Author's note: From this point, I'll be using something of my own timeline and date system. So the "KY" you'll see is for "Kage Year", or the year that the hidden villages were created. It will be like BC/AD.
While working on this way back, I found fan-made timelines on the Naruto wiki, and decided to make my own after I realized that despite people's best efforts, there were still points of weirdness, which I attribute to Kishimoto just being bad at keeping track of his timeline, and not checking some of the numbers he threw in. I'm not sure how much that comes into play here, but I'm stating it anyway.
"Kage Year" as a term is derived from a fic I read some of on FF. It was a Sakura time travel story where she ends up in Uzushio and gets bonded to a sacred sword that she can't let go for too long before it snaps back to her. They used "Year of the Kage". I'd love to give credit to the author, but despite my efforts, I can't find it. I think it's gone. If you remember it, please tell me.
Guest1-5: Thank you. As for how tall Naruto is, a somewhat improved diet hasn't improved that really. He's grown some, but just the normal amount for almost eight months. But so has the rest of his team, so he's still the shortest.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I am just a fan.
Chapter 7: Homecoming
It was two days later when Team Seven went back out into the woods again. A nervousness had tugged at Sakura's insides all day, nervousness peppered with some excitement. Today was a special day. Today, they were going to bring Naruto back to Konoha.
The Hokage had informed them of the plan the day before, and they'd relayed it to Naruto when they met him in the mid-afternoon. So it was that at 8 o'clock on the morning of December 8th, in the 63rd Kage Year, Team Seven left the gates of the Village Hidden in the Leaves on a D-rank mission, only to take a detour into the northern woods once they were out of sight. Naruto had been waiting in full view this time when they got there, wide awake and without any traps.
"Are we there yet?" came a grumble from beside her.
Sakura looked over and saw the cart they were pulling back, loaded as it was with a large wooden barrel. "We're almost out of the woods Naruto," she whispered back.
"Remind me again why we had to use this?" hissed the barrel.
Kakashi let out a sigh from the front of the pack. "I told you already Naruto, it's part of our cover."
Officially, Team Seven had been sent out to assist a local sake maker in a nearby town. They even had the mission assignment scroll to prove it. If Sakura hadn't known better, she would have sworn the document was genuine. How they'd managed to make it look so convincing, Sakura didn't know. But she supposed it was a perk of being Hokage.
Once they'd arrived in the woods, they'd killed time with some sparring and target practice. Naruto was apparently less accurate with shuriken and kunai then he was with a bow and arrow, something Sasuke took some pleasure in.
Around 10:30, their sensei said it was time to leave, and brought out the false barrel and cart from a storage seal. Naruto climbed in with what meager things he was bringing along, stuffed into a travel bag they'd given him yesterday.
"But why does it have to stink?" he complained as they walked down the road.
Sakura remembered how he'd grimaced at it the minute it was called out of the seal. Truth be told, there was a faint scent of alcohol coming off of it. She could only imagine what it was like for Naruto's nose.
"It helps make it authentic," explained Kakashi.
"Quit whining Naruto," said Sasuke as he helped pull the cart along.
"Naruto, why don't you try plugging you nose?" she offered. As she'd predicted, their arguments were losing their charm and going right back to being irritating.
"I guess that helps..." he answered back in a now nasal tone.
"You'd better stop talking anyway. We're almost in range of the sentries, and we can't afford to have them hear you or see us talking to a barrel," added Sasuke, giving Sakura a look of gratitude for stopping Naruto's complaints. He'd been doing it at intervals ever since they left. Personally, she blamed part of it on nerves.
Naruto offered no argument, and the rest of the trip was quiet as Konoha's gates appeared in the distance, save for one yelp when they went over a rock. When they finally reached the gate, they were stopped by a jonin kunoichi with long, dark brown hair, equally dark, partly sunken eyes, and a very sharp, narrow nose. She glared at them as they approached. Sakura recognized her as one of the ninja that rotated guard duty at the gate.
"Good morning Tomoyo," said Kakashi cheerily. "What happened to Riichi? He was assigned to this gate this morning."
"My little brother's girlfriend got arrested for shoplifting. He's visiting her right now." stated the clearly unhappy kunoichi. "I told him she was no good. Why'd he have to rope me into this? This was my day off," she grumbled. Then she turned her attention back to them, eying the cart. "What do you have there?"
"The client was extremely happy with the results of our mission," answered Kakashi as he handed over the mission scroll. "He insisted we take this extra barrel back to the Hokage as a thank you. Wouldn't let us leave without it."
Tomoyo snatched the scroll from his hand, looking it over and nodding, before moving closer to the cart. Sakura moved further away from the young woman, feeling suddenly even more nervous and afraid her face would give it away.
"Seems kind of big, don't you think?"
"We tried telling him that," Sasuke replied with irritation. Part of it might have been from Naruto's complaints. Either way, it was pretty convincing. "But he just wouldn't take no for an answer."
Tomoyo just nodded again before handing back the scroll to Kakashi. "Go ahead, but don't blame me if the ANBU give you more trouble."
Kakashi just saluted with more mock cheer, and Sakura gave a sigh of relief. They moved through the village streets. It was 11:15 now, and with the approaching afternoon, the hustle of activity was constantly increasing. Sakura heard a small thud from within the barrel. She frowned. She wished she could talk to him, but they couldn't risk it. Was he still bothered by the smell of the barrel? Or perhaps it was the noise.
Team Seven wasted no time getting to the Hokage's residence. They had to leave the barrel behind for a few moments to reach the Hokage's office, and in that time, Sakura's heart skipped a beat. What if someone decided to investigate it in their absence? Her sensei had clearly thought of that too, because he was moving at a brisker pace than usual.
When they entered, the Third smiled at them. "Ah, Kakashi. Did you complete your mission?"
The Hokage's face betrayed nothing out of the ordinary. Sakura knew why he was bothering with the facade. Kakashi-sensei had explained it to them. The act was for the ANBU guards hidden near the office. The Hokage couldn't dismiss them every time, and especially not for something like this. Sakura just hoped her own poker face was good enough to match.
"Yes sir," replied their sensei. He too, kept up the flawless mask. "And the client sent us back with a gift for you. It's a rather large barrel. Do you want the ANBU to inspect it?"
Hiruzen just shook his head. "No, no, the client is an old dear friend. I can examine it myself. Please retrieve it and follow me."
They went back for the barrel, moving as fast as possible without drawing suspicion. She and Sasuke were the ones to carry it through the halls once the Hokage joined them. Sakura groaned as she adjusted her grip, wishing she was able to use her chakra control for continuous use rather than bursts. Even if you took out Naruto's weight, the barrel was still heavy, not to mention awkward to carry with its dimensions.
They moved quietly through the Hokage residence, passing several visible ANBU along the way who instantly saluted. The Third just nodded at each.
They went into a private wing of the residence, one Sakura had never seen before, though it wasn't like she'd explored it much in the first place. It was a wing filled mostly with guest rooms for dignitaries or family members, though as of late it seemed to have fallen into disuse. The paint on the walls was the same as the other parts of the interior, but Sakura noticed how it seemed so much more faded here.
"You can set it in here. Please feel free to rest while I examine it" said the Third, opening the door to one of the suites. With a hand signal, he dismissed the guards outside before shutting the door.
"Can I get out of here now?" huffed Naruto the minute the door closed.
"Yes you can," answered Kakashi.
The barrel opened, allowing the fox-boy to climb out. He blinked at the difference in light, before his gaze fell on the Hokage. "Hey Gramps," he said quietly.
The Hokage just looked at the boy with widening eyes. But as soon as Naruto spoke, he regained his composure. "I'm glad you're alive Naruto. Though I wish it was under better circumstances."
Naruto just nodded. "I know." Seemingly unsure of what else to say, he looked around the room. "So this is where I'll be staying, huh?"
Sakura joined him in his examination, now that they were behind closed doors. It was a large room, and fully furnished, though several of those furnishings looked to be on the older side, and the tan painted walls were faded like the hallways. The floor was carpeted. Pushed against the far wall from the door was a long tan sofa. Arm chairs flanked it on the each side.
A small table had been pushed out of the way to make room for the barrel. To the right of the door was a kitchenette, with a refrigerator, a sink, and hotplate. The wall on the left had a set of doors closer to the room's southeast corner. Sakura presumed they lead to a bedroom and bathroom. In overall design, it was befitting a guest suite in the Hokage residence.
"I wanted you to be comfortable while we resolve this Naruto."
"Thanks," he replied. "Definitely nicer than my old apartment."
"Forgive me for interrupting Lord Hokage, but I think it's time to deal with the barrel," interjected Kakashi. The Third Hokage just nodded. Kakashi then took out the sealing scroll again, and the barrel disappeared, only to be replaced by another, identical barrel, this one filled with actual sake.
Naruto ducked away from the door, and the Hokage recalled the ANBU, ordering them to take care of the now genuine gift.
"So when are you going to check his seal?" asked Sasuke as soon as the doors closed again.
"I have requested someone to come and check it," replied the Hokage.
"You're bringing someone else in too?" complained Naruto, sitting down on the long sofa. "Why can't you do it yourself or something?" Sakura gave the Hokage an inquisitive stare. Naruto brought up a good point. She'd assumed the Hokage would have done the job himself too, since he wanted it done in the village.
"It is true that I am quite adept at the art of seals. But the ninja I have asked to come here is just as proficient, and is even more knowledgeable than I about the type of seal that contains the Kyuubi. While I could check it myself, it would be more prudent to have it examined by the best authority on the subject that I have at my disposal. Not only that, I trust this person completely. He will not betray your condition or try to harm you."
Sakura nodded her head in agreement, as did Sasuke. Naruto seemed to agree as well, but with far less enthusiasm.
"So where is he?" asked Naruto.
"He hasn't arrived in the village yet, but I requested his presence by today, so I expect he will be here soon." He paused in thought. "Although, he can get distracted sometimes." The last sentence was said with a frown. "I have much work to do now, so I have to leave. But I'll send some ANBU out to make sure that he reports here as soon as possible."
Once he'd left, Naruto huffed. "He didn't even tell us who this guy was."
"Kakashi-sensei," asked Sakura, "Do you have any idea who they might be?" She'd noticed the look of recognition on his face earlier. He sat there, almost trembling. She couldn't remember him doing that before. He clearly seemed to have an idea as to this ninja's identity, and her curiosity was piqued.
The copy ninja looked over at her, took a deep breath, and just shrugged. "I have a few theories, but I don't want to give them out without confirmation. Sorry."
Outwardly, Sakura frowned, while inside her head, Inner Sakura started on a rant. Don't just leave us with that! If you have an idea, then at least tell us you lazy ninja!
Taking a deep, calming breath of her own, she paused, blinking in confusion. "Why am I still smelling sake?"
Her hybrid teammate grimaced before sniffing the air, and then himself. "Oh great, the barrel must have rubbed off on me!"
Suddenly, Sakura couldn't help but laugh. It was sort of ridiculous, in its own simple way. "Naruto, I thought boys were immune to their own smell."
Her three teammates gave her offended stares, which just made her laugh harder.
"Hey, this isn't even my smell. Believe it!"
"Point taken Naruto," giggled Sakura. "You should just be glad you didn't have that nose when you got skunked." They'd been given a D-rank to look for a lost pet (not Tora for once), and in the process Naruto had gotten sprayed by a very offended skunk. Then he dove into a lake, not knowing that water just increased the smell. Kakashi had to take him back into the village to have it removed while the two of them completed the mission.
"Don't remind me of that one," groaned Naruto. "But you're right." He grimaced again. "I hate the smell of sake. I need to wash this out before it drives me nuts." Getting up, he found the bathroom door.
"Hey Naruto," Sasuke called out with a smirk as the fox-boy walked into the bathroom, "I know you're not really used to it, but remember to use soap."
Naruto just glared back. "Ha ha, very funny Sasuke. How'd you like me to punch you..." whatever threat he was going to say was cut off by a loud growl. Naruto put a hand on his stomach. "Heh, guess I'm hungry..."
"Sakura, Sasuke, why don't you two get lunch while Naruto cleans up? I'll stay here and keep him company" said Kakashi, once again engrossed in his book. How he didn't burn out on it, Sakura didn't know.
Sakura nodded. "Okay sensei."
Naruto smiled. "Ichiraku Ramen?"
She laughed. Ever since they'd given it back to him, he'd basically expected it whenever they'd brought food along. "Sure Naruto."
Naruto smiled even wider, then grimaced again as he took another breath. Quickly, he retreated into the bathroom, and she and Sasuke headed out of the Hokage residence.
When Jiraiya walked through the very same gates fifteen minutes after Team Seven, it was with an expression about as unhappy as Tomoyo's. Normally he would have lapped up the attention when the kunoichi saluted him. Right now, other things weighed on the Toad Sage's mind.
He'd spent the last few months pumping his spy network. With Orochimaru having been identified as the killer of the Fourth Kazekage, his informants were going wild trying to find a lead. It made him sick to think that Konoha had come so close to a full invasion, saved only by the dumb luck of two fugitives stumbling across the body. It made him even more ill to think that his teammate had been willing to completely destroy the home they'd been born in and defended during the war.
He wanted, no, needed, to find Orochimaru. He had tried so hard to believe there was still some good inside his old teammate, even after Orochimaru fled the village because of his nightmarish experiments. But for all his efforts, he'd found nothing to absolve Orochimaru of anything he'd done. And now he'd attempted to destroy the village. This had to stop.
But something unexpected had happened. He got a message from his old teacher. It was as simple as messages could probably get, stating that he was needed back in Konoha immediately, by today at the latest, and nothing more.
Though basic, the little message told Jiraiya a few things. First of all, whatever this was, it was urgent. By all rights, he, as a spymaster, should have been wandering the Land of Fire and beyond on his book tour. He should have been leading his network, searching for the missing-nin who had planned to invade their village and killed a kage, no matter his personal connection and concerns. And yet he was being called back. And clearly it wasn't something that could wait until his usual return time as he circuited through the country.
Two, the reason for the summons was sensitive, too sensitive to risk putting in the message despite the measures they took to prevent interception.
Jiraiya walked through the busy streets, and found his gaze turning to the west, where the poorer residents were. And he knew that somewhere in there was a space where a blackened ruin of a building had been. His feet felt heavier at the thought. Though he loved his home dearly, he knew that as of late there were reasons that made coming back painful. Reasons why he'd altered his travel route so he came back less frequently.
May 6th, 63 KY 10:06 PM
The bar was loud. The sound mixed together, from the arguments, debates over local contests, and whispered, private conversations. The smell of sake, and food filled the air. And in the middle of it all, Jiraiya sat there, sake bottle in one hand, and his attention focused on the woman next to him as he regaled her with his exploits.
Her deep green eyes were wide with amazement, and elbows pressed into the wooden counter while she leaned in. She'd mentioned her name, but for the life of him he couldn't remember it. It might have started with an 'A'. Or was it an 'S'?
No matter the name, she would have been perfect as a character in one of his books, and he mentally catalogued her image for later use. Jet black spilling over her shoulders that shifted with the movements of her head as she listened, a small, delicate mouth and bright smile set inside a heart shaped face, and a very generous figure. He had to put effort into keeping eye contact.
He was telling a story after all, and she was interested in hearing it. In this case, it would have been rude to let his eyes wander at this point. Although, looking at her flushed face, perhaps her interest was partly artificial. But he didn't really care at the moment. He was enjoying her attention about as much as the rest of her.
"Did you really defeat a hundred ninja at once all alone?" she said in awe, following it up with drunken giggle.
"Absolutely!" he declared as he took another sip.
"Even with a broken arm and pneumonia?"
Jiraiya just laughed. "I'm just that good! Jiraiya the Toad Sage, that's me!"
"Wow, one of the Legendary Sannin? I had no idea I was talking to such a celebrity!" She took another sip of her own drink, and giggled again. "You," she hiccupped, "you know, I always found little froggies sort of..." she hiccupped again, "cute. The way they hop around is so adorable."
Jiraiya bellowed, drawing attention from several of the surrounding patrons. "Well, actually frogs and toads are quite different."
The young lady blushed fiercely. "Oh! I'm sorry. I had no idea."
The older man held up his hand, stopping the oncoming stream of apologies. "It's alright my dear. Many people don't really know the difference. And since the words came from someone as beautiful as you, I'll take it as a compliment anyway."
"Excuse me," came a voice next to him. "I was told to deliver this to you."
Jiraiya turned to see the plain-faced young man in a courier ninja's uniform holding out an envelope. He knew this particular courier. He was one of several ninja that frequently passed messages to him. He took it quickly, muttering a thank you, letting the messenger walk away. The buzz of the alcohol died down some. He turned back to the still giggling young woman.
"Pardon me for a moment my dear." He gave her a bright smile. "It's probably from my publisher. I'm an author too you know."
"Really?! I had no idea you had so many talents."
"That I most certainly do."
"Well while you read that, I think I'll go to the bathroom." She walked unsteadily away, and Jiraiya opened the envelope, expecting to see a note that would appear to be from his publisher, but whose real text was hidden behind a series of hand signs and a special seal.
As a spymaster, Jiraiya regularly received reports of important happenings from home: diplomatic meetings, people to turn his spy network on, that sort of thing. Somewhere in the back of his mind, still partly buzzing from the drinks and the mental highs of evening conversation, he registered the particularly dour expression on the messenger's face.
But such information didn't reach the surface as he pulled the letter out and began to look over the text. He picked up a bottle of sake, ready to refill his cup. Who would he be focusing on now?
The next thing he knew, the sake bottle slipped from his grasp and hit the floor, shattering into a million pieces. The bartender was yelling about cleaning up the mess, but he and the rest of the noise in the bar faded away into nothing.
He read over the message with glazed eyes. Now, he registered the messenger's face, and he understood. This wasn't the usual spy business. This was one of those kind of messages, the kind no officer ever wanted to give, that no officer ever wanted to write, but frequently had to. The sort of message Jiraiya hadn't gotten in any form for a long time. His eyes passed over the words in a blur, written as they were not by a simple officer, but in the Third Hokage's own hand.
So sorry Jiraiya... Naruto Uzumaki... fire in his apartment building... partial collapse... exhaustive search... no trace... declared dead...
With each progressive word, soberness hit Jiraiya about as strongly as if he'd been hit with twenty buckets of ice water at once. The young lady had returned to her seat, looking slightly refreshed, but still significantly inebriated. "I'm back. Hey, Mr. Sage? Are you okay? You don't look so good. Is it bad news?"
"Yeah," was his only reply, whispered so softly it might have been lost in the noise. "I... a relative just passed away."
"Oh no!" gasped the woman. Sobriety returned to her in some measure as well. "I'm so sorry. Hey," she called to the still irritated bartender. "Another drink for Mr. Sage here, on me."
Jiraiya just nodded, slipping the note into his pocket. When the glass arrived, he took one look into the cool liquid, before shoving it down his throat. He kept on drinking. But no matter how much liquid he took in, the note in his pocket still burned.
After that night, it had taken him several days to bounce back. Naruto had died. His godson had died. As Jiraiya pressed on through the busy streets, the thought weighed on him. He was the boy's godfather. He'd left the village long ago, off in search of Orochimaru and any other threats. He didn't think he'd have been any good taking care of the kid at that age. He figured he'd do better to protect the boy by being a spymaster.
But now he sometimes doubted whether that was the right choice. A godparent was supposed to take care of a child if the parents died. It was a status granted only under extreme trust, whether or not that trust was truly deserved. And in that regard, Jiraiya had failed. His last student's son was dead, dead and gone in a horrible accident. And he hadn't been there. The Hokage had sent him pictures in the weeks that followed, memories to cherish, but they'd just hurt Jiraiya more.
The cloud of depression hung over his head as he traveled down the road, before new sounds reached his ears. There was the sound of high-pitched laughter, of gentle splashing. The sound of sandals striking wet stone floors. Traces of warm air hit his face. He found himself next to the Konoha Hot Springs.
The metaphorical cloud vanished, and a lustful smile crossed the sage's face. It was still early in the day. He could take a slight detour. Besides, he needed more research for his books.
With new energy, Jiraiya walked into the hot springs.
Tomomi leapt from rooftop to rooftop. The Hokage was expecting someone today, and had sent her and her partner out to the Konoha Hot Springs in case he showed up there. The ends of her light blue ponytail tickled the bottom of her neck as she went along. Pausing, she looked back, groaning through her ANBU bear mask.
"Izo, stop being so slow! We'd already be there if it weren't for you!"
"I'm coming," replied her brown-haired partner in the dog mask. He paused to rub at his arms.
"What's wrong with you?"
"The scratches really sting."
They'd been well on their way to the hot springs when some civilian had yelled at them about needing help. Izo, always the heroic one, had stopped to assist her. The problem turned out to be the woman's cat which had gotten firmly stuck behind a piece of furniture. It had taken ten minutes to dislodge the thing. In that time, it had hissed at him, swiping at Izo furiously with some very large, sharp claws. Tomomi wasn't sure if it was because of his mask or if the cat just had that disposition normally.
Tomomi crossed her arms over her chest. "Izo, you're an ANBU. Why did you just sit there and take it?"
"I had to! I couldn't hurt a house cat!" he cried.
If her mask didn't cover her face, Izo would have seen her raised eyebrow. She let out a sigh. Honestly, Tomomi would have bet three months of her salary that, had the Konoha Military Police not been eradicated, Izo would have joined them instead of ANBU. Not that the ANBU didn't already have to pick up the slack these days.
"Maybe the water at the springs will soothe the scratches," she replied.
As the two continued on, Izo spoke again. "Hey Tomomi, what do you think he's like?"
"Jiraiya? No idea. I just hope the Hokage isn't angry at us for taking so long."
It came as a great surprise when the two learned who they were looking for. Tomomi had heard all about Jiraiya and the other Sannin when she was still in the academy. She had no idea what he looked like, the Hokage not having a recent enough photo to use. But the very idea of meeting such a legendary ninja made her inner teenager giddy. The twenty six year old managed to suppress it as they moved closer to the hot springs.
"We should be fine" answered her partner. "If he really did stop at the springs, he might not have been there long. Besides, it's not like he'd cause any trouble."
When they reached the roof of the hot springs, there was a startled series of shrieks.
"What was that?" she cried.
"It sounded like it came from the women's bath. You should go check it out Tomomi."
"Why me?"
Izo just looked down at the ground. Tomomi got the message. Her ANBU partner was too embarrassed.
Groaning, she rushed over to the bath. The patrons were still shrieking. "What's the problem?"
One of the women, a young lady, stood up unsteadily. Tomomi noticed the pair of crutches laying near her at the edge of the spring. "There was a man spying on us! I think... I think he might have hurt Tai!"
"Tai?"
"Her fiancé," answered one of the other women. "We heard him shouting at someone about peeping, and then there was a groan."
"Is he okay? Tai!"
"Settle down Ayumi" soothed the woman.
Tomomi snarled. Creeps like that always got under her skin. She went over to the other side of the fence and found a young man lying on the ground. She checked his pulse. Still there. Somebody had clocked him, and hard too. Spying on women and assault and battery. Tomomi's anger rose higher. Spotting a worker, she called over to them. "You there! Call a medic for this man. He may have a concussion. And inform his fiancé in the women's bathing area."
Going back up to roof, she grabbed Izo by the hand. "Come on Izo. Looks like we've got another bit of heroics to do."
"What's going on?"
"Some creep was spying on the women's bath, and he assaulted the person that spotted him. There!"
The two spotted a large, weird-looking old man running away from the springs. Tomomi gave chase, Izo close behind. Tomomi drew a set of chakra blades, wielding them like claws. They'd look for Jiraiya after this. If the Hokage had a problem, she'd take full responsibility. But this guy was going down.
Sakura walked through the crowds of Konoha, groceries in hand, including a container of Ichiraku Ramen. Getting takeout from them was getting to be a regular thing. She just hoped the two ramen chefs wouldn't ask too many questions.
She ran into Sasuke at an intersection. "Did you get the eggplant?"
"Right here," he replied, holding up a bag.
They'd decided to take advantage of the kitchenette and not bother carrying a lot of cooked food, other than Naruto's. And personally, Sakura was hoping an offering of her sensei's favorite food might open him up on who this mystery ninja was. After Naruto, she'd taken time to learn those sorts of things about her team, and she was hoping it would pay off again today.
After double checking that they got everything, the two headed back towards the Hokage residence. The afternoon sun was high in the sky, and if Sakura's hands hadn't been full of food, she'd have wiped sweat from her forehead.
She'd been engaged in light conversation with Sasuke when the two of them passed the hot springs. If it weren't for her ninja training, she would have been knocked to the ground as something large shot right out in front of her.
"Sorry about that got to go!" came the rushed words.
'What..." As soon as the blur of a man passed by them. Two ANBU followed after.
"Get back here you perverted creep!" screamed the female ANBU. "I'll teach you not to spy on the women's bath!"
"In the name of the Third Hokage, we order you to stop!" cried the male ANBU behind her.
Sakura's face darkened. She took a step forward, ready to chase after the man, when Sasuke put a hand on her shoulder.
"Leave it to the ANBU. They should be able to catch the guy just fine. Besides, we have lunch to deliver, remember?"
Sakura let out a sigh. "Guess you're right. What a creep though! If I had the chance, I'd kick him right in the breadbasket!"
Beside her, Sasuke winced. "I don't like the idea either, but I'd rather not have to hear a string of complaints if we take too long."
He was right. Naruto might be done by now, and it was best not to leave him waiting too long. With a nod, Sakura continued walking toward the residence. I hope it hurts when they catch him.
Jiraiya huffed as he pressed himself against a wall. He'd finally gotten away from the ANBU pursuing him. "Of all the rotten luck," lamented the sage.
It had all been going so well too. The spring had been filled with a trove of beautiful women. It was some of the best research material he'd ever come across. But then he'd been spotted by a man. From what he could gather before he had to run, the guy was there for one of the women in the spring. And, judging by the name the man shouted and the bits of conversation Jiraiya had picked up while he'd watched, he guessed it was the pretty brown haired one that came for post-leg surgery physical therapy. She'd said her fiancé had been taking care of her and was going to pick her up.
Jiraiya would have been touched by the gesture, he really would have, if it hadn't resulted in him having to abscond from the premises and deprive him of his research.
Looking at his watch, he realized how much time had passed. That pair of ANBU were still after him no doubt. It wasn't safe for him to go back to the hot springs for a while, not without causing another scene. With the prospect of such beautiful women denied him, Jiraiya realized he might as well go to the Hokage now. He'd probably delayed himself enough as it was.
It was a slower trip to the office. Jiraiya had to make sure the pair of ANBU hadn't been following him. When he finally reached the office and opened the window, Hiruzen didn't even turn. He just exhaled another lazy set of smoke rings. "Ah, Jiraiya. So you've finally arrived."
"Okay old man, I'm here. Now what did you need to see me about?" Jiraiya asked, still unhappy about being denied one of his favorite pastimes.
Sarutobi just waved his hands, dismissing all the ANBU guards and activated the seal of silence. Jiraiya raised an eyebrow.
"Sit down Jiraiya. We have much to talk about..."
It was a little while later, and Team Seven sat in the guest suite. Naruto had been out of the bathroom by the time they got back. They'd already finished lunch now. Sasuke was in a meditative position, and Kakashi was back to reading his book. Sakura sat on one end of the long sofa, engrossed in her own book from the library. Naruto was at the other end. He lay there, hands behind his head, feet propped up on the table, eyes closed. His tail swayed back and forth under him.
Sakura glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. When his face turned into a grimace, she set down her book. "What's wrong Naruto?"
"Nothing," he said, opening his eyes to look at her. "I'm just bored waiting for the old man to show, so I thought I'd see if I could pick him up. But it was somebody else coming down the hall. And I think they turned into another one."
"How do you..." she asked automatically, before the answer came to her. "Right, your senses." In her head, she knew Naruto's hearing range was higher than normal. But even knowing that, it still freaked her out a little how Naruto could just detect people like that. It was almost like he was a sensor type, like Ino's family. Another dot connected in her head. "I guess that's how you knew we were hiding under that genjutsu, huh?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. I picked up your heartbeats first." He turned to his sensei before smirking. "Sorry Kakashi-sensei, but you'll have to try harder to hide from me."
Kakashi just grumbled.
Sakura let out a giggle. "Doesn't that get overwhelming though?"
"Not so much now. I learned how to tune a lot of stuff out." His ears twitched again. "Now he's coming."
Naruto proved to be right, because the Third knocked at the door within the next minute. Naruto had already stepped away from view of the doorway. Behind the Third was a tall man, standing taller than even Kakashi-sensei by several inches, and several pounds heavier, more if you counted the large scroll on his back. What kind of shinobi was he? If he was from the Leaf village, she couldn't tell. He didn't wear a Leaf forehead protector anywhere. Instead, he had one with horns and the word "oil". And why did he seem vaguely familiar?
What kind of ninja has horns on their headband?! cried Inner Sakura.
"He's your seal expert?" asked Sasuke skeptically. "He looks more like a clown."
The taller man glared at Sasuke, speaking up before the Hokage had a chance. "Watch it kid! I'm one of the greatest ninjas in the history of this village. I am the great Jiraiya, the hermit of Mt. Myoboku! That's me, the Toad Mountain Sage!"
"Sage?" Sakura tiled her head. "You mean... like one of the Legendary Sannin, heroes of the Second Shinobi World War?! The ones who fought Hanzo of the Salamander to a draw?"
Jiraiya smiled at her, and patted her on the head. "Very good my dear. At least someone here knows me. Yes indeed, that was me. But don't worry your pretty little head. I doubt you'll ever have to fight someone as scary as Hanzo these days."
Sakura grit her teeth at the patronizing words. I'm not a porcelain doll you ridiculous sage! screamed Inner Sakura.
"Yeah right. There's no way a weirdo like you is a powerful ninja!"
Jiraiya turned his head, eying a glaring Naruto. He froze for a second, before clearing his throat. "Well, you're not one to talk about weird appearances, are you kid?"
Naruto growled. "Hey, it's not like I asked to look like this. Believe it!"
"Jiraiya..." came a whispered voice. Sakura looked over at her sensei. His face had lost its color and his one visible eye was locked, unblinking, on the sage.
Suddenly, Kakashi bolted forward. "You're the author of the Make Out series! I've always wanted to meet you. I love the entire series. Could sign my books?!"
Sakura did a double take. She'd never seen her sensei like this. He was acting like a complete fanboy. She honestly wasn't sure to be embarrassed or disturbed.
Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, a devoted fan, eh? I'd like to sign your books. I always keep a pen on me. Let's see, where did I put it?"
"Wait," muttered Sakura. "Make Out series?" That was their sensei's favorite book. Sakura's jaw hung open. "You mean you're the one that writes those raunchy books?!" she declared, ignoring the look of hurt and embarrassment on her sensei's face.
"My books aren't raunchy," argued Jiraiya. "They are fine pieces of literature meant for a sophisticated audience."
Yeah, right. She knew what her sensei's book series was about alright. It wasn't hard to figure out from the name and the note about it being for 18+ people on the cover. All of Team Seven knew, even Naruto. She could only spend so long watching her sensei be so engrossed in that series before making her own inquires.
Her mother had been furious at her for asking, until she'd explained why. That series was written by one of the Sannin? Whatever respect she had for the man was sinking, and fast. Beside her, Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Hey," said Naruto. He sniffed the air. "How come you smell like sulfur and stuff?"
Jiraiya edged away from the boy. "What do you mean?"
Naruto sniffed him. "You smell like sulfur and minerals. It's weird."
"No I don't."
Naruto shook his head. "Not to my nose."
Sulfur and minerals? Sakura pondered the idea. Then, things added up in her head. A sulfur and mineral smell... the content of those books... the way he's vaguely familiar...
She screamed. "You're the creep that was spying on women in the hot springs!"
Jiraiya stiffened. "I... uh..."
The Hokage pinched the bridge of his nose. "Jiraiya," he said, stretching every syllable. "I hoped you were past that."
"You mean this is a regular thing?" asked Sasuke in disbelief. "How have you not been arrested?" The Uchiha frowned. "If this is one of the best ninja in the history of the village, we're in real trouble."
"Gramps, is this guy really the one you want to trust? He's nothing but a pervy sage!" screamed Naruto.
The Hokage sighed. "Despite my former student's... antics, for which we will speak later." He gave the now nervous sage a sharp look. "I have utmost confidence in his abilities. Now, with all this out of the way, I think it's best to start the examination of the seal. Wouldn't you agree Jiraiya?"
"Uh, yeah, sure. Go lay down on the sofa kid."
Naruto gave the man a skeptical look, but did as he was told. Sakura got up to get a better look at the procedure.
"Now, I want you to build up some chakra. It doesn't have to be a lot."
"Why?"
"Just do it kid."
"Fine, fine," replied Naruto. He closed his eyes, and soon after, black lines appeared on his stomach, forming into shapes, swirls and characters that projected themselves over his red coat. Sakura took a step closer.
"What is that?" asked Sasuke beside her. He'd turned on his Sharingan, no doubt to examine the jutsu in better detail.
"That would be the seal holding the Nine Tails," answered Jiraiya. His demeanor had shifted into something far more serious. Sakura would have almost thought he seemed like a different person.
Jiraiya was silent as he looked over the seal, his face unreadable. A tension descended on the room. That little collection of lines was the only thing separating them from a creature of massive destructive power. If it was damaged in any way, they were all in a great deal of danger, especially Naruto.
The sage's brow furrowed before he got up and spoke. "Well, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the seal is completely stable, if a little loose. The Nine Tailed Fox is in no danger of escaping."
Sakura felt a wave of relief. But one question still hung in the air. Her sensei asked it before she got the chance.
"And what's the bad news?"
"The bad news is that I have no idea why this happened. Like I said, the seal is perfectly normal. I don't see a thing wrong with it."
"But you said it was loose," she said.
"That is normal for this type of seal after all this time, but it's still totally stable, and that's especially not something that would result in this."
"Oh that's just great," said Naruto as he sat up. "So you have no clue how to make me human?"
Jiraiya shook his head. "Not right now. I'll have to do a little more research on these types of seals and see if I can come up with something."
"Great. So now what am I supposed to do?"
"Hmm, bored are you?" asked the Hokage. He smiled knowingly. "I think I have a solution for that."
He walked across the room to a spot a few feet to the right of the bedroom and bathroom doors, and slid away a square shaped piece of the wall. There was the sound of a switch being pulled, and suddenly, a much larger section of wall opened up, revealing a long, dark passage. Everyone stared, even Jiraiya. Naruto bolted to his feet in amazement.
The Hokage stepped into the corridor. "Follow me."
As they entered, the Hokage flipped a switch, and lights filled the passage. Sakura's eyes adjusted to the light level as she observed the passage. Dirt and dust clung to the walls, and above them, spider webs covered the ceiling. A cloud of dust kicked up under her shoes, and she let out a sneeze.
"Forgive the state of the passage," said the Hokage. "It's been a long time since it and the room you are have been used." He frowned at the dim lamps. "And it seems the lighting here is not in as good a condition as I originally thought."
"It's not bothering me," said Naruto. Sakura looked over at him. His eyes had already changed into their night vision state.
"How is it not-" Jiraiya started, only to look at Naruto and pause. "What the...?"
"It's eyeshine," answered Sasuke.
Sakura suppressed a giggle at the older man's confusion, and just shrugged. "You get used to it."
The Toad Sage blinked rapidly. "Uh... Since when was there a secret passage around here?"
"Since its construction," answered the Hokage as the walkway slanted downwards. "Secret passages are essential tools in case escape is necessary."
Finally, they came to a stop, and the older man pulled another switch. A door opened, and everyone found themselves in a large training area with a high ceiling. Various pieces of ninja equipment were scattered around the room, all of it looking new and gleaming.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"This is a private training room under the residence. It was created with the passage to allow foreign guests the chance to practice their jutsu without worrying about prying eyes" answered the Hokage. Once again he took on the air of his nickname, The Professor. "There are a handful of rooms such as these. Several of our own ninja, including myself, have used them from time to time. In addition, they could also serve as shelters due to their reinforced walls, a requirement considering the destructive nature of some of our own techniques." The Hokage turned to Naruto. "I'm sure this will alleviate some of your boredom."
"I'm sure it will," piped in Kakashi. "In fact, since we're here, why don't the three of you do some training?"
"Sure," said Sasuke, walking up to the center of the training area.
"Actually," said Jiraiya. "I have a suggestion, if you don't mind. How about if I spar with the brats?"
Sakura's mouth hung open. "What?"
"With all due respect, I think that might be a bit much," countered Kakashi.
"It's fine," replied the Toad Sage with a wave of his hand. "All three of them can come at me at once. And all they'll have to do is knock me down. They can even use whatever they want."
"I'm not sure this is wise Jiraiya," admitted the Hokage. "They are all still genin."
"Fine, I won't even attack. Just counter. I think those are reasonable conditions." He turned and grinned at the genin. "Unless you brats don't think you can handle that."
"Fine by me," growled Naruto. "I still don't buy you being all that great Pervy Sage."
"Stop calling me that!" fired back Jiraiya.
"I'm in," added Sasuke.
Sakura was a little more uncertain. Inner Sakura was screaming. Let's smash this creep's face in! And Sakura wanted to do that too for his stunt at the hot springs and his patronizing tone. But at the same time, he was a legendary ninja. This could end badly, very badly. But since the rest of her team was going for it, she decided she should join too. "Me three."
The three stood across from Jiraiya before Kakashi signaled them to start. She and Sasuke moved first, getting in close. Sakura threw a chakra-enhanced punch, while Sasuke went for a high kick. The Toad Sage caught her fist easily, and used his forearm to block Sasuke.
He looked Sakura in the eyes, a grin across his face. "Not bad Pinky, but you're going to have to try harder than that." He looked up at Sasuke. "You too kid."
Sakura just grit her teeth again. She hated when people called her Pinky.
Suddenly, Naruto came from behind, ready to land a blow of his own. Jiraiya pushed both Sakura and Sasuke across the room, much to their surprise. Whirling around, he caught Naruto's arm and threw him over his shoulder to join his teammates in a heap.
"Ow," groaned Naruto. "Didn't expect him to react that fast."
"Guess he's not as much of a clown as he looks," muttered Sasuke.
"Maybe we should try a ranged attack?" offered Sakura.
Naruto grinned, grabbing the bow and arrows off a rack of weapons. "Ready."
Sasuke and Sakura drew kunai and shuriken. They rushed the sage, circling around to attack from multiple angles, launching their weapons all at once.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!" The sage's hair grew, wrapping around him. Their weapons deflected harmlessly off the protective barrier.
Frustrated, Sasuke grabbed another weapon. "Demon Wind Shuriken!" But even that clattered to the floor.
Jiraiya drew back the barrier. "Ha! Not so easy, is it kid? Maybe now you brats will give some respect to the great Toad Sage!"
Sasuke glared at the sage. He made a series of familiar hand signs, and both Sakura and Naruto back away, and Sakura steeled herself for what she knew was coming.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened at the massive fireball headed in his direction. Quickly, the man reached into his pocket and pulled out a scroll. Placing it on the ground, he made a lightning fast series of seals. "Sealing Jutsu: Fire Seal."
Chakra came out from the scroll, and suddenly the fireball was pulled into the scroll, disappearing harmlessly as if it hadn't even existed. The three genin stood there, stunned.
Jiraiya grinned as he picked up the scroll and put it away. "Always pays to have that prepared, especially when fighting an Uchiha. So, do you three give up?"
"Nothing we do gets through," growled Sasuke.
"Maybe if we distract him, his guard might go down," whispered Sakura.
"How do we do that?"
"I think... I have an idea," said Naruto.
"Well, whatever it is, it's got to be worth a shot," replied Sasuke.
Naruto nodded. "Let me try it first. Get ready to attack if it works."
Naruto ran towards Jiraiya. Sakura wondered what the fox-boy had in mind. Jiraiya himself narrowed his eyes, ready for another attack. Naruto made a ram seal. "Transform!"
And he turned into... the girl from his Sexy Jutsu, complete with the long blonde pigtails and censoring clouds. "Hey Mister Jiraiya, over here," the girl cooed.
Sakura's jaw went slack, and her hand curled into a fist. Of all the things that made her feel nostalgic about Naruto lately, that stupid technique of his wasn't one of them. That can't work...
The Toad Sage's face lit up like a miniature sun. "Wh-What a babe!"
It actually worked?! On the side of the field, she noticed the Hokage and her sensei staring with equally distracted expressions. Except they had the decency to try and hide it. Men.
"Idiot technique or not, it worked," Sasuke said, shaking her from her thoughts. "We need to move now. Same attack pattern as last time. I'll go high, you go low."
Sakura nodded, charging with Sasuke toward the still captivated sage. This was probably their only chance here. Need to give it everything I've got. Pulling her arm back, she poured all her chakra into her fist. It glowed as she threw the punch right into the older man's abdomen.
Jiraiya hadn't been paying attention to the blow, and gasped as all the air was knocked out his lungs. He staggered backwards. But it still wasn't enough. Sasuke struck next, this time successfully landing a hard kick to his face. Jiraiya staggered even more.
Naruto, who had been frowning at this point from Jiraiya's attention, dispersed the jutsu and rushed forward, slamming his elbow into Jiraiya before sweeping his legs under the man's feet, and following it with a kick to the chest for extra measure. The legendary ninja crashed to the floor like a chopped down tree.
The Toad Sage sat up, holding his head. "Ugh."
"Hey, Pervy Sage," said Naruto with a grin. "We win."
Jiraiya glared at the three genin. "I really hate you brats."
Suddenly, they were all drawn by the Hokage's laughter. "It seems as though they managed to outsmart you Jiraiya. An excellent use of teamwork and innovative thinking." The older man walked back towards the passage. "Now if you excuse me, I must return to my office."
He opened the doorway, but before he left, he turned back around. "Oh, and Naruto, there's one thing I forgot to tell you."
"What's that?"
The old man smiled. "Welcome home, Naruto."
Sakura came by Naruto's room the next day. Today was one of those days where Kakashi-sensei helped Sasuke train with his Sharingan. Since her teacher was completely occupied doing that, he usually let her do whatever she wanted, and she frequently turned it into a day off.
Entering the guest suite, she found it totally empty. "Naruto?"
The bed looked like a tornado hit it, and the kitchenette contained used dishes covered in the remains of instant ramen, and one apple core in the trash. He'd definitely been here. But her hybrid teammate was still nowhere among the rooms. Seeing no other option, she opened up the passage and went right to the training room, taking out her flashlight to supplement the dim lights.
Sure enough, she found Naruto down there. In fact, she saw multiples of Naruto there. One was armed with the bow, and the others were tossing up makeshift targets into the air. The one with the bow kept hitting bullseyes.
The minute she closed the door, Naruto looked back, and the arrow he fired missed the target. Naruto frowned at it before dismissing the shadow clones. "Morning Sakura."
"Morning. Did you sleep well?"
Naruto nodded vigorously as he set down the bow. "Oh yeah. He stretched his back before putting his hands behind his head. "It was nice to sleep on a bed again, and not one with a spring poking my back." He looked past her. "Where are the others?"
"Kakashi-sensei is training Sasuke with his Sharingan today."
"Oh."
Do you do that a lot?" she pointed at the targets. "Hitting things in the air I mean?"
"Oh yeah, lots." Naruto sat down now, picking up a water bottle and taking a long sip. "Don't usually use shadow clones for it though."
Sakura sat down next to him, tilting her head. "Why haven't you been using your shadow clones much anyway?"
Naruto averted his gaze. "I... kinda don't like looking at myself all that much..."
Sakura felt a stab at her heart. Of course. It made so much sense. Trying to find a way to divert the topic, she came to a new question. "If you didn't use your shadow clones to throw those targets, how did you do it before?"
"I rigged up a catapult. It broke though. I was actually coming back to fix it right when you guys found me." He chuckled.
"You made one all by yourself? I'm impressed."
"Thanks," replied Naruto with a blush. All the sudden, his stomach let out a huge growl. "I'm hungry."
"Here Naruto, you can have these." She pulled her bag closer and pulled out a box, opening it up to reveal a collection of dark chocolates.
Naruto's head tilted. "Why do you have these?"
"Ino. She ran into me this morning and said some admirer gave her these. She said she didn't want to ruin her figure with them so she dumped them all on me."
"Thanks Sakura." He took a piece and swallowed, following it up with another and then another after that. "Chocolate's just as good as I remember it."
"Slow down or you'll choke Naruto. And remember to save some for me" she said as he took out four more pieces at once.
The fox-boy swallowed another piece and blushed again, looking down at the significant dent he'd made in the contents. "Sorry."
Stretching her legs, Sakura got up. "Hey, are you up to sparring?"
Naruto nodded, having eaten several more of the candies. "Sure."
The two faced each other before charging. Sakura moved in close, throwing punches. But Naruto just backed out of the way. Sometimes he even went right over her head. She turned to find him throwing a punch of his own, and put up her arms to block before launching a counterattack. He took the hit this time, but just moved backwards, pulling away and out of her range. He seemed to like pushing his speed and agility to their full advantage, especially in short range fights like this.
Sakura put on a burst of speed, catching up to him. She swung a few more times, pushing him further backwards towards the wall before swinging once more with her right arm. Naruto ducked, slipping completely around her.
"Too slow Sakura," he said, smirking as he moved back toward the center.
Sakura just narrowed her eyes and came at him again. He dodged her latest series of punches. On the last one, he stumbled a bit, and Sakura took the opening in his guard to land a chakra-enhanced punch to his abdomen.
Naruto fell to the ground with a thud. "Ow..."
Sakura held out her hand. "You okay Naruto?"
"Yeah," said the boy with a pant as he took her hand. "I think so. You're really getting better with those punches."
"Thanks."
As Naruto sat down on a bench, Sakura went over to one of the fountains to refill the water bottle she'd brought. "Hey Naruto, do you want some water?" she called back. When she didn't get an answer, she turned back around. "Naruto?"
Naruto was sitting there, hands on his stomach, breathing heavily. Sakura went over to his side. "Naruto? Are you okay?"
"Sakura, I-I don't feel so good." His was practically hyperventilating. "Stomach."
"Your stomach?" Had she hit him too hard? She hadn't thought so. Her punches had never managed to cause real internal damage before. "Is it in pain?"
"Y-yeah. And my h-heart. It's beating... so fast. I-" Before he could finished the sentence, the boy bent forward and retched all over the floor. Sakura jumped back to avoid getting splashed.
Naruto tried to stand, but he lacked the coordination, only managing to sit back down and then slip off the seat, moving to the floor, balanced on all fours. His limbs were trembling, muscles shaking involuntarily.
"Naruto! Naruto, what's wrong? Talk to me."
"I really... don't... feel... good Sakura" he muttered. Looking closely at him, she thought she could see the skin under his fur turning blue. The fox-boy collapsed to the floor.
"Naruto! Naruto get up!" He wouldn't respond. His eyes were open, at least half way, but he was breathing just as heavily, body still twitching all over.
This couldn't be happening. Not again. What can I do? He's too heavy to carry. What's even wrong with him?! Don't die Naruto. You can't die. We just found you, we can't lose you again!
Her eyes searched the room frantically, falling at last on the passage. Without another thought, she opened the door and ran through the dark tunnel, her words echoing off the walls.
"HELP! Somebody please help!"
Author's Note: I am so sorry it took so long. So many scenes, and so many rewrites, not to mention life stuff.
And now, I'd like to make fanfic recommendations. I have a soft spot for time travel stories, particularly ones with Sakura. I think the first stories that I ever read on that subject were "The Beginning Again" and "After the Fall" by Insane Romantic.
They are here on FF. "After the Fall" is a rewrite of The Beginning Again. Sadly, both are incomplete, but what is there is still very much worth reading. So check them out.
And another story (again, Sakura time travel) I'd like to recommend right now is "How Long is Forever?" by aoutrance on AO3 (on FF, it's "tradition"). It's not complete, and it hasn't been updated in a while, and I truly hope the author completes it. This too is SO worth reading. When I found it, I couldn't stop re-reading it again and again, day after day. It is that engaging.