Dairuko's arrival

Dairuko had finally arrived in the village where Tsunade was last seen. It should've taken him a week but time wasn't a luxury he could afford. When he arrived it wasn't long before he found Jiraiya and Naruto, who were checking into an inn.

"Alright, Naruto we still have a couple days before Dairuko arrives, should be enough time to convince Tsunade to come with us." Jiraiya said.

"So what if Pervy Junior shows up?" Naruto said nonchalantly.

"You don't know how Dairuko gets when things involve his sister. He was almost ready to kill Itachi once for hurting Natsuki."

"Whoa, if Pervy Junior can kill Itachi, how strong is he?"

"Stronger than you could imagine." Dairuko stated causing both Jiraiya and Naruto to jump.

"How long have you been there?" Jiraiya asked.

"Long enough... Where's this Tsunade?"

"Dairuko, I don't think you should-"

"Take my bags to my room please." Dairuko told the man at the desk and someone promptly came to fetch the bags.

"Dairuko, are you even listening?"

"Honestly, no... later." Dairuko ran out leaving Jiraiya in the dust and worrying because Dairuko won't accept no for answer right now, and Tsunade is stubborn as hell.

"Ero-sennin, the last room was just taken." Naruto stated.

"Eh? B-but how? We were right here about to take it."

"Yes, well you didn't take anything. Instead you began talking and that young man showed up took it." the clerk said.

"What young man?"

"The man that just left."

"Dairuko." Jiraiya muttered.

Tsunade had decided to get some fresh air to hopefully clear her mind so she would be able to make the right choice when the time comes. She sat there looking at the cursed necklace she wore and remembered the amount of pain it had brought her, when she heard someone call her.

"Oi, Tsunade right?" the voice called out. She looked around but found no one in sight.

"Up here."

Tsunade looked up to see a young man standing upside down on a tree branch, opposite to where she sat.

"Do I owe you money?" she asked and he laughed.

"Don't think so... no, you don't. If you did, I'd remember you."

"Then who are you?"

"My name is Dairuko." he said as he hopped down and walked around to sit with Tsunade.

"What do you want?"

"So many questions... I'm here to bring you to Konoha."

"So you're with Jiraiya and the little brat who's trying to master the Rasengan in a week."

"Whoa, master what in a week? 'Cause you sounded like you said the Rasengan."

"You heard correct."

"Wow! That'll be a new record."

"You actually believe he can do it?"

"Well yeah... sure he's an idiot, but that's why I pull for him. He's too stupid to know when he's outmatched so he'd keep trying until he does it."

"Ignorance is a bliss then, eh?"

"Totally."

"Why should I go back to Konoha and become the Fifth Hokage?"

"I don't particularly care whether or not you become or choose to become the Fifth. I'm here to ask for your help."

"Oh?"

"My sister is going to die without your help."

"How is that my concern?"

"Because you of all people know what it's like to lose someone close to you."

"And that makes you think that I'll just gladly go back to Konoha and heal your sister."

Dairuko sighed "You're right, and I understand why you wouldn't return to Konoha -so many fond memories of those you loved and yet just the fact that they died erases all those good times- believe me, Tsunade-sama I know what it's like to try your best and not be able to save the one you love or constantly think that if you were there, then they'd still be alive."

"Then I guess we both need drinks." without any protest, Dairuko followed Tsunade to the closest bar and got wasted.

"...and that is why I am no longer allowed in the Stone Village."

"I'm almost willing to say you're more perverted than Jiraiya... I mean, sleeping with the Tsuchikage's granddaughter?"

"I reject that statement, he'd have done the same thing if he was offered the same deal I was."

"True enough... you have some of the most interesting stories. You should write about them sometime."

"Maybe... but you beating up Naruto with just your index finger? Classic! Only wish I could've seen it."

"Tell me about your sister, Dairuko."

"My sister? Oh, my sister... Jellybean. Our parents gave her that nickname because of her sweet-tooth especially for jellybeans. She's older than me by about two hours. She's smart, powerful, funny and beautiful... just don't tell her I said that, it'll go straight to her head." Dairuko pointed to his chest.

"She sounds lovely."

"She's the best, despite her evil stares... and evil moments. She has a heart of gold." Dairuko pointed to his head.

"I look forward to meeting her."

"Say what now?"

"I... will help your sister, but I'm not becoming Hokage."

"That wasn't my mission that was Jiraiya's." the two of them laughed and continued to drink until Dairuko passed out.

The next morning Dairuko woke up on the bar counter with a really bad headache and his bill from the previous night. Dairuko stared at the bill until his eyes saw clearly again.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?" Dairuko screamed at the amount he owed. It was so high that his headache disappeared.

After paying the bartender the full amount, it had left him light in the wallet but full of determination to find Tsunade again.

"Sonuva goddamn bitch. She left me with the full bill didn't even pay for what she drank... and also left me in the goddamn bar! Who does that? I mean, she's super strong right? So she should have been able to carry me somewhere instead of just leaving me there." Dairuko continued to mutter to himself when he heard a rumbling in the distance almost like when he punches the ground... 'That doesn't sound good.' Dairuko thought as he ran towards the sound.

Ayame walked to the hospital expecting to see her new friend Itachi with Natsuki again, as he had been for the last couple days without fail, but instead she walked in to the room only to see Natsuki there alone, and sleeping still.

'I wonder where Itachi is?' Ayame thought.

"What's up Ayame-san?" Itachi greeted with an uncharacteristic smile on his face.

"I'm fine Itachi-kun and what about you? Seeing as you're all smiles today." Ayame said a bit suspicious.

"What? I can't be happy?"

"Uhm no, that's not it... exactly."

"Ayame-san?"

"Nani?" Itachi stepped closer to her and took her hand in his. "I-Itachi-kun, what are you doing?"

"Something I should've done a long time ago." he said and pulled her into a hug then pulled out a kunai from his sleeve and was about to stab Ayame in the back but before he could, Ayame bit into his shoulder causing him to scream in pain and release her. "You Bitch!"

Once Ayame was free, she grabbed a chair and held it up, ready to attack if 'Itachi' came any closer to her when the room door opened and two Sound ninja stepped inside. Ayame was surrounded when suddenly the two Sound ninja just fell to the ground and Itachi was standing over their bodies. When 'Itachi' saw the real Itachi he ran toward Natsuki and held the kunai over her.

"I want you think about what you doing right now." Itachi said as he pointed toward his imposter.

"Oh I have th-" the imposter just stopped mid-sentence, a glassy look in his eyes.

"What happened?" Ayame asked.

"I don't need them to look at my eyes to put them under genjutsu."

"Oh."

"How did you know that wasn't me?"

"They never act like you, like, at all."

Suddenly a fourth ninja appeared through the window ready to plunge his kunai into Natsuki's chest when her eyes shot open and she used her cast to deflect the kunai before rolling off the bed and connecting with a right hook and left-backward-swinging-elbow combo, knocking the assailant out the window. She then looked at Itachi and Ayame, shrugged and grinned.

"You miss me?"

Then promptly passed out.