With the conclusion of the Chunin Exams arc, we are now one step closer to wrapping up the first part of Naruto! ^_^
Once again I apologize SO MUCH for the delay but at least I'm here now and DIDN'T abandon this story! That will never happen! ^_^
Thank you all so much for your loyal support of the story so far and I hope you all continue this story all the way until its completion! ^_^
Now without further ado, let the Search for Tsunade Arc, BEGIN! ^_^
Team Konohamaru stood in the void, still reeling over everything they had all experienced in the last memory.
"Okay….that was all so freaking awesome! Dad owned Uncle Gaara and Uncle Neji!" Boruto could hardly suppress his energy.
"Hey, you're actually calling him 'Uncle Neji'!" Sarada teased her teammate who blushed.
"Yeah well…back when I was in the past Uncle Neji basically said that Dad beat the douche-baggery outta him." Boruto sheepishly admitted.
"Him and Master Gaara." Mitsuki reminded the blonde whose energy not only returned but returned tenfold.
"And that was one of the most BADASS fights ever! Like even when he was low on Chakra, he still kept fighting when his head was practically split open!" Boruto grinned.
"It was definitely something….I'm just happy he saved mom…" Sarada smiled softly with her hand over her heart.
"Was there any doubt?" Boruto grinned wrapping an arm around Sarada's shoulder.
"Indeed, it would pain Lord Seventh, if he heard his biggest fangirl doubt him." Mitsuki wrapped his arm around Sarada's remaining shoulder.
"SHUT UP!" Sarada blushed, slamming both boys' heads together, though rather seeming hurt, both boys just laughed off the throbbing of their heads.
Thankfully the bluish-purplish mist slowly enveloped the three children before they found themselves outside of the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village.
However…..what used to be the gates of the Leaf Village were basically akin to loose door hinges as destroyed buildings littered the once beautiful village alongside ninja projectiles being scattered across the ground with a wave of smoke and ash in the air.
"Oh…my….god…" Sarada's hand ran to her mouth in a combination of horror and shock. Thankfully Naruto had prevented similar from happening during the invasion of Momoshiki, Kinshiki and Urashiki.
"What….happened….was this….Orochimaru?" Boruto clenched his fist as Mitsuki was silent, noticing how everyone in the street attempting to clean up the damage had a distressed expression on their face.
Upon arriving back to their home, Team Seven were horrified at what they had come home to.
Or rather…Naruto and an awakened Sakura did….Sasuke looked relatively unfazed…almost as if this was something he was accustomed to.
"W-what the?" Tears came to Sakura's eyes as she never thought she would bear witness to this kind of damage to her village over the course of her life.
"Who…did…all this?" Righteous anger coursed through Naruto's chest, even if he was weakened.
Sasuke said nothing as he carried both of his teammates to the Leaf Village Hospital which was in lacking in quality because of the recent attack but thankfully everyone was admitted as they were allowed to share the same room as they had gotten their wounds tended to.
"Man…what's with everyone? They act like someone died…." Sakura noticed the lack of energy in the room.
"I wonder where Kakashi-Sensei is…we have to let him know what happened and make sure he's okay." Naruto said as his forehead was cleaned, disinfected and had a thick bandage put on top of it along with his other miscellaneous wounds cleaned and tended to.
"You won't have to look far…." The voice of Kakashi said to the Genin as he entered the room.
"Hey, Kakashi-Sensei!" Naruto happily greeted his sensei and was about to glomp the Jonin only to notice the sullen look in Kakashi's visible eye.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, not having seen this side of Kakashi as Sakura decided to speak up.
"Is everything okay, sensei?" Sakura asked her sensei who shook his head solemnly.
"No….Lord Hokage is dead." Kakashi answered in a heavy voice.
Pure silence filled the room from both the people in both out and in the memory.
"….What?" Boruto's voice was barely a whisper as tears came to Sarada's eyes.
"H-he's actually…." Sarada bit her lip as Mitsuki was silent.
"….What….?" For one of the few moments in his life, Naruto Uzumaki was utterly speechless.
Sakura gasped in horror as even the usually stoic Sasuke was lost for words.
"W…who did it?" Sasuke surprisingly asked for Naruto as Kakashi's expression actually morphed from sadness into actual anger for the first time that anyone had ever seen ever seen.
"Orochimaru…." Kakashi's fist clenched.
"Orochimaru!?" Nearly everyone in the room exclaimed.
"That bastard actually did it!?" Boruto exclaimed before anger replaced his grief.
"He actually succeeded in his goal…he destroyed the Leaf and killed Lord Hiruzen…" Sarada teared up remembering how kind Hiruzen was.
"T-this can't be real…." Tears actually left Sakura's eyes as Sasuke's hand subconsciously went to his neck.
Kakashi clenched his visible eye shut.
The most heartbreaking of these reactions was Naruto's as he didn't scream or do anything in his usual boisterous manner.
"T-the old man…g-gone…" It seemed Naruto was having trouble processing the thought of Hiruzen actually being killed in action….
"Poor dad…..I remember how much Hiruzen was there for him…." Boruto looked sadly at his shaken dad.
"It's a lot to take in…." Sarada wiped her eyes as Naruto growled.
"Where is he…." Naruto's voice said in a low voice.
"Huh?" Kakashi asked before Naruto raised his head with his eyes, red due to the influence of the Nine Tails.
"That bastard Orochimaru….WHERE IS HE!?" Naruto yelled, much to the surprise of everyone, especially Sasuke given what happened back in the Forest of Death.
"Oh no don't tell me he's planning on…." Boruto's eyes widened.
"Naruto!" Sakura tried snapping her teammate back to reality as she knew that at Naruto's current level, he would be easy pickings for the Sannin turncoat.
"He's in the Sound Village but-"Kakashi was cut off by an orange blur running beside him as quickly as a yellow flash.
"Naruto!" Sakura and Kakashi yelled.
"We gotta go after him." Sasuke said to his team as they hastily followed him.
"What is he thinking!? He just barely beat Master Gaara!" Sarada was ready to rip her hair out.
"His anger has clouded his judgement…he's not thinking straight…" Mitsuki said as his eyes were filled with shame.
"We better go after him!" Boruto said as he and Team Konohamaru wasted no time in going after Naruto.
As Naruto ran out of the hospital, tears left his eyes as the memory flashed to when Naruto and Hiruzen first met at the riverside all those years ago.
Just as he neared the outside gates of the village, Sasuke and the other members of Team Seven were already there waiting for him.
"Get outta my way!" Naruto growled as his team was slightly taken aback as Naruto was definitely out of character but they wouldn't relent in keeping him at bay.
"No way! Just what can you do!? You're still hurt from your fight against Gaara!" Sakura tried talking Naruto down.
"Shut up!" Naruto shouted as that was a shock to everyone, both in and out of the memory, especially Sakura as Naruto had always kept his patience with Sakura, no matter how often and how much she was rude to Naruto.
"Whoa…..that was….unexpected…..he likes her after all…." Sarada blinked, not at all expecting this sudden turn of events.
"Can't say it wasn't a long time coming…." Boruto muttered as Sarada couldn't argue with that.
"Naruto! Don't talk to Sakura like that! And besides she's right. In your current state, what do you expect to do?" Kakashi scolded Naruto who growled.
"I can summon a frog! I'll show that bastard now get out of my way!" Naruto yelled as he summoned five Shadow Clones.
"Wait, he can still summon Shadow Clones in his state?" Boruto was slightly amazed.
"Uzumakis do have a long vitality." Mitsuki reminded Boruto as the Shadow Clones lunged at Kakashi who dealt with the Shadow Clones with relative ease.
What Naruto didn't notice was the head nod that Kakashi directed to Sasuke's direction which Mitsuki caught.
Before Naruto knew anything, he was suddenly kicked into the air by Sasuke before he was brought down hard by Sasuke's foot slamming into Naruto's chest.
Naruto coughed a mouthful of blood as Sasuke got off Naruto.
"Okay did he have to be that hard?" Sarada winced.
"It couldn't be helped. Even like this, Lord Seventh can't be treated with kid gloves." Mitsuki said as Sasuke looked down on Naruto with sympathy in his eyes.
"Sorry, Naruto. If you had gone you would've been killed." Sasuke apologized while no doubt remembering his defeat to the rogue Sannin back in the Forest of Death.
"…He's right…." Boruto admitted, feeling hatred for the criminal as Naruto grunted while rubbing his sore ribcage.
However….instead of having a fiery comeback like he typically would, Naruto whimpered before turning on his side and clenched the dirt before breathing.
Soon Naruto's breathing became heavier before his voice became strained as several harsh sobs left him.
"Old man…" Naruto sobbed as he buried his head in the dirt.
Immediately, Sasuke and Sakura were at Naruto's side before wrapping him in a tight hug as Kakashi looked on somberly and if one could look closely, they could see tears in his visible eye.
"It's so sad….to think such a great man lost his life…" Sarada wiped her eyes.
"All because of that Orochimaru bastard." Boruto snarled as Mitsuki decided to finally speak his mind.
"I feel bad." Mitsuki frowned as his teammates gaped at him in surprise.
"Why do you feel bad? You didn't do anything." Boruto blinked as Mitsuki sighed.
"Because my father caused a lot of damage…so much that some people aren't comfortable with my presence in the village….and what happened that time definitely didn't help…" Mitsuki looked down as a harsh slap to his shoulder cut him off.
"Who cares what a bunch of assholes think!? You're way better and different than Orochimaru!" Boruto argued as Sarada touched Mitsuki's remaining shoulder.
"Boruto's right….the sins of a father should never be placed on the shoulders of a child!" Sarada gave her teammate a gingerly smile.
"Guys….thank you." Mitsuki smiled as the scene shifted to the middle of Naruto's apartment as Naruto stared blankly at the floor.
"Wow….messy much?" Boruto tried to joke.
"Can you blame him? He's probably not in the right frame of mind…" Sarada reminded Boruto as Naruto slowly got off his bed before slipping on a black suit.
"It must be the day of Lord Third's funeral." Mitsuki noted.
"Yeah sounds about right." Boruto said as the group followed Naruto to the village streets where he met up with Sasuke and Sarada in silence where they made their way to the top of the Hokage tower where all the other villagers gathered in attendance, all wearing somber friends.
As the funeral started, rain started to slowly fall.
"Hey….Old Man Kakashi isn't here…" Boruto noticed.
"The Heavens are weeping…." Asuma noted before Naruto's attention was drawn to the sound of a child crying.
"Oh no….Konohamaru-Sensei….he lost his grandfather, that's right…" Sarada gasped in realization.
"I wonder what happened to his parents…" Boruto wondered as two of the Leaf elders decided to finally start the service.
"We are gathered here to remember and honor not only the Third Hokage but all of those who sacrificed themselves in this battle so our village would survive." Homura of the Leaf elders said as the vigil officially began.
As everyone placed a flower on the grave of Hiruzen with intimate thoughts in mind, Naruto turned to Iruka who wrapped Konohamaru in a comforting hug.
"Iruka-Sensei….why do they do it? Why do people risk their lives for other people?" Naruto asked as Iruka looked slightly puzzled at the question before deciding the best way to answer Naruto's question.
"What kind of question is that?" Sarada looked at her friends.
"Yeah…people do it to protect those close to them!" Boruto nodded.
"Well….when someone passes away, it's the end. His past and future, all he had disappeared with him. This is true, even if he died honorably in battle as many like Hayate did. All the ties that bind him to the living are severed-all but one which is the most important one of all, people. Parents, siblings, friends, lovers, the people who were important to him. And those left behind, are joined together in a great circle of friendship, loyalty and trust that grows stronger as time passes. It's a bit complicated to explain." Iruka explained as Naruto huffed.
"So we do it because we have to. I get it…but I'm sad…he's gone." Naruto sighed.
"Think how sad it'd be had he died for nothing. But he left us something precious so don't dwell on it. You'll understand one of these days." Kakashi said much to Team Konohamaru's surprise.
"Wait when did he get here!?" Boruto nearly fell back.
"Better late than never?" Sarada blinked, not expecting him so late into the service.
"Hey gimme some credit." Naruto smirked before the rain slowly stopped.
"Hey…the rain's stopping…." Sakura observed, getting Sasuke's attention as the sun started to slowly come out, transforming the once gloomy day into a bright and sunny afternoon.
"See ya, Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto grinned before running off to spend the rest of the day with his teammates.
"This is almost fitting….Lord Third died but left behind a new legacy…..and it's no longer dark but dawn-like." Mitsuki smiled.
"Yeah….like the light at the end of tunnel." Boruto smiled as the memory shifted to the middle of a forest where several targets laid impaled with several ninja projectiles impaled in the center of them.
"Alright!" Naruto pumped his fist as he was clad back in his trademark orange and blue outfit as all bandages were gone from his body, showing it had been several days since Hiruzen's funeral.
"I'll get my fill and get right back to my training!" Naruto grinned running back to the village.
"Glad to see he's back to normal!" Boruto grinned with Sarada and Mitsuki smiling their agreement.
As they followed Naruto back to the village, they spotted a familiar kid.
"Hey, it's Big Bro Konohamaru!" Boruto pointed out.
"Yeah but he's thinking about…." Sarada trailed on, noticing the sad eyes of Konohamaru looking up at his late grandfather's face.
Naruto also took note of this before deciding to walk on eggshells around the young boy.
"What's up Konohamaru!?" Naruto greeted his friend who sniffled before greeting him.
"Oh….not much Naruto…" Konohamaru forced his smile.
"I guess classes have started again at the Academy, huh?" Naruto tried to start a conversation with the young Sarutobi.
"Nah, not yet. A lot of the buildings got messed up so all the students are helping to repair things." Konohamaru said as he looked to the side as if remembering something tragic before shaking his head.
"So you been up to training?" Konohamaru asked his idol who grinned.
"Yep! So uh….what's been up with you?" Naruto asked Konohamaru.
"Uh…nothing." Konohamaru awkwardly answered as he asked Naruto the same question who reacted the same way.
It was then that a thin awkward feeling filled the air.
It was obvious to everyone why.
"I don't feel lonely or anything." Konohamaru began much to everyone's confusion.
"Everyone is working hard to rebuild the village and right now I just wanna do whatever I can to help out!" Konohamaru began smiling.
"Heh, that little squirt." Boruto grinned as he saw an image of an older Konohamaru standing by the current young Konohamaru.
"He's growing up." Mitsuki smiled as Sarada beamed at Konohamaru.
"So you have to do enough training for both of us, okay?" Konohamaru grinned at Naruto, "Cause if you slack off, I'll make Hokage before you!" Konohamaru teased Naruto who smacked his head playfully.
"You little runt! You still gotta pass the Academy first!" Naruto teased Konohamaru back as the two friends smiled warmly at each other before Naruto started fishing around in his back pocket before finding what he was apparently searching for.
"Oh there it is! A free meal at Ichiraku!" Naruto grinned handing Konohamaru the gift voucher.
"I can really have it?" Konohamaru looked at Naruto in disbelief who grinned harder.
"Sure! I've got another one anyways!" Naruto smiled his trademark smile as he wrapped his arms behind his head.
"Wow, thank you Naruto!" Konohamaru grinned as Udon and Moegi strolled up to him.
"Hello there, Konohamaru!" Moegi happily greeted her friend.
"Good morning!" Udon smiled as Konohamaru ran to the two.
"Hey guys!" Konohamaru happily greeted his friends back as he waved goodbye to Naruto.
"Okay! Once I've gotten my fill from Ichiraku, time for another round of training!" Naruto pumped his arm before going to his favorite dinery.
Boruto and Mitsuki turn to the sound of sniffling.
"Heh, you crying?" Boruto teased his friend.
"Well…..it's sweet….they're returning to normal…both Lord Seventh and Konohamaru-Sensei…." Sarada smiled through her tears.
"I can't wait to see what's next!" Boruto pumped his fist with a grin.
"Only one way to find out." Mitsuki smiled as the three followed the young Naruto to Ichiraku.
However…upon arriving to Ichiraku, something was wrong.
"Wait, where is it!? I coulda sworn I had my coupon!" Naruto frantically searched for the tiny gift parcel.
"Sorry, Naruto. No coupon no ramen." Teuchi genuinely apologized to the young boy.
"Yep, definitely back to normal!" Boruto snickered with his teammates laughing as well.
However, it got to the point where Naruto actually resorted to taking his clothes off and searching his pants and jacket.
"Oh come on!" Sarada covered her eyes with a blush.
"And here I thought you'd like that." Boruto laughed with his tease being met with a smack to his skull.
"Shut up!" Sarada growled as Naruto finally found his parcel.
"Haha, turns out it was in my headband instead of in my pants!" Naruto laughed with Teuchi and Team Konohamaru chuckling.
"He finally gets his fill." Mitsuki chuckled as Teuchi put another bowl of ramen in Naruto's already empty bowl.
"Go ahead, consider it on the house." Teuchi waved off Naruto's confused expression with a smile.
"God bless that man." Sarada smiled warmly at the man, wishing that she could meet him.
"Something tells me, he woulda given Dad the ramen with or without that coupon." Boruto smiled at Teuchi wondering where the man was. Once he got out of these memories, he would definitely pay Teuchi a visit to say thanks for everything he did for his dad.
"Haha, thank you!" Naruto happily dug in as the sound of a familiar sound of sandals filled the ears of everyone present.
"Well, looks like the stories were right, you really do eat nothing but ramen." The teasing voice of Jiraiya rang behind the Ichiraku flap.
"Hey, it's Master Jiraiya!" Sarada's eyes widened.
"I was wondering about him!" Boruto couldn't stop the smile adorning his face,
"P-Pervy Sage!?" Naruto nearly choked on his ramen.
As Jiraiya sat down to eat with Naruto, it turns out he had a small proposition for Naruto.
Naruto's response was well….
"WHAT!? NO WAY!" Naruto was quick to deny Jiraiya's proposition although Jiraiya didn't seem too surprised.
"How come I get stuck tagging along with you while you do research for another one of your pervy books?" Naruto scoffed off Jiraiya who chuckled.
"Look kid, I can assure you this isn't just another research trip. There's a woman I have to find, a very remarkable one." Jiraiya winked.
"Wait is he talking about Lady Tsunade?" Sarada's eyes widened as she couldn't think of anyone else who Jiraiya would sound so interested in.
"Dad did tell me that they met her on a trip…" Boruto looked pensive in thought though Naruto couldn't look any more disinterested.
"Well count me out, old man. I don't have time to help you find a girlfriend, I've gotta get busy with my training." Naruto bluntly replied as Jiraiya actually looked somewhat interested.
"What training?" Jiraiya looked at Naruto questionably.
"It's time Kakashi-Sensei taught me something new like that Chidori thing." Naruto muttered as he had a slightly bitter look in his eye.
"You know…it does seem as Master Kakashi does slightly play favorites with Master Sasuke." Mitsuki observed as he reflected on past memories.
"I thought I was the only one who noticed that…" Boruto muttered.
"I don't wanna think anything bad about Master Kakashi but he didn't really do much for Ma and Lord Seventh." Sarada reluctantly agreed as Jiraiya smirked.
"Well Chidori isn't really your thing….And besides, that woman we're looking for is very beautiful and gorgeous!" Jiraiya winked again at Naruto who didn't seem to budge from his staunch notion.
"Like I care. Besides, who do you think you're talking to? I'm not some dumb kid to fool with excuses so I'm not going!" Naruto seemed very determined in his refusal as he literally and figuratively put his foot down as even Jiraiya looked taken aback.
"Okay fine, suit yourself. And here I could've taught you jutsu that made Chidori look like kid's play…" Jiraiya droned as he began to take his leave as Naruto's ear twitched.
"Hook…" Mitsuki began.
"Line,,,," Sarada followed up.
"Maybe I'll just see if Sasuke wants to come along…." Jiraiya took his leave before Naruto suddenly appeared in front of Jiraiya.
"Right! So when do we leave!?" Naruto beamed before dashing off.
"And sinker." Boruto snickered.
"Wait right there Old Man, DON'T move!" Naruto's voice rang through the village.
About ten minutes later, Naruto appeared at the repaired village gates.
"Wow, this village is almost back to normal!" Boruto marveled.
"Alright, time to blow Kakashi and Sasuke away! Heh, maybe Sakura will start to like me." Naruto smirked as he adjusted his headband.
"Funny how that worked out. I wonder what happened." Sarada pondered.
"OKAY! Let's move out!" Naruto tried walking out the village only find he couldn't move since his backpack which was at least 8 metres tall.
"Uh….you know we're not going on a trip around the world?" Jiraiya asked Naruto who actually tumbled back into the village.
"Yep definitely back to normal." Boruto snickered with his friends joining in.
Upon saving Naruto and helping to shrink his backpack to a reasonable size, the two left the village peacefully.
"How do you get a backpack that big? He literally wears one outfit!" Sarada pointed out.
"Sounds like something out of an anime." Mitsuki shrugged, disregarding the bizarre looks he received from his friends.
As they walked road after road, Naruto couldn't stop jumping up and down.
"Well? C'mon Pervy Sage! What's this new jutsu, you're gonna teach me? The last time was walking on water! Oh…is it walking through fire? Or…is it walking on air?" Naruto's mind literally imagined both of those scenarios before beaming.
"Let's hear it already, Pervy Sage!" Naruto ran to the Sannin who looked at his wits end.
"Alright, enough with the Pervy Sage stuff. You have no idea how amazing of a guy I am, do you?" Jiraiya gave the young boy an irritated glare although he paid this no mind.
"What? How amazingly pervy?" Naruto blinked.
"Got him!" Boruto snickered with Sarada and Mitsuki laughing as that was the last straw for Jiraiya.
"You…alright, listen up!" Jiraiya ran upwards to the upcoming bridge before standing on one foot and starting a particular dance.
"The toad sage is only a cover now allow me to reveal myself! From the North to the South and the West to the east! Not even the spirits can defeat this Sannin! The white maned toad charmer, a red hot ninja who strikes fear into the hearts of men! Master Jiraiya!" Jiraiya finished his trademark Kabuki like pose.
"….Uh…what?" Sarada was less than impressed.
"Haha…yeah….he did that a lot with me…" Boruto laughed in second hand embarrassment while Mitsuki actually looked amused.
Naruto was just as unimpressed as Sarada as he walked by without a word, leaving the Toad Sage in a comical depression.
The two then continued their trek.
"Uh….Atafaku Town? That's ten kilometers from here." Naruto came across a town sign.
"No, it's Otafuku Town." Jiraiya corrected his student.
"Oh…hey, Pervy Sage!" Naruto ran to Jiraiya who was still pissed at Naruto's disregard of him from earlier.
"Look kid, I told you it's Jiraiya." Jiraiya sternly reminded Naruto who just ignored him.
"So the fact that a big wig Pervy Sage like you choosing me must mean I'm a potential genius in the making! So c'mon, why'd you choose me, huh!?" Naruto practically jumped on Jiraiya who tried to answer Naruto the best way he could.
"Well the truth is that a long time ago kid, the Fourth Hokage used to be a student of mine and you bear such a strong resemblance to the Fourth that it's almost laughable. So sorry kid, that's all I can give you." Jiraiya answered Naruto before walking off again, leaving Naruto shell-shocked, whether it was because of the fact that Naruto looked like someone he admired or the fact that Jiraiya was the of said man was anyone's guess.
"I wonder if we can see his full power in these memories!" Boruto looked excited at the thought.
"Although…I do wonder why he just didn't tell Lord Seventh about his dad? Like what's the harm?" Sarada asked.
"Yeah I wonder the same." Boruto agreed.
"Remember Lord Fourth had the moniker of "The Yellow Flash" which garnered him a lot of enemies so maybe it was done to protect Lord Seventh?" Mitsuki offered.
"But the hair and eyes should give it away?" Boruto countered.
"…I….resemble….the Fourth?" Naruto needed several seconds to process this before happiness took over.
"HOLY CRAP!" Naruto nearly trampled Jiraiya as he jumped up and down like an excited child on a sugar rush.
"If I resemble the Fourth that means I'm on my way to Hokage after all! WOOHOO!" Naruto continued cheering before jumping sky high, before managing to get down and dirty as soon as he landed, literally.
"Oh no, I stepped in dog poo!" Naruto nearly fell back in disgust.
"Oh gross." Sarada groaned with Boruto and Mitsuki chuckling as Jiraiya shook his head.
"The only thing you have in common with the Fourth is pigheadedness and that spiky blonde hair of yours!" Jiraiya pointed an accusing finger at Naruto who growled at Naruto.
"What was that!? You senile old perv!" Naruto pointed back at Jiraiya who found himself stuck in the same sticky situation as before.
"Not again!" Naruto cried.
"Yep definitely back to normal." Boruto laughed with Team Konohamaru as Jiraiya just sighed.
After getting Naruto's sticky situation squared away with, the two found themselves at a temple with a lot of bells.
Naturally Naruto took it upon himself to mess and play with the bells as Jiraiya ate a piece of fruit.
"Keep it up and you'll be cursed." Jiraiya offhandly warned Naruto.
"Like he'll listen." Mitsuki mused.
"Hey Pervy Sage, what kind of student was the Fourth Hokage?" Naruto asked as Jiraiya smiled in remembrance.
"Well, I think it's safe to say he rose to power because of my tutelage. So to land me as a sensei, well you hit the jackpot." Jiraiya grinned as Naruto looked unconvinced.
"What? You don't believe me? A good sensei will naturally beget good disciples that goes without saying." Jiraiya looked mock-offended.
"Huh…if that's the case, who'd you have as a sensei?" Naruto asked with Jiraiya smiling again as he looked to the sky as if remembering.
"Who, me? I first studied under the Third Hokage." Jiraiya said with a nostalgic expression on his face.
"The third!?" Naruto and his clones exclaimed in amazement.
"That explains the over-poweredness," Sarada teased.
"And back then the Third Hokage was a young spring chicken and I myself was a young buck!" Jiraiya broadly grinned as that was enough for Naruto to stomach before he found himself tangled and tumbled in the bells.
"What a nut." Boruto snickered with Jiraiya shaking his head as Naruto laughed sheepishly.
"I…uh…got kinda tangled up." Naruto chuckled.
"You knucklehead. Those curses are no joke." Jiraiya smirked before taking a seat.
"So wait, if you studied under Kakashi, that means you went under the bell training, right?" Jiraiya suddenly asked as Naruto's head went up.
"Oh yeah, I did!" Naruto's head perked up as memories of the Bell Test flashed through the memory.
"Although I got tied to a stump….man I forgot how much all that sucked…." Naruto deadpanned at the end.
"Oh, you too, huh?" Jiraiya blinked.
"You too?" Naruto was just as lost.
"Wait, he got tied up too?" Boruto looked at Jiraiya.
"Well, like master, like student?" Mitsuki offered.
Jiraiya smiled at Naruto as he donned that same thoughtful expression again.
"Anyway, put those bells right where you found them." Jiraiya said as Naruto did just that before the two made their way to a nearby town.
Upon arriving there and checking into a local hotel, they caught sight of something very….lovely.
"Whoa! Look at her!" Jiraiya and Naruto were drooling over a very attractive woman who winked at the two of them.
"How repulsive." Sarada scoffed before Naruto was handed the key to their hotel room.
"Okay kid, practice your chakra and get to bed, okay?" Jiraiya grinned as this obviously didn't sit well with Naruto.
"Oh is that the vibe here, ya old perv!?" Naruto yelled though Jiraiya was already after the woman.
"You know, Lord Seventh had a shoddy hand when it came to Senseis." Mitsuki noted.
"You know something? I can't disagree, with you there…." Boruto muttered.
As Naruto huffed and made his way to his room where he began his chakra molding training.
However after thirty minutes, a knock to the door disrupted his training.
"So soon?" Boruto asked.
"Well just look at him." Sarada snorted.
"You get dumped, already?" Naruto asked though he received no answer and instead got another door knock.
"Alright, already!" Naruto ground out as he unlocked the door.
Although…what he got on the other side of the door was vastly different than what he was expecting.
Rather than a triumphant or depressed looking Jiraiya, what lay on the other side from Naruto was two men.
One was a shark-lookalike man with spiky blue hair and a huge sword on his back but it was the second man that sent shivers up Naruto, Boruto and Sarada's spines.
He bore a very strong resemblance to Sasuke with the same raven colored hair and Sharingan eyes although he had strong creases going down his face.
Both men had bizarre black cloaks with red clouds on them.
"Both of these guys scream trouble…just who the hell are they?" Boruto asked with Sarada's eyes focused squarely on the Sasuke lookalike.
"Is this guy…" Sarada asked with the man speaking up.
"Naruto….you'll be coming with us." The man said with Naruto nearly stepping back as his voice sent shivers down the spines of Naruto, Boruto and Sarada.
It was deep and cold. While Sasuke's voice was deeper than other boys his age, It had a bit of a gentle edge about it. But this man's had a frightening edge about it.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" The man said though as dense as Naruto was, even he knew this was more of an order than a genuine offer.
As impulsive as he was, even Naruto knew when he was outmatched and knew despite all the power he gained against Neji and Gaara, this guy and his friend were in a whole other league.
Reluctantly, Naruto complied.
"What's he doing?" Boruto couldn't believe Naruto was going along with this creep.
"He knows he doesn't stand a chance." Mitsuki said as Sarada was still shocked to speak.
As Naruto got out of the room, shark boy smirked at Naruto.
"Hey Itachi, it'll be a pain if the kid tries to make a run for it….Maybe I oughta chop off a leg just in case?" Shark Boy suggested.
"What!? Won't that kill him?" Boruto asked as Itachi didn't budge. But rather he continued staring blankly forward.
"It's been a long time….Sasuke…" Itachi said as everyone's eyes widened as they all found Sasuke a few feet behind Itachi.
"Itachi…Uchiha…." Sasuke said in a voice of hatred and contempt.
"….Itachi…Uchiha?" Naruto couldn't believe Sasuke was here.
"When did he get here?" Boruto wondered although relieved this interruption caused shark boy to back off.
"Who cares!? At least it got the other guy to back off." Sarada replied.
"Well….the Sharingan….and he looks an awful lot like you…Itachi, who is this kid?" Shark boy observed Sasuke's features.
"He's my younger brother." Itachi straight-forwardly answered much to the astonishment of everyone watching.
"Wait, he's Uncle Sasuke's brother!?" Boruto exclaimed.
"That does explain the resemblance." Mitsuki noted.
"But that headband….he's a rogue ninja…." Sarada couldn't believe she was related to someone who turned his back on his own village.
"But what…what could he have done to warrant dad wanting to kill my 'uncle'?" Sarada wondered with the uncle part in quotes.
Naruto's mind quickly raced as the memory flashed to the Great Naruto Bridge where Naruto cradled a "dying" Sasuke in his arms after being defeated by Haku.
"H-he's still out there…my older brother…I promised myself….I'd stay alive until I killed him!" Tears welled in Sasuke's eyes at the prospect of what he considered a broken promise before the memory flashed to the present.
"Oh…that's strange because the way I heard it, the whole Uchiha Clan was wiped out by you." Shark Boy grinned broadly showing his shark-like teeth as everyone sans Sasuke, Itachi and Mitsuki were stunned into silence.
"W-wait…..the reason that the Uchiha Clan is no more…." Boruto gulped before practically forcing himself to finish, "Was because this Itachi guy butchered all of them?" Boruto whispered.
Although none were more horrified than Sarada. To think her Uncle could have been behind such an atrocity is just….
"N-no…" Sarada began as both boys looked at her.
"…My grandparents….their grandparents….why would my own Uncle…..betray all of them?" Tears welled up in Sarada's eyes as both boys went to her side.
Rather than react with sadness like his daughter, Sasuke looked at his brother with determination.
"It's just as you said 'brother'…" Sasuke calmly started as lightning and bird chirpings filled the room, "I've lived my life for one single purpose…." Sasuke's calmness slowly died as anger filled his being, "To See You Die! It ends here!" Sasuke's arm was practically covered in his Chidori as the radical lightning was the perfect representation of all the loathing that Sasuke held for the man in front of him.
"Sasuke!" Naruto couldn't believe all the power that Sasuke was putting out.
"I can nearly feel it!" Sarada was snapped from her stupor.
"Chidori?" Itachi cocked an eyebrow as Sasuke shoved his jutsu into the wall by his side before charging straight at his brother.
"Die!" Sasuke yelled lunging at his brother although no one saw Itachi raise an arm, kicking up a lot of dust and debris due to the impact of his Chidori.
As the smoke died down, everyone was greeted to the scene of Itachi holding Sasuke's arm rather casually as there seemed to be no sign of injury on Itachi.
"…No way….It didn't work?" Boruto couldn't believe Itachi just took Sasuke's Chidori.
"This can't be real….." Sarada couldn't believe her eyes as Naruto was just as stunned.
But when Naruto saw that Sasuke was in a pickle, he summoned his Nine Tails' chakra similar to how he did against Neji and Gaara.
This naturally got the attention of the two rogue ninja.
"Ah….the air, ripe with chakra. This must be the power of the Nine Tails…." Shark Man observed as Sasuke noticed Itachi's attention directed away from himself, much to his ire.
As Sasuke tried to raise his free hand, the sound of an arm snapping rang through the ears of everyone watching.
"DAD!" Sarada covered her mouth in horror as Sasuke was released to the ground as he screamed in agony.
"Oh shit!" Boruto cursed.
"Sasuke!" Naruto yelled in horror as he growled out, "Ninja Art Summ-"Naruto tried summoning Gamabunta before Shark Boy cut him off.
"Too slow!" Shark Boy literally cut Naruto's Nine Tails chakra off.
"Hey, what the hell just happened!?" Boruto couldn't believe things were going from 0 to 100 in literal seconds.
"You see, this sword Samehada is rather unique, you see….It devours what it touches!" Shark Boy practically bragged as Samehaha was literally eating for demonstration.
"What the hell? That's too over-powered!" Sarada looked around for a way out.
"Forget the legs, maybe I should start with those arms of yours!" Shark Boy held his sword to Naruto's face.
"Oh hell, what now!? Someone!" Boruto tried looking to see if Jiraiya was around as Naruto grit his teeth, no doubt racking his brain for a strategy.
However, Boruto's prayers were thankfully listened to as a puff of smoke appeared in front of Naruto as a toad held Shark Boy's sword back.
"You two don't know me at all, do you? Shoulda done your homework. Jiraiya the Toad Sage falls victim to no woman's charm. Rare beauty is dropped for me like blossoms in a storm. It isn't in my nature to be duped by a woman but when you reach the stature I have, the ladies kneel at your awesomeness!" Jiraiya finished his saying with his trademark Kabuki stance.
However, he was met with rather negative reception, namely from Naruto.
"Don't give me that! One wink from a pretty girl and you turn into a mountain of mush and you fell for it like a ton of bricks, Pervy Sage!" Naruto pointed an accusing finger at Jiraiya who chuckled sheepishly realizing how much of an ass he made of himself.
"I really wish you wouldn't call me that in front of other people." Jiraiya rubbed his head sheepishly.
"Are you kidding me!? We have way more important stuff to worry about than what these guys think of you! Get with it, Pervy Sage!" Naruto spat as that was enough to set off the buffoon.
"Didn't I tell you stop calling me that!?" Jiraiya comically cried.
"Normally I'd be irritated at them going at it…." Sarada began.
"But he saved him so it's okay." Boruto finished.
Itachi stared blankly at the exchange while his partner chuckled.
"Hehe, well I must say, Jiraiya of the Sannin, you're rather something of a disappointment….getting easily swayed by women…." Shark Boy darkly chuckled as Jiraiya chuckled back.
"Well, don't be fooled by appearances or anything this little squirt might say." Jiraiya chuckled before glaring at the two vagabonds.
"So you managed to release the Genjutsu, we put on her, huh?" Shark Boy mused as Jiraiya gently put the woman down.
"What kinds of cowards are you two? Using Sharingan to separate Naruto and I….I know he's the one, you're really after…" Jiraiya accused the two as Naruto was taken aback.
"But why?" Boruto asked.
"Shouldn't it be obvious? It's the Nine Tails inside of Naruto." Mitsuki pointed out.
"And that's why they wanted to separate them…." Sarada finished as Itachi looked at the Sannin.
"You're right. Naruto is the prize the Akatsuki are after….and we will have him." Itachi stated to Jiraiya who huffed as he ended his summoning.
"Akatsuki?" Boruto was taken aback by the name.
"They were a mercenary group of rogue ninja from all villages." Mitsuki explained.
"Well that explains the bad vibes from these guys…" Sarada couldn't believe someone so detestable was her kin.
"And they were identified with black cloaks with red clouds." Mitsuki finished as Boruto and Sarada processed this information.
"I won't let that happen. Although this is perfect, I can eliminate both of you at the same time, Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki." Jiraiya stood up as he readied a hand sign.
"Alright!" Boruto pumped a fist as Sarada felt uneasy. This man was still her uncle.
"Stay out of it…." Sasuke weakly said as he forced himself to his feet.
"D-dad!" Sarada gaped in surprise.
"…The only one who's going to eliminate him is me!" Sasuke glared with a fierce light in his eyes that no one had ever seen before.
"Is he serious!? What can he do with one arm?" Sarada wondered if her dad had gone truly insane.
"Yeah he's badass and all but…" Boruto gulped nervously already having an idea on how this would end.
"Go away, you don't interest me at the moment." Itachi coolly disregarded Sasuke who glared at him alongside Sarada and Boruto as Sasuke clenched his fist.
"Well get interested!" Sasuke charged at Itachi who kicked Sasuke dead in his gut, sending him careening into the wall behind him.
"Oh no!" Sarada and Boruto yelled in dismay and concern.
"Sasuke, no!" Naruto yelled in concern as Sasuke's form slumped against the wall which was more than enough incentive for Naruto to run to Sasuke's aid.
"Damn you lousy-"Naruto tried stepping into save Sasuke.
"No Naruto! Don't butt in! Mind your own business!" Sasuke snapped, stopping Naruto dead in his tracks.
"What's wrong with him? He's way more level-headed than this…." Sarada frowned.
"Isn't it obvious? The object of his vendetta is standing in front of him." Mitsuki reminded Sarada.
"Yeah I understand. When I thought dad was killed by those Momoshiki and Kinshiki scumbags, I wanted their heads on a silver platter. Not that I agree with Uncle Sasuke." Boruto said in a matter of fact voice.
"But…." Sarada was about to argue as Sasuke stirred himself up again.
"I've lived my whole life….for this single moment…." Sasuke grunted before revealing his two Tomoe Sharingan.
"THIS FIGHT IS MIN!" Sasuke roared as he charged at Itachi who merely backhanded him and swatted him away like a fly.
"Dad, no!" Sarada yelled, running to his side before kneeling to his side.
"He's on his last leg…and that broken arm sealed the deal…" Mitsuki observed Sasuke's wounds before the sound of footsteps got everyone's attention.
"It's him. Stay away from him!" Boruto growled as everyone turned to Itachi slowly walking to Sasuke as Team Konohmaru glared at him.
"Keep away!" Sarada yelled as Sasuke in his dazed vision looked to see Itachi looming over him.
"And now finally-" Sasuke tried attacking Itachi only for Sasuke to get socked in his gut, making Sasuke spit blood as Itachi continued his assault as Sarada felt angry tears prickle her eyes as she watched Itachi continue to pummel Sasuke.
"This bastard…it's no wonder why dad doesn't talk about him." Sarada angrily glared at Itachi through her tears as she wondered how her dad was related to this monster. Someone who slaughtered his own flesh and blood.
"You show him no mercy." Kisame grinned as Sasuke hit the floor hard.
"I'm sick of this asshole. Old Man Jiraiya should put a frog through his ass!" Boruto spat as Itachi picked Sasuke by the scruff of his collar and shoved him to the wall behind him.
"You're still too weak….You don't have enough hate and you know something? You never will." Itachi whispered into Sasuke's ears.
"What the hell!? He trains day in and day out to defeat scum like you!" Sarada spat, utterly detesting the man who was her "uncle".
Before anyone knew anything, Itachi suddenly met Sasuke, eye to eye, leading to Sasuke screaming in complete and utter agony.
"What's that bastard doing to him!?" Boruto demanded.
"He's putting him under a Genjutsu! How can you do something like that to your own brother!?" Sarada readied a hand sign as Mitsuki was quick to put a hand on her shoulder.
"Remember, Memory." Mitsuki said with Sarada growling in frustration as this was enough for Naruto as Sasuke went still in Itachi's grip.
"That's it, I'm through standing around!" Naruto roared, charging at Itachi although this caused Kisame to follow Naruto with Samehada in hand.
"Oh hell!" Boruto cursed before the room was suddenly in what looked to be guts?
"Wait, this is-!" Boruto's eyes widened as Jiraiya chuckled.
"Ninja Art Toad Mouth Trap. You both have been swallowed by the Mountain Toad. Welcome my friends to the belly of the beast. He has a very sensitive digestive tract so try not to upset him. Not the most glorious way to die, is it? It must be humbling to know you've been reduced to toad bait." Jiraiya smirked at the two Akatsuki.
"Normally I would say how gross this looks but at least my dad is free now." Sarada exhaled as Sasuke was freed from Itachi's grip.
"Whoa…I don't like this…" Naruto slightly grimaced.
"Be still, Naruto. Trust in my jutsu!" Jiraiya reassured his student there was nothing to worry about.
"Kisame, come." Itachi jolted off.
"That's easier said than done…" Kisame grunted, his sword stuck in the frog guts before narrowly managing to free Samehada.
"Don't try it! Not a ninja alive has been born that can survive this powerful stomach!" Jiraiya yelled as the two ran from hallway to hallway.
As Naruto, Jiraiya and Team Konohamaru ran to where the hallway ended, they came across something peculiar, a sea of black flames burned the back of the wall where the guts were.
"They got away!" Naruto remarked in amazement.
"Damn it! I can't believe it!" Boruto couldn't believe the bastards got away.
"We'll definitely see them again." Mitsuki reminded Boruto as Sarada stared at the flames in intrigue.
"Just what are these flames and how did they use it to escape?" Sarada put her hand to her chin in thought.
Naruto looked curiously at the flames.
"Don't touch them!" Jiraiya told his protégé before using a scroll to seal the flames and end his jutsu.
As soon as it ended, Naruto was quick to catch Sasuke and go to his side.
Before anyone knew anything, a kunai was suddenly embedded in a wall not that far from Naruto and Jiraiya.
"Wait are they back!?" Boruto asked but before Naruto and Jiraiya could react, a certain jovial voice suddenly rang through the air.
"Dynamic entry!" Guy yelled before clonking Jiraiya dead in the face with his trademark kick.
"Where the hell did he come from!?" Boruto remarked in a combination of amazement, surprise and humor.
The end result was Jiraiya with a nose plug and a pissed demeanor.
"Haha….I…guess I got a little over enthusiastic. Using my headband to peer into the opening, I saw two sinister figures and well…." Guy sheepishly apologized as that was enough to set off Jiraiya.
"You know what!? If this is your way of saying sorry, it stinks!" Jiraiya spat, wanting to use his Toad Mouth Trap on Guy.
"He knows how to liven the mood." Mitsuki chuckled.
"For better or worse." Boruto shook his head as Sarada had nothing to say as her attention was focused squarely on her dad.
"Dad…" Sarada looked over dad.
"I'm sorry, it was a simple misunderstanding…" Guy tried apologizing again.
"Simple minded is more like but never mind that now. We need to get Sasuke to the Medical Corps at once. He's been badly beaten up, his arm's broken along with his mind." Jiraiya said as Guy nodded. "Pervy Sage, Sasuke's gonna be all right, isn't he?" Naruto looked to Jiraiya desperately.
"Physically yes but I'm worried about the psychological damage that Itachi did to him." Jiraiya straight-forwardly answered.
"Dad…" Sarada teared up as a flash of the battle rang through Naruto's mind.
"Just…what the heck did Sasuke do…to deserve this?" Naruto's hand clenched, "Okay, time for a new game plan. I admit I let those goons scare me a little….After all, it's me they're after, right? Well it's time I give them what they want!" Naruto declared.
"What!? He can't beat them yet!" Sarada remarked, knowing Naruto would be walking into a death trap.
"This sucks…..he got all that power during those battles against Uncle Neji and Gaara…" Boruto began.
"But it's not enough for the lurking threats after them." Mitsuki finished dismally.
"Nice speech kid but you're not in the same league. What would have happened if I didn't show up just now, huh? It took all I had to get them away from you." Jiraiya pointed out matter of factly.
"Is that right!? So what do we do!? Just sit around and wait for them to attack us, is that it!? Just sitting around what kind of strategy is that!?" Naruto challenged Jiraiya who glared at him in response.
"Just be quiet!" Jiraiya cut off Naruto who actually shut up, "You haven't earned the right." Jiraiya finished as Naruto clenched his fist as he looked away, knowing Jiraiya was right.
"That was kinda harsh…" Sarada quietly said not taking her eyes off her wounded father.
"But he's right. Going after the Akatsuki at his current level would no doubt be a death trap." Mitsuki pointed out as Jiraiya turned to Guy.
"I'm sorry, Guy. I wanted to let Sasuke fight his own fight. I see that was a mistake." Jiraiya apologized, realizing his supreme error in judgement.
"This is obviously the same sort of jutsu that Kakashi was hit with. We don't know when he'll come out of it." Guy noted much to the astonishment of everyone within earshot.
"What!? Kakashi-Sensei!?" Naruto couldn't believe Kakashi was attacked.
"They got Master Kakashi, too!?" Sarada looked at Guy as Boruto growled.
"Those bastards…" Boruto clenched his fist as Guy's heart dropped at the sight of Sasuke's state.
"There's nothing worse than watching your students fall in battle…It's like losing a piece of your soul…" Guy sorrowly commented, no doubt referencing Lee.
"What we need is a supreme medical specialist….a master of healing and soon…" Guy noted with Jiraiya turning to him.
"You're right. And the woman you're talking about is exactly who we're looking for." Jiraiya said as everyone looked up.
"Wait are they talking about?" Boruto's eyes widened as Guy looked just as perturbed.
"Wait, you don't mean!" Guy immediately knew who Jiraiya was referencing.
"Yes, exactly who I mean. Another of the Legendary Sannin. The Gambling Fool and Mistress of the Healing Arts-Lady Tsunade!" Jiraiya declared.
And that wraps up the first half of the Search for Tsunade Arc!
I can't believe the hate arc gets-it's SO DAMN GOOD! It introduced one of the most BADASS females in all of anime!
But yeah next chapter will be the conclusion of this arc and we'll be seguing into the final parts of Part 1 and then we'll be in Shippuden! If not this year than most definitely next year! ^0^
Okay with all that said Chapter 20 will be out Wednesday, September 1st so look forward to it then!
P.S: Is it just me or does anyone else think Itachi should have stayed strictly as a villain? I feel he worked better that way….
