Life in Konoha's ANBU by Shezza

Chapter 29: The Chunin Exams: Part I

On the very day of the Chunin Exams, two shinobi met. Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of the Village Hidden in Leaves, and Jiraiya of the Legendary Three stood on the Hokage's Monument, staring down at the village. It was early in the morning and the stars were still out. The street lights were still on, and they twinkled in the darkness, even as the sun began to rise on the horizon. The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, looking out at his beloved village, while Jiraiya sat on the head of the Second Hokage, watching the stars.

Sarutobi lowered the pipe from his lips. "It has been a productive month," he murmured. "We are well prepared for the Chunin Exams. The Tsuchikage, Kazekage and Raikage will not find us wanting."

"I have to say," Jiraiya began. "I don't like the idea of using Naruto as a showpiece. He's already getting enough attention as it is." He didn't look at the Third Hokage while he was speaking. "I don't like it, old man."

"You don't have to," Sarutobi rebuked quietly. "Unfortunately, you truly don't have a say."

"I am his godfather," Jiraiya reminded. He folded his bulky arms. "I would have thought that would have given me some sort of say."

Sarutobi smiled gently. "According to all of the legal documents, Uzumaki Naruto is a ward of the state- and falls under my jurisdiction." He puffed on his pipe. "Don't worry. He's become a fine shinobi. His parents would be proud."

"Minato would be," Jiraiya said. "Kushina-" here he winced, "Well, we'll be hearing it when we finally cark it. She never liked the business of raising 'child prodigies'. She wasn't impressed with what I did to Minato."

"You turned him into the Fourth Hokage, a man still respected and feared to this day," Sarutobi said. "There is no shame in that."

"Tell that to the survivors of the Bloodied Plains," Jiraiya said sombrely. "Don't get me wrong. I loved Minato. He was a fantastic shinobi, and a kind and gentle man. But what he did after Obito died, the hundreds he killed- that was the work of a monster."

"That was the work of somebody who did what needs to be done," Sarutobi rebuked none-too-gently. He turned, puffing on his pipe. "That is what a Hokage does. They do what needs to be done to protect their Village. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"And that includes raising a twelve year old boy into believe he's nothing more than a weapon for the village," Jiraiya observed. There was no accusation in his voice- it was just an observation.

"He is a weapon," Sarutobi said. He took a deep breath. "As much as it pains me to say, Uzumaki Naruto is a sword of Konoha, ready to be plunged into our enemies. That is the nature of Jinchuuriki, the fate of the prodigy, the state of this world."

The Sannin let out a loud sigh.

"What a fucked up world we live in," he murmured.

Sarutobi smiled. "You have become very idealistic, Jiraiya," he said, and there was something like pride in his voice. But, then it hardened as the Hokage continued. "But this village cannot be run on idealism. It must be run through pragmatism and..."

"Pessimism?" Jiraiya interrupted. His face had taken on a hard look, his brow set into place and his jaw locked. "Our world will not change unless we change our attitudes."

"Our world has already changed," Sarutobi countered. He put down his pipe. "Nonetheless, this is not the time or the place to once again argue over this matter. Let us focus on more important things."

"Naruto." Jiraiya let out a deep sigh. "He's a mess, old man. You've been good for him, and you can get him to lighten up and express himself. But other than that, he clams up and runs his little 'quiet and polite' routine. From what I can tell, there's still a lot of stuff he's struggling to cope with, all the way back to the Blitz."