(Welcome to the next chapter.)
Jiraiya, Naruto, Hun, and the Foot Ninja had been traveling for a week so far in search for Tsunade. Jiraiya was currently in a town getting information on Tsunade's, while outside the town Naruto was working on Rasengan at the second step, Hun was secretly catching up on his reading with Jiraiya's book, and the Foot Ninja kept themselves hidden until they were summoned by Naruto, "Wonderful progress master. According to Jiraiya it took your father three years to perfect that Jutsu." Hun noted while holding his book close.
"Arigato Hun, plus with Kage Bunshins training is much easier," Naruto replied as he made the rubber ball he was working with burst, "Yeah! I did it!"
"Congratulations master." Hun applauded Naruto.
They saw Jiraiya approaching, "Ero-sennin I completed the second step!" Naruto called.
Jiraiya smirked, "So you did."
"So now can I learn step three?" Naruto asked.
"Not just yet Naruto, we need to get a move on."
"What's going on?" Hun asked.
"I just got a new lead on Tsunade. She was last seen in Tanzaku Town." Jiraiya explained.
"We better get going then!" Hun says as he puts his book away and got up along with the Foot clan ready to follow.
Two days later, they arrived in Tanzaku Town. During that time Naruto was still practicing the third step, but hadn't perfected it yet. Then one night they stopped outside a bar, "It's been two days and we've found nothing." Hun sighed.
"Relax Hun, there's no way she'd take off that quickly. We'll just start tomorrow," Jiraiya said as they entered a bar. Jiraiya stopped and glanced seeing two women in a booth, a black haired woman and a blonde haired woman with an incredible bust. Jiraiya shouted which surprised Naruto and Hun, "Tsunade!"
The blonde busty woman shot up, "Jiraiya?! What're you doing here?"
"I've been looking for you." He answered while going over.
Naruto and Hun were still in shock from Jiraiya's outburst, as Naruto studied her appearance, 'So she's the third Sannin?' he thought as he glanced at her impressive rack blushing but shook it off remembering Ino.
Soon they joined the ladies in their booth as Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hun shared sake while Naruto and was kicking back. Hun between sips of sake, was taking glances at Shizune who noticed Hun, who quickly looked away, "Today's been on reunion after another." Tsunade muttered to herself.
"So you mean Orochimaru to?" Jiraiya asked suspiciously, "What happened?"
"Nothing, we said hello and he left." Tsunade replied while everyone knew it couldn't have been just that, "So why'd you come looking for me?"
Jiraiya looked serious, "I assume you've heard what happened to Konoha? And they've decided they want you to be the Godaime Hokage," This got shocked looks on Tsunade, Shizune, and even the pig named Tonton, "I also assume you know what became of sensei." He added.
"Yeah the old man unfortunately finally bit the dust." Tsunade replied like it meant nothing.
"Watch your tongue," Naruto began, "That old man fought hard to protect the village that you ended up leaving."
Tsunade looked aside to him, "So who's this brat you got with you, and the big guy?"
Jiraiya smirked, "I'd like to introduce you to Naruto Uzumaki."
Tsunade looked surprised yet again, 'This kid is the Kyubi's vessel?' she thought before turning to Hun, "So what about you?"
"Well Tsunade-sama," Hun began as he showed her and Shizune his tattoo, "My name is Hun; the leader of the Purple Dragon clan."
Shizune and Tsunade looked at him, "So the leader of that clan, are you?" Tsunade asked.
"Hai," Hun bowed his head in respect, "I am here on order of my new master." He motioned to Naruto.
"You're his master?" Tsunade asked Naruto finding that hard to believe.
"That's because I am much more than Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto started as he put on his helmet, "I am also known as the Shredder." He declared but not loudly for everyone in the bar to hear.
Needless to say that left the two ladies in surprise, who suddenly got a look at Naruto's armor, "The Shredder, as in Oroku Saki?" Shizune asked.
"Yes. I had discovered his temple beneath the village years ago," Naruto began speaking to them, "I studied long and hard about the Foot clan style of ninjitsu, and made it my goal to become the new Shredder and raise a new army of Foot Ninja."
"I see." Tsunade replied but didn't look at all interested in his plans.
"Back to the point Tsunade, what's your answer?" Jiraiya asked his old teammate.
Tsunade appeared to think hard about it, but had the answer the moment Jiraiya asked, "No thanks."
Naruto looked outraged, "Why give up the position, I would kill to be a village leader."
Tsunade looked at Naruto, "Sorry kid. The Hokage position is for fools."
Naruto snapped and shot out of his seat, "Watch your mouth woman. Your sensei the Sandaime's a hero of the village, not to mention my own father for protecting it years ago!"
"Well being a hero didn't keep your dad from dying young." Tsunade replied bluntly.
Naruto lunged for her, "I WILL NOT STAND FOR YOUR INSOLENCE!"
Hun quickly restrained Naruto from behind, "Please master control yourself."
"Besides you're starting a scene." Jiraiya added feeling embarrassed.
"I do not care!" Naruto stopped struggling but glared at Tsunade, "I'm not gonna let her sit there and talk down upon the Sandaime and my father! I'll make her rue the day she messed with me!"
Tsunade smirked seeing how serious he's taking this, so she got into Naruto's face. "All right then let's take this outside."
"Oh no." Shizune feared for the worse.
Naruto stared Tsunade in the eye, while squinting his own eyes beneath his helmet, "Lead the way." he ordered.
They exited the bar with Jiraiya, Shizune, and Hun on the sidelines. While Tsunade and Naruto stare each other down from opposite sides in the street, "One of the legendary Sannin taking on a genin? I feel ashamed." Tsunade said confidently.
"You will be ashamed for underestimating me!" Naruto frowned as he snapped his fingers, summoning his Foot ninja to wait on the side.
"So this is your army of Foot ninja?" Tsunade asked.
"For now at least. I aim to find more recruits." Naruto replied.
"You might as well not bother." Tsunade replied.
"What was that?" Naruto asked irritated by that.
"You may talk a big game, but compared to me and my teammate you're just a boy in a playsuit trying to make a difference." Tsunade mocked him.
Naruto's eyes tightened more under his helmet, "You dare talk down upon me like that?"
Tsunade held out her index finger, "One finger's all I need."
Naruto frowned as he threw the sword of Tengu aside not wanting to use it, "Do not underestimate the might of the Shredder!" he ran towards Tsunade.
Tsunade looked confident as Naruto reached her, but Tsunade flipped her arm up knocking his helmet off his head. When Naruto looked straight at her she had her fingers in a flicking position to his forehead, and with one flick he was sent skidding backwards onto the ground, and his helmet landed on the ground beside him, "Master!" Hun called as he and the Foot ninja rushed over to him, "Are you ok?"
"Yes, ugh!" Naruto rubs his forehead and looks at his reflection on his armor seeing a small bruise on his forehead, "That hurt."
"Hey kid!" Tsunade called getting his attention, "I got one question for ya, why're you so touchy about the Hokage title?"
Naruto reluctantly answered, "Because being a leader is something I strive for. I aim to one day start a village of my own where the Foot ninja can operate and lead other lives! It's my dream!" Naruto replied.
Tsunade looked taken aback by that exclaim, as a pool of memories were rushing back to her about her loved ones. Naruto spotting her dropping her guard smirked, 'Now's my chance!' He thought while conjuring a Rasengan in his palm.
"He's gonna use it." Hun gasped with the Foot ninja.
"Let's see how it's coming along." Jiraiya said eager to see.
Tsunade snapped out of it seeing Naruto coming right for her, "You're finished!" Naruto shoved it forward.
Tsunade quickly slammed her fist down on the street causing a fissure and Naruto fell down along with his Rasengan blowing up, "Whoa!" the Foot ninja gasped.
"Tsunade's as strong as ever." Jiraiya noted.
Naruto groaned as he collected his helmet and his sword. Tsunade turned to Jiraiya, "Have you been teaching him Rasengan?"
"Well duh he's my student." Jiraiya answered like it was obvious.
"Well that was a pathetic display." Tsunade replied.
"Hey!" Naruto called hearing that, "I know it's not perfect yet, but I've come this far in a week since I started. I'll have it down in about three days give or take!"
Tsunade smirked, "All right then how about a little bet?"
"A bet?" Naruto raised an eyebrow while his ninja listened.
"I'll give you one week, if you can master that Jutsu, I'll admit I'm wrong, and come back with you to Konoha," She then motioned to a green crystal hanging around her neck. "I'll even throw in my necklace as a bonus."
"Lady Tsunade please tell me you're joking?" Shizune asked seriously.
"Putting your Gramps necklace in this bet, you really are confident," Naruto added until he realized something, "So what do you hope to gain out of this bet?"
"Well you admit you were wrong and I was right. And I get all the money here." She holds up a black leather wallet.
"My wallet!" Naruto protested, "Oh forget it, mom still has plenty of savings."
"You know of your mother to?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, she's alive you know," Naruto said getting shocked expressions from the two ladies, "Some decrepit old fossil named Danzo lied to her saying I died alongside my father thirteen years ago. She ran away from the village heartbroken, while that miserable relic lied to the Sandaime and everyone else that she committed suicide!"
Tsunade and Shizune felt shaken up from hearing that unable to stand that Konoha had another traitor that was right under their noses. "All right woman, consider the bet on!"
Tsunade smirked, "Let's go Shizune." Shizune followed her in concern.
"Well that coulda gone better." Hun told the Foot ninja who nodded.
Jiraiya turned to Hun, "Take him back to the hotel. I'll be there later."
"Yes sir," Hun nodded as he helped his master along back to their hotel.
At their hotel in the room, Naruto was out of his Shredder armor and was in his Foot robe, while pacing around trying to figure out how to perfect Rasengan, "I got a week to work on perfecting my Rasengan. What to do, what to do."
Hun watched his master work hard on trying to find a solution until they heard knocking on their door, "Coming," Naruto said as he opened the door revealing Shizune, "Oh Shizune?"
"I really need to talk to you." Shizune began.
"I have to get some sleep, tomorrow I have to get to work." Naruto said in irritation.
"That's just it. About Tsunade..." Shizune started.
"You've got nothing to say. I already know." Naruto cut her off.
"You what?"
"Ero-sennin told me and Hun everything about her brother and lover, and about the crystal as well."
"Then why're you going along with her bet?" Shizune asked in confusion.
"It's simple. I'm going to snap her out of it." He answered.
"Snap her out of it?" Shizune asked in confusion.
"Tsunade is torn by her loved ones deaths, but she needs to learn that they didn't die because of bad luck or a curse. They died because they did what they felt was right for the village and for her," Shizune gasped at Naruto's words of deduction. He continued motioning to Hun, and his ninja, "If these guys were ever in a pickle I'd glady lay my life on the line for them."
Shizune was amazed at how close he was to Hun and his Ninja troops he'd be willing to sacrifice himself just for them she couldn't help but smile thinking how much he's like her uncle Dan, "Well then since I cannot stop you, do what you can."
Naruto smiled and replied, "Arigato," He walked past her heading for the door, "Well I got a week to train and can't waste a minute." He headed out.
Hun got up and hurried to follow his master before looking to Shizune, "You don't mind locking up for us do you?" Hun asked.
"Don't worry, and Hun?" Shizune asked.
"Yes?"
Shizune smirked a little, "Don't think I haven't noticed you taking glances at me."
Hun started to blush and stammered a tad, "I have to go!" Hun took off after his master. Shizune dropped her smirk and sighed knowing Naruto's probably going to be pushing himself past whatever limits he has.
(Chapter done.)