AN: Last chapter we saw Naruto get into an arranged marriage to Tenten, I wonder how she'll take the news? Anyway we had some laughs at Jiraiya's expense again, he just can't win can he? Oh, and we got to see the fishman lose an arm to the juggernaut force that was Naruto, I wonder if he kept it as a souvenir? One can only guess. Now onto our focus this chapter, Senju Tsunade come on everyone knows of this busty hothead with the ability to make a man sterile or a woman barren before crushing you flat with her super-strength. I wonder how she takes being offered the title of Hokage? Let's find out.
Disclaimer: I told you vultures to look to the previous chapters for this.
Chapter 10: Sannin Found & Sannin Showdown
Restaurant in Tanzaku Town
Shizune sat with a look of worry on her face as she watched her longtime mentor drink more sake, they were sitting in a reflective silence after their run in with Tsunade's old teammate Orochimaru two days ago. Even now the young woman could still remember the conversation word for word.
Flashback:Fuin
Shizune was struggling to keep up with her mentor as Tsunade was nearly running up the road with her travel bag in one hand and Tonton in the other.
"Tsunade-sama please wait up! Where are we going?" Shizune asked as she caught up to her mentor's side.
"I hit the winning pull on those slot machines back there, something bad is about to come our way." Tsunade said in a somewhat frantic voice as they found themselves walking near the wall protecting a near by castle.
As they moved Tsunade hoped whatever was coming their way didn't, too bad Murphy's law decided to pick on her that day when an oily smug voice reached her ears.
"Tsunade-hime, what a pleasure it is to see you here." A disarmingly sweet voice said that instead of placating Tsunade put her on edge.
Turning around, Tsunade and Shizune came face to face with Orochimaru wearing wearing long purple robes with a loose pink vest, bandages that he usex as a sash, and dark pants. Standing near Orochimaru was a young man wearing his outfit from the Chunin Exams and official hiate of Otogakure.
"What do you want Orochimaru?" Tsunade all but spat as she watched her ex teammate approach.
"I ran into a spot of trouble about a week back and the end result is that I've lost the use of my arms thanks to Sarutobi-sensei and a jutsu of his that did the damage, so I've tracked you down with the expressed interest of asking for you to attempt to heal my arms of this malady." Orochimaru said as he got down to his point without revealing much as Tsunade's temper was as legendary as her enhanced strength.
"Not interested especially since I heard about your little stunt against Konoha, enjoy your gift from Sarutobi-sensei come on Shizune." Tsunade said as she resumed walking with Shizune not too far behind, they didn't even get five feet away before Orochimaru spoke up again.
"Surely I can make it worth your while Tsunade-hime? Perhaps restoring your loved ones Dan and Nawaki?" Orochimaru said with a smirk that rolled across his lips as she stopped in her tracks.
Orochimaru thought he had Tsunade eating out of the palm of his hand until, her fist made contact with the wall next to her and put a gaping sized hole in it. Slowly she turned to look at him with her face twisted into a mask of fury.
"You dare speak of such things?" Tsunade all but screamed at the snake sannin as she rounded on him with anger burning hot.
"I wouldn't have mentioned them if it wasn't possible, as it stands I could give you your loved ones back but, in order to do that I need the use of my hands so what's your answer?" Orochimaru trudged on as if he was nonplussed by her mood change.
"Tsunade-sama..." Shizune called out as she put a comforting hand on her mentors shoulder as the woman just glared at her old teammate as if to smolder him with her gaze.
"I can see you need some time to think it over so, I'll give you a week to give me your answer. Farewell for now Tsunade." Orochimaru said before he and Kabuto disappeared via shunshin leaving the street empty save for Tsuande, Shizune and Tonton.
"Tsunade-sama, are you alright?" Shizune asked with worry over her mentor as Tsunade turned around to where they were walking to.
"Let's go find a hotel to stay in." Is all Tsunade uttered before she started walking off with Shizune right behind her.
Flashback: Kai
Shizune was broken out of her thoughts by someone calling her and her mentor's names, looking to where the voice originated from Tsuande and Shizune watched as Jiraiya made his way over to their table with a jovial smile on his face. So focused that they were on Jiraiya that they didn't notice Naruto sit next to him in their booth.
"Well I must say you are a hard person to track down Tsunade." Jiraiya said as a waitress came over to take his and Naruto's orders of meat buns, tea(for Naruto) and sake(for Jiraiya) before walking off to see them filled.
"What is you want Jiraiya? You wouldn't had gone through all this trouble of finding me just to have a friendly chat." Tsunade snapped as she took a drink of her sake.
"You always did know me best Tsu-hime. To put it simply sensei wants you back in Konoha...to become the next Hokage." Jiraiya said briefly with a smile before switching to a serious expression as he met Tsunade's eyes.
"Sensei's lasted this long what does he need me for? Besides the position of the Hokage is for fools and dream chasers. Also I'm sure the title has been offered to you, why didn't you take it?" Tsunade scoffed into her saucer before taking a gulp as Jiraiya and Naruto's order arrived.
"Two reasons; I've got an informant network to run and I'm not cut out to be Hokage. You however, it's literally in your blood Tsunade." Jiraiya pointed out as he grabbed a meat bun.
"Well my answer is no, you know full well that Konoha holds too many bad memories and that I..." Tsunade replied as she was about to give the rest of her reasons when a voice interrupted her.
"...Am nothing but a coward." Naruto muttered as he took a sip of his tea.
"Jiraiya who is this brat?" Tsunade asked as she finally acknowledged Naruto's presence due to his remark before rounding on her teammate with a questioning look.
"This is Uzumaki Naruto and he's my apprentice." Jiraiya said sheepishly while stealing a glance at Naruto who had yet to open his eyes as he sampled a meat bun in silence.
"I thought after your last apprentice, you swore to never take another one." Tsunade asked as she sat back and took another pull of alcohol.
"Well thing have changed and Naruto here is strong for his age. Also well he's... my godson." Jiraiya replied with an even bigger sheepish expression as he waited for the eventual blowout.
He wasn't disappointed as Tsunade began to choke on the sake that got caught in her throat, after getting some assistance from Shizune Tsunade simply looked from Jiraiya to Naruto and back again a couple of more times before busting out into laughter.
"I fail to see what's so funny about that Tsunade." Jiraiya said with a pout as his busty teammate attempted to get herself under control.
"If...if he's your apprentice then every woman is in trouble with two of you perverts inhabiting the world." Tsunade replied as she caught a breath of air before looking up at Jiraiya although what was said next ignited her legendary temper.
"While I agree that Jiraiya-sensei is a man of certain perverted urges...it's better than being a cowardly gambling lush such as yourself, who runs from her birth right all because of some bad memories." Naruto said as he took another sip of his tea as Tsunade rounded on him.
"What did you say gaki?" Tsunade snarled as she stood up while slamming her hands on the table.
"I don't usually make it a habit of repeating myself but I'll take some form of pity on you seeing as your deaf as well. I called you a gambling lush, you are unfit for the titles that have been bestowed upon you by others. And I can imagine that your clan looks down at you from the heavens with regret sown into their faces that one of their own would turn out to be such a coward of a woman." Naruto replied in the same tone not in the least startled by Tsunade's face becoming red with fury.
"Outside...Gaki!" Tsunade siad with a cold fury seeping into her words at this impudent brat bad mouthing not only her but her fallen clan as well.
"Um Tsunade I don't think that's a good idea." Jiraiya advised, not for Naruto's safety but that of his teammate herself as she always got really temperamental after heavy drinking.
"Perhaps you should listen to Jiraiya Tsunade-sama, you did drink a good bit of alcohol already." Shizune as she too expressed worry about the situation.
"Quiet you two, I can still kick some genin's ass with a bit of sake in my system." Tsunade snapped as her eyes bore into Naruto's form as if to instantly kill him on the spot.
Naruto made no attempt to move in any way other than to continue drinking his tea in silence, this action kicked Tsunade's temper even higher at this kid's audacity.
"What's wrong brat? You realize that you was suddenly in over your head? Tell you what, you apologize right now and I'll forget your cheek earlier." Tsunade said with unblinking eyes.
"Believe me when I say that your posturing changes nothing in the slightest, nor does it intimidate me. It's just that you didn't specify when you wanted to step outside so I took it as I could finish my tea beforehand." Naruto replied as he met Tsunade's burning amber orbs with his frigid sapphire ones.
"I meant now kid, not when you decided to finish your snack." Tsunade pointed out.
"Oh well you see, I have manners unlike you, I guess that's another lesson that was passed over on you when growing up." Naruto said as he calmly stood up from the table.
Jiraiya would have been on the floor dying with laughter at his godson standing up to Tsunade calmly, if the situation wasn't so serious with Tsunade barely restraining her killing intent as she and Naruto exited the building with him and Shizune right behind. When they got outside Tsunade and Naruto were standing at opposite ends of the street, like two enemies on opposing sides of a war. Tsunade looked completely incensed while Naruto didn't look bothered in the slightest, turning to his left Jiraiya could see that Shizune was a bundle of worry as she held Tonton to her chest which he quickly committed to memory before turning his full attention back to the street.
"I'll give you one chance to apologize for what you said in there before I rip your head off." Tsunade threatened even though she wouldn't really rip his head off, it was just a scare tactic to get him to back down.
"Why would I take back what I said when every word of it was true? Can we hurry this along? I still have to deliver you back to the old man and I plan on doing just that." Naruto asked with a bored look about him.
"Feeling so sure of yourself huh? I bet you couldn't make me use more than one finger to beat you." Tsunade boasted as she held up her index finger on her right hand.
"Such arrogance, you'll fall just as Sabaku no Gaara did." Naruto said as he took a walking start which turned into a run as he poised his hand for the attack.
Tsunade timed Naruto's approach and dropped her finger loaded with chakra to the ground, the effect was instantaneous as a fissure appeared in the ground and a lot of dust was kicked up due to the amount of force behind the attack. Everyone waited with bated breath to see the result of Tsunade's attack as the dust cleared to reveal the fissure but no sign of Naruto, easing up but not letting down her guard Tsunade attempted to look around while sensing for Naruto's charka until something wrapped around her throat tightly. She was about to attempt to break loose until a voice spoke up before she could raise her hands.
"I wouldn't try moving, it wouldn't take much for me to rear back and sever your head clean from your shoulders.." A cold voice said as the back of her legs were taken out from under her causing her to hit the dirt via her knees.
"How?" was all Tsunade could get out through her shock and the tight airway of her neck as she found out that even with her strength being augmented by her chakra, Naruto's grip on the whip hadn't slacked in the slightest.
"Simple, you got arrogant just like all the rest and thought yourself above someone who wears the rank of a genin. It would disgust me if I cared enough but I don't, the fact is for all your power you shinobi tend to forget the fact that you are human and that there will always be someone more powerful to contend with even when they are younger than you." Naruto replied as he let the whip disappear as he himself lifted Tsunade up by the neck and held his other hand poised for an attack which shocked the hell out of Shizune and Tonton as they never seen their master handled in such a way while Jiraiya was screaming for Naruto to not strike Tsunade down.
"If you were an enemy I would have already killed you Tsunade, as it stands however you are an important ally therefore you remain safe for the moment. Now then I've been given extra orders by Sandaime-sama to report that by his word that whether or not you return to as it new appointing Hokage, you will return to the village as your medical expertise is needed. Should you not adhere to this order, I will hunt you down and kill you myself after you have been marked a traitor." Naruto explained as he put the buxom beauty down and revealed a signed mission order directly for Tsunade and handed it to her before walking off.
"Wait where are you going?" Tsunade asked as she snapped out of her stupor to look at Naruto's retreating back.
"Nowhere you need to concern yourself at the moment, Jiraiya you know how to find me when you're ready." Naruto replied as he switched from addressing Tsunade for Jiraiya as he walked up the broken street and disappeared around the corner of a nearby building.
Tsunade stood gazing at the spot where Naruto disappeared with a look of surprise, She was so absorbed in her own thoughts that she almost missed Jiraiya and Shizune running up to her.
"Tsunade-sama! You're not hurt are you." Shizune asked with instant worry as she looked her mentor over with a medical eye.
"Just a slightly bruised neck and a hugely bruised ego Shizune. Alright you old perverted hermit spill it, who is that kid really?" Tsunade said as she went from being soft and caring with Shizune to the tough as nails kunoichi she was known for being as she turned to her teammate.
Jiraiya knew that if he didn't produce some answers Tsunade would break him in a way that won't be pleasant for him for the rest of his days, so with a sigh he motioned Tsunade to follow him so they could talk in private. After instructing Shizune to return to their hotel for the night, Tsunade followed her teammate with the purpose of finding out just what's been going on since her departure from Konoha all those years ago.
Amegakure
In the eternal land of falling rain, deep inside a large mountain that looked ordinary at first glance was the hidden base for 9 of the Elemental Countries most notorious S-ranked nuke-nins of an organizatino called the Akatsuki known to date. They were all standing atop the fingers of an enormous statue that only had its upper torso and hands showing, what was interesting that while the meeting was taking place not every member was in physical attendance. Those that weren't physically there were standing in attendance due to a jutsu that projected an astral version of the person so that all the members could convene for a meeting at any time as they moved about the various shinobi villages.
"So how goes Kisame's recovery after losing his arm?" The being known as Pein asked from his position on the staute as he looked to the form of his partner Konan, the only female member among the organizations ranks.
"With the fact that Zetsu was able to not only bring his arm back to us but, he ensured that we didn't lose another one of the rings like we did with Orochimaru's defection from our ranks. Kisame should be ready after proper rest and rehab to ensure that he arm was attached correctly." Konan replied in a soft and gentle tone as she looked at Nagato.
"I see, then that means for now Itachi you and Kisame shall be put into reserve until Kisame is fit for duty again. I want no mistakes made especially when dealing with the Kyuubi's jinchuriki after seeing what he did to Kisame who is one of our most physically strongest members.
"Hai, Leader-sama." Itachi replied as his trademark sharingan blazed in the dim light of the cave.
"Heh, you fuck bags are afraid of a 12 year old brat? He wouldn't last against me for 10 seconds before I sacrificed his worthless carcass to Jashin-sama!" Another person said, this time it was Hidan an ex jounin from Yugakure that was apart of a wild and obscure cult that woshipped a deity called Jashin who expected nothing but total slaughter and mayhem from its followers.
"How many times have I told you not to underestimate an opponent at face value Hidan?" A tall and masked shinobi by the name of Kakuzu said as he chided his partner's foolishness and reckless nature.
"Yeah well how many times have I told you to shut the hell up Kakuzu?" Hidan fired back.
"Kakuzu is right, with the level of skill that the Kyuubi jinchuriki posssess it would be a foolish thing to do as to underestimate him, lest you end up like Kisame did or worse." Pein said as he addressed the entire congregation.
"Not to mention that my informants have spoken that the Gama Sennin Jiraiya has taken the boy on as an apprentice." This came from the ever calm Akasuna no Sasori, known for the assassination and kidnapping of the Sandaime Kazekage of Sunagakure.
"So what, it's not like he could be that tough right Sasori no Danna un?"Deidara the Mad Bomber of Iwa asked his partner in his own unique way.
"It would be wise to take caution when attempting to take on Jiraiya of the Sannin as I would be hard pressed to even reach a stalemate regardless of my skill with the sharingan." Itachi warned from his thoughtful position atop his assigned finger on the statue's hands.
"There you have it then, for now we will not approach the Kyuubi jinchuriki and instead will focus our efforts elsewhere. Kakuzu move out with Hidan and prepare to track down and face your target of the Gobi Jinchuriki, Sasori and Deidara return to base, Itachi take some time to rest and restore your power, Zetsu continue with your recon of the other hidden villages so we can discover the location of the next jinchuriki. Konan see to Kisame's recovery personally and I want a report of when he's ready for the field at the earliest moment." Pein said as he gazed at all the other assembled members one by one and relay instructions to each of them.
So when replies came back from everyone including the vulgar Hidan, Pein called the meeting to a close and deactivated the projection jutsu.
"Well now it seems that my old pet has taken a more active role with its current warden. No matter soon enough we shall have it along with the other 8 biju and then the Akatsuki's motives can be fully realized." A dark voice said from the shadows behind Pein.
"Believe what you will Madara, as long as it doesn't interfere with the will of Pein." Pein declared as if he was some higher deity before departing from the room.
"No you believe what you will 'Pein' but when everything is said and done, it will be the will of Uchiha Madara that wins the day." The newly named Madara thought from his place in the shadows before disappearing due to the power of the sharingan that blazed in his right eye through an orange spiral mask.
In Konoha, later that evening
While Jiraiya was getting blasted with questions by Tsunade, back in the village there was another man in a situation with his life on the line but unlike Jiraiya his was literally. Kenji had just jumped behind the couch right before it got its new position as a pin cushion then he had to duck against the monstrous swing of a Kanabo that took out the wall behind him.
Basically Tenten had just arrived home from a 4 long B-ranked mission that left her in a very irritable mood. All she wanted to do was get home, take a soak in the tub, and then get reacquainted with her pillow however that simple plan was derailed by her father calling her into the back of the store before she could get upstairs. Then he dropped the biggest bombshell of her life on her shoulders, that she was finally matched with a fiance as part of a marriage contract.
This of course got her blood boiling as if she opened one of the Hachimon as she proceeded to chase her father around the entire first floor in a rage as she tried to inflict bodily harm on him for that piece of info.
"Tenten sweetie, if you'd calm down I could tell yo-..." Kenji tried right before he dodged the edge of a chokuto.
"Calm down? How can I calm down when my own father just told me that I'm basically betrothed to someone I've never even met before!" Tenten roared as she stopped only to ask that question before resuming her rampage as the situation spilled out into the expansive backyard.
"Did you think about what I wanted? Or how I would feel about getting such news? What were you thinking tou-san?" Tenten punctuated each question with the toss of a weapon which Kenji caught the first of before deflecting the rest and then rushing in to restrain Tenten in mid throw of another weapon.
"If you would calm down a moment, I could explain my musume(daughter) but I can't with you leaving me no quarter to even get a word in edgewise." Kenji explained with a stern yet miffed expression as he looked down at his daughter.
"Perhaps...we should all take this moment to calm ourselves. Don't you two think?" Narumi, Kenji's wife called out as she walked over to place a placating hand on both her husband and her child's shoulders.
Narumi had just returned from the post office where she was putting in an order form for more raw materials from Takumi no Kuni(Craftsman Country), when she heard the large amount of ruckus coming from the shop and rushed inside. She had gotten outside to catch the tail end of the conversation with Tenten screaming at her father before being restrained.
"Now Kenji dear why don't you fix up the front of the shop before closing up, Tenten honey go and take a relaxing bath as I know you just came back from your mission and I'll prepare some tea so we can all sit down and discuss this like civil adults." Narumi offered in her gentle way as she removed Kenji's grip from their daughter's wrist with no effort on her part.
Both father and daughter alike were about to protest but a soft smile with a huge wave of killer intent behind it said otherwise as Tenten and Kenji went of to do as Narumi suggested without a word while she headed behind Tenten so she could make up some snacks for the coming conversation.
About 15 minutes later the Higurashi family were seated in the living room with hot tea and snacks on the table between them, as Tenten occupied one of the recliners while her parents took the love seat together.
"Okay, so what's the deal with this marriage contract that I'm now apart of?" Tenten asked calmly while still upset about the fact that she might end up married to some noble sniveling punk that would make her give up her career as a kunoichi to become a baby making machine.
"Before we get to that I think it's time you knew the truth about our family." Kenji said right before he launched into the same story that he told Naruto four days ago looking for a calligraphy set.
By the end Tenten had to say that she was shocked and awed by the legacy of her family, it would take get some getting use to knowing that their family was birth through a demon swordsmith but there was time.
"Tenten my musume, how are you taking the news?" Kenji asked as Tenten had yet to make a sound since he started his tale.
"It's strange but for some reason I feel like I've always known we were different." Tenten replied after a couple of minutes of silence as she took a cookie from the table.
"Yes we have enough youki in our system to not be considered fully human, yet not enough to be considered a youkai in any way." Kenji chirped in with a smile
"So this business with the marriage contract,...who's the intended fiance for me?" Tenten said as she switched to the topic she wanted to really discuss, both her parents didn't miss the edge of fear in her voice.
Narumi looked at her husband and an entire conversation passed between them without a word being uttered physically, She felt they might as well get it over with and end their daughter's needless misery over the situation.
"To be honest Tenten, your fiance is Uzumaki Naruto, also known as Inu Taisho Naruto." Kenji said simply as he took hold of his cup of tea and waited for the eventual blowout. He didn't have long to wait.
"Yeah right! Who is it really? Please tell me it's not Uchiha Sasuke?" Tenten said with a snort before she got a look of real disgust on her face.
"Kami No! It's really Uzumaki Naruto sweety. Kenji go get the actual marriage contract." Narumi replied with her own look of horror at actually giving her daughter to a clan with such backwards clan as the Uchiha who were beaten in tradition and inbreeding by the Hyuuga clan who felt everyone else without the Byakugan inferior to them.
Kenji got up and retrieved the scroll that he went over with Naruto before he left, before dropping it into Tenten's lap before resuming to drink his tea on the love seat. Tenten's eye's skimmed the scroll line by line as she picked out the keywords that proved the truth of her parent's statement.
"His mother is Uzumaki Kushina a.k.a the Konoha no Shinkyo? One of Konoha's greatest kunoichi and one of my role models alongside Senju Tsunade, Uchiha Mikoto, Isaiyo Megumi no Kumo, and Oga Haruo?" Tenten practically yelled and squealed as she held the contract close to her heart.
"Yes that is Naruto's mother although I'm sure you know she passed on the day of his birth." Narumi said with a gentle smile that held sorrow as well slid across her face.
"You sound as if you knew her personally kaa-san." Tenten replied as she looked at her mother in a bout of worry.
"She-...she was a true and dear friend to me and two others, one of which still remains." Narumi said with a few tears in the corner of her eyes as Kenji grasped her hand in comfort.
"I'll tell you some stories one day." Narumi managed to choke out with a reminiscing smile to her daughter who nodded back with a small smile of her own.
"It's really Naruto then?" Tenten asked suddenly as if she was small and unguided in the world.
"Yes and if you're worried about him just claiming you as a fiance don't be, he's willing to wait until you and he have had time to become comfortable with one another before taking the jump into marriage." Kenji replied as he sought to comfort his daughter's troubled mind and watched as she visibly relaxed in the recliner.
"Tou-san..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you think if it was alright if I held onto this contract? For sentimental value?" Tenten asked as she held the scroll against her body again.
"Sentimental value?" Kenji asked with confusion on his face.
"Yeah, it's got Uzumaki Kushina's actual signature on it." Tenten said as a soft blush of embarrassment swept across her cheeks as her father began to laugh at her choice of answer.
3 Days Later in Tanzaku Town
Jiraiya tumbled across another roof top as he avoided eating dirt from the ground below for the fifth time since he woke up this morning, it seems that Tsunade had got the better of him and managed to slip a potion into his drink in order to destabilize his chakra and nervous system. As Jiraiya jumped another roof he had to give credit to his teammate, only she could make a poison that was completely tasteless to the senses and get it inside anything he was going to drink it was truly a testament to her title of greatest Iryo-nin(Medic Shinobi) of all the Elemental Countries.
Jiraiya had just managed to reach the balcony leading to his and Naruto's hotel room to hear the end of the conversation Naruto and Shizune was having.
"Tsunade's already on the move I take it." Jiraiya gasped as he leaned against the wall inside of the room for support.
"I'm afraid so Jiraiya-sama, I couldn't stop her from going to Orochimaru before I was hit with one of her punches. What happened to you?" Shizune replied as she moved to his side and began running a Shosen Jutsu(Mystical Palm Technique) over his form.
"Tsunade got to me and slipped something into my drink, it's messed up my chakra and balance horribly." Jiraiya all but groan as he shook away the dizziness in his pounding skull while Shizune began rummaging through her supplies.
"Without knowing exactly the concoction she used I can't reverse the effects, however I can give you some flushing pills that will speed up the damage done by the pills to have it leave your body faster. It won't get you back to 100% but it's all that I could give you on hand with time being a factor and all, I'm sorry Jiraiya." Shizune said as she held out the pills and a glass of water.
"Don't be sorry, I let down my guard so in a way I had this coming." Jiraiya said as he offered Shizune a small smile before downing the pills with a chaser of water.
"Good now that you have taken your medicine, shall we get going? I've got a bone or few to pick with Orochimaru." Naruto said from the ground below the hotel room window.
"We need to catch up to Tsunade before she meets up with Orochimaru." Jiraiya said as she pushed off the wall slowly as he could feel the pills working slowly at repairing the damage done by his teammate.
"Okay Tonton, find Tsuande-sama for us." Shizune encouraged as she looked down at the pig in her arms after she and Jiraiya joined Naruto on the ground below.
"Bwui!" Tonton oinked as she began to put her nose to the ground in an effort to track her owner, the vest wearing pig didn't even get five feet before she was picked up by Naruto who just looked at the pig who tilted her head to the side in confusion.
"No need as I know exactly where she is." Naruto said to Tonton as he began taking off to where he smelled Tsunade's scent with Shizune and Jiraiya right next to him.
"N-naruto what are you doing? Let Tonton use her nose to find Tsunade-sama." Shizune tried to protest before a chuckle from Jiraiya had her looking to him on her right.
"Believe me when I say it's faster if we let Naruto lead us to Tsunade, no offense to Tonton but his sense of smell has her beat." Jiraiya said and watched as Shizune got a look of confusion on her face before nodding briefly in her way of saying that she trusted his judgement.
"Enough talk, Tsunade has already begun to engage Orochimaru in combat." Naruto said as he picked up his speed but not enough to lose Jiraiya and Shizune as they would be lost on where to go unless the battle grew huge enough for them to follow.
Outskirts of Tanzaku Town
Tsunade landed on the ground and slid about ten feet as she assessed her opponent in front of her, Kabuto had managed to sense her intent on ending her ex-teammates life the moment she touched him with her Shosen Jutsu. So dodging a kunai attack to her head Tsuande created some distance between her and her opponents.
"So you were really intent on ending my life Tsunade?" Orochimaru asked with that same sickeningly sweet voice of his.
"That's the idea, anything is better than to let you parade around stealing bodies from people for your own selfish personal gain. You must have really tried pegging me for a fool if you thought I would allow you to twist the memory of my loved ones with that justu of yours." Tsunade snarled as she stared down Orochimaru with fury written in her expression.
"I see, well then setbacks are bound to happen. Kabuto kill her." Orochimaru said as he looked to his right hand while he himself moved back to enjoy the show.
Kabuto walked forward with a kunai only to jump back next to his master as they both then had to evade the monstrous crater made by Tsunade's Tsūtenkyaku(Painful Sky Leg).
"What incredible strength, if I'm hit by any of those strikes I'm as good as dead." Kabuto thought as he flew threw handsigns before holding his hands out in front of him.
"So you know the application of the Chakra no Mesu(Chakra Scalpel) in combat. Let's see your skill level with it." Tsuande said as she watched a blade of chakra cover Kabuto's hands before raising her own hands and activating her own scalpels.
The two medics then rushed each other in a flurry of chakra strikes meant to cripple severely, as Tsunade and Kabuto danced around each other using an Iryo-nins prized skill of evasion to keep just out of reach of the other's scalpel while staying close enough to deal out a damaging strike. Kabuto managed to avoid a scalpel to the face by ducking and then spinning around Tsunade's frame while thrusting his hand forward with a scalpel aimed at her back. Sensing the danger Tsunade used her skill at evasion combined with her speed to backflip over Kabuto, while she was in the air Tsunade deactivated one of her scalpels for an electric current that raced around her fingers.
Ranshinshō(Important Body Points Disturbance)
Tsunade used her precision as an Iryo-nin to strike Kabuto right at the base of his skull before righting herself just as she landed on the ground behind him while he let out a strangled gasp of surprise.
"The fight's over for you boy, I've disrupted your entire nervous system. Say hello to the Shinigami for me." Tsunade warned as she pumped chakra in her fists as she charged Kabuto with the intent to splatter his brains all over the ground.
As she barreled down on Kabuto, Tsunade was so focused on the young medic that she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings fully and this is what her to backflip to avoid danger just as Kabuto managed to force his body to dodge as well right before something slammed into the ground with enough force to make a small crater where Kabuto was just kneeling.
"Shit another one? Figures you could never do anything for yourself Orochimaru." Tusnade curse under her breath before looking at the Hebi-nin.
"My dear Tsunade, why sully my own hands with your death when I can have others do it for me. I'm sure you remember Yushizawa Hitako?" Orochimaru said as he turned his head to where Hitako was standing.
Tsunade followed his line of sight to meet the hardened eyes of a man in his late forties going on fifty, he wore conservative clothing consisting of a worn black combat vest with two straps running cross along his chest. The man also wore simple black shinobi pants taped off at the ankles with black sandals, in his hand was the sickle to a kusarigama the end of which was embedded in the ground near her position.
"Hitako the butcher, it's been some time." Tsuande said as she internally curse her stupidity for coming out here on he own to deal with Orochimaru, now she was paying for it as she faced off against three opponents
"Indeed it has been some time, I'll never forget when you permanently blinded me in my left eye all those years ago. It's strange many medics have said I will never feel anything in that eye ever again but they were wrong, for my eye burns with intense hatred that has fueled me and keep me going for such a day as this. I will see you dead at my feet this day Tsunade!" Hitako said as he lifted his head to reveal that he was in fact blind in his left eye completely.
Wasting no time Hitako pulled back on the chain he was holding to reveal the weighted end of the kusarigama he was carrying before rushing forward at the same moment Kabuto did as well, Tsunade went from being able to fighting back to evading everything they threw at her. At one point she manage to hit Kabuto with a glancing blow then stepped back from where the weight hit the ground near her before grasping the chain and pulling Hitako to her. Just as she was about to hit him with her fist, she felt a slicing motion in the back of her calves and looked down to find Kabuto's hands gripping her legs with chakra scalpel running through them.
Breaking free while dropping the chain, Tsunade managed to pull herself out of danger even with her tendons cut. Healing the injury in less than a second she got to her feet and went to run at Kabuto but he did something that stopped her right in her tracks, he slit his hand and blood came flying out from the way he made the cut and landed directly in Tsunade's face. She instantly froze on the spot before falling to the ground as if reliving her worst nightmares.
"Man if that was all it would take to stop her I would have done it in the beginning. Such a pathetic weakness for a Iryo-nin. Oh well Hitako shall we both kill her?" Kabuto said as he healed the cut he made while holding up the very kunai he did it with.
"Yes, lets." Hitako replied while walking over as he spun the sickle in a reverse fashion.
"I don't want to die here. I want to fight but,... the blood there's so much of it. Kami if your hearing please lend me some help." Tsunade silently prayed as she watched Kabuto and Hitako close in on her.
Her answer came in the form of a large wave of blue energy that swept in between Tsunade and her attackers, Kabuto and Hitako only just managed to dodge the blow but not entirely as Kabuto lost his entire left arm up to the forearm while Hitako lost his right hand that was about to throw the sickle forward. The final thing that stuck in their craw was the energy from the attack was so concentrated that the wounds themselves cauterized upon contact.
"I hope we aren't interrupting anything." Jiraiya called out as he jumped down to Tsunade's side with Shizune and Naruto who held Tokijin in hand.
"My isn't this a surprise. Jiraiya you've saved me the trouble of having to kill you later down the road." Orochimaru called out as he came forward while Kabuto and Hitako were attempting to reattach their respective arms a ways away.
"Hey Orochimaru, how's those busted arms treating ya? I hear your in some serious pain there." Jiraiya threw back and got the satisfaction of witnessing the glint of anger in his teammate's eyes before it was covered.
"You will pay for that Jiraiya, Kabuto." Orochimaru said as he leapt to Kabuto's side where the spectacle wearing shinobi performed bit his thumb and performed one handed signs for Kuchiyose and wiped his thumb along the summoning tattoo on Orochimaru's arm.
Meanwhile Jiraiya knowing what was going to take place ran through hand signs of his own just as the large brown snake poofed into existence.
Doton: Yomi Numa(Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld)
The jutsu made swamp appeared beneath the large snake and sunk the serpent about halfway before it would not go any further.
"Damn, I'm still not up to snuff. It's better than nothing at the moment." Jiraiya cursed inwardly as he looked to Tsunade who was being roused by Shizune which was proving ineffective.
"Tsunade-sama snap out of it!" Shizune pleaded as she shook her mentor by the shoulders to no avail.
"What's wrong with her?" Naruto asked turning his attention to the still shell shocked Tsunade on the ground as he purposely turned his back on Orochimaru.
"She a hemophobic, the sight of blood causes her to freeze." Shizune explained while still trying to reach her mentor.
"Step aside Shizune." Naruto said as he walked until he was right in front of Tsunade as she Shizune moved out of the way.
FWAP!
The sound echoed across the area as everyone present looked up to where it originated from, they didn't have to look far to see Tsunade knocked completely to the floor while holding her cheek where a bright red bruise had formed.
"Naruto what in Kami's name did you do that for?" Jiraiya asked as he looked at his godson as if the boy had went crazy.
"...Just when I thought you couldn't get anymore pathetic, you go and prove me wrong." Naruto said as if he didn't hear Jiraiya at all and if he did he chose not to acknowledge it as he stared down at Tsunade.
"What are your talking about?" Tsunade asked the pain of her bruised cheek forgotten at the moment.
"The fact that you've let something such as the sight of blood to cause you to become a whimpering mess. I don't know what's worse the fact that you have such a crippling fear of blood or that you let it become a huge weakness to be used against you. You don't deserve to even have the title of a shinobi, not with what you've become. A liability. " Naruto spat as he turned on his heel and gave his parting words before moving forward to engage the enemy leaving Tsunade to nurse her cheek.
"If you are done gawking I'd like to get this battle over with." Naruto said as he stood across from Orochimaru and his group.
"Naruto-kun, even with my arms as they are how can you hope to win against three opponents at once, face it you're out of our league." Orochimaru said in a tactic to try and tear Naruto down and make him act irrational.
"You right I am out of your league because I stand above you in terms of power, intelligence, and overall ability." Naruto threw back calmly.
"Kabuto, Hitako. Kill him and be done with it." Orochimaru commanded with anger laced in his words.
Kabuto and Hitako raced forward to reply with the order with Kabuto activating his chakra no mesu and Hitako throwing the sickle forward towards Naruto who stood waiting with Tokijin ready. The sickle was an inch away from damaging Naruto when he not only sidestepped it but sliced the chain thereby breaking the weapon, Kabuto closed the gap and was attempting to injure Naruto internally but couldn't as he missed each time. And for each miss Naruto carved a deep wound into Kabuto until he jumped back to heal while Hitako took over.
Jumping forward Hitako flashed through handsigns before taking a deep breath and unleashing five Suiton: Mizutama which Naruto dodged by moving at high speeds and swinging Tokijin at Hitako's head. The nuke-nin managed to duck under the blade but was unprepared for the clawed right hand of Naruto's Dokkasō which struck home as his face was not only gouged into a bloody mess but his eyes became poisoned and he lost sight in his right eye now.
As Hitako stumbled back while screaming in unbridled agony, Kabuto used that time to use his Doton: Moguragakure no Jutsu(Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique) to try and flank Naruto who jumped into the air just as Kabuto's hand revealed themselves where he stood. Kabuto was trying to use both his Chakra no Mesu and Sen'eijashu to hamper Naruto greatly, while falling to the ground Naruto tossed Tokiijin directly at Kabuto who emerged from the ground to catch the sharpened edge of the demonic blade that slit his face right open along the jagged path it created when the oto Iryo-nin tried to dodge.
The moment he landed over top of his fallen sword, Naruto was blown back due to Orochimaru using his Fūton: Daitoppa(Wind Release: Great Breakthrough) to catch him off guard slightly. Naruto righted himself as he landed as if he wasn't even injured by the attack.
"Poor Naruto-kun. You really have to be aware of your surroundings at all times." Orochimaru said as he attempted to chide Naruto while wrapping his disgusting tongue around the hilt of Tokijin, only the sword wanted no part of Orochimaru so it flared is powerful youki and burned the snake sannin who let go with a cry of extreme pain.
"Heh looks like you need to learn about not touching what doesn't belong to you." Jiraiya said as he jumped to where his godson stood.
"Damn you gaki what have you done?" Orochimaru snarled as he glanced at his tongue to see sever blisters forming on the basically cooked flesh.
Instead of answering, Naruto ran forward intent on recovering his sword while Jiraiya joined him as Kabuto and Hitako recovered enough to resume battling as well. All five warriors engaged each other in a flurry of combat, Jiraiya countered Orochimaru's Nan no Kaizō with his Hari Jizō(Needle Jizō) as the snake Sannin attempted to bite him only to receive a mouthful of needles to add to the pain he was already in. Both shinobi took off trying to injure the other with kunai strikes and taijutsu as they raced up the side of the still encamped snake in Jiraiya's swamp.
Naruto who had picked up Tokijin on the fly was handling both Hitako and Kabuto at the same time, thought to overwhelm him with attacks. Hitako had long since abandoned his eyesight was managing to hang in there despite not being able to physically see, he blocked a Kenatsu from Tokijin with a Raiton:Raijin Heki(Lightning Release: Lightning Encampment Wall) at the last minute but still got hit with the shockwave of the blast which busted two of his ribs and fractured his left arm badly. While Kabuto was in bad shape as well, for each time he failed to land a cut on Naruto he received three in return, for every failed kick or punch Kabuto was poisoned by the Dokkaso which added to his injuries that didn't seem to heal no matter how much chakra he pumped into his In'yu Shōmetsu(Yin Healing Wound Destruction)
With Tsunade
As those battles were going on Tsunade was watching all this go on from the sidelines and realized that Naruto, a person she had only met days ago had not only picked her apart physically but mentally as well wasn't even trying and he was sent to return her to Konoha. This hit Tsunade like a sledgehammer that she really had let events in her life drag her down, and look where it got her on the ground during a life or death fight with her shivering like a greenhorn genin. And because of what, Dan and Nawaki's deaths?
Tsunade now realized they died in service to their village as any shinobi would and that gave her no right to just wallow in her own misery for as long she had been doing for the past 15 years. They would have wanted her to be strong and live her life. As Tsunade was thinking all this through she was clutching her fists in determination as a fire rekindled in her heart and burned brightly while she rose to her feet.
In the battle
Naruto had just put a very deep gash across Kabuto's chest with Tokijin before the oto-nin could dodge, Kabuto fell to one knee while gasping for breath as he stared up at Naruto who didn't look winded in the slightest despite battling two high level shinobi at once.
"Tell me Naruto-kun, exactly how it is you've been able to last this long? Not to mention wounding me as much as you have." Kabuto asked in a composed manner even as he felt his injuries becoming worse due to the unknown strain of poison running rampant through his system. His jutsu may not have been able to negate the damage but it was just enough to keep any attack from becoming life threatening, although Kabuto was starting to rethink that line of thought.
"It's simple really..." Naruto said as he stalked towards Kabuto with Tokijin.
"What's that?" Kabuto asked as he was still gathering chakra for an attack, hopefully he could stall Naruto long enough for Hitako to mount a proper attack.
"I want you dead, of course I'm starting to think you aren't even worth killing anymore." Naruto admitted just as he sensed movement behind him and turned slightly to address it.
Time seemed to slow down as Hitako was in the air lunging forward with a kunai to Naruto's back while Kabuto was rushing forward with a chakra scalpel to Naruto's heart, what happened next was Naruto used his Hikari no Muchi to remove Kabuto's arm while sidestepping as Hitako was halted in the air by a powerful force. Time sped back up to reveal Hitako's hanging on Tsuande's outstretched hand while her fist held his still beating heart as it pumped blood onto the ground.
"I...should...have...kno-..." Hitako managed to say before he succumbed to his injuries and died instantly.
"OROCHIMARU!" Tsunade bellowed with chakra enhancing her voice so she could be heard on the very top of the snake in the swamp where her two teammates were duking it out.
With Jiraiya and Orochimaru
Both shinobi were locked in a stalemate as they zipped around the very back of the snake attempting to score a wound on the other, however it was proving difficult with Jiraiya still recovering from the poison and Orochimaru without the use of his arms. They exchanged harsh words while they dueled and naturally Orochimaru was enraged at Jiraiya for his insults but that didn't mean he didn't throw his own.
After that it was back to trying to kill the other until a voice cut through the focus of their battle.
"OROCHIMARU!" Tsunade's voice had carried to them and she sounded pissed beyond belief.
Looking over the side of the giant snake, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were greeted with the sight of Kabuto missing his entire left arm and Hitako impaled on Tsunade's fist. They both watched as she threw Hitako's body unceremoniously and did the same with his heart before standing with her full attention on the Snake sannin.
"For your various crimes against Konohagakure, I Senju Tsunade as: one of the Sannin, Konoha no Namekuji, and as the new Godaime Hokage do hereby sentence you to death!" Tsunade declared with confidence which in turn made Jiraiya and Shizune brighten.
Orochimaru just sneered at Tsunade, as he thought that since she wouldn't cooperate she would have to die alongside Jiraiya. Turning to Naruto, Orochimaru got the thought of using his body for the snake's soul.
"I have to time this just right, if I do that I can not only have a new body to use through the Fushi Tensei(Living Corpse Reincarnation) but one with a fully operational Juin. Perfect." Orochimaru thought as his torso bulged before he flung his head forward while thinking of the jutsu he wanted to use.
Mandara no Jin(Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes Silk)
Like the name of the jutsu suggested, Ten thousand snakes erupted from Orochimaru's mouth and moved towards Jiraiya in an effort to over run him, while that was happening Orochimaru leapt from his summons and began plummeting towards the ground where he somehow landed safely without injury as he began running forward in his slithering snake mode.
Tsunade watched Orochimaru from his descent and ran forward to meet her traitorous teammate, however she wasn't prepared for his Sen'ei Tajashu(Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands) that launched a larger number of snakes at her than Sen'eijashu. With Tsunade and Jiraiya preoccupied with a wave of snakes each, that cleared the way for Orochimaru who used his Nan no Kaizō, to stretch his neck towards Naruto who watched with fascination as the Sannin attempted to apply his Juin to Naruto's neck. Once again Orochimaru was reduced to extreme pain as his bite was not only ineffective at penetrating the perfect youki barrier around Naruto but he received a hole through his neck courtesy of Tokijin who then fired a Kenatsu which caused the snake immense pain as he pulled back with a wound in his neck before he managed to shed his skin.
"Was that it? For a proclaimed powerful shinobi you are weak. Now die!" Naruto said as he thrust Tokijin forward while aiming for Orochimaru's heart.
"Arrrgh! You miserable brat! I should have killed you back in Konoha while I had the chance! Oh well at least something good will come of this." Orochimaru threatened as he dodged while Kabuto jumped to his master's side and began to run through handsigns.
Tsunade and Jiraiya who managed to fight off their waves of snakes and regroup on the ground, saw Kabuto going for Orchimaru's summoning tattoo and ran through their own summoning. Neither seen at the last second due to the smoke of their summons that Orochimaru jumped back from Kabuto while his body fell away and he increased in size.
Jiraiya and Tsunade who stood atop Gamabunta and Katsuyu, waited for any sign of Manda but were instead treated to the sight of something that resembled Orochimaru except in a snake like form that was half the size of Manda.
"Is that Orochimaru? Jiraiya what's been going on here?" Bunta bellowed while taking a puff of his pipe.
"Search me Bunta, this is the first I'm seeing of such a jutsu?" Jiraiya replied as he too tried to wrap his head around Orochimaru's transformation.
"Katsuyu, We put an end to Orochimaru today." Tsunade declared as she looked down at her summons.
"I will do what I can Tsunade-sama." Replied the soft spoken slug as it prepared for battle.
"Naruto-kun, witness my true form in all it's splendor." Orochimaru gloated as he got use to his true body once more.
"Great you're even more grotesque than last time. Jiraiya, Tsunade stay out of my way." Naruto said as he insulted the Snake sannin while warning the other two in a single breath.
"What? Look kid you've done amazingly well but this is something else all together. You're not going it alone." Tsunade replied from atop Katsuyu.
"Just be on standby for now. I want to face the supposed terror that is Orochimaru." Naruto replied as he walked forward with Tokijin ready.
"You really gonna allow this from the gaki Jiraiya?" Gamabunta asked as he watched Naruto walk forward towards Orochimaru's snake like form.
"We're gonna have to Bunta. He did after all take on the jinchuriki for the Ichibi and he came out unscathed, this might be a chance to see how Naruto's able to match such a beast." Jiraiya replied as they watched on.
As Naruto walked forward, Orochimaru thought of just attacking head on and did so with surprising speed. He was upon Naruto in a matter of seconds and gave the snake equivalent of a smirk before striking, a loud rumble met the ears of Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune who joined her master upon Katsuyu's head, and Kabuto who got out of the line of fire but still watched from the sidelines. When the dust cleared, there in front of every witnesses eyes.
Naruto had stopped Orochimaru mid-bite, Tokijin had been run through the roof of the mouth and became lodged while Naruto's free hand held the Snake sannin's lower jaw in place as well. The overall feat was something not even Tsunade would attempt simply, to make it even more shocking was the fact that Naruto had barely been moved 10 feet.
"What is this gaki?" Orochimaru wondered as even he was shocked that his attack was unsuccessful, all other thought left his mind after the next few seconds though.
Wanting to get his point across perfectly Naruto pumped youki into Tokijin as he literally ripped it free of Orochimaru's mouth, while simultaneously snapping the lower jaw out of place as he flung Orochimaru to the side. This entire act left the sannin in absolute agony the likes of which he never felt and had everyone else's jaw just about hitting the dirt.
As Orochimaru writhed in agony on the floor, he was getting extremely desperate on how to defeat this seemingly unstoppable juggernaut in front of him. That's when his common sense snapped and he decided to fully kill Naruto with his next jutsu, so struggling upright he gave one last glare at Naruto as he backpedaled away while gathering the remainder of his chakra.
Naruto was about to give chase when he felt the Kusanagi on his waist begin to rattle as Tokijin or Tenseiga would when they wished to communicate their wishes, placing Tokijin in it's sheathe Naruto grasped the grass cutter and pulled it free of his belt and immediately his vision went completely black. Soon he received a vision in the dark of the Kusanagi that he currently held, but after a second Naruto watched as the Kusanagi changed form.
The sword went from being plain with a snake like motif on the hilt, it became completely symmetrical as the hilt and guard became elegant and pleasing to the eye. Along the flat side of the blade itself ancient kanji began to form halfway up the blade from the guard, the sword then gained an indefinite sheen to it as the blade became polished without a single blemish anywhere to mar its surface.
Confused Naruto continued to watch as the sword spun until it hovered horizontally, then Naruto watched as the Kusanagi began to extend to varying lengths. After retracting back to the original length, the kanji along the blade began to glow in a cleansing light not unlike Tenseiga. And when the blade was swung, it gave off the purest of hums with each pass. Realizing that the Kusanagi was ready to be used in a situation that most needed it, Naruto reached out and took hold which caused a flash of light.(1)
Blinking Naruto found himself back in the same moment he grasped Kusanagi's hilt and looked down the sword had changed to fit the description from his vision. And not a moment too soon as Orochimaru had by now used his ultimate jutsu of the Yamata no Jutsu(Eight Branches Technique) to become a colassal eight headed serpent that put both Jiraiya and Tsunade on immediate guard when they saw it.
"DO YOU SEE NOW UZUMAKI! WITNESS MY MOST POWERFUL JUTSU IN MY ARSENAL!" Orochimaru gloated as he appeared in one of the central heads looking completely deranged.
"Holy Hell what is that Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked as she looked at her teammate.
"I don't know but, let's give Naruto a chance to act. I know it seems like a bad idea yet I feel like he'll be just fine." Jiraiya replied as he pulled out his telescope to get a better look at his godson and gasped when his eyes were laid upon the sword in Naruto's hand.
"Kid, you never cease to surprise me." Jiraiya mumbled to himself as he gave a smirk.
As Orochimaru was rambling on and on about what he was going to do once he crushed Konoha into the ground, Naruto was striding forward with the Kusanagi in hand. He planned to end the snake sannin here.
"Now are you ready to begin Naru-..." Whatever else Orochimaru was going to say was interrupted by something piercing his chest directly. Looking down Orochi came face to metal with the Kusanagi as it had impaled his chest and burst out his back.
"You'll have to do better than tha-..." Once again Orochimaru was cut off as the sword retracted and pierced his chest several more times right over the spot where his heart was.
As Orochimaru attempted to laugh off the multiple stabbings what he didn't know was that in the form that he knew it, The Kusanagi had the ability to extend and unleash a deadly poison with each cut. In its true form the Kusanagi was poisonous in another way, it eradicated anything tainted and unpure and to a being like Orochimaru who was a twisted and corrupted as he was this was like pouring molten lava into his veins.
"Arrrggghhh! What's happening? What did you do to me boy? ANSWER ME!" Orochimaru demanded as he clutched his now bleeding chest where his heart was.
Naruto's answer came in the form of the Kusanagi as it extended and struck Orochimaru square between the eyes, killing him instantly. Within moments the jutsu deactivated leaving the broken and now hollow shell of the late Orochimaru no Sannin. Jiraiya and Tsunade was absolutely shell shocked, their teammate just died in front of them and he didn't go out in a bang he went out in a quiet wind that swept across the battlefield and it was due because of Uzumaki Naruto who just placed the sword back into his waist before looking up at the two remaining Sannin atop their personal summons.
AN: Woah, I think I'm now officially afraid of the beast I have created in Naruto...Nah I'm quite proud with the way he's shaping up. Anyway Orochimaru is dead but remember Kabuto is still living at this point but not for much longer I can assure everyone of that. Okay next chapter is guaranteed to have as much action as the last two chapters did. Returning to Konoha is going to be interesting we've got Tenten's marriage to Naruto, Tsunade's coronation, Discovery of Kushina, News of Orochimaru's demise and the presence of some demonic workings finally getting underway. Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter of Kitsune Inu Youkai! r/r plz ^.^
Oh! One more thing Konohamaru was keep out the fangirl pit this round let's see if he can survive the next one, (insert maniacal laughter here and cue dramatic backdrop.)
1. I wanted an effect that will benefit what I do in the future with the sword. And to those wondering No, the Kusanagi is not being given to Tenten as a wedding present.