Chapter 5 – Meeting the Last Sannin

There weren't many things that scared Momochi Zabuza. He was the Kirigakure no Kijin (Demon of the Mist), a man who struck fear into the hearts of men. However, the woman standing in front of him scared him greatly. Terumī Mei was, for the lack of a term, scary as hell. What scared the most was the fact that her smile was not genuine. He knew that she would kill him on the spot. The only thing was, why was she waiting?

"W-Why are you here Mei? What do you want?" Zabuza asked carefully.

"Is that any way to talk to the person who orchestrated your rescue?" Mei asked cheerfully. Everyone looked surprised by that. "Yes, I was the one who arranged this." That's when Unkai looked at her with wide eyes.

"You found out that Haku was now a Konoha ninja." Yakumo and Haku looked at him. "Murakumo looked more into that information. Before we left, he informed me that the information came out of Mizu no Kuni. I thought it was strange and promised to be on alert." He then looked at Mei. "If you think that we will allow you to kill Haku or Zabuza,"

"Oh, you misunderstand me. I'm not here for Haku at all. I only want Zabuza." Mei answered. Everyone was confused. "From what I can see, Haku seems very happy in Konoha. I think that he needed to get away from this man to live a normal life. I was always fond of the boy and I am happy that your clan has not mistreated or misused him. However, I know how much the boy cared for Zabuza and he was my only way to get Zabuza free without revealing my part in it."

"You're leading the rebellion, aren't you?" Zabuza asked.

"You catch on quick." Mei said with a smile.

"Why would I ever help you?" he asked.

"Well, you have two choices really. You can help me and get into my good graces with each passing day or I could just melt your balls off and make you. For all of your strength Zabuza, you are not as strong as me. You know what I am capable of Zabuza and you will not let you escape a second time." Mei said. Zabuza weighted his options. On one hand, he could fight for his freedom but he knew that Mei would not hesitate in killing everyone around him just to kill him. With a growl, he nodded to her. Mei just smiled coyly.

"Very good, you have made the right decision." Mei turned to the Konoha shinobi. "I hope that it will not be an issue. I can offer some compensation to the Kurama clan for this."

"We… will be in contact if anything comes up." Unkai said nervously.

"Very well. Come along Zabuza, we have work to do." Mei ordered.

"I'm not your freaking dog Mei and I will not be treated as such." Zabuza snarled.

"Excuse me?" Mei said sweetly. Zabuza tensed up and scoffed. He just walked off and passed Mei. Mei turned to Yakumo and smiled. "Take care of Haku. Do invite me to the wedding." With that, Mei followed Zabuza. Everyone was standing there for a while before they turned their attention to Haku. The teen saw that they wanted answers. With a sigh, Haku began to explain.

"Well, Zabuza and Mei use to be comrades. That is until Zabuza laughed at the her. He told her despite the fact that she was beautiful now, her looks would fade, her attitude was unbearable and that no man would want to marry her. He also called her hair style stupid and that she was chubby. She destroyed a part of Kirigakure trying to kill him. It took two platoons to stop her and she was suspended for the amount of collateral damage that she created. People were hurt in her rampage." Haku explained. Everyone just blinked at him before there was a collective sigh. They all decided to make the trip back home.

XXX

It took a while but Naruto and Jiraiya now had a pin-point location on Tsunade. While they were searching for her, Jiraiya worked with Naruto, refining his skills and teaching him some new ones. Naruto was able to do the Rasengan with one hand but it was still for a short time. He still formed it slow and it would only keep its' form for two minutes. While it was an improvement, it still could cost him in a fight. Jiraiya helped him with his fuinjutsu and ninjutsu. He taught him two new jutsu, both were Doton. In all it was good training.

They entered the town where they knew that she was. They began their search for the blond.

"So, instead of looking for an old woman, we are looking for someone who in their thirties? That's so vain of her." Naruto commented.

"Well don't tell her that. She's likely to smear you all over the walls for that comment. Anyway, we should start…" Jiraiya was cut off when he watched as a castle was just destroyed. Naruto looked on as well with wide eyes. The two looked at each other before running toward the destruction. When they arrived, they saw the place in rubble. The two quickly investigated and saw some type of skin. Naruto saw the skin and recognized it. The two realized that they needed to find Tsunade fast.

XXX

Tsunade, a beautiful blond, was sitting at a table with her assistant, Shizune, and her pet pig, Tonton. She needed a drink after what happened earlier. She allowed herself to be dragged around by Shizune who want to see the castle. That's when it was destroyed by Orochimaru who was riding a snake. He was with two people. They were both kids, the blond around thirteen. Orochimaru was there to make a deal and to gloat about his success of killing Hiruzen. That pissed her off and she showed it by smashing the wall. She gave Orochimaru until the count of five to leave. That's when he said that he could bring back Dan and Nawaki.

It stunned her and she stopped her count. Orochimaru gave her until the end of the week to decide. The three left and she was standing there, considering his deal. She knew of the jutsu that Orochimaru was talking about. It worried her that Orochimaru had that type of power. However, if she got to see her loved ones again, would it be worth it? Her thoughts suddenly got interrupted by another familiar voice.

"Hello Tsunade, you're looking lovely as ever." Jiraiya greeted. She noticed the small blond with him and was curious as to who he was. Jiraiya then turned his attention to Shizune. "Shizune, you have certainly grown in all the right places."

"For Kami's sake, would you please stop flirting with every woman you come across. You've been alone for fifty-one years and it isn't going to change." The blond said. It earned him a glare from the man and a chuckle from Tsunade.

"You are so lucky that I need you for this brat." Jiraiya spat. He then turned his attention back to Tsunade. "Ignore him, he doesn't know the meaning of manners." He took a seat across from him.

"I don't know. He seems okay to me. What is he? You take another apprentice or something?" she asked.

"Let's just say that he's an interesting project at the moment and leave it at that. Anyway, I have something important to ask you." He said.

"If it is your usual question, then the answer is no." Tsunade said.

"It isn't that. I'm assuming that you know about Hiruzen's passing. The elders and I have decided to ask you to take up the position of Hokage. What do you say?" Jiraiya asked. Tsunade gave him a look before smirking at him.

"Me, become Hokage? Not a chance in hell. The Hokage position is a joke and only fools would take it." Tsunade said with humor. Naruto didn't like how she worded that but did not say anything. Jiraiya didn't look like he was surprised by her reply.

"I'm sorry to hear that but you are the only one who can be Hokage." He said.

"I'm not going to take up the position. Like I said, it is a fool's position to take. All of the past Hokages didn't even live until old age. They all died in horrible ways, leaving their families to mourn them. Even those who would run for the title end up dying early. Even though sense lived a long life, did he die a peaceful one? No, he died by the sword of one of his students. I refuse to take up that position that has caused me to lose so many loved ones. You've wasted your time in coming here." Tsunade said.

"So, what you are saying is that it is foolish to die protecting the thing that you love?" Naruto asked seriously. Tsunade looked at him and saw that he was angry. She didn't worry about it and just smirked at him.

"No, that's not what I said. I just think that if you don't want to live a short life then you don't become Hokage." She said.

"So, your grandfather and granduncle were fools for taking up the hat? Your grandfather, who died protecting you and everyone you loved during the outbreaks of fighting, was a fool? Your granduncle, who died to save the old man and his friends from death during the First Ninja World War, was a fool? The old man, who gave his life to stop Konoha from being burnt to the ground, was a fool? The Yondaime, who saved the village from the Kyūbi, was a fool?" Naruto asked.

"That's not what I said brat. You are putting words in my mouth and I don't appreciate it." Tsunade said with a tone.

"Why don't you keep your damn mouth shut, you old hag?!" Naruto roared. Jiraiya sighed while Shizune was starting to get scared.

"Excuse me?" Tsunade said dangerously.

"Who the hell are you to tear down their sacrifices like that? What the hell have you done that was so freaking special that you can talk like that? 'Oh, I revolutionize how all medicine is used. I was the reason that Konoha survived the Second Ninja World War'. Big deal! The second everything started falling apart for you, you just up and ran! You're not a member of the once great Senju! You're a disappointment to the history of your clan's power! A joke to every gambling house you owe money to!" Naruto shouted.

"You disrespectful little punk, how dare you say that to me?" Tsunade demanded loudly, standing up and looking at him with rage. Naruto jumped on the table and got in her face.

"I say it because it is true! You're no legendary kunoichi! You're a fraud, milking your ancestors name for all it is worth! You know something; I'm glad that you turned it down! Konoha is a village of heroes who gave their lives for the village they love! You're nothing but a scared, 'over-the-hill' hag with stupid personal issues that probably happened years ago! You're a ninja, start acting like one!" Naruto spat in her face. Tsunade couldn't believe the balls of this kid to say that to her face. Well, that wasn't going to stand for long.

"You think that you're so tough brat, why don't we take this outside and I'll show you just how 'over-the-hill' I am." Tsunade said.

"Bring it on bitch!" Naruto said, accepting her challenge. The two blondes stormed out of the bar. With a sigh and with worry, Jiraiya, Shizune and Tonton made their way after them.

XXX

Jakken looked at the scene where they were directed by the baron. He should have decked the fat bastard for what he said about Aiko. The little coward just handed her to the bandits after he was attacked. Lucky for them, he remembered where he was attacked. They searched the area, looking for clues. That's when Jakken found a clue that he did not like. Genma and Iwashi came up to him.

"You find something kid?" Genma asked.

"There were at least four attackers, only one of them was a shinobi. They took whatever they could carry and Aiko and moved east. They probably stopped somewhere but are on the move again. If I had to guess, they are probably making their way to the north.

"You got that all from these marks?" Iwashi asked.

"Yeah because I know at least one of the bandits." Jakken said with a growl. Genma and Iwashi were confused.

XXX

"How much further do we have to travel Senichi?" asked one of the bandits.

"Only two more days. Once we reach, we'll pawn all the jewels and sell this bitch off." Senichi said with a drunken slur.

"Seems like a shame that we have to give her up." Said another bandit, leering at her.

"Trust me; the bitch is more trouble than you know." Senichi spat.

"Why is that Senichi? Is it because you weren't man enough when we met? Is it because I never submitted to you like all the others?" Aiko said.

"You know damn well why, you bitch! You saddle me up with that kid!" Senichi shouted.

"And I regret it every day. I am just happy that Jakken is away from you and a much better man." Aiko said calmly.

"Oh, you think that huh? Well guess what Aiko? I'm going to find that failure of a son and I'm going to kill that brat for what he did to me. After I kill him, I'm going to bring you his head as a present. What do you have to say about that?" Senichi said. Aiko glared at him hate a loathing. Senichi turned his attention back to the road. Aiko could only keep a brave face on.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes

Hello everyone. Here is a new installment of the story. I really don't have anything to say but enjoy the new chapter.