A/N Thank you for your support and the reviews.

Sultryvoice:Thanks for the the review as usual my friend. I'm glad you enjoyed the sappyness. I thought it was appropriate. Sadly this will be the last we see of Yoochun in this fanfiction.

Tigrezztail: Thanks for the review my friend. You are most certainly right. Kakashi did deserve Hayate's anger. Though i do have a few more surprises up my sleeve when it comes to our favorite swordsman.

DarkRevie: Thanks for your review and support as always.

Kitten's Kat: Glad you like the story. Hope you continue to review.

Betaed by Sultryvoice

Naruto's POV

In all honesty he had been expecting to find the Sanin at the gambling house. After searching the place with clones he left disappointed and confused. She wasn't there. They hadn't even seen her since the day before. The owner had seen her leave with a pale black haired man and a white haired young man. He knew there were only two people that would fit that description and it made his blood run cold. Orchimaru and Kabuto.

From what Chun had said the pale Sanin would be looking for a way to heal his center. Otherwise the man would be dead within a year. It made sense that he would go to Tsunade.

His next stop would have to be the local bar with Jiraiya. The old pervert was unsurprisingly waiting for him outside the bar. The look on his face told him that he knew he didn't find her. Now he bet the bastard knew she wasn't in the casino.

Kobaruto and Jīngshen both sat outside to wait on him. They knew they weren't allowed in the bar. As much as he hated to leave his companions out there.

Jiraiya was talking about nonsense that Naruto was only half listening to. His eyes were drawn to a back table where familar blond and black haired women sat. He recognized them immediately from the last time he had been there. Tsunade and Shizune.

Tsunade said surprised," Jiraiya!"

"Tsunade!"

Naruto wanted to face palm at their antics. He was surrounded by idiots. By sheer force of will he didn't attack them or yell at them.

With the old pervert he sat across from the other Sanin. To his surprise the man let him order some food while he and Tsunade pulled out a deck of cards. He ordered a platter of grilled fish while he watched. This would be his first time seeing them interact.

Tsunade shuffled the cards as she asked," What are you doing here, brat, pervert?"

He growled at her nickname for him. It was insulting. He was a chunin now and he beat her once in a fight. If need be he could do it again.

Jiraiya said taking his cards," You were at the village during the attack. You also know about the old man?"

A sad light briefly entered her eyes but was gone just as fast as he identified it. She replied her voice hard and cold," I heard that he is being forced to retire because of injuries sustained. So I'll ask again. Why are you here?"

There was a pause when the waiter arrived with drinks and Naruto's food. Once he was gone the old man said," Sarutobi sensei and the council has expressed the wish for you to be the next Hokage."

He was glad that he had been given the mission specifics before he left. Otherwise he might have choked on his fish. While he knew it from what he had been told it was still surprising to hear. Through the fringe of his bangs he watched her reaction.

Shizune had a larger reaction than Tsunade did. Her mouth hung open like a gaping fish. The blond though her eyes hardened. There was untold anger in them. It was like they had insulted her by offering the position. What did she have against the Hokage position? Many have and would continue to kill for such a position. It was a rare honor only to be given to the best.

She said her voice as hard as her eyes," I don't want the title of Hokage. It brings nothing but pain and death to all those who seek it. You know, brat I heard about what your mentor did to Orchimaru. I'm not saying that he didn't deserve but that's a painful way for someone to die."

He flinched heavily at the though. Chun had told him what he had done to the Sanin. To someone's center was a death sentence. Especially for those with large amounts of ki and chakra. There was no way to fix it. It was just a waiting game for the ki and chakra to poison the body. Or for the person to end their pain.

Naruto said calmly," Without a center he can no longer destroy my home. Orchimaru got what he deserved in my opinion. There is more to that statement than just seeing if i knew what Chun had done. What is it you are really wanting to know?"

Jiraiya let out a warm laugh as he said," He may be a brat Tsunade but he isn't an idiot. You will have to do better than that to fool him."

She briefly stared at him before she said," It seems that Kabuto and Orchimaru believe I can fix his center. Not that I'm going to. Even if it was possible. I might not want to be Hokage but i would never put the village at risk like that."

Naruto almost already knowing the answer asked," Why are you so against being Hokage?"

"The dream to be Hokage is a fool's errand. Only those with a death wish would want the position. It only brings pain and death to those who take it. Every Hokage has died at a young age except for Sarutobi sensei."

Now he glared full on at her. She was denouncing his dream and slandering it. Just because she didn't approve or want the position didn't mean she should say that.

He shot back," The title of Hokage is an honor. You should be proud that you were considered for such a position. It is my dream to be Hokage one day."

She said point blank," You will die trying to achieve that dream. Just like everyone before you. If you want to live longer then pick a less dangerous dream."

Never! He would never abandon his dream because someone saw it as a fools errand. His eyes turned cold as he watched them. Unbeknownst to him Shizune elbowed the Sanin trying to shut her up.

He replied coldly," You said the same thing about saving Hayate sensei. That it was a fool's errand. There was no way for someone to be a vessel of two. Yet here i am! I don't care what you say about me but I won't let you slander the name Hokage! It is a dream that every ninja has at least once in their life. To slander it is to slander every ninjas life. Including those that have fallen!"

By the end of his speech he was standing. Anger made his blue eyes even brighter than before. It was almost like they were glowing.

Tsunade said glaring at him," You beat me last time on a technicality. Don't think if we were to fight again that they would be under the same conditions."

"Bring it on, old bat. I'll kick your ass and make you take back everything you said about being Hokage."

Jiraiya tried to be the voice of reason as he said," Now now you two that's enough. There's no need to get violent. What did you mean that you to had fought before?"

It was Shizune who answered him," Not long after Naruto became a ninja Hayate Gekko's disease progressed to a dangerous point. In an effort to save the man's life Naruto came in search of Lady Tsunade. They made a deal if Naruto could land one strike on her she would heal Hayate. If he couldn't he would never bother her again. You can probably guess who won."

The white haired Sanin stared at him in shock. It was well known that Tsunade hated to lose. Then again so did Naruto.

"Lets take this outside brat." With that said they went outside. A challenge had been made. Now they would settle it.

Hayate's POV

He stood in front of Chun's apartment door. The man had been staying at this apartment since the final Chunin exams. If anyone would be able to help him it would be Chun.

When he knocked he half expected his childhood friend not to be inside. The man was inconsistent about when he was around. Sometimes he was off training. Others he was asleep. There was absolutely no pattern to anything he did. To his surprise the door opened revealing a half asleep Chun.

The dark haired man stood rubbing at his eyes tiredly. He was only wearing jeans and was without a shirt. Hayate could see the scar on his right side that still looked angry. Chun had received it on a mission for the Black Forest Defense Group. While he didn't know the specifics of the mission. He did know it had almost cost Chun his life.

Chun growled but opened the door to allow him entry. When they both sat comfortably in his living room he glared at Hayate.

This prompted him to laugh and say," I was going to get your opinion on something but if you want to know i can ask someone else."

This prompted an even darker glare that told him to continue. So he did," I want to adopt Naruto."

That took away any tiredness and anger from the man. Chun asked his voice low," What brought this on Hayate? I thought you were dating Yugoa. We both know how she feels about the kid. That won't go over well."

That was true. His and Yugoa's relationship had been on the rocks since he took Naruto under his wing. He still loved her dearly but Naruto had stolen his heart in terms of having someone to care about. The boy was an excellent student and learned quickly. Hayate had noticed that he was oddly protective of him. Then his conversation with Kakashi happened. He realized that he was thinking of himself more as Naruto's father than anything.

Taking a deep breath he said," My conversation with Kakashi happened. I noticed that I was finding myself more and more protective of Naruto. I couldn't figure out why. It wasn't just because the village abused him either. Then when i talked to Kakashi it hit me. I was acting like a father. Honestly I think it would do him good to have a constant in his life. Someone that won't leave him except in death. Yugoa will either accept my decision or she won't. If she doesn't then that's it. I have given her every chance i can."

Chun nodded his acceptance. This was hard on him. He wanted his disciple to be happy along with his oldest friend. He didn't want the boy to choose to stay behind though. They needed this trip to the Murim if Naruto was ever going to succeed over there. It was a precarious situation.

Eventually he asked," What about the kid leaving with me? Will he still be able to go?"

Hayate considered it then replied honestly," I will leave it up to him. If he wants to go he can. I will not force him to stay. That would only alienate him from me."

The relief on Chun's face was evident even to the most oblivious person. It showed how much he cared about his disciple. Hayate knew that Naruto would be in good hands while they were gone.

Chun said sincerely," Thank you. He does need this. Far more than you or he realizes."

Hayate had somewhat of an idea. Murim was ruled by the powerful and if you didn't show that early they would never accept you. Chun was a prime example of it. He was one of the most powerful Murim masters. Yet the saw him as nothing more than a monster. Much like how the village saw Naruto.

Chun said breaking him from his thoughts," You have my blessing if that's what you came here for. Though you still need to go see the Hokage for final permission."

That would probably be the most difficult part. The old man hadn't been the most supportive person since he started training Naruto. Still to get the paperwork and to follow tradition he needed permission. So he would seek it. Then he would ask Naruto. Everything would change based on the boy's answer.