Chapter 5: Love and Tears

Naruto and Sakura entered the tent and found Kakashi, Tsunade, and Shizune, one next to the other. The Hokage was sitting on the floor, dressed, with her legs covered by sheets, while the other two adults were standing next to her, Kakashi on the right, and Shizune on the left. While waiting, Tsunade had been preparing herself, thinking what to say and when. Now, the expected moment has arrived.

Naruto was the first to react. "Granny Tsunade!" he exclaimed joyfully, and rushed to give her a hug.

"I'm glad to see you" Tsunade answered with a grin on her face, holding him. Then, she pulled him apart, placed her hands over his shoulders, and looked him straight into his eyes. "Shizune and Kakashi told me how you saved the village from Pain... I'm very proud of you... and I'm sure Jiraiya would be as well"

Sakura and the other two watched the scene, smiling. They all were remembering the happiness from back then, in the hero's welcome. Then, Tsunade dropped Naruto and turned to Sakura.

"You did a great job at the hospital, and then by leading and helping to heal all the injured villagers... I'm proud of you too" she added.

"Thank you, my lady" Sakura nodded, in a reverence. Naruto smiled at her.

"Now... as you can probably guess, Shizune and Kakashi also filled me in about everything else" Tsunade said, suddenly changing the tone of her voice.

Naruto and Sakura were taken by surprise. They were happy because Tsunade woke up, but they never thought that she'd approach them with a certain matter so soon.

"Naruto, Kakashi, please go out for a little while... I'll call you when we're done. There's something I need to discuss with Sakura... and Shizune... In private" Tsunade stated, seriously.

Naruto was startled, but decided not to protest. He knew very well how Tsunade could get angry. He walked away from the tent, gazing briefly at Shizune, and then at Sakura with a merciful look. Kakashi followed calmly, after all, he knew what this was about. Sakura gulped, and silently thanked Naruto for his supportive look. Shizune was a little nervous, she knew her master would yell more than before, when she heard everything for the first time.

When the three women were left alone in the tent, Tsunade spoke again.

"Sakura, I know what you did at the Land of Iron. I also know what made you go there, as Shizune told me"

Speechless, Sakura frowned. She already faced her parents, and now she had to face her master, the Hokage.

"The only thing I don't understand is... What the hell were you thinking?!" Tsunade asked, raising her voice.

"I was trying to protect Naruto" Sakura answered.

"I'm sure you did... but why did you have to let those brats mess with you?" she questioned, angrily. "Sai doesn't really know you... And Shikamaru... he has no authority to decide what's the best for the village. I know it was hard... and I hate to admit it, but you two should have obeyed Danzo's orders. Especially Naruto... I already scolded Kakashi for it" Tsunade explained.

"I know that now... I talked to my parents, and Naruto..." Sakura muttered.

"But now you're talking to me... You do realize you almost died? You broke two rules of the Medical Law I taught you! You are my disciple for God's sake!" Tsunade started yelling.

"I... have no excuses" Sakura admitted, sincerely. It was the truth. Back then, she didn't think about the basic rules of every medical ninja, and headed straight to the front line, putting herself in danger. She got carried away by feelings and guilt.

Tsunade was looking at her firmly. Her anger slowly started to dissipate.

"Look, I know how you feel about him... But don't underestimate yourself. You are not less worthy just because he's more powerful... You can save lives and heal like very few people in the world... Be grateful for that gift. If you manage to obtain the Strength of a Hundred seal, you'll be greater than you think..." she said, pointing to the diamond seal in her own forehead. "And as for the promise that boy made... Let it go... I was there at the hospital that day, remember?... You don't owe him anything. Just being together is enough... I'm sure that's what Shizune tried to say before" Tsunade stated, now with a softer tone, giving a brief gaze to her loyal assistant.

Shizune nodded, and remembered how she tried to defend her fellow medic from Sai's accusations.

Sakura was astounded. Tsunade was seeing through her in a way her parents couldn't. In the last three years, the Hokage had found in Sakura someone to pass her legacy on. She had faith in her. That's why she was upset, she wanted her to look forward to the future, and grow up. Sakura knew that what she did was wrong, and just like Naruto, she forgot all the people who believed in her. Tsunade was one of those people.

"Thank you Lady Tsunade... I'll do my best to not fail you again" Sakura said, convinced.

"I hope so... I have faith in you" the Hokage assured. Then, she turned to Shizune. "Now, if Sakura or anyone ever asks for your help in another crazy mission... Please make them reason, you're my right hand after all" Tsunade was measuring her tone.

"Yes madam" Shizune answered firmly.

Then, the Hokage turned back to Sakura. "As for the rest, I'll deal with Shikamaru later... When you see Sai, please give him a big punch on his pale face, tell him it's from my part for disobeying Danzo" she said.

"You do know that he told Kakashi, Naruto and Yamato about my plan at the Land of Iron right? Thanks to that tip they saved me" Sakura answered.

"Yeah, but he also convinced you to go there in the first place... Besides, he knows Danzo was strict, he'll understand" Tsunade mumbled jokingly.

Sakura nodded, accepting the order.

"Now, before we let those two back in..." the old lady said, while looking at the side of the tent. "Come on, give me a hug, both of you"

Sakura and Shizune happily went to hold Tsunade, who embraced them tightly. She was truly happy to be back with her two beloved women. Shizune was like the daughter she never had, while Sakura became a sort of granddaughter. When they pulled apart, returning to their places, Tsunade ordered Shizune to call back the two guys.

When the Sannin and her disciple stayed alone, the latter spoke.

"Do you want me to leave when Naruto comes?" Sakura asked, curiously.

"No, you will want to hear what I have to tell him" Tsunade responded, winking at her.

Kakashi and Naruto had been waiting patiently close to the woods, that way they wouldn't hear what was going on inside the tent (except for the yelling). Though Naruto tried to talk about many things like Itachi, or his parents, Kakashi refused, as it would be better to discuss everything with Tsunade. Kakashi also revealed to him why he didn't think himself fit to be Hokage, and how glad he felt when Tsunade woke up from the coma. Not long after, Shizune came out to call them, and found Kakashi reading his novels, while Naruto was gazing at the Hokages rock faces. They soon went back to the tent. There were more things to talk about.

Once they were all in, Tsunade directed her attention to Naruto. "Hum... What am I going to do with you?" she questioned herself. "Should I lock you in like the elders want? Or should I deliver you to Akatsuki so you can talk to Sasuke?" Tsunade asked ironically. Yet, by the tone of her voice, he sensed she wasn't joking.

"What are you saying?" Naruto seemed uncomfortable.

"Well, I have to consider those options since I can't trust you to stay out of danger and do the right thing… while I'm gone!" Tsunade raised her voice again.

"But you always trusted me"

"Yes, I did... Because so far you have proved yourself...You made decisions aware of what you could achieve. Each time, you had that special ability to change other people's hearts, and the power to defeat stronger enemies... But last time, that wasn't the case..." the Hokage sighed. "I want you to tell me, what was going through your mind when you accepted to take a beating from that Kumo girl? What were you thinking when you decided to storm out of the village for a "talk" with the Raikage?" Tsunade asked, defiantly.

"Hum... I wanted to stop the cycle of hatred" Tsunade was startled. "When I found Nagato, we had a long talk about war, death, and the way to obtain peace. I convinced him that I would never stop trying, as Ero-Sennin trusted me, I promised to bring peace to Amegakure and the shinobi world... So when I heard what Sasuke did in Kumo, I tried to stop them from seeking revenge and blood... yet at the end... It was all for nothing" he said, regretful.

"I see... so it was all because of Jiraiya" she said, now understanding why Nagato performed the Rinne Tensei, and every villager was saved. "I know everything about his wish to stop the cycle of hatred, his quest for peace... The death of my brother, Dan, also affected him... He was more determined to end wars once and for all" Tsunade pondered, calmer. "But still, that doesn't justify you going away or allowing yourself to get a beating"

"Kakashi-sensei was ok with it, he accompanied me"

"I already had a talk with Kakashi" she was glaring seriously at him.

Kakashi tried to feign ignorance. Tsunade turned back to look at Naruto. "I know how much Sasuke means to you, but he has no excuses... he attacked and tried to capture another jinchuriki... And you know very well the kind of life the Raikage's brother surely had... Have you ever thought about that?" she added, with a glare.

"No... I didn't" he looked down, ashamed.

Sakura was staring at him, with a compassive expression, same as Shizune.

"Ahh..." Tsunade took a breath. "Look Naruto, I know how you feel... You became the hero of our village, and not only defeated one of the most powerful enemies of all, you also convinced him to revive every murdered person by reaching his heart... But that doesn't mean you can change the shinobi world just right away" she said, changing to a softer tone. "The Raikage, and the other villages don't know you... First, you have to prove yourself, showing them who you are through actions, winning their respect and trust, in time... just like you did here. And only then... You'll be able to inspire the rest of the world, and change it" she stated, with confidence.

"You really think I can make it?" Naruto sounded hopeful.

"Of course... Look at Jiraiya, why do you think he traveled so much? He earned his reputation as one of the Legendary Sannin and helped several persons around the world... Pervert and all, but he spread good lessons, listened to children, always inspiring younger generations... Nagato, Konan and Yahiko were not his only pupils... He was the one to warn the other villages about Akatsuki and Orochimaru, they respected him" the Hokage explained.

Naruto was amazed. When he was on his trip all those months ago, he didn't pay much attention to all the things his master did while he trained. He had thought that Jiraiya would be busy writing his novel, hooking up with some woman, or making business. He did know that he watched over Akatsuki, collecting information and everything, but he didn't realize there was much more. He was too young. Suddenly, a feeling of deep sorrow invaded him, as he wished Ero-Sennin could still be there to guide him.

"Wow... I never imagined Jiraiya as someone so... great" Sakura was surprised.

"Despite his flaws, he was a good man... possibly the best one I ever met" Tsunade reflected. Then she looked at Naruto, who had a saddened expression, and added "Don't worry... You won't be alone, everyone here believes in you... just like he did"

"I know, thank you... I won't let you down" he said, finally.

"I hope... because there's still something else we need to discuss" Tsunade's anger slowly began to increase in her voice.

"Sasuke..." Naruto guessed.

"Look, Kakashi told me about your encounter after Danzo's death... and what enraged me was your decision... What was all that crap of not being able to become Hokage if you can't save a friend?!" Tsunade shouted furiously.

Shizune and Sakura were suddenly scared.

Kakashi feigned surprise. 'Here we go again' he thought.

Naruto was surprised, and gazed at Kakashi. "You told her?"

"You know I had to, Sasuke is threatening the village... and she's the Hokage" Kakashi answered, excusing himself.

"Don't try to deflect the question! Do you think my grandfather was a bad Hokage just because he had to kill his old friend? Do you think Hiruzen should have quitted when Orochimaru became a traitor? Or after he lost his wife? Should I even be here after all the people I lost?!" Tsunade shouted, in tears. Talking about Jiraiya had already touched her, and now she knew she was about to break down. Her mind was suddenly flooded with all the emotions, the sadness, frustration, and anger she felt by remembering Naruto's words. It was like he said that she was unfit to be Hokage because she lost her little brother Nawaki, her lover Dan, Jiraiya, and so many other people she couldn't save during the wars despite her medical prowess.

"No... Look, I know I was wrong... but what I meant was..." Naruto mumbled, nervously. He was baffled by Tsunade's outburst.

She was very angsty, and interrupted him.

"Do I have to remind you that thanks to you and Jiraiya I'm here? You brought me down from that living hell of life where I was... Me and Shizune…'' she said, saddened. She turned to look at her assistant, the closest thing to a daughter she ever had, and broke down in tears. The last memory she had from before the coma was being informed by Katsuyu that Shizune was dead. That was the moment when she fell unconscious. She had lost her, and the world fell apart. The village was utterly destroyed, the whole situation was a mess, full of injured and dead people everywhere. She tried to save as many people as she could, draining almost all her chakra, but she could not save her. That was when she gave up and decided to leave the world of the living. Naruto had arrived there after all, so she felt it was her time. She knew the village would be safe with him around. She fell into a strange state of life, not knowing whether she was dead or not. It was a blank world, and she felt no pain, no suffering, no joy, no sorrow, no anger, nothing at all. If she had remained there it wouldn't have mattered. So when she woke up, almost two weeks later, she was confused, dazed, and very tired. And suddenly, she felt the strong embrace from a brunette woman, with a very familiar scent, face. That was it, the moment she returned to life, while being held by the most beloved person in her life. The kind of daughter she thought she lost. She cried with her as well, and then, she heard all the story of how she, Kakashi and the others were resurrected. It was a miracle, and the name of that miracle was Naruto. That's why she got so mad when she learned what he said at the Land of Iron. It seemed like he had forgotten how he used to be. He brought her back from that state of depression she was in, and inspired her to never give up, and honor Nawaki and Dan's dream. She gave him his blessing, but now he was about to throw it all away all because of Sasuke. It hurted her deep down.

"Lady Tsunade..." Shizune said, and rushed to hold her.

Sakura instinctively approached her master, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Naruto stayed there silent, feeling guilty. He already knew that what he said was wrong, Sakura was the first one to make him see it the last day. And then, while talking to Iruka, he remembered how many people had faith in him. He woke up, and decided he'd learn from his mistakes. People trusted him, and he wouldn't let them down. The only thing that kept worrying him was Sasuke's menace. He didn't know yet how to deal with it. He hoped Tsunade would help him, and also uncover the truth about his parents, but he didn't expect her to revisit his mistakes in the past few days. And he never imagined how much it would affect her. Now, while looking at the embrace between her and Shizune, he remembered. Back then, before fighting Pain, while in Sage Mode, he felt not only Kakashi's absence, but also Shizune's. He realized the reason why Tsunade fell into a coma. She had been informed that Shizune was dead. The realization struck him. He couldn't believe how many things passed by right in front of him, and he ignored them. There was no doubt, he had a long way to go yet to become the person people expected him to be.

He gazed at Kakashi, silently asking for advice, but his sensei simply shook his head. There was nothing they could do for now.

"I'm fine... I'm fine... Shizune" Tsunade tried to say, after the sobbing stopped. "I just need a minute" she added, before wiping the tears on her eyes. "Thank you" she added, looking at both Shizune and Sakura. They understood that she was recovered, and pulled away, staying close just in case.

"I'm sorry" Naruto said softly.

"Don't be... Sometimes I forget you're just 16... We all can make mistakes... Just look at me" she said, smiling gently, blinking slowly. "But please, I don't want you to go for the same road I've been... If you ever lose someone again, there will always be another one to hold you... same as me" she said, while glancing at Shizune. "There are people who still need us" she looked at Sakura, and then at him.

"I know... we had a big talk yesterday" he answered, gazing happily at Sakura.

"I'm glad to hear it" Tsunade said, getting calmer. "Now... Shizune... please go to make a check up around the tent, we took precautions, but in any case... we can't allow any leaks of this..." she ordered. Her eyes were still swollen, but she needed to stay strong.

Shizune obeyed quietly, and left the tent.

"Kakashi, go to the edge of the entrance, and use your smell... if there's something odd, let me know" she directed, firmly.

Kakashi did as she was told, and went out, right at the edge of the tent.

Naruto and Sakura looked at each other with a confused expression. After a little while, Shizune and Kakashi returned, and reported everything was fine, there was no one around as far as they could tell, not even insects. It was a cold season. Shikamaru and Ino had been instructed to leave as soon as they brought their friends, so the five were the only people around. The previous shinobi guards were dismissed the moment Kakashi came in. It was lucky that the tent had been raised in a secluded place outside the village. The Hokage broke the silence.

"Believe it or not, I know the reason why you still have doubts about Sasuke" she said, looking at Naruto. "Kakashi told me the truth behind Itachi's actions…" Tsunade revealed.

Naruto gazed at his sensei, doubtful. Kakashi nodded. It was a secret, but Tsunade deserved to know, as the acting Hokage.

"Wait... I was there at the Land of Iron and nobody told me anything about it... What is all this about Itachi? And who told you?" Sakura asked, perplexed, looking at Kakashi, and then at Naruto. She had been wondering that every now and then since Naruto rejected her pleas, but she never found the right time to ask about it.

Before Kakashi could answer, Tsunade spoke.

"Kakashi, it's ok... You have my permission to tell her... She's part of team 7 after all, and deserves to know why Sasuke tried to kill her…" Tsunade stated. "Shizune, please bring me water, I'm gonna need much for the rest of the day" It was right, at this rate, her throat would get sore if she didn't drink some water. She still had things to say, and more meetings in the afternoon.

Shizune obeyed, and in the meantime, Kakashi revealed to Sakura all that Tobi said in the Land of Iron. Tsunade drank three glasses of water, while Naruto observed quietly, thinking about Itachi. He'd still keep his encounter with the Uchiha older brother secret. He didn't know why, but he felt it was important that no one knew about it.

"But that... It's impossible... The 3rd would have never allowed something like that... murdering innocent people, mothers, children..." Sakura said, in shock.

"We thought that too, but after the encounter with Sasuke... You saw him... his anger... maybe he knows something we don't, after all, he is Itachi's brother and the last person who saw him alive" Kakashi pondered.

"I know, but... Lady Tsunade... " she was pleading. She couldn't believe that Hiruzen Sarutobi was a false hero. She struggled to believe that the village where she grew up could be responsible of pushing the Uchihas to plan a coup d'etat.

"I believe it... The question is... what we are going to do about it" he added firmly.

"Listen all of you, the only two persons in this village who know the real truth are Homura and Koharu... Kakashi and I will pay them a visit after we're done here... And if it turns out to be true... We will have to consider revealing the secret to everyone" Tsunade stated, confidently.

"But Itachi didn't want anyone to know, that wasn't his will" Naruto protested.

"I know, but his will doesn't matter anymore... It went to waste the moment Sasuke learned the truth... Now Konoha is in danger and we must do whatever it takes to protect all the villagers... If we can convince Sasuke to not hurt anyone by revealing the truth, so be it..." she sighed. Deep down, she was furious against her sensei for allowing such a massacre. She may have been absent for years, but she'd have never accepted such horror, the extermination of an entire clan. There must have been another way.

Naruto stayed silent, unsure of what to say. For some reason, since his encounter with Itachi, he felt connected with him, as if they had the same interests, to protect Konoha and save Sasuke. Maybe it had something to do with the crow. However, this didn't mean he had forgotten what he did, what both did. The Uchihas could kill persons in a way he would never understand.

"Anyway... if Sasuke still refuses to cooperate and remains adamant on his vengeance... We'll have to eliminate him... I know the two elders might be guilty, but I can't allow any death in Konoha, the whole village would fall into chaos" Tsunade explained. "Now, I'm sure Sakura understands, but you do, Naruto?"

"I understand" Naruto nodded, almost reluctantly. He was willing to save Sasuke, given how unfair the situation was, even if it meant for him to exile from Konoha and live a peaceful life somewhere else. He felt that his old friend deserved to live and form a family, no matter if it was away. He guessed the people of the Land of Fire wouldn't accept him back, but maybe if some time passed... Still, at the same time, he accepted Tsunade's idea. Justice would be made, Itachi could be seen as a misunderstood antihero instead of a murderer, and then Sasuke would decide. If he wanted to destroy the village even with everyone knowing the truth, he'd be choosing to die.

"Good... I noticed you are more quiet than what I expected, I thought you would be loud and protest" Tsunade observed.

"Let's just say that I had a comforting talk with Iruka-sensei last night... I got things clearer" Naruto answered.

"I'm glad to hear that... Maybe I should consider him more often for consulting things... regarding you" she considered, bringing her hands together.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind... He's like family to me..." he smiled.

"Oh... about that, there's something I've been waiting to ask you since I fought with Pain" Naruto said.

"I can guess… It's about your family" Tsunade supposed.

Naruto was startled. He forgot that Kakashi also knew about his meeting with his father.

Sakura suddenly got curious. Shizune and Kakashi smiled.

"Remember… Kakashi told me pretty much everything he knew" the Hokage said. "But before I tell you about them, I need to know the entire conversation… I'm sure it will help us all" she stated.

"Alright…" he answered, before Shizune interfered.

"Lady Tsunade, is it ok if Sakura knows?"

Sakura hoped Tsunade would allow her to hear. She really wanted to know about Naruto's parents.

"Yeah, I doubt Naruto will be able to keep it from her anyway…" she answered calmly. Then she turned to Sakura. "But… As long as you don't tell anyone else… It will be dangerous if this information leaks out of the village, we have to keep the circle as small as possible"

"I promise I won't tell anyone" Sakura said confidently.

Tsunade then nodded while looking at Naruto, so he started telling what happened in his subconscious. He said how he met his father, his reaction, every word he said, including the reason why the Kyuubi was sealed inside him, that he knew about Jiraiya, and the reason for his parentage being a secret. Naruto also explained all what his father said about the masked man, and how Nagato was being manipulated. He finished saying that the 4th Hokage believed in him, and tears appeared on his face while remembering the moment he faded away.

Kakashi was the least surprised of the four, but he felt moved by remembering his sensei.

Sakura was shocked at the first revelations, and then fought back the tears when Naruto described the farewell. She also realized that at the end the responsibility for the Uchiha massacre was divided. The masked man started everything, and because of him, his Sharingan that controlled the Kyuubi, the villagers mistrusted and discriminated the Uchihas during the next years. It was a very complicated situation because no one knew the identity o the masked man. Not even now. He called himself Madara uchiha, but that man died several decades ago.

Shizune already knew who Naruto's parents were, but was touched by the story. She could relate since her parents also died when she was just a kid, as she was raised by her uncle Dan, and then, Tsunade. The revelation that Madara was responsible for the Kyuubi incident was not news to her, as she had a talk with Kakashi earlier.

The Hokage listened carefully to every single detail, but the most stunning fact for her was the revelation that "Madara" was behind the Kyuubi incident. She needed to confirm Kakashi's words by talking to Naruto. She knew it could be possible for Minato to seal part of his own chakra inside his own son, but needed to verify the facts.

"I see… that bastard started everything… He has been the man behind the curtain all this time… Even the village's mistrust towards the Uchihas, the cold war between them and the rest of Konoha, all started in the Kyuubi incident… And he was responsible… No one ever guessed" she pondered, staring at the floor.

"My lady, you were here when the Kyuubi incident happened?" Sakura asked.

"No, I was in some town far from here… drunk… Mourning my parents, my little brother, Dan… Shizune and I came back as soon as we heard about it" Tsunade revealed.

"Alright, I did my part… Now, can you tell me about them? I also wanna know why there was no one while growing up, no grandparents, uncle, aunt,…Why the 3rd was the only one to take care of everything? Why couldn't Jiraiya raise me?" Naruto asked, more curious than ever in his entire life.

Sakura gave him a tender look. She was eager to know as well.

Shizune, Kakashi and Tsunade were touched.

"Ok… I'll tell you what I know…" Tsunade took a breath. "Your paternal grandparents died during the 2nd ninja war. They were two powerful, talented shinobis, who sacrificed their lives to protect Konoha when it was cornered by forces from Iwa and Suna. Their effort was crucial to save the village, and regroup. The Namikaze family was small, but they were strong, gentle, polite, and warm…" she sighed. "Sadly, your father had to grow up being raised only by his maternal grandmother, who was a civilian, and when she died, he managed on his own, just like you did… When Jiraiya became his sensei, he turned into a father figure for Minato… Despite the pervy side, your father admired him from the bottom of his heart… That's why Jiraiya became your godfather. Your mother also grew fonder of him. And given the death of his parents in the war, Minato was also determined to bring an everlasting peace, that goal in common with Jiraiya meant a lot for them… He had everything, the talent, the kindness, and the genuine will to change the shinobi world, that's why Jiraiya called him the child of the prophecy" she sighed deeply.

Naruto was paying full attention. He would have never guessed that his grandparents were national heroes just like his dad. He also felt moved by learning that his father had been an orphan like him, and by realizing that both of them looked up to the same man. He wanted to ask about his mother, but decided he'd leave her for the end.

"But then why Ero-Sennin didn't raise me?" he wondered.

"Well, it was sad for everyone… We all had regrets, and thought it was for the best… When we found out about what happened the day you were born, the whole village was mourning. Our beloved Hokage had died, along with a lot of villagers, and everyone was devastated… Hiruzen, Jiraiya and I discussed what to do with you… The most important thing was your safety. No one from outside the village could know about your parents. Your father was feared and respected in the other nations, but many also wanted revenge after the 3rd ninja war… Some years before the Kyuubi incident, ninjas from Kirigakure kidnapped a young girl from Konoha" she gazed briefly at Kakashi, whose face darkened. "That was something that could happen despite our defenses, so the best was to keep you out of sight..." she sighed. "We decided that Hiruzen would hire a nanny to handle your care, while he watched over you regularly and financially. Jiraiya stayed in Konoha to look after you during the first four years… That way, you were safe even from the raged villagers... Those were the hardest times, because people were still heated against the Kyuubi. But they knew that if anyone ever dared to harm you, they would be punished severely and suffer the consequences. Hiruzen and Jiraiya made sure to send the message" Tsunade explained, with a content expression.

Naruto almost cried. His master and the old man protected him when he was just a child, and he couldn't remember. Jiraiya had been like a guardian angel.

"Eventually, Jiraiya stopped his visits, aware that if he stayed longer, he would never leave. Besides, he didn't want you to remember him, and suffer the loss when he left. He had a duty to fulfill outside the village, and couldn't take you with him. Not yet… He would often go to villages like Kumo and Iwa, and those were dangerous places given your father's identity. You still needed a woman's care, and had to remain in the village to start the academy. I couldn't take you either since I was raising Shizune, and my "lifestyle" wouldn't have been good for a four year old kid" Tsunade explained, and took a breath. "I'm sorry we both stayed out of your life for so long. We left everything in Hiruzen's hands... Jiraiya would talk to him sometimes to check up on you, and he'd tell me things eventually… I guess in the last few years we tried to make up to you somehow" she said, with a sad expression.

Naruto realized everything he remembered from his childhood was starting to make sense. The pieces were set. The reasons behind all the secrecy, the old past memories from women who took care of him, how his childhood was lonely and sad but no one ever tried to kill him, no matter how hated he felt, the reasons why on his trip Jiraiya never took him to the big nations, and other things he couldn't explain.

Sakura was moved to learn all this about Naruto's childhood. He had been loved and protected, but at the same time, he suffered rejection, ignorance, loneliness, the absence of a mother, a father, a grandparent, a family. Hiruzen and Iruka were the first two stable bonds he remembered. She and the rest of their classmates came later, and never really helped him. They were all carried away by their parents' orders.

Kakashi felt guilty to hear all this, and looked down. He knew he could have done more for Naruto during his childhood, but had been too damaged by the losses. He thought he couldn't make his sensei's son happy, and left his care under the 3rd, and then under Iruka. When Naruto became genin, he promised himself to honor his sensei and teach him, and he did what he could. But it wasn't easy. Back then, the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke was big. He wished he could have been a better figure for both of them, since they were younger. Now, he could only try to keep guiding Naruto on the best possible way.

Shizune knew some things about Naruto before meeting him, but not much. She grew fond of him since then, and would be forever grateful for helping her and Tsunade to leave the life they had of gambling and getting drunk. She cared about him, and would do anything for his sake. That's why sometimes she wondered if letting him go out of the village was safe enough. Now, she was glad to have him around, besides, she's alive thanks to his talk with Nagato. His mercy brought her back to life.

"It's ok Granny… I don't blame you or him, not even my parents… I understand you did the best you could… The thing is… despite my childhood… I'm happy. I'm grateful for what I have… I'm glad that I got to meet you, Ero-Sennin, Kakashi-sensei, Shizune, Sakura, all my friends… I'm glad for everything you did, for Iruka-sensei, and the old 3rd… Thank you for telling me… I already met my dad… Now can you tell me about my mom?" he said softly.

In tears, Tsunade nodded. "Of course I will…" she said, wiping her face.

The four were deeply touched by Naruto's words. Despite everything, whatever guilt they could feel for past years, he didn't hold a grudge against them. He was surely one of the kindest persons of the village.

"Her name was Kushina Uzumaki... She was a young beautiful kunoichi from another land, called Uzushio, who came here as a foreign student to become a ninja in the academy… She was a girl with a hot temper, but also very kind, soft, humble… eager to be part of Konoha. That reminds me of you… I feel like I see her in you… From what I heard, she didn't like studying much either… She came here with her mother, who had a similar personality... Her father had died in Uzushio, and she was an only child, just like Minato. They fell in love after becoming genin, and became inseparable. They were surely one of the cutest couples I ever met... Though her mother died a few years before her wedding, she was truly happy, and didn't need anything else in life… I'm sure she'd have loved to raise you, and live a joyful long life as a big family…" Tsunade said, getting teary again.

"What did she look like?" Naruto asked, charmed.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you… It will be better if you see a picture of her. I don't want you to imagine her in the wrong way… Trust me on this" Tsunade said, joyfully.

"But where are the pictures?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Don't worry, there are a couple of boxes full with their belongings in the Hokage tower. I'm sure Hiruzen kept them there safe waiting for the right moment… As soon as I get clear today I'll take a look" she responded.

Naruto was unconvinced, his impatience was growing, but she ignored it.

"Now, though I'd love to tell you a lot of stories from your parents, we're running out of time… Kakashi and I must go to talk to the elders as soon as possible, and then I have to meet the daimyo and the jonins… If that Madara wasn't lying we may have a war soon…" she stated.

"A war?" Sakura asked, stunned.

"But I still have a lot of questions… When did you meet my mom? How did you become friends? What about the wedding? Were you her doctor when she was pregnant?" Naruto questioned, like the most curious kid in the world.

"I'm sorry kiddo, but if I start talking again, I'm gonna miss all the meetings I have to attend… If we stay here people will come looking for us eventually. Do you want the village to fall apart?" the Hokage asked.

"No, but… " he muttered.

"You'll be fine… As soon as things calm down in the world we'll have plenty of time to talk about everything… I'm sure Kakashi can also tell you thousands of stories about Minato" Tsunade said quietly.

"Really Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked pleadingly.

"Of course, I promise I'll tell you everything he taught me and the best memories from the team... but as our Hokage said, now is not the time" Kakashi answered. He wanted to tell Naruto more about his father, but he also knew it would be hard. The memories of Obito and Rin could tear him apart.

"Now, please update Sakura about this supposed war, tell her what Gaara said... I probably know as much as you, so we need to get moving and contact the other villages… I still can't believe there's a Shinobi Alliance…" Tsunade stated.

Sakura gazed at Naruto, she heard something on the road back from the Land of Iron, but there wasn't much information. She had dismissed the idea, it seemed impossible since Akatsuki had no army, and only three members remained alive as far as she knew.

Naruto then told her the brief version of what Gaara explained back then under the snow, but not even he had a clear idea of what was going on. The only thing he got clear was that the five nations were committed to protect him and Killer B, the other remaining jinchuriki.

Sakura agreed with the idea, but was confused about the rest. The Juubi? Infinite Tsukuyomi? Nothing made real sense.

In the meantime, Tsunade had asked Shizune and Kakashi help to get up. She has been lying on the ground for almost two weeks, and her legs needed to recover strength. She couldn't stand the numbness anymore. She struggled, and they were holding her, grabbing both arms, but eventually, she could stand on her feet alone. She started to walk slowly to the entrance of the tent, with Shizune's assistance, and stopped to drink another glass of water. Kakashi followed from behind, watching in case she passed out. By the time she felt fully recovered to walk by herself, Naruto had finished updating Sakura about the supposed war. Tsunade ordered Shizune to raise down the tent, with Naruto and Sakura's help, and before walking out, she turned around to speak to Naruto one last time. He looked at her.

"During your mother's pregnancy, I wasn't her doctor, but I did stop regularly to check up on her… One month before you were born, I passed by, and I felt you moving inside her belly… I can't tell why but that was one of the happiest moments of my life" she said, softly, touched by the memory.

Naruto smiled, fighting back the tears. "Thank you granny"

"Your welcome… See you later" Tsunade said, before turning back, and walking out the tent.

Kakashi grinned at Naruto, and then he followed the Hokage.

Once the three were left alone, Shizune spoke.

"Well, I'm glad you can discover more things about your parents Naruto, I'm sure little by little you'll find out more"

"I'm eager" he said.

Sakura grinned happily.

"Now, we have to take care of this" Shizune stated, looking at the tent, all the medical equipment and the stocked groceries. "And then we have to go to the Hokage tower so Lady Tsunade and Kakashi can tell us what the elders said" she added.

Naruto and Sakura obeyed and started ordering the mess around. Shizune stored the blankets, sheets, and medical stuff, while Sakura took care of the groceries and rests of garbage. Naruto helped them by passing the boxes and what was far from their reach. As soon as he saw they were finishing, he went outside to start raising down the tent. Then, Sakura spoke.

"Shizune-san, how was Lady Tsunade when she awoke? I mean how did she react when she heard everything that happened?"

"It wasn't easy… You were there when she fell into the coma, and when she woke up was dazed and confused… but once she saw me and learned how everyone was revived… her strength returned… Soon she became the one we're used to know… I guess you can imagine how she reacted when she heard what happened in the last few days" Shizune said, almost chuckling.

"I'm glad you were here the moment she awoke… She needs you. I wish I could have been there too" Sakura said.

"It's fine, I understand you were still shaken from what happened at Land of Iron… Don't worry I told her you stopped by every day… You were there for her as well… And she knows" Shizune tried comforting her.

"Thank you Shizune, you're a great friend" Sakura blurted, sincerely.

Shizune grinned. "You know, today I remembered the life Lady Tsunade and I had before coming back to Konoha… And I'm happy here… all of you changed our lives" Shizune said, and then looked at Naruto who suddenly entered the tent. They smiled at him.

"So, are we ready?" Naruto asked.

"Yep" Sakura answered.

Shizune nodded.

They carried everything outside and then set down the tent. Shizune went to pick up Tonton who was sleeping under a nearby tree, and then came back to where Naruto and Sakura were waiting. They divided the loads, and returned to the village.

The three surpassed one of the hidden passages through the walls of the village, and soon reached the part where a few remaining wood pillars were stocked. In the last days, the reconstruction advanced pretty well, especially during the last hours when Yamato resumed his position as leader of the process. When they spotted some shinobis on duty, Shizune called them. She told Sakura and Naruto to go and have a decent breakfast, while she and the two shinobis went ahead carrying the stuff to the Hokage tower. They agreed with her as they were starving (they only had the chance to eat and drink a little portion of the groceries available in the tent during the long conversation), and made their way to the center of Konoha. Shizune and the others left with Tonton following her closely.

Naruto and Sakura walked through the streets of the village, submerged in the thoughts about the long talk with Tsunade. Old women sweeping the sidewalk and the few villagers who passed by, greeted them, and they smiled back quietly. While entering a less crowded block, Sakura broke the silence.

"You know… I never thought that our first morning back from the trip was going to be so…" Sakura began saying, trying to find the right word.

"Intense?" Naruto answered.

"Yeah"

"I know what you mean… I came happily to see her awake, eager to talk about Itachi" he said, whispering the last word. "Ask about my parents, and I ended up having… a lot more" he finished in a normal tone, struggling to find better words to describe the reunion with the Hokage.

Before she could say something about her talk with Tsunade, to let him know she understood him, he spoke again. "Talking about that… How was the lecture?"

"It wasn't so bad… Bearable. I know I deserved it… What do you think about yours?" Sakura answered.

"I deserved it as well… She got pretty sad… Did you know about Shizune's death during Pain's attack?" he asked.

"Yes. Do you remember when you sent Gamakichi?" he nodded. "When he brought Tsunade I welcomed her… She already looked old… I told her to rest, and then she asked about Shizune. Katsuyu told us… and then she… fell asleep" she explained, with a saddened look. "I stayed with her as long as I could, while I was trying to know how you were doing…" she finished.

He stopped walking, and so she did.

"I didn't know she learned… I couldn't sense Shizune nor Kakashi back then, and later… it just slipped… I made some stupid mistakes… She's right… She lost so many people and she's still here… Watching over us all. She gets the 'never give up' better than me" Naruto admitted, sadly. He was upset with himself.

"Hey… it's ok… we all made mistakes. And we'll learn from them" Sakura said softly, as she held him.

He accepted the embrace, and when they pulled apart, after a little while, he took her left hand. They looked at each other's eyes and she squeezed his hand.

"Are you sure about this? I mean, I wasn't always nice to you in the past, when you needed me" she pondered, insecure.

"I am… We were children back then… and I'm growing" he said, raising their hands.

"So I am…"

They were standing in front of each other, closely, and both had the same thought. He wanted to kiss her, just like she did. But they were also aware that there were a few villagers passing by the sidewalk, so they decided not to. It wasn't the right time for such a special moment. He broke the silence to ease the tension, and lowered back their hands.

"Anyway… Your father told me that after we were placed on team 7, you made your parents change what they thought of me… So you were nice to me…" he said, and resumed the walk. Still holding his hand, she followed.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Sakura said. She had a similar feeling the day he returned from the trip with Jiraiya, but that time it was all ruined because of the 'new perverted ninjutsu'. Now, the feeling was much stronger, and it would never go away.

"Well, I still have a long way to go" he answered, with modesty. "So… You would like to have a date with me tomorrow?" Naruto seemed confident.

"Sure… I guess you didn't think about today given the morning we just had… Not to mention the last night with my parents" she responded calmly.

He nodded.

"Ahh… Now I wish I had accepted that offer the day you came back to the village… I mean… Look all it took us to be together" Sakura sighed, frustrated.

"I'm fine with how things turned out… I think we both needed the time" Naruto said quietly.

"Yeah I know, but still… the world is a mess right now… we won't have real peace soon" she said, concerned.

"Shhh… It doesn't matter… We're going to face whatever comes… together" he assured, squeezing her hand.

She smiled at him, accepting the gesture.

As they reached the center of the village, people watched them, and no one was surprised, as everyone saw the hug after Pain's defeat. The villagers knew the hero of Konoha was happy, and felt that everything was going to be ok.

Naruto and Sakura kept walking, grabbed by the hand, deep down feeling a true happiness for the first time in their entire life.

AN: Here it is, the second longest chapter of this story. I know the ending may be cheesy somehow but I felt it was a proper time for Naruto and Sakura to confirm their relationship. They already had all the talks, the process, the wounds are closed, the time spent together is set, the evidence is clear.

As for the talk with Tsunade, it is a big blow. The lecture on Sakura contains important moments, and ideas that her parents couldn't tell. I remember that only when the Juubi appeared, it was revealed that Sakura could obtain the diamond seal, just like Tsunade and Mito Uzumaki did. So I added that information here, in a way that only Tsunade, Sakura, and Shizune could know about it. Mito Uzumaki had that seal too, and she's Tsunade's grandmother. And well, how can it be linked to Sakura? I rather believe that some great great grandparent from her was an Uzumaki, and another one a Senju. That way, it could be explained why she has the power to emulate Tsunade. Besides, this doesn't imply any blood connection between Naruto and Sakura, Mito seemingly wasn't related to Kushina, and surely the Namikazes are not related to the Senjus. Bloodline splits.

About Naruto's ancestors, I had to figure it out. If no one of the Namikaze family was ever mentioned in the story, I guess it's implied they were a small family and died during the wars. The manga only reveals that it was Kushina's mother who taught Minato everything about the sealing techniques, so this means she was the one to raise her daughter at Konoha. She surely died before the Kyuubi incident, because Naruto had no grandparents or relatives to look after him as far as everyone knows. What I wrote about Jiraiya's role in those first years when Naruto was a baby makes sense to me. If anyone ever feared that Naruto as a baby could lose control of the Nine tailed Fox, even nannies, they needed the assurance of the Hokage and Jiraiya. That's why I guess they had a huge role back then protecting Naruto, given how crazy must have been all the people who lost family because of the Kyuubi. That's why at the end, the villagers ended up ignoring and rejecting him instead of harming him physically.

Then, when I watched the anime for the first time, Shizune's death baffled me. I didn't understand the reason, I thought she didn't deserve to die, and after Nagato resurrected her I was relieved. But until recently, I could never make sense of it. And during the huge welcome for Naruto after defeating Pain, I loved the scene, but I couldn't forget Tsunade's absence. She deserved to be there. I didn't know she fell into a coma, that was revealed in the next chapters. When I saw the manga chapter 431, she looked old for obvious reasons, but I didn't think that was enough reason to leave her in the state she would fall in. She was standing on her feet when Naruto arrived at the battlefield, so I always wondered, why she fell into a coma? The chakra, energy flowing inside the body, is regenerated, as the manga explains (Kurama is a big example). If the person doesn't die, the comatose state means the person is alive, the heart and other organs are working unless they're the cause. I'm no medical expert but a coma is focused on the brain, the CNS. Tsunade wasn't on drugs, didn't have an accident to provoke a brain injury, she didn't suffer cardiac arrest to cause hypoxia, nor a stroke, hypothermia, blood loss, or malnutrition. What she suffered was chakra depletion, which should be compared to total lack of energy, some sort of system failure, like collapse for exhaustion. But in this case, it came all with a trauma. In the manga, the reasons for the coma are not clear, besides, there were several cases in the story when a character fought hard, pushing themselves to the extreme (Naruto, Shikamaru, Kakashi, for instance). But no one fell into a coma, just Tsunade. So while I was writing this, it hit me. If I were Tsunade, and was there at the verge of losing consciousness given such efforts, and I hear that my most beloved person died, that's it. It would have been enough to pass out, lose the will to live, and never wake up. And by personal family experience, I can tell that if beloved persons estimulate the one in a coma, like squeezing his hand, or touching, making contact, the person can react. Medicine is science, but also love, affection. Stress, traumas, psychological impacts, death of a relative, are big deals for the sanity of a person. I feel Tsunade is one of the best characters in the whole story. So I'm proud of how this chapter turned out. I know this is just a story, and there's some level of fantasy, but the characters are humans, persons like anyone. I know ten years have passed, but if someone published this idea in a story I would congratulate him/her. In that case, the idea doesn't belong to me, and I'd be just writing it my way.

As for the rest, I dealt with every single issue the best way I could. So if Kishimoto made mistakes on the Kage Summit arc, Naruto got too obsessed about Sasuke, Sakura was a little selfish teenager, Sai was a meddlesome, then I took them as mistakes to learn from. The characters cannot be perfect, but that's why the elders are, to help them. People grow and can change for the better. I tried to be as fair as possible, and give certain relevance to the five characters in this chapter. I also addressed the truth about Itachi. It bothered me how in the original story Kakashi, Naruto and Yamato didn't say a word, no one faced the elders, they didn't even let Tsunade know. That was lame.

To finish, I wrote Tsunade's explanation in a way that when Naruto meets Kushina it can still be a surprise. He cannot be spoiled by how she looks. Thank you for reading, and the favs.