Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, this is just a fan made story...

Chapter 1: The Broken Promise

Tsunade sighed as she looked down at her huge pile of paper work that she still had to get through before her lunch break. She swore that the piles are getting bigger as the week goes on. The whole morning was dragging by and it didn't help that Shizune had once again hidden her sake. But there another thing that was pressing her mind at the moment and it had been nagging her for weeks now. Jiraiya had sent news that he and Naruto would be back over four weeks ago. Although she knew that her former teammate did get distracted easily, Tsunade knew that he wouldn't be this late without sending word, and that something must be wrong.

She had been sending Sakura out everyday to the gate to get paperwork, in hope that she would tell her as soon as they arrive, but she has been returning everyday without any word. It pained her to see her apprentice coming back disappointed, since she had been hoping that Naruto would return for some time now and since Tsunade started sending her to the gate she watched Sakura get more and more depressed.

A few more hours passed before Sakura had made her appearance at noon. Her face showed disappointment and Tsunade knew that the news was the same as before.

"Hello Sakura, so is there anyone interesting that has entered the village this morning?" Asked the Hokage.

"No, Tsunade-sama, just the usual merchants," replied Sakura, as she passed the papers to her mentor.

"I see," said Tsunade. " Thank you Sakura, you may leave now."

"Umm, Tsunade-sama, I was just wondering whether you have any missions for me? It's just I haven't been out of the village for months and…" she trailed off mid- sentence.

"Sorry Sakura, there are no missions for you at the moment, but i would appreciate if you kept running those errands for me at the moment."

"Yes Tsunade-sama," and with that she left the room, carrying yet more disappointment.

The Hokage looked down at the paperwork that she had just been given and gave out another big sigh; it was time to get back to work. And once again she was dragged into the boredom of her paperwork that swamped her desk.

It wasn't long before she had managed to clear her desk and was reading her last mission report of the day. It was of a mission that Konohamaru and his team had undertaken, as they once again had to find the Tora the cat. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor Genin, as she knew for herself that the cat was more trouble than it was worth, considering that they had captured that cat at least 5 times in the last month.

'Maybe I should give these guys a chance at a higher ranked mission soon," she thought. 'They seemed to have to quite a lot of D ranked missions now.'

Her thoughts were interrupted, as there was another knock at the door.

"Come in," she said. The handle turned and the door opened to show Shikamaru entering the office.

"Is there anything I can help you with Shikamaru?"

"Yes Lady Hokage. The Chunin exams finished weeks ago and I have yet to be put on any missions since that time. Do you have any that I could do… today maybe?"

"Sorry Shikamaru, but there is nothing available yet," Tsunade responded. "You're the second one to come to me today and it was the same for her as well. The rest of you team is on a mission with Kakashi, but I do have a feeling that I'll be needing your skill soon enough." She looked at Shikamaru and a shiver went down her spine. He raised his eyebrow at this and nodded.

"You feel it too then?" He asked. "What ever is giving off this aura is making me restless, something's not right. How troublesome."

"Indeed, Jiraiya and Naruto were supposed to be back weeks ago," said a worried Tsunade. "Do you think that has any relation to this?"

"I wouldn't jump to conclusions Lady Tsunade," he suggested. "But I do think that we should stay alert because something is definitely coming and I doubt it is good news." Tsunade knew he was right and this made her more worried about her friend and his apprentice. The only thing that was keeping her going was that fact that they had both promised that they would keep themselves safe. She knew that, especially Naruto, they didn't go back on their promise. Shikamaru saw the look of distress in the Hokage's face and sighed again.

"Look, they probably got sidetracked," he said. "You know hoe Naruto is, he probably came across someone in trouble and is out doing something noble to help them."

"I hope your right Shikamaru," answered Tsunade. "I hope your right." After a few moments of awkward silence Shikamaru spoke up,

"I should probably get going."

"Actually, I would like your advice on something," and she went over some Genin missions that she had been reviewing and began to ask Shikamaru on his opinion on which teams should do what, and whether they should do any higher ranked missions. They both sat and discussed their opinions for about ten minutes until Shizune came bursting through the door, completely out of breath.

"Lady Tsunade, you're needed at the west gate, it's an emergency!" Shizune said, desperately trying to catch her breath. Tsunade's eyes widened,

"O.K. it looks like we were right Shikamaru, come on this will give you something to do." Tsunade said, only to have him reply,

"How troublesome." And they both set off out of the door. Shizune stuttered,

"Lady Tsunade, there is something you need to know first," but they had already disappeared.

"Damn," Shizune thought. "I better find her before she reaches the gate."

Shizune tried desperately to catch up with the Hokage before she reached the gate; it was odd that she didn't even ask what was going on before setting off. And normally it wouldn't matter, but Shizune really needed her to know this time, as it affected her personally. She knew that Tsunade had something on her mind, but Shizune didn't believe that it would affect her duties like this. Yet most of all she needed to be there for her teacher, for she wasn't going to take this very well. Finally she caught sight of the Hokage and Shikamaru, and they were nearly at the gate.

"Lady Tsunade!" she shouted as she caught up. "There is something you need to know before you get there."

"We'll find out when we get there Shizune!"

"But, Tsunade-sama its Jiraiya!" Both the Hokage and Shikamaru froze in their tracks, se turned to her apprentice to show the panic creeping in.

"We better get going," she said trying to contain herself. "Come on Shikamaru." He immediately complied, without showing any complaints at all. He was still shocked also.

They arrived at the gate to find the gatekeepers crowded around a seriously injured Jiraiya. Tsunade's heart sank, as there was no one else with him. She rushed over to her old teammate; he was covered in burns and blood. He was being held up by a Chunin and was teetering on consciousness.

"We need to get him to the hospital, NOW!" Tsunade ordered. They all disappeared leaving the gatekeeper alone once again.

At the hospital Sakura was quietly doing her rounds when the sound of her sensei's bellowing voice echoing through the halls.

"Get him to A and E immediately!" Sakura ran down the halls to see what the all the commotion is about. She turned around the corner to end up face to face with the Hokage and her old teammate Jiraiya. The whole world seemed to slow down as she looked down at the beaten form of her friend's teacher, yet her friend was nowhere to be seen. Surely he would have come to see if his teacher was going to make it and that when she realised something was wrong. Shikamaru rushed passed her with the others as they went into the hospital room. She saw a glimpse of his face and that was all she needed to know, Naruto wasn't back yet.

"Tsunade- sensei, whets going on?" she asked. "Is that Jiraiya? Where's Naruto?"

"Sakura not now." Sakura began to panic and she began to hyperventilate. She couldn't go through this again.

"WHERE IS HE?' she demanded.

"Shizune, get Sakura out of here and calm her down," said Tsunade trying to treat Jiraiya. He was still trying desperately to stay awake. The hysterical Sakura was escorted out of the hospital room and Tsunade quickly made haste in trying to heal his minor wounds. Yet as soon as Sakura was out of earshot she broke down as well, not wanting her pupil to see he like this. Shikamaru just stood silently and let her carry on with what she was doing but she could see that he was concerned. Tsunade couldn't take it anymore, she wanted to know where Naruto was, and Jiraiya said that he would keep him safe. He had promised.

"Jiraiya, can you hear me?" she stuttered. "Jiraiya?" he opened his eyes and groaned.

"Tsu…Tsunade?" he groaned as he made eye contact.

"Jiraiya, where's Naruto?" She pleaded.

"He's dead," he whispered before exhaustion finally took over and he fell unconscious.

Next chapter: The retrieval mission