Chapter 23: Boned

Giving Anko access to a single tailed chakra cloak had been a decidedly bad idea, not because she went berserk or anything… I mean, she did go kind of berserk while tearing apart the base with her a pair of chakra claws, but I felt that was well earned. Orochimaru had been a blemish on her past and she had every reason to let off some steam.

No. The reason it was a mistake to lend Anko access to the chakra cloak was how she immediately acted afterwards.

"C'mon, just let me use that cloak again," Anko whined. "It felt so awesome being able to just swing my arm and tear a room apart."

Anko wouldn't stop asking me to give her more chakra.

The mission itself had been a complete success. My clones had retrieved anything that could be important, several scrolls and Orochimaru's original hand along with the Akatsuki ring included. Shizune had successfully stabilized Kimimaro and strapped him to a stretcher that two of my clones were currently carrying.

"You of all people should know how awesome that power feels."

"The answer is still no, Anko," I sighed. "The only time I'll let others use the chakra cloak is if it's actually necessary, like if we're attacked, or Shizune needs to heal Kimimaro."

"Fine then," Anko huffed. "Dibs."

"What?" I asked.

"I'm calling dibs on you. There're a lot more of Orochimaru's bases left and I'm gonna need someone to help me raid them," Anko smirked. "And I'll help you out with your missions too!"

"You do know that I still have a team, right?"

"Yeah, well, unless they're all at least chunin, it's unlikely that they'll be going on any of the higher ranked missions you currently are," Anko shot back.

I didn't think about that. This is my second official A-rank mission. There was no way in hell Sasuke or Sakura were going to be allowed on any mission this high ranked.

"That doesn't mean that I can't go on lower ranked missions with them," I argued.

"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun, but it actually does," Shizune replied. "When I found out Tsunade had made you a Jonin, I had my reservations, but on this mission you've proved you're far too valuable to be kept on low ranking missions. Konoha is in a tight spot right now and needs all able bodied Jonin to be out on missions, we need you right now!"

"Damn," I muttered. Part of me really yearned to go on missions with team 7 again, but the logical part knew that Shizune was right.

"It's not so bad," Anko replied more comfortingly. "You get to go on high ranking missions with the baddest Kunoichi around and when your teammates finally become chunin… I suppose you could go on a few boring missions with them as well."

"Thank you Anko," I chuckled lightly.

Anko simply smirked. "So tell me about that chakra cloak of yours."

I suppose I could tell her a little about it, it's not like the other nations don't know about it. "What did you want to know?" I asked.

"You used it to kill Orochimaru?" Anko asked, it was more of a statement than a question.

"Kind of," I replied. "I used the highest form of it, but my body couldn't handle it for more than a few seconds."

Anko whistled. "What was that like?"

"Amazing," I replied. "Like I could have fought all five Kage with a hand tied behind my back and still win easily. Orochimaru didn't even have time to react to me."

"I hope to see it someday," Anko grinned.

Shizune let out a sound halfway between a squeak and a cough.

"What's with you?" Anko asked.

"Nothing, it's just… it may have been amazing from Naruto-kun's perspective, but from mine… it was terrifying."

"You were there as well?" Anko asked. "Who else was there? Damnit, was I the only one that didn't get to see Orochimaru's death?!"

"Well… The sound four were there, but they were unconscious. Tsunade and Jiraiya were also there… And I suppose most of Tanzaku-Gai saw the explosion and that was what killed Orochimaru, so…"

"So a whole town saw Orochimaru die, but not me?" Anko moaned. "That is so unfair."

"It really wasn't that nice of an experience," Shizune replied. "Even with Tsunade-sama at my side, I thought I was going to die."

"You don't have to rub in how awesome it must have been, Shizune," Anko said.

"I… I'm not," Shizune stuttered, giving Anko an odd look.

Returning to Konoha had been a much nicer affair than last time. I was happy to see that the village looked normal this time, there was no invasion or prison break in my absence this time. We got through the gate quite easily as well.

"Alright," Shizune stopped. "From here, I need to get Kimimaro to the hospital and I'll likely need your help again, Naruto."

"Yeah, sure," I nodded.

"Wha… that's unfair. You're going to get to use that chakra cloak again while I have to report to the Hokage and fill out the paperwork."

"I mean... you said you felt that you weren't useful to the mission," I said, turning so Anko wouldn't see my smirk. "Some would say that filling out the paperwork is the most important part of the mission."

"Yeah, no. You can handle it yourself."

"There's no time to whine about it, Anko. I need to treat Kimimaro in the proper environment," Shizune said.

"Damnit, I hate paperwork," Anko growled, glaring off into the distance. "Fine, I'll handle the paperwork, but you better let me use that cloak again," she said before rushing off to the Hokage tower.

I chuckled as I followed Shizune to the hospital. I wonder how long it will take Anko to realize that I could just have a clone finish the paperwork and give the report.

"Once we're in the hospital, I'm going to need you to help me with the patient. His body is resistant to my chakra, so I'm going to need to use… that chakra again," Shizune explained.

"Alright," I nodded. So long as Shizune still had some of my chakra, I could activate the cloak remotely so I didn't technically need to be around, but I still needed to know when to activate it. I don't think the hospital staff that Shizune randomly spouted a biju Chakra cloak.

Entering the hospital, Shizune and I were signaled over by a woman that sat at the main desk.

"How may I help you today, Shizune-sama?"

"I have a high profile criminal patient that I need logged," Shizune announced. "And I'm going to need access to one of the lower rooms, one that masks chakra signatures."

"At once, Ma'am."

I raised an eyebrow. I hadn't realized how well respected Shizune was at the hospital. From half listening in on their conversation, I was able to find out that there was actually an entire floor several levels beneath the hospital dedicated to criminals and imprisoned Shinobi.

"Naruto?"

Turning around, I was greeted to a familiar head of pink hair. "Oh, hey Sakura. It's been a while," I greeted. Thinking back, the last time I saw her was just after Sasuke tried to kill me, which in itself was over a month ago.

"It is you," Sakura smiled. "I… Where've you been? I tried to find you after… after that day and you were just missing."

"Jiraiya took me with him to go fetch Tsunade," I replied nonchalantly. "After she was announced as Hokage, I've pretty much been sent on mission… Actually, I'm just returning from one right now."

"Oh," Sakura looked down sadly. "I… I haven't really seen anyone from our team since… that day. Kakashi-sensei's always busy with missions and Sasuke… With how he was that day, I'm scared to be around him."

"So you're in the hospital. Have you been working on your medical Ninjutsu?" I asked, trying to change it to a lighter subject.

Sakura shook her head. "I haven't continued working on it since you left."

I let out a sigh. Of course she didn't. Why would she try and better herself when she's got something to mope about and no one to push her. Sooner or later she was going to have to actually start training on her own. "Then why are you here?"

"I was about to visit Ino and her team," Sakura explained. "They got hurt trying to restrain some prisoners during the break out. Actually, do you want to come with and join me?"

"Actually–" I began.

"…And done," Shizune announced as she stepped back from the counter. "We can now transport Kimimaro to the high profile ward… Who's this?"

"My original teammate, Haruno Sakura," I replied. "Sakura, this is Shizune the–"

"I've hear of you," Sakura interrupted. "You returned with the fifth Hokage, you're her apprentice!"

"I am," Shizune replied kindly. "It's nice to meet one of Naruto's teammates, but Naruto and I are going to have to be going now."

"Wait, maybe I could go with you two?" Sakura asked suddenly.

"I'm sorry, but that won't be possible," Shizune apologized. "The ward we're currently going to needs special permission and a rank higher than that of a Genin in order to be allowed in."

"Then why would Naruto go, unless," Sakura turned to look at me. "You were promoted?"

"Yep," I smirked. "I'd love to tell you about it, but Shizune and I currently have work to do."

"O-oh. Then I guess I'll see you later?"

"Sure," I smiled. "And if I don't see you after I'm done here, you could probably find me at my apartment… or the Hokage tower."

"She seems nice," Shizune commented as we entered an operating room. "But also sad."

"It's a whole thing," I waved her off. My clones placed Kimimaro on an operating table and then promptly dispelled.

"We could talk about it if you want," Shizune said comfortingly. "I am still waiting for someone and it'll take some time to get all the equipment properly set up."

"Who?" I asked and immediately froze when a pair of hands covered my eyes.

"Guess who?" A feminine voice whispered in my ear.

It wasn't much of a guess. Only one person had the skill to sneak up on me so effortlessly without setting off Kurama… Not to mention I felt something soft being pressed into my back.

"Tsunade," I smiled. And with how forward she was acting, this was likely a clone.

"Right answer," Tsunade's clone replied and uncovered my eyes, but not moving away. "I wonder how you could have guessed," She hummed and leaned forward, squishing her breasts further into my back.

"You're here early, Tsunade-sama," Shizune noted as she turned around.

Suddenly, Tsunade's clone was standing next to me, acting completely innocent, as if she'd just arrived and nothing had happened.

"I did tell you that I would look after the hospital in your absence," Tsunade replied evenly. "And you haven't even been gone for very long."

"Yes, well… Stabilizing the patient went faster than I expected."

"Did it now?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow. "Then tell me why I'm needed here if you handled it so well."

"It didn't go so well at first. Examine the patient and then we'll show you."

Walking up to Kimimaro, a green glow engulfed Tsunade's hands as she placed them on his chest. "What an unusual body. It's almost like it's actively fighting me in order to keep me from seeing what's going on inside. We would likely need a Hyuga to see what's wrong with him, but… you were capable of partially healing him!" Tsunade's head shot up and she watched Shizune curiously. "How did you do it?"

"Let me show you," Shizune smiled confidently, before motioning me over.

Placing my hand on her shoulder, a one tailed chakra cloak flared to life.

"Naruto has developed an ability to safely share a portion of the Kyuubi's chakra. My medical Ninjutsu, my healing abilities, everything is massively amplified," Shizune explained. Her hands glowed a bright green as she began healing Kimimaro. "From what I can tell, Kimimaro has contracted several illnesses, non lethal on their own, but together they were slowly eating at his body."

"Incredible," Tsunade hummed as she hovered her hands over Shizune's. "I had never considered how useful this ability would be when paired with a skilled medic."

"You knew about it?!"

"Of course I did. In case you've forgotten, there is literally nothing hidden between Naruto and myself," Tsunade replied. "I didn't tell anyone. If news got out that Konoha has a Jinchuriki that can lend his powers to others, there would likely be assassination attempts and an increase in tension between nations along with other nations attempting to do the same thing with their Jinchuriki… Speaking of…"

"It's unlikely that they could manage it," I replied. "It takes skill with Ninshu, a ton of chakra and proper balancing of the two chakra to pull off." It also needs the Jinchuriki to have the same kind of seal that I have to help properly merge Kurama's chakra with my own, but I wasn't going to say that aloud.

"That's good. At least when this gets out, we won't have to worry about the other nations sending a biju empowered army to us," Tsunade nodded. "Who else currently knows about this ability?"

"Just you, Shizune, Anko, Karin, Jiraiya, Fukasaku," I listed, before pausing. "… Itachi and Kisame."

"The Akatsuki know?" Tsunade asked softly.

"Probably," I winced. "Itachi tried to use his Amaterasu on Karin and I activated the cloak to protect her."

"Tell me again why you felt it was necessary to bring Karin with you," Tsunade groused.

"A certain war hawk was circling her," I replied. "I convinced her to defect to Konoha to give her a better life, not have someone break her emotions."

Tsunade stared at me, before sighing. "Damnit, that's actually a good excuse," She admitted. "It seems we'll have to take ca–" Tsunade burst into a cloud of smoke as a bone pierced through Shizune's hands into hers.

Shizune let out a surprised cry and tried to tug her hands free, but the bone split open at the top and curved downward, preventing her from freeing herself.

"Shit," I cursed as I rushed forward. Reaching Shizune, I saw Kimimaro's chest ripple before his eyes snapped open and bone spears exploded from his body.

It happened so fast that I didn't have time to think, only act. Stepping in front of Shizune, I shielded her with my body as I protected my head with my own arms. A three tailed cloak flared to life, but it didn't stop the bones from stabbing into me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but ended up spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Shizune, are you alright?" I asked as I looked over my shoulder.

Shizune's eyes were wide, but she hadn't sustained any further injuries. Several bubbling chakra arms growing out of my back that were latched onto the bone spears, preventing them from reaching her.

"Where am I?" Kimimaro asked in a monotone voice.

"You're in a hospital in Konoha," I replied honestly, I'd seen two of Orochimaru's bases now and there was no way Kimimaro would believe he was in one of them.

"So Konoha has caught me then" Kimimaro hummed. "But it won't hold me for long. I must return to Orochimaru-sama's side."

That was to be expected. Kimimaro is a zealous follower of Orochimaru and he would do anything for him, I doubt telling him that Orochimaru is dead would do anything good. Konoha might be able to imprison him, but it would be incredibly difficult, seeing as his entire body is a weapon.

I could just kill him, but then Jugo would turn against us. No, this needed a more delicate touch. I'm not sure how well this would work, but it was worth a try.

I broke the bones impaling me with several chakra arms and leaned forwards, closer to Kimimaro so Shizune wouldn't hear what I had to say.

"Maybe there is no purpose in life, but if we linger a while longer in this world, we might find something of value in it," I whispered to Kimimaro who had a shocked look on his face. "Things aren't always as they appear, Kimimaro-kun."

"M-my lo–"

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto by the way," I said loudly. "Now could you retract your bones, Shizune was healing you and it's poor form to harm your doctors."

Kimimaro nodded slowly as his bones sank back into his body, freeing Shizune.

"Shizune, are you alright?" I asked softly as I turned to her.

"Y-yes, it's just a flesh wound," She replied. "But more importantly, you… those bones… you're severely wounded." Holding a glowing green hand to my chest, Shizune gasped. "One of your lungs, your stomach… we need to operate on you immediately."

"I'll be fine," I grunted, stepping back. If I could survive a punch from Tsunade, I could survive this.

Suddenly the door slammed open as Tsunade burst into the room. Catching sight of Kimimaro who sat on the operating table, she rushed towards him, her fist brimming with Chakra. I threw myself forward in an attempt to shield Kimimaro, but the bones currently protruding from my body slowed me down. Instead, an arm of bubbling red chakra rushed forward and took the blow.

Tsunade's fist burst straight through the Chakra arm and smashed into Kimimaro, flattening the table and imbedding him into the floor. She stood over him. Leaning down, she placed her fingers against his neck before nodding.

"Shizune, take care of your wounds and see to it that Kimimaro is transported to a more secure room," Tsunade ordered. "I'll handle the rest."

"Y-yes ma'am," Shizune replied and immediately stood up. Looking down at her hands, she let out a soft gasp and then shook her head. "Naruto, can you remove my chakra cloak please, I no longer need it."

Nodding, I let Shizune's cloak fizzle out and she immediately got to work by heaving Kimimaro's body onto a trolley before wheeling him out of the room.

Seeing the blood on my chest, Tsunade shivered lightly. "Why haven't you removed those yet?"

"Well… between convincing Kimimaro that I'm Orochimaru and making sure Shizune was alright, I didn't really have much time," I explained. "Besides, don't you know that porcupine's are the hottest new style?"

Tsunade let out a snort of laughter, but the worried look on her face didn't disappear. "You've got time now!"

"Yeah, I do," I replied. Grabbing onto a bone, I began to pull it through my chest before pausing. It seemed that in the instant that Kimimaro impaled me, he split all the bones, preventing me from being able to pull it out the same way it went in.

"What's taking you so long?" Tsunade asked worriedly

"It's spiked. I can't pull it out this way," I explained.

"Just ask Tsunade to do it. She's still not over her hemophobia so this should help her get used the sight of blood. "

'I really don't think that's a good idea. Her last boyfriend bled out in her arms, I don't want to bring up bad memories.'

"Naruto," Tsunade said loudly as she grabbed my shoulders, panic beginning to take hold.

"I'm fine," I replied. "Just talking to Kurama. He thinks I should ask you to remove the bones for me while I think I just need to find something to help me push them all the way through."

"I… I'll do it," Tsunade said nervously.

"You really don't have to."

Tsunade steeled herself. "I said that I would do it."

"If you're sure."

Moving to stand behind me, Tsunade placed one shaky hand on my shoulder and my cloak retracted to keep from burning her. She grabbed one of the bones before pulling it through in one sudden movement.

"Son of a bitch," I cursed lightly. Even though I had a large tolerance for pain, that still hurt. Another bone was removed and another curse left my mouth. "You doing alright back there?"

"I'm fine," Tsunade said softly, her hands no longer trembling.

I let out a relieved sigh once the final bone was removed. The chakra cloak sank back into my body, I turned around only to be greeted to the sight of tears streaming down her face.

"Crap," I muttered. Wiping my hands clean of any blood on my jacket, I reached up and gently cupped Tsunade's face. I hate seeing people cry, because I generally don't know what to do or how to help, except this time, I knew that my current state was the cause of it. "It… It's alright, you don't have to force yourself to see all of this," I gestured to my bloodied and ruined jacket. "You can go back to your office if you want… I'll leave the room… or something."

I really didn't know what to do.

Tsunade shook her head and grabbed my wrists, not allowing me to pull away. "It's… It's not that," She said, using her forearm to wipe her tears away. "Just… be with me for now."

I nodded.

Once Tsunade released my hands, I immediately got to work. I tore off my bloodied jacket and flung it into a corner of the room where it landed with a wet thump, having absorbed most of the blood while my wire shirt underneath while still bloodied, didn't have the capability to absorb my blood like my jacket did.

Tsunade gave me a strained smile and pulled me into a tight hug. We remained like that for several moments, before Tsunade pulled me to a sitting position on the floor and began resting her head on my shoulder.

"We're the same, you and I… You once said that to me," Tsunade began softly. "It's the main reason why I decided to follow you back to Konoha and become the Hokage. Someone who has lost everything just as I did… Someone that I could relate to and share my pain with was right in front of me."

I remained quiet and simply did my best to hold Tsunade comfortingly from our awkward position on the floor.

"Regardless of our lineage, our strength or our age, we are still human beings that seek comfort in one another… On that day you sought comfort in me. Sharing all your secrets had left you vulnerable to me and I realized that if I refused to help you, I was rejecting myself," Tsunade continued, before taking a deep breath. "When I saw your wounds, I remembered the day that I became afraid of blood!"

If memory served, that was the day that Dan died… bleeding out in her arms and here I was, severely wounded and having her treat me. "Tsunade, I'm so–"

"It's not your fault," Tsunade cut me off. "It's… something that I had to face… but it was also jarring. Your wounds were worse than Dan's, but I didn't even need to heal them to help you. On that day… Dan had used his technique and possessed an enemy Shinobi from afar and took down a Kiri outpost, but in the process, the Shinobi he was possessing was attacked by one of the seven ninja swordsmen and the damage reflected on his body. By the time I got to him, there was nothing I could do!"

Tsunade squeezed me tightly and I felt my spine begin to strain, before she loosened her hold.

"I tried to heal him, but the wound was too large and he was hemorrhaging," Tsunade said blankly. "And then when I saw your wounds… the vital spots that were pierced… It scared me, I was afraid that I would lose another person that I care for."

Again, I really wanted to apologize, but I knew that wouldn't help.

"I'm not going anywhere anytime soon," I replied. "I've got way too many things to do to even begin thinking about dying."

Tsunade snorted softly. "I already realized that when you didn't seem bothered by your wounds and again when your wounds healed right after I removed Kimimaro's bones."

The hug loosened further and Tsunade pulled back just far enough to the point where we were now face to face.

"Seeing you wounded and how quickly you healed made me realize a few things," Tsunade began, an intense fire burning in her eyes. "You're strong and you're going to get stronger, but I can't let you handle everything by yourself, I can't stand on the sideline and hide behind my own fears. If this relationship is going to work, I need you to be able to come back to me whole."

"How whole are we talking here?" I asked and momentarily eyed my right arm. I wasn't planning on losing any limbs, but with Obito and his Kamui, there was always a small risk.

Tsunade let out an exhasperated sigh. "Mentally whole, you can't destroy yourself saving the world… But also as physically whole as you can remain as well."

"Right," I smiled.

"Idiot," Tsunade returned my smile. "I'm not going to lose you too."

My smile became slightly strained. "And I'm not going to lose you… or anyone else. I… We're done with that. From this point onward, when life gives me lemons, I'm going to burn life's house down with them."

Tsunade blinked and looked at me oddly. "What?"

"Just a quote from an old game that I used to play, but it pretty much means that you must never give up and fight back in any way that you can, even in the most absurd, logic defying ways possible," I explained. "Like… when things go bad, don't accept it, rather reject it entirely and replace it with something better."

Tsunade shook her head slowly. "What an odd world."

"Yeah, well. You're currently dating someone from said odd world… hell, Kurama's actively spending his time watching cartoons and paraphrasing wisdom from a dog named Jake… So this world is weirder than mine."

Tsunade paused and let out a short laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Fine then, let's call it a draw."

"That's fine by me," I replied. My legs were going numb. The awkward position I was holding Tsunade in was beginning to hurt, but I didn't mind, I was just happy that she was no longer crying.

And that's chapter 23

Just a reminder that this fic is a single pairing, so Naruto's not going to be paired with anyone else even though he has chemistry with the other female characters.

Anyways, I'm up to chapter 30 on the spooky P word website. 7 chapters further than here.

P
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I go by the name of ThatKircguy. Just copy the name and paste it in the Patty Rio On search bar. It'd help me out immensely, but don't worry if that's not your style. I will be uploading weekly, so it's not going to be stuck there permanently.

Also, I post my original stuff there as well. It's nothing much, just two short stories for now, but I'll post more as I write them.

The next chapter will be posted on the 7th of June.
I'll see you all then my dudes and dudettes.