Chapter 7: Fighting Blondes

Tsunade and Jiraiya looked at each other for a while before Tsunade scoffed at the question.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tsunade said before drinking. That's when she felt a small amount of intent thrown her way. She turned to see that Jiraiya was not amused with the answer she gave.

"This isn't the time to be playing around Tsunade. I know that Orochimaru saw you before I did. Why else would he be here? What did he want?" Jiraiya demanded.

"You have some nerve threatening me." Tsunade said with a warning tone.

"We aren't kids anymore Tsunade. Don't think that because of your pedigree means anything to me. You are not your grandfather or your granduncle. You have wasted away your skills if Naruto was able to do that to you. If it came down to it, I would win and you know it. I'm going to ask you one more time, what did Orochimaru want from you?" Jiraiya demanded harshly. Tsunade realized that he was serious and decided to talk.

"He came to gloat about killing sensei. He made me an offer but I don't think it is worth my time." Tsunade said calmly. Jiraiya looked at her in her eyes. He knew that she was hiding something but she would not tell him. He just decided to keep a closer eye on her. He took out some money and put it on the counter. He stood and walked off. Before he disappeared, he said one more thing.

"Tsunade, if you betray Konoha, I will kill you." With that, Jiraiya walked away. Tsunade turned back to her drink. However, she did not feel like drinking any more.

XXX

Naruto took a few deep breaths before doing the hand seals that he remembered from the scroll. He took a deep breath after forming the seals.

"Katon: Karyū Endan! (Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet)" Naruto launched a large flame at a large stump. It hit the stump and turned it into ash. Naruto cut the chakra after a while and waited for the flames to die down. When it did, he looked at the damage he created. He smirked at what he did. "Heh, it isn't like the old man's but it's getting there."

"That is impressive Naruto-kun." A voice said. Naruto turned around to see Tsunade's assistant Shizune. She gave him a smile and Naruto scratched his head.

"Heh, how long have you been standing there?" he asked.

"Not long. That was a very impressive Katon. If I remember correctly it is one of the Sandaime's." Shizune said.

"Yeah, Asuma-sensei gave to me as a present. Told me that the old man would want to give it to me seeing that I kind of take after him." Naruto said with a kind tone.

"That's a very sweet thing to say Naruto. I am sorry about his passing. So, what else are you trying to learn?" she asked.

"Well," Naruto began but stopped when he saw someone that he wasn't too happy to see. Shizune turned around to see her master. Tsunade just looked at the two before looking at the damage. She was impressed but she would not say anything about it. She turned her attention back to the two.

"Come on Shizune, we're turning in for the night." Tsunade said. She didn't wait for an answer and walked away. Shizune sighed at her behavior but she wasn't about to say anything.

"I guess that this is goodbye. I'll see you around Naruto." Shizune said. The two waved goodbye to each other and Naruto turned back to his training.

XXX

It took a few days for the team to arrive back to the village. Jakken had left Aiko back at her place. The two had a good talk and learned a bit about each other. He was still getting use to the escort thing but his judging was disappearing. They promised to keep in touch with each other. He dragged Senichi through the gates. They dropped his partners off at the capitol but Jakken wanted Senichi to face Konoha justice again. His reason for it that he would not be getting out this time. The ANBU came to collect him and take him to prison. They gave each other a final glare before Senichi was dragged off to whatever fate was waiting for him.

After giving their report to the council, Jakken was going to get some well-deserved rest. He left the tower only to run into team Gai.

"Jakken, where the hell have you been?" Tenten demanded loudly.

"And hello to you too 'Buns"." Jakken said sarcastically. This earned him a slap upside the head and a glare.

"Don't get snippy with me! I've been looking for you for weeks!" she shouted.

"Well, I was on a mission. What the hell is your problem?" Jakken asked.

"It's your sensei. She's been suspended and might be removed from the ninja forces." Tenten explained.

"Say what? What are you talking about?" Jakken demanded. It was Neji who spoke.

"Uchiha Sasuke threatened your teammate, Naruto, and he paid for it. Your sensei broke his kneecap and broke his nose. The council believes that she went too far and has suspended her from duty. Many who are for Sasuke are attempting to get her removed permanently. Many of the shinobi are not going to allow it, including Gai-sensei." He explained.

"Where is she now?" Jakken asked.

"She's with Yakumo at her apartment." Tenten said. Jakken thanked them and quickly made their way over to her place. He knocked and waited for someone to answer. It was Anko who was surprised to see him.

"Oh, you're back so soon." Anko said.

"We'll discuss that later but I heard about what is going on. Why aren't we getting back at this Uchiha kid?"

"There's nothing we can do. If we retaliate, sensei is just going to get into more trouble. Right now, we can only hope that the new Hokage will be willing to listen." Yakumo explained.

"New Hokage? That's who the pipsqueak is going to bring back right? Maybe that will work in our favor?" Jakken said.

"This is Naruto we are talking about. When has he ever done anything that didn't piss someone off?" Anko asked with amusement. The two sighed at that as it was the truth of it all. "Look, I'm not worried about the Uchiha kid. They aren't going to win this fight because that's what is going to happen, a fight. I'm Anko baby, no council can keep me down." The two students looked at their laughing sensei and only got more worried.

XXX

Naruto was making his way back to his training. He felt that he could get that Katon: Karyū Endan more powerful. He was going to keep training with the technique until he could fully mastered it. It was the least he could do for his sensei. As he made his way, he caught sight of someone that made him narrow his eyes. It was Kabuto and he was alone. What was he doing here without his team? He didn't like the guy due to what he knew about him during the first stage of the exams. He wondered if Ibiki got the message about him.

Naruto decided to follow the man to see where he was going. He kept to the shadows as he followed him. He watched him stop and look at something from the roof. He made his way closer and saw Orochimaru with Tsunade standing in front of him. That's when he heard the pale man talk about reviving her loved ones for restoring his arms. He was stunned when it looked like that she was about to do it. Well, he wasn't about to let that happen. He was about to pull out a kunai only to be stopped when a serpent wrapped around him. The snake hissed at him and a familiar face appeared.

"Well, who knew that this trip would be worthwhile? How have you been Naruto-kun?" Midoshi asked with a smile.

"Midoshi, not that I'm not happy to see you, but I have a traitor to deal with." Naruto said.

"I wouldn't worry about that woman betraying your village. I do think that she a shell of her former self but with the amount of chakra she is using, she'll kill Orochimaru. She'd be doing me a favor. So let's just sit back and let the old folks do their thing. Actually, I was wondering if you can help me with something." She said.

"You know that I'm just going to refuse." He stated.

"Ok come on, it's a small little request." They both turned to see that Kabuto stopped Tsunade from her task. "Damn him, he interrupted her."

"He's on your side?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, he's been a spy all along. In fact, he use to belong to that Danzō guy before Orochimaru took him in. He might be skilled but he's a total tool."

"Well, thanks for the information. Sorry about this." Naruto suddenly blew out some smoke that covered them. The snake loosen its hold, giving Naruto a chance to escape. Naruto jumped out of the smoke and landed on the roof. He jumped off landing in between the two. He quickly called on the Kyūbi's chakra and did the hand seals. "Katon: Karyū Endan!" A huge flame erupted out of his mouth and consumed the alley. Naruto added more chakra, turning the flame a hot white. The alley was consumed in flames. Naruto ended his jutsu and waited for the flames to die down.

Tsunade looked at the damage in surprise. Stone was melting and the ground was unusable. Whatever plant life was there was now gone with the fire. She turned her attention to the blond only to be slapped in the face by him. She looked at him with shock as he glared at her.

"You… are one of the most STUPID people I've ever met! What the hell were you thinking?! You really was considering taking that bastard's deal?! He killed the old man, our sensei, and you were just going to give him back his arms?! If you really want to see your loved ones again, then just kill yourself! You'll be doing the world a favor!" Naruto shouted at her. He quickly spun around to deflect several shuriken and toss his kunai. It was easily caught by Kabuto. Naruto unsealed his staff and got into a stance.

"I guess we were right about you? You got away before Ibiki could do his investigation." Naruto said.

"So, it was your team that blew my cover? That is kind of embarrassing that I was discovered by Anko's team." Kabuto said.

"You shouldn't have given out that information that you, a genin, shouldn't have. Sloppy work for a pro with years of experience." Naruto said. That's when Midoshi appeared.

"Now that wasn't nice Naruto-kun. You could have warned me that you were going to do that." She said.

"I did say sorry." Naruto said.

"So, Sarutobi-sensei took on the jinchūriki as a student? An impressive display of that jutsu. It will be hard to master." Orochimaru said.

"Yeah, well I'm up to the challenge. I don't run away or betray my village just because I didn't get the position I wanted." Naruto commented.

"You know nothing boy and you should have stayed out of this." Orochimaru said with amusement. Naruto just readied himself for a fight. That's when he was slapped from behind and driven into the ground. He quickly got to his feet and faced the person who did it.

"The hell is your problem?!" Naruto shouted.

"You're my problem! How dare you talk to me like that! You don't know shit about me and I won't be judged by some wet-behind-the-ears brat!" Tsunade shouted back.

"Well excuse me lady, who the hell was about to heal his arms?!"

"I was about to kill him!"

"It doesn't excuse you for thinking about it for the past week! If that doesn't make you a traitor, I don't know what does!"

"I may not like the village but I'm loyal to it! Now apologize!"

"Screw you!"

"Excuse me?" Orochimaru demanded.

"Shut up!" Tsunade shouted at him.

"Yeah, mind your damn business!" Naruto added loudly. A tick mark appeared on the man.

"Kabuto, capture Tsunade. Midoshi, kill the brat." He ordered. The two rushed at the two who saw them coming. They turned their attention to them.

"I hope that you'll be useful hag." Naruto said.

"Just stay out of my way brat." Tsunade countered. The two sides clashed before vanishing. Orochimaru watched as they moved around in flashes, clashing in mid-air. He watched as Kabuto dodged several bone-crunching blows while Midoshi engaged Naruto with weapons. He kept his eyes on the boy and girl. He figured out that it was this boy who did something with Anko's seal. He knew that it was the blond due to his fight at the invasion. He was strongly considering in dealing with the boy. Should he ever figure out a way to destroy his mark, his plans would be destroyed. He just hoped that he does not run into his new project.

"Kabuto, Midoshi, let's take this somewhere else. If the boy is here, that means Jiraiya isn't too far behind." He said and vanished. The two followed him as he ran away. Tsunade and Naruto took off, following the three to a new area.

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Authors' Notes: Sorry for the late update but it has been a very busy week for me. I'm dealing with some personal stuff and family stuff. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the new chapter.