One Year later


Land of Fire


Hidden Senju Compounds


The old hidden Senju compounds were back to life as they were being used for living peacefully instead of the hideouts they were previously used as. The compound's vast fields were flowing with life as the greenery that was grown was done by Hashirama Senju himself. While the stream flowing through the middle of the grounds was raised from an underground water source, by her granduncle, Tobirama, these are the living and ongoing proof of the Senju's mastery over water element and nature itself.

The old house standing there to the side of the compound was a traditional two-story Japanese house that held the elegance that all the highly successful clan compounds like the Hyuga held and sitting on the porch of the house looking at a small blonde boy was Tsunade. She smiled as she watched the boy coddle up Katsuyu in his arms and giggling happily as he chased her around, crawling and giggling. She stood up, walking towards the little bundle of joy as she crouched down in front of him a few feet away, opening her arms as she urged for him to come to her.

Naruto immediately forgot all about Katsuyu and started crawling happily to Tsunade, who stepped back a bit. He sat down, confused, tilting his head to the side cutely as she resisted with all her heart to not glomp the boy to death. She opened her arms again, and he smiled as he again started crawling to her, and she again stepped back a few steps giggling as Naruto sat down, puffing his cheeks, making him look all the more adorable in her eyes.

Shizune sat to the side as she watched the mother-son duo playing. She saw Tsunade teasing the boy and laughed as she saw him puffing his cheeks at her teasing. She saw that he never cried no matter how much she teased him, and the most that Tsunade could get out of him was puffing of his cheeks.

Tsunade opened her arms again and saw as Naruto put his hands to the ground and stood up with shaking legs as he took a step towards her, and her eyes widened. Shizune gasped as she got to her feet and her hands over her mouth as she saw Naruto take his first step. Tsunade's eyes watered as she saw him take his first step, and she saw him take another and saw he was watching her sadly and was confused but urged for him to come to her.

"Come on, Naru-chan, just a bit more. Come to Kaa-chan." She said through a sob, and Naruto took five steps and stumbled as she grabbed her in his arms before he fell down and saw him gazing at her curiously. He put his little hand on her cheek and wiped the tear away, and her eyes widened as she understood why he looked sad after his first step and embraced him tightly to her chest.

"Oh god, Naru-chan, you walked so much just because I cried. Oh, my boy, I love you so much." She whispered, and he snuggled in her arms, making her smile. She gazed into his eyes that always drew her to him as she kissed him on the nose as he scrunched his face a bit, and she giggled.

"Oh, you're Kaa-Chan's adorable little fox now, aren't you Naru-chan, aren't you?" she cooed and kissed him as he giggled, and Shizune laughed as she too joined in tickling the little boy. Suddenly they heard a voice startling them.

"Hey, it isn't fair for two ladies to…" said Jiraiya as he jumped up and saw a hail of Kunai and Senbon concentrated on where his crotch was a moment ago and turned ghastly white as he finished the sentence. "… team up on my godson… HEY, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL TO LITTLE JIRAIYA!" he yelled indignantly as Shizune lowered her senbon launcher and Tsunade lowered her hands that were filled with Senbon ready for another charge.

"Well, you damn pervert if you would come like a normal guest, then maybe you would get a little safer welcome, and I would be glad if little Jiraiya disappeared maybe then the girls can bathe freely." She said, and Naruto giggled, clapping as Tsunade smiled at Jiraiya knowingly, and he grumbled about disrespectful blondes, and Shizune laughed.

"Even my own godson betrays me what has the world come to." He cried anime tears walking up to Tsunade as Naruto patted his head in reassurance, making him cry harder and Tsunade and Shizune to hold their sides in laughter.

"So what are you doing here, pervert?" asked Tsunade, and Jiraiya acted mock hurt clutching his chest.

"Oh you hurt me hime can't a godfather come and give his godson an early birthday present?" he asked and pulled out a small wrapped bundle and handed it to her as she saw a cap with the toad looking like it would eat the one who wore it and some stuffed toys, most of them toads and she glared at the man.

"You aren't going to get him to sign the toad contract before me, no matter how much you bait him." She said, glaring, and he whistled innocently.

"I have no idea what you are talking about hime." He said in an all to innocent voice as Naruto clutched a stuffed toad to himself happily, and Jiraiya did a victory dance.

"See hime, he is already coming around to the ways of the great Toad Sage Jiraiya." He said, doing a strange dance on a big samurai toad who croaked with a sweat drop feeling ashamed. Tsunade and Shizune stared at him blankly while Naruto clapped and giggled. Jiraiya picked up Naruto, rubbing his cheek with his own as he cried happily.

"Oh my, someone who appreciates true talent." He said happily as Shizune took Naruto from him and a moment later his head was bashed into the ground

"True talent my ass that was pathetic." She said cracking her knuckles as Shizune and Naruto giggled as they saw Tsunade and Jiraiya arguing about who Naruto would summon in the future.

"Let's go and have some hot chocolate. You like it, don't you Naru-chan?" asked Shizune, and Naruto nodded happily as she walked in, leaving the two arguing adults. A few minutes later, she saw them both come in as Tsunade had a victorious smirk on her face with Jiraiya and a lump on his head grumbling about violent women winning arguments through demon strength.

"What did you say?" asked Tsunade sweetly as the Shinigami's image appeared behind her. Jiraiya gulped and waved his hands in front of him in defense.

"Nothing Tsunade-hime." He said nervously, and Tsunade nodded and sat beside Naruto, who was drinking his hot chocolate in his small mug happily as she faked a hurt expression.

"Oh, Naru-chan doesn't even share his hot chocolate with Kaa-Chan. I'm hurt." Tsunade said as she faked some crying, and Naruto gazed at her with a sad expression. She felt a tug on her kimono and saw Naruto handing her the mug and the toad he had gotten from Jiraiya with watering eyes as he sniffed. She immediately scooped him up in her arms and tickled him making him giggle. She embraced him as he snuggled into her arms and buried his face in the crook of her neck, making her smile.

"He really loves you, doesn't he hime." Said Jiraiya in a genuinely happy tone, and Shizune nodded with a smile.

"Yes, Jiraiya-sama Naruto never cries even if he is hurt. But when Tsunade-sama is sad or crying, he would immediately start sniffing and his eyes water as he hugs her. He can't see Tsunade-sama sad; it is the only thing that brings him even close to crying." Said Shizune, and he nodded as he watched Tsunade coo and tickle Naruto.

"Yes, he is my little Naru-chan and loves me the most, don't you Naru-chan?" she asked teasingly as she ran her fingers through his stomach, and he giggled, trying to cover himself up with the stuffed toad but to no avail. Jiraiya smiled as he saw how great a mother Tsunade was. He hadn't seen Kushina be this close with the twins. That was saying something since she tried to always be around them after losing Minato.

"So pervert, why aren't you in Konoha, I know Kushina is throwing a huge party for the twins, and with all the women there, it's strange that you would be here." Asked Tsunade as she helped Naruto drink his hot chocolate slowly and gently wipe his mouth with a small towel.

"Tsunade-hime I don't have to go to parties for women, girls fall at the charm of manliness that the great…" he saw all of them staring at him blankly except Naruto, who watched him quite curiously and it gave him confidence. "Toad Sage Jiraiya!" he said, summoning the samurai toad from earlier as Naruto clapped and giggled while Tsunade sighed.

"You shouldn't encourage him Naru-chan, he is already bad enough." She said tiredly, and Jiraiya looked offended.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean!" he said indignantly as Naruto just giggled at the man who sat in a corner with a dark cloud over his head, muttering about not getting respect.

Suddenly she heard a knock on the door and wondered who it was since only a few people had access to pass the barrier to the compounds.

"She opened the door and saw Kakashi standing there and waved at her lazily.

"Yo!" he said, and she sweat-dropped at his laid back attitude.

"Umm, Kakashi, what are you doing here? I thought that with the Kyuubi festival in the village, the ANBU would be needed a lot more there." She said as she ushered him in, and he answered lazily.

"Yes, well, Tsunade-sama, you see, I had a bit of extra time for the start of the mission, and I thought visiting him before I started the duty for the festival tomorrow and reporting a bit later would be nice." He said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, and she giggled.

"Yeah, no one will really be surprised with you being late anyways." She said, and he eye smiled as they entered the living room, and he was surprised to see Jiraiya there. They saw that Shizune was trying to push Jiraiya off Naruto as he was trying to show him some book, and she frowned.

"What the hell is going on over here?" asked Tsunade, and Jiraiya immediately put the book back and smiled innocently as he slapped a hand over Shizune's mouth and laughed.

"Nothing at all hime I was just playing with Naruto over here, and Shizune wanted to join us." He said, laughing nervously as she frowned and nodded, knowing he was lying as he let go of Shizune, glaring at the man.

"Well, Tsunade-sama, I brought a little present for little Naruto over here." Said Kakashi with an eye smile as he handed her a package, and she unwrapped it to find some clothes that had dogs imprinted on it, and she glared at the cyclops ninja, and Jiraiya and Shizune laughed wholeheartedly.

"I swear the whole world is trying to persuade my Naru-chan into being their summoner." She said with a sigh, and he sweat-dropped. So this had already been tried he mused and watched happily as Naruto took the clothes and jovially gazed at them. He eye smiled and sat the blonde on his lap as he played with him a little when Naruto suddenly pulled down the mask he wore. Everybody's heart stopped as they saw Naruto do the impossible and immediately got in front of the two to look at his face.

They saw what he had under his mask was…...

Another Mask! They all face faulted as he eye smiled, and Naruto giggled at seeing all of them pulling their hair at being outdone by him. A moment later, Naruto yawned as he opened his arms to Tsunade, motioning for her to pick him. She smiled as she picked him up and snuggled in her arms, making them all smile. Tsunade felt the familiar tug on her kimono and saw Naruto looking at her innocently and knew what he wanted.

"So little Naru-chan is hungry, isn't he?" asked Tsunade as he smiled and took him to her room with her as Shizune served tea to the two men who made it gratefully and Jiraiya asked just before they were all going to sip it.

"So why did Tsunade take her inside her room. Wouldn't his food, you know, be here?" he asked, bringing the cup to his mouth as Shizune answered calmly.

"Oh no, Naru-chan has to be breastfed, so she took him inside to feed him herself." She said as both the men spit out their tea and violently coughed at the revelation.

"SHE'S WHAT? BUT HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?" asked Jiraiya with eyes as wide as saucers, and Kakashi too had a stunned expression on his face. Shizune smiled at seeing their shocks and answered.

"Tsunade-sama created a medical ninjutsu for nurses to feed young children who didn't have mothers at the hospital but wasn't ever implemented. However, it gave her a method to feed Naruto what a new-born child needs the most." She said, and they both nodded dumbly, thinking of the level that Tsunade had reached to create so many great medical techniques.

"Well, that kid has all the luck in the world, to think he is doing the thing that almost every man in the elemental nations has dreamt of doing…" grumbled Jiraiya, and Kakashi nodded sagely while Shizune sighed shaking her head. A moment later, Jiraiya started giggling perversely and got up and started walking as Shizune spoke up.

"I hope you aren't going to peek on them, Jiraiya-sama. I think you remember the incident four years ago and think what Lady Tsunade would do if she caught you peeking at her while she is feeding Naruto…" she trailed off as Jiraiya stopped dead in his tracks. Kakashi gulped both imagining what she would do and started laughing nervously.

"Well, you have gotten the wrong Shizune. I was just going to the bathroom." He said, laughing nervously and sat back down, sipping his tea as Shizune smiled and sipped her own cup as they sat in silence as a few moments later, Tsunade came with a sleeping Naruto snuggled in her arms. She sat down on the table, smiling as she rubbed his whiskers, making him purr and snuggle into her more.

"So Tsunade-hime, Sarutobi-sensei sent this for Naruto's present." Said Jiraiya handing her a scroll as she took the scroll with a raised eyebrow and unsealed it as she saw a reverse summoning seal and threw it on the ground. A poof of smoke later stood Monkey King Enma as he looked at all of them and then grinned at seeing the little sleeping blonde in Tsunade's arms.

"So this is the boy Sarutobi told me about. Well, he certainly is Minato's son and will be a powerful shinobi in the future. I can see the potential just by his chakra signature alone." He said, and Tsunade twitched as the temperature of the room dropped a couple of degrees, and she handed Naruto to Shizune as she stood up and cracked her knuckles, making the three of them gulp. A few moments later, Shizune gently cupped the ears of the sleeping child as the three men screamed in pain as Tsunade started beating them all and threw them outside the house.

"DON'T TRY TO FORCE MY LITTLE BABY BOY INTO YOUR STUPID SUMMONING CONTRACTS. HE IS ONLY ONE-YEAR-OLD FOR GOD'S SAKES!" she shouted as she slammed the door, and the three stood up, cracking their sore bones as Enma turned to the two of them.

"What did I do wrong to get beaten like that, and damn does she hit hard." He grumbled as the other two nodded and walked back to the village while Enma puffed into smoke and returned to the summoning realm.

Konohagakure no Sato

They returned to the village to attend the grand party that was thrown in honor of the 'hero Uzumaki twins.' Kushina had arranged a massive party along with the support of the whole council as she waited for Kakashi and Jiraiya to arrive. Hiruzen was already there, but they were the closest friends of Minato, and she wanted them here. She saw them come into the party and walked up to them happily.

"Hey, where have you been? I've been waiting for you both all night." She said, and they both smiled, handing her the presents that she just kept aside and turned to them. They frowned at her lack of enthusiasm for their gifts as they remembered how Tsunade had given their presents to Naruto almost instantly and respected them a lot. But they shrugged it off, seeing she already had a lot of them seeing the people at the party.

"Well, you see, Kushina, we went to Tsunade first to wish little Naruto there, and it took us a little while to return though we tried our best to return on time." Said Jiraiya and Kakashi nodded with an eye smile, and she frowned at hearing about the two and nodded.

"So how is Tsunade and… Naruto?" she asked, and they noticed the little hesitation in her voice as she asked them about them.

"They are fine, but Tsunade just wanted to keep the whole affair simple calling just those who were really close and just a small get together with a dinner. But we left as we had to come here first." Said Jiraiya and Kakashi just glanced around seeing so many outstanding people around were a first for him he mused and that too only for a birthday party.

"So how is Naruto?" she asked nervously, and they both looked at her surprised by her blunt question as Jiraiya answered with a smile. Maybe she still had some hope left after all.

"He is great. I haven't seen a happier child, and Tsunade treats him like a teddy bear all the time. I swear he is too close to his mother already." He said, and Kushina frowned and felt a pang of jealousy in her heart. Jiraiya knew this would egg her on as he had seen her realize the mistake she had made a year back.

"Yes, the way he just relaxes in her arms is surprising, but I guess Tsunade-sama is a great mother. And Jiraiya-sama, is it true that he took his first steps yesterday?" he asked. Jiraiya smiled, remembering the scene that had been etched onto his memory and saw Kushina's curious eyes, his smile widened.

"Yes I was there yesterday, Tsunade teased him by calling him to her arms and would step back and then call for him again. After a couple of tries, he took his first step, and Tsunade started crying from happiness. Naruto seeing this, was saddened and took more steps to her just to wipe her eyes as it hurt him to see her cry, not knowing she was shedding tears of happiness. I am glad I took pictures of every moment yesterday, I'll gift it to her the next time I see her." He said as Kakashi was amazed at the story, and Kushina's heart broke as she heard the story and imagined her baby boy coming to her arms like that. She broke off those thoughts and walked away. Her mood was ruined as she walked up to her daughters. Kakashi looked confused while Jiraiya smiled sadly.

"How long will you hide the pain in your heart Kushina, you were the one who pushed your son away, and now he loves Tsunade more than any other child loves his mother from what I've seen. Don't wait too much, or it might be a bit too late." Jiraya thought as he left the party going towards the bar for some sake to honor the memory of his student that he was reminded of every time he saw his godson. A moment later, Kakashi jumped beside him, and he smiled at him knowingly.

"So you too, huh?" he asked, and Kakashi nodded with an eye smile.

"Yes, he reminds too much of sensei, doesn't he?" he asked as Jiraiya smiled fondly, thinking of his godson.

"Indeed, he does." He said, and both of them entered the bar to drown their sorrows away.

Back with kushina

" Come on, Mito-chan, Kara-chan. Come to Kaa-chan babies." Kushina said in a low, almost pleading tone. Hearing the news of the Senju family, Kushina upped her efforts to connect with her remaining children. However, it seemed that they paid no mind to the pleas of their mother as the" twins" continued to crawl around indiscriminately. With droplets forming around her eyes, she took hold of the girls and cried." What have I done?" as she held her kids lovingly slowly weeping as the party came to a close

Meanwhile at the Hidden Senju compounds

Tsunade and Shizune walked out of the kitchen with a freshly baked cake in their hands and saw Naruto sitting with Katsuyu, glomping her happily. Tsunade smiled at how much Katsuyu liked her little boy and was always happy to be summoned to just play with him. And Naruto loved her just as much glomping her every chance he got. She put the cake on the table and crouched down on the carpet where the two were and smiled.

"Well, Naru-chan, let poor old Katsuyu go, and let's cut your cake, alright." She said as Naruto let her go, and she picked him up as she smiled at Katsuyu.

"I'm sorry, Katsuyu, for all the trouble he causes you." She said, and Katsuyu too slugged up along with her to the table.

"It is no problem at all Tsunade-sama, I really like spending time with little Naruto-Kun here." She said in her melodic voice, causing Shizune and Tsunade to smile. They cut the cake and popped the party poppers as Naruto giggled and played happily as the celebrations at the Senju compounds came to an end when Naruto fell asleep in Tsunade's arms from exhaustion. The little family celebration ended on a happy note as they all slept the happiest they had been in a long time.


Timeskip One Year later


It was just another typical day at the Senju compounds as Tsunade sat in the living room reading Naruto a picture book as he had his wide, curious eyes fixed on the pictures as she read him the story. Tsunade thought about the last year while reading the book as her mind wandered off. Jiraiya and Kakashi had visited a couple more times, and Hiruzen also wanted to come over but was cooped up in work and stuck to sending her letters only.

Jiraiya's visit was a bit peculiar last time since he had talked to her about Kushina. That was a topic she didn't want to talk about, but seeing as he insisted, she heard him out. He had told her that Kushina was starting to realize her mistakes, and her questions about how Naruto was doing and how his life was coming up or various other things were becoming more and more frequent. She had harshly told him not to take up that topic again, and he had obliged hesitantly, but a little fear sat down that day in the back of her mind that if she really did repent her mistake, then one day she might take her Naru-chan away from her. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts when she felt Naruto rubbing her cheek softly and looking at her with those curious eyes; Tsunade realized she had spaced out and stopped reading. Her eyes softened at seeing his innocent face and involuntarily, her eyes watered at the thought of losing her baby boy.

"Kaa-Chan…" Naruto said in his little voice, and her eyes widened as she wiped away her tears frantically. She instantly brought him close and kissed him on his cheek as she looked at him desperately.

"What did you just say, Naru-chan? Can you say it again, please?" she asked, and he nodded.

"Kaa-Chan…" he said again, and she brought her son in a warm embrace as he snuggled into her, taking in her warmth and kissed her cheek softly, rubbing her tears away, making her smile.

Shizune came up and saw the tear stains on her face and was worried as she rushed to her.

"What's the matter, Tsunade-sama?" she asked, and Tsunade beamed as she pointed to her son proudly.

"My little Naru-chan just said his first words isn't that right, Naru-chan?" she asked, and he grinned foxily, making him look adorable to the ladies.

"Kaa-Chan…" he chirped happily, making Tsunade's heart flutter, and Shizune brought her hands to her face in shock as she ran up to them.

"Naru-chan, can you say Nee-Chan please?" she asked, pleadingly making Tsunade giggle. Naruto just tilted his head to the side in confusion as Shizune picked him up and kissed him on the cheek.

"Kaa-Chan…" he chirped happily again, making Shizune groan and Tsunade laugh as all her fears lay forgotten, and she took him in her arms, and he lovingly nuzzled into her.

"Well, looks like he knows all the important words now, doesn't he Naru-chan?" she asked, cooing as Naruto grinned and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Tsunade-sama, that's not really nice. He'll say my name, too, just you see." Said Shizune puffing her cheeks, and Tsunade laughed.

"Hello ladies, how are you doing, I heard some commotion down here." Said a new voice that Tsunade knew all too well, but she was also happy as her baby boy was cuddled in her arms and had given her the happiest moment of her life. His firsts words were for her, which couldn't make her happier.

"You always come here at the right time, you damn pervert, you really are lucky, you know?" she said, and he looked at her curiously, wondering what she was talking about.

"Naru-chan just said his first words a few moments ago, didn't you Naru-chan?" she teased, and he snuggled in her neck from embarrassment, making her giggle. He was shy around other people other than her and Shizune and did this if she teased him in front of them.

"Really, is that right?" he asked, not believing it when Naruto looked at him and smiled.

"Kaa-chan.." he chirped, and Jiraiya's eyes widened as he too rushed to him and took him in his arms, rubbing his cheek against his smiling proudly and crying anime tears.

"That's my godson," he said happily, making the ladies smile but ruined it a moment later.

"Now say 'boobs,' make papa proud." He said giggling perversely, and a moment later, Shizune took Naruto from his arms, making him whine as a beating ensued courtesy of a seething Tsunade.

"YOU DAMN PERVERT WHEN WILL YOU EVER LEARN? DON'T, YOU, DARE TRY AND CORRUPT MY BABY BOY!" she roared as Jiraiya's screams were heard all over the Senju compounds.

"NO NOT THERE…. NOT THERE… AHHH!" he screamed as Shizune shook her head while Naruto looked at her, confused.

"You'll understand someday, Naru-chan…" she said with a smile taking him in and getting him to try and say Nee-chan. A few minutes later, Tsunade came in smiling and dragging a half-dead Jiraiya with smoke coming out of him and put him on the floor as Naruto went near him and poked him with a bat making Shizune giggle.

"Tsunade-sama, don't you think you went a bit overboard?" asked Shizune, and Tsunade waved her off.

"Oh, don't worry, he has built up a resistance to beatings over the years, and I didn't even go halfway through what I did to seven years ago." She said as a moment later, Jiraiya stood up, looking fine as he dusted himself off.

"That's right; the great toad sage Jiraiya can't be put down by the hands of such a fine lady." He said doing a strange dance making the girls sigh and Naruto giggle and clap.

"Only you understand my true talent, my boy." He said, crying and hugging him as the ladies shook their heads.

"I'll never know why Naru-chan likes that stupid dance so much." Said Shizune and Tsunade nodded but smiled a little. She was glad that Jiraiya was making so many efforts to bond with his godson as she saw him play with the new stuffed toads he brought and Naruto giggling as he made some strange faces making him laugh.

She joined them in playing as Jiraiya suddenly stood up, motioning for her to follow him. He took her aside and followed, seeing his serious expression.

"What's the matter, Jiraiya?" she asked, and he smiled sadly as he handed her an album that she took with a confused expression.

"That is the photo album and journal of Minato, I brought it here from the Namikaze mansion after I asked you for a bit of Naruto's blood the last time I came here." He said, and realization dawned on her face as to why he had asked for a bit of Naruto's blood.

"But why have you brought it here, Jiraiya?" she asked, and he smiled at her confused expression.

"Tsunade-hime, Naruto's growing up and now he can speak too. He will grow as intelligent and powerful as his father was, of that I have no doubt. But he will start to ask you questions about his father some time from now, with all the books you read to him I have seen his confusion and sadness when he reads stuff about a child's father. When he asks, you will have something that belonged to his father to show him." He said, and she nodded and took the album and journal to the archives in the basement and kept them there and sealed the room again.

Choosing to bid the pervert fair well, Tsunade went back to go play with Naruto. As she ventured outside, she noticed the unkempt yard. Oddly enough, even after decades of neglect, the grass had managed to stay uniform and maintained, but now there were patches of grass that grew more vibrant and areas of mud that appeared sporadically regardless of rainfall. In the end, she chalked up to be due to the presence of new life after years of solitude. As if their presence had boosted the nature's properties.


Authors note: So, That's it for chapter two of this rewrite. There are not many changes except for some grammatical errors and the little extra paragraph following the Kushina confrontation And some hints. Honestly, this chapter serves as a response to the previous abandonment and sets up a theme of progression. Chapter one's title Abandonment-Acceptance leads to this title Acceptance-Regret, where we see the two sides of this complex coin, in Tsunade/Naruto and in Kushina/the girls.