I do not own Naruto or the other characters, at this point my only creations are Kita, the Kiraabi (aka the Kiraa) and the plot.

Shout outs to all my readers and reviews. Sorry to be gone so long...work and life...writing takes focus I don't find very often anymore. I need more time to feed my muse...

Chapter 21: Time to Talk

Tsunade awoke, wrapped in warmth, unsure of where she was. The hangover had been particularly bad, she had expected to awake still slumped over her desk, her clothes rumpled and musty from the alcohol escaping her skin.

Instead, she was comfortable in her bed, dressed in a light sleeping gown. Turning her head she found a steaming cup of jasmine tea waiting. Sitting up slowly, being careful of any lingering effects of the multiple bottles of sake she'd ingested the previous night.

Grateful for the tea, Tsunade wondered, 'Did Shizune make it back already?'

"So you're awake, finally," came a cheerful voice from the door.

Tsunade looked up to see Jiraiya, bare chested, leaning casually against the door frame a small rice bowl in his hand, wearing a huge smile.

"Agh!" Tsunade quickly pulled the covers up to her neck, not expecting the male to be in her room.

"Ha!" Jiraiya shook his head, "Like there's something I haven't seen...how do you think you got out of your clothes and into bed anyway?"

Aghast, Tsunade stammered, "We...we didn't, I mean you didn't..."

"Uh, no we didn't, but yes I did," Jiraiya responded jovially. "Nothing happened, I just brought you home and put you to bed. Thought I'd make myself useful while I waited for your to wake up."

"Jiraiya! But my clothes!" Tsunade stammered, somewhat flustered.

With a cheeky smile and a wink, Jiraiya teased as he handed her the bowl and chop sticks, "Like I said nothing I haven't seen before. By the way, good to see things have changed much since the last time."

A warm flush moved up her body to rest brightly on her cheeks. Oh boy was he ever wrong...if only he knew.

Tsunade tried to gain some kind of control of the situation and herself.

"Well I guess, I should thank you. I appreciate your help. What time is it anyway?"

"A little after five."

"In the evening! You mean I slept most of the day away?" Tsunade groaned, "Shizune will kill me.."

Enjoying her situation a little too much, Jiraiya replied, "Yes, but Shizune's not back yet so you haven't missed much. Enjoy the rest while you can."

Cannily, Tsunade, then observed, "You could have brought me here and then left – but you stayed, so I'm guessing there's a reason."

Always straight to the point, Jiraiya could always count on her to not mince words.

"We need to talk," he answered as he settled on the edge her bed, making his gaze even with hers.

Suddenly uneasy again, Tsunade began to move to get up, pulling the covers back. But Jiraiya stopped her, placing his hand on hers and adding, "Not this time, you are not running from this discussion, its decades overdue. You can get up after you tell me: why did you reject me away all those years ago? And why do you keep punishing me for your decision to leave?"

Kakashi was off scouting, it had only been a few minutes. Kita felt it was probably okay to return to the two young lovers.

Pushing aside the brush, Kita again joined the youths, still embraced and talking quietly. It was a touching moment. Naruto was brash, loud and a little dense, but without a doubt he was the perfect match for Sakura. They needed each other for balance.

Clearing her throat, she signaled her return allowing them the dignity to break, so as to not be spied upon.

Pushing one hand through the unruly blond locks, while holding Sakura's hand with the other, Naruto stood staring at his feet as he stuttered, "Kita, I, um, well...I didn't..."

"Naruto," the jounin interrupted, "no apology needed. You are just one of many that we need to help understand what a kiraa truly is. I am especially encouraged when we talk, because if I can enlighten you, then there's hope for all of the Leaf Village."

Naruto's shoulder visibly dropped, releasing an unseen weight as a sigh escaped him. He flashed a sheepish grin as he said, "Thanks, sensei."

"Now I need to change the subject before Kakashi returns. Have you two noticed that he seems to have a new habit of clinking his kunai?"

"Yeah," replied Sakura, "I noticed it too. It's so not in his character – normally he so quiet."

Nodding, Naruto said, "Almost like a nervous habit, but it just started on this mission."

"Hmm," Kita nodded, "I think we need to talk to him about it and the sooner the better."

The sound while trivial to most, could be deadly to a ninja and his team where silence was their first and best weapon. Developing a tick-like or nervous habit could mean exposing your team unwittingly to the enemy.

Naruto spoke up, "I'll do it...he would do it for me." The two women nodded then the three began setting up camp for the night waiting for Kakashi's return.

It was another great day. Kiba had shown up early with an invitation to spend the day with him and his family while they sorted the newest generation of pups. A great reason to leave her father's compound even before breakfast.

Begrudgingly, her father had allowed her to go. Hiashi's disdain for Hinata's skills kept him from realizing that his oldest child was completely aware of how he planned to barter her away. She knew of his plans to find a 'suitable' mate for her. 'Suitable' as in affording him a powerful alliance, with no concern for his daughter once she was out of his house.

Being away from home was a welcome respite. The added benefit of having 30 wiggly, happy pups running around further helped Hinata's mind forget what awaited her in just a week's time. For a few minutes at a time she could unburden her mind, but the realization always returned, and each time she prayed, "Please come back soon."

Kakashi returned, having been gone less than half an hour, holding two rabbits for dinner. To give Naruto time to broach the issue of his new habit, the women volunteered to gather wood for the meal.

As the kunoichi headed off into the brush, Kakashi handed one of the rabbits to Naruto, then reached into his kunai pouch, pulled out a knife and began to skin the one he was still holding. Following his sensei's lead, Naruto did the same.

"Um, Kakashi-sensei, can I talk to you about something?"

Sensing the serious tone of Naruto's question, Kakashi stopped preparing the rabbit and turned to face the teen, replying, "Yes go ahead."

Naruto could not believe he was actually in the situation of having to help his mentor through a potential crisis, the words did not flow easily.

"Um, ah...um...it's about your kunai pouch."

Kakashi looked from his pouch to Naruto's and with a sigh, said, "Is that all? I thought it was something serious from your tone."

Puzzled Naruto just stared at Kakashi as he set the meat aside and unzipped the bottom portion of his kunai pouch and pulled out several small packages which he set down besides Naruto.

"Here's all I have with me. But when we get back we'll get you set up with a new pouch and your own supply. Since you were with Jiraiya for so long I just assumed he would have discussed these things with you and got you outfitted with an new pouch as you got older. Sorry, I should have paid more attention."

As Kakashi reached for the carcass again Naruto picked up one of the packets, only to drop it quickly realizing what it contained, scooting away from the pile.

"What the hell? What do you think I'm talking about here?"

Kakashi watched Naruto's histrionics and replied dryly, "What? You said you wanted to talk to me about my kunai pouch...I just thought you meant the difference between mine and yours...Weren't you asking about condoms?"

Naruto looked and for the first time took in the difference between the kunai pouches they wore: Naruto's was a very simple leather pouch with a flap and a strap for fastening around the leg. Kakashi's was only slightly different in that it was longer with a small zipper that opened the bottom up.

Naruto's jaw dropped open and his eyes bulged as he gagged out, "And..and... you thought I was asking for those so that Sakura and I...so that we could..."

"Naruto, calm down," Kakashi tried to calm the aghast youth, "This isn't such a big deal you're not a little kid anymore

"But why would you think that?"

"Well, with the way things have changed between you and Sakura, I just thought you wanted to be prepared...that way there wouldn't be any accidents."

When explained like that, it was a little easier for Naruto to calm himself. That's when he realized that he needed to re-focus.

"No sensei, I need to talk to you about the habit you've started of clinking your kunai together. You keep doing it and we're concerned that you'll forget and do it out of habit when we're up against an enemy."

"We? So Kita and Sakura put you up to this?"

"Well, sort of, we all agreed we needed to speak to you about it, I just volunteered because I knew you'd do the same for me...But we're off track again. Is something bothering you? You never did this before."

"Naruto, I'm fine. It's not a nervous behavior, I've been doing it intentionally...but I'm not ready for Kita and Sakura to know why just yet."

Unconvinced, Naruto cocked his head to the side and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Kakashi replied as the women stepped back into the camp site, their arms full of wood and kindling. Pointing with his knife at the pile of condoms, Kakashi added, "You should probably put those away unless you want to have that discussion with Sakura right now."

Blood flowed to Naruto's face as he scrambled to stuff the pile of prophylactics into his pocket.

"We'll have the fire ready to go in a second, is the meat ready?" Sakura asked casually taking in Naruto's reddened and guilty face.

Kita also noticed and asked, "What's up with Naruto?"

Tsunade fought to hold in the gasp that pressed at her chest upon hearing Jiraiya's question. Her first response was to feign ignorance.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't go trying to resurrect some imagined slight from years ago."

"Tsunade," Jiraiya's voice was slow and measured. His tone communicated his unwillingness to play games with her. Tsunade did not give up her pretense easily. But pinned into place by his body and hands, blocking her exit from the bed, she could not effect an escape.

"I am tired, woman." he said flatly. "Tired of repeating this game, running in circles, then running away only to return and start it all over again. We're not kids anymore...one day we won't get another chance and I don't want to meet my end having never settled this. I'm tired of being in limbo because we can't let go."

Tsunade's gaze fell to her lap, her hands still clinched in the covers, but she said nothing.

Jiraiya took her silence as an approval and continued on. "I've needed to say this since we were sixteen years old: Tsunade, you were my first and only true love and you hurt me. You took my confession and my heart then left me aching and wondering why. All this time we've avoided talking about it, but now I want to know why."

It wasn't his words that filled her with pain. It was the flood of memories that flooded her at the unavoidable truth of his words.

That's when the fifth Hokage broke down and cried like a baby.

Cheers!

10/21/2012 10:40 PM