#hiruzen sarutobi gif

[slutpoppers]

Lord Orochimaru

Naruto (2002) ep. 71

[srs-deep-dives]

Minato & Kushina: A "Deep Dive" Analysis (Section B, Part I)

In our first section we explored Minato and Kushina's love and endurance. In this section we will consider their dream of Hokage and impact on the wider plot.

(Section B) Minato and Kushina as drivers in the world narrative

Note that I said their dream of Hokage, not Minato’s dream of Hokage. Not because they both want to become Hokage, but because, as we established, Hokage is intertwined with their marriage.

(B) I. Minato and Kushina as the image of Hokageship

Chronologically, the first words uttered by both Minato and Kushina concern becoming Hokage. But while similar on the surface, their utterances spring from contrasting motives.

Minato wants to be respected by the village. Kushina wants to not be snubbed. Each is seeking to be acknowledged, but a different form of acknowledgement.

Minato is a once-in-a-generation genius. He will graduate the Academy at 10. He will set the record for the highest ever score on the chūnin written exam. He will be honing the Flying Raijin by the time he is 15-16, by which time Kurama will think of him in respect to the greatest shinobi who ever lived. From this, one can sum that Minato is destined to become Hokage. Yet at the same time, paradoxically, his birth sets him apart.

The non-mention of other Namikazes implies that he is not from a ninja family – or, that he is from a ninja family with no reputation. Either way, Minato is a genius born in an underdog background, and thus has the complete freedom to pursue the Hokage path. And that path he himself has chosen out of desire to be the leader and light of Konoha, his favorite phrase per the databook being 火の影は里を照らす (“the fire’s shadow illuminates the village”).

What is Minato’s sought “respect” then? To be relied upon as THE shinobi who illuminates the village. For Kushina this is not the case. She simply wants to be SOMEbody.

[As we noted last section, with her motive in these screens, Kushina is never, ever shown pursuing Hokageship. So let us bury all distortions of her as a 'girl boss' who 'had her dream stolen by' the man she loves. And let us bury the demeaning of Minato along with it as some 'male wife' who 'fulfilled his girl's dream because she couldn't.' To the fans who insist that Kushina's character was diminished through Minato becoming Hokage, I leave one question: is it a shame and disgrace for a wife to uplift and support her husband?]

Brought to Konoha from a foreign land, Kushina just wants to fit in. But opposite to prodigy-from-nobody-clan Minato, her bloodline has her shackled to a destiny of rejection.

Which brings us to another thing that Kushina’s hair symbolizes: her ‘otherness.’ We’ve seen this motif with other characters before. Sakura is teased for her big forehead and Hinata is called “Byakugan Monster” for her eyes. Sakura’s source of misery becomes her source of prowess: she hones the Byakugo Seal on that forehead, and it becomes her trump card through which she saves hundreds during the War. Bullied for her “weird, freaky eyes,” Hinata likewise improves her use of the Byakugan, eventually proving her worth as the Hyūga heiress.

Kushina is teased when really, as we’ve observed, her “ugly” “lustrous” hair implicates beauty and strength. But in contrast to Sakura and Hinata, Kushina stands up to her bullies in her own strength (Sakura gains confidence through Ino’s compassion, and Hinata from Naruto). And this contrast is immensely important for, as we’ve established, Kushina’s endurance is the core of Minato’s drive.

Kushina’s endurance, recall, is the reason Minato fell in love with her, and why he calls her the one “that made [him] the Fourth Hokage” (as we'll examine shortly). And Minato’s love is the thing that enables Kushina to overcome fate; to live a life of happiness despite being a jinchūriki. For while Kushina’s endurance draws Minato toward her, it results in her being further set apart as the 'other.' She defends herself; Minato reveres her more; their peers despise her more. The divide between Kushina and their generation grows, held in the title they give her: “Red-hot Habanero.”

She cannot escape her destiny of loneliness. She is doomed for being the jinchūriki; doomed for being a red-haired Uzumaki; and doomed for kicking back through her own efforts. Yet her efforts draw Minato to her, setting Minato apart from their peers in parallel.

What is the importance of this parallel divide? We will get to that shortly. But first there some details to note on Minato's otherness (his distinction from their peers).

Minato as the “Yellow Flash” is directly tied to a Hokage (it is his use and adaptation of Tobirama’s Flying Raijin that earns him fame and fear). Put short, Minato’s earning of Konoha’s respect is already bound to Hokageship: he is, in will, genius and prowess, walking in his forerunners’ footsteps.

Furtherly significant is Kurama’s comparing of Minato to Hashirama. Gaiden opens with Minato escaping Bijū Bombs with the Raijin – a homage to Tobirama. It ends with Minato smiling in front of the rock faces where his own will be beside Hiruzen’s. And framed within these scenes is Kurama’s remark grouping him with Hokage ("A most powerful shinobi ranking alongside First Hokage Hashirama... Unbelievable!").

The Yellow Flash rapidly gains renown in the other nations – to the point of him earning a ‘flee-on-site’ reputation. Feats so formidable that the Tsuchikage accepts a peace treaty, bringing an end to the war with Iwa (episode: The Mask that Hides the Heart).

So Minato in legacy of Second Hokage earns respect within and outside Konoha. And “in his own style” he earns “a most powerful shinobi ranking alongside [First Hokage].” In the Fourth War, the resurrected Tobirama will acknowledge Minato as having surpassed him. Furthermore, Minato modifies his jutsu to create new subsidiary jutsu.

Minato has been, through his whole ninja career, gaining the repute to achieve Hokageship.

Academy-Minato begins walking this road. Hokage-Minato ends the road by accrediting it all to Kushina. Recall our panels back in post one from the chapter Thank You:

There is a slight variation in the anime’s account from “your” man to “a” man (for Japanese has no indirect articles and omits pronouns in conversation). In addition, anime-Minato makes this statement over an image we’ve seen before: his genin-self holding genin-Kushina in his arms the day he'd rescued her. This shot, in addition to the dialogue, is framed from Minato’s viewpoint, inferring that he sees this event and resulting bond with Kushina as the statement’s fruition.

The day Kushina fell for him, in other words – the day (from which) she became his woman – was the very day (from which) she in Minato's own view “made him a man.” What transpired up to that moment? He had been watching her endure. And now he has stepped in to be her strength in a battle that is beyond her.

The differing English translations both capture the essence of Minato’s words. He could not have become Hokage without Kushina – without her ‘making him a man’ who self-sacrificially loves, leads, protects and provides. And he could not have become Hokage without her ‘making him her man’ – without her deciding to be his wife; to selflessly love, support and build him up, bringing out his best. Furthermore, birthing their child, Kushina makes Minato a father. Mirroring this as Hokage, he is the patriarch of the village.

Now onto the importance of the 'otherness' divide: Kushina symbolically ‘qualifies’ Minato to become Hokage through their distinctions from their peers. And these qualifications are reached through two ‘tests,’ if you will, which each center around him saving her.

The first test is our mentioned genin rescue, where Kushina embodies the outsider. Here she is the lowest-esteemed villager, the foreigner shunned by the village. Minato alone notices the trail of her hair she left behind and saves her. Minato alone tells her that she is “one of [them].” He proves that he is devoted to protecting EVERYONE in his village, in a conflict between Konoha and Kumo – a fight between villages.

Most importantly of all, it is in this moment that he wins Kushina’s acknowledgement. The acknowledgement of the hardest-to-win-over villager, the acknowledgement of the outskirt 'other.'

The second test is the teenage rescue, where Kushina is the jinchūriki. Here she represents Konoha’s balance of power in the world. If a village loses its bijū it is vulnerable to destruction by the other nations. Protecting Kushina thus means – in the village context – everything, and is the ultimate test of Minato’s physical, mental and intellectual worthiness. Simply put, all together, it is a test of his own endurance.

Rescue One is the test of acknowledgement, and Rescue Two is the test of endurance. The two qualities underpinning the entirety of one's enablement to become Hokage.

So what have we then? While Minato brings Kushina to breaking the shackles of her destiny, Kushina brings Minato to fulfilling his destiny.

We also see the monumental impact of Kushina’s sealing jutsu. On the night of their deaths, Minato uses two to save the village: the Eight Sign Seal and the Reaper Death Seal. Both of these techniques are Uzumaki clan jutsu taught to Minato by Kushina.

In other words, Kushina indirectly gives Minato the means of saving the village.

[The Reaper Death Seal was designed by Uzumaki to be used by Uzumaki. The caster sacrifices his or her chakra to the Reaper in proportion to the chakra being sealed. If cast by an Uzumaki then – with chakra reserves exceeding an enemy's – that Uzumaki need not die. That Minato sealed half of Kurama away at the cost of his life is a testament to just how much of a powerhouse he is!]

The Reaper Death Seal has even further ties to Hokageship – Hiruzen using it to seal his Edo-forerunners during the Konoha Crush arc. Though it was taught by Kushina, it is known as one of Minato’s signature jutsu, Hiruzen calls it his own “trump jutsu,” and it – literally – unites the first four Hokage in death (the spirits of each, after Hiruzen’s sealing, being trapped in the Reaper’s belly).

So we've examined ‘Hokage’ in relation to Minato and Kushina's oneness. The next post will explore their dream behind the Hokage image.

Section B, Part II here.

[4nim3]

NARUTO ☆ S01E04 ↳ HIRUZEN SARUTOBI & IRUKA UMINO

[gebo4482]

Orochimaru (Naruto Ep71)

[taloqan]

Sarutobi Hiruzen gif (Naruto S1 - EP 6)

[lizajane2]

I'd hate for this thing to be the last face I ever see before dying and suffer in its domain for all eternity. Orochimaru was lucky.

[bunniefaery]

How did the Huyga Clan get in Konoha? Did Hashirama, Tobirama, Madara and others not know about the whole, them enslaving their own people, or did they just not care? Or did the Hyuga Clan somehow kept it a secret for years and then everyone found out during the Chunin Exams in the Neji vs Naruto fight? I just don't understand... Did they pay a handsome price to make the hokage and others in charge look the other way?

[personavevo]

Beyond the Limit of Darkness and Light | Naruto Episode #79

[cebwrites]

Konohamaru: Origins

a/n: the title's a little misleading-- yes konohamaru is heavily featured, but this is mainly about his dad who's an oc 🫶

oc | gen word count: 1.9k

When Konohamaru was born, Azura and the Third had a huge blowout argument. Namely over the fact that Konohamaru came to them in a basket on their doorstep, brought in by ANBU guards.

Hiruzen was furious at his carelessness, insisting that they sent the unnamed infant to a foster family or at least a shelter because there was no way he was ready to take on a child; let alone a baby. Azura, just barely 19 and out of his mind with stress and other overwhelming feelings, refused.

Asuma made the mistake of questioning the legitimacy of this claim and ignited an entirely new argument in the confines of their living room. Part of him wished he could swap places with the ANBU outside ordered to pacify the kid over all this screaming.

It was the first time Asuma had seen their father that upset and his brother that angry and culminated in a silence that permeated the house for at least a week, only broken by the baby's babbles or midnight crying. Eventually, Azura left. Packed up his newborn son, everything he could fit in an overnight bag, his mother's picture with the basket Konohamaru came in, and slammed the door behind him.

It took around an hour for the adrenaline to wear off for Azura to realize he was out on his ass.

He considered his options; a hotel would be a quick fix but he didn't know if the money he crammed into his pockets would last, Hyou had two other young siblings already at home, so did Tsume (she also scared him), and as much as he loved and respected his other team mate, something about Sou told him that his house probably wasn't fit for a baby.

Azura felt the grace of god that day when Hizashi was close enough to the front of the Hyuga compound to see him begging another branch member to let him see his sensei at this time of night.

He was brought indoors immediately, if only to take the bundle of fussy hands and chakra not dissimilar from his own held so closely to Azura's chest Hizashi was worried his grip was too tight. Once Konohamaru - a named decided on by the Third - was fed Hiashi stepped in to see what all the commotion was about and locked eyes with his brother's student.

He looked a mess; bloodshot eyes and a heavy 5 o'clock shadow, the rest of him looked mildly unkempt from his tussled hair to the single fingerless glove and uneven bandages. His stare was vacant as he attempted to lull his son to slumber. If not for the knowledge of his specific circumstances, Azura would've been just the standard image of a new parent.

Hiashi had a litany of questions and protests, but his twin wordlessly communicated that they'd talk about it later with a motion of his hand. He had a teenager on the verge of tears with a baby in tow. Hizashi had heard rumors in the few days prior but he never took village gossip to heart; but more importantly it was his student that came knocking for help, and Hizashi fully intended to offer it.

Come sunrise, Hyou and Soitsu were called over for an impromptu team meeting - only to be met with their sensei's son curiously watching an unfamiliar baby play with one of his old toys. Before this, Azura was sure he'd never seen both his team mates' pupils not at least partially covered by their eyelids. He was immediately bombarded with questions, concern and confusion in equal measure, and it took the better half of the morning to fully answer everything.

Among those questions, Sou was the one to pose what Asuma had said initially; if Konohamaru even was his baby. The answering elbow in the rib from Hyou and their team mate's twisting expression did nothing to deter him. Sluggishly, Azura pulled a note from his pocket - the only other thing that had arrived with Konohamaru aside from the basket.

It spoke of how the woman who'd left him had planned to keep this a secret, how she thought she could handle it all on her own without burdening him but ultimately a child was too much of a burden for her, and that she was sorry. Azura knew the penmanship well, because he'd been writing letters to her for a year or so prior to their meetup. She was a nice girl who lived near the port and offered him a hiding place while he fought the missing-nin plaguing their small merchant town.

Remembering the argument he had with his father about tracking her down to give the child back bittered the taste of Azura's tea as he sipped.

When all was said and done, the sun was close to the horizon. They'd spent all day just lounging about on Hizashi's porch, no closer to a solution for Azura's lodging. For the Konohamaru's sake, the idea of sucking it up and just going home was floated around a lot but he was still too angry to so much as look at his father. Azura wouldn't be able to leave the village on missions, either, unless he found someone to babysit his son for extended periods of time - and everyone here had their own mouths to feed.

What they landed on? Was that Azura and baby Konohamaru would stay the Hyuga compound, at least for the moment. Hizashi was sure his brother and the elders would protest and write up a long list of their objections, but their sensei insisted that it would be better for Konohamaru's overall wellbeing to not be exposed to too many germs and different environments if his father had to bring him on the move constantly.

Hyou offered to babysit when he could, since they were already juggling Hana and Kiba in their spare time for Tsume. And, uneasy as he looked, Sou promised he'd support him as best he could as a friend, whenever he asked, through the likelihood of him babysitting was very low, being completely transparent with him.

Azura was so happy he could cry. So he cried, and he wept at the feet of his team in prostration and eternal gratitude.

Weeks passed and everyone got on with their lives with these new (although temporary) arrangements. Jaws dropped, Azura explained the situation that brought him here over and over again, he was quite tired of this rinse and repeat cycle honestly. Reactions ranged from shock to unearned praise, and understandable concern. By the end of it, he had half a mind to just let the rumors catch everyone up because it seemed like half the village already knew anyway.

He was lucky enough to catch Tsunade on her way out of the village with Shizune to run a last minute check-up to make sure Konohamaru was the happy, healthy, bouncing baby boy he seemed to be.

Months had gone by, knowledge of the Third Hokage's new grandson had run its course through the village and soon became old news. Azura hadn't taken any new missions in that time, but he subsisted on the help of his friends and Hizashi's grace.

Lord Third was sure his son come crawling back soon, realizing just how (right Hiruzen was) difficult parenting would be and secede to his father's perfectly reasonable solutions. But the longer he waited, the longer Azura's absence weighed on him. Hiruzen considered just calling him into his office as an order from the Hokage, but he didn't think that would go over too well.

Asuma called his bluff, pointing out that he was just scared of rejection if Azura refused to come home and if he really cared about his brother like he claimed to, he'd get off his ass and talk to him instead of creepily watching his son and grandson through a crystal ball like some kind of weirdo. Hiruzen huffed and puffed his pipe, muttering something under his breath about the right timing long after his youngest had left the Kage's office.

His moment came in Azura's darkest.

After only a handful of months living there, Azura had to find a new home for him and his son with the death of Hyuga Hizashi. Sensitive information that was only shared with other people at the top in Konoha and their guards that had to pretend not to know - but considering one of his students was living there, he might as well let them all know; it was only fair that he told them beforehand.

The team was devastated, whether they showed it or not, but no one was more shattered than Azura - the most tenderhearted of the three of them. Of course they were, these were kids that Hizashi practically raised. Hiashi wasn't cruel enough to throw an almost 20 something and his infant son out on the day of, but there was an expectation that they'd have to leave eventually, ideally soon. Azura and Hyou made sure to check on Neji even in their own grief, the boy was inconsolable the last they saw him. But without Hizashi there to give them away in, Neji would once again be sheltered away (from outside harm but also comfort) in the private Hyuga compounds.

Azura returned home begrudgingly. Asuma helped him move his things back that Hyuga branch members so graciously packed up without his knowledge while Azura was out on a mission and Konohamaru was at Hyou's. He tried cracking a joke about their stuffiness to his brother as they walked but it fell flat, predictably.

His brother didn't do much else but walk around in a fugue state for the next few days; still caring for his son in familiar motions Azura would be able to do with his eyes closed, but his mind was far enough away for autopilot to kick in.

Finally. Finally.

Hiruzen scooped Konohamaru out from his slumbering father's arms and put him back in his cot. Azura awoke with a startle a moment later; reflexes far too late from an ANBU Black Op, but sooner than one would expect a grieving, sleep deprived young man.

The Third quietly lamented about how Biwako would scold him for sleeping in the same bed with him and Asuma, go on long tirades about how delicate babies were and how the smallest things could put their health in incredible danger. As a medic-nin, the lecture was to be expected, as their mother, Biwako would have a conniption every time she caught her husband doing it.

Azura immediately got up to check on his son, only half listening to his father's spiel but once he was sure Konohamaru was okay - almost paranoid that he'd vanish into thin air if he didn't see him or touch his little hands - Azura sat on the edge of his bed with a heavy creak. After a moment, Hiruzen joined him.

Azura's voice was hoarse when he asked if his mother would be as angry at him as Hiruzen was if she were around to see him in this mess. The Third picked his words carefully; they were both aware of the kind of woman Biwako was - a stern, but loving mother, the strong head on her shoulders was what Hiruzen fell in love with the way she'd always push her husband and children to the best versions of themselves, despite Azura's tenderness as a perceived weakness.

Ultimately, Hiruzen says that even if his mother might have her misgivings, her worries for both her son and grandchild, that she'd come to love them both all the same as he did.

Azura cried in his father's arms that night. Just down the hall, Asuma was surprised he didn't wake the baby with his bawling.

[samasmith23]

A Merry Christmas courtesy of the Village Hidden In the Leaves!

[roseunspindle]

Hiruzen and Danzo and Viserys I and Otto Hightower

[slutpoppers]

<-Lord Orochimaru vs Hiruzen Sarutobi->

[pulaasul]

Wipping Wips - Kage-ful Reunion

Konohamaru spots Sasuke and Orochimaru enter the village premises as the Fourth Shinobi World War raged on, he followed the group and spied on them when he was caught.

Ao3 I FFN

--------

The genin that were left inside the left village did constant patrols within the village, taking over for the chunin and jounin that were deployed to the war, which was almost all of them.

The jounins and chuunins that were left in the village were the jounin who still had a genin team like Ebisu or on medical leave like Kurenai.

There were few ANBU members in the village as most of them were deployed in the battlefield.

Team Ebisu were tasked with patrolling inside the village, all on their own, as they were short on people. To efficiently patrol the village between the four of them, they decided to split up to cover more ground.

As Konohamaru walked through Konoha's road, he noticed a group of hooded people walking leisurely in the village.

It hadn't rained in the village for days, and yet these people were cloaked as if they trying not to get wet, or they're trying to hide their identities.

Konohamaru hid behind an alleyway as he watched one of the hooded person jumped towards a water tank above one of the establishments' roof and removed his hood.

The Sarutobi's eyes widened as he identified one of the hooded person.

It was Sasuke Uchiha.

The last thing Konohamaru knew about Sasuke was either capture or kill, and that was before the war even started.

Konohamaru might have been reckless and brash, but he knows he can't take down the Uchiha. He might have defeated one of the Pains when they attacked the village, he also knew that it was pure dumb luck that he managed to even survive at all.

He put his hand inside his weapon's pouch and readied a tag, just in case.

Sooner, Konohamaru followed the group towards what was supposed to be shrine, judging from the wreckage around it.

From what Konohamaru could see, Sasuke used a jutsu to open up a passageway below.

This must be a place for the Uchiha clan.

Konohamaru shook his head and decided that he had seen enough, he took the tag from his weapons' pouch and placed it in front of him. He was about to release the tag's seal when a snake wrapped around him,

He immediately substituted himself with a nearby log and began to run back to the village proper.

"Sensei's grandson," A voice hissed in front of Konohamaru, cutting him off from his escape route. "I was wondering who was following us. "I suggest we take care of this nuisance."

"On it!" Suigetsu nodded as he charged at the young Sarutobi, with his enlarged hand.

Konohamaru jumped up to a nearby sturdy branch and did a series of handseals. He ended on a tiger seal as soon as he landed on the branch.

Konohamaru released a cloud of smoke from his mouth, covering the charging swordsman with it. He bit the flint that he had always placed on his teeth and created a spark, igniting the smoke that resulted in an explosion.

"If you think a measly fire release is going to do me in, you're dead wrong!" Suigetsu announced as a sword came out of the smoke and went straight towards to Konohamaru.

Konohamaru jumped to another branch where he encountered a cursed state Juugo, ready to pummel the young Sarutobi to the ground. He was able to substitute himself with the same log he had used before, before the cursed-state man was able to slam him to the ground.

"I'll kill you!" Juugo exclaimed as he appeared behind Konohamaru.

"Juugo, relax." Sasuke ordered.

Juugo reverted back to his normal form, as soon as Sasuke gave the order.

Konohamaru used this chance to flee from the scene but Orochimaru cornered him.

"Konohamaru was it?" The snake-like shinobi asked rhetorically. "I suggest you surrender before Sasuke releases his leash on Juugo."

Without much of a choice, Konohamaru dropped the kunai that he had been defending himself with and the shuriken that he was going to use as a distraction.

"Check if he has any weapons on him." Orochjmaru ordered.

Suigetsu frisked Konohamaru from any and all hidden weapons on his person before giving the weapons' pouch he had on to Sasuke.

"Remove his top," Orochimaru hissed. "He is a Sarutobi, sensei or Asuma might have taught him a few sealing jutsu and applied it on his body."

"Is that really necessary?" Suigetsu couldn't help but question. "He's no more than a brat and a gennin."

"That gennin was able to defeat one of the Akatsuki leader's bodies." Orochimaru informed. "I'm not keen on him getting the jump on us just because you were lazy, Suigetsu."

With Orochimaru's reasoning, Suigetsu had no choice but to oblige with the elder shinobi's order. He slowly but surely stripped the young Sarutobi of his top, exposing the ink that was written on his abdomen.

"A counter seal," Orochimaru observed. "I suppose Asuma taught you before he died?"

Konohamaru remained silent.

"H-hey, Lord Orochimaru is talking to you, answer him!" Suigetsu urged, still fearful of his former boss.

"No matter," Orochimaru shook his head. "It is a clan's secret after all."

"Are we done here?" Sasuke questioned. "Let's go." He ordered as he jumped off of the ground.

Suigetsu took the scarf that he had removed from the boy and used it to tie the boy's hands behind him and at the same time blindfolded him with it.

"H-hey! What's the big idea?!"

"Your scarf is rather large and I don't want you using tripping as an excuse to escape."

"There's no need for restraints, Suigetsu," Orochimaru hissed. "He knows he can't outrun all four of us." He stated as he followed his former student.

Suigetsu reluctantly removed the scarf from the boy and pushed him forward.

"You're next chibi."

Konohamaru and Suigetsu followed Sasuke's lead as Jugo simply picked up the discarded articles of clothing before following the rest of the group.

-----------

Konohamaru gulped as he realized that had there been an insufficient number of Zetsu clones, as they were called by the intelligence unit, he'd be used as sacrifice for the Impure World Reanimation Jutsu.

Although he doesn't know the fact that Orochimaru had always known about the number of Zetsu Spore Clones that were attached to Sasuke were more than sufficient to resurrect the four previous Hokages and give him a new body to latch onto.

Hidden behind Jugo's huge form, Konohamaru listened to the history lesson in which he was technically eavesdropping on, he learned about the truth about the Uchiha massacre and the truth behind the Uchihas' infamous Sharingan.

At first, Konohamaru didn't know what his purpose to be here was but as soon as he saw his grandfather, he knew he was the hostage to make the Hokages compliant to whatever demand Orochimaru has.

As soon as the second Hokage riled his chakra, Konohamaru couldn't help but gulp but at the same time hope that maybe, just maybe, he'd be saved from Orochimaru's clutches.

His hope multiplied tenfold when the first Hokage riled up his own chakra to counter his brother's, maybe he could be saved after all.

However, his hope soon diminished as soon as Orochimaru was able to restrict the second Hokage's actions after declaring that reviving him would be the Orochimaru's downfall.

There was one thing bothering the young Sarutobi, Judging from the Second Hokage's words, and Orochimaru's actions, he does not serve a purpose to be here.

Knowing that Orochimaru can forcefully subjugate the summoned souls, he has no idea why he's here.

"Sarutobi, you sure raised quite a shinobi." Hashirama praised.

"I'm honored to be praised by the god of shinobi himself." Orochimaru admitted.

"He's acquired my cells and enhanced his power to bind us," Hashirama laughed. "Tobirama, your instincts have dulled a bit." He chided. "Now then…" He trailed off.

Orochimaru raised his tiger seal a bit higher preparing for the worst.

"Orochimaru, do not fret," Hashirama assured his summoner. "My priority is to undo the ill feelings that are binding his child." He stated. "I do not know what he will decide after he is done listening to me, but if we ignore him now, he will definitely become the next Madara."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the declaration.

"If that happens, ending the war and winning will be meaningless."

Konohamaru couldn't help but agree, but couldn't they sense his chakra? Could at least his grandfather sense his chakra?

"Do as you please, brother." Tobirama sighed.

"I guess there was no need for this little leverage." Orochimaru hissed as he did a series of hand seals.

Orochimaru ended on the tiger seal then lightly tapped Jugo's shoulders before grabbing Konohamaru's arms and showed him to the Hokages present.

"Konohamaru!" Hiruzen exclaimed in surprise before glaring at his student. "How dare you kidnap my grandson," He growled.

"I needed a leverage, I know that the first Hokage can just release himself from the jutsu that bound him." Orochimaru admitted.

"Grandpa…" Konohamaru hesitantly approached his grandfather before giving the revived Hokage a hug. "I missed you."

"He was the one who noticed us as we entered the village," Juugo supplied. "We merely stopped him from derailing our plans."

"Which was to seek answers." The fourth Hokage finished the sentence.

"Grandson, he just looks like you when you were his age, Saru," Hashirama pointed out. "Judging from the hitai-ate, he's a proud shinobi of the leaf."

"Saved the life of his jounin sensei when the leaf was recently invaded," Orochimaru hissed.

"You've done well for yourself, Konohamaru." The Third Hokage praised his grandson.

Konohamaru glowed from his grandfather's praise.

"How come none of us sensed his chakra?" Tobirama questioned.

"You should not be able to sense any chakra in this place, apart from Jugo's," Orochimaru answered. "I used my control over his cursed seal and let it radiate nature chakra to obscure any sensor from detecting our movements."

"Now then…" Hashirama trailed off. "Where to begin?"

------------

Konohamaru wanted to leave the place where the Hokage was resurrected but the First Hokage insisted that he, too, learn the Leaf Village's history and the history between the clans of Senju and Uchiha.

Konohamaru retrieved his clothes from Jugo and dressed himself as Hashirama narrated the story between him and Madara.

The Sarutobi heir filed away the information that Itachi wasn't an actual rogue ninja that everyone was left to believe, everything was in fact under the Hokage's orders.

Konohamaru also took note of the names Kagami and Shisui.

"Now then, Sasuke?" Orochimaru turned his attention on his mentee. "What will you do?"

Konohamaru prepared himself to be attacked. He knew he doesn't stand a chance against everyone present. Sure he could take on Suigetsu but Jugo was a different story altogether.

Jugo's speed, power, and sanity only hinged on Sasuke's metaphorical leash on him. Konohamaru knew that when Sasuke would release the chain, he'd be dead in a second.

Not to mention that Orochimaru can control the four Hokages, forget a second, he'll be dead in an instant.

But it doesn't mean that he won't go out without a fight.

"Will you destroy the village or?" Orochimaru trailed off.

Everyone waited with baited breath as they waited for Sasuke to decide. The Uchiha in question had closed his eyes as soon as the snake-like shinobi asked him the ultimate question at the time.

"I'm going to the battlefield, I won't let the village, and everything that Itachi did, be all for nothing!" Sasuke declared.

Hashirama raised his head with subtle smile as he heard the declaration while the others have only began to process what was just declared.

"It's been decided then," Hashirama stood up. "Tobirama, prepare to teleport us outside." He ordered.

"Even if I wanted to use the Flying Thunder God, I'm bound right now." Tobirama pointed out.

"Orochimaru, what will you do?"

Everyone's attention turned to the Third Hokage's former student.

"That's right! You said that you'd follow Sasuke!" Konohamaru pointed out.

"Of course, we will accompany him." Orochimaru gave a manic grin.

"Whaaa-!" Suigetsu questioned. "What about you, Jugo?"

"I'm going too," Jugo immediately answered. "It's my job to protect Sasuke."

----------

Konohamaru found himself accompanying the reanimated Hokages and the infiltrators outside of the Uchiha Naka shrine towards the top of the Hokage mountain, where the Hokages were reminiscing on the village and it's past.

"This view brings back memories!" The First Hokage declared.

The Sarutobi heir heard someone fall down and what greeted him was Suigetsu on the ground, while a girl with red hair jumped on him.

"It's definitely you, Sasuke!" The girl yelled. "I sensed your chakra and I couldn't believe it so, I backtracked and look who I found!" She continued yelling as she punched Suigetsu relentlessly, with the boy in question unable to defend himself.

"Karin," Sasuke identified the girl.

"Oh my, so many of my previous experiments have gathered in one place." Orochimaru mused.

Konohamaru couldn't help but wince and feel sorry for Suigetsu. Karin was a walking contradiction, she claims to hate Sasuke but she continues to beat on Suigetsu.

"I see, you still have a weakness for Sasuke, Karin."

Konohamaru's face twitched as witnessed the blush on Karin's face.

"Listen, Lord Orochimaru, he, he had the gall to, the gall to stab me, and…" Karin tried to narrate her experience.

"What a coincidence, me too," Orochimaru pointed out. "And now, I'm helping him now, perfect timing, you help too."

"Ehehehehe." Konohamaru managed to awkwardly laugh as Karin rubbed herself on Sasuke's body.

"Who is she?" The first Hokage asked.

"Judging from the chakra and that red hair, she's probably from the Uzumaki clan."

"Uzumaki clan?"

"Saru, how come your grandson doesn't know about the Uzumaki clan?" Hashirama questioned his brother's students.

"Sometime after the third Shinobi war started The Hidden Village of the Eddies was attacked by three other Hidden Villages: Rock, Cloud, and Mist."

"It stands to reason that the whole village was wiped out, and so did the clan." Tobirama concluded.

"They couldn't have fallen that easily, did they?"

"The Uzumaki clan was feared," Orochimaru supplied. "They lasted for about a week if I remember correctly."

"Where were the reinforcements for the Eddies?" Tobirama questioned.

"Ambushed on the way," Orochimaru answered. "Sending more would have spelled doom for the village."

"Naruto-niichan belonged to a clan?" Konohamaru couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, Naruto belonged to the Uzumaki clan," The third Hokage answered. "The swirls on the side and back of every shinobi's standard uniform is our way of telling the world of our close relationship to the clan and the village."

"Why didn't Naruto take his father's last name?" Sasuke questioned. "I hadn't realized it before, but Naruto bears a strong resemblance to the fourth Hokage."

"Minato was known as the Yellow Flash for his masterful utilization of the second Hokage's Flying Thunder God jutsu, which meant he has killed many shinobi from other villages."

"To protect the boy, you opted for him to give him his mother's maiden name over his father's." Tobirama concluded. "I take it she was the second Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi after Mito?"

"She was," The Third Hokage nodded.

"We'll have to cut this history lesson short, the war continues to rage on." Orochimaru pointed out.

Konohamaru sneakily followed his grandfather, as the others talked amongst themselves, mostly planning on how to get to the battlefield, when Sarutobi approached his rogue student and asked a question.

"Orochimaru, why did you decide to help Sasuke? You were trying to destroy the village."

"After being inside Kabuto, I came to realization," Orochimaru answered. "He imitated my way of living, down to my obsessions and failed. For now, I'm just curious about Sasuke's path." He supplied. "Unlike Kabuto, Sasuke did not copy me."

"Fellow Hokages, we stand on top of the Great Hokage Mountain that have watched over the village, let us burn this sight of the village into our memories." Hashirama declared.

"Konohamaru-kun, what will you do now?"

"I will stay, grandpa, to protect the kings of the village." Konohamaru grinned

"You've grown quite the shinobi, Konohamaru, I couldn't be prouder," Hiruzen praised his grandson. "I'm sure your parents are too."

"Thank you, gramps," The young Sarutobi rubbed his nose. "I'm going to miss you."

------

A few notes here:

It irked me how easily Orochimaru, Sasuke and company were able to infiltrate the village. Yes they were in the middle of war but it doesn't mean that the village would have been empty with Shinobi.

It also irked me that Konohamaru wasn't able to reunite with his uncle and/or grandfather, two of the most important familial relations he has, even if we didn't see it.

This fic aims to rectify that and I have Konohamaru and his grandpa reunite.

[4nim3]

NARUTO ☆ S01E04 ↳ HIRUZEN SARUTOBI

[fairyluffy]

Naruto 30 day challenge

day 22: overrated character- hiruzen sarutobi i said what i said

[taloqan]

Sarutobi Hiruzen gif (Naruto S1 - EP 2)