Chapter 2: The Mission Briefing Part 1

Tsunade groaned at the pile of paper work towering before her. If there was one thing she would never let Jiraiya hear the end of about his insistence that she took this job instead of him, it was about the endless paperwork. She could swear that he secretly knew about this little 'addition' to the job, which was why he was so persistent about it. She would make him pay for it the next time she saw him.

Deciding to put her evil schemes on hold, she returned to her current task and groaned in annoyance. She wondered if she released some killer intent that maybe the little thin pieces of papers would quiver away in fear...although the temptation to then deliver her threat would be exceedingly great if it didn't work. She tried hopeless anyway, but to her displeasure, the towers of paper didn't budge, the inanimate objects not even intimidated by her thoughts. Before Tsunade could muster up another scheme, her door was kicked open by an alert and kunai wielding Nara Shikamaru. Shikamaru quickly glanced left and right in the office before turning his attention to the Hokage.

"Is everything alright in here Hokage-sama? I felt some killer intent coming from your office and assumed…." Shikamaru trailed off, as he put away his kunai and returned to his usual lazy stance, although his questioning face remained.

Tsunade sighed, usually she wouldn't go as far as tell the truth, but considering she was tired, still under the influence of her sake, and the fact being it was SHIKAMARU of all people, she figured why not, "I was wondering if these papers would disappear if they felt my killer intent, but obviously as you can see-"

she said dryly waving her hand in the direction of the buildings of papers, "-They are still here."

"….How troublesome." Shikamaru said returning to his usual neutral and non interested figure.

"Although it is not my place to say Hokage-sama, you could assign your apprentices parts of the paper work as well. Considering that-"

Shikamaru pointed at what could be described as the empire state building of the paper stacks, "-Is the hospital reports and medical supply inventory requests."

Tsunade didn't say anything at first and blinked a couple of times.

' Why didn't I think of that!?!' Her mind scolded. Of course she wasn't willing to allow herself to be humiliated twice in front of Shikamaru within a span of 20 seconds of him entering the room, at least not directly.

"Of course I know about that Shikamaru, but if you will just wait there for one minute, SHIZUNE!"

Within a matter of seconds Shizune came running in, "Yes Tsunade-sama."

"You see that very large pile over there?" Tsunade waved lazily at the direction of the 'paper tower of towers' her sake induced mind was beginning to nickname. Shizune gave a quick glance, then returned to Tsunade's serious gaze, although the sudden paleness meant Shizune knew what was coming next.

"Y-Yes Tsunade-sama." Shizune said in a surprisingly pleading like tone. Even though Tsunade was washed over with a feeling of guilt, she didn't drop her usual official Hokage tone.

"Take those reports and go through them together with Sakura, if there is anything that requires my attention bring it to me immediately."

"H-Hai Tsunade-sama, I will go find Sakura to help me carry the reports out of here." Shizune whimpered in defeat.

Tsunade gave in with a sigh, "Afterwards, tell Sakura she can have the rest of the week off, as well as yourself on a small paid leave."

Tsunade said giving a soft smile to her long time friend and apprentice, "Thank you Tsunade-sama." Shizune said in a more brightened mood, giving a quick bow then excusing herself from the office, closing the door softly.

Mean while the seemingly invisible Shikamaru stepped back from his retreated corner with clearly an amused expression across his face, but being it was too troublesome to tease, especially the Hokage, he chose not to say anything.

"What do you have to report?" Tsunade asked, feigning innocence.

Shikamaru blinked blankly, "Err...You asked to see me about a mission you wanted me to lead on…you sent an ANBU to my door..." Shikamaru mumbled over a yawn, while a part of him questioned how she didn't remember. Tsunade put aside his lazy attitude, since she was long used to it by now, and as much as she scrutinized the shadow user, she could admit he did do his job.

"Ah yes that's right, but before that, I assume Temari has already asked you about being her guide?"

Shikamaru sighed and nodded, "I accept the roll."

Tsunade nodded, "Good, I would have forced you anyway. Now, I had that mission paper…" Tsunade dragged herself up from her desk and begin flicking through the buildings of paper, giving off an occasion curse as she went back and forth between the piles.

"Here!" she shouted triumphantly, as she pulled out a fine paper from the pile. What Tsunade did not expect was the paper towers striking revenge by the piles scattering apart on her office floor in a chain reaction.

"..."

'I DEEM YOU WORTHY AN OPPONENT OF A SANNIN 'Tsunade was screaming in her mind, crushing the mission paper in her hand, while giving a death inducing glare at the scattered papers on the floor, clearly oblivious to the mumbled "Troublesome." from Shikamaru behind her.

Sensing the killer intent rising from the silent women, he had to think fast before the situation was going to become a hassle and possibly dangerous for his well being.

"This looks like a perfect opportunity for a newly appointed Genin team that are eager for a D rank mission." Shikamaru said in an out of character like enthusiasm, secretly praying Tsunade would buy it. Tsunade gave one more glare at the papers before stomping back to her desk.

"Sounds like a good idea." Tsunade grunted, although she was secretly scheming for a mixture of sake and a basic katon, knowing that the combination made one very satisfying fire. Tsunade cleared her throat and stifled those thoughts until she got this over with.

"Now your mission…"

'So this is the bridge that the gaki and his team fought to protect hey.' Jiraiya mused, while the sannin and Naruto walked across the cement bridge. Naruto had a large smile fixed to his face.

"They really named the bridge after me!"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes, "You were bitching five minutes ago that you didn't get a symbol like your other teammates did, and now you let that fact sink in...I worry about you gaki."

Naruto ignored the sannin's words, as he waved at people passing by, who were staring at him agape as if they had just seen a celebrity.

'So it appears that he is famous here.'

As if the powers that be had heard Jiraiya musing, a rush of people swamped over them in the dozens. Naruto was shocked at the sudden bombardment of cheers and pens flying demanding his autograph. The blonde's fox wide smile never left his face as he signed his messy signature in notepads, and photos of the old team 7.

"Somebody is popular, no?" Jiraiya stated at the ecstatic blonde, who was finally free from the rapid fans.

"Hell yeah! I'm awesome!"

"Don't let it get to your head idiot, remember why we are here." Naruto frowned but nodded.

"Yosha! Let's go..." Jiraiya perked an eyebrow at his student's sudden silence. "What's the matter gaki?" Naruto was fully agape as he looked around at the town, not recognising it in the slightest.

The old and stale coloured buildings were either gone with new ones, or the old ones had a fresh coating of new paint thrown over them after extensive renovations. There also were more streets than the blond remembered, hinting that the place had grown in size over time. What almost brought a tear to his eye though were the people that were buzzing along the streets. The most significant change off the bat was the sheer number of people in comparison to the beggar filled streets of before.

Seeing their faces made his agape expression point upwards, as the pained frowns and cringes from before were no longer worn. He was able to depict their wealth as well via their clean and new clothing, which bloomed with vibrant colours compared to the dark colours from before. Was this really the Wave they had saved so long ago? Naruto ignored Jiraiya's calls and ran down the familiar streets they travelled down back then, the agape smile never leaving his features.

The blond was once again greeted by smiles from people that recognised him, which to his surprise was almost everybody that laid eye on him. He didn't even know them in person, yet they knew him. Recognition was something the blonde had longed for in Konoha, but seeing so many faces flying into his gaze made a tear of joy run down his face.

Was this overwhelming warmth what acceptance really felt like?

"Naruto-niichan!" The blonde's ears perked at the voice, and looked over his shoulder to see a face he could have sworn was familiar to him. It was the face of a young boy, with black hair and eyes Naruto remembered held little life in them long ago, and then it clicked to his shock.

"I-Inari!?"

The boy smiled at his stuttered words,"It's ok to cry when you're happy you know."

Naruto chuckled wiping his tears of joy away, "Oh shut up! That was my line to you!"

"How have you been Naruto-niichan?!"

"Good Inari, how about yourself? You're getting pretty tall now."

"Hehe, not as tall as you have grown it seems."

"NEH?!" Naruto frowned at the chuckling Inari, who was roughly two feet shorter than Naruto.

"AHEM!" The sound of an annoyed sannin came over the top of their voices, as both turned to see a waiting impatiently Jiraiya.

"E-Ero-sennin!"

Inari raised an eyebrow at the name, "Who is he Naruto-niichan?"

"He's an old perver-"

"GAKI!" Jiraiya swore, when this mission was over, he was going to give his student a lesson in manners.