As they walked, Jiraiya could tell something was wrong with Michiko. The playful, warm, childish light in her eyes was faint, and the warm smile that was usually on her lips was replaced by a sad frown, like she was lost in thought. 'What happened when I wasn't there?' Naruto was looking serious as well, casting worried glances at his friend every now and then. Michiko asked Jiraiya, worry and sadness in her voice, "Do you think Sasuke and my dad will be alright?" he nodded, saying, "Once we find Tsunade, I'm sure she'll go to heal them, and they'll be back to normal before you know it!" She tried to smile, but it was weak at best, with only a tiny glimmer of happiness or hope behind it. Naruto tried to smile, too, but it wasn't nearly as care free as usual. "Yeah! And then everything will be the same as before!!" she nodded, wishing she could believe him. 'But it won't be the same…I feel like I've changed…' she looked at the clouds as the wind caressed her face, moving her bangs out of her face.
'Now I can't get his taste out of my mouth…and all I want to do is forget…' she imagined her father's face, and sighed. 'I hope he's okay…him and Sasuke…' she tried to smile, saying, "Some birthday, ne?" Naruto nodded, saying, "But it'll get better! I promise!!" she smiled weakly, nodding, when they reached another village, and Jiraiya took Naruto's money before running off. Michiko sighed, saying, "I'm not going to stay…we need to find Tsunade-sama…" Naruto nodded, saying, "Wait here for a second!" she nodded as he ran off, and had a confused look on her face as she fidgeted with her headband, which was around her neck, as usual. When Naruto ran back, he had something held behind his back.
She quirked a questioning eyebrow, asking, "What's that, Naru-kun?" he held out what looked like a stuffed animal in the shape of a white kitten with angel wings. "I won this for you…it kind of reminded me of you…" she noticed the blush on his cheeks, and blushed as well, taking the toy. "Arigato…Naru-kun…" After a moment of thought, she kissed him on the cheek, saying, "I really appreciate it…" her cheeks burned crimson before she disappeared in a flash of silver, leaving a blushing Naruto behind.
She found Jiraiya, drunk and with a bunch of woman, and hit him, hard, over the head. "I'm going ahead to search for Tsunade-sama…I'll be fine…but train Naruto already, Jiraiya-baka!" he hadn't even noticed she'd been there before she hit him, and he nodded hesitantly. 'She has the stealth of a Kage, at least…and Tsunade's strength…' Michiko sighed, saying, "Take care of Naruto…and don't run off just because a woman winks at you! Because if anything happens to him…" he didn't need her to finish her threat, and nodded. She left in an instant, and summoned Shiraishi before she started searching for the Sannin. When Shiraishi finally found Tsunade, she was walking out of a gambling house. "Tsunade-sama!!" Tsunade turned to her, Shizune behind her, when Michiko hugged the Sannin tight, no longer able to hold in her tears as Shiraishi licked her hand, whimpering softly, before poofing away. "Michiko, what's wrong?" Michiko tried to quiet her sobs, saying, "It's…Hokage-sama…and dad…"
Tsunade led her back to the hotel they were staying at, and Michiko ended up explaining everything that happened…every last detail… "So you're telling me that after going to Konoha, defeating your father with the Mangekyo Sharingan, that him and his partner went after Naruto and you tried to fight them off. Also, that his partner murdered your mother, and, after you unleashed your Bijuu's chakra, that he…kissed you?" she nodded, her eyes shielded by her bangs as she looked at the ground. 'I want to forget…why can't I?' Tsunade sighed, saying, "I know you want me to go to Konoha with you now, but you also know that I'm here to gamble…and that I haven't healed anyone in years…" Michiko nodded slowly, saying, "There was just no where else to turn…" Tsunade couldn't help the sympathy and pity that built in her chest. 'Her mother is gone, her father is in a coma, and she's just been through a traumatizing experience…I should at least heal them…' "But…I'll see what I can do for them…"
She saw hope enter the young girl's eyes, and felt bad for the girl. 'She's a good person, selfless and strong, then why is all of this happening to her? Is kami trying to test her?'
Michiko tried to smile, saying, "But while you gamble, can I learn some new Medical jutsu?" Tsunade nodded, patting the smaller girl on the head. 'At least I can prepare her for the future…'