Adventure 44: The Plot Thickens!
[The next day at Tanzaku castle, Tsunade met with Orochimaru as agreed.]
How long had it been? Since she'd last seen her family? Since she'd last seen her lover? Orochimaru stood, smug and awaiting. Her eyes felt dry but her ghostly tears still lingered. When she took a step forward. So did he. Meanwhile, Kabuto arrived at the Tanzaku castle as well. His mind wandered to a conversation he'd had with Orochimaru…
"Kabuto…you… if you want to stop me….Your only choice is to kill Sasuke now…" his Master's words loomed. "There's no way you can kill me, eh?even if you're strong…you're no stronger than Kakashi…so…" Kabuto knew where his loyalties lay…even if some other poor unfortunate souls…didn't. He was still holding the kunai that had some blood on it. With a small cheh, he tossed it away. He hated having dirty tools. Too much chance of disease or germs or worse. He stood upright, a man with a lot in his mind. A curious mysterious fellow. Someone that would be hard to read.
Orochimaru raised his arms up, eagerly, the very energy to do so taking its toll on his body. He knew Tsunade would be docile. Her guilt would be Konoha's unraveling. Her medical ninjutsu was getting close so close….
Tsunade's sense of loss was building. She thought to her lover…to her little brother. She couldn't let them go…how could she? And yet…their dreams…their hopes….their drive…they stayed with Tsunade. They were a part of her. Her killing intent was rising, but luckily, it seemed like Orochimaru was too stupid to notice… So close….so…fingers barely brush-
K-THUNK!
A kunai forced them to break apart. Skidding back, Tsunade glared at the source of the disturbance. Kabuto sat on the roof, kneeling, looking down at them. He deftly jumped down behind Orochimaru. "What is the meaning of this? Coming here and betraying me?..." Orochimaru asked smoothly, and then his eyes widened in anger and contempt. "….Tsunade!"
Tsunade glared back at him, her determination and anger at his playing with her emotions the only thing stopping her legs from shaking. She wouldn't sully the memories of those she'd lost. Bringing them back would be an insult to their sacrifice…and what would that take anyway? It would take the lives of two living vessels…and Tsunade had had enough of losing life and feeling responsible for it. "What lead you to such a decision?...Princess Tsunade?" Orochimaru growled, "…To try and kill me…"
Tsunade glared at him. She didn't care to hear what he was saying to Kabuto. She just knew Kabuto foiled her plan. Orochimaru sighed. "Tsunade, I really did intend to bring them back to life…" he said in an almost tutting manner, "And… I even promised not to destroy Konohagakure. But…"
"heh…heh…" Orochimaru's stupidity really was a nuisance. Tsunade gazed back at her former team mate. He'd never been normal. She'd never felt like he was truly on their side. She didn't know how anyone could've ended up as twisted as he did. He truly was a snake to his very core…"Orochimaru…you not attacking the village? At the very least, I was aware that was a lie…I knew it…." Tsunade's voice trailed off. She thought back to Naruto. His dream. His drive. He was so much like those other two…it was uncanny.
It was painful.
If she said yes, she could see her brother and her lover, Dan. Dan could try to be Hokage! Her brother could try to be Hokage! But…they were dead…whatever dark forbidden jutsu Orochimaru would create…it would never bring them back…to her…at least, not truly…
Yet, "…and yet…" Tsunade's eyes glazed as they loomed in her mind. The echo of their voices, their laughter, their words. "…Just… once more… I wanted to see them one last time…I wanted to touch them one more time…Just one more time…to see their smiles…"
Orochimaru sneered. She would cave. She would definently still cave..there was still a chance. But Tsunade spoke once more, still voice wavering but fierce, "But…The Possibility that I could truly see Dan and Nawaki again…Yes. The moment I felt it… I realized… I was a hopeless fool…" Tsunade looked at the ground, her teeth clenched and the tears falling freely. She had felt hope. She had actually seen Orochimaru's offer as a small ray of hope.
She had selfishly put the lives of two innocent people in harms way if that could mean she could see Dan and Nawaki. Time had moved forward because time was cruel. She had thought she'd moved forward but Orochimaru had only reminded her how she was stuck in the past. "Just remembering their faces…it made me so blind…I loved them… I truly loved them!" She clenched her hands into fists at her side, her voice shaking with emotion but somehow staying strong and perservering although Tsunade herself felt so much pain."I wanted to see them and hold them tight!" She thought once again to Naruto's face. "…but I couldn't…That kid reminded me of their dream…though I tried to forget…"
"The entire village was grandpa's treasure! And I'm going to defend it! 'Cuz I'm the grandson of the first Hokage, The builder of Konagakure!" her little brother Nawaki said excitedly, wearing their grandfather's necklace proudly around his neck. His toothy grin made him seem immature but Nawaki's dream was fresh and fierce.
"I love this village, and all of my friends…That's why I want to defend it," Dan said, gazing seirously out and over Konohagakure from the railing. His voice was deep with passion and loyalty for the village. Their dreams. So similar.
"I'm gonna be strong like grandpa and one day be granted the title of Hokage." Nawaki declared.
"'Cuz unlike you I want that title someday…!" Naruto glared determinedly back at Tsunade.
"Since the day my little sister died, this thought is the only thing that's been keeping me going." Dan, kind and honest.
Their three voices resounded, "To be Hokage is my dream." All their faces, Nawaki on the right, Dan on the left and Naruto's face in the middle, they all had that same spark. That same drive. That same fierce passion.
"They both staked their lives on their dream. That those dreams would come true was my wish as well." Tsunade said quietly. Orochimaru watched her expressionless. He didn't feel anything from her story at all, other than impatience. Would she heal his arms or send him on this annoying trip down memory lane?
"Everything decays eventually…" Tsunade continued, "You said that…" She began to walk slowly closer to Orochimaru, halting some feet away, "But…." She sobbed harder than other but managed to remain up right, but her she looked at the ground as she spoke her last words of pain, and also …honest words that only those three had taught her…and that had taken her until now to realize…."…This feeling…never decays…"
There was a moment's silence. Orochimaru scoffed as Tsunade dried her eyes on her sleeve. "…The negotiations have failed…Looks like I'll have to persuade you by force…." Tsunade glared at Orochimaru. Kabuto reacted quickly to her attack as Tsunade went for a flying kick at Orochimaru. All she managed to do was kick up dirt, rock and debris as she created a gorge in the ground from the impact of her kick.
"Here we go…Kabuto…" Orochimaru growled, pissed at the turn of events. Kabuto knew to keep his mouth shut but he couldn't' help himself.
"I told you… didn't I? Good medicine has to be more than just bitter…" Kabuto said quietly.
Tsunade's fighting spirit kicked into gear. "Come on, Orochimaru!" she declared fiercely. She watched them exchange words and then flee. Don't think I'll let you get away… Tsunade thought, her battle mode activated. It was time she stopped pussyfooting and showed Orochimaru just who he picked the wrong person to mess with!
She took off after them. A shadow appeared around the corner just then. The shadow walked over to the damage. The shadow squatted. "Hmmm…" Alu murmured. "…Guess I should let Jiraiya know how the negotiations went…." Just then Jiraiya appeared with Naruto and Shizune and Tonton.
"Ah!" Naruto exclaimed, spotting Alu alone. "What happened here?!"
"Ah…you three…" Alu turned to them. "Tsunade turned down the offer," Alu said. "Go now, they're headed ….in that direction…I think Tsunade is pursuing them…"
Jiraiya nodded, but he didn't look so good. Alu wondered what happened. ""You alright?"
"…ugh..Tsunade….did something…to my…drink…" Jiriaya panted. "No time…where's Minato…and …Kushina….?"
"They're out of harms way…" Alu informed him. "I had Usagi take them training in that direction," and she pointed to the direction east of where Tsunade had run off.
"…You and I still need to have a chat once this is all over," Jiraiya panted at Alu. Alu grinned.
"You payin' for drinks or am I?" she asked cheekily. Jiraiya shot her a disgruntled look.
"Come on Pervy Sage! Let's get going already! Snake face isn't running on old man time!" Naruto exclaimed annoyed. Shizune nodded.
"We must hurry!" and Alu watched the three of them leave. She looked back at the rubble and whistled.
"...the plot thickens," she grinned to herself.
A.N: Love Alu. Anyhow, I'm uploading more chappys cuz I'll be at Ren faire tomorrow. You're welcome! Enjoy!
