Authors Forenote – I don't own Naruto, Kishimoto does.
.
Words
Utakata shook his head and reached across. "No, Naruto, you move it like this, then like this. As for this one, you do it like so. You see? That's how you write your name."
Naruto looked down at the two lines of symbols, the one he'd done and the one that Utakata had done, then he picked up his pen and started writing them out again.
"You see the difference?" Utakata asked as Naruto finished writing the kanji symbols. "Uzumaki Naruto. The Maelstrom of the Whirlpool. A good name to describe you."
Naruto grinned up at his teacher, then turned his attention back to getting the lines of the kanji in just the right position.
Utakata noted the slight twitches which Naruto wasn't aware he was making and hid a sigh. Due in no small part to his chakra levels, Naruto would need to engage in more physical exercise very soon.
At least he was getting more practise in controlling his bubbles at a distance as Naruto chased them. And the time he had made a bubble ring for Naruto to jump through had been fun, even if he did have to teach the young boy how to fall without hurting himself.
Naruto put the pen down and Utakata nodded in satisfaction at how neat the third iteration of Naruto's name was.
"Very good, Naruto-kun." He said, picking up his pipe. "Now, let us see how good you have got with catching things."
Naruto scrambled to his feet as the bubbles issued forth and leapt after one that danced temptingly just out of his reach. As he bounced around the clearing, laughing and grabbing for the bubbles, Utakata leaned back and watched him with a wistful smile.
.
.
Hiruzen carefully unfolded the letter that a Post-nin had delivered to him, noting in passing the sigil on it that showed that it was from the office of the Raikage.
As with all letters from his counterpart from Kumo, it was short and to the point, something which Hiruzen knew was a sign of respect since the longer and more flowery a message from Kumo was, the more contempt they held you in.
Hiruzen.
Your final offer is acceptable. I will sign.
Kumo will abide by the agreement.
A.
A knock on the door caught his attention and he looked up to see his favourite Uchiha in the doorway.
"Ah, Itachi, come in."
The young Jonin stepped into the office and bowed. "You summoned me, Hokage. I came."
Hiruzen waited until Itachi straightened up, the motioned for him to be seated. Once the young man was settled, he passed the note over.
"Your thoughts?"
"Aside a growing curiosity as to why you have been seeking my council when my father is far more experienced?" Itachi asked as he read the note. "The Land of Lightning does not share a direct border with us, so under normal conditions, a full alliance would be… unnecessary. If you add the incident with their ambassador and the Hyuuga clan, some would claim that at most, a non-aggression pact would be pushing it."
"There was far more to that incident than most know." Hiruzen sighed. "Shimura Danzo encouraged it to happen in the hope of setting up a situation where Konoha would be obligated to attack Kumo."
Itachi nodded slowly as he re-folded the note and handed it back to the Hokage.
"From what you have told me, I would tentatively agree to this, but there is more to this that I am aware of. Is there anything that I am cleared to know which will aid in my understanding?"
Hiruzen pushed a file across the desk and Itachi looked at the name on it curiously before opening it and perusing the contents. Hiruzen managed not to chuckle as Itachi suddenly stiffened in shock.
"The Hachibi and the Nibi?"
"We have some indications that the Rokubi may have joined as well." Hiruzen noted, causing Itachi to stare at him in near-shock.
"But… why?" The younger shinobi finally managed.
"Many see Jinchuuriki as weapons." Hiruzen said as he rose from his chair and moved to the window to look over the Village that he commanded. "To a degree, that is true. Only another Jinchuuriki or an S-class Shinobi can stop one and while we have a great many A and B-class shinobi, the number of S-class shinobi we still have in our ranks is… limited.
"However, what Naruto is doing is countering the other Jinchuuriki in a way that no-one, not even myself, considered. He's befriending them, making them more inclined towards helping us rather than fighting us. Should he manage to befriend all of the other eight, one source of tension between the nations will be defused in a way that ony those with the wit to see it will be aware of it and the chance of the next Great Shinobi War breaking out will be greatly reduced."
"I… think I see." Itachi mused, still reading the file. "But… how?"
"That, I do not know." Hiruzen admitted. "He seems to use the Hiraishin, but he has not had the training or education required to perform it. In fact, it was only a while ago that he unlocked his chakra properly. Somehow, he knows the Hiraishin in the same way that you or I know the Kawarimi. Seal-less and reflexive, but as he has not gone through the stages of learning, I doubt very much that he will be able to teach another. Not for several decades, at least."
Itachi closed the file and returned it to the desk, then rose and moved to stand near Hiruzen.
"Sir, I must ask, why tell me this?"
"You haven't figured it out, yet?" Hiruzen chuckled. "No, I don't suppose it would occur to you. After all, you are one of the most loyal shinobi in my forces. Itachi, the reason I have pulled you out of the ANBU and assigned you to this office is simple. I am old, Itachi. Old and tired. While I have the experience to serve Konoha as I do, I no longer have the energy to do the job as well as it needs doing."
Itachi froze and Hiruzen chuckled again. "Ah, I see that you have deduced my reason."
"You… you want me to…"
"Once you are fully trained, Itachi, I will step down and you will take the Hat. While it will take another couple of years before you are prepared, I think that now you see my plans, you will apply yourself to helping an old man's dream come true… Godaime Hokage Koho."
Itachi froze as Hiruzen finally confirmed that he was indeed considered a viable candidate to become the Fifth Hokage.
"…sir, does my father know?"
"He probably suspects." Hiruzen shrugged. "But now that I have finally said it, feel free to tell him, although stress that this is a test of how well he can keep it quiet too."
"…hai, Hokage-Dono."
.
.
Utakata stood in the gathering dusk, enjoying the peaceful tranquility of the island. In the hut behind him, Naruto was fast asleep, having managed to eat no less than four bowls of Ramen at Ichiraku's, something that astonished Utakata given how small Naruto was. He had spotted Teuchi putting some sort of powder in Naruto's dish, but the silver-haired shinobi who had been in the booth with them had quietly explained that the powder was nothing more than vitamin supplements to help Naruto stay healthy. Utakata had filched a noodle while Naruto was distracted and checked for himself.
A loud noise caught his attention and he turned to see a large figure stumbling out of the surrounding trees, grumbling to itself.
"…damn the old monkey for sending me here. Could have just had me look at things while the brat was in Konoha, but noooooooo, had to send me all the way to… oh. Hello."
Utakata stared at the new arrival, noting the long white hair and the red lines that went down from his eyes, lines that looked very familiar…
"I recognise you! You're on one of the pictures in the hut! You're Naruto's father's Sensei!"
"That's me!" The man grinned, striking a series of poses. "I am the wonderful writer of Icha Icha, the man who all men wish to be and all women wish to be with! I am the amazing Toad Sage! I am… the gallant Jiraiya!"
"How did you get here?" Utakata asked curiously.
"Used a boat." Jiraiya shrugged as he seated himself on a fallen log. "I'm one of the few who know where this island is and that it's privately owned. I assume Naruto brought you here?"
"I needed a place to rest." Utakata confirmed slowly. "I am…"
"Utakata, the Jinchuuriki of the Rokubi." Jiraiya finished, earning a long, shocked stare. "Kid, I'm a shinobi. An old shinobi. To become an old shinobi, you must know as much as possible and I made it one of my duties to know who and where the Jinchuuriki are. When you vanished, it threw me for a loop until Sensei sent me a message telling me where you were and to come say hello."
"How is Kiri doing without me there?" Utakata asked as he sat down as well.
"Yagura's going nuts trying to find you." Jiraiya chuckled. "The rebellion's making huge gains because all of his best followers are scouring the elemental nations for you and thus are not there to fight for him, making him rely on his second-raters. They know you're not in the Land of Water, but that's all they know at this point. I heard that they think you used a bubble clone to throw them off your trail."
"I never considered doing that." Utakata admitted.
"Probably wouldn't have worked… not for long, at least." Jiraiya shrugged. "Not that it matters. This island is far enough away from the mainland that it can't be seen and even your chakra signature can't be detected from the closest shore. You got a good place to lie low until things settle down."
"It is peaceful." Utakata agreed. "However, I think I'm starting to get rusty."
"I'll be happy to spar with you tomorrow if you want." Jiraiya shrugged, then he grinned. "Assuming you don't have anything planned with Killer B or Yugito Nii."
Utakata froze. "How…?"
"Old shinobi, kid." Jiraiya yawned. "I must admit, I'm mainly here because apparently the holder of the Ichibi has a crappy seal and it needs fixing. As Konoha's premiere fuuinjutsu expert, I'm the best one to do it, so I'll be going with him."
"I also intend to go with him." Utakata stated firmly. "I have been working on ways to protect people with my bubbles and he is not yet old enough to defend himself."
"A Sage and a Jinchuuriki as his bodyguards?" Jiraiya chuckled. "Let's hope the Daimyos never find out or they'll be insanely envious."
.
.
The smell of cooking drifted up and gently pulled Naruto out of his happy dreams of wearing the Hokage Hat as the entire village and his new friends cheered for him. Pulling himself up into a sitting position, he yawned and stretched like Yugito had taught him, twisting slightly to check that every joint was ready for use.
Rubbing at his eyes, he rolled off his futon and, grabbing the low railing so that he wouldn't fall, stuck his head over the edge to look down at the kitchen where Utakata and an oddly-familiar man he had never met before were dishing out.
"Naruto, breakfast." Utakata stated without bothering to look up and Naruto rolled away from the edge of the sleeping area. Quickly switching his nightshirt for shorts and T-shirt, he scampered down the stairs, then paused as he saw the face of the new arrival.
"You're him!" He yelped, pointing at one of the pictures on the wall and the man smiled.
"I am indeed. My name is Jiraiya of the Sannin and I am happy to meet you at last, Uzumaki Naruto."