Welp, not as quick as I'd hoped, but at least it's not taking a few months to get a chapter out anymore...
savitarsurffer: ... To be honest, I'm not sure what to do with Danzo. I've got a general idea of where I want the story to go, but he's a loose end. Based on the manga, he strikes me as too cautious/patient, particularly when he knows Tsunade won't tolerate his crap like Hiruzen did. Using Kotoamatsukami's not really an option either due to its recharge time. At least not for a big move unless a golden opportunity landed in front of him.
The problem is dealing with Orochimaru is easier said than done. He's very slippery, and Oto is heavily compartmentalized. It's hard to find his bases, but if you do, chances are you won't find anything of any real importance to him or a way to find his other bases.
Goten Askil: Yeah, but Gaara lost control because of that whole mess with Yashamaru, and IIRC Blue B failed because he fought the Hachibi and lost, at least in the manga. Still, I suppose considering she had the complete Kyuubi, and even half of him is powerful enough to counter five other Biju, I see why something extra might be advisable. Especially since the Kyuubi can sense negative emotions, which would probably make him better at exploiting them than the others.
Agreed. He really needed to hear that earlier.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
It was early the next day that the two Konoha ninjas arrived in Tanzakugai. Beneath the clear skies, they resumed their search. However, they had stalled for a moment. A few eyes were drawn their way as Naruto's cheers echoed through the gambling den they found themselves in on their search for Tsunade.
Jiraiya could only stare, his jaw hanging wide in disbelief. "Again?"
Naruto paid him no mind as he held up his once more full-to-bursting wallet. He grinned as he took in the sight of the overstuffed froggy pouch. Sure, he still had that check in his pocket, but that was nothing compared to the feeling of cold, hard cash in your hand.
Besides, it always felt good to be a winner.
The Sannin buried one hand in his hair as he shook his head. "You won off of one coin? Sheesh, you've got the opposite of Tsunade's luck." He put one hand on his hip, smirking at the blond. "Remind me to take you to a casino when you're older. It'll probably be an... enriching experience."
"Hey, shouldn't you be talking me out of vices, Pervy Sage?" Naruto asked, his tone laced with good-natured sarcasm.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Hey, everything in moderation, kid. It's not a problem as long as you know when to stop. Unlike a certain someone we're looking for." He said that last part with a grumble.
"Yeah... did she really lose the whole Senju clan fortune?" Naruto asked, putting away his wallet and looking a bit puzzled. He still couldn't get over that. The idea just seemed absurd, if what Sasuke had meant anything.
Jiraiya sighed and buried a hand in his white hair as they began to make for the exit. "Well, it's not entirely her fault."
Naruto gave the man a dry look. "How do you figure that?"
Jiraiya gave a short laugh. "Fun little tidbit: did you know the First Hokage was a doting grandfather?" The sage asked, and Naruto raised a brow, wondering where he was going with that. "He loved to spend time with her and spoil her rotten when she was a kid, and she told me a neat little detail once. See, he liked to shower her with cash, and he also loved playing with her. I guess he also wanted her to feel like she earned what he gave her, so he mixed all three and..."
Naruto let out a strangled sound and looked up at Jiraiya with disbelief and disappointment as he got where the man was going. "Don't tell me..."
The legendary ninja nodded sagely. "Yep, he used to gamble with her over cards and other stuff and let her win and take all his money every time. Keep in mind this started when she was practically a toddler, so big surprise she grew up to be an addict." He then let out a short series of barking laughs. "Oh, you should have heard the commotion when his wife and son found out! I fell out laughing when Tsunade told us this story, and we realized that's what all the yelling had been about. Hell, even Orochimaru..."
That seemed to dampen his mood. He fell silent after that. Naruto looked at him sympathetically as he sighed and stared into nothing.
"... So, the First Hokage turned his granddaughter into a gambling addict, huh?" Naruto asked. He mostly wanted to get the Sannin's mind off his old teammate. It had to be painful to remember something like that.
Jiraiya snorted. "The First was every bit the great man the history books paint him as, but everyone has their flaws." He chuckled. "Trust me, I've got tons of stories like that."
Naruto smiled... but then his smile dropped. The Third had probably had a lot of stories like that, too. Had anyone heard them all? He was still adjusting to the idea that he wouldn't be there to greet them the next time they came back from a mission.
The blond shook his head. This wasn't the time to think about that, not when he'd just tried to pull Jiraiya out of the same. Besides, if what they'd been told was right, they should be closing in on Tsunade.
And on top of that... "You'll have to tell me some more later; right now, I'm dying to see this castle!"
That was their next stop: the castle that lay at the center of the town. Jiraiya wanted to use that as a vantage point. Naruto was kind of curious to see it, not to mention the view.
Naruto ran outside and heard the sage chuckle behind him. The blond looked up and... wait, where was the castle?
The Kyuubi Jinchuriki ran to the nearby castle town wall and leaped to the top, landing with a clack on the green eaves of the roof... and stopped. After a moment of disbelief, he went on alert. "Pervy Sage, we've got trouble."
Jiraiya joined him a second later and frowned ahead. The castle had been reduced to rubble. It must have been before they even set foot in town. What the hell happened!?
"Hey!" Jiraiya called out to someone running away in a panic. If he saw what happened and was already this far away, it must have been some time ago. "What happened over there?"
"What are you doing just standing up there!? We've all gotta get out of here!" The panicked civilian said, not stopping. "A giant snake just tore down the castle!"
A giant snake!? Here? Naruto and Jiraiya shared a look, nodded as one, and then took off towards the castle ruins.
The blond clicked his tongue when they arrived at the courtyard walls. A section of them had been torn down, giving a clear view of the ruins beyond. The area was silent, with no sign of anyone. "Damn, I don't see anything..." He then turned to the Sannin, who was looking at the destruction with a critical eye.
"It looks like everyone high-tailed it. Any witnesses are probably in the wind," Jiraiya commented, his hand on his chin.
"It's gotta be Orochimaru, right? Or someone who works for him. But, what was he doing here?" Naruto asked.
"Couldn't say, but it can't be good," Jiraiya replied, shaking his head. The sage then jumped up to the highest-standing tower along the courtyard wall. He looked around, then frowned. "Hey, check this out." He pointed before leaping down.
Naruto followed him, and they arrived at another ruined wall. The blond frowned. Everything else here seemed perfectly fine, and they were a bit away from the castle. "... The snake didn't do this."
"Nope. But there aren't any other signs of battle... strange," Jiraiya mused, rubbing his chin. "Anyway, we aren't going to find anything standing around here, and it looks like any witnesses are long gone. Come on, let's see if we can find any witnesses."
Naruto nodded, then looked at the castle and sighed. According to the sage, he was glad it was just a tourist attraction nowadays. A lot of people would have been hurt here. Still, it was a shame. He'd been looking forward to seeing it.
Well, nothing more to do here. He followed after Jiraiya, wondering what Orochimaru was up to now.
In the end, they didn't learn anything they didn't already know. The castle suddenly erupted, and a giant snake emerged from it before disappearing in a flash of smoke. Jiraiya thought it sounded like Orochimaru wanted to make an entrance, but there was no telling why.
The next day, they got up bright and early and resumed their search. After hitting half a dozen bars, they got the news.
"You said you saw her a few hours ago?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yep, about a decade older than this picture, but the face was unmistakable," The man said, nursing his drink. "Came here and ordered a few cups of sake. She was real quiet, and so was that brunette with her. Think she had something on her mind..."
"I wonder... does it have something to do with Orochimaru?" Jiraiya mused, rubbing his chin.
"Which way was she headed?" Naruto asked.
"Can't say, but she was making for where the castle used to be," He replied.
"So, she's not leaving town, then..." Jiraiya mused before taking out his checkbook and a pen. "Thanks for the info," He quickly made out a check and gave it to the man. "Next few are on me,"
"Ah, thank you kindly, sir," The man said as they walked away, Jiraiya waving over his shoulder. His levity faded once they left, though. "Yeah, old snake face had something to say to her, I'm sure of it. Otherwise, she would have left town by now."
"What do you think he wanted?"
"I can't say. Tsunade wouldn't betray us, but... he might have given her something to think about."
"Well, whatever! We can ask her when we find her," Naruto said, grinning as he raised a fist. "Leave this one to me, Pervy Sage!"
He then leaped to the top of the bar. The Sannin followed, arriving just in time for Naruto to make a cross-shaped hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two dozen copies of Naruto burst into existence. Then, they all made their hand seals, and the roof was covered in smoke. When it cleared, a flock of birds scattered into the sky.
"Oh, I see. Pretty clever there, kid," Jiraiya said as he shielded his eyes from the sun and watched the birds fly. Naruto grinned at the praise, hands behind his head.
Now, they just had to wait. And it wasn't long before one of the blond's clones had something to share.
The Kyuubi Jinchuriki's head jerked up as he and Jiraiya walked towards another bar, memories of a literal bird's eye view flooding his mind. The Sannin instantly noticed and came to a stop.
"Find her?" Jiraiya asked.
Naruto shook his head, looking past a nearby wall at what his clone had seen. "I don't know, but there's something big going on. There's a crowd of people gawking at a casino."
"Hmm... well, there are two places Tsunade would hit up if she wanted to get her mind off something, and I shouldn't have to tell you what they are at this point. Ok, let's check it out."
They made a beeline to what his clone had seen, taking to the rooftops and leaping across buildings and walls until they came down out of sight beside one of the largest gambling halls in the town. It was a large three-story building with white walls and green tiles on its roof, looking almost like a small castle.
They stepped inside, and it didn't take more than a second to see a huge gathering of people about halfway across the building. It looked like even most of the gamblers had dropped everything and gone to see what was happening. The crowd completely obscured whatever was in the area, so Naruto had no idea what they were gawking at.
Then, he heard a woman's voice positively cackle with glee. "Finally! After all the shit I've had to put up with, everything's finally coming around!"
"That voice!" Jiraiya said. Then he paled, his eyes widening. "Oh no, if I know her-! I've got to-!" He ran forward but only made it three steps before-
"One more! All or nothing on black!" Jiraiya stopped and groaningly face-palmed while Naruto gaped. Another woman's voice cried shrilly while the crowd cheered her on, some cupping their mouths and pumping their fists.
"You'd think she'd learn. This is just Lady Luck jerking her chain again..." Jiraiya groaned, shaking his head. He then sighed, crossed his arms, and hung his head down. Everyone fell silent, and Naruto could hear the sound of a ball rolling.
Was she trying to roulette table!? And from the sound of it, she'd won big up until now! But from what he'd heard of her... 'Oh boy...'
"Three, two, one..." Jiraiya counted down.
"NOOOOOOO!" The wail echoed through the building as the crowd murmured in disappointment. It didn't take long for them to start scattering, abandoning her now that the spectacle had ended in a humiliating loss, revealing a set of four roulette tables. It looked like even the other dealers had stepped up to watch since their customers had, but now it was all back to business as usual.
And there, sitting at the far table with her head down, hands buried in her hair, was a woman who had to be Tsunade. At her side was a brunette dressed in a black kimono, who had dropped down to her knees, head hung low as a cloud of dismay hung over her. She clutched something tightly to her chest as the blonde banged her fist against the table.
Whoa, that was a huge stack of coins the teller was taking away! There had to be a fortune there! "Holy hell! Did she win all of that, to lose it at the end!?"
"Typical Tsunade," Jiraiya said, shaking his head in exasperation. "Fun fact: whenever she hits a winning streak, it's either a bad omen, or it'll end like this." He chuckled. Funny enough, she kinda knows that, and yet this happens anyway," he said with a gesture towards her.
Naruto's eye twitched. "Seriously?" He looked from one Sannin to the other, then face-palmed, peeking at the First Hokage's Grandaughter through his fingers. "I hope I never understand the mind of an addict..."
"For your sake, I hope so too. Now, come on, let's go and say hi," And with that, Jiraiya began to walk towards the other Sannin.
It probably said something that, even in her current state, she heard them approach. She jerked her head and looked at them out of the corner of her eye as they neared. She tensed but immediately relaxed when she saw the white-haired man, raising her head as her eyes widened.
"Jiraiya?" She asked in disbelief, blinking as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Hey, you look like you could use a pick me up and a hot meal, Tsunade. On me?" Jiraiya said smoothly, pointing at his chest with this thumb.
Not too long after, Jiraiya took them to a nearby Yakiniku grill. The two pairs sat across from each other as meat sizzled on the grill, but despite the appetizing sound and smell, none looked at the food.
Naruto looked from the third Sannin he'd met to the brunette at her side. 'Must be her apprentice or something...' So, probably another medical ninja. The woman held a pig. It looked ordinary, aside from the red jacket and pearl necklace that it wore. 'A ninja pig? Is that a thing? Or maybe they just dressed it up?'
"You certainly know when to show up," Tsunade spoke quietly, staring into her cup, idly swishing its contents. Her gaze was miles away, and Naruto couldn't help but wonder what was on her mind. "After all these years trying to put the past behind me, it all came back to the surface in just two short days..."
"Let me guess, I'm not the only blast from the past you've seen," Jiraiya said seriously, his arms crossed. Tsunade's brown eyes rose to look at him. He tilted his head to the side. "I saw signs of your little get-together. What did old Snake Face want?"
Tsunade paused for a moment before looking back to her cup. "Just to say hi... and keep me updated on his latest escapades."
"So you know... about the Old Man?" Naruto asked, speaking up for the first time.
Tsunade's gaze turned to him. She squinted for a moment, and then her brows rose for a moment before she looked away. "Yeah... he told me about it."
When she said that, for a moment, he couldn't help but remember the last time he'd seen the Third. His hackles were raised, and he shot to his feet. "And you just let him-"
"Naruto!" Jiraiya cut him off. He turned to see the Sannin look hard at him. The blond growled but sat down.
"He's certainly a far cry from your last student," Tsunade commented.
"Eh, the Fourth Hokage was a tough act to follow, but the kid's actually pretty good," Jiraiya shrugged, smiling fondly as he put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "He wears his heart on his sleeve, though. Even more so than most of the village, sensei was a grandfather to him, so... the first time he lost someone he knew, too."
The brunette looked at him with sympathy while Tsunade's glazed eyes lingered on him for a moment before they closed. "I see..." she said, then looked back at Jiraiya. So, to what do I owe this visit?"
"Cutting right to the chase, huh?" Jiraiya asked before he got serious again. "Tsunade, I come with a request from the council of Konoha and the last wish of the Third Hokage. I'm here to ask you to become the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."
Both of the women seemed shocked by that. Not that he blamed them when Tsunade hadn't even been in the village for so long. "You came all this way to ask me that?"
"I can't think of anyone more qualified. Besides, the Old Man had faith in you." Jiraiya replied.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "I hope you don't think guilt-tripping me will get anywhere."
"I'm not. I'm just telling you how it is," Jiraiya replied. "I know better than most that wouldn't work on you."
"And I suppose he didn't ask you first," She replied dryly.
"Only because I was the one on hand," Jiraiya admitted. "We all know that you're better suited to that kind of responsibility."
There was a pause. Tsunade closed her eyes, resting her head on one hand, and then said clearly, "I refuse."
"I figured you'd say that. Just like all those times I tried to ask you out," Jiraiya replied with a smirk. Tsunade just scoffed in response. "But I know you. You're not just going to walk away. Not when you know Konoha needs you."
Tsunade closed her eyes. "... What Konoha needs right now is sensei. But he's not here anymore. Why? Because he gave his life protecting the village, just like all the grandfather, his brother, and the Fourth." She looked directly into Jiraiya's eyes, whose gaze had turned hard. "Life's not like chips, you know. You can't just gamble it away so freely. To become Hokage means sacrificing everything. Your freedom, your dreams, and in the end, you'll probably die young. Sensei may have lived to a ripe old age... but he devoted so much to the village that he could never balance his position and his family. I can't fathom why anyone would want such a job."
Throughout Tsunade's tirade, Naruto had grown increasingly tense. At this point, he was almost seeing red, his nails digging into his fingers so hard they nearly drew blood.
"Tsunade, you've changed over the years," Jiraiya said, a slight disappointment in his tone.
"The years have taught me a great deal. There's no way I'd ever take that position. It's a suckers bet."
That's it! Naruto slammed his fist on the table, causing all the food to jump. He didn't care who she was. He was not about to sit here and let her badmouth both the Third and his father! "Where the hell do you get off talking about the Hokage like that?" Naruto snarled.
"You're naive, brat," Tsunade replied, unfazed. "In the end, three of the Hokage died young, defending the village. All their hopes and dreams went up in smoke."
"And what if giving their all for the village was their dream!?" Naruto shot back, drawing Tsunade's attention. "You don't think they knew what they were getting into when they took the hat?"
"Then they got what they wanted in the end, I suppose." She replied. The Sannin leaned forward, resting her arm on the table. "Why exactly does it matter to you?"
Naruto took a deep breath. "... Because..." He thought back to what had been going through his mind the past few days. What he'd learned about his father. What his dream had been.
His dreams had been naive. Childish. And built upon admiration for people that he was only now realizing that he hadn't understood. Who'd seen and known things he could hardly imagine with struggles and burdens much greater than he'd known.
He was still trying to figure things out. Was the respect and admiration really what he wanted most from being Hokage? If so, would he reach the same conclusion as his mother? Could he do more for the village in the field, like Jiraiya?
He wasn't sure, but what he did know was that he wanted to do all he could for his village. That invasion had been only a taste of war, and it had been more than enough for him. He never wanted to see that or what happened to Suna again.
"Because being Hokage's been my dream for the longest time. Because I want to do all that I can for our village, just like they did." He rose to his feet, teeth grit, and slammed one open palm on the table. "And because I'm not going to sit here while you talk shit about my father!"
Tsunade jerked back, her eyes wide. Then she settled down. "So, you know." She looked at Jiraiya. "Sarutobi-sensei wouldn't have approved."
"Ha," Jiraiya barked out a laugh. "Jokes on you; the Old Man's the one who told him." She was visibly shocked by that. The white-haired man became a bit more serious. "A mission went bad. He woke up something he got from his mom, which left him with a lot of questions. And once he knew she was..."
Tsunade didn't respond for a moment before her gaze returned to Naruto. He met her eyes with a glare, daring her to say anything. "All that you can, huh? Do you think you can back that up?"
"Damn right, I will!" Naruto answered.
"... OK, let's see about that. Six days. You have six days to impress me. Pull it off, and I'll give you one of my last treasures." The brunette looked shocked beside her.
Naruto grinned. "Deal!"
"Don't even care what'll happen if I win?" Tsunade asked.
"Why should I? I don't plan on losing."
"Hmph," was Tsunade's response as she rose to her feet. "Shizune, come on."
"Now, hold on," Jiraiya stopped her, leaning back with a smirk. "How about you and me share a drink? It's been a long time; we've got a lot of catching up to do."
"I hope this isn't your attempt to ask me on a date?" Tsunade replied, eyes narrowed.
"What, can't a guy just want to reminisce with his old teammate? Come on, it's been decades," He then grumbled under his breath. "Besides, why would I want to date someone in their fifties."
Tsunade's eye twitched as Naruto gave the middle-aged man an unimpressed look. "What was that?"
"Nothing," Jiraiya replied. It was a hasty response, but he had a playful look in his eye. Naruto got the feeling he said that to rile her up.
"... Fine, your treat," Tsunade finally answered.
Jiraiya rose to his feet. "Naruto, you run along. Maybe get to know Shizune here. But I suggest you buckled down, after that. You've got one steep hill to climb."
"It's really saying something, but you've gotten a lot more cynical since we've last seen each other," Jiraiya said as he glanced at his old teammate, holding a cup of sake.
Tsunade said nothing and watched her give a long gaze to her drink. Her expression was difficult to read, but even so, Jiraiya could see her past passing before her eyes.
"Yeah, well, that's life, isn't it?" She replied, taking a shot. "It chews you up and spits you out cynical or swallows you up hopeful."
Jiraiya frowned. He never remembered his old teammate being such a surly drunk. Now, he wished he hadn't just kept tabs on her but in contact as well. Without anyone to talk about what happened, bitterness and guilt had had decades to coalesce around her, and it wouldn't be easy to break her out of it. He decided on a different tactic. "You know, until recently, the kid's life's mission was to become Hokage," Jiraiya said with a smirk as he thought back on the conversation he'd had with him the other day.
"Oh? He wise up?"
Jiraiya shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he'll change his dream to something else, or maybe he'll chase that dream twice as hard. Who can say?" He took a shot of his sake. "But you want to know why he wanted to be Hokage?" Jiraiya watched Tsunade start to side-eye him. "He told me he wanted to be acknowledged by everyone, that being Hokage would force everyone to notice him."
Tsunade scoffed, her eye returning to her drink. "There's easier ways for a brat to get attention."
"Yeah, well, not every 'brat' gets the attention they deserve," Jiraiya said, a hint of regret seeping into his voice. "Anyways, I explained to him more about what it would really mean to be Hokage, and I think when he's done thinking it over, his dream, whatever it is, will be twice as strong."
Tsunade huffed. "Dreams are for kids, Jiraiya, and sooner or later, we all wake up."
"Hey, Konoha was once just a dream to your granddad Tsunade, and now it's here. I'd say that's a hell of an improvement on what we had before, right?" Jiraiya said with a chuckle. "That's how it works. We do all we can and leave the rest to those who come after us. Moving forward a little bit at a time. Maybe we have setbacks, maybe it'll all fall apart in the end, but we won't get anywhere if no one chases these dreams, right?"
"...Are you quoting your first book at me?" Tsunade asked, side-eyeing him again, though there wasn't any bite to her tone.
Jiraiya had a blush, a combination of alcohol and embarrassment. "I mean, yeah... a little."
"Wasn't that a total flop?"
"Hey! I'll have you know it has a very loyal following." Even if sales weren't enough to cover the printing. Jiraiya admitted only to himself. "Besides, everything I've written since has been one smash hit after another!" He laughed as she scoffed. He had no doubt she had no appreciation for his works after 'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja.' "Besides, my students loved it." Jiraiya hoped Naruto liked it as much as his father did. After all, he planned to give him an autographed copy for his next birthday.
"Well, someone had to," Tsunade replied, taking another shot. "Like I said, Jiraiya, dreams are for kids. And my dreams died in my arms long ago."
Jiraiya sighed at that. "Ok, let's change the subject then." He quickly took another shot of his sake. "What did Orochimaru want?"
He knew her well enough to figure that out. But he wasn't so sure about what she intended to do when she met him.
"So, any idea how exactly you'll win this bet, Naruto?" Jiraiya asked him, smirking as he leaned against a tree while he watched the blond and his clones train. "You didn't even ask how she wants you to impress her."
"Eh, I'll figure something out," Naruto replied confidently. "Whatever she asks me, I'm sure I can handle it."
"Hey, well, we'll see about that, won't we?" Jiraiya replied with a chuckle. "Anyway, there's something I've been meaning to work on with you, and now's as good a time as any to get on it."
"Really, what?" Naruto asked, looking back at his sensei. Half of his clones were still practicing that Transparency Escape jutsu, every once in a while peeking at the scroll on it that Jiraiya wrote up for him.
"Tell me, what all do you know about those chains of yours?" Jiraiya asked, walking over and sitting down in front of him.
Naruto blinked. Then he looked excited. The Old Man hadn't said much, and he'd mostly asked him about stories about his parents, not their techniques. He hadn't had enough time to teach him things like that anyway.
And Kakashi-sensei knew little at all. He'd helped him learn to use them, but that was about all he could do.
But Jiraiya was a sensei when his mom was a genin, and he was his dad's sensei. He could actually know something about them!
Naruto sat down in front of him. "Not much. Kakashi-sensei told me that once you master them, they can restrain chakra, even the Kyuubi's. That's about it."
"Heh, figured as much," Jiraiya said with a smirk. "All right, listen up. There's a lot more to those chains than that. And while I obviously don't know how to do any of it myself, between the two of us, we should be able to figure out some of the things your mother had in her arsenal."
The blond grinned widely, two fists raised in excitement. He was always happy to learn more about his parents. Stories, techniques, anything. "What have you got for me?"
"Two things come to mind," Jiraiya said, raising two fingers. "First, you can form a near impenetrable barrier between the chains. Second, they can transform into sealing formulas. I'm pretty sure studying other forms of barrier jutsu should help you figure out the first one. For the sealing jutsu... well, that's going to take some work."
Naruto's eyes widened in amazement. He leaned forward, slamming a palm on the ground. "Well then, let's get started, Pervy Sage!"
Days passed. Naruto spent most of his time outside the city, training with the weighted seals Sakura bought him and Sasuke so many months ago as his clones worked on their jutsu and chakra control.
He didn't leave it all to his clones, though. He joined in whenever he needed a break from physical training. Besides, he would admit that it felt a little cheap doing it this way. That wasn't going to stop him, of course.
Outside of that, he would explore the town. Even with the castle gone, this place still had a few old historic shrines that were interesting to see. And there were plenty of restaurants to try, even if none could hold a candle to Ichiraku's.
Jiraiya was out catching up with Tsunade half the time, but he supervised when he had time.
He didn't have the best first impression of Tsunade, but he kind of got it. From what Jiraiya had told him, she must have lost a lot. He could see how the years could make her bitter.
Right now, though, he and a few clones around him were reading scrolls Jiraiya left him on barrier jutsu. The blond let out a sigh as he sat back, waiting. A moment later, several of his clones dispersed. He put a hand to his head as all their memories flooded his mind.
He figured the best way to spend the time waiting for it all to settle in his memory was some physical training. He rose to his feet and made a hand sign to adjust his weights but stopped as he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see... Tsunade's apprentice?
"Oh, it's you," Naruto said. His eyes wandered up as he wracked his memory before a name came to him. "Shizune, right?" She nodded. The brunette seemed a bit troubled. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt. I wanted to talk with you. About Lady Tsunade and this wager she made," She said, gaze downcast. Naruto blinked; he got the feeling there was something heavy on her mind.
Naruto rose to his feet and stretched. "Welp, I'm all ears."
"First, I don't want you to get the wrong idea about her. I know she said some harsh things back there, but-" Shizune started.
"Yeah, I get it," Naruto interrupted her, and she looked surprised. "The Pervy Sage told me. He didn't exactly give me the details, but he said enough."
"I know she lost a lot. But she's the one who decided to walk away from everyone who was still there for her. I'm sure Jiraiya would have come running if she'd asked, not to mention the Old Man," He met her gaze with a glare and said, "And there's not a snowball's chance in hell let her talk about my dad, and the Hokage like that!"
Shizune hung her head for a second before she met his eyes again. "I understand. I do. But please, you have to back out of the deal."
"That's not happening. I never back down from a challenge, no matter what." Naruto replied, determination written on his features as he grasped his forehead protector.
"You don't understand! There's only one treasure Tsunade has left, and it's cursed!" That drew Naruto up short.
And then she told him her teacher's story. The treasure she'd spoken of was a necklace that had belonged to the First Hokage. Twice, she'd given it to the men she'd loved most. Her little brother and her lover. Both had dreamed of becoming Hokage.
And both of them had died.
It was in the memory of her brother Nawaki that she'd revised how medical ninja functioned, and she'd saved countless lives by doing it... but in the end, her lover, Shizune's uncle, had died in battle as she desperately tried to heal him.
With no family left, Tsunade decided to leave the life of a ninja behind, to lose herself in her vices, and to forget.
Naruto closed his eyes. He knew she'd had it rough, but for the one you love to die in your arms?
His hand clenched. He turned, summoning more shadow clones.
"What are you doing?" Shizune asked behind him.
"What else? I'm getting back to training. I've got a challenge to win," He said, face firm with resolve. "Besides, I want to show Tsunade."
"What?" Shizune asked in bewilderment.
"It is worth it to chase your dreams. To believe in something," Naruto turned back to her for a second, resolve not wavering for a moment. "You shouldn't just try to push the world away. I know this won't do it, but you gotta start somewhere, right?"
Shizune stared at him in shock for a second, then she raised her hands to her chest, watching him with sadness and hope. "You..."
You know, I've long dreaded having to write this part. Mostly because I wasn't sure what to do with the bet since Naruto already knows the Rasengan. How's I do?
And boy am I'm glad to say, aside from movie adaptations and maybe two more things in the Shippuden time frame(not counting small things like Shikamau ending up with Temari), the story should be pretty much off the rails of canon after Tsunade becomes Hokage. Woot!
Please review.