Necessary Evil: Chapter 14

Shaking The Foundations

Naruto waits for Gai to start his speech about youth and all that but to his surprise he doesn't.

Naruto is bemused by the look the older man gives him.

"Naruto-san the way you acted earlier with Kurenai you are very kind and an honorable person. I believe leaving Konoha has done you more good than bad... Today I will fight, for my village since it's my duty but I want you to know that I do not want to drag you here from the life you built."

Naruto just nods. He knew that Gai was a man who took his duty to the village seriously and would obey orders even if they seem 'unyouthful', so to speak.

He will deal with Gai just like he dealt with the others. He wanted Konoha to survive but he was vengeful enough to make it suffer.

That was the shortest fight yet.

Gai moved at speeds that were only visible to Kage level ninjas and dojutsu wielders.

Naruto punched his lights out as soon as he got close.

Knocked out with one punch.

At least Gai didn't have to feel the pain of his chakra being ripped out because he was unconscious before it happened.

Winner Naruto Uzumaki.

"It's your turn next Kakashi."

Kakashi nodded at Jiraiya with a sigh.

"We still haven't figured out what he is doing to them... And I have no false hope that I will win this fight either. The best I can do Jiraiya-sama is to try and tire him out," Kakashi says and hears Tsunade scoff from the other side.

He sighed, "But I don't think even that will work."

Jiraiya stares at Tsunade and she stares back.

Kakashi slouches and walks towards the arena as his name is announced.

Once Kakashi is out of the contestants' box Jiraiya asks,

"You know don't you?"

Tsunade raises an eyebrow, "What's that supposed to mean? Be more specific."

Jiraiya glares, "You know what it is that he has done to the others."

Tsunade shrugs, "maybe I do maybe I don't..."

"Tsunade,"

"Don't Jiraiya. By now I can guess what it is you are going to say. So I am telling you to shut up before you make things worse than it already is between us..."

Jiraiya smiles ruefully, "you say that as if this could get any worse Tsunade... We have already reached the point were you despise me, what more is there?"

Tsunade doesn't answer.

"Why?"

Tsunade sighs and looks at Jiraiya pensively, "because I was wrong Jiraiya. I made a mistake and now I am trying to make it right."

"By betraying your village."

Tsunade scowls but Jiraiya's face is blank.

"My village? This hasn't been my village, my home, in a long time Jiraiya... Things have changed and gone off the rails and we have done absolutely nothing to fix it. The council planned and that old coot manipulated and I... No, we just stood there and took it."

Tsunade shakes her head, "I am not a good leader Jiraiya it is evident from how things went... I think... No, I know that my grandfather and uncle would be ashamed of what I let his village become. Minato and Sensei... Everyone that gave anything for this village should be ashamed of what became of this village..."

Jiraiya looks at her with a desperate pleading look, "that's why we have to have Naruto back Tsunade... He can fix it. I know he can-"

"I know," she says calmly, "he is the only one who can but we long since lost the right to force him to do that Jiraiya. Just... Open your eyes for once and do the right thing. Please."

Jiraiya didn't answer and that was the end of that conversation.

Kakashi Hatake vs Naruto Uzumaki

"Naruto,"

"Hatake,"

The two men faced each other.

"You're strong..."

Naruto doesn't react.

"And the man you have become today... Your parents would have been proud of you. I know I have no right but I am glad that I got to be your sensei."

Naruto frowns, "what are you trying to do Hatake?"

"I just wanted to let you know that... I am not sure anymore. But what I said is true."

Naruto shakes his head, "It's a little too late for that Hatake."

Kakashi slouches, "I suppose you are right."

Naruto stopped a punch from Kakashi who appeared at his side. Kakashi tried to kick him but Naruto kneed him in the gut causing Kakashi to go up in a poor of smoke as a log replaced him.

Naruto ducked and punched Kakashi who appeared behind him and swiped his legs out from under him only for that too to turn into a log.

Naruto moved back avoiding the hand that came from underground and stomped on the ground causing fissures to appear. Kakashi jumped out of the ground and started going through hand signs.

He didn't get to finish it before Naruto appeared behind him and strikes his spine. The hit only connected with another log.

Naruto rolled his eyes. He used to be a ninja and now a Biju king but even he didn't know where the endless supply of logs came from.

"Fire style: Fire dragon technique"

Naruto placed his right hand on the ground and the wall erupted and stopped the dragon.

Kakashi appeared behind the wall hoping to catch Naruto but the blonde wasn't there.

He turned wary.

The earth beneath him turned soft and he began sinking in. He cursed and tried to jump but before he could Naruto was in front of him and a hand jabbed at his throat.

Kakashi didn't scream as his chakra was ripped out of him simply because his vocal cords had been disabled along with it.

As Kakashi laid unmoving on the ground, Naruto looked up and locked eyes with Jiraiya.

Naruto didn't smile and Jiraiya's expression never changed.

Winner: Naruto Uzumaki

Tsunade Senju vs Naruto Uzumaki

Tsunade steps into the arena as her name is called for the next match.
Jiraiya is silent and pensive besides her.

The anticipation for the fight between the sannin and the blond is high. But by now most people have accepted that Naruto will come out on top.

Naruto stands there calmly and looks at her.

Tsunade takes a deep breath, "I forfeit."

The crowd roars at that.

Winner Naruto Uzumaki

Naruto looks at her coldly and she feels like she is being dissected.

"You sure?" He asks finally.

Tsunade's jaw clench and she nods, "I am. I want to do it."

Tsunade pays no attention to anyone or anything else but Naruto.

Finally Naruto nods and Tsunade feels relieved.

She turns around and leaves the stadium.

"What was that?" Jiraiya asks as soon as she is near him.

"Didn't you hear? I forfeited." Tsunade says plainly.

Jiraiya's expression doesn't change, it is as blank as it had been since Kurenai's match.

"There is something more Tsunade. The way you spoke to him... I have a feeling that your words weren't strictly about the match."

Tsunade looks at Jiraiya mildly, "Well even if it isn't, it's none of your business."

Jiraiya doesn't reply and the next and final match is called.

Tsunade lets her ex-teammate and old friend walk past her into the stadium.

Earlier that morning

"Tsunade,"

Tsunade turned around startled at the sound. She was resting in the Senju compound enjoying the place while it was still open to her.

She had already decided on forfeiting so from tomorrow onwards she wouldn't have any rights to the home she grew up in.

It was painful even though she had abandoned the place on her own for more than a decade.

When she turned around Naruto was standing behind her.

Tsunade's eyes widened, "Naruto..."

Naruto absentmindedly glanced around the house.

"You said you wanted to talk to me, I'm listening."

Tsunade was speechless for some time.

Sure Kyoshiro had promised her a chance to talk with Naruto but now that she finally got the chance, she found herself stumbling.

"Naruto..." Even his name came out choked.

Naruto sighed when she stayed silent; speechless.

Finally he decided to move things along.

"What do you want Tsunade?"

Tsunade blinked away her tears, "I want to apologize for everything I have done to you... I... I am so sorry Naruto... Please you have to understand that I... I am sorry for all that I did. I know that this might not change anything. But you have to know," she was crying now.

"I do,"

Tsunade looked up in surprise at him.

"I know you are sorry and I know that you are sincere. I know."

She hadn't expected him to just accept her apology just like that.

He speaks leaving her even more confused, "But tell me Tsunade, as sorry as you are, what are you exactly sorry for?"

"I..." Tsunade swallowed heavily, "for banishing you..."

Naruto raised an eyebrow and gestures to himself, "I don't think you did me any harm by banishing me Tsunade. So what else?"

"For... For not noticing you were injured when you brought in Sasuke..."

Naruto shrugged, "The Kyuubi had healed almost everything by then. No one would've noticed at first glance that I was injured. Not when everyone assumed that the blood was Uchiha's. So what else?"

Tsunade doesn't know where this is going, "for not listening to you! I never gave you a chance to explain... I didn't trust you enough."

Naruto shakes his head, "You didn't trust me at all... But that's not something one should apologize for Tsunade. Trust is something that should be earned and I had known you for only a few months by then. You didn't trust me over your colleagues, not your fault. But yes, you didn't give me a chance at all, that is something you should be sorry for. Let's be honest though, even if you had, it would have been useless when everyone was looking forward to getting rid of me. So what else?"

Tsunade looked frustrated, "What do you want me to say Naruto?"

Naruto smiles coldly, "I want to know what you are sorry for."

Tsunade closes her eyes, "I am sorry for not trying. I am sorry for letting you down, for trying to drag you back from the life you had built... I am sorry for being a failure of a Kage, for letting the council and others use me as their puppet, for being a coward... I am sorry for... For... Everything... For everything..."

Naruto looks at the crying woman, "You are right. You are a coward and a failure of a Kage."

She flinches.

Naruto looks around appreciating the architecture of the Senju home.

"Now that we have established that you are sorry, what do you want to do about it?"

She looks up in hope, "do you forgive me?"

Naruto turns back to look at her and he says without a pause, "I do. But I don't trust you."

Tsunade closes her eyes happy but dejected.

Naruto looks at her for a moment, observing her, "what are you willing to do to earn my trust back?"

Tsunade answers without thinking, "Anything."

Naruto smirks, "That's a powerful word Tsunade... So I'll tell you what I expect from you and you can decide whether or not you can do it."

Tsunade frowns, she has a distinct feeling that he is using this opportunity to get what he wants but Naruto's not like that, is he? But then again, what did she know about this Naruto?

Tsunade is brought out of her memories when Jiraiya charged at Naruto with a Rasengan.

She narrows her eyes, what is that idiot doing?

Tsunade and Naruto were the only ones who noticed how sloppy Jiraiya's fighting was. Only because they both knew him and his style and this was not like him at all.

Naruto was looking at Jiraiya with narrowed eyes,

"What are you up to Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya doesn't answer and instead charges him again.

Naruto dodges and retaliates with one of his Rasengan which grinds through Jiraiya's wrist. Jiraiya doesn't scream or cry out but instead just stupidly charges him again.

Naruto growls a bit frustrated by his former mentor's actions and kicks out and listens to the crunch of the man's leg breaking.

Jiraiya doesn't scream now either. Just sits there looking lost.

Naruto moves towards him slowly.

"Was I wrong?" Jiraiya asks softly.

Naruto narrows his eyes, "are you asking me that?"

Jiraiya looks at him blankly.

Naruto looks at him equally blankly, "Yes you were."

He places his palm on Jiraiya's head and Jiraiya slumps to the ground, this time he does scream.

The applause from the audience is deafening.

The final battle is over.