The next day, Azula stood at the front of the village with Remi, they were getting ready to leave, in front of them stood the Kazekage and his family. 

"When you be back Remi?" Rasa asked. "I expect you to be in the sand more."

"Hard to say," Remi answered. "If one of your ninja were willing to help Azula, I'd appear more." Rasa wasn't pleased with the answer. "Azula is my responsibility, until I can find her a teacher I am not coming back to the sand for a while." Rasa still seemed unhappy. 

"Come on, Remi," Azula said. "We should get back to the Mifune." 

"Why don't you just train her yourself?" Rasa asked. "You know ninjutsu, you were once a ninja to the sand village."

"For a show time," Remi shrugged. "My talents lie more with the samurai." He put a hand on Azula's head. "Azula's talents lie outside the life of a samurai."

"Why not just take her to her home village?" Kankuro asked. "There are probably Shinobi there." Remi and Azula looked at each other, Azula nodded. They looked back at the others. 

"Azula's home village was destroyed two years," Remi informed. "If she could go back and find a teacher, she would." Kankuro and Temari gasped. 

"Let's get going," Monty insisted as he jumped off Azula's head. Azula changed his size midair, he was now the size when they first arrived, Gaara and the others were quite alarmed. Azula hopped on.

"I will be back in time," Remi said as he hopped on as well. "See you later sand village."

"Let's go, Monty," Azula instructed. Monty started to run a bit, jumped spread his wings, and took off in an instant. Upon arriving back home, there was a man staring up at them as they landed. He has long spiky hair, red lines under his eyes. He wore a green short shirt kimono and matching pants, under he wore mesh armor visible at wrists and ankles. He wore a headband with horns on, a large scroll on his back, and a tattoo on his palm. 

"Master Jiraya?" Remi asked as they got off the dragon. "Lord Mifune?"

"We finally found someone crazy enough to take Azula as a student," Lord Mifune smirked. 

"Crazy?" Jiraya repeated, he started laughing. "You aren't the first to call me that."

"Who is he?" Azula asked.

"Azzie," Mifune began as he looked at her. "This is Master Jiraya, he's one of the Sannin from the Hidden Leaf village, he's going to be your ninjutsu teacher from this point forward."

"And who is this giant reptile?" Jiraya asked staring at Monty, the dragon shrank, flopping onto Azula's head.

"Monty the nightingale dragon," Monty answered. 

"You leave in the morning Azula," Lord Mifune informed.

"Will I be allowed to come back?" Azula asked.

"You are always welcomed here," Mifune assured as he put a hand on her head. Azula smiled. "Now go pack."

"Yes, sir," Azula said as she went up to her room. 

"Master Jiraya?" Remi asked, Jiraya looked over at him. "Why do you want to take Azula under your wing?"

"Remi!" Mifune scolded. "We should be thankful, not questioning his motives!"

Jiraya started laughing. "It's quite alright Mifune...Azula is a descendant of the 2nd Hokage from the Leaf, I figured it would be best if a Leaf Shinobi guided her."

"Alright," Remi sighed. "How can I be so sure the leaf will accept her?"

"Remi!" Mifune scolded as he hit him on the head. 

"Sorry," Remi lowered his head.

"If I remember correctly the Tominaka Clan still stands in the Leaf village," Jiraya answered. "There was a big split when I was a kid, half went to go live in the village of the night while the other half stayed in the leaf."

"Does any of them have the dragon jutsu?"Remi asked. "Azula could use the guidance."

"No," Jiraya denied. "But some do have a plasma nature like she does. Is there any other thing I should know about her?"

"A Jutsu she received from her mother," Mifune informed. "But it's only at the hands.

"Hmph?" Jiraya asked. 

"Azzie can turn her hands into leaves, but only for a short time," Mifune informed. "And from living here, she's also well versed with a sword. I want her to keep at it with her sword usage. Monty the dragon is pretty good with a sword as well."

"What jutsus did the girl's father do? What was he known for?" Jiraya asked. 

"A shinobi named Alto, he was a highly skilled weapon user," Mifune answered. "Main weapons being a gunbai, sword, and a shield."

"If you didn't show up, we were going to start doing two sword training with her," Remi informed. 

"I can send you messages to let you know about her progress," Jiraya assured. "I trained the Fourth Hokage, this will be easy." He gave an assuring smile and a thumbs up. "The third Hokage was also a student of the Second Hokage, I assure you that Azula is in good hands, Remi of the Samurai."

"Where will you be taking her first?" Remi asked.

"Back to Night village," Jiraya answered as his smile dropped, the other two gasped. "It's going to be painful for her, but there is the possibility of the scrolls lying around, and I forget where the entrance is located."

"Thank you, Master Jiraya," Remi lowered his head. 

"By the time I'm done, Azula and Monty will be way stronger than before," Jiraya assured. "You can count on The Toad Sage!"

******

The next morning came, after a heart-filled goodbye, Azula began her journey with Master Jiraya, Monty was sitting on her head. 

"Master Jiraya?" Azula asked. He looked down at her. "Do you know where we are going? We've been going in circles?"

Jiraya started laughing. "You got me, kid! Tell me where is the entrance to your old village?" Azula tilted her head. "We are heading back there, I suspect there are a few scrolls laying around that can help you and Monty."

"It's a bit far from here," Monty informed. "Shouldn't go somewhere closer first?"

"Lord Mifune tells me you are a fast flier," Jiraya recalled.

"Are you sure it's safe to return there?" Azula asked. "What if Pain is there?"

"Pain?" Jiraya asked. "The name of the man who attacked your village?"

"Yeah, he wanted me," Azula said as he looked forward. "But my village was not about to hand me over. So there was a battle, it led to devastation."

"Tell me about this Pain guy," Jiraya requested. "What was he like?"

"God-like shinobi," Azula answerd. "There were six of them."

"Hmph," Jiraya breathed as he looked up. "That is a wonder." He looked down at her. "The guy probably hasn't set foot there in two years. And if we run into trouble, you'll have me to protect you!"

"Are you really that strong?" Azula asked looking up at him.

"I strike fear into the heart of men all over the world," Jiraya answered. "Our enemy will have to be foolish to pick a fight with me." He placed a hand on Azula's head. "So how about we fly there if the village is far away." Monty hopped off Azula's head, turning to his full size on the pavement in front of them. 

"You sure you want to fly?" Azula asked.

"This will definitely get the ladies more into me," Jiraya smiled as he looked forward with a smile. "After your village, we need to stop in a town so I can do some research."

"What kind of research?" Azula asked. "Is it important?"

"Oh, it's the most important!" Jiraya laughed. "Not only do I strike fear into the heart of men! I'm quite the lady killer!"

"You kill women?" Azula asked as she stopped walking. "Maybe you aren't the right teacher!"

"No, you misunderstand," Jiraya waved his hands. "What I mean---well, I'm The White Maned Toad Charmer, woman fall are always falling for me." Azula stared at him. Jiraya let out a sigh. "You'll understand when you are older and men are falling head over heels for you."

"Are we going or not?" Monty asked as his tailed moved from side to side, knocking down a couple of trees.

"Careful Monty!" Azula advised as she got on the dragon with Jiraya. "Just hold tight, Master Jiraya." Monty took off before Jiraya could get a word in, Jiraya yelled with delight as they shot across the sky, soon landing outside a clear area about 3o kilometers from the ruined village. 

"And we are stopping here for?" Jiraya asked as they hopped off. 

"Never been here?" Monty asked, he shrunk, jumping to Azula's head. 

"Surprisingly no," Jiraya answered. "Only rumors my friend."

"We just have to walk a bit through the forest, entrance shouldn't be much farther," Azula said. She was true to her word, soon they stood in front of an underground tunnel, on the other side was the village.

"Hidden Village was taken literally," Jiraya said as he glanced around, the forest was much denser, landing with Monty would have been way too difficult and destructive. "The village isn't going to come to us, let's go." Azula became quieter as they walked through the tunnel. Soon they reached on the other side, they stood on a cliff, down below was the village, Azula grass was just starting to grow back, she saw homes in the distant still standing.

"Vacant," Monty said. "I can't smell another here beside us." Azula looked over to see Jiraya was no longer smiling, he was staring down at the land below. 

"Master Jiraya?" Azula asked. He looked down at her. "The leaf and Night were close, do you know if any survivors went to the leaf?"

"No," Jiraya answered. "Though I could be wrong, I haven't been in the leaf for a long time." He looked over the edge more. "How do you get down?"

"There should be a staircase?" Azula informed as she pointed over to the edge. The staircase remained intact, crumbled in a couple of places, but useable. The two spent most of the day, looking for scrolls, Azula spent most of the time taking in the sight. Soon the sun was starting to set, Azula sat by the water with Monty.

"There you are!" Jiraya boomed coming up from behind. "Your village sure is beautiful, despite the damage."

"Thank you, sir," Azula said as she looked back. She saw that he had fish ready to be cooked. "When do we start training?"

"What's the rush?" Jiraya asked as he put the fish down, he started to build a fire. "It's only day one."

"I want to get stronger," Azula answered.

"And you will," Jiraya assured. "I true shinobi must practice every day, and have patience. Now that we are talking to you about the way of Shinobi, I must also inform you about three prohibitions of a ninja." Monty and Azula looked at each other in question.

*****

Many years passed, Azula and Monty both became stronger under Master Jiraya, also learned that his 'research' was nothing but him being pervy, and it was for his pervy books. Azula managed to learn all the basics that were taught in her village. Despite having a dragon, Jiraya had her learn a summoning Jutsu, she made a contract with badgers. In particular, a giant one named Brox, and two smaller ones named Aster and Astrid. Azula's style had changed, she now had her hair down mostly, with two strands of hair pulled back in a twist ponytail style. She was now black overall pants, that stopped at her knees, fishnets underneath down to her ankles, ninja shoes. She had a dark red shirt with sleeves that stopped at her elbows, fishnet underneath to her wrists. On her back, she carried gunbai, swords on either side of her pants. She wore open finger gloves on her hands. 

They were now in the forest, Jiraya was having her work on target practice. She had plasma on her fingertip, pointing at aboard. "Release." The plasma blasted forward, catching the end of the board. 

"That's enough for today," Jiraya said as he stood up.

"But we only began ten minutes ago," Azula protested. 

"Yeah, you said we can train for an hour!" Monty argued. 

"I changed my mind," Jiraya said as he held up Azula's bag. "We are heading to the Leaf village, you can continue your village there."

"The leaf village is going to be open arms to a stranger?" Azula asked as she looked at him.

"And a dragon?" Monty asked. 

"Lord Hokage knows all about you two," Jiraya assured. "As long as you are traveling with me, he'll know you are no threat." Azula grabbed her bag, they started for the Leaf village. "Now, when we get there, I am going to introduce you to this ramen shop! It's the best one there is!"

"Better than the cup stuff?" Azula asked.

"You two are in for a treat!" Jiraya assured. "And then we are going to the bathhouse to do more research!"

"You are never going to change," Azula sighed as she lowered her head, Jiraya started laughing. "What else is the Leaf Village like it? Is it as serious as the sand village?"

"No, not at all!" Jiraya answered. "The Leaf strives on the term comrade, it can be strict at times. But it can get pretty goofy as well."

"With you as one of its members, I'm not surprised," Monty stated. 

"What is that supposed to mean you reptile!" Jiraya exclaimed. 

"I think you know, you human!" Monty exclaimed. Azula began laughing.

"You better take that back!" Jiraya argued. "You are about to fit the description of goofy as one of its new residents!"

"Nobody is as goofy as you!" Monty argued back. "And your disgusting pervy habits!"

"It's called research!" Jiraya corrected. They reached the Leaf Village in no time, Azula and Monty were amazed by the sight.

'So this is going to be our new home?' Azula thought to herself. "This is Great - Gran Chai's old village. I wonder what she'd say if she knew I'd be living here.' Instead of taking them to get ramen, they went to the hot springs instead for Jiraya to do his research. He was giggling, blood seeping out of his nose. Azula watched a yellow spikey hair boy fall into the water numerous times, as someone else watched, he wore glass.

"Are you peaking into the woman's bath old man?' the ninja asked. "I will not allow any disreputable behavior. He charged towards them. 

"Oh please," Jiraya breathed looking back at him. Monty opened his mouth, and shot out lightning, electrocuting him as one of the toads appeared. Before the ninja could respond, the toad wrapped the ninja in his tongue, then slammed him onto the ground. The man twitched, blood dropped out of nose, as the toad's tongue retracted. "What's wrong with you? Keep it down. Do you want to get us, busted?" 

"I think you both overdid it," Azula said as the blonde kid went to go check on the shinobi.

"Hey," the kid greeted. "Perv, you awake?" he knelt behind the man. "One way to find out. Hidden Finger Jutsu; 1,000 years of death!" He stuck his fingers in the man's butt, nothing happened. "Man, he's totally out of it. Some trainer. He's pathetic. Ok, Frogman, lizard, and girl. What was that all about? Who do you think you are, anyway?"

"I'm glad you asked," Jiraya cheered as he went into a weird pose. "I'm the Hermit of Mount Myoboku. The wise and immortal spirit. That's right! It is I, the Toad Mount Safe!"

"What?" the boy asked. "Toad Sage?"

"I'm his student Azula," Azula introduced herself. "And this is Monty." She pointed to the creature on his heard. "He's not a lizard by the way."

"I don't care what he is!" the boy shouted. "He just took out my trainer!" As the toad disappeared. "You two, pervy sage, what are you going to about this? This guy is supposed to be training me, and you and that reptile laid him out flatter than a bath mat!"

"Well, he shouldn't have interfered with my research," Jiraya answered. 

"Your research?" the boy repeated.

"I wouldn't exactly call it, research," Azula stated. "It's shameful."

"It's not shameful!" Jiraya exclaimed, he reached into his pocket. "You see, I'm a novelist. I'm a writer of great books, like this." He pulled out Icha-Icha: Make-Out Paradise." 

The boy seemed confused. "What? You wrote that?"

"Yes!" Jiraya confirmed. "I see you know it?"

"You call that pervy trash a novel?" the boy demanded angrily. "Research, yeah right. Just an excuse for you to peek at the girl's bathhouse." They heard the girls screaming. 

"AH!?" Jiraya screamed. "Look at what you've done. You ruined my peeking. I mean my research."

"Dirty old man," the boy scuffed. 

"You little--" Jiraya grumbled getting closer to the boy. "There's nothing dirty about it."

"There's everything dirty about it," Azula argued as she crossed her arms. 

"Azula!" Jiraya exclaimed. "I happen to be a serious artist who's inspired by youth and beauty."

"Who cares!?" Naruto shouted. "What about my training?"

"Your training?" Azula asked. 

"You mean the walking on water technique you were having so much trouble with?" Monty asked.

"You can do it?" the boy asked. 

" Yeah," Monty asked.

"Ok, then it's up to you three to teach it to me," the boy declared. "You at least owe me that!"

"Huh?" Jiraya dismissed as he began to walk away. "Stop bothering us, kid. We are busy." Azula followed. 

"Hey, wait!" the boy demanded, he ran up to them. "Come back here your pervy sage and the girl with the reptile! Where's your sense of responsibility? You've got to train me."

"Not on your life!" Jiraya snapped as he faced him.

"You haven't introduced yourself," Monty pointed out.

"I can't work with someone who has no respect for a true artist," Jiraya added. "Besides, I already have two students."

"Uh, actually, I thought your book, Make-Out Paradise, was uh, really well-written, and informative," the boy stated. 

"Liar," Azula called her out.

"The purchase and reading that book is prohibited for anyone under the age of 18," Jiraya added. "Do you really think that's going to work on me? What do you take me for, an idiot? I'm a goddamn sage! Save your breath, kid! You can't butter me up." He jumped onto a post, summoning wind. 

"Ok! You're right," the boy said. "Sorry, but wait. You can't-ah awh!"

Jiraya started laughing as he jumped away. "So long, and good luck!" 

"That was cool!" the boy exclaimed. "I don't care if he is a dirty old man. That guy's the real deal!"

"Master Jiraya!" Azula exclaimed. "We have other things to do, can't just leave behind!"

"Can you help train me!?" the boy asked getting into her face.

"Who even are you?" Azula asked as she back up.

"The name's Naruto Uzumaki!" the boy laughed as he pointed at himself. "I'm gonna be Hokage one day! Believe it!" Monty tapped Azula's shoulder, Azula started walking, Naruto kept up. "So what are you doing in the village with Pervy Sage?"

"Well, it's sort of a long story," Azula answered as she looked forward. "But according to Master Jiraya, the Leaf Village is my new home."

"New home?" Naruto asked. "What happened to your old one?"

"We lived in Land of Iron for a while, but Lord Mifune said we were more for the shinobi life than the samurai life," Monty answered. "It took forever to find a teacher."

"An you got that old geezer of all people?" Naruto asked. 

"He has his flaws, but he is truly a great teacher," Azula said. 

"That's what I want to hear!" Naruto cheered as he jumped up. "Let's go find that Pervy Sage!" Azula stared at him. "What? Is there something on my face?"

"Sure I have Monty, but this is my first time here, I don't know my way around the village," Azula brought up.

Naruto grabbed her shoulders. "You just leave that to Naruto Uzumaki! Now let's go!" They began to look all over the place, in the process Azula was given a mini-tour. "Hey! Pervy Sage! Where are you?"

"Master Jiraya!" Azula called out.

"Pervy Man!" Monty called out. "Old man!" They soon came to a stop at a crossway, Monty sniffed the air. "He should be...in one of these shops?"

"How can you tell?" Naruto asked. "Are you like Akamaru and Kiba? They can sniff out any scent from miles away!"

"I don't know who that is," Monty said. "My sense is extremely more accurate than any humans, including you squirt."

"AND WHO ARE YOU CALLING SQUIRT!" Naruto shouted. "I'M NOT THE ONE SITTING ON AZULA'S HEAD!" Before Monty could respond, they heard women screaming, they look forward to where the sound was coming from.

"What do you think you're doing, you disgusting old man?" a woman demanded, they watched Jiraya walk out of a dango shop, followed by a woman.  

"I'm sorry, but you have such a beautiful pair of soft and lovely, uh, hands!" Jiraya tried to make up an excuse. " You really do have beautiful hands. How do you keep them so soft?"

"Filthy beast!" the woman trembled with anger, she slapped him.

"So much for soft hands," Jiraya said as Azula walked up. "The women in this town are no friendlier than before."

"Master Jiraya, you said we'd do more training once we got into the village," Azula said.

"And we will," Jiraya assured as he moved his hands. "As soon as I get more research in, and you go see the Hokage."

"You've been here before?" Naruto asked as he walked up.

"Huh?" Jiraya asked as they faced him. 

"I'm surprised they don't make you wear a leash," Naruto said. "You old pervert!"

"Shhh!" Jiraya panicked, he looked at the people staring at them. "You know, I really wish you wouldn't use the word pervert."

"Oh, yeah!" Naruto yelled anrgily. "Well, tell me how you like the word joke. Because that's what you are, mister. A joke! First I get stuck with a closet perv, and now, oh why can't I get a trainer that--ah!" Jiraya lifted him up with one hand.

"Oh, put a lid on it, will you?" Jiraya demanded. He threw him into a giant pot, he put a rock on top of the lid. "There you go kid, you can train in there for a while." He began to walk away.

"Sir!" Azula exclaimed as she ran up to him.

"Right," Jiraya said looking down at her. "Do you see that tall building?" Azula looked over to where he was pointing. "The Hokage should be in there, he will help you get situated here. Now, I'm going to go and continue my research."

"I can't go alone!" Azula exclaimed. "I'll get lost!" 

Jiraya smirked. "Then this will be a perfect chance for you to really get to know the village! Good luck!" Before Azula could argue, Jiraya jumped away and out of sight.

"Great," Azula huffed. She then freed Naruto from the pot.

"That geezer!" Naruto exclaimed as he jumped out. He rolled his sleeve. 

"Wait!" Azula exclaimed as she grabbed his sleeve.

"If he won't train me, then you will!" Naruto exclaimed as he got into her face.

"Jiraya said I need to go to the Hokage's office, but I don't know the way," Azula said. "To help me get situated here."

"Then will you train me!" Naruto exclaimed.

"You should go find Master Jiraya, while I get situated, I don't know how long it's going to take and I don't want to waste your time," Azula said. 

"I guess you make a point," Naruto said as he started to lead her.  "Then can you help me!"

"Uh, sure," Azula answered. "But I have no idea how, I'm a student just like you are trying to be."

"Then I'm sure your reptile friend can help, can't he?" Naruto asked.

"Let's get one thing straight, yes I'm a reptile, but I'm a dragon," Monty said as he stood on Azula's head.

"And I'm a zombie," Naruto glared at the guy.

"No, he's a dragon," Azula corrected as he took Monty off his head. "See?" Monty spread his wings, showing them off. 

"WOAH!" Naruto exclaimed as his eyes bulged out of his head. "HOW DO YOU HAVE A DRAGON!?"

"Not so loud," Azula said as she put a hand over his hand. "And Monty was born inside me." Naruto looked at her weirdly as she pulled her hand back. Azula put Monty insider her body, she showed her hand with no Monty.

"WHAAA!?" Naruto exclaimed as his eyes bulged out of his head. "THAT'S TOTALLY AWESOME! I WISH I COULD DO THAT!" Soon they were standing outside stood outside the door, Naruto knocked rapidly.

"Come in," a voice came. 

"Old man!" Naruto shouted as he opened the door. "I brought you a newcomer!" Azula walked in seeing an old man at a desk. "Just wait until you see her dragon!"

"Azula, am I right?" the old man.

"How did you know my name?" Azula asked.

"I've been expecting you," the Hokage said, he looked at Naruto. "You should get to your training Naruto, the final stage of Chunin exam will be here before you know it."

"Right!" Naruto exclaimed as he ran out of the room.

"Is Jiraya with you?" Lord Third asked Azula walked up to the table.

"Not at the moment," Azula answered. "He didn't tell me where he was going." Monty jumped out of Azula's body and began to sniff the man. "Monty! You are going to get us kicked out of the village!"

"Nonsense!" Lord Third laughed. "This must be the dragon Jiraya told me about."

"Yes, sir," Azula nodded. 

"Well, can you make a clone?" Lord Third asked. Azula nodded her head. "You can start here as a genin." Azula nodded. "Of course you will need a place to stay."

"Lord Hokage, sir?" Azula asked. "Naruto is a jinchuriki isn't he?"

"That is classified information," Lord Hokage informed. 

"My mother told a long time ago," Azula said. "When the Village Hidden in the Night was still standing."

Lord Hokage sighed. "This is not a light matter, and not to be talked about with others," Lord Hokage informed. "This is even classified information to the villagers here. The boy will find out in time." 

"Naruto is nice," Azula said. The Hokage smiled. "Are you sure, the village will be okay with an outsider?"

"Our villages used to be allies," Lord Hokage stated. "When we sent our ninja, we should have looked harder."

"Where you really my great-great grandfather's student?" Azula asked. 

"Curious about Lord Second are you?" Lord Hokage asked, he just to a photo on the wall. "You have similar qualities to him." Azula looked at the wall, he was right, the man with snow-white hair like her and red eyes as well. 

"Where will we be staying?" Monty asked.  

"That has been arranged," Lord Hokage said as he stood up. "You are welcome to stay in the Senju district, the Tominaka district, or an apartment ready."

"I'll choose the apartment," Azula answered. The Hokage gave her a key, and a map of the village then sent her off.