Beta by: OtsutsukiMitra

Uzumaki Compound, four days after the invasion

The whole clan was assembled. A Clone from Hatsumi sat to Naruto's left, standing behind Naruto was Haku, and to Naruto's right sat Karin. While Mito, Kushina, and Minato sat on the opposite side. Hatsumi had just given Karin her new science project in the form of Danzo's artificial arm.

"Let me recap the facts of your report so I know that I got everything Hatsumi-chan. You managed to cut this arm from Danzo and uncover all the evidence that points out most of Danzos crimes? Most importantly that he was the main force behind the Uchiha uprising and the massacre. Itachi is back in his undercover Mission and Shisui currently seals away all things in the Naka shrine for relocation to Uzushio?"

The clone gave a short nod "Yes, Bosslady was very surprised to see that he kept some coded notes that if you align them with village information. He should not have coded it in an old Uzumaki code Language. That leads me to the last point I forgot to mention. It could be a mistake but it looked like Danzo was the person responsible for the slow down ofKonoha troops.

In his journal, he wrote: Thinking about how too many waves can harm even the strongest tree. I think the tree is hydrated enough to exist on its own. If the tides are left uncontrolled bad things could happen to the tree. Later he wrote: Made sure that the whirlpools only water the tree drying the well of others is a must." The clone looked solemnly. "Bosslady is very sure that Danzo not only slowed down the reinforcements but also hunted down survivors as best as he could."

All members in the room could feel rising pressure on them as the ground under Naruto's feet began to crack. His voice was low but spoke of conviction. "I want him tracked down. I know that I allowed Hatsumi to try her hand at him and I can understand why I should even let Sasuke do the deed but I want to personally see this cockroach grovel at my feet before the light in his eyes expires for the final time. Warmongers like him are the reason that tensions are on an everlasting cycle in the nations."

The clone nodded in with a final nod of Naruto dispelled transferring the memories to the original. Naruto looked over his shoulder. "Haku-chan get Tayuya in here."

The Girl bowed in her Kimono and got out to find the former Henchwomen of Orochimaru while Naruto looked at the others. "With Itachi back in Akatsuki we have eyes and ears in the organization that wants to hunt down the Biju for some reason. Also, we have the confirmation that the masked man that killed you two" he looked at Minato and Kushina. "was the one responsible for attacking the Uchiha and is at the moment someone who plays his game out of the shadows. I want you all in Uzushio in the next months. The restoration of the inner city ring is finished and with Karin onside, she can personally check on the defenses right Karin-chan?" The bespoken girl blushed a bit as she looked at Naruto's smiling face. Pushing her glasses up she nodded.

"Yes, Naruto-kun. I will also invest more time in the study of this Arm of Danzo. Further Hatsumi agreed to build the underground connection to Wave as an escape route. I will apply the same seals you used here and it should be fine. But if everything goes according to plan, the isle defenses should make a journey by ship very much impossible. We will also investigate the nearby islands to look after the suspicious activity Hatsumi-chan mentioned."

Naruto nodded "Thank you Karin-chan. As soon as I am Chunin I can legally leave the village more often, but with Jiji still in a coma, I don't see that coming very soon." A knock on the door interrupted Naruto before he turned to it and called out. "Enter."

Haku pushed a still-struggling Tayuya into the room. The chains on her wrists and ankles were littered with seals. As the captured Girl looked at the adults in the room her face fell pale. "What the fuck is that shit of a Genjutsu?! They are dead!"

Mito's calm voice echoed in the room. "True but we are not really dead either. It is a pity to see an Uzumaki as a servant to Orochimaru, even worse with such an uncouth language. Why did you do that child? Tell us, and we will listen."

Tayuya was still shocked that her question was answered with something like this. Suddenly her eyes started twitching. Seconds that felt like minutes followed where the twitching continues till, "It doesn't matter you shitheads. Just kill me already!"

Mito looked at Naruto, the emotions on her face clearly transmit the implications that those twitches would mean something. Naruto nodded shortly. At the same time, one of the Fuudas on Tayuya began to smoke. Haku did not hesitate one second and her Senbon laced with a strong paralysing agent hit several joints of the captive. Naruto's chain quickly lifted her up in the air.

Tayuya had a maniacal chuckle. "Yes, there you are showing your face. Kill me you soft bitches!" Naruto held up a half ram seal with his left hand slowly absorbing her chakra till he noticed the seal that was uncovered by her outfit moving slightly. Summoning two shadow clones that quickly inspected the seal on her back holding her down with the chains. The twitching of her eyes was getting back with each bit of chakra he absorbed.

"He…", Tayuyas voice was different now like that of a scared girl, "lp... Help me."

One of Naruto's Clones quickly unsealed a brush and ink only to directly write a seal on her. Seconds later she fell down unconscious. Naruto was trembling.

"Be right back, she should be knocked out for now." he vanished in a yellow flash. Seconds later you could hear an explosion in the distance before Naruto appeared straight at his chair again. Kushina looked at her son with a questioning glaze.

"Could you tell us what happened and what had you so angered Son?" Naruto's body language still spoke of anger that he tried to suppress, looking up slowly the young blonde nodded shortly taking calming breaths.

"That Snake bastard perverted something that never should be perverted. No surprise that our first body scans showed a slow chakra poisoning that seems to heal itself again and again. Dad you started your sage training with the toads, right? Mito-obaasan you also had contact with a sage through Ashina-ojisama right?" Both nodded and Mito had a good guess what Naruto wanted to say. "Orochimaru found a way for a seal to draw in Senjutsu Chakra while moving. The problem is that he accomplished that by forcing nature. The whole process perverted the serenity and twisted it into something sinister. The chakra I absorbed was one step from forcing me into Biju cloak mode. Would I not have already started my Sage training and Synchronisation with the Great ball of fur inside me…"

"Watch what you say, brat. Don't make me take back what I allowed you to do."

Kurama scolded him in his mind, even he could feel the sinister chakra not really bothered by it cause he could simply overpower it with his chakra but he had to agree with his host. It felt just wrong.

"... who agrees with me that that chakra is just bad." Naruto looked lost for a moment "Where was I? Oh, yeah. Well, thanks to that snake bastard I think this Juin has to go before we can talk to the real Tayuya."

Haku was the one with the smallest Knowledge in that particular field of the ninja arts so she was the first who raised the question. "Could you elaborate on that Naruto-sama"

Naruto nodded. "Well If he did something like perverted nature Chakra, he would need a failsafe to control them somehow." Looking at his clones. "I want R full-time on that case okay? We can't help Yakumo before coming up with a problem for her chakra system so this gets priority!" The clone nodded before he dispelled. Two clones came through the door shortly after to take the sleeping Tayuya away. Naruto waited for that to happen before he looked at the others again. "Orochimaru and Danzo made the list. There will be no mercy, no chance for redemption. They have to be put down like a rabid animal." All present gave a short nod at Naruto's convincing short speech.

Meanwhile Konoha Council chambers

"Order!" shouted the Anbu Commander. Just yesterday an anonymous source delivered Evidence of Danzo's actions with copies of the reference documents. After they had double-checked the reference documents with their own the conclusion of the temporary board that leads the village consisting of the two remaining elders, the Jonin commander, and the Anbu commander came to the same conclusion. Danzo was a traitor to the Leaf. Assembling the council to deal with this mess it quickly escalated.

Luckily the Anbu commander used enough KI to get back something like orderly mannerisms in the hordes of apes. The Anbu commander looked at Jiraiya. "News on Lord Thirds' condition?"

The Sannin shook his head. "No. The seal Naruto placed dealt with most of the deathly venom. But the Kusanagi is not known for its potency without reason. The remaining venom still in his bloodstream could be battled to a standstill. The chief of the hospital told me that he will not wake till they could synthesize something against it."

The Anbu commander nodded and looked at Shikaku. Mostly at such times, the Anbu commander would look after the military aspects while the Jonin commander with the elders would look after day-to-day business. "Thank you Jiraiya-sama" Shikaku intoned and addressed the room. "I think we agree that the staff would manage that sometime but Lord Third would have better chances if the other loyal student of his would be back to treat him."

Koharu interjected quickly at that. "Unfortunately Princess Tsunade is still traveling the fire nation, following her usual bad habits".

Jiraiya was quick to defend his former teammate. "That may be so, but I will have no problem in finding Tsunade-hime and bringing her back." He thought it better to not mention that she had not answered an official summons to this day but he had a strong guess where she would be.

The elders looked not convinced while Shikaku used that to use his rhetorical skills to maybe close this meeting in a timely manner. He wanted to get back to lazying around looking after the deers. Council meetings are always troublesome. "I think we can say that Jiraiya-sama had never let Konoha down." Turning to Sannin he smiled. "Would you need something for this important mission?"

Jiraiya smiled. "I think a Sensor like my Apprentice Chunin Uzumaki should be sufficient to accompany me on this trip."

This time Homura interjected. The face calculating "Excuse me Jiraiya-sama, but Apprentice and Chunin? The last time I checked Genin Uzumaki was a member of Team Kakashi. You are not the Hokage and can do what you want without filing proper documentation. Back to Uzumaki though, the last memorable thing he did was in the last round of the Chunin exams that ended in an invasion, where he worked with the Suna Jinchuriki to …" he was stopped by a brutal wave of Killing Intent from a very angered Sannin.

"Stop right there. His plan and actions saved countless lives. Most certainly that of Sarutobi-Sensei. If I hear you implicating that he is a traitor to this village again without hard evidence we will use the old ways to settle this argument. Back to topic though. I apprenticed him in the month before the Chunin exam Finals. I thought the three Toads he summoned would make that clear and would not need a formal declaration. I will file this shortly after this meeting." He unsealed a scroll and rolled it out for everyone to see. "This is an agreement between Chunin Uzumaki and the Hokage. That if he would reach the final round and make a show of strength he would be granted the rank of Chunin in the least if not higher."

Before one of the Elders could anger Jiraiya further the distorted voice of the Anbu commander interrupted. "As long as emergency protocols are in place, we can only grant temporary promotions. A Kage or the Daimyo has to sign them off to make them permanent. It is a shame that you took him first Jiraiya-sama I wanted to approach him and join the Anbu."

That had silenced the room. The Anbu commander usually only approached Chunin and above. Mostly he would recruit Tokubetsu Jonin. The Anbu commander had subtly supported the Hokage's choice of rank if not even implicated a higher one. Jiraiya just smiled at that before Shikaku picked up the conversation again.

"Exactly, so Jiraiya-sama I think we are aligned that you can take your apprentice with you to uncover Princess Tsunades whereabouts and bring her back."

Jiraiya noticed the dodge of mentioning the rank but underlining that Naruto was his apprentice, which usually meant that the Apprentice would follow the Master or Mistress where they seemed fit as long, as the Hokage had no other plans. Without the Hokage, they literally had no right to stop the Sannin which Shikaku's look at the elders transported quite well. The meeting ended quickly after Jiraiya would get a month to bring Tsunade back. If he could not manage that a new Hokage would have to be found for the time of the incapacitation of the Sandaime.

Konoha Main Plaza

Many citizens and Ninjas had found their way to the main center of the village right before the Hokage Tower. Sasuke was looking up at Shikaku that read from a scroll. "... Thanks to the provided and collected evidence the former Elder Danzo Shimura is now classified as a missing ninja and traitor to the leaf. He is suspected of instigating the Uchiha massacre and misled Uchiha Itachi into thinking it was an official S-Rank mission to protect the village. The council agreed on releasing this information to show you all that Shimura is a very dangerous person. While we .. "

Sasuke tuned him out after that. He felt like the world was spinning. Itachi was tricked? Could it be true? It would not bring back his family but if there was the smallest possibility that he would not have to kill his brother because he was an insane killer that would help, wouldn't it?

His mind tried to come up with something but it just lead to more questions and after a minute where he just stood in the middle of the slowly emptying plaza he was shunshined away by Kakashi. The Sensei of Team Seven had monitored his student today and as he noticed his lost look took him away to the training ground. After a good spar, they sat at the naka river. Secluded from prying eyes Kakashi slowly spoke, "It is always difficult to hear something like this isn't it?" Sasuke gave no real indication of an answer so Kakashi continued.

"In my Genin days, I was on a team with the Yondaime as a Sensei. It was in the middle of the third war. We were assigned the task to defend a critical bridge together with other Konoha teams. All was good for the most time till one of our comrades sold us out."

Here Sasuke looked at Kakashi who looked over the river. "They provided the enemy with the information when Sensei would be away, they used that to capture the female teammate of mine. Obito Uchiha, the one who would later give me the eye that made me famous, and I tried to rescue her." Kakashi now had the complete attention of Sasuke as he continued to tell his tale.

"We got to her, but it was too late. The Kiri Nin had forced the three-tailed beast on her. She was a Jinchuriki with a broken seal. If we would have taken her back to Konoha she would die and unleash the beast sometime in the near future. She knew it, we knew it. Obito and I argued what we should do but she forced the decision on us. Wanting to save us the grief and protect her village she used one of my own Jutsu against me and forced me to kill her. Obito and I had a falling out after that but before we could reconcile he was killed by a trap. He told me to take his Sharingan and protect the village like Rin and he wanted to. After Sensei got the news he moved out and killed one thousand Iwa and many Kiri Nin on his one."

He made a short break to look directly into the eyes of his student. "Neither he nor I were the same after that. That one betrayal broke us. Don't let Danzos betrayal stand in the way to talk with your brother. I can assure you, that you will come to regret it if let that happen."

Sasuke gave him no answer but let Kakashi escort him back to the compound, where the young Uchiha had trouble finding enough peace to fall asleep.

In the night Sasuke was asleep, mentally exhausted as he was he never noticed Kabuto slipping in and unsealing his curse mark. Slowly the mark began to spread and whisper dark thoughts to the subconsciousness of the young Uchiha in his suggestible state.

The next day, Konoha Gates

Naruto was standing and talking with Jiraiya ready for their mission.

".. I knew they would try to screw me over Sensei. I mean really what could you expect from those old farts." Adjusting the big scroll he had on his back and looking at his Sensei with his favorite I told you so face.

Jiraiya snorted but could not agree more with his student. "Let's go. In Tanzaku Gai is a Blackjack tournament in two weeks to celebrate a new casino. I think she will be there. While we are on the way we will take breaks to spar. We need to further increase your battle senses. We will add training with the toads to the list."

Naruto nodded and activated his training seals again and with a node both vanished in a Shunshin. They moved at high speeds to have enough time to train and rest. On the way, they managed to destroy some highwaymen who tried to make a profit from fleeing invaders that had not been captured by Konoha forces. The other great villages had certainly heard about the attack but also would have heard that Konoha had no trouble defending itself. The council had raised the mission for the Chunin and above to show strength to the outside worlds, so none of Konohas enemies had made a move, yet. Another group had started to work on reconnaissance tough. Not so far away from Konoha in a sealed cave holograms of people were conferring.

"We identified the current two and eight tails but we will need very good resources to get to them." one voice reported.

"Same goes for numbers four and five."

"Seven is still in my old village but could be an easy target." the next voice reported.

"Location of the six tails is unknown for the moment, three tails still the Mizukage though should not be a problem to deal with him"

"One is back in the Dunes. I connected my spy and reactivated it for the moment he is really protected. We would need to wait for a moment before we attack here."

The Leader standing in the middle with his two purple eyes, showing his Rinnegan eyes.

"Kisame, Itachi I want you to track nine. For the ritual to work, we need to seal them in order. If the nations got wind of our actions though they will increase the security around their tools. This means we have to hit the most possible targets at the same time. For now, get back to collect funds. We will start with the next phase in two or three years depending on the provided funds you can gather."

After that the meeting ended and Kisame Hoshigaki, another rouge member of the seven swordsmen looked at his partner the Butcher of the Uchiha clan Itachi Uchiha. "How do you deal with the news that this Danzo had tricked you Itachi, want to hunt him down for the bounty? It looks Juicy"

Itachi looked at the shark-like man that had earned the moniker tailless-tailed beast. If you would ask the Uchiha, he was one of the most troublesome members of the Akatsuki. With his sword able to eat chakra and transfer it to his wielder to heal him, he was the one after the two immortal brothers that had literally the best regenerative ability. Not counting the Leader Pain of course. He looked at Kisame and with his Anbu voice that was void of all emotions.

"I will deal with Danzo when the time is right, he is a master at hiding and letting others die or work for him. He will lay low for the next years so to look for him would be more intensive and not further the goals of Leader-sama."

"Chill Itachi, you are so intense again. Okay, let us look where the nine tails went off too."

They left the hideout and made their way to look for a trace of Naruto.

One week later Jiraiya and Naruto entered their destination Tanzaku-gai in good spirits.

"Well, here we are Gaki. With the tournament starting at the end of the week I don't think that Tsunade-hime has already arrived. Most of the time she would be arriving on the day of the event. But the good news first, in the last town I got some information from my network that she is on her way." He blushed a bit thinking about his former teammates' form.

Naruto bonked him on the head jumping up to do so. "Really Ero-Sensei, if you like her so much maybe you should invest more time into her and not into your research" the blonde shot at the Sannin who looked like Naruto spoke heresy.

"My Research is important stuff Naruto and don't call me that." Jiraiya looked mildly exasperated but his student just chuckled.

"For real Ero-Sensei, I think if you give up research you would get a foot in the door with Tsunade. Just saying." He dodged the small Katon Jutsu his Sensei threw at him with ease after that the two checked into a hotel.

"I will get some research down, If you want to train use the forest in the direction of Konoha so you don't scare Hime away okay?" Naruto sighed but nodded, why was Jiraiya like this? He unloaded most of the traveling things with some clones who still worked on decoding the Juin of Orochimaru and made his way to the mentioned part of the forest surrounding the city. He started adding elements to the Rasengan, the whole process was a bit more difficult than he thought though.

All this training was the reason he could only dodge in the last second as a bandaged sword nearly cut him in half.

"The squirt is quick," Kisame said as he looked at Naruto shortly joined by Itachi.

"Naruto, you have to accompany us, please stop resisting." The Uchicha emotionless declared. Before the Slayer of the Uchiha clan had to duck Nartuo's whip-like sword by bursting in a flock of crows with Sharingan as eyes. New was the type of Sharingan in their eyes each of them had the Shuriken-like pattern of his Mangekyou instead of the usual three tomoe. That was the reason that for a second everyone in the clearing stopped moving. Even the hidden observer, who looked like a Venus fly trap was hit by chance.

In the Tsukoyomi world, Itachi and Naruto looked at each other. Witch Itachi starting the conversation.

"I can't hold the Genjutsu on two Shinobi like Kisame and Zetsu for long so I have to make it quick." Naruto nodded in understanding before Itachi relayed everything new that he could uncover. "... You could try to get to Kisame Maybe even kill him but that would lead Madara or Tobi and Pain to assume you are too strong for us normal members."

"I think I have an idea but what you told me about this Tobi, Madara dude is troubling. I have to come up with a way to counter that Space-Time ability from the Sharingan before I could attack Akatsukis Leadership."

Itachi gave another nod. They talked for another ten minutes before Itachi had to cancel the Ilusion. Naruto fall to one knee while the other had been only affected to cover up the lack of blood flowing out of Itachi's eye. It was a minor thing but to hold it while performing the Tsukoyimi simultaneously showed the prowess of the King of Genjutsu.

"Kisame, he broke free of the Jutsu." Itachi neutrality commented.

"A pity I will try my luck then. He won't need his legs right?" Showing his shark-like teeth he had to dodge an attack from the main body, while three clones fought against Itachi.

"I will hold onto them for a moment. Thank you very much" Naruto commented before he locked up with Kisame, the sword again in his solid form resembling a Katana. Even with his Chakra going through the veins Naruto struggled against Kisames strength. The sparks flying of the blade as the scales of the Samehada shaved against his were irritating. For the moment he could redirect the force though.

Kisame was grinning like a madman as both of them were locked in the sword fight. Itachi was always engaged by three clones. If the Uchia managed to burst one of them, they often go out with a bang. Nearly a minute the sound of clashing metal could be heard before Naruto jumped back unsealing a three-pronged. Throwing it in the general direction of Kisame before the Kunai multiplied tenfold thanks to the Kunai Kage Bunshin Jutsu.

"Watch out Kisame!" Itachi called out. "Don't get near that Kunai"

Kisame dodged a strike of a Chakra chain and snarled right back at the monotonous voice of his partner.

"I know that. Why had you have to use your eyes again at the beginning and exhaust yourself?" Kisame dodged another attack not noticing the Kunai that stuck in the ground right next to him. Only the autonomous action of his blade saved his head but the strong slash took the blade out of his unprepared hands. The sharkskin blade was tossed in the direction of another clone that grinned brightly before he opened a sealing scroll sealing it away and disappearing in a flash of yellow light. Incredulous Kisame looked at the spot his blade had disappeared from before turning and pointing at a laughing Naruto. "DID YOU JUST STEAL MY BLADE?"

Naruto burst out laughing again. "Yeah. I did"

"You gonna die Kid! I do care about that blade." Kisame rushed at him and Naruto could only deflect the hit slightly by pushing on hand against Kisames hit to pivot himself. Getting a good bruise on his face as he impacted a tree after spinning in the air and picked up one of his special Kunai.

"If you want to see the blade ever again." He spits out some blood. "You better capture me alive. Damn, that hurt." He looked at his clone who nodded "Sorry have to meet with my Sensei now. Playtime is over."

"Exactly" came the voice of Kisame that appeared right before him but as his punch finished he only split the tree that was behind Naruto in two halves. The blonde was nowhere to be seen. Itachi dispatched the last clone before he regrouped with his partner. Kisame was about to start a rant that the little thief got away before he screamed out looking down.

Itachi had to control himself very hard as he looked at his partner. Samehada had bitten into Kisames hip. The Uchiha knew how strong this bite was. He was witness to some of their targets that had fallen to this blade. Kisame looked down after he got over the shock and pain. Unbelivingly he looked at his sword. "Samehada? What the fuck is wrong with?" The sword had stopped munching on the ninja and lay on the ground looking up at his wielder with giving out noises that sounded like "Ooops". Kisame looked at his partner for an explanation.

Itachi sighed. "Well, the Container said he is no thief right?" he stated in a matter-of-fact tone without letting out the laugh that slowly built up again at the picture of the scene.

Kisame was not really amused and picked up the blade that was quickly starting to heal the bite wound itself has put on its wielder.

Moments earlier

Naruto had transported himself to the clone with he had unsealed and was running away from. "Attention bos that things bites!" Samaehada sensed the Newcomer and was jumping at Naruto, maw with rows of teeth clearly visible. Naruto quickly held his Kunai in front of him.

"Not like that" A barrier materialized in front of him and using one-handed seals he focussed his chakra before stomping his foot. Vanishing Sword and Barrier. Shortly after he could hear the scream of Kisame. "Back at you, Sharkman" Naruto chuckled taking off in the direction of Tanzaku-Gai.

Gift of the Flying Thunder God was his version of his father's transportation Jutsu to deflect attacks. His version was able to directly target a marker, it would destroy it yes but he could redirect attacks straight at his enemies. After his father had explained the concept of the Jutsu to him he came up with the sharpshooter variant of the Jutsu.

In private Minato had admitted that the teleportation of the Bijudama was a fluke. He had the Jutsu not really down at this time. Together they worked on this version. Where a Jutsu or projectile would be transported to the targeted marker with the same kinetic force it impacted the barrier with. Judging by the scream Mr. Sharkman got a bite of his own medicine. Naruto had to chuckle at his own pun before he looked for Jiraiya to report.

Days later, start of the Tournament

Naruto sat at one table and had the time of his life playing cards. Somehow he was just a lucky fellow. Not that he won all the time, he lost some rounds but in the end, he won enough to stay in the tournament. The tournament turned out to be a card games tournament. Blackjack was only the first round to sort out the players. They had no luck finding Tsuande before so they just entered the tournament themselves hoping to find her at the tables. They changed their Shinobi attire for civilian clothes and Naruto hinged into a version that looked a bit more older than he was now.

Winning his Blackjack round he was making his way to the next game. Texas Hold'em style Poker. Something western settlers had brought with them a long time ago. It was played with two cards each Player would place face down. Additionally, the players would share five other cards.

The target was to build the strongest five-card hand. Naruto was no professional gambler. But he learned to look at people and read their body language really early in life.

He could see the small movements in the body that showed excitement or disappointment and he was ruthless in reacting to those. It did not take long for him to sit at the final table. together with one specific blonde, the description matched very well with his target.

"To see one of the Sannin at a poker table is something I can cross off my bucket list now am I right Senju?" he used his aged voice to the best of his ability as he checked his cards.

The fellow blonde turned to him. "How so?" was her short answer as she looked at her cards and checked with a small tap of her fingers. Naruto looked around to see that his Sensei had located Tsunades apprentice, the stupid Ero-Sensei lost because a woman had promised him a night to remember if he would let her win. Gross.

"Well, the Gossip is that one is a traitor, the other lounges around in brothels. To see the last one gamble is hilarious, to be honest, are you ninjas not to avoid such things?" He tried to start small talk with her to get a chance to do something. Even if his Sensei had contacted Shizune, it was always good to be better safe than sorry right?

Tsunade huffed. "Maybe but I am a Sannin no worries here. Three of a kind." She pointed at her cards. Naruto had no trouble giving her the round.

They played some hands before it got down to the point that the two were the last at the table. But the chips on Naruto's side of the table dwarfed the amount Tsunade had left. With the blinds rising she was forced into all in.

Naruto won the hand with a straight but before Tsunade wanted to stand up, he reached out with his hand to hold her back at the wrist. At first, he got a stern look but after he told her his proposition she sat back.

"So you bet your winnings against me helping your grandfather. Each of us gets 100.000 Ryu and we play from there" Naruto nodded and Tsuande thought for a moment before she looked at the cashier and nodded. The woman distributed chips and dealt the cards and Naruto did not even look at them.

"Don't you want to see your cards?"

Naruto just shook his head. "The cards are like they are you know. Can't change them you know. But I will win because I need you to help my Jiji. Dattebayo!"

He exclaimed. Tsunade thought she remembered that tic at the end, and the whole conviction also brought back memories of her younger brother Nawaki or her Lover Dan and how they would declare to be Hokage. As she looked at the disguised Naruto she could see both of them behind him smiling. The game was intense the first three cards looked good for the Sannin. She got two hearts and with the three hearts in the flop, she already had a flush. A solid hand so she bet half of her chips. Naruto called without any worries. The turn was the jack of diamonds, nothing too fancy both checked before the River card was uncovered. A jack of spades. Tsunade raised again and wanted to get this over with she was very sure that her hand was solid enough, pushing the rest of her chips in. "All in."

Naruto trusted his feelings before he said "Call." He flipped his cards open for the Showoff. Looking at Tsunade with her Flush, the young Uzumaki smiled at his Jack of Clubs and Jack of Hearts. "Four of a kind. I win don't I?" smiling he looked at Tsunade who looked on with an unbelieving face.

She slowly nodded before he told the cashier to transfer his funds to his accounts picking up the still-stunned Tsuande bridal style he was out of the Casino in no time looking at Jiraiya. "Mission accomplished" before a clone pooped into existence taking hold of Jiraiya, Shizune, and TonTon. Both Narutos flashed with their passengers straight into the hospital in Konoha.

Tsunade was looking around disoriented, it looked familiar. The person in the bed that was connected to the machines and tubes had a familiar feeling to her as Anbu appeared in the room that just looked like they watched, what would happen next. Tsuandes's small voice could be heard. "Sensei?"