Chapter Two – Recurring Nightmares

He thought it was fortunate, Naruto did, that the wind had finally died down some for if it had been blowing any harder Naruto felt that will all the weight he'd lost and failed to put back on over the last several months he would have blown away. Even as he stood now, six feet tall and weighing in at one hundred and forty pounds the blond Ninja saw his trademark white cloak decorated with red flames as more of a burden than a familiar comfort. Whipping around in the wind it acted like the sail of a boat and constantly tried to force Naruto to go this way or that.

The Uzumaki had left his home at the edge of the city more than an hour later than he'd meant to and began walking at twenty minutes before noon towards the nerve-center of Konoha's government, the Hokage's complex which was built into the side of the mountain. All around him the village seemed to be in full swing, people were out everywhere going about their business. It relieved Naruto to see that the last of the construction crews hired to rebuild the village had finished their work since last Naruto walked down this particular road, though it had been more than five months since he'd come this way.

The last signs of the war are finally disappearing from Konoha, he thought. Naruto smiled, pausing to wave back to some elderly man who called his name from the opposite side of the street only to beam and wish him a good day. People are finally beginning to recover.

Naruto turned back towards his destination, which loomed overhead less than two blocks away, and looked up at the five faces carved into the wall of the low mountain. Five Hokages stared off into space, watching over the village and its entire population. Then again, none of these people really saw the war, Naruto thought bitterly. Not one of them was ever on the front line for more than one-

Besides, none of them are really smiling… How could they be? Naruto glanced at the flyer pasted up on one stone wall at eye-level. 'Report any suspicious activity to your local ANBU office immediately,' it said in bold white text on a black background. Across the poster someone had scribbled a in red ink a rough representation of Tsunade, her breasts even more disproportionate than they were in real life, pointing her middle finger towards whoever looked at the poster. The drawing however was not complete. The final line which would have finished Tsunade's leg ended in a choked squiggle.

She probably crucified whoever drew that, Naruto thought.

The blond cut his thoughts off and shook his head as he reached the end of the block and crossed the street without looking either way, coming up to the whitewashed wall that ran around the Hokage's complex. It was twenty feet high and quite nearly as thick. Naruto could easily remember, it was only a few years, when this wall hadn't been necessary. Ever since Konoha took over, Naruto thought, the bitter edge beginning to creep back into the timbre of his thoughts, security has been so tight. He looked up to and waved at the five ANBU sitting silently atop the sentinel tower built into the wall above the gate. They didn't wave back.

Posers, Naruto huffed. Not one of them has a goddamned clue. I'll bet they weren't even on active duty during Unification… not many Ninja alive today were… goddamned Akatsuki. We should have exterminated them all. Again, Naruto shook his head as if he were trying to fling the words from his mind. He stood in front of the massive oak gates, reached out his hand, and knocked four times loud enough that anyone in the courtyard behind would have been able to hear.

The ANBU in the watchtower looked at him disapprovingly. None of the ANBU around Konoha liked it when anyone in the village made too much noise. Naruto wanted to flip them off. Go to hell, he thought, glancing over at the Ninja in the white masks as the gate opened.

"Oh, Naruto-Sama," said the Ninja widening the gap in the gateway, speaking loud enough to be heard over the profound bronze hinges. It was Sakura, wearing her typical red blouse and matching crimson shorts. The Kunoichi smiled welcomingly and stepped back. "Come in, come in."

"Hey Sakura," said Naruto, smiling and thrusting his hands into his pockets as he entered the vast courtyard beyond the gate. "And Haven't I told you before to drop the –Sama thing?"

Sakura grinned and shut the gate behind him, her high heels clacking on the marble walk which lead through the courtyard straight to the massive building beyond. "Yes, but that was always when I was making house-calls. I thought that since we're both on duty now, apparently," she looked him over, "that you might want all of the formalities."

"Screw the formalities," said the Uzumaki as he and Sakura began to walk towards the complex, passing here and there a Ninja or Kunoichi lounging on the grass beside the marble path or eating a boxed lunch underneath one of the trees which lined the wall. "How have things been here?"

Sakura shrugged, reaching up and adjusting the thick pin which held her hair in a tight bun. "It's been alright," nothing too new has happened for weeks. It's been more or less business as usual."

"Yeah," Naruto grimaced a little. "I can imagine helping Tsunade run an empire can't be all that interesting."

"Don't start Naruto," said the Kunoichi, quickening her pace to get a few steps in front of him. "And please don't say that to Tsunade-Sama's face. You know better than anyone we're not trying to 'run an empire.'"

Believe me, Naruto thought, letting her get ahead of him. They'd been down this road. I know. "Sorry," he said, half genuinely. But what else would you have me call a government that controls from the Wind Country to Kiri and everything in between? "I didn't mean to step on any toes."

"Yes you did," said Sakura, turning around and giving Naruto a smile that was about as genuine as his apology. She stopped and Naruto stepped beside her. "Listen," Sakura mumbled. "I'm sorry if I'm a little short with you, but Tsunade-Sama and I, everyone around here is still trying to get a handle on exactly how to run a government as large as this one."

"I know I know," said Naruto, not unkindly. "This scale of this … administration, is completely unprecedented. Konoha's territory encompasses everything on the continent. That's never happened before and people are going to have to deal with a few compromises until the government can streamline itself."

Sakura laughed once, recognizing the propaganda. "I see you've attended one too many of the Hokage's press-conferences."

"And I've been listening to the commercials," said Naruto as they reached the complex climbed the stairs to the massive wooden deck. "And I've read the flyers stuck to every street corner, and I've heard the radio broadcasts… Did you know that in Kiri a young man was executed on charges of treason a week ago?"

Sakura shivered once. "And?" she probed.

"And," Naruto continued, "he was charged with treason for telling one of Konoha's ANBU to kiss his ass when the ANBU demanded to search his house without a warrant."

"I hadn't heard anything about that," said Sakura quickly, pulling open the big door to the complex and stepping inside, beckoning for Naruto to follow her.

"Neither had I," said Naruto, "as none of Konoha's news channels are covering it, the post isn't reporting it. Hell, I probably wouldn't have found out if not for the man's mother coming to Konoha to protest to the Hokage and demand reparations."

"Why did she come to you?" asked Sakura. "Why didn't she ask one of the ANBU to show her to the Hokage?"

"Hah," he laughed once. "She said because I was 'famous' and because I was a 'war hero' that she it would carry a lot of weight if I could take her case to the Hokage. When I told her I couldn't, she told me that she was still going through with it. She said that she would come talk to me if her plaint got anywhere."

Sakura visibly bristled.

"Yeah," said Naruto, stepping into the beautifully decorated antechamber with its spiraling staircases and gorgeously decorated walls and ceiling. The gold filigree laid into the ivory colored walls glimmered in the light let in by the huge, floor to ceiling windows. "I haven't heard back from her yet either."

"Naruto," said Sakura with a hiss, whirling around on him. "You're not going to bring this up to Tsunade are you?"

"The thought had crossed my mind," said Naruto, crossing his arms in front of his chest as the door closed with a thud behind him. The only occupants of the room besides Sakura and Naruto were the dozen ANBU Ninja scattered about the chamber. Because of their masks it was impossible to tell where, if anywhere, their eyes roamed, but Naruto had felt ever since he entered that many gazes had fallen on him.

"Please," Sakura whispered, turning around and again motioning for Naruto to follow her through the deathly silent room. "You have a career ahead of you, a bright one."

I've definitely got something ahead of me, Naruto thought.

SC

"There he is," said Tsunade boisterously as the door to her office opened.

Naruto and Sakura both stepped inside and Sakura closed the door behind them. Looking around the Ninja with the blue eyes noted that the room looked nothing like the last dwelling Tsunade had called her office. The walls were all as white as alabaster and decorated with golden trim, probably real gold he thought. All along those walls hung tapestries and paintings, and in each corner of the room was some piece of art carved from stone.

At the rear of the room, stretching nearly fifteen feet long and two feet across was Tsunade's crescent-moon desk. The glimmering Mahogany piece flickered in the sun let in by the wall to Tsunade's left, a wall made entirely of glass. The desk made seemingly from one solid piece of mahogany was thickly lacquered and looked more like a ruddy gem than a piece of furniture.

Tsunade got up from her high-backed chair and rested her hands on the polished surface in front of her. "It has been far too long," said the Hokage, looking only at Naruto. "How have you been doing? How are you feeling?"

Naruto could only force one corner of his lip to tug upwards, and his eyes completely destroyed the botched attempt to smile happily. "I'm alive," said the Ninja. "Those pills you prescribed are some kind of good drugs."

"Aren't they?" said Tsunade, ignoring his disrespect and walking around her desk to stand in front of Naruto, even if she did keep a few paces between herself and Konoha's most celebrated Ninja. "I have to have one myself every now and then to keep the stress at bay."

"Yes," said Naruto. "Stress, I hear it's a real killer."

Sakura laughed once uneasily. "Tsunade-Sama," said the Kunoichi. "Did you need me for anything more?"

The Hokage shook her head and looked at her apprentice. "No, not today," she said happily. "I gave you the rest of the day off didn't I? Why don't you take it for yourself and relax?"

"Yes," nodded Sakura, stepping for the door and nodding politely. "I think I'll do that."

"I mean it," said Tsunade as Sakura left the room. "Take the day and just enjoy yourself."

Hard to do with ANBU watching while you take a piss, thought Naruto.

As soon as the door shut behind the pink haired Kunoichi Tsunade let her shoulders droop just a little and her chipper façade sagged noticeably. "Argh," said the old woman. "Speaking of days off and good drugs I think I could use some. This has been one hell of a … of a something kind of day." She walked back around her desk and sat in her chair.

"Alcohol just not quite taking the edge off?" asked Naruto, stepping forward and sitting in the chair, not minding his tone or demeanor.

Tsunade laughed once. "I know I can trust you," said the old woman, pulling open a drawer in her desk and removing a tall white bottle and a pair of stone cups. "That's why I'll let that kind of sarcasm, from you, slide." She filled one cup to the brim with a clear liquid that smelled very strongly of alcohol. "Are you abstaining?" she asked politely.

Naruto shook his head. "Absolutely not," he said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the desk as Tsunade poured the second cup. "Anymore this is what wakes me up in the mourning, and puts me to bed at night."

Tsunade grinned and handed Naruto the cup, then took a drink from her own. "Careful," she said with a breath as she set the liquor down. "What would Tayuya think if you turned into an alcoholic?"

"She's a good woman," said Naruto, pausing to take a big drink, two mouthfuls, of the liquor, "and a good person. She's stronger than I am. I guess she has to be since she still supports despite my less seemly habits."

"Speaking of which," said Tsunade, opening another drawer and removing a small prescription bottle. She set it on the table in front of Naruto. "I'll look the other way while you take that and slip it into your pocket."

Naruto reached out casually ad took the bottle, and popped off the lid. "Thanks," he said. "I appreciate this."

"And yet you still treat me like I'm a piece of shit," said the old woman. She raised her hand before Naruto could respond, even though the blond made no move to contradict her. "I understand how you feel," she said. "You hate me for what I made you do. That's understandable."

Naruto tipped the prescription bottle on edge only enough to knock one of the pinhead sized pills into the palm of his hand. Naruto tossed his palm to his mouth and threw his head back, then reached for the glass and washed the pill down with the alcohol.

"My desire to kill you," said Naruto, his tone completely serious as he immediately relaxed in his chair, "takes a back seat to my need to sleep, and my need to function as at least a somewhat normal person… how many are in here?" he gave the bottle a quick shake, making it sound more like a maraca than a container full of very, very illegal substances.

"Plenty," said the Hokage, a very small smile crossing her lips. "You'll be sleeping like a baby for months…" her tone darkened briefly, but only with seriousness, not with any trace of anger. "I do wish you'd stop insisting that you're going to kill me someday though," she said. "I am the Hokage after all."

"You're a tyrannical and homicidal bitch who's blood-drunk with her own power," Naruto added, completely at ease with his manner. "You've conquered the world and now you're conquering the people by taking away all of their freedoms… everyone knows it but no one will stand up to you… and don't feed me that propaganda bullshit. I've already heard it twice already today."

Tsunade winced but didn't retort.

"Now," said Naruto. "You implied that you had work," he probed, sinking back into the richly upholstered chair.

"When did I say that?" asked the Hokage.

"You never said it," said Naruto, staring at the ceiling as the pill began to work in unison with the alcohol. "But if you didn't have some kind of assignment for me, you would never tolerate me being this disrespectful. You'd have had me crucified for my first alcohol jeer."

Tsunade grinned and shook her head once, getting to her feet and walking to the windows. She stared outside in silence for a moment, leaving Naruto content to enjoy the buzz in the back of his head.

"You're right on all but one count," said the Hokage, watching as a squad of ANBU officers leapt from roof to roof in the village below Her tone was devoid of all her former civility. "First, I would have had you killed for all this disrespect if I didn't have something for you to do, and second I do have an assignment for you."

"Thought so," said Naruto. "So what's the job?"

"Well, you were wrong about one thing," said the Hokage. She let the silence fall as Naruto's mind worked.

"You know," said Naruto. "We really could have been good friends if you weren't such a bitch. After all, we both had the other one completely figured out during the Unification War with Akatsuki and the other villages; as long as you left Tayuya alone I would do whatever you wanted, and as long as I killed whoever stood between you and power, you would leave Tayuya alone. We had the perfect relationship."

Tsunade nodded once. "Too bad," she said. "Now, do you want to know what your assignment is?"

"By all means," said the blond. "Cut the foreplay."

"There's a rebellion in Suna," Tsunade said flatly, not looking back in from the window.

"So it's back to the killing then," Naruto noted.

"You are the war hero," said the Hokage. "Isn't that what heroes do, get other people killed?"

"Or kill them," said Naruto. "Who then?"

Tsunade smiled. "You remember Gaara-kun?"

"Yes, he was the Kazekage in Suna before you dissolved the position after the war. He's taken up arms has he?"

"Him and about twenty very angry Ninja, they burned the prison camp where I was holding them and escaped into the desert four days ago."

"And you want me to kill him. Won't that cause a bit of a stir?" asked Naruto. "Wait," he held up his hand. "I forgot. 'The Hokage's Administration' has complete control over the media. No one will hear a word."

"Good boy," said the Hokage smugly. "You leave tomorrow morning. Go home and enjoy your day with Tayuya-chan. I'll send Kakashi to get you when it's time to go. You'll be leading a team of ten of your old war friends into the fray."

"Heh," Naruto laughed once, finishing his drink. "War friends… 'war'… seems that's about all I'm cut out for, isn't it?" Naruto got to his feet. The fact that he was completely composed under the effects of Tsunade's drug must have been a testament to something. "I'll need a full briefing, who he has, where he is, when he can get from one place to another, a full profile and capabilities outline. Also, I want Shikamaru on the team. He was married to Gaara's sister so he might be useful later."

"Kakashi will have all the pertinent information," said the Hokage.

"Oh, and before I go," said Naruto.

"I know," Tsunade cut him off. "If I even think about touching Tayuya all bets are off, you'll expose me, you'll come for my head and kill anyone in your way. We had the talk a hundred times in the War, Naruto. I'm not going to hurt Tayuya… she is the only thing between you and me after all, that and my pills."

Naruto smirked. "I wouldn't be alive long enough to worry about the pills," said the Ninja, "so it really is only Tayuya. It would be a very, very good thing for you to remember that precisely."

"Just get out of my sight and get a good night's sleep," said the Hokage.


AN: Yes, I made Tsunade into a power-hungry bitch. Want to make something of it? Lol. At any rate, This story is, quite obviously, an attempt on my part to break with canon. Honestly, I'm violently ill from an overload of Naruto canon. There are so many stories out there that are basically "Naruto: the Novel" where the author tweaked some little thing and then ran with it.

It's nothing against the people who write or read those fics. They have their place and some of them are exceptionally good. I've written a couple of novelized Naruto stories myself, but I think it's time for something new… no one has ever accused me of caring about the status-quo or of trying to avoid stepping on toes lol.

Anyway, there's my little rant. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

Peace!!