AN: Here's a new chapter! I hope you like it.

To WolfLord04: thanks for your opinion.

To naruhinalover: good idea.

To neolucius: Is that a game? I've never played it lol.

To BravoContingency: Thanks for the review!

Note: because the Uchiha were not killed by Itachi, he did not awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.

After the jump!

-That Morning, Before Dawn-

Naruto had woken up, his broken leg still useless, to a world of pain. His body burned from exhaustion, and jolts of pain lanced through his body every time he moved. Still, he travelled, West, toward Konoha; despite Hinata's protests, Naruto was resolute, enhancing his leg with chakra and travelling at the same, if not faster pace than usual. The village safety was his concern, and the needs of many outweigh the needs of one.

After almost twenty hours of non-stop travel, they finally reached the gates of Konoha when the faint scent of blood assailed their nostrils; Hinata was too tired to notice, and passed out at the village entrance. Naruto too, felt as though he was at Death's door, and he thought his leg was about to drop off. Then he noticed plumes of smoke rising into the sky, and, after propping Hinata up against a wall, raced off on a single leg toward the Hokage residence, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

As he traversed the familiar streets of Konoha, he was treated to a terrifying sight; scenes of carnage met his eyes, shocking him to the core. He occasionally came across dead bodies, some decapitated, some disembowelled, and some torn limb from limb. Suddenly he was very scared.

Deciding the fastest way to get to the Hokage's Residence was through the rooftops, Naruto raced forward, until he reached the familiar building.

That was when he saw the dark-haired boy draw his kunai.

-Midnight-

Faster than the eye can see, Itachi drew his kunai and stabbed at the Hokage's skull.

The kunai met flesh and bone, shearing through meat like a hot knife through butter, as Itachi widened his eyes in shock; fast as he had been, even faster still was the orange blur who hurtled through the window, knocking the Hokage to the side and taking the brunt of the attack. Sapphire eyes met his as the blond-haired boy gasped and choked on his blood.

"Not… gonna… let you kill him…" Naruto choked out, his facial features contorted in pain. The kunai had ripped through the boy's thigh, causing him to collapse into a boneless heap.

"Aah… The Jinchuriki." Itachi said calmly, unfazed by the boy's anger.

"I-Itachi! What are you doing! I trusted you…" The Hokage said, his face paling at the betrayal.

"I trusted you too… once. But my loyalties have shifted, for the greater good of this world. Kisame, kill him!" Itachi ordered.

The ceiling collapsed downward, raining debris on the ninja and revealing a blue-skinned man. "Watch it Itachi… I don't like your tone." Kisame growled. Reaching behind and grasping his sword. "This was your job, not that I'm complaining. Samehada thirsts for blood!"

"The boy is Konoha's Jinchuriki. He contains the nine-tailed Kyubi, and is likely to unleash its power if aggravated." Itachi explained.

This news was not lost on Naruto, although he was too caught up in his pain to process the information.

"Traitor!" Hiruzen spat, "You underestimate me! Doton: Iwa Kyojin! (Earth Release: Stone Golem)"

Spitting out a small piece of rock, Hiruzen wasted little time in engaging Itachi. The rock grew in size, until its weight cracked the floor beneath. The rock had become a stone golem, who swatted at Kisame, sending him flying out of the Hokage's Residence; wordlessly, the golem launched itself out of the building in pursuit of the man.

"It's just you and me now!" Hiruzen roared, mad with rage. Biting his thumb, he muttered, "Kuchiyose No Jutsu! (summoning technique)" and smashed his palm into the ground. With a poof! a large ape-like creature appeared.

"Enma! Fight beside me once again!"

"The Monkey King Enma heeds your call." The creature said detachedly, and then promptly transformed itself into a staff, which Hiruzen grabbed and immediately swung at Itachi. Ducking under the swing, Itachi evaded the blow, simultaneously letting fly several kunai.

"Katon: Goukakyuu No Jutsu! (Fire Release: Grand Fireball" Itachi murmured, flashing through hand seals and vomiting out a huge fireball in an attempt to distract the Hokage.

Launching himself away with his staff, Hiruzen thought to himself, 'I have to get him outside! His jutsu might harm Naruto…'

Lengthening his staff, Hiruzen feinted with a left strike, and then stabbed at Itachi's unprotected midsection, smashing him out the window. With uncanny speed he disappeared in a swirl of leaves, reappearing in mid-air and scything his staff downward upon Itachi, catching him in the abdomen; the staff connected, sending the Uchiha prodigy smashing into the ground and cratering the pavement.

"It would take more than that to stop me, Hokage-sama. Your death is inevitable." Itachi said stoically, getting up as if unfazed. "Sharingan!" His ebony eyes underwent a transformation as his pupils swirled, taking on a resemblance to a three-fold tomoe.

Not allowing the Uchiha time to attack, Hiruzen whirled around and smashed his staff into Itachi's side. "The Sharingan can't help you! You may be able to see my attacks, may be able to block it, but you won't be able to weather it, whelp!" Hiruzen snarled, throwing in an insult for good measure.

As if in agreement to his statement, a sickening crack rang out. Itachi had brought his left forearm up in an attempt to block the blow, but the force behind it was so large it snapped his bone in two. Gritting his teeth, Itachi performed his next set of hand seals one handed.
Katon: Hosenka No Jutsu! (Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu)"

The small fireballs sped toward the Hokage, which he deftly dodged by jumping into the air. "You expect to take on somebody far superior to you in terms of abilities and experience? You will pay for your folly with death!" Hiruzen growled out, speeding toward the seemingly vulnerable Uchiha. So caught up was he in finishing the fight that he failed to notice a blur of motion to his right.

A massive, scaled sword materialised, smashing down onto the Hokage, shearing his arm from his body. With a yell, the Hokage retreated slightly, although he refused to fall.

"You thought something like that could hold me and Samehada? Fool!" Kisame laughed. It was an evil, throaty laugh, one a predator makes when it knows its prey has no chance of escape.

"I… Won't die so easily…" The Hokage gasped weakly, feeling faint from the blood loss.

As the two shinobi faced the weakened Hokage, a voice suddenly rang out from above, "No! Hokage-jiji… You can't die!"

"Y-yes… I can't die now, not while Naruto is still in danger! I'll take you with me!" The Hokage gasped. Looking up, he caught the sapphire blue eyes of Naruto and smiled softly, "Naruto! Live a good life for me!"

With his dying breath, the Hokage sped toward the two shinobi, ripping his shirt off his chest with his remaining hand; baring his chest, he revealed various seals and glyphs inked into his wrinkled skin. "Fuinjutsu: Edo Fumetsu! (Sealing Technique: Ruin Seal Of The Nether World)" He screamed, opening the gate to the realm of the dead.

Pale hands, too discoloured and too long to be human, shot out from the gate and raced toward the three shinobi. Itachi and Kisame were frantically trying to run away, knowing full well that there would be no escape once they were touched.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even blink when the hands grasped his body, filling him with the coldness of the void.

Naruto could only watch, helpless, from the Hokage's Residence as his only true friend sacrificed himself for the blonde's safety. He saw the pale hands reaching out, grasping the two fleeing shinobi, those who had dared face the Hokage. He watched as they were pulled, flailing into the void… Then a masked man appeared, clasping the two on their shoulders casually, taking them and disappearing.

Seething in rage, Naruto screamed at the heavens; even the Hokage wasn't strong enough to enact vengeance. As the beginnings of hate and darkness clutched at his heart, the child could do naught but succumb, once again, to unconsciousness.

I want to be strong, stronger than the Hokage, strong enough for vengeance.

"Get this kid medical attention now! He's lost too much blood!"

"I-it's him! The demon! Why are we saving him?"

"Quiet you damned fool!"

The boy is Konoha's Jinchuriki. He contains the nine-tailed Kyubi, and is likely to unleash its power if aggravated.

Naruto knew the reason for the hatred. But he did not understand what he did to deserve it. The village meant nothing to him now – the Hokage, his only friend, was dead.

He was just a boy, someone who wanted peace, someone who craved love; all of that was taken from him.

He was a Jinchuriki, a 'Human Sacrifice'.

-A Week Later-

The sunlight filtered through the windows, a patch of light in the darkness of the room. The room was dusty, the floor boards stained with blood. Most prominent of all was the overpowering smell of disinfectant.

With a slight creak, the door opened, revealing a large, white-haired man. Red ink was marked from his eyes vertically to his chin, as if he was crying blood. The man wore a hitai-ate, but on it was marked the symbol for 'oil'; stepping inside the room, the man drew himself to his full height, dwarfing the room's only occupant.

"What are you here for?" The blond boy rasped out, coughing at the slight exertion.

"…" The man stayed silent, seemingly content at observing the boy.

"Speak! Why do you torment me so! You hate me like the others don't you? Get out!" Naruto shouted. His facial features were contorted in rage, and he looked as if he might commit murder at that very moment.

"I had not believed the situation was this bad." The white-haired man stated, much to Naruto's confusion.

"Bad? Bad? Well, fuck you!" Naruto cursed.

"Calm down, boy. My name is Jiraiya, a former student of the Hokage. I know of you, Naruto…" The man said solemnly. More than you would ever know.

"Then where were you when those fuckers came and killed him? What the hell is wrong with this village?" Naruto seethed. "I come back to find death and destruction, and the Hokage of all people murdered right in front of me!"

"… I know he's dead. I'm just as affected as you are. I had cut my ties to the village long ago… but here I am, mourning his death. Talk to me, Naruto, tell me what you see in this village." Jiraiya said softly, pulling up a stool beside the boy's bedside.

-The Same Day, Council Meeting-

Jiraiya had heard enough. He never knew how much Naruto suffered all these years; he thought the son of the Yondaime deserved better. Now, he was outright pissed at the way Naruto was treated, and he was in a position to do something about it.

That had to wait for the moment, though, as he was promptly summoned to attend the council meeting.

He strode into the room, head held high, a frown upon his face. It would be very bad if someone aggravated him now.

"What do you want?" Jiraiya said, his tone cold.

The council members gathered visibly flinched, even the animalistic Tsume Inuzuka.

The Nara Clan Head, Shikaku Nara, answered the Sannin, "The Hokage is dead. If word gets out that we have lost our head ninja, the consequences will be dire. War with Kumo is all but inevitable, but if we quickly instate a new Hokage, we could buy adequate time to prepare our defences. To this effect, we have decided to make you Hokage, Jiraiya-sama."

Despite himself, the white-haired man was taken aback. Him, Hokage? He had never imagined it would come to this, not after he had made his intentions to leave Konoha known those years ago. It was only because of his status as the Third's trusted student that he was not immediately labelled a missing-nin.

"Would you really trust me to take up the mantle of the Hokage? What about Tsunade, sensei's other student?" Jiraiya questioned.

"You should know that she also left the village a year after you. Right now, her whereabouts are unknown to us, although we could track her. Still, resources are low after the Uchiha Uprising, and it would be far easier if you were to accept the position." Shikaku explained.

"…" Without another word, Jiraiya left the room, not even deigning to answer the council. Wide-eyed, the other council members wondered what had caused the Sannin to act in this way.

-Hokage's Residence, Roof-

Jiraiya stood unmoving, letting his gaze roam over the horizon. The question still plagued his mind: should he become Hokage, accepting the council's decision?

So many people died for this village. Hiruzen, Minato, Kushina… This village is made out of those who love it to the death, and those who couldn't care less about it; some would rather see Konoha burn than lift a single finger to help. Their incompetence is staggering – the Academy children are pampered, the Clan Heirs lauded as prodigies when in the real world they would not last even a second. They hate those they do not understand; they want a weapon, a Jinchuriki, the strongest Jinchuriki, the one who holds the Kyubi, but yet they treat him like dirt, not even giving him a chance to prove himself. Do I want to lead such a village? A village doomed to die?

Dark clouds are gathering on the Horizon. The end draws near; if I decline, then the village will surely disintegrate into an orgy of violence. When the hordes of enemies lay siege upon Konohagakure, its people will fall upon one another in sheer bloody-minded fear.

Oh, how the way of the shinobi have deteriorated! The core principle is Perseverance, yet all I see is Cowardice…

If I forsake the village now, I do not forsake the people currently in it so much as I forsake the sacrifices of our forefathers.

The Sannin was jolted out of his reverie by the shuffling of feet behind him.

"I thought I would find you here." Came the muffled voice.

"Kakashi Hatake… It has been a long time."

Turning, Jiraiya recognized the silver-haired man. The ninja before him exuded laziness, yet he had once been a captain of the ANBU Corps, one of the most feared of Konoha's military divisions. His hitai-ate was worn in such a way that it covered the man's left eye. "I'll be frank with you, the Council sent me on account of my previous connections with you; they want me to convince you to become Hokage."

"Don't waste your breath. I've decided."

Once again, Jiraiya was before Naruto. The boy had recovered somewhat from his ordeal, although his blue eyes seemed to constantly blaze with avenging fire. He was to be discharged from the hospital that very day.

"Naruto, do you trust me?" Jiraiya asked.

Momentarily taken aback by the sudden question, the boy nevertheless answered curtly, "No."

"What if I earn your trust?"

"It depends."

Getting up from the stool, Jiraiya stretched his body. "Well, then, don't just stay there, I'm sure you've been feeling cooped up these past few days. From now on, you will refer to me as sensei."

"Make me, Jiraiya."

Narrowing his eyes, the large-framed man smashed his fist into Naruto's gut, doubling him over and causing him to cough uncontrollably.

"Oh, I will. Discipline must be upheld, you understand. This is all for your own good; now get up and stop wallowing! The first thing I'm going to get you is some weights, and then I'm going to start you on some basic taijutsu…" Jiraiya continued.

'I didn't ask for this…' The boy seethed, but wisely kept his mouth shut. If this man made him stronger, he would welcome it. It didn't mean he was going to like it.

"GRAAAAH!" The Kitsune roared, ripping a yellow toad to shreds. It tore out the writhing toad's guts, and then twisted around, catching another charging toad unawares. With speed unknown to human-kind it dodged to the side, wrapping the intestines around the neck of the amphibian, suffocating it to death.

It thrashed… oh how it struggled! But the Kitsune held on, forcing the life out of the toad. Its lips curled upwards in the semblance of a grin, it relished the fear it caused. The fear of death.

My name is Aobozu, and nothing will stop me from becoming the Kyubi.

AN: On Jiraiya's monologue, the thing which made me write that was the meaning of the word Ninja. Ninja is made out of two Japanese characters, which directly translates into the Chinese (忍者) or (Ren Zhe). Literally translated it means (One Who Endures).

That's all for now! Read and Review!

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Jutsu used (all jutsu based on canon):

(Doton: Iwa Kyojin) – Earth Release: Stone Golem
Rank: A
Type: Offensive
Range: Short – Mid
Description: The user expels a large creature composed of stone from his mouth. The rock golem has a fair amount of stamina and brute strength, being able to bite and tear off flesh with its mouth and hands respectively. If used from above the target then the user can use the earth golem to drop down onto the opponent like a bomb and crush them.

(Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu) - Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu
Rank: C
Type: Offense
Range: Short
Description: This jutsu sends multiple balls of fire at a target. It is also possible to hide shuriken within the fireballs, creating an unexpected secondary surprise attack. For the most part, however, this jutsu is used as a distraction.

(Fuuinjutsu: Edo Fumetsu) - Sealing Technique: Ruin Seal Of The Nether World
Rank: S
Type: Supplementary
Range: Short-Mid
Description: A coffin appears from the ground and hands form the death realm reach out and grag the opponent.(Note: target cannot move if any of the arms touch him/her)They pull them and the user into the nether world, from which none can escape. A suicide Jutsu.