Hey guys! So I may be slowing down my update speed as I'm slowing down with my writing, I figured I should let you guys know.
And I'd also like to thank Amaterasu53 for your review, I admit the reviews I got complaining did upset me very slightly but hey, this is my story and I don't think I've written anything that out of character- especially not for Rin and Obito. Anyway I hope the people still reading enjoy this chapter, it's much less stressful than the last ones lol.
It was perhaps half an hour after the two girls had drifted off that Rin returned with Jiraiya and Tsunade close at her heals, the Hokage peering around the door into the room and sighing at the sight. "The brats are okay then? Rin-san chan said as much but-"
"Kakashi." Rin's voice was slightly tighter than normal as she slid into the room, and Kakashi looked away.
"I know Rin-chan I know. I should have gotten the girls out but I froze up."
"Yes. You did." Rin's expression softened, "Kakashi-"
"It'll take time. You know that Rin-chan I... I can't just make myself not blame myself for what happened to him."
"If you let it freeze you again one of us could get hurt Kakashi. Luckily I had him contained."
"I know." Kakashi nodded, "It won't happen again Rin-chan I promise. I just-"
"You were shocked." Jiraiya shook his head, "It happened with me the first time I saw Orochimaru after... after everything."
"It's never easy." Tsunade sighed, "At least this time everyone's relatively unscathed, physically in any case."
"We need to send a message to Wave." Kakashi shook his head, "That's where Obito and Naruto ran into each other, she was taking the chance to visit your family there Rin. I guess she knows that when she's started her training to become Hokage she won't exactly get the chance much."
"So that's where the brat's been." Jiraiya chuckled, "I couldn't find her when I was looking for her."
"Yes, well you're the idiot who wandered off on his own-"
"But Hime I have confidence in her abilities against most enemies-Obito is one of the few that she'd struggle with, he just has that Kamui that makes him a real difficult opponent. I mean you said it yourself, based on what Itachi told you when you spoke to him she's taken on two S-rank missing nin who were members of the Akatsuki who were both in some senses functionally imortal in one day and came out the winner."
"Yeah yeah." Tsunade rolled her eyes, "We'll send word to Wave Kakashi, what actually happened do you know?"
"Naruto-chan told me yeah, she went back to your old home Rin, found the mask on your bed, rushed back to make sure the family was okay and Obito was there at the table with them."
Rin's face drained of color. "He was going to use them as hostages before Naruto showed up wasn't he? And she was a much better option than them."
"He made her seal her own Chakra and he anticipated her using Kurama's chakra so he blocked it."
"Shit." Jiraiya scowled, "That would have left her with zero chance of getting away-"
"Oh she built a fail safe into the seal she used to bind her own chakra but that took time to unlock-"
"That explains how Naruto had access to her chakra and was using it to boost Karin-chan's by the time I arrived." Rin nodded to herself, "Kami but this whole situation is screwed up."
"If it wasn't for his damn Kamui then Naruto could beat him easily." Jiraiya shook his head, "I've seen her full power and she's something else. But that Kamui-if you can't land a hit then how can you beat someone?"
"I'm getting better with my Kamui but it's not exactly the same as Obito's." Kakashi admitted, "I'm not... I haven't got nearly as much experience as he does but I am improving."
"I'm ordering you to work on it." Tsunade stated firmly, "That needs to become a priority. Uchiha Obito is one of the greatest threats to Konoha's security we need to ensure he's dealt with."
"Of course." Kakashi nodded, "I understand Hokage-sama." he shifted slightly, "Do you want me to wake up Naruto-chan."
"I do need to talk to her." Tsunade sighed, "So I'm afraid that yes I do want you to wake her, as much as I'm sure she deserves the rest there is a lot to discuss."
"Of course."
"I'll wake Karin." Rin moved to the sleeping red head, gently shaking her shoulder, "I imagine the meeting will need to be private."
"Ugh." Karin opened her eyes and lifted her head, yawning, "Rin-san?"
"It's me Karin-chan." Rin smiled faintly "Come on. Up you get, Tsunade-sama's going to need to talk to Naruto-chan."
"Oh, right." Karin sat up and nodded, glancing towards the still sleeping blonde, "I'll go bother Sasuke-san and Itachi."
"I'll join you. Sakura-chan wanted me to help her with the check on their eyes today."
"I almost forgot that was today. I promised I'd be there."
"Then c'mon." Rin wrapped an arm around the red haired girls shoulder once she was stood, guiding her out of the room, and Kakashi sighed, shifting and gently prodding Naruto's cheek.
"Naruto-chan. Time to wake up, Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama are here. They want to speak to you."
Naruto's response to that was to snuffle and bury herself further into Kakashi's side, which made Kakashi smiled faintly-he'd missed most of Naruto's life, years when he should have stepped up and been there for her-though he knew he probably wouldn't have done it even if he should, it was good to know that he'd had at least some chance to fix his past mistakes.
Of course he still had to wake her up, so he unwrapped his arm from around her and pulled away, "Naruto-chan, wakey wakey."
That seemed to do the trick and Naruto opened her eyes slowly, narrowing them at him, a pout on her lips. "I was sleeping."
"Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama are here to see you."
"Ugh." Naruto forced herself to sit up, focusing on the two Sannin. "Hey Baa-chan. Ero Sennin." she covered her mouth to stifle a yawn, which made Jiraiya laugh.
"Glad to see you're finally with us brat-"
"Took you long enough to get home." Tsunade grumbled the words.
"I thought Ero Sennin was supposed to be coming to get me when it was time to come home?"
"I couldn't find you." Jiraiya admitted.
"You-oh." Naruto blinked before shrugging as Kakashi slipped out of the room, "I guess I have been traveling around a lot."
"Itachi-san's told us how you ran into him and what happened to him, I'd like to hear what you did." Tsunade sat down at the bottom of the bed, "Just to fill in the blanks so to speak."
"From what I've been told you took out two Akatsuki members."
"I did." Naruto smiled and nodded, "I sealed up Hidan, he was tricky to handle-" she remembered the pain from his crazy ass cursed Jutsu, "but I did it. Then I went to check on Fu-chan-"
"The Jinchuriki you went to protect yes?" Tsunade asked carefully.
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, "And once I made sure she was okay I went to check on Itachi and he wasn't doing so good-and I killed Kakuzu."
"How?" Jiraiya looked curious "Itachi told us what he knew about the man's abilities he wasn't easy to kill."
"A Rasenshuriken did the trick-"
"I thought I made that a Kinjutsu." Tsunade's voice was sharp, "Because of the damage it can do-"
"You said that it would be a Kinjutsu because I couldn't use it without hurting myself. But I can."
"What?" that came from Jiraiya, "You found a way to use it?"
"Sage mode." Naruto grinned, a smug look on her face, "I coat it with Senjutsu chakra which stabilizes it and allows it to be thrown."
"That-" Tsunade blinked before laughing, "Well you have officially perfected an S-rank technique that even your father couldn't master kid. You should feel proud. So, you dropped Itachi off here and went back to this Fu-san."
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, "I did. And we decided to warn some other Jinchuriki-"
"You..." Tsunade's eyes narrowed, "Naruto-chan where did you go and who did you speak to?"
"Well first we travelled to Kumo and we met the Raikage-I don't think he likes me exactly but he did have Yugito-san escort us from the village so that we
could speak to her in person and warn her-and I'm sure he'll warn their other Jinchuriki."
"Given the fact that the other Jinchuriki is his brother that's a given." Jiraiya spoke up, "If he let you speak to their other Jinchuriki he has to at least respect you and trust that the information you gave was legitimate. He probably doesn't like the fact that they technically owe you for the information."
"Probably." Naruto nodded, "He doesn't seem like the type of man to be happy with owing anyone a favour."
"Where else did you go?"
"Kiri." Naruto smiled, "Luckily I'm already friendly with Haku-san and Zabuza-san so I managed to get a meeting real easy. Utakata-san knows about the danger now. Fu-chan wanted to stay there for a little bit and she has one of my Kunai so I decided it would be safe enough to leave her there, she's probably headed home by now."
"Well." Tsunade let out a breath, "I have to admit what you did was... right. It was the right thing to do, and politically speaking it does help us somewhat. Our friendships with Kiri and Suna are growing ever stronger and now Kumo technically owes the future Hokage for information that can help them protect their Jinchuriki. Usually we don't share our information like that-"
"Yeah, but it's stupid not too in this case-oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention it, Mei-san said that the previous Mizukage was under a Genjutsu cast by Obito-I would assume it was petty revenge for what happened to mom given the fact that it was cast a long time ago, and it had the benefit of making Kiri unstable. The more instability the better his chances of getting what he wants right?"
"That's perceptive." Tsunade nodded, "And likely his logic I would say." she had a proud gleam in her eyes, "Tell Naruto-chan. What would you do to strengthen our relationship with Kiri?"
"I'd..." Naruto thought for a moment, "I would keep them up to date on everything we know about the Akatsuki for a start-especially Obito given what he did to their previous Kage. As much as I hate to say it we need to own up about the fact that he's Uchiha Obito and he was one of ours before he did what he did. I didn't tell her when I was there because it wasn't my place but that's what I'd do. And I'd also inform Kumo and Suna."
"Suna I understand but Kumo?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure that's wise?"
"It establishes us as open to forging new bonds, puts us on the high ground morally speaking and with our friendship with Kiri and Suna we're already stronger than we have been in a long time. Baa-chan we want peace right? Peace through intimidation and power never lasts. But... peace through friendship? Maybe we should give that a try."
Tsunade stared at her for a moment before glancing at Jiraiya who raised an eyebrow-and Naruto resisted the urge to laugh. They could discuss things silently through looks in the same way as Naruto and team Seven could.
"What about Iwa?" Jiraiya spoke after a moment, "What would you do?"
"I'd give them some information about the Akatsuki-I don't know if they do have Jinchuriki or not but they should be warned."
"They do." Jiraiya nodded, "They do have Jinchuriki."
"Then we definitely tell them." Naruto said decisively, "Send him a letter detailing all of the important details, saying we're setting aside any old enmity between us for the sake of preventing a madman from gaining power."
"Interesting." Tsunade's expression didn't give anything away. "Tell me Naruto-chan, what would you do about the Hyuga clan's Caged Bird seals and the unrest in the clan since you unsealed Neji-san. Hiashi-san has refused to reseal him and has been considering removing the seal entirely but he's having trouble with the elders."
"I understand the need to protect the eyes and I'd follow through with the offers I made during the Chunin exams, I'd throw my full weight behind Hiashi in support of whatever he wishes and suggest an alternative to protect the full clans eyes which would ensure main house members aren't targeted for their unprotected eyes like Hinata-san was when she was a child. They won't want that but it should take away any arguments they have other than 'it's tradition' which can be countered with the fact that in the past there have been lots of traditions which were later discarded because as time went on they became outdated and known as barbaric."
"They're gonna love you." Tsunade laughed, a wry smile on her lips as she looked at Naruto. "You're going to shake up the whole world huh."
"I told you Hime." Jiraiya grinned, draping an arm over Tsunade's shoulder, "She's the child of Prophecy. Of course she'll change the world."
