Hehe…I took a very long leave of absence…but yah…I'm back now…I just had to get off my ass and watch Naruto or at least the ones that I recorded. And before you read it I do take some dialogue off the show, only because it's necessary for the story to make sense so there…don't bitch to me about that. I'm only doing it until I'm not dependant on the show anymore. So yeah…sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry!
"A computer once beat me at chess but it was no match for me at kickboxing." Emo Phillips
'thoughts…'
Jutsu Words that need emphasis Disclaimer: I don't own NarutoKari woke up at cockcrow that morning. Sakura rolled over in the other bed. Kari walked over to the small bathroom and began to run the water. 'I wonder how Kisame and Deidara are holding down the for…' Visions of blood spatter everywhere and Kisame standing victoriously over Deidara's body entered her mind. 'Or Deidara blew the house up.' She stepped in the tub and submerged herself in the water.
Sakura woke up halfway through Kari's bath. She stretched and kicked the covers off, then got off and picked out her clothes. Kari got out of the tub and dried herself off and got dressed. "Sakura-chan! The bathroom's free!" Kari then ran the water for Sakura's bath and stepped out of the bathroom.
"Ok." Sakura went in, and no sooner did she shut the door to the bathroom someone was knocking on the other door. Kari peeked through the peephole to see that it was Jiraiya.
She sighed as she opened the door. "Yes?"
"Are you two almost ready?" Jiraiya asked.
"No. Why?" Kari asked.
"Kay good cause we've all just woken up…Can I use your washroom?"
"No! Goodbye Jiraiya!" Kari shut the door as Jiraiya laughed.
Sakura poked her head out "Who was that?"
"The perv." Kari sighed. Sakura went back in the bathroom and Kari turned on the TV. 10 minutes later Sakura came out ready to go. Kari grabbed her bag and ran to the phone. She dialled the room number the boys were in and Sasuke answered "Seven minutes…" then hung up.
"What does she mean 7 minutes?!" Naruto asked putting on his shirt.
"She's probably going to come in 7 minutes, she was already dressed when I went to check up on them." Jiraiya answered.
Kari was munching on a granola bar while packing the remainder of her stuff. "Are you still after Sasuke?" Kari joked.
Sakura went a little red, "I…I don't stalk him or ask him out as much anymore…I-I'm starting to feel more and more attracted to Naruto…it kind of makes me confused because I still like Sasuke…"
Kari smiled "Follow your heart, if we hurry we might get to see them shirtless, maybe even pantless!"
Sakura went scarlet but retorted "You're just hoping you can see Itachi like that!"
"Maybe I am!" Kari giggled as they walked down the hall. Sakura laughed. They knocked on the door and were let in unfortunately they were all dressed much to their dismay. They soon were back on the road and out of the village.
Kari was looking around on her perch that was the frog. She was unsuccessfully trying to drown out Naruto and Sasuke's arguing. She felt idiotic for fainting the day before. 'But I guess it can't be helped.' Kari glumly thought. Sakura began to join in with the boys.
"Stop it now." Kakashi ordered in his laid back tone.
Jiraiya walked over to Kari on the frog "We're nearing border town."
"Alright." Kari answered. They continued to walk. They were a little ways from the border town and Kakashi spotted a lake.
"Well, are you going to talk with her today?" Kakashi asked.
"No, we'll stop for today." Jiraiya answered. Kari hopped off the frog and began to stretch. Kakashi took Sasuke and Sakura to the lake.
"Today and while the others try to get Tsunade, we are going to learn how to walk on water for I have heard that Naruto has already learned it."
Kari looked around to see that Jiraiya was already off training Naruto on the Rasengan.
"This is a really good exercise because like the tree walk it helps with your chakra control. But the key is to let it off at different rates, you'll see what I mean what I mean later." Kakashi summoned chakra to his feet and began to walk out on the water. He turned around to face them "Once you two can stand on the water for around 2 minutes then I'll tell you the next step." Kakashi got off the water. Sasuke and Sakura summoned chakra to their feet and began to walk out on the water, not even 5 seconds later they both fell into the water.
Kari was pulling out a piece of paper. She began to concentrate and it began to fold into a frog. "Hehe, I still got it." They continued to watch Sasuke and Sakura and not too much later Naruto came back with Jiraiya. Naruto immediately sat down and began training with his rubber ball (He did the water balloon while he was molding chakra, sorry but I missed that part of the show.) after 3 hours Kakashi called a break. Sakura and Sasuke could now stand on the water for close to a minute and Kari could hear Naruto straining to make the rubber burst. He made little progress. After a quick supper everyone began training again. Kari fell asleep and they were still at it.
The net morning Jiraiya informed then that they were going to go into town and check it out.
"We'll stay here and train." Kakashi informed them gesturing to Sakura and Sasuke.
It was pretty quick, they searched the town and they couldn't find her anywhere but they got information from an angry villager who owned the local bar/casino saying she just left town after destroying his tavern. They went back to the others, a little put out but still determined to find her. They spent the night in the clearing and were off at daybreak.
"Gah! Why the hell do we have to get up this early?" Naruto moaned rubbing his hands though his spiky hair. Sakura and Kari also looked pretty mutinous and tired. They began to head for the next town, for according to the barman she left the day before.
Kari and Sakura were chatting the whole time, to one completely random topic to another. It only took 4 hours to get to the next town.
"Lets go get us a room." Jiraiya offered. After getting a room Kakashi took Sasuke and Sakura out to train. The other 4 began to look in every bar and casino in town.
"It's been about 5 hours now and we've looked everywhere!" Kari moaned. "Why don't we go back to the hotel?" Naruto was enthusiastically nodding his head.
Jiraiya heaved a sigh and looked at the busy stores in front of him, "Fine…" 'I could do with a drink anyway…' They trooped back to the hotel. It was fairly large, with a home away from home feeling to it, though through them not noticing, there was a tavern nextdoor "Lets get something to eat eh?" Jiraiya pointed eagerly at the bar.
Naruto began to freak out "Hello! Pervy sage! It's a tavern!"
"Yeah, your point?" Jiraiya asked.
"Are you trying to be a bad influence on me? Hello! I'm underage and Kari's pregnant to boot!" Naruto hollered. Kari sweatdropped.
"You idiot, no one is going to make anyone do anything, just have a snack and stay out of the adults way." Jiraiya answered.
"Umm actually…I'm not very hungry…and I'm really tired…so I'm just gonna go to bed…" Kari said turning around.
"Should I go with you?" Itachi asked.
Kari shook her head, "Nah it's okay, besides there needs to be one responsible person in the group." She muttered the last part and waved to them and went into the hotel.
The others entered the tavern. Jiraiya began to look for a booth. His eyes caught a very beautiful but very familiar blonde in a booth at the end of the tavern. 'Did I screw her before? No…I didn't…where do I remember her from??' He began to squint into her eyes.
Meanwhile the blonde was also looking at Jiraiya 'Where have I seen that old coot before…do I owe him money? He sure is familiar though…'
"TSUNADE!!" Jiraiya roared and pointed scaring Naruto and making Itachi do a small twitch/jump.
"JIRAIYA!?" Tsunade yelled and stood up. The three guys looked in the direction her voice was coming from "Wha…what are you doing here?!"
"Finally, I've been looking everywhere for you. Should have know you'd be in a place like this…" Jiraiya muttered and began to make his way to the booth.
Itachi slowly followed, 'So…this is the legendary slug sannin.'
Naruto however starred, shocked at his discovery 'That's Tsunade?! Yeah old lady my ass Ero-sennin.'
They were all seated at the booth, "So…this is Jiraiya of the Sannin, and that other boy is Uchiha Itachi…I wonder…are the rumours true?' Shizune anxiously thought.
Tsunade downed her shot of sake, "So…why have you been looking for me Jiraiya?" She pulled out a deck of cards from her shirt and began to play with the cards.
"I'll cut right to the chase." Jiraiya began as Tsunade set the cards on the table. Jiraiya picked them up and began to shuffle the cards. "Tsunade, in Konohagakure's wisdom, the village elders have come to the unanimous decision to name you as the fifth Hokage.
Naruto began to choke on his fish, Shizune gasped and Tsunade froze then began to deal the cards, Itachi simply tapped Naruto on the back and he swallowed the chunk of fish in his throat. Jiraiya picked up his cards and looked at them "You've heard about the Sandaime."
Shizune bowed her head, 'The Sandaime, so it is true…'
Tsunade picked up her cards and looked at them, "It was Orochimaru's doing right? I've heard about it. I also heard that nuke-nin Uchiha Itachi finished him off?" she cast Itachi a glance.
"Hai." Itachi answered.
'Orochimaru's doing?' Naruto thought to himself.
'Here we go…' Itachi thought as he grabbed his last stick of dango.
"Hold on a second, you're saying he's the one who killed old man Hokage? Who is this Orochimaru guy?"
"He was a sannin, like Tsunade and yours truly." Jiraiya answered.
"But why? The sannin are all supposed to be from the leaf village so why'd he do it?" Naruto asked.
"Who's the brat?" Tsunade asked while casting an annoyed glance.
Jiraiya chuckled, "This is Uzumaki Naruto."
'This kid is the Kyuubi container?' Tsunade asked herself.
The 2 elders continued their card game. Jiraiya ditched 3 cards and picked up 3. "I'll say it once more. Konohagakure has made it's choice, they want you to be the Godaime. So what's it going to be?" Tsunade remained silent "Do you accept it Tsunade?" Tsunade closed her eyes and pondered the question. She didn't want to go back, the memories of the two people she loved the most still haunted the darkest corners of her mind, then there was the fact that they were asking her to be Hokage, the thing that those two wanted to be the most.
'How could I take that away from them?' She asked herself miserably but then, if she was Hokage she could get rid of all her gambling debts and have a permanent place to live, but then she'd have to run an entire village.
"I'm waiting…" Jiraiya commented. Tsunade opened her eyes. "What say you?"
"Arrrggghh! I don't understand any of this!" Naruto wailed, a sharp tap from Itachi shut him up.
"I'll think about it…" Tsunade answered. She threw away all her cards.
"As long as you'll consider." Jiraiya muttered.
"Grr! Can someone please tell me what's going on?!" Naruto asked.
"It's not something an underage gennin can understand." Jiraiya answered.
"Hmm…it seems like your judgement is failing Jiraiya…this apprentice is nothing like your last one, he's a fool with a large mouth, weird looking to." Tsunade commented.
"Oh yeah?! Lets hear you say that when I bash your face in!" Naruto roared, Itachi grabbed his jacket collar to keep him jumping over the table. When he settled down Itachi let go.
"To be honest and fair it'd be hard to live up to that standard. The Yondaime showed every sign of being the greatest Ninja in a couple of generations, full of talent; he was a natural, charismatic and nearly as sexy as his teacher." Jiraiya bragged.
"Sure he had all those things going for him but they didn't save him from an early death." Tsunade commented, her feelings were taking over. She had an ace and a jack of hearts. "To carelessly toss his life away? All for the sake of the village. Money is one thing, a life is in a level all on its own. To risk your life against all the odds is a sucker's bet."
'A sucker's bet?!' Naruto thought angrily. His chopsticks snapped.
Itachi could see her point but still couldn't help being angry for Naruto's sake.
"All the Hokages have come and gone, they were willing to die for the village and Konohagakure is no safer than it ever was." Tsunade added. She then got a queen of hearts.
"You've changed Tsunade, I don't know what happened to make you the way you are now but to say those things in public?" Jiraiya asked.
Tsunade chuckled "You know I'm not as young as I look, the years have taught me a great deal." A 10 of hearts was revealed. "Sarutobi-sensei too, what was he trying to prove trying to be the hero at his age?"
Jiraiya's look changed to slight anger and Naruto was shaking with rage, even Itachi was rattled, the only thing that would have indicated it though was that his eyes were narrowed. A 4 of spades ruined her royal flush. She sighed. "Playing the Hokage…count me out…it's a fools game." Her bitterness couldn't be stopped 'I can't go back there…I can't be hokage…I despise Hokage, it took everything I had.'
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!" Naruto launched himself across the table. Itachi and Jiraiya both grabbed Naruto by the upper arms. "Let me go! Let me at her! Get off of me and let me go!" Naruto roared
"People are looking." Was Jiraiya's response.
"Lady Tsunade…" Shizune whispered.
"I won't let her sit there and ridicule the old man! I don't care if she is a lady!" He punched his hand "I'll wipe that stupid grin right off her smug face!"
Tsunade got to his level with astonishing speed. "Is that a challenge? You've got guts if nothing else, lets take this outside."
"No, No!" Shizune moaned.
Jiraiya had a bored look on his face 'I hope they make enough noise to wake Kari up…then she can smack the shit out of both of them…'
Itachi was thinking the same thing so he didn't step in.
Soon they were all outside. "One of the legendary sannin taking on a wet behind the ears genin…I should be ashamed of myself." She held up one finger, "I'll only need one finger to take you down."
"Lady Tsunade…don't!" Shizune pleaded.
"So? What are you waiting for?" Tsunade ignored Shizune.
"Don't you ever underestimate me!" Naruto roared, he dashed forward and threw some shuriken, Tsunade moved her head out of the way. Naruto grabbed his kunai and Tsunade put her finger through the hole and took it away from him, she then used her thumb with the upward motion of her hand to knock Naruto down along with knocking off his headband. She then twacked Naruto with her finger and sent him flying.
"A flick to the forehead?! I'll show her…" Naruto muttered, then his kunai and his headband fell in front of him.
"Hey kid, one question before you lose consciousness, why is Hokage such a sore topic for you?"
"It's because it's my goal! Someday I will be Hokage, remember this, to be Hokage that is my dream!"
Tsunade froze, images of her brother and Dan flashed through her eyes.
"That boy…" Shizune muttered. Tsunade dropped her head.
'Her guard's down! I can't take her head but maybe I can use that jutsu!' Naruto thought. 'Focus!' Naruto concentrated and the Rasengan formed, he managed to finally create it that morning. He lunged at Tsunade.
'What…that jutsu!' Tsunade frantically thought. She quickly created a fissure with her finger, Naruto tripped and when the Rasengan hit the ground he was propelled backwards 'Whoa…I never would have expected the Yondaime's jutsu. Still it's not like the real thing, coming from this pipsqueak.'
"SHUT UP OUT THERE!" someone yelled (I'll let you guess…)
Naruto began to climb out of the hole, Shizune began to tend to him, "Naruto are you okay?"
"Jiraiya are you the one who taught this brat the Rasengan?" Tsunade asked.
"Well duh I'm his teacher aren't I?" Jiraiya answered.
"Well then what's the point of teacher it to someone who will never master it? You simpleton, giving him fool's hope and stupid ideas and making him think he actually has what it takes to be Hokage someday." Tsunade commented.
"I'll show you who's stupid, you wait, give me 3 days and I'll have that jutsu down like a bad habit!" Naruto retorted.
Itachi was counting down from 60 in his head.
"Watch what you say, or I might just hold you to it." Tsunade said.
"I never go back on my word, that's my nindo!"
"Well then, want to make a wager? I'll give you 7 days, if you can get it down in one week I'll admit I'm wrong and say that you are good enough to be Hokage. I'll even throw in my necklace."
Shizune stood up "No! No! You don't really mean that!"
"You can have it, jewellery's not my thing." Naruto answered.
'40, 39, 38, 37,36…' Itachi continued. Jiraiya already explained the necklace.
"Lady you got yourself a bet." Naruto answered.
"Alright, but if you don't master it in time I'll keep the money and froggy!" Tsunade finished holding Naruto's wallet.
"Gah! Not gama!" He quickly searched himself.
Shizune marched over "Tsunade-sama what are you doing!? How could you gamble with the necklace?!"
"He hasn't even the slightest chance of winning. Lets go Shizune." Tsunade began to walk away.
'5,4,3,2,1…' Itachi finished.
"FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST!! PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP HERE!! TAKE IT INSIDE!" The hotel door slammed open and Kari in her pissed off glory walked out in a teddy bear nightgown.
Jiraiya and Naruto were trying to keep down their laughter, which came out in little snorts.
Tsunade turned around 'That voice…' She walked back.
"You guys could have kept it down for cryin out loud! I had finally gotten to sleep, Itachi you could have tried to tune them in!"
Itachi just pointed his finger, "She started it."
"Kari?" Tsunade asked.
"Tsunade?" Kari questioned "Shizune?"
"It is you! Wow you've gotten fat! Slim not so fast?"
"Er…it's a long story…" Kari muttered, "Lets go inside." They did. The guys went into their room and Kari, Tsunade and Shizune went into the girls room. Sakura looked up when they entered.
"Wha…?" Sakura began to ask.
"This is Tsunade-sama and Shizune-chan." Kari introduced them.
"Hajimemashte." Sakura greeted.
"Guys this is Haruno Sakura."
"Hajimemashte." They all sat on one bed and Kari quickly explained all that had happened in one hour.
Tsunade placed a hand on Kari's stomach and smiled, "I don't know whether I should hug you or should smack you."
"Think of it this way….I never would have found you if I didn't do those things." Kari answered.
"True enough." Tsunade sighed.
"I'm just going to go check up on Naruto." Shizune said then left. She began walking to Naruto's door, then knocked.
"Yeah yeah I'm coming!" Naruto opened the door to see Shizune.
"I know it's late, and I'm sorry but we have to talk." Shizune said.
"Aww man…I want to get a goodnights sleep so I can start training tomorrow." Naruto answered.
"That's just in, before you get into this I have to tell you something, something about that necklace and Tsunade-sama."
"Well I better get going…" Tsunade said sadly.
Kari noticed her tone, something she didn't want to hear from Tsunade. Sakura fell asleep long ago and Itachi, Kakashi and Jiraiya went back to the tavern. Maybe she would go see what Tsunade is up to.
"Hmph, like I care about that old goat." Naruto answered.
"Don't say that! She's not the kind of person you think she is! You don't know anything about her!" Shizune yelled before she could stop herself. Sasuke stirred in his sleep.
"S-Sory for shouting, please forgive me. Tsunade-sama wasn't always...like that, she always used to be kind and dedicated to the village but she's changed. But since that day…" Shizune trailed off.
"What day was that? What happened?" Naruto asked.
"The day when she lost everything, dreams, hopes all she had." She had nothing left except the necklace and its memories. Please understand that that necklace is her most valued possession, not a piece of jewellery to be gambled away on a stupid bet."
"A wager's a wager. Besides, she suggested it, not me alright?!"
"You'll be sorry! If you think you can wear it like a trophy you're wrong! It's not an ordinary necklace; it won't accept anyone else wearing it. Only with Tsunade-sama will it be safe. If anyone else puts it on they die."
Kari got on a jacket and began to wonder around the town. It was fairly quiet, only a couple of taverns were open. After grabbing a small bite to eat she decided to go to the local shrine to pray. While passing under a tori gate she heard quiet sobs and felt a drop of water land on the tip of her nose. She looked up to see Tsunade hugging herself and crying. Kari focused chakra to her feet and jumped to where Tsunade was, Tsunade looked up and Kari gave her a hug. Tsunade hugged her back and they stayed like that hugging eachother and crying.
"So you see Naruto, that was the day. It changed her a lot and she's been in torment ever since." Shizune explained the story. Naruto walked by her without a word "Where are you going?"
"Out, I need to train." Naruto answered.
"Tsunade?" Kari asked.
"Mmm…" Tsunade answered muffled by Kari's shoulder.
"Did Jiraiya say anything about….Godaime?" Kari braced herself.
Tsunade looked up, "Yes."
"And?"
"I can't." Tsunade answered.
Kari sighed "It must be hard for you. I could never imagine what it would feel like to lose the 2 people I care about most but…even if you don't want to become Hokage…would you please come back with us? It would be stupid to have a wedding but not have a maid of honour…"
"I will…I promise…and I'll think about being Godaime." Tsunade muttered then sniffed "What are you doing out here?!"
"You didn't realize it was me?" Kari asked.
"No." Tsunade answered, "We're going back to your room!"
"…." Kari sighed as he got dragged back.
END!!!Well that ends this chapter, I hope that it's length makes up for my more than late update well yah I hope that everyone hasn't lost interest in this just yet and is happy that I updated, please review please! I'll have the next chapter up soon as I've already began writing it
Sakura Sama 101 signing off.
