"Please don't die, just don't die!" Tsunade begged, pumping Chakra into Naruto's heart. She couldn't let Naruto die before he accomplished his dream. Shizune was holding back some tears, she grew fond of Naruto, especially after their conversation about Tsunade's past. When she found out he wanted to win the necklace just to take away her sensei's burden, her respect and admiration for him grew. He even protected Tsunade and her from Kabuto's onslaught, how could someone be so selfless.
'Naruto-kun, please be alright.' Shizune thought, looking at the blonde laying on the ground.
"Finally, that nuisance is gone, you should be thanking me. Now the akatsuki plans are ruined." Orochimaru said. Tsunade looked up at the snake sannin and glared at him, her killing intent rising, causing both Jiraiya, Kabuto and Orochimaru to shiver in fear. 'Why do I feel scared? She's nothing compared to me and yet."
Naruto woke up, looked around and saw he was in the sewer. "Oh great, I'm here again." Naruto said, looking at the cage and saw the fox laying down depressed.
"What's the matter with you?"
"I'm sick of your kind." The kyuubi said, surprising Naruto. "You treat my kind like monsters but you'll use our power like we're weapons. You kill just like we do, the only thing different between my kind and yours is our size."
Naruto was quiet and looked at the fox confused and with sympathy. "Where's this coming from all of a sudden?"
"I always thought about this…until I saw you. Even though you had a taste of my power, you never abused it, you experienced hatred but Don't want revenge. You're… different."
"Because I don't want to hate. To Be honest I don't hate you but I blame you for my life. At the same time we both didn't ask to be here. Since you feel like talking, tell me why did you attack our village?"
"Because I was forced too. I was put under a genjutsu then started to rampage in the village where the masked man summoned me, I was just trying to break it, I just happened to cause damage in the process."
Naruto's eyes widened at the confession and for once he was quiet. He wanted to refute but he somehow knew the fox was telling the truth. Naruto felt like scum, he blamed the fox just like the villagers. "I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have blamed you."
The fox smiled, in truth he knew how the boy would react and he was happy he was right, now he wouldn't regret what he would do. "I appreciate it but I can't stand it anymore. I want to be free and there's only one thing I can do." Kuruma put his hand on the cage and it started to glow gold. Unknown to Naruto, the seal was meant to purify Kuruma chakra and give it to Naruto. Kuruma was just enhancing it a bit.
"What are you doing?" Naruto asked. Kuruma had tears coming out his eyes, to Naruto it looked like he was in pain. "Stop! You're hurting yourself."
The kyuubi smiled. "Consider this a gift. And save my breathering from the mask one. Oh, and my name is Kuruma." The kyuubi said before disappearing . The sewer started to vibrate and the whole area turned white. Naruto looked around and he was surrounded by an open sky and standing on a light blue sea (his chakra.) He looked up in the sky and saw a glowing bright yellow-orange sphere leaking a glowing stream into the blue sea and some sea water was going in to the sphere
"Kuruma! Where are you? Kuruma!" Naruto cried out. He didn't know why he felt sad that the fox was gone, maybe because it was a part of him or maybe it was pity.
Outside the blondes mindscape, he was currently in a hotel lying in the lap of Tsunade who was caressing his locks. His vitals were normal but he still hasn't woken up and it's been hours. She was rubbing his cheeks smiling. 'Damn gaki. Got me worried and attached.'
"~kaa-chan." Naruto mumbled sleep, , nuzzling his head in Tsunade's hand. Tsunade's heart skipped a beat. She never had a chance to be a mother because her fiance died and hearing Naruto say that brought a feeling she never felt before. She couldn't help but smile, she thought about adopting him at that moment. Jiraiya told her about his life in the village and she was quite disappointed in the villagers and the council, not to mention her sensei even though he was gone.
"You know, you two do look like mother and son." Tsunade looked up at Shizune, blushing a storm. Shizune walked up to the two and looked at Naruto. "He's done so much for us in the little time we've known him and he's just a genin. The hardship he went through because of his burden, I think you and him should establish a relationship like a mother to a son. You two both lost family and your clans are distant cousins, plus you two don't look that much different."
Tsunade signed. "It's not that I don't want to, I just don't know how he would feel. I always wanted a family but.."
"But nothing my lady, it's time to move on. And as for Naruto-kun, I have a sneaky suspicion he would want it as much as you." Shizune said with a smirk, looking down at the blonde. Tsunade looked down and saw Naruto was awake with tears in his eyes.
"You really wouldn't mind having me as a son?" Naruto asked with a hopeful expression. Tsunade looked at the boy, there was no way she could say no to that face. Plus if she was honest, she wanted it too.
"Sure as long as I can be your mother, Naruto Senju." Tsunade said, Naruto's eyes widened and smiled. Naruto Uzumaki was no more, Tsunade put her necklace around his neck.
"I'm glad to see you're alright gaki." Everyone turned to Jiraiya, who just walked into the room. "I thought you might've been communicating with the fox since your healing factor is faster."
Naruto's eyes shot open. "That's right! Pervy sage, the fox is gone."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean he's gone?"
Naruto looks down in guilt. "The fox hated humanity and destroyed himself by trying to force himself in through the cage. He said he gave me a gift but I don't feel any different.
Jiraiya was quiet, contemplating what he was told. Tsunade was happy that her, now adopted son, didn't have to live with the burden and Shizune was relieved.
"I believe it's to head back to the village and form a plan."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Jiraiya was acting weird, it was almost like he was upset. "I guess you're right, plus I kinda miss the village."
"So have I, Naruto-kun. May you show me around?" Shizune asked. Naruto gave her a foxy grin and nodded.
"Sure, maybe we can head to Ichiraku's." Naruto offered. Shizune smiled and nodded.
On the way back to the village. Naruto and Shizune were getting along well, engaging in multiple conversations, exchanging life stories. Shizune was concerned for the blonde. From what she understood from the information she learned from Naruto, he didn't have proper education, he was constantly attacked, his teammates were terrible and most of his friends were jerks. She made a mental note to talk to her sensei about this.. After greeting the chunins at the gate, they walked through the village. Shizune was looking at the villagers glaring at her new favorite blonde, and if she was honest, she was quite disappointed. When the group walked up to the office door and opened it, the two elders were there smiling. "Greeting Tsunade-sama, welcome back to the village." Koharu said, bowing alongside Homura.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, she heard what these two did to her new son but she held her tongue. "Thank you honorable elders. Shizune, you and Naruto head out to the village and set up our home."
"Now we can get on to the situation regarding the village repairs in order and we finally take care of this demon." Koharu said, glaring at the blonde as he left. Tsunade narrowed her eyes.
"Excuse me but 'demon' are you talking about?" Tsunade asked. The elders closed the door behind them and turned to Tsunade.
"The Uzumaki brat, do you honestly think a small boy can hold the power of the kyuubi?" Koharu asked.
"Yes I do and allow me to correct a few errors you said." Tsunade said, walking around the desk and sitting down. "First of all, let me ask you something, are you aware of the Uzumaki clan?"
But of course, one of our greatest allies that existed." Homura responded. Tsunade nodded.
"Yes, the Uzumaki clan was masters at the sealing art and me being part of the clan, it kinda upsets me that you doubt their sealing technique performed on Naruto." Tsunade said, confusing the two elders.
"What do you mean? The yondaime was the one who sealed.."
"Yes I know." Tsunade said, cutting Koharu off. "But the jutsu was originally from the Uzumaki clan, Mito Uzumaki taught it to the first and second hokage. What you don't know, if anyone outside our clan performs that jutsu, the reaper death seal, their life is forfeit."
"I understand but what are you getting at. The fourth wasn't an uzumaki so he obviously used a weaker sealing jutsu." Koharu said.
"Wrong. The yondaime wasn't a Uzumaki but he was married to one. Kushia uzumaki,how do you think the yondaime gained his knowledge of seals? Because of Kushina, Minato was able to learn the Hiraishin. The Yondaime use a S-rank sealing jutsu on the Kyuubi, with the power of the grim reaper at the cost of his soul. The fox with all his strength couldn't break the seal."
"The boy is still dangerous, as long as the kyuubi is in him, he's a threat to the village." Koharu said with a smirk.
Tsunade saw this and returned it. "Good thing the fox is gone." The elders looked confused. "You see, Minato set up a fail safe. Just in case the fox tries to escape, the seal would kill the fox. On my return mission, Naruto fought Kabuto to save me and the fox tried to force himself through the seal but it backfired by destroying him, ridding him of this world."
"T-that can't be…without the fox, the village will seem weak." Homura said. Tsunade cocked an eyebrow.
"But is this what you cowards wanted? You are so afraid of Naruto, that made his life a living hell. In fact, you civilians are so heartless, y'all should consider yourselves the real demon." Tsunade said.
"What if the demon brat is suppressing his power to trick you, after all, Uzumaki is very cunning. Just like a fox." Homura said.
Tsunade gritted her teeth and couldn't take it. "There's another thing you should know. Naruto Uzumaki is no more. As of a few days ago, he became Naruto-Senju, my new heir. I sent a message to the daimyo and it was approved." the elders paled and soon they would turn white after Tsunade's next words. "Now that Naruto's my heir, his father and mother clan inherit, which means only he and I can have access to it."
The elders were seething. They prevented Naruto from being adopted to gain access to his funds and have more control over him, unfortunately, thanks to Minato, a sannin was allowed to adopt with only the permission from the daimyo. Seeing their faces caused Tsunade to smirk. "Now that's out of the way, call a council meeting. Time to inform everyone of my return and my sochi's new condition.
It's been a week since Tsunade arrived. She healed Naruto and Sasuke, she had Naruto settled in their new home, Tsunade grew attached to Naruto really fast and Naruto never felt any happier. To finally have a family, it was a nice feeling. Tsunade was going over the reports in her new office on the village repairs, when Shizune walked in looking sad. "Shizune, what's with the matter?"
Shizune signed and decided to get this over with. "My lady, you asked me to go over the reports of the chunin exams and I only found one person who was good enough to become a chunin. Shikamaru Nara."
Tsunade signed and frowned. She was hoping her son would be good enough to be promoted but she guessed it wasn't time. "I guess Naruto needs more training."
"He needs more than that." Tsunade listened and allowed Shizune continue. "This is his academy record, I think you should go over it."
Tsunade took the files and read through them. She was shocked at what she was looking at. "This is atrocious, why was he allowed to become a genin like this? The fact that he was able to accomplish so much is amazing."
"I think it was because of the kyuubi, besides Kiba-san, he used the fox chakra in the majority of his fights and…"
"Now that it's gone, he has no clutch to make up for his lack of skill." Tsunade knew what she had to do but it would hurt the blonde. "I have no choice but it's for his safety and his own good. Anbu, bring Naruto Senju to my office."
An Anbu appeared out of the shadows and disappeared. After 15 mins, Naruto walked in with his foxy smiling. "Hi kaa-chan? You wanted to see me?"
Tsunade's heart felt warm from the title but she then remembered why she called him, which caused her heart to break. "Naruto, I want you to calm yourself and pay attention to what I'm about to tell you." Naruto heard the seriousness in her voice and nodded. "I went over your files and you are under the standard strength level for a genin, as Hokage and your mother, I have to take your headband from you. You have no taijutsu style, chakra control is bad, vocabulary is bad, your grades are terrible and weapon throwing skills are decent at best."
Naruto's eyes widened and small tears were slowly coming out. "But that's not…I mean."
"Sochi please, I'm not done. I know your dream is to become hokage and you know how much I love you, I can't lose you like Nawaki. So I'm going to put you on a probationary period for two months. In that time, I want you to correct and improve yourself. I know it's not your fault, i've heard about how the academy neglected you and so has your team. You can still become hokage, I just don't want you to die."
Naruto absorbed everything he was told. He hated to admit but he knew she was right. Plus she was his mother, he was sure, this was hurting her. He signed and looked down at the ground. "I understand." he took off his headband and necklace, proceeding to hand it over towards his mom.
Tsunade slowly took it and turned to her son. He looked like he had given up on life but she knew she had to do her best to fix it. "Oh, I know. How bout I find you a tutor? What about Kakashi, Kurenai or Asuma?"
Naruto shook his head. "Kakashi-sensei only trains the teme and Asuma is lazy, according to shikamaru, plus he still has his own team. Kurenai only knows genjutsu and a few moves I guess but I couldn't take team 8 teacher. Oh, how about pervy sage?"
Tsunade eyes narrowed in anger. "I've been trying to get a hold of that pervert but he's been acting weird. Ever since we returned, he's been ignoring my calls."
"The two blondes were quietly trying to find someone that would teach her son. "What about me?' the blondes turned to Shizune. "I know more than the basics, I'm a well rounded shinobi and I wouldn't slack off when it comes to Naruto-kun, I won't take it easy. And plus, I always wanted to be a student."
Tsunade stared at her assistant and smiled. Shizune had all her knowledge and she was well versed in ninjutsu, plus she could beat some manners into her son. "I accept, Naru-chan. Shizune is very knowledgeable and I know she will commit to your studies and training. Who knows, you may also learn some medic ninjutsu."
Naruto gave her a look of disbelief. "No thanks, it sounds kinda boring and I can't even learn it because…" Naruto stopped and realized he wasn't a jinchuriki no more.
Tsunade smirked at his realization. "You weren't able to learn because the fox was messing with your control. Not only that but after analyzing you, your chakra level spiked up more than ever. Plus medical ninjutsu is not boring, it takes a lot of dedication." Tsunade informed her son but he still didn't buy it. So she decided to use another method. "Did you know each hokage before me had a specialty?"
"What do you mean kaa-chan?"
"Well, the first hokage was a specialist in the mokuton and medic ninjutsu, in fact he was so great, he was able to heal himself during battle. The 2nd was gifted in suiton ninjtsu and kenjutsu, plus he created majority of the ninjutsu we used today, my sensei master every ninjutsu and earned the name the professor, and your hero, the 4th was a master of fuinjutsu and was said to be the fastest to ever walk the earth. But they also knew the village history and politics, which you lack. So please consider what type of hokage you want to be."
Naruto listened carefully, and Shizune, who was quiet, decided to speak. "Naruto-kun, I believe you can surpass all the other kages. You never had anyone who gave you time to help you. I'm not going to ignore or abandon you. You help us against Orochimaru, so allow me to help you."
Naruto looked at both the females and gave them a genuine smile, not a foxy smile, a real one. "Thank you, Shizune-chan. I won't let you down." Naruto said, Shizune blushed and returned the smile.
Tsunade was looking at the two from her desk. She noticed for the past few weeks that her student was looking at the blonde in a certain way. 'Does she have a thing for him?' "Well now that is settled, Shizune, you take Naruto back to our compound and set up a schedule. I'll inform his team of the change. Oh and Naru-chan."
"Yes kaa-chan?"
"Now you are relieved of your burden, after your training, we should announce it to the village. Maybe things will change. With your permission of course."
Naruto didn't even think of that. But for some reason he didn't care about the villagers' opinion. "If you want but you and Shizune-chan love is all I need." Naruto said, then blushed at the later mention. Tsunade smirked. 'It seems naru-chan grew fond of Shizune as well.'
Shizune walked over to Naruto and grabbed his hand. "Let's get going Naruto-kun. We got a long two months ahead." Naruto's face was now crimson at the contact as both proceeded to their home.
Few minutes after arriving, Shizune and Naruto were at the table making a list of the training exercises she was going to train Naruto in. "Ok Naruto-kun, we're going to be mostly doing physical training the first week which consists of physical conditioning and taijutsu sparring. This will be from 6:00 a.m - 9:00 a.m. Next we will meditate to calm your mind for about thirty minutes. At 9:30 - 11:30 a.m we'll work on your chakra control. Afterwards, we will have lunch. Also while you are doing physical training, you'll have kage bunshin to study the materials you'll need to know, like history and the making of the village and fuinjutsu, since you want to surpass the yondaime." Shizune said. In truth she wanted Naruto to learn the art to honor his clan, so using it as a way to surpass a kage would motivate her blonde pupil.
"You got it but why am I using kage bunshin? How will that help?" Naruto asked. Shizune resisted the urge to smack her face. 'How could Kakashi not Jiraiya tell a genin, who can make a thousand clones, the benefits of making clones.'
"Ok Naruto-kun, make a clone and I'll make one. Then we will send them out." Even though he was confused, he did as instructed and made a clone. Shizune did as well and made a clone, the kage bunshins walked out the door and after a few minutes, Naruto blushed up a storm and started to sputter out of control and hold his cheek.
"I… Uh.. you kissed me." Naruto said.
Shizune smiled. "How did you know that?"
"What do you mean? You kissed me outside, what but…. My bunshin went outside, how did I?" Naruto's eyes shot open in realization. "My clone memories?"
"That's right, you kage bunshin would do all the studying, while you train physically. Once your clones are done with the study, they'll work on chakra control for you and if you do well, next month we can start element manipulation and you're still thinking of the kiss aren't you?" Naruto nodded blushing a bit, causing Shizune to sign. "It's not a big deal, you have to concentrate."
"Well I can't help, I usually get hit by girls. It feels nice getting kissed by a girl, especially one as beautiful as you." Naruto whispered the last part. Shizune blushed up a storm. 'He thinks I'm beautiful!'
Shizune coughed into her hand and tried to compose herself or at least tried. She was smiling on the inside and the best part, she hadn't unsealed her assets. "Anyway, we will begin your studies tomorrow and Naruto-kun." Naruto gave her his attention. "I believe in you." She said, kissing him on the cheek again. "That was for the compliment."
Naruto stared into space blushing up a storm and started chuckling like an idiot. Shizune giggled a bit, especially since she never had such an effect on a guy. She actually felt beautiful for once.
Tsunade starred at team 7 after informing them about Naruto's probation. Kakashi signed and shook his head disappointingly, Sakura was annoyed but Sasuke was smirking. 'Now the dobe won't get in the way of my training
Tsunade eyed them carefully, she could tell none of them cared about what she told them and
It disappointed her. But it helps her think about what would happen in two months after Naruto's training is done. She made a mental note not to throw in some list of things sto Naruto to learn, that way she can show this village not to mess with her sochi.
