Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I just wish I did.

Beta: Midnight-Kitsune11. Thank you for all our hard work. ;-)

Now as always:

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"flash-back"

Episode (everything in bold is from the episode – though keep in mind I only use the manga to get the texts, it's much easier ;-) .)

Thank you everyone for all the reviews! As corny as it sounds, they really motivate me to write and make me update faster! ;-)

Last time:

The memory faded.

"Are we allowed to talk now?" asked Obito sheepishly.

Hiruzen gave him a dirty look.

Chapter 7

"Might I remind you, young chuunin, that our village has just been invaded." Reprimanded the old Hokage. "I for one, would like to know how that ended."

Obito visibly wilted. "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama."

It was raining. A big crack was seen in the face of the Sandaime Hokage on the Hokage monument. People dressed in black were standing on top of the Hokage tower. A shrine was made for the occasion, with Hiruzen's picture being placed on it. Briefly several jounin were shown in rows, before Naruto was brought into focus.

"So, this is where I die." Said the Sandaime quietly.

There was silence for a moment as they all let the news sink in.

"Can you tell me how it happened?" the man looked at Naruto with a resigned look in his eyes. He knew what he had signed up for when he decided to become a ninja, and later on a Hokage.

"Orochimaru managed to corned you inside a barrier. He used the jutsu Endo Tensai to reanimate the Shodaime and Nidaime Hokage. You had to fight both of them. No one knows exactly what happened, but it was concluded you summoned the Shinigami and sealed away Orochimaru's arms so he couldn't use them anymore."

"And so stopped him from using his precious jutsu." Mused Hiruzen.

Naruto nodded.

"Well, it's good to know at least my death wasn't in vain." Muttered the man.

"It wasn't. It really wasn't."

Another moment of silence.

"It's still hard to believe Orochimaru would betray the village, let alone kill sensei." Said Jiraiya sombrely.

"How did he become a missing nin?" Shikaku asked.

"I'm not sure about the time line, but I do know he was one of the two potentials for the title of Yondaime. However, in the end, he didn't get chosen. And a good thing too; it turned out he had been kidnapping civilian children to experiment on them. He's possessed with the idea of immortality and he tried to infuse hundreds of children with DNA from the first and second Hokage, among others."

"Dear lord." Hiruzen covered his face with his hands.

"Is it possible to change that? I mean, the next Hokage hasn't been chosen yet, so maybe…" asked Jiraiya, hopeful.

"I'm not sure." Hesitated Naruto. "I'm usually all for giving people second chances. Everyone can change…" He remembered Orochimaru joining them in the final fight against Madara. He had only been there because of Sasuke, but still… "But in any case I wouldn't share this all with him." He gestured toward the screen where his memories could be seen.

His old/young mentor frowned.

His headband was worn loosely around his neck and he had bandages on his face. Sadly, the blond looked to his left, where a young boy was shown crying. Iruka who stood on the boy's other side placed a hand on Konohamaru's shoulder. Naruto looked on with tears in his own eyes as Iruka knelt down and hugged the boy.

"Who is that boy?" asked Hiruzen softly.

"His name is Konohamaru. He's your grandson."

"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked softly so as to not disturb others. Both Iruka and Konohamaru looked up. "What are humans? Is life just that simple?"

Iruka looked sombrely at the blond and then followed the blond's gaze. Both looked at the Sandaime's face carved into the mountain.

"When a person dies - doesn't matter if it's the past, present or future – they will lose everything. He died fighting in a mission – death caught him unaware because life is that simple. It's like a dream, it's all the same even if you haven't reached your goal, but everyone knows that the most important thing is to die for a cause. Family, friends, lovers and all the other villagers: to me those are the most important people. We trust each other, help each other. From the day we're born to the day we die, we start to feel that love is the most important and that kind of relationship takes time and trust to develop. Anyone with this headband on knows this because it's very important."

"Nicely said." Minato smiled sadly.

A brief flash of Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura was shown, all dressed in black.

"Yeah, I know that as well." Naruto had a determined look in his eyes. Next to him, they could see Aburame Shino and Hyuuga Neji. "But death is still painful."

"The Hokage wouldn't think it's painful." Said Kakashi from the row behind Naruto, showing he was listening in. "Because we both agree that people should not be hurt for no reason. But, it's no use even if you do understand."

"Right," smirked Naruto at this teacher, 'but not knowing is better than knowing."

Iruka smiled proudly.

The scene changed.

"Bye, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto cried out as he ran towards his team.

The man waved at him.

'Ninjas of Konoha… Hokage, this Will of Fire you speak of, it will shine no matter where it goes. Even if it's a little fire, it shines brightly.'

Naruto's back was shown as he ran.

'At the same time overlooking this village, protecting it,'

Naruto was shown, smiling with the Hokage monument behind him.

'and the ninja's once again head towards a new tomorrow.'

The memory turned black.

Hiruzen smiled contently.

The scene changed. Naruto was walking through the streets of Konoha, yelling at Jiraiya.

"Eh! Why?! Why?! Why?! Why do I have to go on a work trip with a pervert sennin?! Why should I go? And what for?"

"You should be grateful a great shinobi like me wants to take you anywhere!" grunted Jiraiya. He crossed his arms and pouted.

"It's not as much of a privilege as most people would think." Replied Naruto.

"Dear lord, does he still use Genin to flirt with women?" asked Minato exasperated.

Naruto nodded enthusiastically.

Jiraiya looked down at the blond. "Because it's a paid-for work trip. We're supposed to find a certain girl. It's also a 'special' trip. We'll stop by the red light district in Hima. You'll learn much more than what Kakashi-sensei has taught you."

"Stop corrupting kids, you idiot!" screamed Tsunade before she hit her teammate again.

"You really aren't doing much to persuade us that you aren't a paedophile, you know. Who takes a young boy to the red light district? And for what other purpose?" asked Chouza grinning.

Jiraiya spluttered as he tried to get back on his feet.

"Disgraceful." Sneered Hiashi and Fugaku at the same time.

Shocked, they looked at each other as the others started laughing. The two clan heads glared at each other.

"Nope! I don't want to and I want Kakashi-sensei to teach me the Chidori!" pouted Naruto, annoyed.

"And also, this woman, she's so hot!" Jiraiya exclaimed with a smirk as he bent down to look Naruto in the eyes. "She wants to meet you."

"Seriously, now you're selling the boy to whores?" asked Kushina incredulously.

"No, no, no, no, no, no!"

"You're trying to fool me, you perverted sennin! Whatever you say, I DON'T WANT TO!"

"Ha? She knows a technique even more amazing than the chidori, did you know? But if you're not coming, I'll guess I'll have Sasuke accompany me instead…"

"Didn't think one boy could do it for you? Now you need to have two?" asked Shikaku with a raised eyebrow.

The blow came from an unexpected shinobi. This time Mikoto Kicked him between his legs.

"Not my son!"

Jiraiya didn't replied. He grabbed his family jewels and sank to the ground, moaning in pain.

The boy turned towards the Sennin, his personality completely turning around.

"All right! Let's go!"

Naruto dashed down the street. "I'm going! I'm going to my house. I'm going to pack up my things! Pervert sennin, don't leave without me!"

"Kuku." Laughed Jiraiya. "Really, he's such a cute brat."

"This is just so wrong." Minato shook his head.

"Okay, this is getting creepy, let's stop this." Naruto's eyes twitched. It had been fun for a while to tease his teacher, but it went too far for his parents so…

The next scene showed Naruto sitting on a bed in a hotel room. Someone knocked on the door.

'What, he's been rejected already and is coming back?' scowled the blond.

More knocking.

"Yes, yes. Shut up already." He muttered.

He opened the door just enough to see a tall raven-haired man on the other side. His collar hid most of the underside of his face but his Sharingan eyes were clearly visible, as was his headband, on which a large scratch ran through the Konoha symbol.

"Who is that? He seems young." Muttered Mikoto.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes at the man on the screen.

"He's a traitor, that's what he is." Said Shikaku. "Didn't you notice his headband?"

'Sasuke? No it's not him… Who is he? He's got the same Sharingan as Sasuke.' Thought the blond anxiously.

The door opened further, showing the man clearly, as well as his partner. The other man had blue skin and a huge sword on his back. Both were wearing black cloaks with red clouds on them.

"That man… that's Hoshigaki Kisame. He's one of the Seven swordsman of the Mist." Frowned Hiruzen.

"Is this child really the Kyuubi?" asked the Uchiha.

'How does he know about the Kyuubi? How did he find out?'

"Naruto-kun." Continued the man. "We would like you to come with us."

Naruto gulped.

"Come out of the room."

'This guy isn't normal…' Naruto did as told.

"Itachi-san, it's time we got started. We don't need him running." The other man spoke up and grabbed his sword by the handle. "We should cut off a leg."

'What is going on?' panicked Naruto.

"Well?"

The raven looked behind them.

"It has been a while, Sasuke."

"Uchiha Itachi." Muttered Sasuke, who appeared at the end of the corridor.

"Itachi? My little Itachi?" Mikoto asked horrified. "What happened to him?"

Naruto shifted in his seat. "I think he explains part of it. Just remember there's more to the story that just what was publically know at the time."

Both Uchiha frowned. "I think we have the right to know what happens to our clan."

"Of course you do, that's why you are here." Replied Naruto. "But there is also a reason you watch the memories instead of me just telling you everything. One, I don't want to forget anything important and two, some situations are just so complicated that it's nearly impossible to explain them properly."

The man glared, but Mikoto seemed pensive.

"Eh?" was Naruto's reaction.

"Yare, yare." Said the blue man. "Today is a special day, don't you think? This is the second time I've seen another Sharingan."

Sasuke's face was shown up close, his eyes shadowed by his hair and headband. Still his Sharingan eyes were shown spinning madly. "I will… KILL YOU!"

"That escalated quickly." Muttered Shikaku.

"Sharingan." Said the blue man. "You seem to be familiar with Itachi, who is this guy?"

"He is my younger brother."

"I heard the entire Uchiha clan was wiped out… by you."

"What?" asked Fugaku, stunned.

"You heard him." Said Naruto after a bit of silence.

"A whole clan was wiped out? By one of their own?" asked Kakashi with wide eyes.

"Sasuke was the only survivor."

Fugaku clenched his fists. Mikoto quickly covered her hand over her mouth to cover her shock.

Kakashi and Rin turned towards their teammate. She grabbed his hand. Obito looked frozen, staring at the Itachi on the screen. Kakashi looked uneasy.

Naruto looked on with wide eyes.

The brothers stared at each other. Sasuke, glaring, began to speak.

"I've been waiting to say this to you… I've lived hating you and I have lived only to kill you." His face was lit by an overcharged Chidori. "I have lived for this!"

"Chidori?" Itachi whispered with an impassive face.

Screaming, Sasuke charged at his brother. Calm as ever, Itachi simply grabbed his arm and redirected the attack towards the wall where a huge whole appeared. Both brothers looked each other in the eyes.

'This is bad.' Thought Naruto. 'I need to do something!'

He made a hand seal and gathered chakra.

Both missing ninja looked back.

"I see, his chakra is filling the entire room." Said Kisame. "It's terrifying. This is the chakra of the Kyuubi."

"You are in the way." Said Itachi. He tightened his grip on his little brother's arm until a loud SNAP could be heard. Sasuke screamed in pain and sunk to his knees.

Mikoto moaned as she covered her eyes.

"Sasuke! Dammit!" Shouted Naruto as he made hand seals.

"Too late." Smirked the blue-skinned ninja. He swung his sword in Naruto's direction and in an instant, all the chakra Naruto had just gathered disappeared.

"Crap! What's going on? My chakra…?"

"My Samehada eats chakra." Grinned the man. "Now that your jutsu is gone, you shouldn't be any more trouble. First of all… Should I chop of a leg or cut off an arm?"

"That looks bad." Muttered Kushina.

They all inched a bit closer. Obviously the blond had made it out alive but they still wanted to know how.

He swung his sword and Naruto braced himself but in the end he didn't need to. Just before he could get hit an armoured toad was summoned between him and his attacker. The young blond almost sank to his knees in relief as he heard his sensei behind him.

"Nice timing." Said Obito trying to raise the mood.

"Thank you." Jiraiya didn't take his eyes from the screen.

"You don't seem to know very much about me. I'm better at getting girls than they are trying to get to me. Even though it doesn't look like it, it's my… speciality."

"Boasting is unbecoming, Jiraiya. How many times do I have to repeat that?" Sighed Hiruzen.

"It's a lost cause, sensei." Commented Tsunade.

Jiraiya made a weird pose, a woman draped unconscious on one of his shoulders. "I, Jiraiya, am the epitome of manliness! I will fall for no woman's feminine wiles! When you're like me, you'll only have to flash that sexiness to have women fall at your feet!"

"You still do that weird introduction?" asked Minato. "Especially during a fight with dangerous missing nin?"

The white haired man didn't reply.

They all stared at him for a few seconds, not saying anything. Naruto became annoyed. He pointed at the man.

"Oh yeah? That girl just winked at you and you were scampering after her! And now you're trying to look all cool and classy, you pervy sennin!"

Jiraiya yelled back, completely ignoring the situation at hand. "Hey! Can't you stop calling me that in front of others?"

"Screw that! It's those guys over there we should be worrying about, pervy sennin!" Naruto yelled again.

"I stand by my point, you two are hilarious." Obito smiled softly.

Kisame grinned. "Heheh, so this is one of the legendary three ninjas, the great Jiraiya, eh? You like beautiful women but we weren't thinking that such a method could successfully stall you…"

"You guys know the pervy sennin's real identity?!"

"What does that mean? Everyone knows who Jiraiya-sensei is. It never was a secret." Said Minato.

Naruto sheepishly rubbed his neck. "He just acts like an idiot most of the time, so…"

"In any case, it seems you have already undone the genjutsu binding the woman." Said Itachi calmly.

Jiraiya scowled before he gently put the woman to rest against the wall. "You guys wanted to draw me away, so you used the Sharingan to cast a genjutsu on the woman, huh? Not a very manly way of doing things."

'Draw him away?' thought Naruto. 'Why would they…'

"So you really are after Naruto?"

"Huh?" Naruto looked stunned.

"No wonder Kakashi knew about this... you were the source of information. To abduct Naruto. Those were the orders given to us by the higher echelons of our organisation, Akatsuki."

"Kakashi? They met Kakashi before coming after you?" asked Minato as he worriedly looked at his student. "Is he alright?"

"He had to go to the hospital for a while but he was fine not long after we got back in the village." Evaded Naruto answering. He didn't want to tell them yet that they went looking for Tsunade and that she healed Kakashi.

The toad who had been protecting Naruto disappeared.

"You won't get Naruto." Said Jiraiya glaring.

"And why not?"

"Because right now, right here, you two will die by my hand."

"Don't do it." Sasuke got back up. "This guy… is MINE!"

They all looked at the young Uchiha, but only Itachi reacted. "I have absolutely no interest in you right now."

Enraged, Sasuke charged his brother, who stopped him by hitting him in the stomach. Followed by an elbow in the neck, a knee to the chin and again a fist in his stomach. Sasuke coughed up blood.

"No mercy at all."

"Kami-sama." Whispered Mikoto with tears in her eyes. Fugaku held her hand in comfort as he too looked on in unease.

Naruto grit his teeth.

Itachi grabbed his brother by his throat and pushed him up the wall. They looked each other in the eyes and Sasuke started screaming for seemingly no reason.

Both Uchiha tensed and hoped their eldest hadn't done what they thought he did. If he possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan…

"Itachi!" yelled the blue man. "I advise you against using your eyes so many times in a single day."

"ASSHOLE!" Naruto yelled, enraged, as he charged forward.

Kisame tried to follow him, but both stopped abruptly as the walls and floor around them transformed.

"Ninpou: Gama Guchi Shibari (toad mouth bind)." Said Jiraiya, still with his hands on the ground.

Sasuke stopped screaming and slowly disappeared in the flesh looking wall.

"Too bad, Itachi, Kisame. You are already inside my stomach."

Itachi leaned towards his brother. "Why are you so weak? Still not enough… hate."

"Is he encouraging Sasuke's behaviour?" asked Chouza stunned. "Why?"

"Black magic to summon the oesophagus of the giant toad from Myouki Mountain rock inn."

"Black magic? Seriously?" asked Shikaku with a raised eyebrow.

"Sensei has always been dramatical." Explained Minato as Jiraiya pouted.

"You're wanted criminals so I hope you enjoy being food to Iwagama!"

"Wha-what the heck is going on here?!" exclaimed Naruto.

"Naruto, stay still. It's just my jutsu, don't worry."

"Kisame, come."

The other did as told.

"No one sneaks away without me knowing at this distance." Jiraiya pressed his hands harder in the flesh.

The flesh on the walls started closing in on the two missing nins as they turned the corner on their way to the window. Once Naruto and Jiraiya had caught up, they were gone. Black flames were seen in the newly created hole.

The scene went black and changed.

"And they got away." Said Rin quietly. She still held Obito's hand. The boy smiled shyly but didn't point it out.

"I'm sure they'll be back." Said Kakashi.

"What makes you say that?"

"We wouldn't have seen this if it wasn't important. Besides, blondie said there's more to that story."

Bothe Jiraiya and Naruto were standing in a small clearing.

"I can feel the training tension!" yelled Naruto excitedly.

"Here you go! It's a water balloon." Jiraiya handed it over.

Naruto frowned at the man. "Huh? What's up with this thing?"

"Did you pay attention to the jutsu I just did?"

"Yep.

"What did you see in the jutsu?"

"Hmmm, somehow those guys were spinning around wildly."

Jiraiya grinned. "From a normal point of view, it would seem that way. They spun all right!" The balloon in his band began moving, until it burst. "With the 'tree climbing' type of chakra, your chakra levels must be maintained by focusing your mind and keeping that concentration. With the 'water walking' chakra, you released a fixed amount of chakra continuously. I taught you the second one. And so, with this one, you should use the 'water walking' chakra with a continuous flow and spin it around!"

"It doesn't seem like it, but strangely enough, that makes sense. In a weird way…" commented Kushina.

Naruto repeated what he heard. "The chakra with a continuous flow?"

"Well to fully understand the jutsu means to be able to read the 'elements' and predict the outcome. First, use the principle of 'tree climbing' chakra by maintaining a moderate amount in your hands and the principle of 'water walking' chakra by releasing it continuously."

"I get it! Okay, until this water balloon is about to boil, do the spinning water training!"

"You'll eventually get good at this! All right, let's train until night time!"

"Hell yeah!"

"Are you seriously teaching him that, sensei? Isn't he a bit young?" asked Minato.

"HEY!"

"I'm sure I have my reasons." Mused Jiraiya.

"What is it? Is it some super cool technique?" asked Obito excitedly.

"It looks like the first step of my original jutsu called Rasengan, but it's really advanced."

Naruto grinned.

Jiraiya and Shikaku looked at the blond more closely. Naruto did look a lot like Minato…

Minato only studied Naruto, wondering if the child would be able to handle it.

The scene changed again.

The moon was out.

"Oh well, let's just eat dinner here."

"What, isn't this place a pub?"

Jiraiya stepped inside. "Dumbass, information is always found at places like this. Hey!"

He noticed a blond woman. "Tsunade!"

"Jiraiya." Grumbled the blond. "Why are you at a place like this?"

'That girl is the person we're looking for? Is she really 50 years old?' thought Naruto.

"Finally we found you." Sighed Jiraiya relieved.

"So you went looking for me." Sighed Tsunade.

Jiraiya nodded. "Yeah, and it seems sensei did let you go to travel around after the war."

They joined Tsunade at the table. She sat with a younger black haired woman, Shizune and her pig, Tonton. Clearly she had been sitting there a while, judging from the drunken flush on her face.

"Today, I met with someone that brings back bad memories."

"Orochimaru? Did anything happen?" asked Jiraiya frowning.

"He probably came to see you to heal is arms." Said Hiruzen.

"Probably, but if you managed to seal them away, then I'm not sure if I'd be able to help."

Shizune looked anxiously at her master, who only blankly stared at her.

"Nothing much, just a little greeting."

Naruto was munching on some appetizers they had ordered.

"You too, why'd you come to see me?" asked the drunken woman.

"To tell the truth the village of the leaf has issued a request for you to be the Fifth Hokage."

"WHAT!?" shrieked the blond woman. "There is no way!"

"Apparently, yes there is." Smiled Hiruzen.

Shikaku face-palmed.

Naruto choked on his fish, while the women looked shocked.

"The third is…" started Jiraiya, but Tsunade interrupted him.

"It was Orochimaru's work. I heard, he told me."

"The big snake guy?" interrupted Naruto. "He's the one that killed our Hokage? Who the hell is this bastard?!"

"He was with us, members of the three legendary sennin." Explained Jiraiya.

"What the hell?! Weren't the legendary sennin from Konoha? Then why?!"

"Who is this boy?" asked Tsunade.

Naruto glared at her.

"He is Uzumaki Naruto."

Tsunade startled at this.

"So even you know who he is."

She shrugged. "I might have left the village, but I'm still part of Konoha. Even if sensei shouldn't stay in touch, this idiot will." She pointed at Jiraiya.

"Hey! How come she gets to be Hokage? Why?"

"Quiet kid!" He turned back towards Tsunade. "So, what is your answer? Are you willing to accept?"

"Impossible. I decline."

TBC.

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