Author: G.A.M.M.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 1:
'You Can't Go Home'
Jiraiya carried his new charges down from Mount Myoboku.
He had mixed feelings. He had promised Minato he would be the boy's godfather and he owed the Hyuuga girl a debt for not rescuing her quickly enough. She would have to live with the repercussions of being the Jinchuriki of the Nibi no Bakeneko for the rest of her life. He had a moral obligation to both of them, for different reasons.
The narrow path that led down out of the mountain valley sloped sharply off to the right. Jiraiya had walked it so often he didn't even have to think of where to place his feet. He ambled along at a steady gait, reluctant to disturb the two sleeping children. He would have to deal with them soon enough.
He thought about his options.
Life on the road would be tough on kids their age, but Jiraiya was duty bound to Konoha. He was the village spymaster and his wandering lifestyle as a novelist was the perfect cover for his work. He couldn't just hole up somewhere and raise the kids. He would go insane living in one place for too long with nothing to do but look after two brats. He was vital to Konoha's intelligence network. True, he could delegate many tasks to his agents, but there were some things he had to handle personally.
He decided he would find a balance. He had a safe house in the neutral zone of the five great shinobi nations, near Amegakure. The place held many bad memories for Jiraiya, but it was the best choice given his new situation. He silently vowed he would not repeat the same mistakes he had made with Nagato, Yahiko and Konan. Part of his recent excursions had included looking into an organization that was rumored to be forming in Amegakure. After doing some deep-cover reconnaissance he had heard some of the locals describing a man with purple eyes and red hair as their savior. Those features described his old student perfectly, and as far as Jiraiya knew, there was no such thing as naturally occurring purple eyes. That meant the man had a kekkei-genkai and the only blood-limit that gave a person purple eyes was the Rinnegan.
He could reasonably conclude that the man was Nagato. The reports he had received regarding his former students' deaths were vague, and it was common in the shinobi world for high-caliber shinobi to be reported dead, only to have those same shinobi turn up again. If Nagato was indeed the leader of this supposed organization, it was Jiraiya's duty to make sure he wasn't planning anything sinister. The reports he had received from his agents near Amegakure were ambiguous, but Jiraiya knew he couldn't afford to dismiss the power of his former student. Nagato could become a serious threat if he walked down the path of revenge and was left unchecked.
Yes, that little village that bordered Amegakure in the northwest, Kawa no Kuni in the southwest and Hi no Kuni in the east would be best. He could keep tabs on Nagato, establish a base of operations where he could delegate tasks to his agents and have a semi-permanent home for the brats. The location was central to the five great shinobi nations. Any trips he would need to take would be a shorter journey in most cases.
As he cleared the most treacherous part of the path, his thoughts turned to his charges.
The boy certainly would have talent, given his lineage. If he was anything like his parents, Jiraiya could teach the ninjutsu heavy combat style he used himself. The girl would likely show promise in her clan techniques, like most Hyuuga, but Jiraiya was no expert on the Jyuken. He would have to think carefully on how to best bring out her potential. In any case, the kids were only five. They wouldn't be capable of learning anything but the most rudimentary taijutsu for several years. He would worry about teaching them chakra control and the academy standard ninjutsu and genjutsu later.
With that out of the way, Jiraiya pondered how to deal with two five-year-olds.
He didn't know much of anything about how to raise children. Oh, he knew a parent was supposed to be firm with their boundaries and kind for the most part, but beyond that he was almost clueless. What was he supposed to tell them when they woke up? Certainly not the truth. Kids their age couldn't handle the full truth. It was too harsh for them to comprehend. He didn't want them ending up like Nagato, Yahiko and Konan.
He would have to handle the matter delicately. They had enough awareness to know that not returning to Konoha was weird. The boy might deal with it alright, but the girl had a family to which she could return. Then there was the matter of the Bijuu that had been sealed inside her. He had made modifications to the seal so she couldn't draw any of its power. He had touched up the boy's to do the same. He couldn't have them raising questions about their demons when they would be unable to handle the answer. Perhaps when they were older he would alter the seals to allow them to draw a little of the power their Bijuu offered.
The girl must have known what was done to her. The shinobi of Kumo wouldn't have attempted to deceive her in that way. They had probably tried to convince her that she was to become a weapon. That belief would lead her down a very dangerous path. Such a traumatic experience could leave a lasting impression on a kid her age. Fortunately, five-year-olds weren't firmly grounded in reality. Jiraiya decided he would try to convince her that it hadn't really happened.
It should be possible if I do it right. He thought. Now... what to tell them about why they can't go home...
That would be tougher. They would remember their imprisonment. Could he just tell them there were bad people who wanted to hurt them? That they had to stay with him so the bad people couldn't get them? It was probably the best choice. He couldn't lie to them outright about such a thing. Even five-year-olds were coherent enough to know that spending a week in a strange place was something that really happened. In time the memories might fade, but that wasn't certain. Yes, telling them as much of the truth as he could was the best option. If they found out later that he had lied to them, it could undermine their trust in him.
Jiraiya barely knew more about relationships than he did about children, but he did know that the foundation of any meaningful relationship was built on trust.
The Toad Sage walked out of the woods that concealed the entrance to the path that led to Mount Myoboku. A few hours away there was a small hut he had stayed in on several occasions. He would wake the brats there and tell them what he had decided to tell them.
He focused his mind and meditated whilst he walked the rest of the way to the hut.
When he arrived he found the place hadn't been used in a long while. The little hut was falling apart, but it would hold up long enough to suit his purpose.
He set the kids down on the straw matting that passed for a bed.
You know, they're actually kind of cute.
He gently shook them awake. There was no use in startling them.
The boy came around first.
"Wh...where?" His little sky-blue eyes darted around the room. "Where is this place? Who are you?"
The girl stirred and rubbed at her pearly white-lavender eyes. "A-ano... wh-what h-happened?"
Jiraiya sat down in front of them, crossing his legs. He did his best to style himself in a way that made him command respect, but kept him from appearing intimidating.
"You are safe. That's what's important." He said softly.
"You look funny, old-man!" The blonde boy shouted abruptly, pointing at Jiraiya's outrageous hair and face paint.
"A-ano... you sh-shouldn't s-say such things." The dark-blue-haired girl stuttered shyly, poking her fingers together.
Like fire and water; these two. The Toad Sage thought.
"I was sent by the Hokage to rescue the both of you. You know who the Hokage is, right?"
"I do!" The boy shouted enthusiastically. "He's the strongest, coolest, ninja in the village! I'm gonna be Hokage one day-dattebayo!"
Well he's taking this rather well... definitely not the reaction I was expecting after spending a week in captivity.
"The Hokage s-sent you? Are you g-going t-to t-take us h-home?" The girl asked anxiously.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. The bad people who captured you will be looking for you. You'll be staying with me for a while."
Like eight years...
"Why did they take us?" The boy asked.
Jiraiya pointed to the girl. "She's an important person in Konoha. I imagine you were taken because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Do you have any ramen?" The boy's stomach growled.
Grown-up stuff wasn't a tenth part as important as where his next meal was coming from.
"Erm..." Jiraiya dug around in his rucksack. "It's your lucky day, kid. I happen to have a few packets. Here." He said, tossing the boy two of them. "Eat up."
"Umm..." The boy struggled to tear open the packets. "I can't open these. Aren't you going to cook it?"
A large sweat drop appeared at the back of the Toad Sage's head. He hadn't brought any cookware with him.
Damn... oh wait, I know!
"Follow me outside for a second."
The boy followed him eagerly while the girl trailed behind nervously.
"Alright check this out!" Jiraiya spread his hands like he was about to do a magic trick. In a way, he was. "Doton: Itadakimasu no jutsu!" He said loudly, making up the technique as he went.
He pressed his palms to the hard mountain soil and manipulated it into three bowls, three mugs, and a pot.
"There, all done. What do you think of that, kid?" He grinned cheesily.
"S-sugoi!" The blonde stammered. "Are you a ninja, mister?"
Jiraiya puffed out his chest. "Am I a ninja? Of course I am, and no ordinary one at that."
Looks like it's time to use that technique.
"Really?" The boy's eyes looked like they were about to explode out of their sockets.
The Toad Sage prepared himself for his ultimate technique and took an unbalanced stance with his hands flared out at his sides. He danced about with great gusto, doing his best to impress the children. His geta sandals clacked away merrily as he performed the honored ritual of Hero Worship no jutsu.
"Indeed, it is I, the Toad Sage, one of the Legendary Saaanniiin, the Great Jiraaaaaiiiiiyaaaaa!"
Jiraiya struck the final pose of his ultimate technique. A rising sun appeared behind and illuminated him in a radiant beam of light. He basked in the glory of his own greatness, soaking in the reverence of the overawed childr-
"Eh, the who?" The boy asked, picking his nose.
"Gack!"
Jiraiya face-faulted and landed on his back. In desperation he looked up at the girl, tears in his eyes.
"What about you missy? You Hyuuga are well schooled. You know who I am, right?" He pleaded.
The girl blushed and looked away. "A-ano..." She stuttered, poking her fingers together. "S-sorry."
Jiraiya's left eye twitched uncontrollably and a vein throbbed in his forehead. Without warning he burst into tears, massive geysers of water soaking the ground. He clutched at the sparse grass, as if the very world were coming apart beneath him.
"Oh, the shame!" He moaned pathetically. "That Konoha wouldn't teach its children about the greatness of the Sannin! That I, Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, should be doomed to the pages of dusty history books! Will no one remember my rugged good looks and charming personality?! Is this really-"
"Come on, let's go back inside." The boy said, grabbing the girl's hand and leading her away.
A metaphorical spear stabbed Jiraiya in the heart.
"Woe is me! That I, Jiraiya, the Toad Sage would be..." (Rant, rave, rant, rant.)
Ten minutes later Jiraiya composed himself and walked back into the hut with a pale of water. He placed the cook pot, bowls and mugs on the ground. He silently poured the water into the cook pot and placed a handful of sticks and tinder into the old fire pit. Wordlessly, he performed a few hand signs and lit the fuel with a weak Katon jutsu. He poured the remaining water into the mugs, taking one for himself and setting the others in front of the children. He sat back against the far side of the hut dejectedly, his lips in an overt pout, his arms crossed, his face wearing a sullen expression.
Kids have no respect for their elders these days...
"Hey mister, can you teach me to be a ninja?" The boy asked guilelessly.
Why the nerve of that little...
"What makes you think you have what it takes, brat?" Jiraiya asked irritably, still smarting from his episode.
"I know I do! How can I be Hokage if I'm not a ninja?"
The kid's logic is definitely backwards.
"Look, brat. Being a ninja is not easy. It takes hard work and guts to become one."
The brat stood up with fire in his eyes. "I'll work as hard as it takes-dattebayo! I'm gonna be Hokage one day-dattebayo! Then everyone will notice me-dattebayo!"
Ah, well that explains a lot. I suspect the villagers didn't treat him every well, knowing what he contains. Hmm... at least Kushina died without the knowledge that her boy had inherited that annoying verbal-tick. She always worried about that. If she wasn't already dead, I'm sure it would have killed her.
Jiraiya shifted his gaze to the girl. "How about you, girl? You're the Hyuuga Heiress, right?"
"Wait- she's like a princess?!" The blonde shouted excitedly. He had never known a princess before.
"Shut it, brat. I asked the girl a question."
The girl poked her fingers together, her face turning a dark shade of red. "A-ano... F-father w-wants me to b-be one."
Wow, this one is the definition of "wallflower." If she was any more shy she'd sink into the ground.
"That's not a very good reason." The Toad Sage said, not unkindly. "If you want to be a ninja you have to want it for yourself."
"A-ano... b-but F-father says-"
"I don't care what your father says. Either you want it for yourself or not at all."
The girl shifted uncomfortably. "I th-think I w-would. I d-don't w-wan't the b-bad p-people to... to..."
The young child's words became incoherent and her body wracked with sobs.
Aah shit. This was not the way I wanted to do this.
Jiraiya moved to comfort her, but the brat beat him to it, holding the girl in a gentle hug. He shot Jiraiya a withering glare, a rather impressive display for someone his age.
"Why did you make her cry?" He demanded. "You're not supposed to make girls cry."
Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a pang of pride. Maybe the kid wasn't such a brat after all.
"I didn't mean to. Water's boiling." He took all the ramen packets and dumped them into the pot. "You want some, Hinata?"
It was the first time he ever called either of them by their names instead of "girl, boy, kid" or "brat." Somehow, Jiraiya felt as if he had crossed some unnamed boundary. Addressing the girl by her name had been much less awkward than he thought it would be. Maybe he was on to something here.
"How about you, Naruto?"
The boy's expression softened a little. "Give her some first."
"All right, hold on a second." He spat a small stream of fire at the bottom of the pot, cooking the ramen in less than a minute."There, that should do it." He added in the flavor packets (they were all miso flavored), stirred the broth around a bit, then scooped out a portion into each of the three bowls. "Here." He said, holding the first bowl out to the girl.
Her sobs subsided and she stopped shaking. She reluctantly pushed the comforting arms of the boy away. She accepted her bowl with a sniffle and a hiccup.
"Careful, it's hot." Jiraiya warned.
The girl nodded and started blowing on the noodles.
He handed the next bowl to the boy. He accepted it gingerly, taking surprising care not to burn himself.
Jiraiya took his own bowl and stared at his muddled reflection in the broth.
Damn kids have me going soft already...
He mulled over his mixed feelings and gave each of the children two more portions. They ate with unadulterated enthusiasm, though the girl tried to restrain herself. It was difficult, considering she didn't have pair of chopsticks. As he watched them eat, an uncontrollable surge of anger washed over him. What kind of monsters would starve these kids? They hadn't done anything to deserve such horrible treatment. The least they could do was feed the poor brats. As their pace slowed and color returned to their faces, the Toad Sage felt a protective urge he had never experienced before. Not even with Nagato, Yahiko and Konan. He silently vowed the kids would never go hungry again.
The girl looked up at him, there was a question in her eyes.
"They... th-they s-said... th-they m-made m-me..." She seemed to be on the verge of tears again.
"The screams." The boy said, shaken for the first time. "What did they..."
"Listen to me, both of you." Jiraiya said, mustering all the authority he could. "What happened that night was not real."
"B-but th-they..." The girl clutched at her abdomen.
"But the screams-" The boy began.
Damn... I didn't think the boy would have been close enough to notice anything. This is the next best thing I can think of...
"I said listen. Now, do you both know what a genjutsu is?"
The girl nodded. The boy frowned.
"It's a thing ninjas do to create illusions... you know- fake stuff." The Toad Sage simplified.
Recognition was visible in the boy's eyes.
"The bad people tried to trick you. I checked you both when you were asleep earlier. There is nothing wrong with either of you."
Technically it's not a lie. They did try to trick them into changing allegiances... and there is nothing wrong with them. They are both perfectly healthy Jinchuriki. Jiraiya rationalized. He would have to keep a careful watch on their seals. If they learned what they contained it could ruin them. He would have to wait for the right time to tell them.
"Th-then?" The girl pulled up her shirt a little and looked at her stomach. "Th-there's nothing there."
"Of course there isn't. Didn't I tell you they tricked you?"
The girl brightened considerably. "The v-voice is g-gone!"
She displayed a disposition other than shyness for the first time. Maybe there was some hope for her after all.
"The screams?" The blonde asked.
"They were real. What caused them was not." Jiraiya assured him.
That was very close to a lie. He hadn't said that the thing that had caused the screams was not real. He had only very strongly implied it.
"Here, eat up." He said, shifting away from the topic. "I want you two to eat as much as you can. We have a long journey ahead of us."
"W-where are w-we going?" The girl asked.
"To a safe place. Don't worry. I'll take care of you."
The two continued eating, and finished another two portions each. Jiraiya sipped at his own tepid bowl, thinking of what to do next.
"Okay, we will rest for tonight. Before we head out, there are some rules I should tell you about."
"Rules?" The boy asked suspiciously.
The girl seemed to take his announcement as a matter of course.
"Yes. First, there are some very bad people after us. You both need to do exactly what I say, when I say it. You will stay near me at all times, as a general rule. Those are the two most important things. I need you two do obey these rules completely, or I can't protect you. Is that clear?"
It may have been a slight exaggeration, but Jiraiya needed them to understand he was serious.
"H-hai."
"I guess."
Jiraiya slammed his bowl down onto the ground. "There will be no 'I guess' answers here. This is life and death. Is that clear?"
The boy's eyes went wide. "Y-yes."
"Good, that's better." The Toad Sage said gruffly. "Those rules cover just about everything, but there is something else you should know. I will teach you both how to become ninjas, but only if you follow the rules and treat me with respect. I am not your parent, but I expect you to treat me as such. You will obey my word and my rules and I will teach you. That is the deal. Understand?"
"Hai." The girl agreed, her back straightening slightly.
"Deal." The boy said. "So when are you gonna start teaching us that cool stuff you did?"
Jiraiya barked in laughter. "Well you've got enthusiasm, I'll give you that much. That's too advanced for kids your age. I'll teach you the basics. There are no shortcuts to becoming a good ninja. You have to build a good foundation and work your way from the ground up. I told you before that becoming a ninja is not easy. This is true. I also told you that to becoming a ninja takes hard work and guts. This is also true. However, there is one more thing that's more important than all the rest."
The boy looked so excited Jiraiya was afraid he'd piss himself. The girl was staring at him in rapt attention, though she still poked her fingers together nervously.
"What is it?" The boy asked eagerly.
"A-ano.. I would l-like to know t-too."
Jiraiya poked both of them in the chest. "Heart." He said with absolute conviction. "It takes heart. Even if you learn every technique in the world, you'll never be a good ninja without heart. Always remember that. If you ever forget it, I promise you'll be sorry. Never lose heart. Period."
The kids both looked a little confused, but that was alright. For now it was enough if they remembered his words, even if they didn't understand what he meant.
"Now go to bed. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
They both looked disappointed that he wasn't going to continue his speech. Reluctantly, they both moved off into the corner of the room and pulled the crude straw mat over their bodies for warmth.
They really did look cute together.
Jiraiya gave himself a mental slap on the back.
Hey, that wasn't half bad. Maybe the whole raising kids thing is overrated. That didn't seem hard at all.
When sunset came the next day, Jiraiya had changed his opinion entirely. He might have to abandon Konoha and become a missing-nin. He would be lucky if he didn't kill the little brats out of sheer frustration.
This is going to be a long eight years.
A/N: Impotant author's note. Please read!
Okay, that was the first real chapter.
You can expect most of the chapters in part I (before N/H return to Konoha) to be in the 3k-6k word range.
A child's world is fairly simple, so I don't feel I need that many words to move the story forward this early on. The first part will be somewhat Jiraiya-centric.
On a side note this story will frequently mention the geography of the shinobi world. Jiraiya will refer to them by their Japanese names. I will usually add the english translation following the japanese, but in this chapter I did not. So fyi: The Land of Fire: Hi no Kuni, and The Land of Rivers: Kawa no Kuni are mentioned in this chapter. Some of the smaller countries are named after their hidden village such as Amegakure. I will list the other translations when if they are used in later chapters without the english translation.
The point of this chapter was to show how Jiraiya views and feels about Naruto and Hinata and his various obligations/responsibilities/duties. You'll notice Jiraiya constantly referred to them and saw them in the narrative as simply, "boy" or "girl" or "brat." I did this purposefully to demonstrate Jiraiya's reservations. He is reluctant to get attached to another set of kids after Nagato, Yahiko and Konan. He handled breaking the news to them/dealing with their fears pretty well, but I do not intend to make him a perfect parent figure, not at all. He is still clearly Jiraiya, the over dramatic, slightly moronic Toad Sage.
This first part is as much a journey for Jiraiya as it is for Naruto and Hinata. I intend to write it that way. I alluded to the feelings the Toad Sage will develop for the kids, as well as some lifestyle changes he will eventually make. Jiraiya will become a little more mature, Naruto will be a little more serious, and Hinata will be reasonably confident, but they will stay in character. I don't intend to stray from the canon in that way.
About the language I'll be using in this fic: I intend to use a more casual storytelling voice. I think the word ninja fits this fic better than shinobi in most cases. Also, I'll be dropping the honorifics unless they're part of a speech pattern or if someone like the Hokage is being addressed.
Regarding how I will balance the power of the Naruto cast's characters in this story: I intend to take a more realistic approach to the growth rates the cast experiences. Of course, the Naruto manga/anime uses typical shōnen logic. Get beaten by a new enemy, learn a new move, pwn everything. That's all fine and good, but I want the growth rates to reflect the more grounded tone of the story.
For example, Naruto and Hinata will develop to be quite strong for Genin and be roughly as strong as low-level Chuunin by the time they return to Konoha. The other Genin will not have had individual training, and will not possess the same repertoire of techniques. I believe there is a limit to how strong a person can be based on the limits of their body and mind. A thirteen-year-old can't be strong enough, fast enough, or smart enough to beat Jonin. There are exceptions, like if someone possesses enough of one of those traits they could beat a Jonin if their skills were mismatched in the Genin's favor. (Like Gaara, Lee or Shikamaru) That is not to say they would usually win.
Yes, there are people like Itachi and Kakashi who break the mold, but they are the geniuses of their generations. I use this term specifically, because their talents, skills, work ethics and intellects were and are all exceptional. Having a few great strengths does not, in my opinion, qualify as genius. For example, Rock Lee may be a genius of hard work, but his is not a genius in general. The same goes for Jiraiya, Naruto and Hinata. They all posses some genius level qualities, but they are not true geniuses.
That is not to say they can't be the strongest of their generations. Hard work and endurance of character can exceed genius, as proven by Rock Lee. If I had to name the genius of the Konoha Twelve's generation it would be Sasuke. As much as I dislike his character, he possesses all the qualities of a genius. He does not; however, have the endurance of charcter of, say, Naruto. This is why Naruto exceeds Sasuke in the canon.
Naruto and Hinata will still use the techniques they have in the canon, but they will develop some other styles as well. I'm looking forward to writing about them. When I say they will be stonger than in the canon, I am alluding to the diversity they will achieve. For example, Kakashi is not the strongest Konoha shinobi of his generation due to his strength, but due to the diversity of his tactics and techniques. Hinata and Naruto will be strong in this way, not just-godlike in brute strength, though they will have a substantial increase in raw power. I haven't seen what I have in mind used in any other fic (though I'm sure it's out there somewhere.)
The other major factor regarding Naruto's and Hinata's strength in this fic, is that I am making the canon ranks above Genin denote a greater increase in ability. Chuunin are truly mid-level for a reason. In this fic, being Chuunin implies that the shinobi in question can at least hold their own against Jounin for ANBU for a short time if they fight defensively, and as a general rule can evenly match a Genin squad (not including their Jonin-sensei.) Being Jonin in this fic means that shinobi is truly one of the elite, the best of the best, and are all capable of wiping out a Genin squad (without their Jonin) with relative ease, and a Chuunin squad (without a Jonin) with a moderate effort, as a general rule.
A high-Jonin like Kakashi stands a chance (albeit a slim one) of defeating a Kage or a shinobi on the level of the Sannin. In short: all of the ranks have been buffed to be the equivilant of roughly the next rank above them (except for Genin.)
So in terms of the canon the abilities of the shinobi in this fic are roughly: Chuunin = Special Jonin, Special Jonin = Jonin, Jonin = high Jonin, and ANBU = Special Jonin to high Jonin. People like Jiraiya are legends for a reason and can fight at Kage level, albeit with a moderate disadvantage. Kage's are the irrefutable, unparalleled, peerless leaders of their respective lands/villages and possess god-like skill.
It follows that when I say Naruto and Hinata will be of low-Chuunin level when they return to Konoha in this fic, that they will be the equivalent of low-Special Jonin level in regards to the canon. The Konoha Twelve and the other Genin will retain their canon strength at the time Naruto and Hinata arrive in Konoha. So yes, Jiraiya's training will make them substantially stronger than their peers.
Feel free to mention any spelling/gramatical errors or plot holes you might find. I don't use a beta, and my own editing process sometimes misses things.
Alright, this author note is probably the longest one I will write in this story. In short: I'm done. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter in a couple days:
'Risky Business'
-G.A.M.M.