777torn777: There was a reason why I did what I did with the third. If the third would've been involved in Naruto's life, there is no way for him to develop a unique personality. It is my headcanon that it was Naruto's interaction with the third that inspired him to become the hokage above all. And, I never said that he ran away from all his duties. He did provide Naruto with a house and a stipend, but he just wasn't the grand father to Naruto that he was in the canon. And, I don't think that it's in the realm of impossibility, because at the core, Hiruzen is a human too and he did lose his wife to Kyuubi (well, Obito, but he does not know of that.).
X-X
As opposed to just today morning, the mood of the village had grown sour. Konoha did not face much losses, but, there were a few casualties. Regardless, the seed of hatred was sown deep into the people of Konoha.
Naruto was currently in the Hokage office with the head of Gaara. The Hokage looked beaten up, his black body armour was hanging on a shelf, bathed in red. But, Naruto's focus was not on him. His focus was on the white haired man who had two toads popping out of either of his shoulders. As the toads dispelled, the thickened red lines on his face started to recede, just like his purple markings were receding.
"You are a Sage?" Naruto questioned.
"Why of course I am. I am the one and only great toad sage of Mount Myouboku." Jiraiya said, forming an obnoxious pose.
"What a retard." Naruto murmured to himself.
"So, Naruto, is that the head of the jinchuriki?" The third questioned.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Naruto replied.
"I heard that he had transformed into Shukaku, how did you manage to defeat him?" He asked again.
"I had to tap into my Sage mode to even stand a chance." Naruto replied, not seeing any benefit in lying.
"Sage mode?" Jiraiya and Hiruzen questioned.
"Yes." Naruto replied. And for a second, silence reigned. The Hokage and Hiruzen thinking that Naruto would further explain, and Naruto thinking that he had said enough.
"And just where did you learn of the sage mode?" Jiraiya questioned, breaking the silence.
"Why should I tell you anything?" Naruto countered.
"I am the most trusted confident of the Hokage." Jiraiya replied.
Naruto looked towards the Hokage, and when he nodded, Naruto started.
"Apparently, my chakra system is pre- exposed to sage chakra. These eye markings are actually a representation of my unconscious sage mode." Naruto said, pointing towards his eyes.
"Is that so? Perhaps, I can teach you how to master your sage mode." Jiraiya said.
"You haven't mastered the sage mode yourself, what will you teach me? Actually, I am a better sage then you." Naruto said, brushing Jiraiya's offer off.
"As if." Jiraiya scoffed, trying to rile up Naruto so that he would show him his sage mode without Jiraiya having to ask.
Naruto ignored him and turned to the Hokage, "Why was I called here, Hokage-sama?"
"Keeping that aside, Why did you not inform me of your senjutsu prowess?" Hiruzen asked.
"It was pretty clear that you did not appreciate meeting me. So, I never bothered showing up without any reason." Naruto said.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed at this.
"Whatever made you think that?" Hiruzen questioned.
"I am a sensor, I can feel your feelings, if that makes sense." Naruto said.
"It indeed does, it is a known trait of previous jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. Regardless, I hope you understand that my hatred is for the Kyuubi." Hiruzen said.
"I really don't care. You are just another one to me, Hokage-sama." Naruto replied.
"I see. Please leave that head here. Since he had a bounty, the money will be sent to you. Thank you for your service to the village." Hiruzen said, sighing.
"Of course, it was a honor." Naruto said and sunshined away.
"What was that about, sensei? Had you not promised Kushina that you will take care of him?" Jiraiya said, scowling.
"Scowl at me all you want Jiraiya. But, I lost my wife to the Kyuubi attack, can you blame me for not getting over it?" Hiruzen said.
"Oh, so you can let Orochimaru run away and give him another chance, but cannot give him a single chance?" Jiraiya said, deceptively calm.
"Don't compare those situations, Jiraiya." Hiruzen said.
"Of course, there is no comparison. What a crime Naruto did by becoming the Jinchuriki to save the village and losing his parents. How can a crime of this caliber be compared to the measly human experiments that Orochimaru did. Right?"
X-X
"What was that, Naruto?" Ino exclaimed.
"What was what?" Naruto questioned.
"That purple chakra thingy you did! That was awesome! Can you teach it to me? Purple is awesome, you know?" Ino said, over enthusiastic.
"No, Ino. It is not something that can be taught." Naruto said.
"Yeah, of course it can't be taught." Ino said, pouting.
"Why can't you stay quite for a while?" Shikamaru murmured. Team ten was currently at the training ground ten. Shikamaru was laying down, Naruto was eating an apple and Ino was, as always, gossiping. Asuma had called them their 2 hours ago, but he wasn't here yet. They hoped he was not spending a lot of time with the sensei of team 7.
Before any bickering could start, Asuma appeared in a swirl of leaves. "What's up?" He said casually, pretending he was not 2 hours late.
Team ten, synonymously deciding that their sensei could be forgiven for once, decided to push for why they were called there.
"So, why did you call us here?" Ino questioned.
"Well, I just wanted to congratulate you on the performance you put forward during the chunin exams. Though the things did not go as planned with the invasion and all, it is still possible that some or all of you may be promoted to chunin." Asuma said.
"Well, we can still work as a team, right?" Ino questioned.
"Of course we can." Asuma replied.
X-X
DING.
This was the first time someone had ringed his bell. Sure, after the rumors about his fight with the Shukaku had gotten out, the harsh glances had reduced to almost negligible, but, the fact remained that no one had ringed his bell till now. He supposed it was more to do with where he lived. His teammate's parents would not allow them to roam in the red light area, and a famous name like Asuma Sarutobi would not be caught dead in such an area.
"Coming." Naruto shouted, moving towards the door.
"Yes?" Naruto questioned. It was the same guy he had met in the Hokage office.
"So, did you think about my generous offer?" Jiraiya questioned.
"Did I not tell you that you have nothing to teach me?" Naruto replied.
"Maybe not senjutsu, but I have plenty things to pass down. If you don't know, I was the fourth hokage's teacher too." Jiraiya said with and obnoxious grin.
"Father's sensei?" Naruto questioned.
"So you know about that, who told it to you?" Jiraiya questioned, his grin falling.
"As I said, I don't need to tell you anything." Naruto replied.
"This is a S-rank secret we are talking about." Jiraiya said.
"Just like the 'S-rank' secret of me being a jinchuriki?" Naruto countered.
"Listen, Naruto, I thought you were well taken care of." Jiraiya said.
"And why exactly do you care?" Naruto asked.
"As I said, I was your fath-."
"I really do not care what you were to him." Naruto cut Jiraiya off.
"Well, regardless. You and I have an A-rank mission to take." Jiraiya said, changing the topic.
"What exactly is the mission?" Naruto questioned.
"We have to retrieve the next Hokage." Jiraiya said, grin returning full force.
"Genin can't take A-rank missions." Naruto countered.
"Whoever said you are a genin?" Jiraiya said, summoning a vest and handing it to Naruto. Naruto just raised his eyebrows.
"The chunin ceremony is yet to be conducted, but due to our special circumstances, you are given some leeway." Jiraiya said.
"I see." Naruto said, taking the vest and shutting the door in his face.
X-X
Yeah, the vest looked ugly over his kimono. Perhaps, it was time for a wardrobe change. Maybe something subtle?
X-X
Eh? he was not asked to leave the clothes shop. That was new. Oh, the owner was not scowling at him too, that was definitely new.
"So, what are you looking for?" The shop keeper asked. Yeah, he was definitely dreaming.
"Hello? Are you there?" The shopkeeper asked.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. I was looking for the standard shinobi outfit." Naruto said.
X-X
AN: an abrupt end? I don't know, I felt it was a safe spot to leave. Tell me your thoughts or any suggestions. Until next time!