Naruto: Fourth Hokage

"Jiraiya isn't the raising little children type and his role as the author of those books you hate so passionately wouldn't help in the child's development."

"For once I agree with you," Tsunade remarked, "Although you're being a bit hypocritical since you also read those books like some closet perverts I know."

Annoyed by her comment, Sarutobi cleared his throat and continued on a with a more serious demeanor, "The fact that I'm asking you to adopt and raise Yondaime's son shows the amount of conviction and belief I have in your ability to raise, control and balance the child since he's been infused with a powerful Hokage. But still, Naruto is an innocent child who's been forced to shoulder this heavy burden without his consent. He needs someone who can properly raise and ensure his tutelage, and show him motherly affections on top of that. I'm more than certain you can also teach him in the advance arts of medical and healing jutsus."

Tsunade heard a lot more than she was bargaining for. It was too overwhelming for her at the moment. Sandaime knew that she already went through a lot in Konoha and the fact that she lost most those she loved dearly, among them being her grandfather and grand-uncle, the Shodaime and Nidaime, her lover and her little brother, both of whom wanted to become Hokage, left her with bitterness about her home village. After learning what became of Yondaime and his family, and the village as a whole, it was too much. And now she's being asked by her former sensei to adopt and raised Yondaime Hokage's child as her own.

"I need some time to think about this," Tsunade honestly admitted with a most calm demeanor with mixed emotions in her voice. Hiruzen didn't argue with her and replied understandably, "I understand Tsunade. Take as much time as you need."

Tsunade reached out to Sarutobi signaling to him that she wanted to hold the child. Complying, he handed Naruto over to her. She cradled the fully awakened child in her arms who seemed to be looking at her in wonder. He yawned and closed his eyes for a moment before looking at her again.

"Only a week old and already you have to carry such heavy burden," Tsunade said softly to Naruto as a few tears slid down her face as he gurgled. Hiruzen smiled and watched the scene quietly.

Mother and child: seeing his former pupil smiling brightly down at what he hopes will be her soon to be adopted son made Hiruzen suddenly overcome with an overwhelming sense of hope for the future. It was odd how, even in the aftermath of the bleakest days, he had found such a glowing sight. He didn't know what the future had in store for these two but he was grateful that Tsunade was at least willing to consider adopting the child…

A touching moment, isn't? Will Tsunade adopt baby Naruto or will Sandaime be forced to find another caretaker?

(Later That Night)

Tsunade was staying at a hotel for the night, at least one that wasn't demolished or damaged during Kyuubi's attack. She got little rest that night as she thought about everything that happened early that afternoon in Sandaime's office. She spent the rest of the day thinking about all that was explained to her in detailed from her former sensei and what he was asking of her. In truth, she felt she didn't owe the village any favors especially after all that she suffered and been through in the village. However Naruto was a whole other story. He was an innocent child who's been overwhelmingly burdened with so much at a most tender and fragile age.

He's only a week old, Tsunade thought to herself as she sat on her bed in her sleeping kimono. It was true that many other children of Konoha besides Naruto have been plagued with a great loss because of that bastard nine-tailed monster. However Naruto was a very special case. In spite of what happened with all the other children who may have lost their parents, families and friends during the attack, they still had the opportunity to rebuild their lives from scratch and start life anew in the village with the help of their fellow villagers and Sandaime. Naruto on the other hand couldn't just go about like that, especially since he was infused with Yondaime Hokage.

Two of her relatives were the first two Hokages who built Konohagakure No Sato and they died young. Her little brother and lover Dan both wanted to become Hokage because of their intense love for the village and strong desire to protect it and they both died young before they could live out their desires. Now she's being asked to adopt and raise a newborn child only a week old who'll inevitably grow and mature into a strong Hokage at an unknown young age, that is if the child lives long enough for that to happen.

Life is so cruel to me with its ironies, she thought to herself as she meditated on Naruto's present situation while fiddling with the necklace around her neck, the one that once belonged to her grandfather, Senju Hashirama, Shodaime Hokage. Naruto most likely wouldn't get to live a normal life as a result of the changes he'll undergo. On top that, all of his father's enemies will now become his enemies, and his father has made a lot of enemies before and after becoming Yondaime Hokage. In some ways, the child was going to become the new Yondaime Hokage she figured, and it was unknown how Naruto was going to turn out since he would develop his own personality that will undoubtedly be influenced with some of his father's characteristics.