Chapter 52

Tsunade slammed the saucer down after downing the drink. She was very annoyed, and it was all because of that blonde brat. He might have Minato's looks but he had Kushina's smart mouth. She couldn't believe how he got under her skin so easily. She could still hear his words from thirty minutes ago.

"First of all, what type of person would bet such a thing? The First Hokage gave it to you because it was priceless, and he loved you. Don't disrespect him as well. Besides, are you sure you want to bet me in anything, 'Legendary Sucker'?"

Tsunade nearly crushed the saucer. That damn brat could have just said no. She gave the stand owner a hard look. He quickly got her a bottle of sake and put it in front of her. She took it and poured herself a drink. As she was about to down it someone arrived to her right.

"You do know that is a drink that you sip, right?" Tsunade turned to glare at Jiraiya who was smirking.

"You better keep your mouth shut and wipe that smirk off your face. You're lucky I didn't launch that mouthy punk into the next town." Tsunade growled.

"Come now, are you really angry because of a few words?" Jiraiya asked mockingly.

"I am warning you Jiraiya."

"Aww, ruin my fun why don't you? Alright then, I'll stop. Besides, we have more important things to talk about." Tsunade sobered up a little after hearing that. She could see and hear that he was serious. "What did Orochimaru want?" She looked at him but did not betray herself when she heard the question.

"He only came to brag about killing Sarutobi. That's all." Tsunade said. Jiraiya just looked at her for a while before sighing. He turned to leave but he had a few things to say.

"You should see the village now Tsunade. I don't know what started it, but Sarutobi-sensei and the elders have done wonders. I'm not ashamed to say that the village is in incredibly good hands with the young shinobi growing there. I'm even considering find one of them so that I can pass on my information network. If your grandfather and granduncle were still among us, they would be happy."

"What's your point Jiraiya?"

"I refuse to allow anyone to threaten that future. Not our rivals, not Orochimaru and not you, Tsunade. If you threaten that future, directly or not, I'll hunt you down and end the Senju line." Jiraiya stated while glaring at her. Tsunade looked at him in stunned silence. "I won't make the same mistake I did with Orochimaru. I will kill you." Looking into his eyes, Tsunade saw that he was not playing around. Jiraiya turned from her and walked away. Tsunade just watched him and couldn't help but feel fear.

XXX

Ino was huffing and puffing as she attempted to jog. It was difficult due to her injuries. It wasn't as bad anymore, but it still hurt like a bitch. She had to stop several times and it made her curse her weakness. She would rest a bit more before continuing her jog.

It would be an hour later when Ino reached the finish line. She collapsed on the grass and was taking very deep breaths. That's when she heard footsteps. She looked up to see Choji and Shikamaru. Choji looked at her with concern while Shikamaru looked annoyed. Ino wasn't in the mood to deal with either of them. She tried to leave, keyword was tried, because she was too tired and too hurt to even try.

"You should stay still and rest Ino. Don't rush yourself." Choji said with concern.

"What do you two want?" Ino demanded. Choji sighed at her attitude but he was not deterred.

"Ino, this needs to stop. You're going to hurt yourself more if you don't let those injuries heal properly. Why are you doing this to yourself?" Choji asked.

"Why, so I could stay behind you two in skill? I'm not going to follow behind, I'm going to lead from the front. I'll prove to everyone that I'm the best." Ino stated with conviction.

"How do you plan to do that Ino when you can barely jog a mile and a half? You haven't even healed completely. You've ignored Asuma-sensei's, your father's and the doctor's advice. A leader must make the correct decisions if things are going to go well. How are you proving that you are leader material by acting like you are?" Shikamaru asked. This made Ino looked at him with a glare.

"You enjoy that, don't you? Pointing out my failings and faults among us? Does that make you feel better than me? Does it make you feel strong?" She spat.

"No, I don't. Like Choji, I care about you and I am worried that you are going to hurt yourself more." He replied.

"Well, I don't want or need either of your help. I'll get strong my own way and then I'll show you two, Asuma-sensei and daddy. Just you wait." Ino stated.

"Even if it means that you won't be a part of the team anymore?" Choji asked. Ino gave him a confusing look. "Do you think that sensei or your dad doesn't know that you've disobeyed them?" Ino looked at him with shock and worry.

"You have to realize that they would keep a closer eye on you with the way you have been acting. What is going to stop Inoichi from pulling you out of the shinobi forces? What's stopping Asuma-sensei from kicking you off the team? Asuma isn't going to be like Kakashi. He's not going to risk the team just because you refuse to listen, and your dad isn't going to stand by watching you self-destruct. So, what is it going to be Ino? Your pride or our lives?" Shikamaru added.

Ino was growling and clenching her fists. She was angry at what they had told her. She didn't believe that it would happen, but doubt began to creep into her mind. She couldn't believe just how unfair this was. All she wanted to be a better kunoichi so why was everyone getting in her way? She stood up and gave the two a hard glare before storming off. Choji sighed as she watched her go while Shikamaru groaned.

"God she's being troublesome. I don't think Asuma-sensei is going to have much of a choice if our words didn't get to her." He spoke.

"You really think that it would come to that?" Choji asked.

"It just might. Look at what happened to team seven." Shikamaru stated. Choji nodded at him and the two left the training area.

XXX

Sakura was happy to see her home. She was a little tired after her lessons today and she needed to get some food. Still, she was happy to be learning something new. She was starting to get the hang of the Healing Jutsu. It didn't hurt that she got to do those lessons with Haku. Sakura can easily say that she was have a really good time now that she had found her path.

She entered her home and was about to go to her room when a voice stopped her.

"Sakura?" the female voice called out.

"Yes mom?"

"Could you come into the common room? We have guests here that want to meet you." This time it was a male voice.

"Meet me?" Sakura asked and made her way to the common room. She found her parents sitting around from a jonin and someone that looked familiar.

"You're Tobio, right? I think we were a part of the same class." Sakura said. The boy chuckled at that. He had black hair with a spiky ponytail and dark brown eyes. He wore a grey shirt with blue trimmings. There seem to be a flap on the back. He also wore a pair of blue pants.

"Yeah, you and other girls were way into Sasuke rather than your surroundings. I heard that you broke that spell recently." Tobio joked.

"Yeah, I'm not too proud of that." She said embarrassed. She then looked at the jonin. He had some size on him and his brown hair was shaggy. He wore the standard jonin uniform only his vest was open. He gave her a jovial smile.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tekuno Kanden and as of a few weeks ago, I will be your new sensei." He explained. This surprised Sakura and she looked at her parents. They motioned for her to sit next to them and she did. The Haruno family were together and faced the jonin.

"I didn't realize that a choice was made already. I knew that something was going to happen, but I thought it would be official when a new Hokage was selected." Sakura said.

"The decision was made before the invasion. The Third felt that it was an issue that we could not delay, especially should the new Hokage veto his ruling. I was one of three jonin who were chosen and was assigned since I was one of the jonin who passed a team of your graduating class. They believed that I would be a good fit for you and Naruto." Tekuno explained.

"If I may, what are your skills as a jonin?" Kizashi asked.

"I am skilled in trap-making and wires. I am a mid-to-long range shinobi as I carry several weapons on my person. I know how to use swords but in no way am I a master of the art." He answered honestly.

"I am curious as to why you only have one student. What happened to the other two?" Mebuki asked.

"I had them removed from the shinobi forces after our first C-rank mission." He stated bluntly. Sakura was surprised by this and looked to see that Tobio had the same serious face as his sensei.

"Who was on your team Tobio?" Sakura asked.

"I was on a team with Ami Kogure and Hibachi Mizuno." Tobio said with annoyance. Sakura 'ohh' as she knew the two. They were not the friendliest of kids back then.

"When I got them, there were already issues. Neither of them really worked with each other after they passed my test. Ami was very bossy and believed that she could boss the boys around. Tobio was quite clumsy and Hibachi would make any excuse to get out of any type of training or work. When we got our first C-rank, it nearly ended badly. I will not tell you what happened, but it nearly got Tobio seriously hurt and the client."

"What happened after your returned?" Mebuki asked.

"We faced the Hokage and council. I'm proud to say that Tobio accepted that he made mistakes and promised to be better. I wish the same could be said about Ami and Hibachi. Ami blamed both of boys for not protecting her or client when she was too scare to even protect the client properly. Hibachi lied, putting the blame on Ami and Tobio when he made the mistake in not being aware of where the enemy was. Neither the Hokage nor council was impressed with the two. When they asked for my input, I asked that Ami and Hibachi be stripped of their symbols and Tobio be placed under me."

"They must have not been happy with your decision." Kizashi said.

"They weren't and then they both blamed Tekuno-sensei. That was the nail in their coffins as Lord Third revealed their academy files and the reports Tekuno-sensei kept on us. They were below average when the new system was made, and they made no improvements when they were assigned." Tobio said.

"Do you know what they are doing now?" Sakura asked him.

"Since being stripped. I know Hibachi's dad has been running him into the ground with his training. He made him apologize to the both of us for his actions. Ami, I haven't seen since. I think she's back with Kasumi but Fuki is still a part of team eleven."

"So, will you treat our daughter with respect? I was happy when Kakashi was her sensei and our meeting went well but with how it turned out, I will not have my daughter with a jonin who won't help her become the ninja that wants to be." Kizashi stated.

"I completely understand. What I can offer is to help her continue learning medical jutsu and genjutsu. I admit, I am limited in both areas, but I can recommend those who are. If you wish, I can teach you kenjutsu and how traps work. It will further round you out as a shinobi. The one I'm worried about is Naruto as he is already quite rounded." Tekuno said with a laugh.

"Well, thank you for answering our questions. I am happy that Sakura will have a responsible jonin to help her." Mebuki said.

"Of course." He said with another laugh. The jonin held his hand out to Sakura. She took it and they shook on it. "Welcome to team five."

XXX

Neji was seated in front of Hiashi. The genin was summoned by his uncle while he was training. He figured that he would be called thanks to his recent behavior these couple of days. The open glares he shot at Hinata and her teammate, Kiba, were not ignored. Their sensei noticed, his sensei noticed, and several clan members noticed it. It seems that they had enough of it.

"Do you know why I have summoned you?" Hiashi demanded.

"It's because I've shamed the clan with my attitude." Neji stated.

"Is that what you think? It is not that you have shamed the clan. You've shamed yourself with how you've acted. Gone is the prodigy of the Hyuga and in its place is a petulant child." Neji clenched his fist at what was being said to him. "What disappoints me the most is that you keep disappointing the vision that your father had in you."

"You don't get to speak about my father!" Neji roared. "You don't get to take any moral high ground just because you were too cowardly to die!"

"Is that what you think?" Haishi asked calmly. He then pulled a scroll out before tossing it at Neji.

"What is this?" Neji demanded.

"It belonged to your father." He spoke. Neji was surprised. Hiashi just waited so Neji opened the scroll. He began to read it and with each word, his face was in disbelief.

"W-What is this? W-WHAT IS THIS?!" Neji shouted.

"When Kumo demanded my head, I was fully prepared to die for the village. Even against my council's advice, I was going to die. Hizashi, your father and my brother, was chosen instead. I protested this decision when Hizashi immobilized me. He looked at me and told me that he wasn't doing this for the clan or the village. He told me that for the first time, he was making his own choice, the choice to save me. That was his choice. That is the truth." Haishi explained.

"N-No, this can't be true." Neji said, not believing him.

"Hizashi regretted passing along his bitterness to you. It was deserved as you were stronger than my heir. However, fate is not pre-determined. We all have the right to choose how we live." With that, Haishi stood and walked past his nephew. Neji just knelt there, tears falling from his eyes.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes

New Year, new chapter. How's everyone doing. Hope you made it into the new year healthy and happy. Anyway, this is just a filler chapter. The next chapter is going to focus mostly on Naruto, Jiraiya and Tsunade. I just wanted to continue a few stories that I'm planning for this story. The one that I changed was Neji's. I had a plan but it did not really sound good. So, I decided to go in a different direction with Neji. Don't worry, he isn't going to immediately become the Neji we know from the anime. That would just spoil the story.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new chapter.