While Orochimaru's return to the village was quiet and under the radar, the Toad Sannin provided a much more flamboyant return. His mission to the Land of the River had been a success, and he was more than pleased to announce this fact to the world. He'd also abused his summoning skills as he waved an arm and flashed a brilliant smile from the back of a toad that was about the size of a horse. He held onto its back with chakra with very little effort.

"You're really going to get it next time you summon the Boss." the toad muttered to his rider.

For a second, the sannin's expression faltered, but the number of women lining the streets more than snapped him back into character. He smiled broadly at them. "The gallant man, Jiraiya returns!" He announced, and did a back flip off the toad, extending two fans that he kept just for show up his sleeves, and landing dramatically. It was a moment that would later have been worthy of Maito Gai. Actually, that chuunin was watching him and taking notes on his hearty appearance and 'youthful' exuberance.

A couple yards away, the toad came to a halt and rubbed his now aching back. He gave a slightly resentful look at the white-haired man when he turned to him, but gave a respectful bow before dispersing back to his home.

While Jiraiya was busy charming the ladies, one such female walked up behind him. Her eyebrow was twitching as she drew her arm back in a meaningful way. "Where the hell have you been!?" Tsunade snapped at him as her hand connected with the back of his head with a loud cracking noise. The healer was enjoying the sound of his pain and confusion far too much.

"Oi... Tsunade-san!" Jiraiyah attempted a wide smile and held up a hand defensively. "I was just out on a mission, you know that!"

She rolled her eyes and unfolded her arms from how they'd been against her chest. She then unceremoniously grabbed the Toad hermit by the ear and twisted it painfully, to nearly girl-like squeals. "The Hokage needs to speak with you." she said and turned down the busy street.

----------------

The Hokage. Jiraiya had received word on the attack of the village by the Kyuubi-no-kitsune, and it had bothered him that the attack happened in his absence, and that his mission took priority over a swift return. By the time he was in the tower, his face was stony and lacked its previous 'youthful' luster. The idea that Minato was gone was one he had tried not to think about since he was absent from the village. 'If I'd only been there..' he thought. Tsunade confided feeling similarly even though she had been there. But from her perspective, there was nothing she could do. What could anyone have done? He loved his old maser Sarutobi as he would his own father, but seeing him in the Hokage's office now somehow seemed... wrong.

"Tsunade said you wanted to speak with me?" It was more of a statement than a question, though he was rubbing a very sore ear.

"Sit down." Sarutobi ordered, taking a few puffs on his pipe. He glanced toward the window and issued orders to the ANBU who were waiting outside to see to it they were not disturbed and had absolute privacy. He remained standing and did a couple passes of the room, making a few hand seals as he did to insure the door would not open nor that their voices would escape the confines of the office before he closed the window and sat down himself. "That window always has been rather drafty, don't you think?"

The white haired jounin nodded glumly, and folded his hands and leaned his elbows on the edge of the desk. He then perched his chin on those hands and gave the Hokage a piercing stare. "I am sorry I was not here sooner. There's no excuse though is there, sensei? We all had our missions and..."

"I know." Hiruzen said softly. "I'm a little wary of the fact certain key fighters were out of the village during the attack... and not small missions either which could be quickly concluded. It's as though someone knew when our power base would be out." The suggestion was understood by both. There was probably a traitor, and that the Kyuubi had been goaded into attacking. The prospect was not pleasant.

Jiraiya's fist clenched tight and he reclined in his seat, hiding their tension as he folded his arms. It was already a lot to think about. "There should be an investigation, of course."

"Already under way my student."

He nodded thoughtfully. "So Minato is..."

"I'm afraid so." Hiruzen's expression fell noticeably.

"How's Kushina taking it?" He inquired idly, but the Hokage's silence hit him like a brick. There was a knot in his stomach as he bolted to attention in horrified realization. "No... Sensei... They can't both be dead! They were going to have a baby...! It's...It's..."

"The reason you are here." The old man said as calmly as possible while disbelieving eyes were trained on him. "Kushina died shortly after giving birth to him."

"A son eh?... Ha..." Though the pervert's laugh was without mirth. "Stupid... they were gonna' name him after one of my characters... if it was a boy you know?"

The hokage cleared his throat. "They did." The eyes were again trained on him, with some fear flickering in them as he was realizing already what was going to be asked of him. "Uzumaki Naruto. He wanted the boy to have her name since he had so many enemies."

Jiraiya was unusually quiet, scratching his cheek right beside one of the red vertical marks adorning his face. He didn't know what to say.

"I know they wanted you to be his godfather, and in their absence it seems only right." Sarutobi recited, though neither of them was fully convinced. Jiraya... had his quirks.

A certain dose of fear rippled through the ninja. Being a ninja was his identity and although he loved the ladies, the idea of parenthood frightened him. Yes, he'd been through numerous battles in his bright and shining career... but... kids... He just... wasn't good with them. "Hokage-sama... I admire your confidence sir," he lied, "it's just... Really... Me? Ha!" The two of them looked equally nervous. "I'm sure there's plenty of women who could do a better job... Hell, even Tsunade-san..."

"She already turned me down." The old man closed his eyes and inhaled deeply on his pipe. He'd been expecting this. It was good for him that Jiraiya was never particularly good at shogi. "There is no one, I'm afraid."

The nervousness of the toad-summoner increased tenfold. Instead of peeping on the bath houses when he wanted, he was seeing diapers in his future. Instead of going out to dinner with voluptuous ladies of questionable character, he saw himself feeding a dribbling baby... or more likely having peas flung at his face. He already saw his world crashing down around him and wondered briefly if there might be some merit to death after all. "I can't believe that.." he grunted in weak protest.

Gentle smoke rings exited from the kiseru and the old man's mouth, his deep reflective eyes seeming framed in uncertainty. "I wish it were not so, but it is. The boy evokes feelings of loss or hate in most of those who have been in charge of his care so far."

"H-hate?!" And now Jiraiya's black eyes flickered with inner fire and outrage. "How could anyone see a child, much less the Hokage's only son with such disdain!?" He almost growled and tensed against reaching for a weapon since there was nobody to rightly confront.

"He was born October 10th, the very day of the Kyuubi attack. Furthermore," and the old man suddenly averted his gaze to tap a few embers into a home made ash tray, "The reason Minato is dead is because he used a technique he created called 'Shiki Fuujin'. It split the Kyuubi in two, separating the Yin and Yang aspects of its chakra, meaning the Jinchuriiki will be able to be in control of the demon rather than the other way around."

"...But there was a price" Jiraiya sighed.

Sarutobi nodded, and adjusted the brim of his wide hat bearing the fire symbol of the country they lived in. "Yes. His soul and part of the Kyuubi are now locked in eternal combat within the belly of the shinigami... the death god who presided over the sealing." the very attentive jounin nodded in grim acknowledgment. "It was a desperate move, and I hope we are never forced to use such drastic means to repel an enemy ever again. Still, what's done is done. Despite his best intentions, there are people who see him as the incarnation of the demon itself. Either he is a reason for, or a reminder of the loss. Obviously that cannot continue."

Jiraya coughed, "Naruto, huh?" He leaned back a bit further while thinking. There was no point in beating around the bush. "Demon... Hmph... how naive." he muttered a few words on behalf of Minato's honor and Sarutobi just let him speak his mind. The fragmented thoughts would come to a point eventually. There was a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, not a smile but something else. He was not happy in any case. "I suppose the only people who've suggested he would be better in their care are...?"

"Most likely after power." The hokage confirmed. He relaxed a bit now as things were seeping into the toad ninja's skull. "You know, I can say this about raising a child..."

"What's that?"

Part of Sarutobi really wanted to take this back and not say anything, he really did, but drastic times called for drastic measures. Considering the ego he was dealing with, he decided to be blunt. An uncharacteristic grin which was not quite wholesome met his old wrinkled face as he looked the jounin in the eye, "A guy sensitive enough to take care of a child... well, let's say he won't have any problems attracting the ladies." The words having left his lips, he then felt an overwhelming desire to take a shower, but attempted to regain his former composure.

A wide smile spread across Jiraya's face.

------------------------

A weary Iruka reentered the orphanage that had been his home since the attack. He tried not to breathe too heavily, but the future snake mistress had been particularly physical in today's exercises. He would have chalked it up to the fact Sensei was back, but.... something was different about him. The genin couldn't imagine what, but he seemed to have more... purpose and something in that was hidden. Either way, he had put his own slant on the hokage's incentives which caused a now blazing rivalry between Iruka and Anko.

Truthfully, it was more on Anko's side as Orochimaru announced his idea. It was a competition between his two orphaned nins where the victor would be treated to extra training and money in their pockets and... If they passed the upcoming Chuunin exams, the one who performed the best would be personally taken in, adopted by him. Anko had risen splendidly in the challenge and, Iruka thought, she might actually be trying to assassinate him in what was supposed to be a sparring match.

Mitarashi Anko was currently rambling like a rabid fangirl about her prowess in today's match and lyingly boasted how she could stand up to another seven hours of endurance training. She grinned quite insanely while she and Mizuki were walking behind their teammate, laughing... cackling rather, and all but squealing with pride. "And that is how it's done! Yatta ne! O-ro-chi! O-ro-chi!" she giggled.

The silver haired genin winced while the tom boy boasted of her victory and slapped or bumped against him jovially, which was just annoying him right now. He wasn't sure how this challenge was going to end, but before it began he thought there was more cohesiveness between them. The bushy-tailed girl had always been the muscle of the group, while Iruka had more balance and control. That left Mizuki as the long distance fighter between them. He was very good with shuriken and throwing kunai and had just started working on his own techniques. But... he was also the thoughtful one.

The rivalry had no reward for him, and meant that he was no longer a favorite of Sensei's. He would have to work twice as hard just to be noticed. But there was another factor of, how much did they want to compete? The only girl on the team obviously wanted to, but would Iruka?

"Ahh... I gotta go." Mizuki finally said.

"Ahh... you don't want to... stay a little? Umm, we could play Shogi or something." Iruka offered in vain. After the physical beating he'd taken today, he really wanted to just relax, even if Mizuki was the better shogi player.

"No," He replied firmly, "I have.. parents to get back to."

"Ahh... right... Parents..." Umino Iruka tried not to frown, but it was the first time his friend had mentioned them with such emphasis.

"Jya ne." In a puff of smoke, the gennin was gone.

"Oiii... Spoil sport." Anko sighed, then cast her hazel eyes on the brown haired boy with a wide grin. "More training tomorrow! Five-thirty sharp!" she giggled and grabbed him into a headlock, her knuckles driving painfully into her teammate's skull. "Got it!?"

"Yah--- Yes Anko-san!" He was greatly relieved when she let go, began whistling and... glided? back to her room. 'She's scary...'

-------------------------

Iruka had finally managed to tune out Anko's gloating enough to fall into the cracks that allowed one to sleep. She was still awake and harassing several other girls (only two of them were also genin) and babbling over how Orochi-sama would be taking her home after the chuunin exams. He shuddered at the thought and attempted to sleep. His awareness was slipping into the comforting velvet of sleep when his finely tuned ears perked up at a sound.

It was Naruto again. Currently, there were only 4 orphans who were infants, and he was the only one who cried regularly. It jolted the young ninja awake partly because of Kiyoko, he didn't want her or anyone to have reason to hit or abuse him. He automatically bolted out of bed, wondering what it was this time. At this point he could differentiate between hungry cries and diaper changes, but this one was different.

"Oi... Naru--to..." Iruka shut up immediately upon entering the boy's room. In the dim lighting he saw a man standing there with long, ghost white hair that spiked out in a beastly manner. He couldn't see who he was right away, but the fact he was holding a bundle with spiked blond hair precariously with one hand at arms' length, he was obviously the source of Naruto's protesting cries.

The man turned like a mountain, startling the young genin. His muscular body stood out against the gloom, and light glinted on his metal forehead protector. Unlike the kind he was used to seeing, what was seen was all metal and had the symbol for "oil" on it rather than the konoha leaf. It also had two spikes at either end making him look particularly devilish.

There was a tense moment where neither spoke, but the Jounin sized up the small-fry. Parts of Iruka's mind recalled the Toad ninja, though he didn't look very toad-like. In the middle of this, Naruto continued to cry, which seemed to cause the man some discomfort. Gathering up his courage, Umino found his voice, "I don't think he likes you holding him like that."

"Ano... uh... How... should I hold him?" Jiraiya queried and squatted down to the young teen's level.

Iruka blinked in surprise but found himself taking the bundle and cradling him like a normal baby, Naruto quickly ceased his fussing. "Like this, see? You need to support him. Okay?"

Jiraiya nodded sharply and took the baby back. There was an instant outcry, "Damnit!" he belted, almost dropping the child. "Shut up!"

"Hey! Hey! He's just a kid!" Iruka snorted and kicked the ninja in the shin.

Instantly, the room lacked movement and the crying stopped. The two were frozen staring at each other. "You got some guts kid, what's your name?"

"Ahh... Iruka... Umino... Iruka."

"I see." The Sannin sighed and set the baby back in the crib where he found him.

"Excuse me but... You're Jiraiya right?" The older ninja nodded, "Uh... Why are you here? And what do you want with Naruto?"

Jiraiya's eyes looked over the infant. 'Naruto.' He couldn't believe anyone would name their kid something so stupid. But here he was. The Hokage's legacy. His fists clenched again though he smiled a little sadly, "Sarutobi wants me to take him in, but I don't feel worthy."

Iruka walked over to the crib and folded his arms over its rail. He'd looked into those brilliant blue eyes many times and could never see a demon in them. "It's all right Naru-kun. If Hokage-sama says Jiraya can take care of you, you'll be fine, isn't that great?" He smiled softly at the babe.

The toad ninja's face scrunched up uncertainly, "What? Look kid... er... Iruka... whatever. I'm not... I'm not kid friendly okay? I don't know what you know, but you don't know what it's like being a ninja. You can't just... raise a kid like that you know? Even if the Hokage says it's okay!"

Iruka frowned a bit. Yeah, a ninja life wasn't one for a child, but children grow, and he had. Both his parents had died in action, so he knew that part. He'd been doing quite a bit of growing since the attack... still... "I'm sure he has reasons. Both my parents were ninja, it never stopped them."

He realized he was talking to an orphan and bit back the response he was going to give. "So, why do you care about this kid anyhow?"

"Because... he's like me. He just needs someone to believe in him, that's all." A small but present smile lingered on Umino's face whenever he looked at the kid.

A thoughtful silence passed between those in the room. From what Sarutobi said, he was almost certain everyone was out to get the boy, or wished him dead, or didn't care at all. This kid... didn't care about his parentage or the fact he was a demon container. He cared about him, which was the important thing. While certain of his training abilities, Jiraiya felt sorely lacking in proper emotions meant for family.

"Hey.. umm... So... Saying that I do adopt this kid... I'm still not very good with 'em," he gave Iruka a sidelong glance and scratched the back of his head, "I'm also an elite Jounin so I'll have missions. So... Just based on that I kinda... Umm... Hell... Would you baby sit the little diaper-rash there for me?"

Iruka laughed. Jiraiya began a nervous laugh. Baby Naruto gurgled what could possibly be a laugh.

"Okay."