Hello and welcome to the Will of Fire, part three. For those of you who are new, this is part three of an epic that I started back in 2014. There are exactly 160 other chapters posted before this one. While most of these chapters are short, it's a lot of content. I know that it says Prologue, but it's only a prologue for Part Three. Not the whole story. You can't really come in here. You have to start with part one then move on to part two. Then you can pick up here. It will not make any sense otherwise. You might get away with starting at part two, but you cannot get away with out reading any of the other sections. So, please start with part one then come back here when you're ready. I will not mind how long that takes. Thank you.

For those of you who have been following me along – I thank you. This is the start of the end. The Will of Fire will be completed. It will only take a few months. It should be completed in 2018. For the edit is already complete as of this posting. I just finished the epilogue today. So will get there. It's just gonna take a while. This story has approximately 230 pages to go through. That is less than the 267 pages of Part Two, but the same amount of pages as Part One. It's a lot to get through, so let's get going!

THE WILL OF FIRE

PART THREE

Prologue - Returning home

The room became so quiet after Naruto left. Now, you could almost hear a pin drop. It was time to get to the real reason why they had returned. Even after the seal was created no one seemed that interested in talking. Finally, Lord Third broke the silence, "I am sure you are curious as to why I have recalled you." The room remained quiet, but he did have their complete attention, "I have been receiving reports lately of that the Akatsuki have more active as of late. They are now officially hunting Jinchuriki. Already they have captured the Three Tails and Five Tails. Both of them had a sizable guard with them. It didn't have any effect. They were still taken."

Kushina's blood cooled at that news. What the Old Man was telling her was that hiding and running would do nothing. They would still capture her anyway. As they did with the others. It scared her right down to her core. She knew how powerful both of those two were. Hell, Yagura was a Kage! If he was caught, then . . .

"Don't worry, Kushina - I won't let it happen to you." She stared at her travel companion. Jiraiya was trying to cheer her up. It was pathetic, but it was helping. "After all, I promised Minato that I would look after you two."

"You did?" She asked as she thought. When did that happen?

"Hey now! Do you honestly think that the Great Jiraiya would lie?"

No one responded to that one. Jiraiya lied all the time. Especially when it came to the Ladies. Hell, he was known for it! He came up with crazy stories about how awesome he was all the time. It was his usual tactic to get a lady in the bedroom with him. Not that it worked very well, but he did try all the time. Ladies usually saw right through him. It made him seem like an incompetent fool! Which was not. Jiraiya was very good at spying and the subtle art of lying. Only he used that ability sparingly. The rest of the time he looked like a fool. Which allowed people to drop their guard around him. Which made him an awesome spy but not exactly the most honest man. The damned job practically required him to lie! It was so stupid to say something like to her. For she was one of the few that knew better. That old fool was crafty. He always lied! Dummy, now I know he didn't say that!

"What?" He demanded after a long silence.

"Jiraiya, you lie all the time."

He sighed. "Not about this. Minato asked me to take care of you two should the worst happen. He was always worried about you. Especially, when you popped that little guy out of . . ."

Lord Third cleared his throat. It was not appropriate to talk that way to lady. Even if that lady could beat you to a pulp. The fool was talking his way to a beating and he didn't even know it. That was Jiraiya for you. He had no sense when it came to the ladies. He managed to take something sweet into something dirty. What am I going to do with that fool? He sighed. "Thank you, Jiraiya. I don't think you need to finish that statement. The lady may have to harm you if you did." Jiraiya looked at Kushina then started to panic. She wasn't looking too happy at the moment. Hiruzen sighed. "Kushina, while his statement lacks eloquence it is accurate. I remember Minato mentioning that to me long ago. Not long after your son's birth in fact. He was understandably nervous about being a father. I felt the way myself when my first son was born. He had also asked me to watch out for you two. I hope that I have done a sufficient job."

Kushina's expression softened a lot. Lord Third had done so much already. He sent her away to protect her. Keeping her on the move prevented her from being chained up in her house. She was grateful for that. She needed to get away after Minato died. It hurt so much to be reminded of him. She knew that this wasn't the reason why she was sent away, but she was grateful anyway. Particularly since she got to keep her son by her side. That way she could make sure that she didn't lose him too. She would have been destroyed if Naruto was hurt because of her.

"No, you've done a great job. Thank you."

He said nothing more on the subject. He just moved on. He mentioned that for the time being she was going to need to be under heavy guard. She would have at least two ANBU guards with her at all times. He warned her against losing them as the woman was so famous for doing. While Minato couldn't do much about it that didn't mean that he couldn't. Hiruzen had some measure of control over the woman. Which the former Hokage did not have. He was not her husband. He didn't have to worry about sleeping on the couch. Hiruzen could give her a direct order and expect her to follow it. He didn't care if Kushina liked it. She was going to follow his orders and was it. No further discussion was allowed on the matter. Fortunately, the woman knew better than to argue with him on this. It made things so much easier.

"I have also decided that Naruto should have a similar guard. It is now public knowledge that he is Minato's son. While Minato may be gone there will be plenty who would love to hurt him. They may even use him to get to you. I cannot afford that. Please, inform the boy of this and make sure that he doesn't pick up your habits."

Kushina nodded again. Naruto was not going to happy with this arrangement. He never liked having guards. Year ago, it took a threat from his father to stop the boy from trying it. Now she would have to make a similar threat if she had to. Kushina still could put the fear of god in that boy if she had to. She could make him obey. There was no room for negotiation on this. Naruto was not ready to protect himself yet. He was almost there, but he still needed to get stronger. Minato had many enemies that would make short work of any genin. Naruto needed protection. She agreed with Lord Third on that. In a year or two maybe she would reconsider. Just not now. She couldn't afford to lose her son.

"I will tell him."

With that settled Lord Hiruzen moved on Jiraiya. He needed him back out in the field. Both Orochimaru and Danzo were still at large. Hiruzen had received my troubling reports that they were working the Akatsuki now. Some even suggested that the Akatsuki were behind their attack on the village three years ago. There was little proof, but Hiruzen couldn't dismiss it. The Akatsuki had troubling connections to countless organizations. The fact that an independent organization that was so well connected that it disturbed him. He just had no idea what was true about them or what their aim was.

"I am going to have to find a way to get in. I am going to need a Rogue Ninja. For only they can get in."

Jiraiya interrupted. "You want me to become a Rogue Ninja?"

Hiruzen laughed. "No. I'm afraid no one would believe your change of heart. I am going to need someone else for this task." He took a puff of his pipe then thought for a moment. "I do have an idea on who that can be. However, I will not tell you who that is until they agree. I will not force anyone to do this. This mission must accepted of their own free will. I will inform you when I have their approval."

They both nodded. They understood Lord Hiruzen's hesitation to tell them who he was thinking of. In order the mission to work the spy would have to branded as a traitor. They would have to commit some crime then flee from the village. At that point Hiruzen would brand them a Rogue Ninja and order their execution. He wouldn't make any serious attempt to apprehend them, but that spy could still be taken down by their own village. He had no way of stopping that. It would be an huge risk for anyone who accepted this mission. It would not be an easy assignment for sure. It was likely ruin to the spy's life. This should not be accepted lightly. He would need time to get the spy on board. They would respect Hiruzen's need for privacy and wait until that spy is chosen.

"What I need you to do, Jiraiya, is to be ready. I will be deploying you again shortly. I may even send you along with the party to 'capture' the spy. I am not certain just yet. I need to think about it a bit more. The show must be convincing. Otherwise it is all worthless."

Jiraiya smiled. "If you need show then you're talking to right man! I can make it very convincing. Trust me, Sensei. I will make it a show that you never forget!"

Lord Third took another puff from his pipe. He was amused by Jiraiya's silly dance. The boy was right, of course. Jiraiya was good at putting on shows. He could make a very convincing display. However, he wasn't sure that he wanted the spymaster to do it. It all depended on who he could get to agree. That would make a difference. He would let him know later if it was needed.

"Very well. I will consider it. I will inform you of my decision shortly." He smiled. "Now, I think it is time for us to get out of there. It is almost sunset and I do not want to miss young Naruto's performance."

Okay, one more chapter is coming up today. See you then!