Chapter 4: Holiday
The atmosphere in the hokages office was tense to say the least, despite being the only occupant Tsunades aura would have weighed down on anyone who dared set foot inside.
A client had died, that was nothing new. Yet an aristocratic lord whom had sought out Jiraiya himself and hired some of her most promising shinobi, that was just embarrassing.
The best she could do to save face was to let everyone know that there client had lured his killer without the consent of his guards and continued to hold open court where he had been killed.
Yet the matter of his death was one that trouble the blonde hokage. She had no doubt in Sakura skills as a medic yet she just couldn't believe that with a single touch the 'wandering sage' as the townspeople called him had taken the noble lords life, with no internal of external injuries and completely erased all electrical activity in the brain.
It was as if he had simply sucked out the poor man's soul for crying out loud.
Kakashi's observations also warranted trouble. Holding a henge in battle was no was easy thing, her own transformation being based around her yin seal. Add to that the use of techniques foreign even to kakashi and knocking out two seasoned Chuunin with minimal effort, this guy was no push over.
With Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru out cold no one was able to get a trace on the murderer. Her best bet was for Jiraiya to see if he could pick up anything.
A knock at the door brought her back to reality, without waiting a man in dark clothing with his right eye and right arm covered hobbled in using his wooden cane to support himself.
Tsunade's mood soured as the tension in the air only grew, Danzō was always bad news in the hokages office.
"Good day hokage-sama how have you been?"
"What do you want you old geezer"
The insult seemed to pass over the man's head.
"Never one for small talk I see, Hiruzen seemed to always cherish that part..." just the same the light scorn passed over her own head "...a recent failure by Kakashi Hatake and your own apprentice Sakura Haruno has brought some worry to myself and the council, I have come on behalf of the council to discuss the implications and ensure you understand the consequences"
Tsunades scowl only grew
"I am well aware of the fall out that will come from this mission, I have sent word to the fire Daimyo and he has already reassured his confidence and support in our village" lucky Shizune had reminded her and drafted a letter she just had to sign.
"That good to hear my lady, although I was more concerned about the reputation of Konoha. A ruling lord of the aristocracy of our country has died at the hands of a hired hand in our borders, the other villages will see this as a grave weakness, if I had known of this mission before you had sent out a team I would have strongly suggested multiple teams or even a squad of ANBU to ensure we wouldn't have been embarrassed like this."
"The late lord had already lured his killer to the village before kakashi and his team had arrived, I doubt even Anbu would have stopped the man's death under the same circumstances"
"They would have at the least captured the assalent after the fact" Tsunade's head was aching at this point. The mans slight smirk at having won the verbal bout was infuriating.
"Your words have wisdom Danzō, I will take them in mind next time an important assignment comes to my desk" she hoped that was all she had to say get Danzō to piss off.
"Thank you my Lady that is all I ask, on another note I have taken the liberty in helping bring the murderer to justice…" reaching into his coat the warhawk pulled out a vanilla folder "... a few ears across the land have given word of a chain smoking blonde monk wearing a long white robe making his way east to the coast, fortunately I have been tracking this man for some time now so the reports I can assure a recent and accurate." With that Danzō handed the folder to his Kage.
"This information would have been invaluable to have a week ago Danzō, why did you not come forward before"
"If I had known of the mission beforehand I would have" again the smirk didn't go unnoticed.
"Thank you Danzo, dismissed" without pause the old man bowed lowly and left the office.
Putting the thoughts of removing his other arm aside, Tsunade looked over the folder in her hands. Indeed the man was as frugal as ever, the notes were detailed right down to the hour, where he got this information she did not know, however its use was more important at the moment.
"Shizune!" The women poked her head inside the office.
"Get me Kakashi and team guy ASAP!" Without pause the Hokages aid left to do as commanded.
It seemed that the last note in the folder mentioned a boat ride headed for water country only that a sinlge person didn't get off at their destination.
The only land along the sea route was the abandoned land of the whirling tides, a treacherous nation yet a favoured hideout for pirates, runaways and of course missing ninja.
Perhaps Jiraiya would be best handling this, he was on the coast at the moment. A spare ANBU squad would also help to get the elders of her back.
The eastern sea that separated from the mainland and the far flung islands of the land of water were turbulent and prone to storms, the waters closer to the mainland were easy to navigate but the open sea was only sailed by seasoned captains and the odd idiot.
The many currents that flowed the length of the sea culminated around a small island far of the coast of the land of fire. It's trademark whirlpools that surrounded its shore providing an ideal defensive barrier between the beach and any whom would try and take the island in large numbers.
The narrow gaps between the whirlpools allowed smaller vessels to reach shore, there mobility allowing them to quickly escape any ripe that would draw them to there end. Since the islands abandonment pirates had taken residence seeing as the Shinobi of the world rarely came this way.
Naruto saw the country as a hideaway of sorts, he had long ago disposed of any ill minded residents and one could say he had the whole country to himself.
The whirlpools were easy to bypass, a powerful water jutsu was all that was needed to negate the twisting tides long enough to walk by with no trouble.
He loved this place, a country of his own
The ruins of ages since past gave a sense of dread though, one that made Naruto quite disheartened. How a nation of the greatest sealmasters and swordsman was wiped out in a night was something he hated to think on. The threat they must have posed and the power they held would indeed have been great to behold. Why was he thinking of that though, he was meant to be on holiday.
His small newly built hut was all he needed out here, a good view of the beach and plenty of room to train made it an ideal land to call home, for a little while at least.
He had come here many times in his travels, yet each time felt like he was coming home. The land of his ancestors welcomed him with open arms and golden shores.
The cool breeze and sounds of the unrestricted wildlife filled his hearing. He sat cross legged, eyes closed as he allowed the feeling of nature overwhelm him. Every breath was slow and steady, his pulse slowing to a snail's pace and his chakra surrounding his body in a silver glow of power and purity.
Dark markings grew around his closed eyes which opened to reveal silver ringed orbs. His tanned skin shined in the mid morning sun and his golden spikes moved on their own accord.
'Have you got it from here Kurama?'
'Sure thing'
Standing up tall with his bare chest and long black pants that billowed in the breeze Naruto moulded his special chakra.
"Shinra Tensei" the blast of gravity blew the trees into smithereens
"Banshou Ten'in" the broken splinters and earth flew back towards him
"Shura no Ko" his arm opened in an unnatural fashion revealing a cannon of sorts that decimated the debris in a golden beam of chakra.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu" in a puff of smoke a flock of pure white doves appeared in the air, all bearing the same eyes as him as their vision was shared with their master
"Meifu No Ō" from the ground a depths of the earth a grotesque looking creature rose with Rinnegan eyes that shone in the sunlight. It jaw open wide as flames of blue and red spewd forth to cover the ground turning earth and trees into ash
"Futon: Wrath of the Wind God" his chest grew to a great size before he exhaled a blinding light of pure wind chakra. The minuscule blades that made up his breathe sliced and diced all in its path in a long wind of airborne death.
"Katon: Hell Fire" blue flame shot from his lips that coated every surface in a deadly blaze of fire and heat.
"Katon: Fire prison" the flames moved on their own to form a sphere of blue hell. The orb hovering just of the blackened earth.
"Suiton: Divine wave" Naruto shot water from his mouth that twisted and turned, crashing over the ground extinguishing the blaze and creating a Heavy cloud of steam.
With a smile that threatens to split his face Naruto brushed the nonexistent dust of his shoulders.
"Still got it"
Turning to make his way back to his humble domicile, Naruto found himself unable to move as his left left seemed to turn into stone.
"Oh for fuck sake" as the stone crept up onto his thigh Naruto form the tiger seal before expelling a great deal of chakra.
'Come on Kurama'
'Don't blame me, you didn't have to shoot out every technique you have, I can't absorb natural energy properly with all this distraction you imbecile'
'Fine, guess we'll have to try again latter'
His eyes returning to there normal colour with his skin and hair losing their divine glow. Naruto hit his affected left with a closed fist making the thin layer of petrified skin shatter.
It stung like a bitch though.
'It takes me exactly a minute and fifteen seconds to gather enough natural energy to enter sage mode which only lasts for five minutes a pop. I can't go any quicker than that so I need you to absorb it for me'
He was met with only silence, the stupid fox was probably licking its wounded pride.
Thousands of white snakes filled the room, their foul blood sprayed across the floor. A demonic looking figure sat atop the pile, it's face reminiscent of a serpent with great fangs and sliced eyes.
Surrounded by this reptilian massacre there was a lone boy, his sword sheared and his Sharingan eyes glowing in the dim light.
Sasuke had done what many desired yet few could, he had killed Orochimaru of the Sannin.
The snake had tried to take him on in a weakened state, but his failing body was not up to the task. Taking in his true, grotesque form Orochimaru had invaded his min yet even that failed, his Sharingan overpowering the body transfer jutsu.
No the lifeless of one of the world most feared Shinobi lay at his feet.
He made his way out of the room and out of the underground hideout, passing by a shocked Kabuto and a few henchmen.
The confrontation with his late master had only boosted his Uchiha pride. The power of his eyes alone defeated the Sannin.
His next task though would be the fulfilment of his lifelong ambition. He needed help though, if only to keep away any interference.
Orochimaru was always the kind to hold onto people who may serve a greater purpose when the need arose, seeing as he was no in oblivion Sasuke would take on the snakes assets for his own use.
Jiraiya was never one for missions, he preferred to do his part in his own way and not be bound by the follies and regulations of missions.
He had spent the better part of a decade and a half wondering the world keeping an ear out for any ill intention towards his home. His information had more than once save the lives of his comrades back home and abroad.
Yet for whatever reason he chose not to fathom, Tsunade had seen fit to overkill the fuck out of this current situation.
Team guy, kakashi and himself along with a squad of Anbu was a little more than necessary in his not so humble opinion.
He could understand the worry though, anyone who hid in the land of waves did indeed not want to be found and extra hands were always handy.
He guessed he could make up time for his research once he dealt with this 'wandering sage'.
Bah, a sage. He was a real sage, trained in the ancient art of senjutsu by the great roads of Mt Myobokuzan.
Sitting back in his small booth inside a quiet bar, the toad Sannin downed his last drink and left. He would have liked to try his luck with the busty waitress but he was on the clock now.
Kakashi and team guy would arrive in the port city tomorrow morning. The Anbu not far behind. Their boat ride was scheduled just before noon and it took a good three hours to get close enough to the abandoned island in order to walk the remaining distance.
A good night's rest would rid the alcohol out of his system as he couldn't handle guy and a hangover at the same time.
Oh how he longed to be on the road again, on his own with nothing but his purse limiting his actions, not that he paid anyways.
"Come now, let's jump in a fiery sprint of YOUTH!"
"Yes Gai-Sensei"
This had been going on for the last day and a half since they left Konoha, guy would spout out some inspirational nonsense and everyone but lee would ignore it.
Kakshis truly cherished their friendship, he counted guy as his closest friend but he could live without the preaching of youth every fuck five minutes.
Other then that their travel had been quite average. The Anbu that followed them remained silent as ever and while guy and his clone lead the charge himself, Tenten and Neji stayed in the middle.
They would arrive at the port by sunset and meet up with Jiraiya who would take charge. Tomorrow they would catch the boat ride and halfway through they would jump overboard and head south to the land of waves.
Jiraiya had taken the liberty of booking a return ticket, so they had two days to catch the boat ride back or they would have to water walk the whole way back to the mainland, which kakashi hoped to avoid.
A part of him actually looked forward to fighting the assalent. His wounded pride at having failed a mission getting to him and therefore his pride demanded the capture of death of that stupid dumb pop head that soured his impeccable record.
He was kakashi if the Sharingan after all.
The sun began to dip below the treeline and the sounds and lights of civilisation came into view among the green tree tops. The group quietly sighed in relief, now they could at least lay in a bed tonight and not the hard ground in the forest.
The divine river as it was once called, is the wide river that flowed through the old village hidden among the whirlpools. It's waters sourcing from the few lakes atop the high mountains situated in the middle of the island country. The divine river fed the otherwise infertile lands of the countryside and the annual flooding washed away the seasonal overgrowth.
The village of Uzushio was now just an empty ruin of Broken buildings and upturned earth. The site of it was a representation of the might of the great nations and their apparent right to hold sway over the world.
To Naruto it was a sign of the petty ignorance of men and their lust for greed. Nevertheless the secrets that remained hidden beneath the stones had allowed him to grow in wisdom and strength following the old practices of the ancient Uzumaki
He had first come to this land four or more years ago, to hide from the world and remain undisturbed. The pirates and ill wanted peoples that had harboured here were but a nuisance that he exterminated. Searching the ruins he had come across a series of vaults with delicate seals and barriers that made it seem impenetrable. A small drop of blood was all that was needed before the wealth of knowledge and history become his own.
The full collection of the Uzumaki Clan spanded their history in ancient times, splitting from their Senju cousins and hiding from the world. From each great mind that was born in the red haired clan to the special abilities their blood gave them, even a few jutsu here and there was read and memorised. Even the knowledge of senjutsu, taken for the ancient sages of the time before Shinobi was there to behold.
It gave Naruto a sense of family, a sense of inheritance and continuity to take on as his own.
He found it particularly interesting that his family was descended from the Rikudo Sennin by virtue of the Senju, as well as the interesting relationship with the Uchiha.
Looking over the dusty tomes and linen scrolls, stories of ages since past played out in his mind. He hoped to stay here for a while, it had been to long since he had come here.
Not like anyone would come knocking anyways.
chapter end