Too Sexy for a Shirt – 6
By: Clever Audrey
Disclaimer: None of the characters portrayed herein belong to me, and I am not making money.
Warnings: Umm, a little language, implied nekkidness. ;)
AN: Okay, I know this doesn't quite fit with the canon timeline, as Tsunade was in Konoha when Jiraiya and Naruto came back from training, but we can ignore that. Also, Tsunade might be a touch OOC, but I'm not sure. I haven't really written her before, so I hope I did her justice. :)
Tsunade sank deeper into the steaming water of the hot spring, and sighed with pleasure.
This was her first vacation in years…her first since becoming the Godaime Hokage of Konoha, in point of fact. Things had slowed down recently, and Shizune and the elders had agreed that she could probably afford to take a few days' vacation, so long as they could get in contact with her quickly in case of an emergency. So, Tsunade had taken TonTon and set out for the hot spring town she remembered stopping at on the way into Konoha several years before.
And thus she was now sunk up to her chin in the delightfully hot water of the deserted onsen. It was an off-time of the year for travelers, and late enough that most people had already headed off to bed. She stretched languidly and settled down again. I needed this….
"Ero-sennin! Why do we have to stop here?"
The brash, familiar voice, deeper than she remembered but unmistakable nevertheless, jerked Tsunade out of a light doze.
"Naruto, be quiet. Don't you want to relax for a bit? This is the perfect place to treat ourselves." Jiraiya couldn't quite keep the anticipatory undertone out of his voice even as he tried to convince his protesting student.
"I want to get back to Konoha," grumbled Naruto, quieter this time. "You just want to stop here because the onsen is co-ed, Ero-sennin."
"Hee hee," Jiraiya chuckled, not bothering to contradict the obvious. "Lots of beautiful young girls…."
Shit! Tsunade abruptly realized that the two would be coming into the same hot spring she was. Damn Jiraiya for interrupting my relaxation…I can't stay here! Quietly, she slipped out of the water, with a low sigh of regret and frustration. She was heading for the building and her towel, when she realized that it was too late – her unwanted guests were nearly at the door.
With more silent cursing, she looked around and then moved to the tiny, secluded grove in the back corner of the area. The stone bench was cold after the water of the spring, and she swore to give Jiraiya some really nasty mission as payback for this next time she got the chance. Now I have to sit here 'til they're gone! I'll send him somewhere where there aren't any pretty girls at all… she continued with her musings as to where this might be when there was a splash, and Naruto surfaced with a delighted yell. Apparently the sight of an empty pool had made him happier about the whole idea, while Jiraiya was scolding him for "playing around" and clearly sulking.
Watching through a hole in the leaves of the bush she was hiding behind, Tsunade watched as Naruto grinned evilly and splashed water at the Toad Sannin, teasing him mercilessly. He's grown up well, she thought fondly, letting her big-sister smile cross her face. His blue eyes were just as bright as ever, more confident even, if that were possible, and her necklace glittered around his neck. He'll be a good man.
Then she turned her eyes to her former teammate. Jiraiya was lounging back against the rocks, his arms draped over the sides, still pouting over the lack of "beautiful young girls." Tsunade couldn't help letting her gaze drift appreciatively over his chest. For a man over fifty, he really was in quite good shape…one of the benefits of being a ninja, assuming you lived that long. Tsunade cut her musings short and looked away. This was Jiraiya, after all….
But when her gaze had drifted back to his bare chest, slightly flushed now from the steam and glistening with sweat and water, for the fifth time in as many minutes, she gave up. Oh hell. Why not appreciate it? It's not as though I've got anything better to do.
Surprisingly enough, Naruto didn't stay too much longer. Yawning and complaining of any empty stomach, he soon waved a lazy good-bye to his mentor and disappeared back inside the building. Jiraiya sighed in exaggerated relief as his not-quite-as-noisy-as-he-used-to-be student took himself off.
Tsunade, watching, was ready to throw something at the older man, who was looking settled enough to stay put for several hours yet. Just go, you big lump! She thought at him.
"You can come out now, Tsunade," Jiraiya said calmly, his eyes still closed and amusement tingeing his voice.
Tsunade swore, but was not too reluctant to get up off the cold bench, since her legs had begun to cramp. "No peeking, you old pervert," she cautioned, and slipped back into the water.
Jiraiya chuckled, but kept his eyes closed until she was settled. "You really shouldn't be so hypocritical, Tsunade," he pointed out, grinning at her.
Tsunade, much to her embarrassment, flushed at the accusation. "Well, it's not like I had anything better to do-"
"And do you have anything better to do now?" Jiraiya asked pointedly, his tone clearly an offer. Tsunade looked him up and down again reflexively.
"Well…" she hedged, looking up at the stars beginning to show even through the steam rising from the spring. It had been a very long time, really, and as long as he wasn't making any demands….
"You know you can trust me, Tsunade." His voice was calm and steady, the one tone she knew from long experience meant that he was being completely serious for once.
It didn't take any more persuasion. She let an appreciative grin wide enough to rival his own curl her lips as she slid over to sit next to him and looped her arms around his neck. "No, I guess I don't have anything better to do after all."
AN: Okay, not too sure about the ending, but I think it works. :) Asuma/Kurenai next, and then a couple slightly more unorthodox ones that I think you'll enjoy. Wow, 50 reviews! Thank you! Think we can make it to 100 by the time I finish these? ;)