N was sharpening one of his swords, they had arrived back at the hotel and Jiraiya had gone off to someplace, no doubt to get drunk and flirt with girls. N then heard a knock on the door.
"I swear to all that is holy if it's those Akatsuki rapists I'm gonna…" N mumbled as he opened the door he was surprised to see Shizune.
"I'm sorry N for coming here so late," Shizune apologized to the surprised N, "may I come in?" she asked where N nodded and she entered the hotel room. "I want to apologize for my sensei's behavior."
"It's fine," N said, "I really don't care what she thinks, she doesn't have my respect that much. Only reason I came with Pervy Sage was so he could protect me and teach me my dad's Rasengan."
"She isn't that type of person," Shizune insisted, "She used to be a very kind woman who would protect her Village without hesitation or doubt."
N looked at her dubiously, "are you sure you are talking about the woman I just met? I'm pretty sure you must be talking about her in a parallel dimension where the entire world is run by gigantic fruits."
"You have a very creative imagination, don't you N?" Shizune asked with a dead pan before her eyes returned to their previous saddened state, "after that day, it all changed. The day she lost her love, her dreams, her hope, everything that defined her. It all left her. All she had left to remind her of her old past and bitter present was that necklace. It's the only thing that matters to Tsunade anymore, not even her life can compare to it. It's something that should not be used in a bet as foolish as this. In all the years we've been roaming, she has never even thought of using the necklace for bets. Even when we owed a very large sum of money did she never ever even think of selling the necklace, and for a very tidy portion of gold I may add. For her to bet it now, if she loses I don't know what would happen."
"Well she shouldn't have betted it," N replied not really caring about Tsunade's little sob story, "it's not my fault that she made the bet, I just accepted it. I never back down from a challenge."
"It's not something you can just wear, that necklace isn't just any type of necklace!" Shizune argued to the Jinchuuriki, "it won't acknowledge you, it only acknowledges Tsunade-sama!"
"Uhmm okay?" N said as he looked at the woman who was getting angrier and saying even weirder things.
Shizune glared at the boy who didn't understand what she was trying to explain, "If anyone besides my sensei wears the necklace, they die." At that N's eyes widened in shock and surprise.
(With Tsunade)
The famed medical genius was sitting alone on a rooftop staring at the full moon. She fiddled with her grandfather's necklace, and like it did every time Tsunade suddenly found herself going down memory lane.
She saw herself much younger, maybe only in her late teens. She was in Konoha and besides her was a little boy around the age of twelve. He was much tanner than Tsunade and had dark brown hair. A Konohagakure Hitae-ate was worn proudly on the boy's forehead.
"Nawaki-chan, happy birthday!" the younger Tsunade said to the younger of the two and squeezed his cheek with a happy smile, completely ignoring the look of annoyance on the boy's face.
"Nee-chan!" Nawaki complained to his older sister and managed to regain his cheek and looked the other way with a small huff, but he looked back at the blonde when he realized that she was holding out his birthday present.
"Don't you want your present, Nawaki-chan?" Tsunade asked with a smirk as she waved the small box around, Nawaki immediately was at her side, when she gave him the box he quickly opened it. What he saw shocked him, for there nestled in the paper was his grandfather's necklace.
"Big Sis," Nawkai spoke in an awed tone as he slowly picked up the chain and looked at the green crystal with a look of pure awe, "is this what I really think this is?"
Tsunade smiled warmly at her brother, "of course it is silly. I though you'd like it for your birthday, you are a ninja now," she pointed at the boys Hiate-Ate, "I've worn it for long enough, now the necklace needs a new owner, you."
Nawaki dropped the box and rushed at his sister, "I LOVE YOU BIG SISTER!" he cried as he hugged his sister as tightly as he could, tears of joy streaming down his cheeks.
"You have been wanting it for a long time," Tsunade reminded the boy as she hugged him back, " just take good care of it."
"I'll make sure it never leaves my sight!" Nawaki declared, "I'll make sure that not even a scratch gets on it, or even a speck of dust!" he then turned around so he could look at the entire village, the First, Second, and Third Hokage's faces were looking at them across the Village. "This Village is grandpa's treasure, I'm going to protect it until my last breath!" he quickly put on the necklace and it shined in the sunlight, "I'm the grandson of the Hokage who built the Village Hidden in the Leaves!"
Tsunade was watching the scene with a proud smile as she saw her brother look down on the buildings with a broad smile, he'll make a good ninja, a good protector, she thought warmly.
"Someday I'll be just like grandpa and granduncle, I will become Hokage!" Nawaki declared. "Becoming Hokage…. Is my dream!"
Tsunade smiled, "Nawaki-chan, take off your headband," Nawaki looked at her in confusion but did so, Tsunade leaned down and kissed the tanned boy's forehead.
Nawaki beamed and Tsunade's smile matched the exuberant boy's own, their laughter rang through the entire Village.
The dark rain continued to pour down on the Sannin, but she took no heed. Her eyes looked like a deer's in the headlights, shocked and fearful. But not able to move, she was too caught up in her emotions.
A much younger Orochimaru and Jiraiya stood in front of her, their faces set in pity and grief. Orochimaru was wearing a white cloak with purple markings whilst Jiraiya wore a white cloak with flame patterns adoring the sleeves.
Tsunade took a tentative step forward, Jiraiya stepped forward and put his large hand on her small shoulder, "it's best if you don't look at the remains." He said grimly.
"There's no need for that Jiraiya," Orochimaru said with a sly grin as he leaned against the building, "if she wants to see it she can see it. Besides even if she wants to see the remains she won't be able to determine if it's her little brother." Jiraiya glared at the Snake Sanin for his blunt words but didn't reply.
She rushed in, a pained cry soon echoed through the building. Tsunade was then shown standing over Nawaki's gravestone, the necklace she had given to him mere weeks ago was placed on her neck. Tears were running down her cheeks as she struggled to not break down at her brother's grave.
The present Tsunade blinked away the tears forming in her eyes, she then remembered Dan, the love of her life. He had the same dream as her brother, to become Hokage. But when she had given him that damn necklace he had died too.
But unlike Nawaki's death she was there to witness it. His wounds were so deep, so severe, that even with her great medical expertise she couldn't save him. That was where her fear of blood had surfaced, every time she saw a drop of the crimson liquid it would take her back to the battlefield where she couldn't save Dan.
She had never let anyone besides herself touch the necklace, she was sure that it was cursed. That it would let only her wield it.
She sobbed into her hands, her form shaking as she remembered how everything had gone wrong, when Dan and Nawaki died they had taken pieces of her with her, now all she is was a bitter woman who had lost so much.
(A couple hours later)
Tsunade had gotten off the roof and instead headed to one of her favorite places, a bar.
It was a small stall with open flaps as doors as was a traditional store for the land. She was currently on her second bottle of sake, "mind if I join you?" Jiraiya asked as he sat down next to her.
Tsunade didn't say anything, she merely filled her cup with sake and downed it in one gulp.
Jiraiya gestured to the bar tender for another bottle of sake, once he poured himself a nice cup he drank it before turning to his teammate.
"Knowing you, I would of thought that you would of rather died than give up your necklace, to use it for a bet makes it even more foolish, you have awful luck Tsunade."
"And what makes you think that the brat will master it?" Tsunade demanded, "that jutsu isn't an academy jutsu, It took you over two weeks to master it and you were already a Sannin and your brat was already Hokage."
Jiraiya shrugged, "lets just say I'm good at judging people… He's so much like them," he whispered the last part out, Tsunade paused in her drinking to look at the man with surprise.
"It's so weird, it's like seeing Minato back when he was a kid. He may have his father's looks but he definitely has his mother's personality, especially her temper." Jiraiya and Tsunade chuckled at that, remembering Kushina's famous temper. "N's a surprising person, he doesn't have a bitter bone in any part of his body, he's unique. Then again his family has always been eccentric, he's definitely picked up some of their habits… He's been raised good, I doubt I could have done a better job."
"He really sees those guys as his real family, huh?" Tsunade asked as she took another shot.
Jiraiya nodded, "they're a very close family, N loves them and they love him back. Interesting how life turns out, neh? If you told me thirteen years ago that Minato's son would find his way to Kumogakure and raised by the Sandaime Raikage as one of his own…. Well I'd call you a foolish drunk."
Tsunade snorted into her cup, "so the brat doesn't care about Konoha? He's truly a Kumogakure ninja?"
"Yep, he's proud of his home, and I mean Kumo, I can't ever see him betraying it, much less for Konoha. He respects his birth parents, despite being raised in Kumo he still learned of their feats during the war."
Tsunade listened, "sounds like an interesting kid."
Jiraiya laughed, "oh trust me you have seen nothing. He'll win the bet hands down." He drank another glass, "I'm afraid you've lost yourself a necklace."
Tsunade stared at her sake with an unreadable expression.
(With N)
A strangled cry echoed through the abandoned clear, dozens of trees now bore several whirlwind markings that had been scared into the trunks by N's chakra.
N himself was panting as he tried to form another Rasengan into a large boulder, the rock didn't explode or even break, it only left an imprint his chakra spinning.
N gritted his teeth, "Damnit!" he roared as he punched the large boulder, which instantly crumbed under his fist and imploded. N sat down, "what the hell am I doing wrong?" he asked his lifelong companion.
"It just takes time Kit, it took the Fourth two years to create it and that insufferable perverted sage two weeks under the Fourth's guidance." Kyuubi said patiently as it watched from within the seal as N destroyed trees with his bare fists.
N sighed as he looked at the destruction he had caused because of his temper, "I want to go home, I know that Jiraiya is just trying to protect me but I think an entire Shinobi Village can do that better than one man, even if he is a Sannin," he said to his tenant gloomily, "I honestly don't get why that Tsunade was even asked to become Hokage. I'd just rather be back home doing missions with my team, sparing with my brothers or dad, hanging out with Yugito, Ko, Samui, Karui, and Omoi. Hell I'd rather catch Shishi if it meant I could go home."
"Think of it this way Kit, if you win the bet your control of my chakra gets better."
N perked his head up in interest, "what do you mean?" he asked as he sat down and meditated, he then instantly found himself in the forest that the strongest Bjuu called his home, said Bjuu was calmly laying down in the sun, his collar that held the seal that tied the two together shining in the sunlight.
N was sitting right in front of the fox's snout, he sat on a well worn flat stone, he was far enough he could see the fox's eyes but close enough to be near him so the fox could hear him speak.
N often came here, not like some of the ruder and less knowing Jinchuuriki who'd rather have nothing to do with the Tailed Beast sealed within them, he didn't only appear when he was in a rage or in the need of chakra, he just came here to talk. Whether it is about large things like the Akatsuki threat (they have been discussing that for awhile since the two found out about the criminal gang) to small things.
N had no idea how much the Kyuubi was touched by the boy's actions, not that he let the blonde know. Kyuubi knew he was right when he believed his Jinchuuriki to be different from other humans, especially his last two Jinchuuriki. He had never told N that his mother had been his second host.
He'd rather not tell the boy that his mother, while an incredibly nice woman who would do anything for a friend something that N strongly took after her, had left the fox defenseless by her chakra chains. He had been strung onto a rock with spikes piercing his hands and tails. It had been a painful imprisonment, and Kushina didn't seem to care about his pain. She had assumed that he was just pure evil that needed to be locked away to rot, she never tried to talk or befriend him like her son had. So he never told the boy about it, though he did tell him that his previous host had indeed known the woman and had told him about her. (1)
(In Kumogakure)
Raizen and A were in the hospital looking down at two men who couldn't even gather the strength to stand up, though they did try, but the pain was too much and they would be scolded into submission by the passing doctors and nurses. They decided to rest when Raizen had said so.
A was frowning as he looked at the last remainder of the STORM border patrol, the same border patrol that had run into Akatsuki.
Just hearing the damn name made the young man grit his teeth in pure rage but also with apprehension, he feared for his brothers and sister, as any older brother should he would protect the three as best as he could. But even he had to admit that these guys were the real deal, the evidence was laying down right in front of them.
STORM was the best of the best. The ninja who were too strong to be Jonin, the ones with special skills or techniques, the ones who could take on anyone and come back alive.
But two men, two, had fought an entire platoon of them. Ten men in total, and had completely slaughtered them, the only reason these two had managed to survive was because Heron had managed to grab Rabbit, who was barely clinging to life, and was reversed summoned by his summoning animals, even then it was close.
Heron tried to not break down in front of his leader, he was a STORM he wasn't supposed to show emotions, but two monsters had completely slaughtered his comrades, his friends, his brother and sisters in arms, and he had fled.
Granted he and Rabbit were the only ones left alive, but he should have done something, maybe to try and bring back some of his friends remains, he knew without a doubt that the Taki missing-nin was trying to get a bounty from them. Something that greatly angered the man.
"Heron, Rabbit, I know you guys are badly beaten up but we need to know everything about these men, they're bad news and this won't be the first time they'll try and sneak into the country," Raizen said as he looked down on his men.
"We were going through our routine border patrol, when Hawk announced that he felt two very large chakra signature's slowly moving towards the Village, he said he didn't recognize it so we knew that it wasn't anyone from the Village, when we saw the slash marks on their Hiate-Ate we knew that they were trouble," Heron stated while Rabbit nodded at the words, "we told them to leave or the would be taken into custody, but they refused. And then…" he trailed off as he remembered, "it was terrifying, I have never seen anything like it before. We attacked and they attacked as well, I went after the one called Hidan with Rabbit and Lion. It was hard to avoid that damned scythe of his but then Lion got pricked, he wasn't even bleeding badly but some of it got on the weapon, and then he licked the blood and transformed into something that'd looked like it had come from the pits of hell itself and then he stabbed himself."
"What?" A asked in disbelief, "why would he do that?"
"We wondered that too, especially since Hidan stabbed his own heart, we didn't know what to think of it before Lion just fell to the ground, dead." Rabbit said.
"I rushed over to him while Rabbit defended us," Heron spoke next, "I quickly scanned his body for injuries but didn't find anything, it was only when I used my chakra to search for internal injuries did I find it," his voice quivered slightly, "his heart…. It was completely destroyed, there was a gapping hole in it, like something had pierced it, Lion was dead before he even knew it."
"What about Hidan?" A asked, equally unnerved by the jutsu, "did he die as well?"
"No. He was fine, if anything he seemed overjoyed by the pain of getting pierced in the heart, guy's fucking insane."
Raizen's eyes narrowed as he thought it over, damnit, I'm getting too old for this kind of shit. "What happened after that?"
"I got hit," Rabbit said bluntly, "it wasn't bad, a stupid scratch but he managed to lick what little blood there was on the scythe, Heron knew what was going to happen and quickly threw a ration jutsu at him, he didn't stab himself in the heart as he faced the oncoming jutsu, so he stabbed himself into the gut," Rabbit gestured towards the bandages wrapped securely around his mid waist. "But he didn't even try to dodge Heron's jutsu, took it on headfirst! I was still conscious and standing despite the fact I had a hole in my stomach, but I was barely conscious as I felt Heron's jutsu attack me and it knocked me out."
"Whatever hit Hidan if he had consumed the blood of another would affect the person whose blood had been taken as well," Heron said.
"That's an interesting and deadly jutsu," Raizen said as he saw how close the men had come to death, only pure luck that they had survived and if they had not they would have no idea about these guys and their techniques.
"What about the other one?"
"His name was Kakuzu, we didn't get to see to much of his jutsu since we were too busy trying to not get stabbed by Hidan. But we did see the main thing about his jutsu, he used black wires most of his attacks. He had some sort of masked beasts made of them. He could even take apart pieces of himself apart and move it by using the wires that were inside him!"
"Personality wise the man is even-tempered and shows great skills with dealing with multiple targets at once, he was highly observant and managed to find any holes in someone's guard. Compared to Hidan, who was a berserker and didn't really have any type of plan besides trying to hack us into small pieces, he was the deadliest of them."
Raizen turned around to look at Darui who was watching the scene with an unreadable expression, "go get every single bingo book and find out who these men are, I'm giving you the all clear to our archives. Find out who these bastards are, no one comes into my country and attacks and kills my men without consequence."
Darui nodded and quickly left the room to find more on these two Akatsuki members.
Raizen looked at the men, "I'm glad you two are alive, don't worry we'll find these bastards and kill 'em, rest now."
Heron and Rabbit nodded before slowly drifting off to sleep, Raizen and A quickly leaving and heading to the office, "I can't believe it," A muttered darkly the second they entered the Kage office, "if we had been faster we may have caught those guys before they could escape, hell we may have even fought them."
"But then Yugito and Bee would have been in danger, we had no idea that they were moving so fast," Raizen sighed wearily, "I have a bad feeling about this group, a jutsu that doesn't have the user be killed even with a scythe to the heart and to kill someone else with it… I don't like it."
"That makes two of us," the two were silent before A spoke again, "if these guys were here, do you think that the ones going after the Kyuubi ran into N?"
"I don't know son," Raizen said, "hopefully Jiraiya is watching him, if not and we lose N I'll kill the pervert myself. I just want the boy to be home, it don't feel right having him so far from Kumo. The boy can take care of himself but a father can't help but worry."
"N will probably be back in a week or so, he'll be running so fast to get back here he'll make a tornado, and that's just so he can eat some of Kicho's ramen," A said while Raizen sweat dropped slightly as he knew far too well how much his youngest child enjoyed the dish.
A smirked, "though I think he may just want to hang out with Yugito."
Raizen smirked at that. "I have a bet going on with Darui and C," A continued, "Darui thinks that'll it will be N who says it first, C thinks that one of us will have to get them together since they are so stubborn they can't see the obvious."
Raizen chuckled, "and what about you?" he asked his eldest son with curiosity.
A's smirk grew bigger, "I'm betting that Yugito just outright says her feelings to him before kissing the idiot."
Raizen and A's laughter rang through the entire Village, making people wonder what their Kage thought was so funny.
(With N)
N suddenly sneezed, the Rasengan he had been trying to form losing it shape and disappearing, "someone must be talking about me," he said with a grin before he suddenly turned angry, "no they're insulting me!" he cried out as he knew that someone was making fun of him, how he knew he did not know.
He had spent the entire night working on the Rasengan, he had sensed Tsunade watching him for an hour or so but had ignored the woman.
N felt his stomach grumble, looking up he realized that it was morning, so he decided to get some food.
It was only when he was at a food stall did he remember that Tsunade still had his wallet, he called the lady a couple of colorful words that made parents quickly cover their children's ears before giving the boy an angry glare.
He realized he only had around five ryo, barely enough to buy some rice, he then noticed a quick lottery stall, seeing as he nothing to lose he spent the entire five ryo on a ticket.
N and the seller were completely surprised to find out that out of several thousands N's single ticket was the winner. With his pocket much heavier he set out to eat some food. When he did that he decided that maybe he should try a gambling place, everyone else did it and he wanted to see why the adults liked it so much.
The gamblers let him join with much enthusiasm, thinking they could easily beat the kid since he had no idea what to do. N won every single game and bet he made, he left the gambling house with a big grin and a large sack of money, the moans of the losers echoing through the gambling house.
Ehehe, now I know why adults like gambling so much, N sniggered as he dropped off his money in his room. He made sure to put seals on it so no thieves (Jiraiya) would try and take it before stashing it under his bed.
The boy then quickly headed back to his self-made training area, where he would remain there for the rest of the week, save for eating and rest.
The morning quickly turned to the afternoon that then turned into night, but N had yet to stop forming failed Rasengan after failed Rasengan. There was a difference compared to last night's though, instead of the imprint of the chakra had gone there was actually a decent sized hole, but it wasn't near the size nor depth of Jiraiya's.
Sweat was trickling down N's haggard face, his fingers were twitching slightly due to chakra exhaustion, and even with the fox giving him chakra he was still exhausted.
N then remembered the bet, he knew that it wasn't simply a matter of mastering the Rasengan, it was to restore the pride that had been mocked by Tsunade. Nobody insulted his father!
With another roar N formed another Rasengan and slammed it against a tree, he blinked wearily before falling unconscious.
The days started to blur, N never really paid any attention to it since he was dead set on remaining in the self made training field that looked like it had been in a warzone. The craters got bigger and bigger with each passing day.
But one day Jiraiya came rushing into the training field, "what are you doing here sensei?" N questioned as he formed another slightly unstable Rasengan, he noticed with slight interest that Shizune was with him, he also noticed that Jiraiya wasn't looking that good.
"What's going on?" N asked as he suddenly got a bad feeling.
"Tsunade drugged me," Jiraiya said grimly, "she's going to meet up with Orochimaru." Besides him Shizune winced.
N's mouth opened in shock, "what the hell Pervy Sage! Aren't you a freakin war veteran, a Sannin, and a stealth master! How the hell did you get drugged without you knowing it!"
Jiraiya whacked the boy on the head, "I didn't expect it! She's the greatest medical ninja to grace this land, I bet she could make a poison that even Orochimaru couldn't detect!" He whined.
"We need to find her, if Orochimaru gets his hands back than it's just trouble, for everyone," N said as he and Jiraiya turned to Shizune, "where is the meeting supposed to be?" he asked the dark-haired woman.
"I-I," Shizune dipped her head in defeat, "I'll tell you, but please don't harm my sensei, we don't know what her answer is."
As she told them everything that happened when meeting with the Missing-ninja, they suddenly heard a loud explosion coming from the castle.
"Shit, let's go," Jiraiya said as he rushed towards the noise, N and Shizune following them.
(At the battlefield)
Orochimaru and Kabuto stood on one side of the field, Kabuto standing in front of his weakened master protectively. "so that's your answer Tsunade, to kill me?" Orochimaru said with a deadly glare.
Tsunade spoke, "I knew you weren't telling the truth, I was your teammate for countless years, but still I wished to have seen them one more time," she said the last part sadly as she thought of Dan and Nawaki.
"But then I realized something from that brat of Jiraiya's," she continued, "it's not good to get stuck up in the past, I realize that now even though parts of my heart will always miss those two, it's best to not get tied down by it."
"So the negotiations were a fail."
"You think?" Tsunade said dryly.
"Then I'll have to force you to heal my arms!"
Tsunade rushed at the two, her fist clenched and ready to deck the two, Orochimaru and Kabuto quickly jumped in front of the wall before heading to a much larger area, Tsunade easily destroyed the stone wall and chased after them.
The Oto shinobi quickly dodged a downward kick from Tsunade, creating a large crater where the two had stood.
This went on for a couple minutes, the Oto ninja fleeing and trying to dodge Tsunade's powerful attacks, one hit and you were as good as dead.
The three were now in a large field, riddled with dozens of large craters.
"I'm not much of a Taijutsu user," Kabuto said as his hands started to glow blue, "but I can cut your muscles until they are nothing but jelly." His chakra scalpels were now activated as he smirked.
He rushed at the blonde and traded a couple of fast blows that Tsunade dodged easily, Tsunade caught the scruff of his shirt and threw him across the field, Kabuto managed to use chakra to lessen the blow and rushed back at the blonde.
This guy isn't an ordinary medical ninja, as expected from a subordinate of Orochimaru's, Tsunade thought as she dodged more blows.
She tried to punch the boy but he was surprisingly agile and managed to dodge them all.
Tsunade managed to give a sharp slap to the boy's shoulder, but she didn't use much strength as the boy only fell to the ground, she jumped up high into the air and then sailed downward, her foot ready to smash into his face.
Kabuto dodged it at the last second. He rolled away from the deadly attack but as he tried to get up he realized something was wrong.
When he tried to move his right hand he felt his left leg twitch, he struggled to get up but found it near impossible, he was twitching violently as well. What, my muscles… no my nerves!
Orochimaru was watching the scene with an amused smirk, so she messed up Kabuto's nerve system by turning his chakra into electricity, poor Kabuto's brain doesn't know which nerve is which.
Damn it, if I move my right hand my left leg moves, if I move my left ankle my right shoulder moves, if I move my right foot my left hand moves, this isn't good, Kabuto mused.
To the shock and complete surprise of Tsunade Kabuto rushed toward the woman with a kunai at the ready, "I know you're terrified of blood! You'll be seeing a lot of it!" he cried as he swung down.
A hand caught Kabuto's arm, everyone looked in surprise to see a scowling N holding Kabuto's arm high. Jiraiya was standing besides his apprentice, calmly looking at Orochimaru. Ton-Ton the pig was on the man's shoulder.
"Well, well, well," N said as he smirked at Kabuto, "I knew something was off about you during the exams." His hand tightened making Kabuto wince at the pressure.
"So you're here, N."
"You know this guy?" Jiraiya asked his apprentice.
N nodded, "yeah he took the Chunin Exams, and held a whole lot of information he shouldn't have known, gave away a lot of my skills even before the Exams started…. Looks like I finally get to fight you Kabuto."
"I wouldn't get so cocky if I were you, I know your skills and stats, I won't underestimate you."
N pushed the boy away from him, he quickly dodged Kabuto's leg that was aiming for his head, and he then dodged a barrage of punches from the Oto nin.
"Honestly," N sighed as he continued to easily dodge the punches, getting bored of it he quickly broke through Kabuto's defenses and punched the boy in the chest.
Kabuto was flung backwards and skidded across the ground, he quickly rolled to the side as N's foot came crashing down.
"Do you honestly want to fight me in Taijutsu?" N questioned the grey-haired boy, "you know that is my greatest strength, at least try a Genjutsu or something."
"Stop lecturing your opponent and crush him!" Kyuubi yelled at the boy.
"Sheesh, you never let me have fun!" N whined.
Kabuto smirked, "thanks for the tip, but I won't be need them."
Kabuto's hand glowed bright blue, his Chakra Scalpels activated once again. He continued to attack the Kumogakure genin, who now had to deal with the Chakra Scalpels.
Damn, I can't let those things touch me, N thought as he used his arms to knock the arms away from him, he would rather not lose the ability to use his hand right in the beginning of the battle. He then gave a swift roundhouse kick to the boy's face, Kabuto managed to move out of the way so he didn't get hit full force but it clipped him enough to be sent flying.
"Suiton: Water Bullet Jutsu!" Kabuto called out as he spat out a large glob of condensed water that headed towards the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki.
N charged up his Raiton no Yoroi, red lightning covering the boy protectively, he then ran forward and as the Water Bullet Jutsu hit him it merely evaporated.
"Raiton: Electromagnet Murder!" N said as he held up the palms of his hands outward, lightning was being shaped into his hands covering them like Kabuto's Chakra Scalpels. Kabuto's metal hiate-ate glowed faintly but said man didn't notice it.
All of a sudden Kabuto found himself being pulled towards N by some sort of invisible force, he didn't have any time to twist out of the way as N's fist lodged into his stomach, making the boy cough up blood. N then grabbed his arm and threw him across the field, Kabuto stayed on the ground but then to everyone's, save Orochimaru, surprise he got back up as though he had taken a walk in the park.
How the hell is that guy still up? N wondered in shock since he wasn't really holding back.
"You seem to forget that I'm a medical specialist," Kabuto said with his trademark smirk, "I'm afraid you'll have to do more than merely punch me if you want to take me down." Kabuto then returned to Orochimaru's side, "Orochimaru-sama, please take off the bandages wrapped around your left arm."
"N, get back here." Jiraiya said and the boy appeared by his side. "We're going to take them down. Shizune, take care of Kabuto. Tsunade you rest…"
Tsunade's eyes were trembling as she looked at the blood on the ground, courtesy of Kabuto. No doubt her hemophobia was kicking in, no matter how small the amount of the red life force, even a drop could send her into the deep end.
"Summoning Jutsu!" Kabuto cried out as he slammed his palm on the ground, the smoke leaving to reveal the two snakes of towering height and size, easily the size of a large building.
Jiraiya bit his finger and formed hand seals before slamming his palm onto the ground, "Summoning Jutsu!" he cried and waited for the gigantic cloud of smoke that would have appeared when Gamabunta came.
Instead a poof of smoke half the size of Jiraiya appeared, the smoke cleared to reveal Gamakichi, the eldest son of Gamabunta, a toad that was barely the size of a human's head.
Gamakichi waved, "yo!"
"Ehhh!" Jiraiya's jaw hit the ground. N waved at the little toad, "Yo Gamakichi!" he greeted the little toad happily.
"Hey N, Lord Jiraiya, what do you need me for?" Gamakichi asked.
Damn it, whatever toxin Tsunade used on me completely messed up my chakra control, looks like I need N for help, man I won't hear the end of this from N, saying how I needed his help to take these guys down, Jiraiya thought with a sigh.
All right my time to shine, now looks at ya creepy little snake, you won't escape from us this time! N thought in his normal rhymes.
N bit his thumb and formed the hand seals needed, "Summoning Jutsu!" A large cloud hide the two males, when it cleared it showed a smirking N and Jiraiya standing on top of Gamabunta's head.
Gamakichi was on N's shoulder, the orange toad was grinning in excitement, and he was ready to see his pops fight against Orochimaru, this was so cool!
This boy may actually be a problem in the future, Orochimaru thought with a small frown, he could see how strong this boy would get with his family and Jiraiya teaching him, he was a threat to his plans for immortality, it seems he would have to kill him before he became a threat.
"Boy," Gamabunta said as he smoked on his pipe, staring the two snakes down, "you sure have a knack for getting in trouble."
"I'll take that as a compliment," N muttered.
"Oi, Gamabunta!" Jiraiya called down to the giant toad.
"Oh, so you're here as well, Jiraiya. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, and it seems Tsunade is here as well. Heh, it a good ol' reunion." Gamabunta stated as one of his large eyes looked at the still trembling Tsunade, who was being tended to by Shizune.
The snakes that Orochimaru and Kabuto were perched on suddenly slithered at the toad with blinding and surprising speed.
Gamabunta jumped high into the air as the two snakes heads crashed into the ground, causing large chunks of earth to fly from the force, Shizune escaped from the heads, Tsunade being carried by here. All of a sudden Kabuto appeared out of the dust and gave the girl a quick but brutal punch to the face, sending the girl flying and Tsunade crashing to the ground.
"N, you know any long range but large jutsu?" Jiraiya asked his student calmly as they continued to sail into the air.
N nodded his head, "only a couple, I don't know how good they'll be against those summons scales but I'll try my best." N closed his eyes in concentration, a blue aura of chakra covering the boy.
N formed a dozen hand seals, the second he did the last one the snake Kabuto had been on appeared from the dust cloud, it razor sharp fangs ready to swallow the males whole.
"Raiton: Cloud Style: One Thousand Volts!" N cried as he aimed his palms at the rapidly approaching snake, Gamabunta held his sword at the ready incase the jutsu failed.
A large beam of pure white energy burst from the boy's finger tips, the beam was incredibly large, easily around the size of Kiba's Gatsuga jutsu when they spun. The beam struck the snake summons's open maw. The snake's eyes widen as it fell to the ground, electricity sparking all over the long and slender body. Soon enough the smell of burnt reptile reached everyone's noses.
N fell to one knee panting slightly, damn it,that took a lot of chakra, not to mention I've been training nonstop for three days, how ironic.
Amazing, Jiraiya thought in shock and awe as he saw the burnt and smoking body of the large summon, to be able to channel so much chakra and convert it into pure electricity, and then to make a beam, that has to be high A-Rank. Once again you've impressed me, N.
"One snake down, only two more to go," N said as he looked through the dust cloud for said Snake Sannin and summon. "You can do jutsu right?" he asked Jiraiya, "I may be a complete badass, but I don't think I can defeat Orochimaru by myself, luckily he has a pretty big handicap, which we can use to our advantage."
"Glad to know that you're a brute with brains," Jiraiya said jokingly.
Before N could reply Orochimaru head appeared out of the cloud, his neck was several meters long and still elongating. Jiraiya stood in front of N as he formed hand seals, his white hair growing even spikier, reminding N of a porcupine.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya's hair went in front of the two protectively, several hair needles pierced Orochimaru's foot but he didn't appear to be phased by the pain, Orochimaru swung his other foot down ready to kick Jiraiya off the toad but didn't notice to see a blonde flash by his side as N appeared by him and kicked him with all of his strength, sending the pale man back from where he had come with the speed of a falling comet.
"Thanks for the save, N." Jiraiya said to the blonde with a grin.
N grinned back before it faded when he felt Shizune's chakra signature weaken, as though she had been knocked out. The fact the fact the Kabuto was now directly in front of the vulnerable Tsunade did not help at all.
N quickly charged his Lightning Armor and shushined towards the spot. Thanks to his armor he appeared there so quickly it was as though he had teleported.
Kabuto was looking down on the Sannin in front of him. "To think I respected you so much… You, the greatest medical ninja to grace these cursed lands since your grandfather, whimpering and trembling at the sight of blood." He held up his hand he had cut with a kunai, a couple drops of the red liquid fell and landed on Tsunade's face, making her tremble even more. His hand turned blue as he held up his Chakra Scalpel, "this is heavily underpowered, best not accidently kill you," he thrust his hand down to knock the woman out.
A hand covered in blue chakra and red sparks grabbed his hand, making Kabuto's eyes widen in shock and surprise.
"You didn't forget about me…. Did you?" N asked softly, his hand clenching Kabuto's. A small cut was on his hand, blood slowly dripping, it was only thanks to N's armor enforced hand that he didn't lose it, not that N would of done such a foolish move.
"I won't let you take the old hag to heal your master," N continued, even in her vulnerable state Tsunade's eye twitched at the nickname, "if it means I have to pound you into the dirt until you ran out of chakra and can't heal yourself anymore, I'll gladly do it."
N's right hand opened up, the tanned palm looking upwards, a small flicker of blue chakra appeared, its shape slowly but surely become less transparent, a small and familiar humming came from his hand, and soon enough a bright blue and deadly ball of chakra appeared in the boy's hand.
Kabuto, knowing what that jutsu was, gasped and quickly tried to regain his hand, but N's iron tight grip prevented him from doing so, "I won't let you go!" N said.
"I-It can't be!" Tsunade gasped as she saw the jutsu, completed and perfected.
"Rasengan!" N yelled as he shoved the ball of compressed chakra into Kabuto's chest.
The second the jutsu hit Kabuto's chest, the young man was flung backwards with unrelenting force, he spun like a top before crashing into a large boulder. A small yet deep crater was on the Oto nin chest.
Jiraiya paused momentarily as he saw the force of N's Rasengan and grinned, heh good job N.
That kid, sheesh he's a powerhouse,Gamabunta thought as he fought against the snake summon and was winning the upper hand, I think we need to have that drink now, even if he's underage. Ehehe I think it'll be interesting to see the kid drunk off his ass, though there would be a lot of repair bills…
No way, he did it, he really did it, he completed the Rasengan, he finished the final stage in a week, Tsunade thought in shock and awe as she looked at the defeated Kabuto.
"To think that you still protect Konoha, even after all this time." Orochimaru said to Jiraiya as the two continued to trade blows, they were careful to not get crushed by the fighting summons. "And that you found yourself another apprentice with that Kumo brat, are you hoping he'll last, unlike the others?"
Jiraiya flinched at the implication, he remembered his students, whom had all died long before their time had come. Yahiko. Konan. Nagato. The two others on his Genin team who died before they could make a name for themselves. Minato...
"That boy… he is a threat in my eyes. A threat that needs to be put down before he ruins my plans," Orochimaru stated.
"Then I'll have to stop you!" Jiraiya yelled as he rushed back at the famed Snake Sannin.
N and Tsunade's eyes widened when the saw Kabuto stand back to his feet, clutching his bleeding chest and while looking like he was in some serious pain he still managed to stay on his two feet.
Kabuto's steaming chest slowly started to heal, the burnt tissue being replaced with live tissue, soon enough he looked completely healed, like he hadn't been hurt at all.
Note to self, make a Rasengan that'll destroy his whole body and to wipe that smirk off his face, N thought as he watched on with narrowed brows.
But then all of a sudden Kabuto gasped in pain and feel face down on the dirt. No way, even with my regeneration powers, this amount of damage… I don't have enough chakra to completely heal myself.
N quickly rushed towards the fallen man, his arm ready to pierce the man's heart, nobody could survive a direct attack to their heart, especially with enough lightning to make it implode but before he could reach him, N's senses screamed at him to move which he quickly did, making Orochimaru's Kusangi blade miss him.
N quickly back peddled, he glanced around to see that Gamabunta had gotten rid of the last snake summon, aside of a bit of out of breath breathing he looked in good health.
Kabuto slowly got to his feet, "Kabuto, use it now." Orochimaru said as Kabuto nodded and bit his finger and wiped it on a tattoo that was on Orochimaru's arm. N instantly recognized it as a summoning seal. "Uh oh," N muttered as a giant cloud of smoke appeared before revealing the Snake Boss, Manda, himself.
"Yo, granny," N called to Tsunade who seemed to no longer be affected by her hemophobia, "could use a little help here."
Tsunade nodded, she was going to repay the blonde for saving her life and for helping her, "Summoning Jutsu!"
Tsunade and N were suddenly on the top of the Slug Queen, Katsuyu. A large blue and white slug.
The three summons and Sannin stood off on another, Gamabunta and Katsuyu standing by each other's side, while Manda stood alone with the Oto ninja on his large purple head.
"It seems that everyone is here, not much of a heartwarming reunion, but I knew that was never possible," Gamabunta said as he looked at Katsuyu and Manda, or more like glared at Manda while he looked at the giant pure white and light blue slug with a warm gaze.
"Orochimaru," Manda spoke deeply, his blue piercing eyes looking at the Sannin atop his head, "why did you summon me to a place like this? I expect at least a hundred sacrifices for you randomly summoning me to fight your battles." The Snake boss threatened to his summoner, not aware to the small fact that Orochimaru had absolutely no use of his hands and was vulnerable, had Manda known that he would of instantly devoured Orochimaru before going back to his home to nap.
Gamabunta slowly unsheathed his sword, Katsuyu got ready. "I've always wanted a snake skin wallet," Gamabunta stated as he looked at the purple snake with narrowed eyes.
"And I've always wanted your big fat head mounted on my wall." Manda hissed at the large toad.
The clearing was silent, the foes waiting for the other to make the first move. It was Katsuyu who made the first move.
"Acid Slime!" her soft voice ringing the clearing as she spat out dozens of blobs of deadly acid at Manda, who with his deadly speed dodged the burning acid, which burned through the earth when it touched it. In the matter of five seconds Manda had crossed the clearing and had wrapped his long and scaly body around Katsuyu, his venomous fangs ready to bite into her soft neck.
N charged up his Raiton no Yoroi, he leapt from Katsuyu's large head and his fist crashed into Manda's giant head, making the appendage crash into the ground, Manda was so surprised at the force and power of N's strength his body slackened, allowing Katsuyu to wriggle out of his deadly embrace.
Manda bared his fangs at the lone N, before Manda could try to eat the human Gamabunta was by his side, his sword attempting to pierce Manda.
But Manda was no weakling, he managed to dodge the sword the size of a tower, and bit down of the flat of the blade, smirking as Gamabunta tried to reclaim his weapon but to no avail.
Manda saw Katsuyu rushing forwards, he lashed out his tail at the Snail Summon with blinding speed, his smirk grew further when he felt it connect with Katsuyu's fleshy body, but it disappeared when instead of taking the brunt of the force, Katsuyu exploded into a hundred mini snails, she quickly reformed not even hurt.
Manda swung his tail at Gamabunta, who jumped back to avoid the tail, also letting go of his sword. Manda wasted no time and flung it at Katsuyu, who merely turned into another dozen large slugs as the sword sailed harmlessly above her and Tsunade's head.
"Acid Slime!" Katsuyu said again, spiting out another globe of burning acid at the snake.
Manda quickly dodged the acid, but as he did so he didn't see the water bullet sent his way, courtesy of Gamabunta, and didn't have enough time to dodge the giant jutsu.
Manda grunted slightly as he was thrown backwards from the force of the water, but he didn't appeared to be wounded thanks to his iron hard scales. He rushed towards Katsuyu, his large fangs dripping with poison as he got closer and closer.
"Don't forget about me!" N yelled as he appeared in the air and curb stomped the snake's tail, instantly crushing the tip. Manda growled with anger and pain, his blue eyes instantly locking in on N.
He lunged at the Kumo Genin, who barely had time to jump into the air, Manda's jaws snapping shut barely a foot away from his lower body.
"Thunder Flop!" N yelled as he fell down quickly, his body still streaming with crimson lightning. His belly struck Manda's the flesh between Manda's eyes and the tip of his nose, slamming it down into the earth, creating yet another large crater. A couple of large cracks were now on Manda's face due to the electrical chakra that had spread on the snake's face, no doubt they would scar.
N then shushined away as Manda tried to eat him again, he appeared on top of Katsuyu's head and beside Tsunade.
"Bunta, oil!" Jiraiya yelled down to his companion, who then formed several hand seals, Gamabunta yelled his agreement before inflating his stomach, his mouth filled with some unknown substance.
Manda seeing this rushed towards the pair, hoping to stop them before it was too late.
"Katon: Toad Oil Flamethrower!" Jiraiya said as he exhaled a steady stream of fire.
Gamabunta spat out a torrent of oil, the two Justus connected and converged one another. The oil caught fire, making the large stream turn into a deadly inferno.
The inferno was so large it easily dwarfed Gamabunta's towering height, Manda was caught in the middle of the deadly jutsu. N whistled as he looked at the jutsu in awe before realizing something. "Hey you've been holding out on me!" he cried out indignantly.
Through the flames you could barely see the shadowed outline of Manda, his flesh was dripping off of him like hot wax, soon enough only the charred remains of his body were left as the fire continued on.
The fire stopped and everyone saw, not the charred skeleton of the Snake Boss, but instead a burned snakeskin.
The ground rumbled underneath them, all of a sudden something purple appeared out of the ground and headed towards Gamabunta who caught and held it instinctively, Gamabunta quickly realized that he was holding the tail and tried to turn around as Manda appeared out of the earth right behind him, his face scarred by N's jutsu, he looked pissed and was ready to kill the large amphibian.
Before Manda could strike, however, Tsunade appeared in the air with Gamabunta's sword in her hands, with her inhumane strength she flung the sword down and pierced Manda through his mouth, pinning him down to the ground.
"All right!" N cheered as he saw the snake defeated, but his good mood left when he saw Orochimaru and Kabuto on Manda's back, unharmed.
Orochimaru was scowling, he opened his mouth and his tongue shot out into the air and managed to wrap it around Tsunade's neck, Jiraiya cried out her name but didn't know how to help without Orochimaru easily snapping the woman's neck.
In the blink of an eye N appeared in the middle between the Snake and Slug Sannin, he slashed his electrified hand down at Orochimaru's fleshy tongue. His armor was covering his hand making it as deadly as any sword. He cut through the fleshy appendage, and Tsunade quickly flung off the remaining tongue that was still around her neck.
The remaining length of Orochimaru's tongue quickly retracted and went back into said man's mouth, he was glaring at the smirking N with cruel gold eyes.
Orochimaru launched himself at N, who quickly started to dodge Orochimaru's attacks. But even though N was a Taijutsu specialist, he knew that this was anything but a normal fight, whenever he tried to attack Orochimaru seemed to slither away, his stance was uncanny. It was as though he was dodging the entire time, trying to wear out his opponents before springing on them and taking them out, much like a snake.
N got angry at the thought and threw a punch at Orochimaru, squarely hitting the man in the jaw, N wasted no time and got in another punch. Orochimaru was slowly but surely losing ground as N managed to continue his fast barrage of hits.
Orochimaru's tongue sprung out of his mouth, N dodged the fleshy appendage but it managed to catch his foot making the boy fall to the ground, he quickly rolled to the side as Kusangi pierced the ground he had been but moments before. N back flipped and appeared behind Orochimaru and kicked him in the back, sending him flying through a boulder, Tsunade appeared and hit the Snake Sannin in the jaw, making a large cracking noise as Orochimaru was flung through the air yet again.
"Lord Orochimaru!" Kabuto called out in concern, yet doing absolutely nothing to help his master and opted to stay on Manda's back and watch the fight from afar.
Now Orochimaru had to dodge the contributed attacks of both N and Tsunade, all of a sudden N and Tsunade were side by side. "Take this!" they yelled as one as they channeled a deadly amount of chakra to their fists and punched the man in the jaw, sending him crashing into Gamabunta's sword and collapsing on Manda's back.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto crawled towards his master, cradling his head as he picked him up gingerly as though afraid any sudden movement the man would shatter like glass.
"You two…" Manda growled despite the sword through his mouth, "you two will pay for putting me in this humiliating position, I'd eat you right now if I didn't have this giant hole in my mouth…. And you," he glared at N, "I will kill you for what you did, to dare scar me! Watch your back…." And with that ominous message Manda returned back to the world of the summons.
Orochimaru was on his feet panting deeply, he looked up and everyone could see a different face looking at them, only a few tatters of his pale skin and his eyes the only remnants of his actual appearance. "The Leaf Village… I'll destroy it without fail." Orochimaru said as Tsunade and Jiraiya glared at their former comrade, "I will look forward to meeting you on that day, a fight to the death between the Sannin," he chuckled, "ehehe oh how I wish that day were now… but no matter, I am patient and the Leaf's days are numbered."
Kabuto and Orochimaru slowly started to sink into the ground, N rushed towards them but as his fist connected where they had stood and created a large crater the two were no where to be found. N wasn't deterred and instead continued to pound his fists into the ground, creating crater after crater, but there were no signs of the two foes. "Damn it," N cursed as he checked the area for their chakra signatures but found none, "they escaped." N felt Tsunade's hand on his shoulder, when he turned around he saw the First Hokage's necklace held in her hand.
"Here," she pressed the crystal into a shocked N's hand, his hand tightened around the necklace in surprise, he looked at it dumbly before a wide maniac grin stretched his face, he quickly put it on. The green crystal shinning in the sunlight, he looked at the woman. "Thank you," he said warmly, he respected this lady now. She wasn't stuck in the past anymore, she had changed.
That along with the fact that she had thrown a sword the size of a building into Manda's gaping jaws, which was just plain awesome in N's book.
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The two loyal Sannin as well as their apprentices were seated at the same booth they had been at a week ago, but it was different. No longer was there any tension or awkward silence, which would result in arguments. The group laughed and joked with one another, any disagreements or disliking had vanished when everyone had put their lives on the line to save the other.
"So, you're the Fifth Hokage now," N said, his mouth full of rice. He was lightly whacked in the head by Shizune, who thought the boy should have better table manners. But even she couldn't resist the adorable puppy eyes N sent her way.
Tsunade nodded, N grinned, "awesome, now I just have to become Fifth Raikage and we'll be fellow Kage!"
"Oh?" Tsunade asked amused, "whose the Fourth Raikage?"
"My big brother, who else?" N said with a smile.
"Hmm, I remember your brother back when I was traveling, one of his men got wounded and he knew I was the only one who could save him, I refused," Tsunade said as she remembered meeting the hot-tempered man, "he challenged me to an arm-wrestling match."
N laughed so loudly that the people in the other booth looked over at them in annoyance, "hahaha, man you must've lost quickly."
Tsunade sipped her water, "actually the only reason he didn't lose was because he was faster than me. He would have lost otherwise."
"WHAT!"
(The next day)
N was shouldering on his trusty backpack, he was at the front gates of Tanzaku Town, a saddened Tsunade and Shizune were there as well as Jiraiya.
"Shame you can't come back with us." Shizune said.
N chuckled, "I don't think I'd be welcomed there, besides its time for me to go home, I've been far away far too long…. Still it was nice to meet you two," he said, "Tsunade, sorry about the way I acted towards you. Sure you were annoying, hot-tempered, drunk, disrespectful, bitter, not trusting, insulting, an old hag," he would have continued on had not Tsunade's first crashed down into his head, making him fall to the ground. "Oww…" he mumbled as he got back up, rubbing his head in annoyance.
Tsunade smirked, "see you later brat."
"Bye… old hag." N quickly dodged the other punch with a laugh.
"N, if you run into any Akatsuki summon a toad, they'll reverse summon me to you, don't try to take them on by yourself," Jiraiya instructed the boy who would return home alone.
"Right, Pervy Sage!" N said where Tsunade and Shizune burst into laughter at Jiraiya's nickname.
Jiraiya twitched at the name, "stop calling me that!" he whined to the blonde, which just made the other three laugh even more, Jiraiya sighed, "just make sure you get home safely."
N nodded, "don't worry, if I see any of those guys I'll summon Toad Boss, he can help me distract them so you have time to get reversed summoned, I have a feeling that they won't show up for awhile though."
"Let's hope so."
N gave the three a wave before turning around and headed down the road that would lead him back to his home, Kaminari no Kuni. Within seconds he was merely a blur as he raced down the road, eager to finally get back home with his family and friends. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Shizune watched until he was out of their sight before headed on a different road, the one that led back to Konohagakure, where Tsunade would be named the Fifth Hokage.
(Kumo Main Gates)
Two days had passed since N had left the others, he didn't stop at all unless he needed sleep or food, and finally he was walking down a steep trail as he headed down a mountain. In front of him was a large circle of towering mountains, their tips completely covered by thick white clouds. N smiled, he was home.
Shisen and Nokugiri were playing Elements, like rock-paper-scissors but instead using the elements. "Earth!" Nokugiri cried as he formed a fist while at the same time Shisen yelled "Lightning!" and wiggled his fingers. Nokugiri groaned as Shisen laughed in triumph, and took the ante, which was Nokugiri's lunch.
A laugh made the two look up and were shocked to see a grinning Yotsuki N looking at them in amusement. "Yo, Nokugiri, Shisen!" he greeted the two with a peace sign.
"N! You're back!" Shisen cried out happily at seeing the young man safe and sound.
"Course I am. What, you didn't think I was going to let myself get killed without being go home for the first time in a couple months, did you?" N asked the two.
Nokugiri laughed, "naw, that wouldn't be like you. Though to be honest the Village has been too quiet since you've been gone, almost normal and boring."
N's grin widened, "well I guess I have to fix that, won't I?"
The two gate guards laughed. "Yeah, it's good to have you back N." Shisen said as he allowed N to go into his home village, N's smile got wider as he looked at the familiar houses and mountains that made up his Village, he chuckled before quickly running towards the Raikage Tower, skillfully avoiding any head on collisions with any civilians.
Raizen was grudgingly doing the paper work that every Kage found themselves surrounded in. All of a sudden he heard the door crash open, he looked up ready to yell at whoever barged in to his office, but the yell died on his lips as he saw his youngest son panting but grinning at him.
With booming laugh Raizen crushed his child in a bear hug, "N! It's about time you showed up, I was beginning to worry you didn't have it in you to stay out of trouble without someone to pull you out of it."
N laughed, "hey come on, did you guys really have so little faith in me?" he demanded his father who merely chortled.
"So how did it go? Did you find the Slug Princess?" Raizen asked the Genin curiously.
"Yeah we found her, but there was trouble too. Orochimaru showed his pale face when we arrived, he tried to convince Tsunade to join his side to heal his arms that the Third Hokage sealed, she refused and there was a huge fight between us and Orochimaru and his lackey Kabuto," N informed his father before telling the Third Raikage everything that happened during the fight, including how he mastered the Rasengan.
"Let me see it," Raizen said, wanting to see the famed jutsu for himself, N formed a Rasengan in his palm and slammed it into the wall, effectively creating a large hole in the office, Raizen chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair, "nice job son, I'm proud of you."
"Thanks pops," N said happily before he turned serious, "dad there was also something else… I know about Akatsuki."
"How do you know?" Raizen demanded, "did the Sannin tell you?" Damn it, the entire reason we kept it secret from them was to not cause panic, sure we were going to tell them sooner or later but that was when we knew they wouldn't get afraid.
"Simple, Akatsuki tried to capture me," N said matter of factly.
"WHAT!" Raizen roared, his right arm swinging downwards and completely demolishing the desk, paper flying everywhere. N raised a hand to shield his eyes from the flying paper and splinters.
"What happened, did they hurt you?" Raizen demanded to his son, looking for any injuries.
"Dad I'm fine, they just randomly appeared. There were two of them, wearing black cloaks with red clouds. I recognized one of them, Jiraiya knew the second one personally." N said, "the guys who tried to take me was Kisame Hoshigaki and the other one was a missing nin from Konoha, his name was Hiruko."
Raizen's eyes narrowed at the two names, while he knew the first he did not know who the last one was. "I'll ask the Sannin about him, hopefully he knows more about them."
N nodded his head. The Third Raikage then noticed that the boy, despite looking happy to be back home, looked dead tired. "Go home, N. You need some rest, I'd rather not have you pass out in my office and having to carry you home like a five-year old." N huffed at that but nodded his head and headed back to his family's house where he could get some much needed sleep.
As N slowly made his way to the compound he decided to use the main road. He was smiling softly as he saw the civilians going about their daily lives, making the whole area seem in a happy mood. He noticed with narrowed eyes of how much ninja were moving around, now normally that wouldn't be that big of a deal. They were in Kumogakure no Sato, a much more militaristic Village than say Konoha or Suna, so it wasn't that big of a deal. But N could see that many of them were either STORM or Jonin level shinobi, the moods ranging from the ninja seemed to be more grim and somber. N wondered what had happened to make his father extra protective of defending the Village.
Oh well, gues I'll find out later, N decided as he entered the compound he quickly went to his room and immediately passed out on his bed, still in his clothes. The First Hokage's necklace was gleaming in the sunlight, though N didn't notice as he was asleep.
(1) Not lying about this, that is how Kushina's seal was.
The Search arc is done, for all those who've been complaining. I'm not insulting anyone but it was only three chapters long and I still added my own elements to it, you shouldn't dislike a story because of three chapters and stop reading it, one of my favorite stories has literally been copying the show word for word and only a couple things have changed in the chapters, meaning they sometimes say something different, but I'm still reading it even though it's been pure canon for around nine chapters. If it makes you feel better the next arc is self made, I'm actually almost done with it right now, it'll show up in a chapter or so. Also sorry if I don't update quickly, I've been working on my other stories, if anyone likes Percy Jackson or the Inheritance Cycle I'd like it if you guys checked it out or if you don't read those stories I have another Naruto story featuring Kumogakure cause its just an awesome Village.