AN: Angsty bits ahead, I ordinally didn't know if I would follow Canon and have Jiraiya die at the hands of Pain. I happen to really like Jiraiya. But sadly the story wrote itself and this happened. There is fluff towards the end, with great sadness comes some revelations.
Warning:Language, no beta. Pairings NaruSasu KakaIru
Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it... This can be either a blessing or a powerful curse. Sometimes it is both.
The Legendary Sannin Jiraiya the Toad Sage was Dead
He had only been looking for information on the Akatsuki Leader, he had wound up fighting for his life. The coded message and the prisoner he had sent back may have been considered invaluable information by some. Danzo and his cronies come to mind. But to others his loss wasn't worth it, not now, not ever. They would rather have had the man himself. Nearly all in the Village had been touched by the legendary man in some way, either by the wars he had fought, the books he had written or the ninja he had trained and mentored.
Tsunade the 5th Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village had locked herself in her suite of rooms for 2 solid days. Even Shizune was afraid to go near there, the screams, the sounds of furniture breaking, these were terrifying, but worse after all the noise was the utter silence. When she had finally emerged, her permanent youthful henge jitsu had subtly changed, she appeared slightly older and a bit more worn than before. But it was her inner determination that had changed the most, while more thoughtful and somber, she was even more determined to protect the Leaf Village (and certain Brats) than ever. She would never again drink Sake without thinking of the white haired man who had been her teammate, her friend and finally at the end her lover. She still drank, but now another face was added to those she had loved and lost.
Kakashi had not only had he lost a good friend and the author of his favorite books, it was yet another link to his beloved mentor lost. Now all Kakashi had were his memories. Iruka had never seen the usually cocky Copy Nin so lost and directionless, it had been he who reminded Kakashi that Minato lived on in Naruto, that Jiraiya had been sensei to both. That both men lived on in the person of the Kitsune Vessel they had loved and protected. He also told the silver haired man that he wasn't alone, that he Iruka would always be there for him. The night before the funeral, Kakashi's Dolphin went so far as to seduce the taller man. Sharing love and being loved helped him to move past his loss.
As for Naruto, when he'd been told, he refused to believe them at first. There was no way, NO, not the Pervy Sage, he was invincible in Naruto's eyes. But the presence of the mourning Toads that had come to deliver the man's dying message… it was their sadness at the Sage's loss that made it all too real for the blonde kitsune vessel.
He ran.
It wasn't until the day of the funeral itself that Sasuke went to where he knew Naruto had gone. He'd been out of the Hospital but a few days when the news of the Sannin's death arrived. The 4 days Naruto had been missing were painful ones for the Raven. But if anyone knew what the blonde was going thru it was Sasuke Uchiha. Sometimes you just have to be alone to process a loss as great as that of the Sage to Naruto. Because he understood that for Naruto the Toad Sage had been more than just a mentor he'd been family, the blonde's whole family. With the Sannin he been loved like a son or grandson. Sasuke understood the loss of one's entire family the way no one else really could.
But the Uchiha knew that Naruto had been alone long enough and it was time.
It wasn't easy, Sasuke couldn't use any Chakra yet and was still rebuilding his physical strength as well. The climb to the top of the Hokage Monument was slow and tiring for the slender man, but he made it. There sitting near the edge looking out over the Village was Naruto, just as he knew he would be. Sasuke walked until he was just behind Naruto, he placed his hands on the broad shoulders. Those strong broad shoulders shook slightly as Naruto began to weep, overwhelmed that Sasuke was here, here with him.
"Sa-sasuke, I never knew… I didn't really understand. I'm S-so Sorry."
"Dobe. Sorry? Sorry for what? That you couldn't save him. You weren't there.." Sasuke lowered himself to the ground behind Naruto, hands still on his shoulders.
"No, not that, w-well, (Hic-up) that too. But that I didn't really understand how you felt about the loss of your family and about Itachi. How could I, I never even knew my parents. No wonder you didn't listen to me when I tried to talk you out of going to Orochimaru's."
"Naruto, it wasn't your fault. It was never your fault that I left."
"B-but."
"No Naruto hear me out. I wasn't going to listen to anybody by that point, the curse mark had evolved. Nothing you or anyone said was going to keep me from going to Orochimaru's, the Snake had laid his trap well." Sasuke leaned into Naruto's back, turning his head to the left he placed his cheek between the tense shoulder blades
"Sasuke."
"I don't even really remember the first year and half I was there, it is just a blur of training, sleeping only when my body got too exhausted to go on. But I remembered you Naruto. I tried to forget everything but my anger and revenge. But you were always there, the words you spoke that day, your determination to bring me back. That is what finally woke me up enough to realize there was no way in Hell I was giving up my body to that sick pervert. Naruto, you did save me that day." Pale arms slid around the trembling blonde, Naruto hands grasped the forearms draped across his chest.
"I always knew our bond was still there, even when the Pervy Sage was trying to talk me into forgetting you. I just couldn't you know."
"I know. I'm here now and I will never ever leave you again. I promise." Sasuke whispered into Naruto back. Naruto turned slightly and pulled the trim form of the Raven into his lap, wrapping his arms around him tightly, burying his face into the soft blue black hair.
"Oi Teme, I'm not letting you get away a second time. Believe it!" Naruto half smirked into the soft hair.
"Dobe, you really didn't listen during class when we were in the Academy did you. Can't you feel it, the difference in our bond since It-Itachi burned out the last of Orochimaru's soul and with it the curse mark?" Sasuke adjusted how he was sitting so he could look into Naruto's face as he spoke, touching the whiskered cheek with his fingertips "I knew where you were this whole time, just as I knew the you were ready to share your grief with me finally. That you needed me."
"I'll always need you Sasuke. Just saying that I love you doesn't seem to cover how very much I need you, and all the ways that you matter to me." Sasuke's breath hitched.
"Naruto, say that again. Please." The Raven looked deep into the ocean blue eyes.
"Eh? Say what again?"
"That you love me."
"Of course, I love you Bastard. Why else would I chase your stupid ass over the five great nations. Thought you knew that already?"
"M-Maybe, but even I need the words Asshole." Unspoken were the words 'more than most'.
"Sasuke…(sigh) I was going to say those words to you when the mood was well you know, 'right'."
"Dobe. Right now, is really good for me." Despite eyes red from crying for literally days on end, a dirt and tear streaked face, Naruto grinned. His 'Princess' could be very demanding when he wanted something. Oddly enough this was also exactly what the blonde needed to get him past the worst of his grief. Cupping the beautiful Raven's face in one hand, thumb softly stroking his cheek.
"Sasuke Uchiha, I Naruto Uzumaki, Love you more than even my own life."
'Naruto." Tears glistened in the obsidian depths. "God, I love you, you baka." With that Sasuke threw his arms around Naruto's neck and captured his lips in kiss so full of love that Naruto's heart nearly burst with the joy of it. When the kiss ended, Naruto pulled Sasuke in close and nestled the Raven head under his chin and held him close. This is what he needed now, to hold his Special Person safe next to his heart.
Eventually the two moved so that they were sitting next to each other, looking out over the Hidden Leaf Village, as the sun set and dusk began to gather.
"Oi Teme, whatcha mean earlier about our bond being different now, and the Academy class stuff? I knew where you were too, but I thought it was cause I can see the Uchiha District from up here."
"It was something we covered when learning about bloodline limits and strong chakra users. Come to think of it, I think you, Kiba, Shikamaru and Choji all skipped out on class that day."
"He-he, it must have been really nice out if they all came. Shikamaru would nap or watch the clouds. Choji munching away on his snacks watching as Kiba and I would chase each other, playing Ninja until we passed out. Huh, you know, I never realized it, but those guys actually hung out and skipped classes with me a lot back then."
"Those three have always been your friends, even if you all didn't realize it at the time."
"Looking back now, I realize we had us some good times. So, go on… what about the bonds thingy?"
"Well that day the Teacher covered what they call a 'Lifebond'. It happens more often with people who have a strong Bloodline Limit, like the Uchiha or Hyuuga clans, about 1 in 100 pairings 'Lifebond' vs those with just very strong chakra and neither has a Bloodline Limit, then the odds go up to about 1 in 1000. That's why they covered it while covering bloodline limits. It's kind of literal, to 'Lifebond' with someone means you are bound or connected to that person for life, it can't be activated with a Jitsu or forced, it just happens. Occasionally the love is there first, but usually the lifebond is what draws the pair together. When lifebonded the pair can sense each other's whereabouts, emotions, also it seems that it makes sharing Chakra and combining techniques easier as well. There may be other perks as well."
"Ha, hahahaha. Oh My god, so that's why all those stupid fangirls keep chasing you and thinking you'd be instantly in love with them, if only you would go out with them 'just one time'. They were hoping as an Uchiha you'd go and form some kind of 'Lifebond' and be stuck with whoever got to you first." Sasuke smirked.
"Sounds about right. Problem for all of them was, I had already lifebonded to you. It was definitely sometime before we went to Wave Country. Could have even been that 'accidental kiss' that triggered it, who knows. I do know that as a Top Medical Ninja, Tsunade-sama can verify the bond, if we ever need to prove it. But even without that, I'm sure that's what this is." Sasuke closed his eyes, concentrated and 'pushed' a feeling at Naruto. Naruto's eye's popped wide open.
"Holy Shit! I felt that."
"See told you Baka."
"Okay fine your right, we're freakin lifebonded. I'm still gonna kick your ass when you're being a total Bastard."
"Wouldn't have it any other way Dobe. Beside I'll be the one kicking your ass.."
"Ha, you wish! Well guess we better get back, I'm starving. Let's go to Ichiraku's and get some Ramen." They walked down from the top of the Monument bickering all the way. Some things never change.
17 bowls of Ramen later. Naruto 15, Sasuke 2.
"I missed the Funeral, didn't I?" Naruto sighed.
"It was today, yes. Your supposed to give the Toads your answer tomorrow morning. Are you going to go with them?"
"Not without you I'm not. But if they'll let you come as well, I'm all for it. I'll make that a stipulation of me coming to train as a Sage."
"I don't think they'll let me train as a Toad Sage Baka."
"Never thought they would. Don't you have a contract with the Snakes anyway?"
"I never got around to signing one with them, it was all Orochimaru. After I absorbed him, I used his ties to the Snakes to summon them. I probably couldn't summon one now if I tried, besides their probably not too happy with me, seeing as Maara died during my fight with that Akatsuki flake Diedera."
"Well your easily strong enough to have a summons. If I remember correctly don't the Uchiha's have a thing with the Meko clan?"
"Huh? Your right, I almost forgot about them. The ones that live near here are pretty weak, but I can go there to sign a contract with them before we leave and find out who their Head Cat is. I'll have to summon him or her at some point so we can come to terms. But that's an excellent Idea, Dobe."
"You can work on that while I'm doing the Sage training thing."
That night the two young men slept wrapped in each other's arms. A raven head nestled against the tanned chest.
The Legendary Sannin Jiraiya the Toad Sage was Dead. But he lived on in the Heart of his Godson who was about to follow in the great man's footsteps and then surpass him if and when it became necessary.