Naruto Uchiha
Chapter 37
So, we now lead into the final events that will happen before the time skip. I would like you to give my choices a chance before you judge them, as, while things may seem to be mirroring canon in these next few chapters, I have plans that will cause major deviations to the canon timeline.
Anyways.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"Why exactly are we going on this mission again, Jiraiya-sensei?" groaned Naruto as he and the Toad Sannin walked through the forest, headed to a nearby town where Jiraiya hoped to find a trace of his old teammate, Tsunade Senju.
"It's for the Hokage," said Jiraiya, "Tsunade is the best medic around and she should be able to help him recover from his injuries, as well as treat some of the other people injured in Orochimaru's attack."
"I know that much," said Naruto, "I meant why do I have to be on this mission?"
"Well," said Jiraiya casually, "I assumed you'd like to use the time to learn more about using the Kyuubi's Chakra, along with some other super awesome Jutsu I could teach you, but if you'd rather head back to the village…"
"When can we start dattebayo?" exclaimed Naruto excitedly, causing Jiraiya to chuckle.
"Well," said the Sannin, "we've managed to cover a good amount of ground so far, so perhaps we can take a break. There should be a clearing ahead that we can use."
"Awesome!" cheered Naruto, "Let's go!"
The Sannin chuckled at the enthusiasm of his student as they continued on their way at a quicker pace, now that said student was properly motivated. He had spoken with Kakashi before they left Konoha in order to confirm that the Jonin would be giving the Dog contract to ONLY Sasuke. He wasn't trying to imply that Kakashi should focus on the Uchiha, it was just that he wanted to pass on something that had belonged to Naruto's parents, and signing the Dog summoning contract would prove a bit counterproductive.
His student's good cheer seemed contagious, and he decided to hasten his pace as well, after all, the odds were pretty good that Tsunade would come back with them. The Sandaime had left him with a message to deliver after all, and his sensei had assured him that it would ensure her return to them, though he hadn't been able to read it himself due to it being locked with a blood seal.
But hey, what's the worst that could happen?
xXsceneXx
A ways away, in a small but bustling town, a blond woman with an impressive bust was staring down at a wooden tile in her hand with an expression that was a mix of shock, joy, and horror. She had entered the town on her wanderings and had heard that the town was holding their annual lottery that week and, as per her reputation as a gambler, had paid several hundred Ryo to the pot so she could get in on the game. It didn't hurt that the past three years had gone without a winner being declared and thus the prize money had been accumulating for four years and the payout was bigger than ever. On the tile in her hand was a set of numbers and symbols, but they weren't just any random combination. The tile that she had drawn, was the winning combination for the lottery.
"Congratulations Ma'am," said the announcer with glee, "you've won our 1,000,000,000 ryo jackpot! As the first winner in three years, may I have a photo to post on the wall of fame?"
"Shizune," said Tsunade, ignoring the man in front of her, "gather up the prize money. We're leaving."
"Tsunade-sama, why?" asked a black-haired woman as she ran up in a black yukata carrying a small pig.
"Don't ask questions," said Tsunade, "just get the money and pack up our things. We're leaving. We should be able to make it to Tanzaku in a few days if we hurry."
Shizune was confused at her teacher's actions, but she quickly gathered up the prize money from the Jackpot and hurried to their hotel room to gather their bags. After all, if her sensei decided they needed to get going on the double, then there must be a good reason, right? While she did this, Tsunade looked out at the sky with a troubled look on her face. Remembering each of the previous times she had been this successful through her gambling, she felt a looming sense of dread as she prayed that she would not have to watch anyone die this time.
"Tsunade-sama," said Shizune after a moment, snapping the Sannin out of her musings and making her realize that she had been standing there for a while, "I've packed everything and we're ready to head out. Are you certain we can't stay any longer? Maybe we could contact some of the people you…"
"Shizune," said Tsunade firmly, "we are leaving. If we have the chance, we can contact them at the next town we reach."
"Hai, Tsunade-sama," sighed Shizune as the two women plus one pig headed out of the town.
As they left, a man wearing a black cloak with bandages covering his face and a hitai-ate that bore an Oto-nin crest emerged from the shadows of an alley. Once the two women were out of sight, he ducked back into the alley and rolled up a sleeve, revealing several tattoos. The man made three hand-seals and traced the outline of a swallowtail tattoo on his arm before closing his eyes.
"Ninpō: Juinjutsu Shisha!" said the man, causing the tattoo to rise up off his arm and fly off into the distance, seeking the one its master sent it to find. Once the butterfly tattoo was out of sight, the Shinobi made a ram seal and vanished using a Shunshin.
xXsceneXx
"Alright sensei," said Naruto as the two of them sat on rocks that were positioned around a makeshift firepit, "what are we going to learn first?"
"Actually," said Jiraiya, "before we get on to the things I wanted to teach you, there is something I want to give to you. You see, there's another reason I wanted to be your sensei. Not only was my own sensei the Sandaime, but one of the Genin I led as a Jonin sensei, was your father."
"You knew my father?" said Naruto in surprise.
"And your mother," nodded Jiraiya, "in fact, you were named after the main character of my first novel, though that book didn't really sell very well, and your parents named me your godfather."
"You're…my godfather?" asked Naruto softly.
"I know I was not around as much as I should have been," sighed Jiraiya, "but I had a duty to maintain Konoha's spy network. I still tried to keep tabs on…"
Before Jiraiya could finish, he was interrupted by Naruto rushing forward to hug him around the midsection. The Sannin was surprised, but placed his hand on the teen's back reassuringly.
"It's alright," said Naruto, "I have family again. That's all that matters."
The blond pulled away with a smile on his face, prompting Jiraiya to pull out a scroll that was sealed shut, "This was left to you by your parents," said the Sannin, "it was blood sealed, so even I don't know what it says."
"Why haven't I gotten this before now?" asked Naruto curiously as he took the scroll and looked it over.
"You have to understand," said Jiraiya, "your parents were powerful shinobi and earned their reputations during a time of war, so of course they gained many enemies from other villages, enemies that wouldn't hesitate to hunt down and kill their only child as a form of retribution for losses suffered in the war. Their wish was that you wouldn't receive this until you reached the rank of Chunin and were strong enough to make your own decisions and to defend yourself."
Naruto nodded and bit his thumb to draw blood before swiping his blood across the seal on the scroll, causing it to release, allowing the blond Jinchuriki to open the scroll and read his parents' last message to him.
Dear Naruto,
If you are reading this, then something must have happened to us and we are gone. I want you to know that you are, and always have been, the light of our lives, and that we both wish that we could be here saying these things, instead of relying on a letter to convey our regrets. Since it was our wish that you not read this until you reached the rank of Chunin, I guess I should say congratulations. And if you passed on your first try, then you really take after your old man.
Anyways, you will grow up to be a fine young man, I'm sure of it, after all, your parents turned out all right, and let's hope you didn't inherit your mother's temper~~~~
The ink smeared at this point. It seemed that his father had been whacked over the head when his mother saw that last remark.
Ahaha, right. I guess what I want to say, is that I want you to live a happy and full life. Remember that your parents loved you and always look out for those you hold close. Keep the Will of Fire burning strong, and I hope we don't see you until you're an old man with grandchildren.
Be happy.
Minato Namikaze. Yondaime Hokage.
Naruto's eyes widened as he finished reading the letter. His father was the legendary Yellow Flash of Konoha, the Yondaime. He quickly found his mother's message to him and began to read, wanting to know more about his family.
My dear Sochi,
I am so sorry I couldn't be there for you. I wanted to see you grow up and start a family of your own, but it seems that it was not to be. I guess you're wondering a few things about your Kaa-san, so let me tell you about myself. I came to the village as a child from our clan's home in Uzu, where I met your father when I enrolled in the Shinobi academy. I came to the village because I had been selected to become the second Jinchuriki to the Kyuubi no Kitsune, as the first, Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the Shodai Hokage, was nearing the end of her long life. After graduating, I earned a reputation early on due to my hot temper and my round face and red hair earning me a teasing nickname of tomato. After beating up the fifteenth set of bullies (do not follow my example, you hear me) I earned a new nickname, "the Red-Hot Habanero."
The day I found out I was pregnant with you was the happiest of my life and it is my deepest regret that I am telling you this through a letter rather than to your face. I would hope you live a good and long life. Eat right, find happiness, and watch out for Jiraiya-sensei.
With all my love,
Kushina Uzumaki.
"My father was the Yondaime," said Naruto happily, "but if he was my father, why did he or my mother allow the Kyuubi to be sealed into me?"
"It is because it could be nobody else," said Jiraiya, "your father could never ask of someone else something that he could not do himself. He could never force someone to sacrifice their own child if he could not do so himself. Minato-kun believed that you would have the strength to handle this burden, and I am pleased to say you have surpassed all my expectations."
"Thanks sensei," said Naruto, "now what are we going to train with first?"
"Always so single minded," chuckled Jiraiya, "well I did have something special planned. I'm going to teach you a technique that has been passed down from me to your father and now to you: I'm going to teach you to summon toads."