Uh…Surprise?

Ch.4

The Kagetoho

"Calm down, Tsunade." Jiraiya said.

"You have one of the most infamous ninja clans after you, and you want me to calm down?" Tsunade said in a deadly whisper.

Yuki tried, and failed, to hold back a yawn.

Naruto, noticing his daughter's fatigue, got out of bed, picked her up, and tucked her in. He then turned to the others.

"Baa-chan, can we leave this conversation for tomorrow?"

"Naruto, this is an urgent matter."

"I know, but she needs her sleep. I'm not leaving her."

Tsunade looked at the small, raven-haired child.

"Fine, come to my office first thing tomorrow morning."

"Hai."

Tsunade sighed, "I'm tired. I'm going to bed. Sakura, Shizune…do what you want, but I'm gone."

"Hai." Both Shizune and Sakura answered.

"Naruto, I'll be leaving as well. I've a couple of things to take care of."

Naruto nodded, "I'll stay here/"

Jiraiya walked over to Yuki, "See you in the mornin' Yu-hime."

He gave her a soft kiss to the brow before leaving through the open window.

"Well come on you two, surely I don't have to tell you to relax." Naruto joked.

Shizune was the first to speak, "It's just such a shock. I never expected you to have a child at such a young age."

Naruto smiled, "I never expected it either, but I'm not complaining. She is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

"I know how you feel. I feel the same every time I look at Ken."

"Ken?"

"My little, two-year old boy."

"You have a kid? Wow. Who with?"

"Kakashi" Sakura said after Shizune failed to answer.

"Kakashi? Never expected that. What about you Sakura-chan? You with anybody?"

"No, I'm not."

Shizune snorted," But it sure isn't for lack of suitors."

"Shizune" Sakura said, blushing slightly.

"What?" Naruto asked, confused.

"Wherever she goes all single, and even some married, men go ga-ga for her. Needless to say she raises many heads, if you know what I mean."

"God Shizune, you're such a hentai."

"Aren't we all, and from what I heard for Jiro and Akira, you're quite the perv yourself."

"I'm going to kill those two." Sakura muttered under her breath.

"Well, it's getting late and I need to go make sure Ken's in bed. Kakashi's useless when it comes to discipline. Goodnight all."

"I should get going too. Goodnight Naruto."

"Yeah, bye. Uh, Shizune?"

"Yes?"

"Could you not tell Kakashi-sensei we're back?"

"Fine. I guess that's something you should tell him."

"Thanks."

----------

"Mommy! You're home!" Ken said, running to hug his mother.

"And you should be in bed."

"But Daddy let me stay up a little longer." Ken whined.

"Where is your father?"

As if on cue, Kakashi appeared, "Yo."

"Why isn't he in bed?"

"It's a Sunday. He deserves a break from the usual routine."

"You say that everyday." Shizune deadpanned.

"Fine, Ken, off to bed."

"But."

"Do as your father says."

"Yea, Kaa-chan" Ken marched off to his room.

"So, how was your day?"

"Tiring. I'm so tired."

"Then why don't we go to bed?" Kakashi asked suggestively.

"Pervert."

"But you love me anyway."

----------

"Psst, Naruto, I'm back." Jiraiya whispered.

"How is he?" Naruto asked from his corner.

"Still out cold."

"How much longer will the drug last?"

"A day at most."

"Long enough, get some sleep. I'll keep watch tonight."

"Fine, but I'm stayin' here."

"I know."

----------

"Ah, I see you've finally decided to wake."

"Ji-san, where's Tou-chan?"

"He had a couple of things to take care of. He'll be back as soon as he can. You hungry?"

"Yeah."

"Good, because I found some nice, fresh, delicious fruit in the cafeteria. A miracle, I know."

"You're silly, Ji-san."

"I try, so you want an apple, a pear, or a peach?"

"An apple."

Jiraiya tossed one her way, "Catch."

Yuki caught it and took a hungry bite, "It's good."

"Only the best for my Yuki."

"Ji-san, can we train today?"

"You have to ask your father first."

"Ask me what?" Naruto asked from the windowsill.

"Ohayo Tou-chan."

"Ohayo, so what is it I was supposed to be asked?"

"I want to train."

"I don't know."

"Pretty please?"

"I guess, but I'm going to train you. Jiraiya has somewhere he has to be."

"Let me guess, she wants to move him?"

"You guessed it. Now Yuki, you ready?"

"Hai."

"Wrong. You still have to bathe and brush."

"Oops, I forgot."

"Race ya to the apartment." Naruto jumped out of the window, closely followed by Yuki.

"Eat my dust!" Naruto yelled, running ahead.

"You're cheating again!" Yuki yelled after him, running to catch up.

"You'll never catch up!" Naruto yelled over his shoulder.

Yuki sped up, performed a couple of hand seals, and side-stepped into an alley.

----------

"Heh, I won" Naruto said as he entered his apartment.

"Hi Tou-chan" Yuki said from the kitchen, hair a bit damp.

"How did you…"

Yuki grinned, "The shadows led the way."

"Kazetoho?" Naruto asked.

"Yup, I was practicing with Gama-san last night."

"I'm proud. So I take it you're ready?"

"Yup."

----------

Jiraiya got up, dusting his pants, "I'm done."

"He looks so much like him." Tsunade said.

"What?"

"Naruto, he looks so much like the Fourth."

"As is to be expected."

"What?"

"Naruto is the Fourth's son."

"What?! Naruto is Arashi's son?!"

"Yeah."

"Does he know?"

"Nope, he feels that, for the time being, he'd rather not know."

"Why?"

"He wants to concentrate on raising his own daughter."

"Yuki, she sure is something."

"Yeah, she is. She calls me uncle, but I can't help but feel that she's more to me."

"She is."

"What do you mean?"

"Yuki is your great-granddaughter."

"What? How?"

"Because Naruto is your grandson."

"That's not possible. I have no family."

"You do," Tsunade said softly," Arashi was your son."

"How is that possible? He was an orphan."

"I know this because he was also my son."

"What? But how? We never…"

"We did. It was the night after Dan's death, remember?"

"Oh my god, you mean to tell me that you were pregnant?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't ready for a child, were you?"

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't have been willing to try."

"Would you really have wanted to settle down?"

"Yes, especially with you. Damn it, Tsunade, I loved you!" He wanted to tell her he still loved her, but bit his tongue. He couldn't tell her that, not now, not ever.

"Oh god, Jiraiya! I'm so sorry. I was lost. I didn't know what to do."

"You could've come to me. You should've come to me."

"I know that now. I'm so sorry. You probably hate me now."

"No, I could never hate you."

"It's my fault you never got to be a father."

"I was at least able to get close to him."

"Which is more than can be said for me. I regret abandoning him. I really do."

"Tsunade, the past is the past, leave it there and move on." Jiraiya tried to comfort her.

"I can't. Every time I look at Naruto I'm reminded of him."

"So am I, but I'm happy knowing that he left something behind."

Tsunade smiled sadly, "So am I. Jiraiya, who is Naruto's mother?"

"Uh…I"

"What? Is she dead?"

"No, but I…I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I was sworn to secrecy. I promised Arashi I wouldn't tell anybody. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I understand. All I have to say is that I will find out."

"I'm sure you will." Jiraiya said with a smile. "Now let's get him outta here."

"Pick him up and follow me."
"How come I have to carry him?" Jiraiya whined.

"You're the man, aren't you?" Tsunade asked, walking away.

"That's so unfair." Jiraiya said as he hoisted Sasuke onto his back.

"Life rarely is. Now shut up and walk." Tsunade said over her shoulder.

"Whatever, mean bitch" Jiraiya muttered to himself.

"I heard that. Hope you're in the mood for pain."

'Shit, should've kept my mouth shut.' Jiraiya thought to himself.

----------

"What're you going to teach me today, Tou-chan?"

"Well, Yuki, seeing as how you've already mastered the first part of the Kagetoho, I guess the second part is in order."

"Second part?"

"Remember, the Kagetoho is an assassination technique. The first part is learning to become one with the shadows. The second part is learning to use them."

"As weapons?"

"Exactly. As I'm sure you know, becoming a shadow takes a great deal of concentration and chakra control. You already have that down, but the second part requires so much more. When you become a shadow you are intangible, nothing can touch you, but this particular part of the technique requires you to become solid enough to inflict harm. That's what we're going to work on today."

"Could you show me?"

----------

"You're going to lock him up?" Jiraiya asked.

"Yes, it's the best thing to do." Tsunade answered.

"Whatever you say. You must really want to keep him here."

"Let's go. I have paperwork to finish."

"Then I should get going."

"Should we tell him?"

Jiraiya, already knowing what Tsunade was talking about, needed to further explanation.

"Not yet. Naruto has too much on his plate as it is."

"I don't think I'll be able to keep quiet about it."

"I know how you feel, but we can't have him losing focus."

"He's grown so much. He's become the great man I asked him to become."

"Yeah, he has. That boy's amazing."

"And so is his daughter. Our great-granddaughter is every bit as amazing as her father."

"Naruto owes most of his success to that little angel."

"What is Yuki's kekkei genkai?"

"I think that's something you should ask Naruto, and in private. We can't risk any eavesdroppers."

----------

Poof.

One of Naruto's clones disappeared. Naruto was amazed at how quickly she was grasping the technique. He looked on proudly as his daughter successfully defeated another two of his clones. The child was a genius, just like her mother.

Naruto sensed a presence in the trees behind them, but didn't look, knowing full well that if he did he'd lose the element of surprise.

Naruto felt the presence inch closer, but, what confused him was that he couldn't sense a body. He could sense no body, but he knew there was somebody behind him. What he couldn't quite figure out, was what. His eyes widened in realization.

'The Kazetoho! Damn it! I have to get to Yuki before they do!'

Naruto quickly dropped into his own shadow and shot off towards Yuki.

Yuki, noticing her father's absence and a weird presence, also dropped into her own shadow.

The presence smirked to himself.

'They're good. Really good.' He thought to himself.

He materialized, and introduced himself.

"I am Kazeryuu Aku… "