Rippling Future 9

Chapter Nine: Tranquillity


Jiraiya stood on Gamabunta in quiet anticipation. He had erected a sensory barrier around him and the toad boss should Manda to choose to go underground. Well, that and for something else.

"It's been a long time since this happened." Jiraiya remarked, the wind was howling fiercely as all three humans stood over their respective summon animals.

"Orochimaru, for this service you must offer me one hundred sacrifices as tribute! Not only is that toad insulting me, he is making a mockery of my kin. That will not stand, do you hear me?" Manda had practically demanded. Kabuto looked at Orochimaru who answered as best as he can.

"I will give you all the sacrifices that you wish after this battle, Manda."

The snake huffed as his attention went back to the giant toad and the giant slug.

"You had better see to it." The snake boss said in closure. Not far from the

"Pay close attention boss, while I erect the barrier. Try to take down Manda while I deal with what's next."

Gamabunta merely huffed and grinned. "With all the pleasure in the world, Jiraiya!"

Gamabunta charged, giant knife drawn he reeled it back with both hands and thrusts the knife to the snake's face. Manda was quick to react, he leaned his head back by a little as the knife went past him and grabbed it with his mouth locking it tight from any attempt for the toad to yank it back at him. Behind the toad, a purple tail sprung up from the ground as it went towards the toad boss. With the barrier from Jiraiya fully functioning, Gamabunta was quick to dodge the sharpened tail that would've pierced his head and used his forearm to deflect the tail upwards as the toad used the force of the attack to spin around and intended to punch the hilt of his blade towards Manda's face.

The snake boss quickly foresaw this and he decides to toss the gigantic blade up in the air and slithered away from his original position.

"Zeshi Nensan (Acid Slime)!" Katsuyu hurled a spray of acid towards the snake summons who ducked from the oncoming projectile as it went past him and onto a slab of rock that melted down to the ground. Manda lunged at Katsuyu fast and coiled her in a vicious grip that left her trapped within Manda's scales. The snake boss then turned his head towards Katsuyu and shouted with longing glee.

"It's time to eat!"

As he was about to take a bite out of the giant slug, Gamabunta jumps at the opportune moment and grabs his blade in mid-air and aims a strike towards Manda's head.

Seeing this, Manda dodged the blade by a hair's breadth and grabs the blade with his mouth. The snake then twisted the blade sideways forcing Gamabunta to let go of the blade as Jiraiya ordered the toad boss.

"Duck, boss!" Jiraiya's barrier still in effect, Gamabunta did so and noticed his sword passing over his head quick enough as Katsuyu began dissembling and multiplying herself with little clones to get away from Manda as Tsunade jumped from the slug boss' head. The toad boss then leapt back to create more space between him and the snake summon as Katsuyu managed to free herself. Manda then proceeded to throw the blade back at Gamabunta edge first who had once more dodged the blade in mid-air as it sailed past him quickly and landing behind him.

By now, the seal on Tsunade's forehead glowed and twin lines coiled around her face and throughout her body as Tsunade landed on the ground while Katsuyu began reforming at her feet.

"It's time." Tsunade clenched her fists and slammed her right hand on to her left cracking her knuckles as well as her neck.

"Byakugo no Jutsu (Strength of a Hundred Technique)!"

She could feel her chakra flaring so much after storing it on her seal for so long. Every muscle in her body were filled to the brim with her chakra strengthening them and powering her up even further.

Noticing the spike on his female teammate's energy, Orochimaru was left momentarily distracted as did Manda, he never had a chance a voice from behind him shouted.

"Katon: Gamayu Endan (Fire release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet)!"

And a huge stream of fire washed over the snake summon and Orochimaru as he was engulfed in a stream of huge flames.

WOOOSSSSHHH

Jiraiya remained cautious of this moment as he knew that Orochimaru was always a slippery bastard. He had not for once let his guard down as he separated his hands as they glowed with a dense amount of chakra.

'This ends here!' Jiraiya thought to himself and clapped his hands together once more. When the flames cleared and noticed that the snake had shed his skin. All at once, three things had happened in a matter of three seconds.

First, Manda pops up from the ground beneath Gamabunta intending to strike down the toad boss with a bite to his head, then Tsunade appears above the snake and Orochimaru quickly notices Tsunade swinging the giant toad blade downwards the snake summon's head seemingly having no time to dodge, Manda's snout was impaled downwards by the giant toad blade and pinned to the ground by the said blade as Jiraiya became surrounded in white smoke.

As the smoke cleared, Jiraiya stepped forward, two new voices accompanying him.

"My, my, I never thought I'd see the day Jiraiya-chan would ask us for help again, especially now in his age." An old female voice had mused. Jiraiya's voice soon followed.

"I'm sorry Ane-san. But this fight is where we end my teammate's madness."

Another voice had then said, "That bad with Orochimaru, huh? I suppose things have to come full circle sooner or later. Though why'd you have to summon us when it's close to lunch time, sonny?"

"Sorry for the bad timing, kashira but…" Jiraiya then made his presence known, performing his famous kabuki pose. His pupils morphed sideways as the face paint he had stretched and covered all of his cheeks and reached to his forehead while his hands and feet were now growing warts. On his shoulders were two infant sized toads. Both of them looked like they were pretty advanced in their ages.

"The Gama Sennin has to perform one more time in this epic play! The Gallant Jiraiya takes center stage!"

"SHADDAP!" Both Fukasaku and Shima punched the man's head on both sides as Jiraiya winced.

"Honestly Jiraiya, you should really learn to tone down on the theatrics. You're not a kid anymore!" Shima chastised the man while Fukasaku shook his head.

"Your damn lungs are really pushin' my ears, Jiraiya-chan. You should really reconsider your tone when you're with us!"

Orochimaru cursed, it was now that he was considering a tactical retreat. Both of his teammates were now in a higher state of being and if this continues on, it was he who would end up dead.

So escape was what he did and he would have, if not for the fact that something had inexplicably struck him in the chest that would have stopped his heart then and there and quickly noticed that Tsunade had dug her fist to his thorax hearing a few of his ribs shatter upon impact.

Tsunade had landed on Manda's snout and subsequently closed the gap between her and her teammate successfully landing a punch that would have destroyed enemy strongholds. The force of her punch made the air vibrate around them as Orochimaru not only skidded to the ground and forming a long trench of soil and rock, but a crater at the end of his landing that the ground around him caved in from Tsunade's strength.

Not one to miss a beat, Jiraiya had performed a timely landing as Shima and Fukasaku went in sync with him.

"Senpo: Goemon (Sage Art: Bath of Boiling Oil)!"

From Shima's mouth came the fire as Jiraiya supplied the oil while Fukasaku let out a wind jutsu fanning the flames as they filled the crater with oil hot enough to turn anything it touches to cinders.

"Orochimaru-sama!" Kabuto shouted in panic as he was about to dash towards his master but stopped when Orochimaru had erupted from the ground just outside the crater as smoke wafted beneath him. He had managed to escape the burning oil just in time.

"They really are serious about killing me." Orochimaru said to himself and opened his mouth. From it came a single snake in his throat and from its throat, the sword of kusanagi had emerged blade first and fired it towards Jiraiya.

The sword of kusanagi was said to be the legendary sword that could pierce anything. And anything that can survive its blade will ultimately be poisoned by the numerous deadly materials that coated the blade itself. It was a sword that could guarantee a kill. He had heard of Jiraiya mastering Sage mode and as a measure to counter the toad sage's newfound durability, he had gained the sword. He had heard Sarutobi once say to him that the Kusanagi was once in the possession of the pragmatic second Hokage, along with another famous sword, the Raijin.

"Jiraiya-chan, maximize your Kawazu Kumite and duck!" Shima had shouted and Jiraiya complied, sensing the attack that was coming straight for the three of them. Jiraiya then jumped forward in a blink and appeared just before Orochimaru giving the snake user a vicious right hook that Orochimaru had blocked against.

The sheer force of the attack and the weight beneath it strained Orochimaru's side as he flinched from the pain of having several of his ribs broken and piercing his lungs.

He slid back by a little from Jiraiya's punch but his head still jerked to the left as he could have sworn he was actually hit there. It may not be as strong as Tsunade's but Orochimaru noted that it could nonetheless pierce any defence that he could set up physically.

Orochimaru staggered back as the two frogs from Jiraiya's shoulders jumped and surrounded the snake sannin on opposite ends and shouted.

"Senpo: Kawazu Naki (Sage art: Toad Song)!"

Orochimaru was then held paralyzed by the elder toads with a sonic wave that disturbed every sense in his body. He could feel being weighted down, nauseous, his world spinning, as his nose bled completely stunning him in one place.

"Tsutenkyaku (Painful Sky Leg)!" Up above, Tsunade had appeared with right leg held up high and swinging it down with all of her might, super strength and all.

"Pa!" Shima shouted and in quick succession, both toads retreated to Jiraiya as Tsunade delivered, on what Jiraiya could tell, be the most devastating kick in all the times they had been together.

SMASH!

The earth crumbled beneath her feet, some turned to dust while others collapsed from the sheer power that Tsunade had shown. Beneath her was Orochimaru, collapsed and unmoving. Her foot stepping on the husk that was Orochimaru, she scowled. No, Orochimaru would never be this easy. Even if he was injured, he could still put up a fight.

"Don't fool yourself by thinking you could outsmart us, Orochimaru!"

And indeed, another Orochimaru did appear, but this time, he had shown himself in the form of thousands upon thousands of white snakes slowly reforming the man from feet to head. Tsunade could practically make out the ridged lines that were etched on the man's face in patterns that she could clearly deduce were scales.

Kabuto had a moment of relief wash over him seeing Orochimaru alive and well he had never seen the man be pushed this much even with his battle with the third Hokage.

"I never thought that I would have to use the Shirohebitsukai no Jutsu (White Snake Charmer Technique) against you two. You have crossed me far enough!" Orochimaru's appearance changed once more and now he lunged at Tsunade and Jiraiya having turned into a giant white snake with multiple white snakes making up his body and scales. It was grotesque to say the least, to watch Orochimaru become something from his own experiments.

"Katon: Endan (Fire Release: Fire Ball)!" Jiraiya let out a stream of flame from his mouth enhanced with the power of nature chakra and it grew to three times the size of what it was originally scorching the earth beneath the flames. But the white scales of Orochimaru's technique were certainly proving far from being flammable as he surged through the fire virtually unscathed.

"I can sense poison in his skin! Jiraiya-chan, don't block, dodge!" Fukasaku warned.

And dodge he did, the disturbance of natural chakra aiding him, Jiraiya had performed an excellent manoeuvre against the white snake luring it towards him as he began performing another jutsu.

"Ranjushigami no jutsu (Wild Lion's Mane Technique)!" Jiraiya's hair grew and became prehensile as it came to life and clashed with the white snake as it both attacked and evaded whatever each other was capable of throwing.

Tsunade then leaned down on the ground with one hand touching the earth and the sheep handseal held in front of her face.

"Doton: Ganseki no Yoroi (Earth Release: Armor of Stone)!" the ground beneath her rumbled as large stones rose and gathered around her and began to form plates around her arms, hands, chest, abdomen, legs and head. The stone armor finished off with a pair of horns protruding at the side of her head and charged at Orochimaru with her Shunshin no jutsu (Body flicker technique).

SMASH!

With the strength of a hundred men, Tsunade bulldozed towards the white snake and rammed her rock layered fist on Orochimaru's face that sent the snake crashing to the other side with multiple spikes from Jiraiya's hair managing to impale the white snake before it crashed just beside a shocked Kabuto who could only helplessly look from afar as his master was driven down to the ground once more.

Tsunade and Jiraiya then stood side by side as the smoke cleared. Neither of them were looking too pleased with what just happened.

"The tale of the Densetsu no Sannin ends here." Tsunade had mentioned as the white snake reformed into a more familiar image of the man they once called a teammate.

Try as they might to put the man down, the two of them knew of the unshaking feeling that nestled in their hearts that this was not over yet.

Orochimaru had gotten up, feeling worse for wear. Even with his Hebitsukai no Jutsu, it was still a challenge to go up against the fellow students of the aptly named "Professor". After all, they were the greatest legends Konoha has ever produced in their time, coinciding with the legendary White Fang.

This was a testament to each and every single one of their achievements over time. Their names were revered and feared throughout the land through exploits of almost mythical status. Orochimaru had no doubt that if the fight were to ever continue then it would most likely result in his death and not the other way around. Harsh as it was, he knew he had to cut his losses once more then and there. Inside, he had cursed his teacher again. Even from beyond the grave, Sarutobi had thrown a wrench at his plans.

Jiraiya had cursed inwardly at the man's resiliency. No matter how much they throw everything at Orochimaru, the man simply wouldn't be put down.

Tsunade growled when she noticed that a part of Orochimaru's face was now torn off revealing another skin underneath. Instead of the light grey ashen color of his, it was creamy white skin. Something that brought alarm bells ringing inside the heads of both Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"So you finally finished that jutsu. I always knew you were a sick and depraved psycho." Tsunade mentioned and Jiraiya scowled.

"So this is one of the reasons why Sarutobi-sensei failed to take you down. I should let you know, Orochimaru. Now that I am aware of this, I really do have to kill you now."

Jiraiya was no fool. Age and experience had taught him well enough to recognize a threat bigger than what it has been since the invasion.

"It's a sentiment that will not come to pass, Jiraiya. This jutsu has given me a new life and I intend to fully abuse this system for years to come. Although I may have my arms sealed now, I have other ways to regain my abilities back."

The ground beneath the snake user began sucking Orochimaru in and with parting, he sent a grim and ominous message to Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"I concede my defeat now, but I will come back. Do know this; the next time that we gather, it will be the village that will be torn asunder. It is only a matter of time."

With that, Orochimaru's whole figure was swallowed within the earth with Kabuto following suit and vanished in a cloud of smoke.


Within Naruto:

Naruto had once again awoken in the darkest pits of the tunnels in his mind. In front of him lay the largest gate he had ever seen. It looked as majestic and as ominous as ever from what he could tell. Getting up, he winced as he held his chest in pain. He slowly got up and muttered to himself.

"Here again…"

"It was foolish of you to think that you could take a human older than you without my chakra, brat."

The nine tailed fox had cut in. His thoughts were cut off when the face of the tailed beast showed its head behind the golden cage.

"Kurama, I had no time to think about using your chakra. Besides, it worked didn't it?"

The fox gave a huff.

"And look at where has that taken you. The hairless ape had torn your heart to shreds. You are lucky to still be breathing, extremely and unbearably lucky, brat."

Naruto simply waved it off, "Maybe…"

Then the boy grinned and turned his head back at the beast, "Why would you care, though? You turning to a big softy?"

The fox merely snorted at the boy, "Do not think highly of yourself, brat. But the next time your reckless behaviour shows itself, I would personally make sure to get out of this prison and eat you before you die."

"Now you're just sounding like you want to keep me alive. It sounds like you're not such a grouch after all, Kurama."

Kurama gave a pompous snort at the puny brat before him, "Don't misunderstand me, brat. What I don't wish is to be stuck here longer than it is necessary. But if you do not use my power more, then all the more reason that I can escape from here."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at this, "You're seriously offering me a chance at power all the while saying that if I don't, you'll eventually see a crack in the seal?"

The Kyuubi gave a sinister smile and all the answers were given to him wordlessly. Naruto gave an equally sinister grin at him to match the fox and gave his reply.

"You have something planned, don't you? Don't try to take me for an idiot, Kurama. I'm willing to use your chakra, but I'll always use it as a last resort."

Kurama raised an eyebrow at this. He was genuinely curious as to what this boy was thinking.

"I don't know what's in that head of yours and frankly, I don't care. We're stuck together like this and even if it means I have to take your insults, your sneers and general grouchiness in stride, I would have to. Sometimes it takes a few things happening that we would end up working with people we can't even stand. I know that from experience." Naruto's fierce grin was turned into a simple one as he remembered the times that he had squabbled with his teammate, Sasuke and how they had been able to work together even though they had a very turbulent relationship. He thought, perhaps Kurama was the same.

"Thousands of years of knowledge about your species and countless power plays have made me grown jaded of your kind, brat. What makes you think a little talk is all that you need to change me?"

Naruto's grin remained, the fox may be a proud and hateful thing, but he knew something that he thought he could relate to. How the hatred in him quelled and how he was saved from his own despair. He thought of a lot of things, things that mattered to him and none mattered more when Iruka had said to him in the wisest and gentlest voice he had ever heard in his entire life when he was younger and it was those very words that saved him all those years ago. In essence, he felt like he was passing on something important for anyone who wanted to ask those same questions.

"Sometimes, we all just need a friend to talk to." Naruto said with a smile as he sat down in front of the huge gate and leaned down.

Kurama was silenced with the boy's words and then Naruto continued.

"I didn't know my parents. I was always alone, I had no one growing up or at least that's what I thought. I didn't know better, I had you ever since I was born. I can't escape that fact. But you're lucky Kurama, you know who gave you your name, you know your parent. In some part me, at the very least, I'm jealous of you."

Kurama's eyes grew wide as the silence from him continued, the fox simply gave a huff at that and then replied, "You are one naïve child, brat. Of that I am sure. If you must know who my old man is and since I have nothing better else to do, then let me tell you the tale of Rikudo Sennin."

"Rikudo Sennin?"

"Yes boy, the one and only. The origin of Ninjutsu, my 'father', the one who gave your kind the knowledge of chakra, I will tell what he was like and his exploits during his time here on this mortal plane."

Kurama didn't know why he was beginning to tell the tales of the man he had come to call as a father, but he knew was that this boy listened to him and believed him. That was something he had never encountered in all the years he has been imprisoned or even when he was free. This was completely new to him, to say the least.

In the boy's mindscape, time was not a factor. Kurama could tell that time wasn't something he had known since being imprisoned, he had no grasp of it here and even if he did, it meant so little to him. He had been in this world for far too long and frankly, seconds to him were hours or even days to all finite beings. The concept of time never really clicked to him in manner of speaking.

But once he told the tale of Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the sage of six paths and the shinju, he simply couldn't stop as he told in pride the exploits of his father.

And this simpleton, this boy who had no problems risking life and limb in battle, listened and clung to his words and stories. Not only that, he also told about the sons of the sage, Ashura and Indra, the sons who would later establish the two clans of ages past, the Senju and the Uchiha. The boy scowled at the mention of the name of Sasuke's dead clan. It was something that royally pissed him off because he had realized that Sasuke came from such a strong and noble heritage that went beyond expectations.

'Man… Seriously, fuck the guy. Wasn't having the sharingan enough, Sasuke? Now you have to be the descendant of the one who created ninjutsu!? Give me a fucking break here!'

"What? You're upset that your teammate is a descendant of my old man?" Kyuubi said with a sneer. Naruto merely ruffled his hair in frustration and closed his ears in complete defiance.

"Ahhh! I'm not hearing this! I definitely didn't hear anything about the bastard being a descendant of the old sage!"

Inwardly, Kurama gave an amused chuckle. The brat got over excited in the littlest of things. What a complete idiot his host was. Sometimes he wondered how this idiot managed to survive his life even with his powers in tow.

It was a little later when Naruto was about to stand and ask something to the fox when he suddenly vanished from his own mindscape.

Kurama looked down, and noticed nothing more than a ripple on the waters of the boy's mind. He smirked.

"You're the strangest as strange as they come, brat. Do you see this, old man? Is he what you see in your dreams? Is this tranquillity?"


Naruto suddenly opened his eyes and found himself comfortably placed in bed. He got up, a few bandages on his shoulders and chest and surprise as he sat up. His frown turned into utter horror and shock then to complete anger when he found Jiraiya and Tsunade rummaging to his suitcase full of money.

"Ahhhh! You two jackasses! That's my money over there! Don't touch it!"

Jiraiya and Tsunade looked at the blonde in surprise then to each other and immediately stood upright and laughed nervously.

"Ah, Naruto, my favourite apprentice! So glad that you could be awake so early! Tsunade had mentioned that you would possibly be out cold for another two days! I'm so glad you're awake! We were just checking your stuff if you had anything useful that could help you!" Jiraiya shouted mirthfully, hoping to diffuse any annoyance and anger from the boy only to be given the middle finger from the blonde.

"The hell do you mean checking through me stuff? You're robbing me blind here, ero-sennin! What was that about the three shinobi vices? Money, women and alcohol? Fuck you both!" Naruto angrily replied.

"L-Listen here brat, some debt collectors just managed to track me down a little earlier and they said that I have to pay up. So as compensation for me saving your life, at least let me have some of your cash so I can pay off my debt…" Tsunade said with a smile as she rubbed her hands together looking like a sleazy business woman, forced creepy smile and all.

Naruto looked at the woman sceptically and replied in a deadpan voice, "Right, the casinos are just at the ground floor, the ones that are going to collect your money are the slot machines, real smooth, granny."

A tick mark appeared on Tsunade's forehead.

"THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY, GAKI!? I OUGHT TO SMACK YOU FROM HERE ALL THE WAY BACK TO KONOHA YOU SNOT NOSED BRAT!"

Just outside the room, Shizune casually opened the door and then the big glass door that led to the balcony.

"GRANNY, GRANNY, GRANNY! HOW ABOUT I GIVE YOU SOME PRUNES FOR YOUR DENCHERS!? WAIT, NO, DON'T TOUCH MY MONEY, GODDAMN IT!"

"NOOOOOO! I HAVE TO HIT THE CABARET WITH SOME OF THAT! SHARE SOME OF IT TSUNADE!"

SMACK!

Jiraiya crashed through the wall beside the door in Naruto's room and then breaking the window glass that was on the other side.

"DAMN YOU TSUNADEEEEEEEEEE!"

Shizune and Tonton gave a sigh as they sat beside the windows and doors. Perhaps minimizing the damage was useless to begin with.

Tsunade turned back and saw Naruto closed his suitcase with money and called called for the boy.

"Get over here, brat."

The woman mentioned for Naruto to come closer similar to how an elderly would call out a child. Naruto nervously approached the blonde hugging the briefcase and got within the woman's reach.

Tsunade smiled a little reminding herself of Nawaki every time she saw the blonde. This time, however, instead of the painful memories left behind, all she could see were the days when Nawaki would share his happiness with her. She leaned down and kissed the boy on his forehead and ruffled his hair with a smile.

"Become a splendid Hokage, and an even more splendid man, you hear me, Naruto?"

Naruto looked at the woman in awe and gave her a grin and said, "W-Well, I guess I could lend you some of my money to help you…"

With that, Tsunade gave an even wider grin.

"Really? That's great! A little over half is all that I need…"

"Don't push it, Tsunade-baachan."

Tsunade's head fell as a little as of not having enough to both pay her bills and her vices for a few days.

But perhaps of all of Jiraiya's students, Tsunade found the boy to be her favourite of the bunch. Sure, he may be rude, and lacked all the manners in the world, but it was nothing a woman can't fix. Maybe when they get back, she can find someone to instil some etiquette lessons on the boy that he is willing to pay attention to.

Of course, the possibility of that happening would be terrible. Perhaps even Tsunade knew that.

The boy was rough around the edges but his charisma showed a lot of things that made her cherish him as if he was her little brother.

As they packed their bags and snuck off from the hotel to avoid getting billed for damages, she couldn't help but smile a little more now than she had ever since her departure from her village.


Five days later:

Two weeks, Naruto had been gone for two weeks, plenty enough days to miss his village as the gates had opened with the crowd dumbstruck to the boy's entourage with him. There just walking beside the boy who was talking casually with the other two were Jiraiya and Tsunade, two of the legendary sannin, survivors of Hanzo's encounter and legends in their own individual rights. Seeing them casually talking to the boy made the villagers look on curiously as did some of the ninja population. They saw the group laughing, getting annoyed, mad and then laugh some more from both Jiraiya and Naruto's antics as they made their way straight to the Hokage's tower.

Jiraiya had asked the boy to remove the jacket from the blonde once they were close to the village. Although Naruto was now chuunin, it wasn't official yet. So he had to give the vest back to the old man who had sealed it in a scroll much to the boy's dismay and annoyance but the toad sage reassured him that it would be one of Tsunade's early duties for promotions. To which the blonde woman gave a nod. She knew the first thing that they needed was to bolster their forces and possibly see some of the difficult cases in the hospital that had occurred ever since the invasion. The particular case of Rock Lee was an interesting one to her to say the least. Naruto had asked for her help with that one.

Also, she had heard from Naruto with Jiraiya's input that they have political prisoners of war in their village as of now. All three of them were under house arrest at a hotel they were currently staying at. To which she saw the blonde looking looking down in a frown. Perhaps he was planning a visit?

When they neared the Hokage tower, Jiraiya had given a scroll to Naruto to read and told him to come to the training grounds the next day. The blonde nodded with a smile as he went on his separate way, back to his apartment and then, a visit to his team and Gaara.

Training Grounds:

Kakashi could see the improvements of both his students in a short amount of time. Sasuke could now defend himself quite well with the style that was heavily favoured by the ANBU while Sakura's reflexes were also shining. He watched in complete satisfaction as both of his students were sparring with each other only with wooden swords and sticks.

During the past few days, he had noticed their growth was faster than most shinobi their age. Sasuke had gained another set of Tomoe for his sharingan, putting it in a mature state and Sakura absorbed her lessons like a sponge.

Sasuke was holding his wooden sword downwards, pointing to the ankle of his opponent, Kakashi recognized this as the gedan no kamae, a luring stance against his opponent, possibly baiting Sakura in order to strike. Sakura was different, instead of the intended two-sword style that she was being taught, she had instead used the one-sword style while she had her left open palm downwards. Kakashi noted that she was planning a disarm-and-counter strategy.

'Remain still, move sideways and assess your opponent.' Sasuke thought and began sidestepping cautiously while Sakura twirled her wooden stick with her wrist as she leaned forward while sidestepping also. Both of them encircled each other, waiting for each other to perform an attack. This was a counter to counter battle, wherein the first to attack isn't always the guaranteed one to have an advantage.

This was more as a test to their minds as it was to their reflexes. It was as if they were two snakes eyeing each other before a strike.

Sakura slightly lowered her stick and cautiously and in quick succession, tapped it with enough force to throw Sasuke's stance off and lunged at him. Quick to re-establish his guard, Sasuke used the motion of his sword as he took a step back and went for a thrusting manoeuvre straight to Sakura's nose. Sakura was quick to act, once more twirling her wooden sword sideways and deflecting Sasuke's thrust around and made a move towards his hand with her open left hand. Sasuke relented and retreated his hand side stepped with his rear foot spinning. Now with their backs against each other, Sasuke was the first to turn around and strike Sakura down with a downward slash. Sakura turned and deflected the strike with her sword by slanting her blade slightly to her left as Sasuke's strike lost momentum and entered in perfect range of her checking hand. Sasuke had soon realized that she had entered past his dangerous range as she gripped Sasuke's right hand and proceeded to strike it with the hilt of her sword but not before Sasuke tossed the sword at face level and gripped the handle between his teeth and swinging it at Sakura's face, taking a page out of Naruto's book.

Sakura had no time to react accordingly as the sword was within centimetres to her face before Sasuke had stopped.

"That was a very good display, both of you." Kakashi praised his students as they both wordlessly stopped and lowered their guard.

"You two are still quite far from mastery but your practical uses of the stances are quite remarkable. Especially, you Sakura. You knew that Sasuke was baiting you with the Gedan no kamae so you resorted to throw him out of it before making a strike. The only thing that you forgot was Sasuke's speed which we will need to work on. Both of you showed good improvisation with learning the basics." Kakashi said with a smile beneath his mask and then heard the sound of a familiar voice.

"Kakashi-sensei, Sakura, Sasuke!" Shouted from the distance, a blonde had run towards them with a grin on his face as he was still wearing his backpack. Kakashi turned around and saw Naruto waving at them with a grin.

"Well, will you look at that? Finally back from your mission, huh?"

Naruto answered with a nod, "Yeah, I just did. Hope you guys were doing something while I was gone."

Kakashi looked to his students who had sheathed their practice weapons back and walked towards the blonde.

"Naruto? What happened? What was your mission anyway?" Sakura asked while Naruto scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

"Well, I got sent out with a mission from the elders to help out retrieve the supposed Godaime Hokage. I was asked to keep the man who knew the candidate in line and keep him from being distracted, nothing too big." Naruto mentioned, Jiraiya had told him that he shouldn't talk about the events as to WHY he was chosen on the mission and he had to lie a little and make it seem that it was nothing to worry about. The full mission details would have to be disclosed to Kakashi once he was called to the tower.

Sakura had raised an eyebrow at this, "So you know who's going to be Hokage, now?"

Naruto grinned, "Yeah pretty, much. Though much of the stuff wasn't that eventful, and I even got a boatload of money as a result!"

Naruto showed off his suitcase and opened it revealing stacks of money that you wouldn't normally get on a mission.

"W-Woah, that's a lot! How'd you get this much, anyway? There's no way that you could've gotten this from a mission!" Sakura said in surprise, Kakashi did as well leaning down on the wads of cash that was currently in Naruto's possession. Naruto looked a little sheepish at this and gave a nervous reply.

"W-Well, I sorta, maybe got distracted by the casinos too…" Naruto replied.

Sasuke scoffed at this, "Typical dobe getting distracted. And you're the one who is supposed to keep the contact in line?"

Naruto grew a tick mark, "Shut it, bastard! I got tricked by Ero-sennin to do play poker! Don't you dare blame it on me!"

Sasuke and Sakura looked at each other and asked Naruto, "Ero-sennin?"

"Yeah, his name is Jiraiya, said I had to do it in order to get some info on baa-chan, Tsunade by the way, to track her down. Won a lot of money from it and in my defence, he hooked me in to it, I swear!"

Trust Naruto to call two of the legendary sannin with derogatory nicknames, Sakura supposed.

"Cha! I don't care how you got your money but you are treating all of us in a nice place to eat right now, you hear me, Naruto!"

Naruto shrugged, "I was already planning on it. But let's all do it later tonight, I've got places to go and things to do and all…"

"Wait, you're not going to train with us?" Sakura asked, Sasuke seemed to raise an eyebrow to this as well.

"Well… I sort of can't. I'll come by tomorrow if you have some training, though. You can count on that. For now, I have a lot of things to do. I'll meet you all at Yakiniku Q!"

Naruto closed his suitcase and waved at the three of them as he left, Sasuke looked at his teacher who waved as well and said, "You know Naruto is acting strange, right?"

Kakashi shrugged, "I suppose, he would never miss the opportunity to train, but then again, he must be tired from his mission. Two weeks out of the village can really tire a ninja out. Remember Wave Country?"

'Ah, of course…', Sasuke remembered. Their first C-Rank mission that ended in disaster, but he would still find it rather strange to pass out on training for something else. Not that he minded though, if Naruto wishes to lag behind then he'll simply grow stronger than his teammate faster.

"Should we get back to practice, sensei?" Sakura asked and Kakashi simply smiled.

"No, I don't think we have much more to practice on your styles for now. Besides, I have a feeling we'd be having a meeting later tonight. So it's just you three who's going to celebrate."

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura turned to her crush who scoffed at it.

"I'm not going."

"Why not? It's a nice setting, plus Naruto's paying." She reasoned. Kakashi patted the boy on his shoulder.

"Now, now, I'm sure this would be a good thing. Training every time will wear your body down, Sasuke. I propose you go along with your teammates for now. Think of it as a team building exercise. Besides, even members of the ANBU tend to let loose once in a while."

And it was no joke. It was no secret that ANBU members tend to let loose once in a while but they tend to be more… Uninhibited when letting out steam. He remembered how a female ANBU member once had tried to have her way with his significant other in a very vocal manner inside the headquarters and most of them didn't mind it at all if ever. And when it came to drinking…

Kakashi shook those thoughts away. He wasn't going to mention those particular vices to Sasuke anytime soon. Give or take a few years, and Sakura would have his hide if ever Sasuke ever got into a messy vice that many of his fellow jounin and ANBU members much like himself.

'They should enjoy their youth once in a while too…' Kakashi thought with a smile as Sasuke somewhat relented with a sigh. If it would get Sasuke to open up more, then Kakashi was all for it.

"Hmm… Maybe we should invite a few others too while we're at it?" Sakura asked, thinking about Ino's team and Kiba's team to invite.

"Just don't start clinging to me or have a fight with Ino. It gets annoying."

Sakura scoffed, "The same could be said between you and Naruto, Sasuke-kun."

Kakashi chuckled at that and sent his goodbyes to the both of them before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.


With Naruto:

Naruto didn't know what his purpose was in visiting this prisoner after settling his equipment down at his apartment. All that he knew was that he had wanted to talk to him after everything that happened. Many of the guards were wary and some of the ANBU were watching him from afar, no doubt on high alert in this part of the establishment. He had known that they were not taking chances with a jinchuuriki as unstable as Gaara. When the door had opened, he was greeted with a girl taller than him whose sandy blonde hair was tied in four pigtails.

"You're that kid that beat Gaara back in the invasion. What are you doing here?"

Naruto merely replied, "I just… Wanted to talk to Gaara."

Temari had raised her eyebrow at this but nonetheless welcomed him inside. Ever since the invasion, Jiraiya of the Sannin had adjusted the seal on Gaara's shoulder that would help contain the demon. For four days, Gaara was asleep, as peaceful as he had ever been ever since. She didn't know the purpose as to why an opposing village would help them out, but it might be more as a precautionary measure before Gaara could snap.

Once Naruto sat down on a table, he had waited for Gaara to meet him there.

"I received from Temari that you wanted to talk to me, Uzumaki Naruto?"

The boy asked, the boy's tone was as flat as ever, but compared to back then it wasn't laced with the insanity and bloodlust that he was known for.

"Yeah…" Was all Naruto's reply as Gaara sat in front of him, the table separating them.

"I just wanted to know how you are doing." Naruto asked, he gave a wry grin and scratched the back of his head. He didn't really have anything in mind.

"I am curious, why go to such a thing, Uzumaki Naruto?" Gaara asked.

The boy in front of Gaara shrugged and gave a nervous laugh, "Well, it's just that you and I are alike by a lot of things. I guess I feel that I need to get to know you more. I just can't shake whatever it is that is making me angry at the same time sad of what happened to you."

Naruto then had one hand holding his blonde hair as he leaned his elbow on the table.

"There are times when even I could have fallen so hard that I would have just about given up and start becoming what they see me as." Naruto's expression turned dark as he stared upwards.

"Sometimes, I wonder. If it would be worth it if I had just become like you, Gaara. I had those thoughts too. Gruesome to think about, huh?"

The boy asked rhetorically and Gaara nodded silently, he knew perfectly well what Naruto was talking about.

"Gaara, I just want to say…" Naruto trailed off, before he stood up and walked towards the red head, extending a hand to him with a smile.

"… If you don't find Suna as a home, maybe you could stay here. Maybe you can be part of this village. It's not better than yours by a long shot but, I'm willing to be your friend."

Gaara's eyes widened at the simple gesture that Naruto had given him. No one had ever said to him even when he was a child. This was something he had never expected.

"I tried to kill you, Uzumaki…"

"Cut the full name out, just call me Naruto, Gaara." Naruto had cut off his hand was still extending to him for a handshake.

"Besides, none of that matters now. What happened can't be taken back. All we can do is to keep moving forward. So, I would… I would like to be your friend."

Gaara stood from his chair in wonder as he felt a tear fall from his left eye.

"What is this? Why are there tears?"

Naruto simply grinned and said, "Because you're happy, Gaara. When we cry, sometimes it's not just sadness that fills us. But seriously, stop crying, you're probably freaking your siblings out."

He looked back behind the door that led to the living room as Kankurou and Temari flinched.

"So, what do you say?"

Gaara wordlessly gave a nod and shook Naruto's hand.

"I would be honoured to be considered your friend, Naruto."

Naruto grinned and shook Gaara's arm vigorously behind the door, Kankuro and Temari were smiling silently. The elder sister raised a single finger up to her brother gesturing to be quiet as they left the door and went back to their rooms.

"But, I cannot stay here. I am also Suna's greatest asset as you should know. I am a jinchuuriki as much as you are. My heart says that I stay, but my mind says that I cannot."

Naruto didn't understand the reasoning behind Gaara's words, but he came to respect it just as much as he had respected Hinata's wishes. For now, Naruto had to accept the words of his newfound friend.

It took a few more minutes before Naruto had overstayed his welcome and decided to leave things at that and for Naruto to leave and as he was leaving, he turned back towards the siblings and said, "I know that it's not possible to ask for you to come, but I'll invite you anyway, I want you guys to come to the barbecue place, my treat. Maybe next time, though."

The three siblings merely gave him a smile and waved their goodbyes as Kankuro said, "He may be an idiot, but I guess he's better than most idiots."

"Sometimes, I think that the kid has a few screws loose in his head, but then I remember he's already befriended my brother." Temari remarked.

"Strength comes to those who has had a harsh life but refused to bend to its will and to those who create ideas that bridge people together comes wisdom. Uzumaki Naruto is… A good person whose strength is greater than mine." Gaara remarked as he went inside, Temari and Kankuro noticed their youngest brother having a smile on his face, as if for the first time in his life since Yashamaru, Gaara had reached a form of tranquillity that they never saw.


Hokage Tower:

The people inside the building were running frantically left and right, with the arrival of Tsunade, the office had become much more lively than usual. The elders along with two of the sannin were walking to the office as they watch countless staff members began carrying stacks of paperwork to be given to the different departments. Homura was speaking well enough that the three of them could hear each other amidst the chaos of the building.

"On the first of your agenda is your inauguration, Tsunade. The people of Konoha are expecting their Hokage in a few days and your staff has graciously arranged everything well enough. There will be a meeting with the daimyo soon after as…"

Tsunade had then cut the older man off as she spoke, "If all the preparations there are complete, then there's no problem, what I want to see are the papers concerning the bolstering of our forces. I have heard from Jiraiya that it is our priority as of now and I am to see the list of chuunin candidates that were given good remarks during the final exam. I also want to see if any of our ninja in inactive duty for the past three months in order to see if I can do anything to place them in active status."

Homura was silent and looked at his fellow elder, Kohaku who could only nod.

"Very well, we will send Izumo and Kotetsu to gather the papers that you need to look into. I'll have one of them retrieve some of the medical records that you require from the hospital."

Tsunade shook her head, "There's no need. I have sent my personal assistant, Shizune to complete such tasks. Right now, I wish to rest and want those papers in by morning and send the passers to me two hours later. The jounin are meeting tonight, is that correct?"

The two elders nodded, "Good, then it makes things easier. Jiraiya, is your spy network ready to give updates?"

Her teammate replied, "It won't be for another two weeks."

Tsunade nodded, "Good. I want to see it on my desk as soon as it is available."

Homura looked at Jiraiya approvingly with a nod and said to the man, "You have chosen well, Jiraiya."

The meeting with the jounin later would soon prove an interesting watch, to say the least.


Later that evening:

Naruto had been waiting patiently at Yakiniku Q for everyone to arrive. He was wearing his orange shirt with black long sleeves and black pants as he waited for his teammates. He had a feeling that Sakura would blabber on to Ino that about his excursions for the past two weeks and would ultimately invite his former classmates and possibly Lee's team over to celebrate. Naruto didn't mind though, the more the merrier, he supposed.

"Naruto-niichan?" A child's voice called out to him, the blonde turned around and saw Konohamaru looking at him with surprise.

"I haven't seen you since the funeral! Where've you been?" He asked, curious to his idol's whereabouts for the past two weeks.

"Well, I had an important mission to locate the new Hokage." He said with a grin, Konohamaru frowned when he heard the news of the new Hokage. The expression on his face was telling to the blonde who raised an eyebrow.

"What's the matter, Konohamaru? You look like you're upset." The blonde said as he sat down by one of the wooden benches just near the stand.

"Come here, sit down. Let's talk about it." He invited the boy, but Konohamaru somehow shook his head.

"N-No, niichan, I don't want talk about it. I doubt you could help me through it." He said, Naruto simply sighed and stood up before bopping Konohamaru on the head earning a yelp from the boy.

"You idiot, when someone says 'I don't want to talk about it'. It's obvious he has to, ya hear me?"

"I-It's just that… I don't think I can ever let go of grandpa's death ever since that day."

Naruto then told Konohamaru to sit down while grabbed something to a nearby convenience store. When he came out, he had a twin Popsicle in his hands and shared it to Konohamaru.

"So it's that, huh?" Naruto asked and Konohamaru nodded. A silence sat in between the two children as Naruto broke the Popsicle in half and gave the other half to Konohamaru.

"'Death is an eventual thing, there's no escaping it. It's simply the natural course of things.' I remember those words from Kakashi-sensei during our mission in Wave. The old man's death, it hit me hard too, you know. He was like my grandpa too. Most of all, he taught me how to read and write in his spare time when I was younger and gave me the idea to become Hokage. If it wasn't for him, I probably won't even be ninja at all." Konohamaru looked at Naruto who was eating his ice cream as he was leaning forward with a melancholic smile.

"Sasuke said that the pain of loss never truly goes away, and you know what? He's right there, heh, that bastard sometimes could give you some of the most worldly advice. I could never truly get over the old man's death. There's not a single night that I haven't thought about it. It hurts but at the same time, what can I do? I can't wallow about it all day, somehow we have to move on with our lives. I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted me to be sad all the time. Besides…"

Naruto turned to Konohamaru with a smile while having the ice cream in his mouth before speaking to Konohamaru, "The old man would've told you to get on with your life too, and find something worthwhile. Become stronger or whatever, you can't stay like that forever."

Konohamaru looked down and ate his Popsicle too as Naruto grinned.

"Besides, if you keep being depressed and not train, I'll beat you and become Hokage faster than you do." Said the boy pointing to Konohamaru's cheek and pressing it with a teasing grin. Konohamaru frowned.

"AS IF! I WON'T EVER BE BEATEN BY THE LIKES OF YOU, NARUTO-NIICHAN!" Konohamaru shouted, swathing the blonde boy's hand away and stood up.

"Atta boy, Konohamaru!" Naruto said with a grin as he put his hand on Konohamaru's head.

"If you want to beat me, then become stronger, stronger than you could possibly ever be and when the time comes that we become candidates to be Hokage, you're going to have to face me at my strongest, you got that?"

Konohamaru simply gave a nod at this and grinned as he made a run for it behind the blonde but not before turning back and say, "Just you wait, Naruto-niichan, I'll be strong enough to beat you senseless!"

"Don't do anything stupid, Konohamaru! I'm warning you!" Naruto replied with a grin as he gave a wave to the honourable grandson.

"Naruto?" The blonde turned back to see Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji behind him while Sakura and Sasuke were not far behind.

"Hey guys, took you long enough." Naruto said with a grin as he raised his hand to greet them.

"Ino was being a pain. She and Sakura had been fighting all the way here." Shikamaru pointed his thumb haphazardly to where Ino and Sakura were who argued with Sasuke in the middle. A sweatdrop appeared behind his head at this.

"They've been at it since we left the flower shop." Chouji helpfully added and Naruto sighed.

"Alright break it up, you two or else I'm not paying over here! That or Sasuke is leaving, whichever happens." Naruto shouted as both Ino and Sakura kept staring at each other while grinding their teeth. Sasuke, who was in the middle, looked completely disinterested and had an expression that clearly said he didn't want to be anywhere with the two girls.

"Yo, Naruto, I heard you got a busy in a casino a few days ago and won! Seriously, that is some strange and ridiculous luck you have there!" Kiba shouted followed behind by Shino and Hinata who was smiling at the blonde who in turn smiled back. Behind them were Neji, Tenten and Lee who was walking with a crutch.

"I was almost forgotten back there." Shino muttered as he felt upset that he was about to be left behind until Kiba reminded them.

"Sup…" Naruto wanted to continue his greeting but forgot the kid with the sun glasses.

"Shino, Naruto-san. My name is Shino, I'm hazarding a guess that you forgot too." Shino replied feeling more upset with each passing second while Naruto gave a nervous laugh.

"R-Right… I haven't really forgotten, Shino."

"You only say that because I reminded you of my name." Shino replied as a matter of factly while Kiba patted his teammate on the back.

"Ah get over it Shino, I told you to dress less inconspicuously next time for these guys to remember you, but no, you don't even listen to me!" Kiba remarked.

"W-Welcome back, Naruto-kun." Hinata opened while the blonde replied with a wave, "Glad to be back, Hinata. I'm just glad my mission is over."

"Yosh! Naruto-kun, I thank you for this most youthful feast that you have sponsored for us!"

Naruto grinned at Lee and said, "Perfect timing, guys, I was just about to talk to you guys about Lee's condition!"

Neji, Tenten and Lee looked at each other before looking back at Naruto.

"What exactly are you talking about, Naruto?" Tenten asked while Neji gave a nod.

"Come on, let's go inside. You'll want to hear what I have to say." Naruto grinned at them as they went inside.

Naruto had entered inside followed closely by his peers, some he considers his friends. The squabbles, the talks, even the insults hurled at each other. He knew it was for fun, and those things he had unquestionably cherished for years to come. It felt like a part of him had grown as he stepped into the shoes of an adult as a newly appointed chuunin of Konoha.

Shikamaru noticed the people around him and he too gave a smile. Everyone was having a lively good time. He had wished for things to remain as they are and cursed himself that he knew better. But for the sake of his comrades, he will not allow each one of them to perish that he swore.

Tonight would be the first night of many that they would gather, but it would be a long time before they could meet up again completely in the next.


Hokage Tower:

Shikaku was finally relieved that the Hokage had finally arrived in their presence as they all lined up and faced the one currently standing at the podium. He had to admit, Tsunade's arrival had come in a timely manner and he was glad it was officially over for him in running Konoha's forces and maintaining the logistics in the village's restoration. His thoughts were finally cut off when Tsunade began to talk.

"It's good that all of you are here tonight because we have many things to discuss and talk about in the coming months. All of you Jounin better prepare yourselves for right now, I will enact changes that will be for the benefit of this village and introduce new ideas for our forces. I don't expect that some of you will agree with what I have in mind, but I expect you to follow my orders on my command. Do I make myself clear on this matter?"

"HAI!"

Many of the jounin replied, Tsunade gave a nod as she looked at Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya, debrief them on the current situation about Orochimaru and Akatsuki, leave no detail out. After that, we will be discussing the construction of a group in dealing with these threats. Shikaku!" Tsunade called for her best strategist up front and the man stepped forward.

"We are going to review all our battle strategies, our tactics and our logistics. It's time we take the fight to our enemies."

Shikaku inwardly groaned, at least his role in this matter would be less demanding compared to the former.

He just hoped whatever happens in the future, his child and his child's friends would make it through it in one piece.


To be Continued…

Aannnd with that, Tsunade Arc is in the wraps. From this point on, the story will diverge from canon. Expect to see more action, drama, and character development.

Preview:

Chapter Ten: Waves from a Ripple

"From this moment on, you are now official chuunin of Konohagakure no Sato, wear your uniforms with pride."

"Now that things have finally settled down, it's time for you to learn a more indept knowledge concerning elemental manipulation, Naruto."

"A variant of the Kage Bunshin, ero-sennin? THIS IS AWESOME!"

"You're operation is not something to be happy about. Don't get me wrong it is something that is completely necessary due to your condition. But I must state this as a doctor, that at most your survival in this operation is only fifty-eight percent. Are you sure you are willing to continue?"

"Lee! Know that whatever happens, I and your team are with you all the way! I will risk everything to make sure you become a ninja once more!"


Original Jutsu corner:

Doton: Ganseki no Yoroi (Earth Release: Armor of Stone)- Rank A- defensive/supplementary- A jutsu that would grant an almost impenetrable defence against any attack even poison. It covers the entire body from head to toe and shapes the helmet with a pair of horns. It is usually a jutsu that increases defence and fire power at the cost of speed and agility due to its immense weight. But with Tsunade's super strength, its weaknesses are of no consequence for her.

Please read and review!