"Just so we're clear brat I think this is pretty dumb," Tsunade told him as they were leaping through the trees. "Whatever it is Itachi told you, you could have sent a coded message to Konoha while we remained kin hiding."
Naruto shook his head again. She'd made that argument plenty of times before and he gave her the same answer once more. "Itachi told me this information was too vital to risk it being intercepted and that I needed to bring it to the old man myself."
"Since when are you listening to the likes of Uchiha Itachi?" She demanded. "He attacked you! Whatever message he gave you was probably a bogus attempt to get you to return to Konoha where you'll be more visible. You'd have been better off listening to me. You'd be safer."
"That doesn't matter," Naruto said firmly. "If there's any chance this message is real then the Hokage needs to know about it. My safety is totally unimportant. As a Leaf nin my duty to the village comes before everything else!"
Hearing such pure faith and devotion for the village brought up sudden memories of both Nawaki and Dan. They had both loved the village and wanted to do whatever they could to protect it. Even after being attacked by Itachi Naruto had no concern at all for his own safety. What mattered to him was the village. She knew it was youthful idealism and foolish, but a small part of her was secretly pleased to see it. In an odd way it was like something of her loved ones' dreams was still alive.
"Whatever brat, I just hope you don't expect me to keep watching out for you. I don't even want to visit Konoha."
"I told you that you didn't have to come baachan, I could have done this on my own."
"Damn it brat stop calling me that! In any case since Jiraiya fobbed you off on me I'd be embarrassed to have to admit I got you killed while I was responsible for your safety."
He looked back over his shoulder at her and flashed her a huge grin. "So you're just doing this to save face with ero-sennin huh? Couldn't be any other reason?"
"What other reason could I possibly have?"
"You do know there are gambling houses in Konoha don't you?"
"Ooooooh, I'd forgotten all about that!"
Behind both of them Shizune smothered a laugh.
XXX
Naruto had sent no advanced warning that he was returning. On the off chance Itachi's message really was nothing but a ruse was best to arrive without anyone knowing they were coming. The sudden return of not only Naruto but one of the Sannin caused an immediate stir.
Being back in the village the very first thing he wanted to do was go and have a bowl of Ichiraku ramen. Well, actually maybe that was the second thing; he also really wanted to see Anko. He was hoping she would be impressed by how manly and tall he was now.
'Ooooh, looking good Na… ru… to. Want to come with me back to my place and have me give you a proper welcome?' All this being said as she was shamelessly rubbing herself against him.
"Naruto are you okay?' Shizune asked snapping him out of his fantasy.
"Huh? What?"
"You had a faraway look in your eyes and were starting to drool."
"Oh, heh, I must have been thinking about getting someone really awesome ramen. After I meet with the Hokage I'll treat you and baachan to some."
"What was that brat?" Tsunade said warningly.
He cupped his hands over his mouth. "I said I would treat you and Shizune to some ramen later. I guess being so old you're starting to lose your hearing."
"Oh no," Shizune muttered.
"That's it!" Tsunade stopped and stood in front of him. She then brought up her hand in front of his face.
Flick.
With one finger she sent him flying into a trash bin in an alley.
"Unbelievable," Naruto said rubbing his bruised forehead. "She's actually scarier than Anko."
XXX
In his office Sarutobi was puffing away on his pipe. "It's very good to see you again Tsunade, though when I assigned you as Naruto's instructor I didn't expect you to return him to me quite so soon."
"It wasn't my idea to come back here, believe me but some things happened." In short order she told him about the attack and about the consequences including Naruto's need to deliver a message.
"I see," the Hokage listened patiently giving no outward sign of concern. "I was afraid something like this might happen."
"Wait, you expected Naruto to be attacked by a pair of S-rank missing nin?" Tsunade asked with a dangerous frown.
"Naruto is being targeted because of what is inside of him," Sarutobi told her. "Keeping him protected was part of the reason he was sent out with Jiraiya."
"If he was in that sort of danger why wasn't I informed?" She demanded.
"You were told to take over Jiraiya's duties of instructing and protecting him. More than that you did not need to know given your reluctance."
"Well If I'm going to keep protecting him I expect you to remedy that and tell me everything!"
Sarutobi lifted a surprised eyebrow.
"Hey baachan who says I need any more protection?" Naruto asked.
"You forget what Itachi did to you?" She returned with a roll of her eyes. "Just be glad I'm willing to put up with you and count your blessings."
"Does this means you wish to return to active duty?" Sarutobi asked. He'd secretly hoped that Naruto might win her over and return some of her old love for the village. He had a gift for making friends with people.
"Don't get the wrong idea," she told him. "I still don't believe in the village, but I'm already here. It would pretty pointless to just walk away now and have the brat get himself killed. I may as well stay around long enough to at least make sure he's properly trained."
Surprisingly Naruto burst out into laughter. "Who are you kidding baachan? You're just hoping I help you make some more money at the poker tables."
"Poker tables?' Sarutobi asked with a frown. He knew his former student and her weaknesses quite well.
"Heh, just a little recreational playing," she said quickly.
"I certainly hope that's all it is. In any case would you and Shizune wait outside while I listen to the message Naruto has for me."
Tsunade nodded.
"Don't forget Naruto," Shizune reminded him. "You promised to treat us to ramen after this."
He gave her a childish grin. "Sure, it'll be the best ramen you've ever had to I promise."
Once they were gone Naruto dropped his cheerful persona and turned a serious face to the Hokage.
"What message does Itachi have for me Naruto?" Sarutobi asked cautiously.
On the night of the Uchiha massacre Itachi had been assigned the mission of executing all the members of his clan in order to prevent their launching a coup attempt. Itachi had carried out his orders but had deliberately spared his younger brother while abandoning the village. He'd left behind a message warning he would keep the secrets he knew only so long as his brother remained safe.
Since that time he had joined with the criminal organization Akatsuki, but so far as was known had committed no crimes against Konoha or the Land of Fire. There had been no further communication between him and the village until today. Now that Sasuke was gone, and presumed dead, Sarutobi feared what Itachi had to say.
"I spent what felt like three days inside a genjutsu, though it turned out to be just seconds in real time. He gave me a lot of information which I have committed to memory, but he asked me to begin with these words. 'I was asked to be loyal to my clan by betraying my village. I was asked to be loyal to my village by betraying my clan. I chose to serve both and betray both; I wished to save what could be saved. I do not ask for forgiveness, but for understanding. Please believe that no matter my crimes I have never wished any harm to my village.'"
"I see,' Sarutobi said quietly.
"What was he talking about? How could what he did be anything but a betrayal of both his clan and village? Is he just insane?"
"He is not insane Naruto, but just as there are secrets connected to you that were kept for your good and the good of the village there are secrets touching on him and on what happened that night that will also have to be kept." Sarutobi said sadly. The truth about the Uchiha massacre could never be allowed to come to light. Itachi would never be forgiven for his actions or allowed to return home. He certainly knew that and yet had chosen to help Konoha regardless. He was surely a great ninja and man; it was his tragedy that no one would ever know.
"But how…"
"You do not need to know Naruto," Sarutobi said kindly but firmly. "You are a ninja, you understand that security requires you not seek out classified information which does not directly involve you, and this does not. Please relate to me the rest of the information."
Naruto really wanted to know just what he was missing but knew Sarutobi was right. "He gave me information regarding everything about Akatsuki. I have a list of all members, their jutsus, locations of bases, bank account numbers, and what they have planned for me and the other Biju."
"What is that?"
Naruto grimaced. "They plan to extract them from their current hosts and implant them into their members."
"That is impossible! A biju cannot be implanted into a mature adult; only a newborn child's undeveloped chakra system could tolerate all of a biju's immense chakra."
"According to Itachi one of their members, named Pein, has developed a special jutsu that will permit it."
"I see, then it appears the first order of business will have to be warning the other jinchuuriki as we try to assassinate Pein."
"If what Itachi told me was true that might be really hard, he's got some unbelievable abilities, and he's not even the strongest member."
"Who is?" Sarutobi asked.
"Someone named Uchiha Madera."
XXX
Outside in the reception area Tsunade and Shizune were relaxing waiting for Naruto to finish his interview when they heard someone whistling a happy tune approaching.
"Hey! I hear a certain gaki is back in town!" Anko strolled in with a huge smile on her face. "Is he free yet? I intend to get the poor little guy blind drunk," she rubbed her hands with evil glee. "I may even decide to make a man of him if he's really lucky."
Anko came to an abrupt halt as out of nowhere she felt killer intent.
"So it's true," a blonde woman with her hair in twin ponytails said as she cracked her knuckles.
"You should be ashamed of yourself! What kind of sensei uses her student like that?" A dark haired woman said.
Anko recognized them from her younger days. "Lady Tsunade? Shizune? What are you two doing here? It's great to see… ow! Ow! Hey!"
Tsunade had grabbed Anko by the ear and forced her to bend forward or have it ripped off. "I'm going to have a few words with you and you had better have some good explanations or I swear you're going to end up in prison."
"Ow! Ow! Hey! Just what is this about?!"
"This is about your abusing your student and your position as sensei," Shizune told her.
"What, are you talking about my training techniques? Sure they're a little rough but they get the job done!"
"I'm talking about you getting a twelve year old drunk and sleeping with him!" Tsunade said furiously.
Everyone in the reception area stopped to stare at Anko.
Her face turned a deep red. "I can't believe he talked about that," she muttered.
"So it's true then?"
"Well… technically. Ow! Ow!" She thought Tsunade really was going to rip her ear off. "Hey I can explain!"
"Oh I can't wait to hear it. Let's go somewhere private and you can tell me your side of it." Still holding her by the ear she led Anko back down the hall way.
XXX
It took Naruto more than two hours to reveal all the information he'd been given.
By the time he left the Hokage's office he was starving. He was a little disappointed to see baachan and Shizune hadn't waited for him but he figured he'd treat them another time. He was surprised by all the sympathetic looks he was getting from the office staff. They must have all heard about his run in with Itachi. He even had one middle aged woman come up to him and hug him.
"You poor thing!" She said.
"Ah, er, thanks?" He wasn't used to sympathy from strangers. It made him uneasy.
He headed outside and made a bee line for Ichiraku's. Once he'd eaten he'd go look up Anko. He'd only made it about six blocks when he was hit by an all too familiar killer intent. He looked up to see Anko there.
"A… Anko-chan! It's so good to see you, I've really missed you."
She didn't say a word. All she did was smile at him, that too friendly smile that he knew always spelled serious trouble to whoever it was aimed at.
"Ah, is something wrong Anko? I thought you'd be happy to see me." He slooowly took a step back.
"Gaki," she said in a honey sweet voice as she began to twirl a kunai about her thumb. "Remember what I said I'd do to you if you ever told anyone what happened the night after your first mission?"
Uh oh. Smiling and holding his hands up he took another step back. "Ah that was an awfully long time ago."
"I remember telling you to never speak of it again. Never isn't up yet is it gaki?" She took a step forward.
"Heh, any chance we can talk about this?"
Her smile got even wider and friendlier. "Nope."
"Didn't think so. Yaaahh!" He did the only sensible thing. He took off and fled for his very life.
XXX
Two Hours Later
A small crowd had gathered beneath the Hokage Monument. Someone had been stripped naked and left unconscious and hanging upside down from the Yondaime's nose.
Among the crowd were Inuzuka Kiba and his cousin Ayako. Ayako had her camera out and was snapping away.
Kiba looked over at her. "Isn't that kind of mean? I thought Naruto was your friend."
"Oh he is," Ayako said as she took another photo. "But who could pass up the chance at such great black mail material?"