Prologue
Konoha, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, first and greatest of the Hidden Villages. History has always shown Konoha to be the birthplace of strong ninjas. If you need evidence of this, look to the leaders of the village, the illustrious Hokages.
The first Hokage, Hashirama Senju was master of the mysterious and legendary Wood Release. Using this incredible power, Hashirama was able to defeat his rival Madara Uchiha, subdue the monstrous Kyuubi no Kitsune, and with the help of his wife Mito Uzumaki seal it away so it would no longer harm the innocent and becoming the first Jinchuriki.
Following in his footsteps was his brother, Tobirama Senju mastered the element of Water to such a degree that he could draw the moisture out of the very air itself. As the second Hokage, he single handedly faced down the most elite forces of the rival village of Kumo during the Second Ninja World War. Before succumbing to his injuries, Tobirama passed the title along to his most promising student, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As the longest serving Hokage, Hiruzen became known as the God of Shinobi for his mastery of each of the five elements as well as the extensive number of Jutsu he had created.
As the years passed, one promising shinobi rose through the ranks, becoming a hero during the Third Ninja World War though the use of his original Justsus, the Hiraishin and the Rasengen. Minato Namikaze, last member of a dying clan, was chosen to succeed Hiruzen, becoming the youngest Hokage in the villages history. Shortly after achieving the coveted seat, Minato married his childhood sweetheart, Kushina Uzumaki, the second Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. Two years passed and soon the young couple found out they would be having a child. The two worried, for the most dangerous time for a female Jinchuriki was when she would give birth. At this time, the sealing of the beast would be at its weakest.
There was a secret, however, that only Minato and Kushina were privy to. Kushina was the granddaughter of Tobirama Senju, conceived in secret with his wife Arania Uzumaki. The combination of Earth, Water, and Wind elements from her two bloodlines opened a long forgotten bloodline limit in Kushina, the Gemstone Release. Utilizing various gemstones, Kushina became a monster on the battlefield, wielding all five elements, various forms of weaponry and unique justsus to each crystal. As the due date loomed closer, Kushina gathered 6 gemstones in preparation of her child's birth, knowing full well her son or daughter would inherit her skills. On the fateful night, everything changed….
"Kushina, please be reasonable," Minato asked, raking his fingers through his spiky blonde hair, "Your in no condition to go out there and fight. Our son needs you."
Not 5 minutes earlier, a masked stranger had sadistically slaughtered the Hoakge's elite guards as well as the midwife team who were assisting with the birth of Minato and Kushina's son, Naruto. Shortly afterward, the stranger teleported away and ripped the Kyuubi out of Kushina and summoned it into the middle of the village. Minato knew he had only one chance to save the village and that would be to seal the Kyuubi away again. Unfortunately, the beast would burn through the chakra coils of an adult and even a child would have difficulties containing the beast. The only option would be to seal the beast into an Uzumaki, and with Kushina's chakra coils damaged from the extraction, that left the unthinkable. Minato would need to seal the beast into his newborn son.
"Our son will still have me," She said, holding up her left hand, the jewels covering her fingers and wrist shining in the lamplight, "Even if I am injured tonight, the Sapphire Coffin will activate and I will sleep until I am fully healed. The one I worry about is you my love. Surely you could leave this sacrifice to the pervert or the old man."
"I wish I could," he answered, effortlessly slipping his arms into the sleeves of his white, flame edged haori, "But I cannot ask of another what I myself should do. Lord Jiraiya and Lord Third won't interfere."
"Then we will both do what we need to do," She said, strapping on her gauntlets, "Our son will be a hero tonight."
That night, the battle raged as ninja throughout the village launched jutsu after jutsu at the enormous form of the Kyuubi. As the Nine tailed fox launched its strongest attack, a massive seal appeared in the air over the village, redirecting the massive beam of energy safely away. Slowly, another even larger seal spread beneath the fox and teleported it to a giant canyon far from the village. Standing defiantly in front of the beast were the loving couple, Minato cradling his newborn son in his arms.
"Kushina, restrain the beast while I prepare the seal." Minato commanded, as he began making the necessary hand seals.
Cracking her knuckles, Kushina focused her chakra, causing her hair to whip around her head in nine long ponytails. Thrusting her open palm at the monster, chains made of pure chakra shot from her back and wrapped around the giant fox. Struggle as it could, the beast could not free itself and was slowly forced to the ground in submission.
In a flash of smoke, a small alter surrounded by eight flickering candles appeared. Placing Naruto on the alter, Minato began the long sequence of hand seals necessary to complete the ultimate sealing jutsu, The Shiki Fujin. He knew the cost of this jutsu, his life would be forfeit and his wife and child would be left alone. But this was the cost of being Hokage, putting the good of the village before his own.
The Kyuubi was not the mindless beast everyone thought she was. As she lay chained to the ground, she recognized the sequence that the young Hokage was weaving. Though she knew she was above all of the meat monkeys walking around, she had a grudging amount of respect for the fiery red head. She also knew how deep the red heads love ran for the blonde dimwit. Unleashing a mighty roar, the Kyuubi began pulling against the hardened chakra chains, desperately trying to weaken even one link. All too quickly, a sickening snap echoed off of the canyon walls as one of the glowing chains snapped and shimmered out of existence. Emboldened by the sudden slack in her prison, the Kyuubi lunged forward, claws extended, killing intent filling the air.
It all happened so quickly. As the massive fox neared, both Kushina and Minato leapt in front of their son, trying to spare him form the Kyuubi's anger. As the massive, curved claw passed easily through Minato's stomach, it gouged a deep gash into Kushina's side knocking her to the ground. Carefully, as his life slowly leached from his body, the dying Hokage finished the sequence of hand seals and slammed his hands against the monsters outstretched paw. As a complex seal spread over the beast, an equally complex mark flared to life on Naruto's stomach.
With a burst of smoke two of the most powerful shinobi in Konoha arrived at the scene of the attack. One was the elderly Third Hokage, dressed in his layered chainmail and leather battle armor. The second was an aging warrior dressed like a kabuki actor. His long white hair was a distinct contrast to his red jacket and hakama pants. A large scroll was slung across his back, a horned forehead protector with the symbol for oil seated prominently on his brow. This was Jiraiya the Toad Sage, one of the legendary Sanin and teacher to Minato.
"Lord Third….Master Jiraiya….please protect them," Minato coughed, a massive hole in the middle of his body, "There isn't much time…"
"Minato, what happened?" Jiraiya shouted, rushing to his students side, "What have you done?"
"I did…what was necessary," Minato replied, a smile on his face, "Make sure…they see him as a hero."
"He will, old friend." Hiruzen said, tears flowing freely down his face, "Rest now and be at peace."
As the two men mourned their fallen comrade and student, a low groan shocked them into action. Kushina lay on the grass, Naruto cradled gently in her arms as blood oozed from her side. Slowly, she climbed to her feet and stared at the two men.
"He's gone." She said, trying to keep her composure, "Jiraiya, I trust you will keep your word to both Minato and I and take care of our son?"
"Of course I will," he answered, gently taking the boy into his arms, "But what about you? What are you going to be doing?"
"I'm going to need to use the Sapphire Coffin Jutsu to heal myself." Kushina answered, reaching onto her belt on the opposite side of her wound, "It won't be a fast process. For all I know it could take years before I'll be able to see him again. If he awakens our bloodline before I can come back, give him this scroll and bring him to see me. I trust you will be able to keep my body safe in the meantime old man?"
"You won't need to worry," Hiruzen nodded, "You will be kept under 24 hour surveillance by my most trusted Anbu unit."
"Good." Kushina said, closing her eyes and placing her hands into the ram seal, "Sapphire Coffin Jutsu!"
Quickly, translucent blue crystal spread over her body, locking her in place. With a flare of his chakra, Hiruzen summoned four of his most trusted guards.
"Until further notice, you are on a new assignment," He commanded, "Transport Lady Kushina to the Shadow Wing of the hospital and guard her until the jutsu is ended. I want at least two sets of eyes on her at all times."
As the four warriors bowed and disappeared along with the now crystal bound Uzumaki, Jiraiya walked up next to his former teacher, a sleeping Naruto cradled in his arms.
"What of the council, Sensei?" He asked, knowing full well what would happen if they found out what had transpired this night.
"I will handle the council," Hiruzen commanded, once more slipping into the mantle of Hokage, "For now, you will raise the boy. All other duties have been suspended, are we clear Jiraiya?"
"As crystal." He replied, smiling at his weak attempt at a pun.
"I'm getting to old for this." Hiruzen sighed as the two men and the newborn Jinchuriki disappeared in a plume of smoke.