Hello everyone I'm back once again to bring you another chapter of my story; if you are enjoying it please keep on supporting me and my other works. Now with nothing else to say lets begin.
Stitched Kitsune: Chapter 33
Otogakure; 5 days after the Konoha invasion: With Naruto
Naruto was in his room lying down on his bed looking up at the ceiling; it has been several days since the battle in Konoha and Naruto's mind was racing. He got payed for the job and him along with the rest of his crew were going to leave back to the land of snow.
However one thing has been running through his mind for the past 5 days; he has been going over in his head about what the first Hokage Hashirama and him talked about.
Flashback; 5 days prior: With Naruto and Hashirama
Naruto and Hashirama were both walking a little bit outside the Oto camp in order to talk in private; as they walked Naruto felt a shock to his system and heard a voice.
"Miss me kit' The Kyuubi said from inside his mind "i just got my revenge on that Hyuga, and it was so- what the fuck is he doing here!"; Naruto's head jerked to the side as the sound of the Kyuubi's booming voice echoed in his head. "Kill Hashirama, kill him now, make him suffer" The Kyuubi roared and Naruto spoke inside his mind.
'Quit yelling damn it; he just wants to talk' Naruto said internally 'just shut up and watch'.
"Fine" The Kyuubi said before cutting connection.
"Are you ok" Hashirama asked looking at Naruto curiously "you look a little angry".
"Just the voice in my head shouting at me" Naruto said before he realized what he just said 'crap now he's going to think I'm crazy'.
"I understand" Hashirama said "I hear the screams of the dead and dying every once and a while as well; the doctors call it 'Soldiers Heart', thankfully my wife and children fixed it for me… mostly". Hashirama stopped and turned to Naruto, he went through hand signs and created 2 stumps facing each other "sit down please".
Naruto sat down on one while Hashirama sat on the other "what do you want to talk about Lord First".
"Call me Hashirama…please" Hashirama said before taking a breath "I will first like to apologize on behalf of my village". Naruto went wide eyed at this.
'Wait an apology… from a Kage' Naruto thought.
"When I started the leaf village I hoped to create a new way of life; a place where children were no longer sent off to war, where families and clans can prosper" Hashirama said "i taught of the 'Will of Fire', a way for all of those civilian or ninja to live by". "But it looks like it did not work how I wanted too" Hashirama said.
"Yeah, no shit" Naruto said as he looked at the stitches on his bare chest "if they were willing to do this to their most valuable weapon I wonder what they would've done to their enemies".
"You know, my wife Mito Uzumaki was the first Jinchuriki of the nine tails" Hashirama said and Naruto nodded "the whole village knew, they did not fear her; they respected her and her clan". "When I heard about what they did to you I was sicken to my stomach" Hashirama said "you were no demon but a innocent boy; and the Kyuubi is not some evil or malicious creature but a powerful force of nature". "That's why I captured it along with the rest of the tailed beasts; in order to ensure a deterrent in order to ensure lasting peace" Hashirama said "and it seemed to have worked to a certain extent".
"It did, but three world wars still happen" Naruto said and Hashirama nodded.
"But what is three wars compared to the hundreds i fought in" Hashirama said "I fought the Uchiha, Hyuga, Sarutobi and dozens of other clans by the time i was a teenager".
"Sounds like you had it as rougher than i did" Naruto said and Hashirama chuckled.
"The difference was that I had people to support me" Hashirama said "my brother, my clan; you however, were all alone". "But you did find people to love and cherish… right" Hashirama asked.
Naruto nodded "Yep, Hinata, Kakuzu, Fu, Karin, Mie, Sasori, Haku and Zabuza; I found people, and I'd do anything to protect them" Naruto said "call me greedy but… I'd trade the entire world for their safety; and I'd kill anyone who threatened them".
Hashirama smiled at this "Am I one too" Hashirama said and Naruto rubbed the back of his head.
"Well considering that unlike everyone else from Konoha you haven't tried to kill me yet" Naruto said making Hashirama chuckle "I guess so".
"Well then may I make a request" Hashirama asked and Naruto nodded "I wish for you to reignite the will of fire"; Naruto went wide eyed at this and Hashirama continued. "I see that you have suffered a lot in life, but unlike a lot of people you have not went down a path of darkness and evil" Hashirama said "you can become the difference in this horrible world".
Naruto sighed at this "I am down a dark path" Naruto said "I've killed for money, I helped evil individuals, subjugated a country… all kind of things that took Hinata throwing it into my face to realize was wrong". "I am not a good person Hashirama; I'm evil and wicked" Naruto said "and it's going to haunt me for the rest of my days".
"A truly evil man would not feel guilt over those kinds of things" Hashirama said "I have also killed as well; men, women, children, people from rival clans and even a few from my own". "I even had to kill my best friend… Madara" Hashirama said with some guilt. "The world of the ninja is cold and unforgiving; you cannot become a true ninja without getting blood on you hands" Hashirama said "but that does not mean you become and animal who only thirst for power and blood shed; when you go there, that is the path of no return".
"I get what your saying" Naruto said "alright, I'll do it"; Hashirama smiled at this as Naruto stood up. "I have a plan to rid the world of a certain evil… but it's more for power and revenge if i was honest" Naruto said.
"There is little difference between justice and revenge" Hashirama said "may I ask what it is"; Naruto nodded and Hashirama leaned in close and whispered it into his ear. Hashirama went wide eyed and nodded "I don't condone revenge… but that does sound very justifiable" he said as he stood back up. "Whatever it is you do; just remember why you do it, and do it with a clear conscience" Hashirama said.
"I will, thank you" Naruto said as he reached out his hand; Hashirama shook it and both smiled until they let go.
"Ok, now then; I have one last favor to ask" Hashirama said as he grew another tree out of the ground; the tree turned into a wooden club. The club was about one and a half feet long with several knots on the head that protruded out like spikes; the handle was long and halfway up the length it began to twist into the head.
"Uh… what's this for" Naruto asked confused.
"Oh I need you to bash my head it so I can die" Hashirama said as he got to his knees "I want to see my wife once again; so would you kindly… the seal should be in the middle of my head". Naruto sweat dropped at this and raised the club.
"Just like in 'Old Yeller'" Naruto said as he took in a breath "thanks Hashirama… I appreciate it"; Hashirama smiled as Naruto swung the club down on him.
Flashback end
Naruto laying on his bed reached over and grabbed the wooden club and looked at it 'at least I got another weapon now' Naruto thought as he sat up 'I'm going to get some food'. Naruto exited the room as his thought continued to go through his mind.
In another room: With Hinata, Kurenai and Anko
"Kurenai Sensei, please, you must slow down" Hinata begged as Anko stood beside her.
"W-why the hell should i slow down" Kurenai said slurring her words; Kurenai was heavily intoxicated as she sat on the bed with several various liquor bottles at her feet "can't you see, my life is fucked". Kurenai grabbed a bottle, stood up and threw it at the wall breaking it "the man I loved raped a genin, my village thinks I'm a traitor, I have no home, no money, no pride". Kurenai sat back down and looked over at Hinata and Anko "but I have you two here at least" she said with a weak smile before grabbing another bottle and began to drink.
"Jeez… straight lace Kurenai acting like this is crazy" Anko said rubbing the back of her head "do you regret bringing us here now". "Because I think the only reason she didn't go back to Konoha to kill Asuma was because of you" Anko said.
"I don't regret it" Hinata said "I have to make up for leaving her… I just didn't know it would be like this"; Hinata began to remember what happened 5 days ago.
Flashback; 5 days prior: With Kurenai and Anko
Anko and Kurenai were in the tent with an unconscious Sakura; Naruto had just walked off with Hashirama leaving both women alone. Kurenai was currently crying her eyes out while Anko held her.
"I-I trusted him, I loved him" Kurenai sobbed out "there was even talks about marriage… Asuma… how could he". Anko held her tight and rubbed her shoulder.
"I don't know what to say" Anko said "I always thought he was a douche; I mean those ears, gross"; Kurenai lightly chuckled at this as she wiped her eyes and looked at Sakura.
"When she wakes up I need to apologize" Kurenai said "I had no idea something so horrible happened to her and from Asuma no less; I-I need to-".
"You will, just calm down" Anko said; just then someone walked in, it was a girl wearing a helmet. She had 2 bottles of water and slowly walked forward.
"W-would you like some water" Hinata asked and Anko nodded.
"Yeah thanks kid" Anko said as she took them "you're Mie right; i saw you in the exams, how did you get wrapped up in this". Hinata flinched and fidgeted for a moment.
"W-well, you see… I'm here on a job and I was chosen because I was from Konoha" Hinata said and Kurenai looked at her.
"You're from Konoha" Kurenai asked.
"Yes…Kurenai sensei" Hinata said and Kurenai froze at that; Hinata reached up and took off her helmet revealing her face to Kurenai and Anko with a sad smile "it's been a while".
"W-wh-w" Kurenai stuttered out in shock while Anko sat there with her mouth open.
"I was taken by Naruto and I've been in the land of snow" Hinata said "I'm a mercenary now… kind of… and when we were chosen to help out Oto I was chosen to come with Naruto and Haku". Hinata swallowed when she looked at Kurenai "Kurenai sensei i-" Hinata began but couldn't finish as Kurenai grabbed her.
Kurenai pulled her in and buried Hinata's face into her chest "I knew you were alive… I never lost hope" Kurenai sobbed out as she looked at Hinata "you grew up a little". Hinata hugged her back.
"I missed you a lot Kurenai sensei" Hinata said as the both of them hugged; upon breaking the hug.
"How have you been" Kurenai asked wiping her tears and leading her to a seat "tell me everything"; Hinata began to tell her tale and for a moment helped her sensei forget the heartbreak she just suffered.
Flashback end
After Hinata and the others arrived at Oto and Kurenai has been getting worse; the slight bit of relief of her reuniting with Hinata faded away and Kurenai fell back down into a spiral. When Kurenai found out there was alcohol in Oto she did not hesitate to sell some valuables to but some.
Kurenai sold a gold necklace Asuma gave her, her leaf headband and even Konoha social security number; because in her own words 'why do i need my identity in Konoha; I can't go back anyways'.
When she got her liquor she began drinking every moment she was awake, and the whole thing broke Hinata's heart; Hinata looked at Kurenai as what a Kunoichi should be. Proud, feminine, powerful and unrelenting in her strides to improve herself; now looking at the drunken mess of her sensei she could only feel pity.
"D-damn…I'm out" Kurenai said as she dropped the bottle she was holding; Kurenai was about to grab another one but before she could grab it she passed out on her bed. Kurenai had drank herself into a stupor once again; she began to snore softly and both Hinata and Anko looked at her.
"Grab the trash can, I'll tie back her hair" Anko said and Hinata nodded and walked over to get the trash can "we need to do something; she'll drink herself to death if she keeps going on like this".
"I know" Hinata said sadly "I'll think of something" she said as she put the trash can next to Kurenai. 'I just hope it's soon' Hinata thought.
Meanwhile in Konoha; in the council chambers: With Jiraya, Danzo, Homura, Koharu, the Shinobi and civilian council
"I leave to find the nine tails and come back to this" Jiraya said in anger as he walked in the middle of the room "Sensei dead, the village destroyed, a clan head in critical condition and not one but two Jinchuriki under Orochimaru's control". "How the hell did this happen; are you people so stupid you could not see this" Jiraya shouted as he looked around.
"How were we supposed to know that this would've happened" A civilian said "we were only doing what was-" he began but didn't finish. Jiraya rushed over and kicked him in the face snapping his head back breaking his neck and killing him. Everyone but Danzo was frightened by this as Jiraya had a scowl on his face.
"I warned that Oto might be harboring Orochimaru and we shouldn't allow them to participate, same with snow country" Jiraya said in anger "because of your incompetence the village is in ruins and now I must pick up the pieces".
"What we need is a new Kage" Homura said "i recommend Danzo; he's the most qualified since you don't want it".
"Not just no, but fuck no" Jiraya said looking at Danzo "unless I'm mistaken root didn't even bother defending the village".
"Hiruzen ordered my root to never get involved inside the village; I was only following the Hokage's orders" Danzo said with a smirk that made Jiraya's blood boil.
"We do need a Hokage; but not Danzo" Jiraya said "and there is only one person who can turn this village around; she can be a new face to rally behind if we can convince her to come back".
"You're not seriously considering Tsunade are you" Koharu said "she abandoned the village decades ago; she has no love for this place, hell she doesn't even keep her money in a Konoha bank".
"She is a descendant of the first Hokage, a incredible medic and one of the Legendary Sanin" Jiraya said "if she isn't Hokage I don't know who else to ask".
"Very well then" Danzo said speaking up "How about a deal; if you convince her to come back I won't become Hokage, but if you come back empty handed I will take the position".
"Very well you decrepit old bastard" Jiraya said as he began to walk out "give me one month; I'll bring her back one way or another".
"Lord Jiraya; may I make a suggestion" Homura said stopping him "how about taking someone with you to train; we don't have a Jinchuriki anymore so we need someone to fill the void as our deterrent".
"Who are you thinking about" Jiraya asked.
"Sasuke Uchiha" Homura said "teach him what you know and buy his loyalty; his loyalty is on a knives edge, so if you can give him the power he desires he could be of great use to the village".
"An Uchiha… fine I guess; but if he pisses me off I'm sending his ass back" Jiraya said as he walked out.
Danzo seeing him leave narrowed his eye 'Tsunade… she could be a problem; if she doesn't come back we should get rid of her' he thought 'Tenzo, Fuu and Torune should be enough if it comes to it'.
Oto, 1 day later: With Naruto and crew
Naruto along with Kakuzu, Sasori, Hinata, Fu, Karin, Haku, Sakura, Zabuza and Anko were all standing in front of Orochimaru who was sitting in his throne. Orochimaru's arms were wrapped in bandages and the mad looked like he was in serious pain.
Naruto turned to his side and spoke to Sakura "hey Sakura, how's the wound" he whispered.
"I'm fine… not one hundred percent, but fine" Sakura whispered back "thanks for getting me out of Konoha; Haku may have carried me but I wouldn't be here without you". Naruto smiled and nodded.
Before he could say anything Orochimaru spoke up "As you can see by my appearance my wounds have taken a toll on me" he said.
"Really? Because from where I'm at it's a thing of beauty" Anko said with a smirk "seeing your arms hang like that is a refreshing sight". Orochimaru looked at her with a scowl.
"Watch it girl; I'm still able to kill you" Orochimaru said.
"Bring it on cripple" Anko said.
"Woman, shut up" Kakuzu said and Anko huffed "what do you want Orochimaru; we completed the mission and got paid".
"And now I have another mission for you" Orochimaru said "my arms need healing and there is only one person to do it; my old teammate". "The mission is simple; find her and bring her to me to heal my arms" Orochimaru said "the pay won't be as high as it was for the invasion but should be substantial".
"Hmmm… I don't think me, Sasori or Zabuza would be the best choices for this kind of mission" Kakuzu said before looking at Naruto "but this should be simple enough for Naruto".
"Find an old lady and bring her here… should be an easy paycheck" Naruto said as he scratched his head "I think me, Fu and Karin should be fine; Haku and Hinata could use a break from being on the last mission for nearly two months".
"I want to come too" Sakura said making everyone look at her.
"What? Why" Naruto asked and Sakura blushed.
"Well… uhhh… I kinda have no money and nothing better to do" Sakura said "besides I know Fire country pretty well and I can keep us away from Konoha's outposts".
"Ok cool; me, Fu, Karin and Sakura" Naruto said but before he could continue Hinata spoke up.
"Umm Naruto" Hinata said speaking up and gaining his attention "can you take Kurenai sensei with you as well".
"That drunk lady who puked on the floor; hell no" Naruto said not wanting to take her.
"Please, she's in a bad place right now and she needs help; I think a mission could bring back the Jonin hidden under all that alcohol" Hinata said; Naruto looked hesitant but Hinata folded her hands in front of her "please… for me".
Naruto looked into her big hopeful eyes and groaned "fine why not" Naruto said making Hinata smile "anyone else; how about Karin's little sister, or some random jobber". Just then the door opened up and Tayuya walked in.
"Sorry I'm late, the medical bay is jammed with a bunch of wounded fuckers and Kabuto needed my help" Tayuya said "So Lord Orochimaru; how can I help".
Orochimaru looked at Naruto with a smile "Tayuya will be tagging along to ensure the mission gets done" he said "is there a problem with that". Naruto groaned in frustration.
"No" Naruto said as he turned around "we leave in an hour; Hinata, go get the drunk lady" he said as he walked out.
1 hour later: With Naruto, Fu, Karin, Sakura, Kurenai and Tayuya
"Mmmm" Kurenai groaned as she rubbed her temples "this is not pleasant".
"A hangover will do that too you" Naruto said as he led the group; Naruto looked over to Tayuya and spoke "so who is this lady we are looking for".
Tayuya shrugged as she pulled out a file "she's some hot shot medical ninja; royalty of some famous clan… I don't fucking know I'm just a grunt".
"No bad language in the group" Fu said sternly making Tayuya look at her in annoyance.
"Well she must be something special if Orochimaru wants her" Karin said as she took the file and read the name "Tsunade Senju… that sounds familiar".
"Yeah I think I heard it before… crud where did i hear it" Fu said scratching her head.
"Well… open it up" Naruto said in mild anticipation "i wanna see the old hag"; Karin groaned as she opened the file. Naruto, Karin and Fu all stopped cold making Kurenai, Sakura and Tayuya stop as well.
"What, what is it" Sakura asked as she looked at their faces; all 3 had faces of shock and surprise as they looked at the picture.
A beautiful woman with blonde hair, a diamond tattoo on her forehead, and large breasts "uhhh… are you guys ok" Sakura asked.
"I-is that-" Karin stuttered out.
"Boob lady" Naruto, Karin and Fu shouted at the same time.
Meanwhile; in an undisclosed location
2 figures in dark cloaks with red clouds stood in front of six holograms as one of them began to speak.
"As you all know that 6 days ago Konoha was attacked by the combined forces of Suna, Oto and Snow country; the result was the defeat of the leaf" the Hologram said as it looked over to one of the figures "I'm sure you heard… right Itachi".
Itachi Uchiha stood in the darkness with his sharingan piercing through the darkness "I heard, but I do not care" Itachi said coldly.
"Heh, you were never sentimental Itachi" said the other figure "why would you care; especially after what you did".
"That is not important Kisame" Itachi said to the newly revealed Kisame "is there anything about the battle that is noteworthy".
"After the battle two reports appeared which leaked out of Konoha" said the Hologram "one was of a boy who uses threads to fight; he claimed to be Naruto Uzumaki, the Jinchuriki of the nine tails".
"Hmmm, the same one who disappeared all those years ago" Kisame said in mild surprise "he fell off the radar; now he's back".
"And that's not all" the hologram said "according to reports a girl with green hair, tan skin and able to sprout wings from her back appeared as well; and that matches up with the seven tails that disappeared from Taki".
"Two Jinchuriki working together" Itachi said in interest "and two of the most powerful ones at that"; Itachi looked at the Hologram and spoke. "What are our orders" Itachi asked.
"Search around Fire country for them; check every village not matter how small" the Hologram said "once we capture them bring them in for the ritual". "Leave at once and leave no stone unturned" he said.
"Yes Lord Pein; we'll leave at once" Itachi said to the now revealed Pein; Pein and the other Holograms disappeared leaving only Itachi and Kisame. "Lets go Kisame" Itachi said as both Akatsuki members exited the area in search for the two rogue Jinchuriki.
Ok another chapter done; I hope you all enjoyed it. If you did please like, comment and share with your friends; and until next time bye.