A/N: Hello and welcome back to another chapter of One Year Early. We are headed to the Land of Hot Springs to look for possible treatments for Hinata. Will they have trouble about it? Well, probably, probably not...who knows. Read on to find out.
Also, today is my editor, GBAboy313's birthday. Happy birthday mate and thanks for all of your assistance, we do make a great team.
And with that, on to the story.
CHAPTER 11: THE LEGENDARY MEDIC (& SUCKER… lol) AND A CHALLENGE
The trek to the Land of Hot Springs was going to be at least 10 days long. Due to Hinata's condition, Team Baki and Team-6 had to travel at a brisk pace. Gaara's ability to manipulate sand was a lifesaver for them, perhaps for the first time since he was born that his sand was considered lifesaver. At times, when the teams camped for the night, Hinata would tell Naruto about her embarrassment for being a burden on Gaara and being the cause for them having been forced to take a big detour instead of heading to their village. The blonde would reassure her that they had volunteered for it, even after being repeatedly told that it wasn't needed.
Finally, one night, on Hinata's behalf, Naruto apologized to Gaara for being a bother and requested him to head back to Suna and that he would be able to manage transporting his girlfriend to Konoha. Gaara's reply to that was a sobering one.
"Naruto…back in Taki, you called me your brother, didn't you? Then how can my brother's problem not be my problem as well. For the first time in my life, I have been able to help someone out, it makes me extremely happy, please don't snatch that happiness and satisfaction away from me Naruto." Gaara explained.
To these words, Naruto had no response.
"I see…just remember that I'll forever be indebted to you for your help to Hinata." He said in a rather soft tone.
"Naruto…there should never be any feeling of indebtedness between siblings, we look out for each other." Gaara responded. Naruto was humbled by the response. Not saying anything more, the blonde gave Gaara a nod and a true smile of gratitude before walking back his team's tent.
He saw his sensei, who was keeping watch, settled on the branch of a nearby tree. He then glanced back to their tent and saw his beautiful girlfriend, fast asleep in her sleeping bag.
"Hey sensei?" The blonde whispered walking closer to the tree upon which Shikaku had settled himself for keeping watch. The Nara jumped down.
"Yes Naruto?"
"I've been noticing it for a while now but couldn't figure out how to approach this till now: this is not the route to Konoha. Earlier when we were travelling towards Taki from Konoha, you told that, we were taking the shortest route to Taki. But this time we aren't on that route. Considering Hinata-chan's condition, shouldn't we be taking the shortest route to Konoha?"
Shikaku sighed but he was pleased that his blonde student was far more observant than he was being given credit for.
"Hmm…you're right Naruto, this is not the route to Konoha. We are taking a detour to the Land of Hot Springs, a small country bordering the Land of Fire." Shikaku stated.
Naruto raised his eyebrows in obvious confusion.
"And why is that sensei?"
"Well, I didn't intend to tell you kids about my reason for detouring, but since you have already taken notice and I know very well that you won't let up until I come clean which is troublesome, so listen closely." Shikaku said and Naruto got into attention.
"Have you ever heard of the legendary Sannin?"
Naruto thought for some time, while mentally cursing himself for never really paying attention in any of the classes back in the academy.
"Umm…no idea sensei." The blonde said, a bit embarrassed. Shikaku sighed, but he did expect that answer.
"It's okay. The Legendary Sannin is a title given to a legendary team of Konoha-nins who won us the Second Great Ninja War. The only genin team, Sandaime-sama ever took. The three of them are Jiraiya, the Toad Sage, Orochimaru and Senju Tsunade. The three of them are recognized especially for their summons, Jiraiya-sama's toads, Tsunade-sama's slugs and Orochimaru's snakes. Long story short, sometime after the Kyuubi attack, Orochimaru turned traitor and escaped the village, becoming an S-class missing-nin, Tsunade-sama left the village due to the trauma caused by the deaths of her younger brother and then her fiancée. Jiraiya-sama is the head of Konoha's intelligence and is mostly out of the village for that purpose. He was also the jonin instructor of the Yondaime."
"Whoaah…really, this Jiraiya must have been a really cool shinobi then!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Yes, he definitely is, despite some of his…well… questionable traits." 'Though, when you grow up, you might as well acquire some of those traits, however I am sure…your girlfriend will keep you under control, if that scene back in the hospital is anything to go by.' "Anyways, we are on our way to see one of them, Tsunade-sama to be precise. The reason being, Tsunade-sama is perhaps the greatest medic in all elemental nations. And I have this instinctive feeling that she will be able to heal Hinata's injury without resorting to amputation." Shikaku explained and Naruto's eyes widened like saucers.
"REALLY SENSEI!?" Naruto shouted in excitement.
"Ssshhh, you'll wake up everyone who is sleeping." Shikaku said with his index finger over his lips.
"Yes, her medical skills are legendary, she is known to have healed severe injuries that other medics have given up on and I strongly believe she will have a solution for Hinata. But I didn't tell you about it earlier because, there is always a small chance of my intuition turning out to be false. That's why, I didn't want to give you two any hope only for those hopes ending up being rushed." The head jonin explained.
"I…see. I understand sensei." Naruto responded with a serious expression.
"Also, please don't tell Hinata about it, we don't want to give her hope only to end up shattering it, that would be cruel."
"Alright sensei, I promise, I won't tell her anything about it until we meet Tsunade."
Shikaku nodded.
"Alright, now you should head back and take some rest, we have a long journey ahead tomorrow."
"Okay sensei, good night." Naruto said before heading back to the tent.
He lay and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend. Hinata let out a satisfactory 'hummmm' and put her arm over Naruto's head and then pulled him into an embrace, all while sleeping.
'Hina-chan, I promise I will make this Tsunade heal you, no matter what!' Naruto silently vowed before letting sleep take him.
For the following 5 days, the two teams kept moving towards the Land of Hot Springs. Finally, their destination was within their sight, 10 days after leaving Taki. Shikaku took a deep breath, while Naruto looked at the town with determination.
'I hope she agrees to treat my student without making it too troublesome for any of us with her drunken rants or worse, refusing treatment outright, well in that case I'll just offer to pay off some of her debt in return for her treating Hinata, that's an offer she simply can't refuse.' Shikaku thought to himself.
'So, this is the place where the legendary medic nin Tsunade is. If sensei thinks that she can treat Hina-chan, then it's 100% guaranteed that this woman can do it. Fine, I'll beg her for it and do anything she asks for in return for her treating Hina-chan, no matter what, my Hime will walk on her legs again!'
Shikaku had earlier explained to his fellow jonin from Suna about his reasons for taking a detour, the half-veiled man had supported the decision. Meanwhile, in his mind a reasonable excuse for them failing the mission had been formed, he would just discuss it with the Nara sometime later.
"Alright team, as you can already see, this is not Konoha, but rather the Land of Hot Springs. We'll be taking a break here and I will be meeting an old acquaintance. I hope this doesn't sound too troublesome for any of you, does it?"
"It's alright sensei." Naruto responded, albeit in a rather subdued tone.
"Yeah, no objections from us." Kankuro stated on behalf of the Suna shinobi.
Hinata meanwhile looked at Naruto, she saw that he was acting a bit nervous, and she could tell that something was bothering him, even if a little bit.
'I have to ask him what is it that's bothering him so much.' The Hyuuga thought to herself.
Soon enough, Shikaku found a hotel and got the teens from Konoha and Suna settled.
The sand siblings got a room and Naruto and Hinata got another, much to their pleasure.
"Alright kids, I'll be off to see my acquaintance." Shikaku told his students as he headed for the door, having settled them in the room. Temari was there too, to assist Hinata.
"Sensei, can I come as well?" Naruto asked in a low voice.
"Alright." Shikaku said without looking back.
"Hinata-chan, I'll be back. Take care, okay?" Naruto whispered, earning a nod from his girlfriend. But Hinata couldn't just get the thought down her throat that her beloved was up to something. Before she could ask though, Naruto was gone. She sighed.
"What happened, Hinata?" Temari asked.
"N-Nothing, Temari-san. It's just that…something is eating him up, but he isn't telling. I know he's worried about me, but he's trying to mask it, thinking I wouldn't notice."
"You two are really into each other aren't you." The fan-wielding girl said with a smile. Hinata blushed but nodded.
"What can I say, but if anyone can get him to talk, it's you, Hinata. Just ask him when he comes back, okay?"
"H-Hai."
'Only if I had such a caring boyfriend…' Temari mused to herself.
*Meanwhile in Konoha*
"AAaaaatchoooooo!"
"Are you…*munch* alright Shikamaru? *munch*"
"Yeah yeah…Choji, I am fine. It seems I somehow caught a cold…troublesome." The pineapple headed boy replied, cleaning his nose with a handkerchief.
*Back to the Land of Hot Springs*
"Are we looking for this Tsunade now, sensei?" Naruto asked in a low voice. Shikaku nodded.
"In my opinion, you should have stayed with Hinata. I am sure, she can already sense that we are up to something, or rather…you are. You can fool others, but not her, Naruto." Said Shikaku with a bit of a philosophical tone.
"I know, sensei. And if she asks me, I have no way of getting around it. But, when you mentioned about Tsunade, it seemed to me that she can be a difficult person to talk to. So, I came, if the situation demands, I'll fall at her feet and beg her, until she agrees." Naruto responded.
"I don't think it'll come to that, but yeah she can be a difficult person to talk to." Shikaku mumbled and the two continued.
Well, for an hour or two, they didn't have any luck in finding the 'legendary sucker' but finally in a bar, they succeeded. And when Naruto saw the legendary medic for the first time, his impression was…not so good to say the least.
For he saw Tsunade slumped on a table, piss drunk and almost passed out and was swearing obscenities. He then spotted her assistant, a woman in a dark purple kimono, who was beyond embarrassed at the state her master was in and was trying to somehow stop her from continuing swearing and making a joke of herself any more than she already had, since several were already laughing at the almost passed out Tsunade. But what was even weirder was that the assistant was holding a pig in her arms, even weirder; the pig was wearing clothes and was wearing a necklace made up of pearls.
Naruto's eyebrows twitched, he then tugged Shikaku's sleeve a bit.
"Sensei…is this the Tsunade we are looking for?" He asked with a sweatdrop.
"…Yeah…" Shikaku answered a bit slumped down and with a sweatdrop of his own. 'Troublesome, with her intoxicated like that, it will be even harder to talk her into treating Hinata.'
Nevertheless, Shikaku decided to simply cut the crap and approach the legendary medic. There was also a possibility of her somehow agreeing to treat Hinata without arguing too much.
And so, the teacher and student approached the legendary medic.
"Tsunade-sama, you've already drunk too much. Please, let's leave…" Shizune pleaded with Tonton letting out a small grunt of helplessness.
"Shaddap Shizune… *hic* I have *hic* just started…and why are you just standing there *hic* come join me!" Tsunade stated raising a glass of sake, almost passed out with cheeks flushing red and eyes closed.
"Tsunade-sama…we are already drowning in debt and this too will end up on our growing tab…stop it already." Shizune pleaded in a whisper.
"Ohh come on Shizune…*hic* as if those stupid debt collectors will ever catch me! *hic*" Tsunade retorted.
Meanwhile Shikaku approached the legendary and currently intoxicated medic with some hesitation, with his boisterous student tagging along.
"Hey waiter! One more bottle of sake *hic* add it on my tab!" Tsunade shouted.
"Sorry, we are not serving you any more unless you pay up! You at least have to pay for today." The manager shouted.
"Heh…how dare you deny Senju Tsunade…*hic* " Tsunade retorted, trying to stand up, but she couldn't really stand up due to too much alcohol in her system.
"Troublesome, Tsunade-sama. I can pay up for you for today." Shikaku stated now standing by the Senju princess's table.
This got both the medics' attention. As her head was swinging, Tsunade had to try peering hard to get an understanding of who this new visitor was.
But Shizune immediately recognized the Jonin commander.
"Greetings, Shikaku-sama. It's been a long time. I am sorry it was under such circumstances that we had cross paths." Shizune said with a bow.
The jonin of team-6 waved it off.
"It's alright, I am here because I have some urgent business with Tsunade-sama here." Shikaku monotonously stated, making Shizune raise her eyebrows.
'Has the Sandaime decided to summon shiso back to Konoha and dispatched Shikaku-sama personally? Even if it's not that, Shikaku-sama personally seeking shisho out means it has to be serious.' The assistant medic thought to herself.
"Ohh…Shikaku *hic* " Tsunade said finally recognizing the head jonin. "It's been a while isn't it *hic*?"
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Shikaku responded, with a slight bow.
'This granny is unbelievable; will she really treat Hinata-chan?' Naruto thought to himself in concern.
"So…fire away…what brings you here?" Tsunade asked again.
"I have a personal request. I need your help, urgently." Shikaku stated.
"Heh…it's rare of you to have personal requests…what is it Shikaku?" Tsunade asked again, getting a bit into attention.
"One of my students has been seriously injured during a mission. You're the only one who can help her." Shikaku stated with a slight bow.
"Huh…a student? Don't tell me, you of all people took a genin team now, did you?" Tsunade said expressing surprise at the fact.
"Yes, I did."
"Hmmm…" And then Tsunade's gaze fell on the orange clad boy tugging Shikaku's sleeves and looking at her.
'This boy…blonde hair and blue eyes…Is it that boy!?' Tsunade thought to herself in surprise.
"Shikaku…this boy…" Tsunade mused…
"Uzumaki Naruto, Tsunade-sama." Shikaku responded. "He's one of my students."
Naruto immediately bowed down.
"Tsunade-sama! I…please heal Hinata-chan. Sensei says you're the only one who can treat her. So, please…I'll do whatever you want in return!" The blonde boy declared.
"Raise your head boy." Tsunade asked, now a bit less intoxicated. As Naruto raised his head, Tsunade saw those cerulean eyes pleading to her and almost about to break into tears.
'Hinata…that must be the girl, Shikaku wants me to have a look at. This boy's teammate. They must be really close.' Tsunade thought as she gradually sobered up. And Naruto's ready to tear up eyes, made her feel a sharp pain in her chest. True, it was the first time she was meeting the boy. But oh, she had a good enough idea of how messed up his life had been.
She was close to the boy's mother, Uzumaki Kushina. When the redheaded woman was brought from Uzu at the end of the 2nd great shinobi war, it was Tsunade's own grandmother that took care of her and comforted her. After her grandmother's passing, Tsunade was there for Kushina, like an elder sister. So, when she had passed away during the night of the Kyuubi attack, alongside Minato, it was severe blow to the Senju princess's heart. She had left the village soon after the conclusion of the 3rd Great ninja war, even before Minato ascended to the Hokage's chair. And ever since the 10th of October, 12 years ago, the blonde woman had always blamed herself for not being there for her adoptive younger sister when she needed her. Neither did she ever have the idea that Kushina was pregnant. Her sensei never told this to her, she found out later only and had held it against the Sandaime till now. She would have rushed to Konoha had she known that…
Now she was looking at Kushina's son, pleading her to help his teammate out. Her heart throbbed in pain. And not only that, the boy even reminded her of her deceased younger brother Nawaki, for some reason.
"Fine. I'll take a look." Tsunade replied.
"Thank you very much, Tsunade-sama." Shikaku said, visibly relaxed.
With a little bit of help from Shizune, Tsunade got up, while as promised Shikaku paid the amount the Senju owed to the bar for that day.
As he walked back to the hotel with Naruto and the two medics (and also Ton ton…don't worry I didn't forget about you.), the Nara clan head couldn't help mutter "Troublesome" repeatedly, looking at his empty wallet. 'I so wish there was some machine nearby from where I could just draw money with the tap of a card…Troublesome'
Meanwhile Tsunade kept glancing at Naruto.
'This boy reminds me of Nawaki so much…I hope he's not chasing after the same dream. He shouldn't…that dream and that hat isn't worth it…If it turns out to be the case, then I will have him give up on being Hokage in return for healing his teammate.' Tsunade clenched her fists and mentally berated herself for having actually come up with something so cruel, but she wanted Kushina's son to live, even if that meant being unfair.
Soon enough they were at the hotel, Shikaku had checked into earlier that day.
Before she could have a look at her patient, Tsunade was greeted by the Sand siblings (minus Temari, who was with Hinata) and Baki. They had heard of her and immediately bowed down in respect upon seeing her.
'What are Suna shinobi doing here? Was it a joint mission in which Shikaku's student got injured?' Tsunade thought to herself but set those thoughts aside, questions could be asked after she was done treating her patient.
"It's honour to have met you in person, Tsunade-sama." Baki said bowing.
"Baki of Sunagakure, aren't you?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hai."
"All right, I will talk to you after I've taken a look at my patient." Tsunade replied before proceeding.
Meanwhile Naruto and gone ahead to his Hime's room.
"I'm back Hime!" He said with a grin as soon as he entered.
"Welcome back, Naruto-kun." Hinata greeted with a smile, while Temari acknowledged the blonde with a nod.
"So, how are you keeping up?" Naruto asked as he ran up her and sat up by her side on the bed, taking her hand in his.
"I…am fine, Naruto-kun. Temari-san kept company. But I want to ask you something…" Hinata said, allowing her looks to get a serious.
"Sure, Hime." Naruto answered. "But before that, someone's here to see you."
Hinata's brows got raised in curiosity but seconds later, the door to her room opened again and Tsunade got in, followed by Shikaku, Baki and Temari's siblings.
"T-tsunade-s-sama!" Hinata stuttered out in recognition, she knew of the legendary medic. Her brain began connecting the dots.
'It means, the acquaintance sensei wanted to meet here was her…back in Taki he denied to have my leg amputated and now he and Naruto-kun went to bring Tsunade-sama to see me. Does it mean, they brought me here to have Tsunade-sama to treat me…is this what Naruto-kun was hiding from me? Oh, my love…why didn't you just tell me?' She said glancing at her blonde boyfriend before looking back at the legendary medic, who raised an eyebrow.
'A Hyuuga with midnight blue hair…it has to be her daughter? So Shikaku took Kushina's son and Hitomi's daughter as students and it's Hitomi's daughter who's injured…why does kami have to be so cruel!?' Tsunade thought to herself. Just like Kushina, she knew Hinata's mother, Hyuuga Hitomi quite well. She really liked the humble and sweet woman that Hitomi was. Hearing of her passing soon after her second childbirth had hurt her bad as well.
And it didn't take her long to realize that Naruto and Hinata weren't just teammates or friends… 'Lovers huh…at least that's something nice.' The Senju thought to herself as she got to Hinata's bed and Naruto got up from the Hyuuga girl's side to give her the space she needed, while Temari removed the blanket covering Hinata's legs and the girl's pants were carefully raised to her knees.
Even before running a diagnostics jutsu, it was clear to Tsunade that the injury was bad….really bad. Then she went on to run the diagnostic jutsu on the girl's damaged leg with extreme care. Her heart ached as the severity of the injury became fully clear to her. She also understood why Naruto was so disturbed and pained.
"Hinata, isn't it?" She softly asked.
"H-Hai."
"Don't worry, your leg can be treated." Tsunade stated.
"Really baa-chan!?" Naruto enthusiastically shouted, letting the 'baa-chan' slip out of his mouth. Tsunade's eyebrows twitched. She obviously liked being called 'Tsunade-sama' instead of 'Baa-chan' any day.
"Listen brat, call me Tsunade-sama!" Tsunade said with a snort. "But yes, your little girlfriend can be treated. But before that, I have a question for you." Tsunade asked looking at the blonde boy with a very serious expression.
"What's your dream boy?" Tsunade asked in all seriousness, confusing the hell out of everyone in that room.
Naruto was also taken aback with the abruptness of the question but bounced back with an answer in less than a second.
"To live forever with Hinata-chan and to be Hokage!" The blonde responded with absolute seriousness.
'I knew it…he is also chasing the same dream like Nawaki and Dan…if he continues down this path, he'll also…he'll also…NO! I will make him give up that path. These kids should live, I don't care how unfair I sound.'
"All right kid. I'll treat your girlfriend under one condition." Tsunade stated, rather ominously.
'Shisho/Tsunade-sama is about to demand something unfair….' Thought Shizune, Shikaku and Hinata.
"Anything Baa-chan, you name it, anything!" Naruto exclaimed with a smile. "I'll do anything for my Hime!" He added, making Hinata tear up. 'Oh Naru-kun' She thought emotionally.
The Suna shinobi, Shizune and Shikaku, all watched this exchange with utmost attention, they had no idea as to why Tsunade had brought up Naruto's dream at that point but soon, Shikaku began realizing as his big brain connected all the dots.
'Troublesome. Tsunade-sama was close to Kushina. She also knows that Naruto is Kushina and Minato's son. And considering the loss of her brother Nawaki and fiancée Dan-san, both of whom aimed to be Hokage, it's clear as day, the very dream traumatizes her. Even Minato and Kushina both wanted to be Hokage…that means as a condition she's going to ask Naruto to give up being Hokage. SHIT, this is beyond troublesome…don't do that Tsunade-sama. For I am sure, this time that dream won't lead to death. And this will be too unfair to Naruto and Hinata won't tolerate it.' Shikaku thought to himself in alarm.
"Tsu-" Shikaku began speaking to somehow stop Tsunade from saying her demand out loud and making things complicated but his words were cut short.
"If you want me to treat your sweetheart, you must give up on being Hokage." Tsunade stated.
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. This was a difficult demand, but he knew who was more important to him. The blonde steeled himself and prepared to responded, though in fitting with his unpredictable nature he spoke before his thoughts were in order surprising himself.
"No...woops…I mean…oka-" Naruto almost yelled in negative before realizing what he was saying instinctively and course corrected to what he wanted to say, but he was cut off as his girlfriend decided to weigh in her opinion in a rather serious and cold tone.
"No." a response that was echoed in a cold tone by Hinata herself.
The group blinked in shock at the uncharacteristic behavior and responses from both.
"Listen Hinata, this is between Naruto and me, you really don't have any right to barge in here." The Senju said in reprimand.
"Oh, I have all the rights, Tsunade-sama." The Hyuuga girl snarled in defiance, glaring at the legendary medic in a way no one had ever done before.
"He is my boyfriend. He's mine and I reserve the full right to stop him from doing something wrong and you have no authority to stop me." Hinata retorted back in a low but authoritative voice. Tsunade was actually taken aback by the girl's resolve. It reminded her of the late yellow flash, but she was not one to give up so easily.
"So, you think pursuing the Hokage's hat is a worthy dream? Let me remind you girl, my grandfather and granduncle, both became Hokage. Grandfather died shortly after his fight with Madara, when the illness from a life full of battles finally got to him and he died without ever seeing the world peace he so desired. My granduncle died in the First Great Ninja War, alone surrounded by enemies and overwhelmed. What did that achieve huh? The Fourth! Died so young, sacrificing himself against the Kyuubi, what did that give him, except for the hollow hero worship? And you want to tell me that being Hokage is worth it? That chair is cursed and that very dream is cursed. It's for his own good that I want him to give up being Hokage, I have no personal interests here." Tsunade explained in a loud and as much of an authoritative voice she could muster up.
"You might as well cut it while you're ahead, Tsunade." Shikaku started. "You've crossed several lines in the last few minutes. I may not know all the intricacies of the medical field but I do know that the ethical guidelines that govern it demand that all personal biases be kept out from denying treatments. We were going to offer fair compensation but then you decided to demand something that is not only unfair, but is tantamount to blackmail. If we were in Konoha, you would be chewed out and possibly barred from paid service while being made to work community service to drive in the lesson. And Hinata does have a right to a voice as it is her healthcare."
Tsunade managed to remain impassive and border looking. "We aren't in Konoha, few if any could actually make me face consequences, and my point stands: he needs to give up the dream or die."
"My Naru-kun won't die, he will become the greatest Hokage, the world has ever seen. It's my guarantee." The Hyuuga girl declared in absoluteness.
"Oh, really? And how will you hold your guarantee up with that broken leg of yours?" Tsunade responded irritated at the girl's stubbornness.
"I'll cut it off! Attach a prosthetic and train myself enough to be battle ready with it, no matter how hard it is and then I'll ensure that Naruto-kun becomes Hokage! And I won't ever give up, unlike you!" Hinata responded with absoluteness. The Senju woman was now fully taken aback.
"Shiso, it's wrong! You can't demand something like that from Naruto-kun!" Shizune protested.
Gaara had his fists clenched, Naruto had called him a brother, he would never allow any kind of injustice to him. No way.
"Fine! I will then tweak the bet a bit. We'll have a spar. If he lands a hit on me, I'll acknowledge that he can become Hokage. I'll also limit myself to use only one finger to attack him and I won't make the first move. If he wins the challenge, I won't have him give up on his dream, but if he loses, he will have to give up on being Hokage. And don't worry kid, I will treat your girlfriend either way. So, what do you say, do we have a deal?" The legendary medic proposed.
"Deal!" Naruto immediately responded.
"I refuse to be treated if Naruto-kun is made to give up on his dream!" Hinata said in protest, but then Naruto grabbed her hand.
"Hime please!" He pleaded. Hinata placed her hand upon his.
"No, it's wrong…I can't sit and watch something wrong done to you." She said softly stated. Finally, Gaara spoke up.
"Don't worry Hinata-san. My brother won't be alone in the spar. I will be on his side. In return Senju-sama can use two fingers to attack us. Is that condition acceptable to you, Tsunade-sama?" Gaara asked with his regular heavy tone. Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"Fine by me. I'll also give you three days to prepare. So, I believe we have a deal." Tsunade stated.
"Yes, we do." Naruto and Gaara responded. Of course, Hinata didn't yet approve of it, but she had to soften up a bit for his repeated pleas. But she had decided, if Tsunade forces her Naru-kun to give up on being Hokage, after the spar, no matter the outcome, she'll refuse treatment and make the bet null and void. So, she just silently accepted the deal for the time being.
'What a troublesome day and even more troublesome deal!' Shikaku thought to himself. 'Three days. I guess, three days will be enough for Naruto to master the wind blade technique. Also gives me enough time to formulate a plan for Naruto and Gaara. They just have to land one hit and not win. This is an achievable goal; they can do it. I'll make sure they do.' The Nara clan head thought to himself.
A/N: Done! Well, whenever there is a chapter with Tsunade, I believe that without some sort of wake up call in terms of a bet or challenge, she can't be brought back to Konoha or be put out of her gambling and drinking spiral. So here we are. Naruto and Gaara are taking up Tsunade's challenge. Also, her questioning of Naruto's resolve for any number of reasons is also very much needed since she needs to see for herself that she can believe once more in Dan and Nawaki's dreams and give that dream another chance.
With that out of the way, lets hope Naruto and Gaara keep their end of the bargain and we can have Hinata-chan treated without much issue. And hopefully no other trouble ensues.
That's all from my side in One Year Early today. See ya all in the next chapter, Cheers and Peace.