Note: This is an idea I've had for a while. I didn't want to start a new story when I've got a fair few that still need completion, but as I've got mental blocks as far as those go and update them when inspiration strikes, I figured 'why the hell not?'

So essentially the story goes that Tsunade was never offered the role of Hokage, someone else accepted and I think by the title it is obvious whom that was. It begins after the sound/sand invasion arc.

I hope you all like it; please let me know what you all think.

Disclaimer: I neither own nor to I get paid for Naruto or any of its characters. While any possible OC's are mine, I see no money for them either. This remains the intellectual property of Kishimoto-sama.

Ero-Kage

Chapter One: End of an Era

He laughed, longer and harder than he had in years, especially considering the past few days.

Jiraiya had just seen so much mindless destruction of his beloved village at the hands of someone he'd once counts his best friend.

He'd buried his old teacher, the closest thing he'd ever had to a father, also taken by that damned hebi-teme.

And he inadvertently acquired a new apprentice, damn kid was extremely annoying and though he may have owed it to Minato his nerves were constantly frayed at the hands of the young blond boy.

Never mind the potential the gaki had, he wished that he had just a little bit of his fathers' self-control.

And now he'd just heard the funniest thing he'd ever heard, all the tension and sorrow of the last month was gone, if only for a moment.

"Wait…" he gasped for breath as he laughed in the faces of two extremely annoyed looking elders. "Wait a second, what did you say?"

Mitokado Homura sighed, a slight anger flashed across his aged face at the light-hearted way that the younger man took the news…as if it was a joke. He adjusted his glasses and spoke in a clipped tone, "since Sarutobi is gone, we need a successor."

Utatane Koharu spoke in her soft yet oddly firm tone, "since Hiruzen had not named a successor, it falls on the elders to select a replacement. The Diamyo also agrees, you are the best choice, Jiraiya."

"I can think of one person right of the bat who would be good, Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said still chuckling.

The elders seemed to consider it, then Koharu spoke, "while she might make a good replacement, she has pretty much abandoned the village. We'd just as soon consider Orochimaru."

Jiraiya's mirth was gone instantly; "hey now that is pushing it a bit far, Tsunade may not want to return but to lump her in with the teme…"

Homura nodded, "you just said it, she does not want anything to do with the village. While she may not attack us as Orochimaru has, it would take a lot to convince her to return and more than that take the position that she wants even less to do with than the village itself."

"But what if I can find her," Jiraiya suggested. "What if I can convince her?"

Homura shook his head, "she would still not be considered. You alone, of the three Sannin, have been truly loyal to the village. You alone return and live your life to protect the village and its people."

Koharu nodded in agreement, "you saved countless lives in the assault, the people speak of you alone in the reverence deserving of the title of Hokage and Sannin. Orochimaru is a traitor, and Tsunade is far too selfish to do the things that you have done for Konoha."

Jiraiya nodded at that, it made a depressing amount of sense. But he had another argument, "what about my spy network? There are things happening, as I know you are aware, that need to be closely watched."

The elders agreed to that, "You will have to choose a replacement, someone who will be capable of continuing on in your place…perhaps Hatake Kakashi?" Koharu suggested.

Jiraiya shrugged, "well, Minato always spoke highly of the kid, and I know that he would be more than capable of it. Despite the fact that he has a Genin team to take care of." He seemed to consider something, "Ok, I will do it…" the elders brightened, "on a couple of conditions."

"Such as?" Homura intoned.

"First, I want to take on an apprentice…officially," He replied.

The elders were well aware of whom the Sannin had been teaching the past month, "I assume you mean Uzumaki?" Koharu asked.

"Yes, is that a problem?" Jiraiya asked sharply.

"Not really," Homaru said. "May we ask why though?'

"He is an interesting brat, and I want to keep a personal eye on him considering the things happening outside the village," Jiraiya shrugged.

"Perhaps a good idea," Koharu conceded. "And the other?"

"I need a month, I need to go out and find Tsunade and convince her to return."

"But we just said that she would not be considered," Koharu started, only to be cut off.

"I know what you said," Jiraiya said. "I want her back in the village for other reasons. Tsunade is and will always be the best medic-nin the village has ever produced. I want to institute the program of having a medic on each team that she tried for in the past. I always thought that was a good idea. And who better to head the program?"

"Do you really think that you can convince her?" Homura asked dubiously.

"You better hope I can," Jiraiya said. "Because if I can't even convince my childhood friend and teammate of this, then I don't deserve the title and will not accept it. Then you will have to find another candidate."

The elders shared a quick glance, and seemed to communicate silently. "Very well," Homaru consented. "Do what you must, but be back within a month's time. We will keep things in order until then."

"Good," Jiraiya smiled. "Oh, and I'll be taking Naruto with me, being my new apprentice and all."

"Are you sure that wise?" Koharu asked. "After what you said is out there, looking for him?"

"They know that he is in the village," Jiraiya answered. "I can keep him safe and hidden out there perfectly well."

He left without giving them a chance at further dispute.

OoOoO

Naruto was just getting home after some training, he felt so mentally fried from the past few days he just needed to get his mind off his current thoughts.

The old man was gone, one of the few people who was actually nice to him, and he could almost count them on one hand, was dead.

He could almost count all the people who were nice to him on one hand, Iruka-sensei of course. Old man Ichiraku and Ayame were great people too. Kakashi-sensei was ok. Sakura-chan was great of course (though her punches hurt) and Sasuke was a teme.

Naruto sighed as he made his way to his bed and flopped down on it, he really didn't have that many precious people that he could afford to lose them. He blankly stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts turning to the Chunin exams that brought and end to the old mans life.

He supposed he gained a couple new precious people, in ero-sannin and Hinata.

The old pervert was annoying, but he did help him out a lot.

And Hinata, he never gave her any thought before, and she was kinda weird, but…

He smiled a bit at her kindness, that balm was amazing and her encouraging words just a few days ago were almost driven out of his mind because of the situation. But he hoped that she did see him kick Neji's ass for her. He made a mental note to ask her if she did see it.

He chuckled a bit at the thought, it felt good to laugh after the loss the village had…that he had.

Before his thoughts could turn back to sorrow there was a knock at the door. Grumbling, he stood and slouched to the door. He opened it quickly, "Yeah, what do you…"

His words died when he saw the hall was empty, he stuck his head out and looked either way. He shrugged at the lack of people there, and tried to put it from his mind, though wondering whom it was that messed with him.

He closed the door and turned back, only to find himself looking at Jiraiya sitting on his bed with a grin on his face. Naruto jumped and shouted out, "What the hell are you doing ero-sannin!?"

The older mans eye twitched, "haven't I told you not to call me that, gaki?"

Naruto shrugged, "I think it fits. So why are you here? Was that you at the door?"

Jiraiya gave a non-committal grunt, "and if it was?" he questioned.

Naruto seethed a bit at the trick, though grudgingly acknowledged the masterful way the simple prank was pulled.

Jiraiya stood up and began to walk out, "pack your things, we have a mission Gaki. The village needs a new Hokage and we are going to find a friend of mine before it can have it, and unfortunately they are out of the village at the moment."

Naruto was immediately running around and throwing random cloths and other goods into his traveling pack, "so we are going to bring the next Hokage to Konoha?" he asked excitedly. This was finally something constructive that he could do, something to keep him occupied, and of course the village would need his awesome skills in order to bring he next Hokage back.

"Yeah, sure, why not?" Jiraiya muttered. "Just be at the north gate in an hour, got it?"