Hello all! Thanks for everyone's feedback on the previous chapter : ) After thinking long and hard on what to do, I've decided to hell with it! The consensus was that, no matter what, you all wanted me to continue writing, so I will.

I don't have any stories to read currently. I've been watching a lot of anime online however, and would suggest watching Gintama or Utawarerumono The False Faces on Crunchyroll. How didn't I know how amazing Crunchyroll was until now? Once you ignore all the commercials, it's fantastic.

You can also blame my discovery of Crunchyroll for my lack of update. That and being super sick…. And Christmas… My New Year Resolution is to update at least one of my stories once a week. I'm hoping that will all make you happy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 52: Tanzaku-Gai


Xxx Sakura xxX

"How sure are we that this Tsunade person is still at Tanazaku-Gai?" Sasuke questioned as the group of four walked together.

Sakura tilted her head to send Jiraiya-sama a meaningful look before she responded. "We're not a hundred percent sure that she is still there," Sakura said. "But even an old lead would be better than no lead at all, right Jiraiya-sama?"

"I knew what I was doing," Sakura could tell the older male was pouting, and she thought that the pouting face did not suit Jiraiya at all.

"Psh," Naruto accused with a glare. Both of his hands were occupied with the balloon he was trying to make pop. The three of them had still not been able to perform their jutsu to the way they had wanted, but Naruto-kun had made it to the third step of his rasengan. Sakura wondered if they all just had set unrealistically high expectations for themselves. "We know the type of leads you were getting, and they weren't to find that old bat Tsunade."

"Careful boy," Jiraiya warned as he raised an eye. "If Tsunade-hime heard you say that…. You'd be put through a wall for sure."

"I doubt she's that strong," Naruto said with a casual shrug.

"Sannin, Naruto-kun," Sakura reminded him helpfully as she walked beside Sasuke-kun. Sasuke-kun was carrying Little Sasuke; Naruto-kun had asked them to "fishsit" Little Sasuke while he continued to train as they walked. "That means she's very strong."

"Yeah," Naruto said with a sly grin. "But we're going to be so much stronger when we get older! We're gonna get a cool nickname too, something better than Sannin."

"You have high hopes for yourself," Sasuke snorted as he snuck Little Sasuke another treat. Sakura sent Sasuke-kun a warning glance; Kami knew that fish was too big already. Sasuke-kun had the decency to look a little put out.

"Little Sasuke eats once a day," Sakura said as she strictly stated the action plan the three of them had agreed upon. "Any more and he'll get too big for his fish bowl!"

"…But he looked hungry," Sasuke said while he put the bowl up for Sakura to see. Sakura snorted slightly, Little Sasuke didn't look hungry, he looked pissed, like usual.

"You're going to be an awful parent when you're older," Sakura said with an amused smile on her face. The thought of her friend having children sent a warm feeling through her heart; Sasuke-kun would surely spoil them rotten, if his taking care of Little Sasuke was any indication, but having more family would do Sasuke-kun well.

"That's only if Sasuke-teme can find someone other than us who can put up with him for long periods of time," Naruto said with a mischievous smile.

"Sakura-Chan is a girl, Runt," Jiraiya explained helpfully. "She and Sasuke could technically have children together."

Naruto's mouth dropped open for a second before he started to laugh; Sakura could only shake her head in exasperation at the blond's response. "Like Sasuke-teme could get with Sakura-Chan."

"I don't know Naruto-kun," Sakura said with a slight grin, because she really couldn't help teasing both of her teammates. "Sasuke-kun is pretty handsome…"

Sakura waited a whole five seconds for the boys' responses and she wasn't disappointed. Naruto-kun sputtered like a fish, and Sasuke-kun's ears turned tomato red.

"Oh you guys," Sakura said with a slight grin.

"No way, Sakura-Chan!" Naruto threw an accusing glare toward Sasuke. "Sasuke-teme and I both agreed that we'd scare away boys until you were at least sixteen!"

"You what?" Sakura asked feeling even more exasperated. If she didn't know any better (and she did) she would have to say that this "agreement" on both males parts was probably initiated by Kakashi-sensei.

"Yeah!" Naruto said with a nod of his head. "Kakashi-sensei-"

"Oh is that town?" Sasuke pointed to the town the group of four was quickly closing in on. Sakura sighed, because Sasuke-kun was really awful at trying to distract her. She'd let it happen, for now, but she'd bring this topic up later… preferably when Kakashi-sensei was here to hear her rage at the three.

"I believe so," Jiraiya said with a nod of his head. "Tanzaku-Gai… It looks different though. I believe there was a castle over there at one point."

"A castle?" Sakura asked intrigued. There were few castles still around the Fire Country, and she would have loved to see the castle.

"What do you think happened to it?" Naruto asked out of curiosity.

"Castles are old," Jiraiya said with a shrug. "It probably collapsed. Let's get searching though."

The group nodded, and continued their walk into the village. It was quiet, and Sakura silently worried that Naruto-kun was using too much chakra.

Even though he held the Kyuubi within him and was able to use up more chakra than both she and Sasuke-kun, she still worried about him. Whenever he seemed to be too drained, she or Sasuke-kun would always make him stop. He didn't fight them on this though, because he knew better. Sakura was an expert at guilt tripping and she would make sure to guilt Naruto-kun as much as she could to get him to rest properly.

"Where should we start?" Naruto spoke up as he panted slightly. She might have to think up something to distract him with soon.

"Dobe take Little Sasuke," Sasuke said as he passed Little Sasuke off to Naruto-kun. It seemed Sasuke-kun too had noticed how tired Naruto-kun was. "I'm gonna help Jiraiya look for Tsunade with my sharingan."

"But Sasuke-teme," Naruto said with a slight pout. "I haven't finished the third ste-"

"You can work more on it later," Sasuke said with a shrug. "We're here to find Tsunade, not train."

"Fine," Naruto said with a sigh and a frown. Naruto looked down to the fish. "I'm sorry I've been neglecting you Little Sasuke. I'll give you a little treat to show you Dada is sorry."

"Hey!" Sakura couldn't believe the two. "Didn't you hear what I just told Sasuke-kun!"

Xx Sasuke xX

Sasuke mentally sighed at the sight before him. Jiraiya was chasing after women again, pretending to be tracking down leads. Sasuke knew better, and he knew his teammates knew better too.

"So we know for sure she's around here, right?" Naruto asked while he looked up and down the street, obviously scanning for the blonde haired woman that they were looking for. It was starting to get dark already, and Sasuke didn't think the four of them would be finding her any time soon.

"Well that man did say the castle was torn down earlier today," Sakura said with a nod as she seemed to think back to the man they had ran across a few hours ago. "After the appearance of a large snake… I would have to assume that meant that it was either Tsunade or Oro- Orochimaru who caused the castle to fall down."

"But then why wouldn't she leave town?" Naruto asked in confusion. "If she and that Snake-bastard were fighting, why wouldn't she want to pack up and go?"

"Jiraiya seemed to think she wouldn't," Sasuke said with a frown as the three followed behind said white haired man. He didn't understand Jiraiya's reasoning, but the man knew Tsunade a lot more than they did. He would probably be able to predict her movements more accurately than they could.

It made him think to his own teammates, and Sasuke felt he'd be able to tell what Sakura and Naruto would do in many different occasions. Sometimes, they did surprise him, but after spending so much time with each other, it was very rare.

"I think we'll call it a night," Jiraiya sighed out as the group watched a buxom brunette meet up with an older man.

"Pervert," Sasuke heard Sakura mutter under her breath, and he couldn't help but to agree with her completely. At least he wasn't going through this alone, he found himself musing.

"Dinner then?" Naruto asked hopefully, and Sasuke felt his own stomach start to gurgle. He was hopeful they would get to eat something other than ramen… which seemed to be a stable food group in both Jiraiya and Naruto's appetite.

"Can we eat somewhere close to here?" Sakura asked, and Sasuke sent her a grateful look. It was obvious there were no ramen stands in sight.

"Aa," Jiraiya said with a nod to their right. "This looks like a nice place to eat."

"… Isn't that a bar?" Sakura asked with a delicate raise of her eyebrow. Sasuke found himself sighing. Of course Jiraiya would pick a bar for them to go eat in.

"Astute observation Sakura-Chan," Jiraiya nodded smugly as the group headed towards the bar. Sasuke put his hands in his pockets as he followed behind Jiraiya. He hoped the bar would at least have tomatoes, though he highly doubted it.

"I can't believe you're taking us to a bar to eat," Sakura said with a frown. "I don't think Kakashi-sensei would approve of this."

"Your sensei isn't here right now Sakura-Chan," Jiraiya said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But I am… and I'm willing to pay as long as you don't tell Kakashi-kun about this."

"And the three other times we went into the bars?" Naruto added helpfully.

"And those two strip clubs we went in," Sakura added sweetly, and Sasuke found himself smirking while he watched Jiraiya's face redden.

"Don't think I didn't know that was you, Naruto," Jiraiya said with a dreamy look on his face. "I just didn't know you were able to perform such a wonderful jutsu… Could you actually do it ag-"

"Dinner," Sakura interrupted as the four arrived at the front of the bar. "We all need dinner Jiraiya-sama."

"Hai hai, Sakura-Chan," Jiraiya mock saluted before turning toward the bar. "Bars usually have the best grub around anyway. That and they have the best looking women!"

"Oh be quiet Pervy Sage," Naruto said with a frown. "You always manage to scare away women anyways."

Sasuke hummed in agreement, and he saw Sakura's nod as well.

"You guys always gang up on me," Jiraiya said with a pout. "It's not fair."

"You're too easy sometimes," Sasuke muttered while the group entered the bar. Sasuke noticed that the bar wasn't as bad as he thought it would be; it could pass more as a pub than a bar.

"I wonder if they have ramen," Naruto questioned with a wide grin. "We haven't had ramen in forever!"

"You had ramen this morning," Sasuke said with a frown. The Dobe seriously needed to eat more than just that stinking ramen. "You're going to eat something else."

"You're not the boss of me Teme!" Naruto said as he sent Sasuke a slight glare. "I can eat whatever I want."

"Sasuke-kun's right Naruto-kun," Sakura said as she patted Naruto's shoulder. "Ramen isn't healthy; we've talked about that before. If you continue to eat ramen every day, I'm going to ground you from Ichiraku when we get home."

Sasuke watched Naruto's eyes widen to the size of the ramen bowls he loved so much, and he felt himself become incredibly amused. It wasn't every day that Sakura could get a reaction like this out of Naruto.

"But but but!" Naruto let out in protest. "You can't do that Sakura-Chan! You know how much I love Ichiraku ramen!"

Sakura gave Naruto a shrug. "I can and I will."

"Bahhh," Were those tears coming out of his eyes? Sasuke wasn't a hundred percent sure, but he believed they actually were.

"Be quiet over there- hic-" A female voice was heard from a few booths away. Sasuke turned his head slightly to notice the woman who spoke…

"Tsunade?" Jiraiya called out as he too looked at the woman in question. Sasuke couldn't believe this. They had stumbled upon Tsunade by pure chance. Who the hell would have believed they would have found her this easily? He'd never tell Jiraiya this, but maybe he had been right to look in bars and pubs for the blonde.

"Jiraiya?" The blonde woman called. Sasuke watched as the haziness drifted away from her eyes. "It's almost like a fucking reunion."

"Tsunade-sama!" The raven haired woman beside her reprimanded. "He has kids with him."

Sasuke watched Tsunade's eyebrow rise before she nodded to the booth. Sasuke felt like that was a silent invitation, and the group of four wandered over to find a seat.

Xx Sakura xX

Sakura was happy to note the booth had three benches to sit on. She hadn't really liked the idea of squishing together on one bench.

She ended up sitting next to Sasuke-kun and the raven haired woman who had been introduced as Shizune. Naruto-kun was next to Sasuke-kun on another bench, Little Sasuke sat in a small space between them.

"Why are you here at a place like this?" Tsunade asked as she looked to Jiraiya. "With three kids no less."

"Ah," Jiraiya said with a slight shrug. "I'm teaching these kids a thing or two. Have been helping them out since the chuunin exams actually."

"… I heard about what happened…" Tsunade seemed to be lost in her thoughts, and Sakura wondered if she had really heard everything that had happened at the exams… Kami, how long ago had that been now? "Is he really dead?"

"Aa," Jiraiya said while raising up a sake glass. Sakura was almost impressed with how quickly he had acquired said glass, but she knew better. He was currently toasting to the late Hokage. If she had a glass herself, she would have raised it up as well.

"Today I met with someone who brings back bad memories," Sakura felt herself freeze up at the tone in Tsunade's voice. The blonde seemed to be truly haunted by something.

She didn't know the whole story of why Tsunade had left the Leaf, but now Sakura wished she had. She knew a lot about the three Sannin. She had looked them up after their encounter with Orochimaru. Sakura couldn't believe the woman in front of them was the great Slug Sannin though… There was a deep sense of sorrow and anguish that filled up the woman in front of her; Sakura had not been expecting that.

"Orochimaru?" Jiraiya asked in a serious tone. Sakura felt herself flinch at the man's name, and a shiver involuntarily rolled down her spine. "Did anything happen?"

"Nothing really," Tsunade's answer was vague, but Sakura remembered what had happened at the castle. "A little greeting.

"But you're here now too," it seemed Tsunade had a hard time meeting Jiraiya-sama's eyes, Sakura noted. "Why are you here, Jiraiya?"

"We came from Leaf," Jiraiya said. "They want you to return and become the Fifth Hokage."

Sakura was only mildly distracted when Naruto-kun seemed to choke on a fish. Sasuke-kun helpfully patted his back, and dislodged the fish with ease. No matter how many times the three of them heard it, it seemed Naruto would have a hard time believing the elders wanted Tsunade as the Hokage.

"I heard it was Orochimaru who did it," Tsunade said and Sakura once again flinched at his name. Kami she needed to pull herself together. "He told me."

"That bastard!" Naruto roared out. "I knew he was trouble! First he kills Sakura-Chan's parents, then he tries to eat Sasuke-teme, and then he kills the Hokage! If that asshole wasn't already at the top of my list he would be!"

"Naruto-kun," Sakura felt herself shift uncomfortably. "Calm down."

"But Sakura-Chan!"

"Who are these kids Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked.

"That's Naruto Uzumaki," Jiraiya said while pointing to Naruto. Sakura watched the blonde for a reaction, and noticed a glimmer of recognition flash through her eyes. "Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno."

Sakura nodded her head politely when her name was spoken, but she knew her name didn't carry as much weight as the other two's.

"I need to hear your answer," Jiraiya said after a moment of silence. "Are you willing to become the Hokage?"

"… I decline," Tsunade said with a shake of her head, and Sakura found herself at a loss of what to do. How could Tsunade decline being the Hokage? The Hokage was the most prestigious position in all of Konoha!

"I remember you telling me that whenever I tried to ask you out on a date," Jiraiya seemed to sigh. If this were any other time, Sakura would have been amused by the fact that Tsunade had declined Jiraiya more than once.

"How can you just sit there and decline!?" Naruto raged as he stood up in his seat. "Do you know how much turmoil our village is in right now, your village? Do you know how many people need your help right now? How many people who are dying right now? How can you be so selfish as to-"

"Drop it Naruto," Jiraiya said with a sigh. "Tsunade is the only person who can become Hokage. She was the one who brought us victory in a great battle, and has amazing techniques. She is also the granddaughter of the first Hokage.

"If she becomes Hokage, she would return to our village," Jiraiya continued. "She would be able to help everyone who needed it. Either way, it was the elders who made this decision; she really has no choice in the matter."

"Keep that kid on a leash like the other two," Tsunade said nodding to Naruto. Sakura felt something protective well up in her chest at the insult. Yes, Naruto-kun was loud at times, and yes he did sometimes act like an idiot, but that didn't mean he wasn't a great shinobi and didn't mean he needed to be kept on a leash.

He was outspoken, but that was such a great trait to have… it would make for a great leader one day, Sakura was sure.

"They definitely don't live up to your last apprentice though," Tsunade said with a dismissive look. Sakura felt her hackles rise at the insult; who the hell did this woman think she was to insult her and her teammates? She didn't know everything they went through to get to where they were.

"It's hard to compare them to the Fourth," Jiraiya seemed to nod in agreement. "But the Fourth was one of the most talented shinobi I'd ever met."

"And still he gave up his life for the village," Tsunade said. Sakura knew Naruto-kun was glaring at Tsunade as she continued to talk, and she wished there was a way she could comfort him. She noticed Sasuke's hand on his arm though, and hoped that would be enough. "Whoever puts their life at risk so easily is a complete and utter fool.

"I would be a fool to take the Hokage position," Tsunade said. "Every single one of the Hokages gave up their lives in the middle of their dreams like losers. The same went for Sarutobi."

"You've changed," Jiraiya said, and Sakura could see that Tsunade's words were having an effect on Jiraiya-sama. She didn't blame him, because she was sure they were having an effect on everyone at the table.

"Being Hokage is stupid," Tsunade said in a tone of finality. "Anyone who would want that position is a loser."

"YOU BITCH!" Naruto let out a roar as he launched himself across the table. It seemed that the person who had been most effected by her words was Naruto-kun; Sakura found herself unsurprised by this. That didn't mean she thought he would go and attack her though… Sakura felt her heart stop when Jiraiya gripped the back of Naruto's shirt and dragged him back into his seat. "I can't forgive you for saying such bad things about the previous Hokages! They put their lives on the line to protect everyone in the village, protect you when you were younger, and were the bravest out of all our shinobi!"

"I don't care if you are a Sannin," Naruto continued to rage. "I'm going to kick your ass!"

"You've got some serious guts, boy," Tsunade said while glaring at Naruto-kun. Sakura felt herself freeze as Tsunade stood from her seat. "Let's take this outside."

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune seemed scandalized by the woman's outburst, but Sakura could only watch as Naruto-kun agreed with an eager nod.

"I'll beat your ass to the ground for disrespecting the Third and the Fourth Hokages," Naruto said in a silent promise.

Sakura really didn't like where this was going, but she could only sigh and follow the two out of the pub. Sasuke-kun followed behind her, Little Sasuke in his grasp. As the two trailed behind Naruto, Naruto didn't even look back as he spoke.

"I don't want either of you to get involved," Naruto spoke, and Sakura was surprised with how mature he sounded. "This is my fight, and I'll kick that Granny's ass."

Sakura wasn't so sure he'd be able to even land a hit on her, but she did respect him for standing up for what he believed in. This was Naruto-kun she was talking about though; she'd actually be surprised if he didn't stand up for what he believed in.