CHAPTER 17 RUNAWAYS
It took Naruto and his group two days to reach the leaf village from Tanzaku town. Naruto was fuming as they reached the gate.
"Seriously two days I could of made that trip in a day." Naruto ranted.
"Oh shut it." Jiraiya shot back
"How about showing a little respect we are two of the legendary Sanin." Tsunade added
"I show respect to the person who earns it not a title, and from what I've seen so far you're old and slow." Naruto shot back getting Tsunade to start to fume before Jiraiya had to jump in before they started to throw fists.
"Alright Tsunade how about you head over to the hospital I'm sure there are a lot of people who could still use yours and Shizuna's help from the attack." Jiraiya cut in
"You're right I'll head over there." Tsunade said calming down
"Right then we will head to the council and tell them the mission is complete." Jiraiya said as they went their separate ways.
"The council had better give me what's due me." Naruto replied
"Don't worry you have the contract don't you." Jiraiya asked
"Right here." Naruto said holding it up as they walked down the road
Naruto along with Jiraiya stood in front of the council head for debriefing them on the mission
"Very well Jiraiya good work." Hiashi said "however I don't know why you brought that thing along." He adds gesturing toward Naruto.
"Because you hired me to go along with him." Naruto said
"We would never do such a thing." Hiashi replies
"Then what is this?" Naruto says holding up the contact and tossing it at Hiashi who opened it and looked it over.
"An obvious forgery." Hiashi replies
"Really now?" Naruto says looking over at Jiraiya with absolute rage. "The fuck is going on old perv?!"
"That's low even for you Hiashi." Jiraiya said with anger "I watched you sign that myself."
"Sorry but this isn't my signature." Hiashi replied tossing the contract back at him.
"Should of known never to trust the leaf." Naruto spat "Full of nothing but cut throats and honor less pigs, find better people among the criminals of the demon islands at least they keep their word." He said as he turned around and stormed out of the council chambers
"That was dirty Hyuga." Jiraiya says with spite
"I did what I must for the village the Namikaze power must not be lost." Hiashi replies
"You and I both know those scrolls are useless to the village only someone with Namikaze blood can open them." Jiraiya says
"Better no one has them then the leaf loses them. So they will remain in the Hokage vault forever." Hiashi replies
"And you wonder why I stay away from the village." Jiraiya says as he walks away
'Interesting' says a shadow to himself 'Big brother and the old perv have more in common than he thinks, and now I know where the scrolls are.' The shadow thinks as it leaves as well.
Naruto sat at his favorite ramen bar devouring his sixth bowl of ramen with frustration.
"I don't understand why you didn't kill that rotten bastard where he stood." Kurama asked with anger.
'It would of only caused trouble for us later on.' Naruto replied
"Still he fucked us again most people don't live long enough to do it a second time with us." Fox said "You were the only human I respected, but it seems you're getting soft on me." He finished as Kuza appeared out of a shadow, next to his master.
"You finish your job?" Naruto asked
"Yes brother." Kuza responded
"Wait what job?" Kurama asked
'Oh sorry I only tell people who respect me my plans.' Naruto replied
"Oh what the fuck, stop with the games and tell me what is going on." Kurama replied
'I had Kuza stay back after I stormed out and do a little 'recon' to find the scrolls cause I knew they would never give them to me willingly.' Naruto replied
"So we're going to steal them right out from under their nose." Kurama said with a wicked smile "alright I take back what I said respect and faith has been restored in you. But Hiashi will have to pay for treachery."
'Yeah just got to find a way to hit him where it counts.' Naruto thought when someone came up behind him
"Alright Fox you will go on a date with me." Came a female voice from behind him.
"Didn't we already go through this the last month?" Naruto sighed
"You know you could always deflower his daughter in a public way or record it and send it to him." Kurama suggested with an evil perverted grin
'No I won't exploit someone through sexual means you know that.' Naruto said
"Who's exploiting? You're consenting she's consenting just do it in a public area or record it and if it happens to get to her father so be it." Kurama shrugged
'No and that's final.' Naruto said
"Why not I am the best girl in the village and have the most honorable name." Hinata argued
"Hahaha honorable name that's funny especially after dad just fucked me over by going back on his word." Naruto said
"He would never do that." Hinata said trying to defend her father and name
"Believe it…" Naruto began but his head snapped to the side
"How many times do I have to say it never do that stupid saying again." Kurama spat in his head
'The fuck man I was using it in a sentence.' Naruto shot back
"Whatever never even put those two words together again you've lost that right, as well as that other stupid ass saying" Kurama said
'What dat ah bo…' he began but was cut off by another surge of chakra snapping his head to the side.
"Yes that one." Kurama shot back
'Fine.' Naruto sighed to him looking up and seeing Hinata was still talking to him while he was having his own conversation.
"… And my father never backs out of a deal." Hinata said crossing her arms over her chest
"Sorry missed that entire speech, but you don't need to repeat it. I'll just tune it out again any way." Naruto said as he got up and paid for his lunch and walked off followed by a fuming Hinata still try to get him to go out with her and arguing about her father.
Sakura stood next to Sasuke's bed; he had been sitting up ever since Tsunade had finished healing him. She hadn't found anything physically wrong with him just chakra exhaustion but the mental scaring was something she couldn't treat.
"Well Sasuke kun looks like you'll be able to leave the hospital today according to Lady Tsunade." Sakura said with a smile trying to cheer him up. But his mind was elsewhere.
'How? How am I still nowhere near his strength? I haven't improved at all.' He wallowed to himself while Sakura babbled on trying to cheer him up. He took a look out the window and saw Naruto walking by the hospital being followed by Hinata who was right in his face trying to talk to him but he was simply ignoring it.
After a few moments Sakura noticed that Sasuke was looking out the window and looked down to see Naruto as well with Hinata.
'What is he still doing here I thought he would be long gone by now.' Sakura thought to herself as she watched how close Hinata was to Naruto not to the fact he was ignoring her.
"Yeah and what is that Hyuga bitch doing around our Fox?" Inner yelled in her mind
'He isn't ours Sasuke is.' Sakura argued
"Yeah sure whatever but always good to have a backup plan and she is getting in the way of mine." Inner screeched.
"I have to go." Sasuke said as he got up out of the bed and headed out the room.
"Sasuke kun wait up." Sakura whined as she followed him.
"Damn't Fox I demand you go out with me." Hinata screeched
"No matter how many times you ask or how annoyingly you ask I won't, and if you keep annoying me that no may come with not just emotional pain but physical as well." Naruto replied
"I'm a Hyuga like you could even touch me." Hinata replied with arrogance.
"Wanta bet?" Naruto asked seeing his opportunity to get her away from him.
"What you have in mind?" she asked with an evil grin.
"Sorry but he is fighting me." Came Sasuke's voice cutting in.
"Stay out of this Uchiha." Hinata demanded
"Sasuke stop this you just got out of the hospital you shouldn't be getting into fights so quickly." Sakura begged.
"I would heed the pinkies words teme. I ain't in the mood to deal with you right now." Naruto said
"If I beat you that will prove I can beat my brother." Sasuke said
"Haha, oh that is cute." Naruto laughed "If you can beat me you can beat your brother? Hell I have only laid a hand on him once in our fights!"
"Wait you know my brother?" Sasuke asked in shock "What? How? Tell me everything you know about him." He demanded
'Shit wasn't supposed to tell him that.' Naruto scolded himself
"Well we both fight on the wrong side of the law so we have run into each other and crossed blades before." Naruto said trying to cover.
"There's more I know it. I will beat it out of you." Sasuke said
'Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.' Naruto thought
"Well maybe I do maybe I don't tell you what you beat me I'll tell you everything I know about your brother and she gets a date with me." Naruto said pointing over at Hinata who's eyes light up with excitement. "If I win you both leave me the hell alone, deal?" he asked looking at the two of them who looked at each other and nodded.
"You will never be able to take down one of the best clans in the village I accept." Hinata said "You better not screw this up Uchiha." Hinata spat.
"Good meet at training area 9 and we will have our match." Naruto said as he jumped away with Kuza at his heels, followed shortly by the rest of them.
Naruto along with the rest of the leaf ninja landed at the training area, where Naruto jumped to one side of the area and got into a fighting position.
"Ready anything goes jutsu hand to hand weapons, first to draw blood or knock out wins." Naruto said.
"Very well." Sasuke said as he walked on to the training area with him.
'Oh no I want Sasuke to win but I don't want Fox to…' Sakura thought to herself
"Go on a date with her?" Inner said with venom
'Yeah.' Sakura replied
"So it's simple kick his ass Fox. So that Uchiha who's boss." Inner shouted
'No don't do that Sasuke is our teammate and true love we can't root against him.' Sakura shot back.
"Ready whenever you are." Naruto said as Sasuke shot straight at him drawing out a kunai
Naruto jumped to the side avoiding the slash with ease.
"Come on gotta be faster than that." Naruto taunted getting Sasuke to get angry and charge at him again to be easily dodged.
They continued this for awhile Sasuke charging Naruto dodging with ease and then taunting Sasuke even more making him even angrier.
"That's it I'm done playing around." Sasuke said as he ran through hand signs and his hand started to spark. "CHIDORI!" he yelled out as he charged at Naruto.
"Fine you want to play that game let's play." Naruto said as a black orb started to form in his hands.
"The bijuu dama seems a bit much for just this kid doesn't it?" Kurama asked
'It ain't full power only as strong as that rasengan the old perv showed us.' Naruto replied as he charged forward and met Sasuke head on slamming his jutsu into Sasuke's, they were at a stale mate for a moment then Naruto's started to push forward.
'No impossible.' Sasuke thought as his Chidori blew up and along with Naruto's Bijuu Dama. Sasuke got thrown across the training area skipping across the ground.
"I believe that is my win." Naruto said as he saw blood dripping down Sasuke's forehead.
"No you can't beat me there is no way." Sasuke argues
"Face it you lost first to draw blood wins and you got it flowing down your face." Naruto says as he turns around to leave. "Now both you and the Hyuga girl leave me alone there are things I need to take care of."
"I can't believe you lost to a half rate mercenary." Hinata scolded Sasuke
"Don't forget you wanted a date with this 'half rate mercenary' and I am an A rank merc thank you very much" Naruto shot back as he continued to walk away.
"No impossible I won't let this dishonor stand." Sasuke yells as he charges up another Chidori and charges at Naruto. But just before impact something grabs his hand stopping him. Looking up he sees Kakashi holding his wrist looking pissed at him.
"Sasuke I'm ashamed of you attacking an opponent who's already won the match and has his back turned." Kakashi say's
"Let me go Kakashi I have to beat him." Sasuke yells
"You still would of lost but more than you think" Naruto says looking back and nodding for him to look down.
Sasuke looks down and sees Naruto's sword at his gut mere millimeters away from impaling him.
"You should thank your sensei he just saved your miserable life." Naruto said as he swung his sword back up into its sheath and walked away, leaving Team seven and Hinata alone with Kakashi who was staring daggers at Sasuke.
"Little whelp attacking us with our back turned and he calls us honor less you should of finished him off for that doesn't matter if that one eyed scare crow stopped him." Kurama yelled in his head
'No we still have things to do here and killing him would only cause the village to run us out of here again.' Naruto said
"Very well he lives for now." Kurama sighed calming down seeing his logic "so what is the plan?" Kurama asked
'We steal my father and mothers' family scrolls tonight and get the hell out of here.' Naruto said
"Short simple straight to the point I like it. Only thing it needs is some destruction." Kurama said
'Well I could always strap a bomb to the vault door and blow it after we get the scrolls for shits and giggles.' Naruto replied
"And now it is a perfect plan.' Kurama smiled
Later that day while the sun was going down Sakura walked around the village deep in thought.
'I can't believe Sasuke would attack someone whose back was turned like that when it was just a sparring match.' She said to herself
"And to do it against our beloved Fox kun." Inner added
'No he isn't our 'beloved' Sasuke is.' Sakura argued
"He just attacked someone who had his back turned, all because he beat him in a spar. If that doesn't say asshole I don't know what does." Inner complained
'Well Fox shouldn't of provoked him.' Sakura tried to defend him.
"How? Sasuke started that fight and got his ass handed to him for it. If anyone was provoked it was Fox kun." Inner argued
'Stop calling him that we don't like him.' Sakura yelled in her head
"Fox kun Fox kun Fox kuuuuuun." Inner taunted
"Stop it!" She shouted out loud stopping in the middle of the street. She then stopped and looked around to make sure no one had seen or heard her little break down
'Oh thank god no one saw that.' Sakura sighed as she looked around and saw Sasuke walking down one of the roads.
"Why is he out here at this time?" inner asked
'Who cares.' Sakura said as she started to walk over to him
"Sasuke kun wait up." She called out as she walked over to him
He stopped and didn't even turn around to look at her
"What you doing out here?" she asked happily then she started to get a better look at him he had his backpack on and she realized he was on the road heading out of the village "Sasuke why are you packed and heading toward the gate?" she asked concerned
"I'm leaving." He said flatly
"What?" she asked in shock "where? Why?"
"To get stronger the village is only holding me back." Sasuke said
"What? No the village can help just ask someone for help and we can work this all out." Sakura said
"I already found someone to help me gain the strength I need to avenge my family." Sasuke said.
"What who?" Sakura asked
"Orochimaru." Sasuke said getting Sakura's eyes to bulge in shock
"No way you can't go to him he…" she begins to argue but is silenced as Sasuke moves behind her faster then she can follow and knocks her out. He sets her down on the nearby bench and then takes off out the gate.
Sakura wakes up and looks around and sees it's the middle of the night.
"What? Where am I?" she says to herself then it hits her "oh no I have to go tell the Hokage." She says out loud as she runs toward the Hokage tower
Tsunade was passed out at her desk from the initial paper work that had built up since the invasion and her taking the seat. She was abruptly woken up as the doors were thrown open.
"Huh what?" she said looking up from her desk with a tired look on her face
"Lady Hokage!" Sakura said in a rush as she burst in.
"What are you doing here… Sakura right?" She asked "and how did you get past my secretary?"
"Ah Lady Hokage you're the only one here." Sakura said a little caught off guard
"What?" Tsunade said confused as she looked at the clock and saw it was the middle of the night. Then she looked back at Sakura with a sigh. "what is so important it can't wait till the morning?" she asked pulling out a bottle of sake and pouring herself a shot and lifting it to her lips
"Sasuke Uchiha has run away from the village to join Orochimaru." Sakura blurted out causing Tsunade to drop her glass and standing up
"Shit! What happened tell me everything." Tsunade demanded so she began to explain about the fight with Fox then how she ran into him in the road and before she could talk him out of it he knocked her out.
"I know if I can talk some sense into him I'll be able to get him to come back to the village." Sakura said
"Very well go gather these people and bring them here and I will get things set up for a retrieval mission." Tsunade said holding out a group of folders
"Yes ma'am" Sakura said with a spark of happiness as she took the files and ran out of the office
'Damn you Orochimaru still after the Sharingan after all these years.' Tsunade sighs as she pours herself another drink and downs it.
Thirty minutes later Sakura stood in front of Tsunade's desk along with Kiba, Neji, Choji, and the newly promoted Shikamaru
"First day as Chunin and get called to the Hokage's office in the middle of the night how troublesome." Shikamaru sighs as he scratches the back of his head.
"Shut it Nara it's too late and am not in the mood to listen to your complaining." Tsunade snaps causing him to snap to attention. "now this evening the last remaining Uchiha ran away from the village to join Orochimaru." She said getting straight to the point getting a shocked look from everyone.
"What Sasuke left the village? He would never do something like that." Kiba said in shock and disbelief.
"He has." Sakura replied "he told me just before he knocked me out and was able to convince him not to." She said as tears began to form in her eyes.
"Now your mission is to get him and bring him back before he leaves the Land of Fire after that you cannot follow and he will be labeled a missing nin." Tsunade explained "so you must bring him back before that by any means necessary. Is that under stood."
"Yes ma'am." The all responded
"Good now Shikamaru since you are the ranking ninja here you will lead the mission." Tsunade ordered
"Yes ma'am" Shikamaru responded
"And Sakura will go with you since she is his teammate and has the best chance of convincing him to return." Tsunade said
"Yes ma'am" they all replied again.
"Good now go bring him back." Tsunade ordered as they all rushed out the door
Later that night just before morning Naruto was sneaking around the village headed toward the Hokages office and the vault that held his parents scrolls.
"Alright Kuza lets do this Kuza." Naruto said as Kuza jumped into his shadow followed by Naruto and they stepped out of the shadows into the Hokage's office "alright good job little brother" Naruto whispered to his comrade.
"God this is to easy." Naruto chuckled to himself
"What's too easy?" came a female voice as a light clicked on showing Tsunade sitting at her desk
"Ah shit. Kuza you said no one would be here this late." Naruto shot at his partner
"No one should be here." Kuza defended himself
"Well obviously you're wrong." Naruto shot back gesturing toward Tsunade
"And please stop arguing with that fox. I already have a headache" Tsunade said rubbing the bridge of her nose
"Hey I earned my pay and your council scammed their way out of our deal." Naruto spat with venom. "And you will not deny me what rightfully belongs to me."
"You mean these?" Tsunade says holding up a pair of scrolls one saying 'Namikaze' and the other 'Uzumaki'
"Yes those, now give them to me or I'll take them by force." Naruto said pulling out his swords and letting a bit of his red chakra seep out
"Under one condition." Tsunade replied
"No more conditions give me what's mine" Naruto seethed
"Last night Uchiha Sasuke ran away from the village to join Orochimaru I want you to go and retrieve him." Tsunade said not flinching at his killing intent
"Haha you really expect me to fall for that twice." Naruto laughed "I go do a job for you and you don't pay up, no not again."
"Here take them." Tsunade says tossing them to him. This caught him off guard as he dropped his fox cloak and caught the scrolls
"Well didn't expect this." Naruto said as he opened one and unsealed one of the scrolls sealed inside and read it and it was legit. "Why would you give this to me so easily?"
"I heard what Hiashi did to you from the old perv he was pissed so I figured you would try to break in to steal them so I was just going to give them to you in the morning any way." Tsunade explained "Then this whole Uchiha incident happened and I was hoping to get you to go get him for the scrolls. But that won't work, so I am asking you to please go retrieve him for me."
"Well you said he is heading toward Orochimaru and the sound village right?" Naruto asked as he put away his scrolls
"Yes he left last night and I sent a team along with his teammate to go try to get him back." Tsunade replied
"And you don't have faith in them?" Naruto asked
"I do but I've seen this before and I know she would go after him with or without my consent, so I sent her. But he is power hungry and he is focused in on his revenge and only that she won't be able to get him to come back." Tsunade said
"And what does this have to do with me?" Naruto asked
"Well since you are a mercenary and can go anywhere and can cross the border as you please without risk to causing a war." Tsunade said
"Ah now I get it I could get him even if he has gotten to sound already." Naruto says with realization
"Right." Tsunade says
"Well sorry but I steer clear of Oto that snake faced bastard is too much even for me as I am so sorry can't help." Naruto said as he walked toward the window "however if I happen to be heading that way later today I might see if I come across the red eyed bastard before he reaches Oto." He said as he stepped out of the window and jumped away.
Tsunade smiled a bit as she watched him leave.
Sasuke had already made it to the border when he heard a voice call out to him.
"Sasuke kun wait!" came Sakura's voice
"What do you want Sakura? Thought I got rid of you already." Sasuke replies
"I'm here to bring you back to the village." Sakura said
"Don't you get it I don't want to be part of that weak village." Sasuke said
"Please it's your home and you have all our friends fighting to bring you home. And you have me." Sakura said sadly as tears began to form in her eyes.
"You don't get it do you I need to get stronger to kill my brother and I won't be able to get that strong enough in the village they will want me to let go of my revenge and I can't do that." Sasuke explained "Also…" he started then he was vanished and was right in front of her with his fist in her gut.
Sakura let out a moan of pain as the air in her lungs was forced then began to choke as he grabbed her by the throat.
"… Why would I want a weakling like you anyway?" Sasuke said "You have no strengths, no noble blood, why would I ever want to restart my clan with such weak blood." As he said this her eyes bulged in shock "Now I might as well do the world a favor get rid of you since you're so weak." He said as he pulled out a kunai and swung it back to finish her off.
Just before he can deal the final blow he lets go of her and jumps back away and lands on the head of the giant statue of Madara on the far side of the river.
Sakura falls to the ground and looks up and just before she blacks out she sees a boy with blonde hair holding two swords and taking a quick look back at her and she sees those demonic eyes that no longer scare her but somehow give her a strange comfort as she passes out.
"So the old hag sent you?" Sasuke said
"You should know by know I don't take orders from that village, I just happened to be in the neighborhood." Naruto says casually as he puts his swords away on his back.
"Then why are you here?" Sasuke demanded "you come to save her again?"
"What? Hell no." Naruto said hesitantly
"I sense hesitation." Kurama replied
'Not now fuzz ball.' Naruto replied
"Then why? Did they put a bounty on my head already and you come to collect?" Sasuke asked
"You want to kill your brother don't you." Naruto said getting Sasuke's attention
"Of course." Sasuke said
"I've come to make a deal with you cause I can help you find him." Naruto said with a fox grin
"What will I have to do?" Sasuke said
Sakura wakes up to find herself in a white room that smells of bleach. She quickly realizes it's the hospital. Just then the door opens and Lady Tsunade along with her parents walk in.
"Oh good you're awake." Tsunade said
"Oh thank Kami you're alright." Her mom said as she ran over to her bed and hugged her.
"Wait what happened?" Sakura asked "Last I remember was Sasuke about to kill me and Fox jumped in and saved me then nothing."
"Well Sasuke is gone and well Fox…" Tsunade started
"Right here." Naruto said as he walked in from the window
"Lady Tsunade I want this criminal arrested." Kizashi demanded
"Strange way of saying thanks for saving his daughter for what… the fourth time?" Naruto asks
"Under what charges?" Tsunade asks
"For stealing the scrolls of the fourth Hokage." Kizashi said
"He didn't steal them I gave them to him as payment for the mission of bringing me back here to take the seat of Hokage. Just like he was supposed be paid." Tsunade said in tone that said she did not want to be argued with.
"Whatever just get out of my daughters room." Kizashi said puffing out his chest and walking over to Naruto trying to seem intimidating
"Listen old man I ain't that little kid you sicked a mob on you don't scare me." Naruto said flatly with intimidation that made the older man take a step back "Also I will go where ever I please and when someone tells what to do when they ain't paying I normally leave them on the ground with something broken." Naruto said as his demonic eyes focused harder on Kizashi making him cower a bit "but I only came here to check and make sure she was alright…"
'What is this sense of relief I feel hearing him say that?' Sakura said to herself
"Call it an old habit of checking up on those I pull from near death." Naruto said as he turned toward the window "And now that, that is out of the way I'm out of here." He says as he jumps out the window
As she watched him leave Sakura softly grabbed her chest. 'Why do I feel this way what is wrong.' She says to herself.
"Well seems everything is alright you can leave the hospital right now if you're up for it" Tsunade said
"Oh alright." Sakura said as she got up and headed to the door followed by her parents "can you guys give me a little time I got a lot to think about." She said as she walked away.
"But…" he mother began but was cut off by Tsunade putting her hand out in front of her
"Give her some time she lost a teammate and just needs a little time to let everything settle in." Tsunade said
"Alright." Her mother sighed
Out side the hospital Naruto was headed toward the gates when he heard a familiar and annoying voice call out to him making him stop.
"Hey Fox wait up." Came the voice as Naruto turned he saw the old perv running toward him
"What do you want ya old perv?" Naruto shot at him
"Well I hear you're headed out of the village?" Jiraiya said
"And what's it to you?" Naruto asked
"Well I was wondering if you'd like a traveling partner for a while?" Jiraiya asked
"Sorry I like working alone." Naruto said turning his back to him
"You know the Akatsuki those guys who attacked us will be back." Jiraiya said
"Yep three years from now." Naruto replied
"What?" Jiraiya asked dumbfounded he already knew "how do you know that?"
"I have just as many contacts as you I'm sure, and shadier ones." Naruto replied
"Then wouldn't you want one of the legendary Sanin to help defend against them?" Jiraiya boasted
"Never been one to be baby sat." Naruto replied
"Fine I was also told you have your father's and mother's scrolls." Jiraiya said
"That is right the old bag tell you that?" Naruto asked already knowing the answer
"Well I did train your dad and knowing him he coded and sealed all of the information and I know how to get past all that." Jiraiya said this got a look of shock from the blonde then a sigh of realization knowing he should of expected that from a seal master.
"Fine I guess I could us your help in deciphering my parents scrolls" he sighed in defeat as the white haired man got a smile of victory on his face.
"Alright don't worry after awhile I'm sure we'll become good friends." Jiraiya said with a laugh
"Doubt it but first let's lay down some ground rules." Naruto said
"Alright seems fair." Jiraiya said
"First I understand you have those perverted books you write." Naruto said getting a mischivious grin from the old man "I don't care that you do that 'research' just not around me."
"Alright I'll try to hold myself back." Jiraiya said
"Two there are a lot of places I'm well respected in the underground. Do not be embarrassing me there alright especially in the demon islands." Naruto said
"Alright and on the demon islands I am always on guard there any way so I won't be doing those embarrassing things." Jiraiya said
"Good and three don't hit on me while I'm using my transformation jutsu to gather intel I cannot stress this one enough." Naruto said
"Fine I'll hold myself back on that one." Jiraiya sighed "but you do make one good looking chick."
"So I've been told." Naruto face palms with a sigh "alright so when will you be ready to head out since I was about to leave it better be soon."
"Give me two hours and I'll be at the gate. Just need to gather somethings up and let as you so elegantly put it 'suger tits' know what's going on" Jiraiya said
"Oh another thing don't report what I'm doing to her, my business is my own let her know I'm traveling with you and what not but not of my work." Naruto said
"Don't worry I am a spy master and I know discretion even if it doesn't seem like it." Jiraiya said
"Alright go do your thing I'll meet you at the gate." Naruto said
"Alright I'll see you there." Jiraiya said as he walked off
Two hours later at the gates Naruto sat at the check in station waiting for the old perv.
"Alright tell me again why you said he could come with us? And why are we waiting for him?" Kurama asked
'Because he is a master of seals and might be able to help teach me a way to free you. Also he knows how to decipher my dad's codes on the family scrolls. I took a look at one and yeah gave me a headache just looking at it.'
"Alright fine I guess we can deal with him for a little while then." Kurama sighed.
'Yeah now we just gotta wait for him.' Naruto said
"Tell me again why he is coming with us?" Kurama asked
'Ok now you're just doing this for attention.' Naruto shot back
"Fox?" came a feminine voice causing Naruto to look up and see Sakura standing in front of him
"And what do you want?" Naruto asked
"Oh nothing I thought you would have left by now." Sakura said
"No just waiting on the old perv he promised to teach me my father's scrolls so I decided to let him tag along." Naruto said "By the way what's up with you seem kind of down."
'Why the hell am I asking how she's doing?' he scolded himself
"I'm just thinking about what happened at the boarder when Sasuke defeated me so easily." Sakura said as she held back tears "maybe I should just give up on being a ninja only reason I became one in the first place was to get his attention, but he considers me weak and doesn't even acknowledge my existence as a ninja. How could he when compared with him and even you who isn't a ninja I could never be like that."
"He's right." Naruto said "you are weak."
"What?" Sakura said whipping her head up with tears pouring down her face at this point.
"I said your weak." Naruto said "but you know what's worse than being weak?"
"What?" she begged
"Surrender, no matter how weak you maybe as long as you fight and not give up you will get stronger than the day before." Naruto said "you think I started at this level?" he asked her getting just a crying face "no I got my ass handed to me more than once… a lot more than once." He sighed the last part so she didn't hear.
"But I never gave up and that is how to become strong. So find someone to look up to and follow and learn from them and their strength will help you to stand up with your own, and don't do it for someone else but for yourself because you'll have to live with who you become in the end." Naruto said
"Thanks Fox I needed that." Sakura said as she wiped the tears from her face and was about to run off
"Hey it's Naruto alright." Naruto said getting her to stop and turn around
"Alright thank you Naruto kun." She said with a blush and ran off.
'Why the hell did I say that?' Naruto said to himself not believing he just got caught up in the moment and said she could call him by his real name 'and did she say Kun?'
'Wait Fox did you have anything to do with this?' he demanded
"No bro that was all you and it was so touching how you cheered her up I bet that whole real name just made her day." Kuramas said mockingly
"So who was that? your girlfriend?" came Jiraiya's voice from behind him in a teasing tone
"What are you twelve?" Naruto asked "let's get moving." He said irritated as he turned and headed out of the village
Jiraiya just smiled to himself 'ah young love in denial. This will go so well with my novels.' He smiled and rubbed his hands together.
Sakura ran away from Naruto with a blush and smile on her face.
'Wait did I just call him Kun?' she asked herself
"Yes you did and I had nothing to do with it so don't even try blaming me." Inner said
'Whatever thanks to him I know what to do.' She smiled as she kept running
Tsunade sat at her desk pouring herself another drink to help herself get through all her paper work when her door slammed open making her drop her glass.
"Damn't don't you know how to knock?" Tsunade asked
"Sorry Lady Tsunade but I came to ask you something." Sakura said out of breath.
"Well get on with it then?" Tsunade demanded
"I wish to be your apprentice." Sakura said with a deep bow getting Tsunade to quirk an eyebrow.
"And why do you want to be my apprentice." Tsunade asked
"While on my last mission I realized I am weak and worthless to any team I may be paired with I need to become stronger so I can be of use and protect those I care about." Sakura said getting the old blonde to give a slight smile
"Very well I will put you through some preliminary test to see if you're worth my time. So come back tomorrow at zero six and I'll see if you got what it takes to be my apprentice." Tsunade smiled "now get out of here I need to finish paper work.
"Yes Ma'am" Sakura said again with a bow.
END CHAPTER 17
A/N
Alright finally getting to shippuuden series so I'm gonna start working on some other fics since this is a good place to break I am not stopping here by any means just might be a while till the next one.