Chapter 2 – Growing gains, growing pains, and travel games

The next couple of years seemed like a blur for Jiraiya and his godson/surrogate nephew Naruto, although at the same time it never felt like there was a moment in a day that was wasted.

However, this didn't mean that the Toad Sage didn't have his hands full, for he more than did, namely during the first few years given that Naruto had proved to be quite the bundle of energy even as a toddler. In fact, it got to where the Sannin had to place guard-seals around Naruto's crib (and room for that matter) so the child couldn't get anywhere Jiraiya didn't want him to (namely near his manuscripts for his Icha-Icha series).

Despite this, Jiraiya learned that instead of peeking at women for "research", he found that he could attract women to him whenever he took Naruto outside, namely when he would head over to the bathhouse. At that point all he had to do was have Naruto near him, summon a toad for his godson to play with and the ladies would come over and just swoon at the sight. All in all, it was a pretty win-win scenario for the Sannin, even with the comedic results from the encounters.

Unfortunately, the whole thing was short-lived for shortly after, word began to spread about how Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin was looking after "the demon brat" and as such people would start to give Naruto dirty looks and the like. One person even went so far as to call the boy a monster in front of Jiraiya. Needless to say, once the Toad Sage was done with the man, the latter had all of his ribs crushed to gravel, all of his major organs were damaged severely, and to top it all off, he was rendered completely paralyzed. At that moment, the villagers were then reasserted as to why Jiraiya was known as the strongest of the Sannin, despite being a pervert and an occasional goofball.

Upon learning of this Hiruzen then made a decree that no-one under any circumstances was to speak of the Nine-Tails or the fact that the creature was sealed within Naruto, much less whisper of such things, and those who failed to realize that were punished severely.

For Naruto, he had been at first indifferent to the glares, but then as he started to grow up and was becoming more aware of the world around him, he began to wonder why people would look at him like he had the plague, especially since he knew he didn't do anything to them. Jiraiya wasn't sure how to explain it to the boy when he was asked, and as such he talked to his sensei about this. After giving it some thought, Sarutobi said that Jiraiya could tell Naruto about the Nine-Tails when he graduated from the Ninja Academy (for Naruto had once seen his godfather training and having already heard stories of Jiraiya's exploits and whatnot, instantly wanted to become a great ninja like the Sannin and his other hero the Yondaime Hokage were, to which Jiraiya had no problem with. Of course, the Sannin couldn't help but smile at the fact that Naruto was unknowingly idolizing his own father). Relieved that he had something to go on and that he wouldn't have to keep it a secret from his godson forever, Jiraiya then told Naruto that it was because of something that happened on the day of his birth (not by what Naruto did, but because of something else) and that when he graduated from the Ninja Academy he would be told more about it. This frustrated Naruto a bit because he wanted to know right then and there, but the tone in his godfather's voice told him that it was best to just trust him and not argue with him about it, so Naruto went with it and put the whole thing on the proverbial back-burner. However, the glares from people still stung him at times. But rather than just stand there and take it, Naruto struck back the only way he knew how – with pranks. Needless to say, this got the kid into some trouble, and as such Jiraiya had to try and keep Naruto in line discipline-wise (although deep down he applauded his godson's pranking, especially on those who bullied him).

Although Naruto had to deal with a great deal of prejudice, not everyone in Konoha was cruel to him. For one thing, there was the Third Hokage himself Hiruzen Sarutobi, who Naruto came to see as a grandfather-type figure in many ways. Then there was Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, who ran the Ichiraku Ramen restaurant, and both of them were always gracious and kind to Naruto and Jiraiya whenever they would stop by. Needless to say, their genuine kindness and knack for making Naruto's favorite food in the world made the stand one of Naruto's favorite and frequent hangouts, as well as Jiraiya's.

Plus, there was also the Nara, Akimichi and Inuzuka clans, who genuinely honored the Yondaime's last request and were kind to Naruto whenever they would see him, regardless of whether Jiraiya was around or not.

When the Nara clan's head Shikaku first saw Naruto and how the boy was with his son Shikamaru, a sneaking suspicion began to creep up in his mind that Naruto was connected to his late friend Minato in ways much more than just being the one chosen to be the Nine-Tails' jailer. However, the Nara clan-head quickly realized that if his suspicions were true, and that Naruto was in fact Minato and Kushina's son, then it explained why Minato sealed the Nine-Tails in the boy, and why the Third Hokage gave Naruto the last name "Uzumaki" instead of "Namikaze", along with decreeing that no one was to speak of the Nine-Tails at all, lest anyone had a death-wish.

And although Shikaku wisely kept his suspicions to himself, he did wonder why no one else (namely his two other good friends Inoichi and Chōza) was able to put the pieces together and figure out the resemblance between Naruto and Minato.

But then again, perception is reality. And sometimes people only see what they want to see. Shikaku thought. But one can only imagine how the women in the village (namely those from the Yamanaka, Hyūga, and Uchiha clans) would react if they knew Minato had a son and it was Naruto himself…

With Chōza Akimichi and his son Chōji, Naruto found kindred spirits when it came to having an appetite for food, although Jiraiya did have to tell Chōza not to let Naruto stuff himself because many were the times before where Naruto would come home from hanging out with Chōji and would just be bouncing off the walls (both literally and figuratively).

With the Inuzuka clan things were pretty much the same as with the aforementioned clans, although the clan-head Tsume and her daughter Hana noticed that Naruto had a scent similar to that of foxes, but not in an unpleasant way. One time Tsume was asked by a woman as to why she allowed a "demon" to be around her own son Kiba, to which Tsume just tore the woman a new one and said if a person can't tell the difference between a person and a demon, then that person had a problem. Plus Tsume reminded said woman what the Third had decreed, to which the woman reluctantly silenced herself and walked away.

For the most part, Jiraiya felt relieved that at least Naruto was able to play with some of the kids his own age from those three clans, namely Shikamaru Nara, Chōji Akmichi, and Kiba Inuzuka, but unfortunately other kids from other clans/families didn't follow that example (However, the Uchiha clan seemed to be more in the middle with Naruto in the sense where some were friendly to him, others were just indifferent, and then there were some who were just flat-out rude to the boy; while the Hyūga clan pretty much shunned Naruto). However, despite this, Naruto didn't let it get him down too much, for he knew he already had a few people acknowledge him for himself (his Pervy-Uncle Jiraiya having been the first, as well as the Sandaime Hokage), so that helped give him the strength to endure the scorn from people. Plus, Naruto heartily believed that he would win the naysayers over one day, if not now. In addition, the boy didn't hesitate to step up if help was needed, even if he got the short end of the stick as a result. One example was when one of the ANBU guards found Naruto beaten up in a forested area near one of the training grounds. It turned out Naruto had been trying to defend a Hyūga girl from some bullies that were picking on her and got beaten up for it (although Naruto did manage to give as good as he got). When Jiraiya heard what happened, he was tempted to track down the boys responsible and give both them and their parents a what-for, but he realized that even with proof (which could be easily obtained via Jiraiya's own spying and help from Inoichi Yamanaka), the parents would be unwilling to admit that their children were in the wrong in beating up Naruto, plus the kids didn't speak of the Nine-Tails (which if they had, then Jiraiya would have more ammunition to have the bullies punished via Sarutobi), so the Sage grudgingly let it go. However, wanting to make sure he would be there to help Naruto if needed Jiraiya then made a tracking seal and put it on a chain earring, which he then attached to Naruto's left ear. If Naruto needed help, all he had to do was channel his chakra to the seal on the earring and the corresponding seal Jiraiya put on one of his own gauntlets would activate.

Throughout all this, Jiraiya still kept up with his espionage duties and maintained contact with his spy network as much as possible. It wasn't easy, but the Sannin managed, and managed well. And his spying/information-gathering would be needed close to home when it turned out that the Uchiha clan were planning an insurrection on Konoha, a conflict that had started when the three Konoha Elders Danzō, Koharu and Homura had suspected that one of the Uchiha clan members had gotten ahold of the Nine-Tails and used it to attack the village after the Elders had a chance to view the information gathered from what happened on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack. Hiruzen argued against this, for there was no proof that pointed to any of the existing Uchiha clan members, but Danzō pointed out that only a shinobi of the Uchiha's caliber (namely Madara's) would be capable of doing such a thing, and while Madara had been defeated decades ago, Danzō added, who was to say that there wasn't another Uchiha born in this generation with the same potential? With his two colleagues Koharu and Homura supporting him, Danzō moved that the Uchiha clan be relocated to a remote corner of the village so they could be placed under close surveillance. Needless to say, neither Hiruzen nor Jiraiya were happy about this. Itachi Uchiha, the firstborn son to Uchiha clan-head Fugaku and his wife Mikoto, was used as a spy via Danzō's "insistence" so as to keep an even closer eye on the clan. Plus the fact that Itachi was also in the ANBU made him only more of a logical choice. Despite the circumstances Itachi was in, he still kept his loyalties to the village, not to his clan and especially not to Danzō, and fortunately Itachi found that along with the Third Hokage, he had a genuine confidant in Jiraiya with whom he directly shared information regarding his clan's activities, believing in the Sannin's ability (and the Sandaime's) to help discern what was really going on and what the Elders were perceiving. As a result, Jiraiya was allowed access to places within the Uchiha compound with Itachi's assistance (except for the women sections of the clan's private bathhouses, much to the Toad Sage's dismay).

When Itachi finally learned of his clan's plans for an insurrection (as well as the fact that his own father was heading it up, along with his own girlfriend being a part of it), Itachi knew action had to be taken immediately. So he met with Jiraiya and Hiruzen and told them what he discovered. Jiraiya then contacted the spy toads that he had placed strategically around the Uchiha compound (with Itachi's help) and learned that not all the Uchiha clan members were involved (Mikoto being among the latter to Itachi's relief), but for those who were, it had been as a result of being discriminated and accused of something they hadn't done, to being ostracized not just from the power structure, but from everyone else in the village. Not only that, but Fugaku having a bit of a superiority complex and wanting to elevate his clan to what he felt they deserved only made the coup more of a feasible choice.

No sooner did Danzō hear of this did he call for an immediate eradication of the entire Uchiha clan, to which Itachi, Hiruzen and Jiraiya sent some serious Killing Intent the grizzled war-hawk's way. Itachi believed in peace and justice, but he did not believe in this course of action (and neither did Hiruzen or Jiraiya), and as such suggested that only the guilty parties should be dealt with and the innocent spared, that way even if the Uchiha clan's honor was tarnished (something Itachi hated despite everything), at least those who were innocent in the entire thing would be taking the lead and working to rebuild that honor again. Jiraiya and Hiruzen agreed with the Uchiha prodigy, but Danzō had Koharu and Homura backing him up, and it seemed like a tie for a day or two until Itachi's own mother Mikoto came forward and supported Itachi's decision, to which Hiruzen then made his final choice and ordered that only the ones involved in the coup were to be apprehended, and the rest who were innocent left alone. The ANBU followed through on their orders, and with Itachi's help, Fugaku, Itachi's girlfriend and several others were arrested. However, interestingly enough, Fugaku nor his conspirators resisted arrest.

With the proof provided by Itachi, Jiraiya and Mikoto, Fugaku and his conspirators were found guilty and sentenced to death, but not before Fugaku told his wife Mikoto that despite everything, he didn't judge her or their son Itachi for doing what they felt they had to do, and he also requested for Mikoto and Itachi to take care of their youngest son Sasuke, for he would need them now more than ever before.

After that, the Uchiha were then brought out of the outskirts of the village, where they were then allowed to live their lives peacefully again and try to rebuild their clan's honor and reputation. Danzō had fumed at this, but seeing that the end results were genuinely working out, he stepped off. Although the old war-hawk still threw a subtle insult at his onetime teammate every now and then.

After that dispute, business pretty much went on as usual. And a year before Naruto was to enroll in the Ninja Academy, Jiraiya had a very special plan in store for his godson…

"Hi Pervy-Uncle! I'm home!" Naruto called out, to which Jiraiya fell down from his chair.

"Brat, how many times have I told you not to call me that?" Jiraiya asked, exasperated.

"Hey, what can I say? If the sandal fits…" Naruto remarked with a toothy grin that reminded Jiraiya so much of Minato.

"Well anyway, I'm glad you're here, because I have something to tell you."

"I'm enrolling in the Academy early?" Naruto asked, getting excited.

"No." Jiraiya said, to which Naruto nearly lost his balance and fell.

"Oh, come on! Why not? I wanna start as quick as I can so I can show everyone what I'm really made of, dattebayo!"

"You'll start when the time is right, and that won't be until next year." Jiraiya said firmly. "So just take a deep breath and relax for a moment, please?"

Naruto sighed. "All right. What's up?"

"Well, seeing as how you still have a year before you can officially enroll in the Academy, I thought it might be a good idea if we go traveling outside Konoha and see the sights before you do."

"You mean…outside Konoha?" Naruto asked, a grin spreading over his face and getting wider and wider.

"That's right." Jiraiya said. "And not just to places I've been to, but even to the places out in the West."

For a few seconds Naruto didn't know what to say, but then he smiled widely and jumped into his godfather/surrogate uncle's arms.

"You're awesome, unc!" Naruto exclaimed.

"I know, I try to be." Jiraiya said good-naturedly.

"So when do we leave?"

"The day after tomorrow morning first thing. I already cleared it up with Sarutobi-sensei, so everything should be okay."

"All right! Well, better get my stuff ready then." Naruto said as he then made his way to his room.

"And try to put more than just Ramen-cups in your backpack, Naruto." Jiraiya called out.

"No promises, but I'll try!" Naruto called back.

Please do. Jiraiya thought as he then went to his own room and began to pack. As he was sorting through some paraphernalia he took notice of a book he had on the bed, which was a reprinted copy of his first book, "The Tale of The Incredibly Gutsy Shinobi".

In a way, Jiraiya couldn't help but be marveled at how even though the book didn't sell very well, it still had a place in some people's hearts, namely his late student, his sensei, Konoha Jonin Kakashi Hatake, and his own godson Naruto, all of whom loved the book.

Maybe I should give it another shot and try to put it out there again. And this time, not just on this side of the globe. Jiraiya thought as he picked up the book and looked at it for a while before taking a scroll and sealing the story in it before placing it in his backpack. After that the Toad Sage then reached for a map that had a layout of the places he wanted both himself and Naruto to see. Now while some of those places involved visiting some of the other villages like Suna, Jiraiya made absolutely sure to avoid places like Otogakure (Hidden Sound Village) and Iwagakure (Hidden Rock Village), given that his former teammate-turned international criminal Orochimaru had been the one who founded the former village (according to his spy network) and was still ruling it; and in the latter village's case – while Jiraiya was certain that Iwa didn't know of Minato having a son, he still did not want to take any chances that they could figure it out if they saw Naruto, so he arranged their travel routes to where his godson wouldn't be within ten miles of either place.

Then Jiraiya came to two distinct places on the map that he had circled years ago after The Third Shinobi World War ended. Both of the landmarks represented villages located in more mountainous regions and were away from the hidden ninja villages and the countries they were associated with. While both landmarks didn't seem like much, their names however, would make one in the ninja world think differently, for one landmark had the kanji that said, "Mugen Tenshin", and the other, "Hayabusa".

Although he had only ever been to those villages a few times in his life (and not just for "research"), Jiraiya knew of the two villages very well. Unlike Konoha, Suna, and the other hidden villages, the Mugen Tenshin and Hayabusa villages were different in their governing systems. For the Mugen Tenshin, they were ruled by a group of Master Shinobi, with the lower shinobi "troops" ranking from Greater to Lesser Shinobi. The Master governs the clan's activities both from within and without the village, and is regarded with respect by other clan members. In addition, the Mugen Tenshin are supported by a shadow sect known as the Hajin Mon sect, who act as guards/servants to the Master, and are regarded as the most skilled members of the clan.

The Hayabusa village operated the same way, although they didn't form as large of a tribe as the Mugen Tenshin did. Based on what Jiraiya knew of them, they are a clan of shinobi descended from an ancient lineage called the Dragon Lineage, a race of warriors who had sided with creatures known as Dragons against entities known as Evil Dieties, The Tribes, and The Dark Dragon (all of whom were also called Fiends). In addition, they were also guardians of very powerful artifacts such as the Dragon Sword, the Dark Dragon Blade and the Dragon's eye jewel and have charged their Dragon Shrine Maidens every generation with keeping said artifacts safeguarded and sealed.

And with good reason. Thought the Sannin. If the Fiends or even Orochimaru were to get ahold of those artifacts, Kami only knows what kind of disaster would result.

Given that Minato had helped both villages out during the Third Shinobi War and made allies there as a result (and more fan-girls to boot), I think I should pay them both a visit on Minato's behalf and try to keep that bond intact, even though Minato's no longer here. Plus both villages know who I am, so hopefully it shouldn't be any trouble.

After looking at the map some more, Jiraiya then put the map in his backpack before taking another look at his checklist to see what else he needed for his and Naruto's world trip.

BAM!

"Ow!"

Jiraiya then snapped out of his focus just in time to hear Naruto hit the wall of his room.

"I'm okay! I'm okay!" Naruto called out.

I swear, at this point, I won't be surprised if it's Naruto's antics that give me a fatal heart attack instead of a topless busty woman! Jiraiya thought to himself as he ran his hand through his platinum-blonde hair before getting back to his checklist.

AN: Credit goes to Aragon Potter (author of "Hope of The Senju Clan" and "The Raikage") for some of the ideas here in this chapter, namely in regards to the chain earring on Naruto's ear (lol).