It was the last day before Naruto would leave the village and he had yet not met up with Tsunade to get his pass.
He strolled leisurely in the village, after all he would be gone for a year or so, and reached his final destination. The Hokage Tower.
He had already met up with Iruka, Shikamaru, Sai, Hinata, Konohamaru and Team Gai. They all, along with Ichiraku family, knew he was leaving the village, again, for a while.
He arrived at the Hokage tower and waited outside Tsunade's office patientlyfor Tsunade to finish her meeting and call him. Some Chunins left the office, throwing him a disgusted glance and he ignored the pain in his chest keeping a bored expression intact, when Shizune signalled Naruto to go ahead, he knocked twice and entered when Tsunade called out an "Enter" and was greeted by an impassive Tsunade.
She looked him up and down and rose an eyebrow not losing her impassive face, "Since when did you start using the door, gaki?" She asked as she picked a document reading it over.
Tsunade actually working instead of complaining wasn't a new sight for Naruto, he out of all knew Tsunade could take work seriously when she needed or wanted to. He had seen that when he was spending time with her during his medic and Hokage to-be training.
"I decided to humor you just this once, Old Hag." Naruto grinned. Tsunade's eye twitched and Naruto dodged the kunai -aka pen- thrown at him with a "Don't call me that!" effectively breaking her impassive expression.
Naruto just laughed and she shot him a short annoyed glance once.
"Is there something you want?" She asked looking back at her documents.
"Well, yes. The passes tteba." Naruto answered and she paused. She slowly put the document back at the top of the pile and sighed giving him full attention.
"I see. When are you leaving and why didn't you come the very same day I said you could get them?" She propped her elbows, and linked her fingers resting her chin on it, on the wooden desk.
"Maa, I was really tired Baa-chan. Yesterday most of time passed away resting too ttebayo and I am leaving early morning tomorrow." He scratched the back of his head when she frowned.
"Are you okay? Do you want me to check you up once?" The medic in her couldn't help but ask.
"I'm fine Baa-chan. I just needed some rest. Now I'm all fine and good to go, Dattebayo!" Naruto gave her his trademark foxy grin.
She sighed nodding and indicated towards the chair for him to take it, "I see. Sit, Naruto."
"Do you really want to go?" She asked after a minute of silence.
"Yes Baa-chan." Naruto answered simply.
She nodded back slowly. "It's good you dropped by, we have a few things to discuss before you leave."
Naruto cocked his head confused and pursed his lips as he noticed the ANBU move out, no lingering chakra of ROOT Shinobi and he could faintly feel the flicker of familiar chakra lightning up around the office indicating the activation of silence seal.
"Naruto, be honest with me, do you hate Jiraiya and Kakashi?" Tsunade asked softly in a motherly tone.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock and he grimaced at such implication. "Why would I hate either of them?" He practically spit the word 'hate' as if it were poison, him being a jinchuriki and being subjected to that emotion constantly, to him it was.
"I remember that day when I scolded you, you said if you had someone to teach or pay attention, you..." She trailed off when she saw recognization spark on Naruto's features.
He shook his head furiously, "No Baa-chan, I acted like a brat that day. I was getting frustrated with all that blame game and that day I just, I just snapped ttebayo. I don't hate them Baa-chan. I don't have the capability to do so tteba. They both tend to keep away but they have done way more than anyone else has and I am grateful of them. Honest.
If not for Kaka-sensei I wouldn't have understood the true meaning of protecting your precious people and understand what real comrades mean.
Jiraiya? I don't know what means to have a family but if I understand correctly, he is like a father or grandfather to me. The one I never had. The man has taught me to read Baa-chan, how can I even think about hating him? He indirectly praised me a lot of times, saying how much I'm like my parents and passed me a part of my heritage. The Rasengan.
They are my precious people Baa-chan, I'll protect them with all I have and I harbour no ill feelings towards them. I assure you, dattebayo!" Naruto's eyes sparkled with honesty as he spoke with nothing but truth and Tsunade shook her head smiling fondly. The boy needed to be protected, he was just so pure. That was why she didn't want to send him away. Again. This time not even Jiraiya would be there with him. He will be on his own. Alone. Maybe her motherly instincts were feeding these thoughts in her brain but she couldn't exactly deny with the reasoning. She sighed, she knew Naruto wanted and needed to do this alone and she couldn't bring in herself to deny him or stop him. After all Naruto has been through, that's the minimum she could do for him. She could let him go. They both were Shinobis and they had to make tough decisions on daily basis and it was just a year, she was sure Naruto would be fine on his own.
She smiled at him a bittersweet smile, "I'm glad."
Her smile turned into a concerned frown as she remembered something from what Naruto had just said, "What was that about reading and writing, Naruto? Are you telling me that you learned to read and write at 14?"
Naruto averted his eyes, looking ashamed and Tsunade's frown deepened. "Naruto?" She called out in a motherly tone again.
Naruto still didn't look at her as he softly whispered a "15, yes."
"How did Sensei miss this?" Tsunade asked more to herself than him. She was rightly furious, on the village, on the Sandaime.
"I never let him know." Was answered in a whisper and she closed her eyes forcing herself to control her anger and grieve at the stupidity of the village.
Tsunade tsked in disapproval and they both let silence fall over them for a few minutes, it was Tsunade that broke the silence sighing heavily, "The first time you mentioned of this travelling, you told me I could give you missions so that you can continue as an active ninja." Tsunade began with another topic she had wanted to discuss from the beginning.
"Hai." Naruto nodded.
"Even though you won't be under the guidance of a superior." Tsunade continued and Naruto frowned. He didn't know this was necessary.
Tsunade watched emotions flicker on Naruto's face and opened her secret stash to retrieve a sake bottle and cup. She took a big gulp directly from the bottle and grunted at the satisfying feeling of burning traveling down in her throat.
He opened his mouth to speak but no words came. Did that mean he would have to abandon his plans?
"No, I have a solution for that." Tsunade spoke as if she had just read his mind and he blinked surprised.
His eyes sparkled in hope and he leaned forward in his seat, eagerly waiting for her to continue.
"You will be tested." The platinum blonde haired woman stated simply.
Naruto was lost and he intelligently answered with a, "Huh?"
"You will be supervised by Jiraiya for a month or two, it depends on him whether he wants to train you first then test you or get the test over and done with first thing. You also will be accompanying him on a couple of missions where he will examine your progress which are part of your test and by the end of what Jiraiya decides shall be the last test, he will determine whether you are ready to be Chunin or Jounin." Tsunade elaborated.
"I see." Naruto nodded slowly in understanding but frowned.
"Hmm?" Tsunade prodded and rose an eyebrow questioningly.
"Baa-chan, not that I'm not grateful for such an opportunity but, why? I'm already taking missions what Genin only dream of, I'm certain there is no rule such that prohibits a Genin to go outside the village whether to train or whatever and you know rank is the last thing I care about. Then why?" Naruto was lost. He had read so many books in these past few months and obviously that included rule books. He was sure there wasn't any need for him to get promoted to set his foot out.
"Correct. As you said, you're taking missions above the rank that of a Genin. That is against the rules, yes?" She knew what he was thinking, Naruto concluded mentally.
"Yes ttebayo." He nodded like a good kid.
"Now tell me the difference between the missions where you are the support unit or plus one and the ones you're in command." Tsunade gulped down a whole cup of sake.
Naruto scrunched up his nose in thought, he hadn't noticed any difference but now that Tsunade mentioned it... "I have been on missions varying C-rank to A-rank, hardly but even D-ranks. Most missions I'm in command are B-rank max, which are hardly even high level B. Whereas on the mission I'm the support unit, the ranks usually upgrade to high A-rank. Is this what you're talking about Baa-chan? Because I know the reason, being a Genin I cannot have the authority to order my superiors and have no cards to make them listen to me unless, of course, they are already commanded to follow me from the higher authority, the Hokage. Which would be like insulting them in a lot of ways."
She sighed, the boy was right and had exactly spoken about what she had expected, and pierced him with her hazel eyes speaking bluntly, "These high level missions you receive are not because of your skills, rather because the council demands to do so."
It hurt her to see those features dimming with sadness but she had to tell him to make him understand what and why she was asking him for all of this. It was not just a wish, it was necessary if he wanted to bring Sasuke back, become Hokage. He will have to move up in ranks. No doubt Naruto could become Hokage even staying a genin forever, but...
Bringing Sasuke back was a tough situation. She couldn't allow him or team Kakashi to go and try to retrieve Sasuke with mere words. She wasn't bound by any rules or was pressured in any way but she was the village leader of Konoha and she had certain duties and if a "friend" of Naruto would threaten her village, she will have to take measures but it's not as if she couldn't help Naruto somewhat.
As the days would pass the council would be demanding more and more for Sasuke to be labeled as a threat and mark him rogue, Uchiha or not. Even being the Hokage herself there is only so much she could do. And if she could make Naruto capable of standing in front of her with a fair argument then that is what she shall do.
If Naruto has the authority to organize teams and searches and go himself in the field to bring his pseudo teammate back to the village. And power to not just bring the Uchiha back, fighting if necessary, but verbally fight back the council, then she as the Hokage could continue to help him and his ex team to bring that Uchiha back.
She was already preparing him for the time he would have this authority in council. He was being trained by Hiashi Hyuuga in politics and clan rituals.
Naruto, being the son of Yondaime had a major role and important claimed seat in the council and as soon as the kid would turn eighteen, it would be his place to take and attend meetings as part of Council and take the name of his father's clan and represent, now, his clan even if he was the only alive member of the said clan. It is his wish whether he wants to take the seat or not but if he wanted to become the Hokage, the power was needed.
Tsunade and Naruto had discussed on this very topic not too long ago, Naruto had questioned what would happen if the member is not interested in politics. She had answered saying, in cases where a direct descendant of the Kage denies the seat, like the son of Sandaime; Sarutobi Asuma, the next kin shall take the same place. In the case of Sarutobi's, Sarutobi Konohamaru will be the one taking place in the council once he turns eighteen. If not even him then the next or next and if the line ends at Konohamaru then the seat shall stay empty 'til the clan ceases to exist.
Tsunade had even told him about herself, being the granddaughter of Shodaime and grandniece of Nidaime she had had the chance but that time she hadn't been interested in returning to the village and there was still a seat vacant of the Senju in the council.
Then there is his life long dream, to become the Hokage. If all her plans could go accordingly then she was certain she herself would pass him the hat. But for that, she needed him to get promoted. She was sure, the brat was Jounin material already just the problem would be killing which she knew the more he climbed up the ladder of ranks the more the chances he would have to kill. And she was worried about that. The kid was way to pure for his own good and she wanted to protect that purity but it was his choice to become Shinobi and Shinobis had to smear blood if needed be, their own and also of their enemies.
And lastly the Council. The Hindrance. They did not want, at least not the civilian council and the elders, Naruto to gain power or authority. Otherwise he would've been promoted as Chunin after his first Chunin exam, the boy had done so much for the village that time. She had read it all. Defeating the Hyuuga prodigy and fighting the Ichibi. The village had lost Sandaime and had a few casualties but if not for Naruto, a few parts of the village were to be leveled in ruins definitely. But the Shinobi council and her trusted few ANBU had given her suggestions for the situation as well. And she had plans.
"Why?" Naruto tried to hide his sadness but Tsunade could see right through it. It wasn't his fault that his features were just so expressive.
"Because you are our Jinchuriki." She stated simply without any trace of emotion and Naruto bit his lip.
"Oh." He replied so softly that Tsunade almost missed it.
"But," She began, leaning forward and smirked at him, "because it is I whose word is command, you are able to lead so many Genin and now Chunin teams. With your current rank, you aren't allowed to do so yet you do. Commanding Genin teams and Chunin teams on a mission is a job of Chunin and I must praise you, you have done well." She smiled when Naruto graced her with his sunny smile.
Naruto nodded in acknowledgement grinning happily, the signs of earlier sadness gone.
"Is there anything else you noticed?" She refilled her sake cup as she asked him.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Yes, I have question regarding that ttebayo."
"Go on." Tsunade nodded as she took a swig and refilled her cup.
"Why were, on a few Chunin teams, Jounin sensei present and on a handful of occasions when there was absolutely no need why were Jounin present in Chunin or Genin teams tteba? Like Shikamaru and Neji. Not to mention two Jounins on my last mission, Kakashi and Yamato ttebayo." He crossed his arms pouting in thought and Tsunade was amused to find the similarities in the look of a fox and Naruto.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair and smirked again before she gulped down the cup of sake. "Those missions were simply not given to you because the Council demanded or you requested, those missions were given by me and Shikaku Nara, the Jounin Commander."
"Why?" His pout deepened and she chuckled at his childishness.
"Most of the Shinobi Council thinks you should be promoted after Shikaku revealed how well you were doing on missions, so I came with an idea to make your promotion easy when the time comes even if half of the Council should disagree. That plan was simple, when the mission leader were to submit their mission reports, they were also instructed to inspect you during the mission and record your behavior and you in general. Like how it's done for a private promotion in case of circumstances. Just the difference here was that in case of such circumstances only one Jounin inspects while you had several. Again, because you are a Jinchuriki." She paused and continued when she saw Naruto nodding her that he understood 'til now. "Along with your superiors even your peers submitted their views on you, like Shikamaru, Neji and Shino. And on your last mission because there are two superiors, I did not have to include either Sakura or Sai. So all these reports should help in your promotion to go without a hitch." Tsunade another swig as she finished her explanation. She was going to miss having the pseudo professional talks with her gaki.
"I see." He frowned. "Neither of the aforementioned friends of mine told me of this, why? Were they aware that the reports they were writing was for my promotion tteba?"
"No, they didn't know but we cannot say anything for those three, the three of them are smarts kids. When a Shinobi is added in the team or is involved in a mission the mission leader along with another team member give reports on the addition." She explained.
"Did Team Kakashi give reports for Sai?" Naruto tilted his head on side curiously.
"Yes. I have reports from Kakashi, Yamato and Sakura." Tsunade filled another cup and Naruto began wondering how long until she gets tipsy.
"Why not from me?" Naruto was pouting again and Tsunade smirked.
"Because you're an idiot." Tsunade deadpanned and he huffed, offended.
"Thanks for encouraging me." Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Back to the main topic, this year Chunins exam aren't being held in Konoha and your identity of being a jinchuriki isn't a well kept secret. You understand what I'm going with this, right?" Tsunade paused mid swig to look at him to emphasize her unspoken words.
On cue, Naruto opened his mouth to answer the unasked question, 'You know about Jinchuriki situation don't you?' "Yes, sending a Jinchuriki to another village can cause a lot of problems like capture, death, torture, mental scarring, and there is this; if a Jinchuriki loses control. Not to mention sending a Jinchuriki secretly to another village is a like a declaration of war. As you mentioned earlier, me being a Jinchuriki is no secret and me carrying the strongest Biju of all, no village that we don't have perfect alliance with will not waste their chance to lay a hand on me."
"Right." Tsunade nodded and folded her arms under her bust, accenting it more.
"But Baa-chan, if all the villages are aware of my status as Jinchuriki why are you allowing me to leave in the first place?" Naruto scratched his head.
She smirked, "If someone outside the exam decides to lay a hand on you, it is your wish how you handle it. I am confident in your abilities, I know you can handle yourself. Yet, when you are out of the village on your own there would be no rules binding you that you will be bound in Chunin exam. Then there is the card of you being the son of Yondaime, true you shouldn't use it, yet if you were to get captured we can use that card then with a threat of war."
Naruto frowned, he doesn't appreciate the idea of war but he understood what she was saying. No villages in this time of peace wanted war and the village Hidden in Leaf was one of the biggest and strongest village out of the five so he was aware what card actually she was playing. The card of power and superiority.
Him training under Tsunade to become Hokage, he had developed the way a Kage takes action and think how a Kage should, Tsunade had made sure of that. The idea of revealing his heritage could backfire with a greater impact, he will just have to make sure that he doesn't get captured. He just will have to stay alert all the time and trust in himself to not get captured neither by any hidden villages nor by the Akatsuki.
"Alright, so you're saying Jiraiya will inspect me but wouldn't that be injustice? I mean Ero-sennin has taught me for two years and I am still his apprentice ttebayo." Naruto folded his arms.
"He has strict orders from the Hokage to evaluate you, not as your Shisou but an unbiased examiner. He will be sending reports after his evaluation on each mission or test he wants to take. Do not think this will be easy or a game just because he is your Master. In fact, your exams will be tougher for the very same reason." She warned pouring one more cup and frowning mid way because the bottle was empty. She took out another bottle from her secret stash and filled the cup.
"Now that, that's clear. After you are done with Jiraiya, one more person will evaluate you." Tsunade added offhandedly.
"One more Baa-chan? Why?" Naruto whined. He understood rules but this was too much now. He was already being evaluated since god knows which mission. He understood Jiraiya's involvement, him being a Sennin he had the power in the village just below the Hokage and not to mention he was forever a candidate to the Hokage's seat, but what was the need for one more?
"By the time you are you are promoted, you will have to choose-" She stopped mid sentence, she was still having doubts on this part.
"Choose what Baa-chan?" Naruto's eyebrows creased in worry seeing his Baa-chan worried.
She looked at him and steeled her eyes, she repeated to herself, it was his choice to become a Shinobi he would have to do a certain few things even if she didn't like them, should the situation demand.
"Once your supervisors have made a decision for your new rank, I want you to come back to the village." She paused to take a gulp her sake but had to abandon the plan as she saw Naruto open his mouth to object/shout, "No! Let me finish! You will come back to the village once you are re-ranked. You will receive your promotion letter from the Hokage and you will choose another division. ANBU or Hunter-nin. As soon as you receive your new mask and uniform with your first mission, you are allowed to go."
Naruto's mouth was still hanging open in surprise, shock and confusion. "ANBU or Oinin? Wow. But, but why? And I wasn't aware Konoha has Hunter unit Baa-chan."
She waved her palm in dismissal, "It hasn't been long since the division was included as a part of our force. You already have both their interests, they have their eyes on you. So, you're welcome in both."
"Ehh?" Naruto exclaimed surprised.
Tsunade continued, not bothered by the interruption, "I told you half of the council doesn't want to see you moving ahead if it is not as their weapon, they think you will get ahead of yourself once you move up ranks. And a part of the plan that we had to come up with was shared with the Shinobi council and elders, which came from the Commander of ANBU by the way, that you get installed in elite force which is either ANBU or Hunter and they agreed. That way you will stay directly under the Hokage's command and will have to obey the rules and regulations to dot." 'Which we know you won't.' left unsaid but the implication was loud and clear and Naruto grinned wolfishly.
Tsunade shook her head exasperatedly.