This is the last chapter I have edited so hopefully I'll be able to update like usual, but either way I hope you enjoy this chapter. We get a bit of a different perspective right now. I thought it was important. Though after this one I had to delete the next chapter since it didn't make sense, but that's irrelevant. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10

Jiraiya.

I sigh a little bit looking down at the manuscript of my newest book. Is this really all I'm good for these days? Just writing my life away? At least these books are selling better than my first one. I'm not surprised. After all, who wouldn't want to read about hot naked girls?

Despite this I can't help thinking that my first book was the best. Maybe I just feel it's more real more to the point of my goal.

I have to find peace.

How can I find peace? I've traveled the world trying to find the person who will bring about this peace that I was told about, but I haven't found that person yet. It's been a long time.

Nagato.

He had the Rinnegan. How could he not be the right person? Did I make the wrong choice training those three? I don't know how I could have refused though. Nagato was scared of his power and rightfully so. I wanted to teach him how to use it to protect his friends.

Yet I'd failed them they still died.

While I was playing around in Ame Tsunade was losing the last person who was the closest to her. Dan died while I was too busy with a bunch of orphans from another land. She left without a second look. Never to return.

Orochimaru left the village as well. Vowing to know everything he left without a trace. Unlike Tsunade who left with official leave from the Hokage, Orochimaru turned rogue. He is officially my enemy, and even though I know I am one of the few who could actually stand against him, I can't bring myself to even think about fighting him.

Maybe that's why I haven't been in the village for quite some time. I'm worried Sensei will order me to take down Orochimaru. I know he wouldn't want it either, but he knows how dangerous Oro can be.

I smile a little bit at the old nickname I used to give him. We were friends long before we met Tsunade. It was a pure accident, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I'd called him Oro because I said his name was too long, and he's told me he was going to strangle me. I'd just laughed at the threat.

We were a great team, but those days are long gone. The days of the Sannin are over. We never did agree on everything we did. In fact, we fought many times. Tsunade called our team the three-way deadlock, and it was the truth. None of us could best each other, but despite our differences, we were an almost unstoppable team. Very few were able to beat even one of us.

Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, could have done it, but he's dead. A pain goes through my chest at the thought. He was a great man, and always fun to have a drink with after missions. I'd gone on a few missions with him the past, and he was fierce and loyal, but sadly, like a lot of people I cared about, he died.

Minato

He was the hardest one to bare. He was an amazing ninja. A once in a generation genius, but he was kind and understanding to boot. Calm and always having a plan even in the thick of battle he was one of the best students I ever had.

He was the closest thing to a son I've ever had as well. He was a great kid. It hurts to remember that he died. I know he died and honourable death for the sake of his village, but he is still dead. Just like Nagato and his friends.

Gamamaru's prophecies were never wrong. That's what he told me at least. So I would find someone who will bring about a great change in the world, but when? I haven't found anyone like that.

I pull out the first book I wrote, and look down at it. I flip through the pages scanning it even though I know every word on every page. I know exactly where the things are that I would ever want. It's a useful skill to have, and I don't even know how I do it.

Naruto

What an odd name for a character. I still can't believe I named the main character Naruto of all things.

"I want your permission to name my son after the character in this book."

Minato, you're a fool…

Naming your child after a character in my book. What a silly thing to do.

That boy is my godson a part of me thinks. That boy is all I have left of Minato.

I wonder how he is. I wonder if he's alright. He lost both of his parents on his birthday.

Still, I'm too busy traveling to worry about a child right now. I want to travel more. Keep an eye on my wayward teammates in hopes that they will change their mind. I'm no good at raising children, and the road I travel is worse still to raise one, plus he'll need the academy if he plans on being a ninja

Besides, him being a jinchuuriki puts his life in even more danger. It's just safer for him to remain in the village.

Then again, there is that.

Minato never does anything without a reason…

Minato… what were you thinking?

If there is a key to the seal, there must be a reason. What did Minato want, the boy to control the fox? It's possible. If so I'm going to have to train him. He's going to have to learn how to control that thing, and I have the key to tighten or loosen the seal.

But why?

Why would Minato want the boy to control the fox?

I clench my fists slightly. Something happened that night. Something we don't know about. Minato found something out. He planned ahead. I just wish we knew what it was he figured out.

I sigh leaning back in my chair. Obviously I'm not going to get any writing done today. My mind is all over the place.

I put away my materials and stand up. I guess it wouldn't hurt to move on. I need to see if Tsunade is up to anything stupid again. After all she's thrown herself into gambling and drinking.

I know all too well that the Slug Queen can handle herself in a fight. No man could take advantage of her. The sensible ones don't dare to try, but I just want to make sure she's alright. I worry about her.

Not to mention, she's a gambler with the worst luck ever!

She's a legendary sucker if there ever was one!

I walk through the town I'm in. I wonder where she would be right now. I could ask around of course. I'm good at that kind of thing, but sometimes it's just nice to see if I can dig her up on my own.

I suppose I should be tracking Oro more than Tsunade, but right now the thought of him being a rogue is too raw, it hurts too much to remember that he is no longer one of us.

I hope I never meet him on the battlefield because I don't think I can bear the thought of him fighting against me for real. We've spared, but a real fight is just wrong!

Not my Oro, never my Oro.

My Oro?

I shake my head. I don't know where that thought came from, but it doesn't really matter.

So much for legendary Sannin…

I wonder if we're really even mentioned in Konoha these days. Tsunade maybe. The Slug Queen, granddaughter of the first Hokage, who revolutionized the way the medical system worked.

Me… perhaps a bit, but not as much as Tsunade. I think these days I'm more well known for my books then my ninja skills.

Oro… I wish I could have stopped him. I could have changed him. I saw as he fell apart, but I wasn't able to do anything.

I'm never able to do something for the ones I love.

Maybe that's the real reason I stay away from Naruto. All these excuses about not wanting to have him growing up while traveling, and it's more likely the fact that I…

What am I saying? I sound like Tsunade! I can't be getting all superstitious I'm supposed to be helping my teammates, not wallowing in the same pit as they are!

I create a Rasengan in my hand looking at the ball of rotating chakra.

Minato…

I'm not that great of a man sometimes. I make mistakes, and I'm sorry. This is only half your legacy. Half of what you've left to this world. I know I'm not always the best teacher, but when the time comes, I will teach it to him.

I will pass your legacy to its rightful wielder.

Naruto…

You named that child after my character. You wanted him to be a hero. If that is so, then it's my job to make sure he becomes one. I am his godfather after all. When he is old enough, I'll make sure he inherits everything you left of him.

I won't give up until the very end. I won't give up on my teammates or the boy you left behind.

I look over at the direction of Konoha. I can't see the village from here, but long years studying maps of the fire country has made me acutely aware of where it is in relation to myself.

One day I will return to my home. One day I will have another student. I just hope he lives up to the hopes and dreams of his parents. Just maybe… I need to try again. Just one last time.

But first, I have some teammates to track down.

And with that, I head out of the town I am in in search of my female teammate.

I don't know what Minato found out during the attack on Konoha, but if he wants Naruto to control the fox then it must be something big, and if there is a storm coming we're going to need help.

And who better to help than legends.