Well I happy to know there are a decent amount of people enjoying this fic. So without further ado his chapter three!
Chapter 3: A Chance Meeting
(Kusagakure)
Shizune could usually tell when a day was going well. When a day didn't involve her mentor and best friend, getting hammered and gambling away all their funds, she considered it a good day. Unfortunately for Shizune it wasn't one of those days.
"Please Lady Tsunade; we won't have much of anything left if you squander away our remaining funds on this bet." Shizune pleaded with Tsunade. "Think wisely."
"Oh be quiet Shizune" Tsunade stated in a drunken slur. "I'm about to hit it big, I can feel it." Tsunade says while slapping down a suitcase full of ryu, "I'm all in!"
Shizune nearly cried seeing that all their savings were about to be wasted on her mentors, obsessive hobby.
As for her opponents they merely grinned. It was as easy as taking candy from a baby, they thought while eyeing the case of money.
(Outside Kusagakure)
It had been three days since Naruto met Haku and Kimimaro. And currently Naruto was deep in thought as he traveled with his new companions. He figured he spent enough time away from the village to clear his mind and now he was ready to return. Only problem was he didn't have a clue of how to get back, but he wasn't ready to let his two new friends know that.
Meanwhile Haku was nose deep in Naruto's academy book, as he along with Naruto and Kimimaro traveled down a dirt path. Haku was determined to learn all he could before they arrived to Konoha and Naruto could tell he was soaking up the information like a sponge.
Along the way Haku would constantly ask Naruto to quiz him much to the blond's irritation.
'Damn it I'm no teacher.' Naruto would think every time Haku pestered him about testing him on his newly found knowledge. But what really irked Naruto was when Haku would turn the tables on him and test his own knowledge. Needless to say Naruto failed to answer most of the questions Haku threw at him.
"I just don't understand Naruto-san you have all this wonderful information at your disposal, but you don't take the time to learn it." Haku berated Naruto, as he once again failed to answer a question Haku challenged him with.
"Forget all that book stuff" Naruto countered. "As long as you know how to kick ass, and use jutsu you'll be fine, right Kimimaro?"
Kimimaro believed Naruto might have had a point considering his clan's men never taught him anything from a book. His clan prided themselves on learning from actual experience. Their methods of teaching were simple. If you didn't want to die, then learn how to fight. It was barbaric, but it got the point across. "Um I believe Naruto may be right, life and death all boils down to who's the strongest." Kimimaro's says a bit quietly. "What can a book teach you, that experience can not?" he added.
Haku thought about it for a moment before he came up with his answer. "Information can be vital in deciding the outcome of a battle. Just think of a battle between two ninja as a game of shogi. The player who can manage to stay two steps ahead of the opposite player, will most likely emerge the victor." Haku concluded.
Naruto cocked his eyebrow. "What's shogi?" he unintelligently asked.
"Oh never mind" Haku says before diving back into the pages of the book.
(A while later)
Naruto could scarcely see a few buildings and homes, coming up in the distance marking the place as a town or possibly a small village. Naruto squinted his eyes before he leapt off the ground and into a tree to get a better look. He grinned to himself finally it was the chance he was waiting for, surely someone in there could point him in the direction of the leaf village he figured.
"Hey Haku, Kimimaro!" Naruto called out unnecessarily loud. "Looks like there's a village coming up, why don't we check it out?" Naruto questioned his two friends.
They both nodded before jumping onto the same branch as Naruto. Over the past few days Naruto and Kimimaro had took it upon themselves to teach Haku how to tree hop, figuring they could traverse much faster with that method. To their surprise well Naruto's surprise Haku managed to pick up on it in just two days. Naruto concluded there was just no getting around it Haku was a genius plain and simple.
Naruto then rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a frog shaped coin purse, and scanned over his remaining funds. 'Hm looks like I have enough to restock on some ramen' Naruto thought while putting the frog purse back in his pocket. "Alright guys lets get going." Naruto chanted as they took of to next branch towards the village.
(Meanwhile)
Shizune was in tears, as she cradled a small baby pig in her arms. Tsunade had lost every last dime. "Now what are we going to do about money Lady Tsunade?" Shizune questioned.
Tsunade turned to face Shizune "What do you think? I'm gonna have to get another loan." Tsunade replied bluntly as she stumbled along.
Shizune sighed. "You can't keep borrowing money then skipping over to the next town. You already have more then your share of debt, why add more?"
"Because were going to hit it big Shizune, our luck is going to change I promise." Tsunade says as she realized they had made it to their destination. "Why don't you wait here for a bit Shizune? This will only take a minute." Tsunade says as she entered a rather shady looking business.
"Oh Tonton what are we going to do about her?" Shizune asked the small pig in her arms.
A moment later Tsunade reemerged out of the building with a brand new suitcase, that Shizune could only guess was filled to the brim with cash.
"Alright Shizune on to the next, casino!" Tsunade shouts before taking off in a sprint.
"Lady Tsuande! You mustn't lose that money!" Shizune shouted as she took off after her drunken mentor.
Tsunade was grinning fiercely as she sprinted down the crowed street. The craps table was calling her name, and she was ready to rake in the candy. She was suddenly reminded of her surroundings when she ran smack dead into something, and she was knocked to her rear.
"What da…" Tsuande grumbled as she noticed that she had knocked over three small kids. Brown eyes met blue and for the briefest second she was reminded of someone, quickly casting the thoughts aside she glared menacingly at the three boys. "Why don't you watch were you going you little brats!?" She hissed as she noticed a small frog purse on the ground "looks like it's my lucky day after all." Tsunade says as she picked up the frog purse and took off just as fast as before.
"The hell, give me back my money!" one of the boys shouted before he stood up and took off after Tsunade.
A moment later Shizune had made it to where two of the boys where still sitting on the ground with bewildered expressions on their faces. "Oh I'm so sorry please forgive Lady Tsunade, she's just a bit anxious right now." Shizune says while helping lift the two boys to their feet. "There no harm done" Shizune says as she took off in pursuit of Tsunade.
"Should we follow them Haku?" Kimimaro asked.
"Yes, we don't want to end up separated." Haku answered before he and Kimimaro took off after Naruto.
After a few minutes of chasing Naruto had managed to catch up to Tsunade. Not wasting any time he lunged for her and wrapped his arms around her waist and dragged her to the ground.
"Damn you gaki, what the hell is your problem!?" Tsunade shouted, with rage evident in her voice.
"My problem is you're trying to make off with my money!" Naruto shouted equally as loud. "Now give it back before I kick your ass!"
Tsunade stared at the furious looking blond still holding on to her. A smile graced her lips before she erupted into a fit of laughter. "You, some fresh little gaki, actually think you can take me on?" Tsunade continued to laugh. "Oh kid, I suggest you go find mommy and daddy before you get hurt."
Naruto became deathly quiet upon hearing this, and a forlorn look crossed his face.
Tsunade even in her drunken stupor managed to catch the pain that flashed in his eyes and she instantly felt terrible about what she had said.
Naruto let go of Tsunade and stood up and started to walk off, but a firm hand was placed on his shoulder. Naruto looked up to see Tsunade staring down at him.
"Look gaki, I'm sorry about what I said. I promise I didn't mean anything by it." Tsunade then reached into her pocket and handed Naruto his wallet back. "And I didn't try to steal your money; I was in such a hurry I just thought someone left it there."
Naruto nodded, as he took back the wallet and stuffed it back into his pocket.
As he was doing this Shizune managed to catch up to them. "Lady Tsunade…" Shizune started but was cut off by Tsunade.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to go and blow away all this money. I think I've found a better use for it." Tsunade then turned to Naruto. "Hey gaki, how about I treat you and those other two kids I knocked over to some dinner?"
Shizune's eyes widened "Lady Tsunade you're actually being generous."
Tsunade shot Shizune a dangerous glare, instantly silencing her assistant. "It's at least I can do, for knocking the gaki's over."
Naruto face lit up like a Christmas tree at the invitation.
(Later)
Naruto, Haku, and Kimimaro found themselves seated at a luxury restaurant, much to their embarrassment. Everyone else in the fancy restaurant were dressed in fine clothing, but here they were dressed in their tattered dirty old clothes.
When the waiter arrived he handed everyone a menu. Naruto looked at it for a second, before he decided it would be simpler to just ask for what he wanted. "Hey old man do you got any ramen?" Naruto questioned with a wistful look.
"I'm sorry we don't carry ramen on our menu." The waiter said apologetically.
Haku sighed in relief, though he was thankful for Naruto being willing to share his cupped ramen with him and Kimimaro. There just was only so much ramen a person could eat before they became sick of the stuff.
"Awe man" Naruto whined.
"Oh quiet down gaki, I'm sure there's something else you could find on the menu." Tsunade scolded.
"You know we do have names" Naruto grumbled. Before he went back to scanning over the menu. "You don't have to keep calling us gaki's" he added.
Tsunade's eyebrow twitched "Fine what's your names?"
"Bout time you asked." Naruto says with a foxy grin. He then pointed to his left "This here's Kimimaro Kaguya."
Tsunade cocked her eyebrow 'A Kaguya? I've never actually seen one up close before. From what I've heard their incrediblely savage and blood thirty, but this gaki seems cool and calm. And they usually keep to their own clan, what could this one be doing so far away from home?" she pondered.
Naruto continued "and that's Haku Fuyu, and just incase you were wondering he's a boy."
Tsunade and Shizune both chuckled a bit at that. "What makes you think we thought Haku-kun was a girl?" Shizune questioned.
Naruto shrugged, "Well that was the first thing I thought when I met him. Anyway and last but no but not least I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" Naruto boasted loudly with a bit of haughtiness in his voice.
Both Tsunade's and Shizune's eyes widened at this. 'He's the nine-tailed brat? But what is he doing outside the leaf village?' Tsunade thought while observing Naruto carefully.
Shizune cut in at this point. "I'm Shizune, and the cranky woman to my left is Lady Tsunade." Shizune says giving them a quick introduction.
Tsunade frowned at being referred to as cranky, but let it pass. She had more important matters to attend to like finding out why the nine tailed Jinchuuriki was out and about wandering around. "Hey gak…. I mean Naruto; tell me where do you live?" Tsunade questioned even though she already knew the answer.
"I live in Konoha." Naruto replied plainly before he showed the waiter what he wanted on the menu.
"Really?" Tsunade questioned pretending to be surprised. "So what brings you all the way out here, you're pretty far away from home."
"I just needed to get some training done; I'm going to be Hokage it's my dream after all." Naruto says with absolute confidence.
Tsunade suddenly lost her ability to speak after hearing this from Naruto. The way he had said it was frighteningly familiar to how her little brother had once proclaimed his dream was to become Hokage.
"That's quite the dream you have Naruto-kun, I hope you succeed in your endeavor." Shizune added.
"Tell me why is it you want to become Hokage?" Tsunade interjected
"Acknowledgment" Naruto answered dryly. "I want the village to see they were wrong about me."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. "Why would you subject yourself to that just because you want a few fools to pay attention to you?" Naruto looked confused at what Tsunade said. "If you want to become Hokage, you need a better reason for it then that."
"Like what?" Naruto questioned obviously confused.
"What I mean is why worry about protecting a bunch of ingrates that don't give a damn about you. If they won't acknowledge you that's there lost, that's the way I see it. You should focus on the people that are already there for you." Tsunade replied with a bit anger in her voice.
"But I don't have anyone like that" Naruto countered. Then his mind drifted to the Hokage. 'The old man has always been there for me; he gave me my apartment and talks with me, and even takes me out for ramen so I guess that's one. Then there's Hinata she actually said she would miss me and wants me to return, so that makes two. And even Iruka-sensei is pretty nice to me; he actually teaches me some stuff. And plus there's Haku and Kimimaro now.' Naruto conclude, before he flashed Tsunade a toothy grin. "I think you're right I've been wasting my time and ignoring what's been in front of me the whole time."
Tsunade smiled approvingly. "Now that's a better way of thinking." Tsunade says while grabbing one of the appetizers.
"Um Naruto-kun when do you think you'll be returning to the leaf village?" Shizune asked curiously.
Naruto rubbed his head bashfully. "Well you see we were actually on our way back but we got kind of lost hehe."
Haku and Kimimaro both had raised eyebrows being lost was certainly news to them.
"Where lost?" Haku questioned "for how long have we been?"
Naruto grinned "about a day or two" he whispered the last part. But Haku managed to catch it.
"We've been walking aimlessly for two days?" Haku says obviously surprised. While Kimimaro just appeared indifferent about the situation.
"Its fine" Shizune cut in "we can point you back in the right direction."
Naruto looked relieved at the news.
"Shizune" Tsunade stated sternly. "We can't let these kids travel completely alone. There barely old enough to be academy students."
Shizune's eyes widened. "You don't mean?"
Tsunade had on the rarest of grins on her face. "That's right, I think it's about time we gave our old home a little visit."
(Meanwhile)
Kakashi was perched on a tree branch just outside of Kusagakure. "Well?" he questioned his nin dog.
"There's no mistaking it, he's definitely in there." Pakkun answered before he went back to sniffing the air. "And he's accompanied with a few other people" Pakkun added.
Kakashi nodded "thanks for your assistance Pakkun I'll handle it from here."
Pakkun merely shrugged before he dispelled himself. While Kakashi launched himself form the tree branch and took off towards his destination.
Well there's chapter three sorry if it was on the short side. But I'm a procrastinator and waited to the last minute to write this so forgive me. Another note the reason I made Tsunade so susceptible to returning back to the village unlike cannon Tsunade was because, her hatred for the village hasn't festered as much as it has in the cannon universe at this point since it's five years before Naruto met her in cannon. Also she doesn't have Orochimaru's proposition waiting on her mind. Anyway I hope you're looking forward to the next chapter, because they'll be returning back to the village during it. And you'll get to see what Tsunade has in store for Naruto, Haku, and Kimimaro. So as always please review, and until next time later.