The light rain showering the village finally stopped. Off in the distance, I could see apricot mountains, kissed to their blush by the sunlight. Blanketing the sky were soft, rippling clouds that drifted in shoals. After the rain, the sky was equal parts azure with an ensemble of grays and oranges. The heavens directly above the stone faces of the Hokage were streaked with tangerine, silver, and rose. The scene was undeniably breathtaking. Nice to see that ugly rain finally go, too.
I heard the sound of the door opening behind me, but I didn't leave my spot as I lingered by the window. I didn't need to turn around to know the chakra signature from behind me belonged to the Chūnin, Shikamaru Nara. He sauntered over, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his flak jacket as he casually observed the view from alongside me.
"I enjoy the clouds, too," Shikamaru muttered quietly. Dazzling rays of light were amongst brilliant hues of white, the clouds waved in ripples across the expanse of the sky.
"The clouds are nice, I guess. I'm just happy the stupid sun is back," I chuckled to myself. I watched a flock of birds land on the stone face of my grandfather, the First Hokage.
He nodded slightly, the smallest smile tugging on the corner of his lips. Shikamaru pulled a small scroll from one of his pockets. "Mission report and summary, Lady Fifth." He grunted with a nod, as if trying not to take up any more of my time. It's hard for me to not appreciate that about him, considering I'm so busy all the time. At the moment, though, I didn't want Shikamaru to leave so soon. I actually enjoyed having him around. The only company I ever really get was Shizune, and all she did was tell me to get back to work.
"Go ahead and add it to the rest," I murmur, forlorn at the never-ending work load ahead of me. "Cherish your day off, young Nara." Lucky little shit.
I looked over at him when I noticed he made no move to leave. He just kept gazing out the window, smirking. "The rain must really bum you out, huh?" This kid is perceptive, but something tells me my sour mood is especially apparent at the moment.
"It does, actually," I griped. I'd never been adept when it came to hiding my emotions anyway. Maybe it's a good thing I quit gambling, after all. "Rain will always remind me of the war. I was just a little older than you are, now." You're beginning to sound like old man Sarutobi-sensei.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, visibly interested at the mention of war. He crossed his arms. "Which one, the third one?"
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.
"The Second Shinobi World War." Way to make me feel old, kid. He smirked, and I knew he was messing with me. "I should flick you between the eyes for that," I giggled, winking at him. But I was more than satisfied with the flash of fear now present in Shikamaru's wide eyes.
"I haven't heard much about that one. What… happened really?" It's not every day that you see the infamously lazy Shikamaru Nara curious about something. I thought back to that awful time. The bitter cold... with rain drops beating down on you so hard, it caused crippling headaches. Blood mixing with puddles of water across a battlefield littered with corpses. Thick mud squelching beneath your boots with every labored step. I could clearly hear the screams of dying ninja. Frantic shrieks from men and women I couldn't save quickly enough. Screeching howls from enemies I'd been forced to kill. Hot, sticky blood on your hands. Blood that won't wash away no matter how long you stood in the rain. I started fidgeting with the lining of my grass green kimono, trying to will away the grisly past.
I decided to omit the more colorful details and go with a more "Academy-friendly" description. Not because I wanted to sugar coat things, but I couldn't bear to share those thoughts with him at the moment. "The First Shinobi World War ended with an armistice treaty, but also left the Five Great Nations disabled critically. Still, there was relative peace for about twenty years. But the nations began to form factions, and under the pretext of expending fair rights, the countries started using military force to expand their territories. Thus, another world war started." I sighed deeply. "My team was stationed in the Hidden Rain Village for almost the entirety of the war. We battled for years under the never-ending downpour. Even though it was severely hard on us all, the rain reminds me of the last time all my friends were together." The realization cuts me deeper than a glowing chakra blade. "I really miss them," I admit before I can even stop myself.
Shikamaru looked genuinely surprised at the admission. Shit. Why would you mention missing someone like Orochimaru to a subordinate?
"I feel for you, Lady Tsunade." he uttered, deep in thought. He seems like the type to get uncomfortable in regards to the concept of human emotion. However, I don't feel him judging me for sharing my feelings. "It's been a long time since I've seen Naruto. I'm sure in no time you'll see Lord Jiraiya again, too." This Nara kid really is too smart for his own good.
Shizune swiftly entered my office, a tray of tea in her hands. "Shikamaru," she greeted warmly. "Join us for some tea." He nodded, eyes glued again to the view outside.
Suddenly, a small figure materialized behind us. A red messenger toad, Kōsuke, appeared on top of the mountain of paperwork on my desk.
Jiraiya.
"Lady Hokage!" His usual calm demeanor was replaced with barely concealed panic. Fuck, what now?
"Yes?!" My gut clenched, anxiety setting in. Kōsuke visits me when Jiraiya needs to update me on mission progress over great distances. His messenger has never been this frenzied and alarmed. Dread creeps over me like an icy chill, numbing my brain. In this frozen state my mind offers me only one thought. Please let my grandson be safe.
"Master Jiraiya and Naruto are in trouble."
My stomach is full of lead; my feet are set in concrete, my mind worryingly empty. Shizune and Shikamaru were both visibly shocked and silent, waiting for more information. I do my best to maintain some composure. "What's happened, where are they?"
"The Land of Waves, at an inn. They're in the middle of a nasty storm. I don't even think Jiraiya realized that most of the village has evacuated at this point." I gave him a pleading look, in need of more details. "Naruto lost control of the Nine Tails. He is calmed but he's yet to regain consciousness."
"And Jiraiya?"
"Jiraiya is badly hurt. He's conscious, but delirious. He can't move. The wound is grave; if he doesn't receive aid soon I'm afraid he doesn't have much time."
Breathe, Tsunade. Breathe. This fear is my challenge, and my demon to slay, for it will come until I do, unannounced and gruesome. The only way out is to order this brain to function, to demand solutions instead of drowning in a whirlpool of hysteria.
I remembered back to a time, after the third war. I had long abandoned the life of a shinobi and even as a healer, spending most of my time training Dan's niece, a young Shizune. This wasn't long before I cut ties with the village altogether, dedicating my life to sake and gambling with Shizune at my side. Jiraiya's student had become a war hero, Sarutobi-sensei dubbing him the Fourth Hokage when he returned home from battle. Jiraiya told me his student, Minato Namikaze, won the war with a jutsu he perfected that was created by my grandfather's brother, the Second Hokage. The Flying Raijin Jutsu. Minato could randomly appear behind enemy lines, and, by seemingly being in many places at once, wipe out whole squadrons before they had time to react. This earned him the moniker "the Yellow Flash", being able to teleport to any position from any distance with the simple throw of a kunai bearing a jutsu formula.
And from my understanding, Minato passed on this jutsu to the elite bodyguards of the Hokage. The two Jōnin, Genma Shiranui and Raidō Namiashi. And Iwashi Tatami, the Chūnin.
"Shikamaru!" I shout, formulating a plan in my head. He stood at attention, waiting for my orders. "Run to the front gate as fast as you can. Genma and Raidō should be on gate duty, they are to report to me at once."
He nodded. "I can take their place at their post until I'm no longer needed," I nodded curtly, hoping he understood how grateful I was. Shikamaru opened the window and jumped, sprinting from rooftop to rooftop toward the direction of the village entrance.
I bit my thumb, using the blood dripping freely to summon Lady Katsuyu. She came into view immediately. Her soft-mannered greeting was quickly drowned out by my commands. "I need you to bring me Iwashi Tatami at once. Jiraiya's life depends on it!" Iwashi had just returned from that diplomatic mission with Shikamaru, it felt safe for me to assume that he went straight home. Either way, Katsuyu would be able to sense his chakra and find his location with ease. She gasped and disappeared instantly.
"Kōsuke, is Jiraiya able to seal a jutsu formula at his location?"
"I can ask and return immediately."
"Please do."
He disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"What do you need from those three?" Shizune implored, her expression tense with worry.
"I've been told the three of them as a group can perform the Flying Raijin Jutsu. They are going to bring me to the Land of Waves."
Shizune took a step back, mouth hanging open in shock. "I understand this is an emergency, but can't you send me instead?"
I looked down, shaking my head. "If he was wounded by the Nine Tails, I'm afraid that I'm the only one who can heal him." I opened the large drawer in my desk, rummaging through its contents for my supplies. "You are my most talented student, dear. But my grandmother was the first jinchuriki of the Nine Tails. I've seen and heard of all the different ways it can hurt you. And if Jiraiya can't even move... It's more severe than you know." I pulled a scroll wedged behind my sake stash in the bottom drawer. Sealed inside the scroll was everything I would need for an emergency surgery. I looked at Shizune to see her panicked expression.
"How will I be able to explain to everyone that the Hokage isn't here?"
Kōsuke reappeared. "Jiraiya's technique seal has been placed." Thank the Gods.
"We can't, Shizune." I continued, answering her question. "What I'm doing is considered desertion, at least in the eyes of Danzō and the other village elders. It's also insanely risky given my high position. But Jiraiya is currently our most valuable asset to this village. I must be the one to do this." You're smart enough to know when I'm being selfish, but please, do not try to stop me. I pleaded with her internally.
Shizune exhaled a long, shaky breath. "What do you need me to do?"
"The two of us are going to transform into each other. I need those three thinking they're teleporting you. You stay here and act as Hokage until I return. Give me 2 days, at most. If anything happens at all, summon Katsuyu and send her directly to me." I look into the deep brown eyes of my apprentice, who looks terrified of this plan. "Can I trust you to be my decoy?"
"I will do it, Lady Tsunade." Her hands formed the signs. Dog, boar, ram. She transformed, copying my likeness perfectly. My grandfather's necklace shimmered against her newly-acquired bosoms, catching my eye. Well, almost perfectly.
"Shizune, that's Naruto's necklace now. Remember?"
She looked down and yelped, making it disappear. "I promise I'll do better!"
The sound of the door beginning to turn sent ice through my veins. I quickly transformed into Shizune and grabbed my med scroll. Raidō, Genma and Iwashi entered my office. Shizune, talking in my voice, wasted no time drilling out their orders. "Men! It's imperative you three use the Flying Raijin to send Shizune to heal Master Jiraiya and Naruto. The seal is on Jiraiya, do it now!" I tried to ignore how strange my voice sounded to my own ears when shouting demands at subordinates.
"Yes, ma'am!" All three shouted before advancing toward me.
I placed another jutsu formula on the floor of my office so the boys will be able to teleport back without trouble. The three shinobi circled me in a triangle formation, each of their hands extending out to each other to form the hand sign needed to complete the Flying Raijin.
"Sorry for the close quarters, Lady Shizune. Instantaneous travel among dimensions can be a little tricky," Raidō said sheepishly, his eyes trained on the skin of my neck. Well, Shizune's neck.
"I don't care about that, just get moving!" I barked. Shizune wouldn't snap like that, get it together! My elite guards sprung into action, gathering their chakra and inserting us into a dimensional void with the sudden whoosh of wind.
The sound of cracking thunder nearly made me jump. We had instantly teleported to the Land of Waves, a great distance away from the Leaf. A storm was in progress as the sun rose, about half of its beauty obscured by thick gray clouds. I looked down to see Jiraiya lying by my feet, unmoving. There was a giant purple-ish brown stain on the front of his blue yakata. It looked to be dried blood from his wound.
The other shinobi gave me space as I fell to my knees at his side. They looked back and forth between me and Jiraiya, concern etched in each pair of eyes. I nodded, excusing them. I felt another whoosh of air as they left me here with my old teammate. I ended the transformation at this point, no longer needing Shizune's form.
"I'll bet Tsunade is pissed," I heard him choke out quietly. Then suddenly, I heard a sharp intake of breath, as though he suddenly sensed my presence.
"You'd be right, Baka," I whispered. His eyes shot open and his body jolted. He lifted his chin in my direction and shivered when our eyes made contact. Two onyx eyes locked with mine. The guilt and sorrow present in those dark depths nearly drowned me along with him.
"Tsunade," he sobbed. Deep, anguished cries started racking his enormous frame. He hasn't cried in front of you since you nearly pounded him to his death. My chest squeezed painfully at the sight of his tears. I tried not to focus on them as I assessed the rest of his body for damage. "Tsunade, I'm so sorry," he continued, his voice a broken whisper. "I lost control and put my grandson in danger. So many others could have been hurt, too. You had to leave your post because I overestimated my own abilities. I'm so sorry," he sobbed, his voice cracking slightly on a whimper. I could only imagine the sheer amount of guilt weighing down on those big shoulders. He thinks of Naruto as his grandson, just like you do. Wetness leaked from my eyes, falling freely before I could even try to stop them. Watching Jiraiya, the embodiment of unwavering strength, fall apart before my eyes was harrowing. He may seem carefree and breezy most of the time, but he was born with the heart of a true shinobi. He always took his perceived failures so hard. Nothing much has changed since we were young, I suppose.
It gave me the encouragement I needed to take away all of his hurt, to ease his bitter doubts, to finally prove to him that he is worth it. My hand moved on its own accord, stroking the soft skin where the red markings of his clan were placed long ago. I couldn't stop my fingers from caressing the strong outline of his jaw. He shuddered at the touch of my thumbs wiping away wet tears. "Sshh… Jiraiya." I crooned, trying to calm him. I stroked the soft white hair that was falling in his face, threading my fingertips through his scalp. I tried to think of something to say, anything that could alleviate his sadness. "Sshh…I'm going to make everything better." I whispered, my breath fanning over his face. It's been so long since I've said those words to him.
Jiraiya suddenly passed out, his eyes rolling back into his head at my promise.
XXX
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