Chapter Five.

Kurenai and Asuma groaned as their eyes slowly opened. The first thing they felt was bandages around their heads. Taking in their surroundings, they realized they were in a hospital room. To their left, they saw a familiar old man in a red hat and white robes. Both of them sat up.

"Glad to see that you two are okay. You both had severe brain damage when Orochimaru knocked you out."

"Orochimaru?!" they both asked in alarm.

"Yes, my former student infiltrated our village. He found out through a spy that Tsunade had returned to the Leaf. He decided to test her, and see she could get over her hemophobia if Naruto's life was jeopardized."

"What happened to Naruto?!" Kurenai asked in an even more alarmed tone.

"He captured Naruto, bit his thumb to scare Tsunade, then stabbed his Kusanagi sword through the boy's stomach." Hiruzen bluntly stated. Both gasped loudly and Yuhi put her hands to her mouths.

"Don't worry, he's fine. My student saved him, despite still shaking with fear. His stomach which was impaled, and his lungs and heart which were nicked are still tender though."

Both sighed in relief, then Asuma said, "Please tell me your sending someone after him?!"

"He is, me!"

All eyes turned to the woman who just appeared in the doorway. She had purple hair tied in a bun, a tan trenchcoat, a fishnet shirt, an orange skirt, silver shin guards, and black Sandals.

"Anko?"

"Hey Lovebirds," Anko Mitarashi teased with a smirk on her face. Then she frowned and said in a determined voice, "I'll find that bastard and kill him, no matter what it takes!"

Ever since Orochimaru had used her and then tossed her away, the Tokubetsu Jonin(special high ninja) loathed her former sensei with a passion. It had been her lifelong goal to make him pay for what he did to her and all of the other Konoha residents he experimented on.

"You're going alone?" Yuhi asked, surpised.

"As the only one who survived receiving the cursed seal, It's my responsibility to take him down!"

"Are you sure you don't want back up, Anko-Chan?" Sarutobi asked in a pleading tone.

"I'm sure boss man!" Mitarashi replied in tone that brooked no argument.

"Very well. So will you be leaving now."

"Yep, and I've got everything I need."

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Shizune and Tsunade were lying sideways on a bed with Naruto in between them, lying on his back. It was midnight, but both were still up. The former had pink long-sleeved, long oegegd pajamas on, while the latter's PJ's were jade colored. Normally, they would sleep in their undergarments, but that would be inappropriate with him there.

"I really wish we could keep him like this Tsunade-sama; in between us, and safe from harm," Shizune said sadly as she rubbed his cheek.

"Me too Shizune, but we all know where wishful thinking gets you."

Both heard a knock on the door, and said, "Come in!", at the same time.

"Hello, Lady Tsunade," Anko said as she opened the bedroom door.

"What can i do for you Anko?

"I'm here to ask that you not follow me, when I go after Orochimaru. The Third has approved my request to pursue him by myself. I know what he did to Naruto, and to you and Jiraiya, but he left a literal mark on me. Plus i was his student. I need to do this!"

"You know how powerful he is Mitarashi, so how exactly do you plan to beat that snake by yourself?" Tsunade asked seriously.

"Using a technique he taught me," Anko responded.

"It's called Sojasosai No Jutsu (Twin Snake Sacrifice Jutsu). All i have to do is get close enough to him to use it. I'll lose my life but so will he."

"Anko you can't just…" Shizune started, but her mistress interrupted.

"If Anko wants to sacrifice herself we shouldn't deny her Shizune. Everyone should be able to decide their own path in life."

Turning to look at the Kunoichi, she said, "I'll respect your wishes."

"Thank you milady," Mitarashi said with a bow.

"Make sure to tell whiskers over there about my sacrifice."

"I will. Good hunting."

After Anko left the room, Tsunade said to her apprentice, "I've got a feeling he's not gonna kill her. To him she's not worth his time. I know for a fact that he'll escape her technique. So does the old man, that's why he sent her alone."

"Oink, Oink!" Tonton cried from below the bed. Tsunade turned to look at their animal companion, then smiled and said, "Sure girl, you can sleep here too. Hop on."

The pet pig did just that, laying on Naruto's stomach.

"When she fails and returns, we'll go after that bastard!" Tsunade said with a tone that promised retribution.

"I know I'm not strong enough to fight him on my own, but please let me in on the action?!" Shizune begged, wanting to poison the reptilian Sanin so badly.

"Sure Shizune, but if you want to live, you must follow my lead!

/

Anko traveled through the forests until sunrise, following a scent left by her traitorous former sensei. She had a feeling that Orchimaru was purposely leaving a trail for her to follow. He knew that ninja would be sent after him, and was likely setting up an ambush ahead of them. But she wouldn't fall for it, having been trained by him. When she entered a cave that had a small river running through it, an all-too-familiar voice said her name.

"Anko-chan, I knew you'd pursue me. You can't forgive me can you, for using you and then tossing you aside."

"Damn right I won't!" the snake mistress snapped.

"That's what I hate most about you sensei. You manipulate and test people. Like you did by attacking Naruto to see if Lady Tsunade could overcome her fear of blood. People aren't your toys to play with!"

The snake Sanin laughed sinisterly and said, "Words of admonition won't stop me, my feisty little cobra."

Anko suddenly jumped into the air as Orcohimaru's Kusanagi sword passed beneath her. She threw a posioned kunai at his head, but he simply moved it to the side. Retracting his snake sword quickly, he shot his long pink tongue out her. Contrary to what he expected, the Mitarashi woman didn't even try dodge it but let wrap around her ankle. She took advantage of his surprise and twisted her leg, slamming him into the cave wall. Then, while the traitor was dazed, Anko charged forward and stabbed one of his hands, then interlocked her other hand's fingers with his in a symbol.

"That hand signal!" the snake thought aloud in alarm. Anko smiled in grim satisfaction and said, "That's right sensei! You're not getting away this time, this the end for you and me!"

Closing her eyes, she shouted, "Twin Snake Sacrifice Jutsu!"

The Mitarashi mistress felt two snakes emerge from her arms slide up her sleeve and latch onto her and her opponents wrists. Anko winced but then noticed that she could feel no venom flowing through her veins. Then Orochimaru's chuckles echoed through the cave.

"Sorry Anko, but I'm afraid you're going to die alone."

Her eyes widened and the Orochimaru in front of her melted into a mud clone. The real one dropped down behind her and activated her cursed seal, causing her to collapse in pain and clench her neck.

"Have you forgotten that I taught you that jutsu? Did you really think it would be that easy?" he taunted her.

Anko scowled at him and asked, "Was that really you who stabbed Naruto, or that clone?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Orochimaru responded.

"What the hell are you waiting for?! Finish me off!"

Orochimaru walked up to his former pupil and stared at her embittered face for a few seconds, then knelt down and started to stroke her cheek, much to her visible shock.

"Killing you would serve no purpose Anko. I have no further use for you, but you're no threat to me or my goals. Tell me, did my former teammate overcome her hemophobia?"

The snake sanin retracted his hand and Anko said, "No. But she still healed him despite the blood. I bet you could still kick your ass too!"

"We'll see about that, won't we my dear?" Orchimaru said in an amused tone.

"I'll leave another trail of breadcrumbs for Tsunade-chan to follow. Ta-Ta."

With that, the rogue Sanin disappeared into thin air.

############################################################################

Anko went to a nearby town and contacted the Konoha emergency center. When the operator asked what her name and emergency was, she revealed that she'd made contact with Orochimaru, but that he had escaped her trap jutsu. The information was passed onto Sarutobi via a fax. The third Hokage came to the dining room where Tsuande and Shizune were instructing Naruto on manners.

"I've got some news you three," Hiruzen said, making his presence known. The women turned and gave him neutral looks, while Naruto scowled at the man he once considered his grandfather. While he was hurt by the glare, it wasn't like he could blame the lad. 'I hope you can forgive me one day, Naruto.'

"Anko found Orochimaru in a cave and tried to use her technique, but he was using a mud clone, so her technique didn't work."

"Sad but predictable," The Senju mistress said.

"So I guess that means were going after him now?!" Shizune asked with great enthusiasm.

"Yes Shizune, we are."

"While you two are gone, I'll Kakashi watch Naruto. I know for a fact Minato's old student doesn't hate him," Sarutobi stated.

"Hey old man" Naruto said angrily.

'I asked you four years ago who my parents were, and you told me that that wouldn't bring back the dead. Well now I'm telling you, tell me who my mom and dad were and what their jobs were, or from now on you are my enemy!"

Both medics looked between their leader and their new charge. Sighing heavily Sarutobi said, "I'm sorry Naruto but I can't do tha- "

"F**k you old man!"

Naruto ran out of the room. All adults present were shocked at Naruto's cussing. Then Shizune frowned and said, "By keeping secrets from Naruto, you're saying you have no faith in him Sarutobi-san."

"Exactly," Tsunade added.

"Naruto can keep a secret especially if you tell him how many enemies his father had."

Without another word the two of them ran out of the room after Naruto. The blonde haired jinchuuriki kept running until he got to the hokages office, intending to jump out of the window. To surprise he saw a silver-haired a man in a green Jonin outfit waiting for him. Bending down to his level, the man said "Hello there Naruto, my name is Kakashi Hatake. I'll be your new bodyguard while Asuma and Kurenai recover."

"Mister Hatake please take me as far away from this place as possible."

"As wish my boy," Kakashi said with a nice smile.

"Don't forget about us," Tsunade said. She and her apprentice stood in the doorway.

" I thought, you were going to…"

"We are, but not before spending some time with you. You never know when you might lose someone you care about that's why you should spend as much time with them as you can," Shizune explained.

"Truer words were never spoken," Kakashi said in complete agreement. It was the weekend, so he did not have Academy classes.

"Naruto-kun!" Hinata's voice shouted as she ran up to him and grabbed his shoulders.

"We heard you got stabbed by Orochimaru, are you alright?!"

"Of course he's fine Hinata, don't forget lady Tsunade is taking care of him. She's the best medic around," Sasuke said.

"Thanks for the compliment Uchiha," the blonde-haired Sanin responded.

"I had no idea you were afraid of blood, or that your lover and brother died. The adults must really respect you not to tell us kids that," Ino said.

"Yeah we never learned that about you in the academy," Sakura added.

"Well, Tsunade-sama is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and one of the Sanin," Shizune remarked.

"I'm glad Asuma and Kurenai-sensei didn't get killed. We already visited them," Hinata continued.

"What do you say we go visit a hotspring? That's a good place to relax, and we haven't been there since we came," Tsunade suggested.

"Yeah, lets do that! I sure as hell need to kick back and take my mind off things," Naruto enthusiastically agreed.

"Language Naruto-kun," Shizune said, again giving him a sickly sweet smile. He gulped and apologized.

"And don't even think about spying on us," Tsunade warned him.

"I'd never do that!" he exclaimed in an offended tone of voice.

"Also, with your still raw stomach, lungs, and intestines, it's better for you to engage in leisurely activity," the Sanin reminded.

/

"Ahh this feels good!" Naruto said as he sunk into the hot water.

"So relaxing!"

"You've never been to a spa before have you Naruto?" Kakashi asked

"No, because of, well you know."

Kakashi nodded and patted the blonde's bowed head.

"That won't happen again, here or anywhere else kid," he reasurred Uzumaki. When they first reached the hotspring, Hatake jumped on the roof and loudly announced that Naruto would be entering the establishment and he would kill anyone who expressed any hostility towards the whisker-faced blonde.

"You know Naruto, even though Tsunade's training you, I'm still going to be a better ninja than you," Sasuke said smugly.

"No you won't! With her help, I'll become top student, just wait and see," Naruto responded.

"Dream on Dobe. You may have a great sensei, but I'm smarter than you, and I've got talent."

"WHY YOU!"

"You two wouldn't be fighting would you?!" Tsunade's voice rang out from the women's side of the spa. The two quickly said, "No Tsunade-san!"

After an hour of soaking, and ordering some food, the party prepared to leave, and Kakashi asked to speak to the slug Sanin and her assistant privately.

"Naruto didn't want to tell you this to spare your feelings milady, but he dreams being Hokage," the Copy-Ninja explained

Tsunade and her apprentice gasped at this information.

"I'm not sure if he still has it, after Asuma told him that he shouldn't try to gain people's approval, and should instead protect those who don't judge him, as well start his own clan and village, but nonetheless he still wants to be a village leader," he continued.

"I have to talk him out of it, he needs to know that it's foolish to give up your life for your village or clan or tribe or whatever!" Tsunade said urgently.

"You care about Naruto and Shizune don't you Tsunade-sama? Wouldn't you give your life to protect them? How is that any different than protecting a village? And before you say it, I know you have bonds with the two of them, unlike most of Konoha. But you can love someone without knowing them personally," Kakashi argued. The Senju mistress said nothing in response, the former Anbu words having an effect on her.

"Also, I'm pretty sure Naruto would be willing to die to protect his new family as well. He told me that's how he sees you too; Shizune is my O-née-chan (Big Sister), and Tsunade is my Sobo (grandmother) he said. He doesn't call you that because he's afraid you'll take offense to it, just like you don't like being called old, and you'll punch him into next week."

"Are you serious? He really that fond of us, even though we just met?" the niece of Dan Kato, Tsunade's late lover, asked in a flabbergasted tone?

"Remember, he was alone for a long time, eight years to be exact. It makes sense that he'd deeply treasure any emotional bond that he obtains, Shizune-san," Kakashi reminded her.

"Oh yeah."

"This wasn't a lecture, just me expressing my thoughts. Toodles."

With that Kakashi walked out of the alleyway they all had been standing in. After remaining for a few moments, the two women exited it as well. Walking up to their new charge who was waiting with his classmates, Tsunade said, "Let's go Mago (grandson).

"Yeah let's get you home, Ototo (younger brother).

Said boy's eyes widened and he looked at Kakashi, who just smiled under his mask.

/

Naruto was passed out in the dining room with the fork still in his hand, a bowl of unfinished chicken soup in front of him. His two female family members had told him that the pills they gave him were pain medication that he had to take with food. In reality, it was sleeping medication. He was counting sheep sixty seconds after swallowing them.

"Sorry for lying Naruto, but we can't risk you following us. It's not safe. We'll see you later, if we survive," Tsunade told the boy, even though she knew couldn't hear her.

"You may have problems with manners, but you're really a very sweet kid," Shizune added, ruffling his hair before kissing his cheek. Both women turned off the light as they left room. (This is based on episode 12 of the Jormungand anime)

About five minutes later, the whiskered blonde's eyes cracked open and he struggled to his feet. 'I saw it coming so I shook off the effects of the pills those two gave me,' Naruto thought to himself. Now he just had to catch up. He struggled to the door and opened it, only to find a familiar silver-haired ninja waiting for him.

"They told me what they did, and to make sure no one took advantage of it while they were gone. I'm impressed you anticipated it kid."

"Damn it," Naruto swore. How would he get out of the Hokage residence now?

/

Shizune and Tsunade followed Orochimaru's purposefully left scent and signature for three days. They couldn't travel fast, lest they miss something important. They brought money with them for food, drink, and housing . On the fourth day, they arrive at a twenty-foot deep, six-yard wide, dry river bed. At the bottom of it stood her hated ex-teammate, Orochimaru.

"I've been expecting you Tsunade-chan."

Said woman scowled at the snake's use of an affectionate term.

"Let's cut the small talk and get to fighting, you bastard!"

Giving a brief chuckle, the slippery reptile bit his thumb, breaking the skin and drawing blood, causing his former female comrade to start trembling once again.

"Anko-chan said you saved Naruto despite your fear of blood. Now we'll see if the great slug mistress can save herself," Orochimaru said with a glint in his eye and a sadism filled tone.

"Shizune, get behind me ," Tsunade said. Her apprentice obeyed and promptly scooted behind her mistress. Sensing a presence behind them both, substituted with Shizune and Tsunade pushed her forward, after which she was impaled through the aorta and spine with the Kusanagi sword.

"Lady Tsunade!" the ladder shouted. "Nice job protecting your apprentice" Orochimaru mockingly complimented, before kicking her off his blade and into the raven-haired woman she trusted with her life. Both were sent tumbling six yards away. "I'm sure you could keep doing that, but with your aortic and spinal sword wounds you are in no position to fight. And I wonder how much damage you can take before you die. "

'I hate to admit it but this rat is right. Tsunade-san can't battle in her condition with her normally fatal wound,' Shizune thought.

"And even though she can take a lot of damage, if she can't heal her injuries, eventually she'll die."

Orochimaru shun-shined three feet in front of the women, near Shizune's head, but then he stopped in his tracks. The slug sanin had stopped shaking.

"Lady Tsunade," Shizune said in a surprised tone of voice.

" You..."

"Are you okay, Shizune?"

"Just a few bumps and bruises, and a little back pain. He also kind of knocked the wind out of me."

Her mistress nodded and then stood up, made a hand signal, and then her forehead diamond glowed and two purple symbols appeared next to it. She became surrounded by a pink aura, and her hair levitated.

"Sozo Saisei ! (Creation Rebirth)"

"No Tsunade-sama! It will shorten your life-span!" Shizune begged.

"I'll be fine," the slug Sanin reassured before giving Orochimaru a death glare.

"This is the end of the line for you Orochimaru. After today, there will be only two Sanin!"

Orochimaru quickly summoned four large brown snakes, intended as a distraction for him to escape. But Tsunade quickly summoned Katsuyu, the slug queen to right them. She split off into four slugs, one for each snake, while her two human counterparts pursued the traitorous ninja. Tsunade jumped in front of Orochimaru and punched forward, which he dodged. Shizune appeared behind him and spit poison needles at him. Orochimaru substituted with a log, then spat his sword at Shizune again. To his surprise, her mistress didn't come to her aid, and the raven-haired woman disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Shadow-clone?!"

Then he heard a roar, and saw Tsunade bringing her foot down on him; he quickly blocked it with his arms. He negated her strength by focusing all of his chakra in said limbs, a difficult task that, like medical ninjutsu, required near-perfect chakra control. Unfortunately for the Sanin, his old teammate was expecting that, and had made two shadow clones of her own which punched him in the chest. As he was sent flying, the real Tsunade jumped after him and said, "This is for Naruto!" Focusing chakra to increase her already powerful natural strength, the granddaughter of the first Hokage gave the cruel reptile ferocious uppercut, launching him vertically out of the gorge. As he sailed upward, Shizune focused chakra in her hands and sliced him into two vertical pieces. The halved Sanin kept flying through the sky until he disappeared.

"I know how far away he'll land, come on Shizune!"

Both women ran 100 miles from their location to a dandelion field, using chakra to increase their speed. They saw the rotten snake falling down towards them; he's already regenerated. Shizune shouted, "Dokumu (poison fog)!" and purple cloud poured from her mouth. They engulfed Orochimaru and her sensei prepared a Green Chakra ball and slammed it into him, head first. His descent stopped and he fell flat on his back. Both women smiled, until 'Orochimaru' melted into mud.

"Damn it!" Shizune said, which surprised her mentor who knew she rarely cussed.

"He knew he was too injured to fight so he created a clone and escape."

"Orochimaru's harder to kill than a cockaroach Shizune. Let's retreat for now."

"Aye, Tsunade-sama."

=========/========/=======/===========/=======/=========/=======/======/=======/

Traveling faster than usual, the pair made it back to the leaf village by Twilight. As soon as they came to the entrance of the Hokage tower and opened the door, a familiar whiskered blonde hugged them around the waists.

"Tsunade-Sobo, Shizune O-née-chan, you're back and in one piece!" Naruto said in a relieved tone.

"I stopped him from following you," Kakashi cut in.

"He knew what you were planning and overcame the drug with his own willpower. I told him that he should have faith in you two regarding defeating Orochimaru, as you do in him regarding him learning Medical Ninjutsu."

The two looked at their boy in surprise before giving disappointed frowns as he asked, "Did you catch that bastard?"

Shizune answered in the negative and explained how the traitor had escaped them.

"Don't you worry Naruto-kun. We'll get him eventually," she reassured, bending down to grasp his shoulders. The boy nodded happily, then gave the blonde-haired Sanin an apologetic look.

"I never doubted your strength, Tsunade-sobo. Like I told Kakashi-san, I just wanted to be your back-up in case something happened. You two...are really important to me," Naruto said, blushing and bowing and scratching his head on embarassment. Both women chuckled at his bashfulness,

"No need to apologize Blondie, and before you say it, you're more blonde than I am. Your willingness to put your life on the line for us is very touching. Maybe I was wrong about the Hokages, maybe they weren't fools. I'm still apprehensive about your dream, but you've given me much to think about. I might even give you this necklace one day. It might not be cursed," Tsunade replied. The boy nodded and said, " Now that you're back, let's hit the Casino!"

The Senju woman nodded eagerly, then put him on her back and ran off. Shizune shook her head then asked Kakashi how Naruto been in their absence.

"He barely slept or ate. And constantly worried."

End of Chapter