Author's Note – Naruto is not among the assets I can claim

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Chapter Thirty-Two – Persuasion

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The scent of cinammon rolls hung in the air and Hinata emerged from her tent like a cat leaping from ambush. Jiraiya laughed as Hinata grabbed one of the rolls and bit into it with a blissful expression.

"Wow, you really do like them." He joked and Hinata paused in her devouring just long enough to glare at him. Rather than inrimidating him, however, it only served to cause him to laugh harder before he managed to catch his breath and compose himself.

"We need to pack up soon." He said. "My informant told me that Tsunade was spotted heading into Tanzaku Quarters the day before yesterday. With your tigers, we'll probably make it before she decides to get going."

Hinata nodded as she pulled out and rolled up the bedroll she'd been using, then quickly folded the tent. Turning round, she blinked at seeing Jiraiya finishing sealing everything else into a scroll.

"What?" He asked. "It's easier than trying to put it all into a pack. Now pass over the tent."

Hinata did so and Jiraiya sealed it into the scroll, then rolled it up and passed it over.

"There we go, all packed up. Let's move."

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"Still no change?" Hiruzen asked softly and Gaara sighed.

"He is still sleeping, he will not wake up. I… do not know what to do."

"You're doing a good job." Baki said. "How are you feeling?"

"… I am not sure." Gaara admitted. "The new seal is working, I… was able to sleep last night. I do not remember the last time I slept. And Shukaku has grown quiet. He said… that the seal no longer hurts. And that he can sleep also. I have been thinking about the past and… I have much to atone for."

"As does Suna." Baki said softly. "I took down Hayate and lied about it, for instance. Your father ordered a weak seal be used to ensure that you could use as much of Shukaku's power as possible, he didn't care about you as long as he got his weapon. Those of us who did care, couldn't do anything about it."

"I… understand." Gaara said. "What Hinata told me, what Naruto did… I understand. Do you think that Hinata will be able to bring Tsunade here?"

Hiruzen chuckled. "Hinata will do anything for Naruto. I t wouldn't surprise me if she decided to face down Tsunade and literally drag her back to heal him."

"Lord Hokag..uuuurk!"

"It's alright, Gaara!" Hiruzen said quickly. "He's an ANBU, he's not here to hurt anyone!"

Gaara nodded and the sand that had trapped the masked ninja against the wall retreated.

"Alright, what is it?"

"Lord Hokage, there's a problem…"

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"You just had to sneeze!" Kiba yelled as he sprinted down the street.

"Hey, it's not my fault, I have allergies!" Kankuro retorted, not even sparing a glance back to where his puppet was lying in pieces after being trampled.

"Last time I show you the sights!"

"Get back here, you peeping perverts!" screamed one of the pursuing Kunoichi. Kiba and Kankuro glanced at each other, then accelerated.

"Dammit, I wish I'd paid more attention to Naruto's training missions," Kiba panted. "He found loads of good hiding places when training against ANBU."

Before Kankuro could react, a Kunai sliced through one of his hood's ears.

"They're clad in towels!" He protested. "How the hell did they pull out those swords and kunai?"

Kiba blinked.

"I… don't think this is the time to worry about that! Come on, this way!"

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"My brother is a moron." Gaara deadpanned. "When Temari finds out about this, he will be in trouble."

"Your sister is one of the ones in pursuit." The ANBU said and Gaara closed his eyes.

"Kankuro… you idiot."

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"Tsunade, so nice to see you here."

Tsunade looked up from her sake, glaring at the familiar figure. "Orochimaru, what are you doing here."

"Oh, I had a little problem." Orochimaru said, holding up his shortened right arm. "I got stabbed with a very strange chakra blade, and it's… becoming a bit of an issue."

Tsunade stared at the proffered limb. "What the… I…"

"I just need you to stop the effect of whatever chakra was used." Orochimaru said. "My two best medical ninjas can't do more than slow it down, and that's with hourly treatments. Don't worry about repairing, I got a scroll of puppet jutsus from Suna and I'm looking forwards to experimenting with puppet-limbs. In order to use it, though, I need my arm stabilised. Despite your drinking and gambling, you are still the greatest med-nin in all the Elemental nations…"

Tsunade slowly reached out and scanned the stump. After a moment, she blinked.

"That's… Bijuu chakra. Last time I saw something like that was… was the Kyuubi!"

"Bijuu chakra…" Orochimaru mused. "So, the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki has learned to use the monster within."

"What were you doing there anyay?" Tsunade asked and Orochimaru shrugged.

"I was just trying to contact our old teacher, but the Kyuubi brat attacked without warning. The old man was seriously injured in the attack, not mortally, but quite badly. I hear the council is going to promote Jiraiya to be the new Hokage."

"That pervert as Hokage?" Tsunade scoffed. "They've had dumb ideas in the past, but this one?"

Orochimaru smirked. "Indeed. So, is there anything I can offer you to persuade you to help me with my… medical condition?"

Tsunade looked at him, then shook her head.

"There is nothing anyone can give me any more."

"Not even Dan and Nawaki?" Orochimaru almost purred. "I know a technique that can bring them back."

Tsunade froze, not even breathing and Orochimaru stood up.

"I'll give you until the end of the week to think about it, Tsunade."

"Tsunade! Here you are!"

Tsunade looked up to see that Orochimaru had vanished. Looking round, she met the irritated glare of her assistant.

"What is it, Shizune?"

Shizune sighed and sat down next to her. "You really need to stop running off like that, milady."

"Yes, Shizune." Tsunade sighed as she prepared herself for the inevitabe scolding.

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Hinata looked round, her Byakygan active as she scanned the heaving crowds.

"Gaaaah, this is impossible!" Jiraiya fumed. "She could be anywhere!"

"Remind me of the description." Hinata said slowly. "Blond hair, diamond tattoo in the middle of the forehead, green jacket, has a dark-haired assistant and pet pig, is that right?"

"Yes." Jiraiya said slowly, looking at her, "Why?"

Hinata smiled and changed course. Jiraiya looked to where she was headed and smiled. "I think you're still a bit young for sake, but yes, a refreshing drink would be very… Tsunade?"

The blond at one of the tables looked up in shock, then her face creased in a frown.

"Jiraiya, what are you doing here?"

"Getting a drink. Bottle of your finest sake please." Jiraiya retorted, placing a bundle of ryu on the bar.

"Watered fruit juice for me please." Hinata requested.

"Hmmm, a Hyuuga." Tsunade noted as Hinata bowed slightly to her. "And a Main House member as well. You have an interesting taste in girlfriends, Jiraiya, but isn't she a bit younger than usual for you?"

"She's already spoken for." Jiraiya said, ignoring Hinata's blush and death-glare aimed at Tsunade, who was smirking.

"Cute little thing, isn't she. And she's generating quite a bit of Killing Intent, nowhere near enough to bother me, but enough to be noticed. Cut it out, girl. I've been glared at by people far scarier than you."

"Enough, Hinata." Jiraiya said, passing her the cup of fruit juice and scooping up the bottle and saucer. Walking over to the table, he slid into the seat opposite Tsunade and Hinata sat down next to him, nodding at Shizune.

"So, why are you here?" Tsunade asked, glaring at Jiraiya, who smiled at her and filled her saucer with sake.

"The old man sent me. He wants you back, Tsunade."

"I heard he'd been injured."

Jiraiya cocked an eyebrow. "Not quite. Orochimaru launched an attack, but it got beaten off. He managed to temporarily resurrect the first, second and fourth Hokages, but was interrupted before he could complete the ritual and use them as his slaves to kill the old man."

"Interrupted by the Kyuubi brat." Tsunade realised and Jiraiya nodded.

"Kid managed to take down an anchored barrier, one with four anchor points and casters, then he used his clones to weaken snake-teme before heading off to defeat the Ichibi, using a fusion technique with a summons I've never seen before." Jiraiya said. "But it cost him, he's in a coma."

Tsunade glanced across at Hinata and Jiraiya nodded. "Yep, she's his girlfriend and fiancee."

"And you accompanied him because…?"

"I have my own mission." Hinata said quietly. "To bring you to Konoha to heal my fiancee."

"And why should I return?" Tsunade growled.

"The old man wants you to take the hat." Jiraiya stated and Shizune gasped.

"Forget it." Tsunade snapped, rising from her seat. "Shizune, we're leaving."

Hinata moved to stand in front of Tsunade as the older woman rose. Tsunade looked down at her as she dropped into the Jyuuken stance and activated her Byakugan.

"What, you think you can stop me?" Tsunade asked, obviously amused and Hinata's expression darkened. "Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, I do." Hinata stated, refusing to back down. "You are a once-great medical ninja who is now a worthless drunk and loser, constantly betraying the memory of those who expected better of you."

Tsunade's expression froze, then shesnarled. "Who do you think you are, you little bitch? How dare you say that?!"

"Who am I?" Hinata repeated, her anger overpowering her screaming self-preservation instincts. "I am Hyuuga Hinata, former clan heir of the Hyuuga clan who handed the position to another for love. To the Great Tigers, I am known as Precious Flower With Eyes Of The Moon, the bond-partner of Flower Blossoming In The Dawn. I am the one who ended the rampage of the Jinchuuriki of the Ichibi and the one who can face down the strongest man in Konoha. I am the Moonlight Princess of the Kagetora clan and the student of both the Snake-mistress and the Genjitsu Mistress of Konoha . I am a Kunoichi. I am a Shinobi. I know what my duty is and I uphold my responsibilities without fear or hesitation, and that means that I am greater by far than what you have become. Who am I, you ask? I am the one who will drag you to Konoha to heal my beloved, whether you want to go or not. That is who I am, that is what I will do."

Tsunade stared at her, then glanced over to Jiraiya who gave a single nod of confirmation.

"Her beloved is the one who took Orochimaru's hand." Jiraiya said. "He's the Yondaime's son, or he was until the council stripped him of his heritage."

"And that is what you want me to become the Hokage of?" Tsunade said quietly but firmly. "A village that betrays its leader as soon as he dies?"

"No." Jiraiya said. "A village that has learned from its mistakes and is trying to reform. Naruto doesn't want tp reclaim his father's name, or his mother's, anymore. He's made his own, built the core of a new clan. Heck, he's even found a full-blood Uzumaki to rebuild the Uzumaki clan and recovered a bunch of Senju techniques from the ruins of Uzushiogakure, techniques which are being held for you. And right now, Tsunade, as Hinata told you, he needs your help."

"So, even if I don't accept the Hokage position, you'll drag me to Konoha anyway." Tsunade noted, looking at the chunin who was glaring at her. "And If I become Hokage, I'll have to put up with the scheming council who've turned the position into a figurehead."

"The council has been… pruned and the advisors power reduced." Jiraiya said. "Sarutobi will be there to aid you however you wish, should you accept."

"…tell me about the other genin of your generation." Tsunade said sitting down again. "Are they all as… determined as you?"

Jiraiya leaned back in his seat, relaxing, and Hinata slowly lowered her hands deactivating her Byakugan. A moment later she collapsed, only Shizune's reflexes preventing her from crashing into the table. Tsunade leapt out of her seat and started a diagnostic jutsu on the now-prone girl.

"What happened?" Jiraiya asked, kneeling beside her, a worried expression on his face.

Tsunade stopped her scan, stared at Hinata, then a disbelieving chuckle rose despite her best efforts. A moment later, she was almost collapsed against Jiraiya, shaking with laughter.

"What. Happened?"

"She'll be fine." Tsunade giggled. "She just fainted."

"Probably realised that she just glared down one of the Sannin." Jiraiya noted with a grin, helping Tsunade back to her feet, then crouching down to scoop up Hinata. Looking round, Jiraiya sighed and nodded meaningfully at the table. Tsunade moved it out of the way and Jiraiya gently laid Hinata down on the padded bench.

"I like her." Tsunade grinned as Shizune slipped past her and began her own diagnostic jutsu. "Girl's got guts."

"She's out cold." Jiraiya pointed out and Tsunade shrugged.

"So? She's got real guts to stand up to me and threaten me like that. Collapsing afterwards, perfectly understandable and it doesn't reduce the respect I have for her. If the old man wants me back, I'll come, but I have some business to take care of first. I have a liar to take care of."

"A liar?" Jiraiya asked, "Can we help?"

"You know," Tsunade mused, "I think you just may be able to… Tell me about her skills. And what was that she was saying about cats?"

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Hinata slowly opened her eyes and gazed blankly at the canvas roof.

"Was it… a dream?"

"Nope." A cheerful foice said and Hinata's gaze snapped across to see Shizune sat beside her, pet pig in lap. "It was real, you glared down Tsunade and impressed her enough to get her to think again."

Hinata blushed, earning another laugh.

"None of that, now let me just check you over…"

Shizune stretched out a hand and passed it over Hinata. "Yep, all good to go. Jiraiya and Tsunade are waiting outside."

Hinata scrambled out of the tent and stood up, looking round in amused shock. In front of her, Jiraiya was finishing giving instructions to a toad who nodded and vanished into a cloud of smoke while Tsunade was snoring softly as she lay along the spine of one of the largest tigers in the party.

"Welcome back." Jiraiya said with a smile. "I knew it was a good idea to bring you along. And not just for your friends."

Kyouka let out a protesting rumble and Jiraiya laughed again. "You missed lunch, but I saved some for you. Eat up and we can talk tactics when Tsunade wakes up. She's with the tigers getting some… what did the gaki call it? Ah yes. Some much needed fuzzy therapy."

Shizune chuckled.