I do not own Naruto Shippuden or any of the characters.
Tsunade
"Hurry," the ANBU said. "We have to find Lord Hokage!"
After another five minutes of combing the trees, they located him. He was lying on the ground, a gaping hole through his stomach and blood pooling around him but still alive. The ANBU rushed forward and began to heal him while rushing him to the nearest Medical Nin. By the time they arrived, he had slipped into a coma. The ANBU all looked around, each silently volunteering another to tell Kushina of her husband's fate.
Naruto opened his eyes and winced, the light above him making his head throb painfully. He looked sideways and saw that his room was packed with all of the others from his Academy class plus his mother, who looked more distraught than she should have been. Naruto tried to sit up but someone held him down. He looked and saw Jiraiya sitting on his other side, also looking worried.
"What happened?" Naruto croaked.
"You beat Gaara," Jiraiya stated. "Without him, the Sand and Sound ninja were defeated."
"No," Naruto groaned forcing himself into a sitting position. "I mean, what happened that has you and mom so upset?"
Jiraiya and Kushina exchanged a surprised look before both stared at the floor.
"Your father...your father fought Orochimaru," Kushina sighed. "He managed to have a clone seal a part of Orochimaru's soul, rendering his arms useless and removing his ability to use jutsu. He had to use the same seal that the Third Hokage died using but he survived because it was a clone. However, the seal still eft him in a coma. His blood loss from a wound Orochimaru didn't exactly help him either but that was healed. No one knows if he will wake up at all."
Naruto stared at her for a moment before nodding and leaning back against the wall. Everyone sensed he wanted to be alone and left. Once they were gone, Naruto buried his head in his arms and sobbed. He didn't cry often. He hated being weak. But he couldn't stop the tears this time. After nearly an hour, he finally managed to stop and dressed himself then left the hospital through his window.
He went to the top of the Hokage Monument, sitting over his father's sculpture and stared out at the village.
"You should be resting," a voice said from behind him.
"So should you," Naruto replied.
"I heard about your father," Sasuke said sympathetically. "I'm sorry."
"I'll tear Orochimaru apart when I find him," Naruto stated. "I'm going to kill him."
"I'll help you do that if you help me find and kill the man that tried to get my clan wiped out," Sasuke stated simply. "His name is Danzo. He was a Konoha Elder before he defected. I fully intend to kill him before this is over."
"You have a deal," Naruto smirked.
Just then, Sakura, Kushina, and Hinata all arrived to take Naruto back to the hospital.
"I'm not going back," Naruto stated.
"Alright," Kushina said. "If you can get up here you don't need to. However, we have no Hokage right now, so we need you to go with Jiraiya to find Tsunade. She' she First Hokage's grand daughter and is among the next in line to be Hokage, since you aren't ready and Asuma refused. There are others, of course, however she was suggested by Jiraiya who knew her best out of anyone."
"You don't sound excited," Naruto commented.
"She's a world renown Medical Nin, probably the best to ever live," Kushina stated. "There's a very good chance that Orochimaru may try to convince her to heal his arms."
"Good," Naruto said standing. "I'll go find her and kill Orochimaru when he comes for her."
"Don't be so sure," Jiraiya said landing beside Kushina. "Even without his arms he's still incredibly dangerous."
"Who's going with us?" Naruto questioned.
"Just the two of us," Jiraiya stated.
Naruto nodded and everyone except Naruto and Hinata left.
"I'm glad you're okay," Hinata smiled. "I was worried."
"I wasn't in any real danger," Naruto lied, smiling reassuringly. "I have a question though, what happened to the ninja that destroyed my clone?"
Hinata's gaze fell and she sighed.
"I was hoping you didn't notice," Hinata sighed. "They tried to kidnap me to take my Byakugan but Neji, Tenten, and a few others saved me."
"They didn't hurt you did they?" Naruto questioned.
"No," Hinata assured him. "I'm okay."
"Good," Naruto smiled. "Sorry, but it think I'm supposed to be meeting Jiraiya at the main gate."
"Good luck Naruto," Hinata smiled. "Be careful."
"I will," Naruto promised.
And with that, he left, heading to his house and packing then meeting Jiraiya at the main gate.
"While we're traveling, I'll help you with that Wind Sword Jutsu and teach you a jutsu that could help you."
"Sure," Naruto smiled. "What is it?"
"It's called Needle Senbon," Jiraiya stated. "I'll show you later. First, I'll teach you to use your Wind Sword jutsu without hurting yourself. Come on, let's get moving."
They travelled until lunch when Naruto spent a few hours learning to control his Wind Sword Jutsu better until he had mastered it. Then they continued moving until night when Jiraiya demonstrated the Needle Senbon Jutsu. Over the next few days, Naruto and Jirayia trained as they traveled. Finally they reached the town Tsunade was supposedly in and Naruto stayed at the hotel while Jiraiya went to find Tsunade. Finally, a Jiraiya clone told Naruto that he had found her and they were waiting at a restaurant. Naruto left and followed the clone to the others then sat beside Jiraiya across from Tsunade.
"It's about time," Tsunade grumbled. "Some ninja you are."
"Fuck you," Naruto replied. "You think you're all tough just because you're the third Legendary Sanin, when, in all reality, you're the one who was always on support role while your friends risked their lives."
"How dare you!" Tsunade shouted. "I fought along side them every time!"
"How many times were you shielded by the two of them?" Naruto questioned making Tsunade find herself at a loss for words. "That' sweat I thought."
"You know, I really hate your attitude," Tsunade growled.
"Right back at you," Naruto sneered. "I'll make you a deal, if I beat you, you return and be Hokage. If you win, I leave you alone."
"Nice try kid," Tsunade smirked. "But I know a set up when I see one. I ain't fighting a kid."
"Yeah, I understand," Naruto sighed. "You're scared you'd lose. A fair fear. I mean, you are what, seventy?"
"You brat!" Tsunade shouted. "Fine, you want a fight, bring it!"
They walked outside and Jiraiya and Shizune followed, Jiraiya grinning and Shizune looking panicked.
"So what's your name kid?" Tsunade questioned. "I want to know what to write on your tombstone."
"Naruto Namikaze," Naruto stated making Tsunade freeze.
"Is that right?" Tsunade nodded. "Fine, let's get this over with."
She held one finger up and then drove it into the ground, fracturing it and sending the crack shooting toward Naruto. Naruto jumped over it throwing a kunai at Tsunade. She caught it then threw it away when she noticed the seal on it. It stuck into the ground twenty feet away from her and Naruto landed beside the crack throwing more. This time, Tsunade simply ran out of the way and allowed the kunai to stick into the ground where they may. After some time, Naruto stopped as Tsunade sprinted forward.
"It's over!" Tsunade shouted.
Naruto jumped, teleporting to one of his kunai and began making hand seals before holding his hands out as Tsunade skidded to a stop.
"Ninja Art, Needle Senbon!" Naruto shouted.
Hair shot out of his head, instantly being replaced and curved in mid air, flying toward Tsunade. Her eyes widened in surprise but before the hair senbon hit her, they softened into normal strands of hair and floated to the ground lazily.
"Damn!" Naruto swore resting his face in his palm for a moment.
"Nice try kid," Tsunade sneered.
She sprinted forward again and again he teleported out of the way, but this time to a seal directly behind her. He caught her by the foot and spun, taking her with him before letting go and throwing her. She landed on her feet and Naruto charged forward, this time with a Rasengan. Just as he jumped to attack her with it, she held her hand up and flicked him on the forehead protector. He flew backward through the air, the Rasengan fizzling out as he did. He crashed into the ground and his forehead protector landed beside him. He sat up but Tsunade placed her foot on his chest and he froze.
"It's over," Tsunade stated. "Had that been an attack, you'd be dead."
"Fine," Naruto growled. "But we still need you to come back to the Village. My father is in a coma after stopping Orochimaru from destroying us."
"I heard," Tsunade stated. "Orochimaru already contacted me. I'm not helping him or you. Find someone else."
"There is no one else," Jiraiya stated. "Naruto May by Minato's son but he's too young and inexperienced to take over as Hokage and no one else had a direct blood right to it."
"Asuma Sarutobi," Tsunade stated.
"He's already said that he doesn't want to be Hokage because he's more useful as a jonin," Jiraiya stated. "Please, Tsunade."
"No," Tsunade said firmly.
"Then give me your grandfather'a necklace," Naruto growled standing. "You still have it right?"
"How do you..." Tsunade began then turned to Jiraiya.
"The necklace can control Jinchuriki," Jiraiya stated. "So yes, I told the Nine-tails' Jinchuriki about it."
"He's...then Minato had Sarutobi seal it...in his own son?" Tsunade gasped. "I'll make you a deal kid. It took Jiraiya exactly three months to develop a variation of that jutsu you tried because he had no more success with the actual jutsu than you did. If you master that jutsu in twenty four hours, I'll give you the necklace."
Naruto nodded and collected his kunai while Jiraiya and Tsunade talked. Then, he left the village to the trees outside to train. After twelve hours, he still hadn't had any success and was out of chakra. Shizune and Jiraiya found him passed out by a tree sitting on a carpet of hair. They took him back to the hotel where Tsunade simply laughed.
"He'll be out for at least a day," Tsunade smirked. "Shame, looks like you lose the bet Brat."
Jiraiya took Naruto back to their room then fell asleep. The next day, Tsunade was gone and Jiraiya left to stop her from helping Orochimaru. Shizune stayed to watch over Naruto but Naruto woke up less than an hour later.
"Naruto!" Shizune gasped. "Tsunade thought you'd be down for a day!"
"One night's sleep and I'm good to go," Naruto smirked. "Where are Tsunade and Jiraiya?"
"Tsunade went to help Orochimaru and Jiraiya went to stop her," Shizune stated.
"She what?" Naruto shouted jumping out the window and taking off at a full sprint in the direction Shizune had pointed. Soon a massive cloud of dust went into the air and he ran toward that, arriving just in time to kick Kabuto away from Tsunade as he was about to kill her.
"The hell were you doing?" Naruto questioned. "He's not that strong is he?"
"He can sever muscles and just about anything else just by touching you," Tsunade warned. "I can heal the injuries but not as fast as he can inflict them."
"Got it," Naruto nodded drawing a pair of kunai. "Shall we?"
Kabuto grinned and sprinted forward and Naruto glanced sideways to see Orochimaru fighting Jirayia. Naruto looked back at Kabuto in time to lean backward out of the way of a swipe from Kabuto. Then Naruto flipped a kunai past Kabuto and teleported to it then spun slashing at Kabuto. Kabuto leaned out of the way but the blade still carved a scratch in his cheek. Naruto leapt away and Kabuto followed and Naruto threw a kunai at Kabuto. Kabuto threw one of his own, blocking it then continued. Naruto knelt spreading seals over the ground and Kabuto stopped, knowing what Naruto was planning.
"Sorry Naruto," Kabuto grinned smashing his fist into the ground and clearing about thirty feet around himself.
"Alright then Kabuto," Naruto sneered. "Come get me."
Naruto slammed his own fist into the ground clearing a massive area around himself connecting him and Kabuto. Kabuto sprinted forward, his hands glowing with chakra. Naruto formed a Rasengan and ducked under Kabuto's hand then slammed the Rasengan into his stomach. It exploded and sent Kabuto flying backward and Naruto leapt out of his crater and saw Orochimaru practically flying at Tsunade.
"Ninja Art, Needle Senbon!" Naruto said forming the hand seals.
Tsunade watched as the hairs shot out of his head and shot through the air before raining down around Orochimaru. He managed to dodge them, somehow, for a moment but the they began burying themselves in him and he slammed into the ground, looking something like a porcupine.
"I win," Naruto grinned before Orochimaru pushed himself up and glared at Naruto. "Good. I was hoping to fight you again."
Naruto summoned his training sword and spread seals and clones around himself and Orochimaru until there were thousands of seals around them. Orochimaru sprinted at Naruto and Naruto sprinted forward then teleported to a seal behind Orochimaru, bisecting then beheading him. Tsunade blinked in surprise and Jiraiya and Naruto both walked over to Tsunade. Kabuto, who had survived the Rasengan, shunshinned away.
"Here," Tsunade sighed tossing the necklace to Naruto. "I'm...sorry, for being a bitch earlier."
"And?" Naruto prompted.
"And I'll do it," Tsunade sighed. "I'll be stand-in Hokage until your father wakes up."
Naruto smiled and nodded and they all returned to the hotel, all failing to notice Orochimaru's body melting away to nothing.
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