Leaving Konoha

Hyuga Shige-kuni saw that all three had taken their seats and continued, "May the disciple's parents present the Apprenticeship Letter."

Hyuga Hiashi stood up, respectfully handed the Apprenticeship Letter to Jiraiya, and waited as Jiraiya looked it over. Jiraiya then nodded in satisfaction.

Seeing this, Hyuga Shige-kuni continued, "May the disciple's elder present the Six Apprenticeship Gifts to the master."

Hyuga Chushin stood up. She took the Six Apprenticeship Gifts from a Hyuga Clan member standing nearby and handed them to Hyuga Hiashi, who then presented them to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya accepted the gifts and nodded to Hyuga Hiashi and his wife. The two then returned to their seats.

"May the disciple come forward and bow."

Hinata walked up, handed the gift box she was holding to Jiraiya, then bowed to him.

When the formalities were over, Jiraiya helped Hinata to her feet.

He then gestured for Naruto, who stood behind him, to present his gift. Naruto took a book from his backpack and handed it to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya took the book and said to Hinata, "This was the first novel I ever wrote. Its original owner was my first disciple. Now I'm giving it to you. I hope you'll carry on the will expressed within its pages."

Hinata took the book and held it to her chest. Looking at Jiraiya earnestly, she said, "You can count on me, Sensei."

Hyuga Shige-kuni then announced, "The ceremony is complete. Elders and disciples, please take your seats."

Everyone on the platform then came down and sat at the tables.

"Thank you all for coming to witness the ceremony. Please eat and drink your fill. Bring out the food!" After saying this, Hyuga Shige-kuni came down from the platform. The Hyuga Clan members who had been waiting nearby immediately brought out the prepared dishes.

Hinata ran to the side and brought out a smaller gift box, handing it to Naruto. "Naruto-kun, this is a gift for you."

"Oh, thank you, Hinata! I didn't expect to get a gift too," Naruto said happily.

Hinata giggled. "You're my senior disciple now, Naruto-kun, so I prepared a gift for you too."

Naruto didn't say anything more. He happily accepted the gift, then started eating.

After the ceremony, Jiraiya said to Hyuga Hiashi, "Hiashi, I'm planning to leave with Naruto and Hinata tomorrow morning. I'll go get things ready now."

"Of course. Sorry for the trouble, Lord Jiraiya," Hyuga Hiashi replied.

Jiraiya declined Hyuga Hiashi's offer to see him off, then left with Naruto.

Early the next morning, Jiraiya and Naruto finished their training. Then they opened the gifts Hinata had given them the day before. Inside were clothes.

They were the same style: long, black Hokage Cloaks. The back of Jiraiya's had a red character embroidered on it meaning "master," while Naruto's had one meaning "disciple."

They both put on their Hokage Cloaks and found that they fit perfectly. It dawned on them that Hinata must have had them custom-made.

After checking themselves in the mirror and nodding in satisfaction, the two locked the door and headed to the Hyuga Clan Compound.

The Hyuga Clan members were already waiting at the gate with Hinata, who wore a Hokage Cloak like Naruto's.

When Jiraiya arrived, Hyuga Hiashi stepped forward and took out an envelope. "Lord Jiraiya, this is a little something from me. Consider it travel money for your training journey."

"Hiashi, now that I've taken Hinata as my personal disciple, I'll provide all the resources she needs for her training. Take this back," Jiraiya said, waving his hand in refusal.

Seeing this, Hyuga Hiashi said no more and slipped the envelope back into his pocket.

Next came Hinata's farewell to her family. Her mother held her and spoke to her quietly, while Hanabi stood nearby, watching Hinata with reluctance.

After the farewells, Jiraiya took a package from inside his clothes and handed it to Hyuga Hiashi, glancing at Naruto beside him.

Hyuga Hiashi knew what it was and accepted it solemnly.

Jiraiya then left with Naruto and Hinata. He didn't report to the Third Hokage that he was leaving the village. It wasn't for any particular reason; he simply couldn't be bothered.

Once they were outside Konoha, Naruto used the Flying Thunder God to take the three of them to Wind-Listening Valley. Hinata was stunned the first time she saw Naruto use the Flying Thunder God.

She had never even heard of this kind of ninjutsu. She turned to Naruto and asked, "Naruto-kun, what was that technique?"

"This technique is called the Flying Thunder God. It's normal that you haven't heard of it; it's been lost for a long time. I already gave your father a Flying Thunder God Mark. Whenever you want, you can go home and visit," Naruto answered with a smile.

"Oh, can I go back no matter how far away I am?" Hinata asked, wide-eyed.

Naruto gave her a proud look. "It was my dad's signature ninjutsu. As long as there's a mark, you can reach wherever you want in an instant, no matter where you are."

Hinata looked puzzled. "Naruto-kun's father?"

"I'll tell you about it bit by bit," Naruto said after a brief pause.

There was a lot to tell Hinata, and he couldn't explain everything in a short time. For now, the most urgent thing was to go to the Land of Whirlpools.

Naruto and Jiraiya then led Hinata into the cave.

Naruto told Hinata and Jiraiya to wait there, then formed a hand seal and vanished.

When he reappeared, Naruto was at the altar in the Land of Whirlpools. Sakon, who was guarding the place, saw someone suddenly appear before him and was about to attack, but he stopped when he remembered what Shisui Uchiha had told him.

After inspecting the island, Shisui Uchiha had left a Kunai bearing a Flying Thunder God Mark beside the altar. He had also told Sakon to wait there and report immediately if anyone suddenly appeared.

Sakon told Naruto to wait a moment, then ran off. Before long, he returned with Shisui Uchiha. After confirming that the newcomer was indeed Naruto, Shisui asked, "Is everything in Konoha taken care of?"

Naruto nodded. "It's all taken care of. I came to check things out first. I'll go get the Pervy Sage and the others in a moment."

"Good. I've already inspected the island. It's perfectly suitable for establishing the organization. I'm also having them clear away the ruins," Shisui Uchiha said.

Naruto looked at Shisui's dust-covered clothes and said, "Thanks for all your hard work, Shisui. I'll bring the supplies over first, then come help you clear things up."

After saying this, Naruto used the Flying Thunder God to return to the cave. Once there, he told Jiraiya what was going on.

Aside from the Crystal Ball and the clone using it, Naruto planned to take everything in the cave. They were about to put their plan into action, and these supplies would come in handy.

Spirit energy enveloped Hinata, Jiraiya, and all the supplies. Naruto used the Flying Thunder God and brought them to the altar.

Once there, Naruto formed hand seals and created several clones, ordering them to move all the organization's belongings to the side. Then he carried Hidan's still-cursing head over to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, how's the research going?"

Seeing Naruto, Orochimaru answered respectfully, "It's almost done. However, this body of mine won't hold up once the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is undone, so I'd like Kimimaro and Jugo to go to the Land of Fields and bring back the vessel I prepared."

Naruto nodded in agreement. "All right. Let me know when it's ready."

Orochimaru acknowledged him, then noticed the living head in Naruto's hand. Looking closely, he realized it was Hidan, one of the Akatsuki's immortal duo. He asked Naruto, "My lord, what's this?"

"You know Hidan. Once the Dead Demon Consuming Seal is undone, he'll be your next research subject. I also have Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear. I'll give that to you as well. Then you won't have to replace your body every three years," Naruto said with a nod.

Orochimaru showed a hint of excitement. Living Corpse Reincarnation could also extend his lifespan, but finding suitable vessels for it was extremely difficult. He knew about Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear, one of the things he had wanted to take for himself after joining the Akatsuki.

Orochimaru then got up and went with Naruto to where the others were clearing the ruins. Hinata and Jiraiya came along as well.

When the group saw them approaching, they stopped working and looked up.

Orochimaru stepped forward and pointed to Jiraiya. "This is the new leader of our organization. From now on, do as he says. The two beside him are his disciples."

The six people he had brought nodded to show they understood. Hinata, standing behind them, now understood why she had been brought here.

Orochimaru then said to Kimimaro and Jugo, "Go to the Land of Fields and bring the vessel we prepared earlier."

The two nodded, said yes, and left at once.

After they were gone, Jiraiya said, "Naruto, you're in charge of arranging what comes next."

Naruto looked around. There was too much to clear and too few people, so he said, "Don't bother sorting what hasn't been cleared yet. Throw it all into the sea. We have more than enough money for the initial construction, so there's no need to make this so complicated."

Everyone nodded.

Naruto continued, "Each person take one side and clear all the ruins as quickly as possible. Then we'll assign everyone their tasks."

At Naruto's direction, everyone went to their assigned spots and began clearing the ruins. Naturally, they used ninjutsu.

They had been working slowly before because they were trying to salvage everything usable. Using ninjutsu would destroy it all, which was why the cleanup had taken so long.

Now that there was no need to sort anything, everyone used their most powerful techniques.

Shisui Uchiha was the first to act. The Mangekyō Sharingan quickly appeared in his eyes, and a green, fleshy Susanoo enveloped him. He controlled it as it placed its hand on the ruins and swept them aside. The area was cleared in an instant, and the debris flew toward the sea under the force of its tremendous power.

Jiraiya wasn't about to be outdone. He quickly used Spirit Energy Body Infusion, formed hand seals, and unleashed Wind Release: Pressure Damage.

A fierce gale burst from his mouth. Amplified by his spirit energy, the wind grew stronger and stronger, blowing the debris off his clothes and sending it flying into the sea.