Chapter Twenty-Seven
The heavenly warmth of Hinata's body and the morning sun greeted Naruto as he reluctantly released his hold on sleep. Last night had been epic in ways he didn't know possible. Hinata had shown him a few things from Make Out Tactics that even he was too shy to ask her about. At least a few times he had to use a sound cancelling jutsu as the neighbors below and next door began pounding on the walls. Who knew we'd make so much noise! A wide fox grin spread over his face as Hinata slipped from his grasp.
From the corner of a half-opened eye, Naruto watched her stroll naked to the table, putting on the locket he'd gifted her at age thirteen then slipping into his jacket. He watched her sniff the jacket and blush. Babe, you're way too cute! Naruto felt himself blush warm all over as he took in the sight of her wearing the bulky garment, long, sexy legs teasing him as the jacket barely hid the rest of her. The image turned his morning wood solid as steel.
Naruto closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep again. As she rustled with some papers on the table, he lay in wait, ready to give her a wild surprise when she returned to the bed. "NARUTO, WAKE UP!" she ran to the bed and began shaking him.
"Hinata," Naruto rubbed his eyes, and looked at his watch, "isn't it a bit early?" he teased. As she shook him, his jacket flapped open, supercharging his heart as he took in the glorious view of her exposed body first thing in the morning. Naruto's smirk grew wider as he prepared to pounce.
"Naruto! Jiraiya is ALIVE!" Hinata shook as she screeched.
Naruto blinked twice, thinking he was in a bizarre erotic dream. Hinata was still there, hanging out of his jacket in all of her glory, when his eyes opened. "I'm sorry, what?" the hunger for sex was replaced with confusion.
"Naruto!" Hinata frantically waved Grandpa's last letter in front of him, "Jiraiya is alive!" She shoved the letter in his face, and the angled morning sunlight highlighted a detail he hadn't seen when he first read the letter – pinprick marks in several of the characters. I am alive!
Naruto held the letter overhead, desperate to be sure he wasn't hallucinating the pinhole message. It was a primitive way to conceal a message on an innocuous item – one that Grandpa had taught him when he was twelve. Dammit, he must have used an ultra-fine needle! That was why he addressed it to Hinata and myself! He wanted her to see the message and no one else! "Hinata?!" he gasped.
"And look at this!" she waved the envelope in front of his eyes. Naruto slapped himself on the forehead. "My god, how did I miss that!"
"Who cares! We have to get to your father!"
"Right, Naruto leapt up from the bed, going in search of clothing.
Minato sipped his morning coffee as he sat with Kakashi, Kushina, Itachi, and Shikamaru for his morning intelligence briefing. The morning ritual had been part of his routine for seventeen years. However, this morning had a special flavor to it that was especially joyous. Itachi was alive, the Venom Scorpions had been decapitated, and most of the lower-level scum began selling each other out in a pathetic attempt to save their skins. "Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Lord Fourth," the group answered with a smile.
"So, what do we have on the docket for today?" Minato sipped.
"By now you are probably aware of the identity of Venom and Scorpion," Itachi spoke.
Minato tasted a slight bitterness as he thought of them both. While he was negotiating the peace treaty that ended the Third Shinobi War; Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Hiashi discovered Danzo's affair with Yui and Hattori's twisted involvement. In the end, they had blackmailed Danzo and Hattori into withdrawing their opposition to the treaty, and Lord Third had claimed responsibility for the events – eventually leading the Minato becoming Hokage. "I am aware, sadly," he replied, putting down the cup.
"Lord Fourth, I doubt any action we took or could have taken would have led to a better outcome," Kakashi offered encouragement. "Even before we exposed the scandal, she was pregnant by Danzo."
"I understand, but that doesn't lessen the tragedy of her becoming collateral damage," Minato stared down into his coffee. "Although I'm curious," Minato spoke thoughtfully.
"About?" Shikamaru jumped in.
"If they were producing it in our borders, why all the crossover with the Land of Sound? Why all the human trafficking there and Amekagure?" Minato set down the cup, tenting his fingers.
"I'm afraid that might be a question without a direct answer," Itachi's voice turned deep.
"What do you mean?" Kushina asked, tilting her head.
"You mean the chatter, or lack thereof, coming out of both areas, right?" Shikamaru added. Itachi nodded.
"Care to share with the class, gentlemen?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes," Itachi nodded, "for the past several weeks, we've been so distracted with recent events I didn't think I'd be able to brief you on it," Itachi turned to Shikamaru, "Care to have a go?"
"What a pain," he shrugged, "for about a month now, we've been tracking unusual patterns in and out of Land of Sound and the Land of the Rain."
"Unusual how?" Minato asked intently.
"Unusual," Shikamaru explained, "by the sheer lack of it." He shrugged, "Bluntly point, all data out of the Land of Sound – trade, foot traffic, even radio chatter – began dropping off until it ended abruptly a week or so ago."
"The situation is similar to what happened with Amekagure in the Land of the Rain," Itachi bowed his head slightly, "the border crossings all closed suddenly, and no one has been allowed in or out. There was one thing that it strangely coincided with…"
"Which is?" Kushina interrupted, impatiently.
"The Land of Sound closed its border entirely at the same time Gaara and Naruto were rescued.
Minato scratched his chin, "Too big of a coincidence?"
"I don't believe in coincidence, any more than I think Sasuke putting in an appearance last night was one," Itachi added.
Minato's heart jumped, "You think they knew we'd take them down?"
"Perhaps," Shikamaru added, "they already accomplished another goal we don't know about," Shikamaru sat back with his hands tented. "Sasuke could have predicted Naruto or Hinata would be present."
"They sold out the Venom Scorpions to get Naruto," Minato sat up in his chair.
"A frightening prospect," Kakashi shifted as he leaned back to the wall. "Thankfully, Sasuke was never privy to Hinata being jinchuriki as well."
"In any case, we seem to have a lot of puzzle pieces to sift through," Shikamaru nodded.
"Do you think Gaara will have any insight?" Kushina asked.
The video conference line chimed, "I don't know; let's ask him." The video screen came to life, "Good morning, Lord Kazakage!" Minato greeted.
"Good morning, Lord Hokage," Gaara nodded. "I've been informed that congratulations are in order." Gaara smiled. Minato was grateful to see the young man smiling after the living hell his childhood had been. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Recent events might tie in with your abduction," Minato said somberly, "We think that a rogue or coerced agent of ours was trying to abduct Naruto last night. When they took you, do you recall anything that might provide any insight."
Gaara's face tightened. "I'm afraid I might not be much help to you; the members of the Akatsuki that took me were not the most conversational." He quivered, "One was a bit of a weirdo to be honest."
"Hidan," Shikamaru grumbled as his had tightened into a fist.
"There was one thing," Gaara said, wrinkling his face as he struggled to remember.
"What was that?" Minato asked.
"One of them said the eye of the moon would be ready by the October full moon."
"Eye of the moon?" Kakashi raised and eyebrow.
"You have something to add, Kakashi?" Minato asked, feeling something familiar in the back of his head.
"I'm not sure, but I could swear I've heard that term before." Kakashi focused on searching for the memory.
"I remember it," Kushina broke through.
"Remember what?" Minato asked his wife.
"It was a story Great Grandmother Mito used to tell me," she explained, "Shortly before the Battle at the Valley of the End, she sought parley with Madara Uchiha. She begged him to abandon the upcoming battle and give Lord Hashimara's vision of peace among the villages a chance. He said it wouldn't matter regardless. If he lived or died, he would see the world remade in the eye of the moon." Kushina shivered, "I'm afraid even Grandma Mito was not wholly sure what he meant by it, but I'm assuming it means the same thing."
This all comes back to Madara. The troubling thought swirled in Minato's head as he remembered. "Lord Fourth," Gaara asked, "Is there more to this story?"
"There is," Minato replied, "but it's not something we can discuss via video link."
"Then perhaps, in person," Gaara's lips tightened again into a pleasant smile.
"In person?"
"I had already invited Naruto, Hinata, and Shikamaru to join me at the Kazekage's Private Oasis. Perhaps you and lady Kushina would care to join us."
"When did you have this in mind?" Minato asked.
"I believe after my sister and Shikamaru are finished with their mission…"
"About that," Shikamaru interrupted.
"Yes?" Minato and Gaara replied in unison.
"Gaara, she's planning on joining me for an incredibly dangerous mission," Shikamaru's face spasmed at the mention of the mission leaving today, "please, I'm asking you to recall her."
Gaara tented his hands and sat quietly for a moment, "Shikamaru, I'm afraid I cannot do that."
"Can't or won't?!" he protested.
"Both, I'm afraid," Gaara nodded, "while I'd like nothing better that to see my sister safely home, she left as a private citizen and not under my orders, so I cannot call her back officially. And…"
"And what!" Shikamaru growled.
"And my sister told me what danger she was going into and made me promise not to intervene if you tried to do something like this. She said that love might make you do something that got you killed." Gaara turned his palms up, "So, you see, I am in no position to compel Temari to abandon you."
"Lord Fourth!" Shikamaru turned to Minato.
"Shikamaru, you taking her, Kakashi, Neji, and Hiashi with you was a condition of me signing off of this mission," he stood firm, "If you try something suicidal like taking Hidan without backup, they have orders to bring you back in chains if necessary; and I'll send a different team in your place." Minato eyed the boy's shocked expression, "Revenge is toxic enough; you do not need to add your own death to the situation."
The defiant glare in Shikamaru's eye flashed one last time, replaced with acceptance. The boy needs a vacation as badly as I do! The intercom on the desk buzzed, "Lord Fourth, your son and Lady Hyūga are here; they say it is urgent."
"Send them in," Minato replied before turning to Gaara's visage on the screen, "Sorry, Lord Kazekage, I'll get back to you about the visit."
"Take your time, give my best to Naruto and Hinata," the screen blanked out in time for the office door to open. Naruto and Hinata raced inside, panting like they had run as fast as they could.
"To what do we owe the honor, you two," Kushina winked as she greeted the two.
"Dad…" Naruto heaved, "… Jiraiya is alive!"
Minato froze as the unexpected outburst registered in his mind. A thousand emotions – excitement, anxiety, fear, elation, anger, confusion, and more - all swirled like a melting mix berry sherbet. "What?" was the most intelligible thought he could assemble.
"Lord Fourth, look at the letter up against the light!" Hinata held it out. As Minato did, he recognized the pinhole message the pervy sage had punched into the letter. I AM ALIVE!
"Impossible," Minato murmured, unwilling to give himself that level of hope in the face of the terrible ups and downs of the last few weeks. The room began spinning.
"Dad, look at the envelope," Naruto thrust the item before Minato's eyes, finger pointing at the postmark. "Even the most backwater post offices postmark a letter the date it is received for processing, this was post marked almost two days after Jiraiya supposedly died!"
Minato stared at the envelope with his mouth hanging open; sweet mania filled Minato throughout. Dad is alive! DAD IS ALIVE! Kushina, Itachi, and Kakashi gathered around, each inspecting the envelope. "I'll be damned," Itachi muttered.
"Lord Fourth, if I may, how do we know this isn't some kind of trap to draw out Naruto again like what happened with Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.
"How would they know he'd find the clue? It's been over two weeks since this was received," Shikamaru observed.
Minato's heart leaped into his throat as he stared down at his desk drawer. There was one way to know for sure. Minato pried the desk drawer open, seeing the picture frame lying face down. The photograph had changed in the past – originally just Naruto, Hinata, and the grandkids – eventually adding Minato, Kushina, Jiraiya, and Tsunade after a particularly important decision. His heart beat away at his throat as he flipped it face up.
The photo had changed again, but not how Minato feared. Instead of having anyone erased, the photo now included Itachi, Izumi, Kakashi, Shizune, and several other teenaged boys and girls with black, blonde, and grey hair. "Kushina!"
"Wow," her violet eyes grew wide. "I doubt Himawari expected this," a pleased smirk stretched at the corner of her mouth. Judging by what details his future granddaughter had given, most of the people in the photo didn't exist in the future she originally came from.
"We have to go get him!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Do we even know where to look?" Kakashi added.
"Biei," Minato said, tapping the postmark. "Right near the border with the Land of the Rain."
"Hold it," Kushina put a hand up, "Before you all jump in dick-first, there are two things we're overlooking. For one, this still could be a trap…"
"Mom…"
"Be quiet, son!" Kushina's hair flailed. "It could be for you or it could be for Jiraiya. If he's hold up that close to the border, he could be injured or he could be trying to hide from pursuers. If we go charging in, we could get him killed."
"What are you suggesting, dear?" Minato said.
"I'll take my team and team seven to find him," she crossed her arms, "assuming we find him safe and alive, we need to consider what to do from there."
"If everyone thinks he's dead," Itachi spoke, "perhaps keeping up the illusion is to our advantage."
"We could take him to Mount Myoboku," Naruto snapped his fingers, "It's isolated but easy for us to reach!"
"What about Lady Tsunade?" Hinata interjected, "She's thought him dead this whole time… isn't it cruel to keep her thinking that?"
"Get to him first, and then get him somewhere safely away from the border," Minato said, "And then signal me. We can transport him here to the Hokage's Mansion or Tsunade's house first, then we can see about hiding him long-term."
"Lord Fourth," Shikamaru spoke up.
"Yes?"
"Being that my team is leaving soon as well, I suggest we leave together then split up on the road. We can conveniently leak word of a large group tasked with hunting down Hidan to draw eyes off the team going after Jiraiya."
Minato stared at the boy, "Are you sure it's wise letting Hidan know you're coming after him?"
"Yes," Shikamaru nodded grimly, "If anything, I want him to anticipate it, to come looking for us."
Minato stared the boy in the eye before turning to Kakashi, "Tactically, is the plan sound?"
"Yes," Kakashi nodded.
Minato bit his lip, wishing he was going instead of his wife, his son, and their teammates. "All right, gather up your teams and get going. I'll call a press conference regarding Hidan."
The open road was not a natural place for Akemi Hyūga. Her whole adult life she had only ever travelled once – the evacuation of her home village of Nagiso almost eighteen years ago. Being so far from home again was unnerving, and the only that made it easier was setting up the tent she'd share with Hinata and Hanabi.
"Make sure the rod is fully locked, Mom," Hinata instructed as the collapsible tent pole gave way, "… otherwise it tends to do that."
Hanabi giggled at Akemi's misfortune. "Sorry, this is all new to me, girls" Akemi sighed as she struggled to get the pole corrected.
"It's okay Mom, Naruto managed to kick the pole out of his pup tent during an alert on our first mission," Hinata giggled, "he came stumbling out of the tent in his underwear!"
"I can hear you!" Naruto called out from where he and Konohamaru had just set up their tent.
"I bet that's when you decided first that you'd marry Naruto," Hanabi teased.
While Akemi doubted Hanabi meant anything by the statement, it did bring to the surface some lingering questions she had for her oldest daughter. Questions you've been too scared or too preoccupied to ask. "Hinata, may I speak to you a minute?" Akemi paused, "Privately."
Hinata reluctantly set down the tent pole she'd been working on. "Sure, Mom," she turned to Hanabi, "We'll be right back; see if Naruto or Konohamaru can give you a hand, little sister."
"Right!" Hanabi gave a resounding nod.
As they walked to the edge of the roadside clearing that was the campsite, Akemi couldn't take her eyes off her little girl. Except, she's not so little anymore. "Mom?" Hinata asked as they reached the edge of the tree line, "is something wrong?"
"I don't know Hinata… I…" Akemi stared at Hinata's earnest, thoughtful face, "I feel like I haven't seen you all year!"
"I'm sorry, Mom," Hinata dipped her head, "I know I got really caught up in the Fatal Lust investigation, almost obsessed… I'm sorry…"
"Hinata," Akemi felt warm tears behind her eyes fighting their way forward, "I'm proud of you, really." Tears began to leak from her eyes, "I guess, I'm just struggling to see my baby girl as something other than my baby girl!"
"Mom," Hinata embraced Akemi, "There were so many times in the last year that I wanted to sit down and talk…"
"We're here now," Akemi smiled, wiping away tears.
"What do you have on your mind?"
"Hinata, what are your intentions with Naruto?" Akemi asked, impulsively.
"My intentions?" Hinata raised an eyebrow.
"Dear, you've spent most of the last few months living with him almost nonstop…" To ask or not to ask? "… I mean, you two have been intimate, right?"
"M-Mom!" Hinata turned pink as her hand covered her mouth.
"Hinata, I'm not judging you if you have or haven't, but I worry about you. A mom is generally a bit more involved in her daughter's life."
"Mom, you didn't grow up a shinobi, either," Hinata formed a thin smile, "And to answer the question, yes, we have."
"And…"
"And what?" Hinata asked with a trembling voice.
"And, are you two planning on getting married?" Akemi asked, trying to keep her tone even.
"Mom… I… we…" Hinata stammered, similar to how she would when nervous as a child, "I mean, someday yes, but…"
"But?"
"But I haven't even had a chance to discuss it with Naruto as of yet." Hinata began blushing. "M-Mom, why the sudden questions?"
"Hinata," Akemi shook her head, "My mom and dad didn't live to see me get married. I had to figure out what it was to be a wife and a mom by myself; sometimes I wonder if I could have done a better job of it..."
"Mom, you left the world you knew for a different one, raised two daughters in exceptionally different circumstances, and survived cancer," Hinata placed her hands on Akemi's shoulders. "Don't forget that you also became a shinobi after surviving all of that!"
"Hinata, I know about the coming storm, Kushina told me everything."
"It's just another storm for us to ride out, Mom."
"Hinata, I once lost almost everything I cared about while trying to ride out the last storm. The thought of losing you or not being there for you when you need me…"
"Mom" Hinata cut her off, "by all rights, none of this should be happening! In a different life, Aunt Kushina and Uncle Minato died at Naruto's birth! In that same timeline, you lost your battle with cancer! I don't even want to think of all the heartache, all the misery that Naruto endured without his parents – the pain that father had in losing you!" Hinata wiped away hot tears, as did Akemi, as Hinata wrapped Akemi in a hug. "Mom, everyday I have with you is a gift; don't think that I'll ever forget that!"
"Hinata, if anything happens to me or your father…" she squeezed Hinata closer, "… just know we both love you, and Naruto, and we are proud of you both!"
"Akemi, Hinata, are you both okay?" Kushina's concerned voice came through the fading light.
"Fine," Akemi smiled through tears, "just, treasuring a moment with my daughter!"
"Gotcha," Kushina nodded in understanding, "I do the same with my son, ya know!" she winked. "By the way, Hinata, when is the wedding? I saw the scroll your father gave Naruto!"
"Ku-Kushina!" Akemi and Hinata both gasped.
"I'm just teasing," Kushina chuckled, "When you two are done having a moment come back to camp; Naruto and Konohamaru just finished helping Hanabi get your tent up. We have a long day tomorrow, and probably best that we get some shut-eye."
As Kushina walked away, she turned back to Hinata, "Who do you think is more excited, her or me?"
"Mom," Hinata took her hand, "You both are incorrigible, ya know!" Hinata imitated Kushina's voice and verbal tic.
"That reminds me," Akemi smirked, "She showed me that fine picture she took of you giving Naruto a smooch on the cheek after your first mission."
"I… forgot about that one!" Hinata turned pink.
The barn at the edge of the farming village of Biei offered little in the way of comfort. Still, it was shelter from frequent rain and winds that creeped over the border to from the Land of Rain. The old farmer who raised sheep here was thankfully not a sharp man, otherwise Jiraiya in his weakened state might have been picked up by the local police.
Jiraiya looked down at his right arm and leg. The arm was in a makeshift sling and the leg was still held stable by a makeshift splint he'd fashioned from the handle of a broken pitchfork and some rope he'd found here. If you'd been just a few seconds slower, your arm would be gone and your funeral would have been a real one!
After getting found out by Pain and the other Akatsuki, Jiraiya had tangled with what he was sure were his former students – alive after all these years. They were planning to destroy Konoha to start with, but there was far more behind the sinister plan. While the coded message warning about Pain's different forms was the imperative; Jiraiya knew it would be best if he could warn the village himself. Of course, knowing that doesn't do anyone any good unless your grandson and his girl find you!
He had defeated several of Pain's forms, only to be surprised by one he'd missed. Thankfully, paranoia learnded from his son had caused Jiraiya to keep his guard up. Pain stabbed him through the arm – an inch futher to midline and the arm would have come off. Grievously injured, he dispatched Fukasaku and Shima away to carry what he fully expected to be his last message to Minato and Naruto.
The escape that followed had been a masterstroke: a quick substitution with a shadow clone, and Fukasaku and Shima had even been fooled into thinking he was dead. Jiraiya held his breath impossibly long and managed to swim out of Amekagure through the sewers, burning most of his chakra reserves while maintaining the shadow clone's appearance of a dead man even after it should have dispersed. After crossing the border safely, Jiraiya crawled on his stomach through mud and sheep shit for hours until he reached the relative safety of the barn. He closed his exhausted eyes that night, not sure if he'd have the strength to open them again ever.
Even after waking the following day, he barely had the strength to do anything but lay here, write the letter to Naruto, and limp to the mailbox to send out his letter. Now, a few weeks later, he was still struggling to use his right arm for anything heavier than a pen and he couldn't walk more than a few meters without the leg giving out. Jiraiya struggled several days just to write the coded message to Naruto and Hinata to tell them he was alive. Several weeks later, he wasn't even sure if it had ever reached them. I could have limped home by now!
The bitter thought he knew was just that, bitterness. Pain had severely damaged the muscles, maybe even the nerves in Jiraiya's upper arm, and he was pretty sure he had at least one broken bone in his leg. In his crippled state, an Academy student with a dull teaspoon could kill him in seconds, to say nothing of an Akatsuki member. This close to the border; Jiraiya couldn't take for granted the Akatsuki had accepted his death. There was still a fair chance they were still looking for him. If they find me, I'm dead for real this time.
Jiraiya's hungry stomach growled. He foraged whatever he could for food at the farmhouse, careful to only take what wouldn't be missed. It was never enough, and he knew he was getting weaker by the day – even the most basic of rehab exercises were sapping what little strength he had left. Bitter with his predicament, he reached into his robes, finding his wallet. He flipped it open to the heavenly photo he had of Tsunade and himself after their engagement almost four years ago now. You knew you were too old for this shit! You should be there with her, and not slowly dying here in this barn! Tears dripped from his eyes at the unfairness of it all. It was early April; their wedding date was June sixteenth. Poor girl thinks I'm dead, that I abandoned her like the others.
A rustling noise came from outside shaking Jiraiya. Fuck! "I see him, he's here!" a familiar voice called. Hinata! The barndoor screeched open, blinding him with midday sunlight. As his eyes struggled to focus, blurred images approached. "GRANDPA!" a pair of voices squealed as a bone-crushing hug encircled him.
"Kids!" tears spilled from Jiraiya's eyes as their embrace confirmed they weren't a hallucination.
"Akemi, Sakura!" Kushina's motherly voice commanded. The two medical-nin approached at a sprint. "Hanabi, Konohamaru, perimeter!"
"Yes, Mom," Konohamaru replied crisply.
"Mom?" Jiraiya asked as Sakura worked on his arm and Akemi took the leg.
"The Sarutobis asked Mom and Dad to adopt him," Naruto explained, "at least until our current crisis is over." Naruto stared with his father's eyes, glimmering with tears. "Grandpa! I thought you were dead!"
"I wasn't far off," he sighed, then grinned, "What took you so long?"
"A lot happened while you were gone, Jiraiya," Hinata knelt next to him. "We'll tell you all about it after we get you away."
"Grandpa, why didn't you reverse summon to Mount Myoboku?" Naruto asked.
"Kid, look at me," Jiraiya gestured to himself. "I was pretty close to dead when I crawled my way here, and haven't gotten much better in three weeks of hiding out here and living off what little I could steal without being noticed."
"He's basically malnourished, but I don't think anything permanent has set in," Akemi added.
"When can he be ready to move?" Kushina asked impatiently, eyes darting to the barn door.
"That depends on how fair," Sakura said. "If you mean outside the village, maybe fifteen, thirty minutes. If you mean to travel, we're talking several days of proper care."
"Naruto, is that enough for you?" Kushina asked.
"Yes, I just need to get him to the clearing we scouted earlier, and I'll summon Gamakichi." Naruto grinned, "He'll be almost as glad to see you as Granny Tsunade!"
"Tsunade…" Jiraiya's heart fluttered at her name. He'd see her again soon, hold her, and he'd never let go. I made a promise to you, babe, and I'm cashing it in the second I'm out of here! Jiraiya's eyes leaked tears of joy despite the pain of Sakura and Akemi putting him back together.
DING-DONG!
The doorbell chiming shook Tsunade awake from the fuzziness of the dreamless sleep fueled by the nearby half-empty bottle of sake. Ever since the terrible day Fukasaku and Shima appeared at her door with the earthshattering news of Jiraiya's death. Had Shizune not been with her at the time, the news would have dropped her to the floor.
DING-DONG!
"Dammit!" Tsunade huffed as she ran her sleeve across her face. Ever since the terrible day, she hadn't gone back to sleep in the bed she'd shared with Jiraiya – crashing on the couch. On any night she wasn't on call for the hospital, the sake became a ritual to make the nightmares go away. On nights when it wasn't option, the nightmares came out to torture her. Some nights, she was holding Dan in her arms, watching him take his last breath despite all the healing justsu skill in the world. Other nights, Jiraiya was lying in the distance, wounded, and crying for her to help him. No matter how fast she ran, no matter how desperate she was to reach her dying lover, she'd never reach him.
DING-DONG!
"I'M COMING, DAMMITT!" she shouted as the bell insisted she answer. Joints popped as she stretched out, feeling what felt like a mild hangover already chipping away at her skull. Tsunade straightened her robes as she staggered down the hallway, not fully awake. Her ire began to rise as the bell rang yet again. "Yes! I'm here, dammitt!" she growled as she shot the door open.
"Tsunade!" Naruto stood outside in the pouring rain.
"Naruto?" she tilted her head in a swirling maelstrom of confusion and anger. "What the fuck!"
"Come with me, please!" he said in a haunted voice.
"Naruto, I'm tired, I'm sleep-deprive, and I'm probably nursing a mild hangover! WHAT THE HELL IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MORNING!"
"This," Naruto made a hand seal and snatched her by the arm.
The disorienting sensation of being reverse-summoned almost made her vomit as she came to rest on her feet. For several seconds, she looked down at the ground to catch her balance. "Ugh, where the hell am I?" she groaned.
"Mount Myoboku," an amused masculine voice that haunted her nightmares spoke. Not possible! Her eyes slowly crawled along the floor of the lodge that Jiraiya, Naruto, and Minato had all called home. As Naruto braced her arm, her eyes continued to crawl along the floor until it reached the source of the words. Minato stood beside a seated figure with grey hair and a surprising muscle mass for a man of his age. "Hey babe, sorry I'm late!"
Tsuande's vision narrowed to a thin tunnel of light around Jiraiya; then everything went black.
"Babe," the heavenly voice drew back the veil of sleep. Strong, gentle fingers traced back Tsunade's hair, "Love, can you hear me?" As her eyes shot open, the view of Jiraiya's crooked smirk warmed her to the heart.
"Ji-Jiraiya!" she sobbed as she snatched him up in her arms. Several long sobs choked her.
"It's okay, I'm here!" his left arm squeezed her to his body.
"I had… the most horrific nightmare!" she wailed, vice-gripping him for fear of him disappearing if she let go. "I thought you were dead!" She heaved, chest aching from the pain the horrific, unending nightmare.
"I'm sorry I scared you so badly," he wiped away her tears with his left hand.
As she paused to stare, she spotted his right arm in a sling, and she noticed a cane next to the door to the room "Jiraiya, where are we?"
"Mount Myoboku, pardon the rustic conditions," he gestured to the simple room of traditional design. Only a simple lantern lit the room in soft light. Tsunade was sprawled out on a plain floormat.
"Jiraiya, that wasn't…"
"I wish it was," he replied, "I'm so sorry, Tsunade," he shook his head. "I knew it would be dangerous, but I didn't realize how damn bad it was going to be." He sighed deeply, "I never wanted to hurt you the way I did!"
"Jiraiya," cold tears rained down from her eyes, "you bastard!" She snatched him by his collar and covered his mouth with hers, tasting the kiss she's been deprived of for over a month. She wrestled him to the mat, pinning him down.
"I love it when you talk dirty like that!" He grinned as she broke from her.
"If you ever do that again… I'm cutting it off!" she pounded a fist into his chest.
"Won't happen, pretty woman," he smiled, "I promised you I was done, and now I'm keeping that promise." He smirked with a shark grin, "Let's get married!"
I can surprise you, too! "Prove to me this isn't a dream!" she grabbed him by the collar, yanking his robes open. She licked her lips as she eyed his chiseled chest. "Make love to me!"
"You realize," he chuckled as he raised his bad arm, "I'm not going to be on my 'A' game."
"I guess that means I'll have to do all the hard work," she pulled open her robes, exposing her breasts, enjoying the shocked look on his face as he took in the view, "as usual!" She peeled away their outfits desperately inspecting every last inch of his body, making sure he was intact; he was.
"I was worried I'd never see you again, never experience this again!" he gasped.
"Worry no more!" she impaled herself on him. The agony of the past month and horrific last weeks melted away as she made love to Jiraiya. Each thrust, each kiss, each caress was justification of keeping on her engagement ring. Jiraiya had come back, and he was never leaving her again – even if she had to tie him down.
Author's notes: Hello everyone. Let me open this with my apologies. Due to both my work schedule and mild technical issues, I am several hours late getting this out. I hope it was worth your wait, and I apologize if the chapter reads a bit unpolished as a result.
A few surprises await in the next few chapters. I'll see you next week when Shikamaru and Temari take on Hidan. Stay health, stay safe, and thank you for reading!