The Fifth's Past

'Hayato.' Tsunade's stern voice greeted him, and she looked him over with a keen eye.

In spite of her shortness, Hayato smiled warmly. 'Are you glad to see me?'

'Surprised.' Her lips curved slightly and her eyes relaxed their steady gaze.

'That's better.' He threw his overly large hat onto the couch at the side of the room, and his staff he casually leaned against the wall. His smooth face turned to her with affection. 'Mother, you are looking gorgeous, and not a day over twenty five. I'm glad I inherited genes from your side of the family.'

Tsunade looked him over, he was as tall as her, and they shared the same hair colour, yet he had his father's blue eyes. She could not deny he was a striking man, and she tilted her head to admire him. They were extremely similar in appearance, she had certainly given birth to an intelligent looking son.

'So, are you going to break out the wine for your beloved son?'

She reclined back on her chair, and still smiling, she folded her arms across her chest. 'Wine? Haven't you had enough?'

He indicated to the couch. 'Do you mind?' Before she said a word, he sat down. 'That's not like you, to say no to a little drink. Besides, I can handle a few too many.' He relaxed onto the cushion, and he slowly examined the well furnished room. 'Good looks is not the only thing I inherited from you.'

Her mouth scrunched in an ugly manner as she studied him intently.

'You have a nice set up here.' He nodded his approval of the room, and his gaze went to the window. Beyond, the prominent cliff face was partially visible. 'Who would have thought you would have landed up here. I suppose brawling at the drinking house is out of the question now.'

Tsunade's folded arms remained stiff, and she glared openly.

'Mother, do relax,' he said, 'you're making me nervous.'

She shook her head, however her arms were released from their clenched state. She pushed her chair out and came to the front of the desk, and settling her behind on it, she gave him a cold stare. 'If you weren't a grown man, I'd…'

He interrupted fiercely, 'you'd give me a good walloping?'

A subtle chuckle rose from her chest, before a loud laugh escaped. After a moment she said seriously, 'you did some unpleasant things to someone I care about.'

He also turned solemn. 'Honestly, do you really need to berate me over her. You can't really talk, you haven't even asked me how father is?'

His statement was correct, and it irked her. She sighed deeply and it eased her body. 'Alright, how is he?'

'He's relatively content.' Hayato's well shaped mouth smiled graciously. 'He's not as young as you, but he's still alive and fighting, so to speak.'

She nodded. Her mind reflected on the influential man, who had been her partner so many years ago now. It had been a while since they were together, and she had no wish to visualize him as an elderly man. Nevertheless, they did part on fairly good terms, or so she had always believed, and she was glad he was still alive and contributing to humanity.

Hayato scanned the room once more. 'So…Hokage? It wasn't your dream, was it, mother?'

She shook her head sadly, he knew her too well.

'Konoha appears to be a very large village, you have your responsibility cut out for you.'

'That's true, but I've taken it on,' said Tsunade, 'and I will do all I can to protect it.'

There was a gleam of pride in his eyes. 'That's good to hear. I always thought father was the one whose destiny it was to protect… all along it was you as well.'

She shifted on the desk and became less serious. 'You would have been a perfect Hokage…if you weren't so bound to the rules of that temple.'

He waved her words away with a flick of his wrist. 'Me? I cannot. Besides, I lack the one prerequisite you need. I am not a ninja.'

'Pffft!' She tossed her hair over her shoulder. 'That's nonsense.'

He shrugged lazily. 'You know what I am, and you know I don't fit the ideals of a shinobi.'

She snapped, 'curse that elitist society you're involved with!'

'Now, now,' he said calmly, 'it's not that we are elite, it is that, what we are called to do is not for everybody.'

'What you choose to do.' Tsunade scoffed.

'This is an old discussion…' He stared her straight in the eye with determination. 'And being in the position you are in now, you should understand it.'

She shifted her eyes from his and leaned her head into her fingers. 'You're right, and you know why I feel the way I do.' The topic constantly frustrated her, all she wanted was for him to become a great shinobi, and even though their beliefs were similar, their paths were startlingly different.

'I know.' After he noted her melancholy, fondness entered his eyes once more. 'It's better that I be with The Sentinels than wandering the streets.'

She was unable to return his affectionate smile, his words, laced with sad regrets, ached her heart. He did not have the most stable of childhoods, due to her chaotic lifestyle they were always on the move. Nevertheless, she had instilled in him a vast amount of knowledge and skills, and not a small number of her vices as well. There was one thing she didn't give him, her bad luck, and in fact he was the one who brought her luck, and it had always been good. Her lucky charm, she would sing raucously, after too many rounds of sake in the gambling dens.

His glib voice broke through her thoughts. 'Aren't you going to ask why I'm here?'

She sighed delicately. 'Actually, I'm dreading to hear it.'

'Do you think I'm such a bore?' he pouted

'Clearly… you haven't come here to see me.' She frowned and her eyes conveyed genuine sadness. 'Have you?'

He had the sagacity to appear remiss. 'Truly? Not initially.' He paused. 'Only because, you always react badly when you see me.'

'Humph!'

'Mmm, should I stand corrected?' He stopped a moment and watched her downcast eyes. 'I didn't come here to argue with you.'

She crossed her arms again. 'Right then, what do you want?'

'A simple thing really,' he said, 'some shinobi to accompany me to the Land of Marsh.'

'Why do you need that?'

He turned somber. 'The Oracle there has called upon my services, and I thought it wise to take an escort.'

She creased her brow in puzzlement.

He went on, 'and it's more for your benefit, or I should say for Konoha's.'

Her mind cogitated over his statement, on the face of it, it appeared sensible, but with Hayato there was always more to it. 'Are you speaking about general good relations or is there more to this than I know about?'

Reacting quickly, he smiled with adept charisma. 'Really mother, it makes perfect sense. Yes, I could go on my own, but having representation from the Land of Fire is far better. Don't you agree?'

'What exactly does this Oracle require of you?' she asked shrewdly. Not that she thought he would answer truthfully.

He moved on the couch, and his body reclined once more. 'The usual business, and a lot of it I can't divulge.'

Her stare was fixed on him, and her irritation could be felt like a shock of heat.

'If you must know. Apparently, the Daimyo's son is possessed by a spirit.'

Tsunade considered the information. There was not a lot she knew about the Land of Marsh, and less about the Daimyo. Sending a team there would have its benefits, she had to admit. 'And you will seek to dispel it?'

'Correct.' His eyes passed away from her momentarily, but she had already noticed his hesitancy. 'At least attempt to.'

She nodded. She did not know the details of his work, nor had she ever been privileged with the secrets of his group. However, she knew that dealings with the spiritworld was a skill utilized by The Sentinels. 'Dangerous?'

'No.' His smile grew large and it lightened his eyes. 'Not at all. I'll be there, how could it be dangerous.'

'Somehow I have my doubts.' She studied him under dark furrowed brows. 'What do you need?'

He was thoughtful. 'It's always helpful having someone who can see out of the back of their head.'

'Byakugan?'

He nodded. 'I saw one today. Meek little thing, just right for my type of skill.' He grinned at her warning frown.

'That would be Hinata-chan. She's only a genin.'

He shrugged carelessly. 'All the better. We don't need to go into their land with the highest level shinobi. I want the ones who aren't too interested, skill level below average. You know the type, and you know how I operate.'

She pursed her lips together slyly, and went along with his request. 'Oh I see, yes.'

'As well.' His face creased and he paused, and glancing at her bare neck, he said, 'I saw your necklace today…'

Her eyes danced over his, and she attempted to hide a smile.

'On a loud mouthed brat. Really, mother, I can't believe you gambled away that ancient artifact.'

She shrugged demurely. 'The loud mouthed brat got the better of me. You know me, I could never resist a good bet, and that was the best bet I've ever made. It saved my life.'

He responded with bafflement. 'Interesting...' His gaze suddeny studied her wise eyes. 'Yet, I do see a difference in you. Anyway, I think he would do… he looks quite inept.' He was not being completely honest, there was a strange discrepency in the boy's mannerisms, and he was intrigued by the fire he could see in his eyes. 'And at the least, he can keep attention away from me.'

Her eyes lit up with life. 'Yes, that would definitely be true.'

'And I would like a third?'

'Mmm.' Her eyes widened with a sudden thought. 'I think I know someone, he has no desire for duty, and he is extremely reluctant to get his hands dirty,' she said, 'on top of that he is a chunin. That might at least put my mind at rest.' She was not going to tell him how intelligent the boy was, she needed to keep some secrets of her own. 'There's always Kakashi.'

Hayato looked puzzled, before he understood who she was referring to, and he cringed. 'Gods, no, that well known copy cat ninja. Why on earth would I need a jounin? Please, mother, your attempt at humour needs to improve.'

Tsunade chuckled dryly. 'You might regret saying that. Maybe you shouldn't be so arrogant about yourself.' She glanced behind her at the dimming sky. 'Shall we go for a drink, for old time's sake?'

His widening grin matched hers. 'Well, well, I won't say no, for old time's sake.'

'At least The Sentinels haven't prohibited you from drinking.'

'Not at all. I'm not hurting anyone.' He stood from the couch, and he took hold of his staff. 'I must ask, is old Jiraiya about?'

Tsunade shook her head fondly. 'He's currently out of town, but he will be returning soon enough. It's a pity he's not here, he would have enjoyed seeing you.'

She wondered if Jiraiya would appreciate, his soon to be new pupil was going to be traveling to another land. Surely Naruto would be safe with a member of The Sentinels. She considered whether she should tell Hayato, about what was captured and shut away inside Naruto. Knowing how smart he was, he would eventually figure it out.

Author's Note: Please be aware, I am constantly editing and updating previous chapters. Hopefully, I haven't added anything major to the story, and its just a matter of me refining and giving a little more flesh to the story. Long Chapter, but they haven't seen each other in ages, they had loads to talk about :) Thank you for reading.