Chapter 15: The Search for the Fifth Hokage
July 10th, 64 AFL
It was a dark day for Konoha as they said goodbye to their beloved Third Hokage who had given his life to protect the village and to stop the traitorous Orochimaru from taking over.
The Uzumaki-Namikaze trio were making their way from the old man's funeral with sadness and loss burned into their eyes but were suddenly surprised when they saw a man they all knew appear before them. "Pervy Sage, what the hell do you want?"
Naruto inquired wondering what might possess his Ero-sensei to stick around the village. The old man grinned happily as he replied, "Congratulations, you three along with myself are going to go recruit the next Hokage. So wake up early and meet me at the village gates tomorrow morning. We'll be heading to a small town just a couple miles outside the Leaf. So be good you three and don't do anything I would do," he said with a smile and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The trio looked at each other confused but decided to continue their walk across the village undeterred, "I wonder who the next Hokage is going to be?" Hinata suddenly said. "It's a bunch of crap, I mean really, I defeated Gaara, I'm more than ready to be Hokage, believe it!" the blonde bragged causing both girls to sigh.
"Naruto, we both know how strong you are and how incredible it was but I think we still have a long way to go before you're ready my baka," Sakura explained and then continued, "You're well on your way with Master Jiraiya's training but it's me that needs a real sensei if I'm going to be as good a kunoichi as your mom or Mito Uzumaki."
Hinata enforced Sakura's point, "Sakura's right, we both need to get stronger if we're going to stand by your side when you become Hokage Naruto-kun," the Hyuga princess stated honestly. Naruto could only smile, "You know I have at least three days I can't wait for," he said causing both girls to look at the blonde with confusion but Naruto started elaborating,
"The first is when I become Hokage and the second is the day I officially marry you two," he said causing both girls to blush but Sakura had to know, "What's the third Naruto-kun?" He gave Sakura that damn look that made her knees weak and then turned to Hinata who's blush increased even more, "The day that a little girl with pink hair and blue eyes and another girl with black hair and whisker marks are playing together," he explained as he pointed toward the local park where there were several children all laughing and playing like the kids that they were.
Both girls looked at the blonde in shock redder than Sakura's dress from the blonde's proclamation but they both understood that Naruto's dream was to become Hokage as well as to be loved, accepted, and acknowledged. They also knew he had a dream he hadn't even told them yet and that was to have the one thing he had been denied his entire life,
a family.
The pair could only smile as they intertwined their fingers with his and made their way to Sakura's house at a snail's pace in order to extend their time together. The trio eventually made their way to their destination and the blonde was gifted kisses on both cheeks making him as embarrassed as his soulmates had been,
"Good night Hinata-hime, Sakura-hime, I love you two." The girls giggled and doubled their kiss count, "Good night Naru-kun, I love you too," Hinata replied happily. "You know I love you too, sweet dreams Naruto-kun," Sakura said and with that the two girls entered Sakura's home. The blonde slowly made his way home giddy from his girlfriends, still saddened by Oji-san's death, and curious as all hell at who would be the next Hokage.
Meanwhile Sakura and Hinata entered Sakura's bedroom, "Who do you think we're going to meet Sakura?" Hinata asked. Sakura looked at her while scratching her chin in thought, "I don't know Hinata but I need to call Ino-pig and see how her and Sasuke are doing. He did get his hand all messed up remember and the nurses finally forced her to go home during the night," the pinkette explained as she headed out of her room to find her family's house phone.
She returned a few moments later to Hinata's laughing, "What's so funny?" Sakura asked. Hinata managed to calm down a little, "I just find it funny that you and Ino have to compete in everything even who's more stubborn," she explained while laughing a little more. Sakura had a tick mark appear on her forehead but her annoyance shifted into a foxy grin as she grabbed her pillow and chucked it at her counterpart.
This quickly evolved into a full fledged pillow fight until the two finally tuckered out falling asleep in Sakura's bed and before either of them knew any better they were laying side by side more comfortable than they had felt in a long time. They had smiles on their faces but in the end they couldn't shake the feeling of something or someone missing from their side.
July 11th, 64 AFL
Early the next morning Sakura and Hinata approached the gates spotting Naruto and Jiraiya patiently waiting for them, involved in some sort of conversation. When the pair finally reached the two Sakura questioned the old pervert,
"So who are we going to meet Master Jiraiya?" Sakura asked, causing the old man's attention to shift to the pinkette. Oddly enough the old man was wearing a look she swore she had seen somewhere before as he stared at her blankly,
"Uh, Pervy Sage, Sakura asked you something," Naruto said snapping Jiraiya out of his daydream, "Well I'm sure you've heard of her since you're interested in medical ninjutsu," the sage grinned and then added another hint, "She was my old teammate and childhood crush."
"Master Jiraiya that's not really a helpful hint we met you less than a month ago remember," Hinata explained. Sakura thought it over for a moment before bursting out, "No way, is it really the slug sannin Lady Tsunade," Sakura said with a look of awe of admiration,
"Kami this is exciting," Sakrua squealed in delight causing Naruto to look at her in confusion,"Who's Lady Tsunade?" Naruto asked but Hinata explained before Sakura could get annoyed,
"She's the greatest medical ninja in the world Naruto-kun and her skills put her on the same level as Master Jiraiya. That's the reason why they both share the title of sannin," the hyuga heiress said with her own excited grin at meeting such a legendary kunoichi.
Jiraiya laughed a little, "There's actually a really funny story about how we got the title of sannin but I'll tell you guys another time," the sage said. Naruto turned to Sakura with a smile, "This is great Sakura-chan now you and maybe even Hinata-chan will have somebody to help you guys get stronger, believe it!" he shouted in delight as he wrapped the pinkette in a hug lifting her off the ground and kissing her forehead in excitement. Sakura was even more ecstatic than before and when her baka put her down,
"That's the plan Naruto-kun and with her training I'll be able to heal both of you no matter how badly you get hurt, now what are we waiting for let's go find the Fifth Hokage, cha!" Sakura replied and with that she started down the trail at a near sprint causing the other three members of their group to chuckle. Naruto took Hinata's hand and kissed her cheek before the pair quickly chased after their overly energetic cherry blossom.
The toad sage trailed behind the trio, thoughts cluttering the pervert's mind but one sticking above all other, 'Tsunade-hime I have a few surprises for you tehehe but the biggest one is definitely the jutsu I got from sensei.' The old man grinned at the trio in front of him, 'And if that knucklehead and that crazy little pinkette are bonded then I have a good feeling about us tehehe,' he thought and then looked to the clear blue sky.
He wandered in a daydream for a good few minutes before focusing his mind, "But first I have to convince you to become the next Hokage and that may be an even bigger problem," the old man thought and could only sigh until he heard, "Let's go Pervy Sage we don't have all day and Sakura-chan wants to move on, believe it!" his apprentice wailed and just as he said the trio picked up their pace. Pervy Sage chuckled a little,
"Alright kid you want to race, then let's go!" be shouted while laughing and quickly zoomed by the genin at a breakneck pace. The trio shared a smile before following the sage their speed increasing yet again but little did they know that two members of what would become the world's greatest threat were entering their village.
Only two short hours later, while Ino sat by Sasuke's hospital bed sharing a small meal, without warning they heard a nurse scream while running down the hall, "Itachi Uchiha and an unknown nin are battling Kakashi Hatake, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhei, do you know where Might Gai or any of our other jonin are. They need reinfor…" the girl vanished from ear shot and the pair looked at each other before nodding. Ino helped Sasuke get his gear together and the pair exited the hospital's window in an attempt to help their senseis battle the evil bastard and hopefully with any luck avenge their clan.
It was around an hour after the group left the Leaf when they finally reached the small gambling town, located just a few miles outside of Konoha but when they walked into town the Uzumakis could only scowl at the pervert as he demanded, "Alright brats cough up your ryo, I'm going to need it if we want to find any info on Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said with a grin.
"Screw you Pervy Sage, I work my ass off for every ryo I get and trust me I need it more than you," Naruto stated annoyed but truthfully nonetheless. Sakura scowled vanished when she heard Jiraiya add -hime to Tsunade's name and wondered again, 'Wait is this old pervert in love with Lady Tsunade maybe he is serious about finding her after all, believe it' but before she could inquire the Uzumakis were surprised when Hinata handed Jiraiya a giant wad of ryo,
"This should be plenty but if you need more just come back and meet us over by that lake," she said and then pointed to the lake that was just a short walk adjacent to the town. The sage nodded his head like a damn fool more than happy with the amount of cash he had gotten out the Hyuga princess and ran off to the town to find out whatever information he could about the missing slug sannin.
With that the trio made their way to the small lake and rested in the shade of a tree, enjoying the summer weather and the beauty of nature laid out before them. Something was clawing at Sakura's mind however and she knew it had to be brought up even if Hinata may not like it, "Um Hinata, I hate to ask but are the elders of your clan going to put that same messed up seal on your forehead? You know like they did with Neji since now you're technically going to be a Namikaze?" she asked with sadness and worry evident in her tone and expression.
Hinata teared up a little and only nodded causing the blonde to go ballistic, "There's no way in hell I'll let them get away with that Hinata-hime. I'll kick all their asses myself and destroy their stupid jutsu, believe it!" Hinata looked at the blonde fondly before rubbing his cheek with affection,
"Thank you Naruto-kun but I don't know if we're going to have a choice in the end. That's why I'm so thankful for Sakura, she's been keeping me so busy and more importantly away from the compound but now that the chunin exams are over I honestly don't know how long it will be before they force it on me." she explained.
"That's why you guys don't know how happy I was to know we were leaving the village and how grateful I was to Master Jiraiya," "So that's why you gave the pervert so much ryo," Sakura realized as she looked at her counterpart with sympathy. "Hinata-hime," Naruto replied softly, "Yes Naru-kun," she said while turning to him,
"Remember we are the Namikaze clan, we're seal masters and I know for fact that any seal made by chakra can be broken by the right formula and the right amount of chakra, believe it!" Sakura smiled, "That's right, believe it, cha!" Hinata looked warmly at the two of them, "Thank you Naru-kun, Sakura I love you two,' she said affectionately and then laid back on the ground trying to relax a little causing Sakura to smirk as she got more comfortable on the grass herself, "And we love you, now come on we might as well relax until the pervert gets back," the pinkette replied while closing her eyes.
Naruto and Hinata shared a smile, laid back down and it wasn't long before the trio drifted off into a state of slumber Naruto in the middle, Hinata on his right and Sakura on his left. It was a little over an hour later when the blonde awoke to an all too familiar feeling in his bladder.
He knew he had to piss so he gently got up and walked toward the town, spotting a small restaurant just a short walk away. He entered the public restroom and relieved himself but after washing his hands and exiting the bathroom he was met by a somewhat familiar but far from friendly face. "Hey you look just like the teme!" Naruto blurted out surprised by the man's appearance.
"So you're Naruto Uzumaki, jinchuuriki of the nine-tailed fox," the raven haired man replied causing the blonde to back away, "How the hell do you know about that? Answer me you discount teme!" he shouted as he backed away but before he could form a hand sign he was struck by something sharp and hard causing him to fly back, "Wow Zabimaru likes this kid maybe I can feed him the brat's legs and arm for a treat," another unknown nin said with sadistic glee.
Naruto got to his feet again and examined the enemy nin carefully, they were wearing black cloaks with red clouds embedded in the fabric. One of the nin looked like an older version of Sasuke while the other had a creepy looking sword, blue skin, and shark like teeth. "No Kisame, we must bring the jinchuuriki in unharmed and alive remember," the raven haired man explained. "Fine Itachi you're really no fun at all," Kisame said and then grinned sadistically at the blonde.
Before anyone could move Naruto heard a voice behind him scream, "Itachi die! Chidori!''Sasuke screamed as he ran toward his brother full force with no fear in his eyes as he tried to execute his strongest jutsu even with a messed up hand. Itachi just grinned and before Sasuke could even come close he grabbed his hand and twisted it dispelling the younger Uchiha's jutsu,
"Brave or stupid attacking me with a shattered hand little brother. Now let me remind you who you are, Mangekyou Sharingan - Tsukuyomi!" Itachi nearly screamed while his eyes transformed from the normal six tomoe sharingan to its ultimate form the legendary Mangekyou. As for Sasuke he was forced once again to relive that terrible night for three days straight but this time Sasuke didn't fall unconscious although he was exhausted and his head hurt like all hell,
"Little brother I am so disappointed, I thought maybe you were strong enough to kill me someday but I see know I was right about you being too weak to be worth killing," Itachi explained. Sasuke and Naruto scowled at the rouge Uchiha, "Naruto Uzumaki is the prize that the Akatsuki are after and you're just a weak brat that's useless to everyone around them!" "Enough Itachi I'm sick of this. Let's just kill this brat and take the jinchuuriki," Kisame said but before they could move in the shinobis vision became blurred as a thick mist blinded their senses.
"What the hell, this is Zabuza's trick," the shark man stated while Sasuke took advantage and finally managed to escape his elder brother's grip by quickly stabbing his hand with a kunai. "Not bad Sasuke I see you've taught your girlfriend a few tricks but these eyes see through everything," Itachi bragged as he activated his sharingan once again. "Haha these brats are so pathetic sorry but my sword can still sense your chakra, you brats are as good as dead," Kisame said and with that the enemy nin attacked the two Leaf genin but before they could get too close they were all encased in soft, moist, and pink structure.
Naruto turned around to see Pervy Sage grinning, "Like my Toad Mouth Trap, don't worry you'll be digested before too long," the sage chuckled a little. "Damn him, we were so close to capturing the jinchuuriki, oh well," Kisame said. "Kisame, come on it's time to escape," Itachi looked behind him and activated his sharingan, "You're not getting away!" Pervy Sage shouted. He put his hands together forcing the toad's stomach to constrict around them in an attempt to immobilize the Akatsuki members but Itachi just shouted,
"Amaterasu!" Without warning black flames engulfed the side of the toad's stomach and they managed to escape through the hole Itachi's flames created. "Damn it!" Jiraiya shouted as he dispelled his jutsu and went to examine his apprentice as well as the last Uchiha. Suddenly Ino, Sakura, and Hinata rounded the corner and went check on their boys,
"What the hell happened Naruto-kun!" Sakura shouted but Jiraiya hushed her and walked over to the last of the Uchiha clan, "Are you alright Sasuke?" he asked but the raven haired teen only scowled at him causing the old pervert to frown. 'Damn what's going through that kid's head? Did he really think he could take Itachi by himself?' the sage thought.
'Fuck, fuck, fuck, I let him get away and what the hell did that scumbag mean when he said he wanted Naruto?' Sasuke contemplated without saying a word to anyone, 'I need more power! I need more hate! I need the Mangekyou!' he cycled through these thoughts like a tape on repeat. A few moments later Guy showed up and escorted the Uchiha clan back to Leaf and once they were well on their way home he turned to the trio behind him,
"Naruto, explain what happened to Sakura and Hinata later ok, I was able to find some information on Tsunade. She's only a few towns away from here," he said and then handed the blonde some ryo, "Go and rent two rooms one for the girls and one for us, we'll head out in the morning ok," he said and then left the group to go gather more intel as he called it. Naruto and the girls did as instructed and it wasn't long before the trio were sitting in a cheap hotel room while Naruto recalled the day's events to his two loves.
"And that's it really, I have no idea what's going through Sasuke's head right now but the sooner we find the old lady and bring stability back to the Leaf the sooner we can deal with that problem," Naruto finished. Hinata and Sakura nodded in agreement, "Well let's get some sleep then, I'm exhausted," Sakura said while getting to her feet, ready to go to sleep in her's and Hinata's shared room, "Good night Naruto-kun, come on Hinata," she yawned out after kissing his cheek. Hinata mirrored Sakura's action and followed her counterpart to get some rest but the blonde just sat in his bed wondering what the hell was in store for them in the coming months.
July 12th, 64 AFL
The next day the trio found themselves enjoying a small meal, while Hinata and Sakura took turns eating and looking over the basic fuinjutsu scrolls Pervy Sage had lent them. Without any warning of any kind Sakura suddenly blurted out, "Naruto-kun will you teach us the Rasengan?" she asked causing the blonde to look at her with, of course noodles coming out of his mouth.
As he swallowed he smiled, "Of course Sakura-chan my jutsus are your jutsus after all," he replied happily but asked, "What exactly made you want to learn that though?" Sakura smiled at him, "I want to impress Lady Tsunade and to be honest I really don't have any techniques other than the basic academy stuff and the Shadow Clone Jutsu," she explained.
"I think it's a good idea Naruto-kun since we can use clones to help maintain and stabilize it like you it shouldn't be too difficult and besides we need some help from Master Jiraiya if we're going to understand all of this complicated seal work anyway," Hinata added as she rolled up the scroll she was studying. Naruto grinned grabbed some ryo out of his wallet and threw it to the table,
"Alright Hinata-chan, Sakura-chan let's get training and by the time were done even Sasuke-teme and Ino-teme will be jealous of our strength, believe it!" he said happily unaware that the seeds of jealousy had already been brewing since the day he first took someone's life. Sakura and Hinata got out of their seats and took the blonde's hands,
"Right we're the strongest clan or clans in Leaf, cha!" Sakura threw her free hand in the air while Hinata also smiled, "Yeah let's show everyone what we can really do," the Hyuga princess added and without another word the trio made their way to a secluded location in the woods just outside of town. Unbeknownst to them a vile snake was meeting the princess of slugs trying to form a sick, sadistic, and cruel deal.
They spent the day training but Naruto had to run to town for extra food because sadly the girls had far less chakra then the blonde jinchuuriki and required far more sustenance in order to continue non stop. A few hours later as night approached the sage finally found his godson and his soulmates but was surprised to see that Sakura and Hinata had actually mastered the first step in completing the rasengan using two clones each to speed up the training and accumulate their experiences. He smiled and watched contently for a little while longer but was surprised when the baka thought of something,
"Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan, I got an idea come over here I want to see something," he said. The two looked at him confused but nodded nonetheless. What the blonde baka's idea was made Jiraiya go wide eyed and caused the trio to grin happily at each other. Eventually though the sage just smiled warmly again, 'He's just like his parents, goofy and kind like his mom and just as inventive and incredibly talented like Minato,' the old man thought.
"Alright kids I found Tsunade lets go!" the sage shouted capturing the genin's attention which made the kunoichis smile with glee and excitement as they quickly followed the old man. Naruto soon followed close behind simply happy that Hinata-chan and Sakura-chan were so full of joy and excitement. It wasn't an hour later that the trio walked into a restaurant and spotted two women sitting in the corner.
One was a blonde with a diamond on her forehead and the other had jet black hair and was holding what appeared to be a tiny pig. Pervy Sage walked up to the two girls and grinned happily while blushing at the blonde and rubbing the back of his head, "Hey Hime no long time no see, I missed your beautiful face among other things," he said affectionately confirming something for the pinkette of the group.
'I knew it he's just like my baka, that face, those sweet subtle compliments but I wonder why they aren't together,' Sakura wondered. "I don't know, it's possible Lady Tsunade never realized or maybe Master Jiraiya was too scared to admit his true feelings," her inner replied. Both of the cherry blossom's personalities felt great sympathy for the two sannin who had seemingly never realized their love for each other. That was until she heard the elderly woman's reply,
"What the hell do you want Jiraiya! I am not in the mood to deal with you and your annoying bullshit right now!" she growled out while slurring her words. Tsunade was drunk and emotional as all hell from her meeting with Orochimaru as well as what the scumbag had offered her, not to mention the fact that her sensei had been killed by the same bastard less than a week ago. Jiraiya could only sigh, "Shizune can you move over a little so I can talk with Tsunade?" he asked.
The raven haired woman nodded and slid over allowing the sage to take a seat in the booth while his now technically three students stood and watched the adults. Jiraiya sighed again, "Tsunade, I'm sure you've heard but sensei was killed by Orochimaru," he said causing Tsunade to glare, "I know dumbass word gets around, so what he died just like every other damn fool that wants to be Hokage it's not a surprise," she replied angrily.
Naruto got an irritated expression while Sakura was deep in thought meanwhile Hinata's attention was directed at calming the blonde jinchuuriki using the usual petting method. 'She reminds me of us while we were still fan girls. I mean she's treating Master Jiraiya so disrespectfully, sure he's a pervert and a knucklehead but its clear he cares about her deeply. How can she just badmouth him and her sensei like that, damn it he was like a grandfather to us especially Naruto-kun,' Sakura wondered.
Her Inner answered for her, "Because like we used to be she can't appreciate the people that care about her, instead she thinks the world revolves, only around her and by acting selfishly she's alienated herself from the people who truly care about her," her suppressed personality explained. 'Fuck I don't know how much more of this I can watch,' Sakura finalized.
The conversation had gotten to a point where the slug queen was actually laughing in the sage's face, "You want me to be the Fifth Hokage! Now thats a funny fucking joke go away you ugly old pervert and take your brats with you," Tsunade stated. "Hime please just listen," but the sage's words made the blonde finally snap, "Enough you asshole! I don't want to be Hokage, it's a death sentence and a joke of a dream that only causes suffering with not a goddamn thing to show for it!"
Now it was Naruto's turn, "Shut up you old bitch my father and Oji-san gave their lives to protect the village and to protect me, believe it! To be Hokage is my dream and I won't die until I do and even after that I plan to live for a good long time so you can go screw yourself grandma!" Naruto barked. The old woman looked at the blonde with a scowl but then just burst out in an even greater fit of laughter,
"Wow kid I'm seen some pathetic shinobi before but you definitely take the cake however if you call me grandma again, I'll throw you threw that wall," she said while pointing toward the adjacent side of the restaurant. "Screw you even if they're gone their spirits live on in me and I will be Hokage someday, Shadow Clone Jutsu," he shouted. Two clones appeared and the trio put their hands together forming the Fourth Hokage's signature jutsu the Rasengan.
"This technique was left behind for me so I could pick up where he failed and I refuse to let all of the people that believe in me down so I don't give a crap about anything you have to say to me," he replied sternly. "What the fuck are you thinking you dumb old pervert, teaching this kid a jutsu like that, actually making him think he can become Hokage! What the fuck is wrong with you?" She shouted out angrily at her teammate but before he could reply she felt someone's small hand slap hard against her face,
"What the fuck is wrong with you!" Sakura screeched, "I can't believe I looked up to you but you're nothing more than bitter, pathetic, old bitch who doesn't care or believe in anyone other than themselves," the pinkette continued as the other members of the group looked at her shock. The cherry blossom who was consumed in a mix of varying emotions ranging from anger to disappointment ignored their looks as she bellowed on,
"Look Naru-kun isn't the smartest or even the strongest but he loves his friends and the village with all of his heart. He was able to defeat a bijuu by himself just so he could protect Hinata and me as well as the village from harm. He has proven his love for the Leaf and as far as I'm concerned he's a hundred times more worthy than you!" Sakura finished and started making her way out of the restaurant but turned around one last time,
"I really did look up to you, I thought maybe you would be willing to teach me and I was so excited to be able to learn some medical ninjutsu in order to protect the people I love but now… now I'm disgusted with myself for looking up to you and it makes me sick to think of how similar we are at least when comes to our teammates." "What the hell are you talking about brat?" Tsunade asked finally regaining her composure after being slapped across the face by an exploding cherry blossom.
Sakura huffed, "I see the way Master Jiraiya looks at you and it's the exact same way my baka looks at me and Hinata. I admit it took me a while to notice but I shudder to think what would have happened if I had ignored like you still continue to do," were Sakura's final words as she exited the restaurant. Hinata looked at Naruto who nodded and she followed her counterpart quickly to make sure she was ok while the blonde genin scowled at the old lady.
"You were Sakura-chan's hero you know that, she wanted to learn everything you had to teach, such a shame and disappointment you turned out to be," the son of the Fourth stated solemnly but as he turned to leave, "Wait kid, I'll make you and that pink haired brat a deal." Naruto turned around, "She is not a pink haired brat her name is Sakura, the other girl is named Hinata, and my name is Naruto!" he shouted.
"Fine if Sakura and Hinata can master the Rasengan in a week I'll give you my necklace. It was a gift from my grandfather the First Hokage and I'll even apologize to your girlfriends and teach them some basic medical ninjutsu," she said without warning and an unreadable look on her face. "Why?" Naruto inquired, annoyed as all hell at this point causing the old lady to smirk,
"Because if you fail you're going to give me everything the three of you own and that includes ninja tools, all of your ryo and yes even the clothes on your backs," Tsunade grinned evilly, 'That should be more than enough to clear my debt,' she thought.
"If you'll really apologize to Sakura-chan and Hinata-chan then we have a deal," Naruto replied and went to shake her hand, "Wait!" Sakura shouted as she ran over to the group still distraught but had managed to compose herself as Hinata walked slowly behind her,
"You also have to admit that Naruto-kun is worthy of becoming Hokage!" the cherry blossom demanded. Tsunade smirked at the girl, 'She really believes and cares for this kid if she's willing to go this far,' the slug sannin thought. "Deal!" she replied shaking the trio's hands one by one. Tsunade laughed at the group as they left the restaurant and were forced to camp just outside of town. The boys were in one tent and the kunoichi in the other since there was no way in hell they could afford two hotel rooms for a full week straight.
July 20th, 64 AFL
It was the last day of training for the Uzumaki-Namikaze trio as they worked on completing the Fourth's jutsu. Naruto did well instructing the kunoichi, the Shadow Clone Jutsu helping tremendously with their progress. They were already mastering the final step but the two girls were struggling to produce and exert such an immense amount of chakra.
Unbeknownst to them they were being watched by an extremely curious slug sannin who genuinely felt terrible for treating these kids so poorly when she was drunk as a skunk. What surprised her the most though wasn't the progress the kunoichi had made but instead the uneasy feeling of how similar they were to people she had known and loved.
"Kushina's son is like a perfect mix of her and Minato but what's so much weirder is how much he reminds me of not just Dan and Nowaki but grandfather and that old pervert as well,' she thought as she looked at the blonde trying his best at being a sensei. 'Then there's Sakura, she's just like me even down to her abilities and temper but she's even more like Kushina,' she contemplated while turning her head to the Hyuga in their trio,
'And finally Hinata, she reminds me of Minato as well and she is definitely just like her mother but at least that's not to crazy. Still though it's almost creepy how similar they are to us it's like looking at the past for Kami's sake!'
The blonde was interrupted from her train of thought when her old teammate walked up to her and handed her a cup of sake while wearing that damn look she could never figure out. Still though she wasn't going to refuse a free drink, "Thank you Jiraiya," she said in a much nicer tone than she had used upon their reunion. The sage chuckled a little as he poured himself a cup,
"So you're interested in Naruto and his girlfriends," he replied happily. Tsunade smirked but refused to give him any gratification, "Not really just can't wait to see three embarrassed genin run back home in nothing more than their underwear," she laughed out and then poured herself another drink. Even with her harsh words and tone Jiraiya knew how Tsunade really felt and just smiled and nodded.
The two old friends got reacquainted as the genin trained but after they finally succumbed from exhaustion Tsunade smirked, "Looks like I win but I'll give them until tomorrow morning. Come on let's move this party somewhere else," she said dragging the partially drunk sage to his feet. The old man looked at his godson and two soulmates who were all cuddling underneath a tree, smiles on their faces and decided it was best to leave them be.
"Alright hime, come on let's go!" he shouted while running toward the town and dragging his teammate by her hand. 'Some things never change, isn't that right you old perv,' she thought half drunk but still thought it nonetheless and did her best to suppress a small giggle but the toad sannin caught it. Without looking back to her he grinned,
'I'm really surprised I haven't been punched yet maybe she's finally coming around,' he wondered hopefully. The two old friends made their way to the same restaurant they had just a week prior and ordered some food and of course more sake. Unfortunately for Pervy Sage his date just kept getting drunker and drunker until she finally started taking cheap shots at the old man.
It got to a point where even the sage started reaching his limits and the booze definitely wasn't helping his patience. His head hurt like hell and he felt like he could pass out any second but when Tsunade said, "And to think you actually had a crush on me you old pervert you know I was always far to beautiful and to smart to be with an ugly dumbass like you," she laughed out in drunken stupor.
The sage snapped, without warning he grabbed her right hand and used his incredible speed to quickly tie a piece of paper to it, "What are you doing you pervert," she chuckled out unaware of his intentions. The man whipped out a scroll using his other hand while he used the other to keep a soft but firm grip on the sannin, "Seriously what are you doing you idiot let me go," she screeched as she tried to pull her hand out his but he wasn't relenting.
She scowled at him while the sage lifted his head to meet her eyes with only an innocent smile, "Testing a theory, Sacred Art - Soul Seal Jutsu!" "You bastard why wou…" Without warning Tsunade's chakra was drained from her body, forming a colored orb before immediately entering the same man's body who had performed The Soul Seal Jutsu. Jiraiya relived the long journey his team had gone through under Sarutobi sensei as well as their many adventures off and on the battlefield and even the fight with Hanzo of the Salamander but this time they were through Tsunade's eyes.
Through those memories he was finally able to confirm what he had known all along, that the slug queen cared for him deeply. The worst was yet to come however when he had to relive the deaths of both Nawoki and Dan finally fully comprehending what it was like to lose a person who they truly loved and how badly it had hurt her. Finally Jiraiya found himself back in the restaurant as he opened his eyes and examined his first crush.
He almost cried finally truly understanding her pain and the fact that she only kept him at a distance because she believed herself to be cursed. That the people around her and especially the people that she loved would only suffer and die from her presence. She was so broken and he wanted to comfort her so badly but something else in his head made his arms extend.
Suddenly a combined orb of the two sannin's chakra ejected out of his body and immediately entered the now unconscious slug queen. The old pervert passed out at once and thanks to Tsunade drugging his drink he wouldn't be waking up for a good while.
Meanwhile Tsunade like Jiraiya before experienced their adventures but from his point of view instead finally understanding just how deeply the sage cared about her. Even if he peaked on woman and wrote those disgusting books she saw how he had never even kissed a woman. Yes he sat with them and drank with them but he never touched one even when they came on to him. He would tell them,
"No I'm sorry but I'm in love with someone else and that's never going to change even if she never returns my feelings. I will love Tsunade Senju until the day I die," was his unknown vow to her. Tsunade with the broken state she was already in was too broken to fight. No that wasn't right she didn't want to fight. She truly did care for Jiraiya and it was time to repay him and give him a real chance she finalized.
With that the seals on her right hand finally set and she opened her eyes with actually the smallest blush on her face but when she looked at her apparent soulmate he was passed snoring away like a passed out drunk. Tsunade could only sigh but then teared up a little remembering what would transpire tomorrow. She shook her head clearing her thoughts and found her resolve,
'I promise Jiraiya after we kill Orochimaru I'll come back to Leaf with you but I still don't know about being Hokage,' looking at the seals on her hand her anger started to return, "Really since you don't belong to a clan I have to have a fucking toad sealed onto my right hand overlaying the senju symbol," she barked out starting to scowl again until her thought process was interrupted by her student Shizune entering the restaurant.
"How did your date with Master Jiraiya go Lady Tsunade,' the raven haired woman teased. Tsunade scowl turned to her but it quickly evolved into an evil grin as she spotted the jutsu formula on the table and a few pieces of the same paper she had around her wrist sticking out of her teammates pocket. As Shizune continued to chuckle her glee turned to horror as Tsunade grabbed her right hand,
"Lady Tsunade what are you thinking please release me you're drunk," Shizune practically begged. The slug sannin's inebriated evil grin only intensified, "Sorry but if I'm going down you're coming with me, Sacred Art - Soul Seal Jutsu!"
Within seconds an orb of Shizune's chakra shot of her body and headed straight out of the restaurant causing the now exhausted medical nin to scowl, "I will never forgive you if he's a pervert like Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade." While the slug sannin laughed, now in much better mood than before unbeknownst to them Shizune's chakra headed straight for the Leaf Village. It entered Konoha's hospital going through walls and doors undeterred until it slowed approaching a very exhausted Leaf jonin.
The silver haired leader of Team 7 had wonderful dreams that night of a beautiful woman who had a pet pig and was an incredible medical nin who almost rivaled her master Lady Tsunade. Kakashi suddenly awoke with a fright extending his hands and releasing a combined orb of his and Shizune's chakra but unfortunately for him he quickly passed out way too exhausted from suffering the effects of Itachi's sharingan and having to go through the Soul Seal Jutsu.
Around twenty minutes later Shizune saw the incredibly handsome and powerful copy nin but after her seals were set she quickly gave Tsunade her best right hook, "Damn it I like him but he is a total perv, Kami damn it!" Tsunade snickered, "Come on I'm sure you'll meet your new boyfriend in person soon enough.
Now go get some rest I'll take care of Jiraiya-kun," she said not catching herself. Shizune's eyes widened at that but the mental images she soon received made her obey her sensei's orders and without another word she returned to her hotel room before she could see or hear anything she didn't want to. Tsunade grinned,
"Good that should keep her out of my hair and now we wait until tomorrow." The slug queen threw Jiraiya over her shoulder and took him back to her hotel room throwing him on the couch while she went to sleep in her bed hoping against hope that her plan to kill the bastard that had murdered her sensei would succeed.
July 21st, 64 AFL
Early the next morning Tsunade Senju stood in front of one of her old teammates while scowling at him, "I told you that the Reanimation Jutsu requires two sacrifices! Why did you only bring Jiraiya?" the snake questioned. Tsunade looked at him with utter disgust,
"Sorry but I wasn't going to sacrifice a child, now if you're done questioning me I can heal your arms," she replied and held her hands out patiently waiting for him. Orochimaru was suspicious but he needed his arms and she was the only one who could possibly do that so in turn he offered them to her. Tsunade attempted to execute her plan but the snake's apprentice caught her true intentions,
"Lord Orochimaru-sama that's not healing chakra she means to kill you!" Kabuto rushed in and was able to catch the female sannin off guard slicing the front of her hand. Blood spilled from Tsunade's wound causing her to shriek in fear as the two sound nin backed away, "You bitch Tsunade now I'm going to kill you," the leader of the sound stated angrily.
Tsunade ignored his threat as she collapsed to the ground hugging herself tightly and hyperventilating at an unnatural pace. "Are you serious a medical nin with haemophobia," Kabuto said in disbelief that quickly turned to anger, "Lord Orochimaru please allow me to kill this disgrace to the medical field." The snake grinned,
"Have fun Kabuto," was his reply but as the gray haired teen went to finish the sannin his medical scalpel he was stopped by a man that was glaring at him with a killer intent that almost made him defecate. "If you even touch Tsunade-hime, I will make you suffer a fate worse than death. That is a promise!" Jiraiya declared but still weakened severely.
Kabuto looked at the sage quickly recovering from his look of rage and went to slice his throat but before he could he felt two sharp kicks send him into the air. He looked down and recognized Hinata and Sakura had sent him sky high causing him to scowl, "You little girls don't know your place!"
"And neither do you, now this for Sasuke, Ino, and Karin you bastard, Rasengan!" Naruto shouted as he slammed his jutsu into Kabuto's sternum but unfortunately for him the sound nin was quickly replaced by a log. Kabuto appeared next to the snake uninjured and before any of them could make a move that all heard the snake shout,
"Five Pronged Seal!" Orochimaru had somehow made his way behind Naruto and as the blonde turned he was struck by Orochimaru's sealing jutsu cutting him off from the fox's chakra and totally screwing over his own. He fell to the ground but as the snake went for the kill his face was suddenly smashed forcing him to fly through the air until he landed with a thud.
"Don't you ever touch my ninja's you scum!" the blonde sanin wailed finally overcoming her fear. The snake and his apprentice scowled at her but Tsunade stood her ground, "I've made my choice. I am Tsunade Senju, granddaughter of the First Hokage Hashirama Senju as well as! She looked to her palm and sighed, "As well as the wife of Jiraiya the Toad Sage of the sannin," making everyone gasp in shock and even a few were a bit grossed out to say the least.
"As well as the Fifth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves!" she finished with pride causing the leaf genin to share a smile. "Shut up you old hag, Lord Orochimaru and I will kill you for betraying our trust!" Kabuto screeched and then charged the elderly woman but when he got to close he failed to notice two girls doing their best to form an unknown jutsu.
Sakura held her right palm parallel to the ground while her left hand spiraled around it while Hinata used both of her hands to help Sakura maintain, control and even added a little of her own chakra to complete and stabilize the jutsu. Tsunade knew what they were doing and when Kabuto got to close she jumped away and let the kunoichi handle the sound nin.
"Where are you going you hag?" the sound nin yelled, "You really should pay attention," Tsunade replied while pointing right in front of him. "What are yo…" Before he could finish his sentence he felt an intense and terrible pain coming from his stomach and looked directly forward. His eyes met emerald as he heard the pinkette screech,
"Combination Ninjutsu - Uzumaki-Namikaze Rasengan!" Kabuto's top layer of flesh was peeled off as he flew through the air landing by his master. He desperately tried to treat his wounds, "Kabuto get up here now, and take my blood!" the snake screamed. Even injured the sound nin obeyed without question taking a small amount of blood from the sannin's mutilated arms and flew through several familiar hand signs, Summoning Jutsu!" he shouted and with a giant poof the smoke the boss of all snakes stood in front of the leaf shinobi.
Tsunade snickered and Jiraiya grinned before sharing a smile, "Summoning Jutsu!" they both screamed summoning their own creatures Gamabunta and Katsuya. The snake sannin scowled, "We're retreating let's go Manda, Kabuto," he ordered realizing he had no chance of victory. As the snake left the battle with the protection of his summons the two remaining sannin let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding.
Sharing another warm smile they turned to the three genin who were busy arguing about how badly Naruto-kun was hurt. "Don't worry I'll remove the seal that the snake put on him in a little while but hime don't you have something to say," the sage said causing the trio to look at the two sannin fondly. Tsunade sighed before going up the trio and nearly crushing them with her overwhelming strength,
"I'm sorry ok all three of you are worthy of becoming Hokage and I promise when we get home and get settled I'll start training any one of you who wants to learn my medical jutsus," she finished as she released the genin who immediately fell over completely out of breath from the soon to be Fifth Hokage's embrace.
"Oh I almost forgot this is yours now," she tossed her prized heirloom at the blonde who caught it and gave the woman a foxy grin in return. She then grabbed the sage's hand shocking him for a moment causing the woman to sigh a little but she started leading nonetheless,
"Let's go brats, we need to find Shizune and then head back to the village," she ordered like she was already Hokage. Meanwhile Shizune was currently still in bed sleeping soundly and oddly enough hugging Naruto's Kakashi doll with a warm smile. How she got her hands on it, not even she knew.
July 23rd, 64 AFL
Two days later the Uzumaki-Namikaze trio led the slug sannin to the Leaf's hospital. Once inside they quickly checked on Sasuke who they had heard had been confined to a hospital bed since their encounter with Itachi. It took less than ten minutes before Tsunade managed to heal the Uchiha's injured hand completely as well as treat any lingering side effects from Itachi's genjutsu.
When he awoke the first thing he saw was that damn dobe smiling at him happily but before he had a chance to scowl and say that he didn't need his help his face was buried into the chest of his soulmate, "Sasuke-kun I'm so glad you're finally all healed," Ino said through tears. The trio along with Tsunade shared a smile before exiting their room to give the Uchiha clan its privacy as well as to check on the bushy browed genin who was still injured beyond recovery.
Meanwhile a raven haired medic was treating her own patient and as the gray haired jonin awoke he saw the girl who had been in his dreams for the last few days. He blinked a few times using his good eye and then looked to his palm before turning to the woman, "Yo," was all he said. "Hi," Shizune replied nervously wondering what the hell else she should say to the man she was just meeting for the first time.
As the two attempted a small conversation Lady Tsunade and the the genin entered Lee's room but after looking over his chart she told the Uzumaki-Namikazes to leave the room. She then turned to Gai while the trio listened intently from the other side of the hospital door, "I'm sorry but there's only a fifty percent chance he'll even survive the operation. I'll do my best to try to increase the odds of success but I can't make you two any promises yet," she told the pair leaving them in tears as she exited the room passing the trio without a word.
Naruto, Sakura, and Hinata were all worried about Lee but had faith the master medical nin would find a way. Later that night they shared a dinner at Naruto's apartment before the blonde passed out on his couch and the girls looked at each other before heading to the jinchuuriki's bedroom and taking his mattress for themselves.
Meanwhile Sasuke and Ino were celebrating his birthday with a light meal and even a small chocolate cake but it was Sasuke's gift to Ino that was the most shocking. Without warning he pulled out a small box and handed it to the Yamanaka making her go wide eyed. She opened it up slowly to reveal a gold band with a black opal gemstone at its center and a smaller ruby and sapphire gem on either side of that. Ino looked at the ring and then went back to Sasuke unable to form words as she shed tears of joy and disbelief.
The Uchiha simply raised his hand as if to silence her, "That ring is meant to be worn by the matriarch of the Uchiha clan, don't thank me, I was only returning what already belonged to you," he said simply while keeping his eyes locked on his dinner. She smiled warmly at him and using her hand she cupped his face and forced him to look at her but he did not fight,
"Thank you Sasuke-kun," and just as quickly rushed in meeting his lips for the first time. Sasuke was in shock at first but he didn't push her away nor did he exactly return the chaste kiss but it would be a lie if he said he didn't enjoy the intimate moment they shared.
Unbeknownst to them four sound ninja were approaching the village and would do anything within their power to ensure Sasuke's recruitment to their side. At the exact same time Lady Tsunade was able to increase the odds of Lee's survival to fifty-eight percent and was more than satisfied that he would indeed survive the operation that would allow him to continue his dream of being a shinobi.
July 24th, 64 AFL
Early the next morning Lady Tsunade was officially inducted as the Fifth Hokage and it wasn't two hours later that three leaf genin found themselves in front of the old lady. The slug sannin smiled warmly at them,
"Fu, you were able to pass the first two exams by yourself as well as defeated a jonin and even made it all the way to the semi finals. For these accomplishments you are awarded the rank of chunin," she said as she handed the green vest to the grinning blue haired girl.
"Shikamaru Nara, you're honestly quite a lazy brat but you always put your comrades first and even co-lead a six man squad in the forest of death as well as proved your willingness to sacrifice anything for the people you treasure and it is for those reasons you are awarded the rank of chunin." Shikamaru sighed, "What a drag but I accept," he replied while he slipped on his new vest. The sanin then turned to the last member of the group with her biggest smile yet,
"Naruto Uzumaki, you demonstrated bravery and foresight when you proclaimed that your friends would make it all the way and they did. You protected your teammate Sakura Haruno while you two were alone in the forest of death and then defeated your first opponent in the preliminaries with ease. Then you went on to not only defeat the prodigy of the Hyuga clan Neji Hyuga but lead a squad to help save Sasuke Uchiha and even defeated the one-tails jinchuuriki by yourself in order to protect your loved ones.
Our own personal adventure aside there is no doubt in my mind that you are worthy of the rank of chunin, congratulations Naruto Uzumaki!" she proclaimed and handed him the third and final vest. The blonde looked at his fellow chunin before bursting out loudly,
"I did it! I'm a chunin now, believe it!" he cried to the heavens and within the next hour the majority of the Leaf Village knew as he continued to celebrate his success. The Uzumaki-Namikaze heir had made a crucial step in fulfilling his dream but even though today was one of the best days of his short life, little did he know this was only the calm before the storm.
AN: That chapter was fun don't really have much to say about it though
Yeah I made Tsunade really mean but she will never act that way again just wanted to have as much drama as possible with the group and she did feel bad after she sobered up
Yes the Hyuga clan want to place the birdcage seal on Hinata really because of her lose to Neji and they've already decided Hanabi was the better choice but also because she's bonded to the nine-tailed brat but surprisingly her father Hisahi is doing his best to prevent that and yes he asked Pervy Sage to take Hinata with him. Hisahi was annoyed at first when she was bonded to Naruto but he's seen how much she's grown and really couldn't be more grateful or happy that it was Naruto at this point add the bonus of knocking some sense into Neji and he practically loves him
Yeah Jiraiya snapped the booze and whatever drug Tsunade slipped him on top of her insults was just to much and he was only trying to prove her wrong and Tsunade was so drunkily evil she even dragged poor Shizune down with her lol
Yeah KakaShizu and JiraTsuna are both bonded, I wasn't going to make Kakashi suffer unfortunately Rin is dead and now that I revealed JiraTsuna I will confirm every NaruSaku based ship is a thing and it really really sucks to be Obito
Yes they named their combined Rasengan attack usually Naruto provides most of the chakra while the girls only add a little and usually just maintain and help control it but the girls can do it by themselves if need be and I wanted them but especially Sakura to shine here so she was the one to actually used their combined rasengan
Even canon Sakura believed in Naruto's dream or at least wanted it to come true even to the point where she forgot about Sasuke and would of possibly screwed herself and her dream over if she raised her hand before Naruto went off during the chunin exams first test. So just imagine this Sakura who supports and wants that dream fulfilled more than anything not just for Naruto but for their entire family unit so you can imagine how crappy it was to meet Tsunade and have her talk like that to them and if you're wondering how she knew about Tsunade if Tenten knew then I think the girl who already has an interest in medical herbs would of heard of her and don't forget she was the smartest because she studied her ass off so she would know pretty much everything about the sannin and their adventures even if she didn't recognize Jiraiya at first
Tsunade healed Neji off page and he is completly fine they were clean and easy breaks that even Shizune could heal fully so he will be at the Sasuke retrieval mission.
I don't want to hear complaining if I decide to start next gen with JiraTsuna or KakaShizu the oldest man in our world got a girl pregnant at 94 look it up and the oldest woman got pregnant naturally at 64 so they have very little to worry about as far as I'm concerned being the biggest pervert and the best medical nin and just so you know they are in their early fiftys
I did not cover to much of Sasuke and I did that symbolically to foreshadow his departure but his mental state is starting to break down and Naruto being promoted and not him will likely be the final straw Ino is helping the best she can and at this point is the only one he will talk to without malice
I hope I provided good enough reason for the promotions and even if the majority of the council are assholes the parents of Naruto's friends at least are beginning to like him and given his accomplishments and they have no credible reason to hold him back.
As always thank you all and I really do hope you all enjoyed and see you next time!
