"So there you are, Kakashi…" One Hatake Kakashi was knocked back to reality as the current sensei of one of his former Genin got his attention jumping from a tree branch in an alleyway crowded by just the two. The man in front of Kakashi dusted himself off when he stood at his full height.

"Jiraiya-sama? What are you doing here?" Kakashi asked the man, very much confused, on why he had returned to the village six months before anyone had planned, getting a tilt of the head and a snort from the Senin.

Jiraiya looked at Kakashi as if examining him, from the little that he had pried from the new Naruto on the trip back made it clear that Kakashi was not his Genin sensei. From how he acted to his sudden 'popularity' he wasn't sure, but he could confirm his suspicion from his time with their Naruto. 'You weren't the most diligent teacher, were you?' He thought, even at the basic level students tended to inherit qualities and traits from their superiors, and none of what he saw from Naruto that was already present in the new Naruto could be attributed to Kakashi as a whole the new Naruto seemed closer to how he saw Minato when he was younger than anyone else. "Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" He asked, ruling out Kakashi as the teacher of the new Naruto in his head only leaving two active Jonin.

"Well…" Kakashi began. "We were not expecting you two back for another six months." Kakashi answered confused as to why his Genin sensei and his student's teacher was in front of him.

The other man shrugged before answering. "Apparently I am a busy man these days, me and Hime have found ourselves in a bit of a bind, and it seems that Naruto is more than well equipped to take care of himself." Jiraiya spoke examining the other man, hoping to see what he thinks to be not found false.

"Are you sure? From what I've seen from when he was younger that is hard to believe."

Jiraiya laughed at Kakashi's question thinking to both Narutos, at this point, both were at Kage level and if it came down to a one-on-one although the one he had trained would have trouble either of them would put up a fight against any opponent he could put in front of the two. "You don't need to worry about that Kakashi. The boy is a genius in the making, and might I add that the boy has a neck for fuinjutsu and taijutsu. The boy has mastered three taijutsu styles not taught in the academy and he has probably mastered fuinjutsu to a level that I can not imagine yet." He paused thinking of Naruto's earlier transformation to his new student, and the seal on the transformation's forehead. "He might have accomplished things that I could learn from."

Kakashi looked skeptical at first but had enough evidence against his line of thinking to believe what the Senin said to be true. "If you say so. By the way, Jiraiya-sama..." He paused, getting the older gentleman's attention.

"What is it?"

"Do you need something from me?" The younger man asked.

"Right..." Jiraiya began now remembering why he had tracked the Jonin down. "I am leaving my students in your and Asuma's care on your next mission." The man said proudly.

Kakashi looked at Jiraiya flabbergasted. "What?" He questioned. He was not aware that the Senin and Naruto were even in the village, let alone that the master of his teacher and student had another who would be joining him on his next mission.

"Hime's going to have yours and Asuma's former Genin join in a mission to Sunagakure to 'Protect' the Kazekage from the Akatsuki." Jiraiya said matter-of-fact. It took some time on his part to confirm but the visitor Naruto was right on the Ryo about every Jinchūriki's whereabouts. He found it odd that he did not want to save all that remained because it would tip off the Akatsuki and he could only save key members that were below a certain age. When he questioned it Naruto gave a truly chilling answer. He said that he would like at least the younger generation of Jinchūriki to at least live long lives, that is why he had asked the Hokage that question. He had run into the Nanabi's Jinchūriki Fu and warned her of the Akatsuki's plan, giving her the option to stay with them or try her luck with another Jinchūriki Roshi, and much to Tsunade's dismay her choice was clear. "You will be debriefed later, but in any case, look after them for your mission. Naruto might not need it but that Yamanaka girl was green, to say the least."

Now Kakashi was confused, he was going on a mission, he was hopeful to lead with fellow Jonin Asuma, and both Ino and Naruto were going to be on it along with their Genin squads, Genin squads with three of the Senin's students. 'Yep... Whatever this mission truly is... It's going to be interesting.' Kakashi thought, going over all of the information that he had just landed from this interaction. "Alright, is Naruto in the village? I would like to test him for myself before too long." Kakashi asked, intrigued by the Senin's praise of Naruto.

"In a sense..." Jiraiya started, thinking of a way to make sure Kakashi was prepared for the off-world Naruto, choosing to give the man a straightforward answer. "He is far different from the Naruto you knew, Kakashi... Don't let your guard down even for a second."

The Senin warning was taken seriously as it was given, no matter what he thought of Naruto's abilities Kakashi knew better than to disregard the thoughts of the man, if he said that the two and half years away were that fruitful then who was he to argue? "You think that Naruto has improved that much in such a short time?" He questioned trying to make sure.

"You are free to do what you want…" The Senin started, chuckling. "If you want to go anywhere with him or any of my students you are going to have to push them both. And if you don't use that eye of yours to its fullest then you shouldn't bother to test him at all." Jiraiya insinuated as he looked Kakashi over his vision, stopping over the eye Kakashi was covering under the Konoha headband and then at the package that was in the Jonin's grasp. "He is going to be a Chunin if Hime likes his progress after all."

Kakashi's uncovered eye went wide at the statement, Naruto, the knuckle-headed ball of energy, was at the level that Mangekyō needed to properly test the boy's abilities. A shocking sensation went down his spine as his entire body tingled. 'There was no way that Naruto could accomplish that in such a short period.' He thought, thinking of when he was a Genin, that he was considered a prodigy himself, but this… This was unreal to him. With a deathly sick expression, he looked at the Senin once more to confirm the facts. "Are you serious?"

Jiraiya looked down to the palm of his hand and flexed his hand, as a grin entered his face. 'I can't take back the past, Minato. But seeing another possibility, I hope you are not angry for not being there for him. I am sure wherever your Naruto is… he is in a better place that will treat him with the respect we wanted for him. And hopefully, you can watch over this version of him too.' He thought looking back at Kakashi with a measured expression. "One hundred percent, Naruto has grown beyond what I can teach him, or at least not as a man." He chuckled at the way that Naruto talked to him, of course he offered him the respect that he was afforded as someone of his stature… but unlike with Roshi and Fu he wasn't watching the way he spoke despite the casualness in his speech he does not trust him, at least not like he does Tsunade.

"Alright, I will consider it."

Jiraiya clapped and got Kakashi's attention. "Alright, then I will see you tomorrow morning. Bright and early. I will let Hime tell her pink-haired student so you can see their progress for yourself..." He said turning to leave. Kakashi made a noise as if he had wanted to protest but Jiraiya cut him off. "If you are not there on time I might as well spoil that for you." He finished, not falling out of step.

"You wouldn't..."

"The thing about Menma is..." The man chuckled watching Kakashi bring his hands, package and all, to his ears.

Kakashi heard the man laugh, his face pale. "Oh, you are evil." Kakashi spoke, putting his hands down.

"To obtain immortality from such activities, is also like scooping the moon from the water… When the moon is high in the sky, its reflection is in the water. Although it is visible therein, you cannot scoop it out or catch hold of it, for it is but an illusion."

A/N: The rescue Gaara arc is a go... Some fine tuning to compensate for a whole new character that should have probably stayed 'dead' has to be done but what do we know. Apparently (AU)Naruto needs a companion while his here like that's going to turn out ok(Not mentioning why)... So bare with us and the fake Uzu...