Tsunade was just sitting in her office reading some documents when Jiraiya came knocking on her door.
At some point, something that Jiraiya reported to her made her jump out of her chair.
"What do you say you and I go out for a drink first?" Jiraiya asked calmly, "It's been forever since we had some sake together. Then, we'll talk."
"YOU—WHA—I'M THE GAWD DAMNED HOKAGE! I CAN'T JUST WALK INTO A BAR AND DRINK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON!!! THERE ARE A BUNCH OF OUR SHINOBI OUT OF MISSIONS RIGHT NOW—"
And the next thing Jiraiya saw in front of him was a laughing Tsunade drinking some sake with him in a bar.
Sweatdrop.
"You really need to start taking your own advice." Jiraiya said, "You're the Hokage, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah." Tsunade muttered, "So…Akatsuki's Leader is in the Amegakure?"
-0-
'You two are named Suzuka and Sachiko Akira. Akira, you have two brothers; the older one is Seth, a clumsy yet reliable person; the younger one is Kenji, an annoying person. You and Suzuka know each other and you two must go back to Konohagakure. Explain to the Hokage that you two were on a boat trip together when suddenly a storm came and wreck the boat. You two were injured therefore we took care of you. Sorry if you if didn't let you know who we are. For now, you've been staying in a hotel room. Don't worry. We already paid the bill—'
Two girls stared at each other for a while after reading a letter that was meant for them.
"So, who do you think is who?" One of them asked.
"I'm not sure—okay! How about this? I'll be Akira and you'll be Suzuka."
"But, I wanted to be Akir—"
"No, no. I'm Akira. You Suzuka. That's final."
"But—"
"No buts!" Akira said, fidgeting.
Sweatdrop.
"Okay, okay. You can have the name." Suzuka replied, trying to calm Akira down.
"So, what now? The letter says we should go to…Ko-no-haga-ku-re? Should we go for it?"
"Well, it says so. The problem now is…how will we get there? We don't know where it is or how it looks like!"
Silence.
Their problem was about to be solved when they saw a hooded man driving his carriage.
"Anone! Anone! (Hey! Hey!)" Akira called out to the man.
The man stopped his carriage.
"Yes?"
Luckily for them, he knows where Konohagakure is. Along with that, he himself is going there, as well as offering them a ride.
The trip was going to be a day…and free of charge!
"Not bad." Akira muttered to Suzuka as she hopped onto the carriage, followed by Suzuka.
-0-
"Sheesh," Jiraiya said as he was staring down at a vomiting Tsunade, "you're even worse with sake than I am. Let's take a break."
Out in the park, the two Sannins continued to talk about the Akatsuki Leader's whereabouts.
Not long after, Jiraiya thought it was time for him to go to his target's location.
"Come back alive…" Tsunade said to him, "If I lose you too…I—"
Jiraiya then cut her off.
"Are you gonna cry for me?! Haha, I'm honored!" He said, "I don't suppose I'll get as many tears as Dan did though. Hahaha!"
"Asshole." Tsunade muttered.
-0-
"Tell the other members to hurry up with their Jinchuurikis." A mysterious figure said to the Akatsuki Leader and his partner.
"Right." The Leader answered.
"It is almost time…there's little left in our way until we get to our goal. If so, everything will return to its place…"
-0-
Akira, Suzuka and the hooded man have finally made their destination.
Konohagakure.
"Arigato gozaimasu!" Both girls exclaimed in chorus as their feet onto ground and off the carriage.
"Do itashi mashite (You're welcome)." The man replied, "Ja mata ne (See you)."
He then clucked his tongue twice, signaling his horse to move. They disappeared into the morning crowd.
Now that Akira and Suzuka are in Konohagakure the only thing they must do is to find the village leader.
Akira smacked her forehead.
"Ugh! We forgot to ask that guy where to find the Hokage!" She said aloud.
"Well," Suzuka said, "I guess we have to do this the hard way."
Akira then nodded in agreement.
-0-
"Well, that was easier than expected. Those two weren't even suspicious of my identity." The hooded man said to himself.
He then took off his hood, revealing his true identity…Kabuto!
"It's all into plan now…"
-0-
Suzuka dropped to her knees.
"Oi! What's the matter now?" Akira asked with her hands on her hips.
"I'm tired already. Can we go to an inn to have some rest?"
"NO! Not until we find that Hokage and his whereabouts!"
"We're not sure if he's a he…"
"Fine! I'll rephrase my line. Not until we find that Hokage and his OR her whereabouts, happy?"
Sweatdrop.
"Sure, sure. Hey…why can't we ask for directions?"
"WHY DIDN'Y YOU SUGGEST THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?"
"Ahahaha…gomen. Uhmm…why don't we ask that guy over there?"
"You ask him." Akira muttered with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Fine, —walks toward guy— uhmm…sumi masen (excuse me)."
"Hmm?" The man answered, "Doushite?"
"Uhmm…ano, do you where the—"
The man suddenly gasped and rushed to Akira's side, to Suzuka and Akira's surprised.
"Oh Akira! I can't believe it's you! I thought you were dead! Wah…Kenji and I missed you so much!"
Akira pushes the guy away from her.
"Who the hell are you?! I don't even know you!!!"
"Akira! It's me…Seth!"
"…Seth?"
Akira stopped dead. She suddenly remembered the letter written for her and Suzuka…
Akira, you have two brothers; the older one is Seth, a clumsy yet reliable person; the younger one is Kenji, an annoying person…
"Seth?" She said yet again. "Ah, ano…I was just so surprised that I didn't recognize you!"
Seth smiled.
"Ahaha, —hugs Akira— it's just so great to see you again…come, let us go to the Fifth to tell her that you've come back!"
Just then, Suzuka butt in.
"The Fifth?"
"Yeah! She is the leader of this village. Say…you're not from around here, aren't you?"
Suzuka scratched her again.
"I don't know. I'm not sure…"
"Hmm? How can you not be sure about where you are from?" Seth asked.
"That doesn't matter right now. Let's just see the Fifth—"
"Say, Akira…you usually call the Hokage…'Tsunade-sama'…why 'the Fifth' now?"
"I do?"
"EH?!?"
"It's nothing!!!"
-0-
Knock. Knock.
"Shizune, get the door for me, will you?" Tsunade said, still looking woozy from yesterday's sake drinking. She then started to drink some water.
"Hai…" Shizune replied as she opened the door, "Seth-kun! What are you— Akira?!"
Tsunade spat out the water.
"EH?!? AKIRA'S BACK?! H-H-HOW?!?"
Seth peered into the room.
"Ohayou…" He said cheerfully.
"Seth, did I hear right? Is Akira really back?"
"Hai!"
"Ohayou…" Akira said softly as she entered the room, followed by Suzuka.
Shizune smiled.
"She really is back!" She said.
Tsunade, at first, looked speechless, but then again, seeing one of her apprentices back in the village after a long absence, made her smile in the end.