CHAPTER 37:

NEVER MEET YOUR HEROES

As they made their way through the streets of Tanzaku, Sakura thought about the upcoming meeting, even confrontation, with Tsunade. She was still finding it somewhat hard to believe that one of her idols was quite as bad as Jiraiya made her out to be. Then again, he seemed rather solemn when discussing Tsunade, and while he admitted his unrequited love for the Senju, Sakura got the sense of sincerity from the man.

Which made it ironic. After all, the only member of the Sannin left completely and undeniably loyal to Konoha was a shameless and unrepentant pervert and writer of erotic fiction.

Not that Tsunade was actually an enemy of Konoha. Rather, she was more apathetic and bitter towards her hometown, whereas Orochimaru wanted to conquer or destroy it. Even so, Sakura knew that she was probably going to lose her temper talking to her idol.

A bright spot of it was that Naruto had finally managed to master the Rasengan. He had to do it in his own way. Sakura and Haku suggested the Shadow Clones to help, and after Naruto realised that, he used a Shadow Clone to impart the rotation needed for the Rasengan, while he himself concentrated the power. He managed it just before they reached Tanzaku.

Haku, while discussing what to do with Tsunade, suggested that Sakura learn a specific jutsu. It had been used once to intimidate and psychologically condition academy students in Kiri. It was a Suiton or Water jutsu, but with a genjutsu mixed in. It was called, rather ominously, Ketsueki no Tsunami. The Tsunami of Blood. It had little value in battle, as most shinobi were used to the sight of blood, and even a psychological impact would be minimal. But against rookie shinobi, or against haemophobes, it would be devastating. It was a dirty trick to use against Tsunade, but she was one of the Sannin, and if things escalated, Sakura would need every edge she could get. Of course, Sakura was going to be as diplomatic as possible. The Hokage had asked for that, and Jiraiya had said it too.

Entering Tanzaku, they had seen and heard something disturbing. A famous tourist attraction, an ancient castle, had recently been badly damaged. And witnesses claimed that a massive snake had appeared. Jiraiya mused that it may well have been Orochimaru.

Suddenly, Jiraiya gestured them over. "I can sense her chakra. It's a bit hard to hide. She's in that bar. Haku, Sakura, you go in. I'll come in if I think you two need help. Now, Naruto, just sit back, and admire their diplomatic skills."

Sakura and Haku nodded, and then walked into the bar as confidently as they could. They found their quarry easily enough: there was no mistaking the very buxom blonde with the diamond seal on her forehead, with a young dark-haired woman holding a pig nearby. Both had a pensive, even morose expression. Both looked up at Sakura and Haku approached, sitting down in front of them. "I don't recall inviting anyone over," Tsunade remarked.

"Sorry, Lady Tsunade, but we're here on a matter of some considerable urgency," Sakura said.

Tsunade peered at them, before scowling. "You're not debt collectors, unless they decided to hire pretty young genin from Konoha. And I doubt even a fangirl would try so hard to track me down. Okay, you have my attention, kids. For the moment."

"I am originally from Kiri, actually," Haku said quietly. "Sakura is a Konoha genin. I am a chunin, officially, anyway. But I work for Konoha now."

"Ah. I'm guessing a refugee from the Bloodline Purges," Tsunade said. "Your eyes are pretty damn haunted for a kid, even a shinobi." Her eyes narrowed. "Let me guess, my pervert former teammate is outside? It's unlikely a pair of kids your age, unless you're already chunin, would be sent to one of the Sannin unchaperoned, and I know Jiraiya would know how to track me down. That cowardly pervert doesn't want me saying no to the offer, I'd bet. He sent you in here to butter me up."

"He also thought we had more tact," Haku said.

Tsunade snorted. "That's hardly difficult. Most of the time, he has the tact of a bull in a china shop. You have my attention. What's the offer?"

After a moment, Sakura said, hesitantly, "Lady Tsunade, the Third Hokage and your sensei, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is dead."

Tsunade paused in her drinking, then peered at them. "How did he die?"

"Your former comrade, Orochimaru, spearheaded an attempt to destroy Konoha with the help of Suna. The Hokage was forced to use the Reaper Seal while fighting Orochimaru and the revived bodies of your grandfather and grand-uncle. Although unable to kill Orochimaru due to his injuries, the Hokage did destroy the use of his arms."

Sakura realised Tsunade barely reacted to this. After a moment, she said, "I heard most of this news already, from Orochimaru himself."

Sakura remembered what Jiraiya had said, as well as the damage caused to the ancient castle. It seemed that Orochimaru had made his offer. Regardless, she pushed on. "Lady Tsunade…Konoha needs you. With the Third Hokage dead, and Konoha still recovering from Orochimaru's attempt at invasion, we need a new Hokage soon. And there are few appropriate candidates. I'm sure you can agree that neither of your team-mates are appropriate choices."

Tsunade made a most unlady-like snort of agreement. With a heavy sigh, she said, "Listen, what's your name again?"

"I'm Sakura Haruno, and this is Haku, of the Yuki clan," Sakura said. "We've also got another with us, one Naruto Uzumaki."

Sakura didn't fail to notice a flash of recognition in the buxom blonde's eyes. Eventually, Tsunade said, "Sakura, you've had a wasted journey. I know what you want me to say. You want me to become the Fifth Hokage. Anyone who takes up that position is a fool. Anyone who desires that position is an even greater fool."

"Even your brother?" Sakura asked. She had been told about Nawaki Senju, who died during a mission, by Jiraiya, how Nawaki wanted to become Hokage. And her lover, Dan. "Does that make your brother a fool? Or Dan?"

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Do not talk about them to me. Don't you dare."

Sakura matched Tsunade's glare. Not without fear, but even so, she found herself getting angry at Tsunade. "You called your own grandfather and great-uncle fools. You called Hiruzen Sarutobi, your own teacher, a fool. You called the father of one of my friends a fool. You called your own brother a fool. And you called the love of your life a fool."

"A life is not like money to be spent without care!" Tsunade retorted. "But my grandfather and great-uncle sacrificed their lives without seeing the peace they desired in their time! The Fourth Hokage, the most promising prodigy in Konoha if not the world, sacrificed himself to seal the Kyuubi! And my sensei…he shouldn't have taken up the role again. He was an old fool, playing a young person's game."

"I consider that somewhat hypocritical, Lady Tsunade, considering you deliberately hide your true age under a Henge," Haku observed. When she looked at him sharply, he added, "You are right, a life is not to be spent so lightly. It was perhaps the greatest lesson in my life, one that I learned only when I first met Sakura. But it does not mean that the sacrifices of the prior Hokages are at all meaningless. Or would you rather see Konoha destroyed? The very village your grandfather established?"

Tsunade flinched. Sakura got the feeling that the barb had dug deeper than it should have done. "There's other people than me who can be Hokage," Tsunade eventually said. "Let them take on the role."

"The only other remotely serious candidate is Danzo Shimura," Sakura said. "God knows what he'd do to Konoha under his reign."

"So that's it?" Tsunade asked with a scoff. "Emotional blackmail? Saying 'such and such will happen if you don't become Hokage'?" Another scoff. "Anyway, Danzo might toughen you guys up. I mean, look at you. You're as green as your eyes."

"Not as green as I heard you get at the sight of blood," Sakura remarked carelessly. Her irritation at Tsunade was increasing. As Tsunade's glare intensified, Sakura added, "And I used to hold you up as a hero, as a paragon, as someone to aspire to."

Tsunade emitted a bitter chuckle. "Never meet your heroes, Sakura. That's a lesson from me to you, gratis."

"No. Because you're no hero. You're just a wannabe kunoichi," Sakura said, deciding she couldn't stand to be in this woman's presence any longer.

But just as she stood, Tsunade suddenly slammed her fist into the table, cracking it. "What did you call me? I am one of the Legendary Sannin. I'm no wannabe. I've forgotten more about being a shinobi than you'll ever learn."

"Really? Because the way I see it, even Orochimaru is a better ninja than you. At least he strives to learn more things instead of pissing his life down the drain," Sakura said, her anger flaring up. "He's a better role model than you are! And I'm sure your grandfather would be so proud to see you like this, instead of helping the village he founded."

"You little bitch…you've got five seconds to apologise. Otherwise, we're taking this outside," Tsunade said.

Sakura felt a thrill of fear, but matched her gaze. "Apologise for telling the truth? Never." And then, she stormed out of the bar, knowing that Tsunade would follow her.

Jiraiya was facepalming when she emerged. "Please tell me you did NOT pick a fight with Tsunade?"

"She did," Haku said wryly as he followed, Tsunade and Shizune in tow.

"Oh, don't worry, Jiraiya," Tsunade said, even as Shizune tried to make her reconsider. "I'm not going to use my full strength against the green girl. I'll just use one finger."

"That's fine," Sakura said, her eyes narrowing. "I only need two moves to beat you. Don't forget to say that you surrender."

"Confident, aren't you?" Tsunade said.

Sakura closed her eyes, calmed herself, and then ran her hands through handseals. "Suiton: Ketsueki no Tsunami," she said. Suddenly, they seemed to be ankle-deep in water…no, blood. Tsunade, almost immediately, froze, her eyes wide, her body shivering.

Sakura, meanwhile, gathered chakra, and soon, a scintillating spinning orb of chakra, the size of a pebble, was in her hand. She was at Tsunade's side, the Koishi Rasengan dangerously close to the Sannin's temple. "Checkmate," Sakura hissed. "If I wanted to kill you, all I'd have to do is shove this into your skull. Now…surrender."

Tsunade, frozen to the spot, couldn't even say it. "Just let her go!" Shizune protested. "She surrenders!"

Sakura then dropped the Koishi Rasengan into the ankle deep water in front of Tsunade, thinking it'd dissipate before it hit the water. Instead, there was a sudden fountain, a spiralling fountain, of blood, blood that splashed over those present, before causing a great shower of blood over Sakura and Tsunade. "Damn! KAI!" Sakura yelled, dispelling the illusion of blood. What they had been splashed with was water, and even that was beginning to recede, revealing a small crater in the street.

Naruto smiled. "Well, I'm admiring your diplomatic skills, Sakura(1)!"

Tsunade's mouth worked up and down like a broken puppet, before she said, quietly, "What the hell was that? That looked like the Fourth's Rasengan…"

"It's Sakura's own variation, one she only just learned. She has the chakra control, but not the raw power," Jiraiya said proudly. "What you saw is the Koishi Rasengan. The blood illusion is a jutsu from Kiri, a really basic one, used to scare kids in their academy. But Sakura here has actually created two jutsus of her own. One, apparently your great-uncle created independently, but the other is all her own. Her chakra levels and physical strength may not be much compared to many others her age, but she's got a mind sharper than a kunai." Jiraiya put his hands on Naruto's shoulders. "Naruto here lacks control and discipline, but he's also unpredictable, smarter than he looks, tenacious, and has those Uzumaki chakra reserves. And Haku there was trained by none other than Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Bloody Mist. And all three of them have learned how to use the Rasengan."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Let me see them."

Haku easily created his own, and even added a blizzard in miniature, swirling around the orb of chakra. Naruto had to use a Shadow Clone for his, but it was unmistakeably a full Rasengan. "Wow, that's…that's great!" Shizune exclaimed.

Tsunade looked at them, before frowning in thought. "Why'd you teach them that technique, Jiraiya? And so young?"

"Well, it was partly a test. Naruto and Sakura are amongst the best rookie shinobi in Konoha. I thought they were ready. I wanted to see if they could overcome their shortcomings to master the Rasengan…or else modify it to work. And…well, it's Naruto's legacy, after all."

Tsunade peered at her fellow blonde, sobered up a little by this revelation. "I see…" she said quietly. After some time spent contemplating this, she turned to Sakura. "You, Sakura…do you know much in the way of medical jutsus?"

"No. I know medical techniques, like herbs and pressure points and first aid. I know anatomy and physiology. Haku taught me quite a few things. But actual medical jutsu? I've read about them, but I haven't learned them, yet."

"Well then, I'll make you a wager. I'll give you two medical jutsus to learn. The first is the Shosen Jutsu, or the Healing Palm technique. The other, and the more difficult one, is the Chakra no Mesu or the Chakra Scalpel(2). Learn both in a week, and I will come back to Konoha and be Hokage. Fail, and I am free to go about my business."

Before Sakura could say anything, Naruto had to open his big mouth. "She accepts your stupid wager! And Sakura will learn your stupid techniques!"

Sakura groaned softly to herself. Naruto and his big bloody mouth. And given the way Jiraiya was looking at her expectantly, he was going to go along with it. And here she was hoping this would be easy…

CHAPTER 37 ANNOTATIONS NO JUTSU!:

And here you have it. As Naruto has already mastered the Rasengan by this point, the wager Tsunade has is different. And unlike the manga, although I haven't made it clear here, Tsunade is a bit more impressed by her opponent. She's testing Sakura, considering whether she should make Sakura her next apprentice.

The jutsu Haku taught Sakura was a jutsu I made up for this chapter (and apologies if the Japanese grammar in the actual jutsu name is bad). That being said, given how bloodthirsty Kiri is by reputation, it certainly sounds like something that they'd use, to try and intimidate the students, as well as inure them to the sight of blood. It's not an offensive jutsu, just an intimidation tactic. Of course, on poor haemophobic Tsunade, it's devastating. She's not quite able to realise it's a genjutsu colouring the water like blood because of her fear.

Finally, that thing about Sakura's mini-Rasengan actually retaining its shape after it has left her hand is actually a key point. I'll explain why it did so later. I had intended that for a later chapter, but I couldn't resist a rather cruel and macabre joke at Tsunade's expense, getting splashed with what looks like blood.

Review-answering time! jgkitarel: Fair point. It could possibly be concealed in the palms of both hands before being unleashed.

Duner89: I'm undecided as to how to combine it with Hikariton.

1. This whole joke about 'diplomatic skills' comes from Doctor Who: The Two Doctors. Sent by the Time Lords to ask a scientist called Dastari to persuade his colleagues to cease time-travel experiments, the Second Doctor tells Jamie to sit back and 'admire his diplomatic skills'. After getting into a heated argument with Dastari, the Doctor looks at Jamie and angrily asks what is he looking at? Jamie merely responds wryly, "I'm just admiring your diplomatic skills." The Doctor's only response? An indignant "Pah!"

2. Fun fact: Why is it called, in Japanese, a 'Chakra Mes' (or 'Chakra no Mesu')? Because 'mes' in Dutch means 'knife'. The things you can learn in the Naruto Wiki…