New Mission

"So what now gramps?" Naruto asked Hiruzen as they were both looking at three dead Suna Shinobi in the Hokage's Office which was what remained when the Edo Tensei ended. Hiruzen sighed.

"After we're done rebuilding Konoha, I'm going to to find a successor to the seat. I'm getting too old for this shit."

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Four days later.....

Jiraiya was writing a bunch of paragraphs in a notebook of his. He was just scribbling nonsense since he was focusing on something else in his mind.

The village had taken quite some damage with the snakes rampaging in it for a while before Jiraiya came to save the day, it was far less than most could have hoped for.

'Naruto did really good. Gamabunta tells me the kid's one of the ballsiest people he's ever met, and with what he told me of the fight I'm definitely believing him.' Jiraiya thought as he spun his pen skillfully. Naruto really had impressed him, not just in this battle, but ever since they had met.

The reports he had received when he had been out of Konoha hoping to gain information on Orochimaru had told him that Naruto was nothing but an idiot, someone who had been the dead last of his class and barely managed to scrimp by.

He also found out that it wasn't until Naruto's last year in the academy is when the blonde's growth skyrocketed. He also heard that the blonde managed to memorize everything in the Scroll Of Seals and managed to learn the Kage Bunshin in one hour, a feat only made possible by the boy's ridiculously large reserves.

He was loud and had a tendency to run off his mouth but that was to be expected. However, he also spoke far more fluently than he would have expected, the boy had a sharp tongue that could shoot shit with the best of them.

Jiraiya smirked. 'Hah! Definitely a combination of Kushina and Minato! Got the genius and innovation from the both of them too! Guess it's time to pass the Rasengan on. Maybe he can be the one to perfect it.' Jiraiya thought and narrowed his eyes as he heard two people approaching him from behind.

He turned around and suppressed a groan when he saw that it was Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. The two were former members of the dissolved Team Tobirama which consisted of Hiruzen, Homura and her in it.

She and Homura currently serve as members of the Konoha Council which exists to help the Hokage govern the village and to make sure all decisions are made with the best interest of Konoha and its inhabitants in mind.

'The fossils of Konoha.' Jiraiya thought sarcastically as he opened his mouth to greet them.

"What can I do for you old toadies today?" Jiraiya asked them with an uncaring tone. Jiraiya really did not like the two since more often than not, they chose to side with Danzo Shimura, the last of the three elders on the man's pro-war like policies.

And truthfully right now he really did not care about what they wanted. Part of the reason he was up here sitting on a random rooftop in Konoha was because he had left the council chamber half an hour ago so he did not have to listen to the arguing they did.

'Arguing about what to do with Naruto.' Jiraiya thought to himself. The blonde's feats of strength had not gone unnoticed by the people of Konoha and he had been the talk of the town, almost as much as the fight against Orochimaru and the reanimated Senju brothers and Mito Uzumaki.

Naruto was starting to gain respect, at least from the shinobi population and some civilians. However none of that mattered to the council, or at least the civilian council. Most of them were weary of the blonde Shinobi. They wanted to place restrictions on him, or give him to Danzo.

Jiraiya swore he saw Hiruzen reaching for his kunai and performing hand seals for the Fireball Jutsu during the meeting. The Toad Sage had been able to put a stop to that by claiming the boy was his apprentice.

But with Hiruzen retiring, he knew without a Hokage they may very well get what they want. He just hoped they did not choose Danzo, or they would get what they want Hokage or not.

The two elders frowned for a moment before brightening up. Homura cleared his throat as he began to speak. "We will get straight to the point. As you are well aware, Hiruzen is retiring and Konoha is going to be without a Hokage. Hiruzen wants you to be his—

"Sorry, but I'm not interested." Jiraiya quickly interrupted him, already knowing what the elder was about to say.

"Now Jiraiya-kun, we need a strong leader and Hiruzen decided that you would take up that position." Koharu said, hoping to get Jiraiya to realize just how important this was.

Jiraiya looked away with a frown om his face. "Like I said, I'm not interested. I have absolutely no desire, nor the ability to be Hokage. Not to mention I have my spy network to keep up, and then there's my research. "

"Naruto is your apprentice isn't he? Teach him how to run the spy network." Homura argued. Jiraiya shrugged.

"I have no time to become some kind of paper pusher for the rest of my life, not with the Akatsuki starting to move out. But I wonder, if I declined who's gonna be the second choice? "

" Definitely not Danzo. " Koharu replied immediately, surprising the Toad Sage greatly.

" Really?! Wow old hag! This is the first time I've seen you not suck his dick!"

" Watch your mouth, Jiraiya! We have our limits to supporting him! Who knows what policies Danzo will implement once he becomes Hokage. Hiruzen will certainly not allow Konoha to become a warmongering nation and I don't want my reputation to be ruined." Koharu replied angrily.

There was an awkward silence around the atmosphere. Jiraiya suddenly grinned as he looked back at the two elders. "Ya know, I do have someone in mind that would make a great Hokage." Jiraiya's words made Homura narrow his eyes at him.

" You can't mean 'her' can you Jiraiya?! She abandoned Konoha for Sage's sake! She has had more than enough time to grieve for their deaths and is only harming her companions and Konoha at this point!" Homura argued. Jiraiya sighed.

" I know that.... " He mumbled.

"Jiraiya." Jiraiya widened his eyes and looked at Hiruzen who stood beside him while smiling warmly at him.

"Sensei!" Jiraiya immediately got up and stood up straight. Hiruzen took a quick glance at the two elders who disappeared immediately via Body Flicker.

"I'm sorry sensei, I can't fulfil your wishes—

"It's fine, Jiraiya. But I would like to hear your reasons." Hiruzen quickly interrupted him. Jiraiya looked down.

"I'm more of an adventurer, I find the real meaning of life by actually living it. I am not responsible, I love interacting with people and I'm 100% sure that I'm going to hate being stuck behind that desk as the decision maker."

" My destiny as you know, is to train the Child Of Prophecy. I can't do that if I'm gonna wear that hat of yours and sit behind that desk everyday until I find a successor. Tsunade is going to be a greater Hokage than I will ever be. "

" She has a good heart and undeniable morale to be the Hokage. She has the heritage, and the ability to be a good, strong leader. While she does her own thing, I will keep protecting the village and Naruto from the Akatsuki, kind of like Danzo but on the bright side."

" For that I need someone I trust, hence Tsunade. I gather a lot of intel and to carry on means more danger in each step. I just can't let anyone else do the job. That's the kind of guy I am. Also... " Jiraiya leaned into Hiruzen's ear.

" I think Naruto might be the one. "Jiraiya whispered, making Hiruzen widen his eyes in shock and look at him with pure disbelief in his expression.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. No doubt about it. Third time's the charm right?" Jiraiya grinned at him.

" Besides sensei, do you really want Icha Icha to end? When I become Hokage, I won't have time to do my research, no research means no Icha Icha. " Jiraiya added, making Hiruzen freeze.

" Y-you... You....." Hiruzen sighed and looked dowm at the ground.

"Damnit.... You're right Jiraiya, Icha Icha cannot end. Icha Icha is eternal. Find Tsunade, do you know where she is?"

"Don't worry about that, I may not know where she is, but my spy network can find her. I'll set out in a little while to begin my search. "

" In that case, I will select a group of Anbu to escort you and—

"No need for that sensei, all those people will just slow me down. I only need one that I would like to take with me. You know him very well sensei, he's the kid that figured out the weakness to the Edo Tensei. Oh and, he's also my apprentice as well."

"Huh? "

To be continued.....