A/N: It will please you to know you are officially out of the prologue, and into the main section. Well, point it, here you are. Everyone, thank you so much for your reviews!
"Shizune-nee is back!" Naruto boisterous voice rang throughout the Hokage Tower where Tsunade was sitting at her desk, the yell accompanied by the slapping noise of feet on stone. Tsunade tried to squash down the hope burning in her, after all, there had been no guarantee that this would end with a betrayal against Sound. There was no contract that required their informant to strike a deal. But, she was glad that Shizune herself was back, alive and well. She had been fretting for the past week, wondering if the whole thing had been a double-cross after all. She didn't think she could stand to lose another person she cared for.
"SHIZUNE-NEE IS BAAAAACK!" Naruto's volume increased as he opened the doors to Tsunade's office and trotted in, arm waving enthusiastically. He was only waving one, because the other had a much taken aback Shizune perched on his shoulder. Years earlier Shizune had been taller than the young man, but times had passed, and Uzumaki Naruto had grown into a height that had Tsunade almost looking up.
"Naruto…" Shizune was clutching Naruto's bright orange clothing, obviously having not enjoyed her bumpy ride through the streets of Konoha. "You can put me down now…" Naruto laughed, setting Shizune down gently, careful not to jostle her haversack.
"Sorry, Shizune-nee. I got a little excited!" Naruto's voice lowered slightly and his face grew more serious. "How did it go?" Tsunade had ended up telling Naruto of the situation, despite counsel to the otherwise. She planned to make the boy Hokage after her duty was done, and he had a right to know. Tsunade watched happily as Shizune's face lit up.
"I've got the information right here." Shizune drew a small metal capsule from her pocket. It was the same make as the one they had withdrawn from the Sound ninja's stomach. Shizune placed it gently on Tsunade's desk. Naruto loamed over it, curious eyes waiting for what it could contain. The Hokage picked it up delicately, red nails turning the metal over itself in front of her eyes. She breathed slowly, paused, and then sniffed.
"Shizune, why does this smell like saliva?" The other woman immediately stiffened, pursing her lips thoughtfully. Naruto had a bemused expression on his face, slightly confused.
"Naruto!" Shizune whirled about, smiling broadly. "Would you go get Sakura for me? I want her to be here too." Naruto opened his mouth to protest. "I promise we won't open it without you." The young man nodded, his concern addressed, dashing out the door as quick as he had entered. The minute he was gone Shizune hastily closed the door behind him, her face going through some very strange emotions.
"Are you going to tell me now?" Tsunade could tell this was going to be interesting. Shizune hunched her shoulders a little, her cheeks flushing.
"Itwasinmymouth." Tsunade's eyebrow rose. Shizune looked around as if expecting the ANBU to be listening in.
"Itwasinmymouth." She repeated, only slightly louder. Tsunade sighed.
"You'll have to speak slower." Shizune came closer and leaned in, not wanting anyone but the Hokage to hear her.
"It was in my mouth." The younger woman then sat down in a nearby chair, hands clasped tightly, wringing them. Tsunade's other eyebrow rose to join the first.
"How did it get in your mouth?"
"Itwasinhismouthfirst." Tsunade sighed loudly.
"It was in his mouth first." Shizune spat out, looking exceeding uncomfortable.
"Is that all?" Shizune looked up. "And here I thought it was something important. As if an oral sample transfer was something to get worked up about." Shizune opened her mouth to protest that of course it was something to be worked up about, but shut it smartly as Tsunade leaned forward.
"Who was the informant?" Shizune shifted awkwardly, remembering a night of sweat, of moans, of whispered names.
"Yakushi Kabuto." Tsunade was just about to comment before Naruto burst back into the room with Sakura close behind. Shizune hoped that aspect of the information wouldn't be brought up again until later.
"Hurry, Shishou!"
"Yeah, baa-chan! Open it!"
"Yeah, yeah, hold on." Tsunade waited until the three had gathered around her desk before prying open the small capsule. She was not surprised to see the small paper flutter down, covered in small spidery writing. She had a magnifying glass, which she motioned for her student to hand her.
My dear Hokage,
Orochimaru will be switching bases within the week to an outpost at the base of Mount Hohoryu, next to the border of Iwa no Kuni. On the second day of the next month he plans a major strike against Konoha. Most of the forces will be involved, leaving only the personal bodyguards, Orochimaru, and, of course, myself behind. He plans to switch into the Uchiha body at this time while Konoha is occupied with the onslaught.
Hope to see you there,
Your Traitor
"Well… it's simple enough…" Shizune finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence that had enveloped the office. Sakura's forehead was furrowed between her brows, and Naruto looked especially somber. Tsunade was the only one who appeared unconcerned.
"That's that, then." Tsunade folded up the piece of paper and tucked it into her waist band before standing. "I need to go call a meeting. You all might as well just wait here." With that the Godaime was gone, a flash of blonde hair before she closed the door behind her.
"I wonder… if Sasuke is considered a personal bodyguard?" Sakura spoke softly, her eyes lidded in thought. Naruto shrugged slowly, a weight on his shoulders. The two had been on so many missions to retrieve Sasuke, had failed in so many missions to retrieve Sasuke, that "bringing back the Uchiha" had become a saying among the residents of Konoha to refer to an impossible task.
"He might be leading the attack on Konoha, once his body is taken." Naruto offered, suddenly despondent. Shizune shifted her balance from foot to foot, the awkward silence suffocating.
"You could bring him back this time." Naruto and Sakura both looked up, meeting Shizune's level gaze. "This time is the last time, you'll bring him back."
"If we don't I'll kill him." Naruto met Shizune's gaze with determination. "I'll kill him because he's my friend." Sakura lifted her head.
"I'll kill him because I love him." The two stood, resolute. Shizune gave a small, wane smile before sitting down, sinking back into her own thoughts before the meeting convened.
"We need to fortify our borders." Anko was gesturing at the map laid out on the table. "Here, here, and here. We can't do it too quickly, however, or they'll be alerted." The ripped and stained leather of Ibiki's coat brushed softly against the table.
"Who qualifies as his special bodyguards?" Asuma idly twirled one of his blades about his hand. "We haven't had any reports of anyone like that since the Sound Five."
"Would you give it a rest about the Sound Five? That's practically a children's bedtime story now. They're dead." Temari was still touchy on the subject.
"It's a viable theory, Temari." Shikamaru met the Sand jounin's eyes. They stared at each other silently for a full minute before Shikamaru rolled his eyes away, muttering. "Troublesome…"
There was a silence as everyone cleared their throats and pretended not to notice the… undertones between those two. Tsunade only smiled. She was secretly hoping the two would hurry up and marry. Having the Kazekage's sister in your village by marriage was a nice treaty binder.
"Unfortunately, it is." Yamato leaned his elbows on the table. "If it is the Sound Five are still alive we'll need extra force for the attack,"
"So then we're agreed on doing a small strategic strike?" Tsunade leaned back into her chair. "Myself, Jiraiya, Shizune, and a select group."
"I don't like the idea of you going, Tsunade." Jiraiya spoke low. "Konoha needs you."
"No they don't, Jiraiya." The assembled looked at Tsunade askance. "They need a Hokage. I'm not stupid enough to tramp off to kill Orochimaru without naming an heir."
"Then who?" Kakashi crossed his legs. "Who will succeed you?" The council members had been pressuring her for an heir for a year now. She'd not named one yet.
"If I don't return from this mission…" Tsunade stood, palms flat on the table. "Shizune will follow me…" Shizune had a moment to begin to panic before Tsunade finished her sentence. "Until Uzumaki Naruto is prepared to take my position."
Naruto jumped out of his chair so fast that Sakura blinked three times before she noticed.
"Naruto, where are you going?" He was out the door. Sakura looked around at the silent, shocked faces of the other council members before rushing out the door after him.
"Naruto! What are you- AH!" They caught sight of Sakura's body being twirled about, Naruto holding her arms and whirling about.
"Did you hear that, Sakura? Hokage!" Naruto's loud voice was strained, as if holding back tears. "I'm going to be Hokage! Hokage! My dream! Hokage, hokage, hokage!"
Tsunade sat back down, her face in her hand, laughing. Shizune couldn't help but smile herself when the Hokage gave a rather unladylike snort.
"Baa-chan!" Naruto dashed back through the door again, followed slower by Sakura, who took her seat beside Shizune with a broad smile upon her face.
"Woah, Naruto!" Tsunade had to grab at the table as Naruto collided with her chest, hugging her tightly and trying to lift her from her seat.
"Thank you so much!" Tsunade felt Naruto's tears soaking through her shirt.
"Can we finish this meeting later?" Tsunade patted Naruto's back, who was bawling like a baby from happiness.
"Come on, everyone." Sakura stood. "We'll go over the details tomorrow."
They left Naruto and Tsunade there. Naruto buried his head in Tsunade's chest, unable to stem the flow of his tears.
"Baa-chan… thank you… thank you…" Tsunade smiled, one hand running through Naruto's wild blonde hair.
"You'll be a great Hokage, Naruto."