Unseen Observations

As Naruto pushed Hanabi out, he stood at the side of the alleyway for a moment. His eyes turned to a piece of broken wood that he had crushed prior to realizing that dear sweet Hinata's little sister was following him. And, just like he had hoped, there was a small drip of blood adorning its body. "Hm, I wasn't planning on messing with the Hyuga family so soon, but I will take the opportunities when they come. We're going to be good friends, Hanabi-chan. The best of friends," Naruto said to himself. He picked up the piece of broken wood and...licked her blood off of it. A rather...peculiar taste, but the deed was done. He could feel her chest pounding as she ran. Best of all...he could hear her thoughts.

"What are you waiting for? Let's get this over with!" the tiny Hyuga said some ways down the street. The blonde academy student walked out of the alleyway and into the streets.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming dattebayo!" Naruto hollered back, his eyes a pulsating red beneath his eyelids. He then stilled for a moment. A frown appeared on his face. Someone was watching him, and he had a fairly good idea of who it was. Thankfully, it only started just now and not a few seconds later.

"You should really learn to mind your damn business, Jiji." the young boy thought to himself before he continued walking.

.....

"Sensei, aren't you just blowing this out of proportion? Kids say weird things all the time. He probably just meant he would dress up in some weird mask and scare people. You know how proficient Minato and I were at sealing techniques. Is there really a need for me to check the seal?" a tall, white-haired man asked. So long was his hair that it covered the rather sizeable scroll tied to his back. Wrapped in a standard ponytail to keep it from showering the rest of his back, it was no less spiky than anywhere else. As he walked around the room, his wooden sandals clacked on the floor.

The Sandaime Hokage watched Naruto become friends with the young Hyuga. It was rather surprising since those of the Hyuga clan did not make friends so easily, especially not those so close to Hiashi Hyuga. Nevertheless, perhaps it do well for them both in the future, but...that did not answer the question at hand.

Sarutobi exhaled. "Perhaps it is so, Jiraiya, but I have not kept Konoha standing for so many years to lose it to paranoia. If there is nothing going on with Naruto-kun, then that's all well and good, but if the Kyuubi is influencing him then the seal needs to be strengthened. We cannot have a repeat of October 10," Hiruzen said.

The one named Jiraiya felt the frown on his face intensify. He did not need to be told about that day. If that was the case then perhaps they would need to jump on this before it happened.

"Why not check the seal during his training period? The council decided a year ago that he would be informed of his jinchuuriki status. Perhaps his body has already begun accessing the Kyuubi's chakra unconsciously. We've never had a department dedicated to the study of biological jinchuuriki habits. Regardless of reasoning, we'd better tell him before the villagers do,"

Hiruzen and Jiraiya turned to Kakashi who had been in the room with them. Neither could deny that point. "I can't stay here for long, Sensei. I'm still investigating the movements of Orochimaru. There is also movements from the other four nations. I'd like to train Naruto more, but the village comes first, and we have to be ready," Jiraiya said.

"Pardon my statement, Jiraiya-sama, but training Naruto as a jinchuuriki can equally be claimed as putting the village first as well. It's fine to be investigating these threats, but it does not mean much if we do not have the power to protect Konoha," Kakashi said.

Hiruzen quickly agreed. "Wise words, Kakashi. Jiraiya, I do realize the priorities of Orochimaru are great, but I'm reassigning your duties. I want you to spend at least three to five months in the village training Naruto-kun. Kakashi, next year will be the official graduation of academy students. If Naruto-kun passes, then I'll be assigning him to your team along with Uchiha Sasuke, and an unspecified female kunoichi. I assume I don't need to inform anyone here of why on this decision?" he asked. Jiraiya and Kakashi remained silent. Both knew why this would be happening.

"Very good. We'll begin next week at a provided location. Let me be the one to inform Naruto-kun. No doubt he will have many questions. I will have to prepare my answers very carefully," The Sandaime said. The Hokage then dismissed both shinobi from his presence.

Kakashi and Jiraiya walked separate ways, a goodbye to each other. As Jiraiya turned down another side of the street, his gaze hardened. He...he couldn't tell sensei just yet. Not until he had all the facts! If what was happening was true...then Konoha would be in a very trying time in the future. Even now, the memory from last year burned deep into his mind.

"I am sorry, Jiraiya-chan, but your actions...or rather your inactions have changed the prophecy. The revolution which shall change the shinobi world...is not a gentle one. It is a fire that will seek to consume everything. It is a revolution...to the destruction of the world. I pray you may only succeed in eliminating the cause before it's too late. The Child of Prophecy...will attempt to make the world crumble before his or her desires. If you cannot stop it...there will be nothing left, but utter ruin,"

Jiraiya stood in front of the elderly Great Toad Sage, his eyes wide. He...He had failed?

No! Not yet! Jiraiya had not failed yet! He might have messed up with the prophecy, but he would not let the world suffer for his mistake! There was still time to right this wrong. He just had to be smart about it. It pained him greatly, but for the world to have even some measure of peace the Child of Prophecy...had to die!

....

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