Rain kept pouring on Konoha that day, the clouds were dark, with the sky covered in its wake.
In a location near the Third Training Ground where the Memorial Stone was erected, the Memorial Stone is a monument in Konohagakure[Hidden Leaf Village] listing all the ninja who died in service to the village.
A tall figure of a man stood on one of the newly placed slabs behind the Memorial Stone, which had rows and rows of slabs that one would feel dizzy looking around the place.
[|-Your life was a blessing, your memory - a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.-|
Anzu Sarutobi-Ogata. A splendid Shinobi, a daughter and a mother.]
Jiraiya absentmindedly stared at the monument of Anzu, his eyes were dull and devoid of any usual light-heartedness and humor. In his arm was a sleeping infant, who was just born a few days ago. The baby was Kajirama Sarutobi-Ogata, their son.
Several days have passed since the death of Anzu Sarutobi. A kunoichi that served tremendously during the Second Shinobi World War, the only daughter of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, and... The wife of Jiraiya, although it wasn't inscribed in her monument, all the residents in the village knew of their relationship.
Today was her funeral, a lot of civilians, shinobis and clan members of the Sarutobi Clan attended. Now, he was the only one left in the vicinity. He stayed like that for hours and hours, until the sound of footsteps came behind him slowly approaching, the person then stopped behind Jiraiya. Silence was the only thing happening between them, when the person, Hiruzen Sarutobi, began to speak.
"...it isn't your fault, Jiraiya. I know you're blaming yourself once again." His tone was soft and low.
Jiraiya didn't respond however, he kept his gaze on the monument and the picture of Anzu which was put on a frame that would protect the content from the rain and the weather.
When he saw his student acting this way, he couldn't help but add some dyspepticity within his tone on concern for his grandson. "Stop this now, Jiraiya. Kajirama is awake and should need to be taken care of."
That seemed to have done the job as some clarity began to return in Jiraya's eyes, Jiraya looked down to see his son, Kajirama, squirming around in his embrace, still with eyes closed.
"Fate has thrown us another torment, huh, sensei..." Jiraiya finally spoke with a broken tone that made even Hiruzen's heart hitch, even the newborn Kajirama seemed to have felt it, as he began to squirm more uncomfortably.
"That... Seemed to be, my student."
"Every time I spend in the village, in my apartment. I am reminded of her, of Anzu, and my deceased Ogata clan members. The months Anzu and I spent together are priceless memories which I couldn't bear to forget, the grief and sorrow I felt from remembering the deaths of my clan and hers agonized me every single second. I can't take it anymore, sensei. It is tearing me apart. Kajirama is the only reason I am even here."
Hiruzen frowned, not liking how this was going. He has his sorrows too, Anzu was his daughter, however, he was aware of Jiraiya's state of mind, it would take him some time, maybe even years to pull himself up from this experience, if he forced his student, then there may be a change in him that would either be a fortune or unpleasant ending, and Hiruzen didn't liked gambling at that one bit. Although, he would try the best that he could. "Then live for your son, Jiraiya."
"No." Jiraiya vehemently shook his head as he refused. "I will not allow him to grow up seeing my broken shell. He deserves better. He deserves to see the joys of Konoha, like I had, not its sorrows. And even if it is the best or worse thing I could have done to him as his father, I will see it done."
"Oh, Jiraiya, you brat. I thought you were stronger than this." Hiruzen softly spoke in self-resentment, how could he not notice since the very beginning that Jiraiya had many priorities and those priorities were weighing down on him, it was moments like this that Hiruzen realized the limitations of a person. "I apologize, my boy..."
"Overcoming the war and servicing the village was one thing, sensei. But, this." He let out a dry chuckle that made Hiruzen outwardly aged significantly.
"When are you going to leave?"
"Give me half a year. I need that much before going through with the mission. After I leave, I ask of you a favor sensei. Look after him, or at least keep an eye on him."
"No need with such favors. Kajirama is my grandson, the child born from my only daughter and student, it is only natural for me to look after him as he's one of my kin." Hiruzen replied firmly.
After the end of the discussion, both of them stayed there for a few minutes, staring at Anzu's monument with equal sorrow.
...
Jiraiya Ogata returned to his apartment, along with a new addition, his son, Kajirama Ogata.
Jiraya closed his eyes the moment he sat down heavily on the sofa. Caressing the spot where Anzu used to sit down under the rays of the moonlight and stars, he couldn't refrain from the surging emotions he was valiantly trying to suppress, but the mere memory of her broke him down, as sobbed echoed out within the living room.
"W-wa... Wahhh! Ngh! Waaaahhh!"
At that moment, Kajirama also broke down to a crying fit. All those hours in the monument must have hunger the newborn a little bit.
Jiraiya realized that and he felt guilty, nevertheless, he didn't idle around so he quickly got Kajirama's milk solution, poured some in a baby bottle, and when it was half full, he added some water and mixed it. After that, he got to his son's crib and gave him his baby bottle.
Sniffling, Kajirama clutched the baby bottle and quickly got to drinkin' immediately as soon as his mouth got into the rubber nipple. His innocent pure, brown-eyes stared at Jiraya, who stared back at his child, as it kept on sucking on its milk like there's no tomorrow.
"Kajirama, my son." Jiraiya started. He was speaking more to himself than anyone else. Goodbyes are hard. It may be hard for the person to leave, but it's always harder for the one left behind, especially when his son was still a few days old, he wanted nothing more than to stay and take care of his child himself. However, in the world they live in, and the circumstances of their nation, he had to think of the bigger picture, not as a Sannin, and not as a shinobi, but as a father, to the child he had with her. He had to ensure their child would have a safe and positive environment around him growing up, he may not have his parents around him, but he has the village, the village where the people have the Will of Fire that shine bright.
His son is majorly one of sole reason why Jiraiya swore to protect and maintain the peace of the village... Or as long as he can, until his son, would also become a shinobi that would possess the capabilities, adequate enough to protect himself, his comrades and family.
...
-Seven Months Later-
"Bah, bah, bah, bah, bah." Babbled baby Kajirama as he finished eating his mashed banana with his fingers and got about half of it around his face and on his bib.
"Good-boy Kaji-chan, you ate all of your bananas. Although you got at least half of it on your face and clothes, you little devil you." Biwako cooed as she went to pick up her grandson out of his high chair and smiled at him, on his other hand was her son, Asuma Sarutobi. The two babies are only a few months old apart, although it was stressing taking care of two babies, she had some help with the helpers in their household so it didn't strain her much.
"Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma." Babbled baby Asuma as he saw his mother coming to pick Kajirama up to which he giggled as she lifted them both up with ease.
"You're a messy little boy aren't you Kaji-chan." Biwako continued to coo as she looked at her - equally messy son - who just giggled more, then put one of his fingers in his mouth to make himself look innocent and more adorable.
She just shook her head and smiled slightly. "You're just like your father, and Kaji-chan looked just like his father too, a real charmer when putting aside all those perverted antics of his." Kajirama laughed and clapped his small hands together as if agreeing with her.
"Kashin! I'm going into the next room to change your brother and Kaji-chan out of their messy clothes; will you please clean his high chair up and put it away while I'm doing that?" Biwako called as she went to the next room.
"Certainly, Okaa-san." A four year old boy, Kashin Sarutobi, Biwako and Hiruzen's older son answered from the backyard.
As Biwako was changing both the babies out of their dirty clothes, she thought about when Kajirama was born and Jiraiya left the village to go ahead with his S-rank espionage mission she was informed of on her late night talks with her husband.
During that time a ton of things had happened since Kajirama's birth was made public. For the first month, they mourn Anzu's death which was caused by the complications of her childbirth, her friends and family often visited her monument and even till now, there are still a selective few who clean up her area and offer flowers. As for Jiraiya, except for training his genin team, he spent most of his time around his son, savoring every minute of it as much as he could. These past few months Kajirama was growing up to be a very active child. He loved to play around in his play pen with his different toys and when he started crawling about two months ago he could hardly stay in the same place for too long. He would also grab anything he could get his hands on and that he could put in his mouth. On more than one occasion, Jiraiya and Biwako had just barely stopped Kajirama from swallowing or choking a coin, a marble, and other small objects.
He also had a knack for getting into trouble. On several occasions Kajirama somehow climbed up onto a chair, table, or even a shelf whenever he saw something he wanted on them. This resulted in him nearly falling off and getting hurt each time but thankfully Jiraiya or Biwako were able to catch him and keep him from getting hurt. Though Jiraiya and Biwako nearly had a heart attack each and every time it happened. It was after the second one of those incidents that both Jiraiya and she realized that they should always have Kajirama within eyesight for their own peace of mind.
That's not the worst of it though, after Jiraiya had left for his mission. Kajirama got unexpectedly deranged, he threw a crying fit that would last several hours, only stopping as he tire himself out to sleep, when he would wake up, except for drinking and eating his baby foods, he would continue on his unrestrained cries and the sulk on his face got even Orochimaru sympathetic to the baby, evidently, Kajirama was missing his father, which further weighed the guilt Hiruzen was feeling as he was the one responsible for assigning Jiraiya the espionage mission, although he could task that to someone else, he trust Jiraiya and Orochimaru more than anyone else.
After Biwako finished changing Asuma and then Kajirama, she lifted him up in her arms and cooed "Now that you're nice and clean again, you're a handsome boy. Aren't you my little Kaji-chan?" Kajirama just replied by squealing in delight and clapping his hand again, followed by her baby Asuma, laying at the futon.
Biwako then went out to the main room where Kashin was just finishing putting away his two brothers/nephew's high chairs. She then went to sit down on a chair and began to loosen up her robes and lowered the strap to her bra to expose her left breast. She then brought both the babies up to it so that they could start feeding. After which Kashin then went to another chair opposite Biwako and began to read new shinobi principles book that they had in their clan library.
It was just about five minutes after Biwako began that someone suddenly came through the open window that was next to her. With Biwako so engrossed in feeding Kajirama and Asuma, Kashin in his book, both of them failed to notice the 'intruder'. When the 'intruder' saw Biwako's current manifestation and what she was doing he suddenly let out a whistle.
When the two heard the whistle and the intruder's feet landing on the floor, they both looked over to who it was. After Biwako had fully fixed her robes, Kashin closed his book. It was Hiruzen Sarutobi, still with his whole Hokage attire.
...
Biwako was sitting at a table with Kajirama and Asuma being cradled in her arms and her husband was across from them. He was smiling as he looked at them since the memory of Biwako breastfeeding the babies was still fresh on his mind.
"Why are you home here so early, Hiruzen?" Biwako inquired with a similar smile, she knew her husband the best, especially in bed.
"Can't a man come every now and then to his home?" Asked the smiling kage.
"Not in the way you are in your post, are you done with paperwork?" Biwako deadpanned.
Hiruzen grimaced hearing the word of his long-time enemy, 'paperwork'. "Ah! Yes, don't say that, you make me feel unwanted, you know I'm busy with all the work I have to do. Besides this is one of the uncommon moments when I have nothing else to do, so I decided to relax for the time being until I have to continue sitting on that chair, not to mention I wouldn't have been treated with the heavenly sight that I saw not long ago." Hiruzen replied grinning like no tomorrow.
"Kajirama and my youngest son are living a genuine privilege that is not given to just anyone. I envy his good fortune."
Biwako chuckled at her husband not missing the perverted meanings behind his statements, maybe that's where Jiraiya got his hobbies from, from Hiruzen.
"Do you want to sleep on the couch tonight, Hiruzen?" Biwako threatened half-heartedly, she added on her act with narrowed eyes.
Hiruzen just chuckled nervously and decided to change the subject as to why he was really here.
"Alright Biwako, all joking aside, there's a reason why I'm here." Hiruzen spoke, all humor leaving his face.
Immediately Biwako straightened up and began to listen intently to what her husband had to say.
"As you know, I had Jiraya leave the village to reconnect with his spy network to keep an ear open for any news about anything that may concern the village." Hiruzen said. Biwako nodded since she knew this.
"Currently the other villages are watching Konoha closely to see how badly our military strength was hit during the Second Shinobi World War - the loss of numerous shinobis against Kagerō Village which leads to their destruction, our battle on the border against Sunagakure[Hidden Sand Village]'s invading shinobis on the Fire Temple where Sakumo Hatake did an excellent control of the situation against their jinchūriki, and our own conflict with Kumogakure[Hidden Cloud Village] and Iwagakure [Hidden Stone Village]. Thankfully, I've been able to keep the other villages in the dark about how badly Konoha was hurt when I received that Intel from Jiraiya, so as far as the other villages are concerned, Konoha is still strong. However, it wouldn't take long before they realized, with whatever means, that the village's still recuperating. Jiraiya is out there right now seeing the other village's every movement." Hiruzen informed which Biwako frowned with worry and alarm, her instincts as a retired Shinobi screaming to her.
"...if the other villages would become aware of our current military might, then perhaps..." Biwako paused, trembling slightly with worry. "Hiruzen, I don't want another war. Kashin is about to attend the Shinobi Academy, not to mention that it wouldn't take that long for Asuma and our first grandchild, Kajirama, to attend their turn."
Hiruzen sighed heavily. "That's why Jiraiya's espionage mission was heavily insisted on by the council... Even, myself..." Hiruzen got weary with all this era's conflict, he didn't even get to share some time with his second child, Kashin, because of how busy he was.
"Fortunately, from the contents of what Jiraiya has delivered with his toad summoning, they won't make any real move against us, or any of the other hidden villages for a while since they are still, like us, trying to recuperate from the war, we faired much better since we won that war, additionally, they would need the funds for financing the operations what ever they are. It'd be a few years before they make any real move against any village and it means we still have time to prepare the children." Which got a look from Biwako that conveyed a look that entails, better not be talking about what she thought he was thinking of.
Seeing this, Hiruzen revealed a bitter, and weary smile."Now Biwako, don't give me that look, I know you don't want to hear this but you have to since it is for our offspring's greater good as well as everyone else's. The Villages are no amateurs. They will eventually figure or find out the village's predicament and when they do, they will come after our people, which includes them. So when the children are old enough, we will have to train them to be a Shinobi." At this point Biwako was about to interrupt, telling him no but before she could Hiruzen cut her off and continued,
"Biwako, listen first. Kashin, Asuma and Kajirama are born from a clan of shinobis, my two mentors, the Shodai and Nidaime Hokage, taught me back in the days how important it was for the children of Konoha to grow without any worries, but drastic times call for drastic measures. Also, the children will have to learn sooner or later that, because of who they are, and who they are related to, they will always have to watch their back. There will always be those who will want to either use or destroy them because of what he may one day become, just because of them being related to us, as children and the grandchild of a Kage." Said Hiruzen with finality.
After Hiruzen finished speaking, Biwako remained quiet and just looked down at her babies who had finally stopped squirming and were falling asleep in her arms. As she did she found herself silently cursing fate for one thousandth time for turning this world into one full of conflict, no matter what era. After several minutes of just looking down at her sleeping babies, Biwako finally looked back up at Hiruzen. When she did, Hiruzen saw a look of determination in her eyes that he had not seen in many years, this made him reminisce on their romantic tale back in the day...
"If that's the case, then so be it. I will train Kashin to the best of my abilities, and when both of these younglings are old enough, it would be their turn. If any of those enemy bastards try and take my children away from me they will have to go through me first and they will find out first hand why I am the wife of 'The God of Shinobi'." Biwako said with a fire of determination in her eyes.
Hiruzen saw this and just smiled and nodded. He could see that the love she had for Kajirama and their children ignited her maternal instincts to protect the children, which had Biwako's fighting spirit roaring, one that he thought had long been extinguished.