This chapter is based of the Jiraiya Ninja Scroll episode, but it could also be considered as a continuation of the prologue. The main point of this chapter is to give a hint about what I plan to do with the main characters, in terms of their special abilities.
I like to point out that I'm not that familiar with Japanese literature, so I'm not sure about the use of all the suffixes, but we'll see in the future, and also when it comes to either the English or Japanese pronunciations, it will be a mix of the two.
I like to thank everyone who has either reviewed, followed and favored this fanfic when it was only the first chapter, and I hope to see more.
...
Descendants of the Sun
Hiruzen Sarutobi was amongst the first generation of shinobi produced in konohagakure. What was more notable was the fact that he was part of the team that was under the tutelage of Tobirama Senju. His prodigious talent as a shinobi earned him further training under the Shodaime Hokage. When he was chosen by his sensei to become the Sandaime Hokage, he graciously accepted.
Even though he was already occupied with the tasks of village leader, Hiruzen still took it upon himself to have his own shinobi to train, following the basic three man cell system, where one shinobi with the elite rank of jounin becomes an instructor to a team of three with the beginner rank of genin, received upon graduation of the shinobi academy at a normal age of twelve.
Hiruzen's team consisted of two shinobi by the names of Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and a kunoichi Named Tsunade Senju.
Tsunade is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, which has often lead her into being called Princess. Her specialty as a kunoichi is her ability to focus her chakra within her muscles, greatly enhancing her physical strength. Orochimaru is a genius by shinobi standards, with the talent, knowledge and determination of a prodigy that only appears once every generation. His ability to easily learn new jutsus was a testament to that. Jiraiya was the clown of the group, always struggling more than his teammates, and he puts no effort into suppressing his perverted nature, which drives him to constantly hit on Tsunade despite always being met with a fist as a response. His most notable skill is his talent for stealth, mainly developed from peeping into women at bathhouses.
...
Their first team exercise was what would be know as the bell test, where Hiruzen would keep two small bells with red strings on his person for his students to try and capture one while he keeps them from succeeding. The student that doesn't get a bell, or performs the most poorly, will be tide up on one of the training logs when time runs out. It probably came as no surprise that Jiraiya would be the one that gets tide up, but what was disappointing about it was how he rushed in and fell for every obvious trap laid out. After Hiruzen dismissed his other two students, who were teasing him with the bells they caught, he remained to have a discussion with Jiraiya.
"You are hopeless Jiraiya. A proper Shinobi has a mind to always be cautious and to think ahead of his actions. Your performance demonstrates that you have neither." Hiruzen explained standing in front of his tide up student with his arms crossed.
"Well I can't exactly help it." Jiraiya replied with a frustrated expression on his face while avoiding eye contact with his sensei.
"Tell me Jiraiya what is the purpose that you've chosen?" Hiruzen asked.
"A purpose?" Jiraiya asked questionably.
"A purpose gives drive and direction to one's path, especially to a shinobi. If you lack this, then it's likely the cause of your struggle." Hiruzen explained. He closed his eyes for a minute while in thought. Then an idea came to him.
"Oh. And I might know a way to help you find yours. Just watch." Hiruzen bite on his right thumb to make it bleed, smears the blood on the palm of his left hand, then in rapid speed performs the hand seals required to perform a specific jutsu.
"Summoning jutsu." He shouted as he slammed his left palm on the ground, creating a sealing mark originating from the hand and then an explosion of smoke. What was standing next to Hiruzen when the smoke cleared was a tall white-furred Monkey, with long unkempt hair, wearing a black shinobi outfit with mesh armor underneath and a sleeveless kimono shirt with a tiger design, and a forehead protector with the symbol of Konohagakure.
"Whoa, cool!" Jiraiya stated excitedly.
"Animals are also capable mastering the shinobi arts, with their natural abilities attributed to their skills, and us human shinobi forge alliances with them through contracts made in blood. The summoning jutsu is a transportation technique that allows us to call them to our aid." Hiruzen explained.
"I want to make a contract with that one too, right now!" Jiraiya stated.
"Sorry but it's not that simple. Just as every man is destined for a certain fate, so to is the animal with which he's entwined." Hiruzen replied.
"So which animal am I entwined with?" Jiraiya asked.
"Before you can even use this technique, you need to further your training in infusing chakra and performing hand seals." Hiruzen explained.
"Oh come on, more training?" Jiraiya complained.
"You will always find answers within your training." Hiruzen stated in a serious tone.
...
And so, with the motivation to mastering the summoning jutsu, Jiraiya took his training more seriously. Just as Hiruzen intended, his student at some point of exhaustion questioned himself as to why he pushes himself through all this training. The answer came to him almost instantly.
'I'm going to become the ultimate shinobi and sweep Tsunade off her feet.' He thought to himself with determination.
One day, Hiruzen walk into the designated training ground of his team and saw Jiraiya sitting in front of the three training logs in a meditative position, feeling glad that his plan had the desired affect.
'And not just Tsunade, I'm goanna make every woman in the world fall for me.' Jiraiya thought as he got up and performed the hand seals for the summoning Jutsu. When Hiruzen saw this, he immediately felt distressed.
"Wait stop. without a contract, there's no telling what might happen!" Hiruzen tried to warn his student, but wasn't quick enough. Jiraiya slammed his palm to the ground, resulting in an explosion of smoke. Hiruzen rushed to the scene, only to find that his student was nowhere to be seen.
...
After flying uncontrollably through a vortex, Jiraiya repapered somewhere in midair, falling face to the ground. When he looked around, he saw that he was in a place he didn't recognized, an environment that's both aquatic and rich with gigantic plant life.
"Where am I?" He asks out loud.
"You're in Mount Myoboku, the land of toads." A voice is heard, catching him of guard.
"Who said that?" Jiraiya asked as he was looking around to see who else was nearby.
"Up here." The same voice replied. Jiraiya looked up to find something unexpected, a green toad standing on top of a large statue of a toad with a leaf over its head. What was peculiar about this toad was its appearance, with white facial features consisting of thick eyebrows, small goatee and a semi mohawk, and wearing a grey cloak.
"So, you've finally arrived. My name is Fukasaku." The toad stated, revealing to be the voice from earlier.
"Uh, Jiraiya from Konohagakure." Jiraiya managed to respond, having a hard time believing that he's having a conversation with a talking frog.
"Wait, what do you mean I finally arrived, cause it sounds like you were expecting me to show up." Jiraiya realized. Fukasaku hopped of from the statue and landed in front of Jiraiya.
"That's because I was. It was foretold by our Great Toad Sage that a human child would one day appear in Mount Myoboku, who will be given the power of the toad and will stand before him to receive a prophecy." Fukasaku stated while looking up to make eye contact.
"You mean this toad sage guy can predict the future?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
"Yes, though it's more accurate to say the he dreams of events with high significant, and no matter how unclear they sound, they always come true. You being here is a testament to that." Fukasaku explained.
"So what does the prophecy say about me?" Jiraiya asked.
"Well I don't know. We'll have to wait until it comes in the great toad sage's dreams. In the mean time, you will stay here and train." Fukasaku explained.
"Whoa wait, I already made up my mind about why I want to be strong, and no offence but it doesn't involve impressing a bunch of frogs!" Jiraiya stated strongly.
"There's no sense in arguing about it. It was your destiny to arrive here and not just anyone can enter Mount Myoboku, least of all a human. There's no doubt that you are the chosen one." Fukasaku explained, making Jiraiya rethink his situation.
'Chosen one huh, I like the sound of that. Training here and becoming strong, that's pretty tempting to.' Jiraiya thought to himself, now motivated to go along.
...
From that day forth, Jiraiya divided his training between Konoha and the land of toad, with a temporary contract that lets him travel between the two locations. In Konoha, he goes through his regular training with his team while focusing on ninjutsu. He eventually caught up to his team mates, much to their shock and their sensei's feeling of glad. In the land of toad, he would master the ways of senjutsu, earning him the respect of the toads and the right to sign his name in the official summoning contract of the toads.
Years have passed and Jiraiya was in his early twenties. Currently in Mount Myoboku, he was performing the exercise used to achieve the stillness required for senjutsu which involves sitting in a meditative state on a stone tablet, while balanced on top of a pointed rock pillar. He was deep in thought about his purpose, asking himself that if as the chosen one he was meant for something more than the purpose he choose for himself.
"Jiraiya!" He hears his name called out. He looks down and sees Gamabunta, a large rustic red toad wearing a blue happi vest with the kanji for ebi on the back.
"What is it Gamabunta?" Jiraiya asked as soon as he landed on the ground.
"The Great Toad sage has summoned you. He's received your prophecy." Gamabunta explained. Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat hearing that the moment he waited for since he came to the land of toads has finally arrived.
The Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru was the oldest of the toads and one of the largest, with brown wrinkled skin and squinting eyes, wearing only a professor's hat and a necklace with the symbol for oil. He was currently sitting on his throne which doubles as a shallow pool with the kanji for sage, has a small set of stairs in front of it with a pillar on each side, Fukasaku standing on top of the right pillar, and his wife Shima on the other, a light green toad with purple hair and a grey cloak like her husband.
"So, you have come at last, how nice... but uhh...who are you again?" Gamamaru tried to remember Jiraiya who was down on one knee in front of him.
"Lord elder, this is Jiraiya, the human child." Fukasaku explained to him.
"Ah yes, it's all coming back to me now, my my you sure have grown." Gamamaru stated.
"You're the one who summoned him in the first place, you great senile geezer." Shima retorted.
"Ma, you mustn't refer to him as such. Have some respect, would ya!" Fukasaku argued with his wife.
"Now now, lets not fight. Spouses must do their best to get along...Oh and by the way, who are you again?" Gamamaru asked Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya sir. You had a prophecy about me?" Jiraiya asked him, hoping he at least remembers that.
"Yes, of course. I have had a dream of an event that will bring a great change to the world, but whether this change is for the good or for the bad, it is unclear. You who will become a great shinobi will walk a path that will give direction to this revolutionary change, and as such the decisions that you make will have an impact on the fate of the world. Are you ready to hear your prophecy?" Gamamaru asked Jiraiya.
"Yes sir." Jiraiya replied, already feeling overwhelmed by the idea that his decisions will affect the world.
"In my dream, I saw a world of those with a light in themselves, overshadowed by a darkness that seeks to extinguish all of the light. However, there is one who's light is that of a sun, and three who descend from him. These three will one day face against the darkness in a battle that will determine the fate of this world." Gamamaru explained his dream to Jiraiya, who was trying to figure out what it all means.
"I know that you're trying to make sense of all this Jiraiya boy, but I can assure you that everything in this dream has meaning. and I believe that I came up with a possible interpretation." Fukasaku explained.
"So what does it mean?" Jiraiya asked his mentor.
"Well first off, this world could be a representation of the shinobi world, with chakra as the light. The darkness might be the driving force of every conflict amongst shinobi. Finally, the one with the light of the sun is a reference to the Sage of the Six Paths. So, the meaning behind all of this is that three descendants of the Sage of Six Paths will one day face against the darkness of conflict that plagues all shinobi, the outcome of which could mean the difference of peace." Fukasaku stated. Jiraiya thought about it and it sounded plausible to him, including the part about the Sage. Earlier in his life he wasn't certain if he believe in the Sage or not, but his interaction with the toads has steered him to the side of believing.
"Could that really be the prophecy Lord Elder?" Jiraiya asked the Great Toad Sage.
"I cannot say for certain, but it does seem to be very likely." Gamamaru stated.
"And where do I fit in all of this? Am I one of the three?" Jiraiya asked.
"No, your are not. Instead, you will be a teacher to one of them, guiding him into acquiring the strength needed for the upcoming battle." Gamamaru replied.
"Is there anything you can tell me about the one that I will guide lord elder?" Jiraiya asked.
"All I know of the three is that they will each have special powers in their own unique forms. One will be able to walk on multiple paths, giving him the strength of many. Another will master the power of Yang to subdue the power of Yin. The third will have control over darkness, using it as energy to turn small flames into raging infernos." Gamamaru explained.
"But in my dream, I saw you traveling the world, writing books, long before you meet your apprentice." Gamamaru stated.
"Writing books, what for?" Jiraiya asked questionably
"I don't know, but perhaps it means that you shall travel widely, seeing all things in this universe." Gamamaru answered.
"Lord Elder, have any of your predictions ever not come to pass?" Jiraiya couldn't resist asking. He was meet with a short and simple answer after a moment of pause.
"No, never."
...
Jiraiya began to travel the world afterwards, following the prophecy given to him. His main goal would be to find the apprentice who would be a child of prophecy, while learning more about the world on the way.
During this time, the peace that existed between the lands grew fragile, bringing strife and hardship to the people, leading to the second shinobi world. While on his journey, Jiraiya gained more of a perspective on the shinobi world, understanding that the darkness in the prophecy is a curse of hatred after witnessing destruction, people victimized and the struggles of shinobi from various villages. All of this has driven him further into wanting to end all the hatred by finding his pupil. Unfortunately, he would have to put it all on hold as he was summoned back to Konoha to do his part for the village.
Much like the first war, many lives were claimed, the most notable of which was a majority of the Uzumaki clan, when Uzushiogakure was attacked by a coalition of Kumogakure, Kirigakure and Iwagakure. This was out of fear of the clan, considered to powerful to be left to continue because of their skills in Fuinjutsu, and also serving as a means to weaken Konohagakure by eliminating an ally. An unknown number of clan members managed to escape and are now scattered through out the world.
It was during this war that Jiraiya, alongside his old teammates Tsunade and Orochimaru, were made famous when they faced against the legendary Hanzo of the salamander, who granted them the title of sannin in recognition for their strength as shinobi.
It was also at this time that each of them began to develop the skills that would attribute to their fame. Jiraiya mastered fuinjutsu as a way to honor the Uzumakis and to compensated Konoha for its loss. The writing skills he developed from when he was writing his first book has helped him greatly. Tsunade, after struck with the tragedy of her younger brother's death, devoted herself to the one craft meant to save lives, medical ninjutsu. Orochimaru found ways to combine ninjutsu with biological science, coming up with his own unique set of jutsus that give him snake-based abilities.
The war came to its end, having the same impacts as the first war. Jiraiya decided that he may find his apprentice in Konoha if he were to remain to become a jounin instructor, and he eventually became the instructor to Minato Namikaze, whose exceptional skills gave Jiraiya confidence that he was one of the children of prophecy.
Minato learned Fuinjutsu under Jiraiya's tutelage. Being his student, he was eligible for becoming a toad summoner which also lead to him mastering senjutsu. His most notable skill of all would be the use of the Hirashin no Jutsu, an original jutsu of the Nidaime Hokage which is a transportation technique that focuses on speed while using a special seal that marks a destination. Minato came up with his own version that adds lightning element for even greater speed. He perfected the jutsu even further by having a set of specialized three-pronged kunais that carry his hirashin mark, allowing him to transport wherever his kunai are thrown.
Minato would soon be given the moniker of the 'Yellow flash', recognized as the fastest shinobi in history. His name would be known through out all of the shinobi world as someone of great respect and fear due to his exploits in the third shinobi world war that have guided Konohagakure to victory, the most notable of which was how he single-handedly wiped out a thousand of Iwa's shinobi, a feat of the highest merit in the shinobi world. All of this has left Minato naturally regarded as a hero of Konoha, and would then become the Yondaime Hokage.
...
At his house, the Yondaime Hokage was sitting at the dinning room table, reading a book that has caught his interest: 'Tales of a Gutsy Ninja.' His reading was interrupted by a pat on the back from the author.
"Hey, so you're reading my Tales of a gutsy ninja book. Well It's my first published work, so it's not really that great, I mean it may seem a bit childish..." Jiraiya stated sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head.
"Oh no, far from it in my opinion. I believe this book is wonderful." Minato happily said to his sensei while closing the book.
"Oh?" Jiraiya indulged on the compliment.
"As I was reading along, I felt as though I was reading some of your legendary exploits, and I could tell that's what you based it on." Minato explained while Jiraiya moved to sit in front of him.
"Yeah, to bad it didn't sell at all. Good thing I decided to add some spicy elements to all my other work, and now I'm a famous writer."
"What I like most about this tale is the main character's determination to never give up, it always reminds me of you sensei." Minato stated.
"Really?" Jiraiya cheerfully asked.
"Anyway, I've been thinking. I really hope that my soon to be born child will grow up to be an amazing shinobi like the main character in your book, so with your permission, I would like to name my son after him." Minato stated, much to his sensei's complete surprise.
"You, what? Are you sure you wanna do that, I mean I randomly came up with it from eating ramen." Jiraiya stated, feeling anxious about this choice.
"Naruto." A feminine voice was heard. from the kitchen appeared Kushina, with a warm smile and her right hand over her impregnated stomach.
"I think it's wonderful name." She stated as she rubbed her stomach.
"Oh wow, so I guess that would make me his godfather then. You sure about all of this?" Jiraiya asked them with a grin and a hand behind his head.
"Of course Jiraiya. You are my sensei, and a great shinobi with true talent. There no one else I'd rather have." Minato stated, giving him the same sense of surprise from earlier.
Jiraiya graciously accepted, and would soon become a teacher once again in the near future, following his destiny.
...
If it wasn't obvious(doubtful), the reveal of the prophecy was the hint that I mentioned in the beginning, and I also took the opportunity to make it more metaphorical for more plot, and also to make you all guess who's who based on the description of the three, though the first one is easy.
Next chapter is when the action begins.
