Family Matters
Jiraiya sat in Tsunade's office as they discussed the future of Team 0, as Konoha's mobile team.
"Our alliance with Suna has made Konoha a formidable threat and we need a team out there to combat any sabotage or plots against us or our allies." Tsunade said.
"I understand that, Tsunade but that last mission has caused a rift between my team." Jiraiya argued.
"It can't be helped, Jiraiya. We need a team out there, whether it's Team 0 or ANBU... if you can't get them back to par, I'll have no choice but to disband the team."
"Now hold on just a minute here, Tsunade. You can't disband my team, they're like family to each other; and me, you can't seriously be-"
"I have no choice, Jiraiya. Team 0's only purpose is to combat threats that normal shinobi can't; and when other shinobi won't make it in time, and they can't do that if they cannot function as a team. They should be professional enough to not let petty little issues cause their teamwork to suffer. There is no purpose for them as Konoha's mobile unit otherwise, there's no record that they even exist in the first place."
"Then... What am I?"
"You were a favor, Jiraiya, not a registered sensei or citizen of Konoha."
"You can't do this to us."
"Jiraiya, I have absolutely no choice in the matter."
"Where will they go if you disband them?"
"They'll probably end up in ANBU." at the sound of the word ANBU, Jiraiya abrubtly stood up and walked away, ignoring Tsunade's calls. Jiraiya finally knew what was going on and who was behind this threat to his team.
"Danzo!" Jiraiya exclaimed as he entered the ANBU base and saw the one-armed leader of ANBU.
"What do you want, Jiraiya?" Danzo asked not really caring until he felt a hand turn him around into a powerful right hook, which he narrowly dodged.
"You Bastard! You set my team up!"
"I don't know what you are talking about, Jiraiya. I merely informed the Hokage of the consequences that come with your team."
"This isn't over, Danzo." Jiraiya stated as he marched out.
"No it is not, Jiraiya." Danzo added then went back to planning.
Natsuki walked through the village, she thought she'd clear her mind of Dairuko's betrayal so when they sparred she'd be up to par with her teammates. She stood near the park where she and Dairuko played when they were younger, deep in thouhgt, when a wood dome surrounded her.
"What do you want, Dairuko?" Natsuki spat out his name.
"I wanted to talk to you." Dairuko replied.
"Be quick, I have things to do."
"I wanted to say I'm sorry about what I said... about you not being my sister."
"Don't be. I now know where we stand... to think you could say something like that so easily, to me - who's been there for you, stood by you your whole life, even when a whole village wanted to kill you-" Natsuki said raising her voice.
"It's not like that-"
"You promised me, Dairuko... I tried to be understanding, against my better judgement. I mean... I wont lie, I figured I'd be pretty pissed off when you finally found your folks but I found comfort in the promise you made to me that time." Natsuki was on the verge of tears but held them back, she didn't break promises at least, ""You broke that promise, you son of a bitch!"
Flashback
Natsuki sat by herself on the roof of a building thinking about her new team... and Dairuko. No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, the fact that they both knew he was adopted and probably has another family- if you could call them that seeing as they just left Dairuko with her family- weighed heavy in her heart. A part of her wished that their parents, no, her parents had never told them. She felt especially vulnerable now that they were gone too. The war had claimed their lives among the countless others and soon Dairuko and his restless self would want to set out and look for his family, then she would be all alone. The thought made her shudder.
'Dairuko has his faults but he's a great guy and the best brother in world I'm sure... I'm sure...' she thought.
"You really think that?" Dairuko said as he sat next to his sister. "You should learn to think in your head instead of out loud." he added with a smirk while Natsuki avoided eye contact because she knew there was a smug look on his face.
"So what? I was just saying that 'cause... well... you're all I have now, Dairuko." she confessed.
"You're all I got too, Nee-san."
"Not true... I mean, you still have family out there somewhere."
"Meh, you're all the family I need." Dairuko shrugged.
"You shrug it off now but... what if you meet them or something, then realise how awesome they are and then leave me behind?"
"That won't happen, Natsuki."
"How could you know that for a fact?" Natsuki said, eyes filling with tears, which resulted in her cutting her hand on something her blurry vision blocked "Son of a- who has broken bottles on their roof?!" Natsuki complained, exasperated and got ready to use what little medical jutsu she knew to heal the cut when Dairuko grabbed her wrist then cut his own hand with the broken bottle and clasped Natsuki's bloody hand in his bloody hand.
"There. Now we share blood. That makes us blood relatives from now 'til forever." Dairuko smiled at a shocked Natsuki; then gave her a hug "I love you, Natsuki... nobody, nothing will ever change that. Not even my biological family."
"Promise?" Natsuki asked, her tears spilling over.
"I promise if you promise to never cry about this again, there will never be a need for you to shed even a single tear, trust me."
"Promise." Natsuki smiled, wiping away her tears.
End of Flashback
Natsuki showed her scarred hand from that night "Do you remember this?" she asked him.
"Yeah, I remember." Dairuko looked at his own scar.
"Dairuko... we are teammates but- that's where it ends. We're both too old for little quarrels that disrupt the team's cohesion. It's about time we started on our different paths of life outside of Team 0, don't you think?"
"I see... I can't blame you for hating me, Natsuki, but I want you to know that... nevermind." Dairuko lowered the wooden dome then Natsuki walked away and he left in the opposite direction.
Itachi had been spending the majority of his days in his study going through the Hokage's finance history and now he was ready to disclose his findings to Jiraiya and make the arrest. He had a lot on his plate but once this was cleared up he would be able to give more attention to the deteriorating state of his team. Dairuko and Natsuki were both stubborn, but he was confident in their care for one another, sooner rather than later though, he hoped, they would come around.
While he searched for Jiraiya he encountered Dairuko.
"Dairuko, have you seen Jiraiya-sensei?" Itachi asked.
"No, why?" Dairuko replied.
"I need to speak with him."
"Yeah, I haven't seen him."
Itachi was about to walk away when he remembered something "Dairuko."
"Yeah?"
"I need a favour."
"Name it." Dairuko replied and Itachi told him. "You can count on me." Dairuko then left.
Itachi continued through the village when he spotted Natsuki sitting in a tree looking troubled and deep in thought. He cautiously approached.
"Hey, Natsuki... are you alright?" he asked her.
"Itachi" she smiled briefly, "No... no I'm not." she replied after a moment.
"What's wrong?"
"Family matters."
"Dairuko."
"That obvious?" Natsuki let out a light chuckle.
"He is the only person you call family."
"Yeah, used to be the same for us both."
"'used to be'?"
"It's a long story, Itachi. I'm still pretty confused and upset about it myself"
"I see, If that's the case I will not press the matter any longer... have you seen Jiraiya-sensei?"
"No but last I heard he was in a meeting with Tsu- Tsunade-sama because he punched Danzo-san... why? Have you found something out about the trafficking ?" She asked, hopping down from where she had been perched.
"I have." Itachi showed Natsuki the files.
"Itachi, this makes no sense." she said after viewing the files.
"Exactly." Itachi said then started toward the Hokage Tower again with Natsuki following right behind him.
"You might need back up." She grinned.
"I think I can handle someone of that age."
"Hey, if sensei is anything to go on there could be trouble."
"This isn't sensei, but I won't argue if you want to keep me company." Itachi said with a small smile and continued walking with Natsuki.
"Damn it, Jiraiya, I know he's a bastard but you can't just punch Danzo!" Tsunade exclaimed.
"I'd act like I regret it but he had it coming." Jiraiya said.
"That's not the point-"
"It is exactly the point, Tsunade! You don't know how many times he's tried to get my team to join ROOT!" Jiraiya exclaimed when Itachi and Natsuki walked in.
"Sorry for just barging in but, Hokage-sama we need to talk." Itachi said.
"What's going?" Tsunade asked.
"Tsunade-sama while on our last mission I discovered that the pirates we were sent to deal with were actually human traffickers." Natsuki stated.
"That's not possible. The mission report stated-"
"We lied on the mission report because we believed someone in the Hokage Tower was working with them. As a result Itachi began an investigation."
"I take it you've found something incriminating." Jiraiya said.
"Indeed... judging by the financial statements since you've arrived all the evidence points to you, Senju Tsunade-hime." Itachi said.
"What?!" Jiraiya and Tsunade said in unison.
"But, because Itachi likes to be thorough he checked the statements from before Tsunade-sama arrived and it was clear that someone was setting up whoever the Hokage was at the time." Natsuki added then Itachi handed the files to Tsunade.
"These payments were too open for it to be a mistake which means that someone else is responsible."
"Who is it?"
"The book keeper Shinji Yamamoto, the trail was too obvious. Even someone of his age would be able to see it."
"I'll send someone-"
"I've already sent Dairuko to take him in." Itachi said.
"Your team is truly impressive, Itachi."
"We apologise for suspecting you, Hokage-sama." Itachi stated and both he and Natsuki bowed.
"No need to apologise, it's what I expect from Konoha's mobile unit to deal with threats both foreign and domestic." at that moment Genma walked through the door.
"Hokage-sama, urgent message from the Waterfall Village." he said then gave Tsunade a piece of paper which she read then sighed.
"I hate to ruin the moment but you got a mission that requires you to leave immediately."
"What's the mission?" Natsuki asked.
"You have to kill the seven-tails."