Friends Hidden in the Leaves - 1

Chapter Soundtrack: "Peruna" by Akeboshi

Jiraiya, The Legendary Toad Hermit is highly regarded (usually) for his amazing abilities including his marvelous sealing and summoning techniques, as well as the Rasengan. His knowledge and skills are well respected.

But, somehow, all that knowledge becomes irrelevant when one is hunched over at a bar, visibly distressed, with three small children nagging at said person.

Well, at least one was still nagging...

"Hey old man! What are you doing? We've been here for hours so let's get going!"

Naruto stood on a stool next to the sennin and bombarded him with questions, while Haku and Gaara sat quietly waiting for further instruction. Konoha wasn't what they had expected, or rather, Jiraiya was a poor tour guide.

Either way, they hadn't done very much since their arrival.

They had been in the Leaf Village for about two hours, and Jiraiya had made a bee line for the nearest tavern, wanting to strip away the tension Naruto had so generously bestowed him with during their return journey.

It wasn't the wisest move.

The bartender wasn't sure what to make of the sage sitting there with three small children at his side. He didn't say anything and went about serving Jiraiya, after all, a well-paying customer doesn't need their privacy invaded. Although, the yappy kid was annoying.

"Old man, when am I gonna get to go see Hinata-chan?" Naruto bent down to get a better look at the buzzed ninja.

Jiraiya had his head bowed down on the counter, and he mumbled a feeble response to the blonde boy. Who was this 'Hinata' he kept rambling on about anyway? Psh...he could care less.

Why the hell did he have three kids with him anyway? He had been through this kind of rigmarole twice in the past! But a third time? 'Third time's a charm…'

Two jinchuriki and a farm boy…it was the oddest congregation he had ever seen.

"I'm gonna need another drink..." The sennin muttered; his head lolled weakly on his folded arms.

Neither Haku nor Gaara could make heads or tails of the sage's odd behavior. Haku, being the most perceptive, had come to the conclusion that whatever was going on was not the most wholesome activity they could be participating in.

"What is this stuff anyway?" Naruto yanked the bottle of sake out of the man's hand easily. He inspected it with an inquisitive sniff, and Haku and Gaara watched curiously while he took a sip.

Jiraiya wasn't moving, and Gaara could hear the faint snores coming from under the man's mop of white hair. Why is he sleeping now? He was wide awake a second ago...

In disgust, Naruto spat out the strong rice-wine, "Nyah! That stuff is gross!"

He handed the bottle to Haku, who passed it along warily to Gaara.

'Why did Haku just hand me this?' Gaara inspected the alcoholic beverage. Jiraiya had been guzzling down its contents for quite a while; there must have been a reason.

Before Haku could advise him against it, Gaara tipped back the sake and put the bottle down.

'Whoa.'

"This stuff is..." Gaara's faced scrunched in reaction to it. It was nasty.

"Hey old man! Snap out of it!" Naruto gave him a few reviving slaps on the cheek, "I'm fed up with waiting for you!"

"Ugh..." Jiraiya heaved himself up and looked to the kids.

A blonde, a redhead and then dark hair. The colors made him dizzy, but he stood up anyway and paid the tab for his numerous drinks.

"Thank you very much, sir." The bartender wasn't sure if the sennin had meant to leave as much money as he did, but again, he said nothing about it.

"Be careful, he doesn't look so well," Haku led the drunken sage along by the hand carefully, "Maybe he had too much to drink…"

The four of them walked down the street with Jiraiya muttering insensible babble and occasionally pausing to shake his head as if he were some sort of irritated dog.

"Now that you mention it..." Naruto acknowledged the ninja's state, "He does look a bit sick. We'll take him back to my place for a rest."

They agreed it was the best course of action if the sennin had to be such a burden.

Gaara tugged his gourd along, it swung gently on his back while he walked beside Naruto. The Village Hidden in the Leaves was much different than his home. Trees and plants were everywhere and there was not a grain of sand to be found.

The red haired boy had even been surprised he was shivering slightly, for he was not yet adjusted to the cooler temperature of Konoha.

'This is the place where I can learn to control my power and...' The thought of his painful departure from Suna glanced across his mind again,'...maybe I can stop the voice from talking to me...'

He was thankful he didn't have to listen to the psychopathic demands of the demon imprisoned inside of him for the moment. But any time the voice returned would be too soon.

'I'll just ignore it then.'

Suddenly, Jiraiya sniffed and then appeared to have snapped out of his funk.

"Oh, my head...wait a minute," The sage groaned, "Where are you taking me?"

"To Naruto's place." Haku answered.

Jiraiya was less than pleased with that response, "Like hell you are! That place is probably a nest of wild animals and ramen!"

Naruto whipped around and snarled at the halted ninja, "What? Fine! You can't come then!"

They just stood there, wondering what to do. Jiraiya quickly realized that disorganized six-year-olds and a wicked buzz didn't mix.

"We're going to the Hokage," The man announced, "There's a lot of explaining I have to do on all three of your accounts, especially you, you little brat!" He pointed to Naruto.

It was becoming increasingly obvious that Jiraiya and Naruto lived to bother each other.

"I only did what I had to do..." Naruto retorted, but knew that he shouldn't have so recklessly fled from his village.

"Sure..."

The three children followed Jiraiya in the opposite direction, and ahead of them a large tower came into sight.

Haku looked up, observing the structure as they approached. Back in the Water Country he hadn't ever seen a building so tall before.

"What is that?" He murmured.

Naruto quickly answered, "That's the Hokage's tower! Cool huh?"

It wasn't anything new to Gaara. He recalled a similar tower that had been built for the Kazekage as well in Suna. 'My father is the Kazekage…and he only wants me dead…' The boy considered.

Would the Hokage want the same?