AN: thank you for joining me. here's another long chapter. things are getting intense.
Start
As the team treehopped toward Sasuke and Gaara, Naruto's sensory ninjutsu detected a massive dip in Sasuke chakra, pamic gripped him. Realizing they might be too late, he swiftly created a shadow clone. Focusing chakra to his muscles, Naruto burst ahead of his team, his speed doubling theirs.
"We're running out of time! I'll go ahead and assess the situation. Follow my clone!" Naruto shouted, his voice trailing behind him as he raced toward the impending confrontation.
Naruto reached Sasuke and Gaara's intense battle, observing Sasuke's severely depleted state adorned with mysterious seals across his body. Before he could contemplate aiding Sasuke, Gaara, resembling a miniature tanuki, lunged from a higher branch with sand claws ready to impale his prey.
"Shadow clone jutsu."
"Substitution jutsu!"
A clone swiftly appeared, substituting with Sasuke and taking the impalement from Gaara.
"Where did you go, prey!" Gaara roared madly into the forest.
Naruto created another clone, grabbing the exhausted Sasuke and tossing him onto his back.
"You, you're that sword guy," Sasuke said, drained and nearly out of chakra.
"Yeah, you did well. He's not someone we can defeat right now. We have to retreat," Naruto stated, gesturing for his clone to carry Sasuke back towards the others.
"There you are! Sand shuriken!" Multiple sand shuriken blazed towards them, The clone turned shielding Sasukes body, multiple impacts hit it popping the clone and sending Sasuke to the ground with a groan. Gaara moved to attack him, only to receive a boot to the face from Naruto.
"Your opponent is me now," Naruto declared, drawing his odachi.
"Fine, I'll kill you all and prove my existence!" Frothing at the mouth, Gaara charged at Naruto, blocking his sword slash with his sand arm and throwing a punch that landed on Naruto's chest, propelling him into a nearby tree.
Naruto swiftly flipped mid air landing feet first on the tree, running up it to dodge the blast of compressed air that Gaara shot at him. Pushing off the tree, he launched himself into the air.
"Shadow clone jutsu." Three clones appeared, grabbing Naruto and a clone grabbed the two clones anklee, tossing them at Gaara.
"Lightning Style: current!" They yelled simultaneously as they reached Gaara, destabilizing his sand arm for a moment.
poof* *poof* They dispersed.
"Aaaahhhhhhh!" The real Naruto yelled, descending with a slash.
"Shukaku's armament!" Gaara roared, throwing his now multicolored blue and yellow arm against the sword, snapping the blade in half. Wide-eyed, Naruto didn't react to the vicious wind ball that hit him in the gut, throwing him to the forest floor.
Naruto pushed himself off the ground, staring at what's left of his sword—the handle.
Damn it, I got careless, he thought to himself.
"Die!" Gaara, jumping from above, yelled in the form of a full miniature tanuki, sand covering his entire body.
"Water style: water dragon jutsu!" The water dragon hit Gaara hard, throwing him away from Naruto and giving him time to get up.
"Thanks, Hana," he muttered as she appeared, throwing his arm around her shoulder.
"The others got Sasuke; we need to retreat now," she said.
"Leaving so soon." Gaara appeared by their side in an instant. His large sand hand grabbed her skull, ripping her away from Naruto and jumping up into a tree. He slowly started squeezing her skull, listening to her screams.
"Hahahaha Yes, Scream More, more!"
"Let her go! Let her go now, damn you!" Naruto yelled, attempting to stand up only to fall on his face, his body severely damaged.
"Ahhhhh." Hana screamed as Gaara punched her chest over and over.
"Yes! Those are the screams I want to hear."
"Fox, please help me. She's all I have; I know you cared about someone once. Please give me the strength to win!" Naruto pleaded inside his mind.
A red eye opened in a dark sewer-like structure.
"Hmm, let's see how you do with my power, boy." A dark voice resonated through his mind as dark red energy surged up from his navel. Traveling along his chakra coils, Naruto's wounds healed instantly as he hopped to his feet. Disappearing in his fastest shushin, he appeared beside Gaara with a fist fully charged with chakra.
"Oorrra!" He yelled, punching him across the forest. He caught Hana, lowering her down.
"Shadow clone jutsu."
"You know what to do." The clone grabbed Hana, heading back to the village. A light gold sheen radiated from Naruto.
"Gaara!!!" Naruto yelled, disappearing and reappearing in front of him. He threw two punches to his face, dispersing some sand, followed by two kicks to his shoulder that dispersed more sand. Gaara regained his footing, making a retaliatory swipe that Naruto ducked under.
Naruto clasped his hands into the tiger handseal. A ginormous fireball left his mouth at point-blank range, carrying Gaara into a tree that caught fire and fell on top of him.
Naruto kneeled down, slightly out of breath after that exchange. Gaara burst through the destroyed tree, his sand a dark blue and yellow color with markings all over. Naruto made a ram handsign, channeling more chakra from the fox until his entire body was covered by a light gold sheen.
"Aaaahhhh!" They both yelled, charging each other. Gaara swiped left, right, but Naruto stepped back, dodging both. He stepped inside Gaara's guard, landing ten punches into his ribs in a blur. Gaara stumbled back, ribs aching.
"How! How are you this strong!?" He yelled, crazed and angry. Naruto focused, keeping his guard up.
"To protect her, I'd kill anyone." he stated firmly.
"Only weaklings fight for others. I am strong because I fight for myself. I will prove my existence!" Gaara roared the last bit as sand coalesced around his form, Naruto was knocked backwards on his butt. He stood up staring up at a giant Shukaku.
"Playing possum jutsu," Gaara muttered, falling asleep in the sand of shukaku.
Shukaku rampaged across the forest launching jutsu after jutsu.
"Hahaha Im freeeee!"
Shukaku lumbered towards the leaf Village. Naruto knew he had only one hope to stop him.
Mustering and molding the remains of his chakra and that given to him by the Kyuubi he went through handseals before smacking his hand on the ground, a seal appeared.
"Summoning jutsu!" Gamabunta, the towering toad, materialized in a burst of smoke upon Naruto's summoning jutsu. The massive amphibian regarded Naruto with a gruff expression.
Naruto wasted no time. "Gamabunta, we need to stop Shukaku. He's heading towards the Leaf Village, and we can't let him reach it."
The colossal toad grunted, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright, kid, let's put an end to this." Gamabunta positioned himself, ready to confront the approaching menace.
As Shukaku continued his destructive rampage, Naruto and Gamabunta leaped forward, determined to intercept the colossal force before it could reach the village. The clash between the formidable toad and the fearsome tailed beast began, sending shockwaves through the surrounding forest. Gamabunta drew his sword swiftly loping off one of Shukakus arms.
"Shukaku re-grew his arm cackling insanely.
"Massive drilling air bullet." Shukaku shouted, slamming his arm into his bulged stomach, shooting massive air spheres at Gamabunta.
"Water style: toad bullet!" Bunta yelled, forming handsigns, spitting out balls of water that collided with the wind balls, exploding in a storm of rain.
"Kid, we're not getting anywhere like this. Do you know Fire Style?" Bunta asked, jumping to dodge more of Shukaku's attacks.
"I do!" Naruto yelled over the destruction happening around him.
"On my mark."
"Sync your handsigns with mine. Toad oil bullet!"
"Fire style: Fireball jutsu!"
"Toad flame bomb!" They yelled at once as it collided with Shukaku.
The firestorm hit Shukaku with a fierce explosion. Superheating the sand, it stopped Shukaku's movement toward the leaf Village.
"Stupid toad, I'll kill you!" Shukaku yelled angrily, breaking down the hardened sand into sand it used to reconstruct itself.
"We can't win a battle of attrition, you have to wake the medium. Find him!" The boss toad said urgently. Naruto scanned Shukaku's sand body, his eyes roamed until he spotted a small red dot close to Shukaku's chest.
"There! I found him." Naruto told Gamabunta.
"Good job, we need to grab him. We'll do a combined transformation jutsu. Sync your chakra with me again, I'll provide the chakra, you provide the form."
"What should the transformation be?"
"Something with claws, my flippers are not good at holding things down." Gamabunta replied rapidly dodging the reformed Shukaku's drilling air bullet.
"Now!"
"Transform!" They shouted together both holding the ram sign.
Poof*
In a swirl of smoke, the atmosphere transformed into a colossal nine-tailed fox, its massive claws reaching through the haze to pierce Shukaku. The fox swiftly reeled in the sandy tailed beast, sinking its teeth into Shukaku's collar, firmly restraining him.
"Kurama?" Shukaku muttered, confusion evident in his voice.
"Now's the time, kid! Go wake the medium!" Bunta bellowed, his sharp teeth biting into Shukaku's shoulder. The colossal entities shuffled across the terrain toppling trees and reshaping the area.
Naruto focused the remaining chakra from the Nine-Tails into his lower body, enhancing his legs for a decisive move. He bent down and propelled himself towards Gaara.
"It's now or never," he muttered to himself, landing right below Gaara on the sandy Shukaku.
His finger emitted a glow of chakra as he wrote a seal in the air, the characters then disappeared, reappearing on Gaara's head.
"Naruto-layered seal, weight of suppression!" he uttered, the characters glowing a bright blue, awakening Gaara as the sand collapsed around them. Together, they fell through the forest, the toad boss extending his tongue to assist Naruto to the ground. Gaara, using the last of his chakra, created a soft sand cushion to land on, utterly depleted. The battlefield fell silent, the titanic clash a memory to the habitats of the forest.
"I can't move," Gaara said, attempting to shift his body. He turned his head to witness Naruto crawling towards him with both arms at his sides.
"Stay away! I won't let my existence be ended!" Gaara screamed frantically.
Naruto persisted, advancing until he was a foot away from Gaara. "For her, for everyone in the village, I'll fight to my dying breath. I won't let you kill them!" Naruto shouted, his breath ragged.
"That's why he's so strong," Gaara thought to himself, realizing Naruto's strength came from fighting for others. Temari and Kankuro appeared next to him, weapons primed.
"Temari, Kankuro. I'm done. Let's head back," Gaara said. They looked shocked for a moment before relaxing, they sheathed their weapons.
"Alright, Gaara." Kankuro picked him up, and they exited the forest. A few seconds later, Hana, Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Sakura appeared next to Naruto's injured form. The aftermath of the intense battle lingered in the air as the group prepared to return to the village.
Later
Naruto and Hana stood before the funeral service for the Third Hokage. Two weeks had passed since the invasion by the Sound Village and Sand Village. The Sand Village claimed they were provoked into invading by Orochimaru, who had assassinated their Kazekage and impersonated him. Tears streamed down Hana's face as she held Naruto, who felt numb. They followed the line of mourners dropping white lilies on the Hokage's coffin. Naruto walked up dropping his own, he took a look at his grandpa in all but blood one last time before walking away, looking at the funeral from a distance. Hana joined him shortly after.
Naruto stood in the rain with Hana by his side for the rest of the day.
The next day, Naruto visited the Hokage monument. Sitting on the third head, he reflected on the good times and the support the Third Hokage had provided. Clenching his fists, he stood up, determined.
"I have to get stronger to protect the village he gave everything for," Naruto declared aloud.
"Exactly right," Jiraiya said, walking up from behind Naruto.
"He was your sensei, right?"
"Yeah, he taught me everything—how to be a ninja, how to be a man. Now it's our time to carry the old man's will forward."
"Please teach me, Jiraiya-sensei. I have to get stronger!" Naruto bowed deeply at the waist.
"I appreciate the respect, but don't bow. That's exactly why I'm here. I have a mission to find my old teammate, and you're coming along. I have techniques to teach you."
"When do we leave?"
"Now."
Training ground 7
Hana, Sasuke, and Sakura were at Training Ground 7.
"Thanks for the help," Sasuke grunted.
"Thank you for everything, senpai," Sakura said, bowing. Hana giggled.
"Don't bow, we're leaf shinobi comrades. We'll always help each other," she finished with a beautiful smile, causing Sakura and Sasuke to blush slightly.
"Hana-senpai, how did you get so beautiful?" Sakura asked, and Hana giggled even more.
Later, Naruto and Jiraiya trekked through the forest past the Leaf Village.
"Sensei, what jutsu are you going to teach me first?" Naruto asked.
"Not even going to ask where we're going, eh?" Jiraiya teased with a smile. Naruto facefaulted.
"I guess you're right. Direction first, then jutsu!" Naruto declared, and Jiraiya laughed boisterously.
"Alright, alright, we're heading to Gila, I can confer with my contacts on Tsunade's location. The jutsu I'm going to teach you is this."
"Pay close attention, Naruto." Jiraiya held out his hand as chakra slowly started to swirl around his palm. The chakra continued to rotate faster until a small ball coalesced into a blue orb, creating a small wind around it. It made a swirling sound as Jiraiya held it forward.
"This is the Rasengan. This is what it can do." Jiraiya rushed forward to thrust the jutsu at a tree, grinding into the tree and creating a hole where the Rasengan had been.
"Woah," Naruto breathed, astonished at the strength of the jutsu. "It spun so fast I couldn't see all of its revolutions."
"How do I learn it?" Naruto asked as Jiraiya pulled out a scroll, unsealing a water balloon and tossing it to Naruto.
"Focusing your chakra on rotating the water in the balloon. When you can pop it with your chakra alone, you'll be ready for the next stage."
Jiraiya and Naruto arrived in a small village with a festival in full swing. They checked into a room, and with a perverted grin, Jiraiya took off after a brunette into the village. Meanwhile, Naruto stayed in the hotel room, diligently working on perfecting the Rasengan.
Back in the Leaf Village, Kakashi was in the hospital surrounded by several jonin, including Asuma, Kurenai, and Gai. Sasuke, visiting his sensei for training, questioned the jonin about Kakashi's injuries.
"Who was strong enough to put Kakashi in the hospital?" Sasuke asked, but the jonin avoided eye contact. Asuma reluctantly spoke up, pointing at Gai.
"It was during a spar with Gai," he admitted, and Gai nervously smiled. Sasuke found their behavior odd, and just then, Aoba burst into Kakashi's room with alarming news.
"Is it true that Itachi was in the village, injured Kakashi, and is after Naruto!?" Aoba yelled in alarm. Asuma smacked his face in frustration, and Kurenai shook her head. Sasuke, concerned, immediately took off to search for Naruto in the village.
Sasuke headed towards Training Ground 7, anticipating to find Hana there training with Sakura. As he slid into the training ground, he discovered Hana and Sakura working on genjutsu.
"Hana!" Sasuke yelled, catching her off guard in the middle of explaining genjutsu to Sakura.
"I think that's the first time you've used my name," she smiled, but her expression shifted when she noticed Sasuke's agitated state.
"What's wrong, Sasuke?"
"Naruto. Where does he like to go in the village? I have to find him soon," he said, clenching his hands into fists, his scowl deepening. Alarmed by his behavior, Hana pleaded for information.
"What's wrong with Naruto? Please tell me," she urged.
"No. Just tell me where."
Sasuke wrestled with his internal thoughts, deciding not to involve Hana, I can't take her with me. She's important to Naruto, that man will only take her away. Flashbacks played through his mind.
Hana frowned, standing firm. "Naruto is my teammate. If something is happening to him, I won't stand by and let it happen. We can find him quicker if we work together."
"Damn it! Why won't you just understand.
Hana crossed her arms staring him down.
Fine, lead the way," Sasuke relented.
Hana and Sasuke rushed back into the village, heading towards the top of the Hokage monument. They reached the summit, but Naruto was nowhere to be found. "Come on!" she yelled, sliding down the mountain to roof-hop from building to building. She dropped down in front of Ichiraku, Sasuke landing behind her.
Hana entered the restaurant, pushing the flaps aside. "Mr. Ichiraku, have you seen Naruto?" she asked as Sasuke impatiently tapped his foot behind her.
"Hmmm, let me think. I do remember him coming by to buy some ramen to go, said he was heading out on a mission to a nearby town."
"That's it!? That's all you know!" an angry Sasuke yelled, startling old man Ichiraku.
"Sasuke, calm down. We'll find him."
They headed to the east gate exit. "Let's check the gate book. If he went on a mission, he would have had to register to leave," Hana explained as they neared the east exit where Kotetsu and Izumo were on gate duty.
"Fine. Let's check," Sasuke replied.
"OH hey, you two! You look pretty busy, what's going on?" Izumo asked with a carefree smile.
"Where did Naruto go, tell us now," Sasuke said firmly. Hana slapped her face. He has no tact whatsoever, she thought to herself.
Izumo looked confused as Kotetsu frowned. "Look, guys, we can't give you any information about active ninja missions," he said.
"So he is on a mission," Hana replied.
"Good job, idiot."
"Ignore the idiot. Look, you're genin. I'm sorry, but you're not authorized to check the gate book," Kotetsu said.
Hana made side-eye contact with Sasuke, giving him a barely perceptible nod. She walked forward towards them, her large hips swaying from side to side. She had a small cute pout on her face, her eyes twinkling, "not even for me?" she said, getting down on her knees and crawling towards them.
Kotetsu and Izumo jumped up out of their seats, exiting the booth to get a good view of Hana. Sasuke crouched down crawling from the side entrance, entering the booth. He found a large red book, opened it, and flipped to the last page to find Naruto's name signed out with a Jiraiya, heading towards Tanzaku Town. Sasuke slowly exited the booth to see Hana had crawled right next to their feet, her hands reaching for Izumo's pants, who was shaking in excitement, a massive blush covering his face.
Sasuke walked behind the guards with his own blush on his face, giving Hana a nod. She immediately stood up, retracting her hands.
"Shows over, boys. Thanks for the help. See you later." She waved, departing after Sasuke through the village exit.
"Izumo."
"Yes, Kotetsu?"
"We're never leaving this post, are we."
"Probably not."
"Sigh."
"Sigh."
With Naruto
Naruto and five clones had one hand held out in front of them, each firmly grasping a water balloon. The balloon swished around, bulging in certain areas but lacking consistency. Naruto narrowed his eyes, focusing on the inconsistencies caused by his chakra.
"The perv's water balloon had multiple distortions all around it. Thinking about it, the finished rasengan looked like a swirling ball of chaos. Maybe I need to swirl my chakra in different directions," he thought. He squeezed the water balloon harder, directing his chakra to swirl in various directions. One, two, three—sweat started to build on his forehead. Four, five, six—his hand started shaking from the intense focus, but he couldn't stop. He continued rotating over and over until *pop*.
"Yatta!" Naruto immediately created a new shadow clone that popped, sharing the new information with the others who followed his idea.
Naruto went to grab another water balloon when there was a knock on the door.
"The perv is back sooner than I thought."
He walked up to it, opening the door only to be met with a face with Sharingan eyes.
A Sharingan!? Theres only two Uchiha left it must be... Itachi! Naruto thought in alarm, frozen with the door open.
Itachi held Naruto's gaze, his Sharingan eyes almost mesmerizing.
"Come with us, Naruto."
He's right. I should go with them. Why fight, why argue. Wait a minute. Naruto's eyes sharpened, slamming the door. He turned around, jumping through the window as a giant sword destroyed the door behind him.
"I told you we should rush in there and rough him up."
"If the jinchuriki's chakra flared, Jiraiya would have sensed it, immediately coming to investigate. He's not someone we can win against even if we fight together."
"Whatever, Itachi, I'm shaving his legs off at least."
"Hn."
"Don't give me that Uchiha shit or next time I won't buy pocky when I go in to town."
Itachi turned to glare at his teammate.
"That would be most unwise Kisame."
"Hn."
Itachi sighed. How did he get here, arguing about pocky with a guy who arguably had more team kills than himself? Oh that's right.
Naruto frantically roof hopped around the small village looking for Jiraiya. He scanned the different hostest clubs he could identify to no avail. He reached the edge of the village and turned to head to the north side when a giant club caught him in the side throwing him clear out of the village. Naruto's body hit the ground rolling a few times before he found the strength to stand-up.
"What the hell was that? Felt like a barbed club."
"That was me brat." A grinning blue skinned man about 6 foot 3 with gills and a bandaged sword? Landed a few feet away from Naruto's form.
"Itachi is too subtle at times. You look like a tough guy and you're a runner. I'm going to shave off a leg so you don't run on us."
"Like hell!" Naruto formed a cross handseal cresting 30 clones. 20 went to engage his opponent, the rest left in search of Jiraiya.
POOF* *POOF*
Naruto held his head at the influx of memories assaulting his rapidly.
The 20 clones continued to he toyed with by Kisame, itachi appeared on an adjacent tree throwing shuriken to destroy the rest of the clones seeking help.
"Damn it. This is the only way then." Naruto rapidly starting going through the hands signs for the summoning jutsu. When he was halfway done with the sequence, Kisme appeared throwing his sword down on to his back dispelling his chakra and shoving his body into the ground. Naruto coated his finger in chakra. He was stuck on kisames sword but he could do this. Itachi was slowing walking over when he noticed what Naruto was drawing.
"Kisame, move!" Itachi yelled as a fierce gravity distortion appeared where Naruto finished writing that seal.
Kisame jumped a great distancing backwards. Naruto used the opportunity to try to escape only for Kisame to close in quickly.
He's fast! Naruto thought ducking under the first attack he threw. Naruto formed the ram handsign to flare his chakra, Kisame grinned swiping his sword down next to him. His sword gurgled, vibrating.
"What the hell happened to my chakra?"
"Meet Samehada, he doesn't cut he shaves. He loves to eat delicious chakra like yours brat." Kisame turned his head in Itachi's direction.
"Itachi, I'm taking his limbs." Itachi said nothing, Kisame slowly walked closer as Naruto stumbled back falling on his but terrified
"I can't win. " He muttered. Kisame closed in swinging his sword, a red blur appeared blocking samehada with one hand. The blur revealed itself to be a man in his 30s with short cropped red hair, purple eyes with a deep frown on his face. He leaked an insane amount of silver colored chakra.
The figure thew the sword bundle backwards, flared his chakra causing Kisame to get thrown backwards as cracks formed on the ground. Itachi narrowed his eyes, he moved to attack the figure when another red blur threw a kick towards his face that he blocked, the force threw him backwards into a tree that exploded on impact.
Itachi and Kisame regrouped eyeing the new intruders with caution. The person who attacked Itachi was a woman about 5 foot 4 inches with red hair flowing down her back in a braid, violet eyes, a mocking grin on her face. She had a small petite body with curves.
"Akatsuki.. leave or we will kill you." The male spoke harshly in a deep voice flaring his chakra causing more fissures to run accross the earth.
Could it be them? He has more chakra than Kisame, the girl too. Itachi thought focusing his sharingan eyes on each figure.
"Come Kisame, that display alerted Jiraiya. We can't afford to be drawn into a two way battle." Itachi stated as they both faded out dissapearing.
The two redheads approached Naruto lowering their aggression. They had smiles on their face as the male lifted Naruto up from the ground setting him on his feet.
"How much time do we have Yuna?"
"30 seconds."
"30 seconds to what? Who are you guys? Why did you save me?" Naruto asked rapidly, his head swirling from everything that happened. The male only patted him on the shoulder twice.
"You're an Uzumaki, you can handle it. We don't have time to explain. Here." He dug through a pouch strapped to his side, pulled out a blue scroll with red swirls embroidered on it. Naruto's eyes widened remembering those same swirls being on all his clothes. The male redhead handed him the scroll. Could it really be them? I was told they were gone.
"We'll see you again kid." Yuna only waved with a big smile on her face as they both dissapeared instantly leaving Naruto in the clearing. Jiraiya landed on the ground with a boom as Naruto quickly pocketed the scroll. Right behind Jiraiya,a Hana and Sasuke ran up to Naruto.
"Naruto!"
"Naruto!"
"Naruto!"
Hana threw herself at him in a hug he returned.
"Where's Itachi!?" Sasuke demanded eyes roaming the area.
"What happened here?" Jiraiya asked arms crossed, concerned.
"Itachi and this big fish guy showed up at the hotel room. I fled." Naruto started grabbing his arm. "I tried to use ninjutsu, seals anything but the fish guy had a sword that could absorb my chakra. I was hopelessly outmatched. They ran right before you got here."
"Ah yes they tremble before the mighty Jiraiya!" The sage said making a ridiculous pose that everyone ignored.
"Why did itachi want you!?" Sasuke demanded glaring at Naruto.
A calm Naruto took a deep breath, observing the field he felt despair knowing that they could take him at anytime at his current level.
"I don't know Sasuke." Sasuke huffed stuffing his hands in his pockets to head off. Jiraiya appeared in front of Sasuke placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Looks like we have some derelect genin here. Summoning jutsu!" A small toad appeared.
"Ribbit."
"You're In luck! Now you get to witness one of the legendary Jiraiya's jutsu. Pay close attention Naruto." Jiraiya made weird poses as the small toad hopped over to Sasuke, the Toad stretched its mouth impossibly wide growing to 6 feet as it swalled a shocked Sasuke before he could react. The toad shrunk itself back to normal size.
"What the hell perv!"
"Did that frog eat Sasuke!?"
Jiraiya ignored them both as the toad hopped its way toward a sweating Hana. She slowly tried to back away only to be eaten the same way.
"Gamaben. Take these genin back to the village. Tensions are high right now. We don't want to risk any young ninja." The toad gave a toad nod and hopped into the forest.
"How'd you like my jutsu?"
"Gross. Hana's going to swear revenge against you." Jiraiya grinned. "She's not the first female too. This is a good time to talk to you about who we're searching for."
Naruto squinted, "yeah vague-sensei."
"You could have asked." Jiraiya pointed out.
"I'm attempting to be a better shinobi by following protocol."
"Fair enough. We're looking for my teammate, Tsunade."
"Your teammate, you were trained by the old man right?"
"Yes why?"
"So.. we're looking for an old hag." He said plainly. Jiraiya look paralyzed by fear for a moment, his head swiveling around like a mysterious Oni would jump out and grab him. After a few moments, he laughed nervously.
"Hey brat, if you value your life. Don't say that in Tsunades presence but yes she's the same age as I am."
"Yeah yeah whatever pervy sage. So where are we headed?"
"Tsunade is known throughout the lands as the legendary sucker." Naruto blushed furiously, "Not like that brat! She's a terrible gambler and has debts in all the known countries."
"We're heading to the gambling town of Tanzaku-Gai; my contacts reported seeing someone with her description there."
"What does she look like, anyway?" Jiraiya pulled out a photo of Tsunade Senju, handing it to Naruto.
Tsunade's photo revealed a woman with long, flowing blonde hair framing her face. Sharp, discerning eyes hinted at both wisdom and a no-nonsense attitude. A necklace adorned with a pendant rested against her ample bosom. Her expression, a mix of determination and weariness, seemed to capture the weight of her experiences. Naruto studied the image, committing the features to memory.
"Alright, let's find the legendary sucker," Naruto said, pocketing the photo as they continued their journey.
they arrived at Tanzaku-Gai, "how's your rasengan brat?" Jiraiya asked. Naruto grinned holding up a water balloon that bulged all over before exploding in his palm. Jiraiya whistled, unsealing another empty balloon and tossing it to Naruto.
"For this step you'll need to use power to pop the balloon. Go for it." He tossed Naruto the balloon. Naruto grabbed it, held it in his palm surging with chakra. The balloon wobbled but didn't pop.
"Remember, chakra comes from the combination of mental and physical energies. You have to mold the amount of chakra you intent to use. Only through building that correct amount of chakra can you conduct a jutsu. The rasengan is different, you have to build up as much chakra as you can while learning to refine it in an orb." Jiraiya explained
Naruto absorbed Jiraiya's guidance, focusing on molding a greater amount of chakra. With newfound determination, he gathered his mental and physical energies, allowing the chakra to surge more powerfully through his hand. The balloon responded, trembling under the increased pressure.
"Come on, Naruto! Hit it with everything you've got!" Jiraiya encouraged, watching intently as Naruto poured his effort into the technique. The balloon, unable to withstand the intensified force, finally burst in a satisfying explosion.
"Nice job, brat! That's the power we need for the rasengan," Jiraiya complimented, a hint of pride in his voice as they continued their journey through Tanzaku-Gai.
They stopped in the forest right outside Tanzaku-Gai, "One more time, kid. You can do it," he encouraged, handing Naruto another rubber ball.
"Rotation!" Naruto declared, focusing his chakra.
"Power!" The ball exploded, and Jiraiya praised him, "Good job."
As they strolled through Tanzaku-Gai, Jiraiya explained the final step, handing Naruto an empty water balloon. "Containment. Create a shell to hold it together."
Naruto attempted the third step, frustration evident on his face. His repeated failures prompted Jiraiya to call for a break. They entered a nearby bar, and Jiraiya's surprise was palpable when he spotted Tsunade, Shizune, and Tonton.
"Well, well, if it isn't the legendary slug princess. What brings you to this neck of the woods?" Jiraiya greeted, a sly grin on his face.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, "Jiraiya, still chasing after your fantasies, I see."
Naruto, intrigued by the banter, couldn't help but ask, "Fantasies?"
Jiraiya chuckled, "Nothing important, kid. Just catching up with an old friend."
Tsunade eyed Naruto, "And who's this?"
Naruto beamed, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, future Hokage!"
Tsunade smirked, "Bold words for a brat barely out of ninja diapers." Naruto bristled but a look from Jiraiya quieted him down.
Tsunade, in a booth, sipped her drink casually. "So, Jiraiya, why are you bothering me in this quaint little town?"
Jiraiya scratched his head with a smirk. "We've been looking for you, Tsunade. We need your medical expertise, and you've been selected to become the fifth Hokage."
Tsunade scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "Hokage? That position is for fools who throw their lives away."
Naruto, overhearing the conversation, couldn't hold back his frustration. "Fool? My grandpa Hiruzen was the third Hokage. He gave his life to defend the village. Don't you dare disrespect him!"
Tsunade glanced at Naruto, unimpressed. "Kid, don't drag me into your sentimental nonsense."
But Naruto wasn't backing down. His eyes flashed with determination. "The Hokage protects the village, even if it costs their life. If you won't do it, then I will!"
Tsunade's indifferent facade cracked for a moment as she looked at Naruto, a flicker of recognition in her eyes.
Jiraiya shook his head, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Tsunade, you've truly fallen far. Orochimaru was the one who attacked the village and killed our sensei."
Tsunade, leaning back in her seat, took a swig of her drink. "I know, Jiraiya. I heard it from him. Maybe the village deserved it."
Naruto, unable to tolerate her disrespect toward the Hokage, leaped out of his seat, his fist connecting with Tsunade's cheek. The bar fell silent as Naruto stood there, anger burning in his eyes.
Jiraiya looked troubled by Naruto's actions, realizing it will only escalate the situation. Tsunade, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, locked eyes with Naruto. "We'll settle this outside," she declared, her tone cold and determined. The tension in the air promised a confrontation that went beyond mere words.
Outside the bar, Tsunade stood confidently across from Naruto, raising a single finger. "I only need one finger to deal with a brat like you," she taunted, a smirk playing on her lips.
Naruto, filled with determination, proudly declared, "I will be Hokage!" He rushed towards Tsunade, reaching behind his back to grab his odachi, only to remember it was broken during the fight with Gaara.
Tsunade closed in swiftly, throwing her finger at Naruto's head. He ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack. Seizing the opportunity, Naruto retaliated with a side kick, but Tsunade skillfully blocked it. She smoothly transitioned into a grab, using her immense strength to throw him down the street.
Frustrated with his lack of strategic thinking, Naruto smacked himself, determined to change his approach. Performing the Shadow Clone Jutsu, 10 clones materialized, with eight boldly advancing towards Tsunade. The remaining two clones joined Naruto, who swiftly began weaving hand seals.
The eight clones, brandishing kunai, closed in on Tsunade from all sides. With incredible speed, she spun her arm and finger, creating a whirlwind of wind pressure that swirled around her popping every clone in its path. Tsunade smirked, "is that all you can do?" As if to mock her,
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, unleashing a torrent of water from his mouth that took the form of a powerful dragon. Following this, his two clones simultaneously performed Lightning Style: Bolt, creating twin bolts of lightning that combined with the water, forming an electric water dragon. The amalgamation roared, hurtling towards Tsunade with intense force.
Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief at the advanced jutsu Naruto executed – a feat unexpected from a mere genin. In response, she stomped the ground, tearing up a chunk of earth that she skillfully used to block the amalgamation of water and lightning.
On the sidelines, Jiraiya couldn't help but palm his face in exasperation. "Why are these two so destructive? I know I'm going to be stuck with the bill."
The boulder in Tsunade's hands exploded, creating a smokescreen of dust that shielded her from the powerful jutsu. Wary but composed, she stood up straight. Barely audible footsteps reached her ears, and she whirled around to face a familiar blue orb hovering an inch from her face – the Rasengan. Acting on instinct, Tsunade threw a quick kick, hitting Naruto and sending him flying out of the village into a clearing.
"Shit," she muttered, her frustration evident.
"Jiraiya! Why did you teach that brat that jutsu? He's not mature enough for it," Tsunade exclaimed, clenching her fist. Jiraiya, however, smirked, proud at his student's fierce battle.
"I think he'll be just fine," Jiraiya responded nonchalantly, further fueling Tsunade's irritation.
"Whatever, I'm going drinking. Shizune, make sure the brat's not dead," Tsunade ordered, her emotions a mix of annoyance and concern. Shizune nodded, affirming her commitment to ensuring Naruto's well-being, as Tsunade walked off with Jiraiya following close behind.
Naruto lay against a splintered tree, the deep groove in the ground indicating the force of his impact. Covered in wounds, he coughed up blood, his frustration boiling over.
"Damn it!" he screamed, his hands grasping the grass below him. "The gap is this large. How am I going to handle the monsters after me or protect the people I care about?" Memories of Itachi, Kisame, and the redheads who saved him flooded his mind, making him feel weak and vulnerable. Trying to sit up, he coughed out more blood, a harsh reminder of his battered state. With a sigh, he accepted that he would have to lay there until the fox's healing powers could mend his injuries.
"The fox... I can't imagine how it feels to be trapped in someone. I don't know how to feel about what happened, but I was a baby. I don't have any anger towards you. Thank you for healing me," he said aloud, his words carried away by the gentle rustle of leaves. He didn't expect a response.
Eventually, exhaustion took over, and he passed out, his body finding solace in the unconsciousness that offered respite from pain.
Naruto awoke to a soothing sensation on his body. Opening his eyes, he saw Shizune, her hands wrapped in a green glow, pressing against his chest.
"Are you healing me?" Naruto asked.
"OH! You're awake. You're very resilient. Yes, I am. Your body seems to be doing the majority of the work, though," Shizune replied with a smile, her healing chakra visibly at work.
Naruto sat up, ignoring Shizune's protests that he still needed rest.
"I have to master the Rasengan, I have to get faster, stronger. I don't have time to rest."
He walked over to a tree, forming the spiraling sphere in his hand. "Rasengan!" he shouted, thrusting it into the tree. It started grinding into the tree, only to explode, throwing him backward.
"Again," he said, going through the process. He continued well into the night as Shizune watched on.
Meanwhile, with Jiraiya and Tsunade, they were at a bar sharing a drink. Jiraiya's face sobered up for a second. "What does Orochimaru want, Tsunade?" She eyed him quickly before returning to her drink.
"For me to fix the damage Sensei did to his arms, of course." Jiraiya frowned, leaning back in his chair.
"Will you?"
"I'm not sure yet."
"If you even try, I won't hesitate to kill you." She just waved him off.
"What's up with the brat?" She slipped a small powdery substance into his drink when he closed his eyes to respond.
Jiraiya smiled. "My new apprentice. My adopted family's kid." She hummed.
"Be careful; I heard there may be survivors out there."
"Of what? I would be happy for him to meet them."
"They're not the same, Jiraiya. They want blood." Jiraiya frowned, downing his drink in one go.
"We're still trying to uncover who was responsible." She snorted into her drink.
"Are you daft? Danzo, of course." Jiraiya poured them both another shot before downing it quickly.
"No, it wasn't him. I confirmed it myself, and that's what has me worried."
"Whatever, not my problem."
"Tsunade, the village needs you and Your medical expertise. Kakashi is in a coma."
"I'll think about it. Let's go check out that stupid apprentice of yours." Tsunade replied as they left some money on the table and headed out.
Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived at the training ground, where Naruto was hard at work training with 10 clones. Shizune seemed deeply mesmerized by watching him work.
"Shizune, how long has he been at it?"
Ah, Tsunade-sama!" Shizune exclaimed, surprised by their sudden arrival. "Shortly after I started healing him, he woke up and jumped into training."
Tsunade looked surprised.
"Uzumaki, indeed."
Jiraiya grinned. "I told you, I've found a very special egg."
They observed Naruto's Rasengan training, witnessing his unwavering determination and resilience after each failure.
"Rasengan!"
Boom*
"Rasengan!"
BOOM*
Tsunade felt conflicted internally, torn between the choices ahead—help Orochimaru or become the Fifth Hokage.
"How long are you weirdos going to watch me?" Naruto called out, turning his head to look directly at their position.
Tsunade, curious, asked, "A sensor?"
Jiraiya: "Yeah, the brat has a talent for natural energy. It seems to have granted him a sensory ability." Jiraiya waved Naruto off. "Keep practicing, you're making good progress."
"Roger!"
"Rasengan!"
BOOOM*
Hours sped by as Naruto continued training, the chakra burns on his arms continued to grow yet he continued going taking few breaks in between.
The next day, Naruto lay on his back under the bountiful sun, his chest heaving in exhaustion. Determination burned in his eyes as he stood up on wobbly feet. Stretching his arm out, chakra burns ran up from his elbow to his palm. He curled his fingers, and his chakra responded, swirling around his palm until a Rasengan formed.
Focused on the tree ahead, intending to thrust his Rasengan, Naruto suddenly lost the energy in his body. His Rasengan dispersed, and he started to fall towards the ground when he was caught by Tsunade.
"Old lady..." he murmured into her shoulder. She had a tick mark but let it go with a sigh.
"You really are too much like my younger brother." Naruto smiled despite his exhaustion.
"Thank you." He placed his palm on her cheek, a calm feeling radiating his chakra outward, synchronizing with her own. His wounds healed extraordinarily fast, and the grass in the area grew several inches in length.
Tsunade looked stunned, glancing down to question him, only to hear snoring. She smiled, holding him closer, realizing the unique bond forming between them.
A week later
"I see you've come to a decision, Tsunade," Orochimaru remarked.
"I have," she replied, meeting Orochimaru's gaze.
"Good, I'm itching to give you what you deserve. I'll bring Dan and Nawaki back from the dead to be reunited with you for your remaining days," Orochimaru declared, his dead purple arms dangling at his sides. Tsunade walked towards him, her hands glowing green. Kabuto silently watched behind Orochimaru, vigilant.
Tsunade and Orochimaru approached each other until they stood face to face. Orochimaru grunted with a pained grimace, the weight of his cursed arms evident in all his movements.
"Heal me now, Tsunade," Orochimaru hissed. Tsunade reached out to his arms, but just as she was about to make contact, the green glow turned orange. Kabuto detected the change in her medical ninjutsu immediately, throwing a handful of kunai at her head that she jumped back to dodge.
"What's this?" Orochimaru questioned, eyeing Tsunade with suspicion.
Tsunade's eyes gleamed with fury.
"This is what you truly deserve, Orochimaru," Tsunade declared, her voice laced with conviction.
She threw four super-fast punches, targeting Orochimaru's face and chest cavity. With his arms dangling at his sides he could not block her blows, his face and chest caved in from her attacks forcing him to slide backward.
However, before she could continue her assault, Kabuto attacked her from behind with blue-glowing hands.
"Chakra scalpels, I see," Tsunade mused to herself. She coated her own arms in green medical chakra, deflecting Kabuto's arms to his sides, leaving him open for a brutal horse kick to his chest, sending him flying into a nearby building.
"He's mastered the chakra scalpels at his age. Where'd you pick up the medical expert?"
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Our home, of course."
He slithered across the ground, dodging the rocks Tsunade created by smashing the ground and throwing them at him. Orochimaru reached her with his fangs poised to strike her throat. She ducked, throwing an uppercut that tossed him into the air. Her arm started to glow intensely blue from the concentrated chakra.
"This is the end, Orochimaru." Orochimaru glared down at her.
"I will live for eternity, I will feast on your bones. It is not my end!" Kabuto appeared in front of her. She reacted quickly, pivoting to throw her strongest blow at him when he cut his hand, splashing her with blood, freezing her in place.
Blood, Tsunade muttered, staring at her hands frozen in the clearing.
Kabuto smirked. "What a pathetic medical ninja you are."
"Grab Tsunade, Kabuto. We will force her to heal me." Kabuto ran at Tsunade, hands glowing blue. Dozens of small needles flew through the air towards his flank, forcing him to back off. He turned to assess, only to see a blur of orange as a foot connected with his face, sending him sprawling backward.
Naruto landed, Shizune next to him, narrowing his eyes at the silver-haired figure of Kabuto.
"You were in the Chunin Exams as a Leaf shinobi," Naruto stated, a frown on his face.
"So I was. What are you going to do about it?"
"Traitors only deserve death," Naruto replied.
Kabuto laughed hard. "Oh, poor talentless Jinchuriki, do you truly think you're on my level? I could go toe-to-toe with Hatake Kakashi."
Naruto smirked. "Didn't you run from him like a coward in the hospital?"
Kabuto glared, before smiling. He fidgeted with his glasses, pushing them back on his face with his index and middle finger.
"Lord Orochimaru will become the God of this world. Your feeble little monster can not comprehend the strength he has given me. So I'll show you."
Kabuto sprinted toward Naruto holding both arms out as they glowed blue, humming maliciously he closed in swiping his right arm across narutos chest, Naruto jumped back safely judging the distance.
"Aahhh." Naruto screamed holding his hand to his heart, his face contorted in pain.
Kabuto spat, a taunting smile on his spectacled face.
"That's it? Truly your worthlessness is beyo measure. Sasukes the only one with talent."
What was that, how did he do that kind of damage with one blow? Am I going to die? Is this the end? I can't let it - *POOF*
Naruto went up in a puff of smoke. Kabuto widened his eyes in confusion before jumping back quickly as two hands pooped from the ground to grab his ankles. He jumped back again dodging two more hands, he weaved, running across the ground dodging hundreds of hands that sprouted from the ground to restrain him.
Eventually the hands stopped, every clone popped clouding the area in smoke.
"Fire style: Fireball jutsu!" Four voices called out at once launching fireballs at Kabutos position. Kabuto quickly dodged escaping the smoke only to be mule kicked by a clone that popped into smoke.
"Wind Style: Great breakthrough!"
"Wind Style: cutting winds!" Two Naruto's yelled out launching a great gust that blew the smoke away launching cutting blades that tore into the area. When the smoke cleared Kabuto walked out with numerous cuts all over his body that slowly streamed before healing.
"That child is too strong. Uzumaki, the strongest bijuu. He will be a problem in the future, I'll eliminate him now!" Orochimaru stated. He spat a snake from his mouth wrapping it around a weakened Jiraiya to toss him away . Zooming from the sky toward Naruto, he opened his mouth a snake jutting out from his mouth, from the snakes mouth his kusanagi sword extended like a spear piercing the heavens. Naruto unaware of the danger heading towards him continued his fight with Kabuto, He slapped kabuto across the face stunning him.
"Is that all?" Kabuto asked with a sneer on his face.
"No this is. Activate!" Naruto shouted forming the ram handseal. Gravity compressed on kabuto, breaking his bones rendering him unable to move. Naruto moved in for the kill when Orochimaru reached him stabbing his kusanagi through his chest out his back. Jiraiya appeared behind Orochimaru, forming the bird handseal. "Lions mane: sever!" His long white mane of hair coalesced together forming a blade that cut through threw the snake head, he stepped forward landing a left haymaker that sent Orochimaru flying without his sword.
Shizune pulled back her sleeves, using her launcher to shoot needles at Kabuto forcing him back.
"Tsunade-sama! Tsunade-sama!" Shizune yelled for to the catatonic Tsunade, countering Kabutos chakra scalpels with her own.
"Naruto's dying!" She tried again to the unresponsive Tsunade. Jiraiya stiffened, a deep frown on his face as he appeared like a wraith slamming a rasengan into kabuto blasting him away.
"Shizune! Heal him please." Jiraiya begged turning around to block Orochimaru's poison fangs snakes shooting from his mouth.
Shizune kneeled down next to Naruto his shallow breaths bringing pain to her heart. She placed her palms on him, activating her medical ninjutsu. Her hands glowed green seeping through his damaged tissue to assess the damage. She bit her lip switching to fixing the tissue damage only for the poison from the Kusanage to destroy his cellular tissue twice as fast.
"Tsunade-sama! I need your help. The kusanagis poison is too potent. He'll die. The one person that reminds you of your younger brother is going to die!" Shizune's desperate cry echoed around the battlefield.
Kabuto walked up to Tsunade the deep scars from the rasengan healing right before her eyes.
"Regeneration?" She muttered her eyes unfocused. The ability to regenerate tissues, is advanced. How did this boy learn such an ability even if it's rudimentary at best. He's shortening his life span by overestimatoverstimulating his yang chakra.
Kabuto kicked her to the ground. She laid there helpless.
"World's greatest medic my ass. A little blood and you lay down ready to die. How pathetic."
Naruto screamed in pain coughing up some blood. He felt so weak. His eyes felt heavy, he fought so hard to get here, no one would be upset if he rested now. Hana would be OK with him gone. The Akatsuki won't come after her. He could finally find out who his parents were. As his eyes started to close blond hair dangled over his face, chakra dancing within him like a child excited to meet family.
"Kyuubi, Thank you..." he muttered, he could hear distant voices but everything sounded so far away.
A sound pinged within him. What was that? It pinged again. Where am I?
A louder ping. Who am I? The ping was roaring! I'm Naruto... the ping was defeaning, I'm going to be Hokage! He screamed in his mind as a gold chakra flared around around his body burning off the poison. Naruto's eyes snapped open.
"Old lady?" He asked seeing her hands in his chest healing him with sweating dripping down her body.
"Rest, you're almost healed."
Naruto layed his head back down. He closed his eyes content to rest his hurt body when he felt it. A menacing presence demanding blood behind Tsunade. Before he could think he was up dissapearing and reappearing behind the malicious presence.
"Kabuto! Rasenrengan!" Naruto shouted thrusting two rasengans into kabutos back sending him flying into the side of a Boulder, the remains crashing down on him.
Naruto stared at his open palms and body surrounded by the golden glow.
"Woah, how did I move so fast?" He asked himself as the glow faded. Tsunade turned around checking him over for any wounds.
"Looks like your prisoner fixed the muscle atro caused by the poison. You should be ok now, redt. We'll talk more but I need to help Jiraiya. " She ran to the other battle.
Naruto watched her go before remembering another presence he had felt next to him.
"The kusanagi!? Hahaha my sword now." Not only is this the best fuck you to Orochimaru, but I needed a new sword anyway. Picking it up it was like wielding a feather. Same size as the odachi, holding it toward the sun his chakra flowed into the sword, unending chakra from his body poured into the sword as something in his mind began to take shape. Naruto reeled his chakra back before he could finish terrified and low on chakra. Naruto inscribed a contract seal on the sword, sealing it away in a scroll. The blond Uzumaki stood up surveying the battle as the three summons rampaged around the field.
"Woah, so this is an S rank ninja battle."
The blonde Uzumaki felt a wave of exhaustion hit his body, falling on to his butt, he realized his chakra continue to leave him at a steady rate.
"Stupid Brat, once the connections been initiated you can not stop until its formed or you will die!" A voice from within roared at him starting him into sitting up. That made sense. He used his sensory ability to identify the chakra leaving him, was trav toward the scroll containing Kusanagi. What a sword, it's stolen half my chakra already.
Naruto retrieved the scroll unsealing Kusanagi. Holding it with two hands toward the sun he felt the chakra drain lessen.
"Its rejecting you, force all your chakra through the blade Now! "
"I usually wouldn't listen to a strange voice but what choice do I have haha." Naruto squeezed the blade, molding as much chakra as he could he flooded the sword with it casting it to shake. It flung itself violently I'm narutos hands, trying to turn itself on Naruto. It targeted his head and legs forcing Naruto weave with the sword held firmly in his hands before it finally calmed down.
"Hehehe." Naruto giggled to himself holding the Kusanagi. A loud hum reverberated through his skull, The kusanagi began vibrating intensely as the hum grew until it died down. Naruto huffed feeling the mental exhaustion grow.
"Man you're a pain in the ass." As if responding to his words a sheen of wind chakra coated the blade cutting his palms dousing the sword in his blood. Naruto swore trying to let go but it was impossible. The wind chakra dissapeared, Kyuubi chakra coated his hands healing him as the sword changed, the blade turned a dark red, the hilt turned gold and the handle became darker.
"What the hell was that?" Naruto asked the shocked Shizune that had come to join him during the swords crazy last action.
"I don't know, Jiraiya-sama and Tsunade-sama would know more."
Tsunade came down from the sky like an otherworldly valkyre with Gamabuntas sword piercing manda through his skull into his mouth.
"Damn you Orochimaru, you will owe me 1000 sacrifices next time or I will have your head!" Manda the great snake dissapeared in a poof of smoke, Gamabunta and Katsuya following right after.
"The old lady's kind of crazy huh?" Naruto asked Shizune who could only laugh sheepishly. "Maybe but don't tell her I agree with you."
Jiraiya and Tsunade walked up to them after Orochimaru and Kabuto had retreated.
"I was what you did back there brat, Rasenrengan huh?" Tsunade said hands on her hips. Jiraiya stood next to her with a smile of pride on his lips.
"Hehehe, I've been working on rasengan with both hands this entire time, I wanted to surprise Jiraiya-sensei in our next spar.
Tsunade gave him a gentle smile, removing her necklace she slipped in on his head.
"I believe in you Naruto Uzumaki, from now on I the Godaime Hokage. Will you help accomplish your dream." She declared to his surprise.
Later leaf Village.
They returned to the leaf Village 4 days later. Tsunade departed to heal Kakashi who had been hospitalized by Itachi's technique. Jiraiya gave Naruto a few jutsu scrolls, a book on advanced barrier fuuinjutsu before heading out to gather more intel on the Akatsuki. Shizune joined Tsunade in the hospital organizing the various doctor's and medical nin there. Naruto first went to the Hokage monument. There was someone he needed to talk too.
"Hey gramps, I miss you. We found Tsunade and brought her back to the village. She's going to be the Hokage! I know I was really nervous at first too but she is your student so I think we'll be OK. I'm getting stronger but I still have a huge responsibility to protect the village that you gave your life for. Look after me."
"I thought you would eventually come here."
"Sasuke.."
"Naruto. I've been waiting, we have much to talk about."
"I told you I don't know anything about Itachi." Sasuke clenched his fists in anger hearing his clans greatest Traitors name.
"No, I'm not here for that. I realize I ran all that way not just to kill him but to protect the shinobi that risked his life to save me. You're strong, help me get stronger and I in turn will help you grow." Sasuke looked hum in the eye with a deep burning passion for growth, Naruto returned his stare feeling a connection he's never felt with anyone else.
"Alright. I'm willing to try."
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow night at training ground 7." Sasuke departed quickly leaving Naruto to sigh into the ether.
"It seems you've made a friend."
"What's up with everyone knowing about my secret spot?"
"Not much of secret if everyone knows about it." A soft voice giggled stepping into his line of sight.
"Naruto, you're back."
"I'm glad you didn't get get hurt."
"I should be saying that to you! Crazy strong shinobi were after you, not even Kakashi-senpai could defeat them!" Hana yelled at him.
Naruto waved her concerns off. "I was with Jiraiya-sensei, you put yourself in danger attempting to come in-between them and I."
"Don't do that ever again. Your life is worth way more than mine." Naruto finished sternly.
Hana couldn't help but cry, she wiped them away but they just wouldn't stop. Naruto sighed again walking over to give her a hug.
"You were the first person to see me for who I am. If you're not here who would I fight for?"
Hana held him tighter mumbling.
"What did you say?"
"I said you're the only person I have too. I'll protect you with my life because you deserve to live." Naruto started crying himself. He deserved to live? No one had ever said those words to him. He was living in an unbearable hell of survival. This feeling, this overwhelming feeling of acceptance. He belonged in this world, he'd fight anything that harmed Hana. She was his person, his light.
They broke the hug feeling lighter than they had ever felt.
"Let's keep growing together."
"I'm with you every step of the way."
A few days later Naruto and Hana headed to the Hokage tower to grab a mission. They arrived to find a plethora of nervous chunin, jonin and one very irritated Tsunade-Hokage.
"Old lady, what's going on?" Tsunade gave him a quick smack on the back of the head.
"Ouch! Damn it! That's abuse of power!"
The other shinobi eyed him nervously.
"Did you hear what he called her?"
"I might get caught in the crossfire if he says it again!"
"Don't call me that brat!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head with an exasperated Hana behind him.
Another chunin answered his question.
"It's the honorable grandson. He's locked himself in the hokages office."
"Honorable grandson? Do you mean konohamaru?" No shinobi answered him.
"I'm going to go in there, grab that brat and beat him until he's blue, that should teach him some manners." Tsunade was fuming, tapping her heel on the ground impatiently.
"Wait let me talk to him. I think I know what's going on."
"Hmph, you have 3 minutes." Naruto scrambled up the stairs, avoiding numerous paint ball traps, trap floors, itching cream and feathers. He opened the door to see a crying child behind the desk muttering grandpa. His heart broke at the sight.
"Konohamaru.." the blonde said, Konohamarus head popped up, fresh tears on his face.
"Who said that!?"
"I did." Naruto stepped closer allowing himself to he seen.
"Who are you and what's with your dumb face?" Naruto laughed nervously.
"I'm Naruto." Konohamaru's eyes widened.
"Naruto? Grandpa mentioned you.." his eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"
"I'm here because I understand. Your worried your Grandpa's lineage will fade right?" Konohamaru slammed his tiny fists on the hokages desks, trembling in anger and sadness.
"It's not fair! Now that there's another Hokage my Grandpa's memory will fade. They'll forget about everything he's done for the village. He'll just be another memory." Naruto smiled sadly at him. He walked closer sitting on the floor next to his spot in the chair.
"You know, your Grandpa was the longest sitting Hokage. He always told me that everyone in the village was his family. He visited me to celebrate every single one of my birthdays. He was more than a Hokage to the entire village Konohamaru, he was our Grandfather."
Konohamaru stop crying listening to Naruto's words.
"Nothing could ever take away what he meant to all of us. I train everyday to protect the village in his absence but I can't do it alone. I need your help Konohamaru. "
"But I'm weak, how can I help you?"
"By training everyday and looking towards the future. We'll take the spirit of the old man with us and be the fire that protects the village." Naruto declared holding out his hand that Konohamaru grasped. They shared a smile, a new bond forged that helped them both heal.
Boom*
The door was thrown open as Tsunade blasted them apart. She stepped into the office glaring them both down cracking her knuckles.
"Alright brat, looks like I'll be the one to discipline you." She loomed menacingly as they hugged each other for comfort.
"Naruto! Save me!"
"Old lady Tsunade! It's ok now!"
"Just for that you're getting disciplined too brat!"
"Ahhhhhh."
"Ahhhhh."
Later
At Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto, Konohamaru, and Hana sat together, nursing the bumps on their heads from Tsunade's scolding at the Hokage's office. The air was filled with a mix of laughter and the savory aroma of ramen.
Old Man Ichiraku greeted them, "Hey there! The usual?"
Naruto grinned, "Of course! Extra-large, with all the toppings!"
Ayame came up to the counter, smirking at Naruto and Hana, "Looks like trouble found you again, Naruto."
Hana lightly scolded Naruto, "You really should learn to watch your mouth, especially around the Hokage."
Konohamaru chuckled, teasing them, "Come on, you two. You're practically a couple now."
Ayame joined in, "Oh, a couple, huh? Congratulations!"
Naruto blushed, waving his hands, "No way! We're just friends!"
Hana rolled her eyes, "He's impossible sometimes."
Konohamaru grinned, "Well, she's a babe, Naruto. You're lucky!" Hana blushed, she eyed Naruto when he was paying attention a beautiful gentle smile on her lips.
Naruto laughed nervously, "Can we just enjoy our ramen without the matchmaking?"
The group continued their banter, savoring the camaraderie and the comforting warmth of Ichiraku's famous ramen. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the village as their laughter echoed in the bustling streets of Konoha.