Chapter 4

Naruto looked over the village of Konohagakure no Sato. He was sitting atop the head of the Yondaime Hokage with a sunset over the forest to the west of the village. Here and only here could Naruto release a smile. A genuine smile of contentment as he over looked his village. Because, whether he liked it or not, it was his village. Naruto felt that even though he wasn't a shinobi protecting the village, it was his for the taking. He felt that, in due time, the villagers and shinobi would look to him, no one else when push came to shove.

Naruto would be there too. When the villagers didn't notice him, he witnessed how utterly happy they were. No where in all the other elemental countries could another produce such happiness, such prosperity. Naruto desperately wished he could be part of the hub bub of the village workings.

Sadly, he knew he would never be apart of it. Naruto knew that life dealt him a crappy hand, but he was still dealt a hand that had to be played. He swore, on his life, on the Yondaime's sacrifice that he would protect and ensure the prosperity of Konohagakure no Sato.

This wasn't to say Naruto wasn't bitter about his life. Naruto thought perhaps that it was his fate to not have happiness. That thought angered him. Naruto was going to control his life, not some insane, abstract concept humanity created. He made it his goal to find happiness. He would obtain happiness by ensuring Konoha's happiness.

Sure, he could have left the village when ever he wanted, forge a new life for himself outside of the village's walls where the glares and discrimination never occurred. That would be the coward's way though. And Konohagakure was the happiest place on the continent, in Naruto's mind. Why give up gold for silver, Naruto thought. Oh how he detested those children. They thought the protection of the village was some sort of game. Something for glory or power. They never realized that the happiness of the village rested with them. Lives were put into their hands, and they wiped their hands clean of the defenseless villagers. If he had his way, Naruto would have stripped them all of their ranks. If he couldn't be a shinobi, one who understood what exactly was on the line, then those fools shouldn't either.

Naruto cleared his thoughts as the sun sunk behind the horizon. It was time to go home for rest. He had to train again tomorrow... and find out where the next threat against Konoha lay.

Jiraiya tried to keep peeking, honest. But the kid in the orange A-shirt and cargo pants was making it had to. Jiraiya didn't find the child attractive, no he was a super perv. He didn't find the kid altogether annoying either. It was the combination of the kid's adeptness at fighting and utter uselessness of his chakra use.

Watching the kid battle a Kage Bunshin with what appeared to be a set of butcher knives intrigued him. Twenty or so Kage Bunshin circled them near the hot spring they were training at intrigued him. When the kid dispersed the clone he was fighting, only for one from the circle to take its place intrigued Jiraiya.

Sure, Jiraiya had seen many adept taijutsu users. Most of these guys had what many others called finesse. How useless! They were ninjas, for kami's sake. Since when did killing need finesse? This kid, Jiraiya thought, had ninja finesse. Something that was actually useful. No flashy moves, no erroneous movements, and no wasted physical exhaustion. Jiraiya realized something with his analysis, it wasn't ninja finesse the kid displayed, but cold execution.

After Naruto finished dispersing his clones, he heard someone clapping. It was that goofy white haired guy in the gay red robes. "Sorry to disturb your peeping, sir."

Jiraiya smirked. Manners, he liked that in potential apprentices. "Not at all, not at all. It's not often that I get distracted so easily from my past time,"Jiraiya remarked. 'Usually in life or death situations really,' Jiraiya sweat dropped on his own patheticness.

"Well, don't worry, I'll be leaving now," Naruto said as he began moving from his makeshift training ground. Jiraiya began to notice several oddities at that moment. 'The didn't use kunai with his training, nor does he have a Hitae-ate. As a matter of fact, this isn't even a training ground.'

"You're not a ninja, are you?" Jiraiya correctly calculated. Naruto froze on his way, realizing that he had just showcased his talents to a shinobi, something he dreaded. He could be executed for practicing shinobi arts without proper observation or clearance.

"Don't worry kid. Your secret is safe with me,"Jiraiya said. He too knew of the punishments for non-shinobi to practice the 'arts' without proper clearance. And for good reason too, people blowing themselves up trying to do a jutsu was not needed and mess... it was just that the punishment was a tad excessive in Jiraiya's opinion.

"Sorry for disturbing you, Shinobi-san, I'll leave now," Naruto tried to rush out of there as fast as possible, but Jiraiya was suddenly in front of him.

"Nonsense," Jiraiya said, trying to alleviate the sweating Naruto, "You got potential kid. I like that." Jiraiya was not one to turn do a diamond in the rough, in this case a diamond that just needed some reshaping.

"Don't worry yourself over me, Shinobi-san," Naruto said, still trying to find a way from this dominating shinobi. Naruto could feel this man saturating the air with his chakra. Naruto knew this was no ordinary shinobi. Naruto knew that he wouldn't able to get away from this man, only if that man let him. Naruto could try to get away from him, but with the air saturated with this much of the man's chakra, he could Shunshin anywhere before n\Naruto even took his first step.

"And why not? I like little pet projects, and I think I just found my newest one," Jiraiya remarked tapping his chin in thought with where he should begin.

"I'm sorry Shinobi-san," Naruto began, "but, uh, as you pointed out, I'm not exactly a ninja. I shouldn't even be training," Naruto said with a jaded look in his eye.

"Bah! Nonsense. I'll tell you now, with what I've seen of your skills so far, your taijutsu is easily Chunin level, maybe even Jonin." Naruto blushed with the praise. He didn't know he was that good.

"So, I don't think training from you would be necessary," Naruto remarked. He wanted to get away desperately. He was never good in prolonged social situations.

"Yeah, but your chakra control sucks. You could have easily made three times more Kage Bunshin with as much chakra as you put out. And judging from your that display, and that your still standing after a spar and expelling as much chakra as you did, your reserves are massive. To not be delving into ninjutsu would almost be a sin with as much potential as you have." Jiraiya critiqued Naruto. Naruto didn't know if he should be proud with how much potential he had, or embarrassed with how much he technically sucks.

"I-I'm sorry, I really shouldn't," Naruto finally broke and tried to leave.

"Well, at least let me give you some pointers," Jiraiya cried out exasperated. How could someone be so stubborn!

"Like what Shinobi-san?" Naruto asked.

"Goddammit, enough of that 'Shinobi-san' bullshit. My name is Jiraiya, of the Legendary Sannin and Super Pervert extraordinaire! You can call me Jiraya-sensei or the Super Pervert Jiraiya. And what i have in mind is a little exercise called tree climbing..."

AN: Hi. Short chapter. But I'm alright with that, cuz that way it's easier for you all to read back through my story with feeling an extreme sense of deja vu. The good reader might see some plot holes, but everything with be cleared up while the story continues. After all, unlike some authors, I don't like to give readers the whole cow, make sure you guys come back for some milk, eh? Peace.

PS: I'm not Canadian, eh. It just slipped out, eh.