit down then."
"Sarcasm is beneath you, Hiruzen." Danzo pulled out a simple piece of paper, "I come to offer you some intel a guard of mine came across not too long ago."
A chuckle escaped from the Hokage. He knew that Danzo didn't have any personal guards, "What did this guard have to tell?"
"A former student of yours has found himself a new hole in the ground." Hiruzen's eyes went wide, "If you recall the Land of the Rice is to the north. Recently, however, a new village named Otogakure seemed to pop overnight, and the country soon changed its name to the Land of Sound."
The aging Hokage turned his attention to the window, "Orochimaru is on the move?"
"It appears so." Danzo got up from his chair, "Should I hear anymore I'll send it to you."
With that the meeting between the God of Shinobi and the Shinobi of Darkness came to an end.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
The earth shook with every jump from Gamabunta leaving the residents of Mount Myoboku a little shaken. Fukasaku and Shima had been watching for a few hours now with small smiles, "The boy's determined, I'll give him that."
"How long has he been at it?" The voice of Jiraiya cut in.
Shima turned her head, "Good to see you, Jiraiya-Boy!" She turned back to Gamabunta, "As for Naruto-Boy, he's been at it for six hours now."
"You going to let him sign the contract then?" Jiraiya was beginning to be intrigued by Naruto.
Fukasaku sighed looking on as Gamabunta continued to furiously buck. He then focused his sight on Naruto and found fatigue had begun to set in in the boy. He was reminded of Jiraiya back when the boy was young, "He reminds me of you in many ways; knuckleheaded and stubborn." The diminutive toad began, "He'll make a perfect summoner, what do you think, Jiraiya-Boy?"
"Well, he's no Minato, that's for sure, but I like knuckleheads like him!" A wide smile broke out on the sage, "While I am proud to have taught Minato, I always find that training brats like Naruto to be more amusing!"
Gamabunta was getting frustrated at the boy on his back, "Get off my back you little scamp!" Landing back on the ground he waited for a moment before jumping as high as he could, "Let's see if you can stand this!"
Naruto had been having a hell of day. First, he had eaten a plate of grubs then he was put on the back of this Boss Toad! It had been hard enough at first, but now it was damn near impossible to do. He had tried to apply what he had learned from the tree climbing technique to this, however, that didn't last long as the toad's skin constantly shifted.
As Gamabunta jumped he felt himself being crushed by the sheer power of going straight into the air. He slowly fell towards the toads happi vest. Naruto grabbed on just as the boss toad began to fall again. His vision became blurry, his body started to relax, and before Naruto knew it he had lost consciousness.
"Seems it's over!" Shima was the human boy's side in seconds, "Thanks, Bunta!" She used the body flicker jutsu and appeared before Fukasaku and Jiraiya.
"Anytime, ma!" Gamabunta cried out as he leapt further away to meet up with Gamahiro and Gamaken, 'That boy seems troublesome, but I think I can make him into a good henchman one day!'
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Kakashi and what remained of team seven were all gathered around a table in one of the many restaurants around Konoha getting ready to dig into some lunch, "After talking with the Hokage about our current situation it's been decided that Team Seven is now on leave for a few days!"
Kakashi tried to get a read on Sasuke, but the boy seemed to be irritated, "What will we do when that dumbass comes back?"
"That's simple; we're going to train!" Kakashi cheerfully replied.
Sakura looked up with a hopeful smile. She had been meaning to start revving up her training, "You really mean it?"
"Of course, however, I wouldn't get to excited, Sakura." The mood shifted as Kakashi closed his eye, "I have asked the Hokage to allow us to train in Training Ground Forty-Four."
"You mean the Forest of Death?" The Uchiha looked intrigued.
"Yes, if I get the go ahead we'll be spending a month in that forest." Kakashi handed his two students their checks from the mission, "After this you two better go rest!"
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
Naruto felt a bit odd as he slowly opened his eyes. His jumpsuit had been taken off with his boxers and t-shirt remaining. The room he was in was small with only the distinct sound of toads croaking being heard, "I see you're awake, kid!" An unfamiliar gruff voice caught Naruto's attention, "When I heard some punk had come to Mount Myoboku I was intrigued, but now, not so much."
Naruto looked to see Jiraiya sitting cross-legged beside him on the floor, "Who the hell are you, geezer?"
"Geezer?" Standing on his feet Jiraiya took an epic pose, "Born a man, but raised to be a legend! Women want me, and men want to be me! I am the Gallant Jiraiya!" A prideful grin broke out on the older man while Naruto clapped, "So you have heard of me!"
"Nope, but that was an amazing!" Jiraiya's pride was hurt a bit.
The Sannin slowly sat back down, "Anyways I came here to bring you back to Konoha."
Naruto smiled at this. However, as he smiled he remembered his deal with the toads, "Oh crap! I failed their test!" The boy continued to freak out until he heard the croaking laugh of Fukasaku. He walked in the room carrying an oversized green and orange scroll.
"Worry not, Naruto-Boy, you lasted a long time on Bunta's back!" The toad hopped up on the bed with a grin of his own. Fukasaku unrolled the large scroll carefully, "This scroll is the contract we have our summoners sign. See this is Jiraiya, the next is your Fourth Hokage, and this blank spot is for you!"
The enthusiasm in the room was palpable, "Bite you finger and sign in blood, Naruto-Boy, and you can summon us at any time!" Not even worrying about the pain Naruto hurriedly signed his name. while he didn't notice any change, he had a feeling of pride swell up in his chest, "Now you'll need some practice, but when you're strong enough you can summon any of us!"
"Alright, Naruto, it's time to go." Jiraiya stood up and grabbed onto the boy. Kosuke the messenger toad ran in with a huff, "Ready to go?"
Naruto looked down, "Where's my jumpsuit?"
"Right here, Naruto-Boy!" Shima hopped in holding the stitched-up suit along with another gift. It was a small sash with the kanji for toad on it. Giving the boy a small hug she started, "Wear this with pride!"
This was a first for the boy. He had never been on the receiving end of gifts like these thus he had no idea of where to put this on his jumpsuit, "I don't…"
"Kneel down, lad." Naruto followed Shima's instructions. The toad thought for a second, "Here!" She wrapped the sash around the genin's right arm. Though only Fukasaku could see it, Jiraiya had a soft smile on his face. it warmed his heart.
He then remembered what he had been wanting to tell Jiraiya, "Oh yeah, Jiraiya-Boy, you need to come back soon to finish your sage training!"
Wanting to change the subject quickly he motioned towards Naruto, "Ready to go now, Naruto?" Naruto nodded, "It's been fun catching up, Elder Sages, but I must leave now!" Kosuke grabbed onto the two humans and in an instance, they were gone.
"Jiraiya-Boy sure is stubborn!" Shima told Fukasaku before hopping off towards the kitchen.
'I have a feeling the next few years are going to be interesting!' The elder sage followed after Shima soon after.
/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/
The Third Hokage was busy reading about the resources found in Wave Country and found that clearing Gato's company, simply named Gato Company, narcissistic bastard, from the board had been a boon for Fire Country. He would send a message to the capitol with a suggestion to ally with the newly freed wave country.
With their resources and trade routes it would bring extra funding to the village, "I'll have to make sure Team Seven is given a commendation for this."
Before he could continue a small explosion of smoke appeared, "Hey, gramps, I'm back!" That voice was clearly Naruto.
"It's good to have you back, Naruto!"