A Noble Sacrifice: Tsunade's Vow

Rising Wave, Turning Leaf

By: MikeJV37

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===Jan 22, 7:45 AM, Wave Country, Shi-Tsu Estate===

Standing by the fireplace as usual, Tsunade found herself once again thinking about what had happened. Its been 3 months since Shizune died, and 2 months since she'd remade Gato's former home and named it after herself and Shizune. She only had 1 thing to do in Wave before heading back to Konoha, finish the monument to her former apprentice, friend and surrogate daughter. She watched her adopted family file in after cleaning up the breakfast dishes. Shizune had always wanted a family, and now she'd give anything if Shizune could be here to share it with her. Despite the fact she'd given up drinking and gambling she still felt like absolute garbage for what she'd done and what her stupidity had cost her. Tsunade pushed down her emotions, there was work to do.

===9:47 AM, The Bridge===

He watched her walk out onto the water like it was solid ground, which even after almost 3 months still amazed him, especially because in her right hand was a 10' thick, 200' long log that had to weigh a hundred tons at least. It'd take the whole town to even lift without a crane, and she tossed them around like firewood. "Right there Tsunade, as deep as the other one!" Tazuna yelled down to her, saw her nod and drove it into the ground like a tent stake, then like she did the others, used a jutsu on it that would preserve it and protect it from damage and rotting. He wouldn't be half this far into construction if not for Tsunade and her girls, construction ninja he'd called them, if he had a permanent crew trained in construction jutsu he'd be rich. She'd told him her grandfather could create wood with a jutsu, a Clan ability she called it, when he'd asked if she could do it her face had gone dead and she just walked away, he wasn't stupid enough to press her on it, whatever she was hiding was connected to a mountain of rage and/or pain similar to what she'd unleashed on Gato and he didn't want to upset her, she'd suffered enough.

===April 1, 11:00 AM, The Bridge===

After listening to the Mayor make a short speech, Tsunade almost lost her composure when he cut the ribbon and officially opened 'The Great Shizune Bridge'. She just wanted to fall to the ground and cry like a baby, but at the same time was filled with pride. Her adopted family weren't as dignified, especially the girls. Mei just let a few tears fall then wiped them away before they were seen and cheered with the others, not as loudly though. She thanked everyone for everything, told Tazuna he cold use the West Wing of the Mansion as headquarters for his business and the staff to keep it clean while they were gone, made sure everyone was packed up and they left.

===August 1, 8:26 AM, 2 Miles From Konoha===

"Remember what I said girls, no jutsu, keep your emotions under control, especially you two, Fuu, Tayuya, and I'll only say this once Tayuya... no... fighting. You do... and I'll beat your ass so bad you literally won't be able to sit for a month. Understood?" Tsunade said sternly.

Tayuya nodded. "Hai, Tsunade-chan... and I really am sorry about what I did to that girl in..."

"Forget it Tayuya, I told you I forgave you, and I healed her anyway so stop apologizing for defending Fuu." Tsunade said.

"It was funny though, with her butt..." Mei said smiling.

"Mei!" Tsunade interrupted.

The girls giggled.

"Well it was." Mei said calmly, a subtle apologetic tone in her voice for Tsunade.

"Shizune's behind this somehow... I know she is." Tsunade grumbled. "Come on... bunch pf ungrateful little bitches." Tsunade grumbled playfully.

Mei and the girls glanced at each other and giggled quietly at the now familiar rant and followed her, all smiling like idiots.

===8:54 AM, Konoha Main Gate===

They stopped in front of the Guard Station and she held out her papers and ID Card. "Tsunade and four guests. I need to see the old man... Now." Tsunade said calmly, and put a dangerous edge in her voice when she said 'now'.

Kotetsu took her papers and ID nervously, he'd never met her in person, but every shinobi in Konoha from Chuunin Rank up knew who she was and what she could do, especially if you pissed her off. He checked for the special codes and marks, found them, and noticed the departure date was over 5 years ago. "Welcome back Lady Tsu..." Kotetsu said.

'Don't call me that." Tsunade interrupted coldly "Just Tsunade, or Tsunade-san if you have to be formal." Tsunade said then reached out, grabbed his collar and glared at him, her face stone cold dead. "Spread this around, because I will not repeat myself... if anyone calls me that again... I'll kill 'em. Do, you, understand, me?" Tsunade said.

Kotetsu had NEVER seen a cold rage this intense in his life, she wasn't bluffing, she was dead serious. "H,hai, Tsunade-san."

"Hai." The other man said, but wasn't hiding his fear as well as Kotetsu.

Tsunade released him. "Notify him he'll have guests, do not tell him who. Oh, and my friends aren't from here... if they have any trouble... and I mean ANY trouble... I'll be personally offended and react accordingly." Tsunade said, took her papers and card back, put 'em away and headed for the Tower, her family following quietly, Mei in back as rear guard.

'Damn, she wasn't exaggerating, they really fucked her up whatever they did to her beyond what little she told me... she was ready to kill them.' Mei thought, as she'd made that same mistake and would never do so again. Tsunade told her, very bluntly, that if she ever did or said certain things, that she'd look back on being beaten and raped by Gato and his men as a precious memory. She'd seen what Tsunade could do and wasn't going to risk it. What she hadn't told anyone was the effect that confrontation had on her, besides Tsunade earning her full respect and loyalty.

===9:26 AM, Hokage Tower, Waiting Room===

She looked up from her desk when the hall door opened. She'd seen everyone from obnoxious civilians, to Anko Mitarashi in a near rage, to the Fire Daimyo and barely flinched, but when this person walked in her heart skipped a beat in fear, their presence alone filled the room, it wasn't anger, it was like... a force of Nature. "Tsunade of the Sannin." She said nervously, even across the room she felt like a hand was crushing her throat, the look on Tsunade's face was of someone looking for a reason to literally unleash Hell and wash the World clean of every thing and every one. Tsunade stopped in front of her desk, looked at her... and she nearly pissed her panties.

"I want to see him... now." Tsunade said, her voice stone cold dead.

She nodded and hit the talk button on the intercom. "Hokage-sama, your guests are here and wish to see you immediately."

"Send them in." Came from the intercom.

Tsunade lead her surrogate family to the door, opened it and walked in.

The shock almost showed on his face when he saw 1 of his former pupils enter followed by a beautiful redhead and 3 girls. He waited until she stopped in front of his desk. "Nice to see you again Tsunade, you look well." Sarutobi said calmly, ignoring the look on her face announcing she didn't want to be there. He also noticed her apprentice wasn't present, not a good sign.

"Shizune's dead... because I screwed up." Tsunade said with a sad edge in her voice.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Why did you return?" Sarutobi said calmly.

Tsunade sighed heavily. "I came back for several reasons, the main reason is them. As much as I hate this damn place, it was still a good place to grow up. Another reason is I'm going to correct my mistakes and keep some promises to some old friends. I'm going to clean this place up and get rid of the garbage destroying it, I can do it with you... or I can go through you. Anyone that gets in my way... I'll kill, so don't force me to deprive Konoha of any good shinobi." She said and saw him nod sadly. "I'll only ask once, and I don't want any bullshit about Laws or the Council, I know this place too well. I know they shit all over his final request... where, is, my, godson?"

He looked at Tsunade, he could see it in her eyes, he was glad he didn't have to say he was dead because she'd destroy Konoha and kill everyone in it. He took a key from his pocket, unlocked his bottom drawer, leafed through it a moment and pulled out the biggest folder, nearly 2" thick, and sat it on his desk in front of her. "That's my personal file on him, it will tell you everything you need to know. I've done everything I can for him, but I'm sorry to say it wasn't enough. I assume you'll want a full Council Meeting?"

"Yes, if the Senju Estate is still there... good, that's where we'll be. Tomorrow morning at Eight. By then I know word will of spread about me being back. Oh, if he's here or close enough... I want that perverted old team mate of mine Jiraiya there. I don't care how, but if he's close enough, make it happen. Meantime, this file is coming with me, I don't like how it looks, so I'll read it later. Oh, I want your best Jonin watching him, if anything happens to him before I get to met him... I will be very upset." Tsunade said, picked up the folder, half turned and stopped. "This is Mei Terumii of Mist Country, Konan of Rain Country, Fuu of Waterfall Country and Tayuya of Rice Country, they're my family, and anyone that attempts to hurt them or take them from me... I'll kill without any hesitation or mercy." Tsunade said coldly, turned and lead her slightly shaken family out of the office.

Once they were gone and his door shut, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Third Hokage of Fire Country, a man as well known for his ability to stay calm in any situation as he was for his knowledge of jutsu... cried, as much for what had become of his former pupil as he was for what he knew was going to happen... and there was nothing he could do but stay out of her way until she calmed down.

===10:00 AM, North-East Konoha, Senju Estate===

"Okay girls, here we are. It's a little dusty in here, so I want it kunoichi cleaned inside and out, and I mean all the bedrooms too, not just your room. Mei and Konan, inside. Tayuya and Fuu, outside. One of the rooms has a sign on the door that says 'No Grown Ups', you are NOT to enter that room or even open the door, I'll handle that room personally. The first room to the right of it is my old bedroom, clean it, but no searching, reaching, peeking... and definitely no playing with anything in there. Oh, if you find a locked door, move on, I'll handle it later. Breaking either rule will earn you an A-Rank punishment, understood?" Tsunade said very sternly.

"Hai, Tsunade-chan." All 4 said together.

'Time?" Konan asked.

Tayuya glared at her a moment then sighed.

"Hmm, three floors, at least ten thousand square feet as I recall... finish by noon and I'll let each of you pick something from the Mission book." Tsunade said and smiled.

The girls cheered and ran off to start, Mei stayed. "Are you sure you want to clean, his room? I could do it for you." Mei said.

"No, I have to do this myself, and you know why, so please drop it Mei." Tsunade said a little sadly.

"I'm here if you need me Tsunade." Mei said then headed for the stairs.

Tsunade looked down at her necklace and sighed sadly.

===12:00 PM, Main Hall===

"You finished every room?' Tsunade said calmly, looking at the first 2 in line.

"Hai, except five rooms... the one you said not to go in, the other four were locked." Konan said.

"And the outside?" Tsunade said, looking at the other 2 girls.

"Clean... I did make a few birds mad though." Tayuya said and smiled apologetically.

"And clean!" Fuu said happily, then giggled.

"Shut up grass head... they didn't dive at you." Tayuya said the saw Tsunade's glare. "Sorry Fuu-chan.".

Fuu hugged her.

Tsunade smirked in amusement then reached into her pocket, pulled out a small brown book and flipped through it a moment before stopping on the page she wanted. "What would you say was the difficulty of this mission?"

"B-Rank!" Tayuya said strongly, then heard the slight cough from Tsunade and sighed sadly. "Okay... low C-Rank."

Fuu giggled.

"Tayuya... new jutsu, one hour spar or two hours of flute?" Tsunade said.

Tayuya fidgeted a few moments. "Flute!" Tayuya exclaimed.

With her free right Tsunade reached into the left side, inside her gray shirt, pulled out a steel flute and handed it to Tayuya.

"Fuu... new jutsu, one hour of special playtime, or sister time with Tayuya while she practices?" Tsunade said.

"Sister time!" Fuu exclaimed happily.

"Oh that's a surprise." Mei said dryly.

"Konan... new jutsu or two hours special training?" Tsunade said.

"Training... I have a new fold I want to try." Konan said.

"Mei... training or personal time?" Tsunade said.

"Personal time." Mei said.

"Okay. Dismissed." Tsunade said and smiled as the girls rushed off. "Second floor Master Suite, right?".

"Oh yeah, that tub looks heavenly, see ya in two hours." Mei said with a big smile and headed for the stairs.

"Enjoy yourself... and seal the room first." Tsunade said then smirked briefly. "I might as well get this over with now."

After getting her personal bag from her things, Mei went to the Second Floor Master Suite, shut and locked the door, then sound sealed the room. she set her bag on the marble sink counter, then slipped off her blue dress, letting it slide down her body to the floor. Carefully folding it up she set it aside. Next off was her light blue sports bra, she sighed contentedly when her FF cup breasts flopped to her chest, and laid it on her dress. Slipping her thumbs in the waist she slid her see-thru purple silk panties down her legs, carefully stepped out of them and set them on her clothes. Mei ran her right hand slowly through the large, thick, growth of red hair covering her mound, then down to her plump, but baby smooth lips. "Hmm, I'm getting a little shaggy down there... but why bother trimming it... it's not like anyone wants to get between my legs... unfortunately. I'm a Kage level kunoichi for Kami's sake... so why can't I say those four little words... I love you Tsunade. I don't even know if she's bi, much less willing to try... oh Kami I'm pathetic."

Hot water started to fill the large soaking tub, once the bottom was covered with water, several liquids were poured in and mixed by the lightly churning it was half full the water was turned off.

Smiling, Mei grabbed the last bottle and poured some into the water then put it away. "Almost ready." Mei said then stepped in, moaned at the feel of the warm water then sat down and stretched out. Once comfortable, she flashed through a series of hand signs and held the last sign. "BOILING STYLE: BURNING STEAM BREATH!" Mei said, took a deep breath and blow a cone of superheated steam down into the water, heating it to near boiling before she stopped, the water lightly bubbling, which activated the bubble bath she'd added. Mei blew out a little steam then smiled. "Oh yesssss, now it's perfect." Mei said in a lusty, breathy voice, then sank in up to her chin, laid her head hack on the side and closed her eyes, enjoying the very relaxing heat soaking into her body, cleansing her skin and relaxing her muscles.

===Senju Estate, Backyard===

Tayuya smiled after blowing a single note on her flute. "This is a good spot, go ahead Fuu-chan."

Fuu nodded, looked around almost nervously a moment, took a breath, called up her emotions like Tsunade had shown her, and clenching her fists tightly, dropped to her knees and hit the ground hard with both hands as she let out a small scream. 10' in front of her a large boulder rose out of the ground about 4'.

Tayuya ran over, helped Fuu up and hugged her. "That was awesome Fuu-chan, I wish I could do that. Thanks, you're the best sister ever!" Tayuya said happily.

Fuu smiled proudly and hugged her back. "Thank you Tay-chan."

Tayuya got up on the rock and sat down, the groove in the top basically like a seat. She raised the end of the flute to her mouth, held from the left, and started to play.

Fuu sat in the grass about 4' in front of the rock and listened.

===Third Floor Sun Room===

She'd practiced doing it with paper until she had it down, every fold and tuck memorized. "I can do this, I've separated before... just never into this many pieces. I can do this, I'm ready." Konan said, focused her mind on what she was doing, everything else was pushed out of her mind. She raised her arms at her sides up to eyes level released and divided her chakra. She saw and felt it start at her hands, then her arms, her upper body and head, the rest of her body she felt disperse, and in an odd way saw herself disperse into exactly 100 paper butterflies. She flew 2 laps around the room then landed where she'd started and in the reverse of what she did, reformed from the feet up, turning back into flesh from paper, finally ending with her hands reforming. using her chakra and the technique she created herself after discovering her ability, scanned herself... she was intact. "YES!" Konan said excitedly, then composed herself.

===Hokage Tower===

"Thank you for coming immediately, I have a special mission for you... officially it's an A-Rank mission, but not because the mission itself is dangerous, it will most likely be boring... at least I hope so. Until I personally relieve you tomorrow morning... you're to shadow and protect Naruto Uzumaki..." Sarutobi said then sighed sadly as his face went cold. "By any means necessary. He's not to be harmed in any way."

He opened his eyes wide in shock, but only the right was visible. "Is the seal weakening?" Kakashi said.

"Nothing that easy... I don't know if you heard yet, but Tsunade is back. Her apprentice was killed because of a mistake she made and it's tearing her apart. She has a woman and three girls with her she adopted as a surrogate family and intends to add Naruto to it. She told me flat out she intends to, as she put it, remove the garbage destroying Konoha, and anyone that tries to stop her or threatens her family in any way... she'll kill without mercy. She said she can do this with me, or she'll go through me. I'm calling for a full Council Meeting at Eight tomorrow morning at her request... you know who she'll go after first." The Third said emotionlessly.

Kakashi nodded. "Is she really that mad?" Kakashi asked, almost nervous.

"Hai, I've never seen her like this. He's in the clearing near Training Ground Two... Dismissed." Sarutobi said.

Kakashi nodded and vanished.

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End Chapter 3