AN: My deepest apologies, my excuses are at the bottom.
Tsunade, the Slug Sannin, granddaughter of the Shodaime and Godaime Hokage of Konoha glared at the group of people before her. This group was known for making trouble, and yet always seemed to slip out of the blame they so richly deserved. Taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself she forced a smile onto her face.
"Honored Council Elders. What can I do for you?" You filthy old power-seeking buzzards. The two Elders looked at each other before Koharu spoke.
"We've spoken with you on this topic many times over the last three years. I believe you know what, or rather whom we wish to discuss" Tsunade sighed and rubbed her temples before replying in what was a near growl.
"Naruto."
"The Uzumaki boy has gone for three years Tsunade- do you really think he's coming back?" Homura spoke now, adjusting his glasses. Tsunade sent him an icy look, folding her arms. "May I remind you that I and Jiraiya also left the village on travel passes for a number of years before returning?"
"Yes, but that was different, Sandaime and we were certain of your loyalty…"
"And Naruto is no less loyal to Konoha than Jiraiya? Or me? That boy is loyal to his birthplace to a fault! One would think he would be less loyal, given his youth…"
Her last comment was a careful insult to the Elders, seeing as they themselves had not obeyed the Yondaime's dying wish. Koharu bowed her head briefly, in acceptance of Tsunade's point. Before they could make a rebuttal, Tsunade spoke again. "If you wish to know more of Naruto, I suggest you speak with my teammate. He's kept in contact Naruto while he's been gone and would know more than I."
To make it especially clear that the subject was closed, Tsunade turned her attention to a report from the Mission Room. Silently the Elders exchanged a glance and left the room. When she heard the door shut Tsunade let out a sigh of relief and reached under her desk for the small bottle of sake she kept for occasions like this. Taking a small sip she leaned her head back against the wall.
"How much of that did you hear, you old pervert?" She asked to seemingly empty air as she closed her eyes, and tossed to bottle towards a nearby open window. The air shimmered and the Gama-sennin, Jiraiya appeared as he neatly caught the sake bottle before taking a sip for himself.
"All of it." He answered a moment later. "Why'd you have to tell him that I'd know more? I haven't seen the brat more than a handful of times since he left."
"That's more than anyone else in this village. When did you last see him anyway?"
"Feh, a couple of months ago. He was visiting the Sand Siblings over in Suna. He seemed pretty happy- healthy too."
"Really now?" Tsunade mused, picking up a random mission request and approving it. "He make any mention of visiting us in the near future?"
"Define 'near'," Jiraiya chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Tsunade sighed, rolling her eyes.
"Next six months."
"Eheheh, no."
Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing. "Sometimes I wonder if he's ever going to return…Half the time I'm tempted to send out a search team comprised of some of his friends to hunt him down."
Jiraiya laughed, shaking his head. Tsunade glanced at him questioningly. "If you wanted Naruto back, send out that Academy teacher. He'd drag Naruto back home by his ear and make him do detention." Tsunade chuckled at the idea, it was probably true. She'd heard stories of Iruka chasing Naruto all over Konoha, roaring at the blonde to get back to class and clean up the mess.
"So you pervert, why'd you come here in the first place?"
Tsunade sighed as she flipped the light switch and spotted the same cloaked figure sitting in her chair, boots thrown casually atop her desk. Pinching her nose to stave off a headache she looked at the figure, to make sure he was there- he was. Just like last time…
"Ugh…Five in the morning is way too early for any normal person to be up, not to mention be working." Tsunade grumbled as she entered her office. As she reached for the light switch she froze and a kunai appeared in her hand. She promptly threw the blade in the direction of her desk as she hit the switch.
A metallic clang was heard as her kunai rebounded off something metal. A cloaked figure sat calmly in the chair behind her desk, boots thrown casually atop the surface, her kunai firmly wedged in the hilt ring of another kunai that the figure held calmly. As if they didn't notice her, the person inspected both kunai, removing hers with a grunt of effort.
"Tsk, tsk, Tsunade-sama. So quick to attack an ally and friend? And with such force…you notched the ring." The unknown figure spoke in a rumbling voice that held a slightly raspy edge to it. Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the casual tone. She watched as the person removed their boots from her desk and pocketed both kunai.
"Who are you?" She finally asked, finding no hint of a threat in the stranger's movements.
"Merely a poor wandering fox." The stranger replied, a pair of crimson eyes flashing from beneath the hood of his cloak.
Tsunade quirked an eyebrow, recognizing the name."And what would the infamous Wandering Kitsune be doing in the Hokage's office? Don't you have a town to save from bandits or something?" She smirked lightly as the eyes narrowed.
"Ah…so you have heard of some of my deeds. To answer your question, I was in Ta no Kuni when a young viper raided the village of the inn I was staying at it. Well, normally I would've beaten them back and be done with it when I caught a glimpse of his face. Friend of my described him most vividly, and swore to bring him back here when he heard that Uchiha had deserted Konoha."
Tsunade wondered who say such a promise before focusing in on the shinobi's tale. "Well, now the matter was personal. I beat back his underlings and knocked him unconsciousness. Double-checked to make sure I had the right man before coming to make my delivery."
At that point the wandering shinobi leaned over and with a clawed hand hoisted a limp body bound with wire by its long black bangs. "You lose this?" The Kitsune asked in a dry tone as Tsunade's mouth dropped open at the sight of Uchiha Sasuke's bruised face. She rushed over to her desk and took the limp figure from the mysterious shinobi's hands. Barely breathing, she confirmed that the unconscious teen was in fact the younger Uchiha.
"I would've simply left him on your desk but a friend of mine asked me to deliver a message- that and I wanted to make sure that the Uchiha was actually in your custody."
Tsunade barely spared him a glance as she checked the Uchiha for wounds. "What message did you have to deliver?" She asked distractedly. When she received no reply, she looked up only to find an empty seat staring at her. Shaking her head, she loudly called for some ANBU.
"Nice that you could finally join us Tsunade-hime." Jiraiya spoke up from his post, leaning on the wall behind her desk. "What do you want?" She asked, sighing as she walked over to her desk. The figure stood up, presenting her chair with an amused look in his crimson eyes.
"Heard you were looking for me…What could the great Godaime Hokage wish to do with the Wandering Kitsune?"
Tsunade took her seat and reached for her sake bottle as she regarded cloaked man before her. Taking a sip, she sighed again. "Your delivery's little curse seal is cracking through the restrictive seals Jiraiya placed on it. We'd heard that you might know a Seal Master who could help us out."
She watched red eyes half-close as if thinking, the owner folding his arms under his cloak. After a few minutes of silence the cloaked shinobi shifted, clearing his throat a little. "I do know of a Seal Master, the only problem would be trying to get her to leave and come here- she's very, ah, stubborn. But, she might not be enough to help….you'd almost need the Yondaime for this kind of thing..."
Jiraiya started slightly, a guiltily thoughtful look spreading across his features. Tsunade caught it and promptly chucked a scroll at him. "Jiraiya you idiot, don't even think about it. We don't need to stoop to his level to deal with something lik-"
The door slammed open and a familiar pink-haired kunoichi stood there painting, clutching at her bleeding forearm. "Tsunade-sama! Uchiha Sasuke nearly broke free! He's subdued and under a heavy sedative but he manage to kill two ANBU and injured three- the injured ones are fine with Shizune at the hospital…" She trailed off, noticing the cloaked figure. Tsunade caught her confused look and quickly introduced the pair to each other.
"Ah, Kitsune-san, meet my apprentice Haruno Sakura. Sakura, Kitsune-san was called in on a consult- ironically about the Uchiha."
"Hajimemashite Haruno-san." Kitsune quickly bowed. Sakura returned the gesture, hand still clamped over her injury. Tsunade frowned slightly, standing up and walking over to her apprentice. Gesturing for Sakura to show her, her arm she briefly examined the injury before healing it in a glow of green chakra.
"How'd you get hurt?" Kitsune inquired in an almost casual tone. Sakura turned a slight red before replying. "While attempting to escape, Uchiha managed to get his hands on a kunai. He sliced me when I injected the sedative."
All three shinobi winced, Kitsune letting out a slight growl. "He's lost much of what little respect I still gave him. To stoop so low as to harm a former teammate…"
He broke off suddenly as Sakura stared at him. "How'd you know Sasuke and I were on a team together?"
"I know your other teammate." Kitsune replied somewhat reluctantly. "Naruto-san spoke highly of you both- well until he'd heard that the Uchiha had run off to the 'snake-raping pedophile'. His words, not mine."
Sakura straightened, her eyes brightening at the mention of her other teammate. "You know Naruto? How is he, where's he a-"
"Why don't you go and help Shizune with those injured ANBU?" Tsunade broke in, giving the girl a shove towards the door. Sakura nodded, looking slightly confused and quickly left. Shutting the door with a sigh Tsunade turned to look at two still remaining in the room. Jiraiya's expression had darkened and Kitsune's eyes were narrowed in anger as he spoke.
"We're not going to have time to go and fetch my master if the seals have degraded this far. What other alternative Jiraiya-san was thinking of, you might seriously start considering it."
Tsunade grimaced. "I don't exactly think the Council will agree…using such a forbidden technique."
Jiraiya nodded his face still serious. "We might not have a choice, if the Uchiha breaks free, Orochimaru gets back his precious host and Konoha gains a powerful enemy."
Kitsune shifted somewhat uncomfortably. "What technique are you talking about?" He asked in a slightly puzzled tone. Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged a look before Jiraiya quickly explained the basic of the technique Orochimaru had created for his evil and perverted purposes. Kitsune was silent for a moment before shaking his head. "So you really could resurrect the Yondaime…" Jiraiya nodded in response, his eyes holding a far away look as he fondly remembered his brilliant student.
Kitsune shifted, an arm digging for something beneath his cloak. "I'll have to think about it, and I believe that you two will have to discuss this with Council- but before I go, Naruto-san asked me to deliver this to you." He withdrew a scroll and tossed it at Tsunade before heading for the door. "I'll just give you some privacy." He said quietly, leaving the office.
Tsunade hmmed a response, amber eyes already skimming the handwriting. Jiraiya grumbled and shifted from foot to foot somewhat uncomfortably as she read the letter in silence. Finally she rolled the scroll back up carefully and set it to one side before fixing Jiraiya with a glare strong enough to cause the great man to start shivering in fear.
"You," she stated in a steely tone, "have some explaining to do." He smiled feebly, mentally telling his legs to keep supporting him.
"I do?"
"Oh you do. And you can start by telling me what the hell Naruto means by 'learning to control the last of my tails'."
Jiraiya paled slightly and muttered something about crazy brats who didn't know when to keep their mouths shut. "Well…there's a reason why Naruto's been gone for so long…and it's not just the villagers. Well, it was the villagers but they've always not liked him so in a way it's not them an-"
"You're babbling, get onwith it." Tsunade growled, gesturing for Jiraiya to get to the point. Sighing and drawing a hand across his face, the toad summoner sat down before continuing, and his expression serious.
"Originally when he left, Naruto was planning to come back in a week and a half. He just wanted to be out of the village during the Kyuubi Festival- he was planning to stay with the Suna jinchuuriki, Gaara. From what he told me, he passed out apparently from heat exhaustion. Naturally he was drawn to the seal chamber." Jiraiya paused to shudder slightly; from what Naruto had described it wasn't too pleasant a place. "He noticed that the representation of the seal was looking a little banged up, almost as if the fox had tried to escape- No don't worry, let me finish. Apparently the fox didn't try to escape; the seal itself was changing; weakening actually."
Tsunade drew in a sharp breath, amber eyes worried. "The seal is weakening?" She asked in a low voice. Jiraiya nodded before continuing.
"From what the fox and Naruto have been able to figure out is that the seal wasn't designed with the fact that Naruto might actively draw on the Kyuubi's chakra- that alone would've weakened the seal only a little. But when Orochimaru blocked Naruto's access to Kyuubi's chakra during the Chuunin Exam, the small amount of the fox's chakra that was supposed to be leaking into Naruto's system to be absorbed started building up behind Orochimaru's seal. When I released that seal, apparently all of the pent up chakra was released into Naruto's system."
Jiraiya paused to take a few breaths, apparently thinking. He held up a hand, in warning.
"Just to let you know this is the part where the Kyuubi's knowledge is greater than mine since he's had around 16 years to study the seal up close. Apparently because Naruto's system couldn't absorb all of the pent up chakra, the fox's started absorbing Naruto's chakra. The seal was weakened by all this, so a greater amount of Kyuubi's chakra was being released into Naruto's system. According to the fox, the stronger chakra absorbs the weaker. So it's Kyuubi's chakra absorbing Naruto's. And Naruto's chakra was what was keeping him human; it acted like a buffer between him and the Kyuubi. With that buffer gone, the fox's chakra started actually changing Naruto."
"….What do you mean, changing him?" Tsunade said. Jiraiya looked down at the floor, elbows resting on his knees, hands loosely clasped. "Naruto…The fox's chakra changed him into a kitsune himself."
Silence descended upon the pair as Tsunade sat back in shock while Jiraiya watched his teammate. After a few minutes, Tsunade's hand blindly groped until it found her sake bottle and she took several long pulls. Finally she stopped and he noticed tears trailing down her face as she put down the bottle. Hastily wiping her eyes she took a deep shuddering breath.
"So he's been gone because he's becoming a kitsune…" She murmured in a disbelieving tone.
Jiraiya nodded softly. "Since the Kyuubi's chakra will become Naruto's, he'll have all nine tails- last time I saw him he had just gained the eighth tail. From what you said, it seems he's learning to control the final tail…" He trailed off thinking. After a few moments, he shook his head and looked back at Tsunade.
"You alright?" He asked. She smiled slightly, shrugging.
"A part of me is almost proud of him- isn't nine tails the highest amount a fox can gain?"
"Yeah…what about the other parts of you?"
"Part of me wants to beat him for ever actively drawing on Kyuubi's chakra; another is worried sick about what the villagers and what they'll do to him. And the Hokage part of me is wondering if he'll turn against the village…" She was slightly reassured by Jiraiya's vehement head shake.
"The day that Naruto turns against this village is the day I renounce my Icha Icha series."
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched but before she could punch him, the door opened to reveal a tired looking Shizune. "The ANBU injured in Sasuke's escape attempt are in stable condition Tsunade-sama…." She said, sagging against the door. Tsunade nodded absently, her mind still focused on the thought of a kitsune Naruto. "Shizune, before you go home to rest, send out a Council Summons." Shizune nodded before leaving.
AN: I am so very sorry for the late update but my laptop, Sig, has just about kicked the bucket. I should be getting a new laptop but I don't know when. What is annoying is my mother's desktop Dell [that also wants to die] refuses to recognize any of my jump drives. So, to make up for the lateness, you get a triple update!