Mist over Troubled Waters

I do not own Naruto in any way shape or form.

Hello readers really quick before I begin here. Ahem, the idea for this story's premise and general idea was a result of bennie403 who basically put forth the challenge to me for a Kiri based Naruto, so while I would love to say this is all my idea it isn't. With that said I've taken my own spin on the idea molding it into my own creation which I hope you enjoy.

Ok three points before beginning to avoid problems.

Things will be a bit different in this story, as in characters, their backstory, and attitudes towards one another. Not giant differences in most cases but ones that would result in different interactions, so please don't point out differences from canon, as that is kind of the point.

Ok consider this a guide to three major differences. One Minato and Kushina are alive. Two Tsunade not Jiraiya was Minato's sensei and stayed in the village. Three some dates and events will change for the plot, trying to manage every single date and time is a little insane for a Fanfics in my view.

Major point…..ahem there is no pairing at this time, none, nadda, zip, zero. With that said please do not start requesting particular girls as I will be determining that at a later date on my own with possible input from bennie403. So please just wait.

Right enough of my talking onto the story enjoy.

Chapter one

"Talking"

"Thinking"

"DEMON/SUMMON/Scroll"

"Jutsu"

- The Mist of Deception-

"Ok you two try and keep it inside the arena this time, I don't want to have to hire a team to fix the training field again." called a brown haired chunnin his face detailed by a large horizontal scar that ran across his nose. In response to his words the pair of genin prospects flashed him confident grins as a few chuckles and cheers rang out from the class.

"Hai Iruka sensei, we'll try." chuckled the blond Narumi as beside her the red haired Mito gave a small shrug grinning silently as she settled into her fighting stance focusing across at her sister. Narumi despite herself tossed back her blond hair giving the class a small thumbs up as the sleeves of her blue straining suit pulled black slightly to her green and white battle kimono. Across from her Mito gave a small sigh planting her hands on her hips as her own yellow kimonos waved gently in the wind.

"Hey Narumi, cut with the fan service and let's get going!" she called causing Narumi to turn sticking her tongue out before settling back into place the cheers of the crowd growing once again as the two faced one another.

Meanwhile as the two prepared for their spar, out amongst the cheering crowd of students there stood a silent figure his bright sapphire eyes looking on at the two in the ring. If anyone had looked at the boy they would have seen the pain etched upon his face as though scarred into stone, so visible was his longing and pain.

This was Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze eldest of the Hokage's children...and, as he was forced to remember as she watched his sister's spar to the cheers of the students, the abandoned one. While the blond boy silently watched Mito perform their mother's taijutsu stances flawlessly drawing a small pang of jealously and sadness with every move the girl executed. Worse still was as Narumi moved around her sister dancing in and out of her powerful blows light as a feather in relation to their father's personal style. Both of the sisters were becoming the next generation of his family...while he was becoming nothing more than a shadow in the crowd that cried their praise.

It had been like this as long as he could remember, his parents training his sisters in person, while he...

He was given a shadow and left at home. At first it wasn't so bad the clone would lecture him on chakra control or the basics; but as time passed and these lessons were learned he found a harder lesson waiting...because even when he had mastered them and asked for new lessons his parents has insisted otherwise..

"Naruto, you need to wait, getting a grasp on the basics is important before moving on, I know you think you have them but you need to take your time." His Father had said in a gentle tone as the boy's head had dropped down at his father's words. Among the first hand memories of training Narumi and Mito his parents clones' memories were like passing images in a journey, there, but blurry and easily forgotten.

..and eventually the shadow clones stopped coming all together as those blurry memories failed to stand that test of time. Then he was left alone forced to watch as the happy family of four continued on their way to train and grow.

What was worse for the boy was that as the clones stopped coming it seemed that so did his parents...just as they had forgotten to leave a clone with him they slowly forgot the boy...and eventually he was swallowed up by the darkness of solitude. That was until a pair had helped to drag him out of his own loneliness. The first being one of the most interesting individuals he could have ever imagined.

-flashback-

Naruto was walking down the street having woken up to late to ask his parents for a shadow clone before they left to train his sisters, and was trotting along the streets looking for any sign of them when he heard a loud voice cry out causing him to turn towards the hot springs.

"PERVERT!" cried several women's voices followed by a crashing sound as a white haired man jumped free of the building looking left and right before charging down the street right towards where Naruto stood puzzled at what he was seeing. Before he could even call out the white haired man that Naruto realized looked like a kabuki actor focused on him with a wide grin.

"NARUTO RUN FOR YOU LIFE THEY ARE UPON US!" Cried Jiraiya as Naruto despite himself burst into a sudden grin. Jiraiya or as he called him Ero-san was something like an uncle to his family and had always been closer to him than his sisters. He was the teammate of grandma Tsunade who had taken a shine to his sisters keeping Jiraiya and his perverted ideas away from them for as long as he could remember.

"ERO!" called Naruto happily as Jiraiya rushed by grabbing the boy as with flash of smoke the two were away on the back of a toad Naruto laughing happily as they flew through the air. After several hops the two found themselves in an open field Naruto grinning up at his Uncle as the toad sage nursed a hand print on the side of his face.

"Ero-san," chuckled Naruto has he hugged the sages leg beaming up at the man who smiled in return ruffling the blondes hair as he did.

"Hey there Naruto, what's up with my little tadpole?" chuckled Jiraiya as Naruto shook his hand off still smiling.

"Nothing, hey can you show me some justus like last time please!" called the excited boy. Jiraiya had always been willing to help him out on training whenever he stopped by in the village, and those times were some of the few that had helped Naruto keep from sinking into a depression.

"Hai, no problem tadpole, if you're lucky I might even help you become an amazing sage like me!" called the man striking a pose that Naruto mimicked enthusiastically.

"But first what about your parents? I need their permission...wait where were they and why were you alone?" asked Jiraiya the facts of the situation falling into place as he looked down at Naruto who seemed to deflate slightly. With a bit more prodding the blond finally explained the situation to Jiraiya who slowly found himself becoming angry at the families actions. However, whether he liked it or not it wasn't his place to try and fix the family...he knew how important the girls were, but still to just leave the boy like this...

"Well if you want something fixed you do it yourself." muttered the sage as he reached down to rub the boy's blond locks.

"Ok Naruto looks like there loss, I'll just have to make you so amazing your family won't have a choice but to come to you for training." chuckled Jiraiya as he saw the boy's eyes light up with excitement.

"Re...really?" asked the boy as Jiraiya nodded pulling out a massive scroll from his back as he did.

"Hai and here is going to be your first step." replied the man as he began to train his first apprentice.

-flashback end-

Since that day Naruto had been training hard under Jiraiya's tutelage growing closer to the toad sage even as his family moved farther and farther from his grasp...despite this Naruto couldn't hate his family...much he wanted to be loved by them... wanted to be with them... he had come to the unfortunate truth...his family didn't want the same...and so he had found a new family in the toads.

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As Naruto continued to ponder all of this a small ways away in the crowd another figure was not cheering as Mito caught a spin kick from Naruko forcing the two into a grappling battle. Her blue hair swayed gently as her pale lavender eyes looked around at the blond boy a small red blush touching her cheeks as she did.

The blushing face belonged to the eldest daughter of the head of the Hyuga clan Hinata who had a rather interesting relation with the blond boy she was currently looking at from across the crowd. Unlike the rest of her class...and indeed many of the adults Mito and Narumi were not the children of the Hokage that she wanted to become closer to. Oh the pair were fine in their own way Narumi was a bit more like her mother being a bit brash, while Mito was more of the silent one, but neither held the most important element of their parents...namely their heart. The sisters had been put through training for so long, praised so much that they had become more arrogant than kind, after all why work to make sure each person they met was happy when they had such a multitude of people to praise them, and all of their parents love...

No it was Naruto the forgotten child that had learned the hardest lesson of how precious a person could be, growing up without but a few he would rather die than lose even a single person he had found, and Hinata had managed to become one of those people when they were but children.

-flashback-

Hinata was at the time sitting in a hot spring her body sporting a few bruises from her recent training as she let out a happy little sigh as she allowed the warm water to caress slowly over her pale skin. She had just finished another day of instruction with her father, and had passed well enough to be allowed to enter the ninja academy this coming year.

As she allowed herself to sink gently into the water her unfocused eyes noting a few of the other females, all older chatting away happily her mind shifted to a family boy that occupied her free thoughts ever since he had helped to defender her from bullies a few years previously. She still remembered him smiling at her as the three older boys ran off as he had helped her up. She had been so embarrassed that she had hardly been able to speak before an angry voice had called out to the boy, as he was taken away by a redheaded woman talking about him beating up on a few boys and insisting he had to apologize.

Horrified Hinata had moved to speak but her bodyguard Ko had found her before she could call out to them and rushed her home and away from the boy... her mind shifted slightly as she pulled her legs to her chest as she remembered that name that women had called...

"Naruto.." the girl whispered to herself as she privately hopped she would soon be seeing him in the academy. A little time later Hinata rose from the spring moving over to wrap a towel around her just in time for a resounding crash to echo out through the spring causing her to jump with a small eep of surprise. Turning the young girl saw a section of the wall that separated the open bath from the surrounding forest had collapsed with a white haired man along with a blonde boy lying face down on the wood.

"Owe darn it I knew that tree was getting old." muttered Jiraiya as he looked up to see a crowd of enraged women glaring at him.

"Well crap...tadpole run I'll hold the line!" called Jiraiya grabbing the blond boy's shirt and flinging him sideways as the women rushed him with cries of pervert!

Jiraiya's aim, however was less than perfect and as a result Hinata found herself getting bowled over by a blond projectile that caused the pair to splash back into the spring behind a small rock outcropping. So as Jiraiya was being mauled by the enraged women two children found themselves spluttering as they popped out of the spring shaking the water from their eyes as the blond muttered.

"Ack stupid Ero-san I told him we shouldn't practice tree walking near the spring." choked out the boy beside him he heard a small meep. At the noise Naruto looked up to see a bright red faced Hinata looking back at him her hands holding her towel in place as she looked over at the boy she had just been thinking about.

"Hey aren't you that girl from the park?" started Naruto before a smatter of voices began to close on them causing the boy to look around in a panic.

"Oh crap, oh crap, what do I do?" panicked the boy as the women of the spring having either finished Jiraiya or simply lost him moved around to find the second pervert. As they neared something in Hinata took control as she stepped forwards towards Naruto who turned in time to see Hinata's arms reach out to push him under the water just as the women came around the stone outcropping.

"Hey you see that other pervert?" called one of the women her bright purple hair falling in cascades down her back as beside her, the rest of the women nodded in agreement.

Hinata in turn her hands still holding Naruto's head underwater looked around at the gathered women before shaking her head slightly her face still a bright shade of red as she vaguely recognized what she was doing. Below the water Naruto had much the same reaction before the heat of the water caused his vision to blur.

"Damn it come on girls lets go find him!" called the purple haired woman as she turned her fellows following along behind her until they were out of sight. As they moved away Hinata seemed to remember who she had shoved under water letting out a small eep. Letting go the young girl jumping back as the blond boy slowly floated up to the surface face down causing the girl to panic even more.

"oh no, oh no I killed him...I killed Naruto-kun..." thought the girl before she managed to gather herself together enough to notice the boy had just passed out from the heat of the water.

With some effort Hinata managed to drag the boy unseen into a nearby private bath moving to check on him. Before long Naruto came back to consciousness blinking around spotting the still blushing Hinata sitting a small distance from him.

"...hey?" managed the blonde causing Hinata to jump slightly looking over at him.

"What's the big idea drowning me?" he asked managing to sit up. Hinata for her part was panicking inside her fingers poking one another as her mind raced to find an answer, before Naruto stood up looking at his sopping cloths.

"Darn it I'm soaked...still better than Ero-san...I hope he's alive, hehe good thing they didn't find me...wait." at this Naruto turned toward Hinata again the event playing out in his head for a second before he smiled over at her causing her blush to grow even brighter if that was possible.

"Hey that's what it was you helped me get out of that, sorry about that earlier dattebayo! Thanks for helping me out." smirked the boy as Hinata looked up at him her eyes going a little wider at the boys praise.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, what's your name?" asked the blonde smiling down at Hinata who was just managing to find her voice.

"Hi...Hinata Hyuga.." managed the girl as Naruto smiled at her.

"Hinata that's a pretty name, huh I think Ero-san used that for one of his book titles...that mean sunny place right?" asked Naruto as Hinata nodded slightly.

"Ha...Hai my mother named me." she replied a little more relaxed a trace of a smile as Naruto listened to her.

"Cool my Uncle helped name me apparently, anyway I better go see if Ero-san is alive but thanks again maybe we'll see each other in the academy." smiled the blond as Hinata looked up at him smiling slightly herself.

"Ha...Hai Naruto-kun." she replied as Naruto moved to the door checking around before flashing her a final large smile.

"Thanks Hinata-chan, and hey you're really cute when you smile." called the boy as an afterthought remembering how Jiraiya always ended a conversation with a girl with some kind of complement. In reaction as Naruto dashed away from the spring he left a passed out Hinata smiling to herself thinking about meeting Naruto again.

-Flashback end-

And meet they had, the first day of classes they had seen one another deciding to become friends. The two found a sense of comfort with each other, both having found their families lacking the support that all children deeply wished for.

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As Hinata turned back to the spar she saw Iruka stepping up causing Narumi and Mito to come to a stop as voices cheered out at the match.

"Ok, that's enough for today, now everyone remember what we practiced today, and I'll see you tomorrow." Called Iruka as the class nodded before dispersing to head their own ways home. As the group of children moved away Naruto found himself walking along beside Hinata both chatting idly about the lessons as they headed down the street.

"So what do you think about the early exams Hinata?" asked Naruto looking over to Hinata who looked down at her bulky cream colored coat for a moment before turning back to the blond.

"I..I think I'll wait, after all we're only eight." Replied Hinata as Naruto gave a small shrug bringing his arms up behind his head.

"Ya I suppose." Replied the boy as Hinata gave him a small knowing smile.

"Naruto-kun, you don't have to compete with them." Whispered Hinata as Naruto seemed to drop slightly his bright orange suit even seeming to dim as he replied.

"I…I know I just, I want to keep up you know." Replied Naruto as Hinata nodded.

"ok…but it will be ok." smiled the girl as Naruto found himself smiling as well.

"Ya, you're right, besides if I graduated early I wouldn't get to be with my best friend." Called Naruto throwing an arm around the Hyuga girl's shoulder causing her to blush slightly before smiling in turn.

"Hai, Naruto-kun." Replied the girl as they made their way through the village Hinata departing at her compound as Naruto headed to the smaller home of the Namikazes.

"I'm home." Called Naruto as he pushed over the door, his voice echoing around the empty home causing him to sigh slightly as he moved into the house dropping onto the couch with a sigh.

"I guess Kaasan already left." Sighed the boy as he looked idly around the room before a small poof of smoke exploded before him causing him to go tumbling back over the couch in shock.

"Yo Naruto, you're…hey where are you?" called an oddly wet voice as the cloud of smoke cleared showing an orange toad now seated on the small table just in front of the couch. With a little groan Naruto popped his head over the couch giving the toad a small smirk.

"You do that on purpose don't you Gamakichi." Called Naruto as the toad hopped happily up beside Naruto who despite himself was grinning widely.

"You're just jealous, anyway Jiraiya sent me to give you this, looks like he'll be on a job for a little longer but he wanted to give you this and tell you to keep practicing." Lectured the toad as Naruto gave a wide grin reaching out for the scroll only to have the toad pull it way causing Naruto to give him an annoyed look.

"Fine I'll get you snakes now give me the scroll." Called Naruto leaping forwards managing to snag the scroll as the toad hopped happily back with the promise of sweets.

Soon enough Naruto was sitting in his room the walls hung with posters of famous shinobi while around his floor were scattered small bits of training equipment and open scrolls. For all intents and purposes his room was a wreck, but it seemed that along with his training his room was something else the family seemed ready to forget. Smiling Naruto unrolled the scroll looking down at the jutsu and the accompanying instructions smiling at the small notes that Jiraiya left beside each scribbled in smaller text giving his own twist on some of them. Naruto continued to pore over the scroll till a call from below alerted him oh just how long he had been in his room. With a start Naruto moved downstairs towards the kitchen arriving just as Kushina passed him carrying a pile of dishes.

"Oh Naruto help grab the Ramen please." Called Kushina giving the boy a brief smile before heading to the table where Narumi and Mito were busy telling Minato all about their training. With a shrug Naruto moved over to stove hefting the large pot of ramen up careful not to spill the holy food.

As he was doing this Kushina was passing out plates as Minato looked over to his daughters finishing their story.

"Well sounds like you two are ready for the exam." Smiled Minato as both girls nodded happily as Kushina gave a thumbs up.

"Oh course they are Dattebane! They'll be the best genin ever!" called the redhead as the girls beamed up at her. Minato in the meantime smiled around at the girls before looking over to his wife with a proud smile.

"You know." Called Minato causing the girls to look over at him.

"I was going to wait, but with you two graduating early I don't see why we can't go ahead and make it official." Smiled the blond as the two girls looked around at their mother who gave her husband a happy nod before pulling out a scroll, as across from her Minato did the same both handing them to the girls who tore into them with wide smiles.

"NO WAY I'M CLAN HEIR!" called Narumi smiling over at her mother who nodded as beside her Mito grinned over at her father having read the same message upon her own scroll.

"Yes, that means you will be learning each of our secret techniques and be in charge of guarding them.." started Minato before a small crash caused him to turn to find Naruto standing stunned beside a pot of ramon now leaking out over the floor his eyes wide as they looked over at the family.

"Naruto." called Kushina moving over to check the boy for burns before looking back at the spilled meal frowning at all her hard work gone to waste. From the table Minato also moved to check seeing Kushina sigh slightly as she saw no burns on him.

"Naruto I worked especially hard on that for Narumi and Mito what do you have to say for yourself." Asked Kushina standing to look down at her son who was still frozen looking across at Narumi and Mito who looked sadly at the now ruined food before glaring over at their older brother.

"Naruto apologize to your sisters and me for ruining the ramen." Spoke Kushina looking down at the boy who turned his gaze up to her before small tears began to form and he dropped his head not looking at her. Not getting a response out of the boy as she reached down to take the boys hand leading him out of the room.

"Fine if you won't apologize then you can go to bed without dinner while we go to out." scolded Kushina as she marched the boy upstairs halting before his room and looking down at him again her anger subsiding a bit, but holding firm as she opened his room door not bothering to look inside.

"Now Naruto if you apologize you can come with us, but I won't put up with you not owning up to your mistakes." Lectured Kushina as Naruto still did not look up.

"Well?" asked the redhead as Naruto's head slowly shook resulting in Kushina letting go and turning back down the hall.

"Fine then you stay in there till breakfast where I expect and apology." Called Kushina as she moved back downstairs to find Minato working with the girls to clean up the mess, before heading out.

Meanwhile inside the room Naruto was curled up on his bed silently crying to himself as he thought about what he had lost.

I'm….i'm the oldest…I'm suppose to be clan heir…..it's just like Hinata-chan…her dad threw her out and now he hates her…why….why do they hate me….cried the boy as he continued to wrestle with the thoughts assaulting him.

A few hours later found Naruto finished crying just sitting on his floor rereading Jiraiya's note hugging it gently to himself as he sought comfort in the words scribbled there. As he sat a knock came at his door. Slowly Naruto pushed himself up moving to the door which he opened gently to find Narumi and Mito standing outside of both with their arms crossed giving him an irritated look.

"Niisan, you owe us an apology, after your wrecked the dinner Kaasan and made she and Tousan was distracted all through dinner thinking about you, and ruined it our big night." Lectured Mito as beside her Narumi simply nodded in agreement as Naruto looked between the two with heavy eyes having lost the energy to even argue with them at this point. His silence, however, only served to infuriate the girls further as Narumi stepped up to glare at her brother.

"Hey what are you waiting for, I swear once we're clan heads we're kicking you out if you don't apologize!" called the blonde as Mito nodded seeing Naruto's eyes go wide with fear.

"Yo…you can't." managed Naruto as both girls looked at him with small smirks.

"Can't, oh ya, as future head of the Namikaze clan I banish Naruto from my clan." Ordered Mito as beside her Narumi nodded her head in turn.

"Hai me to from now on you're not an Uzumaki either." Called the girl, both not being able to comprehend the results of these seemingly childish remarks. True they could no more ban the boy than order him to fly, but to Naruto their words were just one more blow to his world. Without a word Naruto shut his door, getting a few angry calls from his sisters before they eventually headed to bed not giving the confrontation another thought. Leaving Naruto to lay awake in bed looking up at the wall where Jiraiya's poster hung thinking of the sage who was his closest family.

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As the young blond finally found his way to sleep across the continent Jiraiya was currently laying hidden among the shadows of a dark cavernous room his breath slowed to almost none existence as he stared out of the shadow he had become and down on the figures below him.

It had taken him months but he'd finally managed to track them, a group of Kumo and Iwa shinobi that were the source of information leaks in relation to the Hyuga incident, as well as a multitude of others. However, largest of all was the seeming connecting they had with his old teammate Orochimaru, and some new organization. But this night was even more important than that, because tonight was when they were to meet their contact from Konoha.

The sage had caught wind of the contact a year ago, but hadn't managed to get anything on them till now. As he watched the gathered Shinobi turned to one entrance Jiraiya's eyes following them as they focused on the approaching figure. As the shadows moved the tall form of a heavily bandaged man moved out into the open room his none bandaged arm holding a cane that tapped lightly upon the stone with each step. With a few more tapping steps the man finished approaching the pair two other shinobi falling into step behind the man.

Danzo…you bastard I knew you were dirty but this…great good of Konoha my ass. Thought Jiraiya as his eyes blazed looking down at the traitor that was now discussing something with the pair of shinobi before him.

No..no stay calm Jiraiya, this has to get back to the Hokage…you need evidence….otherwise things turn out like before….wait…more….so the old cripple doesn't go anywhere without more backup…I shouldn't be surprised. The sage continued to think as he allowed himself to slowly slip down the wall his movement masked by the gentle sway of the wind, and the moving shadows as the light flickered around the meeting. As he moved within earshot, his heart almost stopped at what he heard.

"Yes they were spotted in Rain, the information is solid, now what about our agreement." Spoke a larger man dressed in the red and brown uniform of Iwa, as Danzo motioned for the shinobi beside him to step forwards with a small parcel that he handed to the man.

"As agreed, the patrols to Suna's caravans." Replied Danzo as the man idly pulled a scroll out scanning it briefly before nodding and pulling out his own scroll that he passed to the bandaged man.

"Everything seems in order. I would hurry, however, if you have plans for that group Hanzo is moving to secure his rule I doubt they will survive." Finished the Iwa Shinobi turning to the Kuma Shinobi as they turned to leave.

Rain…Hanzo…what are you playing at Danzo…and Suna's patrols you bastard selling out our allies. Thought the sage as he noticed one of the shinobi beside Danzo stiffen his masked face turning around as if hearing something.

What are you…Jiraiya started to think before his eyes went wide at a small bug perched just before him letting out an almost subsonic buzz. ABURAMA! Screamed Jiraiya in his head as the masked man turned to his position his hand flying forwards as a cloud of purple and black raced forwards with the same steady buzz. Without waiting Jiraiya threw himself back out of his shadow his hand blazing as Danzo turned his face darkening as he saw the sage appear.

"You." Called the cripple as Jiraiya gave an equal sneer.

"ME YOU TRAITOR! DAI ENDAN NO JUTSU!" cried Jiraiya as a wall of flame lashed out before him catching the insects before barreling forwards towards the cripple only to be stopped as several blast of water slammed into it sending steam exploding out over the area.

"Idiot child, Sarutobi was a fool and you are no different I stand for what Konoha needs." Called Danzo as more rood shinobi poured form the entrance racing up to move around their leader.

"Ha, as if that justifies your actions, Sensei was a great man who became a legend when he stopped the Kyuubi and saved the village, you are nothing but a root that has rotted!" called Jiraiya as the steam cleared showing the white haired man standing across from the force of shinobi Danzo glaring at him as he bit back a curse.

That petulant child he has no idea what is needed for Konoha to succeed, nothing!...but if he returns with that information….I hate to lose such a shinobi but his lose pails to my own for Konoha's future….still my forces here aren't enough to finish him….and even so death is no assurity with the toads…no…this requires something…more. Danzo considered before looking around at his guards and back to Jiraiya.

"It is a loss Jiraiya…you served Konoha well, but you are now a threat to that." Called Danzo as he raised a hand Jiraiya gritting his teeth as he looked around at the assumed force.

"Kill him." called Danzo before vanishing in a swirl of leaves as his forces charged.

"Wha….NO!" cried Jiraiya seeing the man disappear. However, before he could peruse he was forced to leap back as blasts of flame, stone, and lightening carved themselves into the area around him the shinobi present rushing forwards towards him blades drawn.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" screamed Jiraiya catching a root's arm before swinging him like a club into his fellow with a sickening crack as his white hair suddenly bristled sending points of white needle like hair out shredding a Kunoichi who had attempted to attack from behind.

Even as the three fell seven more took their place rushing the sage as he turned eyes blazing at the oncoming force.

"YOU WON'T SAVE HIM FROM ME! NOT THIS TIME!" bellowed Jiraiya as with a blast of smoke an armored toad sprang forth slamming a fist into the first attacker before Jiraiya leapt over the toads back using it as a spring to deliver a pair of swirling blue orbs into another pair of root blasting them into stone pillars that fell moments later. With a snarl the white haired man turned in time to be blasted back as a ball of fire punched into his chest drawing a cry of pain from his lips as he staggered back before flinging a kunai into an attacker's leg causing them to stumble forwards into Jiraiya's waiting fist that lifted the root of his own feet to land groaning on the stone before Jiraiya's foot smashed down on his thought with a crack.

"COME ON THEN ROOT I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT TRUE WAR IS!" called Jiraiya as a few kunai slammed into him not even seeming to register as he shot forwards his toad ally falling in beside him as they crashing into the remaining root turning the stone building into a battle ground the likes of which had not been seen since the third shinobi war.

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A few days after the conflict at the gates of Konoha the stationed guards looked out to see the bloodied and bruised form of Jiraiya edging forwards towards the town, his left eye coated with dried blood as his unimpaired one focused forwards at the village his body lurching one step after the other.

Ko…Konoha…got to warn….Hokage… the Sage's mind bleated as he fought to remain conscious, his vision blurring as he spotted a group of Shinobi rushing to him his body going weak at the knees as he collapsed into them.

As he was caught the head Jonin turned towards another pair calling out to them as a few seals were slapped over the sages form.

"Contact the Hokage, tell him we have Jiraiya in custody, we're transporting him to the high security wing of the hospital!" called the Jonin as the pair flashed away in a blur leaving the rest to rush the now bound Sage into the village.

Meanwhile in the Namikaze home Kushina was sitting across from the families friend, and Minato's sensei Tsunade Senju, the last remaining member of the founding clan of Konoha. At the moment the blonde headed woman was taking another swig of saki her green open kimono thrown off showing her rather impressive bust held in place by a simply grey vest as Kushina frowned at her friend.

"Tsunade you have to stop doing this to yourself." Spoke Kushina causing Tsunade to drop the bottle back down giving Kushina an angry look.

"Stop…STOP WHY MY WHOLE TEAM IS NOTHING BUT TRAITORS FIRST THAT SNAKE AND NOW THAT TOAD!" roared Tsunade before her head dropped a few tears falling from her eyes.

"That….that bastard…Kushina he killed him…he killed my Dan…." Mumbled Tsunade as Kushina moved over to comfort the woman. She had been like this ever since a few days ago when Danzo had arrived in the Hokage's office looking winded and slightly disheveled.

-Flashback-

"Hokage-san this is urgent!" called Danzo as he pushed his way past the secretary and into the room causing Minato to look away from Tsunade, Kushina and the girls who were discussing their placement as apprentices now that they were official genie.

"Danzo.." stared Minato before the cripple stepped forwards dropping a file onto the blonds desk mentally smirking as he saw Tsunade percent. Good with this Konoha will stand. Thought the man as he focused back upon the Hokage.

"Minato Jiraiya is a traitor." Started Danzo before Tsunade whirled on him grabbing his coat and lifting him up by it her brown eyes blazing into his visible black one.

"What did you say, you cripple bastard, Jiraiya." began the women before Minato stood slamming his hands down onto the table glaring across at the pair.

"Enough Tsunade release him, and Danzo explain yourself." Called Minato as Tsunade gave the old man another glare before dropping him back to the ground as he turned to Minato.

"Hokage-san I recently began to suspect that a shinobi in our ranks was responsible for some of the recent information leaks connected with the Hyuuga incident, as well as Orochimaru's actions." Started Danzo Minato quirking an eyebrow at this.

"Really, that doesn't sound like you Danzo." Spoke Minato Tsunade giving a snort.

"Sounds to me like your kind of game." She added in a mutter only quieting when Minato gave her a small look.

"My efforts lead me to a meeting where I discovered Jiraiya trading secrets with shinobi from Iwa and Kumo." Continued Danzo as Minato watched the old war hawk.

"And you then returned here to tell me?" asked Minato, as Danzo shook his head causing the Hokage to pause.

"No, I attempted to apprehend the traitor then and there." Started Danzo as Kushina gave the man an annoyed look.

"If that were the case you would be dead Danzo, experience or not, Jiraiya would have destroyed you." Stated Kushina as Danzo turned to her with a mental smile. Maybe Uzumaki, but this is not a battle in the light, it is one in the shadows. Thought the man as he nodded.

"True, if I was alone." Replied Danzo as Minato's eyes narrowed.

"Do I take it then you were not." Questioned Minato as Danzo turned nodding.

"No I was with a contingent of the remints of root which still trusted me as a leader….though I suspect their loyalty has now cost them their lives." Replied Danzo his words causing the adults to look at him slightly confused.

That cripple would never just tell us about his forces…what is he playing at. Wondered Tsunade summing up the thoughts of the rest as Danzo stepped forwards pointing to the file on the desk.

"Before I fled the battle I managed to get at what he was trading for." Continued Danzo as Minato took is looking confused before going suddenly stiff. "When I read that it was clear that Jiraiya was indeed a traitor to Konoha for longer than even Orochimaru." Finished Danzo as Tsunade stood to move behind Minato looking down at the file before stiffening, pulling it from Minato's hand as she slowly sank to the floor her eyes wide at what was written there. Soon Narumi and Mito had rushed to the woman's side trying to help her as she had dropped the file and Minato had started to summon Jonin to search for Jiraiya.

-Flashback end-

"He killed Dan…..the bastard kill Dan.." muttered Tsunade as Kushina looked sadly down at the crying woman. The file had been a medical file of Tsunade's lover during the war. At the time she had been too distraught to do more than make it back to the aid station, and the final autopsy had been done by another medic, whose camp had been annulated the next day. But what that recovered file had showed was enough already, that Dan had been killed by a sage's attack…and the only sage capable of that was Jiraiya.

Upon seeing this Tsunade had fallen into a rage at the thought that her loves murderer had been playing with her for years…smiling at her… joking with her. That he dared to even show his face to her after what he stole.

"Tsunade, we don't know everything…we need to." Started Kushina before Tsunade glared at her before snarling.

"Don't know, all I need to know is that bastard is a traitor!" called the blonde as a small thump drew the pairs attention forwards to see Naruto standing in the kitchen his face horrified at what he had heard.

"No…ero-san wouldn't." whispered Naruto as Kushina looked over at her son's pained expression Tsunade turning bloodshot eyes towards the blond.

"Don't you dare defend him!" spat Tsunade as Naruto steadied himself slightly before glaring back at her.

"NO Ero wouldn't do that, he'd never." Started Naruto before Kushina cut him off.

"Naruto be quiet, this isn't the time for this." started Kushina before Tsunade cut her off.

"No, he wants to defend him fine, then tell me brat how do you know huh….I saw the record, I saw the body, and he's the only person who can use nature chakra so don't you tell me he didn't kill him. That Toad is nothing but a traitor just like that Snake!" bellowed Tsunade as Naruto glared at her.

"Shut up, you!" started Naruto before Kushina stood up marching over to deliver a slap across Naruto's face that caused him to fall to the floor.

"Enough Naruto, I will not have you yelling at Tsunade like this. You're and Uzumaki and that means you stand by your family, Tsunade needs us to help her, and I won't have you attacking her like this! Until you start acting like a real Uzumaki your grounded!" called Kushina glaring down at Naruto who dropped his head tears building in his eyes as Kushina turned to Tsunade to chastise her about yelling at Naruto, though this was lost to Naruto as his mother's words snapped gently into place beside his own thoughts and those of his sisters forming a horrifying reality to the boy. Without a word Naruto turned and ran from the house tears streaming from his eyes as Kushina turned to hear the snap of the door.

"Naruto." she called before realizing he must have left. Idly looking down at her palm Kushina felt a little sick at having hit her son that way. The past few days had been horrible to be sure, but still she was an Uzumaki and Naruto's refusal to help support their family in these times make her sick to think about. Idly she pulled her own hand closer as she stepped into the kitchen noticing the small stain on the floor where the ramen had spilled just a few days ago getting another sinking feeling as she thought about her son. True Naruto wasn't helping the family during this…but he was right…even she admitted that something was wrong with this, but Tsunade needed them for now, and until Jiraiya was found all they could do was stand by their family. However, before she could consider these feeling more a flash of light appeared causing her to turn to see Minato standing looking down at Tsunade and then back to her.

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At the same time Naruto had rushed out into the training fields his face full of tears as he dropped to his knees pounding away at the grass with his fists as he sobbed in pain. He had heard that there was a traitor from his sisters, but neither had told him anything else, saying it was official shinobi business, before heading out to do missions leaving him with Kushina to try and help Tsunade alongside Shizune.

And now, he had found out that the traitor was supposed to be Jiraiya…it couldn't be…it couldn't not Ero san. Not one of the few people that loved him…it couldn't be. As he knelt there feeling a flurry of emotions he didn't notice as two girls chatting idly enter the training field spying him as they did until they called out to him.

"Hey what are you doing out here?" called Narumi seeing her brother kneeling in the open field seeming only just then to notice them as the she and Mito moved over towards the boy. True the pair could be arrogant…ok very arrogant in most cases, but they were not cruel. Indeed most of their actions were those of children, ignorant of consequences. On top of that both were very distant from their brother Naruto, in both training and life. When it came down to it they only shared a home and meals with the boy, and little else, still the sight of him in pain seemed to stir something in them as they moved forwards Naruto's bloodshot eyes looking up at them and turning to a glare.

"Why didn't you tell me it was Ero-san?" growled Naruto as both sisters stopped their minds racing for a moment before realizing what he was talking about.

"What…oh what does it matter? He's a traitor now, and baa-chan needs our help?" asked Narumi as beside her Mito nodded neither having been more than acquaintances to the man to begin with.

"Ya, it doesn't matter who it was, and besides its shinobi business." Continued Mito as Naruto's head dropped.

"He's not a traitor." Muttered Naruto as the two looked down at him.

"What was that?" called Mito glaring down at Naruto who pushed himself up.

"I said he isn't a traitor!" called Naruto glaring at the pair who looked momentarily shocked before matching the boy's glare with their own.

"Yes he is idiot, we were there you don't know anything!" called Narumi as Mito stepped up glaring at Naruto.

"You don't know anything Naruto so just shut up and go back to whatever you were doing. Baa-chan needs our help and I haven't seen you do anything so just leave before you mess things up again." Continued Mito thinking back to their graduation party and the boy's actions that night not even considering her own, or the fact that she and Narumi had been too busy to be there for Tsunade themselves. For a moment Naruto stood there looking between the two before he sank back into a stance neither recognized.

"I won't let you insult Ero-sensei." Muttered Naruto having reached the end of his emotions and wishing only for it to stop. Across from him both sisters looked at him for a moment before Mito scoffed.

"Drop it Naruto, you don't stand a chance against us, and I'm not going to pick on someone who's weak. Just drop it." Called Mito as she turned to see Narumi sinking into her own stance.

"Narumi stop it." Called Mito as Narumi shot her an annoyed glare.

"Why he wants to fight, fine I won't beat him up to bad. He wants to keep arguing fine, he wants a fight I'll give him one, maybe then I'll knock some sense into him." Called the blonde girl as Mito let out a sigh stepping back to clear the two's path.

"If he wants to be a baka and protect a traitor over his family then this is what he gets." Called Narumi as she smirked over at Naruto who had sunk into his stance glaring at his sister.

"Fine, but this is stupid you're a genin now, time to stop acting like a kid." Called Mito as Narumi smirked. However, as she turned to smirk at her sister Naruto had moved blasting forwards to slam a fist into the smirking girl's chest taking the wind out of her as she stumbled back. Naruto pushed this racing up to hit her again only to find a leg swinging out to catch him in the chest flinging him back across the ground.

"You!" called Narumi gasping as her eyes flashed crimson as she raced forwards only to have Mito grab hold of her, the redheads eyes blazing crimson as well as she scowled at the pair.

"Enough, Narumi stop it, he's not worth it just look at him." called Mito as she held the struggling Narumi to glared first at her before turning to see Naruto curled into a ball holding his chest in pain. Seeing this Narumi let out a sigh her eyes flashing back to their usual blue as she relaxed.

"Fine, but he deserved it." Muttered the blonde turning to march out of the area as Mito looked over at the crumpled form of Naruto giving him a small frown.

"I hope you're happy, Narumi's been broken up about Tsunade for days and then you pull this stunt…honestly what is the matter with you?" muttered Mito before she turned to follow Narumi to make sure her sister was alright leaving Naruto to eventually make his way back home.

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Meanwhile across the village Jiraiya was blinking away in a bed idly noticing the aches and pain of his body as he looked around at the room ideally spotting a few Anbu on guard.

I made it….thank kami…have to. He started to think before he noticed the seals on his wrists and the bindings holding him to the bed his eyes going wide as the bottom fell out of his stomach.

Oh no…Danzo he beat me back, wait why? Started the man before the door in front of him opened and three Anbu entered seeing him awake moving to transport him away. Soon enough Jiraiya found himself bound standing inside the council room facing Minato, Kushina, Danzo, Tsunade, as well as his sensei's old teammates all of whom were watching him closely Tsunade in particular looking like she wished to tear him apart right then and there.

As he was positioned a seal lit up on the ground forcing him to his knees' as he felt his chakra fading. Even still he managed to send a death glare at Danzo that made the two Anbu on either side of him step nervously back from him.

"Jiraiya." called Minato causing the sage to look round at him.

"You are here under suspicion of being a traitor to Konoha and the murder of shinobi of this village." Called Minato as Jiraiya felt his heart sink. So that's his game…if I'm the traitor then he gets off scot free. Thought Jiraiya as he glared over towards Danzo.

"And let me guess this is based on the word of that crippled bastard!" growled Jiraiya as Danzo simply looked blankly back at him. From beside Minato a snarl drew Jiraiya's eyes around to see Tsunade hurl of folder at him the binder hiding his chest to fall open at his knees the contents spilling out in front of him.

"You bastard, it's based off of this!" snarled Tsunade as Jiraiya looked confused for a moment before looking down his heart stopping at what he saw. The report on Dan's death….the man he had killed all those years ago.

-Flashback-

"You bastard! How dare you do that to Tsunade-hime!" roared Jiraiya as he slammed a fist into a tree narrowly missing the nimble form of Dan who leapt aside his face falling into a blank expression.

"The Senju woman is a fool, we have already lost her brother, I am to secure an heir and samples for the good of Konoha, her feelings are irrelevant." Spoke Dan as he whipped out a kunai only to have Jiraiya smash him back into a nearby tree.

"FUCK YOU! WHO ORDERED THIS!?" cried the sage as he cocked back a fist holding the man suspended against a tree.

"You are wasting your time, the samples are already secure, and your word alone will only be looked at as a jealous lover. My mission cannot be stopped." Smirked the man as Jiraiya's head bowed.

"Maybe not…but I promise you, I'll hunt down your master, and you will never lay a hand on Tsunade again." Replied Jiraiya before he drove his fist into the man's chest sending his chakra out to destroy the man's organ's to the point even Tsunade could not recover the man. Then before the reinforcements could arrive he fled keeping the horrible truth a secret as he searched for the one responsible for playing with the woman's life.

-Flashback End-

Looking up Jiraiya saw the hate and betrayal written across Tsunade's face and knew that just like then there was nothing he could say. Danzo had set his pieces in place for just such an occurrence. Holding this ace in the hole in case Jiraiya ever got to close.

So….that's how it is….but I won't let you win so easy you bastard, it may take a lifetime but I'll get you back for this I swear. Thought Jiraiya before turning his eyes up to look at Tsunade for a moment his eyes dropping slowly from her as he took a deep breath. Sorry Tsunade…but until I can stop him I'm going to need to play the villain… thought Jiraiya as he looked back up into Tsunade's face his own turned into a bored expression.

"And me killing him is important why?" asked Jiraiya in an indifferent tone that caught everyone even Danzo off guard. A split second later Tsunade was over the table her fist smashing into Jiraiya's face with a crack as blood poured from the man's nose and she was pulled back Minato ordering Jiraiya placed in holding as he turned to try and get ahold of his sensei, Jiraiya giving an last angry smirk at Danzo before he disappeared out the door Idly reaching his tongue up to his lick at the blood now pouring from his broken nose.

"DAMN IT LET ME GO MINATO!" roared Tsunade before Kushina stepped up slapping the woman across the face looking just as angry as she was.

"No your acting like a maniac we were trying to get the facts and all we got instead was you acting like a madwoman! You've been like this for days and it's not helping anyone!" called Kushina as Minato stepped up in turn.

"Sensei, this is hard for all of us but your actions are only making things worse." He added as Tsunade glared at him.

"HE KILLED." Started Tsunade before Minato silenced her with a look.

"Enough, you're a Kunoichi damn it, and we still don't know if he killed anyone!" called Minato as Tsunade sneered.

"He said." Began Tsunade before Kushina cut her off.

"He said nothing, Tsunade he just got you angry enough to attack him, nothing..." called Kushina before she froze turning to Minato to did likewise before a crash echoed into the room from the hall..

"No! ANBU GET TO JIRAIYA NOW!" yelled Minato as he rushed out only to see the man's guards now unconscious a webbed foot mark dented into one of the Anbu's armor.

"Minato what happened?" called one of the elders looking out as Minato bit back a curse.

"Blood, he used his blood to summon a toad lock down the village!" he called as the shinobi scattered.

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As the village erupted into activity Jiraiya found himself laying on the hilltop of Mount Myoboku the land of the toads dragging himself to a nearby stream his body aching as a purple and green toad both rather old dressed in small cloaks rushed over to his side.

"Jiraiya boy are you alright?" called Ma as she skidding to a halt beside the man as he pulled his face from the stream spitting back a mixture of blood and toad sweat.

"Hai, I'm ok Ma, good think Tsunade still has such a temper." Smirked Jiraiya knowing that without it's the blood he'd used to draw the seal in his mouth wouldn't have been possible. As he leaned up Pa hopped to his side looking him over.

"What happened boy?" asked the toad as Jiraiya leaned back letting out a heavy sigh. So he told them, all of it from the battle to escape the toads listening gravely right until the end.

"So now I'm a traitor to Konoha…wouldn't hebi be proud." Sneered Jiraiya as he pulled out a blank scroll from his pouch.

"What's that Jiraiya boy?" asked Ma as Jiraiya started to write.

"Huh, oh just a letter, won't be able to get back to Konoha till I figure out a way to take down that stupid cripple…At least Minato didn't seem taken in by him yet, if he had I would have just had a visit to the interrogation department. Still my chances of going back are slim so might as well give it to the kid straight." Muttered Jiraiya as he went back to writing. Konoha may have been his home for years, but since the war home had been the world, his only visits being brief, as he dropped off reports or checked in on his teammate. Still there was someone to say goodbye to before he set out on his journey.

Back in Konoha Naruto was lying on his bed silently staring up at his ceiling the events of the last few days feeling like they were crushing him as he replayed them over and over. His parents…his sisters…Jiraiya… the fights everything just felt like too much for him. He was just rolling over to try and get to sleep when a small poof of smoke caused him to turn around to see a purple elderly toad looking at him.

"So you're the tadpole." Smiled Ma as Naruto blinked up at the unfamiliar toad.

"Who are you?" asked Naruto for a moment before realizing what this meant.

"Wait is Ero ok, is he hurt, where is he, what." started Naruto as the toad reached over to bop him on the head causing him to drop back to the bed nursing his head.

"Hold it there tadpole, and I'll tell you. Jiraiya boy is fine, he's just going to be away for a while so he asked me to bring you this." replied Ma pulling a small scroll and handing it to the boy who opened it to see a small note from Jiraiya bidding him farewell, and explaining he wouldn't be able to see him for a while but to keep working.

"Wait, where's Ero now? When can I see him?" asked Naruto as the toad gave a small frown.

"Sorry tadpole I can't tell you, things are a little confusing right now, anyway I have to go." Replied to toad turning to leave. In that moment Naruto's mind flashed over the events of the past few days, and the thought of never seeing Jiraiya again one of only two people that openly cared for him was more than he could bear. So right as Ma was about to leave she felt a small thump as something impacted her before she vanished in a puff of smoke reappearing before Jiraiya and Pa who froze as they saw the small blond boy attached to her.

"Ero!" cried Naruto jumping into Jiraiya to stumbled back shocked by the sudden appearance of Naruto here of all places even as he looked to Ma who appeared just as shocked.

"Naruto what are you doing here?" asked Jiraiya as Naruto smiled up at him.

"I came to see you, you can't leave, I know you're not a traitor. Please don't leave." Called the boy as Jiraiya sighed gently pulling the boy close to him before ruffling his hair.

"Thanks kid, means a lot to hear that, but you can't stay, you have a home, and a family." replied Jiraiya as Naruto shook his head holding Jiraiya all the tighter.

"No, you're my family, they don't want me and they keep calling you a traitor, please don't leave me." continued Naruto as Jiraiya looked pleadingly over to Ma and Pa for help who simply shrugged at him.

"Look Naruto I know it's tough but they're your family, they love you, why would you want to leave?" asked the man as Naruto quieted for a time. After a moment Jiraiya thought the boy had fallen unconscious before he slowly shook his head looking up at the sage his eyes those of a broken man.

"No….no they don't…their not my family….they threw me away…your my family." Choked out Naruto as he slowly started speaking in a whisper telling the sage and the toads everything even as his body shook with small sobs. As they listened Jiraiya's face turned from disappointment to anger at the family's actions, as beside him the toads did much the same.

"Wait red eyes you're sure!" interrupted Jiraiya as Naruto recalled the fight with his sisters nodding as Jiraiya let out a heavy breath. Those two haven't even gotten control of their emotions yet, when they figure that out it will be years before they stop their personal training which mean's them being little self-absorbed brats is likely to continue…he's already receiving next to nothing and from what it sounds like just from supporting me he's going to get even less…and at this rate he'll get killed on his first real mission just like Nawaki…Well I suppose I can add kidnapping to being a traitor…not that things can get much worse…at this point is between making his family sad or his wellbeing... Thought the sage as he listened to Naruto finish his story.

"So that's everything huh kid…" asked Jiraiya the blond nodding sadly as the elder sage let out a heavy sigh standing up.

"Ok then Naruto if you come with me you better be ready for what that means, we may never be able to call Konoha home again, and we have to stop the real traitor before we can even dream of going back. Are you ok with that?" asked the Sage Naruto paused for a moment before nodding.

"Hai I'll help you Ero." Replied Naruto as Jiraiya gently pulled the boy beside him.

"Ok gaki looks like we have to make sure your strong enough then." Smiled Jiraiya as Naruto nodded up at him.

Hello for some welcome for others well I decided to take the advice of reviewers and split the chapters up into 10,000 pieces, hope it helps in the enjoyment and thanks for reading.