WELCOME

Welcome back to Seven Sins. As always I begin by stating that I do not own Naruto.

THANK YOU

A special thank to those who reviewed my previous chapter: The Flash Pirates; THE 7TH DEMON OF RAZGRIZ; MyHikari; Inuyonas; Black-Rabbit2165; Just A Dude; MK loves NaruSaku; The Epic Fail Writer; 6SkullAngel; Guest; EazyJPeazy; Toolazytologin; BigPac09; TMariee; bluej4544; HeavenStar2703.

RESPONCES

The Flash Pirates - Lol! It appears I caught quite a few people with that quick turn of events. Glad you enjoyed it. It'll be interesting to see where Naruto and the others go next.

THE 7TH DEMON OF RAZGRIZ - Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

MyHikari - Of course Kakashi would be in charge. Who else could it be? Sai has a roll to play. But it will be a long time before he's introduced.

Inuyonas - As always, I enjoy your theories. No matter how wildly incorrect they turn out to be.

Black-Rabbit2165 - It seems many are excited to know that Kakashi and Anko are an item! Could it be the fact that Kishi chose to make her lame at the end pissed off more people than I thought?

Just A Dude - Here's the thing, Tsume is not just a parent but the leader of a entire tribe. So she must balance what is best for her son and for the tribe. And there are times that you can't coddle your child. Sometimes brutal honesty is what's needed. Kiba is lacking. He needs to know why and what that thing is he lacks.

MK loves NaruSaku - Sorry you feel that way my friend. But I do hope you can continue to read, or perhaps, given time, return to my story. Here's the thing, despite how the canon ended, I owe it to myself to continue the story I planned, which means there will be twists and turns in the relationships between these characters. But I will say this, I placed this story under the NS category for a reason.

The Epic Fail Writer - Glad you are enjoying this story EFW. I must admit that after the canon reveals I contemplated stopping altogether out of pure disgust. But I realized that I couldn't. I love doing this too much and need to finish this story. I'm glad you're reading and using this story to help move past that idiocy that was the final retcon.

6SkullAngel - Thanks for the catch. I changed the error. And thank you for reading!

Guest - Lol! Thank you!

EazyJPeazy - Vash the Stampede? I never considered that comparison before but I must say, you might have hit the nail right on the head with that one. All of these characters are flawed. And that's a point I'm trying to make that in a world such as this, no one is truly innocent and everyone must sacrifice for either what is right or what must be done.

Toolazytologin - I wonder if that's your real name. Is so, then bravo! Thank you for enjoying my work.

BigPac09 - I actually had to re-write that scene 3 times before it reached a point where I was satisfied. I'm glad you liked it. As for the feelings that Naruto must be experiencing, remember that this is a long tale. There will be more than enough time to properly expand on what he's going through. No need to rush my friend.

TMariee - Yes, but this isn't the end for Sakura. This is merely another chapter.

bluej4544 - Well, it's nice to know that I (in some small way) made you feel good for a while. Thank you. I'm just honored that you would take the time to review my work. Every review all of you send me is what motivates me to keep writing. Yamato is far more hardcore than anyone realizes. Draconian really doesn't begin to describe it. But that too will be explored later.

HeavenStar2703 - Thank you for reviewing my work and it's nice to hear from a new fan. I do plan to keep writing. I won't rest until this story is done. So you can breath easy. Lol!

MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR

Here is the latest chapter of Seven Sins. I will try to get a new chapter out before New Years. That said, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and a happy, safe New Years. Please remember to leave a little review after you're done. Thanks.

Seven Sins

Chapter XXV

Naruto sat at the edge of the koi pond and watched as the multicolored fish swam about. Sitting on the nearby bench and flanked by her two adoptive daughters was Tsunade. Everyone else had departed to allow this group a moment to enjoy this unexpected reunion. Sakura and Naruto had just finished recounting their tale. Telling Ino and Tsunade everything that had happened to them from the moment they'd left Konohagakure. Ino would often gasp or stop them to ask questions as she heard the story. Tsunade however, sat in complete silence. Her gaze was locked on the pond. "And that's when we arrived here." Sakura said as she finished the end of their story.

Naruto, Ino and Sakura sat in silence as they watched Tsunade intently. Tsunade folded her arms and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. "I see." She said finally. She then looked to Sakura and smacked her in the back of the head. Sakura screamed as she held her head. Tsunade then grabbed her daughter and hugged her tight. "You are rash, stubborn and reckless. Anyone else would probably be dead three times over. And I am so glad that you're alive."

Sakura clutched onto her mother as tears again welled in her eyes. Naruto smiled sadly as he watched them before looking away. The two women separated finally and Tsunade wiped the tear that ran down her cheek. "Enough of that!" She said with a laugh. "I think we've cried enough." She then looked to Naruto. "Naruto, Jiraiya…"

"I took care of his body, Granny." Naruto said with a sudden bright smile. Naruto laughed. But there was a tremble in his voice as he did so. "I'm sure he…wouldn't have wanted you to see him like that anyway, right? S-Stupid old man. Getting himself killed like that. He was probably more interested in looking cool than surviving like you did, right?" As Naruto talked he looked at his hands. They were shaking. Why? I've been okay this whole time, right? Why can't they stop shaking? Why?

Suddenly Naruto felt someone holding him. He looked up and he saw Sakura holding him from behind. Her face was buried in his shoulder while her arms were wrapped around him. She didn't say a single word. She didn't have to. Naruto simply sat in silence. For a while no one spoke before Sakura looked up at her mother. "What I don't understand is how you survived. The rings and bracelets Ino had. I know I saw a burnt body in the rubble with the same jewelry. What happened?"

Tsunade and Ino looked at each other for moment. Tsunade sighed heavily before looking to Naruto and Sakura. "I'll tell you."

-Konohagakure-

-Several Days Ago-

Ino sighed heavily behind the bar of their diner as she played with one of the rings on her finger. The place was empty which allowed her a chance to think. "Penny for your thoughts?" She looked up to see Ayame standing by the door to the kitchen.

Ino shook her head as she continued to play with her ring. "I can't believe she actually ran off. I mean, she's always joked about it. Hell, she and I talked about it when Sasuke-kun showed up. But it was all just talk, you know. I never thought…"

Ayame walked over and sat next to Ino. "I know." She said. "I was surprised to hear about it too. I always thought you were the one who was going to go running off after some boy."

"What?!" Ino yelled.

"Oh come on, Ino." Ayame responded with a smile. "It's no secret that you're the wild one!"

Ino smiled and nudged Ayame. "Yeah, I guess. But you didn't have to say it like that." Ino sighed as she spun the ring around her finger. "I just hope she's okay. God knows where that Sasuke might have taken her."

"She'll be fine." Ayame said. "She's not stupid. Tsunade-sama did train you both to defend yourselves. And let's not forget that Naruto-kun is with her."

Ino rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah! How could I forget?" She said with a mocking laugh. "I'm sure he'll be able to fend off all of the villains with his extensive training in growing corn!"

Ayame laughed. "Okay, maybe he's not the greatest fighter. But we all know how he feels about her. He'll die before letting something happen to her."

"I guess your right." Ino said with a smile. "I bet that bitch is having the time of her life!" The two women began to laugh.

"Those really are beautiful." Ayame said as she looked at Ino's rings and bracelets.

Ino smiled as she looked at them. "Sakura brought them all for me."

"Really?" Ayame responded with a look of surprise. "All of them?!"

Ino nodded. "We were about eight years old at the time. Mom had taken us both out to the markets. It was almost my birthday and I saw the most beautiful bracelets at this one shop. Of course mom couldn't afford them, but I wanted one. I really did! I remember crying when she told me no. Sakura, hugged me and told me if I stopped crying, she'd get me one. So I did. She was always like that. Even though we were the same age. She always seemed more mature than me."

"Anyway," Ino continued. "My ninth birthday rolls around and Sakura gets me this. Ino pulled on an old, plain looking, rubber bracelet. She'd saved up all of her tips for three months and this was all she could afford. At least it was purple, right?" Ino laughed as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Anyway, the next year she got me this one." Ino pointed at a small iron bangle. "And she would by me a new piece of jewelry every year after that." She smiled as she looked at the gold rings and bracelets. "Each nicer than the last."

"You have a nice sister." Ayame said.

"She's a pain in my ass who runs off and leaves me with all the work around here!" Ino yelled angrily. The moment she did, the anger faded away and she smiled once more. "Yeah. And she better come home safe." Ino then looked at Ayame's bare hands. She then began to take off her jewelry. "Here. Try them."

"What?!" Ayame said in protest. "Oh no! I couldn't!"

"Nonsense!" Ino responded as she grabbed Ayame's right hand and began to slip rings onto her finger. "You and Teuchi-san are like family. I want to see how they look on you! C'mon!" Ino put all of her rings and bracelets on Ayame, except for the purple rubber one. Ayame looked at them with a smile. "I knew they'd look beautiful on you." Ino said.

"Now I just need a sister to use all her savings to buy them for me."

"Or you could just get a husband." Ino said with a sly grin.

"Oh please!" Ayame exclaimed. "The way things are going that may never happen!"

"What about that carpenter that comes in here twice a day. He keeps asking for you to bring him tea." Ino said.

"Are you talking about Idate?" Ayame asked. Ayame thought about it. "No. You think he likes me? I thought he only comes in because he likes my tea."

Ino laughed. "Ayame, no one comes in twice a day and asks someone who's a chef to come make him tea! Besides, I've tasted your tea and it's awful!"

"Shut up!" Ayame yelled as she blushed.

Just then the door to the kitchen opened and Teuchi came out. "There you are Ayame." He said. "I've been looking for you. We need to get everything prepared. The diner is going to open in less than an hour." Teuchi paused as he looked across the diner through the windows. Seeing, his shocked, slack-jawed expression, both girls looked over and were stunned to see several dozen, tall, strong men and women, clad in identical black armor. On each of their right arms was a red sash with the Uchiha clan symbol which was now better known as the symbol of the Empire.

The soldier that stood in front of the glass entrance knocked gently on the door. Nervously, Teuchi began to approach. Ayame reached out for him but he quickly brushed her off. As he approached the door, all of the soldiers glared at him with cold, vicious eyes. He could feel the sweat roll down the back of his neck and the trembling of his hand as he reached for the lock on the door. The sound of the lock turning seemed to echo in his ears.

Teuchi opened the door just enough to peak out. He looked at the soldier that stood before the door. A tall, pale man with thick black hair that fell down to his waist. His eyes were as hard as steel as he looked down at Teuchi who was nearly a foot shorter. "H-Hello." He stuttered. "I-I'm afraid t-the diner hasn't opened for lunch yet. If you could come back…"

Before he could finish, the man placed his hand on the door and forcefully pushed it open with ease, causing Teuchi to stumble back and nearly fall. Without a word the soldier, followed by several others, filtered into the diner and stood surrounding the outer edges of the room like statues. A second later the men who stood blocking the entrance stepped to the side and Teuchi and the two girls gasped when they saw the blackened armor and the porcelain mask that signified that they were in the presence of one of the most powerful and fearsome people in the world.

"A-A J-Judge?!" Teuchi stammered as he stepped back and fell to the floor.

"Dad!" Ayame yelled as she ran to her father.

Judge of the Cursed looked around in silence as he took everything in. "How quaint." He finally said with a brief chuckle. He took two steps further into the diner and continued to look around. His gaze fell upon Ino which caused her to back away even further. Finally he looked down at Teuchi and Ayame who were still on the floor in front of him. "My apologies for this intrusion." He said. His voice was muffled and raspy. "I am looking for the owner of this establishment. Bring her to me. I have questions about several incidents that have taken place in the area and I believe she can be of assistance. Bring her to me, now."

Teuchi swallowed hard as he tried to steel his resolve. He then rose to his feet as his daughter clutched to his arm. "I-I'm afraid you're mistaken, milord. I…I am the owner of this diner. How may I assist a Judge of the Empire?"

Judge of the Cursed cocked his head to the side. "You? You own this place?"

"I-I do." Teuchi answered.

Judge of the Cursed looked around. Despite Ayame's attempt to hide her surprise at her father's answer, the Judge had noticed the brief look of shock she had on her face. "Do you know what the penalty is for lying directly to a Judge of the Empire?"

"I-I do not lie, milord." Teuchi replied. "I am the owner of this diner and the two girls before you are the only employees here."

"I see." The Judge said. "Then tell me, why would name this place after Tsunade's dead little brother?" Teuchi's eyes widened in shock at the Judge's words. Judge of the Cursed then looked to the tall soldier that stood next to him and nodded. Without hesitation and with blinding speed, the man pulled out a kunai and stabbed Teuchi in the stomach. The old cook screamed as he crumpled to the floor.

"Father!" Ayame yelled as she tried to go to him, only for the Judge to grab her by the hair and pull her towards him. "Father! Let me go!" Ayame screamed as Teuchi lay on the floor moaning in pain. He pulled the kunai out and grasped the bleeding wound.

"Shut up girl." Judge of the Cursed said calmly. "No major organs were harmed. He can still be saved if you answer my questions." The Judge then looked up at Ino who stood frozen in fear. She had taken so many steps back that her back was now against the far wall. "Or perhaps I should ask you." The Judge said. Ino couldn't move. She could barely breathe. All she could see was the blood that continued to pool around Teuchi's fallen body and the tears in Ayame's eyes as she was held tight by the Judge.

The Judge's attention returned to the terrified girl he held firmly to. "Answer me quickly girl." Judge of the Cursed said. "From the looks of it your father has perhaps, ten minutes left. Now, where is Tsunade."

Suddenly the back wall next to Ino exploded. Ino looked on in shock as Tsunade flew through the rubble that flew about. "Arrrgh!" She screamed as she had her fists clenched while hurdling through the air towards Judge of the Cursed. The Judge let go of Ayame's hair and leapt back out of the way of Tsunade's punch that struck the ground, shattering it. At the same time, Tsunade used her free hand to push Ayame back towards Ino who stood in shock at her mother's ability.

Judge of the Cursed drew his sword and swung it at Tsunade while at the same time two of his soldiers lunged at her with their blades. Tsunade ducked under the Judges' attack and sidestepped the sword of one of his men all while grabbing the arm of the third soldier all while sidestepping the tip of his sword. In one fluid motion, Tsunade punched the arm she held, shattering the man's elbow, while kicking away the other soldier with such force his body hurtled back, smashed into to two other soldiers who were standing behind him and causing all three to go crashing through the window behind them and back out into the street. Finally she flipped the soldier she still held onto over her shoulder, causing him to crash face first onto the ground.

Judge of the Cursed lunged forward with his sword aimed at her head. Tsunade spun around the attack and punched him in the chest, forcing his body to skid back several feet. She immediately used the opening to grab Teuchi and leap back to where Ino and Ayame looked on in amazement.

Several more soldiers were about to attack when Judge of the Cursed raised his hand to stop them. Without complaint all of them sheathed their swords. Judge of the Cursed looked at the bloody, smashed in face of the soldier on the floor and then looked back at the three soldiers who had been tossed outside. The chest of the one who'd been kicked was caved in. It was clear he was also dead. The other two were trying to get their bearings. The Judge then looked down at the breastplate of his own armor. It was now cracked. He then looked to Tsunade who was breathing heavily and sported a scratch under her right eye. A gift from his blade.

Judge of the Cursed chuckled. "I see some things never truly get lost do they, Tsunade-kun. I'd expect nothing less from the one once called the Princess Sannin."

"S-Sannin?" Ino stuttered as she looked on in shock. Tsunade stood strong and Ino looked on in confusion at the strange metal gauntlets on both her mothers' hands. The gloves had steel plates covering her knuckles and back of her hand. The gloves extended up to just before her elbows and there steel plates up the outer forearm. Where did she get those from? Ino wondered.

Tsunade eyes began to dart around the room quickly assessing everyone and everything around her. She glanced briefly at Teuchi who was now wheezing with every shallow breath he took. Again, Judge of the Cursed chuckled. "Trying to come up with a way to get everyone out safely, Tsunade-kun?" The Judge took a step forward which made Tsunade tense. "Allow me to help you assess the situation. That old man who, judging from his unique smell, is your cook, doesn't really have much longer. And I doubt he'd survive if you try to take him and run."

Judge of the Cursed took another step forward. "And that's not even taking into account having to also protect his daughter over there as well as…your own?" Judge of the Cursed looked over at Ino who remained petrified and laughed more openly. "Adopted, I assume? You and that old man were a bit too advanced in age to actually have a child of your own. Meanwhile this diner is surrounded by forty or so of my men, all trained by me. So here's the question. How do you escape this place and successfully protect those girls and heal that old man? Answer. You can't. The medic in you knows this. Lives will be lost here, Tsunade-kun. Unless you tell me what I want to know. You know why I'm here. Tell me where he is Tsunade. Tell me, and I'll leave you without incident. You can protect them."

"Never." Tsunade replied.

"Don't be so stubborn, Tsunade-kun." Judge of the Cursed said as he took another step forward. "You had your chance and failed. He's ours now."

"You truly have sold your soul, haven't you Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked.

"Please. That is a name of the past. I am the Judge of the Cursed now."

"Cursed?" Tsunade repeated. "A perfect name for a traitorous bastard such as yourself."

"Perhaps you're right." Judge of the Cursed replied. "But nevertheless, these are the circumstances we are left with. Now make the smart choice, Tsunade-kun."

Tsunade glanced back at her daughter. "Ino." Ino didn't answer as she stood frozen in place. "Ino, I need you to use the medical techniques I've taught you. You need to try and save Teuchi. Ino!" Still she didn't answer. "Ino! You need to move now or he'll die! Ino!"

Ino shook her head as she finally looked at Tsunade. "M-Mom…I…I…can't…I-I'm not that good with medical ninjutsu. Sakura's…"

"Sakura's not here!" Tsunade screamed. "You're the only one who can do this, Ino! Move! I'll protect you while you work!"

Ino glanced from her mother to the large, imposing soldiers that all seemed to have their eyes fixated on her. It was clear that the second she even attempted to move towards Teuchi, they would attack. She then looked to the old cook who was lying in a pool of his own blood and Ayame who knelt by his side, holding his hand. Ayame didn't speak but her eyes were locked on Ino, silently pleading for her to save her father. Ino glanced up at the Judge and she could see his snake-like eyes boring a hole through and it made her body shake violently from fear. A tear rolled down her cheek. "I...I…I can't!" She yelled as she clenched her eyes shut and looked away.

"Ino!" Tsunade yelled in desperation.

"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!" Judge of the Cursed said. "Poor little dove. What have you been teaching her Tsunade? She clearly isn't made for this sort of thing. She's shaking like a leaf." The Judge raised his hand and revealed two fingers and two of his soldiers drew their swords once more. "Don't worry, my dear. Let me help make things a bit easier for you." With a motion of his fingers, both soldiers immediately attacked Tsunade.

Using the metal plates on her armbands, Tsunade began to block each blow both soldiers attempted to deliver while The Judge chuckled as he took a few steps to the side as he watched as Tsunade expertly dodged or blocked every attack but seemed unable to land any counter of her own. Out of the sleeve in his armor a snake slithered out and hissed as it looked around and without warning it fired out like a spear towards Tsunade.

Tsunade saw the attack just in the nick of time and bent out of the way, but to her surprise the snake didn't stop. It flew passed her and grabbed Teuchi by his ankle. The Judge, who still held the snakes' tail like it were a rope, then pulled and Teuchi was suddenly airborne as his body was being pulled back. "Father!" Ayame yelled in vain.

"Shit!" Tsunade yelled as she lunged for the snake, hoping to grab it but the two soldiers closed in. One swung his sword down, threatening to cut her arm off. Tsunade was forced to pull back and block the blow while dodging the sword of the other.

That was all Judge of the Cursed needed as he pulled Teuchi's helpless body towards him. As a helpless Teuchi drew closer, he quickly drew his sword and sliced the man across the gut in one smooth motion. Teuchi made a guttural sound as his blood and intestines rained down onto the ground. His lifeless corpse fell a moment later.

"Father!" Ayame screamed as Ino and Tsunade watched in disbelief while the Judge's snake untwined from Teuchi's ankle and slithered back into the depths of his masters' armor.

Ino watched in frozen horror as blood poured from Teuchi open wound like a river. All she could hear was her own gasping breathes and Ayame's screams. Tsunade stared at the body vacantly until she slowly tore her gaze away and glared back at Judge of the Cured in fury.

"What?" Judge of the Cursed asked. "That man lied directly to a Judge of the Empire. To do so carries a penalty of death. He was judged to be guilty. I merely carried out the sentence. You see this as being cruel. But in reality this was merely…justice."

Tsunade gritted her teeth as her entire body tensed. "You…" The small, violet, rhombus mark on her forehead suddenly pulsed before cracking. The seal began to spread, entwining around her entire body. "YOU BASTAAARRD!" Tsunade suddenly lunged at the Judge with such force and power, the ground beneath her feet shattered.

She threw a punch that the Judge was able to dodge by jumping off to the side. But the punch carried so much power that the wind behind it cracked his armor and the soldiers positioned behind him were blown away through the front wall and windows of the diner.

"M-Mom?" Ino stuttered as she stood in shock. Never before had she seen the rage Tsunade was now in and she'd never seen the fighting ability she now displayed.

With every step Tsunade took, the ground beneath her broke. Judge of the Cursed chuckled with every punch or kick he dodged. "Your technique has become sloppy in your old age Tsunade. Or are you simply so blinded by rage that you are forgoing technique?" Judge of the Cursed sidestepped another punch; the tables and chairs behind him were turned to splinters from the force of her swing.

Judge of the Cursed swung his blade twice and each time Tsunade parried the strikes with her guards. "The potency of your Sōzō Saisei has also decreased with your age. Perhaps, a result of overuse over the years?"

"Shut up!" Tsunade yelled as she immediately punched the floor, smashing the ground beneath their feet. Judge of the Cursed found his footing unstable and using that moment, Tsunade lunged, intent on striking him squarely in the chest.

But at that moment, a snake slivered out from a slit in his armor by his lower back and it quickly wrapped itself around and nearby column and pulled Judge of the Cursed just out of the way of Tsunade's punch. Tsunade suddenly found herself exposed and unable to stop her momentum.

Judge of the Cursed smiled as he immediately attacked, thrusting his sword at her side. Tsunade tucked in mid air, trying to roll out of the way. She was able to dodge the fatal blow, absorbing only a slice across the back. Tsunade winced in pain as she tumbled forward and Judge of the Cursed moved in to keep up the pressure with strike after strike after strike. Tsunade was forced to defend herself, blocking each strike. But the Judge laughed as he could see her heavy, labored breathing. "Your movements are slowing Tsunade!" He said as he continued his relentless assault. "Your reaction time has dulled. Perhaps you should have spent more time training instead of serving stale beer!"

Realizing she was in trouble, Tsunade ducked another strike, knocked his sword to the side and moved in with a punch to the face. "While I…" The Judge continued as a snake slithered out from his sleeve and bit her in the neck as she closed in. "…have spent all these years on the battlefield. Improving my skills." Judge of the Cursed slid his sword cleanly through Tsunade's stomach.

Tsunade, gasped as she felt the cold steel of his sword slide through her. Numbness from the snake bite consumed her. She gritted her teeth, so as not to give Judge of the Cursed the pleasure of hearing her scream. Blood trickled from her mouth.

Ino and Ayame looked on in horror as the saw the blood stained sword protruding out of Tsunade's back. "Mother!" Ino yelled. Her entire body shook violently as she tried to force herself to move. She had to do something. But her body betrayed her. No matter badly she wanted to, Ino's body refused to budge. Fear had consumed her completely.

"Tell me where they are Tsunade." Judge of the Cursed said. "Clearly he's not with you. Which means he's with the old man. You're tired aren't you? How much have you sacrificed for this? How much of your happiness? A chance to be with the one you loved? Don't you want it to end? Give him to me and I'll let you both live. You can be together again. You can spend whatever years you have left together."

Tsunade's head drooped as she fought to urge to lose consciousness. "Judge of…the Cursed." She stammered. "A fitting name…for a traitor." Tsunade reached up and grabbed the blade and began to pull herself towards the Judge, causing the sword to cut deeper and deeper into it. "But it seems…you've forgotten…the primary ability of S-Sōzō Saisei."

The Judge looked at the wound. It was healing around the sword. "Shit." He said to himself.

"I won't…let you…HAVE HIM!" Tsunade screamed as she punched Judge of the Cursed in the face with all the power she could muster. His body flew back while he held firm to his sword that slid out from Tsunade while the snake released its bite. Judge of the Cursed hurtled through the shattered window and crashed and tumbled to the dirt floor outside while Tsunade crumpled onto her back. Her hand immediately went to her gaping wound to speed up the healing.

Tsunade sat up on one elbow as fought through the pain. Damn it! She thought. Why am I not healing faster than this? As if in an answer to her question she felt a sharp pain in her neck. Her hand instinctively covered the wound. Damn! It must be some sort of poison that can counter my technique.

"Milord! Are you okay?!" One of the soldiers asked as he rushed to the Judge's aid.

Others were coming over, trying to help him up as he began to stagger to his feet. As he rose, large pieces of his porcelain mask chipped and fell away and it now revealed the entire left side of his face. Orochimaru now scowled back into the diner at the fallen Tsunade.

"Milord!" Another soldier yelled as he and three others come out from Tsunade's home at the rear of the diner and walked over. The soldier at the front held something in his hand. "We found something in her home, sir. You should look at this immediately."

Orochimaru continued to glare at Tsunade and only looked away as the soldier ran up next to him. He grabbed the object from the man and looked at it. A moment later a smile appeared on his face. He then looked back towards Tsunade and raised the object in his hand so she could see. "It appears you are no longer needed, Tsunade-kun." Orochimaru then raised his sword and pointed it towards her. "You should have helped when you had the chance." Suddenly the steel blade shot forth, extending like the tongue of a snake.

Shit! Tsunade thought as she fought to get to her feet. But the poison was making its way through her body far too fast. Her arms and legs felt like lead. Shit! Tsunade thought as she closed her eyes as the blade closed in.

A moment later she felt a warn spray of liquid on her face. Blood. She thought. Blood but…no pain. Why no pain? Tsunade opened her eyes and was shocked to see Ayame, staring down at her. Ayame's eyes were warm and there was a small smile on her face as she looked down on Tsunade. Tsunade's eyes traveled down from Ayame's face to her chest, where Orochimaru's bloody blade protruded out. "A-Ayame-kun?" Instantly, as she was trained to do, Tsunade's hand went to Ayame's chest. Her hand began to glow green as she fought to heal the young woman with the sword still in her as more blood poured from her and onto Tsunade's clothes.

Ayame's hand reached up and covered Tsunade's. It was already cold. "Ruh-Run." Ayame stammered as she gasped for air. She then looked up at Ino, who had slumped down to her knees with tears streaking her face. Ayame raised her hand towards her friend. The glint of Ino's rings that were still on her hands was all Ino could see. That and Ayame's improbable smile.

Tsunade winced in pain as she tried to force as much chakra into Ayame's dying body as she could but the poison had weakened her significantly. I-I can't save us both! She thought as she glanced back at Ino. Forgive me. She thought as she looked into her daughters' grief stricken eyes.

Just then, Ayame began to rise up off the floor. Orochimaru, who still stood out in the street, was picking her up like meat jabbed onto a stick. "What an annoyance." He said.

"No!" Tsunade screamed as she tried to reach for her. But one look at Ayame's face and she knew it was already too late. Orochimaru swung the sword to the side, throwing Ayame's corpse off of his sword.

"Ayame!" Ino suddenly screamed. "Ayame!"

Tsunade gritted her teeth as she quickly looked around at Ino in tears, screaming for her fallen friend. Her eyes then looked into the kitchen.

"Go in and drag them both out." Orochimaru said to several soldiers who stood nearby as his sword shrank back to its normal size. He looked at the item he still held in his other hand. "I will have her tell me where this is. Or she will watch as cut parts of her daughters' body away before her eyes."

"Shit!" Tsunade yelled as she frantically looked around as she saw the soldiers walking towards the diner. Finally, her eyes fell on the door to the kitchen. It's our only shot! She thought. Mustering all the strength she could, Tsunade forced herself to her feet and began to walk over to her daughter who still screamed Ayame's name over and over. "Ino! We have to go!" She said as she grabbed her daughter and forcefully pulled her up to her feet and drag her along.

"No! Mother! We can't leave her! We have to go back for Ayame!" Ino yelled as she tried to pull free.

Tsunade glanced back over her shoulder. The soldiers were almost at the entrance. "We don't have time for this! We have to go now!"

"We can't leave her!" Ino screamed as she tried to fight out of her mothers' grip.

Tsunade suddenly slapped Ino across the face, silencing her. "Ayame's dead, Ino. She was dead before her body even hit the ground. Now please, I need your help! We have to go!"

Ino finally looked at her mother, wounded, bruised and covered in blood and realized she was giving everything she had just to stand. "R-Right." Ino stuttered as she gave her mother her shoulder to lean on.

"We have to get to the kitchen." Tsunade said as they made their way as fast as she could go. They heard movement behind them and Tsunade glanced back to see four soldiers enter the diner and seeing them heading towards the kitchen, the men began to give chase. "Hurry!" Tsunade yelled.

Orochimaru stood calmly outside. He reached for the remaining half of his mask and tore it away and tossed it to the side. He then looked to his men and pointed to three of them. "Go in and help." The men nodded as they began to walk towards the diner.

-Meanwhile-

Tsunade and Ino made into the kitchen. Tsunade let go of Ino and limped over to the two stoves. She reached behind them and pulled the gas pipes out one after the other. Both pipes hissed as she ripped them free from the wall. She then quickly went back to Ino. "This way!" Tsunade grabbed a dish rag as they made their way to an exit near the back of the room.

At that moment, the soldiers burst through the front door. One of the soldiers yelled as they spotted them. "There they are!"

Tsunade took out a set of matches and lit one. She then lit the rag on fire and threw it back on the counter. "Hurry!" Tsunade said as she winced in pain as they made their way through the back door and into the hallway of their home. "Hold this." She said as she handed Ino the matches. The pair quickly walked down the hallway and stopped at a tall bookshelf. "Stop here."

"What the hell are we stopping for?" Ino asked.

Tsunade reached over and pulled a nondescript, black book. A switch could be heard followed by the grinding of several gears behind the shelf and suddenly it began to slide to the side revealing stone steps leading down into darkness. "How long has this been here?" Ino asked in shock.

"Hold it!" One soldier yelled as they entered the hallway and advanced towards them with weapons drawn. While in the kichen, the gas the leaked from the stoves reached the burning rag. A massive explosion ripped through the kitchen and diner and a torrent of flames shot through the hallway consuming the soldiers.

"Move!" Tsunade yelled as she pushed Ino into the stairwell and shut the sliding door behind them.

-Meanwhile-

As Orochimaru watched his men walking towards the diner, the building and the house in the back suddenly exploded, engulfing them all in flames and debris.

A moment passed as the after affects of the explosion finally died away. The entire diner and half of the Victorian style home behind it had been reduced to flaming embers. Out of the rubble rose Orochimaru. A small flame burned on the shoulder of his cape.

"Sir!" One of his soldiers yelled as they ran towards him. "Milord, are you okay?!"

"Of course." Orochimaru said.

"Could they have died?" One of the soldiers asked.

"Doubtful." Orochimaru answered as he nonchalantly patted out the fire. "You two." He said to two of his men. "Head back to the barracks and gather the soldiers stationed here. I want every spare man and woman back here. You will have them come through the rubble. If Tsunade is dead, I want her corpse brought to me." Orochimaru then turned and faced the rest of his platoon. He raised the item that was still in his hand. It was a framed photograph of Jiraiya and Naruto smiling. In the background was a farmhouse and silo. "The rest of you will fan out and question every man woman and child in this village. Jiraiya would never live too far away from his precious Tsunade! So he must be living somewhere in the outskirts of town! I want his location by days end! I don't care what you have to do to get it! Understood?!"

"Yes milord!" The soldiers all yelled as they snapped to attention before taking off in numerous directions.

Orochimaru looked at the picture once more before snapping the frame in half and pulling out the photo. He tossed the broken frame to the ground and tucked the photo away inside his breast pocket before walking away. "And someone get me my extra face mask!"

-Meanwhile-

Tsunade groaned in pain as she leaned on her daughter's shoulder. Ino gingerly walked down the steep, stone stairs in complete darkness. "Are you okay mother?" Her voice echoed off the walls. She asked as they continued to move.

"Fine." Tsunade answered briskly. Ino could hear the anger in her voice. Was it because of the pain she felt? The deaths of Teuchi and Ayame? Or was her mother angry at her? Was she disappointed in her daughter for lacking the strength to be of any help?

Ino took a step down and was taken off guard by the abrupt end of the stairs and tumbled forward, taking her mother down with her. The two women crashed to the floor. "Damn it!" Tsunade yelled in clear pain.

"Mom! Mom!" Ino yelled in the darkness, ignoring the dull pain in her knees from the fall.

"I'm fine!" Tsunade yelled. "I need you to stand up Ino and feel around for the wall. It should only be a few feet in the opposite direction of my voice."

Ino rose to her feet and cautiously began to walk in the opposite direction of her Tsunade's voice. Her hands were out feeling for the wall. She took a few cautious steps before she felt the rough stone wall. "I found it!" She yelled.

"Good." Tsunade replied. "Now I need you to slide alongside the wall to your left. Eventually you'll feel a torch."

Ino quickly did as she was told. A moment passed before she finally felt something. "I-I think I found it!"

"Good…now…grab the…matches I gave you and…light it!" Tsunade yelled.

Ino quickly lit the torch and grabbed it off the wall. She gasped as she looked around the underground cavern. The place was small, with low ceilings. Several crates and barrels, covered in cobwebs were scattered about all with several piles of swords, shields and armor, which were covered in thick layers of dust. "What is this place?"

"Ino." Tsunade said.

Ino then glanced at Tsunade and gasped. Tsunade was still on the floor clutching at the wound in her stomach that was still bleeding. Her skin was pale and clammy as she seemed to be fighting for every breath she took. "Mom!" Ino yelled as she ran to her.

"I-I'll be fine." Tsunade replied as she reached up for her daughter's shoulder and Ino helped her to her feet. "Orochimaru's…poison. Whatever it is…is fighting the effects of my Sōzō Saisei. It's taking longer than I expected to heal. B-But I'll be fine. Right now…I need you to help me get out of here."

"Where are we going?" Ino asked.

"We…need to get to Jiraiya's…farm. Must…warn…him." Tsunade's head nodded down as her body went limp.

"Mother! Mother!" Ino yelled as she quickly and gently put Tsunade on the ground. "Mother!"

-Land of Iron-

-Now-

"And that's what happened." Tsunade said as Naruto, Sakura and Ino sat around her. "The venom Orochimaru used was so powerful it overwhelmed my system. It required almost all of the chakra I'd stored up to counteract the poison and heal the stab wound. I ended up passing out for a couple hours. Ino helped nurse me back to the point where we could move. But by then Orochimaru had learned the location of the farm and had placed sentries between there and the village. I was too weak to fight. So we did the only thing we could do. We fled Konohagakure, hoping that Jiraiya would find a way to…"

Tsunade paused as she looked away for a moment. And sudden anguish in her eyes was plain to see. "…find a way to survive."

For a long time everyone was silent as they sat in front of the koi pond. "But I don't understand." Sakura finally said. "How did you even know about this place? What is this, Orochimaru looking for? How do you even know each other?"

Tsunade glanced at Naruto before looking to Sakura and smiled half heartedly. "Perhaps we should stop for now. You've all had a long journey and I must admit I still haven't fully recovered." Tsunade began to stand. Ino rushed over to help her to her feet. "Come, let's join the others. They're probably already eating."

"Okay." Sakura replied, knowing she was not going to get any more answers to her questions now.

Naruto followed the women in silence. As they exited through the nearby door, he stopped and looked out through the skylight at the blue sky above. He sighed heavily before leaving the room.

To Be Continued…