Chapter 03

Sandaime and his guest looked at each other momentarily with no words being exchanged between them. After a brief moment of silence between the two of them, Sandaime spoke, "Senju Tsunade, it's a been a long while."

"Yes it has, Sarutobi-sensei," Tsunade replied to her former sensei. She was currently in her late thirties and was known by many as the Sucker, one of the legendary Sannin. Tsunade remarked, "The Anbu you sent to find me told me that a terrible event happened in here a week ago. Judging from the damages and the looks on the people's faces, I'd say a lot more has happened than what the Anbu was willing to let on."

"…," Hiruzen.

"He also told me that there was another major issue at hand here that was a matter of the utmost importance that requires my presence before you. He wouldn't tell me what it was saying that only you alone could tell me since it was highly confidential for only my ears to ear. (Momentarily paused)…In truth I truly didn't want to return to this village again although I reluctantly did so since you personally requested my audience."

Hiruzen sighed, "…I understand that a great deal has happened in your life which caused you to grow bitter towards your home village and I won't make any excuses about it."

Before Tsunade said another word, her eyes caught sight of a baby's crib that was at the side of Hiruzen's office. Curiously she went over to the crib and looked inside of it, seeing a week old baby boy sleeping peacefully inside. Her mood started to lighten up upon seeing the child. Smiling at the newborn, she asked her former sensei, "Who's the cute blond haired infant? Certainly he can't be your grandchild, yes?"

"You're right, he's not my grandchild," Hiruzen replied, "His name is Naruto and he's Yondaime's son and heir."

The Sannin's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing those words.

"Minato had a kid," Tsunade said in surprise and happily, "Speaking of Minato, where is he and his wife Kushina? Is Yondaime out on some diplomatic business trip in another village with you covering for him here, especially after everything that's happened? And where's the boy's mother?"

Tsunade saw a certain look on Sarutobi's face, which was a bad omen.

"Tsunade," Hiruzen started, "I humbly ask for you to adopt Minato's child."

That was when she looked at her former sensei was if he lost his mind.

"YOU WANT ME TO DO WHAAAT," Tsunade shouted causing Naruto to wake up and start crying. Hiruzen sighed again as he went over to Naruto, lifting him out of his crib and into his arms, eventually calming the child.

"Adopt Minato's son," Tsunade asked in disbelief, "Have you lost your mind? Exactly where is Minato and his wife?!"

"Tsunade," Hiruzen replied quickly cutting Tsunade off, "Please calm yourself down Tsunade."

In a calmer tone he suggested, "Take a seat Tsunade. There's something that I have to tell you. Sad to say you're not going to like what you're going to hear."

Having no other option, Tsunade pulled up a seat and sat down as her former sensei advised. Hiruzen pulled his office seat over towards his former student and sat down on it with Naruto still cradled in his arms. Hiruzen began explaining, "A week ago, the great monster known as Kyuubi No Yoko came and attacked the village. Days before the monster's attack, however, Minato received word from one of his top shinobi about Kyuubi's eventual arrival to Konoha. As you're well aware Tsunade, Kyuubi's existence was no myth to Konohagakure even before its attack. The people knew what the monster was capable of doing after hearing many stories about the beast's power. Many however couldn't understand why Kyuubi was coming to attack Konoha, killing and destroying everything in its path as it made its way to our village. Minato worked night and day trying to find ways of stopping the creature, but had little success. It was a profound burden for him and the fact that his wife was about to go into premature labor because of the heavy stress and frustration both of them were in wasn't helping.

"In truth, the villagers knew that Minato was married to a most skilled kunoichi who was pregnant with their child. What they don't know is that she went into labor prematurely because of the intense stress both her and her husband were in on the night of Kyuubi's attack. She was secretly rushed to a private medical tent during the attack where to gave birth to their son. Sadly though, because of his wife's severe emotional distress and weakened condition, Kushina died shortly after giving birth to Naruto and the news of his wife's death devastated Minato."

Tsunade was already feeling her tears building up in her eyes before they started falling free down her face. Sarutobi continued, "And what severely added more pain to Minato was the ancient kinjutsu ougi he finally found to seal away and imprison the Kyuubi No Yoko. The beast however was too powerful to be contained in any inorganic vessel, or animal. This kinjutsu ougi required a newborn human child whose umbilical cord was freshly cut and there was no other child born that night except his own. In performing the kinjutsu, the sealer would have to surrender his or her life for the kinjutsu ougi to take its effects. (Sadly) I could still remember the demolished look on Minato's face, when he saw that his whole life's work and the family he so eagerly wanted to have with his wife and son were destroyed within such a short time and reduced to nothing.