Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto
Piece of the Puzzle
Chapter 14: Momo VS Tsunade
Present day, Uzumaki household…
"So what should I tell you kids about next?" Naruto wondered aloud, his hand cupping his chin in a thinking pose. "I know!" He said, snapping his fingers. "I'll tell you about the time your mother met your great-grandma Tsunade."
Hayao and Himeko were paying close attention now. Neither had met Tsunade, as she passed away shortly after Hayao's birth, so they were eager to learn about her.
"It was shortly after your mother's promotion. I was planning on seeing your great-grandma Tsunade again and telling her about the chunin exams, since she didn't go out much anymore. I brought your mother with me, since I figured she hadn't seen your great-grandma Tsunade in some time. Anyway, it happened like this…"
Fourteen years ago, outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village…
In the days after Momo's promotion, she spent her time being reassigned to a new squad and informed of her new duties. Momo would now be a part of a search and rescue team, offering aid to anyone injured in the field, or securing hostages captured in enemy territory.
As usual, Momo's skill with illusions and medicine made her invaluable to the survival of her team, as well as those they would be sent to rescue. Now that she had trained under Naruto, she was even better in combat situations. Even though she was still young, many recognized her potential and sought to have her assigned to their squadron.
Momo's new team once again consisted of an Aburame and an Inuzuka. Sasuke was pleased when he found out; as he hoped it would set a good example for the Uchiha clan, while forming bonds with the other clans. As for Momo's squad leader, she was a battle medic who was not part of a major clan. Momo's new commander would also be taking over her medical training, with an emphasis on battlefield conditions.
Since Sakura's skill with illusions and chakra control had been passed onto Momo, along with an interest in medicine, and possibly their other children, Sasuke hoped the Uchiha would now be seen as saviours and leaders on the battlefield, instead of feared as enemies. The reputation of the Uchiha clan was slowly changing for the better, and Sasuke credited it to the woman who never gave up fighting for him, and would risk losing everything for him.
As for establishing bonds with the other clans, Momo's skills were shown to have a clear synergy with the tracking skills of the Inuzuka and Aburame. They provided the support that was needed for a search and rescue team, which had grown in number over the years.
The Aburame and Inuzuka were common members of the military police as well, along with other clans. There were only a few Hyuuga who were part of it, as several were part of ANBU, the Ansatsu Senjutsu Tokushu Butai, or special assassination and tactics squad.
Sasuke had high hopes that his descendants would continue to work with the other clans of the Hidden Leaf Village, and was glad his past actions had not burned as many bridges as he thought. If he had been more selfish in his goals, his actions might have held the Uchiha clan back for generations to come.
With the future relations of her clan with the others of the Hidden Leaf Village at stake, Momo was once again under pressure to perform well, but it was nothing she couldn't handle. Momo was used to her parents having high expectations of her, and she did not want to let them down.
Just like how Sakura sought acknowledgement from Sasuke in her youth, and Sasuke from his father, Momo once sought it from her parents, and would do anything to make them proud. That left Momo conflicted; as she believed what her parents had in mind for her future was different from what she dreamed of. After Naruto's recent talk with her, Momo was confident her parents would support and be proud of her, no matter what she wanted to do with her life.
Now, Momo only sought Naruto's acknowledgement, which she had, and vowed that one day he would acknowledge her as a woman as well. For now, Momo was content that she and Naruto were just friends, as neither were ready to be in a relationship. Both were focused on their careers, and becoming strong shinobi.
Speaking of the future couple, they were on their way to meet someone who was very special to Naruto. She was a woman who was like a big sister, mother and grandmother to him all in one. She was Tsunade, last of the Senju clan, slug tamer, renowned medical ninja, one of the Legendary Three Ninja, and former Fifth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. More than all that to Naruto, she was someone who acknowledged his dream of becoming Hokage, and supported it.
"Grandma Tsunade's cabin is just further up ahead, so it won't be much longer now until we're there." Naruto called out to Momo as they walked the rarely taken path to Tsunade's home.
The object of her affections calling out to her pulled Momo out of her thoughts. She then began to prepare herself for meeting a legend.
'It's okay, I'm just meeting the Fifth Hokage, who also happens to be the woman who taught my mother everything she knows about medicine. Besides, I have Naruto here with me, I'll be fine.' Momo assured herself. 'Maybe I can find out why I had never been introduced to her before and why she and mother stopped talking to each other…'
Soon enough, the pair had made it to the front door of Tsunade's modest cabin. Momo was expecting Naruto to knock on the door, but instead he put on a mischievous smile.
"You know," Naruto said to Momo, "I've been trying to sneak in here for months now. Grandma Tsunade is just as sharp as ever though, so she's caught me every time. I would have tried it now, but I guess with you here I just forgot."
"It's okay, we can try next time." Momo replied, hoping she was not ruining Naruto's fun with her presence.
"Nah," Naruto said, waving off Momo's worry, "let's give it a shot. We have nothing to lose anyway."
Seeing no reason to argue with him, Momo went along with Naruto's idea, showing he could manipulate her just as well as she could him. Just as Naruto was about to carefully open the door, a voice called out to them.
"I know you're out there, come in already." The mysterious voice called out.
"I forgot that she's always on the lookout for trespassers." Naruto said sheepishly to Momo. "Don't worry about grandma Tsunade though, I can deal with her. We'll just have to sneak in another time. I've wanted to get the drop on her for a long time."
Since they were invited in, or rather caught trying to sneak in, Naruto opened the cabin door and entered Tsunade's home with Momo following after him. The cabin itself was fairly plain, as Tsunade no longer had much need for material possessions in her old age. Naruto took off his shinobi sandals at the door while Momo took off her boots, and they replaced them with slippers that had been left out for guests.
"We could clearly hear grandma Tsunade from outside, so she must be on the second floor balcony. It would have a good view of the front yard, which would explain how she saw us coming." Naruto explained to Momo as they made their way through Tsunade's home.
"So the reason we didn't just leap straight onto the balcony was because we're being polite by going through the house first, right?" Momo asked Naruto.
Momo had been raised by her parents to be a proper young lady. Thus, she was on her best behaviour. Naruto however, would have had better manners if he had been raised by wolves. Therefore, his response was to be expected.
"I suppose," Naruto said, shrugging as they approached the door to the balcony, "that, and if we just appeared out of nowhere we might end up giving grandma Tsunade a heart attack. Hey grandma, long time no see!" He finished, throwing the door open and revealing Tsunade at last.
While Momo knew many things about Tsunade, and had high expectations of her, Momo was unsure of what to think upon finally meeting her.
'This is mother's former master and Naruto's grandmother, the woman who was the fifth Hokage?' Momo thought of Tsunade.
Sitting at a small table, just large enough for a four people to drink tea at, was Tsunade. She was covered from head to toe in an earth-toned cloak. Even her face seem to be hidden under the hood, possibly by an illusion.
"It's nice to see you again too Naruto." Tsunade said in a kind tone, showing she didn't mind his behaviour at all. "Who is your young friend? She looks rather familiar…"
"Huh?" Naruto said, his confusion clear. "Don't you remember her? This is Momo, Sakura and Sasuke's daughter."
All was quiet for almost a full minute. If Naruto had been in sage mode, he would have been able to detect the sharp intakes of breath and rapid heartbeats of his companions.
"It's nice to finally meet you ma'am." Momo said while doing a curtsey and a polite tone.
"What, you mean this is the first time you two have met?" Naruto asked, his bewilderment plain to see.
"Yes it is." Tsunade said plainly. "Well Momo, it's nice to meet you too."
"Thank you ma'am." Momo replied, maintaining her polite and formal tone.
"I suppose now would be a good time to get to know one another. Naruto," Tsunade said, getting his attention, "I ran out of my favourite brand of tea. Can you be a dear and go to the store for some more for me?" Tsunade asked him with a tone that said if he did not, there would be dire consequences.
"Of course I will," Naruto said nervously, "I'll be right back!"
In a flash, Naruto had run back into the house. Moments later, he could be seen running off into the distance and into the village prior.
"Now dear," Tsunade said, addressing Momo, "why don't you and I have a little chat?"
Using his impressive speed techniques, Naruto acquired the tea Tsunade asked him for in record time.
'It's a good thing I bought some more of this the last time I was in Tea Country. Why does grandma have to like such a rare tea anyway? Oh well, I remembered it now, so at least I won't have to spend all day searching the market for a deal on it.' Naruto thought as he made his way back to Tsunade's cabin.
As he approached the modest cabin, Naruto instinctively went into sneak mode and silently crept closer to it.
'Say, now that Momo's got grandma distracted, I may finally be able to sneak up on her! Oh, this will be good!'
Putting all of his skills to use, Naruto made his way up to Tsunade's cabin, entered the door, changed his sandals for the slippers provided, and silently walked to the balcony door. Just as he was about to open it, and claim his first ambush on Tsunade on her own property, he was stopped by what he heard from the other side of the door.
"So why did you and mother stop speaking to each other?"
The voice clearly belonged to Momo, and brought out a number of feelings in Naruto.
'What, grandma Tsunade and Sakura stopped speaking to each other? Wait, that could explain why she and Momo have never met.'
His curiosity piqued, Naruto continued to eavesdrop on Momo and Tsunade's private conversation, his years of stealth training put to their best effort yet. Stretching out his senses, Naruto noted there seemed to be a pause in Tsunade and Momo's conversation, and Tsunade appeared to be sighing.
"I suppose it's time I got this off my chest." Tsunade began, causing conflicted images to appear in Naruto's mind. "To put it simply, I never liked how your mother chose to be with your father over Naruto."
For a moment, all was silent, except for the heartbeats of those present. Through his advanced senses, Naruto could tell Tsunade and Momo's were normal, but his was rapid from the danger of being caught in his position, and Tsunade's confession.
"I had always hoped your mother and Naruto would get together. I thought they were just like me and Jiraiya were like at their age. That should have tipped me off that it would never work out for them."
Normally, being compared to Jiraiya in a non-perverted manner would be considered a compliment to Naruto, but now it only served as a reminder that like his master, neither was able to be with the women they sought for so long.
"Naruto always did everything he could to support your mother and be there for her, while Sasuke did nothing but spurn her affections. Even worse, when given the opportunity to gain power from my traitorous team-mate, whose actions led to the death of our sensei, he took it without a second thought. I said I saw myself and Jiraiya in your mother and Naruto. Well, as it turned out, your father was a lot like Orochimaru."
Naruto braced himself, expecting Momo to vehemently defend her father against what was obviously a heinous insult, but instead she kept quiet. Tsunade's voice was soon heard again.
"He's not so bad now, but he's had fifteen years to make up for his betrayal. He lost a lot of respect among his peers due to his actions. That respect he once had that came with his heritage he had all but lost, and had to earn it back. I suppose it worked out fine that way, as like Naruto, your father had to start from nothing and earn everyone's respect on his own."
If Naruto was not trying to conceal his presence, he would have let out a sigh of relief.
'Hopefully Momo will be okay now. I know she doesn't like it when people insult her or her family, but even I'm not sure if she would pick a fight with grandma Tsunade to defend her family's honour.' Naruto thought to himself, thankful Momo was not as impetuous as he was.
There was another pause in the one-sided conversation, and Naruto could hear Tsunade sigh once more before speaking again.
"I always thought that one day your mother would recognize all that Naruto has done for her, and that your father did nothing. So, when your father was finally brought back to the village, by Naruto no less, who promised Sakura he would do just that even if it took him a lifetime, how do you think Sakura thanked him for that and everything else he did for her?"
Momo would not know the answer to that, but Naruto did. His reward for his years of devotion to Sakura was heartbreak. While visiting Sasuke in the hospital where he was being treated for the wounds he sustained in his battle with Itachi, Naruto found him being treated by none other then Sakura. Upon seeing the girl who was once one of his most ardent admirers become a talented young woman, Sasuke, having completed the first part of his ambition, asked Sakura to be the one to help him restore his clan, thereby completing his ambition in full. Sakura, having finally obtained the recognition from the one she always wanted it from, gladly accepted Sasuke's offer. Both had now obtained what they desired for so long, while Naruto was left with the broken pieces of his heart, which took years to put back together.
"I lost all the respect I had for your mother that day. From then on I only spoke to your mother when it was required due to my position as the Hokage. When I finally retired, I spent all my time working on bringing Naruto out of his coma. Need I add, if your mother was waiting at home for him instead of no one, he might not have been in one?"
The statement like question was yet another Momo could not answer, and even Naruto himself was still unsure if he would have risked his life to save the world if he had been the one to marry Sakura instead of Sasuke.
"I spent two and a half years turning her from a weak fan-girl into a powerful battle medic, and one who could someday surpass even me if she put her mind to it. Sadly, there was always only one thing on her mind. I thought I was training my successor as the premiere medic in the Hidden Leaf Village, but I guess I was just wasting my time training the future matriarch of the Uchiha clan. At least she opened her own clinic, so not all my time with her went to waste."
As he listened to Tsunade's confession, Naruto grew more and more uneasy at a steady pace, both from what he was hearing, and what he was not.
'How is Momo taking this so well? Grandma is pretty much insulting her parents to her face, and she hasn't said a word yet. I hope neither do anything drastic…'
Unfortunately for Naruto, Lady Luck, after a lengthy discussion with Fate, decided that she would not be on his side today.
"Well, you asked me why your mother and I stopped speaking, and I told you. If there's nothing else, I believe we're done here." Tsunade said coldly.
Tsunade then turned her back to Momo, who having been taught to exploit any opening given to her, finally snapped and charged at Tsunade. It was only Naruto bursting through the door and holding back Momo by the collar of her vest that kept her in place.
"It doesn't matter if you're an old woman, anyone who insults my parents I'm going to clobber with all my might!" Momo shouted while trying to break free of Naruto's grip.
For a brief moment, Tsunade remembered Naruto saying something very similar once, years ago. Feeling nostalgic, and something else she had not felt in many years, Tsunade turned back around to address Momo.
"You want to put your money where your mouth is brat?" Tsunade asked Momo.
Despite her anger, Momo was able to recognize that Tsunade was making a wager, and calmed down a bit.
"The first time I met Naruto, he challenged me too. I beat him using just one finger. I can see by your vest that you're skilled, but I doubt you could have beat Naruto or your father when they were your age. Although, I'm curious to see how good you really are. So, if you want to take a shot at me, I'll give you that chance." Tsunade said.
Naruto had finally pulled Momo back and was holding her in place, and she seemed to have calmed down considerably. Whether it was from what Tsunade was saying or realizing that Naruto was holding her was unknown.
"If you can get me to use more than a finger in a spar against you, I'll take back what I said about your parents. If not, you have to walk around all day wearing the Senju clan symbol." Tsunade challenged, playing on their clan's rivalry.
If Momo had inherited anything from her parents, or her time with Naruto, it was pride, stubbornness, and a sense of confidence that bordered on arrogance. Her answer was clear.
"You're on!"
The three of them had moved to a nearby training ground for Tsunade and Momo's fight, as she did not want to cause any collateral damage around her home. In a show of her seriousness, Tsunade even reactivated her illusion of youth to restore herself to peak physical condition, though she could no longer maintain it constantly.
"I may not look like it, but I am one of the Legendary Three Ninja and a former Hokage. Why should I even take a chunin seriously." Tsunade said, repeating a line she had said in similar situation many years ago.
"What did you say?" Momo asked angrily.
Tsunade's response was to hold up her right index finger.
"Like I said before, with one finger, this is enough to take you down." She said, referring to the basis of their wager, or possibly her first fight with Naruto.
Momo was shaking in anger, and Naruto was worriedly observing from the sidelines.
"Well, come on brat." Tsunade said, taunting Momo into attacking.
"Don't underestimate me!" Momo said as she charged at Tsunade.
Her sharingan blazing, Momo pulled out her tonfa and attacked Tsunade head on. Tsunade just smirked, and when Momo made a strike with her tonfa, Tsunade created a chakra scalpel that emanated from her right index finger. With one smooth motion, she easily evaded Momo's strikes, and made a slight cut on each of Momo wrists that while not doing any serious damage, were enough to make Momo let go of her tonfa. Even worse, Momo was not fast enough to evade, and her sharingan, still active, was ensuring she would never forget what just happened.
"Ah!" Momo cried out in pain.
She did not have any time to do much else, as Tsunade was quick to move again. Holding her finger to Momo's forehead, she could have used her chakra scalpel to inflict a serious wound, she settled for cancelling the scalpel and giving Momo a flick to the forehead. Tsunade was known for her super strength though, and the flick was enough to launch Momo back several metres.
"I can see how the goggles would be useful for protecting your eyes," Tsunade said in a possible approval of them, "but there's a reason they call it a forehead protector." Tsunade finished, referring to the item now worn around Momo's neck.
'That hurt.' Momo thought as she pulled herself up and deactivated her sharingan. 'That's a memory I won't cherish. No wonder father told me to be careful when I used the sharingan.'
Knowing her sharingan would be of no use to her against an opponent with superior strength and speed, Momo changed tactics. Quickly healing herself as best as she could, Momo used the technique Naruto taught her.
"Earth clone technique." She said, creating three earth clones.
A raise of an eyebrow was the only reaction from Tsunade.
'Kakashi taught Sasuke how to use the chidori in a month, while Naruto only managed to teach Momo the earth clone technique?' Tsunade thought in a not too flattering appraisal of Momo's skill, or Naruto's teaching abilities.
The earth clones fought using the tactics Naruto taught Momo. One of them attempted to distract Tsunade while the others attacked her from the sides. Unfortunately, Tsunade's superior strength and speed won out again, and with one finger, she delivered a strike to each earth clone, destroying it.
Meanwhile, Momo was expecting as much, and prepared her clan's signature technique.
"Fire release: grand fireball technique." Momo called out as she formed the hand-seals for the technique.
The attack was targeted at Tsunade, who had just finished dealing with Momo's earth clones. Luckily for Tsunade, and unluckily for Momo, Tsunade's awareness had not decreased much in her advanced years, and she sensed the attack coming. Pushing her finger into the ground, Tsunade created a tremor that knocked Momo off her feet, and cancelling the fireball.
"Ah!" Momo cried out again as she once more fell to her feet.
'This isn't working. I'm not strong enough to fight her.' Momo thought while evaluating her chances. 'I don't have to defeat her to win, I just have to get her to use more than a finger to fight me. How can I do that?'
Switching to stalling tactics, Momo tried using her illusions to conceal herself and buy time to think of a plan. Unfortunately, Tsunade was quite familiar with them, and they did not distract her for long. Momo was rapidly beginning to tire.
"Hey brat!" Tsunade called out to Momo, who was now on her last legs. "I'll ask you one thing before you pass out. Why are you so passionate about defending your parents' honour?"
Momo froze, not expecting to be asked something like that.
'Should I tell her?' She wondered. 'I trust Naruto, and he trusts her, so maybe I can tell them. I've wanted to tell Naruto before, but it never felt right.'
"I want them to acknowledge me." Momo said, which was something neither Tsunade nor Naruto expected her to. "Outside of some training, or dinner if neither are working late, I've hardly ever seen my parents."
From his interaction with Sakura and Sasuke, Naruto was beginning to understand what Momo meant.
'Momo's mother and father each put a lot of effort into their shinobi training. Her mother used hers to open a medical clinic, and her father reformed the military police. That took a lot of effort on their parts, so it they don't have a lot of time to spend with their children. They hired a staff to watch them, and spend as much time as they can with them, but it doesn't seem like it's enough. When I become Hokage and have a family, I'll find a way to make as much time for both as I can.' Naruto thought as he formed a new resolve.
"Father always seemed concerned with his reputation, and that of our clan, and mother was always working at her clinic, saving lives and helping people in the Uchiha name. I just want them to be as proud of me being their daughter as I am of them being my parents." Momo said, her voice beginning to crack.
Before Momo could break down further, Naruto was by her side and holding her close in an instant. Momo happily snuggled into him, her worries already forgotten.
'So she acts defensives of her parents honour to earn their respect?' Tsunade wondered.
As she pondered Momo's words, she continued to observe her and Naruto.
'They remind me of how Naruto used to try and comfort Sakura, though they were never that close.' Tsunade thought as she watched Naruto and Momo. 'In fact, I've only seen Sakura give the look Momo's giving Naruto to Sasuke…'
Momo was now looking upon Naruto with admiration, thanks, and unbeknownst to him, love while he said some comforting words to her.
"Momo, I told you before, your parents are proud of you." Naruto reminded her as he calmed her down. "Even if they don't say it often enough, I know they do. I'm proud of you too."
Momo did not reply, but continued to happily snuggle into him, the doubts she had been filled with for years slipping away.
"There's a good lesson to be learned here." Naruto said sagely, something he did not do often despite being an actual sage, "it's okay to want to defend your family's honour, but pride comes before a fall. Having a bit of humility can make you a better person. The next time someone you should not be picking a fight with slanders your family, it might be better to let it go."
Momo nodded in understanding, taking in Naruto's words as if she would live her life according to them. As she did, Tsunade kept observing them and the look Momo was giving Naruto.
'Could Momo, no she's too young for that. Although, she is the same age Naruto and Sakura were when I met them, and Sakura had known Sasuke for years before that. Does that mean Momo feels the same way about Naruto that Sakura does about Sasuke?' Tsunade continued to wonder to herself while she considered if she had made a terrible mistake.
"If you two are done showing public displays of affection, I'd like to continue the fight." Tsunade called out to Naruto and Momo.
As expected, an embarrassed Naruto pulled away from a blushing Momo, who seemed sad that he did so.
'So she does like him.' Tsunade mentally confirmed. 'Now to find out how much.'
Now that Naruto was back on the sidelines and Momo was feeling better, Tsunade was putting the pressure back on her. She was holding back though, as she now had something else she wanted to learn from her opponent.
"How would you like to sweeten the wager?" Tsunade said as forced Momo to dodge a finger strike. "If you win, I'll take you on as what will likely be my last apprentice. If you lose, you can never see Naruto again."
Her last sentence was said quietly so Naruto would not be able to hear it, but Momo would. Her immediate reaction only confirmed was Tsunade was beginning to suspect.
"Never, I would never risk that!" Momo declared as she gained her second wind, and began fighting back.
Tsunade had an easy time blocking Momo's punches and kicks, even with one finger, and was not focusing on their fight, but rather what she had learned.
'She really does care about him if she wouldn't risk their relationship for a chance to become my apprentice. Does that mean Sakura cares about Sasuke just as much? What if she couldn't be with Sasuke, what then?'
"Alright Momo, tell me, what would you do if you were never able to see Naruto again?" Tsunade asked her, again quietly so Naruto would not be able to hear.
"I, I don't know what I'd do." Momo replied shakily, caught off guard by the question.
'I've seen that look before.' Tsunade thought as she took in Momo's expression, even with her eyes were partially hidden by her orange tinted goggles. 'Sakura looked the same when Sasuke left. It was when he was brought back that she looked happier then I had ever seen her.'
"Is this the best you can do? If so, I'm going to tell Naruto not to waste anymore time with you." Tsunade said, goading Momo into attacking again and forgetting her worries.
It was a dirty tactic, but for a shinobi it was a common move. Momo, her relationship with Naruto on the line, began putting everything she had left into the fight.
'I guess that proves it. There's no need to continue.' Tsunade thought, deciding to end the fight.
Holding out two fingers, she delivered a strike to Momo's abdomen that knocked the wind out of her. Despite the painful hit, Momo was smiling.
"Hah, I win the bet," she said weakly, "I got you to use more then one finger in the fight. Now you have to take back what you said about my parents." She finished before collapsing into unconsciousness.
Naruto was by Momo's side in an instant, and after Tsunade dropped her illusion of youth to conserve her chakra, she was by Momo's side as well.
"She'll be fine, she's just a little tired and beat up." Tsunade said to Naruto as she healed Momo's wounds. "Let's get her inside and give her a chance to rest."
In what was becoming a habit for them, Naruto scooped up Momo into his arms and carried her bridal style into Tsunade's cabin. Momo was once again completely unaware of him doing so.
"You know, she's a lot like you were at her age." Tsunade commented to Naruto as she put her cloak back on. "While she's resting, why don't you tell me about her?" She asked him.
"Sure, I learned a lot about her while preparing to train her for the finals of the chunin exams." Naruto replied as he began to tell Tsunade all about his youngest friend.
'I should have known all of this before.' Tsunade thought sadly to herself while Naruto told her about Momo. 'I wonder what else my stubbornness had made me miss out on…'
The two of them brought Momo inside and Naruto put her down on a bed in a spare room before going back to the balcony to continue their conversation. Tsunade found she liked hearing about Momo, and decided she wanted to hear more from Momo's mother, and resolved to speak to her soon.
It was now later in the day, and Momo was beginning to rouse from her slumber.
"Good afternoon sleepyhead." Naruto said to an awakening Momo.
"Where am I?" She asked as her awareness returned to her.
"A spare bedroom in grandma's cabin. We put you to bed after your fight so you could rest."
Momo suddenly jerked up and began scanning the room. Seeing Naruto sitting at a nearby desk, she let out a sigh of relief.
'Whew, he wasn't in the bed with me.' Momo thought while trying not to think about why she had expected him to be. 'I'm still too young for that, but maybe in a few years…'
Momo began to blush as she imagined what her relationship with Naruto could someday be like.
"Ah, Momo, are you okay?" Naruto asked her out of concern. "Your face is getting red. Maybe you should lie down again." He said, still as oblivious as ever to a girl's embarrassment over him. "I should talk to Hinata and find out how she got over this…"
If Momo was paying attention to Naruto, she showed no signs of it. She was lost in a fantasy that a voice in the back of her head was describing to her.
Once Momo was feeling better, she returned home with Naruto escorting her along the way. He went out back to see Sasuke, while Momo and Sakura stayed inside.
"So dear, did you have a nice day?" Sakura asked her eldest daughter.
"Yes mother." Momo replied. "Naruto introduced me to his grandmother." She elaborated.
"He did?" Sakura asked with a bit of worry.
"He did." A reply came from a third voice.
Turning to the source of voice, Momo and Sakura were shocked by who it came from.
"Master Tsunade?" Sakura stated, surprised to see her former mentor for the first time in years.
"Yes it's me." Tsunade calmly replied. "Don't look so surprised. I'm a retired Hokage, sneaking into someone's home undetected is easy for me."
"Um yes, of course." Sakura replied, still unsure of what to say. "Is there anything I can get for you?" She eventually asked, trying to act kind to her uninvited guest.
"Some tea would be nice. While I'm here though, it's been some time since we've spoken. I'd like to hear about what you've been up to all these years."
"Certainly, I'll get right on it." Sakura replied happily, as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
While Sakura made their tea and began telling Tsunade about her life since their falling out, Momo stayed quiet, smiling over how her family seemed a little bigger, and happier now.
"I never thought I'd see this happen." Naruto said quietly to Momo, startling her with his presence.
Seeing her look up at him, Naruto made a shushing motion.
"I'm just a shadow clone. I knew grandma Tsunade was following us, so I was made to stay behind and watch for trouble. I had no idea how well this would play out. It looks okay though." Naruto's shadow clone continued as he and Momo observed Sakura and Tsunade's first conversation in years.
The two of them stayed quiet and watched from the background as Sakura and Tsunade continued their reconciliation.
"Even though I forgave your mother for choosing to be with your father over me, grandma Tsunade never did." Naruto's shadow clone said, breaking their silence. "No matter what I did, I couldn't get her to forgive your mother. I don't what you did, but you made her change her mind. I guess I owe you one, so if there's anything you want from me, just name it."
'Anything?' Momo thought excitedly. 'There's one thing I really want, but I don't think I'm ready for it.' Momo thought again, a little sadder this time. 'I know, there's something he can answer for me.'
"How were you ever able to forgive my parents for hurting you?" Momo asked.
Naruto's shadow clone gave a sigh before answering.
"It wasn't easy. It hurt for a long time, but seeing your mother happy means a lot to me. Being with your father made her happy, so I supported her decision, even if at the time I thought it was a wrong one and they were making a huge mistake. It worked out though. They're good for each other, and seeing them together makes me think that they were meant for each other, and that your mother wasn't completely right for me either. Besides…" Naruto said, trailing off at the end.
Naruto's shadow clone chose that moment to give Momo, who was awaiting him to finish, a big grin.
"If your parents didn't get together, I never would have met you." Naruto's shadow clone said with complete sincerity.
Momo did not even waste a millisecond before giving Naruto's shadow clone a bone crushing hug that dispelled it, much to her dismay. Outside, the real Naruto, who was sparring with Sasuke, received that shadow clone's memories. Seeing Sakura and Tsunade speaking to each other again brought a smile to his face, distracting him just long enough for Sasuke to hit him at point blank range with a fireball.
Present Day, Uzumaki household…
"Well, that's the story of how your mother met your great-grandma Tsunade, and helped her reconcile with your grandma Sakura. It went just as well as when I first met her. Come to think of it, we were about the same age when we first met her too." Naruto said to his and Momo's children.
The events Naruto described to his children, like those that preceded them, were an abridged version of what really happened. Naruto was not privy to all the details of what happened in the past, and could not have known everything that had occurred. There were also events that Naruto felt his children were not ready to learn of, if ever.
"So, what did you think?" Naruto asked his kids.
"I still think part of it was really sappy, but the fight was cool! I still can't believe how tough mom was." Hayao said in awe of his mother's strength.
"I liked those sappy parts." Himeko countered. "You are such a boy, you only like stories that have fighting."
"Nuh uh." Hayao eloquently replied as well as any five year old could.
"Uh huh." Himeko replied as well as a three year old could, despite her seemingly advanced vocabulary for her age.
Once again, Naruto's children were embroiled in an argument over what aspects of the story were more appealing, which never ceased to amuse him.
'The way they get along reminds me of Momo's siblings and the time we had to baby-sit them for mom and dad's anniversary…' Naruto though, thinking of what part of his and Momo's story to tell next.
Author's Notes: I hope Tsunade was in character here. She may seem like a bitter old woman who can't let go of the past but... oh...well, never mind. Well, like Naruto once did, Momo fought some sense into her.
If you're wondering why Naruto calls her grandma and not granny, he's an adult now, not a teenager, so he's slightly more mature, and a little more polite.
I hit a bit of a stumbling block while writing this chapter. As the story is about Naruto telling his kids how he and their mother got together, there are several events Naruto should have no knowledge of. To that end, let's just say the story Naruto tells his kids is an abridged version of events, and the pseudo-flashbacks are what really happened in the past, or the past itself.
Hmm, would that mean any flashback a character has would be more effective in first-person point of view? It makes a bit of sense, as it's supposed to be a memory of that character. It would be easier to tell it's a flashback too by the context, rather than putting it all in italics, which I hate.
Next chapter: Meet the Uchiha brats! While Sakura and Sasuke have a night out on the town, Naruto and Momo get to play house when her siblings need a babysitter!