Chapter 54

Kabuto's head snapped back as Shizune's kick connected. He backed up as two clones jumped him. Kabuto defended himself as best he could. Shizune joined the clones, making it a three-on-one fight. Kabuto was getting frustrated. He was a superior ninja, on a the same level of Kakashi Hatake. These two should not be doing this to him, especially Naruto.

He needed to turn this fight into his favor. He couldn't just stay defensive. That's when he saw Tsunade. She was still being guarded by Naruto's clones. With a smirk, Kabuto escaped the fight and ran toward Tsunade. Shizune, Naruto and his remaining clones ran after him. Kabuto's smirk got wider before vanishing from sight. Everyone came to a stop and were on guard. They looked for the man when Kabuto struck.

Shizune suddenly felt weak and dropped to her knees. She saw two glowing hard on her ankles as Kabuto revealed himself, coming out of the ground. She tried to lash out, but he struck first, stomping her head into the ground hard. Shizune gasped before going limp.

"Shizune!" Naruto shouted and charged toward Kabuto in a rage. Kabuto did some hand seals and slammed his hands on the ground.

"Earth Style: Flying Stone Jutsu!" he shouted. A wave of stone projectiles struck the rushing Naruto and the clones that followed him. Those clones were dispelled while Naruto had to cover up. When the jutsu ended, Kabuto was gone again. Naruto looked around for him, only to hear one of his clones get killed. Another was dispelled and Naruto realized that Kabuto was attacking from below. He watched another clone get dispelled and Naruto was trying to think of a way to deal with Kabuto. However, the man was moving too quick for him to counter. That's when Naruto's left leg gave out, forcing him to one knee.

"Finally found you." Naruto looked toward the voice only to be kicked in the face. Naruto tumbled away as Kabuto got to work destroying the rest of the clones. Naruto struggled to stand. He flinched as he got to his feet. He had to put all his weight on his right leg, and it wasn't easy.

"Well," Naruto turned his attention to the approaching Kabuto. "What shall I do with you Naruto? Your persistence, while impressive, has become annoying. I will give you credit. You are skilled. However, the game is finally over." He spoke.

"You would think that, huh? You manage to get an advantage and you think you've won? That kind of thinking will get you killed Kabuto." Naruto spat.

"Perhaps but I can afford to be confident right now." Kabuto said and stood in front of Naruto. The genin glared at him, only amusing him more. He raised his glowing hand. "Don't be mad Naruto. It is like I told you earlier, you were out of your league." He brought his hand brought his hand down fast and connected with Nartuto's neck. Imagine Kabuto's surprise when Naruto exploded into flames, scrooching his arm. Kabuto roared in pain and cursed at what was done to him. He looked toward Tsunade to see Naruto with those clones protecting Tsunade.

"I've had enough of your tricks Uzumaki!" Kabuto roared and used the Teleportation technique to appear right next to him. He was about to finish him off only to freeze up just as his kunai neared his head. He struggled to move but he couldn't.

"Wow, I have got to remember that combo." Naruto said with a grin.

"What… what did you do to me, brat?!" Kabuto exclaimed.

"Like I'm going to tell you. Now, stay still and get ready." Naruto held out his hand while another clone began to move his hands over his. Naruto gathered his chakra and his clone helped shape it. After a few moments, a sphere of chakra was held in his hand. Kabuto looked at the jutsu with wide eyes. Naruto reared his arm back.

"Rasengan!" Naruto roared and thrust his jutsu into Kabuto's gut. The jutsu began to grin into Kabuto. The man cried out as he was enveloped in a sphere and sent flying away. Kabuto flew back several yards until he crashed into a boulder, hard. Kabuto spat out blood and slumped into the cratered boulder. Kabuto glared at Naruto, trying to use his jutsu to heal himself. However, the damage done to him was too great.

'That brat caused that much damage to me. My jutsu can't heal it all. Damn it, I will… not… forget… this.' He thought bitterly before falling to the ground. Naruto looked at the fallen Kabuto and released a sigh. His clones dispelled and Naruto sat down.

"Now the game is over, prick." Naruto said.

XXX

Tsunade could only look on in shock. She couldn't explain what she just saw. She thought that Naruto was going to die after Kabuto had him cornered. That's when she watched the clones protecting her do something. One clone quickly wrote seals on another and then another clone did some hand seals. The original Naruto was suddenly replaced with the clone who got destroyed in his place. While that was surprising, the fact that the brat was able to form a perfect Rasengan was just as surprising. She couldn't believe it and she wasn't the only one.

Orochimaru also saw what just happened and he was not happy. The boy was getting too strong. Knowing the Summoning Jutsu and the Rasengan made this brat a big problem in the future. Not only him, but those other brats were going to be problems. He was also tired of losing to children. He knew the dangers of what he was planning but he did not care. Naruto Uzumaki had to die now.

He prepared to launch himself at the boy only to struck hard by Jiraiya's kick. The white-haired ninja quickly did hand seals.

"Fire Style: Giant Flame Bombs!" Jiraiya shouted. Multiple flame bullets flew at Orochimaru. The man dodged the large fireballs. Jiraiya did some more hand seals, causing his hair to grow and surround him. He landed and added more chakra. This caused some of his hair to fire at Orochimaru. The man quickly got his summon to surround him and protect him from the attack. He saw Tsunade's assistant and made a move to get her only to see her vanish and replaced with a kunai. He looked to where she now was and glared at the boy. That's when Jiraiya appeared in front of him.

"Don't even think about it." Jiraiya warned. Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at him.

"Always in the way, Jiraiya. Despite my handicap, you could never defeat me." Orochimaru said with a sneer.

"Well, I've never been one to try. Today, however, will be different." He explained.

"Oh, and why is that?" Jiraiya did another summoning and two small toads appeared. One toad, male, had white hair styled in a mohawk, thick eyebrows and a small goatee. He wore a high-collar cape. The other toad, female, was a lighter green than the male. She had a purple ring around her lips and her purple hair looked like it was hair net. She also had a high-collar cape.

"Why did you summon us, Jiraiya-boy?! I was making dinner!" the female shouted.

"Shima, look forward." The male said. She did and saw the injured Orochimaru. He looked up at Jiraiya and saw that he was profoundly serious. "I am surprised that you wish to use that. You're not a fan of it since it changes your features."

"That is true Fukasaku-sensei, but times have changed." Jiraiya said seriously.

"Very well. Let's help him Ma." Fukasaku said. Shima nodded and the two toads jumped onto Jiraiya's shoulders. They did a seal.

"Sage Art: Amphibian Jutsu!" the said. Orochimaru's eyes widen at that. He watched as Jiraiya began to transform. His nose grew bigger and gained warts, his teeth turned sharp, and he grew a goatee. The marks on his face surrounding his eyes and covered his cheeks. His appearances were more toad like. Orochimaru would have chuckled at how ugly his former comrade looked if this were not as serious. Jiraiya's eyes glared at him.

"Like I said, today is different. Today, I protect sensei's investment and I correct a mistake all those years ago!" With that, Jiraiya launched himself at Orochimaru.

XXX

Naruto was trying to help Shizune but when it came to health, he was no expert. It was the only thing he didn't do well in the academy. He knew the basic field first-aid but that's about it. He really wished Sakura or Choji were with him. That when two glowing green hands appeared on Shizune's head. Naruto looked up to see Tsunade. He could see that she was struggling due to the blood, but she was focused on healing her. The two were silent for a while before Tsunade spoke.

"You know that your Rasengan does not count? You had help." She explained. Naruto gave a look when she said that. "What? You know that I'm right."

"Well, it worked, and I won." Naruto said with a pout. This made Tsunade scoff amusingly.

"If he were alive, my brother would have liked you. Dan, he would… he would…" Tsunade was choking up and tears began to fall. "Both of them, they would be so ashamed of me. What I've become, what I've done, they would be so ashamed." She cried. She stopped healing Shizune and grabbed he necklace. "I am the only one who can wear this accursed thing. I tried to pass it off, but it took their lives. The funny thing is that they wanted to be Hokage. For so long, I blamed that position when it was this thing that took them away. It was me who took them away."

"That's stupid!" Naruto shouted. Tsunade looked at the blond who was giving her an intense look. He then held out his hand. "Give me the stupid thing! I'll show you that it isn't cursed!" Tsunade's just looked at the determined look on his face and it surprised her. "I'm going to be Hokage! I'm going to be the best! If you want proof of that, you'll give me that necklace! I'll prove to you that it isn't cursed!"

Tsunade could only look at his eyes. They were so much like her brother's. Her surprise turned into a small smile. She moved toward him, taking off her necklace. She then placed it around his neck. Naruto was a little surprise that she gave it up and looked at his new accessory.

"Alright brat prove it to me. I'll be watch you to see if you can do as you say." She spoke.

"Watching? What are you talking about.?" He asked with confusion.

"Well, I am going to be Hokage." Tsunade stated. Naruto's eyes widen at that. Before he could say anything, an explosion interrupted him. The two turned to see a very bruised up Orochimaru on the ground. The man slowly stood up and the two could see that half of his face was gone. It was as if he was wearing a mask. Tsunade stood up and was preparing to rush forward. She stopped when she saw Jiraiya land in front of her in his transformed state. She gave him a brief look before facing Orochimaru.

"So, he was never here?" she asked.

"It seems that way." Jiraiya answered. Orochimaru looked at the two and realized that he would not be getting what he wanted. It annoyed him but he relaxed soon after. He had other ways to get his jutsu back. However, he had to do something about the Hidden Leaf's growth. He was already seeing the difficulty he would have if they continued to grow. Still, he knew that there was nothing he could do for now. He suspected that his sensei's old rival would not allow him to challenge the change.

'Orochimaru' vanished and reappeared next to Kabuto. Jiraiya and Tsunade watched as he knelt next to him. The man looked at Tsunade and smirked.

"You should have accepted my offer Tsunade. No matter, I have other methods to regain my jutsu." He spoke. He then unleashed his intent and focused it on Naruto. The blond gulped but Tsunade got in front of him. Orochimaru kept his eyes on the boy. "I will not forget this boy. You have interrupted my plans for a second time. There will not be a third." He turned his attention to Tsunade and Jiraiya. "Be prepared, my old comrades. I will return and the Leaf will burn. I promise."

With his piece said, Orochimaru took Kabuto and melted into the ground. Jiraiya and the toad were on alert just in case he tried anything. After a few moments, they could not sense the two anymore. They relaxed with Jiraiya letting out a throaty sigh. He turned to Tsunade and gave her a 'thumbs up' signature. Tsunade just gave him an annoyed grunt before turning to look at Naruto. He was still admiring his new necklace.

'Dan, Nawaki, I will put my faith in this boy. I will put my faith out there once more. Please, protect him.' With that final thought, the battle was now over.

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Authors' Notes: Sorry that this took so long. I've been really busy. Anyway, Happy Easter to all of you. I hope this Easter finds you healthy and happy. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter.