Quick Note: Guys this is my very first story! I love criticism just not too harsh please. I just graduated college with a degree in Accounting and Finance... not Writing or English. I am writing because I love reading all the fanfictions and decided to test my own imagination. I have some great ideas where I want this to go guys. I will try my best to update fast. I really hope you enjoy this! Time for the literature!

Naruto: The Tale of a Hero

Fanfiction By Jonathan M.

*Note I do not own anything related to Naruto*

Chapter 1

A man with a long mane of white hair is looking at a photo of a man with blonde hair and next to a woman that is pregnant. A tear rolls down the sennin's cheek as he stares at the picture. Jiraiya has been waiting in the Hokage's tower for about 10 minutes; waiting for the Anbu he sent to retrieve the Hokage from his living quarters. As he hears footsteps climbing the stairs of the tower he wipes the tears from his eyes and prepares himself from the lecture he was about to receive for waking up the Third at this late hour. But as the door opened the sennin noticed not anger in the face of the Hokage but…sympathy.

The Third Hokage was nicknamed "the Professor" for his sheer ability to make deductions as well as many other reasons. As the Third Hokage walked into the room he noticed many things: Jiraiya's eyes were red and cheeks were puffy, Jiraiya didn't hold the happy look the sensei had always known from his pupil, and finally out of the corner of his eye; he saw Jiraiya carefully put a picture back into his pocket. With a sigh that showed nothing more than deep remorse for the sennin: the Hokage began to talk "…Jiraiya it has been 3 years since Minato's sacrifice for the village. … But for what it's worth, I understand the pain that you have. I also understand that no matter how you try, you will never be able to totally erase the pain you hold for losing him. But ask yourself this: Would Minato want you to live 3 years blaming yourself for his sacrifice for the nation and people he held as precious in his heart?"

"Sensei I know that you are trying to cheer me up but the fact still remains that I had the chance to become Hokage but I instead handed it down to my pupil. That in-turn led to the demise of Minato because he believed that as Hokage, he had to protect these people no matter what!" Jiraiya becoming more and more emotional through each word he spoke.

"Jiraiya, Minato took the position of Hokage because he loves these people and this nation and if you asked him if he'd sacrifice himself even if he wasn't Hokage; I have no doubt in my mind that he would say yes." The Hokage spoke in a calm demeanor that would show anyone that he was speaking from his heart and that he just wanted to help Jiraiya.

Silence filled the room as Jiraiya let newly formed tears fall to the ground. The Hokage walked up to Jiraiya and gave him a hug, though it was a bit awkward with the size difference (Jiraiya being 1 foot taller than the Hokage). After a short time the Hokage (Hiruzen) clapped Jiraiya on the back and separated himself from Jiraiya and looked into his eyes. "Jiraiya when you left after the funeral for Minato and Kushina, I thought I would never see you again… Why have you returned to the Leaf Village?" Hiruzen said seriously but then decided to lighten the mood by quickly adding with a raised eyebrow "You haven't come to visit the hot springs write more novels, have you?"

"No Sensei, those books are temporarily on hold because I have much more important business to attend to." As Jiraiya said this he noticed a look of slight sadness on the Hokage's face (because Hiruzen collected and very much enjoyed the naughty novels his pupil wrote). Jiraiya set down his backpack, opened it up, and began to search through it. He immediately found what he was looking for, smiled, and threw it over to his Sensei. "That's just a draft of the latest volume; maybe you can give me your thoughts on it." Hiruzen caught the book, blushed, and was about to deny wanting the book when Jiraiya quickly intervened. "As for why I'm here… I'm here to talk about the boy." Jiraiya looked up to Hiruzen seriously as Hiruzen nodded, put the book away, and grabbed his pipe.

"The last time we talked about the boy… was at the funeral and that turned into a heated debate, where you ended it by leaving the Leaf Village" Hiruzen said sadly, remembering that day as though it were yesterday. Hiruzen truly believed that Naruto was going to be able to live a somewhat normal life, with a father-figure like Jiraiya. Both Hiruzen and Minato decided that no one (including Naruto) should know about Naruto being Minato's son until he was at least a chunin and decided to tell those that he wished to tell. It was well known that Kushina was the mother of Naruto, seen as though Naruto kept her last name. Hiruzen knew that if Naruto did become an orphan and they knew he was the son of Minato, he would have been treated better by villagers; mainly because they wanted to be a part of his clan or wanted the estate (through marriage of their daughters or adoption). This was not an option though.

Instead Hiruzen believed that if Naruto became the adopted son of a Sennin; he may get to live a normal life where people wouldn't treat him poorly. There would be few who would be mean to the son of a powerful and well known hero like Jiraiya.

Jiraiya looked away from his sensei, ashamed of himself and what had transpired that day. "I've change you know… Sensei I'm sorry it took me 3 years to realize this but… You were right; the boy does need me there for him as he grows into a great shinobi." Jiraiya turned back toward Hiruzen as he felt more pride as he talked about Naruto.

Hiruzen noticed the look in Jiraiya's face and decided to test Jiraiya's new resolve. "And if I were to tell you that Naruto already has a caring family that he has grown very much attached to?"

"Please Sensei, I'm Naruto's Godfather. I am the reason his name is what it is." Jiraiya pleaded with the Hokage.

"That book…" Hiruzen remembered the look on Jiraiya's face as he talked about Naruto becoming a great shinobi, the look of pride. "…So you believe Naruto is destined to be the one the Great Lord Elder Toad prophesized about? The one to bring great change to this world, whether it is for good or destruction?"

"I don't know Sensei, but I'm done searching for that person. After the death of Nagato, you just never know who will be the one of prophecy. But something in my gut tells me that Naruto is the one. Minato was a very smart ninja, he wouldn't have risked everything to seal the nine-tails into Naruto unless he knew something that we have missed." Jiraiya said.

"There was something that was missed, read this note." Hiruzen passed the note to Jiraiya. "Minato encountered a person controlling the nine-tails and he claimed his name was Madara Uchiha. My Anbu found the note and very few know of its existence, this note is to be kept as an S class secret. Is that understood?" Hiruzen had a look of worry on his face… If Madara really was the cause there was reason for worry.

Well guys that was it! How was it? Any ideas? I have so much more to go, I know! You guys haven't even seen the little guy (naruto) yet! But just wait it will be here before you know it!