Eight out of Nine little Genin

Disclaimer: Naruto Belongs to Kishimoto

Author's notes: since we know now what the 9 beasts are and have some ideas of what they could do… I thought I'd mix a bit up, and make a world where the first Hokage never gave away the beasts he'd subdued, and instead they'd been waiting sealed up in Konoha, known only to the Hokages… This leading Minato to use their power to try and end the threat of the tailed beasts once and for all.

Only Shukaku, the one tailed tanuki wasn't bound in Konoha, because he'd already been captured by Suna. (That, and I wanted to leave Gaara as he was, heh)

-Konoha-

Minato Namikaze looked around him at the various clan heads, each with a child bundled in their arms, save for the stone faced defiance of the Uchiha as he spoke. "Very well, is everyone aware of what needs to be done?"

At the ring of affirmatives that rose around him, he offered a final, sad, hopeful smile to the group. "I thank you, for this. I wish there was another way… All I ask, is that you look after my son, let him and your children, be known as the heroes they truly are."

"Minato…" Jiraiya looked at his student, the pain in his eyes as he met his student's brilliant and determined blue gaze. "Let me do this. Don't make your son grow up without his father."

"He will have his family, Jiraiya-sensei." Minato smiled back at his teacher, even as the roar of the last free, and greatest of the tailed beasts shook the earth itself. "And you know, I'm the only one who can do this. I will ask that no one give up what I myself am not willing to."

"Minato…" The sage attempted to protest once more, ache in his heart to see young man he'd known since he was a boy walk so willingly to his death.

"When the time comes, teach him, Jiraiya-sensei." Minato bit his thumb, and smiled the smile of the damned back at his teacher. "Let him know, I'm sorry for placing this burden on him, and that in spite of everything, I loved him so very much."

Jiraiya stood there, rooted into place as Gamabunta appeared a moment later, carrying the Fourth Hokage to his final battle, as seven glows appeared surrounding the enraged form of the mightiest of the bijuu. He watched, unwavering as the might seven tailed beasts was used to drain away the strength of the fox. As finally, defeated, the fox collapsed into a weakened exhaustion, unable to even move, the demonic chakra of the remaining tailed beasts faded just as the fox's head.

It was then, he saw it the grim figure of the Death God hovering behind his student, obscuring him from view as the deal was struck. Eight glows erupted around the forest, as the deal was sealed, and in an pulse of power, the form of the fox faded into nothingness, as the cries of eight young children filled the air. Eight new seals, pulsed into existence on the stomachs of eight young children, none of them even a year old.

Inoichi Yamanaka struggled with himself as he lifted his daughter Ino into his arms, and held her comfortingly against his chest, trying to ignore how his daughter had just become the final vessel of the two tailed cat.

Hizashi Hyuuga placed his hand on his brother's shoulder as he watched the normally stoic, unshakable Hiashi, openly cry as he stroked the cheek of his daughter Hinata, now bound to the three tailed turtle.

Shikaku Nara sighed as he looked down at his son, Shikamaru, human container of the four tailed monkey, and muttered with a slight smile about how troublesome it would be, as he picked his son up into his arms.

Tsume Inuzuka grinned down at her son, Kiba and smiled as she felt the boy grip, tightly onto her finger, refusing to let go as she lifted him up into her arms, ignoring the seal that marked him as the prison of the five tailed dolphin horse.

Arashi Haruno stared down at the honor and burden that had been granted to his clan after the Uchiha had flat out refused to take part in the ritual to bind eight of the nine forever to the mortal coil, and carefully wiped away the slight trail of drool his daughter, Sakura, now the vessel of the six tailed slug made.

Shibi Aburame stoically studied how his son's hive reacted to the infusion of the seven tailed beetle's power, lightly brushing his fingers against the boy's stomach, before he picked him up into his arms. Shino would grow up to honor the sacrifice their Hokage had made, and protect his village and his clan.

Chouzo Akimichi softly brushed his fingers against the fat cheeks of his son, Chouji and smiled wistfully as the vessel of the eight tailed ox tried to grab hold of his finger and stuff it into his eager mouth.

And last, a solemn Gamabunta bowed his head to Jiraiya, allowing the white haired sage to retrieve both the body of his beloved student, and his godson, Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, the bearer of the burden of the nine tailed fox. As he glanced up at the full moon over head, the various nin who had taken part of the ritual surrounded him from all sides, each with a solemn look on their faces.

"No one must know the truth of what happened here tonight." Hiashi spoke up, his eyes still glistening with tears as he held his daughter close. "Not the full truth and its implications. Not of the involvement of our children. Not the burden they bear for our village."

There was a slow murmur of approval rippling through them, as each parent gave a slow, quiet nod of understanding. Still staring up at the moon over head, Jiraiya spoke up in a soft, haunted tone. "They are Minato's legacy. When the time comes, when they are strong enough, we can tell the truth of what happened here this night. But, we must watch over these children, and protect them, nurture them, and teach them. Do you agree, to treat each of these children, as if they were your own?"

Murmured vows of approval rippled through the group, as each nodded his or her head in acceptance. Bowing softly to them, Jiraiya cradled the still crying babe in his arms before speaking softly to the group. "Then, lets be off, to tell them of how the Hokage slew the greatest of the tailed beasts."

Unfortunately, the Uchiha had already spread the Hokage's plan to the enough of the ninja and civilian populace, that the instant the group returned to the city gates, hard, mistrusting eyes met them, save for one quiet boy, who looked up at Jiraiya and the child in his arms. In the haunted black eyes of Itachi Uchiha, Jiraiya heard a question that went at first unspoken. For a moment, a silence hung between the two, before at last the boy would speak in a soft voice no other could overhear.

"My father told me that the Hokage planned to sacrifice his life to seal away the tailed beasts." Itachi quietly met the sage's eyes as he asked a simple question. "Is that true?"

"Yes." Jiraiya spoke softly as he looked around at the fear and coldness the people of the village directed towards the child in his arms. "He told more than just you."

"Yes." Itachi agreed quietly as he slowly looked to each of the clans carrying a child, before looking back at Jiraiya. "Why isn't there an Uchiha?"

"Your father refused." Jiraiya said in truth, anger flashing unbidden in his eyes as he held his godson more tightly in his arms. "And it would seem has defied the last wishes of our Hokage for his own pride."

"The Hokage wanted peace, didn't he." Itachi's voice was almost beyond what could be heard, before he looked up with eyes that knew more than any child should. "My clan is going to pay for what they've done, aren't they."

"Yes." Jiraiya said simply and honestly to the boy in front of him.

"May I make a request?" The boy asked, his eyes losing their mask for a moment, looking up, pleading to the sannin. "Please… don't kill my brother. Please, don't kill Sasuke."

"Why do you think he might die?" They both knew the answer, but Jiraiya fought against the notion that this mere child could be so solemn and knowing about the truth.

"My clan has committed treason." Itachi said simply as he lowered his head and kneeled, before the sannin. "So all I can ask, if for you to spare my brother the fate my clan has earned. Let my life wash away the stain of my clan's sin from him."

"Stand up, child." Jiraiya's voice was thick with emotion, almost horse as he forced the words past his lips as he stared in shame at the boy. "What is your name?"

"I am Itachi." The boy looked up with resigned black eyes into the sannin's own, quietly waiting for a death. "Will you spare my brother?"

"Itachi…" Jiraiya kneeled down and looked directly into the boy's eyes. "I will tell you something, not even your father knows, that you can never speak to anyone but those of us that already know. Understood?"

A solemn nod was given by the child, as he looked back at the man, before looking down at the bundle in his arms as the man continued. "This is Naruto Uzumaki. The son of our Hokage, and the boy who holds the demon fox prisoner."

Itachi's eyes widened in shocked surprise as he looked down at the fragile looking baby in the sage's arms. Gently reaching out, almost fearfully, he placed a trembling hand on the boy's whiskered cheeks before drawing it back as he looked once more into Jiraiya's eyes. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because, little Itachi… Because of your father, he is going to be hated and shunned by fools who will see him as nothing more than the embodiment of the fox itself." Jiraiya said with a soft, haunted look in his eyes. "And he will need friends, and people to look out for him. Tell me, Itachi, are you willing to help protect the legacy of our Hokage?"

"Yes." Was the only response the boy could make as he looked back into Jiraiya's knowing eyes. Standing again, the sannin cradled Naruto carefully in one arm, before he took hold of Itachi's hand, and lead the grim procession towards the Hokage's tower.