"Alright, spit it!"

Senju Tsunade, Godaime Hokage of the Hidden Village in the Leafs, the Slug Princess of the Sannin and generally viewed (and accepted) as the most powerful ninja in the entire Fire Country, glanced up at the elderly man who had literally burst his way through her door and into the office she held as the village's leader.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, asshole? You can't just enter here like that!" she said, putting down the bottle of sake that had been half-way to her mouth.

"The hell I can't. I can do everything I want, especially when you're just giving away Naruto's inheritance to some nobody that has struck your fancy!" the man scowled at her. His white hair was caught in an awkward ponytail that still left it looking as a lions mane stretched across his back. An old, decrepit lion, but a lion all the same. His face had red lines coming down from his eyes and that, added to the sneer he'd been using, made up a very intimidating image.

Tsunade swung the bottle of sake at the old man's head, in a motion that was impossible to perceive to a normal person's eye. The bottle hit the target with a dry, hollow sound, and Jiraya's head snapped back from the force of the impact. It reeled back real fast too and the red spot on his forehead marking the point where contact had been made didn't manage to disperse the impressiveness of his righteous anger.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"What's your excuse?" Jiraya shouted, some filaments of spit jumping from his snarling mouth and landing on the top of the Fifth's desk. Tsunade looked at them and frowned then she snatched a D-rank mission report made by some Genin team and used it to clean the small spots of saliva. In slow deliberate motions and with extra concentration too. Just so the old pervert would learn who was in charge of things.

"Excuse for what?"

"Are you finally going senile, you hag? Why did you give off Naruto's inheritance? Huh?"

Tsunade fumbled with her drawers for a moment, looking for another bottle of sake.

"Because the inheritance wouldn't do anyone any good if we left it gaining dust there forever, useless. Minato and Kushina would never have wanted that, nor, for that matter, would Naruto." She paused and looked at the stony face her old team-mate was making, "Especially if the receiver is family."

Jiraya frowned.

"What?"

"He had convincing proof, Jiraya. He belongs to the clan."

"That's impossible. I know for a fact Minato's entire family is gone for good."

"Yes… but the Uzumaki aren't, apparently."

Jiraya stood silent for a few moments, apparently mulling the information inside his wicked little mind, Tsunade thought.

"You're sure…"

Tsunade opened her hands, "As sure as I can be. Given the circumstances I'd say it's the best we have. The Estate couldn't have been left alone for much longer, Jiraya. Sooner or later Danzo or some other council fart would have tried to get their hands on it."

"And learnt of the Fourth prized techniques and the Scarlet Reaper's infamous scythe", Jiraya nodded, "I guess I can understand why you did it… And you say it's an Uzumaki?"

"Hai."

"Where is he?"

"You just missed them. I sent him with Sakura on a courier mission to the Hidden Sand – where the hell are you going?"

No sooner than Tsunade had finished saying it, Jiraya was by the window.

"What the… where the hell are you going?"

"I'm going to catch up with them. I want to get to know this person well." And he jumped.

Tsunade bolted for the window and screamed, "You old idiot! At least use the door!"

Naruto, Sakura and Kyuubi jumped across the trees, as they made their way for the Sand Village. The forests surrounding the Hidden Village in the Leafs reached across many miles, before melting away into the Wind Desert and night had started to fall as they run the kilometres.

Naruto's heart thumped steadily and strongly in his chest. It had been some time since he had last run in his homeland. It felt good to once again walk the old ways. Kyuubi was feeling a similar emotion, part from the mental connection she enjoyed with Naruto – something they still didn't understand very well even though she'd gone through the process countless times –, part from the fact that this was Fire Country. The one speck of Earth she had decided to acknowledge as her own. Even though villages like Berasylle practically devoted themselves to nothing but the act of worshiping them, Bijuu often chose homelands far detached from such places. In her particular case, it was the mentality of the people living here that had gotten to her liking. Refusing to quit, to bow to adversity, twisting and changing to cope with that very change. Much like flames. And of course their Will of Fire. It was perfect.

Just as they reached a small clearing, Naruto stopped suddenly. Sakura was about to ask what was going on when she noticed the old man by the fire in the middle of the way. He was smoking a stylish pipe and had several scrolls strapped onto his back. His hair fell in a pony-tail to his back and his face had lines from the advancing age although, like the Sandaime, those didn't make him look any less intimidating. If possible, it made him even more menacing and powerful looking. It was the Toad Sanin, one of the Legendary Three Ninja, trained by the Professor himself, known for his prowess as a Seal Master. Sakura noticed the smile under Naruto's cowl.

"Well, come on, get to the fire. If none of us makes any move this is going to take a long time to go through…"

The Sage took the initiative himself and motioned around the fireplace. The group approached slowly and stood on the opposite side to the one occupied by Jiraya. Kyuubi twitched a little. This was the man who had trained the ninja who had successfully sealed her inside her contractor. She didn't know what to make of him.

Naruto sat down and the others followed his example.

"So, why don't you tell me what you've been up to, all this time…?" Jiraya took a drag, "Naruto."

Sakura's jaw nearly unhinged itself as her mouth opened in surprise. Kyuubi actually flinched and Naruto lowered the hood of his cloak to reveal a face that looked like someone had just told him Ichiraku's had closed permanently. Jiraya's mouth twitched in amusement.

"What the hell, Ero-sennin! And I had this great introduction planned and everything!" Naruto's voice wasn't as loud as it might have been, had the interaction happened a few years before, but it was still high enough to confirm him as the number one knuckle-headed ninja. "How did you know?" he demanded.

"There were reports of a blond haired young man asking for passage for the Elemental Countries in the Southern Continent. Descriptions of him depicted the youth as resembling the Fourth and being always accompanied by a fair maiden." He gave them a lecherous grin, "Of course they don't know the Fourth – that was all my work; In Snow Country, all sort of rumours were going around, about great heroes returned to the Land. One was obviously Sakura, and I didn't think the Uchiha would coexist peaceful with Leaf ninja if he'd been there. And then, as soon as I get back, I hear the news of the Namikaze heritage being claimed by someone belonging to your mother's family. Careful prodding on the right team just resulted in your identity being well confirmed, brat."

Naruto seemed impressed, "Wow, Ero-sennin, I never thought you could be that smart!"

Jiraya rose swiftly and, before any of them had any chance to move, was beside them, fist raised, ready for a bump on the blonde's head. Kyuubi just seemed to blur into motion and in the next moment was there, holding the old pervert's hand and snarling menacingly. Jiraya frowned as the white haired woman swung a fist in his direction and dodged, only to be intercepted by one of the straps of cloth the girl seemed to have hanging from her uniform. The connection was a physical blow, sending the old ninja flying backwards. Sakura watched as the Toad Sannin started to travel downward and suddenly blurred into a wooden log.

The punch hit Kyuubi as a rock and the Vixen momentarily felt the air leaving her body and refusing to enter again.

"Oi, what do you think you're doing, Ero-sennin?"

Naruto's question went unanswered as the old seal master threw another attack at Kyuubi. Sakura prepared a chakra enhanced punch, hoping to stop the fight before Kyuubi managed to kill the Sannin. The other girl ducked under the pervert's leg and, snarling, launched herself to the face of the Toad master. Kyuubi held the man's head tightly against her chest.

There was a moment when everything went still.

Then there was a rumble and a fountain of blood erupted from Jiraya's nose, knocking him down. With quick movements, Kyuubi managed to avoid the stream of blood and, somehow, keep her clothes free of blood samples.

Sakura watched dumbfounded as Naruto roared with laughter.

"W-What?" she mumbled, "I don't understand…"

Naruto managed to get his breathing under control just as Jiraya was starting to get back to his feet. "Nice-one, Kyuu-chan!" he said, giving her a thumbs-up. The girl smiled brightly, her face a bit flushed at the praise. Then he turned to Sakura, "There's a reason I call Ero-sennin, Ero-sennin. It's because he's an incontrollable pervert." He turned to Jiraya, "Right, Ero-sennin?"

"Don't call me that, you brat!"

"You just lost all the ground you had for that demand, you old pervert! Hah! Just wait until I tell baa-chan!"

"Hmm…" the man said, his face still a bit red and warm, "but still. That was a good technique. Still imperfect but… if you want to train it, I can help you with that, young lady." Jiraya gave Kyuubi a lecherous grin.

There was a dry sound and Jiraya's head was sent back by a powerful punch from Sakura. "I can't believe one of the Legendary Three Ninjas is such a despicable human being. I mean, I'd heard rumours but I thought they were exaggerations…" the pink haired girl gave a body shudder and edged away from the pervert, muttering to herself.

Jiraya observed her for a moment, his face oddly serious and concerned.

"I can see she hasn't recovered yet…"

"What the Jerk did to her was hideous, Ero-sennin." Naruto answered in a low voice.

The man lifted his eyebrows, "You know?"

"She told us, when we returned. Or rather, she was forced too. We encountered a clone of Sasuke on the way from Wave to Konoha and I overheard some taunts where he hinted at what had happened. When I confronted her with it, she just broke down on us…" Naruto remarked, frowning at Sakura who was now sitting by the fire. Kyuubi moved to join the other female.

"Hmm… tell me more, kid. Especially about how you're walking around with the Kyuubi in human form."

Naruto sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The old pervert's information gathering skills were starting to be a little annoying.

Jiraya took a big bite of the chicken leg in his hand. It was a meagre meal, very different than what he'd have had if they were back in civilized lands but here, out in the wilderness, he couldn't be too demanding when it came to food. He was just glad he had managed to catch the brats on their first night of travel. Otherwise they'd be eating granola bars instead of meat. Unless, of course, the Vixen managed to catch something for them since, as far as he knew, Naruto's hunting abilities were about as good as his: nonexistent.

Sakura had retired for the night but Naruto and the other girl were still awake, sitting by the fire with him. Jiraya had wished for some time to speak with his pupil alone but 'Kyuu-chan' would not take a no for an answer and refused to abandon the boy's side. Which, considering her status as an Avatar, was not all that surprising. The Toad Sage felt a swelling of pride when he thought of the Fourth's son. Pure enough to survive the purge of the Lifestream! And to erase the Demon Fox from the world and return the Vixen Goddess to it. By the gods he wasn't sure if his father would have been able to do it. Scratch that, he wouldn't be able to do it. After he'd met Kushina that kid's mind had been so infused with the girl the Lifestream would have wiped him clean from the Universe and left not a trace behind. He eyed Naruto. Perhaps it was a good thing the kid was still a virgin.

"Well, I hope the three of you know what you're doing. If you want my opinion, it is best if you just hide your ears with the cloth and forgo the Genjutsu altogether. Moderately skilled ninja can detect when and roughly where such constructs are being applied. It would draw unnecessary attention to that particular aspect of you." He said to Kyuubi, "And pray you never have to fight beside a Hyuuga. They can see through clothes!" another leer.

The girl rolled her eyes.

"Other than that, at this point I don't think there's anything else you can do." He took another bite, "You said Tsunade still hasn't decided who is going to be your squad commander, right Naruto?"

"Yeah. Granny says she'd rather test me before that and tackle the problem afterwards."

Jiraya munched a bit in silence, mulling over an idea. Making up his mind he said, abruptly, "How do you feel about taking a more serious apprenticeship under a Sannin, kid?"

"What?" Naruto asked, surprised.

"I asked how you feel about taking a more serious apprenticeship under a Sannin." He repeated, "If you agree with it, I might volunteer to be your commander…"

There was a stunned silence and then Naruto said,

"But… but I thought you hated being bound by responsibilities like that. And haven't I already apprenticed with you for two years?"

Jiraya waved his hand dismissively while maintaining his two eyes steadily focused on the blonde young man.

"That time can barely pass as apprenticeship. I didn't teach you that much, did I?" he asked rhetorically, "But that was partially my own decision. You weren't ready. You were still too immature, too naïve to see the reality of the world. You are ready now. And of course: my lessons would not be limited to you. I would teach your friend Sakura as well, and even the Goddess if she felt she had something to gain with it."

Naruto looked at the old pervert for a moment, too stunned to speak. The he turned to Kyuubi, as if seeking her opinion. The white haired woman looked back and gave a firm nod, with wide eyes.

"I- Sure, I guess… if you're sure, Ero-sennin…"

The old ninja gave a satisfied nod and threw the remains of the meal into the fire. As they watched the pieces burn in silence, Jiraya said, softly, "I'm old, brat. There's no way around it. Sooner or later I'll meet my share in life. It is the only thing certain in life, death. If I have to go I'd rather go having left something meaningful in this world. You'll be my last apprentice, Naruto. I'll teach you everything I know, you'll be my legacy, you'll inherit everything. Let no one say I've lived in vain."

Naruto sat dumbfounded, confused by the sudden dark turn in the atmosphere and surprised at the fatalist tone in the old pervert.

"Ero-sennin… I don't understand. Why are you talking like this? And what do you mean about leaving something meaningful? You trained the Fourth Hokage!"

Jiraya shock his head, "I thought that was enough, that I felt contented with that but… After that mess with the Uchiha… You're my student's son, Naruto. Call it my own piece of selfishness but when you disappeared… I failed you kid. And I'm sorry." And then he did something that left Naruto gaping in shock: he got to his knees and brought his forehead down to the ground, in an apologetic stance, "But I'm going to fix that if it's the last thing I do. I won't live with regrets – nor die with them!"

Naruto went to him, completely disturbed, "I- Come on, Old Man." He tugged at his sleeve, "Don't do this to me, I don't know what I'm supposed to say, dammit!"

Jiraya got back to his feet, his face still serious and his eyes maybe even a little red. Naruto looked at him, worried. The perverted hermit gave him a smile and said, "I have given you my vow. I'll see it through." He paused and breathed deeply, "But I need to know where you want to go from here on. What do you want to become." He laughed, "Do you still want to be Hokage?"

Naruto actually took his time to answer. "I don't know. I definitely still have the reasons for which I wanted it in the first place. But…" he scratched his head awkwardly, "Baa-chan just released my status as the heir of the Namikaze and I already have a load of people after me… fans, I suppose. And then I remember how Gaara was treated when he became Kazekage. That much worshipping… I don't think I like it, Ero-sennin…"

To his surprise, Jiraya actually laughed when he heard that.

"Yeah, Minato was the same way as you. He'd run away from people as soon as he suspected fan girls to be around. Only one person ever managed to make him face that fear…"

"My mother?" Naruto ventured with a small smile.

Jiraya shook his head, laughter favouring his words, "No. The Sandaime: he named him the Fourth Hokage!"

"Kazekage-sama, an envoy team from Konoha has just arrived. They're accompanied by Jiraya of the Sannin."

Gaara of the Sand, former Jinchuuriki of the One-Tail Raccoon Shukaku, lifted his head from the report he had been reading. A difficult task since he had one hell of an headache; a result from the most recent bar-hopping spree promoted by his brother and sister. The Kage was the Kage, but even him was entitled some relaxation.

"Send them in, don't keep them waiting."

The red-haired man stared as the team filled the room. Two women, one dressed in pink and another in white. The pinkie was obviously Haruno Sakura but the other one didn't appear to be anyone Gaara knew. Jiraya of the Sannin, stood behind the team and in the middle, dressed completely in black, stood a young man. Reaching for the hood, he brought it down, revealing an unruly golden hair, a smiling face with whiskers, his eyes scrunched and resembling a Fox.

"Hiya, Gaara!"

As he looked at Uzumaki Naruto, Gaara sighed, lifted a hand to his forehead and murmured, "I knew I shouldn't have let Temari buy me that one more shot!"

A/N.: Hi! Long time no see. This chapter is a transition chapter. Nothing too interesting, I suppose. It hasn't been very well proof-read, which means it probably contains more mistakes than usual. Anyway I hope you like it. Constructive comments appreciated as always.

Random thought: I sure hope fanfiction net's break lines are working properly, this time. I'll have to go back and reset them in the previous chapters, I suppose...