First of all I want to thank you all for your reviews and now on to chapter 4
Naruto sat in the large study after having been dropped off to the house by Shizune, she told him that he lived on his own before he brought his mother and her back to the village and that Tsunade was already planning to move him in before everything that happened so everything was going according to plan according to her. When they got there she took him to a room not far from her own and right across from the master bedroom where Tsunade slept. His room was furnished completely even had some things in the closet and the necessities like underwear and t-shirts and the like. After she left he looked through some things until he decided that maybe it would be best to look into the study so that maybe he could find something that could either jog his memory or teach him something new
"Okay so what will it be?" he asked himself as he spent the past hour familiarizing himself with the house that was now his home, seeing that they had a big backyard and a full training area with practice weapons as well as an underground version of it which was interesting to see as that area seemed to be for secret training
"Guess my clan had to fight against people watching back then to" he said to himself as he stopped and thought about the word clan, for the most part he never knew his family and the person he did know he couldn't necessarily go and see about him, it would raise to many questions but now not only does he have family but now he had history, experiences to draw from relatives, the thought of family history and past experiences made him smile as walked into the library.
"Damn this place is huge" he spoke to no one in particular as he walked into the massive room that had seemingly endless shelves but at the same time they seem to be organized in a special way...looking through the stacks he finds one on Hashirama Senju the most famous of his mother's clan, he pulls that book since he was a wise leader then maybe he could use Hashirama as a role model of sorts, sure he could use his dad as his role model but he had no idea what he was like and yes he could ask around but he didn't want to burden his mother by drudging up old memories for her. Walking back to the exit he finds a stack of blank books sitting there, grabbing one and a pen he walks out to the study that wasn't too far away from the backyard, and begins to read up on his great-grandfather..
…..Hokage Tower.....
Tsunade sat at the desk as she looked over some of the files on the rookie kunoichi, seeing all of them had the chakra control needed to preform the techniques required for medical ninjutsu but not the capacity she made a note on the scroll she was using to make any notes on this special project on, noting that Hinata Hyuga would be a near perfect candidate for this new program and what's more she already wanted to be a medic which was great to hear.
"Great looks like I got my list of candidates, that's takes care of this generation" she said to herself as it hit her..this generation but she didn't do anything about the next though
"But I can" she said to herself as she buzzed her new assistant "Get me Iruka-san" she said stiffly but then hit the button again and added "Please" to which the woman uttered an affirmative to her
"I need a drink....too bad I can't have one" she said as she whined to herself, why did the stupid council have to go and make her mad, she could've stayed blissfully unaware and move through her reign as Hokage bored maybe save the village a couple of times and even get her face on that mountain right next to Min-kun, I wish you could see our son love he's been so strong, stronger than the both of us. She thought as she look at the picture of her late husband, his smile illuminated the room when he was alive, she loved him as much as she loved Dan when he was alive but she blocked Minato out after his death, that's why she never mentioned him. She could think about Dan and Nawaki but thinking about the man who never got her necklace but achieved the dream of Hokage and then died made her block him out of her sorrow, she knew thinking of him wouldn't allow her to sulk like she wanted. Her memory of him would make her pick herself up and do the right thing like her sochi did when he found her, she broke from her musing when the door open
"You wanted to see me Lady Hokage" Iruka said as he stepped in front her, nodding her head she motions him to sit down before she could speak Iruka began to talk
"Forgive for speaking out of turn Lady Hokage but is Naruto okay" he asked to which she smiled at him
"Yes he's fine, he's currently resting at home right now" she said, noting that Iruka truly relaxed after that news which made her smile even more
"Thank you for asking by the way, that's not why I called you here...I have a request for you...well you could call it a question really" she said as Iruka straightened
"What do require of me Lady Hokage" he said in his official voice
"I need your opinion on the current curriculum at the academy, is it good? Is it bad? What can we change? What do we need to add? Things like that" she said as she picked up a folder and continued "You see I've been looking over Naruto's school records to see exactly what he knows but for some reason most of his tests have been messed with, as you stated in his file after Mizuki's arrest but it also seems he does exceptional at stealth skills and even with a poor knowledge of the academy taijutsu style he still was one of the best taijutsu students in the class when it came to sparring" she concluded to which Iruka began to speak
"I have noticed that the hands-on things have been more productive than the history lessons with my class, but Lady Hokage why would call me here for this, would this not be a job for the academy headmaster?" he asked at the end to which Tsunade nodded her head
"Yes it would but I have a feeling that the headmaster wouldn't be much help, things are in need of change in the village but before we can move forward with change, proof that the old ways no longer work must be collected" she said rather sagely which Iruka couldn't help but agree with her
"Of course Lady Hokage so you wish for me to experiment with my class?" he asked Tsunade, who nodded once again before speaking
"I would also like you to start organizing your class in teams....I've noticed for a village that pride ourselves on teamwork we only wait until our potentials ninja become genin before we start to enforce it" once again Iruka had to agree with the leader of the village
"Now I would like to hear your thoughts on this......" she said as she continue with a meeting that will no doubt rock the village's education system....
…..At the Senju Estate.....
The book Naruto found Hashirama was great it seemed to be his life's story from the days before the hidden villages to his clan and the Uchiha clan's founding of Konoha even his fight at the valley of the end with Madara Uchiha.
"This is great" he said to himself as he took notes on how the man trained it seems the underground training area was just like he thought it was a jutsu training ground where his great grandfather studied and practiced various jutsu, the book even had some of his jutsu theories in it.
Using the spare notebook to jot some of the theories down he realized what the stack of blank notebook was for, studying. His great-grandfather wasn't some super prodigy everyone made him out to be, he was just a very hard worker, the book also illustrated his great love for his village, hearing that he had a memory flash into his mind of Sandaime, the name popped in his as did the image of him smiling at him.
"Jiji" he muttered to himself as he unconsciously shed a tear for the old man as now he would never see the day when would become Hokage, his dream did not change even with the blow to the head he knew what was going to do, what he wanted to become...the leader of this village, the village his father, grandfather, great grandfather and mother loves and loved enough to sacrifice their lives for.
"Naruto, the next Hokage" the words flashed in his mind as he said those words sometime ago, then the image of his five year old self with Sandaime, Naruto sitting with a smile on his face and the Hokage hat on his head on Sandaime's lap as the old leader himself smiled at the antics of the young man he considered his grandson.
Shaking his head of the thoughts he didn't want to let go, but at the same time he knew Minato would never let them go, he began to work in his own journal's jutsu theories when he hears a knock at the door. Walking over to it he opens it and sees a very tall man, a mane of white hair and red lines originating from his eyelids
"J...Jiraiya-Sensei?" he asked as the man looked at him and responded
"Hey Gaki, so now you finally respect me huh?" he said as he looked at his student, seeing his father in the same spot
"Yea....well...you are my Sensei so I should show respect until you show me something I shouldn't respect" he said back to his teacher who gave him a look
"rrrrright...now Shizune told you I would come by right?" he asked to which Naruto nodded "Okay so let's go inside and I'll have a look at that seal and we'll talk about some things" he said as Naruto moved to the side, allowing the Sannin inside his home, walking into the study they stop and Jiraiya spins
"alright off with the shirt" he said making Naruto go wide eyed
"Pervy-sage!" he shouted making the Jiraiya roll his eyes
"What happened to Jiraiya-Sensei gaki? He asked
"it went out the window when you asked me to take off my shirt" he fired back at him to which Jiraiya frowned at him
"I need to see your seal gaki, it's on your stomach so unless you have a way to lemme inspect it without you taking your shirt off then I'd like to hear" Jiraiya said as closed his eyes for a moment
"Why didn't you say so Jiraiya-Sensei" Naruto said with a smile as he took off his shirt as he heard Jiraiya grumbled something
Focusing some chakra on Naruto a little he looks at the seal and sees some minor changes but overall it holds strong Seems the seal hasn't changed much the main function still works but the integration of Kyuubi's chakra into Naruto's chakra is mixing better....it's looks like there is a purifying seal on it, Minato you sly dog you....Jiraiya thought as he made notes before he motions for Naruto put his shirt back on
"What's the verdict Jiraiya-Sensei?" Naruto asked as Jiraiya made some more notes before speaking
"The seal is fine, some things have changed but I think it's just the seal modifying itself, upgrading it you will" he said while finishing his findings so he can make a report
"Upgrading so dad had more plans for me?" he asked to which Jiraiya nodded before his eyes widened
"When did you find out Naruto?" he asked, thoroughly shocked at his godson
"I figured it out, he looks just like me and I doubt there's a seal that would change my appearance permanently to look like him especially since he had so many enemies so I don't think he would make a kid look like him if he didn't have to" he said, Jiraiya still shocked the kid figured it out, and worse yet that he figured it out before the blow to the head so he's been acting like he didn't know this entire time.
"Oh okay then....." Jiraiya replied as he and Naruto spoke about things
…..Hospital: Criminal Wing.....
One last thing had to be taken care of before Tsunade could have closure on the issues that plagued her mind and the last thing was standing behind this door, opening the door she sees the young man sitting in the room, chained down to the bed in chakra restraining cuffs.
"Good Evening Sasuke" Tsunade greeted him as she stepped into the room, closing the door behind her she takes a seat in front of him, crossing her legs with the file she had in her hands resting in her lap. Sasuke ever the arrogant son a bitch spoke
"So, when am I to be released?" he asked as the ANBU who was in the room almost lost their composure at the way the Uchiha spoke to the Hokage, Tsunade held her hand up to stop the ANBU from stepping in.
"Soon, your wounds haven't healed yet...I'm just here to inform you of some concessions the Council have made for you and the consequences of your actions" she said, her face impassive as she spoke
"What about the dobe, have they kicked him out yet?" he said, thinking he pressed a nerve cause he got a similar reaction from the boy when they fought at the valley, normally he would have gotten a reaction if this was the Tsunade from a couple of days ago but Hokage Tsunade wasn't about to let a genin know he pressed a nerve, though she would still love to finger flick him into the wall right now. Being as impassive and more or less cold as possible she responded
"No they have not, but we're not here to talk about him but to talk about you and the mistakes you've made" she replied. Sasuke smirked at the fact that she had no reaction, figuring that Naruto once again felt something for someone who felt nothing for him.
"Oh what mistake is that since I'm certain the council has explained my reasons for leaving" Sasuke said as the smirk was almost a full blown smile but he had compose himself
"The mistake of becoming your brother" she said simply, which had the instant effect of wiping the smirk off of his face
"What did you say?"he asked angrily
"I don't believe I stuttered...did I boar?" she asked the male ANBU to her left who simply shook his head "I didn't think so, you may not see it that way but that's why I'm here to enlighten you"
"And what could possibly know about the Uchiha Clan?" he spat venomously to which Tsunade had to raise her hand again to stop her ANBU from harming the boy
"I read the file, the file on the incident. I also read the file Sandaime himself only had privy to on your brother and his behavior here in Konoha, would you like to hear some of it?" She asked with a ghost of smile, a smile which unnerved the Uchiha
"No I already know how my brother was when he was here" he said as he calmed himself, he couldn't wait to get out of here, then he wouldn't have to see this bitch of a Hokage unless it was for missions, at least until he escaped again. Knowing that the dobe will never be ninja again will make his escape all the more sweeter, well other than Sasuke himself raping the Hokage before he leaves. If only she could have been here earlier before I got the offer to kill Itachi, I'm sure she would've have produced a strong Uchiha. He thought, how sad that he never saw what was happening to him.
"Well let's see here" she said as she opened the file she had on Itachi "He was withdrawn from most of the clan, only really focused on training and to a lesser extent, you. Well that's sounds awfully familiar you've been withdrawn for sometime now, the only time people would see you was when you were training and to a lesser extent, bickering with Naruto." she said as she shrugged her shoulders then continued. "Itachi seemed to be infatuated with gaining power, learning jutsus and being the ideal Uchiha ninja, he also showed much interest in attaining the last form of the Sharingan." looking at the boy in the bed once more she speaks "From what I've read from reports you seemed to be the same infatuated with attaining power and just recently gaining the last form of the Sharingan" once again she shrugged her shoulders at the thought but the point was slowly coming across for everyone in the room
"What exactly are you getting at?" Sasuke said as he once again regained the lost venom in his voice
"I believe I stated at the beginning of this conversation what I was 'getting at', now let's get right down to it. The night of the Uchiha clan massacre Itachi, according to reports, killed the entire Uchiha clan with little to no resistance but still went out of his way to slaughter everyone with no remorse leaving only one survivor...and not even actually attacking the survivor, you" she finished as she closed the file and noting the look in his eye she simply shrugged it off and began to speak again "When you left the leaf a couple of nights ago, you didn't attack anyone you simply left with enemy nins. Oh I'm sorry you attacked Sakura but she seems to not care about that. Now here's the important part of this so please pay attention you're not gonna wanna forget this, that night Itachi physically destroyed his family, cutting all ties he had to the leaf except you. While you didn't kill everyone in the village or anyone in your family you did destroy it, but instead of leaving one survivor you left three, you see Sasuke you and Itachi both left for the same reason, power. So if you really think about it you and him are in the same." she finished. Sasuke looked at her bewildered as he thought about the differences between him and his murderous brother
"I'm nothing like him, I didn't destroy a family I just left a place that was holding me back" Sasuke said as if it was obvious
"Oh really? We were holding you back?" she said as she got up from and walked over to the window, looking out into the night sky she continued "Need I remind you the last time you faced your dear brother, you were in a bed similar to that one. No one could heal you accept me." she said noting the growl coming from the Uchiha and she also noting the growl dying in his throat when he felt the killing intent from the ANBU, "I understand your vengeance but you must realize one important fact.....you're a genin, sure a very talented genin but a genin nonetheless. You've were an active ninja for what a year? You should have learned more things, gained more experience before you even thought about fighting your brother, let alone killing him." her words seem to do the trick, not like it'll do much good with his punishment
"the family you destroyed was the only family you've had since yours was killed and the only family that one of your teammates was ever close to having 'Until now that is' and you left it to gain more power...you destroyed your surrogate family to gain power....doesn't that sound familiar to you?" she said as for the first time since staring at the window, she turned and looked at the boy, directly in his eyes.
Sasuke sat there as he absorbed what the Hokage was saying, looking at the facts he noted everything she said that was in Itachi's file was almost exactly what he had been doing, the realization hit him like a kunai laced with an explosive tag. He really had turned into his brother, everything he's done so that he could face his brother was almost the exact same thing his brother would have done, normally he wouldn't care but what the Hokage said last was the very thing that struck him the most. He destroyed a family, his surrogate family in Team 7 and unlike him all those years ago on that fateful night, Naruto actually stood up to him and faced him with everything he had in him. He didn't turn and run for his life he came at him, tried to convince to stay and when he didn't listen he used force.
"I see you've come to the realization of what your actions have caused, truth be told Sasuke when the time had been right I myself and the council would've allowed you and your team to bring him down, I would've given you your revenge" she said
"Would've?" Sasuke asked as the other past tense words began to reshuffle back to the surface
"abandoning the leaf, no matter who you are and what ever bloodline or potential you may have, has consequences"
"I know that but surely the council made sure that I remain in the shinobi forces, after all I'm a Uchiha" he said smugly as he expected her to sigh and give him community service aka D-ranks with no pay
"Surely you don't think that becoming a nukenin that is brought back to the village he abandoned wouldn't merit a serious offense, nukenin are either executed or imprisoned for the rest of their lives and you Uchiha are no different from any other who abandons their post" she said as she straightened her coat and wear as she made her to the door
"The council would not allow this to happen to me!" he spat at her
"The council has no say in shinobi matters, this is a ninja village where the council acts as a advisory board to the supreme ruler of the village, which would be me, and I for one will not allow anyone to betray the leaf...especially one who is so easily lured by power and vengeance, when you leave this place I will inform you and the council of your punishment, good night Uchiha" and with that she left and activated the seal by the door to put him to sleep again before closing the door.
Once she left the Boar ANBU turned to Saru and spoke
"I wonder what the Hokage has planned for him?" he said to which the smaller female ANBU shrugged her shoulders
"I have no idea but I'll tell you one thing, he deserves worse, I'm sure the council threw all their weight around for the brat to make sure he doesn't get the gallows or the fire, but you saw the look in her eye...Lady Tsunade got something planned and I'll bet it's just as bad as execution" she responded to which Boar simply nodded his head as he too saw that look in her eye when she came in here, a look that truthfully scared him.
"It seems something caused Lady Tsunade to change and Kami have mercy on the poor fools in get in her way" Boar said as he and Saru bowed their heads in a mock prayer for the poor souls.
…..Hospital, Shizune's office......
Tsunade knocked on the door of her former apprentice, after receiving a affirmative response she opened her door and walked in, taking her Hokage hat off for a moment she runs her fingers through her hair
"Ready to go?" she asked as she saw her assistant behind the curtain changing back into her street clothes
"Hai, just changing" the woman said while throwing the smock over the curtain rail letting it hang, "Tsunade-sama we have finished the autopsy reports from the elite sound nins we retrieved...some interesting results so much so that I have a theory on how to take off the curse seal"
"Oh really? Do tell Shizune" Tsunade said as she picked up the report as she sat in her assistant's chair and leaned back to read it
"For someone who likes to experiment such as Orochimaru the seal he gave these nins does nothing for keeping them alive, except the Kekkei Genkai bone user it seems he was given a different seal" she said as she came out in her normal black kimono upon looking at her mentor she smirks and says "Comfortable Tsunade-sama?"
"Very Shi-chan" she said with a smile before going back to the report "so you're saying the Bone user's cursed seal actually preserved the body for examination upon the subjects death?" she said
"Yes...he is brain dead, but medically still alive it allowed us to study the body more thoroughly..that is until the chakra pathway is cut off" she said which made the legendary medic quirk an eyebrow at her
"Oh really?" she said to her former apprentice
"yes but with that way there is some chances of a complications but there is another theory that I have....one that involves another form of controlled death..." Shizune said, trying to gauge what her former Sensei/Mother figure thought of this
"Makes sense....if the curse seal allows the subjects body to be preserved from a violent death then a non violent/natural death might actually fool the seal into destroying itself....but what situation did you have in mind?" Tsunade said as she herself was thinking of about the same things
"Well one way would be through freezing the subject, with the decreasing of the heart rate then until both brain and body dead the seal itself might actually release itself....." Shizune said as she grabbed her notes from her desk and loaded them into her storage scroll
"hmmm.....of course you could reach the same results with a senbon needle....but then again the reaction my be so fast that the seal might activate...."Tsunade thought aloud
"There is no way to tell...after all this is a long single shot...and even with all the data we have retrieved there is no way to guarantee this will work. Besides only one subject is available for this to work" Shizune said as she and the Lady Hokage left her office and headed out of the hospital
"True....I doubt Mitarashi-san would object to trying but I'm certainly sure she would object to dying" Tsuande said as she walked the streets of Konoha
"Yes which is why I'm trying to lower the probabilities of this particular method of failing" Shizune said before she noticed where they were headed "Tsunade-sama?"
"Hai Shi-chan?" she responded
"You do know where we are headed....why are we not headed to the Tower?"Shizune asked
"Because all the paperwork is done or will be done soon besides..the place is locked up tight" Tsunade said with a wink
"Are you sure Tsunade-sama?" Shizune questioned which earned her a glare from the Hokage "My apologies, Tsunade-sama"
"Don't apologize Shi-chan, I haven't given you reason to not question me in all the years you've known me, so why would I feel angry about it now...beside I did that to make you squirm a little bit, I haven't done that in a while anyway" she said with a smirk
"But still Tsunade....we have no idea if they can break our seals.." Shizune said as she knew that while the sealing style that her and Tsunade used was not common and mostly unbreakable, she didn't know who Danzo had in his Root Anbu corps
"I wouldn't worry about it, if that old pervert can't break them then no one can" the lady Hokage replied as they walked up to the gates of the Senju Estate
"I suppose Tsunade...I just worry" Shizune said as Tsunade put a hand on her shoulder
"I know you do Shi-chan and that's why I need you and why I appreciate you" Tsunade said as they came into the house
…...Hokage Tower.......
The two shadowy ANBU nin with the 'Ne' emblem on their masks make their way to the Hokage's door, like they did every other night, until they hit a problem
"What happened?" one said
"the door's sealed" the other said
"So? Unseal like always" the first said
"Can't, the seal is new....I've never seen one like it" the second said as he tried the standard unseal handseals for the door
"Tsunade is not a seals master.....and we have on record most of Jiraiya's more powerful seals" the first said
"Even still this is a new one, I've never seen one like this....The Chakra used for the seal is almost like Medical Chakra but denser." the second said
The two sat there until they felt a chakra signature closing in
"Abort for now, we need to inform lord Danzo of this new development" the first said as they started to make their way back to the Foundation until they are stopped by the wooden paneling on the floor that wrapped around them
"And just where were you two going? I wonder" Tiger said as he smirked underneath his mask.....
…....Senju Manor........
Tsunade and Shizune walked into the house with sigh as for the first time today both Shizune and Tsunade both relaxed, their shoulders slumped slightly as if shrugging off the day and tomorrow's worries. Tsunade hung Precious Hokage hat on the hook near the door as she took off the jacket.
"Had a long day Kaasan, Shizune-neechan?" a voice rang out from the study, looking up Tsunade sees her son standing there smiling at her
"Yes we did Naruto-kun" Shizune said as she heard the oink of Tonton coming from the study as well. Seeing her master and friends there make her oink happily as Shizune picked her up "You've been keeping Naruto-kun company?" she asked to which the pig oinked again
"How was your day Naru-chan?" Tsunade said as she tried that little nickname on for size, she liked it since she couldn't call him that when he was little she figured she might as well make up for lost time but called him that all the time.
"It was fine.....Jiraiya Sensei came over looked at the seal and we talked about my training and about a training trip....."Naruto said but then stopped when he heard his mother curse
Shiiiit I knew I forgot something she thought as she heard that part "I need to talk to him about that" she said
"He said that too, other than that and reading up great-great grandpa I've just been here" he said as he pulled the large black book to show her
"I see that's very good Naru-chan, I'm glad your reading up on the clan history" she said as she noted that Naruto never did that, since before he was more of a.....well.....idiot, but once again she contributed the fact that Haruno's blow to the head had unlocked something in her son. For that she grateful for. "Okay kiddo let's talk about your training....or rather the refresher course you're going to receive" she said as she made her way into the study making sure to capture the boy in a hug, savoring the feeling of hugging her boy, rubbing his back like a mother does.
I'm such a no good bitch for not coming back sooner for you.....forgive me Min-kun she thought as the pain of not being there for her son made it's way into her heart.
Naruto himself was enjoying the embrace, he'd never received many hugs from women before much less a mother. This feels nice was all he could muster in his mind, once that was over they both made there way to the couch inside the study as the three people (and one pig) began to talk....
TBC