The Heart of the Demon
Chapter 17
The Search for Tsunade
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters
Hinata sat at Naruto's side, it had been more than a week since Sasuke and Jariya had left and she had spent nearly every moment since they left there. There was a knock on the door and Sakura poked her head in "can I come in?" she asked as Hinata looked over.
Hinata gave a small nod "of course"
Sakura walked over and sat a vase with some flowers on the side table before taking a seat next to Hinata, she and Naruto had never really liked each other but they were teammates, she couldn't not come visit her while she was in the hospital. She looked at Naruto's unnaturally still body thinking to herself, she couldn't imagine the pain Naruto must have felt, if something were to happen to Sasuke it would kill her, if Naruto felt the same about Gaara…
"You finally came to visit." Hinata said as she turned her attention to Sakura "Nearly everyone else has already come to visit several times."
Sakura lowered her head "I probably should have come sooner."
"You should have."
She looked up to Hinata judging gaze "I'm here now."
"Yeah, I guess you are."
"This is taking too long, aren't you supposed to be a spy master? Why haven't you found her?!" Sasuke shouted at his wits end with the man.
"It shouldn't take much longer, finding a sannin that doesn't want to be found isn't easy." This trip had been a royal pain in the ass for him, Sasuke was very focused and not very patient, it didn't help that Sasuke blamed him for Naruto's condition either. It had been troublesome to track down Tsunade even without any distractions it had been more than a week and they hadn't made much progress, all they knew was she was somewhere in northern fire country.
Jariya had avoided being his usual self partly for Sasuke who he was sure wouldn't tolerate it, but mostly for Naruto. Being in the village, meeting Naruto and seeing how she had become, everything that happened to her was his fault. He promised himself he would be better, once they got back with Tsunade he would stay and be there for her, even if she didn't want him to.
They were currently in a small village Tsunade had been reportedly seen in a few days ago but he wasn't sure how reliable the information had been. After spending most of the day asking around the village he hadn't been able to learn anything about where she might have gone or if she had even been in the village recently.
They were staying at a small inn at the edge of the village. Sasuke fumed at the sannin not particularly because he hadn't found Tsunade yet but because he felt so useless. He came with Jariya because he wanted to do everything he could to help Naruto but he hadn't been able to do anything to help and it was infuriating.
Jariya sat by the window looking through reports and scribbling things in a small book while Sasuke tried to work away his frustration on a tree behind the inn. Sasuke stopped and looked to the evening sky when he heard the caw of messenger bird, it landed by their window and Sasuke shunshined into the room "Did you find her?"
Jariya took the note and read it quickly a smile coming over his face "get your things, we're leaving"
Sasuke complied without question and they were soon on the road out of the village "so you found her right?"
"I got word from one of my contacts that she is in a village about 30 miles west of here, we need to get there tonight before she disappears again."
Sasuke nodded 'don't worry Naruto, we'll be back soon.'
It was late evening when they left and by the time they arrived in the small village it was the dead of night. It didn't take long for them find an open bar, apparently this Tsunade was a bit of a drunk, as long as she could fix Naruto Sasuke didn't care. Jariya looked around the small establishment, this was the only open bar he had seen in the short time they had been in the village, if Tsunade wasn't here she was probably already at whatever inn she must be staying at. Fortunately after a short scan of the bar he saw a familiar head of blond hair sitting in a booth in the back.
Jariya walked over to the booth and sat down with Sasuke following suite. Tsunade lifted her head drearily from where she had it resting in her arms "Jariya?" she asked surprised, obviously having had a lot to drink.
"Long time no see Tsunade." Jariya wore a large smile as he said it.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Not even a hello? I'm hurt Tsunade" Jariya joked
Tsunade clearly wasn't in the mood for Jariya's stupid games "Why are you here, and who's the brat?" she motioned to Sasuke.
"This is Sasuke Uchiha, as for the reason I'm here, the simple version is I need you to come back to Konaha with me."
Tsunade stared blankly at him for a few moments before laughing "Why would you ever think I'd go back there?"
Sasuke didn't have patients for this "Don't laugh! You're coming back to Konaha if I have to drag you there myself!"
Tsunade stopped laughing and gave Sasuke a death glare "Impudent runt, I don't go anywhere I don't wish to go."
"Sasuke you're not helping the situation, go get some food" Jariya all but shoved Sasuke out of the booth.
Tsunade turned her attention back to Jariya once Sasuke was gone "You can't really expect me to come with you."
"I expected you wouldn't agree at first but here me out."
"There is nothing you could say that will make me go back to Konaha."
"I'm not asking for you to come back for good, there is someone we need you to heal after you fix her you can leave again."
Tsunade looked suspiciously at Jariya, whoever it was the wanted her to heal must be important "Who is so important you would go through the trouble of finding me?"
"Minato and Kushina's daughter" Jariya said showing how seriously he took the situation.
"The Kyuubi Jinchuriki?" Tsunade stated more than questioned "what happened to her?"
Jariya sighed "When she was six she was attacked by a mob and nearly killed, it seems during attack the seal holding the Kyuubi back was severely weakened."
"When she was six? Wouldn't she be thirteen by now?"
"Yes, due to an incident we only recently found out that the seal had weakened. After the incident I resealed the seal but after so long her and the Kyuubi's chakra were completely fused, the resealing had some unfortunate side effects. Her chakra system has essentially been torn apart, none of the medical ninja in the leaf have the expertise to fix it."
Tsunade sat back and listened, she sympathized with the poor girl she had clearly had a hard life and Tsunade could relate. "What was this incident?"
Jariya sighed again and slouched in his seat, Tsunade could see that he blamed himself for whatever happened "Naruto was 'seeing' this boy from Suna, they met during the chunin exams."
After a few moment Tsunade prodded "And…"
"She was in love with him, even though they only knew each other a short time, she said they shared this connection. I think I know what the connection was now, it turns out this kid from Suna was the ichibi Jinchuriki."
Tsunade didn't like where this was going "why are you saying all of this in the past tense?"
"Because, he's dead, I killed him. He turned into the Ichibi and started attacking the village, I don't know why. I didn't know that he was the one she was seeing at the time, I protected the village."
This was hitting too close to home for her, this girl was so young and she had already had to go through so much, she knew how bad it was to lose the man you love, it could break a person, it broke her.
"Naruto got to where the Ichibi and I were fighting right as it ended; after the boy died she lost control and let the Kyuubi take over." Jariya looked her in the eyes pleadingly "Naruto has been through too much in her short life, she needs your help now and I'm begging you to give it."
Tsunade nodded after a short time "Alright, I'll come back and heal her, but I'm leaving right after."
Jariya smiled "That is all I ask, thank you Tsunade."
Sasuke sat impatiently across the room snacking on some dango, finally it seemed Jariya had made progress. He stood up as they walked over to him "So are you coming with us?"
Tsunade nodded "I am."
Tsunade led them to where she and Shizune were staying "We'll leave in the morning; we should be back to Konaha in a few days."
"Right, see you in the morning" Jariya said as she went to her room and he got him and Sasuke a room.
Shizune got up early and was exceedingly surprised to see Tsunade was already up and packing up her things "Lady Tsunade?"
"Ah Shizune you're awake, start packing we've got to start towards Konaha soon."
Shizune's jaw dropped she must have woken up in crazy alternate reality "We're going back to Konaha? What happened?" there was knock on the door which Shizune answered quickly "Jariya?"
"He happened." Tsunade stated
"Shizune good to see you." Jariya said giving her a quick hug
Shizune didn't know what was going on but was glad they were going back to Konaha; they had spent too much time away from home. She quickly packed her things and grabbed Tonton so they could head out.
Sakura again sat at Naruto's side, it had been a few days since she had been there but of course Hinata was still there, though from what she heard her father wasn't happy about it. Hinata had fallen asleep in the chair next to Naruto and Sakura had to admit Hinata was adorable but for Naruto it didn't look right. Seeing Naruto laying there so still, it was wrong, Naruto was never still. She looked so vulnerable lying there, so weak and broken, even in her sleep you could see the pain in her face.
"Sakura, you're here again." Hinata said stirring from her sleep.
"Yeah, I thought I would check in again."
Hinata gave a small smile "I'm sure she would appreciate it."
Sakura let out a laugh "I'm not so sure, we've never really gotten along."
"Yet you still come to see her. She would appreciate it, even though you've never gotten along, you're comrades."
"Yeah, we are."
"We're back." They both spun around to see Sasuke, Jariya, and two women walk in.
"Sasuke!" Sakura shouted
"I didn't expect to see you here Sakura, I'm glad you were visiting her though."
"Did you find her?" Hinata questioned eagerly looking between the two women assuming one of them must be Tsunade.
"They did" the blond one said as she walked to Naruto "I assume this is her, she does look a lot like them."
"Yes this is her" Jariya confirmed
"Alright then prep her for the operation, the sooner we're done the sooner I can leave."
Shizune had been informed about everything on the way back to the village and while she wasn't happy about not staying she was glad to be back even if it was brief. She nodded and went to make the necessary preparations.
"So you can heal her?" Hinata asked excitedly
Tsunade started looking over Naruto's chart after preforming a quick examination herself "I believe I will be able to yes."
Shizune came back into the room along with several other medical ninja "We're ready."
Tsunade walked with them as they wheeled Naruto out on a gurney.
"I have to go report to the Hokage." Jariya informed them before shunshining away.
The three of them the followed after Tsunade and Naruto so they could be there after the operation was done.
Hiruzen had been swamped since the incident with the Ichibi, the Chunin exams had been cancelled and there was a huge political mess going on about the death of the Kazekage's son, of course Suna wanted compensation. On top of everything else the elders of the village were pressing him about what to do with Naruto though he was sure if Danzo was still alive it would have been much worse. Still it looked like the best option was still to send Naruto away for a while when Tsunade healed her. There was a knock on the door "come in" Jariya walked in "You're back, did you find Tsunade?"
"We did, she is already operating on Naruto."
"That's good news."
"Tsunade should be here to report as soon as she finishes."
It had been several hours and Sasuke was beginning to freak out "What's taking so long?"
"There was a lot of damage to her chakra system, it is most likely just taking a while to fix it all." Hinata reassured him.
"Yeah I'm sure everything is going fine." Sakura added
"Can't you just take a look Hinata?" Sasuke prodded
"If it will calm you down." She activated her Byakugan and looked into the operation room. "Looks like they are just finishing up, it looks like her chakra system is completely repaired, it's remarkable." Hinata smiled relived Naruto was going to be alright.
"Thank god" Sasuke sighed as he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders.
Tsunade walked out a few minutes later "She's going to be fine, physically at least."
"Thank you so much lady Tsunade" Hinata bowed with Sasuke and Sakura mimicking.
"It was no problem, I should report to the Hokage now." She walked away without another word.
Shizune came out of the operating room shortly after wheeling Naruto on a gurney. "Naruto" Sasuke ran over Hinata close behind.
"She should wake up in a few hours." Shizune answered the question before they had a chance to ask.
Tsunade made her way out of the hospital and was almost out when someone shouted her name "LADY TSUNADE!"
She turned to find where the annoyingly loud voice came from "LADY TSUNADE!" she heard again and located the voice, a man in a green body suite and a bowl cut.
Tsunade deadpanned "Guy" she said annoyed as he got to her
"Lady Tsunade! I heard you were in the village!"
"Guy we're in a hospital quite down."
"Oh right" he rubbed the back of his head
"Sensei!" Lee shouted as he ran up behind Guy "is this her?"
Tsunade looked between Lee and Guy for a few moments "You have a clone."
"Ah yes this is my Youthful student Lee!" Guy again shouted with a proud smile
"Did you want something? I have to report to the Hokage." She was impatient she had hoped to avoid things like this.
"Yes! It is one of my other students, he was injured severely in the chunin exams and I have come to ask if you will please heal him!"
"Please lady Tsunade heal Neji! I will do whatever you ask!" Lee shouted excitedly
"What happened to him?"
"He was injured in a preliminary fight, his arm was pulverized." Guy said more solemnly than usual
"Pulverized? What hit him?"
"Naruto did, she is one of the strongest ninja I have ever seen!"
"It was quite a youthful display of power, even if it was against a fellow leaf ninja."
"Alright I'll take a look, tonight bring him here, I'll see what I can do" she said and left shunshining as soon as she was out of the building.
"Thank you lady Tsunade!" they both shouted after her as she walked away.
Tsunade knocked on the Hokage's door, she'd been here for only a few hours and it was already too long with any luck she'd be out of here in a day or two.
"Come in" Tsunade walked into the office closing the door behind her before taking a seat across from Hiruzen. "Tsunade, it is nice to see you, did the operation go well?"
Tsunade sighed "yes, her chakra system is completely healed."
"Wonderful news" Jariya said with a small smile from his seat near the window.
Tsunade decided not to waste time "What is the plan for her now?"
Hiruzen gave his own sigh "The elders are pushing for an answer to that very question. I think Naruto should be taken out of the village for a while, there is too much tension about the Kyuubi right now."
"I'll be taking her with me when I leave the village." Jariya added
"I don't think that's a good idea." Tsunade replied "I agree she needs to be out of the village, for her sake more than to appease the elders, but from what I heard it sounds like she blames Jariya for Gaara's death. I doubt she would agree to leaving with him."
"It's not a matter of whether she is happy about it, she needs to be away from the village for a while." Jariya responded
"Forcing her to go with you will only damage her more"
"What do you suggest Tsunade?" Hiruzen asked
"She should come with me and Shizune"
Hiruzen nodded he had been hoping Tsunade would offer "It would mean you would have to stay in constant contact with Konaha, we'll need to know where to find you, the elders won't agree to it otherwise."
Tsunade sighed "alright"
Hiruzen smiled "I think that is a wonderful plan"
Naruto slowly opened her eyes and winced at the blinding light. Slowly she pushed herself into a sitting position "Naruto!" someone shouted from her side and she was suddenly wrapped in their arms.
"Huh?" she jumped surprised. Her eyes came back into focus and she looked to who had their arms around her "Hinata" she weakly returned the hug trying to remember what was going on.
"Took you long enough to wake up" Sasuke joked relived that she was finally awake
Hinata let Naruto go and Naruto looked around the room locating Sasuke in a chair at the foot of the bed "Sasuke."
"Just in time!" Kiba shouted as come through the door along with Shikamaru, Choji, Shino, Sakura, and even Ino.
"We were starting to think you'd never wake up that would have been a drag" Shikamaru lazily commented
"How long have I been out?"
"A couple weeks" Choji said munching his ever present chips "You want some" he offered when he notice her looking at them.
"Sure" she took a few and conversation flooded into the room. Her memories were coming back to her and she had to force herself from showing the pain on her face. She was surrounded by people, fiends, and she felt more alone now than she had ever felt before. Gaara was gone and now even Kurama had been taken from her.
Tsunade knocked on the open door to get everyone's attention "Alright everybody out, Naruto needs to rest."
"But she just woke up!" Kiba retorted
"And now she must rest." She said sending him a glare that got her point across
"Alright" Kiba said defensively "I guess we'll see you later Naruto" they all said their goodbyes and left the room leaving only Hinata and Sasuke in the room with her.
"You guys too, I need to talk to Naruto, alone."
Sasuke reluctantly obliged "I'll be back later, I should probably go tell Itachi I'm back."
"I should go home anyway, my father has been trying to get me to come home and train."
"Yeah, I'll see you guys soon" Naruto replied with a halfhearted smile. They waved as they left and Tsunade closed the door behind them. "Who are you anyway?"
"I'm Tsunade of the sannin, I'm the one that healed you." She went over an sat next to Naruto.
"Thanks, I guess."
Tsunade looked over her face for a few moments before sighing "I know what it is like. To lose the ones you love."
Naruto looked down trying to keep the tears away as she thought of Gaara again.
Tsunade put her hand on Naruto's shoulder "It's alright to cry, there is no worse pain the pain of losing the person you love the most. The pain dulls over time, but it never truly heals."
She couldn't hold them back anymore no matter how hard she tried, it simply hurt too much, tears started flowing down her cheeks again. Tsunade wrapped her arms around her in a light hug and just held her. Naruto rested her head on Tsunade's shoulder and cried into it, she didn't know why she hardly knew this women but the way she held her, it felt like she had a mother and she didn't want to fight it.
After a while Tsunade spoke again "I'll be leaving the village in a couple of days." She pulled back and looked Naruto in the eyes "Being here, where it happened, isn't going to help you heal, I would like for you to come with me when I go."
Naruto stayed quite the tears had slowed but weren't gone, she didn't know what to say, maybe Tsunade was right but could she really leave her friends now, they were all she had left.
Tsunade brushed some of Naruto's hair out of her face "you don't have to answer now, but I truly believe this would be for the best. I have to go now, I'll come back tomorrow, try to get some sleep." Naruto gave a small nod and Tsunade left.
Naruto laid back in the bed 'Kurama, I need you, I don't know what to do' there was no response reaffirming that she was truly alone.
Authors Note: I don't know about this one I feel like it's kind of eh, but I hope you guys like it. Anyway They will be leaving next chapter and I think I'm gonna time skip and fill in what happened while Naruto was away with flashbacks.