Book Two: Nozomi's Purpose- One Battle Ends, Another To Come!

Grandpa Jiraiya raced after Grandma Tsunade. We started to go after them.

We all turned to the Village. Three giant snakes was attacking the Village.

"How could I have missed that?" Fu asked.

"We're on it." Gaara said.

We all hopped on our Tails, Fu lay down in the curve of Cho's horn.

Our Tails who came to a stop on one of the few buildings left standing.

"Leave this thing to us!" Shukaku said.

The Tails enlarged themselves to about the size of the snakes.

"This is going to be fun." I said smirking.

"Cho!" Fu exclaimed. Cho forced wind to slice the head off of one snake.

"My turn." Gaara said. "Shukaku!" Shukaku shot a blast of sand from his mouth at one of the two remaining snakes completely destroying it.

"Couldn't have made that a little less messy?" Cho asked.

"That's half the fun." Kitsune said, he didn't wait for Naruto to give the order he just shot something at the third snake destroying it as well.

"What was that!" Naruto asked excitedly.

"Sonic Roar." Kitsune said. "It was on a much smaller scale than I would have liked but it would have destroyed the Village." Kitsune shrugged.

"THAT WAS SO COOL!"

Boys- Cho, Fu, and Sumi.

"Great not only do we have to clean up the Village wreckage but snake guts as well." Sumi scolded her brothers.

They started arguing. I whistled to get their attention, the fighting ceased. "The Hokage just died and you four are fighting over the clean up!" I yelled. "Grow up all of you! We have more pressing matters at hand!"

A loud boom thundered in the distance. All of us looked at each other and nodded. The Tails raced through what was left of the Village and Forests.

"It's sad isn't it..." I said. I felt more drained then I have ever felt.

Are you alright, Dear?- Sumi

I think I used too much chakra is all.

You don't use chakra- Sumi

I don't?

No. You use Raw Energy. Raw Energy is- Sumi

I know what it is. I've read the book. But I didn't know I could use it

That's all you've ever used.- Sumi

Weird.

When we got to the spot where the boom had originated from only Grandma Tsunade and Grandpa Jiraiya were there. Their backs were turned to us and both were looking in the same direction.

"Grandma Tsunade!" I scrambled off of Sumi. "Grandpa Jiraiya!"

They both turned. Naruto and I stopped in our tracks, they looked so haunted...

"Grandma Tsunade? Pervy Sage?" Naruto asked uncertainly.

They both snapped out of their trances. "Let's get back to the Village." Grandma Tsunade smiled. But I knew her well enough to know it was fake but it fooled Naruto, Gaara, Fu and the Tails.

We all walked slowly back to the Village, Naruto and Fu rambled on about us destroying the three snakes.

"What happened to Orochimaru?" Gaara asked interrupting them.

He obviously caught my grandparents off guard with that question. "He ran, the coward." Grandma Tsunade said. Grandpa Jiraiya just looked ahead, his face unreadable.

When we got back to the Village all the Shinobi were waiting in front of the Hokage Mansion. Everyone looked at us.

"Thank you all for what you have done today." Grandma Tsunade said. "Tomorrow will be Hiruzen Sensei's funeral. And reconstruction will start the day after. I do not expect any Shinobi from the other Villages to help."

"But what if we want to help?" Called on former Sound Shinobi.

"Then you may. The Leaf will be grateful for any help, though it is not necessary."

Several calls came from the crowd saying they were more than willing to help with repairs. Not just Sand and former Sound called out.

"I suggest you all get your rest then. There is much work to be done."

The Shinobi dispersed, although Sand and former Sound stayed behind.

"We're sorry for all the trouble we've caused." on Sound Kunoichi said. "My people will stay until the repairs are complete. It's the least we can do."

"The Sand shall stay as long as we can." Baki said.

"Orochimaru tricked and used you." Grandpa Jiraiya said. "You don't need to apologize."

That night I just couldn't sleep, so I wandered around the Mansion. Naruto was out cold as were the Tails. I heard voices arguing in the living room.

"Tsunade are you actually going to fight him!" I heard Grandpa Jiraiya ask, he sounded like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Tsunade? He never calls her that. He always calls her 'Hime' or 'Tsunade Hime'. Never just Tsunade.

I walked closer to the living room and listened harder.

"Jiraiya you know Orochimaru has to be stopped." Grandma Tsunade fired back. They fight but it's never really serious. This was... There is no other word for it... Scary. Seeing them both so angry... And with each other... Grandma Tsunade had thrown him across the Village but this...

"But Tsunade what if-"

"But noth-"

"What if you don't come back!" Grandpa Jiraiya grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her, Grandma Tsunade's feet were lifted off the ground. She was now eye level with him.

Grandma Tsunade's eyes widened momentarily, then her face softened. Grandpa Jiraiya loosened his hold on her and put her back on the ground.

Grandma Tsunade put her hand on his cheek. "I'll be fine, Baka."

"Tsunade, when the Twins were born I almost lost you." Grandpa Jiraiya said looking Grandma Tsunade in the eye. By the expression on her face this was news to her. "I won't gamble your life."

"Jiraiya we've gotten out of worse situations than this."

"No we haven't. Tsunade this is Orochimaru-"

"And you're not gambling my life, Baka. I am."

"And you always lose your gambles!" His grip tightened on her shoulders again causing Grandma Tsunade's hand to fall from his cheek. "I won't-"

"Jiraiya!" She cut him off. "It's my duty to put my life on the line, as the Fifth Hokage. Even if I wasn't Godaime I'd still fight him as my duty as a Leaf Kunoichi."

"There's nothing I can do to change your mind is there, Hime?"

It's ending.

"No. There isn't."

"Then I'll go with you." Jiraiya said.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." She said.

Grandpa Jiraiya held her close to him. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

"Only if you do." she said.

I walked back down to my room smirking. Careful isn't in Grandpa Jiraiya's vocabulary. Now to find out when this 'Sannin Showdown' is...