The Void

The past few days had been nothing short of a nightmare. Kakashi and Naruto had barely left Kushina's side since she was discharged from the hospital. Kakashi, ever the supportive figure, had tried his best to comfort Naruto, who was inconsolable after the tragic loss of his father. Despite his best efforts, Kakashi was struggling as much as anyone. His usual stoic demeanor was cracking, especially with his own emotions running high. But the truth was, both he and Naruto were lost in this grief, and no one seemed to have the right words to make it better.

Kushina, though she carried the weight of her sorrow, still tried to maintain her strength for her son, for Hikari—the newborn she now cradled in her arms. It was a delicate balance; she had to be both a grieving widow and a mother to her child. The effort, however, left her weary and frail. Even with all her strength, she couldn't hide the strain.

Outside the small, dimly lit room, the village buzzed with sorrow. The funeral of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, loomed over everyone. The entire village, including the Shinobi and civilians, had gathered to pay their respects to the fallen hero.

Among the sea of mourners was Jack, a boy who had arrived here only days ago, still adjusting to this world, trying to make sense of the changes around him. His eyes swept over the sea of faces, from familiar clan heads to figures he'd only read about. It was an overwhelming sight—a village torn apart by tragedy, but one still standing, even if precariously.

"You good, Jack?" his mom's voice broke through his thoughts, gentle yet firm as she helped him adjust his shoes. She was wearing her own mourning attire, her grief evident but masked by her fierce determination to stay strong. She had always been resilient but today was a test of that resolve.

"Yeah... I'm good, mom," Jack replied quietly, his voice a little strained as he glanced down at his shoes. He could tell by the way his mother's eyes lingered on him that she was still in shock.

The two of them walked to the burial grounds, his mom caring for his little brother, Jack's mind swirling with the unfamiliar faces in the procession. He couldn't help but feel like an outsider, watching as everyone paid their respects to a man he never knew, but whose legacy weighed heavily on everyone here.

His thoughts drifted back to the funeral march, the divisions in the crowd clear from the start: Naruto, along with Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Kushina, leading the charge with baby Hikari nestled in her mother's arms. Behind them, the Sarutobi clan, led by Hiruzen, Asuma, and Iruka, followed solemnly. Jack noticed that Iruka seemed older here, his face more drawn, as if this world had aged him in ways he couldn't understand. His eyes narrowed, trying to make sense of the changes.

As the procession continued, Jack saw the Uchiha clan, led by Mikoto and Fugaku, walking side by side. Itachi, ever the enigmatic figure, carrying Sasuke. Jack caught Itachi's gaze briefly, but it was so fleeting he couldn't be sure. But he had the odd feeling that Itachi had noticed him, too.

The march continued, moving steadily toward the burial ground. At the back of the procession, the other major clans followed: the Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, Aburame, and Fuma. But there was one more sight that caught his attention—the snake-like figure of Orochimaru, walking with his student Anko, flanking the villagers.

Jack's brow furrowed. Why was Orochimaru still here? He knew the Sannin's history—how after Minato's death, Hiruzen had become Hokage again, and Orochimaru had left Konoha. This timeline was already diverging in ways he didn't fully understand. Was this some new factor he hadn't accounted for?

His mother tugged gently at his arm, bringing him back to the present. "Come on, Jack. We need to get in line."

—-

Konoha: Burial Grounds of the Brave

The moment of silence was deafening. People stood still, their hearts heavy with the collective grief of Konoha. A great man had fallen. A great leader.

Hiruzen stood at the front, pipe in hand, his expression somber yet resolute.

"Shinobi and villagers alike have come here to mourn the innocent lives that were lost during the Kyuubi's attack. We mourn the brave shinobi who sacrificed their lives to protect us, the villagers, who became collateral damage in a war that none of us wanted."

The crowd's somber mood deepened as the words settled in.

"But this is not the end," Hiruzen's voice rang out, lifting a bit of hope from the depths of their despair. "The sacrifices made by these heroes will not be in vain. The Will of Fire that burned in the heart of our Fourth Hokage will ignite a new dawn. A new era for Konoha."

Jack's chest tightened. This speech was no different from what had been spoken countless times before, but this time, it carried a weight. It carried the future.

"And to mark the beginning of this new era, I introduce your Fifth Hokage."

A ripple of shock spread through the crowd. There was a stunned silence before murmurs erupted. The villagers exchanged confused glances, whispering to one another. Who would be Hokage now? It was too soon.

Jack blinked. "A new Hokage?" He thought to himself. But Tsunade isn't supposed to be the next Hokage for a while. This... this doesn't make sense. His eyes narrowed. He hadn't been following closely enough to see the change in the timeline, but he could feel the air shift, something important was happening.

Then, to his surprise, Jiraiya stood up out of his seat to appear by Hiruzen's side, stepping forward confidently, his usual boisterous grin on his face.

"Wait, I thought he said he'd never be Hokage," someone murmured from the crowd.

Jack's heart skipped. "No way…"

Before anyone could react, Jiraiya grinned widely, leaning into his typical larger-than-life persona.

"I know I've said I'd never take the Hokage seat," Jiraiya began with a deep, theatrical bow, "But for Minato, I'll make an exception."

The whole crowd erupted with a varying of different opinions on Jiraiya stepping up to take the mantle.

—-

The Void

In the dark realm of the entity, Jack stared at the timeline, puzzled. "Wait, what? How did this happen?" He scrolled backward through the events. "The entity said I had three days to observe... But I must've missed something skipping to the funeral too fast"

" I fast-forwarded too quickly,damnit." There was an emergency council meeting two days ago that decided this and I didn't notice." the entity said as it quickly rewinds back to view it.

—-

Konoha: Council Room—Two Days Ago

The council room buzzed with tension as the heads of the clans gathered. Hiruzen, seated at the head of the table, looked as calm as ever despite the weight of the decision before him.

"You're probably wondering why I've called you all here," Hiruzen began, exhaling from his pipe.

"Not really your probably here to give us an update on the upcoming Leaf funeral while also unofficially reinstating your place as Hokage." a man with two scars on the right side of his face and dark hair tied up into a spiky ponytail, dark eyes as well as a goatee. His ears were also pierced wearing a meshed shirt underneath his flak jacket, a deer skin coat over that and hand guards.

But Hiruzen simply smiled faintly. "Ah, Shikaku, always straight to the point. I'm not here to reinstate myself."

" Sarutobi-sama, if that is not the case then why else have you called us here? Then I was told that we would talk about how to rebuild the village after the Funeral." a man with long, brown hair and featureless white eyes wearing a very traditional, loose fitting robes with a long-sleeved, brown haori. said.

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"KuKuKu I concur with Hiashi-san. What other Reason have you summoned us here? Sensei I can speak for all of the other clan heads and council members here so that we know how the burial ceremony goes." an androgynous looking snake-like male who has very pale skin, golden eyes with slitted pupils, purple markings around his eyes and fang-like teeth. He also has pronounced cheekbones and straight waist-length black hair with some locks covering and framing his face or to his shoulders.

"I'm glad you asked my dear pupil. I'm here to honor Minato's final wish. "The council members grew quiet as Hiruzen continued.

"Minato's last wish was clear. He wanted Jiraiya to take the mantle of Fifth Hokage. We've discussed it among ourselves, and after careful consideration, I believe he is the one to carry Konoha forward."

The murmurs in the room escalated into full-blown objections.

"What an outrage we can't just can't automatically indict a fifth Hokage that we know nothing about no matter how much we treasure the fourth we can't Just break these types of rules for him we have to go through a process." an old woman wearing a simple long kimono, closed by an obi, a jacket, and a slash over it with squinting eyes.

Danzo, ever the voice of dissent, leaned forward with his characteristic coldness.

" Koharu's right, Hiruzen. Jiraiya? You're out of your mind, Hiruzen. He's a fool, a gambler, and a womanizer. The village can't afford to be led by someone so reckless. He's hardly the man for the job."

"He's more than that, Danzo," Hiruzen said firmly. "He's loyal, and he carries the Will of Fire in his heart. Minato trusted him, and I do too."

"Hmph. A foolish choice." Danzo crossed his arms, his voice laced with disdain.

"I'm not worried about my ex-teammate Jiraiya's lack of discipline," said Orochimaru, his voice as serpentine as ever. I'm sure that fool of a toad sage could at least advocate for his position better. Kukuku, a petty really," the Snake Sannin said laughing.

" Lucky he is here." another voice said entering the council room taking everyone's attention to an older tall and well-built man in adulthood with fair skin. He had waist-length, spiky white hair that he usually ties back into a ponytail, with two shoulder-length bangs framing his face. There were red lines under his eyes which extended further down his face as he got older, going all the way to the bottom appeared.

"Jiraiya, that's a hell of an entrance, you know." Kushina said with a smirk

Next to Kushina a woman said, "This is getting interesting." Tsume Inuzuka said, sitting up in her chair with interest.

"Oh, Jiraiya please tell me this is true, and you want to be the fifth Hokage because if so, you immediately got my vote." said the Fire Daimyo

"Yes Daimyo-sama I'm pleased to say that the amazing and handsome Great Gallant Toad sage Jirayia wants to be your fifth Hokage." Jirayia said with as much courage he could muster in front of the council.

Everybody in the council room stared at that sage in one of his toad poses and all the possible built up tension in the room evaporated faster than accumulated. Everyone stared dumbfounded until. An old man with gray hair, a beard, glasses as well as a constant frown that he's always worn, even in his youth. He also has a strong jaw-line, a facial structure he has retained even in his old age. Spoke saying "Are we sure that the fourth wanted this man to be the fifth Hokage?" Homura Mitokado said, appalled at Jirayia's pose.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Minato-san said somebody else." Hiruzen said keeping up a confident I wish my pupil wouldn't insist on making a foul out of himself in tense situations like this though Hiruzen.

"Look at him if he can't takes a tense situation like this seriously, what makes you think he would take the mantle seriously," Danzo said

Jiraiya stopped posing to take a more serious tone. "Look I know I wasn't one of your first pick as the fifth Hokage."

Before Jirayia could finish the Fire daimyo but in saying "You were always mine Jirayia-son."

"Thank you fire daimyo-sama."Jirayiia said before continuing but" My best student Minato asked this of me. I would never have done it otherwise if it wasn't my dear pupil who asked it of me. Because I will carry out his will of fire that the nine-tails snuffed out early and care for his legacy to a better era for this village. Give me a chance and I promise I will show a shakable will and resolve to keep this village safe and bring us into a better dawn that I know Minato was going to do."

After he said that speech Hiruzen gave the council members a moment to think before he asked each of them for their votes individually. "What do you all think? I'll start from the left with the Hyuga head," said Hiruzen

The Hyuga head expressionis neutral, but with a sharp edge "Jiraiya is a man of... unpredictable temperament. However, he has been a force for stability in the past, especially during turbulent times. If Konoha wishes to rely on his strength, so be it."pauses, then speaks with more resolve "The Hyuga will support the Hokage. But I expect him to make wise decisions." Hiashi said.

Hiruzen nodded Choza he asked

The Akimichi head chuckling warmly "Jiraiya's a good guy. We all know he's a bit of a goofball, but when it's time to get serious, he gets the job done. He'll look after Konoha, I'm sure of it. Besides, he'll probably keep things lively around here." smiling at the thought of the old days"If he can handle the pressure, I have no doubt he'll make a good Hokage."

Shikaku he asked

The Nara head leaned back in his chair, thinking "Jiraiya's unpredictable, yes... but he knows strategy, and his experience is second to none. We've seen him get out of worse situations than this. If anyone can get us through the tough times ahead, it's him."

Inochi he asked

The Yamanka head raises an eyebrow "Jiraiya as Hokage, huh? That's going to be an interesting change of pace, but I've got to admit, he's got guts. He's a risk-taker, but when it matters, he knows how to protect the village."

shrugs "I just hope he remembers the importance of intelligence and communication. This village can't afford to be too unpredictable."

Shibi he asked

The aburame head quiet and composed, with his signature emotionless tone"Jiraiya's appointment… is not a decision I would have made. However, he has served Konoha with distinction, and his combat prowess is unquestionable. His leadership style may be unconventional, but it is not for me to judge. "Pauses, considering his words carefully "As long as the village is protected and the Shinobi are united, I will support the Hokage's decisions. The Aburame clan has always acted in the best interests of the village."

Fugaku he asked

The Uchiha head his face is stern, though there's a slight edge to his voice

"Jiraiya as Hokage… I suppose I should not be surprised. He is a man of great strength, but leadership requires more than power. It requires vision, control, and discipline—qualities that are often at odds with his personality. "pauses, eyes narrowing "The Uchiha have always been a clan that values strength and discipline. I'm uncertain if Jiraiya will provide the stability Konoha needs in the coming days. "leans forward slightly, his voice low "But, I will hold my judgment. Perhaps he will surprise me, as he often does."

Tsume he asked

The Inuzuka head "Jiraiya as Hokage, huh? Well, that's a hell of a choice."She smirks, shaking her head slightly."The guy's strong, no doubt about it. And he's got the guts to stand up to anyone, even the craziest of enemies. But leadership? I'm not sure he's the type to sit at a desk and make those boring, bureaucratic decisions. He'd rather be out there, training or chasing after women. "She sighs, adjusting her jacket. "Still, I know he's loyal to Konoha. And that counts for something. I'd bet my life that when it comes down to protecting the village, Jiraiya will do what it takes. But if he expects me to just sit around and let him do whatever he wants, he'll be sorely disappointed."She pauses, then gives a slight grin."At least it'll be interesting, I'll give him that. Just hope he knows what he's getting into."

Kushina he asked

The Uzumaki head smirks before saying if anyone's gonna protect this village, it's him you know. He's got a big heart, even if it's a little... misplaced sometimes. I don't think he'll let Konoha fall, even if he's more of a big goofball than a suit-and-tie politician. "Her smile softens as she thinks of Naruto, Hakiri, and Kakashi, a serious edge creeping into her voice. "And you know what? He's the only one I'd trust to protect my family. Jiraiya cares about Konoha, and he cares about Naruto. He'll do whatever it takes to make sure this village stays safe. He might not be perfect, but who is? He'll make it work. "Her expression softens, but there's pride in her voice. "I just hope he can keep his head in the game long enough to do the job. Because if Jiraiya messes up, we all know it'll be a mess."

She chuckles, clearly amused at the thought, but there's a warmth to her words too. "But I believe in him. I really do."

Homura he asked

The elder council member eyes narrowed, stroking his beard

"Jiraiya… as Hokage? Hmm, it's… unconventional. While I respect his strength, this decision concerns me. He has never shown the true resolve to lead this village." pauses, glancing around at the other council members "The Hokage must be someone who commands respect and has the political acumen to navigate delicate situations. I fear Jiraiya may struggle in that area."

Koharu he asked

The elder council member with a slightly exasperated expression, sighed deeply

"This was not the choice I envisioned. Jiraiya is… unpredictable. We need a Hokage who is steady, someone who can maintain order and discipline. His lack of restraint, especially when it comes to certain matters, could be disastrous for Konoha." glances at Homura "I know the Third trusted him, but we must look beyond sentiment. I can't help but worry for the future of this village."

Danzo he asked

Danzo (Shimura)eyes narrowed, voice cold "So, it's true, then. The Legendary Jiraiya has been chosen. A man who spent more time running from responsibility than carrying it." snorts dismissively "Hardly the type to lead a village."

Orochimaru he asked

The snake Sannin smirks, a malicious gleam in his eyes "Jiraiya, the Fifth Hokage, hmm? How quaint. "Leans back, crossing his arms "A man who spends most of his life chasing after women, running away from responsibility... I wonder how long his reign will last before he destroys everything the Third built. "Snickers darkly "But, of course, it'll be amusing to see how Konoha fares under such a leader. I do wonder if he'll live up to his reputation." his eyes gleam as he lingers on the thought of Jiraiya's leadership failing "Perhaps it will be a good opportunity to observe…"

"Well, that gave us an answer." looks over at the others, a small smile appearing pointing over at Jiraiya. I would now like to indict Jiraiya the gallant as your fifth Hokage. Most of the council clapped.

Thank you, Jiraiya, said bowing "I will not take your generosity for granted he said before leaving the council meeting gracefully."

The clan heads murmured amongst themselves, some skeptical, others more supportive.

Kushina saw Jiraiya head out and thought "Huh he was more put togetherthann I'd thought he Would be way more goof about getting indicted you know."

Outside of the room, Jiraiya could be heard by a few with good ears being held in a boisterous laugh probably cracking a joke about all the attention.

—-