Chapter 11:Finding the Legendary Sucker
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
There weren't a ton of reviews but the ones I got were very encouraging so thanks. So for the reader who asked I'm going with the idea that Minato was eighteen when Naruto was born making him 26 and Anko 20.
Ok guys this chapter is progressive to the story so don't hate me for it not being terribly exciting. Hope you like this chapter.
It had been one day since Naruto returned to the village.
Naruto sat against a large oak tree his fan next to him wondering how the large heavy object had got there. His thoughts told the story to him.
He had left his house with Gaara an hour before taking nothing with him and after the two boys had gotten a mile a way from the house the fan appeared right in front of them in a puff of smoke.
After a great deal of confusion and after they confirmed it was no genjutsu Naruto put the fan on his back in a holding case he had bought specifically for that purpose. He had kept the carrying case on to get used to the uncomforting feel it had.
Naruto still in great confusion went down to the park where he planned to meet Ino, Sasuke, and Sakura.
Naruto had immediately put the fan down against the tree where his friends were talking.
Naruto shook his head pushing his hair back he smiled at Ino who sat down right next to him.
"So Naruto." Ino began. "I heard that you are leaving in a month."
Naruto nodded, "That seems to be the case. Me and Gaara are going to this training ground to train with the other Kages' children."
Ino looked at Gaara who was playing shogi with Shikamaru. "I didn't know Gaara was the son of the Kazekage."
Chouji who had tagged along with Shikamaru looked at the red head impressed. Sakura had not heard any of what was said too obsessed with Sasuke who looked bored.
Naruto stood scratching his head still puzzling over the fan. Giving up he grabbed the weapon and put it back on his back. "Anyway guys, we came so you guys could show Gaara around the village."
The rest of the group stood up, Shikamaru being the last after completing a final move. "So Gaara what would you like to see first." Naruto asked.
'Everyone around me is fine with me.' Gaara thought. 'What does it really mean to be a jinjuriken?' The boy shook his head. "I don't know. Where do you want to go?"
Naruto grinned mischievously. "Well personally my favorite place is the ramen shops. So we'll tour you by taking you on the routes to the different shops."
Sasuke shook his head laughing as the rest of the group broke into laughter as well, all save Gaara who still processed the scene, none of it seeming real.
Hours later
Naruto rubbed his swollen stomach sympathetically. "You did great out there." He whispered with pride as Sasuke and Shikamaru struggled to carry Chouji, his left arm strung around Sasuke's shoulder and the chubby boy's right around Shikamaru.
Gaara stared at Naruto wide eyed. "Naruto I can't believe you beat that boy in an eating contest… It doesn't make sense."
The girls giggled telling each other jokes and enjoying themselves.
Naruto held his head high as he walked toward the Hokage tower now less than a quarter of a mile away. "It just goes to show you size isn't everything."
"Well guys, I'm going to take Chouji home and you have to meet Jiraiya right Naruto."
The stuffed blonde nodded contently. "See you guys later." Shikamaru and Sasuke nodded at Naruto walking off one way as the two girls walking off the opposite way waving and laughing happily.
Naruto grabbed Gaara's arm and pulled him inside.
The two kids walked into the Hokage's office confronted immediately by Jiraiya and Minato.
"So," Jiraiya asked. "Are you going to tell us everything with Gaara in the room or do you want him to leave?"
Naruto knew immediately what was wanted but he would not be moved so easily. "He can stay."
Jiraiya sighed. "Fine then, go on."
"The only extra thing I have to tell you is about a seal that was put in my back when in prison." Naruto stated the information in report form no emotion getting involved.
Minato looked worriedly at the spot where Naruto's fingers lightly graced his back. Minato anxiously walked over to his son and lifted up his shirt to look at the seal.
Minato after a few seconds pulled the shirt down. "Naruto did they cut your back open?"
Naruto nodded wincing, remembering the terrible pain. The handsome man looked intently at Jiraiya. "I think we should remove the seal as soon as possible."
Jiraiya fixed his eyes on the spot on Naruto's back. 'For a person to place a seal in Naruto's back they had to be a highly skilled medic ninja on par with Shizune, Tsunade's assistant.
He rubbed his chin guessing who it might be, but no one came to mind. Turning to his student he said the only advice he felt he could give. "Minato I can't help you and you can't do this on your own."
Minato looked tensely at Jiraiya. "Thinking of going on a trip?"
Jiraiya nodded giving his student a grin. "Yes and I'm thinking of taking Naruto with me."
Minato sighed, as much as he wanted to go looking for the only medical ninja he would trust his son to he knew he could not leave his office after the already lengthy amount of time he had left his post.
"Well return quickly please."
Jiraiya winked at his student while Naruto looked at Gaara with a sorrow filled expression. Minato knew what his teachers wink meant and as much as he wanted to chaperone the trip he knew it wouldn't be possible. Besides he had to get Naruto ready for the next month in which his son would leave to meet the heirs to the kages.
"Well Naruto, think you can handle another trip?"
"Dad I can handle another trip but can Gaara come?" Naruto as bad as he felt for taking Gaara away from a restful stay in Konoha did not plan on leaving his friend alone. Unbeknownst to Naruto, Gaara did not care if they traveled as long as he was not abandoned.
"He certainly will. What kind of host would you be to abandon your guest."
Jiraiya already was thinking of the hot springs he planned to stay at. "We'll leave tomorrow afternoon take the rest of the day to rest up and pack.
Minato exhaled, relieved, at least Jiraiya was not rushing the boys who had only been in the village a day.
The next day
Naruto and Gaara awoke their bags already packed and Naruto swung his fan onto his back.
"Let's get breakfast at a ramen place before we meet Jiraiya at the gate." Naruto said to Gaara who was ready to go.
"Naruto, how do you know to meet at the gate?" Gaara asked.
Naruto stopped to think. "I don't know that's just where we always meet before we head out."
"But don't you have more than one gate leading out of the village."
Naruto shook his head. "That is weird for a huge village to only one gate."
The two were walking out of the house at this point in the conversation.
"Hello boys." A mans voice bellowed.
"Jiraiya?" Naruto said in surprise. "You came to pick us up here? We were just going to get breakfast."
The old man grinned thinking of the great vacation this was going to make. "No, no, no we have to leave as soon as possible. I brought you some food so eat up." The sannin demanded handing each boy a cup of ramen.
Jiraiya then led the way out of the village the boys slurping down the ramen- Gaara doing so much more elegantly than Naruto.
After a few hours Naruto was growing impatient. "Hey Jiraiya, when the hell are we gonna get there and where are we going anyway?"
Jiraiya sighed, he had expected this. "Well Naruto probably not for another hour or so but if your so impatient I could teach you something. Also we're going to visit a teammate of mine Tsunade the legendary sucker." He laughed as he said her title
Naruto hesitated. This was a great opportunity for him quickly forgetting who they were going to get he started thinking about training. "Um like what?"
"Like not to talk unless spoken too!" He yelled. Jiraiay was already in a bad mood having forgotten which way to go and not sure if they were headed in the right direction.
Naruto growled angrily and continued walking moodily.
Jiraiya turned back to his new student and sighed letting his anger go. "But I suppose I could teach you the toad summoning technique when we get to our stop."
Naruto grinned, that's what he liked to hear.
Gaara felt content that he was part of this experience and he felt something good would come.
The three stopped traveling having reached there destination. The trip had gone smoothly after Jiraiya promised to teach Naruto the summoning technique.
The spa they were staying at was a major hotspot and usually needed to be reserved months in advance for a room. Fortunately for them the owner was a great friend of Jiraiya and fan of his novels and gave them two rooms on the premise that he would be the first to read Jiraiya's next work.
After adjusting to the rooms Jiraiya met Naruto in his room and took him outside.
"Naruto, I'm going to show you how to summon toads and then I'm going to do some research and leave you to practice alright?" The sannin asked wanting to go quickly.
Naruto nodded to Gaara earnestly. "Let's go."
Jiraiya led the two boys to a deserted spit of land a mile away from the spa and pulled out a kunai from his jacket. He tossed it to Naruto carelessly and bit his thumb. "Now watch carefully," he said.
Wiping the blood on his palm the sannin formed a few hand signs and swung his left arm down letting the blood on his hand connect with the ground.
Both boys watched impressed as a toad a few feet taller than Jiraiya appeared underneath the sannin.
"That was cool!" Naruto yelled in amazement and the toad unfurled his tongue carrying the scroll it was holding down to Naruto. "Take it!" Jiraiya ordered.
"That scroll has been passed down from generation to generation and is now in my possession. Sign your name in blood on the scroll."
Naruto took the kunai and cut his fingers giving him enough blood to sign his name.
"Naruto the seals are the boar, the dog, the bird, the monkey and the sheep."
Naruto nodded and copied Jiraiya's motion and slammed his hand into the ground exerting a large amount of chakra.
Jiraiya watched impressed but not at all shocked as a toad larger than the one he had called for appeared. Jiraiya grinned at Naruto who sat staring at the creature before him. "Now I have to go, have fun practicing."
Jiraiya not wanting to wait to get back used shunshin jutsu to sprint to his destination.
"So what can you Mr. Toad." Naruto said not expecting an answer.
"I'm a battle toad can you not see the swords on my back?" The toad replied. "Who are you?"
Naruto's mouth dropped open a little. "You can talk?"
"Of course I can talk! Now who are you?"
Naruto glanced at Gaara who had some sand out ready in case the toad tried something funny. "My name is Namikaze, Naruto and I'm a new contractor."
"So you summoned me, first try? Very impressive." The toad said seeing Naruto nod. "Only two other ninja have summoned higher than you on your first try. The only ones better being Jiraiya and the other being the very first contractor."
Naruto smiled confidently at the toad. "Well I'm going to be the greatest ninja alive."
The toad looked at the boy with a certain respect. "Well if you become the greatest ninja alive then you will certainly be allowed to be a servant to the toad boss."
Naruto nearly fell over. "Servant?"
The toad laughed, "You don't actually think you be boss's boss do you? Anyway I should inform him of the new contractor. See you around Naruto."
"Bye." Naruto said to the puff of smoke. He swung around, "I suppose we should go back to the spa."
Gaara nodded. "Yes the talking toad was rather scary."
Naruto laughed. "That's not the word I would use but yeah."
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Jiraiya giggled to himself as he peeked at girls through an eye hole he had made in the fence.
He had an excellent view of some gorgeous girls, including the Owners daughter who was a real beauty.
He turned away and began writing something in a note pad he had with up. After a little while he gave up on writing and just cooled himself in the hot spring, lowering his staggering temperature.
Jiraiya got out of the spring and put a robe on just as Naruto was getting in. Gaara was sitting on the edge of the baths wall not wanting to get wet. He had taken a shower the day before and he liked to get wet as little as possible. The sand shield protecting him kept him clean so the shower was only every week or so and being completely surround by water was something he did not want to happen.
Jiraiya walked back inside and stepped back inside the inn. He headed to his room and halfway down the hall met with the owners daughter. "Hello Jiraiya." She greeted him pleasantly.
"Hello Yuki. How have you been?" The sannin greeted the woman who was around the age of twenty five. "It's been years."
She smiled at him. "I've been alright but father's been extremely protective over me since mother died."
Jiraiya nodded sympathetically. "I heard. I'm very sorry for your loss." He opened the door to his room and sat down on the bed next to him. "Would you like to come in?"
She nodded and closed the door behind her. "After mother died father was hesitant to let me leave this place at all. So I have been working here taking care of him. He really has become so cautious and tries all sorts of ways just to keep me from visiting the nearby village"
Jiraiya nodded. "I remember how close the two of them were." He looked at the woman curiously she was wearing nothing but a robe as well and he was wondering what she was planning. It was clear this wasn't just an average conversation.
"Jiraiya my father thinks of you as a close friend so I want to thank you for that." The black haired beauty untied the strap at her waist and the robe fell to the floor revealing a black bra and black laced panties.
Jiraiya grinned. 'She wants to thank me and afterwards I'll be sure to thank her.' He walked over to the door and locked it and removed his own robe revealing blue boxers nothing more.
The woman jumped into his arms gently running her hands along his muscled back and neck.
Jiraiya bit her neck gently gaining a moan. He was very experienced in these matters. Quickly he undid her bra and holding her up with his left hand on her ass he moved his right hand down and gently touched her breast.
Jiraiya looked into the beautiful woman's eyes and that when he saw it and realized. She was getting back at her father for not letting her live her life and keeping her by his side. He gently put the girl on the bed and kissed her gently on the cheek.
She looked puzzled as he began to put his boxers and then his robe back on. "What are you doing?" She asked confused.
Jiraiya looked at the mostly naked girl with sympathetic eyes full of regret that he hadn't had enough to drink. "All it would have taken to make my night was one drink and I would not have cared. But your father is a great friend of mine and I see what's wrong."
Part of Jiraiya was punching himself as he passed up such a great opportunity with such a beautiful woman.
The woman covered herself as she saw the old man was staring at her. "You are a very beautiful woman and as much as I'd like to believe you want me for my experience and body I know that you're trying to get back at your father. If he found out he'd be enraged that his daughter was acting so promiscuously and force him to abandon our friendship. I'll help with your father just put your clothes back on before I surrender to my urges."
The woman looked at him for a few seconds astounded and put her bra and then robe back on. "You figured it out… I've heard that you were a womanizer and a pervert and…" she blushed, "A sex god, but I don't know any other man who would have stopped." She walked toward the tired sannin and kissed him on the cheek as he had done to her.
"Thank you and by the way I wouldn't have gone that far with any other man."
Jiraiya smiled wearily at the girl and they both exited heading different ways.
Jiraiya glanced once more around the hallway and watched her walk away. 'She has great curves.'
By the time Jiraiya had exited from convincing the spa owner to give his daughter a little more freedom Naruto and Gaara were asleep in there room. Jiraiya had also left out everything that had happened in the room.
Jiraiya reentered the room where Yuki and he had been in not long before. Too tired to change he fell asleep almost immediately his final thoughts reflecting on the chaotic day.
With Naruto
Naruto awoke the next day feeling great. "Today we'll find Tsunade and then everything will go back to normal." He told Gaara. It was sad how wrong the blonde boy actually was.
Naruto and Gaara knocked on Jiraiya's door and he let them in right away. "Ready to go guys?"
The two nodded and began to head out. Jiraiya his belongings all ready packed, had to put the writing he had done that morning in his pack. Quickly stuffing it in an empty pocket he ran after the boys.
The trip to the next village was rather quick and it was here Jiraiya believed that they would find his teammate.
The village though large was very connected and everyone was willing to give information for a price.
"All right boys. I'm going to look for Tsunade in some of the gambling joints around here. Naruto you guys can wander around a little but meet back here in two hours." He through Naruto a wad of money and walked off entering a bar across the street.
Naruto paused. "This is a great chance to explore and if we find Tsunade will be able to go back sooner."
Gaara looked at his friend blankly. "What does Tsunade look like?"
Naruto smacked his forehead in annoyance. He was about to go after Jiraiya but the window to the bar had a sign which read NO ONE UNDER 18.
Turning back to Gaara the blonde shrugged submitting to the fact they would not find the other sannin, "Let's just go."
The two eight year olds walked solemnly through the streets admiring the stands and chaos in which children ran and played while their parents laughed watching them from a distance.
Naruto and Gaara had walked a few blocks when they saw eight thugs surrounding tow women, one obviously drunk and the other yelling at her pig in hand.
Naruto looked at his friend mischievously. "Let's have some fun." Gaara looked at the blonde. "Always helping people…" He mumbled in annoyance.
Naruto sprinted at the men two of whom turned and faced the boy. Naruto jumped into the air and stepping on the first man's head, knocking him over, he landed in front of the two women. "Don't worry ladies I'll get rid of these thugs."
The men growled angrily at the boy. "Boy I'd get out of here before you get hurt along with those thieves."
Naruto smirked will see.
Forming hand seals at an incredible speed he finished preparing the jutsu and shot a powerful wind at the men which he had learned in Gaara's village and knocked all the men back.
Shizune looked at the boy astounded at the skill such a young boy possessed.
Naruto waited for the men to get up before dropping the heavy fan off his back. The fan landed with a thud and the metal handle stabbed into the ground. "Now that I can move a little faster let's speed this up."
Naruto hit the first man before he saw the boy reach him. He spun and kicked the man who was approaching his back and back flipped over another brute who tried to sneak up on him. Naruto then slammed his fist into the thugs face as it turned to him knocking him out cold.
Only three men were still standing they were the biggest and the strongest as well as the most experienced. Naruto smiled seeing all their battle scars. "Let's go!" The boy charged the men who waited for him.
Naruto attempted to kick the thug closest to him in the head but the man blocked the kick with his arm and knocked the blonde into the dirt. 'I got cocky there better not to it again. Those guys might not be ninjas but they are still extremely strong.' The blonde took a second to glance at the man's biceps which were thicker than his head.
He ran at the man again and this time punched the man's stomach not holding back and then kicking his feet out from under him.
Gaara watched the fighting in amusement not worried at all though he was protective of his friend these people he knew were no threat.
Naruto looked at the two who were left they both moved toward him at the same time. The blonde jumped into the air as soon as they were within a foot of him and rapidly formed more hand signs. "See ya guys Katon: Enveloping flames!" Naruto's hands covered his mouth has he built up chakra. A second later he uncovered his mouth and sprayed flames covering the men below him.
He landed next to the men who were now unconscious. "Your ok now," Naruto told the two women.
The drunken woman laughed at the boy and through a sake bottle at him which Gaara caught with his sand and gently put on the ground.
"Hey!" Naruto yelled angrily who are you to throw something at someone who just saved you.
"You save me?" The drunken lady laughed. "You save me Tsunade the sannin? I think not?" Tsunade draped her arms along Shizune her assistant and hung on as her legs bucked under her.
Naruto did not know what to think. 'This woman couldn't be a legendary sannin. Could she?'
He walked up to the woman who was holding Tsunade. "Is she a legendary sannin?"
The young woman sighed. "She is."
Naruto shook his head at her his wavy blonde hair shaking with him. "I refuse to believe this woman who doesn't look old to be a sannin. There's no way she could have been on Jiraiya's team and no person as respected as a sannin would be like this." He pointed at Tsunade in disgust.
"Hey brat, watch who you talk about like that, I might just knock your teeth out."
Shizune feeling tense decided to clear up all the questions. "She uses a jutsu to make herself look young and though she can be irresponsible she's very powerful. Now, who may I ask, are you?"
"Namikaze, Naruto." The boy answered just as Jiraiya dropped in on them.
The long haired sannin ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. "I see you've already found my old teammate. Nice work. I also see you've introduced yourself so I ask you Tsunade for a favor."
Tsunade sent him a vicious glare. "Yeah what do you want and why have you been looking for me!"
Jiraiya seeing her bad mood, sighed. "Good to see you too." He sighed again. "Let me buy you a drink."
She smiled, "At least you know how to go about asking favor. Shizune paled, "I really don't think it would be wise to give her anything more to drink."
"Don't worry about it." Jiraiya said his arm draped around Tsunade's shoulder leading her to the bar.
So Naruto was left with Shizune and Gaara both of whom seemed to be uncomfortable.
"Tsunade… Naruto was kidnapped by the rock and we think the rock had a medic as talented or nearly as talented as you put a seal in his back, but we can't see it without getting into his back."
"And you need me to do it." The female sannin concluded hiccupping and than downing another glass.
"That sums it up. What do you say?"
"No."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NO?!?" Jiraiya roared gaining stares from everyone in the bar.
"Jiraiya, I see that he's talented and since he's your student your protective of him, but I cut ties with the village long ago and helping you would be a symbol of my alliance."
Jiraiya shook his head not believing what he was hearing. "The boy is a prodigy! He escaped from the Rock's toughest prison by himself while carrying a Hyuuga. He's just as good as the fourth was at his age possibly even better how can you say no?"
Tsunade looked into her drink blankly. "Heh he sounded cocky out there at least he has a right to be."
Jiraiya shook his head he didn't want to do this but he had to pull out his trump card. "You don't know what he's like. If you did he'd remind you of your brother…"
Tsunade winced. Her brother had loved Konoha passionately and had given his life for the village. Perhaps if this boy was willing to do the same she could at least help him.
"Jiraiya, I'll come back to Konoha with you but if he's not as you say I swear I'll never talk to you again."
Jiraiya gulped. "Fair enough."
He stood up, 'Naruto don't screw this up,'for your sake as well as mine.