I don't own Naruto or any related characters.
Jiraya returned to the camp a few hours later. He carried a tired look and was covered in dust. The young pair had not left their places next to each other. Not a word had been spoken since Ino's lips brushed Shino's cheek. They looked up to the disheveled Sannin.
"Sensei? What have you been up to?" Ino eyed the white-haired man suspiciously.
"Sometimes a spy needs information from sources he cant really talk to anymore. Sometimes you have to get a little dirty." Jiraya bore the suspicion and took on his teacher tone.
"And where did this particular dirt come from Jiraya-sensei?" Shino asked.
"I found a source and I had to visit his resting place." Jiraya explained.
"You robbed a grave!?!" Ino cringed against her teammate.
Shino nodded at the logic of the question. "was your source fruitful?" he asked accepting the morbid necessity.
"Fruitful indeed." the Sannin held up a torn and dirtied map. "We can report to Tsunade-hime that we know the location of the great Village Hidden in the Storm. Now I propose we get a good bath and some sleep. We will need to leave early in the morning."
"OK." Ino's mood brightened at the prospect of re leaving herself of the grime of travel. "Is there a hot spring nearby?"
The legendary pervert produced a map filled with markings and notes. "Why yes it seems there is a fine hot spring just ten miles from here." he giggled as he went on. "Its got great service and even multiple peep holes and angles for better viewing."
The young duo rolled there eyes at their drooling teacher. They gathered their things and took the run as a chakra building exercise. Each energy infused leap helped to build and strengthen their young chakra coils. Soon they were relaxing in the hot waters, and soon after that they were asked to leave by the management. They made their way back to camp with a bruised Jiraya in tow. The morning would witness their exodus from Fire Country.
...
the gathered group ate together as usual. The meal was filled with talk of the day's activities and plans for the upcoming days. The table was eventually cleared and the party disbursed to their individual training. The matriarch of the group was standing to leave when her grandson made his request.
"Obaa-chan? Can I ask you something?" the young blond held a deeply thoughtful expression.
"Of course Naru-kun. What is it?" the woman asked sitting herself back in her chair.
"Why didn't you tell me about Ojii-san?" It seemed to pain the boy to ask.
"Naru-kun, come with me I'll tell you about it." Tsunade rose and led the boy to her quarters.
The pair settled into comfortable seats and readied themselves for what could be a very uncomfortable conversation.
"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to revisit those memories. It was selfish of me, Naruto, and I hope you can forgive me. I'll tell you the whole story if you want." Tsunade began. She was met by a small quick nod. "we were young. We were just nineteen. We had been on the same team for years, and we trusted each other completely. We kept our relationship a secret, because Jiraya didn't want to bring down the name of Konoha's princess. I took a training mission when I was pregnant with your father, and Jiraya kept working, sometimes three or four missions at once so he could buy a house for me and the baby. The day Minato was born he was in the Land of Wind. He raced back just in time. Our son was perfect and something changed in Jiraya. Before he was always joking and goofing around, but when he saw his son it was a very different smile. He was serious and protective, but so happy he nearly glowed. Everything was great for a while. I was still on leave after your father was born, and Jiraya was doing missions closer to home. When your father was three he started playing with kunai. I was terrified. I thought he was going to cut a finger off. Your grandfather was thrilled, he started teaching him immediately. As Minato grew older Jiraya had to start doing harder and harder missions. He had to go further from the village every day, but he would still rush home, using up every ounce of his chakra in the process. Jiraya was there everyday to see his son. When Minato started the academy Jiraya walked him every morning. After he took Minato to school he went to do his missions. I was training medic-nin in anticipation of the upcoming war. It was really hard to have any time together. Its was like this for two years. Jiraya was there for Minato in everything, but we just faded away as a couple. One day I couldn't take the loneliness, I needed someone to be there for me, and I couldn't have the one I wanted. When he got home I told Jiraya that we were over. I kicked him out of the house. He still walked Minato to school and still trained him and spent every free minute with our son, but I didn't talk to him for months. I met a man named Dan, and he was supportive, and there for me, and he really helped me figure out what I wanted. Dan died in the second war. Just after the war ended Minato graduated from the academy and Jiraya took the jounin instructor job for his team. So for years Jiraya was there for our son but not for me. I needed more from him and he couldn't give that. It hurt so much to have my best friend die and my son off on missions, and the love of my life just had nothing to say to me. I left the village. When Minato made jounin Jiraya left too. We were wandering the earth and it was just never the same."
"I'm sorry Obaa-chan." the boy leaped from his seat to land on the woman's lap and wrap her up in a hug. "I'm sorry you were lonely. I'm sorry you couldn't be with Ojii-san. Maybe now you can. He's coming here, right?"
"Its not that easy Naru-kun. But now we can both be here for you. Even if we aren't together, you are what we care about now." she smiled and hugged the boy back.
...
Shino signaled the group to proceed ahead. His bugs had the location of a large underground space not far from the current location. The trio found the entrance and announced themselves. A moment later Shizune opened the door. The two groups met in full in the conference room.
Shino inclined his head politely to Tsunade. "Hokage-sama."
Hinata mirrored his gesture but directed at Jiraya. "Hokage-sama."
Ino followed Shino's lead and Naruto followed Hinata's. "Hokage-sama."
Jiraya laughed audibly but deferred to Tsunade. "Hokage-sama."
Tsunade swatted Shizune in the shoulder to follow her lead and the both gave a little bow. "Hokage-sama."
"well now that we're all done with that should we do something useful?" Tsunade eyed the legendary pervert. "We will rearrange the rooms and get settled in and everyone is to be in the conference room in one hour."
with that the assembled ninja went off to adjust the living arrangements in the underground base. It was decided that the two elders should have their own quarters. The kunoichi would double up in the remaining two rooms. Ino and Hinata in one and Anko and Shizune in the other. The boys would put out cots in the training area. The hour passed quickly, but with the army of clones all the work was easily finished.
The seven individuals gathered once again around the large table. The clones kept working, and training. Jiraya's group placed their treasures on the table and readied themselves to explain what it all was.
"I took another half of Konoha's financial assets. I have my entire advanced sealing library. I have multiple sets of the basic curriculum from the academy. Intermediate and advanced texts on elemental jutsu, and seven sets of full ANBU gear with advanced weapons options. Finally, I have a newly made Hokage hat." the Sannin removed the article from its scroll and sloppily tossed it atop his head. He motioned to Ino.
"Um, I brought three books on botany and one on horticulture. I grabbed some of my fathers books, I think they are on interrogation and information gathering. I have make-up, hair product, and clothes for disguises. And I have one big armful from the Uchiha library." The petite blond explained.
"how did you get into the Uchiha library?" Anko raised an eyebrow at the girl.
Ino didn't say anything, she just molded her hands into the sign for her family jutsu.
"I brought all the Aburame texts on insects, as well our taijutsu style, our clan techniques, and applications of all these things. I have on my person eleven queens that could start distinct colonies." Shino finished the group's inventory at Jiraya's prompting.
"Thank you, you two." Jiraya motioned to his students. "with the money and resources we have now we can easily provide for the eight of us."
"Agreed. But do you have the map I asked for?" Tsunade held a tired, annoyed tone with her former teammate.
Jiraya did not say anything. He removed the map from inside his red vest and laid it on the table. He smoothed the edges with his large hands and dropped a finger on the point he knew Arashigakure to be. Jiraya left the room with a light sigh. He was soon followed by Naruto, leaving the rest of the group to look over the map and their new inventory.
"Shizune, Anko. What do you think? Can we do this in two weeks time?" Tsunade inquired of her jounin team.
"Absolutely Tsunade-hime." Shizune bowed and went to work.
"What she said." Anko pointed to her fellow jounin and followed after her.
...
Naruto cautiously entered his grandfather's room. He found the old man drooling intently over a stack of photos.
"Ojii-san? Are you OK? You didn't seem to happy to see Obaa-chan." Naruto's face held genuine caring for the legendary pervert.
"I'm fine Naruto. I'm glad to see you. Have you been training?" Jiraya deflected the question with his own investigation.
"Oh yeah!" the boy shouted as he formed a Rasengan in each hand. "Obaa-chan has really helped me with my chakra control."
The Sannin's eyes widened. "That is amazing! Your father would be so proud of you. I know I am."
"Thank you Ojii-san." Naruto dropped the glowing orbs and bounced across the room to hug the old man.
"Now do you want to help me sort all these lovelies?" Jiraya asked eying the stack of scantily clad women.
...
The next morning the group assembled for breakfast. Tsunade seemed very content, as did the two jounin.
"The plan is laid out. Shizune sent out all the messages and got responses that will let us pass from here to the land of whirlpool unmolested." The former Hokage explained. "The map provided by our spy unit shows us exactly where to go, and Naruto will be enough proof against the seals protecting the village to let us enter it."
"What did I prove?" Naruto looked confused.
"No, you are proof against the seals. You are seal proof as far as The Village Hidden in the Storm is concerned." Shizune explained, receiving a pleased grin in response.
"I want everyone to review the plans and know your part of it. We will train until we leave. Everyone is to be ready in two weeks. Our first mission as Storm ninja is the infiltration and incorporation of Arashigakure." Tsunade handed out copies of the relevant information and dismissed the group to their training.
...
Thanks for reading. This one is a little short, but its a good place to end it so i'll give you another one soon. Thanks everyone for your great reviews. I hope you keep enoying the story. Thanks again.
