October 9th ended as most days did in the Land Of Fire. Peacefully and without any real incidents to report. However, October 10th would be a day that would end very differently for the people of the most powerful of the five great ninja villages. The villagers of the Hidden Leaf village better known as Konohagakure were just now making their way back home to end yet another day. Something that they had all done successfully thousands of times before and they had no reason to think that this night would be any different. The many ninja of the village nevertheless kept their never-ending vigilance. One never knew when and by whom an attack would come from. So it was always best to be ready all of the time.

-

The first signs of trouble came from the ear-deafening roar from the southernmost part of the massive stone wall of their village. Soon after the massive silhouette of a fox with nine tails could be seen atop one of the many nearby mountains. Its two massive red eyes bore nothing but near-total hate for all living things. But none more so than its complete and absolute hatred for humanity.

"My god what the hell is that"! A newly minted Chunin cried out in utter terror. His sole companion a Chunin two years his elder was able to regain his composure soon after seeing the monstrous fox and thus was quick to sound the alarm. it wasn't long before the sound of dozens of strategically placed alarms had all begun to play with a series of long whistles and soon after the nearly empty streets were once again filled. This time with all levels of ninja and villager.

-

As the many Genin were busy moving the villagers to the many underground bunkers the more experienced ninja was busy using whatever ninja tool they had on them at the time or firing off a series of powerful defensive and offensive jutsus at the massive fox. But no matter what they did the massive beast crept ever closer to the village. Its nine-mile-long tails uprooting the nearby trees in the forest before firing them at the village walls at a high rate of speed.

-

In an undisclosed underground base stood twelve Root-ANBU who all stood motionless. Only moving when the sound of a man's voice broke through the silence of the underground facility.

"Is it done"? The voice asked.

"It is my lord". Replied one of the twelve masked ninja. His voice was an even monotone. As was typical for any and all ROOT ninja.

"You are all to do nothing, do you understand"? The voice asked. His tone gave no room for any argument from the dozen masked ninja now before him. He need not have worried for none would have done so. He had seen to that fact long ago.

"We understand, Lord Danzo". Danzo simply nodded before departing the underground facility.

-

As the war for the very survival of the village waged on the fourth and current Hokage was several miles away inside a cave awaiting the birth of his two children. He was acutely aware of the situation back at home a mere four miles distance but he knew the third Hokage could hold his own for some time. Time enough he hoped that would allow him to ensure his family's continued well-being and overall health.

"Come on Kush-chan you must push". Minato said as he held onto his wife's hand. A part of him was wishing for this whole ordeal to be over so he could race back home and help aid in the defense of the village. But for now, all he could really do was try to be as helpful to his wife by giving her words of encouragement while she was busy bearing him his children.

"I'm fucking pushing you thick-headed idiot! Now stop talking before I show you how much Tsunade-sama showed me before she left"! Kushina shot back angrily before once again succumbing to the immense pain of her task. As she did her grip upon Minato's left hand tightened painfully.

"Log give me strength". Minato prayed as the sound of his bones breaking became audible.

-

Back inside the village, it was becoming clear to all that the fight against the massive fox was a losing one. The walls had already fallen and the fox was now clearing a path to the very heart of the village.

"Report". The elder Hokage said to one of the nearby Jonin. Upon realizing who was talking to him all of the nearby Jonin all jumped to attention. Hiruzen quickly dismissed that for the time being.

"Now isn't the time for such pleasantries. Now report". The previous Hokage asked once again as he eyed the destruction all around him. Homes had been destroyed. Lives had been lost this night. A cost no amount of money could ever really recover from.

"It's bad sir, team 10 has been forced to fall back deeper into the village". The Jonin replied. The clear signs of fatigue on the young Jonin weren't missed by the older man. Nor were the clear fatigue on the others if their torn and mud-covered uniforms were any indication. Hiruzen simply nodded to them all in a show of respect. An act that was quickly reciprocated by the small group of five. He knew he didn't have the power to stop the fox. Slowing it down was doable, but stopping it altogether wasn't. So he was again forced to order the nearby ninja to fall back deeper into the village.

-

At long last, the sound of crying filled the cave.

"They're beautiful". Minato said as he walked over to his admittedly tired wife. Her hair stuck to her face from the exhaustion of bringing two children into the world. Her children. The feeling she felt at that very moment was nothing short of pure bliss. His hand was already fixed with what little he had in his small repertoire of medical jutsus in the few seconds that had passed.

"That they are". Kushina replied happily as the two were given to her to hold. Looking at them both made the woman cry happy tears.

"What are their names"? One of the female medical ninjas asked the two new parents.

"Naruto and Naruko". Kushina and Minato replied respectively. Once that was done Minato quickly donned his Hokage robes and was gone. What none of them knew was that he had also somehow taken baby Naruto with him. What his wife now had in her arms was but a clone of her son.

-

Minato soon landed atop the Hokage monument. More precisely he had landed atop his monument's head. Minato eyed the fox as it proceeded to destroy his village for a time. It's nine tails waving all over destroying everything they made contact with. His home was being destroyed by this damn fox. The rage he felt at that very moment was palpable. So much so that his chakra became visible. But now wasn't the time for that. What he was about to attempt was dangerous. But he had to try. The fox was now nearing the clan districts. So without a second's hesitation, Minato called out the powerful Jutsu: Uzumaki Style: Demon Containment Seal.

Suddenly and without warning, Minato felt the worst pain he had ever felt in his whole life. But still, he kept going. Even as his blood began to pool in his mouth. Even as his bones all began to shatter. Even as his vision began to blur into a mess of colors and shapes. Still, he kept going. Finally, after what felt like years the fox was finally sealed into Naruto. Only then did he allow himself to fall to the ground. Only then did he allow himself to stop fighting. But just as his eyes would close forever he saw something or in this case somebody off in the distance. He couldn't help but smile weakly at the approaching boy now running his way.

-

As the boy in question bent down, Minato could tell right away that the boy was crying.

"K...Kakashi-kun you must tell H...hiruzen that Naruto is to one day be H...hokage". Minato said as blood began to run down his face before it formed a small crimson puddle around his head.

"I...understand". Kakashi replied as he watched as his surrogate father was dying right in front of him. Kakashi said nothing as the last few breaths left the man he had once had the honor to call sensei.

"I'll miss you...sensei". Kakashi said as he slowly got back to his feet. It was only thanks to his ANBU mask that his tears were hidden away from the world. Looking to his left he could see baby Naruto sleeping peacefully on his father's stone face. The seal on the boy's belly glowed with an intense redish hue before finally turning black and locking the fox inside the baby boy. Carefully picking the boy up Kakashi eyed the destruction down below. He then eyed the boy in his arms. This newborn baby was the only thing stopping the fox from killing any more people.

"I'm sorry you have to bear this burden Naruto-kun". Kakashi said before kissing the newborn's forehead softly so as to not wake him and then taking the boy back home. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day for everybody.

-

The next day a council meeting was called. With the recent crisis averted it was time to start work on the necessary repairs as well as search and rescue operations. Once everybody had entered the council chambers, one of the very few areas not to be hit by the nine tails attack the night before the meeting started.

Hiruzen slowly made his way over to the podium and at once the chamber became deathly quiet. Hiruzen could immediately feel the eyes of dozens of individuals land upon him. But he had once been a kage himself and so was used to such things. But still what he was about to announce to them all still weighed heavily on his mind.

"We have lost many great ninjas today". Hiruzen began as he battled back the tears that threatened to run down his face.

"But we have lost much more than that, we have lost our Hokage, we have lost our hero". Hiruzen said and at once the chamber became a cacophony of overlapping voices. It took several long minutes before the chamber quieted down once more. Once that was done Hiruzen was reinstated as Hokage vie emergency powers. Just as he donned the hat and robe of the Hokage did an ANBU enter into the chamber. In his arms lay Naruto. Once Naruto had been taken away by one of his aids Hiruzen called for a small recess.

"Sir I have news of great importance". The ANBU began.

"What is it"? Hiruzen asked. The ANBU slowly removed his ANBU mask only to reveal a thin dark blue mask that covered half of the teen's face before he replied.

"Naruto is to be trained to be our next Hokage". To say Hiruzen was shocked would have been an understatement.

"I take it this was Minato's last order as Hokage"? Hiruzen asked the teen. The teen could only nod his head. Hiruzen knew that Kakashi viewed the older man as a second father. To lose that twice at his age was nearly inconceivable to the new or was it old Hokage. The technicalities were really starting to give him a migraine.

"Let's keep this to ourselves for the time being". Hiruzen told the highly gifted boy. Again Kakashi could only nod his head. Just then the bell rang signaling the end of the small recess Hiruzen had ordered. Hiruzen knew that everything would be very different from this day on. He could feel it in his bones. If only he knew how true that was. If only he knew.