Author Message: So I'm alive I guess, has been a while. About three years on this account anyway; I did move over to another account but decided to come back to this account as it doesn't have all of the kids asking me why I'm not updating my other stories. This is actually a story I wrote a while back and after deleting it because of a few events; I've decided to try and bring it back! Idk how well it will go, but leave a review if you like it! Or if you have a problem with it! Requests are also welcome! Hope you enjoy.
Thirteen Years Ago, A Nine Tailed Fox suddenly appeared in the village of Konoha, leaving death and destruction in its path as it ravaged the village.
Many of the Shinobi's who fought against the beast were killed as all hope seems lost, as nothing was able to stop the tailed beast from destroying the village, the Fourth Hokage of the village was able to successfully transport the beast away from the village, though he also had to deal with a new foe that put his wife and newborn son in danger.
As he fought with the beast, the new foe endangered his wife and child, and so, with the combined effort of the Fourth and His Wife, they sacrificed themselves; and in the process, were able to seal the Nine Tails Demon inside of their newborn son...
Naruto.
Immediately after the attack, the Third Hokage Sarutobi was sworn back in as the leader of the village as the village was in complete disarray, as many civilians and ninja lost their lives to the attack from the tailed beast.
There were a multitude of issues to cover after the attack, but one issue stood above all others.
Sarutobi looked at the basket on his desk as a small child laid in it fast asleep, it was the son of the Fourth Hokage, Naruto Namikaze.
It had been two weeks since the attack, and the village heads all agreed to keep the identity of the child secret, not wanting the people of the village to blame the poor child for the calamity that had struck the village, since the beast was now sealed within it's small body.
Some of the village heads recommended for one of the clans to take him in and claim him as their own, after all the child was still a newborn, so it could be plausible. Yet Sarutobi had rejected these ideas, saying that the child looked too much like the Fourth and people would immediately become suspicious.
Others suggested for the leader of ANBU Root, Danzo, to take him in and raise him in secret to be a future member of the organization, yet again Sarutobi rejected the proposal, knowing full well that Danzo would make the child's life a living hell if that were to happen.
Finally the last of the village heads wished for Sarutobi himself to raise the child in secret, training him to be a secret weapon for the village in case of an attack of that magnitude once again.
However again Sarutobi did not take up the proposal, wanting the child to live a life like any other child, and not to be raised as a weapon or be hated or anything like that.
"Hokage-sama! We need to decide on what to do with the child! If you refuse to raise it in secret, then I propose we have some civilians take him in and have him raised as a civilian and nothing more!"
"You're an idiot if you believe we can do that! Hokage-sama has already said that the people of the village would immediately notice his resemblance to the Fourth! I propose that we have some elite Jounin raise him in secret and have him grow up behind closed doors!"
"Now you're the idiot! We've already made it clear that the child should live a life like any other, and not be blacklisted because of the situation surrounding its birth!" Sarutobi listened to his councilmen argue over one another before he gave a sigh and looked at them all.
"Thats enough!" The council immediately quieted down as all of their gazes fell onto Sarutobi, who sat at his desk in thought before he opened his eyes and continued "I have already made a decision on what to do with the child, and I'm now awaiting for them as we speak."
The council looked at each other in confusion, yet just mere moments later a knock was heard on the door before one of the ANBU agents entered "Hokage-sama, they're here."
Sarutobi nodded as he spoke "let them in."
The agent saluted before he side stepped as two figures entered, drawing gasps and murmurs from the council "What is she doing here?"
"I don't know, did the Hokage call her here to maybe get rid of the seal on the child?"
"Thats not possible, the seal can't be undone by no one but the Fourth!" The council started to murmur and whisper to each other once again but stopped when Sarutobi coughed into his hand as all attention went to him again.
"It's been a long while, Tsunade." The pair that had entered was Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage, and her apprentice Shizune, who was training to be a medical ninja.
"Sarutobi-sensei, I see the village has seen better times." Sarutobi nodded as he looked at the young woman named Shizune who was already sweating, get even more nervous when his look fell onto her.
"I see your apprentice is still doing well." Tsunade turned her gaze towards Shizune who shrunk even more as she nodded.
"Indeed, she's a fast learner, I'm glad I chose her." Tsunade gave a smile to Shizune who gave a nervous laugh as Sarutobi let a smile grace his lips for just a moment before his face turned back to being stern and serious.
"Tsunade, do you know why I have called you back?"
"No, but I'm assuming it's because you want me and Shizune to assist in the recovery effort, correct?" Sarutobi shook his head as he leaned back in his chair.
"No, if that was the case I wouldn't have had the ANBU secretly guide you here. The real reason I have called you here today is because of this child here." Sarutobi motioned to the basket on the table as Tsunade and Shizune looked at the baby in it, both confused.
"What's so special about it?"
"That baby is the only child of the recently departed Hokage, Minato Namikaze." Tsunade looked back at Sarutobi with a surprised look but just nodded.
"I see...But so what? I don't see how this baby is related to me in any way."
"This child is the reason the village was able to survive the attack from the beast that rampaged throughout our village just a few weeks ago. Minato and Kushina sacrificed themselves to seal the demon inside of this child, but because of that the child is now left without a family."
"So, thats how the village was saved huh? I heard that the Fourth was killed in the attack but I didn't know about his kid being the reason why."
"That is because the only people who know are the people in this room, not even the Jonin know about the existence of this child or the fact the beast is sealed inside of him. I fear that if either piece of news were to get out, then this child would live a miserable life where the people would fear him because of the demon that it houses inside of it's small frame."
"Well, I guess I can understand that, but I still don't know how I am involved in any of this." Sarutobi gave a small chuckle as he opened a scroll on his table.
"It's very simple. Tsunade, I wish for you to adopt this child as your own and raise it away from the village." Silence followed after Sarutobi spoke as his council looked at each other and quietly spoke, trying to find different solutions as none of them wanted the child to leave the village.
Yet Tsunade just kept her look on Sarutobi before she looked back at the child as she sighed "Tch, I think you're better off asking Jiraiya to do something like this. I don't think it's healthy for a kid to grow up around drinking and gambling, thats all I do nowadays."
"Hoho...I wonder about that." Tsunade looked at him questioningly as Sarutobi gave a small smile "You say that, yet I've heard many reports about you and young Shizune here traveling around and helping people in need with your medical skills.
"Most of the time we just run into them, it's not like we actively go looking for them."
"Still, you have a kind heart Tsunade, despite the cold exterior you like to portray to the public. While Jiraiya would have been a fine choice to raise the boy, I believe that every child needs a mother figure in it's life, one who will nurture it and care for it while it grows, that is something you can provide to the boy that Jiraiya can't."
"Me? A mother figure? I think you might have hit your head from some of the debris from the attack, because thats the most stupid thing I've ever heard." Sarutobi gave a small chuckle as Tsunade looked back at the child, and when she did, she felt calm all of a sudden as her anger vanished, almost like the child was a beacon of hope.
This didn't go unnoticed by Sarutobi who gave a small laugh "It seems that you're the one who isn't thinking straight Tsunade."
Tsunade bit down on her lip before closing her eyes as she thought before she looked back at Sarutobi "Even still, I think it's better for you to find someone else to raise him, I never stay in one place for long, he would never be able to make friends or actually be able to call someplace home."
"That will be changed in due time, however I should also mention that the reason I want you to raise him is not only so the village never finds out about his existence, but also so he never falls into the wrong hands."
"Wrong hands? Such as…?"
"Such as Orochimaru." Tsunade narrowed her eyes and gulped as Sarutobi's voice grew cold as the room suddenly became stiff as the council nervously looked at each other. "This boy is the son of the Fourth Hokage and was able to seal a beast as powerful as the Nine Tails inside of his body. He will someday be able to tap into that sealed power, and should he fall into the wrong hands such as Orochimaru, then it means doom for the rest of the world. That is why I want you to raise him, train him in the ways of a medical ninja and allow him to use his potential for good, and not evil."
"Tch…" Tsunade looked back at Naruto as he wiggled around in sleep and sneezed but didn't wake up, as she felt her heart melt at the scene before she closed her eyes and sighed "Still, to travel around and never have a place to call home, is it really the best for a child?"
"It's a better alternative than having the child stay here and suffer at the hands of the villagers, or to live in secret and never be allowed outside, being trapped for all of its life until danger hits the village."
"I guess but…"
"Tsunade, it's not like the child will never be allowed to come back to the village, in fact I wish for you to return to the village when the child reaches the age of thirteen."
"Huh? Why?"
"That will be around the time that the child can take the Chunin exams, and by that time the village won't immediately notice the similarities between him and the Fourth. Besides, by then everyone will know him as the son of the legendary Sannin Tsunade anyway." Silence followed suit as Tsunade kept her look on the child before giving one last sigh.
"Fine...I'll raise him, but as soon as he's thirteen, he's coming back to the village to live, I hope you understand."
"Of course, that is the plan after all, now…" Sarutobi looked at the scroll he had laying in front of him as he began signing it. "The child will assume his mother's last name, so he shall be named Naruto Senju, this is just to decrease the chance of him being found out, I hope you understand."
"Senju huh…" Tsunade whispered to herself as Sarutobi finished signing the scroll and turned it around as he handed the quiel to Tsunade who took it and wrote her signature on it.
However as soon as she did, Sarutobi turned his gaze towards Shizune who backed up a bit when he did "I-Is everything Ok Hokage-sama?"
"Hm? Everything's fine, I just need you to sign it as well."
"H-Huh? Is there a reason for that?"
"You and Tsunade are in a relationship are you not?" Shizune immediately turned a bright red as even Tsunade turned a pinkish color as she looked at Sarutobi. "Or am I mistaken?"
"N-No y-you're not but um…"
"I'm surprised you knew Sarutobi-sensei." Tsunade spoke up for her as Sarutobi gave a small laugh.
"Hoho, I may be old but I can still notice when two people are in love. Besides, do you really believe I haven't kept eyes on you and Jiraiya over the years?" Tsunade again looked surprised before she closed her eyes and smiled.
"Of course, still the ever nosy sensei I remember." Tsunade looked over at Shizune and motioned for her to sign the scroll, and despite her embarrassment, she walked over and signed the paper, which thereafter Sarutobi rolled it up and placed it in his desk.
"Tsunade, Shizune. You two are now the mothers of this child, of course legally Tsunade he is your biological son while he is Shizune's adopted son. If we were to list both of you as adopted, then people might link him to Minato."
"Always the cautious one, but alright...And if anyone asks about the father?"
"We have him listed legally as a Shinobi who never actually existed and died during his travels, so when people ask, feel free to just say he passed away and move on."
"Alright, that works I guess…" Tsunade leaned over the baby as she moved her arms and picked it up, as it stirred and briefly woke up as it stared at Tsunade, only to just curl up in her arms and fall back asleep.
"The ANBU will lead you back out so you can be on your way, I wish you safe travels and hope to see you in thirteen years."
"Yeah, I guess it will be a while. Well, take care as well Sarutobi-sensei." Sarutobi nodded as the ANBU led both Tsunade and Shizune out of the office, and as soon as they were gone, one of the councilmen walked over to Sarutobi and spoke.
"Hokage-sama, is this the best idea? What if the child is kidnapped?"
"Hmph, you put too little faith in her...She may say she's not the motherly type, but deep in her heart, I really feel like she is."
As the ANBU quietly led Tsunade and Shizune out with the young Naruto, Shizune just looked at the child before she looked at Tsunade "Do you really think we can raise a child? Especially one with a demon sealed in it?"
"Well it's not exactly my ideal way of spending time away from this village, but it is better than the alternative of the kid falling into Orochimaru's hands."
"I guess but still, what if the seal is broken? We would be killed immediately!"
"Don't worry, I doubt Minato would place such a flimsy seal on it that the beast could break out that easily, so no need to worry."
"Hm? Did you know the fourth?"
"I met him a few times, and though the interactions were few, I fully believe he wouldn't put our lives in such danger as that."
"Well...If you say so…" Shizune didn't look convinced as Tsunade gave a small smile as she reached over and interlocked her hand with Shizune making her blush as she looked at her "T-Tsunade?"
"This child, Naruto, is now our son. While it wasn't under the best circumstances, I say we make the best of it and raise him like mothers should, and that includes trusting in him, right?" Shizune kept her eyes trained on her a moment before she looked down and smiled as she nodded.
"Y-You're right, I have to believe in my s-son…" Shizune was a bit embarrassed to say the word which earned a small laugh from Tsunade as they kept their hands interlocked as they walked into the night.
This one decision by Sarutobi changed the fate of the world, as Naruto Senju, under the training of the sannin Tsunade and the future poison expert Shizune, would take the world by storm.
The Medical Naruto Prologue-Chapter End