Author's Note
Hey guys, I just wanna explain something quick before anyone gets confused.
The previous chapter ended with the conclusion of the second stage of the Chunin Exams, but this chapter won't pick up where I left off immediately.
Instead, at the request of one of you guys, I'm gonna start off where Hatorama leaves for the Tower and his mother and the Third Hokage have their reunion after not seeing each other in decades.
Tsunade POV
When Katsuyu popped infront of me and told me that my son needed me, my heart began to race.
I'd trained the brat well. It would take a skilled Jounin to beat him. He'd make them work for it though. Buying enough time to activate our contingency.
He was my only child. All that I had left of his father, who I'd loved deeply. Shizune and I had long thought of what our plan would be if his life was ever threatened on a mission.
There was no doubt that my son would become a shinobi. His blood demanded nothing less.
It's that same blood however, that would put him in incredible danger. He and I are the last living legacy of Grandpa Hashirama.
There are many people out there that would want to kill or capture him. Unfortunately, I can't be with him all the time, no matter how much I want to.
So we worked out a solution. He would sign my Summoning Contract, and through our mutual Summons, Katsuyu, we'd always be able to reach each other through reverse-summoning.
It didn't take much effort to convince Katsuyu to agree. She and I have been partners and friends for forty years now already after all.
I'd been tying up some loose ends in the Land of Birds when she appeared before me in a cloud of smoke.
I immediately stood up from the chair I was lounging in and threw off my jacket. I quickly picked the Katsuyu clone up and placed her on my shoulder.
A minute later, we were enveloped in smoke and I ruthlessly suppressed the urge to retch. I never did like any kind of space-time ninjutsu.
I dont get distracted though. I focus a bit of chakra to the tenketsu in my feet and as I kick my leg outwards, I release the built up chakra with devastating effect as it makes contact with my opponent.
Someone who's frighteningly familiar. As he crashes through the treeline, I look down at all the brats gathered here.
A quip by my son about dramatics makes my lips twitch. As glad as I am to see him though, I still send him and the other Genin away.
This kind of battle is way out of their league and they'd only be distractions. It's at this point that Orochimaru returns, looking a bit worse for the wear.
I use the temporary lull and take in his appearance. It's like the last two decades haven't even happened.
He still looks the same. Which is ironic, because he always used to mock me for my vanity, but it seems like he too wanted to keep time at bay.
As he too studied me, our combined chakra started saturating the air. Pretty soon, the ground began cracking and all the debris around us started disintegrating.
In a split second we rushed each other. He extended his left arm and half a dozen snakes rushed out of his sleeve.
I dodged their mouths and grabbed them by their heads, then I swung around and sent Orochimaru crashing through the trees again.
I didn't waste the opportunity though. I leapt into the air and brought my heel down on his head. Or tried to rather. He barely dodged.
My attack devastated the clearing however and the ground broke apart and he was pelted with the resulting fallout.
Naturally, that wasn't enough to kill him, or even hurt him seriously. It did slow him down very slightly though.
He raced through a couple of handsigns. Signs which I recognised. I lifted up one of the massive slabs of earth that had become dislodged by my previous attack and held it infront of me.
At the same time, I channeled chakra to my feet and stuck them to the ground. Not a moment too soon however.
A large gust of wind blasted into my position. My barrier held, but the surrounding trees weren't as fortunate.
Despite all that though, I still felt the slight tremor in the ground. He was using his wind jutsu as a distraction.
I cut the flow of chakra to my feet and quickly performed a backflip. Orochimaru burst out the ground where I was previously, with a sword in his mouth. Disgusting snake !
I cocked my fist back and slammed it into his face. He went flying again. I bit the thumb of my hand and was about to summon Katsuyu, when multiple people burst into the clearing.
At their head was another familiar figure. Unlike Orochimaru and myself however, the years hadn't been kind to him.
Sarutobi Sensei's face was deeply lined with wrinkles. Despite the strength still evident in his posture, there was a weariness evident in him.
His eyes widened in surprise when he saw me, as did those of the brats he brought with him, Shikaku Nara, the son of Sakumo Hatake and a weirdo wearing a green spandex suit, ugh.
Orochimaru, cockroach that he is, emerged again. His head twisted a hundred and eighty degrees.
To our collective disgust, he opened his mouth wide and an unhurt version of himself came out.
Despite my reluctant fascination, I didn't drop my guard. He'd always known when to cut his losses however.
Before we could react, he sunk into the ground and fled. The tension slowly seeped out of me and I made my way to the others.
I couldn't stop the smirk from forming on my face as I came to stand before Sensei. He gave me a warm smile in turn, so I hugged him, which he returned gladly.
" It's been a long time, Sarutobi Sensei. It seems today is a day for reunions. I wish it were under different circumstances, but I am glad to see you again, old man. "
He laughed. Warmth and amusement were present in his eyes. " And you as well, Tsunade. It warms this ' old man's heart to see you again my dear. "
I nod in acknowledgement at the shinobi with him and they return it, except the one in green, who booms out a lot of nonsense.
I look at Sensei, who looks exasperated. The slight sound of footsteps behind me makes the men tense. I recognise the sound of those treads though.
Sure enough, as I turn my head, Hatorama is walking towards us, a sheepish expression on his face.
After being a bit cheeky, he tells me the reason he stayed behind. Sensei and the others listen intently as he speaks of one of the older Leaf Genin called Kabuto Yakushi.
When he finishes, Sakumo's brat summons his pack of dogs and he heads off after them, once they've caught the scent. The green one in spandex, who I hear is called Might Gai, races after his ' eternal rival '.
I just ignore the craziness. I send Hatorama on his way, but not before he creates a water clone to give a more detailed report to us.
Sensei and Shikaku come closer, while the ANBU spread out and stand guard. Hatorama looks at all of us momentarily, before he starts talking.
He explains how the first task of the Chunin Exams went and how he made sure to memorise all the different chakra signatures.
There were four that stood out to him. One belonged to Kabuto, whos chakra was too well developed to belong to a Genin.
Then there was Orochimaru's chakra. Even though it was suppressed, the immensity of it was unmistakable, but he wasn't sure who it was till he saw him without his false face.
Being in such close proximity to him, Hatorama couldn't risk raising the alarm. Especially considering all the Genin who would be in harms way.
Then there was Gaara. A red haired boy from the Hidden Sand Village, who had Tailed Beast chakra inside of him. A jinchuuriki in other words.
As he spoke, my eyebrows rose. It's ridiculous just how many security breaches there were in this exams.
I looked towards Sensei who grimaced in turn. Then my brat dropped the final surprise on us.
One of the Hidden Grass competitors was unmistakably an Uzumaki. I frowned slightly. This is the second new Uzumaki we've come across in as many months.
The Hidden Leaf failed the clan my grandmother Mito hailed from. The fools in the Council allowed politics to get in the way of their responsibility towards the Uzumaki.
No more though. It seems I'll have to have a long overdue conversation with Sensei far sooner than I had intended.
I nod at Hatorama's clone who salutes us and then it breaks apart into a puddle of water.
I look towards the others then. " Well Sensei, looks like we've got quite a few things to talk about. One of which is an offer that you won't refuse. "
He looks curious but nods his head, all the while Shikaku is watching with his sharp eyes. It's then that he speaks for the first time.
" It is good to see you again Lady Tsunade. I'll leave you two to catch up then. I'll get the paperwork sorted out that this whole mess has created. "
He bows to Sensei and then he runs off. Casually. What a Nara I snort softly. With the ANBU flanking us, we set off towards the Leaf.
For two Kage Level shinobi, the journey back to the Hokage Tower should have gone far quicker, but we had to be considerate towards the ANBU.
Not only that, I wanted to savour the journey through the Hidden Leaf Village and I wanted the people to see me. My people.
As I thought, Sensei and I draw quite a lot of attention as we make our way through the Leaf. He had changed into a spare robe that he kept in a scroll.
People crowded the street and cheered. Despite myself, warmth settled in my chest. I offered waves as we walked on.
Nearly half an hour later, we finally made it to the Tower. Fortunately, those three fossils weren't waiting for us. All the better.
We entered the office alone, the ANBU standing guard outside. He went to sit on his chair and I took the chair facing him.
Before we could get on with our conversation though, a voice from the window interrupted us.
" My my my, when I heard the gossip from the hot springs, that you were in the Leaf, I didn't believe it. "
" But seeing is believing and I'd recognise those two heavenly mounds anywhere princess, hehehe... "
We both turn our heads and there, leaning through the window, is the final member of our old team, Jiraiya.
As usual, the urge to smile and the urge to pummel are both fighting for attention. A smile wins, but barely. " It's been a long time, you old pervert. "