Ocotber 10th - Naruto's sixth brithday

Another year has passed and it was as uneventful as ever. Well for most of the year. After discovering that Naruto had the famed bloodline of the Shodaime, Wood-Release, the adults were a little bit worried for the young blond.

The Hokage and his students knew how dangerous it was for Naruto to have his ancestors' bloodline. Wood-Release is widely considered to be one, if not the strongest bloodline in the history of the shinobi world. If people like the old warhawk Danzo or worse the rogue sannin Orochimaru found out that Naruto not only existed but also possessed the famed bloodline. One could only imagine how dangerous the situation for Naruto was if his existence were discovered, not considering Iwagakure and Kumogakure or that group Jiraiya discovered.

Both Kakashi and Shizune were also worried for the young blond. Both saw Naruto as their little brother and wanted him to be safe. Kakashi was especially worried for Iwa. Naruto would have a deathmark on him simply because he was his sensei's son, Wood-Release would only put a larger target onto his back.

Naruto had a different reaction to his bloodline than his family did. He was even more awesome than he thought. Not only was he an Uzumaki and had a water affinity comparable to his uncle Tobiarama's, he also had something that connected him to his grandpa Hashirama. He was going to become the greatest Hokage and nothing could change his mind about that. Naruto couldn't wait to start his training to master Wood-Release.

Just to have his dreams crushed. His surrogate grandfather absolutely forbade him to use his bloodline unless it was an emergency. They didn't know if him using the bloodline could be felt outside of the barrier Jiraiya constructed around the cottage 5 years ago. Or how dangerous it was for Naruto to use it while being so young. His bloodline proved itself to be far more potent than a certain Anbu's was. Naruto had to wait till he moved to Konoha to start training his Wood-Release.

At first the young Uzumaki was sad. Sad and angry. Why couldn't the old man understand that his bloodline was a part of him. Why couldn't he learn how to use it to become Hokage? Was he so scared that he would take the hat from him?

But the professor wasn't finished as he instructed Jiraiya something. Something that made all the anger Naruto had towards Hiruzen disappear instantly. He commanded the toad sage, much to the complaint of Tsunade and Shizune, to increase Naruto's training. He was to learn how to use genjutsu, taijutsu and basic ninjutsu. Nothing was prohibited now. Naruto needed to be strong to protect himself.

Safe to say Naruto improved at an incredible rate. Let's just say that if he were in Konoha and would have attended the academy early, there is a good chance at him being able to graduate already.

"He truly improved far more than I expected. You outdid yourself Jiraiya," the old man Hokage told his former student. He currently was sitting with his two old students on the veranda of Tsunade's cottage watching the young blond "sparring" with Kakashi.

"Well he is probably even more talented than Minato was and his dedication matches Kushina's," the toad Sage replied, "Not to mention how good of a teacher I am. Jiraiya, the teacher of two Hokage's, has a nice ring to it. He might have been able to graduate by now, if we would have been in Konoha."

"Absolutely not," Tsunade cut in, "my little Naru-Chan is going to graduate when he is thirteen. We aren't at war so there is no reason to cut his childhood shorter than it already is."

"Of course Tsunade. I believe Jiraiya just wanted to point out that Naruto is a prodigy. But there is something I do wonder," her old sensei answered while gazing towards a tree where Shizune and another figure watched Kakashi and Naruto "spar", "how come that when I arrived another child would be here."

The child in question was a young girl of around Naruto's age. She had medium black hair with two bangs framing her face with chocolate brown eyes. She wore a simple short blue kimono. Despite her young age, one could predict that she would one day become quite the beauty.

She currently sat beside Shizune, a book about medical herbs in her lap, from where the two watched how Kakashi played with Naruto. You couldn't call it anything else since Kakashi had his trusty orange book in one hand and the other one in his pants. The young Anbu didn't even try. Despite that the young girl still rooted for her first and only friend, her own personal sun that was called Naruto. This was Haku of the Yuki Clan, an orphan from the land of water and victim of bloodline purges.

Tsunade just pointly looked at her old teammates who chuckled nervously. "Well it happened around two months ago sensei," the toad sage started his tale…

Flashback - August 2nd, edges of the Land of Water - A tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

We find our lovable pervert in the snowy outskirts of the Land of Water. Now you might ask yourself, why the famed shinobi was on the outskirts of this country. The answer is relatively simple. The Yondaime Mizukage Yagura. According to his contacts, the young Mizukage was getting worse every single day.

And his contact was right. Yagura was becoming a bigger tyrant every single day. He wondered how this young man, a young man his sensei and him believed to be able to change the course of the village hidden mist. Both hoped for an end of the "Bloody Mist" era and a potential ally against Iwagakure and Kumogakure.

But both were wrong and Yagura, shortly after his initiation, became even worse than the Sandaime Mizukage. He began to mistreat the civil part of his village, made the Bloodline user's a scapegoat for any of the problems Kiri had which reinforced the hatred towards those with one.

All in all he was a tyrant, as matter of fact the biggest tyrant in the history of the elemental nations. And that man is paranoid. If anyone but Jiraiya would have attempted to infiltrate the village, they would have been easily captured. But then again he was the legendary Toad Sage. There wasn't a village he couldn't infiltrate.

Now getting outside of the village was far more difficult. Zabuza Momochi, "The Demon of the hidden Mist", a member of the legendary "7 Swordsman of the Mist", tried to assassinate the Mizukage. If he would have known of that plot, Jiraiya might have assisted the assassin in his mission. But then the question would be, if Zabuza, a man that killed off an entire class of graduating students by himself, would be a better choice at Mizukage?

Well after Zabuza failed and somehow escaped the village, security was increased by tenfold. If it weren't for his toads, the sannin would most certainly be caught.

So after getting outside of Kiri, Jiraiya decided to head north, take a boat to the Land of Fire and visit his student. He wondered how far the little guy would have gotten with this new jutsu he taught him. He didn't expect Naruto to be able to use the jutsu, but it was Naruto and nothing is impossible for the young blond.

Now you might wonder why the old man was heading north and not towards a port in the south? Well the official answer was that Jiraiya would have a safer passage from that port. The real reason was more Jiraiya-like. On the way to the port was a vacation spot with a hot spring and in his mind he more than deserved some research.

Well his visit was what you would expect. He arrived, he peeked, he got discovered and he ran away. Nothing unusual. And this is where we're currently in our story.

'Thank god I got away. That was way too close for comfort. Maybe I should have gotten hit. I bet Tsunade would have loved to hear my story of how I rescued a girl from some pedophiles,' the old pervert thought somewhat lecherously. He didn't know that he would do exactly that.

He currently was in the port city on his way to board his ship to the Land of Fire when his sharp shinobi sense picked something worrisome up in that side street. He picked up the soft cries of a young girl.

That was something that made the Toad Sage's blood boil. There was nothing more that he despised than child abusers. So his mind was made up and went to investigate the cries. And what he saw at the end of the street, made the toad sage angry.

A small, malnourished girl was pushed into a corner, while staring at two slimy men with a mixed look of fear and hopelessness. "She definitely is going to bring a large sum for the boss," the smaller one of the two man said. "You think Gato is going to let us have some fun with her when she is a little older. I will gladly help to train her," the other continued while chuckling menacingly.

But that was the last thing he did as Jiraiya snapped his neck from behind. Before his fellow thug could even utter a word, the sage rammed a kunai through his neck. Both men were instantly dead. The girl, despite being saved by the strange looking man, was even more scared now.

Jiraiya turned his attention to the young girl. She looked to be living on the street. Her far too large shirt was dirty, and her old pants had several holes. Once he saw how she looked at him, he regretted how he handled the thugs. I lowered himself to her level while smiling at her "Are you alright?"

There was no response from her. 'Of course,' he thought, 'she is scared of me.' "It's okay girl. I'm not going to hurt you. You are safe now."

The only response he got was the growling of her stomach. 'Of course. The poor girl must have not eaten in days.' The Toad Sage pulled out some bread he bought earlier and offered it to her. "You might be hungry. Here take some from me."

The young girl was still scared of the tall man, how could she not be. He straight up killed the two men that bothered her. But the kind smile the man gave her reminded her of that man, at least before he thought of her as a monster. In the end her stomach won the inner debate and she took the offered food. It tasted heavily. Of course it did. The last time she didn't have something that wasn't from a garbage can, was around two weeks ago.

After she finished she looked at the old man, who still smiled at her. Maybe she could trust him. "Thank you sir," her tiny voice thanked Jiraiya. "Your welcome little one," he replied. "So what is your name girl?" Jiraiya kindly asked. "Haku," the now named Haku replied.

"Hello Haku. My name is Jiraiya the Gallant. So what tell me, what does a small girl like you do in an area like this. Shouldn't you be with parents?" he asked her. Jiraiya guessed that she was an orphan but you never knew.

"They're dead sir," Haku answered in a sad word. "I'm all alone now."

"And you don't have anyone else?"

No response came from her and Jiraiya got his answer. She was definitely an orphan and was all alone in the world. He felt for her, he truly did. After all Jiraiya knew how it was growing up without parents. The world was a cruel place.

"And even if I did have someone, no one would want a monster like me," she looked like there wasn't any hope left for her, "A monster with cursed blood like mine," she continued while tearing up.

Jiraiya knew what she meant with "cursed blood". 'She has a bloodline,' and everything made sense to him. But then a certain thought hit his mind. 'Naruto could have been like her, if Tsunade hadn't taken him in,' he shockingly thought. He made the only sensible thing he could do in his mind. He pulled the poor girl in a hug. And Haku, after the initial shock, let the tears flow.

"You aren't a monster my girl," Jiraiya soothingly said in her ear, "you are a special girl."

"I am?" "Yes. So what can you do that made people consider you a monster?", the sannin kindly asked.

"I can turn water into ice," came her reply. Jiraiya couldn't believe it. He thought that the Yuki Clan died out during the third world war and now he found a young girl possessing the old bloodline.

"You are even more special than I thought Haku. You have the Ice-Release, a bloodline that once belonged to the Yuki Clan," Jiraiya answered.

"I have a Clan. A family that can do what I can?", she asked with some excitement and hope. Maybe she had a family left, a family that didn't think of her as a monster. "Sadly they died out during the last war," Jiraiya answered her sadly, hating to crush her hopes.

Seeing how her face fell, the sage quickly continued "But don't worry. I'm not going to let you be alone. I'm a shinobi from Konohagakure, it's a shinobi village located in the Land of Fire. Why don't you come with me?", he asked her. Jiraiya saw how Naruto could have been if he would have ran away from his duties as a godfather, "I can train you to become a ninja if you want."

Haku couldn't believe it. This man saved her from being kidnapped, gave her food, reassured her that she wasn't a monster and now asked her to accompany him. She broke down crying tears of joy. "I go with you master Jiraiya. Thank you. Thank you so much."

Jiraiya just smiled at her. Let her cry her tears of joy. He didn't intend her to accompany him, it would be too dangerous to take her along. But he also didn't plan to take her to Konoha. He planned to take her to Tsunade. He was sure to be able to convince his former teammate to take care of the young Yuki. Tsunade would take pity in the girl. If that alone wouldn't convince the slug sannin, Haku would also serve as a friend for Naruto. Tsunade expressed her worries that Naruto didn't have someone around his age to play with.

"Come Haku. We have to catch a ship to the Land of Fire. We should be going"

Haku happily smiled and nodded. With that the old man and the young girl walked towards the port, intending to board the ship. Her new life will start today, a life where she would prove that she wasn't a monster.

Unknown to the two, a large man with a butcher knife-like sword watched the pair move towards the port. Zabuza Momochi of course recognised the Toad Sage. He was kinda mad that Jiraiya got to the girl first, a girl with similar eyes to his. He became even madder when he realised that the girl had the rare Ice-Release bloodline. She could have been a fine tool for him.

But Zabuza was no fool. Jiraiya of the Sannin was widely considered to be one, if not the strongest shinobi in the world right now. He had not a chance at defeating the man and taking the girl for himself, especially after he failed his assasination attempt on that bastard Yagura.

So he let them leave, the small human part of the demon hoped that the girl would have a happier life then him. Shaking his head to banish his weakness away, the weakness, caused by a certain auburn haired beauty, that made him try the coup. He had to meet up with Ameyuri and Raiga to plan their next moves.

Back in the present

"After we arrived in the county, I immediately brought her here," Jiraiya finished his tale. He remembers how the young girl was sad and a little bit angry at him, after he told her that his old teammate Tsunade would watch over her. But after he told her about his godson, someone who also had a bloodline like her, she brightened up at the chance to meet someone with the same burden as her.

"I didn't expect you to take another child in your care, Tsunade. But I must admit that motherhood serves you my dear," Sarutobi stated. The young girl was a true sweetheart. That he could already tell with his limited experience with her. He still remembers Haku clutching onto Naruto when he and Kaksashi arrived.

"Blame the pervert for that. He played on the fact that Naru-Chan made me soft. And it's not like I could turn her away. Leave her with Jiraiya and the girl would be scarred for life," Tsunade answered her sensei. She also ignored her former teammates rambling about no respect, and the fact that he was super pervert, "And in the village there is no telling what your former teammates would try to do with a bloodline like hers."

Sarutobi just nodded. His teammates didn't share his pacifistic views. He was sure that they would support Danzo, who surely would try to turn the young girl into an emotionless weapon. He smiled at the scene in front of him. Naruto was getting frustrated that Kakashi wouldn't take him seriously in their spar. He also noticed the book in Haku's lap "Medical Herbs? Is she interested in medical ninjutsu?"

"Yes. After I healed a bruise of Jiraiya, she asked me if I could teach her that. I agreed. I can't let the pervert be in charge of her training. There is no saying what he might try," Tsunade told her sensei, while ignoring the semi-hurt look Jiraiya sent her. Just because he giggled perversely at the possible research he could do on his student and Haku. He would of course wait till they were older. Who did Tsunade think he was? Orochimaru?

"That's a good idea Tsunade. The Yuki Clan naturally have great chakra control. And maybe you can train a kunoichi, who can one day take your place as an idol for young hopeful girls," the old man answered.

By now Kakashi and Naruto finished their "spar". Naruto couldn't even hit Kakashi a single time. To make matters worse, his sister Shizune, with a slight blush on her face fussed over Kakashi. Asking him if he was hurt. 'I might be hurt too you know,' Naruto thought with jealousy.

"It's not good to be jealous Naruto," Haku's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "It's not that Haku," Naruto answered, "Kakashi is my big brother, not Zune's."

"Ara, am I not enough for you?" Haku teased him in a fake sad voice. "No! You're the best Haku. My first real friend," He answered quickly.

"Come Naruto," Haku started while taking her book off her lap, making place for his head, "you earned some rest." Naruto moved over to Haku, dropping his head onto her leg and sighing happily when Haku started to run her hands through his hair. Jiraiya was right, lap pillows truly felt like heaven.

"Medical Herbs?" Naruto asked his friend, "you want to become a medic like grandma?" "Someone has to take care of your injuries when you are Hokage."

"I'm sure that you will become a great medic Haku. The greatest Medic in the world like grandma."

"I hope so Naruto," Haku happily voiced her thoughts. Naruto was her personal sun. He brought her out of the depression she felt after Master Jiraiya left her in Master Tsunade's care. Her thoughts turned to kind yet stern sannin and her kind and helpful student. Both were nice to her, as nice as her mother had been. While she turned her gaze towards the Senju cottage, there were only three words on her mind, 'I am home.'

AN: And that's it for this chapter. So Haku doesn't end up with Zabuza but instead becomes a companion of Naruto and student of Tsunade. I hope somewhat wrote Jiraiya realistically, if he would have met Haku. I mean we all know that he is badass, but I also picture him as good man who wouldn't let an orphan on the street's, especially after taking responsibility for Naruto.

So thank you for reading, stay tuned and till next time.