Chapter 12: Tales of Ba Sing Se Part 3

The Tale of Yamato

The ANBU Captain walked along the walls of the Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se. There wasn't much for him to do, with the constant spying of the Dai Li about him. He had fooled most of their patrols using Moku Bushins (Wood Clones) and Kage Bushins. He sighed, the others were taking time to have fun, but he was going right into work in evading their new enemy.

He pursed his lips and decided to return to the house. He had to go out of business mode and into fun mode. With that, he leapt down from the wall and landed on his feet, going straight for the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se.

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Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se, Avatar's House

Yamato walked in to see that Naruto, Hinata, Aang, and Katara were in the back yard, training. The blond haired jinchuuriki followed the young Avatar's movements, sweeping his hands and creating a current of wind, then pulling the wind back with both hands, and then expelling it in a blast of wind that blew off a tree branch.

"Wow, Naruto! I didn't expect you to get that one so fast!"

Naruto chuckled and grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "I do have a lot more chakra than I need otosan."

Yamato then looked at Hinata and Katara. The two girls were practicing in the water of the coy pond. The two girls were in bathing robes were pushing and pulling the water. Hinata had her Byakugan activated as Katara took out a goblet of water and then showed her pupil and friend how to freeze water with a breath.

"Now you try Hinata," Katara told Hinata, who nodded.

The Hyuga lifted up her own goblet and slowly blew air on it. The water began to solidify and harden until it took the form of an ice crystal. Katara nodded in approval, and Naruto glanced over.

"Great one, Hinata-chan!" Naruto said with a grin. Hinata blushed and pulled the cold out of the ice crystal and made it sink back into the water.

"Now Naruto, the next step in Airbending is to create a ball of air in your hands," Aang said, getting the older boy's attention.

"Okay!" Naruto said as he attempted to form a ball of air in his hands.

Yamato smiled at the young Shinobi and their friends training efforts. Naruto had almost got the technique yet the ball of air dissipated after a few seconds. The blond haired jinchuuriki frowned and gave it another try. He drew the air into his hands…and created a perfect ball of air like Aang did.

Aang nodded with a smirk and he turned to see Yamato. "Yamato! Want to train with us?"

Yamato nodded. "Sure, what do you need help with?"

"Well, can you help us with the basic ninja techniques?" Katara asked as she and Hinata got out of the coy pond they were training in.

"Sure, but haven't Hinata-san and Naruto been helping you with those?"

"We've been more busy teaching them to use their bending styles, Yamato," Katara said with a smile.

Yamato nodded. "Well, first off, what are the hand seals we use and what are their names?"

"Ne (Rat), Ushi (Ox), Tora (Tiger), U (Rabbit), Tatsu (Dragon), Mi (Snake), Uma (Horse), Hitsugi (Ram), Saru (Monkey), Tori (Bird), Inu (Dog), I (Boar)," Katara said, demonstrating each hand seal like Hinata had shown her, but she didn't put chakra into the seals.

"Very good, Katara-san," Yamato said as he turned to Aang. "Now Aang-san, what are hand seals used for?"

"Uh…um…" Aang stammered as he thought. "…hm…they are used to form and mold energy, right? Like with bending movements?"

"Yes, very good Aang-san. Apparently Naruto has been teaching you as well," Yamato said as the young Avatar slapped the back of his head and laughed.

"Actually…I was just reaching there," Aang said with a grin. "I've been teaching Naruto how to do some basic and advanced Airbending techniques…so I haven't gotten any ninja lessons from him."

Naruto chuckled. "Well I did want to show you how to do the Henge, Aang, but you kept pushing me into more Airbending techniques."

"You were!" Aang asked as the ANBU Captain cleared his throat.

"Before you can learn any techniques, Aang-san, you have to learn better control of your chakra," Yamato told him, and the young Avatar looked up at him. "Bending is a different method of chakra use, true, but to do jutsu, you have to learn to summon it in bursts."

With that, Yamato motioned for Naruto to walk over. "What do you want me to do, Yamato?"

"Demonstrate how to focus your chakra in a hand seal," Yamato instructed, and Naruto nodded.

The jinchuuriki slammed his hands together in the Hitsugi (Ram) seal, and sent out a pulse of chakra. The grass around Naruto seemed to be pushed out by a blast of wind, and Katara and Aang's jaws lowered slowly. Naruto released the chakra pulse and the ANBU captain nodded.

"That was a little more than what I expected, though it was a very good demonstration, Naruto," Yamato said as he turned to the young Avatar and the Waterbending Master.

Katara and Aang formed the seal of the Ram, spread their legs out, and then focused their chakra. The Waterbender was the first to feel a slight chakra pulse around her body in the form of a slight breeze, which she found nice. The young Avatar focused…and then a blast of wind, almost as much as what Naruto had made, focused around his legs.

Yamato nodded. "Alright, now we can start teaching you the basic jutsus. First off is the 'Rope Untying no Jutsu'."

"Rope Untying no Jutsu?" Katara and Aang asked simultaneously.

"Yes," Yamato said as he took out some rope and created a Moku Bushin. He tied up the clone, and turned to Aang and Katara. "Enemy capture is always a danger, so one of the first jutsus taught at any Ninja Academy. Thus, learning how to untie binds is key. There are two ways of doing this. The first way the clone will demonstrate now."

The clone demonstrated the first way-he dislocated his shoulder, inverted his right arm and began working on the knot that was tied around his wrists. He untied the knot, popped his shoulders back into place, and slowly opened his arms. The ropes slowly fell off his wrists, and the bushin looked at two shocked Benders.

"However, as you can see, this escape technique takes too long and is mostly used by magicians-escape artists. Not very useful on a mission where you have to normally fight your way out, hard to do with purposely injured shoulders, as such, this should be used as a last resort if your chakra is too low," Yamato told them, and they nodded.

"…it really looked like it hurt," Aang said as he remembered how the clone dislocated its own shoulders to untie the knot on the rope.

The clone was tied up again. "Now, here's how to do the jutsu, the better way of escaping from binds," Yamato told them. "The seals are Ne (Rat), Tora (Tiger), and Mi (Snake)."

The clone demonstrated…and the ropes untied themselves and dropped to the ground. He stood up and Katara and Aang gulped, they realized what was going to happen.

"So who's the first volunteer?" Yamato asked and…Aang volunteered.

"…I get tied up the most," Aang said as he walked over and the Yamato clone tied his hands up.

"Now the hand seals are Ne, Tora, and Mi. Do the three seals in the right sequence and you'll be able to break the binds," Yamato told the young Avatar as he demonstrated the three hand seals again, and the boy nodded.

Aang did the three seals…but he didn't put enough chakra into the seals and the ropes didn't fall off. He did it again, the same result. After twelve consecutive tries, he finally did it. The ropes untied and fell off his wrists and he grinned.

"…that's about as many times I had to do it before I mastered the jutsu," Naruto said with a grin as Katara walked over.

"I'll give it a try now," Katara told them and they nodded. The clone tied her wrists together tightly, and everyone waited. "Ne, Tora, Mi, Rope Untying no Jutsu."

Due to her better chakra control than Aang, the waterbending master put the right amount of chakra into each seal, and on the first try, the ropes untied and unraveled off her wrists. The Avatar's jaw dropped at how fast she mastered the jutsu, but Naruto merely smirked.

"She just has better chakra control than you do, otosan, that's why she was able to do the jutsu on the first try," Naruto said with a smirk. "We just got to make yours better and then you'll get jutsus down better."

Aang nodded. "Well, what's next?"

"The Henge no Jutsu," Yamato said as he dispelled his Moku Clone, and did the hand seal Tatsu, and he transformed into a perfect copy of Aang. "This jutsu is used to spy and gain information."

"…or knock out perverts," Naruto added with a grin.

Yamato waved the genin off and he turned to the young Avatar and Katara. "I want you to transform into perfect copies of Naruto and Hinata by the end of the day, if at all possible."

Aang and Katara nodded and they began to attempt to do the Henge no Jutsu. The young Avatar did the seals correctly, and in a puff of smoke…he turned into a portly version of Naruto. Aang frowned in his fat Naruto formed, and the real Naruto scowled. Aang released the henge and began to think.

Katara did the hand seals…and turned into a tall, thin version of Hinata. The Waterbending Master frowned in the tall Hinata form and dispelled the Henge. She attempted it again, this time using a little less chakra…and she turned into a short Hinata. The real Hinata gave a giggle at Katara's attempt.

"Not enough chakra that time, Katara-chan," Hinata said and she nodded.

"It's tougher than the last jutsu," Katara said as she pursed her lips. She did the hand seals again and focused her chakra. In a puff of smoke…she turned into another imperfect copy of Hinata. "Damn it, what am I doing wrong? That time should have worked!"

"Just keep trying," Yamato said as he leaned back against a tree. He did three hand seals and slammed his hand into the tree and some more branches grew out…and covered the entire back yard. "There, to prevent anymore spying. Mokuton: Issai Futa Bundan (Wood Release: All Covering Branches)."

"S-Spying?" Katara asked as Yamato sighed.

"The Dai Li have us under constant surveillance, so we have to make a few precautions before you can complete the real jutsus," Yamato told them with utmost seriousness. "That's probably one of the reasons why Naruto-san and Hinata-san weren't teaching you, so there wouldn't be a risk of security."

The two nodded. On top of a roof, two Dai Li agents frowned at Yamato's counterintelligence measure. They couldn't see through the thick tree bush now, thus couldn't complete the mission for the day. Yamato seemed to be the perfect counter for them…and Long Feng wouldn't like this. The climbed off the roof with a frown and leapt back into street level.

Yamato watched as Katara and Aang attempted the jutsu again. In puffs of smoke they reappeared as misshapen Naruto and Hinata, and the two of them sighed again. The hours ticked away and each time the Waterbending Master and the Avatar got closer to reaching their goal. Finally, at the end of the day, they reached the perfection of the Henge that Yamato wanted.

"W-We did it…Katara…" Aang said between pants.

"Yeah…we did," Katara said while panting and she looked at herself. Dispelling the henge she wiped the sweat off her forehead. "…why…am I so tired?"

"You used a lot of chakra over the course of the day, so you're feeling the effects of chakra exhaustion," Yamato replied and she and Aang nodded. "Rest up, tomorrow we begin the training with the Bushin, the standard clone Jutsu, and the Kawarimi no Jutsu-Substitution Technique."

Katara and Aang nodded. "If you master those, you will classify as Academy Graduates, low Genin-level ninja," Naruto said with a smirk. "Then will have to make Hiate-iti's for you."

"Hiate-iti?" Katara asked, not recognizing the term.

"Oh, our headbands," Hinata translated, showing hers around her neck. "A-All genin earn them at Graduation."

The Waterbending Master and Aang nodded. "I'll get started, making them that is," Yamato told them as he walked out of the house.

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Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se

The ANBU Captain walked through the streets of Ba Sing Se. It was approaching night and his advanced senses picked up several people following him. He flexed his hands and continued walking.

A dozen Dai Li agents began to converge at him at all sides. Long Feng had ordered that if ever Yamato was caught alone, he was to be captured due to his special abilities. Yamato walked threw the streets until he got to the park, when he was surrounded by more Dai Li.

"You can come out now," Yamato said as he brandished a kunai. "There is no point hiding."

"Mr. Yamato, your presence in this city is a danger to the order of it," a Dai Li told him as he walked up out of the shadows of a tree. "Long Feng had ordered your arrest."

"I'm flattered, but I am not going to go anywhere with you," Yamato said with a smirk.

"Have it your way," with that, several rock hands were launched from the trees.

The ANBU captain flew through the hand seals. "Moku Shouheki no Jutsu (Wooden Barrier Technique)!"

A massive wooden dome rose out of the ground and covered Yamato like a turtle shell and the ANBU captain protectively. He flew threw more hand seals and created two clones using his Moku Bushin no Jutsu. Yamato then did more hand seals and he sank into the ground.

The Dai Li looked out in surprise as the wooden dome retracted and the two Yamato Wood Clones attacked them. Several brought out pillars of rock from the Earth to combat the clones, which leapt over them, tossing kunai or countering with their own Earth Jutsus. The real Yamato used the Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu (Double Suicide Decapitation Technique) to pull the Dai Li members underneath the ground. Even though they were Earthbenders, they couldn't do the proper movements to escape.

"Get him! Use lethal force if necessary!" the Dai Li Captain ordered, but more of his men were knocked or incapacitated.

Yamato landed and engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with three Dai Li agents. He did a sweep kick to bring two of them down and smashed his fist into the third. The third Dai Li agent stomped his foot and sent a pillar of rock crashing into the ANBU's chest. Yamato grunted, flipped over the pillar and crashed both of his feet into the Dai Li agent's face, breaking his nose.

The Dai Li captain's eyes bugged out when Yamato tossed a kunai at him. The Dai Li captain grimaced as the throwing knife stuck deeply into his shoulder. He was then slammed in the jaw by one of Yamato's clone's fists. The Dai Li captain crashed into the ground, unconscious.

"Mokuton: Origokusha (Wood Release: Tree Prison)!" Yamato yelled out as he slammed his hand down to the ground and a massive tree rose of the Earth right under the Dai Li's feet. The ANBU then did a few more seals. "Mokuton: Shibu no Shuushuku (Wood Release: Branches of Constriction)!"

All around the Dai Li who were still conscious and trying to get out of the summoned tree, but the branches kept getting in their way. Suddenly, several branches shot out from the canopy and wrapped around the Dai Li members that had tried to ambush Yamato. Conscious and unconscious Dai Li were tied to the tree, either upside down, sideways, or right side up, preventing them from using their Earthbending or even getting off the tree.

Yamato nodded with satisfaction and leapt away from the now bonded Dai Li. The Tree would slowly turn to a normal one, and by morning all of it's prisoners would be let go. If Yamato really wanted to, he could have made the jutsu permanent and let the Dai Li rot and die, but it wouldn't accomplish the group's goals of finding Appa and informing the Earth King. So he held back and disappeared into the night.

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Tales from Konoha, Update on the War

Konoha, Hokage Tower

Tsunade pursed her lips and rubbed the bags underneath her eyes. It had been three weeks since the 'Fire Nation' soldier had been captured and had been interrogated extensively by Ibiki. What's worse was that more of these 'Fire Nation' soldiers had been spotted on the borders of not only the Land of Fire, but Wind, and even Lightning and Water. The only major country that didn't seem to have reported the sightings of 'Fire Nation' troops was Earth.

"Get Shikamaru in here," Tsunade ordered Kotetsu, who ran off as she looked over the map and then Shizune, her advisor and most trusted friend. "And what's the status of getting the Kages here?"

"Kazekage-sama, Mizukage-sama, and Raikage-sama will be here by morning, Tsunade-sama," Shizune replied as she looked down. "Iwakage-sama didn't respond to your summons for a Kage meeting."

"Damn that man," Tsunade snarled as she slammed her fist into her desk, reducing it to splinters. "Can't he just bury the past? If we sit by here, Orochimaru or these Fire Nation guys will launch their attacks!"

Shizune nodded and Kotetsu returned with Shikamaru. The Chuunin yawned and took out a cigarette. "I was trying to take a nap, Tsunade-sama."

"No time for that. I know you're on vacation after the Niju Shodai recall, but I need you to help me plan our defenses," Tsunade said as she sat back in her chair. Shikamaru shrugged and picked up the map.

"These red marks are sightings of the 'Fire Nation' soldiers, right?" Shikamaru asked and Tsunade nodded. "First off…we need to send more scouts out."

Tsunade nodded. "Team Gai, Sai, Shino, and Kiba have already been sent out."

"Secondly, we need to create a few choke points so we can cut off these Fire Nation guys' supplies and weapons," Shikamaru said as he looked at the map. "Send patrols here, here, and here to create chokepoints."

Tsunade nodded and she looked at the map again. "What should be the plan of defense around Konoha?"

"We should start by asking the Daimyo for military aid," Shikamaru said as he looked at the wall around Konoha. "Our Shinobi forces aren't going to cut it alone in a large scaled battle against standard troops. We need archers, swordsman, and other standard grunt troops and cavalry to fight effectively."

Tsunade nodded and turned to Aoba. "Send a message to the Daimyo's Castle for military aid to back Konoha's position in this region."

Aoba nodded and adjusted his sunglasses and ran off to the messenger room where the messenger hawks, falcons, and pigeons were kept. Tsunade sat down as Jiraiya entered the room.

"Any luck in deciphering that damn seal that was left in Training Ground Eight?" Tsunade asked as she rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Some…though I need more time," Jiraiya replied as he sat down in one of the guest chairs in the room. "It's incredibly complex."

Tsunade nodded. "Hiashi-sama's been visiting me each and everyday since his daughter's disappearance. He's incredibly concerned about her welfare."

"Three years ago, he wouldn't have given a damn," Jiraiya mumbled as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. The perverted ninja then grinned. "I need a break. Wanna join me, we could have a night on the town, see a movie and get a few good drinks!"

"…as tempting…" Tsunade started, closing her eyes. "…as a night off sounds, neither of us have time for it Jiraiya!"

"…Tsunade-sama…you haven't slept in two days," Shizune reminded her mentor. "A…night off would do you some good."

"I'm the Hokage damn it and I'm trying to prevent a war here!" Tsunade retorted angrily, looking at the niece of her deceased lover, Dan. "And if I can't prevent it, I have to learn how to fight it before it starts!"

"Tsunade," Jiraiya said sharply, making the fifth look at him. "You being exhausted won't help us at all. You're a doctor, Tsunade, so you know the effects of insomnia than anyone else here."

Tsunade snarled at that. "…fine…just one night though."

"Great!" Jiraiya cheered as he grabbed onto the Hokage's arm. "Let's get going!"

Tsunade looked at Shizune who was chuckling weakly. "You know you won't be able to convince him otherwise. He's really like…Naruto-kun in that regard…"

The Hokage frowned and let herself be dragged out of her office by her fellow Sannin. Jiraiya was grinning all the time and Shikamaru sweat-dropped. He took out one of Asuma's old cigarettes and lit one up.

"So she just called me in here for nothing?" Shikamaru asked as Shizune sighed.

"Just get to work, Shikamaru-kun," Shizune ordered with a sigh, and the lazy genius sighed and went over the map again.

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Downtown Konoha

Tsunade sighed as Jiraiya kept pulling her downtown. To her surprise, he neglected to go to his usual places-the porno shop and the hot springs. Instead, he was trying to find a good restaurant to take her to. Many people turned heads at the sight of the two Sannin walking down the street together. Passing the Ichiraku Ramen stand, the regular visitor, the scarred Chuunin Teacher of the Academy, Umino Iruka lifted the curtain up and wiped his eyes.

'Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama together? It's…almost like they are on a date,' Iruka thought as the two Sannin walked past. '…I don't know what would be stranger…'

He slurped up the noodles in his mouth and turned to his bowl again. Teuchi smirked, he remembered when he was a boy and the scene before him was somewhat familiar…however Orochimaru was always with them. He frowned and went back to stirring a new batch of Ramen.

The perverted sannin stopped at one restaurant and pulled Tsunade with him. The Hokage's jaw dropped…it was one of the most expensive restaurants in the entire village. She glanced at Jiraiya.

"Come on Tsunade, we'll get something to eat before we go to that movie," Jiraiya said and the Hokage sighed.

"You've been planning this out, haven't you?" Tsunade asked and her fellow Sannin nodded. Her eyes narrowed. "At what point do I take off my clothes and give myself to you?"

"Never! I never planned that far ahead," Jiraiya said with a grin. Tsunade kept looking at him, and then she sighed.

"Fine…" Tsunade said as the two of them walked into the restaurant.

Due to their status in the village, the two Sannin were shown to a table quickly and given menus. Jiraiya ordered a steak that was medium well as well as a salad, and Tsunade ordered dango and miso soup. For drinks, they both ordered sake. As they waited for their orders, the Hokage looked at Jiraiya.

"So how long have you been planning this date with me?"

"…ever since before you and that Dan guy got together," Jiraiya replied truthfully, and Tsunade's eyes widened.

"All this time?"

"Yeah…you just turned me down every other time I asked you and I gave up for a time when you dated Dan. And I gave you your space after…he died," Jiraiya said as he looked down. Their meals came and the perverted Sannin thanked the waitress.

"…you've had feelings for me for over thirty years?" Tsunade asked in shock.

"…well…yeah," Jiraiya said as he rubbed the arch of his nose. "…now this is awkward…"

"…yeah…" Jiraiya replied as he rubbed his shoulder before digging into his steak. The two of them ate in silence, the Hokage mulled over what she had just learned.

"…so that's why you kept hitting on me…and peeping on me more than the other women…" Tsunade said and Jiraiya nodded in a sigh.

"Yeah…and…if you haven't read the first Icha Icha book…I used you as a model for the female protagonist," Jiraiya told her and she gulped.

"R-Really?" Tsunade asked him as she looked at him. He nodded and she blushed and finished her miso soup.

"I really shouldn't have said anything," Jiraiya said with a sigh. He finished his steak and poured his sake into its little cup. "Knowing my reputation with women…no wonder why you turned me down so many times."

Tsunade couldn't help but giggle at that, and she poured her own cup of sake. The two of them drank their sake and finished their meals. A slight blush was on the Hokage's face from drinking the entire bottle of her sake, and the two of them walked out of the restaurant.

"…that was really nice," Tsunade said as she started to lean on Jiraiya.

"Well it's not over yet. We still have time to see the movie," Jiraiya told her and she unexpectedly latched onto his arm. "Whoa, Tsunade, how much did you drink at dinner?"

"What…does it matter… (hiccup)…Jiraiya…?" Tsunade asked as she looked up at the white-haired Sannin's face. "Let's…just go see the movie… (hiccup)…"

Jiraiya sighed. "Sure, lets go."

Across town the two Sannin arrived at the movie theatre and chose a classic Samurai film to watch. They made their way through the theater, carrying popcorn in their hands. They chose one of the middle rows and sat down, watching the film.

There were other official couples watching the film and the theater quickly became packed. Tsunade and Jiraiya ate their popcorn while watching the flick. It was a story about a former killer who is hired by a woman of a local dojo to help defend her homestead from criminals.

The female lead was also a swordsperson; however she was no where near the level of the former killer she hired to protect her dojo. The first part of the film focused on the antics of the two, the former killer accidentally caught the female lead in the bath, which lead to him being slammed on the head by her bokken, her discovering he cooked better than her, and when he said he'd get used to her cooking, she threw the entire pot onto his head, thinking it was an insult.

Tsunade giggled at the antics and then the scene shift to the gang that was threatening the dojo. They had hired their own fighters, former opponents of the former killer. The film took a darker tone as the gang who wanted to own the female lead's dojo kidnapped, extorted, or killed many of the female lead's friends in an attempt to make her sell the property.

Finally, the climax came when the female lead was kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken to the gang's complex. She was threatened and forcibly made to sign a lease on her dojo, by pricking her finger and putting a blood seal on the lease papers. The gang leader chose one of the hired killers to execute her for all the trouble she has caused them…and then the former killer entered the room, with one of the unconscious gang members leading him there.

The gang members got overconfident and attacked the former killer. He unsheathed his blade, and with one swing, slammed his reverse-bladed katana through the air, creating a vacuum of wind that knocked the lesser opponents away from him. In the matter of a few minutes, all the gang members were unconscious but their leader.

The leader sent forth his hired killers, but the swordsman defeated each and every one, receiving grievous wounds. He stomped over and slammed his sword into the gang-man's face, knocking him out and leaving a permanent imprint on his face. The former killer walks over and unties the female lead, who embraces him. He returns the hug and the scene flashes.

Six months later in the film the dojo has became successful again. The female lead has taken on an apprentice and several other students. The movie ends with the female lead and former killer finally sharing a kiss.

With the credits rolling, Tsunade and Jiraiya made their way out of the theater. They threw away their popcorn container away and walked out of the theater. Night had fallen and the stars were out, as well as the full moon. It was a beautiful night, with no clouds in the sky at all and all the constellations were out.

"Shall I walk you home, Tsunade?" Jiraiya asked her and she looked up at him.

"Alright…but no funny stuff, Jiraiya," Tsunade replied and he nodded. He held out his arm…and she entwined it with her own. 'He's sure acting…decent tonight. He's even trying not to be perverted…'

Jiraiya grinned as they walked down the street, leading the Hokage back to her mansion. The night had gone perfectly, and Tsunade wasn't even that drunk. He figured he'd wait for the sex question until the next date.

They rounded the corner and Tsunade stopped to look up at the sky. She could see all the constellations and even the next planet in the system. She thought about how so…insignificant they were. She then thought about the six lost ninja, and looked up to Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya…what is the exact progress you made finding Kakashi, Yamato, Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata?" Tsunade asked.

"Well, I've finished deciphering the seals and symbols that were left in the ground where they were transported," Jiraiya replied as they approached the Hokage Mansion. "Now the next part is the harder one, trying to find the right Hand Seal sequence to activate the seal."

"Has anyone volunteered to be your test subject for when you activate the seal?" Tsunade asked as the two of them walked up to the door.

"Yes, Kurenai has volunteered," Jiraiya replied and the Hokage nodded. It was only natural; Hinata was like her own daughter.

Tsunade opened the door and she turned and looked at her fellow Sannin. "Thanks for tonight….would you like to come in?"

"Nah, not tonight. Your orders are for some sleep, and you're going to get it, Tsunade," Jiraiya told her and she nodded.

Tsunade smiled. She looked around, and then…leaned in and kissed Jiraiya on the cheek, making his face turned all red. She then grabbed his collar violently.

"If you tell anyone I did that I swear I shall break every bone in your body twice," Tsunade threatened him, snapping the perverted Sannin back into reality. Jiraiya nodded twice. "Good, and thanks for tonight. I had…fun."

"N-Not a problem, Tsunade," Jiraiya said and Tsunade smiled. She closed the door, leaving the perverted Sannin to his thoughts.

He walked off, his mind wandering about what just happened. Tsunade actually kissed him on the cheek…and he chuckled in a perverted manner. He could add the date to his next Icha Icha Book…change the names and locations and bam, he had a few solid chapters out. And Tsunade wouldn't be the wiser.

"Thank you, Tsunade, for inspiring my next book," Jiraiya said under his breath, and then he leapt into the air like his disciple would do and ran off towards his apartment.

To be continued…

Next chapter will be Lake Laogai, which I've wanted to do for a while.