(And here's the next one.)
The next day after the funeral of the fallen ninja of Konoha, everyone was doing there part to rebuilding the village. Naruto woke up in his room stretching, "Time for a shower," Naruto entered his bathroom, removed his robe and goes into his sauna sized shower and turns it on.
Soon he came out all cleaned up and he changed into his Foot Clan robe, before coming downstairs to see Hun and Kushina awaiting his arrival, "Ohayo Master Shredder." Hun greeted him.
"Ohayo Hun." Naruto replied as he took a seat next to his mother.
"How do you feel?" Kushina asked her boy.
"Never been better, why do you ask?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Well you did seem shaken up from what just happened to the village." Kushina reminded him.
"I admit I was a bit surprised and distraught," Naruto admitted, "But Orochimaru has failed in his plan, and we're all safe that's what truly matters."
Naruto was brought out of thought until he heard a knock at his door, so he rushed and answers it revealing to be Jiraiya, "Ero-Sennin?"
"Hey Naruto, can I come in?" he asked.
"Uh, sure." He answered allowing him inside.
Kushina spotted him gasped, "Ohayo Jiraiya."
"And a good morning to you too, Kushina." He answered.
"What brings you here this morning, Jiraiya-sama?" Hun asked.
"Well Homura and Koharu have just given me a new mission, and I want Naruto to join me." He explained.
"A mission, what kind?" Naruto asked.
"I have been asked to find someone to take up the mantle of Godaime Hokage." He answered.
"What?!" the group gasped.
"Who is it?" Kushina asked.
"None other than my old teammate, Tsunade." He answered.
"Tsunade-sama?" Hun gasped in shock.
"One and the same." Jiraiya smirked.
"But Jiraiya, Tsunade left years ago, how do you expect to find her?" Kushina asked in worry.
"Not to worry Kushina, my spy network should be able to find her."
"And you want me to come along with you?" Naruto asked.
"Of course."
"What for?" Naruto asked crossing his arms.
"Well think of it as a type of training mission," Jiraiya began, "I even intend on teaching you your dad's Rasengan while we're looking.
Naruto gasped, "The Rasengan, really?"
"Jiraiya, you mean it?" Kushina gasped.
"I do. So how about it Naruto, do you accept it?" Jiraiya smirked.
"If it's for the village, I shall partake in it. However I wish to bring along Hun and some of my Foot ninja." Naruto requested.
"No problem with that." Jiraiya answered.
"So when do we get started?" Hun asked.
"Right away. Our first stop is Otafuku City."
"Well then we'll get ready." Naruto answered as he went back upstairs to pack.
Kushina turned to Jiraiya, "I hope you know what you're doing Jiraiya. You know Tsunade better than any of us."
"I'm aware of that, Kushina, but I have faith that she'll come around."
Meanwhile in another part of the village, Zabuza and Haku were on patrol until they froze, "Haku, do you feel that?"
"I do, these chakra signatures are almost like yours." Haku answered.
"Agreed, come on!" Zabuza rushed off with Haku following him.
Meanwhile Kakashi was fighting along side Asuma and Kurenai against two more shinobi dressed in black cloaks with red cloud designs. One was Itachi Uchiha; the murderer of the Uchiha clan, and the second was Kisame Hoshigaki, the Scourge of Kiri and wielder of Samehada, "I figured you would come Kakashi, after all only a Sharingan wielder can match the power of another Sharingan wielder," Itachi began, "Unfortunately for you, I am far superior in that category than you are." Kakashi grunted in response.
"Hey!" a voice called as Zabuza and Haku appeared before Kisame.
"What, Zabuza?" Kisame gasped.
"Been a long time Kisame." Zabuza answered.
Kisame smirked, "Far too long indeed. Who's the kid?"
"This is my surrogate son, Haku." Zabuza introduced.
Haku bowed his head without saying a word, "Well sorry, but I don't have time to catch up on old memories. So if you don't mind I have a job to do." Kisame explained.
Zabuza blocked his old teammate with his own sword, "Sorry, but old comrade or not you're trespassing in this village."
"Why would you care?"
"Because this village is my home now." He answered.
"What?!" Kisame gasped spotting the Konoha headband he was now wearing.
Soon, Naruto, Hun, Jiraiya, and some Foot ninja were in the village ready to depart until they looked up seeing water jutsu collide, "Zabuza?" he wondered, "We better check it out, Foot Ninja follow me!" he orders as he and the Foot ninja hurried along with Hun.
"Wait a minute!" Jiraiya called but knew there was no stopping them.
Back with the fighters, Guy had arrived on the scene where Kurenai and Asuma were helping Kakashi who was unconscious while Zabuza and Haku were still defending against Kisame, "Where's the boy called Naruto?" Kisame demanded.
"You called?" a voice asked as they all saw Naruto, his henchmen, and Jiraiya in front making sure they didn't strike.
"You are Naruto, but aren't you?" Kisame wondered about the armor.
"I am Uzumaki Naruto, but I am much more than that now. I am the Shredder ninth generation master of ninjitsu." Naruto explained.
"Our target is the new Shredder?" Kisame turned to Itachi who wasn't expecting this.
"I am just as surprised as you Kisame," Itachi told his partner, "Naruto, me and my partner would like to have a word with you."
"Naruto whatever happens don't listen!" Kurenai called.
"These guys are nothing but trouble!" Asuma added.
"Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, two wanted criminals in the ninja land." Hun explained knowing them from the Bingo Book.
"And you must be Hun; leader of the Purple Dragon Clan." Kisame noticed the tattoo on his arm, and Hun scowled at the scourge of the mist.
Jiraiya looked to Naruto, "Naruto these two are out of your league. They're with the Organization known as Akatsuki."
Naruto understood and made no attempt to fight, knowing full well about these two from reading the Bingo Book, "It seems like we'll have to take you by force." Itachi says until he stops, "Well nice to see you again… Little Brother."
They all look past Itachi seeing Sasuke behind him with his eyes flaring with his Sharingan, "I've waited a long time for this brother. And now I can finally kill you!" he charged a Chidori in his palm and charged his older brother only for the elder to grab his hand and broke his wrist.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called.
Itachi looked down at his brother, "Stupid little brother. You're still the same as you were years ago, and you always will be!"
Naruto frowned beneath his helmet and called to Itachi, "Uchiha elder, release him at once!"
"Stay out of this, Naruto!" Sasuke bellowed, "This is my fight!" he was cut off by Itachi lifting him up by his collar so their eyes met, "Sorry Sasuke, but you're of no interest to me right now." He eyes shifted into a new form and Sasuke screamed before passing out.
"Well now that he's out of the way Itachi, can we finish what we came here for?" Kisame asked in irritation.
"Yes, let's." Itachi replied as everyone was ready.
"Hold it!" a voice called and standing before them was Ibiki, Anko, and Genma.
"Well how nice to see you all again." Itachi greeted them.
"Itachi Uchiha." Ibiki frowned along with Anko and Genma.
"Ooh, not only will we get our target, but we'll get to assassinated Konoha's special Jonin as a bonus." Kisame said with excitement.
"No Kisame, we have to fall back." Itachi commanded.
"What, don't tell you're afraid of these three?" Kisame asked in outrage.
"We wanted to do this quietly without starting a scene!" Itachi jumped into the air and readied his right eye, "Amaterasu!" he shouted and aimed for the ground. In a flash there was a crater in the earth with black fire in it.
"They're gone!" Hun says.
"Let's hope you're right." Naruto replied.
Asuma and Kurenai rested Kakashi against a tree next to Sasuke, and Genma observed them and sighed, "It's no use he used Tsukuyomi."
"This is now all the more reason we have to find Tsunade." Jiraiya explained.
"Because of her healing abilities she should be able to heal Sasuke and Kakashi." Hun added.
"Then we better get going." Naruto said and turned to the Jonin, "Will you all take Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke to the hospital, and see to it that Ino knows of this?"
"I'll do it, Naruto." Zabuza answered.
"Arigato Zabuza." Naruto replied.
"Come on Naruto we better get going." Jiraiya said as he walked off.
Naruto turned to Hun and the Foot, "Hun, Foot ninja, we're heading out."
Hun and the Foot ninja salute as they follow their master. Jiraiya walked with Naruto still in Shredder armor and Hun behind him, while the Foot ninja kept themselves hidden just in case they were needed. Naruto finally spoke, "Ero-Sennin, those two were after Kyubi weren't they?"
"I'm afraid so, Naruto." Jiraiya answered.
"So it's true then," Hun began, "The organization known as the Akatsuki are after the nine bijuu, aren't they Jiraiya-sama?"
"Yes, but as for what reasons I have no idea. My only hunch is to find a way to control its massive power and use it for their own." Jiraiya theorized.
"Then it'll be a problem if we were to ever cross their paths again," Naruto said, "Those two seemed more dangerous than Orochimaru."
Jiraiya nodded as Hun had another question, "Jiraiya-sama, it's been many years since Lady Tsunade has been seen. What were the true reasons behind her leaving Konoha?"
"Well Tsunade really didn't have a happy life," Jiraiya began, "She is in fact the Granddaughter and Grandniece of the Shodaime Hokage and Nidaime Hokage."
"I know that much about her." Hun replied.
"Nice family tree," Naruto admitted, "So what's her story?" Naruto asked.
"Well Tsunade as well as Orochimaru and myself were trained by the Sandaime, and earned the title as the three legendary Sannin," Jiraiya began, "Among her precious people, she adored her little brother Nawaki who also dreamed of one day becoming Hokage. But the day after his twelfth birthday, he died in a war that took place in our village. It was then she proposed to the Old man and the council that a medical core be made in our village to help those wounded in battle. Then she met Dan; a fellow ninja who agreed to her suggestion and wished to be Hokage as well. The two fell in love with each other and hoped they'd be able to make the village better than before, however Dan had died during another war in a bloody manner. With the deaths of the two she loved the most Tsunade came to lose faith in the title of Hokage. So she left the village along with Dan's niece Shizune."
"How tragic to have such rotten luck." Naruto said.
"Well that's a reputation she's famous for having," Jiraiya chuckled, "And also for her colossal strength."
"While I feel bad for what's happened to her, I personally feel that she was just running away from her problems." Naruto replied.
"That's what the old man said as well, but knew she needed to do this." Jiraiya noted.
"Well let's keep moving. This gonna be quite a long search." Naruto said as they continued on.
Meanwhile in an underground base in Oto, Orochimaru was sitting on a chair in the middle of a room with his arms wrapped in bandages. Entering the room was Kabuto now sporting the Oto headband, "Kabuto, I trust you bring good news?" he asked threateningly.
"Yes my Lord, I tracked down Tsunade and discovered her last location was in a place called Tanzaku Town." Kabuto explained.
Orochimaru smirked, "Then let's get going. I want to be able to use my jutsu again."
(And that's the chapter.)