Chapter 9: I forgive you, Jiji

Flashback Continue…

Hiruzen stood in his office along with an ANBU and a boy. He couldn't help the guiltiness that appeared in his eyes as they connected with the blue orbs of said boy. 'Oh Minato, sometimes I wish you would have let this village perish. You would be ashamed of how they treat your son.'

A lone tear rolled down his right cheek as he began his explanation. "I have no other choice but to let them continue their so called fox hunts." He truly hated how he had become. He was once known as one of the most feared shinobi in the world. No one in Konoha would dare defy him at his prime. But there lay the problem. He was nothing but a hollow shell of his former self.

Hiruzen's answer had only made Yugao's curiosity grow. "What do you mean no other choice? You could send ANBU to stop them!" she shouted. Why had this man allowed these beatings to continue? Did he see the innocent child in her arms as nothing more then a monster like all the rest?

Hiruzen let out a sigh. He had been doing that ever since he was reinstated as the Hokage. "I indeed have the power to stop said attacks. But there is something, or should I say some people, standing in my way."

He looked at Yugao only to see more confusion enter her eyes. Deciding to answer the girls unasked questions he began to speak, "The civilian council is preventing me from saving the boy. They will only allow me to stop the attacks when he is near death."

Yugao's eyes widened after hearing his explanation. She began to scowl once she heard that it was the civilian councils fault. "But surely you could have stopped them, right?!" she asked.

Hiruzen looked down at his hands. The same hands that had taken so many lives and seen many battles were now useless. "Unfortunately, they have my hands tied. If I don't allow these hunts to continue, they promised to start a coup. In my prime, I would have stopped this idea immediately. But now I don't have the power to stop them."

Yugao let her eyes droop a little after she heard him. Ever since the fourth had perished, the power held by the Hokage had fallen. He was still important to the village but people in high standing knew that Hiruzen no longer made all of the decisions. He no longer had the power to fight off the civilian council.

Yugao felt the weight in her arms shift until she could no longer feel it. Naruto had managed to escape Yugao's embrace and stood on the ground. He had stayed quiet throughout the whole conversation to ponder on Hiruzen's reason.

He was still a child and he should only be worried about getting a ball stuck in branches or getting in trouble. But those were never his main concerns. He was more worried about food and survival. So it was safe to say that he had matured much more than a kid his age should.

Naruto didn't fully understand the situation Hiruzen was in. But he did understand that if he could, Hiruzen would stop the beatings himself. For that reason he had decided to not completely blame Hiruzen for his beatings. He knew that he truly cared about him and that was enough.

Naruto slowly walked to Hiruzen and wrapped his small arms around his waist. "I don't blame you for their actions Jiji. I know you would stop them if you could."

More tears came out of Hiruzen's eyes after hearing the words that Naruto had spoken. Even after all this he still didn't blame him for the beatings. It was at that moment that Hiruzen truly began to believe that Naruto would be the one to change the world. And he would do anything in his power to protect him until the Shinigami took him.

Hiruzen went on one knee and hugged the child. 'It's time I remind those council members that this is a dictatorship and that I will not tolerate treason.'

A smile blossomed on Yugao's face as she saw the moment between the child and his grandfather figure.

Flashback End…

Naruto still remembered how the beatings had completely stopped after that day. Some of his more rough attackers had actually disappeared off the face of the Earth. He had a feeling that his Jiji had something to do with it.

"So you mean to tell me that you got beaten as a child?" asked Jiraiya with his hair covering his eyes and a frown on his face. That village had committed enough crimes against his student to earn his hatred. It was ironic, to be honest. He was a man that wished to accomplish peace and destroy hatred. But hatred had began to grow in him towards the village after hearing of all their wrongdoings.

Naruto sadly nodded with his mouth full of ramen. The group had decided to set up camp a couple of miles out of the town they had just left when he was telling his story. They were in a clearing with a small stream and surrounded with forests. They had set three tents and had gathered some food and firewood.

Naruto had actually bought 5 cups of ramen before leaving town and he had decided to eat one of them. It was a special occasion after all. He hadn't seen Yugao since that day and he truly wanted to celebrate his reunion with her.

Naruto had always wondered why she had never visited him again. With her being the closest thing to a friend at the time, he truly did miss her. So he decided to put his curiosity to rest. "Hey Yugao, why did you never visit me after that day?"

His question had gotten Yugao to stiffen and the whole group noticed. She had always wanted to visit Naruto but she was simply to busy. "After my mission to protect you, I was quickly turned into ANBU captain and given many missions. I barely had time to sleep with how busy I was. But whenever I had the chance, I would always check up on you."

Naruto smiled happily at her answer. Now he didn't have to wonder if she had simply began to hate him like the rest. He was wrong all along. She was simply to busy to have a conversation with him. But at least she watched over him. "You were like my guardian angel, Yugao."

Yugao blushed after hearing him. He truly did know how to get on her good side. And he had also grown into a fine young man. Maybe…

Yukino didn't like the look Yugao was giving Naruto. She couldn't explain it but it bothered her. It was like they were connecting in a special way and it brought a frown to her face.

Jiraiya had begun scribbling at light speed into his notebook after seeing the scene. 'Minato, you would be so proud of your son!'

Yugao had stood up and put her mask back on. "I believe my mission has been accomplished. It's time for me to return to Konoha."

Jiraiya quickly put his notebook away and stood up. He had an idea that would help in Naruto's training and hopefully allow him to do more "research". "Actually Yugao, I was hoping you could stay for a little while longer until Tsunade answers my letter."

He had responded to Tsunade's letter and had a toad deliver it. He had asked Tsunade to give Yugao permission to stay and help train Naruto and Yukino in kenjutsu. And he also asked for her to send missions so Naruto and Yukino could gain some experience during their training trip.

He had also managed to obtain one of Naruto's hairs. He had asked her to run it through the Konoha database to see if there was any matches. The letter also mentioned that the results should be kept secret and only be for their eyes only. Now all he had to do was wait.

Back in Konoha…

Tsunade was having a regular day. Sign a few papers and approve some village projects. All in all, it had bored her half way to hell. She really wished something would happen so her day would get exciting.

There was a sudden poof of smoke and a toad appeared. Tsunade's eyes widened as the toad handed her a scroll and then disappeared. She opened the scroll and began reading Jiraiya's letter. She then took out a bottle of sake and took a chug from the bottle before speaking, "Shizune, we need to prepare a DNA test!"

Chapter End

AN:

Well I can't believe I actually got this done on Sunday. It's actually like 9 pm so I almost didn't make it. I'm actually getting kinda busy do to my new Youtube Channel but I think I can continue writing weekly chapters. Granted they won't be 2-3k all the time like this one but it's better then nothing.

I also want to start a new story. It will be a Naruto and Pokemon crossover. And depending on the time, I will alternate between stories so one week I'll update this and the next I'll update the other one. But this idea is not set in stone. If you want me to write one then leave a review.

Btw Hiruzen is going to be a good character just because I can't see things being as they are now if he wasn't.

No voting poll this week but I would really appreciate it if you guys leave a review with any new ideas or just because. Thanks for reading and I'll see you guys later