Tsunade's interruption had halted the battle, giving the participants a chance to talk on top of their giant summons. "You!" Tsunade pointed towards Kushina "What did that pervert of a teammate hide from me?" "Don't believe her Tsunade!" Jiraya shouted again from on top of Gamabunta.
"Era era, where to start… let's begin with Mito-sama" Kushina spoke. "My grandmother?" Kushina nodded. "Your grandmother passed on after she entrusted the Kyuubi into me when I was six. I think she wished to keep Kyuubi out of certain people's hands." Tsunade's eyes widened, before whipping towards Jiraya. "You knew?!" she hissed. Jiraya grimaced, one of the few cats in the bag he had towards Tsunade out in the open. "You knew my grandmother had asked me to look after the next container before I set off into that war!" Tsunade shouted. "Sensei knew too…." She suddenly added, anger turning into confusion.
Kushina raised her eyebrow "Well that certainly would have made my first few years in Konoha less lonely." Tsunade looked angry towards Jiraya, daring him to explain, he met her gaze for a few seconds before folding. 'I need to salvage this situation. ' Jiraya thought. "I did" he spoke in grave tone. "You were still angry with Konoha, you would have taken her. She was far too young for that." Kushina snorted "Not going to use the 'Konoha needed its weapon?' excuse Jiraya?"
Tsunade looked shocked, Kushina seeing this, decided to twist the knife deeper "That is what your sensei used Tsunade" "Don't believe her Tsunade, she killed sensei and attacked the leaf!" Jiraya shouted. Kushina nodded "I did indeed, blood has to be repaid by blood, but I suppose you hid that from Tsunade too didn't you Jiraya?" Tsunade rapidly looked between the pair.
"Well Jiraya, are you going to tell Tsunade or should I?" Kushina asked with a wicked smile. Jiraya grimaced, another cat out of the bag, he just hoped it was one of the lesser ones. "Must have been hard to tell your teammate her village, the same village that let her loved ones die did not send any help to her cousin clan." Kushina mocked. "Why should they? I mean it's not they had an ancient alliance thanks to the Senju that the Uzumaki honored to the best of their abilities…." She said sarcastically.
"It was a grim situation at the end of the second war, Kiri from the south, Kumo from the north. Uzumaki forces depleted thanks to the aid they send against Iwa, and the subsequent mauling they took there." Kushina recounted "Instead of sending troops, Konoha just stood there and watched. And lied to my face about it."
Jiraya growled in anger, and snapped out "How did you find out!?" Tsunade's shot Jiraya an horrified betrayed look 'Dammit!' he cursed to himself for letting his anger slip that out. Kushina chuckled 'Another point for me' "I was quite a prankster in my younger days. Just like my son, I broke into the Hokage office. Large troop movements are documented, and what a surprise, I didn't find any towards Uzu before its fall."
She narrowed her eyes "I did not know at the time, but I found out later that Uzu lasted long enough for a messenger to make it to Konoha. It was then I swore I would get even with Sarutobi." She sighed "Minato nearly made me forgot you know, but than that bastard sealed Kyuubi into Naru-chan without even listening to me."
"Minato did the right thing, he had to protect Konoha!" Kushina snorted at the defense "And if you care about Konoha so much, why didn't you look after your godson Jiraya" Jiraya huffed "I am sure sensei was looking after him" "I knew you were a terrible 'spymaster' Jiraya, but this is just sad" Kushina mocked "Hated by nearly everyone in Konoha, he had no training, his legacy denied, even knowledge about his clan was hidden. Konoha truly trampled over the Uzumaki's legacy, while having the gall to wear our clans symbol on their backs!" Kushina ranted at the end.
Tsunade looked aghast at her teammate 'He lied to me! He let that boy life alone, hated, while he was entrusted to look after him!' where her foremost thoughts. Kushina smirked inwardly at the expression 'And now for the final blow' Changing tack suddenly to keep Jiraya off-guard "And even if you managed to drag Tsunade back to that hellhole Jiraya, do you really think Danzo would allow her to become Hokage."
"He has no choice, I made sure of that." Jiraya spoke firmly. Kushina smirked outwardly now "Do you even know that he replaced his arm with an mokuton implant than?" Before either sannin could speak, Kushina ploughed on "Do you really think he would allow the last senju free reign to find out her grandfather's grave has been plundered thrice?"
"Thrice?!" Tsunade echoed shocked.
"And that's not counting the sharingan eye he has." Kushina finished. "What do you mean with thrice!" Tsunade demanded "Why, Once by Kabuto on Orochimaru's orders, once by Danzo for his arms, and once by Orochimaru on Hiruzen's orders." Taking in Tsunades shocked face 'And that should do it' Kushina thought with a hidden victory smile.
Jiraya turned enraged. "You lie! Bunta, get her!" Gamabunta, having kept his peace during the conversation, intent to find out the truth from his summoner later, sprang into action, leaping forward, tanto held high. Aoda sprung to the side, dodging the earth crushing blow. As Gamabunta committed to the attack, Kushina started growing two massive chains, one in each hand.
Gamabunta landed, and Kushina swung her chains forward, rapidly entrapping the toad within. With a pull, she tightened the chains, crushing Gamabunta who dispersed, Jiraya using the time the toad bought to get clear of the crushing chains, who went up in flames with their task complete.
He immediately went into the defensive as Kushina came in with a flying leap, Aoda dispersing behind her. With her other leg she kicked herself away from Jiraya, she quickly met his rapid counter attack, she danced or diverted his direct toad-style taijutsu, attempting to disable him with pinpoint attacks on weak spots. However Jiraya bullied through the damage, dead set on defeating the woman.
Neither side was gaining anything, and both leapt backwards, Jiraya forming handsigns midair, slamming his palms into the ground the moment he landed. "Doton: Yomi Numa!" Kushina was forming a large amount of chains which where snaking around him, but was forced to abandon them as the swamp formed.
She formed handseals as Jiraya focused on making the swamp bigger and deeper. With a "Katon: Karyū Endan" Kushina belched a fire dragon, impacting the swamp right underneath her, cooking away the water within. This formed a small dry platform for her to land on, as the expanding shockwave of flames forced Jiraya away from the edge of the swamp.
The pair watched each other silently, planning their next moves. On top of Katsuyu, Tsunade stood silent, her gaze not truly focused on the melee ahead of her as her mind spun over the revelations. Katsuyu's attempt to get her attention with a gentle "Tsunade-sama?" failed. Shizune was confused, her loyalty for Konoha warring with her sense of duty towards her master, and the betrayals Konoha seemed to have committed.
Naruto also had an inner struggle, he wanted to leap to his mother's aid, but knew he would just be in the way. Guren put a hand on his shoulder, both to calm him down and to remind him to pay attention. It would do no good if the pair of them were ambushed from behind.
Kushina meanwhile frowned inwardly 'I would win in the end, but the difference in power is not big enough… I need to get stronger to protect my son from Akatsuki' The name of the organization triggered another idea.
"Era, So you say I lie Jiraya?" she chuckled "You truly are not worth the title of spymaster."Jiraya frowned, trying to figure out Kushina's angle. "Danzo always wanted to be Hokaga." She stated, getting a hesitant nod from Jiraya, Hiruzen having mentioned that. "Do you really think with such a goal, that he would disband that root program of his?" "He would, Hiruzen ordered it." Jiraya replied with a frown. "Era era, so naïve, the man kept it running. He is even responsible for one of your first student's death."
"You see Jiraya" Kushina mocked. "That child with the rinnengan of your first trio, the first child you thought was the child of prophecy, is still alive." Jiraya looked shocked and surprised "No.. I know those three are dead by Hanzo's hand." Kushina laughed "Hardly hardly Jiraya, after you left, they became a talented group of shinobi. And following the ideals you bestowed upon them, they formed a group that sought to end the 3rd shinobi war without violence."
"However, Hanzo saw them as a threat to his rule as their group expanded, and there is where our current 'temporary' Hokage comes in. Together, those men conspired, ambushing the otherwise peaceful group. Yahiko, following your self-sacrificing ideals did just that. He died, and the little rinnengan user went berserk, killing Hanzo and his troops while Danzo fled. The remaining orphans continued their goal."
"Do you know what the name of their group was Jiraya?" Jiraya looked shocked Danzo did something like that. And that Negato managed to kill a figure like Hanzo. "No…" Kushina smile turned viscous "Why, I believe it's called 'Akatsuki '"
Jiraya's eyes widened, his jaw dropping. He let out a pained "No". Kushina smirked evilly "Yes, The rinnengan user calls himself 'Pain' these days. And believes he can unite the world by hurting everybody…. Now how did that little prophecy of yours go, Minato was so proud when you thought he was the one... Oh yes, you would train the child that would bring great salvation or destruction. I think 'Pain' chose destruction ne?"
Jiraya gritted his teeth, looking ready to storm off, getting Tsunade to Konoha forgotten. "Now I see you are ready to march to Ame, but the prophecy did not mention a teacher stopping him. You are far too weak anyways, you allowed yourself to slip Jiraya, and you are up against the legendary rinnengan " Kushina mocked. "Perhaps you should find a new child to train, turn that poor kid into the real child of prophecy."
"Why are you telling me this" Jiraya demanded angrily. Tsunade wondered the same thing, wanting to know why how Kushina changed from the subject from her, to Jiraya. 'And how does she know all these things?'
Kushina shook her head. "That should be simple to understand, his group is a danger to the world, and even Orochimaru acknowledged the rinnengan user is stronger than him." Jiraya eyes widened 'Orochimaru acknowledged that?' he thought shocked.
'Right where I want him' Kushina thought, a smirk forming on her face. "Yes, the teammate who was stronger than you admitted somebody was above him, despite his boundless knowledge of jutsu." Jiraya suddenly made a connection "But that means he was a part of the group!"
Kushina laughed mockingly "Era era, you didn't know 'spymaster'. My my, you are bad. Yes, he was for a member for couple of years before he tried to kill Itachi who is also in the organization."Kushina saw the lack of surprise in Jiraya's eye "Era, you knew that much" she mocked again. Causing Jiraya to grit his teeth.
Letting Jiraya stew in his own thoughts, Kushina deliberately turned to face Tsunade. Further insulting Jiraya. "So Tsunade, do you really want to return to the village that has hurt you so much, and hidden even more from you?" Because she was turned, she missed an odd display emotions on Jiraya's face on 'hidden'.
Seeing Tsunades indecisiveness, she went in for the 'kill'. "Honestly, it's quite simple, you head back to Konoha, which you don't want, and deal with Danzo and his ROOT trying to kill you. Or you keep travelling until Danzo declares you a missing nin and puts out a high bounty for your body." "He wouldn't!" Tsunade tried to deny. "You are talking about a man who robbed your grandfathers grave without a problem and took the eye out of an Uchiha." Kushina spoke calmly." Tsunade looked unhappy. "I lose in either case." She spoke annoyed.
Kushina smiled 'Right where I want her'. "Well, it would be an dishonor to my clans name to leave a cousin clan member without aid. You could always come with me to Oto." Tsunade shot a glance to Shizune, who still looked torn. "She can come with us of course, she is as much a victim as you are from Danzo's plans."
"Tsunade, if you plan to betray Konoha, I will kill you myself" Jiraya threatened, seeing no other way to stop Tsunade. "Era era Jiraya, going for the caveman solution of getting the woman you want?" Kushina mocked. "You got your hands full with me, do you really think you can handle both of us?"
Tsunade looked hurt, shocked and finally settled for anger "So you lie to me, and now you threaten me Jiraya?" she hissed. Before she could say anything further, a four man squad of blank masked man shot of the forest into the clearing. Rushing towards the side of the giant slug.
Mid run, the lead man calmly cut open his palm, presenting the gushing blood towards Tsunade, who started to freeze at the sight of the blood.
Kushina cursed, not expecting Danzo's men to be there, cursing herself for missing them. If she went for them, she would leave herself open to Jiraya. "GUREN, NARUTO!" She shouted, praying the pair of them would understand.
She withheld a smile as suddenly a flurry of high-speed crystal shuriken shot out from another part of the forest,suddenly flying far faster than they had right to. Kushina did smile when she saw the speed of the impromptu collaboration jutsu. The high speed barrage forced the masked man to abort their charge.
Katsuyu used the extra time to fully turn towards the squad. Quickly spitting a spray of acid to give her master more time. Shizune shook Tsunade, trying to get her back to her senses, but she stared unendingly at the bloodied palm.
Trying to capitalize of Kushina's distracted state, Jiraya shot over his hardened swamp towards Kushina, aiming for a knockout blow. Kushina bend under the initial strike, and rolled away from the follow up before countering with a crouched leg sweep, which Jiraya leapt over, Kushina shot forward like a coiled snake, striking Jiraya midair, tumbling away. With a display of acrobatics unexpected by his frame, he flipped himself to his feet.
"Danzo is going to kill your teammate and you are letting them?!" Kushina shouted as she closed in. "Katsuyu…" he started, blocking a blow "…will keep her safe." He grunted out between the blocked blows. Kushina had less confidence, and was about to shout for Guren to interfere, but saw in the corners of her eyes a blur of blue and blond hair shooting forward.
Kushina cursed as she realized her son was engaging in battle, discarding her plans to keep Jiraya alive. She unsealed Kusanagi and slashed forward. Jiraya quickly palmed a pair of kunai, hastily blocking before discarding the nearly cut apart tools, drawing a fresh pair.
"Fūton: Daitoppa!" Naruto shouted, guiding a narrow cone of pressured air, boosting the another volley of crystal shuriken towards the masked man. Once again hindering their advance. In response, a pair broke off while the remaining pair leapt onto the back of the slug.
"Shōton: Suishō Tō!" Guren exclaimed as she spun into a deadly dance, forming blades as she started to spin, interrupting the pairs attempt at ninjutsu. Naruto was right behind her, scoring a glancing blow with his kunai on one of the unbalanced men.
The man grunted, and blocked Naruto's next horizontal strike clumsily with his tanto. He forced Naruto way with a quick swipe, before pushing him backwards towards Guren with a rapid combo of strikes. Naruto could barely keep up, but behind him Guren impaled her opponent with her crystal blades, handily broken down his defense.
She leapt over Naruto, extending her crystal blade into a massive block of crystal. "Shōton: Idaina tokimeki!" the cried as the block of crystal crashed into the ground, shooting deadly shrapnel away in a semicircle, keeping herself and Naruto safe. The masked man was shredded in the storm.
On top of Katsuyu, Shizune fought a desperate stand against the two men, intent to prevent them from attacking her still stunned master. Using a combination of wrist mounted senbon launchers, chakra scapels and agile taijutsu she managed to hold her own.
As she got overwhelmed, Guren shot forward, sending Naruto towards Tsunade. Between the pair of woman, one of the men fell, while the survivor shot away. Guren gave a furious chase.
Jiraya ducked under another attempt to behead him. He hesistated, stuck between trying to kill Kushina, and the chance he would lose when Tsunade would stop being in a stupor. Going into sage mode crossed his mind, but he was uncertain about Kushina's abilities.
Furthermore, he wanted to confirm the story Kushina told, If it was true that Negato was the leader of Akatsuki, he need to stop him before he could fulfill the prophecy. With a curse, he reverse summoned himself to Mount Myōboku.
"Coward" Kushina growled to the disappearing smoke, before calming herself down in the realization her plans would stay intact if the pervert did what she said.
"Tsunade" she spoke coldly. Gaining the woman's attention like she just awoke. "Danzo is out for your head now, are going to run around until he catches up, or are you going with me?" she demanded harshly. "What do you want from me" Tsunade snarled back. "Nothing" Kushina replied "I would appreciate if you looked after an subordinate of mine, but I demand nothing." She spoke calmly.
"Fine, I'll come" Tsunade said tiredly. "Katsuyu, you can go home now" The snail nodded slightly "Understood Tsunade-sama." Shizune walked demurely after her master, her faith in Konoha badly shaken by the encounter.
Guren came soon after, having lost track of the survivor. Kushina sighed at her profuse apologies. "You did your best Guren." She spoke encouragingly. "Let us return to Oto." She spoke calmly. Holding back the scolding she wanted to give Naruto for fighting the could be Anbu-level root agents. He did came out unscathed and held his own.
The Oto nin shot off, Tsunade and Shizune following quickly.
AN: Writing Tsunade is hard QQ Remember that Kushina is telling the truth as she knows and it fits her.
Oh dear, what could have Jiraya hidden from Tsunade!
In hindsight, I feel like I rushed my way through this 'arc'. I expected to last 4 chapters in my planning… and I barely got half that :|. Does it feel rushed for you readers?
ChibakuNaruto: Nope, 'just' Danzo's men. Although the men in red clouds passed my thoughts, the combined strength of all those present would make a rather big mess.
Wyrtha: Naruto rode along for the initial exchange, Jiraya never really had the chance to attack Naruto, not without exposing himself to Kushina (Which would result him dealing with a berserker mother ,which would result in a pulped Jiraya, that would ruin the plotline :P).
Guest: Mito went into the dark as close as she could on her own terms.
Agrond: Glad you like the story, I am doing my best to find a balance between making them more humane, but still hardened from their past with Oro-pedo.