Chapter 2
Eyes sticky after a long sleep took in the surroundings, a plain white room, all the furniture was similarly coloured. Apart from a bed, a wash basin and a bed-side table the room was bare and silent. The window gave a view of the village, and on a clear day the five faces on stone could be made out in the cliff at the outskirts of the village. The silence was broken by knock on the door.
"Come in" croaked the patient, it having been a while since the voice was last used.
The door opened and in the space it created stood blond haired, blue eyed woman who looked upon the person in the bed. Tsunade had known the kyuubi had to have been transferred but she still couldn't shake the worry of changing someone's life so completely by putting it within them. Before she began to talk she looked at the new jinchuuriki in front of her. She saw a 16 year old boy with dark blond hair in a style which could only be considered a mop on his head. With piercing blue eyes and a youthful look which made him look younger than he was he stared back with equal scrutiny at the woman appraising him.
"Tsunade-sama, thanks for the visit but…why are you here?" The boy asked as Tsunade had made no attempt to talk.
"Yes, yes we'll get onto to that firstly how are…" her sentence trailed off as she saw the boy looking somewhat apprehension at the doorway.
"Hikage, what are you doing? What are you looking at?" Tsunade demanded, slightly peeved his attention already lay elsewhere.
"Is your…pig thing here?" Hikage enquired continuing to stare at the door.
"That pig has an healthy obsession with me." He furthered then turning to face Tsunade.
"No. Ton-ton is not here you're quite safe. So I can tell your recovering quite well then?" Tsunade said half pleased; half worried about the notorious healing abilities of the kyuubi, hoping they didn't play a part in Hikage's recovery.
"I'm quite fine thank you, but I've always been quick to recover even before I had this thing in me" Hikage said with a smile as he pointed at the seal on his stomach.
"That," Tsunade said "is a very serious matter, it doesn't do to make light of it." Even though she was lecturing him, Tsunade was pleased that the change in his life hadn't affected Hikage's constantly happy composure. Hikage has been from the very outskirts of the Fire country and had always been the fallback candidate for containing the Kyuubi because of his disposition and remarkable health record. As a result however he was not allowed in contact with the previous Jinchuuriki, Naruto and therefore was trained alone by the leaders of ANBU and many other passing teachers who accepted the responsibility of training a possible Jinchuuriki. Although had never participated in any examinations Hiakge had become a promising ninja. What had confirmed his position as the next container was that even though he trained alone and did not really have any friends he remained always happy and content and never seemed to be get depressed by failure. The huge responsibility of become a jinchuuriki meant that only someone with the strongest of characters could control it. Gaara's trouble with his biju was testament to that and even though he overcame it precaution had to be taken to ensure the best candidate was chosen. Hikage's ability to take responsibility in his stride was what set him apart and the fact the lived far away from the village away from the late Naruto meant that he was the best choice…
"Come on I'm ready, summon the big one, I'll take it" Hikage said with a laugh hoping his instructor wouldn't take him too seriously.
"Joke one more time and I will…but for now we will go for this…Kuchiyose No Justu!"
Out of the ground came a frog about the size of a large dog and it stood by the summoner's side.
"Oh, this is your peeping frog am I right Jiraiya-sama? You stand on him to get a better view inside the bath houses if I am not mistaken?" Hikage laughed as he saw his teacher fume in mock outrage.
"I am merely getting information for my next book, it is completely innocent. You wouldn't understand you are too young. Anyway are we training or not?" Jiraiya replied sending his frog to attack Hikage.
"Bunshin No Justu," Hikage replied creating a double of him. He then turned to clone and said "not until I say ok?" the clone nodded and stood still.
"I don't know what you have learned from other teachers but a clone can't save you" Jiraiya laughed as Hikage seemed to do nothing.
Just as the frog was upon him Hikage shouted "Now!" the clone form a seal and shouted "Kungou Nyoi" and behind a puff of smoke it turned into the legendary staff, as hard as diamond. The frogs shadow was on Hikage as he grabbed the staff and shouted "Extend" and then the staff shot out and smacked the frog square in the stomach sending it flying back to where it had leaped.
"Watch out Jiraiya-sama" Hikage said with a smile on his face at the success of his strategy. However Jiraiya was not paying attention. During the spar a messenger hawk had arrived and he was reading the scroll which was attached to its leg. After reading the scroll the quickly wrote a reply and sent the hawk back, watching it as it headed off into the distance. He then turned to the frog which had got back up and formed a seal.
"Kai" Jiraiya said to which the frog disappeared.
"Why did you do that?" Hikage asked "Sure I was good, but I'm sure your peeping frog had a lot of fight in him left." He continued starting to wonder what was in the note that so suddenly altered his teacher's mood.
"Training has ended today, we need to talk meet me in at waterfall once you have washed" Jiraiya said and walked away.
Hikage hurried home, washed and hurried back out again and was at the waterfall apparently before Jiraiya has expected him as he was alone. He sat by the water's edge and wondered what the talk would be about and dipped his finger in the water making ripples that opposed those made from the water cascading down. The news must have been big to affect Jiraiya-sama so much. Hikage had been waiting years to show off his diamond staff technique which some old man had taught him when he was 12 and he thought today he could show Jiraiya and see his expression. Nevermind he thought to himself, he can show his next teacher who is no doubt as good as Jiraiya-sama and they will be even more impressed. He smiled thinking of the reaction that some of his other teacher's would have made if they had seen him perform such a technique. He looked up to see Jiraiya walking towards him in a similar mood he had been in when they had parted ways earlier.
"What's going on Jiraiya-sama?" Hikage inquired determined not let his teacher's mood dampen his.
Jiraiya looked at the boy and sighed. He shouldn't have taught them both, he thought to himself, it felt as if he was losing both of them. Both the boys shared many similar qualities and he knew that those qualities were what drew him to them both. He sighed to himself as he sat next Hikage and tried to find the right words.
"Do you know what Jinchuuriki are Hikage?" Jiraiya asked looking at the boy
"Of course I know what they are!" Hikage said surprised Jiraiya had thought he wouldn't know. "After all that has happened over the last few years even a boy from a tiny Fire country province knows what they are." Hikage finished beginning to wonder if this was a whole charade and was just another of Jiraiya's weird lessons.
"Well, I suppose it would be hard to ignore news like that." Jiraiya accepted. "There was one on the Fire country, more specifically Konoha itself."
"I knew that too!" Hikage said with smile "He has the kyubbi in him right? The fourth sealed it in him right?"
"Yes your right, however the scroll I got today…the boy…he died yesterday in a simple skirmish." Jiraiya said.
Hikage looked at his instructor's face and saw the pain etched into his features. He knew there something more to this than the death of a boy, he knew Jiraiya was somehow involved more that he was letting on. The pain in Jiraiya's face answered it for him.
"You were close to the boy weren't you?" Hikage said
"Yes, I trained him personally for three years" Jiraiya said confirming Hikage's suspicions.
Jiraiya had barely anytime to consider Naruto's death. He knew he had to take the responsibility of what would come next. He took a moment and then said to Hikage:
"I will grieve for him, when the time comes." If there is time he thought to himself.
"What's important to you is what I'm about to say." Jiraiya paused again considering his words.
"I'm sure you would have considered this but if we look objectively at the boy's death the is one issue that is more pressing to the safety of us all than his death and that is…"
"The kyuubi" Hikage interrupted Jiraiya, realising the danger of having a biju with no container.
"Exactly" Jiraiya said.
"Hikage, a normal ninja would attend the ninja academy, become a genin, a chunin and possibly a jounin by your age." Jiraiya began to explain.
"I know that, but I just figured I had to stay here for some reason, but no matter how much I spied I never found out what" Hikage said with an attempt at humour to try and lighten the mood. Jiraiya gave a half-hearted smile and took a deep breath.
"This, Hikage is why you left in seclusion. This is why you have never taken an exam, nor had a steady teacher for your entire life." Jiraiya finished and waited for Hikage's reaction.
At first Hikage didn't understand. What was the reason? Anyway what had this got to do with the death of a jinchuuriki and a homeless biju?
"I don't get it Jiraiya-sama. What is my relationship to all this, why are we talking…" he stopped suddenly as it all fit into place. For a while he was struck dumb and just sat there staring at Jiraiya. I'm taking the boys place! He thought to himself, I'm the next Jinchuuriki. That's what most of my life had been dedicated to! Hikage was about to shout when he saw Jiraiya's face and realised the extent of his pain. He knew his instructor liked him as much as Hikage like Jiraiya and he understood that not only was he in pain from his former student dying but also because he is know putting me in the same danger's that boy faced. Jiraiya is suffering twice for this Hikage realised and he knew he shouldn't make it harder for him.
"Ok, what do I do? Where do I go?" Hikage said looking at Jiraiya
It was Jiraiya's turn to be speechless as realised the extent of this boy's bravery and compassion. He shook his head and smiled knowing Hikage was the best possible substitute for Naruto.
"That's all you need to know for tonight I will tell you details tomorrow. Meanwhile pack your things and be ready to leave at first light." Jiraiya said as he stood and left Hikage alone by the waterfall again.
Hikage had all his worldly possessions on his back as he stood up as Jiraiya walked towards him.
"Ready Jiraiya-sama?" He said, nervous at the prospect of his entire life changing.
"Let's go" Jiraiya answered.
They started walking away from the village and Hikage took once last look at it before leaving it and never returning the same person. As they travelled Jiraiya passed all the information Hikage needed.
"You will be admitted into Konoha hospital for the procedure. Although the transference of the kyuubi is a ninjustu, it is best if you are unconscious when it is performed." Jiraiya explained.
Hikage took in everything Jiraiya told him and realised his life was changing even more than he realised. He was to stay in Konoha village and become a professional ninja in the normal way. He was to join a group and go on missions. He would have a room of his own and the money he earned from missions was his own to spend as he wished. For Hikage, who previous lifestyle was very restricted, this new lifestyle sounded quite exciting.
One the final night on the journey Hikage and Jiraiya were sat in front of a campfire in a comfortable silence when Jiraiya broke it:
"The kyuubi is a very big responsibility, you must understand" he said looking at the fire.
"I understand" Hikage said
"Not quite. You were chosen because you have a very optimistic outlook; however the kyuubi feeds of your anger and negative emotions. The more you get angry the more power it will have over you." Jiraiya paused seeing the kyuubi's bright tails in the dancing flames.
"I saw it with Naruto. The more he took to his anger the greater its hold on over him was." Jiraiya turned to face Hikage and looked into his eyes.
"You must find someone beyond a friend. It doesn't matter who it is. Naruto had those who protected him, but he was too young to have a real bond with anyone that could help him control the kyuubi well." Jiraiya paused again, staring back into the flames.
"He could have, there was another boy his age called Sasuke. The shared a unique bond and if Sasuke had stayed in the village Naruto may have controlled the Kyuubi better."
Hikage was silent taking in what Jiraiya had to say. He never really had someone close to him, the person he felt closest to was…Jiraiya.
"What about you, Jiraiya-sama I am closest to you, can't you help me control the kyuubi?" Hikage asked convinced it was the best option.
Jiraiya smiles at Hikage's suggestion, however the smile was not one of joy, it was a grimace. I decided this a long time ago, Jiraiya thought to himself and realised he would have to tell the boy what was going to happen.
"Hikage, the ninjustu performed to seal the kyuubi is very…unique; it is called a forbidden justu." Jiraiya said still looking at the dying flames.
Hikage was a little hurt that it seemed Jiraiya had avoided and apparently rejected his proposition by bringing up the procedure.
"So?" Hikage asked belligerently
Jiraiya breathed in slowly.
"In order for the justu to work the, the person casting it must be sacrificed." He turned to face Hikage once more. "I will be the sacrifice Hikage."
Hikage was stunned. Jiraiya would die?
"Why you Jiraiya-sama? You shouldn't have to die. You're all I have now, Why didn't you tell me this before? I knew I was losing everything I left behind but I didn't know I was losing you? Does it have to be you?" He shouted helpless as the last reminder of his old life was being ripped from him.
Jiraiya looked at Hikage he put his hand on his shoulder.
"No, Hikage it doesn't have to be, but I have decided it will. I've seen too many of my students suffer. I feel it's my time; it's my responsibility to give my life this time. I've thought long and hard about this and my decision is final." With that Jiraiya got up and went to his camp bed to sleep.
Hikage sat at the fire until the fire burned its last embers, tears streaming down his cheeks. He wasn't angry at Jiraiya, given an explanation; he might even understand why he was doing this, but the pain in his heart at having the closest person he knew taken from him hurt more than any injury from training. As the darkness closed in around him and he realised the responsibility of the Kyuubi was already starting to weigh down on him.
They reached Konoha village the next day and in this time Hikage had realised he shouldn't show his pain at what Jiraiya had decided to do as these were his last precious moments with him. As they approached the village they were almost back to the state they were in before the messenger hawk came and as they neared a group waiting for them they were both laughing.
"I'm sure you were just checking no other men were in women's changing room" Hikage laughed as he approached the crowd.
"Your lack of trust in astonishing young boy" Jiraiya responded in mock disappointment.
He then looked up and saw Tsunade at the front of the group.
"Ah Tsunade! I would like to introduce to you Hikage, the most distrustful ninja there ever was." Hikage made a flourish of a bow and they both broke up into more laughter.
Before Tsunade could respond a pink blur came out of the group of leaped upon Hikage knocking him off his feet and proceeding to lick his face.
"What the hell is this?" Hikage spluttered trying to pull the beast off of him.
"That is Tsunade's little pet, Ton-ton." Jiriaya said stifling a laugh as he watched the comic scene.
"Ton-ton enough" Tsunade shouted to which the little pig leapt of Hikage and trotted off.
Tsunade waited until the boy had got up and looked at him as he resumed his position next to Jiraiya with a smile across his face. Tsunade had said to Jiraiya that he should inform the boy about what was going to happen to him, but from the look on his face it seemed this boy had nothing of importance on his mind.
"Hikage, I trust that everything has been explained to you?" Tsunade said giving Jiraiya a suspicious look.
"Yes Tsunade-sama everything is taken care of." Hikage said giving a mock salute and a wink. Jiraiya nodded to confirm that everything had indeed been explained.
"Ok then, Hikage you better come with me now then, Jiraiya we will talk later." Tsunade said as she turned on her heel and headed back to the village.
Hikage turned to Jiraiya and his smile dropped.
"Is this goodbye?" he asked, his eyes already wet with tears.
Jiraiya in a similar state breathed.
I'm afraid so Hikage. You may be a rogue but, you have quite the character. People will see me in you so try to be the best for me ok?" Jiraiya said unsure of how to say his goodbye. Hikage unable to say anything just nodded. He didn't know what to say, this was the end of everything for him. Jiraiya was going to go; he would be alone in the world. Hikage grabbed Jiraiya and held him close as his tears stained Jiraiya's clothes.
"…I w-will find someone, Jiraiya-sama, someone who can help me control it." Hikage stammered as he held onto Jiraiya.
"I believe you will…don't change Hikage, don't change." Jiraiya said as he slowly disentangled himself from the boy and left him alone. Hikage alone dried his eyes, picked up his bag and headed to the village and to his future.
Tsunade coughed politely to bring Hikage out of his memories. Hikage blinked back the tears at the memory of Jiraiya and turned to Tsunade.
"Sorry, about that Tsunade-sama I was thinking of other things." he said as he focused on what has happening now.
"Its ok Hikage, you've been through a lot. However as kind as I am I'm not just here to ask after you health" Tsunade said with a smile.
"Considering you are already s healthy, starting tomorrow you can start to contribute to society. I will be putting you in a team of ninja's they are lead by a jounin and the rest are chunin, as you will be too as I have determined you are at least at that level." Tsunade explained hoping it wasn't too quick an introduction into Hikage's new life.
"Sounds like fun" Hikage replied "which team will I be in?"
"Well we have done some shuffling around, it is not…suitable that you be in the Naruto's team and so we have moved someone into that space. As of tomorrow you will be a fully fledged member of Team 8."