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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto and Shueisha.

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Chapter 17: A Blonde Understanding

Naruko was usually an easygoing enjoyer of exploration. But right now, she couldn't muster her usual attitude towards traveling as she felt the constant feeling something may be wrong.

Perhaps she was overthinking it due to worry, but the fact that her and her 'bodyguard' were getting further and further away from Konoha was only adding to her growing unease. It felt like she had something of a leash to Konoha - not as a 'restraint' but as a feeling of getting too far from home - that was slowly getting closer and closer to its maximum stretch.

It didn't help that her 'guard' was particularly keen over her distress and tended to 'tease' her over it.

"You shall return ssssoon to your father, Ruruko-chan," The extra hissing added 'personality' in Orochisumi's overall attitude.

With a smile that was mixed between amused and creepy, the pale-skinned 'snake lady' was indeed scarier than Anko had told them about. She was downright frightening at times, and overall perceptive of any sort of silent thoughts the blonde was contemplating.

And since her main concern was her daddy... well, that led to some awkward callouts.

Days had gone by, and their search for this old hag was getting longer due to her irregular traveling schedule. Senju Tsunade was known to stick around some towns for just enough time to roll her luck at the local casino and then get the boot whenever she 'dared too much'.

Tsunade was also a topic that Orochisumi found 'genuine amusement' discussing with. In a sense, Ruruko could relate with the fellow blonde. Both came from illustrious families, but then lost a lot and somewhat got adopted by kind men.

For Naruko it was Jonno, for Tsunade it was Sarutobi Hiruzen - the Third Hokage. But the similarities didn't stop there as their personalities was where the core connection lingered. Both loved their own families, both would either die or kill for them and... losing any of them could break them apart.

Naruko could only imagine this last bit in her worst nightmares, but Tsunade did lose people. Her grandparent, the First Hokage, her granduncle, the Second Hokage, her parents, her lover, and even her brother.

Tsunade had survived all of that, and then fully cut contacts with the village with the news of her adoptive father's demise. Another 'reason' for her to hate Konoha, that's how Orochisumi called it. Tsunade's loyalty and care for the village perished with each coffin she had to stood vigilant for. All those funerals, all those deaths in the family.

As much as Orochisumi mentioned that it was foolish of her old friend to behave like this after so long, Naruko wasn't of the same mindset. She could understand Tsunade's grief and somewhat relate to her reaction... but she was also quite harsher on the matter of time.

While the pain of the heart can be far tougher than a physical wound, that didn't mean that she could exploit the sorrow as a reason to run away. Because, beyond what she could feel relatable, Naruko saw things for what they were: Tsunade was running from the pain and anything related to it.

The hatred was just a mask she used to justify why she was truly moved around and cared not about her own survival. And it all came back to what her father told her about what he remembered hearing over the Slug Sennin:

She can't be pitied, but she can't be blamed. She is just human, and yet it is time for her to concede that time marches on.

Naruko missed dearly the times when things were so simple. Back when she was so tiny that it was almost convenient for her to be picked up and carried around by her daddy, or back when she didn't have to worry about those changes from her puberty such as her new complex feelings and her breasts.

She missed being a little brat. But it was also fine to accept how things were right now.

Maybe there is a technique to turn back time. Maybe it can revert things to those easier times. But would it be as nice as she remembered those times? No. And Tsunade had gone long enough ignoring this very matter.

After all, Orochisumi had also mentioned how gambling had been a vice for Tsunade since she was a little girl and that her grandfather had enabled her into it. Thus... it made sense that Tsunade wanted to gamble her life away - and return ot those bygone times.

The journey was long nonetheless, and she did some basic training under Orochisumi's guidance. No new technique was added to her arsenal, with Kurama assisting her in her mindscape about it in evolving her Rasengan while also perfecting it. Instead, the Snake Sennin had her further develop her physical skills and hone some of the more 'simpler' techniques tied to mobility. Tree-climbing, water-walking, and other control-improving abilities.

Nothing new to what Naruko was accustomed to, but it acted as a good distraction for what was coming up around the corner. After days of misses, they were finally on the right track as Orochisumi found out where Tsunade was going next and they were moving way faster than their target.

Tanzaku Quarters was a small settlement that enjoyed a well-nurtured adult-based economy.

Casinos, brothels, and other adult-centric places of entertainment. And as they arrived to the place, with Orochisumi showing her the outward appearances of those 'love nests', Naruko's mind wandered on how things would go with her daddy once she was back.

While her lust was under check as of now thanks to Kurama lowering her libido for a time, she knew things would get tougher to handle once she was back home with... a lot of time not doing anything around her daddy.

Still, the Sennin got them a room at the nearest inn, and they waited patiently for one of the snake summons from Orochisumi's contract to check if Tsunade was around. And, once they had confirmation of that, they moved rapidly to intercept the Legendary Sucker.

There was no way in hell Naruko was going back home empty-handed after that insanely-draining trip.

The casino Naruko followed Orochisumi into had a stench that disgusted the blonde almost instantly.

She was accustomed to the scent of booze and smoke, but the scent of sex and depravity was something Naruko was completely floored about. It wasn't the same one she perceived during her first sexual experience, not when she felt that it wasn't as 'muted' as it was with Kurama and Daddy.

No, it felt so intense, so 'deeply-rooted' into the floor and the walls. Sure, her nose was heightening the intensity, but it still feel absurdly entrenched within the place itself. And as the duo wandered through the various halls connecting to the many game rooms.

Orochisumi spoke with few workers around, coercing out of them the proper room to check. Not too long after, they both stepped into the right place. Tsunade and her companion, Shizune, were both sitting by one of the tables, the former smiling confidently while the latter appeared particularly uncertain of what the blonde was up to.

Naruko's eyes were, however, drawn to Tsunade.

She had been told beforehand by both her Daddy and Orochisumi that, despite her age, Tsunade used an illusion to keep herself looking as if she was in her mid-30s. And while she had been stunned by Orochisumi's own beauty despite her advanced age, it was still impressive how this extended also to Tsunade through different means.

As they approached the gaming table, Tsunade took notice of the duo. A scowl adorned her face right as her eyes landed on Orochisumi, but the fellow Sennin smiled cordially.

"Tsunade. Long time no see."

"For good reasons," The blonde scowled, tense and almost ready to bail from the table while Shizune held close onto her... pet pig? "And I see you have a new student now."

"Sadly, Anko is still my apprentice. Thisss one is someone I was asked to bring with me for this trip," Orochisumi explained. "She is not a proper ninja."

That last bit surprised Tsunade as Naruko could tell from the gaze she got that Tsunade was somewhat 'recognizing' her.

"You're... Minato's kid."

"That's my sperm-donor, yes," Naruko replied, and she got the reaction she expected from the woman. "Still, it's irrelevant to me being here."

"And... why are you here, then?" Tsunade asked, an odd look on her face.

"There is a chance the Fourth Hokage will be ousted from his position by request of a majority of Ninja Clans," Orochisumi delivered with a serious tone. "Many things have declined since our sensei's sacrifice. Minato has truly fallen off his pedestal."

"I doubt that. The kid is too clever for his own good to do anything dumb-"

"He has empowered some civilian clans. Merchants and investors. In his eyes, they deserve just as much of a say to Konoha's national policies, and this has severely impaired the military budget. Suna dared to strike us at the Chuunin Exam, we were lucky they lack a robust military force to do anything but-"

"But that's not going to be enough for me, Sumi," Tsunade interrupted, her gaze turned back to the younger blonde. "I am very curious why someone that is not a ninja, that has not any major stakes in this situation, and that seems to hate some friends of mine is here to... what? What is your goals, both of you?"

"I was only told that you could be asked to be the new Hokage, Tsunade-san. A compromise candidate."

"...Who?"

"Danzou."

That seemed to get a reaction from Tsunade as she frowned heavily and then turned to Orochisumi, the fellow Sennin nodding in confirmation of this answer.

"Why?"

"What I can ssssay, Tsu-chan, is that Danzou has somewhat mellowed since sensei's passing. He, however, doesn't like the way the village is turning and the way Minato has grown..."

"Softer?" Tsunade guessed, but it was Naruko's turn to speak.

"Dumber."

"Is that so? And what did he do to you to make you hate your own biological father?"

...

"The answer is... very long. I may need to speak for a while," Naruko argued, and felt relief washing over her as. "My birthname is Namikaze Naruko, but I now go by the name of Bugarino Ruruko and-"

It took a while. Naruko did her hardest to summarize what was important and removed what was unimportant. Still, she digressed a few times and... it took her a full hour to fully go through the backstory. Luckily for her, Tsunade said nothing to speed things up as she looked quite intrigued by the tale itself and stopped her to ask a few questions around her first four years of life, before she got adopted.

Yet, now, it was time to lay down why she was truly there. Not just to hide away, not just to bring Tsunade back to be the next Hokage but-

"I want you to take custody of Menma."

"Your little sister," The blonde sennin rationalized, and Naruko nodded. "I suppose you're afraid that, once this mess goes wild, she may be caught into trouble and... you don't trust your biological parents in protecting her."

"That's correct."

"And that would demand me to... go back to Konoha."

Naruko nodded, and Tsunade appeared tense for a moment. Naruko knew that she was 'hitting' the right spot with this, and Orochisumi seemed to think as much as she gave a thin smile in her general direction.

While the death of Tsunade's lover had been a major play in her decision to leave Konoha, it was ultimately her little brother's death that cemented this idea. And when put in a situation where she could prevent a similar situation from happening, with people that were part of her extended family... Naruko knew Tsunade was going to budge at that.

Not in regard of becoming the Hokage, but at least going back to the village for the time being. And from the quiet whispers that Shizune delivered to her mentor, it was clear the apprentice was equally moved by this disposition.

"I guess... I can return. But I will not go back to the hospital, in fact I wish to stay at Ruruko's home for the time being."

"Y-You would have to ask to Daddy-"

"Oh, I will," Tsunade smiled as she said that, "And if my words will not do, I am sure Shizune can help."

...

Ah, I like your godmother.

Naruko knew this was going to bear more headaches to her daddy than she would have liked to. But, at least, she could go back knowing that nothing crazy was going to be welcoming her at home...

AN

Gaara, Temaru, and Kankuro: Hello sister.