Chapter 17: Never Meet Your Heroes
It was two days later when the group stepped through the gates of Yugakure. The gate guards acknowledged but otherwise ignored the genin, their attention favoring the two extremely high profile shinobi that lead them. Jiraiya gave a relaxed greeting, drawing the pair into a short conversation that had one chuckling before long, nodding at a casually posed question.
"Not sure if she's still around, but yeah I did hear my buddy saw her coming in a couple weeks ago."
"No trouble, I hope?" the other guard asked warily.
A reasonable thought, the genin knew. Rarely did S-ranks and legends gather just to catch up.
"None from us," the Sannin returned with a disarming grin. Honestly it was unnerving how unthreatening the man could appear considering what he could actually do. "Thanks for the help."
"Ah, before you go… could you…?"
There was a small flash of orange and the genin all resisted the urge to bring a hand to their faces as the legendary shinobi signed his work with a beaming grin.
"So, what's the plan?" Naruto posed as they made their way along the bustling main road. Traffic in and out of the village was somewhat light but beyond the walls was an entirely different story.
"You really have to ask?" Jiraiya scoffed, motioning for them to follow him. His steps were made with the confidence of someone who clearly knew where he was going. A couple minutes later their patience was rewarded.
"Alright, let's split up," the Sannin said to the three genin. "I'm gonna look in here, you three check everywhere else."
As one the genin raised their eyes to the sign above the door, then to the security guard to their right, and finally back to their temporary leader in a deadpan.
"This is a strip club."
"What is this, obvious day? Hop to it, kids, there's work to be done."
With that the man entered. Kakashi, who had been ignoring all of this in favor of his orange book, finally looked up from it and took in where they were. He blinked twice before carefully marking his page, stowing the book, and walking inside without a word.
"Go play somewhere else, this ain't a place for kids," the guard said bluntly, causing Naruto's eye to twitch. He flicked his hitai-ate in a silent "I go where I want" kind of way before turning back to his teammates.
"Well, that went exactly the way we figured it would," he sighed. "Plan C then?"
"If that C stands for clones then yes," Sasuke replied. "It's still fairly early in the day so Tsunade could be anywhere."
"We can all go check out the casinos while Naruto covers the streets," Sakura posed. "You remember what Shizune-san looks like as well? I still have the picture if you need it."
"I remember," said Naruto. "If they're out and about then I'll find them."
"Let's pass by the market first though," said Sasuke, getting himself questioning looks from his teammates. He shrugged. "I'm hungry."
Xxx
Inside the club, Jiraiya briefly spoke to the hostess before being directed with a nod to the back where the bar was situated. He wove his way through the tables of customers and the occasional raised platform with a scantily clad woman dancing on it. Despite being the middle of the day there were plenty of men and women enjoying themselves. Of course, night would fall before the club became truly alive.
"Hey there, handsome," the bartender said with a smile as he reached the counter. There wasn't anyone seated there at the moment. "Can I get you something?"
"Whatever your favorite drink is to make, I'm heading to a private booth. Is Masuyo around?"
"She's here, but she's on break."
"Could you let her know that I'm here? I'm sure she'll make an exception, just tell her what I look like, she'll recognize me. I'll wait," he added, sliding into a seat.
The bartender gave him an appraising look before shrugging and walking through a back door. It wasn't like she had other customers to take care of. A short time later she returned.
"She said head to room three. I'll have her bring your drink too."
"Thanks," Jiraiya said appreciatively, laying a bill on the counter with a wink.
It didn't take long to find the back hall with private rooms. There were small ones for individuals and much larger ones for parties. The entire second floor was an event space in itself. Room three was as intimate as it got. A wide couch on one end and a low stage on the other with barely a foot between them. He wasn't waiting long before there was a light knock.
"Oh my, it really is you, Jiraiya."
If the woman was to be summed up in a single word then it would be busty. If he were forced to pick a second word? Really.
"Masuyo, it's been too long," the Sannin greeted, taking the offered drink with a grin. "You look beautiful."
"I'd better," she smirked, closing the door behind her. She pulled a chair from the back of the stage and sat on it. "I was wondering if you'd be around sometime soon."
"Were you?" he asked in curiosity.
"Sure. Odd weather's been cropping up. Dark looking red clouds."
Jiraiya paused for a fraction of a second as he sipped his drink.
"You'll have to tell me all about it," he said, making himself more comfortable. "Do you have the time?"
"If it's you I can make an exception."
They paused as a dull cheer was heard through the door, drawing odd looks from both of them.
"Anyway, I've been practicing something new, want to see it?"
"Well, I am on the clock so to speak, but whoever said you can't work and play at the same time?" he said with a grin, leaning back in his seat as the woman started her dance.
Meanwhile at the bar…
Kakashi currently faced the room of patrons that all watched him expectantly. Even the single dancer that was currently in the center of the room was watching, leaning against the pole on the platform. He reached his right arm out, grabbing the cold glass and flicking his wrist. A cork popped, liquid poured, and the champagne bottle arced through the air. His left hand slid a glass across the counter catching every drop of the seemingly wild spill within. A twist brought his arm around, catching the bottle a hair before it hit the counter and freezing in place. The cork was securely held in two outstretched fingers.
Applause and "oohs" followed.
"Amazing…" the bartender said. "You shinobi are something else."
"It's all in the wrist," he said, returning to his seat while giving the patrons a short wave. "So about that drink…"
"Oh say no more, shinobi-san. It's on the house, what can I get you?"
Kakashi smiled under his mask. Shinobi life was pretty cool at times.
Xxx
As expected, it didn't take long for Naruto to find Tsunade. His henged shadow clones spread throughout the village with ease, blending in as they took in everything. Half an hour after starting, one spotted Shizune walking through a crowd, little pig Tonton in her arms and a resigned expression on her face. He casually followed her for a minute before breaking off, ducking into an alleyway and dispelling without notice.
"Ah, got them."
Sakura and Sasuke looked over at Naruto's announcement, having been scanning the large room for their targets under the guise of taking the place in. The smaller casino was a more subdued space but the large one was actually much more bright and lively than they'd expected. Truth be told, it was hard to imagine the legendary kunoichi to be in a place like this.
"Where?" Sakura asked.
"They're eating somewhere not too far away from here."
"Did you let Kakashi-sensei know?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah, he's heading over now with Jiraiya-sensei." The blonde paused as he felt something under his foot. "Hmm?"
"In that case we should head over soon too," Sakura said.
The genin made their way outside into the bustling street outside. "Okay, Naruto, where to?"
Sakura and Sasuke looked back but where they'd expected to see their friend, instead the space was empty. Both blinked in confusion.
"Naruto?"
Xxx
Tsunade knew that something was wrong.
She should have figured something was off after winning well in the smaller of the two casinos that morning, but at the time she just brushed it off. After continued success in two private gambling dens however she was getting wary. Usually winning streaks like this…
A large man with a mane of spiky white hair entered the restaurant, closely followed by a shorter man with short white hair and most of his face covered. It took a grand total of two and a half seconds before the larger one noticed her and lit up in excitement.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me."
"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune said in surprise, looking up from her food in concern. She followed the blonde's gaze to an even greater surprise. "Jiraiya-sama! And Kakashi-san?"
"Hime, what a coincidence!" her old teammate said boisterously, giving Shizune a pointed look that she understood immediately, relocating to the empty spot at Tsunade's side of the table. He and Kakashi took the two opposite them.
"Coincidence my ass, don't you have work to do?" she griped, pouring herself more sake. Kami, what dumbass problem was he about to lay at her feet this time?
"Who says I'm not doing it right now?" he countered, laying a small scroll on the table in front of her. "Delivery. You can guess who it's from."
Dread spread through her body as she took in the plain looking scroll. Whatever buzz she had achieved seemed to dull as her hand automatically snatched the thing up and opened it.
Tsunade,
I will be brief. You are being recalled to the village for a matter of great importance. Out of respect and care I have allowed you a very long leash, however your time abroad is now over. Jiraiya will give you any details you ask and will escort you back with his team.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sandaime Hokage
She fucking knew it was bad day waiting to happen.
A flick of her fingers sent the offending message at Jiraiya's forehead hard enough to knock him over but he snatched it out of the air without breaking his grin, reading it over himself. Absently he placed a privacy seal on the table before tapping it with a flaming finger.
"Oh, that's what the old man said," he mused, incinerating the paper with some fire chakra from his fingers. "Well, any questions?"
"This is your team?" she asked after a second, deciding to hold off on the one that everyone knew would be driving her crazy at the moment.
"Actually it's Kakashi and his kids. He leads Team Seven."
"Lovely, the insane group. What a winner," she snarked. "Why the fuck are you here, Jiraiya?"
"To collect Konoha's next Hokage," he replied simply.
Ho- Hokage!?
Rage bloomed in her chest.
Is this a fucking joke?!
Dead silence hit the table as everyone looked at him in shock. Clearly he hadn't shared everything with his own team.
"Hokage?" Kakashi repeated. He moved his one eyed gaze back to her appraisingly and nodded after a second. "Yes, I can see why they made that choice."
"Those old farts can make all the choices they want," Tsunade snarled. "Like hell I'll take that shitty hat."
"If you want to argue you'll have to take it up with Sensei," Jiraiya said, shrugging as he took some of her sake. This guy was really trying to press her buttons wasn't he? "Mmm, that's good. Anyway, you're being recalled. Doesn't matter what it's for in the end and I'm not about to let you walk away."
Slowly Tsunade stood, leaning forward slightly and cracked her knuckles against the wood table.
"And what if I decide to walk anyway?"
Jiraiya's gaze darkened and Shizune visibly shrunk back from the man. Even Kakashi seemed to tense up.
"Then in that case I'd-"
"Tsunade Senju!"
The four adults turned to see a large samurai approaching them with a disgruntled expression. Two Leaf genin trailed him while a third was being held in the air by the back of his shirt. Kakashi's team obviously, and their identities…
Even though she hadn't seen him for over a decade, she could have been brain dead and still recognized Minato's son, the Leaf's very own jinchuriki. Naruto Uzumaki if she remembered right. The other boy was obviously an Uchiha, which given their very dead situation made him Sasuke Uchiha. The girl was a mystery but dismissed instantly. A few seconds later he stopped near their table.
"Does this kid belong to you?"
Naruto let out a weak chuckle but stopped as he was given a small shake. Jiraiya let out an exasperated sigh and put his head in his hands. Kakashi simply took a drink, shaking his head.
"I'm not sure what trouble he's gotten into, but we'll make sure he doesn't do it again," she said, giving him a look that promised great bodily harm.
"See that he doesn't," the samurai said gruffly, dropping the blonde on the ground. "Naruto Uzumaki has been permanently banned from the Tora Gambling House."
That was the name of the large casino in the center of the village. What nonsense did this kid- Her thoughts were cut short when she was handed a small scroll.
"As a thank you for troubling you with this matter, the House has graciously decided to clear your debts. We look forward to your continued patronage."
Haaa?
With that the samurai left.
"Man, those guys are rough," Naruto complained. "It was only a little money. They'll make it all back in a weekend."
"They cleared my debt… to keep you away?" Tsunade said in shock. "Kid, what the heck did you do?"
"Well…"
The pinkette started, getting their attention. "We were just wandering around and ended up going into the really big casino in the center of the village. Naruto found a coin on the floor and put it in a slot machine and pulled the handle."
"Come on, it was totally legal," Naruto argued. "If it's on the floor, anyone can claim it."
"Jackpot," Sasuke added with a shrug, causing the adults' jaws to drop. Pinkie just continued.
"After that Naruto got this crazy look on his face and ran to the nearest roulette table. He put the entire jackpot on one number."
"Red number nine," the blonde said proudly, getting deadpans all around. Subtle.
"It was way over the max for that table but I don't think they liked that "some kid" just randomly came in and won slots like that so they allowed it."
A sudden foreboding overcame the table as they all looked at Naruto.
"What? I didn't really think I'd win that too!" he defended. "Unbelievable," Tsunade said, looking at the ceiling. "Kami hates me."
"They paid him what they could and notarized the rest to be transferred to his account in Konoha at a later date. Then they, um, escorted him out."
Naruto just let out a mad cackle, hands on his hips. "Yeah! I'm rich, bi-oof!" Pinkie's elbow stopped that deftly.
"They asked who was responsible for him and he said you," Sasuke said, looking at Tsunade. "That samurai was one of the guards."
Once more all eyes fell on Naruto who was rubbing his side, still grinning.
"You… you planned this, didn't you?" Shizune's voice was a mixture of surprise and suspicion. "Somehow?"
"I didn't cheat, if that's what you're wondering," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head. "But them clearing your debts was pretty cool. I honestly thought they'd cut it out of my winnings when I said that."
"And you did that…why?"
"To make you feel indebted to us?" Naruto tried slowly, deflating as she started to scowl. "Eh, worth a shot. What are we trying to get her to do anyway?" he asked his sensei.
"Become the new Hokage."
"Oh, yeah that makes sense, hang on I'm sorry WHAT?!"
The three genin looked at Kakashi in utter shock, only to turn back to Tsunade who at this point felt like she was starting to get a headache. Dammit, all she wanted to do was eat good food and drink!
"I'll say it again so you can all remember it properly. There's no way in hell I'll take that job. Only a suicidal moron would want to be Hokage."
"Hey!" Naruto rounded on her, clearly angry. "Being Hokage is an honor!"
"Being Hokage is a death sentence," Tsunade spat. "I can't even count the number of lives that stupid hat has ruined. I'm amazed that the old fossil hasn't kicked it yet either."
"The Hokage give their lives to protect their village!" Naruto fired back. "The Fourth even-"
"Spare me the Yondaime worship," she interrupted. "The Fourth was the worst of them all. The greatest Kage who was so amazing that he broke the record for getting killed as young as possible and left the village with no leader when it needed one the most. Nevermind the people who actually cared about him."
Grandfather. Uncle. Nawaki. Dan. Hokage was a path that could only bring pain. Even this kid didn't realize what he'd lost because of it.
Naruto just glared at her in a way that was all too familiar. Seriously, was this kid genetically engineered to piss her off?
"If you really believe in all that crap you're just as deluded as they are."
"Don't you think that's enough?"
Tsunade turned to the glaring pinkette.
"What, you have a problem with me too?"
"It's obvious you've got some kind of issue with the Hokage position, but I couldn't care less. How dare you look down on him like that! From what I can tell you've been running away from any kind of real responsibility for years, drinking and losing money like some kind of degenerate. He's got more integrity in one finger than you do in your whole body, which is something because there's so much of it," she added.
Jiraiya spat out the small sip of sake he just took over the currently frozen Shizune and TonTon. Kakashi had a hand on his hitai ate.
With a blank face the Slug Sannin stood up.
"Outside, Pinkie."
Xxx
Sakura scowled, watching Tsunade walk out of the bar with people scrambling to get out of her way.
"Sakura, you really-"
"No, Naruto. I won't let anyone talk to or about you that way," she spat. "Even if she's one of the strongest people around."
Naruto scratched his cheek in uncertainty, no one aware of the guilty feeling that had settled in the boy's gut. He'd been goading Tsunade on purpose to try and get their showdown and subsequent bet to more or less go the same way as the first time around. Sakura leaping to his defense and running away with it was definitely not anticipated. Besides, however annoyed she'd been with him in the old timeline, she was pissed at his friend.
A part of him couldn't help but be warmed by Sakura's words though, so it wasn't all bad at least.
"Coming?"
He looked up to see both Sakura and Sasuke waiting for him a few feet away and quickly made to follow.
Finally silence fell on the room, and the sound of Jiraiya setting his now empty cup down on the table seemed to reverberate.
"We really should go after them, shouldn't we?" Shizune posed awkwardly, getting an exasperated look from Jiraiya and a blank one from Kakashi. "Kakashi-san's team is about to lose a member."
The Sannin took a moment before reaching across the table and grabbing his former teammates sake bottle, draining it in one go before standing.
"Okay, I'm ready now."
Xxx
Sakura was, in a word, upset. She assumed that the woman she trained under, became friends with, and ultimately emulated over the years (minus the alcohol issues), was always the way she was. Rough, but caring under it all. Reckless, but responsible when it counted. She experienced many tragedies, but they grew her into someone stronger. This bitter, sad existence…
This was not the Tsunade she knew.
She meant everything she said to Naruto. Gone were the days that she'd tolerate anyone bringing him down. But in actuality she was most upset for herself. She was pissed that this Tsunade was a shell of who she was supposed to be.
Naruto, you changed her didn't you? Like you did everyone else. Did I take that from you today?
Seeing Tsunade stand across from her in the empty training ground she'd been led to took away much of the guilt she might have felt. At least she didn't make a scene in the village streets.
You're in for a shock, Sensei.
Over on the side of the field Naruto, Sasuke, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Shizune waited, the latter holding her pig maybe a little too tightly if its expression was anything to go by.
"Shouldn't we stop this?" she asked in a low voice. "Tsunade-sama looked really mad. Sakura could get seriously hurt."
"If there's one thing that being on Team Seven has taught me," Sasuke began, glancing at the others with sharingan eyes before returning his attention to the field, "it is that you should never underestimate Sakura."
"Don't you mean your opponents in general?"
"No, he specifically means Sakura," Naruto said with a nod. "She is damn scary."
Kakashi just nodded.
Shizune just gave them a look of disbelief. A strong genin or not, this was a Sannin they were talking about.
Jiraiya shrugged.
"I'll admit I haven't seen her fight yet, but from what I heard this should be interesting."
"Bets?" asked the masked jonin.
"A thousand ryo says she knocks Tsunade on her ass in the first hit," said the blonde. Shizune snorted in laughter at the absurd bet.
"A thousand to the same, but on her second hit," Sasuke countered. "She probably doesn't want to actually hurt Tsunade."
"I'll take those but Tsunade won't get knocked over. She's still going to lose," Kakashi said.
"Well yeah, she's a Sannin," Naruto said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Shizune just looked up at Jiraiya in bewilderment at the contradicting statements
"Jiraiya-san, where did you find this crazy team?"
The man just laughed, settling into getting some good insight to his newest student.
"They really are betting on us," Sakura sighed. "Ah well. How did you want to do this?" she called out to Tsunade.
"You can do whatever you want, I'll just be using this."
Tsunade held out the pointer finger of her right hand.
"I only need one finger to deal with a brat genin like you."
Sakura's jaw clenched in aggravation.
This bitch…
"You know what? Let's make a bet," the Sannin continued. "If you can make me use more than this finger I'll obediently follow your group back to the village."
"And if I can't?" Sakura asked.
"Then your loudmouth teammate can hand over everything he's got on him and you'll piss off."
Sakura looked over at her team and saw a number of thumbs up.
"Deal."
"In that case, what are you waiting for? Bring it."
A breath later Sakura was in front of Tsunade, fist pulled back. Surprise flicked across the woman's face at the sudden speed.
"Hope you've got strong fingers."
She launched her fist forward as Tsunade moved her finger to block it, the contact causing both to get blasted back a number of feet. Sakura clenched her teeth, flexing her hand before reforming a fist. Tsunade looked from her finger to the girl's fist in befuddlement.
"What the-"
Sakura was within her guard a second later, the ground cracking from chakra pressure off her feet as she came in for a series of strikes to drive the woman into a corner. Tsunade dodged back, using her finger to block a couple before stepping in, pressing her finger against Sakura's wrist and using chakra adherence to drag the final strike into a large boulder that had small wooden targets tied to it for shuriken practice.
The boulder shattered explosively, sending fragments into both combatants. Sakura took quite a bit more as she passed through the remains of the rock but Tsunade could be seen with multiple cuts along her arms as well.
"Jiraiya! What the actual fuck!"
Tsunade looked at her old teammate in a mixed angry shock as she passed her finger, now glowing green, over her scratches and healing them instantly. Jiraiya, of course, was completely unresponsive, as was Shizune. Both had gobsmacked expressions on their faces.
"Damn it, useless pervert! Pinkie, who taught you that?"
Sakura, who was now dragging herself out of the rubble with a disgruntled expression on her face
"I figured this out myself," she said, making a couple hand seals before healing the few cuts she'd received on her face. Internally she was cursing her lapse in judgment for getting baited like that, but damn did this woman's attitude just make her want to sock her.
"You know what, nevermind. I'll get my answers when we're done."
This time Tsunade advanced, and it would have been comical seeing her with that finger extended if not for the fact that she could probably cause an earthquake with it if she wanted. Wielding the thing like a sword she stabbed forward, forcing Sakura to dodge, but rapidly increased the pace of her thrusts until they were well past the pace even a chunin could comfortably keep up with. It wasn't long before an attack landed, the finger sinking completely into the teen's chest with a stricken look on her face.
Horrified, Tsunade pulled back but no blood flowed. Instead the girl lost vivid color as she crumbled away, an earth clone. Quickly the Sannin turned and intercepted the follow-up strike, only for that to be a clone as well, though a regular one. The fist passing through her own as Sakura seemed to flicker in and out of existence was enough to catch Tsunade off guard so the true attack from above startled her into real action.
Sakura's punch was caught in Tsunade's left palm, the force transferring down and into the ground, leaving a spider web of cracks many meters in all directions and even forcing the Sannin's feet several inches into the earth as she weathered the blow. Tsunade's right fist was firmly planted into Sakura's gut, sending her careening across the training ground to tumble and land in a heap.
The woman looked at her open left and closed right for a few seconds before realizing she used far more than one finger in that last exchange.
"Kami damn it. Hey, Pinkie, you alive?"
Sakura weakly raised a hand from her position before letting it flop back to the ground. For a change, she didn't try to heal herself internally at all, worried that Tsunade would notice. Sure that meant she'd be a walking bruise for until the woman healed her but it was worth every ounce of pain considering the result.
"She could have done it if she used the cursed seal," Naruto grumbled, paying Kakashi his winnings. Sasuke didn't say anything but paid the man as well. Watching the fight was well worth the money.
"That was amazing," said Shizune after a second. "To get Tsunade-sama to be serious even for a moment, Sakura-chan put up a serious fight. It's hard to believe she's a genin at all."
"Yeah that girl is something else alright," Jiraiya said, shaking his head. "Hime, do you mind?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
As Tsunade made to gather Sakura, Shizune turned to Jiraiya.
"We're currently staying at a hotel. Should we continue this there?"
Xxx
Strange.
Everything was strange.
As Gaara walked alone through the streets of Konoha, he couldn't help but feel puzzled. The days following his… meal… with Naruto Uzumaki were otherworldly, for lack of a better word. More than once he'd been called out for being distracted, but a blank look ended those conversations before they started. In truth he was distracted, but the reason was likely unbelievable to anyone who knew him.
He felt at ease.
Several days had passed since the meeting, and each was punctuated by many hours of restful sleep. His siblings roughly woke him on the first night, terrified his tenant would run rampant, but a quick dismissal was all he spared them before returning to his wonderful slumber. He felt at ease for the first time in as long as he could remember. The Ichibi was no longer shaking the cage of his mind with every moment.
Not since the intervention of a boy who was righteously furious for his situation. As if they'd known one another for many years.
Yes, things were certainly not as they seemed. Particularly with Naruto Uzumaki.
Also, seeing the beast that more or less ruined his life so far shout, "Please, Daddy, stop! I'll be good!" was still so absurdly unreal that he actually wondered if he hadn't just collapsed from severe exhaustion and now he was just living in a dream while the murder tanuki rampaged using his body.
Yet it was quiet. Calm.
The Ichibi was there where he always was but the incessant whispers and taunting was not. His seal was strong and bright.
He would not show it to anyone. He would not betray the secret of his odd… friend?
Yes.
Gaara's mouth twitched in the ghost of a smile.
Naruto Uzumaki was his friend.
XXXXXXXXXX
And thus Tsunade was found. No need to drag things out here. She's not trying to hide, they've got overpowered skills, Tsunade is a reckless gambler (though admittedly she was well within reason to make a bet like that against a genin). As for why Sakura took her on in such a straightforward way, I feel like it was more a matter of pride than anything.
Not much else to say here, was entertaining to write and I'm looking forward to more. Hope you've enjoyed another dose of this story, and enjoy the rest of 2023 :D