-AN-

Another look beyond the fishbowl. Including right away with someone we haven't seen in a while. Gonna take a break for a few days y'all, need some mental time. But I'll be back next week.

-Story Start-

Jiraiya could admit that he was a lot of things in his old age, from a raging pervert to a world renowned author. His first craft however and what he considered the most important was being a master spy. When the leaf needed information, from troop movements to political wheeling and dealing, they called him first. So hunting down Naruto from whatever rumors sprung up in the nations around the Land of Fire was left to Jiraiya and Jiraiya alone. Sure the old man had strong armed Tsunade into it, he had blackmail after all, but he was determined to find the boy. So today found him on the trail of the latest rumor. A port town in Rice country that had been liberated from some gang or another that had been subjugating the people. As he walked through town he paid close attention, to the happy faces, the busy fishing boats and what looked like several heavy goods transports. This port was bustling, nothing like the run down wreck he had been expecting to find. He had already lucked out at the docks, curious about where all the goods were going but no mention of anything close to Naruto himself.

Finding himself near the market where several stalls were set up and trying to serve their local wares to travelers, he sidled up to one offering fried squid. "How 'bout one for the road?"

The woman serving the snack looked up to him with a wide smile, though the older woman was missing a tooth or two. She however set about grilling up a fresh batch with a nod, "You're not from around here huh? Just passing through?"

Jiraiya nods, "Yeah, looking for a friend's son, kid gets lost real easy."

The woman nods, "My nephew is like that. Wanders from place to place all of the time. I swear he'd lose his head if it wasn't attached."

Jiraiya laughs as he watches her work, "Place is busy today. It always like this?"

Laughing and shaking her head, the woman hands over his requested food, "We have the Maelstrom to thank for this. Cleaned up this country real good he did. We owe him a lot."

Jiraiya nods, handing over her requested ryo and a little extra, "Huh, sounds like a great guy. He running around protecting Rice still?"

Turning away the woman shrugged, "No clue. Someone said our Daimyo was meeting with the Spring Daimyo soon. Maybe he's working for them?" Getting another order, she tuned out Jiraiya who was already walking away, munching on his snack and weaving through the crowd.

"Spring huh…" Jiraiya didn't see a connection but he also didn't have any other leads. Additionally, all these goods had to be going somewhere and Spring was close. It took him a few minutes to leisurely leave the town and make his way into the trees and out of sight. He soon made himself comfortable on a large branch and summoned a smaller toad.

"Good afternoon master Jiraiya."

"Hey kid, give me just a minute, need to write a letter for ya to take to Tsunade."

"Yes sir."

Jiraiya unsealed an empty scroll and a brush, getting to writing away and explaining where he was going next. As he wrote he frowned as he thought about the last month or so. He always seemed just a week or two behind wherever Naruto had been. First it had been the Northern Sound Base, then the base in Rice, and now again all over Rice country after leaving for a while. Wherever Naruto went, lives changed, usually for the better. Though there was a lot of violence involved, explosive as per usual with the boy. In Jiraiya's mind Naruto absolutely had to be the child of prophecy, but with his current mindset of blow everything up, what would that mean for the future?

Would the Naruto of now want to save this world in the end? Or raze it to the ground?

Jiraiya didn't want to risk it and considered it imperative that he found the kid quickly and got back to training him properly. He had to make sure the kid ended up seeing that life and humanity in general were worth saving, not just a few precious people. Everyone should have a chance, even the ones that hurt you. Finishing up his letter, he reminds the toad that he'll be going to spring next and to let Tsunade know as he hands it over to the toad who salutes him. Watching his summon poof away, Jiraiya slowly gets to his feet with a groan and considers just how he's going to do that. Hmmm, wasn't that famous actress in Spring? Maybe a joint venture with his book series was in order?

Far to the south in the Land of Fire, within Konoha itself, Tsunade is receiving a report from Shizune about the upcoming visit from the Daimyo and the village's preparations. True to their thoughts the civilians were in the dark and celebrating the visit, while the ninja were very much on edge. Concentration breaking however as a toad appears on her desk holding a scroll out to her, she takes it with a smile and watches the toad vanish in a puff of smoke.

"Jiraiya or Naruto?"

"Wasn't Gamakichi, had to be Jiraiya." Tsunade opens it, reading quickly yet quietly as Shizune waits. Getting the gist of it and seeing where he was headed next, Tsunade sighs and puts the note away in her desk. Shizune tilts her head slightly and raises her question.

"Anything new?"

"No. Hasn't caught up yet but thinks Spring might have some clues." Tsunade leans back in her cushy seat and groans, "Maybe you and I can track down the kid, stay with him instead."

Shizune finally sits in the chair across from her mentor, seeing as they was going to be informal. "I'm sure it would be much more pleasant than staying here."

"Huh, didn't think you'd go for it."

"I…" Shizune pauses as she thinks about that. "I love my village. I do. But…something has changed here. Sure we've made great changes to the medical corps and you've somehow reigned in some of the council, but it's still…I don't know."

"Bleak."

"Yes. For lack of better word. The village just doesn't have the same lively feel, the same spark, that it once did."

Tsunade however agrees, voicing something that had been bothering her all this time, especially after dealing with Danzo. "It feels like someone is still working behind the scenes. Changing things, grabbing control. We know it isn't Naruto, he seems to be busy running roughshod all over the nations. But Danzo. Heh, I could see that old bastard making a play for my seat during all of this."

"Do you really think he would do something with the Daimyo here?"

Tsunade nods, "It'd be the perfect time. Make the argument that all of this has happened under my rule, that I seem to be dealing with all of these issues, even if they were leftovers from the third, and that I have virtually no support on the council. He could make a legal play and gain Daimyo support all within one visit." Here Tsunade glumly pushes around some paper, "Not much I'd be able to do if the Daimyo asks for my removal."

Shizune frowns, "You're still going to fight it right? Naruto did fight to make sure you would be the next Hokage." She liked the boy and didn't want to see his hard work thrown away.

Tsunade nods, "Of course I am. The kid gave me the kick in the ass I needed. If Danzo thinks he can play around and take the hat from me easy then he has another thing coming." Sensing a team coming the legendary ninja motions for Shizune to stand. She does so and comes around to Tsunade's shoulder as Team 7 enters her office.

Kakashi is in the lead, "You summoned us Lord Hokage?"

Tsunade nods, digging through another pile of paperwork to find a scroll and toss it to the jonin, "There's been some movement around Wave that's been interesting me. Doesn't seem military, but lots of civilians. I'm worried the likes of Orochimaru is up to something disgusting again, so I'd like you and your team to look into it, most of you have a history there after all. Just recon, no combat. If you find yourself in a combat situation do everything you can to leave quickly." What she was curious about was that for such a small nation that had many people headed that way meant they had to be using Wave's ports. But why? The only major nation out that way that would require ships from Wave would be Kiri, but they were still in a civil war weren't they? Had that changed?

Kakashi salutes and ushers the team out, mind already considering the possibilities just as Tsunade was. Sakura however is excited as they descend the stairs towards the ground floor.

"I wonder how Tsunami, Tazuna, and Inari are doing? Think things are better for them now?"

Sasuke nods, "Have to be, Naruto exterminated Gato for them, unless some other despot moved in."

The two teammates brainstormed back and forth with ideas while Sai and Kakashi walked along silently behind them. Kakashi because he was deep in his thoughts and Sai because he had not been on that mission and had nothing to add nor had any curiosity about it. The file provided by Danzo had been thorough.

Behind them Tsunade frowned as she motioned for Shizune to close the door. After she had done so Tsunade pointed at it, "That's another problem. Danzo stepping in and providing an apprentice as a replacement for Team 7? It stinks, worse than rotten eggs. Everything about it makes me want to pick up and run like the debtors are after us."

Shizune giggles, "At least your good luck curse isn't acting up."

"Don't remind me, the second it does you and me are outta here." She meant it too. Wherever the kid was, it had to be better than this.

-b-

Deep in Hotspring country we find another group of globe trotters on the lookout for a explosion happy blonde. Killer B and Yugito along with a hastily added team Samui have found and are relaxing in a rather cozy outdoor spring, though the group is separated by a partition. They could talk over it, but thankfully for the girls, the men wouldn't be peeping.

Yugito however is relaxing back with a smile, the warm water pleasing not just herself but also the Matatabi as well if the purring she could hear was any indication. "Thiiis is the life. I can't remember the last time I was able to relax like this."

Karui groaned, "I'd be happier back home. Why did we get added on for this? It's just some kid right?"

Samui was rubbing her shoulders and trying to work out the knots there, "We're coming along as some extra help, just in case the kid's tastes vary." While she wasn't one normally for seduction missions, if her Kage asked, she would do her duty."

Karui scoffed, "Of course they send the boob monsters along. Men are such garbage sometimes."

Yugito sighs in bliss, "Don't ruin this for me alright. This is the most freedom I've had in a while and I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest, got it? I wanna milk it for all it's worth."

Over the wall B agrees with part of the sentiment, "Being out and about is nice, no doubt."

Samui finally relaxes completely into the water, her short hair floating like a halo around her, "This is going to do wonders for my back."

Jealousy spiking through her, Karui mutters quietly, "Bet we could cut those utters off, that'd do wonders for your back."

Thinking about things and ignoring her teammate, Samui calls out to B, "Gotta ask. Do you really want to find this kid at all? He's a container like you and Yugito. You gotta know what he's probably gone through by now."

B shrugs as Omoi himself is relaxed enough to fall asleep it looks like, "I sort of do, and sort of don't." Rapping turned off, it's Karui who picks up on his mood shift.

"Why the hesitation?"

"Well, think about it. Mr. Nine left Konoha. The bleeding heart village that usually produces some of the most loyal ninja of the land, some of which have been abnormally powerful. And he left? What would cause that to happen? Someone try to kill him? Someone try to hurt someone close to him? We don't know but I could see them stopping at nothing to get him back. Them, and everyone else just like us. This is a race, with potentially world war consequences."

Yugito nods, "He's right. One wrong move and even before we find this guy we could spark a conflict. The Kyuubi is without a doubt, the strongest biju ever. Even compared to B and his biju combined. So it's like a shitty game of hide and seek. Only the seekers are from every other major village on the planet and the hider is capable of leveling countries."

"So a race against time." Samui utters out quietly.

"Yup, hopefully though as containers ourselves we'll be able to sniff him out before anyone else. Since no one seems to know where he is or where he'll end up next." Yugito speaks up again while internally the Matatabi pipes up.

'He has been through this area, you know.'

Frowning Yugito directed her irritation at the biju, 'You didn't think to say something sooner?'

'You never asked?'

'Why…why would I need to ask you to keep an eye out for his chakra?'

'Oh I'm sorry kitten, I didn't know I was your permanent chakra sensor. And I thought you wanted this vacation?'

Yugito wanted to rebut that, but really in the end couldn't, so let it go, 'Lazy cat.'

'Better than the blonde in heat for a child.'

'I was joking.'

'No, you weren't.'

B however knocks on the divider to gain everyone's attention, "Might as well enjoy this moment of rest while we can. We'll be all over the nations soon, looking like that rover, but don't bend over for the rover we'll be looking for." Getting exasperated groans from everyone, they settled in to relax and be at peace. None of them were sure how long they would be able to have that after all.

-b-

Temari could say with certainty that taking the job as a diplomat wasn't all that bad, if anything it was pretty chill. Sure in the Leaf she had to hang around stuff old men or that lazy ass Shikamaru, but it gave her chances like this, wandering into a ocean side town across the absolutely most massive bridge she had ever seen. Curious however at the monument sitting at the end, she stopped to read it while a steady influx and outflow of people passed her by.

'The Great Naruto Bridge, where our country had our hopes and dreams returned to us by a kind but determined man. We thank Team 7 for helping us in our time of need.'

Huh, that kid really did get around didn't he? Shaking herself and continuing on, she decided to explore a little bit before she focused on her main goal of this trip. Acting the role of tourist, she explored the market district that overlooked the port area, which itself was busy. "Must do a lot of shipping through here, no wonder they wanted to open trade with us." This small country must be raking in some serious cash with that much traffic. Focusing, she came upon a stand selling takoyaki that she happily purchased and continued on, walking through the busier section of town towards a walkway that overlooked the port district. Eating and thinking, she watched all manner of ships coming and going. "No wonder there are so many civilians moving through here, busy port like this means work, steady work at that." Enjoying the clear sky and clear weather, munching away while thinking idly she wasn't seeing anything nefarious here. Sure they got the letter about Naruto, but this might be pointing to something more. Was someone using Naruto's name to build a reputation? Was Naruto going along with it? She didn't know the kid well enough to make a judgement other than he seemed real kind at heart.

Coming up next to her, a slightly shorter woman in a red blouse and blue skirt leaned against the same railing Temari had found for herself, "It's a lovely day isn't it?"

Odd, did she know this woman? "Uh yeah. If you can get over the smell of the sea." It did have a particular smell to it, life sure, but not all of it alive.

"You get used to it around here. It reminds us of where we came from." The woman turned dark eyes to Temari, "My name is Tsunami, it's nice to meet you miss ninja. What is your name?"

"Uh, Temari, wait…" Was this the woman she was supposed to meet here? She was the one who sent the letter wasn't she? "You're-"

"Yes, I sent the letter to your Kazekage. I assume with your presence you're open to talks?"

Temari nodded dumbly, caught flat footed. Either this woman was the most talented ninja she had ever met, capable of hiding even the smallest amount of chakra, or she was a complete civilian. And no civilian should have been able to get the drop on her like this. Interesting. "My brother was interested yes, though we had some questions. You did say you needed to wait for your leader."

Tsunami stepped away to bow lightly and then turned, "Please follow me. We can discuss things at my home." Walking away once she saw Temari joining her, Tsunami led the way.

"Your town is very busy, has it always been this way?"

"Oh no, we didn't improve until a particular Leaf ninja team showed up and showed us a better way. Since then we've taken the lesson to heart. We took over the Gato corporation and have been exploiting it and it's resources ever since." Here Tsunami looked to the younger woman next to her with a smile, "Of course, we have higher aspirations now that we plan on making come true."

"I see." And Temari could as well. As they walked she could see evidence of new construction, buildings and new roads, even a very large warehouse along the main road that seemed to be a hive of activity. "What's this?"

Tsunami motioned with a hand, "One of our aid stations. Ever since we started advertising for work we've been getting refugees and the like. Some aren't in the best of shape so we set up stations like this to help them get back on their feet while they find work and lodgings." They passed the warehouse soon enough, Temari looking inside the well lit place, it's overhead lighting humming in her ears. The rest of the trip out towards the outskirts of town were in silence, Temari almost vibrating with questions but not willing to upset this tranquil woman. Temari still couldn't get an exact read on her and it was setting her on edge.

Soon before a cozy looking two story home, Tsunami opened the front door to usher the ninja inside. Closing the door behind her, Tsunami motioned to the couch, "Please have a seat, I'll be back in a moment." Watching Temari sit as requested, Tsunami made for the basement, again closing that door behind her. Lights coming on, she was soon at the bottom of the steps and locating the hiraishin tag on the wall. Tapping on it lightly several times, she stepped away from it and waited.

Within a few breaths Naruto appeared before her, black pants and boots somewhat dusty, orange shirt and chainmail on display, the taller muscular boy had a frown on his face, "Everything okay Tsunami?"

"Oh yes, sorry I did not mean to worry you. We have a visitor."

"Visitor?"

Tsunami nods, "Yes, your chakra sensor seals picked her up. A young woman from the Sand Village, Temari she said her name was. Blonde hair in four pigtails, black dress and a large fan on her back."

Naruto rifles through his memories before nodding, "Yup, that's Temari, wonder why she's here."

"I sent a letter considering possible trade agreements and a possible alliance while you were away." Tsunami closed her eyes and put a finger to her chin, "I did not think they would send someone so soon."

Naruto however just sighed, "Everyone likes making more work for me." However he drew himself up because this was a good opportunity. The Sand siblings weren't bad, he didn't think, just got caught up with a shitty situation. Of the same idea he didn't have a problem with Suna or Wind country and this would be a good way to open up their trade routes a bit. "Anything I should know before I get up there?"

"I mainly offered trade for heavy metals and glass making sand for fishing and water imports. Along with the Alliance offer."

Naruto nodded as he thought about that, "Tazuna was saying something about possibly running low soon on metals, and we can always use glass. Okay, we'll get this meeting started and maybe set up something more formal later, maybe we can go to suna instead so we can flash away in an emergency."

"A wonderful idea."

"Okay, I got this then, she's upstairs?" Naruto was starting to get into this.

"Yes, alone at that."

Naruto nodded, "Okay, we got this then. Lead the way. By the way, I appreciate this. You thinking ahead for us."

Tsunami bows, "Yes of course my Lord. My pleasure."

"Oh don't' tell me you're going to start that too."

"I told you did I not? We are your people to lead and command."

"Right right, got it." Tsunami opening the door and standing aside, Naruto grinned as he stepped out and took in the sight of the blonde Suna nin, "Yo."

Eyes widening with surprise, the kunoichi was again caught flat footed, "You. You're actually here?"

Naruto nods, "Yup, sorry I didn't meet you right away, been busy with work." Naruto came around to sit on the chair opposite to the couch Temari was sitting on, Tsunami standing to his left, "So." Naruto leaned forward a bit with some focus, "So then, we've peaked your interest then?"

Temari nods, "My brother was interested mainly because you were mentioned. We'd obviously have to set something up more formal, but I came just to get an idea of how true the letter was."

Naruto nodded, "Well it's me for sure. I'm sure you can be discrete about this." Naruto winks, "Really don't want the Leaf to get wind of me right now."

So they were right, Naruto did leave the Leaf for good. Interesting. "Of course we can, we're ninja after all."

"Great, because I'm rebuilding my clan's previous village into something much more grand, and I want to keep it standing for a long long time. And Uzu needs a lot of resources."

Temari taps a fist into an open palm, "That's why you need us, heavy metals and silicates for construction material."

Naruto nods, "That's why we're offering ocean trade routes, fishing, and water imports as well. Some of your biggest needs, as well as in the future, mission sharing between ninja villages." If he remembered his lecture from Kakashi, the whole reason Suna had problems to begin with was they were receiving less and less missions. As long as he was willing to spread the love so to speak, that shouldn't ever be a problem.

"The trade alone would be worth it. Mission shares however." That was already on it's own bordering on actually alliance and partnership, something they hadn't even gotten with any of the other major villages in the past. Grinning the girl leans back, shifting her legs for one over the other, "I think my brother could absolutely go for this. We'll have to set up a time to really have a meeting between leaders soon."

Naruto reaches forward with a hand, shaking her own after a moment, "I agree. Give me a bit and I can write a letter personally for Gaara."

Temari pauses, "Wait. You're going to write the letter? Who's your leader?"

Naruto's grin became somewhat feral, "That'd be me. Not officially the Uzukage just yet, barely a village to lead, but Koyuki likes to call me the Shadow Kage" Seeing the girl's deadpan look he shrugged, "It's growing on me. No one expects explosion boy to actually be able to think or lead."

"Makes sense…" Temari unseals her own letter from her brother to Naruto, handing it over to him with a coy smile, "Hey, just a thought." Seeing she had his attention she smirked and raked her eyes over his attractive and well formed frame, "How do you feel about blondes?" Oh dear.

-b-

Deep within a forest that sported both super large trees and larger than life mushrooms, an irritated and dirty Kurotsuchi was cursing up a storm as she found herself lost yet again in this maddening place.

"When I get the fuck outta here I'm sooo kicking this asshole's ass! Fuck the Leaf and fuck the Maelstrom!" She knew her grandfather had warned her against fighting, but if this kept up, she just wasn't going to have a choice in the matter, she was going to have to murder someone to get back her good mood. Finding a river finally, something she could follow for a while, she frowned as she saw the footsteps on its bank. "Are those, are those my footprints?" She remembered crossing a river coming into this forest…did she really go in a large circle?

"I wanna go home!"

-AN-

And cut. Another look between the other interests chapter. It's a countdown to the Daimyo visit in Konoha. How much trouble can everyone get up to until then? Well with Naruto? A lot.

-OMAKE-

Anko was not one to put up with shit from anyone in this village. Already having to put up with the council's bullshit and the snubs from the civilians. She was a woman who did what she wanted, when she wanted, and didn't regret any of it. That said, one thing had been getting to her recently that she hadn't thought about.

She had such a bitchy personality, finding a boyfriend was quickly becoming a problem.

Sure there were plenty of guys who thought they could sling the ding a ling her way, but all of them assumed because she was a member or the torture and interrogation unit that she was into some real kinky stuff.

She was, but that was besides the point.

She wanted romance too! She wanted to be lovey dovey and do stupid lovebird shit even if it was just at home. She did have an image to uphold after all. But today found her wandering around in search of Kurenai, the other woman usually good for some fun when she wasn't around that stick in the mud chain smoker. So distracted however by her thoughts that as she rounded a corner she smashed into someone else who apparently wasn't paying attention either. "Watch where you're going buddy!" Knocked on her ass, she looked up to see a scared face above her.

Iruka considered himself very patient, dealing with kids in the ninja academy sort of forced that upon him. But with his favorite former student gone and being privy as to why, his temper and fuse had gotten somewhat shorter these days. Especially with other adults. "You watch yourself damnit!" He hadn't noticed who he had bumped into first, but the attitude bothered him right away.

Anko paused as she thought about that response. Some guy wasn't on his knees grovelling to her? He wasn't scared of her either? Huh. "Hey, you're that academy teacher that Uzumaki kid used to rave about."

Iruka finally paid attention to who he had bumped into, and immediately blushed, "Oh uh, sorry Anko. Just been distracted lately." Did she always have to wear such a provocative outfit? He could see just about everything right now.

Anko picked herself up and dusted her clothes off before slinging an arm around the man's shoulders. "Tell ya what, you buy me some dango and we can talk it out. How about it?" She didn't notice at first how tall he was, she appreciated it now.

Iruka didn't have anything better to do at the moment, and he was in a drinking mood, "Uh, sure. I could use a friend."

"Perfect! Let's get this friendship underway!" Maybe things were finally looking up for her! Plus, Kurenai heard a rumor that the teacher was seriously packing too, hmmm, let's see how the night goes shall we?