Epilogue – Jiraiya's Deep Hole

Two weeks had passed since the Funeral party, and the rest of the dignitaries left for their respective lands. The Sand Trio stayed on for a time, much to the village's amusement. Two days after the mourning service for Naruto at the Senju estate, there had been a report of someone running around the village stark naked, being chased by Kankuro and Gaara. It was not until later that she had discovered why and what had happened exactly. The two young teenagers had seen Shikamaru in bed with their sister, Temari, and naked. She read the full investigation out loud to both Jiraiya and Shizune. The old man was on the floor laughing and shaking his head, and Shizune was bent over hugging Tonton against her belly giggling madly.

Not that that had been the only thing the Hokage had looked in on. She had also put a observing team on the Daimyo of the Land of Spring. And there were reports of Iruka and her meeting regularly with in the hotel room that she had or at some spot previously decided upon. That one she kept to herself, though she had also been half drunk at the time so she might have let one or two details slip to her drinking partner. That being the builder of the great bridge that linked the land of waves to the mainland, Tazuna.

She was glad that the worst of the incidents had been three bar fights, one of which caused the building to burn down. She herself dealt with the repercussions about the burned down bar, and settled everything with the merchants guild. That had been a pretty penny in and of itself. Now the meetings were done, and she herself could relax in her own personal out door hot tube. Something that she had been trying to do for sometime, but time she never had to give to it. But with the changes that Hiashi and Shizune had made to the paperwork process was relatively painless. True, there were missions that had their moments when they needed to be brought to her attention. One had gotten killed. There would be a memorial service for him and his skills would be missed. Several more had been wounded and she herself had taken one of the cases of saving the young man's legs. Overall it had been a pretty good week. Even the creditors were paid off and happy.

Setting the towel that her from the world to the side, she stepped in and peered up towards the night sky through that of the steam of the hot tube. And wondered where Naruto was. She could feel it in her heart that he was not dead. But there was only so much hope that she could afford before she to would give up on him. What would she do to see the young man before her and his cocky grin on his face. Anything. A feeling that she had long forgotten had come back into her heart only for it to be ripped out and replaced by a deep and bitter anger towards the position of Hokage.

Sakura had thrown herself at her work, not bothering with the part of the mourning, which really did bother Tsunade. All the time as a matter of fact. But Kakashi had told her that when Sakura was ready, she would speak on her own, like all others that lived to such times. That did not appease the Hokage one bit. Not one damn bit. She had half a mind to send Sakura to a therapist, but she could see how that would go. Hinata Hyuuga was along the same boat, and she had assigned Sakura to Team Eight as a temporary measure while she was not training with Kakashi or herself.

The Amazing fact was that Kurenai had managed to speak with Sakura, and had learned a few things. Not much, but small tid bits of what the girl was feeling inside about her own team. From personal talks and what the Jounin had overheard between Kiba and Shino. The young wolf boy had shown a great disgust towards Sasuke, more so because of the Inuzuka Pact with their Pack of Hounds. To them betrayal of the pack was something that you just did not do, it was Blasphemy of the worst kind. Shino on the other hand, did not support Sasuke at all, but neither did he speak out against him. The Aburame Clan were known for their pact of neutrality. They would stand on the fence and analyze all information and facts before moving to aid either side that was the way that they ran and that was the way that they did things. Even then in those troubled times. And that was what Shino did.

Relaxing within her private tub, she reached out to her small built in mini-fridge, and began to reach to her private stash of booze when a sudden wind kicked out of no where, followed by a thick smoke screen. A extremely thick one and Tsunade immediately ducked under her water covering herself and avoiding flying debris from all directions some landing on the water and splashing her face, hard wood by the looks of it. She turned her head, this way and that, glaring around at her surroundings wondering what was attacking her. And then she heard it. A voice that she knew well. Far to well as a matter of fact.

"JIRAIYA, YOU BASTARD! WHERE ARE YOU!"

Tsunade should have known better than to try something like that, and she heard a nervous laughing from under a log not fifteen feet from her. Tsunade reached out, grabbed the mini fridge on the hot tube that she was using, got out of water and ripping out the fridge as she rose out of it. With a simple swing of her arm, the Hokage tossed it in the general direction, sending it smashing against the tree and scattering bits and pieces all over the place. And then the person in questions head shot out of the brush and he shook his fist at her. "DAMN IT, WOMAN! THAT WAS CLOSE!" The man shouted, only to then realize what sort of situation he put himself in. "Aw, hell." He stated, watching as Tsunade rushed up, clad in only a towel, pulling her fist back, and sending it flying at his jaw.

Tsunade felt the fist connect, and heard the smack of her fist meeting the man's face, as well as bones cracking from the pressure of the blow. Oh it was satisfying, but it was far more satisfying to hear him squeeling as he flew backwards into the plump yellow-green belly of something big and tall, a scarred face that she remembered seeing. Gambuntua, the Chief among the toad summons. The Toad of course did not even notice the simple bounce off of his belly, as his large head twitched this way and that.

"JIRAIYA! I DON'T LIKE TO BE KEPT WAITING! WHEN I FIND YOU, I'LL CRUSH YOU!" Gambuntua stated, not bothering to peer down at his feet, while Tsunade moved out to her private changing room. With a change of his massive hand he dragged it sweeping across the land scape and sending Jiraiya flying over the landscape, and skidding over the pathway, stopping short of the shrubbery at the walls of the house.

It did not take Tsunade long to dress with in her regal clothing, however she had insisted on wearing one extra layer of clothes, to ensure that Jiraiya did not get any further idea's in his head. The Sage in question though, was currently holding a raw piece of steak against his face, and an ice pack on his shoulder. And when Gamabunta saw the man, and waited patiently for both of them to be seated and made comfortable. But before they could actually begin to address what had brought the boss toad to the land of the Elemental Nations, Tsunade's personal Anbu squad landed with in the clearing and rushed to her side, lead by Shizune who stopped right in front of Tsunade.

"My Lady Hokage, Are you alright? Have you been attacked? What has happened to Master Jiraiya?"

The last one had made Tsunade chuckle darkly as she eyed the man in question, who groaned when he felt her gaze upon him. "Jiraiya was proving what sort of man he, once again, resembles in all it's great glory." Tsunade stated, and Shizune immediately knew what that meant. The man had been peeking on the Hokage again, and this time had gotten caught. There was little doubt in her mind that the elder had gotten what had been coming to him and there was no look of pity from Shizune as she eyed the forest around them. "Shizune, Relax. There was no attack, though the boss toad has done a great deal of damage to my private estates with his arrival. And from what I understand, the great toad is not at all pleased with our master of the sealing arts."

"I can see that my lady." Shizune replied as the Anbu made up a protective circle around them, shielding them from an enemy that might have come out from the shadows themselves. Tsunade noticed this and then she looked towards the Boss toad, who seemed to be losing what patience he arrived with and nodded her head. "Anbu. Seal off the Senju Mansion. No one enters the lands with out my expressed permission, I want reports every twenty minutes to be presented to Shizune. Move!" Tsunade commanded the Anbu immediately scattered to the wind. And then the elder blonde turned her honey brown eyes onto that of Shizune and she nodded her head. "Shizune, Another steak and Ice pack for the idiot, and some lemon tea for me." Discreetly saying that this was probably not best for her to know, a tactic that the young lady immediately picked up on and nodded her head, taking off to the mansion for some lemon tea.

"IT'S ABOUT TIME! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN." The boss toad stated, and the Hokage just smiled and shook her head, sitting down on the bench beside that of Jiraiya.

"Well you seemed pretty pissed with Jiraiya. And it's not every day that I see you just come into our world with out a combat excuse."

"COMBAT EXCUSE!?" The elder toad stated as he smoked his peace pipe, his single eye swivelling in it's socket to eye the Toad Sage. "IF I HAVE MY WAY, I WILL BE USING THIS ONE AS FLY BAIT! YOU TOLD ME THAT NARUTO WAS DEAD!" The giant toad stated, and Tsuande's honey brown eyes widened at the implication of what the boss toad was telling them. She watched as Jiraiya's head snapped up at the accusation, his own narrowing as he pointed a finger at the giant toad.

"Hey, Don't try and Put any blame on me! I asked you and you told me.."

"THAT HE COULD NOT BE FEALT THROUGH THE SUMMONERS LINK! DO NOT TRY MY PATIENCE BY CONFUSING MY WORDS, FOOL!" The Giant toad interrupted, slamming his large webbed fist upon the ground in front of the toad sage emphasising his point. "THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEAD AND A WEAK BOND. IT WAS NOT UNTIL NAURTO TUGGED ON THAT BOND THAT I COULD FEEL HIM AGAIN." Gambuntua stated as he peered down towards his large pipe that had gone out through the exchange that had to be done, and then lowered it down upon the ground, towards Jiraiya who stared at him. "COULD I GET A LIGHT?"

Tsunade watched the exchange with great interest, and what the Toad was suggesting. Could there be a hope out there still. A solid one in which she could track down and bring the young one home once again? Maybe, Just maybe, but it was something to look forwards to. "Gambuntua… If what your suggesting is true… It means that you've met him. Seen him, even. How was he?" Tsunade asked.

"YES… I DID SEE HIM. HE CALLED ME FIRST TO HELP HIM IN A CRITIAL TIME IN BATTLE. HE FAINTED SHORTLY AFTER." The great toad stated allowing those facts to settle into the two great sages of the hidden leaf village. And both knew exactly what sort of fighting it took to get the great to summon to actually come to the rescue. A huge battle of sorts. There Jiraiya looked towards Tsunade and then back up at the toad again, who puffed on the pipe, and the great toad nodded his head. "AND THEN HE BROUGHT ME TO A STRANGE METAL CAVE, THE LIKES OF WHICH I'VE NEVER SEEN, AND THERE WE SPOKE. I TOLD HIM WHAT I KNEW OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IN TURN HE TOLD ME WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AND HE ASKED ME TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING OF GREAT IMPORTANCE." The toad stated as he reached into his vest and dropped down a large satchel of sorts.

Jiraiya for his part, could not believe that the great toad boss had lowered himself to actually deliver something to them. But given the nature of what they were talking about, and what was going on, the greater the delivery person, the less likely it was to be intercepted intact. Before he could get up and get the package that Naruto had sent, Tsunade had beaten him to the punch. Oh yes she had, like a bolt of lightning, she had disappeared from where she sat beside him to the great leather satchel, ripping it's outer leather off like she was peeling an orange. And there at the bottom we're two things. A large orange envelope, and a thick brown leather binder with plastic pages.

The Book was laid forgotten for a moment, as Tsunade snatched up the letter and returned to Jiraiya's side who looked at her with a look of amusement on his face. "What? I'm suddenly important enough to actually be let in on the letter now? Sheesh. What a pain."

"If you don't shut up, I'll give you one." Tsunade stated as she ripped open the letter and peered down at it's contents, with Jiraiya looking over her shoulder and down at the words themselves.

Dear Everyone…

It's Me, Naruto Uzumaki, the Future Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village. And I know your all going to need proof. So here's to ya Granny Tsunade. If your thinking about putting me into a early grave, Don't. You couldn't handle the grey hairs.

Now I'm not dead. And I don't have a whole lot of time to do this. I'm running late for high school as it is. When I was fighting Sasuke, We ended up into some place different. I'm not sure what's all happening over there, but over here. Things are looking great. I got a bunch of friends. Evan looks like someone that we'd see from Lightning country, and is lazy when it comes to physical activity and yet when it comes to sports he's off the hook! Kurt is from Germany, A strange land in this world that's across the planet. He's a cool guy that enjoys eating as much as he likes hanging out with his friends.

Scott's the sort of cool that just isn't fair! I mean he's got the good looks, the fancy hair cut, the eyes that always need sunglasses. And he's got a crush on Jean Grey, a brainiac in terms of everything. I don't think she's failed one test she's aimed for. And she loves a sport called Soccer. I don't pretend to understand all the rules but there's a lot of running in it, while kicking a ball with your feet. Kitty's… well Kitty. She's from a place just about two hours away, and she's pretty smart to. In terms of smart, she's learning right now in terms of computer's that we have running the medical equipment at the Konoha Hosptial now. Makes ya wish what sort of other things their teaching here. But don't let her good brains fool you. She loves creating biological warfare from the kitchen. I mean I had the pleasure of testing one of her concoctions, I burped a purple mist.

Rogue's Mysterious. I don't know much about her, but I know that she likes to read. And though she acts tough, she ain't so bad. Once you get through her bite. But the redeeming feature is that she knows about the Kyuubi, and she hasn't told anyone. How she found out? Well. From what I understand it is that she absorbed some energy and memories from me, and in that, the Kyuubi. We dunno if it's permanent. In any case, back to the introductions. Logan's the sort of Uncle that you know you don't want to have at the tea shops, and yet always want on your back in a fight. He's a short guy with a shorter temper that likes booze, cigars, and mechanics. And don't tell anyone I told you this, but I found in his mail some of those magazines that Pervy Sage used to look at when we were on the road looking for you, Granny Tsunade. He knows the ones, the ones that he took me to those nice ladies at the strange home and the gambling huts. Guess there are closet perverts here to.

And if there's a calmer person here to balance out Uncle Logan's Sophisticated nature, it's that in the form of Professor Charles Xavier. He's the dude that I'm staying with. He's got a place for people with special needs and he opened up a bunk for me. He gave me a chance at a life here, helped me make friends, and helped me know me a bit better. He likes reading, drinking tea, and offering council and advice in many fields, be they matters of the heart, or matters of politics. Personally, I think he should just stay the way he is, Grandpa Chuck, the wise and all knowing. Chances are I'll never remember half of the things he talks about.

Now for my masters in learning martial arts and soon to be Jutsu's. Yuriko-Sensei is one tough lady. She's got about as much flexibility as a brick when it comes to training techniques in the ninja arts. And the way she explains it is that there is more to being a ninja than fancy jutsu and kick ass attacking. There's tactics and techniques to use from the shadows. Apparently Shinobi in this world are different than what they are in ours. They don't openly show themselves, or who they work for. As in what nation they belong to. They're all black and use all sorts of unique weapons and tools that I'm still learning about, and boy I tell you, it's hard to master them. And when we got it down to where I don't stab myself, we move on. Sheesh, she doesn't give me a minute.

The Other is Sifu Wong. He's calm and collected, the same as Yuriko-Sensei. However she's teaching me the physical way of the ninja. He's teaching me the techniques I can use to my advantage. He calls it the manipulation of energies with in the body and around us. I think he means the Chakra Network, but I'll find out quickly enough. And he doesn't rush through anything. He explains things. Time and time again, until I get it. Though I once heard him say that I had the learning curve of a flat line until I'm put into danger. Heh. I wonder if he's right.

Oooh. I just a bout forgot. We had some new additions to the mansion. Remy Lebeau. He's already told me where he's from, and it's in the state of Louisiana, in the deep south where the Bayou is. Where that is, I've no idea. I'll have to get him to give me a map. But he's proud of his nature. But he's a thief, and a womanizer. I swear if there was a pervy sage here, Remy would be it. But there's one thing I've learned as I watch him. He's confident in his skills as a thief, and of one other thing. He likes to hustle card tables for money. The man is crafty, and he hasn't gotten caught yet. I keep thinking I should tell Logan that Remy's cheating at cards to get at his money, but I like it when Uncle Logan Loses. It's like watching Kiba in a tantrum.

The Next is Piotr Rasputin. He's a big guy. And by big he stands taller than Bushier Brow Sensei. And he's full of muscle. He told me once that he once had been a farmer, growing up in Russia, a place far away and up north. But just because he's a worker and has the ability to bend me in two, he's a real softie. He likes to draw and paint when he isn't working or playing with his sister. Speaking of his sister, Her name is Illyana. Took me a while to get it right to. But she's blonde, blue eyed, and my same age, with a unique way of seeing the world. It wasn't until a little while ago that I found out that she's staying with Sifu Wong. And from what I understand, I'll be training with her in the Jutsu training.

The last is Emma. Emma Grace Frost… Well what can I say about her? She's cool, refined, poised, smart, beautiful, and she's trying to teach me to. Apparently she's trying to teach me how to use proper meal etiquette. How to prevent a seriously important meal with people from going to hell. Though apparently she's also trying to get me to dress more fashionably. I got no idea why, I'm happy with my blue jeans and a orange t-shirt. When I ask her about the new clothes she just replies that a man should look his best. So I have to wonder, do the new clothes make me seem more like Scott and that sort of Cool? I don't know. But I do like they way they feel. But thankfully enough, I get to keep my old clothes for training and school. But what do I know about her. I don't know much. I know that she won't talk about herself to much either. Something to do with her parents from what I overheard. But I gotta Ask, Granny T, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, Kurunai-Sensei, Crazy Snake Lady, Shizune, Ayame… How do I get her to notice me?

Well That leaves two people left. I'll start with the less Important. Tyson Hawk. He's a mystery wrapped up in a mystery. He's got a huge past, and from what Jean and Ororo told me about it, it had a lot of bloodshed involved. The man's rich, and I've seen his picture in the news. He makes weapons to kill people and he makes medicine to save them. The man's what I've learned to be, a contradiction. Whatever agenda that he has, it's his own.

And Ororo Munroe. Now everyone there, Sit down. This next one is a real doozy. She adopted me. I have a mother. Ororo Munroe is my mother. She's been there from day one here. And she didn't judge me. I don't know if she knows about the Kyuubi, and I know I should tell her, but I don't know if I can. I mean, I have a family now. A mother and friends here. But what can I tell you about her… Well her cooking is great. And though she's stern, she's flexible in everything that we do together. Believe it or not, we were in the gardens just the other day and we were talking about the birthday party that she threw me, while we cared for the plants here. Speaking of which, she's got whole books on gardening and how to improve on things. I dunno if it's the same techniques that we use for the plants in Konoha, but couldn't hurt to try them out. I'll see if I can't get you some books on them.

Back to Momma O. Well. She says she's from Kenya. Where the people of her nation worshipped her like a goddess. Can't say I'd blame them. The weather around her shifts with her mood. I've seen her upset and I don't want to see it again. Lightning bolts, winds, hail. It's like facing those freaks in the lands of snow all over again, only on a bigger scale. In any case, she says that she would like me to come with her to Kenya on her next visit. I'm not sure If I want to go, but she did say that I had relatives there, someone called Azari is supposed to be my brother. It's complicated.

And now about me. I've grown. I've gotten to five feet and eight inches. I dunno how, but I think I just beat Sakura's height. I found out new recipes for Ramen. I'm going back to school which should give Iruka-Sensei grey hairs for this fact. I'm learning. I'm learning all sorts of great things. Science, Philosophy, History, Sports, Arts. The world here is so different. And I'd love to tell you all about it. I'll keep sending letters now that I have a way to send them to you, and it's just a short hop back to Konoha. But… I'll be coming home when I'm ready.

Now I gotta get to school. So you all take care now.

Yours truly,

The Number One Surprising Ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village, The Future Hokage, and Member of the Rookie Nine,

Naruto Uzumaki.

Jiraiya could not happen to laugh at the end of it, despite the pain that racked his body while Tsunade just stared down at the letter that she held in her hands. Naruto. This was Naruto's had writing. And Naruto wrote it alright. No one had the backbone to call her an old lady. Naruto probably would not do so when she was there as well. And then she realized that she was being laughed at. Jiraiya's laughing had gotten through to her, and her eyes narrowed. A slug to the shoulder sent Jiraiya on the ground, skidding into the satchel that the letter came in, and where his face came head to head with the binding of a leather book. Rubbing his sore arm, he picked it up and opened it up, to reveal a new picture of Naruto, flexing for the camera that was taking the picture, shirtless and revealing a well toned chest and stomach. That made Jiraiya grin despite the situation. "Hey, look! He sent pictures to."

Jiraiya never he felt himself leave the ground. But when Tsunade heard that, she bolted from her seat so fast that it was as though lightning had struck. The Sannin knew he had been shoved out of the way for her to look at the pictures, but in all honesty, he sailed across the ground, his bum skipping over the ground like a rock over water for a moment, before he stopped. He felt the throb, but at that point, he really did not care. He to wanted to see more of the young man's life. And there they were, peering down at the pictures.

One showed Naruto's friends and he had labeled them all. The one that caught Jiraiya's eye was that of the tall dark skinned lady with the white hair, the one dressed in a simple purple blouse and a pair of jeans. Of course the old man just had to drool, and then when some prodding to Tsunade, who flipped it over to satisfy the curiosity, the name red, Ororo Munroe with a little Hyphen that stated 'Momma O'. Tsunade had read that part out loud and the old man could not help but chuckle and shake his head. "Oh wow. Gotta hand it to him. The brat is like a woman magnet. He even has one that's beyond gorgeous for a mother. So who's the blonde that he mentioned? Is that her on the left? Whoo boy, talk about a looker to be sure." The elderly man stated and the blonde could not help but smile sadly and shake her head, and Jiraiya knew why.

Tsunade had had a soft spot for Naruto for a long time. However she never acted upon it. She never took him up into her family home and spoke to Naruto about adoption. This was the sort of thing that the old man knew. But it was out of their hands as well. Tsunade nodded her head as she flipped over the picture again and peered at the only blonde there, tapping it with the tips of her fingers. The young lady clade in white leather pants and boots with a white tank top. The blonde hair cascading around the young ladies shoulders in curls and loops, and with narrow blue eyes, she gave the look of exotic beauty a whole new meaning. Tsunade for a moment, could have heard Jiraiya's foot tapping against the pavement, in excitement, as he saw the young lady in the picture. "You can pick your tongue off of the floor now." The Hokage stated, while Jiraiya just shook his head as he took a seat beside her again.

"He needs help winning that woman over? Holy Monkey. He's got his work cut out for him… Maybe I should send him my entire work for him to learn from." Jiraiya stated, and then felt the fold glare of Tusnade upon the side of his face. The old man raised his hands up in defence to placate her. "Hey, stop hitting me! It's a good sound idea to. Just for something for him to get his baring's on." The perverted monk stated, shaking his head to no avail. The look upon Tusnade's face said it all. If she caught those books being sent to Naruto, he was getting hurt.

And then the man decided to switch the page to save his hide and there he saw it. Naruto with some sort of strange hat on his head, having a set of poker chips in front of him at a green table. Tsunade knew that sort of thing right away. He was gambling, and by the looks of the other players, he was winning. There was a big gruff man with a cigar in his mouth, and an ash tray beside him, looking extremely un-amused. Beside him was another disgruntled young man with red hair and a pair of sunglasses that were tipped down to the tip of his nose, revealing black and red eyes. A fingerless gloved hand held onto a cigarette on his mouth. Both seemed to have unshaven faces, where the one with the cigar was ferocious, the other was an exotic mystery.

On the other side of Naruto was that of the same blonde that both had seen a page before, in the same get up, only having a closer look, the young lady had white lipstick and eye shadow, giving her the presence of an angel. The way she held a crystal wine glass daintily showed that young lady had been trained for high society, and yet she was at a poker table, smiling beautifully, and showing a true site of her beauty. And beside her, was another man, and this one made Tsunade's eyes widen slightly. The man was huge. At least six foot five, and standing at perfect male perfection. A well toned body, as though gifted to him by the gods. Blue eyes and short black hair were the distinguishing features of a extremely kind, yet in that picture very confused, face. Now that was a sight that Tsunade could stand to see more often. A grinning little idiot with out a care or worry in the world.

But of course she had to think about what he had written in his letter earlier. And low and behold, there was Naruto walking to school with a young man, with dark blue hair, blue eyes, and a pointed face. She could not tell off hand, but there seemed to be something different about him. And beside the other was a younger dark skinned person with blonde hair, in a pair of shorts that rode down revealing his undershorts, and a white muscle shirt, showing off undoubtedly. But the strange object that he carried was something else. A board with wheels. Do not get her wrong, she was all for testing new toys, but this one just seemed pointless and dangerous.

The markings on the building that they were entering were completely different to any that those people had seen. However they did not need to know how to read to know what a school was. But this was something else. There were plenty of children ranging to their late teens in jeans and t-shirts, carrying books and showing off throwing around a ball, while there were teachers sipping from a coffee and looking over homework at the last moment. Quite the strange thing that they had going, and Tsunade knew she had to ask about it.

The next page revealed a slow waking young lady with long brown hair in a low pony tail. Apparently the young lady had not even had time to look in the mirror because her face had been covered with make up. White eye liner and lipstick with a black face paint, with little yellow stars on top of her forehead. In the background, Tsunade and Jiraiya both snickered when they say who was in the reflection of a mirror. There was Naruto, with the young man that in a previous picture did not seem to walk properly. "Looks like Naruto is still at it… Go figure." Jiraiya stated shaking his head lightly as he rubbed a kink from his shoulder, while Tsunade just laughed.

Another held a beautiful young red haired woman, with green eyes peering down towards a board of some kind, with movable objects. Dressed in a baggy yellow shirt with blue clinging pants, she revealed just as much as she wanted to, what she was comfortable with, and yet still enough to make the Super Perverts mouth drool. But who she was playing with was a extremely beautiful young lady that had 'don't screw with me' written on her pale face. Long brown and white hair cascaded down the sides of her head and neck, down towards her back as well. Dressed in a simple black sweat pants and a orange tank top, she gripped her chin with a glove covered hand, thinking about something as well. Though from the differences in pieces that were at the young ladies board to those at the red head's board, she was winning.

There had been one last picture included with the leather bound binder. One that held a aged man in a wheelchair, peering down towards a computer screen, and smiling gently, while sipping on a cup of tea. The man had no hair, and a aged look to him, giving him the calm looking presence of a grandfather. Beside him was someone else. A face that looked like theirs and yet different all the same. There was a calmness about her, a tranquility that matched the ocean, and yet at the depths of it, was a various array of emotions that were tucked under training and obedience. The olive skinned woman had the poise of warrior, and a teacher. Was this the one that Naruto had mentioned in his letter about a teacher? The black haired woman did seem capable. And then there was the man who seemed to be reading.

"Quite the queer group that Naruto's aligned himself with, isn't it?" Jiraiya commented, getting a snort for a response as Tsuande closed the book, and touched the leather copy binding where she saw the orange swirl that was Naruto's Mark.

"Your one to talk. You take on misfits and orphans and turn them from rough to diamonds." Tsunade commented shaking her head lightly as she stood up and cracked her back, before she looked up to the boss toad who had stood their, waiting patiently for them to finish. And she did the most humbling thing ever. She got to her hands and knees and she bent forward, her brow nearly touching the ground in her bow. "I thank you, Gambuntua. For your help in this. It is a debt I fear can never be repaid."

"BRING HIM HOME. THAT WILL BE MY REPAYMENT." The boss toad stated simply as he puffed on his massive pipe once again. And it was then that the singular eye of the great toad settled upon Jiraiya who looked away when the great toad made his request. Something was not sitting right with the Toad Sage, and Gambuntua had had enough fooling around for the evening. "JIRAIYA! YOU KNOW SOMETHING! SPIT IT OUT!" That statement had caught the Hokage off guard, and she turned her head to regard her old teammate once again, her honey brown eyes searching his face.

With a deep breath, he released a even greater sigh showing signs of age that had not been seen for some time. Not since the death of the Third Hokage. "Don't bring him back. Not yet." Jiraiya stated, as he rubbed the back of his neck, cracking it gently, and he didn't need any encouragement to continue. "It's not because of the village or because of his status as a ninja here. No. There is a group out there. They consist of the most dangerous S ranked missing Ninja's from the great nations and some of the smaller ones."

Honey brown eyes narrowed at that information, but she could not piece it together. What did it have to do with her young friend, and why was Jiraiya bringing this to her attention now? She knew that he and Naruto had been attacked by Itachi Uchiha and a missing ninja from the Hidden Mist, Kisame. "Jiraiya, I'm in no mood for games. Is that understood? Now give me a complete report."

"I can't." Jiraiya stated shaking his head, his long silver hair swaying with his head before he locked eyes with the Hokage again. "It's not that I have not been trying. But sufficed to say, this organization is beyond slippery. As of right now, I know of only three members with in the organization… Itachi Uchiha, Kisame of the Hidden Mist, and until recently, Orochimaru." Jiraiya stated as he crossed his arms across his chest and shook his head. And Tsunade knew that if Orochimaru and Itachi were involved in anything that meant that there was going to be trouble. "I know one thing from a reliable contact, their goals are to get the tailed beasts."

"I recall you investigating something, but you never told me this." Tsunade stated, once again crossing her arms across her chest.

The old sage in turn just sighed and shook his head, running a hand through his long silver hair. He knew that he had not told her a whole lot on them. This was not to be a easy conversation. "At the beginning I didn't know a whole lot. I didn't even have a name. And then Naruto went missing, I didn't go out to check with my contacts for a while. In that they thought that I had forgotten about them, in truth, I almost had." Jiraiya stated as he walked back towards the bench and took a seat, allowing for the information to sink in. "And then when I got the information, you had announced that you were retiring, I didn't want to add to your burdens then."

"You dare to think that you know…"

Jiraiya's harsh gaze met her own, and she had seen that look only a brief few times. "You can hate and think less of me all you want, But you know my doubts in these matters were sound by the way you've been carrying yourself lately! And you look to throw Naruto back into a lions den!" He countered, his voice cutting deep and so loud that Tsunade flinched at the words. It was something else to be acting poorly around a particular topic, but to be called out on it by a life long friend and someone that she trusted. Her shoulders sagged and her arms dropped to her sides, and she bowed her head. And for a few moments, she thought about the situation. The Complete Situation.

Tsunade would be damned if she would admit it, but she knew her friend had the point. This organization that was collecting the tailed beasts would be after Naruto, and as Naruto stood the last time she saw him, his skills were all over the place and so erratic that they had a better chance of making the enemy laugh than making them run. Naruto's letter told her that he was continuing his training with different sensei, but she did not know the extent of that training. What was it covering? What could he do? There were to many questions revolving around Naruto now.

Tsunade's eyes opened and she eyed her friend on the bench as he watched her. And he watched as a fire began to boil within her, and as steel that he had once seen within her returned. "Jiraiya. The next steps should be made accordingly." She stated as she approached and took a seat of her own, touching the man's bruised shoulder, not even bothering with hand signs did the healing energy flow. "First. We need more information. You can go to Naruto, correct? I need to know how he is and what he is doing for training and to supplement it as well. The Next is to find more information about this organization that you've just reported to me… Which I still will curb stop you for." She stated, and he gulped. He could only hope that the information that he brings to her would lessen his punishment.

"The next is to take appropriate actions here. When the elders find out that Naruto is still alive, they are going to execute him for being a missing ninja. Therefore there is paperwork that needs to be made and put into the Hokage Vault. Where all high class missions are. Jiraiya. I need Naruto's file pulled from the records keeper, secretly, there cannot be a paper trail outside of the Hokage Vault." She ordered and the man nodded his head as he felt the pain relieved from his side and chest. "The next is to find a way to deal with the political repercussions. Sasuke Uchiha would be innocent of the murder charge on Naruto. The backlash…"

"Is pointless." Jiraiya put in, shaking his head as he rubbed his neck, cracking it with several sharp jerks. "He had left his post, abandoned his village, disregarded all colors of the Hidden Leaf Village to join a fellow traitor in a foreign land. These charges are still up there. And now that he is Namikaze, public opinion now works for him. Despite that though, the Murder Charge was never brought up in the court yet, and he was not tried on it. The Trial happened before the MIA status was placed on Naruto's name." Jiraiya stated, silencing the fact that the blonde haired woman had forgotten several key things. Especially that Naruto Uzumaki was Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, the Son of the Fourth Hokage, hero to the village, and Konoha's Yellow Flash. He was considered more of a treasure than that of the Uchiha clan. "But your right as well. A concession should be made to appease the blasted fools of the council. And the file will be pulled before I leave."

"When can this be accomplished?" Tsunade asked, and Jiraiya stood up grinning towards her and a cocky look.

"Come on, This is me we're talking about." He stated before he looked towards the form of Gamabunta and he nodded his head to him. "Alright, Bunta. You have a good one, when I call you again, hopefully I'll be dragging Naruto home screaming." He stated and the large toad just chuckled lightly.

"A SITE TO SEE FOR SURE. I'LL BE WAITING." The Toad stated before he disappeared in a puff of smoke himself, leaving the area in a large cloud of dust. And once it was cleared, Tsunade was alone and Jiraiya had gone to complete his tasks. These things she liked to see. And that was when she looked around towards the hot tub that she once had and she sighed massively.

"SHIZUNE!"

-Elsewhere-

Darkness surrounded him as he approached the chamber in question, those that came to the council that was the upper echelon's of the organization had gathered. How and why? He did not know the specifics, however long range communication had been made possible by one of the members. Black eyes peered to the one beside him and even in this darkness the form was still distinguishable, even in this black darkness. Kisame. The Monster of the Bloody Mist Village once upon a time ago. He himself had a similar reputation, only he didn't kill his friend. No. He killed his clan. He was Itachi Uchiha, and he was alone.

And then they saw it, the pathway opened up to reveal the head of a massive statue, peering up at the heavens, his hands outstretched in a pained prayer. How and why that had been carved, he had no idea, but it was a sight that greatly unnerved him. His black eyes peered towards those of the others gathered. He did not even bother with any sort of formal greeting to them. He simply turned to the one that called them there and he stared. Pein, a man that stood tall, pale eyes peering at his own, with several rings around the pupils, The Rinnigan. A blood line that surpassed all, and one that was said to go back to before the founding of the great nations. His blue haired partner was never to far behind, the woman Konan, who had the ability to transform her entire body into moveable folding paper.

"What have you found about the Kyuubi Container?" The question was direct and Itachi knew who it was directed to. Himself. Pein had been severely displeased when he had learned that the Kyuubi boy had disappeared faster than a fart in the wind. What facts he had were little to none.

"The boy is still missing." Itachi stated, his voice low and the tone flat, the same that he used when he addressed all others, keeping his feelings to himself in the process. A thing that annoyed most to no end. Anticipating the next question, he took the first step and spoke. "The Hokage still believes that he is alive. There is a great bounty upon him for being brought in alive and unharmed, one to which borders among the obscene. She believes that he is still alive. But there has been no evidence to counter this belief either." The man stated, to which Pein nodded his head in return, though the look that Itachi had been given was one of extreme disappointment.

"The Boy is not dead. Not yet. If he was, the world would have shook at the presence of his demonic power. The Kyuubi container could not be killed by something so light as your pathetic younger brother." Pein stated as he turned his head to regard something behind him. Something that Itachi could not see. That was something that he wished to know, but alas, for all the skills and powers that the Sharingan gave him. His sight was failing him. A price for such power.

"Your sure of this?"

"Demonic beings with such power cannot simply be destroyed by mortal means. These were the elemental nations demons. Their punishment for their arrogance and stupidity." Pein stated, as his gaze once again locked upon Itachi's who did not flinch while the chuckling of Kisame could be heard behind him.

"So if we find the brat, he's bound to be powerful. 'bout time I got a work out." The blue skinned man stated, patting the bandage covered blade with a simple pat of the hand.

"Yes. Beings of that sort shall be powerful Kisame… But for now, redouble your efforts in learning the location of the Nibi. She's gone into hiding and has avoided tracking." Pein ordered, one to which made no sense. But rather than question it, both turned and walked off, no salute, no respectful good bye. Nothing. Not fifteen feet away, Kisame turned and regarded his partner in crime, with a curious glance.

"You didn't bother to tell him about the hearing. Funny that you'd leave something like that out."

"Our objectives are to collect information on the Biju. Not to report on the comings and goings of all the other nations and their noble families."

"But the blonde runt, the one that toad humper was protecting. He's the Namikaze. You think that they don't need to know about that?" Kisame stated, and Itachi just remained silent, something to which the sword wielder chuckled to. "You walk a dangerous path friend."

The next year was proving to be extremely entertaining indeed.

Story End.