Jiraiya stands before the Third Hokage and they both wear stoic faces. Jiraiya speaks
"He's too strong. When I try to talk with him he either plays with his words or remains silent. The Torture and Interrogation Force can't pull any straight answers from him. I'm not sure what to do next"
"I don't suppose you've considered using a menacing physical jutsu on him"
"I'm not sure I have it in me... do you?"
Hiruzen only looks sadly at the ground in response. Jiraiya continues
"I thought as much. So what? Do we just lock him up and maintain heavy security until the end of his days?"
"I'm not sure, but for now that seems to be our best option. Please attend to it to make sure it is done then return to your apprentice team. That student of yours, Minato, has been stopping by my office at least five times everyday to see when you will return"
Jiraiya's usual cheerful nature resurfaces when he thinks about his pupils
"I apologize about that sir. I have a lot of faith in him and he is very eager to learn"
"He's a very perceptive young man with a great deal of potential. I can see the future of the village when I look at him and I couldn't have chosen a better teacher for him than you"
"Thank you sensei"
Jiraiya politely bows then exits, leaving Hiruzen alone with his thoughts. The hope he feels for Minato now is exactly how he used to feel about his old students Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade. The Hokage's heart swelled with pride watching his students grow and become masters in their own right, especially after Hanzo of Amegakure dubbed them the Legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf. But now with Orochimaru's facade peeling away, it breaks Hiruzen's heart realizing he played the greatest role in creating this monster. When he first met the child Orochimaru, he immediately recognized the young boy's immense talent. After becoming the boy's sensei, he quickly realized Orochimaru would not be an ordinary shinobi because even at a tender age the young man's genius shined through. The Third Hokage had once dreamed to name Orochimaru as his successor, but now Orochimaru himself shattered that dream by walking down a dark path he refuses to shy away from.
Hiruzen sighs and leans back in his chair. Not that it's a bad choice but now he sees the next logical option for Hokage is Jiraiya. The Third is fully aware that no one lives forever, especially not ninja, so he ponders how long he should wait before calling his old student into succession.
:::::
Sayonakidori and Tenzo have been residing in Konoha for three days now. Despite the short amount of time, they already look much healthier as the tone of their skin has been improving and the sunken features of their emaciated bodies have begun filling out. As the day begins, Sayonakidori can barely contain her excitement because her family is set to arrive in the village today. She readies herself then wakes and prepares Tenzo and they walk to the gates together. As they approach the check-in desk, Sayonakidori immediately recognizes the the middle aged couple and the young man signing in. She picks up and holds her pregnant belly as she jogs towards them and Tenzo tails her closely. The three people have shocked faces and only the couple immediately move to throw their arms around her. Her mother steps back to look at her and touches Sayonakidori's belly
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"It was too much to explain over a letter"
Her father rubs the back of his head and asks
"So, um, who's the lucky guy?"
"There is no guy, but please come with me before you judge, I'll explain everything the best I can"
"What about me!?"
Tenzo chimes in from behind Sayonakidori's legs. She steps aside to reveal him then crouches down on his level
"Oh, of course! I am so sorry! Tenzo, please meet my mother Chou, my father Haru, and my special friend Ryota"
Chou speaks to Tenzo
"What a handsome young man! I brought some of Sayonakidori's favorite candy with me, would you like to some?"
"Yes please!"
The bribe immediately warms Tenzo up and he occupies Chou and Haru while Sayonakidori approaches Ryota who is acting standoffish. She takes his hands into hers and it bothers her how unresponsive he's being towards her. She looks up into his eyes and pleads
"Please don't be this way Ryota... It's really not what you think it is. At least listen to me before you make a decision. I've missed you."
Ryota only silently nods his head then Sayonakidori turns to lead everyone back to the humble apartment she shares with Tenzo. Once there she sets Tenzo busy with some crayons and paper, when she initially gifted them to Tenzo he didn't understand and she felt sorry for him. However as soon as she showed him how to use it, his face brightened in such a way that Sayonakidori couldn't resist loving him for it. Now occupied with his new favorite activity, Sayonakidori sets out refreshments and feels free to talk about everything that's happened. She watches her parents expression change throughout her tale as she recalls her capture and torture, tries her best to explain Orochimaru's experimentations, and finally her recovery by the Hidden Leaf and why she's choosing to stay for a short time. It bothers her how unreadable Ryota's face has been, so she asks him first
"Ryota, please share what you're thinking"
Ryota pauses thoughtfully before clearing his throat and jabbing a thumb in Tenzo's direction
"What are you planning on doing with him?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean after you give birth and come back home are you leaving him and the baby here? Or just him? What do you have in mind?"
"I'm not leaving anyone here"
"Why not?"
This last question completely stuns Sayonakidori, but she quickly answers
"Firstly I can't orphan a baby. It doesn't matter that she's arriving by completely unnatural means, that's not her fault. Secondly I promised Tenzo I wouldn't leave him. I'm the only other person who could possibly understand what he's been through and I refuse to abandon him."
"I see. I need some air"
Ryota quickly gets up and steps outside leaving Sayonakidori in disbelief of his attitude. Chou picks up on her daughter's distress and tells her
"Go on out there and talk with him. We'll keep an eye on Tenzo"
"Thank you"
Sayonakidori briefly mumbles before quickly moving out the door. Outside Ryota stands with his hands at his back and looking down at his feet. Sayonakidori clears her throat as an indication for him to acknowledge her but he doesn't and it stings her.
"Ryota, why are you being like this?"
"This is just a lot for me to process Sayonakidori"
"I'm sorry, I know it is... I just hoped you would understand because we love each other..."
"I do love you... At least I think I still do. Lets be honest with ourselves here now. I haven't heard from you in years and I've spent most of that time thinking you were dead. And before the last letter you wrote to me, it had been even more years since the last time I saw your face because you left to go seek your training with Monk Isao... During your studies abroad your absence made me want you more, but when you disappeared and I finally accepted you were beyond reach my feelings waned. Sayonakidori, you are my first true love, I truly believed I would find forever with you. But now..."
"But now what, Ryota?"
"But now there is somebody else. I'll admit my feelings for her aren't as strong as they were for you; I was willing to drop her completely to come back and be with you again, but now this-"
He gestures to her pregnant form
"And that-"
He pointss towards the apartment, presumably indicating Tenzo
"I don't think I am capable of handling it all. I'm sorry Sayonakidori"
She fights back tears and lets out a big sigh
"Well, I thank you for being honest with me then. Give me a moment to let my parents know and I'll walk you back out to the gates"
Without waiting for a word from him, she turns around and peeks her head inside quickly. She sees Tenzo is having a great time with her parents and they are thoroughly enjoying his company so they don't have a problem waving her off as she ducks back out the door. Sayonakidori and Ryota walk silently together until they reach the gate. He stops here and turns to face her, she stares at the ground until he places a finger under her chin and lifts her face to meet his. Seeing her eyes brimming with tears weakens him. He kisses her on the forehead then pulls her in for a hug.
"I'm sorry Sayonakidori. Thank you for understanding"
"It's okay. It wouldn't be fair of me to be mad at you for not accepting everything"
"You are too good for me..."
Ryota trails off still holding her until the baby kicks him and that's enough for him to break the hug.
"Goodbye Sayonakidori... You'll always be my first love"
He quickly turns and walks away without looking back. She lets two fat teardrops fall from her face and plop down into the dust before she whispers
"Goodbye..."
Sayonakidori lifts her head and wipes her face. She won't let herself waste anymore tears on someone who doesn't deserve them. Turning around abruptly, she bumps into Sakumo. He immediately hops back alarmed and apologizes
"I am so sorry! Are you alright? Is your baby okay?"
"No it's my fault, I apologize! I'm fine, she's fine, we're all fine"
"Oh okay, good!"
Sakumo gestures towards the shrinking figure of Ryota
"Were you seeing off your... husband?"
Sayonakidori's expression widens in surprise and she places a hand over her chest
"Oh, goodness no! Just an old friend! No, I do not have a husband... I don't have anyone even remotely interested in me."
Sakumo's face changes from curiosity to pleasant surprise as he responds with
"Well, I wouldn't say you don't have anyone..."
Putting emphasis on the last word, he winks at her and she giggles then looks away.
"You are too kind"
"Your beautiful face and sweet demeanor make it easy for me to be so kind"
Sayonakidori looks back up at him now and smiles
"You good sir are making me blush"
"Ah, please don't call me sir, that makes me feel old. Sakumo will do just fine"
He gives her a grin that only makes her cheeks pinker
"Then I apologize for that Sakumo"
"Hey, no worries! So where is little Tenzo today?"
"Oh, my parents are visiting and he is entertaining them at the moment... Are you headed off somewhere?"
Sayonakidori motions to the pack on his back
"Yes, I'm just about to leave on a mission... Well I hope you enjoy your time with you family... Perhaps when I get back you wouldn't mind spending a little time with me?"
He flashes a winning smile at her and she is charmed. She returns the expression and answers
"That would be wonderful. Please feel free to stop by my apartment when you get back. I live two doors down from the flower shop, do you know it?"
"Yamanaka Flowers? Of course! Til then my dear, I bid you farewell"
Sakumo bows deeply then takes her hand and kisses it while stealing a look up at her. Now her ears are turning pink as well, so he quickly takes his leave before the blush takes over her entire body. Walking out the village gates he can't help the smile on his face as he begins his journey.
:::::
Tsunade witnessed the interaction between Sakumo and Sayonakidori and she can't help feeling slightly jealous. After losing her lover Dan in the Second Shinobi World War, she doubts if she'll ever find love again. She sighs and shuffles slowly back towards the hospital when a breathless medial nin rushes up to her
"Tsunade-sama..."
He pants
"Must come... quickly..."
"What is it?"
"It's the results... Of the boy's blood work... You have to see for yourself..."
Tsunade sets off a rapid pace now and once at the hospital she bursts into the laboratory. Immediately knowing what she is there for, another medical nin hands her some papers. Her eyes quickly scan the page but stop and grow wide in awe of what she finds.
"I must notify the Hokage immediately!"
Tucking the paperwork away, Tsunade hurries out of the hospital and over to the Hokage's Office. There she sharply raps on the door and is surprised by the tone her old mentor uses to notify her to enter. Perhaps not many would have noticed, but Tsunade caught a tinge of sadness. She proceeds through the door and approaches the desk where Hiruzen doesn't appear to be out of the ordinary
"Yes Tsunade?"
She pulls the papers out of pocket and hands them over. As the Hokage takes them, he asks
"What is this?"
"These are the results of the boy's lab work. Since Sayonakidori mentioned Orochimaru was performing experiments with DNA on them I decided to run their blood through a genetic filter to see what markers could be found. My thinking was perhaps I could reverse Orochimaru's mutilation if I knew what I was dealing with, but now..."
Reading through page, Hiruzen also stops at the item that gave Tsunade alarm. Dropping the paper on his desk, he looks up at Tsunade
"Am I to understand parts of that boy's DNA have been rewritten to mimic Senju Hashirama?"
"Not rewritten so much as completely taken out and replaced with Hashirama's"
Hiruzen is completely shocked. What did his old pupil think he was doing? Trying to contemplate Orochimaru's thought process unsettles the Hokage, but he presses on
"Is there no way to revert the boy back to how he originally was?"
"As best I can determine at first glance, no. His original coding was completely destroyed by snipping out the parts to make room for Hashirama's. If I were able to get a sample of the boy's cells from before his genetic mutilation, in theory I could revive his original DNA... But in real life application I would need Orochimaru's help."
"What is your guesstimation as to what Orochimaru was planning on doing with the boy?"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was trying to recreate the Wood Release in the child"
The Third Hokage's breath stops for a moment. Didn't he instruct Orochimaru better? Why would he have such dangerous pursuits? Now Hiruzen sincerely begins to question how well he really knew Orochimaru at all. After a long moment of silence he speaks again
"Do you believe the child that woman is carrying is affected similarly?"
"Perhaps not with Hashirama's DNA, but yes. I believe that child will be born with remarkably patterned genes, but I won't know for sure until I can get a sample after she is born."
"I see"
"Sir..."
"What else is there Tsunade?"
"The woman. Her name is Sayonakidori... She says she used to work as a kunoichi and was hoping to find similar work to support herself while she's here."
"That's ludicrous! Not in her condition!"
"Respectfully sir, pregnancy is not a weakness. Women are still highly capable of work even while with child"
"So you think I would bless off on sending her on some C-rank or higher mission?"
"Not at all, and she understands. I told her she would need to undergo standard evaluation first because she is not of this village, but that it would leave her with D-rank missions. Honestly I was thinking she could perform pet recovery services so she could at least make some money."
"I see. Since you went ahead and opened your mouth I'll allow her to be evaluated, but I'm not guaranteeing her any work, is that understood?"
"Yes sensei"
"In fact I will oversee the evaluation myself. Notify her that I will host her evaluation a week from today out on the third training field."
"Yes sir."
Tsunade respectfully bows her head then exits his office. As soon as the door closes securely behind her, Hiruzen leans back in his chair and takes a deep breath. First Orochimaru and his sinister projects and now Tsunade lobbying to allow a pregnant kunoichi to work! Who are these people and what happened to his students? He shakes his head half joking with himself he thinks, next thing he knows Jiraiya is going reveal himself as a mega-pervert...
:::::
Sayonakidori, her parents, and Tenzo are gathered around the table to begin eating when there's a knock at the door. Upon answering it Sayonakidori finds Tsunade there.
"Oh, hello Tsunade! Please come in"
Stepping into the cozy dwelling, Tsunade notices the two people who are new to her
"I'm sorry Sayonakidori, I didn't mean to interrupt you while you had visitors"
"Nonsense! Tsunade, these are my parents Haru and Chou. Mother, Father, this is Tsunade. She is one of the ninja who freed Tenzo and I"
Chou and Haru's faces change from merely pleased to that of delight as they both get up to hug Tsunade. Haru speaks first
"We are eternally thankful to you for rescuing our daughter"
Chou echoes the sentiments
"Yes, please sit down and join us! If there is anything at all we can do for you, please ask!"
Tsunade tries to humbly decline
"I don't want to be a bother, I just needed to deliver a quick message"
Suddenly there's another knock at the door as the day's surprises aren't over yet. When Sayonakidori opens the door again, a smiling monk is standing there. Sayonakidori throws her arms around him as tears stream down his face. Stepping back to look at him she exclaims
"Monk Isao! I wasn't expecting you until as early as tomorrow!"
"Hearing you are alive rejuvenated me and gave me great haste to arrive here"
Beginning to feel more out of place in the midst of all the reunions, Tsunade tries to move towards the door
"I really should get going now, but I did want to let you know Sayonakidori, that the Hokage did approve at your evaluation. A week from today he would like to examine your ninja skills out at one of our training areas"
Before Sayonakidori can respond, Monk Isao speaks up
"Then I suppose it's a good thing I brought this with me..."
From outside the door he grabs a hilt and as he brings it into the ever shrinking apartment, the handle reveals itself to belong to a giant zanbato. Sayonakidori covers her mouth for a moment before she moves to give the monk a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh Monk Isao... You didn't have to bring it all this way"
"Of course I did my dear, it is yours after all. Besides, what good is an unused blade?"
Tsunade tries to take this touching moment as an opportunity to escape but Chou spots her and hooks onto one of her arms. Noticing his wife's movements, Haru does the same with the other
"Now my dear, you're not going anywhere until you've been properly fed!"
Tsunade finally concedes not wanting to be rude. She listens as Sayonakidori recalls her tale for Monk Isao, at the end of which he bestows his thanks upon Tsunade as well. The evening begins to grow late before Tsunade finally leaves and even as she does, she pauses to look back onto the happy scene through the window.
While she's still hurt she had to bring one of her oldest and dearest friends to justice, she finds some consolation in being able to give Sayonakidori and Tenzo their lives back.
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