Chapter 7: Don't Fool Around!

"In order to share one's true brilliance, one initially has to risk looking like a fool: genius is like a wheel that spins so fast, it at first glance appears to be sitting still."

― Criss Jami, Venus in Arms

Jiraiya & Tsunade-Land of Fire Outskirts, Club Rhapsody

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes! Thanks for waiting for me!"

The dark-haired beauty flat out ignores him, though he doesn't miss the way her azure eyes instantly turn icy, stormy and sharp peering him up and down as he plops into the open seat in the booth across from her.

She spins at her sake glass just a bit faster.

"Do I know you?" Her gaze stays on the growing crowd around the bar, wrinkles her nose at the scent of smoke and rum growing around the tables closest to them.

"Of course ya do Ayoko! Granted, I know you by Tsunade."

Her grip on her glass tightens enough to form cracks.

The casino connected to this lounge bar is supposed to open in one hour, the main reason she bothered with waiting around here...

A mistake on her part.

Jiraiya scratches at his beard, used to covers that don't usually require so much effort.

He grins, leans his head back against the plush leather as he calls for a nearby waitress to bring them a round of peach sake and karaage.

Jiraiya winks as she gives a little shake and twirl of her outfit before she heads for the kitchen.

"You must have me mistaken for someone else, I don't know anyone like you." She persists, edge of warning in her voice. The music slows to a piano/jazz combination up above and she distinctly hears a chime that the Lucky Strike or Burn Casino will open in approximately 30 minutes.

Jiraiya shakes his head, blows back tuffs of brown locks from his face.

'Yeah, I'm getting tired of this disguise.'

"Are you upset at my flirting? I only have eyes for you Tsunade. That girl was just one in a network of communications." He remarks.

Tsunade crosses her arms, eventually leans forward once the appetizers come.

"...How did you find me?"

Jiraiya bites into his karaage, sighs happily as he dips it into the soy sauce paired with it. This wouldn't be so bad of a date if Tsunade didn't look ready to murder him, hazel smoldering on him probably wishing he would melt into the ground.

He sips at his cup before nodding to her.

"Oh you know, just followed the clues of where you've left a few debts to some pachinko halls and had your beautiful face lining the walls as a warning not to be served."

Tsunade grits her teeth, snaps her fingers undoing her disguise, Jiraiya doing the same.

She gestures for him to follow her outside away from the noise and other eyes.

It's just as dark outside, moon just a sliver of white up above approaching a waning phase.

'Ugh, even colder here than back in Konoha.' Jiraiya burrows his hands into his pockets, breath forming light puffs of gray.

He holds up his hands seeing Tsunade's fists wound at her sides as they head for the forests, dirt path giving way to frost laden grass. Fireflies to cicadas buzz and flicker around them, move for the bushes in bursts of neon greens as Tsunade's footsteps quake the ground creating mini fissures.

"I wouldn't have gone looking for you Tsunade if it wasn't serious." Jiraiya remarks gently.

Amber eyes harden back on him before continuing on.

"Minato and Kushina. They need our help."

Her gaze softens a fraction hearing that, lips dropping into a frown.

"What's wrong? Are they okay?"

Jiraiya chuckles, pleased Tsunade hasn't fully lost her warmth for others if there's a medical concern.

"They're fine. Actually, Kushina's pregnant."

Tsunade grins lightly. "Ah, well knowing Minato, he must be fretting over her driving her up a wall."

Jiraiya smiles in agreement, though it quickly flattens.

He sits at a fallen tree branch, pats the spot beside him. Tsunade rolls her eyes, reluctantly settles down beside him. Neither speak again listening to the breeze rustle across the terrain, remnants of snow and ice clinging to the air and woods this far from Konoha's relative heat in comparison.

Jiraiya clears his throat.

"There's a...problem. That's the best way I can explain it. Minato and Kushina's son from the future is here along with their future grandchildren."

Tsunade blinks, considers if he's drunk.

"...What?"

Jiraiya prattles on, waves up a hand he'll explain at the end.

"Their son Naruto who came with his girlfriend Hinata Hyūga or maybe she's just a teammate, they won't say! Well anyways, their scroll was destroyed when they came here. The two grandkids, Boruto and Himawari activated a scroll I'm having trouble deciphering. I wanted a second set of eyes to review it too. Additionally, if you could return to Konoha to help aid in Kushina's birth when she goes into labor, that would be a great help."

Tsunade's brows furrow. "That didn't explain anything."

Jiraiya brushes a hand through his hair. "Somehow, Minato and Kushina's future son and grandchildren ended up in their past. I'm requesting your help to get them back to their correct timelines and prevent future disasters to the village-"

Tsunade holds up a hand to stop him, features turning murky.

"Aha, so there it is. You want me to come out of retirement? Be a shinobi again?"

She draws out her flask from her haori, peers back towards Rhapsody's doors.

Surely 30 minutes have passed by now.

Jiraiya grabs at her shoulders before she can turn back to the club's pulsing noise.

"Tsunade, like I said, I'm asking not only because I know you have the best medical talents of anyone amid the great nations, but because of what Naruto told me."

She brushes away his hands, snorts.

"Oh? It sounds like he was sniffing his nose around a scroll that was clearly dangerous and should've been better locked up. Minato and Kushina must spoil him-"

"No, they're both dead. Naruto is an orphan in his time period." Jiraiya curtly interrupts.

Tsunade bristles as if doused in ice, shoulders falling as her stomach clenches up.

"When?" She murmurs.

Jiraiya studies the sky. "The Nine Tails breaks from its seal when Kushina gives birth."

Tsunade clicks her tongue, takes a swig from her flask to ignore her rising heartbeat. That's less than a year away unless things change, less than year before someone else she's gotten close to may possibly die...

"And Naruto was on the brink of the 4th Shinobi World War it sounded like. Heh, Kid's been through a lot for only 16. Grew up without his parents and is the next holder of the Nine Tails. Loses both mentors and friends in the process too." Jiraiya sighs.

Tsunade jumps to stand again, paces.

She can feel a headache coming, pain throbbing at the back of her head all because she didn't slip out the emergency exits as soon as she noticed Jiraiya's arrival.

"I-I'll look at the scroll, but I can't help with Kushina's pregnancy; I'm sorry. Biwako will be there, I'll be if no use as soon as I see blood."

Jiraiya's features turn dark.

"Biwako's going to die when an intruder enters that chamber, her along with her assistants. Now, we're working to confirm the man's identity so we can prevent said scenario, but you'd be a great asset to at least be in the background."

Tsunade shakes her head, amber to onyx turning into a stare down.

"You wouldn't understand when you've never lost a loved one or had to watch them die in front of you!" She growls.

Her chest tightens instantly with regret at the weight of her words, Jiraiya's gaze turning steely; blank.

"...Right." He answers softly, turns to walk back to the lounge.

Tsunade bites her tongue until she tastes blood, tries and fails not to freeze up.

If she can't handle even her own blood, what good will she be to him or Kushina?

She moves to match up with his pace.

"I didn't mean it like that. Look, I'll help you with the scroll and think about the Kushina subject. But no promises!"

Shizune needs to know where she is, she let her sleep all afternoon on the pretense she would just be doing a quick grocery run.

Jiraiya is all smiles again as Tsunade glances his way and briefly, she wonders if a minute ago was just an act.

"Alright! Glad you're on board! Now, take a look at these symbols. That one to the left looks like Ame, don't ya think! Let's check out if they have any clues!" He reveals the scroll from his pocket.

Tsunade withers as her eyes briefly review over the scroll. 'What did I just agree to?'

"Ame is a hellscape." She grunts.

Jiraiya shrugs. "Maybe. Maybe not! I've heard through my spy network there's been some changes around those parts since we were last there."

Kushina & Kakashi/Boruto & Himawari-Root Foundation, Northeast Entrance

"Does everyone remember the plan?!" Kushina announces proudly.

"Yup!" Boruto chimes with matching giddiness.

"...I think so?" Himawari answers, a bit uncertain. She'll just follow Boruto and Grandma at whatever they tell her to do.

Kakashi blows out a breath. "We don't even know where to start looking first."

Kushina's eyes flash to him at his dry tone, hands going to her hips. "That's why you'll be leading! You're the only one who's ever gotten a layout of this place y'know! Otherwise, the plan is for Boruto and Himawari to distract the guards while we find a path to where the archives of books and scrolls are kept."

He rolls his visible eye. "They're gonna be suspicious of us immediately as soon as they see these two toddlers running about with us."

Boruto twists a glare on him. "You're barely older than me y'know!"

Kakashi shrugs. "I bet you're not even a genin. I doubt that you know anything beyond just the basics taught at the Academy or field exercises, if even that."

Kushina whirls a glare on both boys effectively quieting the duo for now. She holds in a sigh; considers how exactly she'll tolerate future arguments between them the further along in her pregnancy she goes.

Footsteps round the corner before she can speak, Kakashi charging to the front.

A man approaches only lit by the golden glow of a lantern, verdant eyes narrowing.

Kakashi mutters what Kushina thinks is a curse as the man's stare instantly darkens in alert.

"Hayate? What are doing here? Weren't you dismissed from the Foundation by Lord Danzo and Lord Third?"

Kakashi slowly nods. "Sonoyama, we're just here to pick up a collection of scrolls."

Sonoyama frown deepens, steps closer. His gaze runs over Boruto and Himawari in particular.

"Alright, but does Lord Danzo know about this? Why have you brought children and a woman here too?"

Kushina shakes her head before Kakashi can create some lie.

"No, we're going to get the Uzumaki scrolls y'know! They don't belong here collecting dust." She pipes up.

Sonoyama clicks his tongue, shakes his head. Danzo would've mentioned visitors. There's notoriously always been less security around this wing of the foundation if only because the main intel collected regarding Konoha and other nations is kept in Danzo's private offices at home and vaults in the south sections.

Kakashi still remembers that.

Sonoyama's eyes go blank, Kushina readying her chains.

"You're all trespassing."

And then he draws up his hands.

"Water Release: Typhoon Wave!"

Kakashi draws up lighting, ducks under the current rushing forward for his chest.

"Lightning Release: Flash Strike!"

Boruto draws up a burst of wind, wail and screech of metal ringing out further pushing Sonoyama back a degree.

Kushina pins him down just as water hits her knees, adamantine chains binding around his hands and torso. Kakashi holds his hand up for her to not get too close with lightning crackling throughout him, Kushina moving slightly behind him.

"You just tried to attack the Hokage's wife." She huffs.

Auburn eyes stay clouded. "I don't take orders from you or him."

Kushina grits her teeth impatiently. Himawari pointing in the directions west of them, byakugan activated.

"More...More of them are coming Grandma." She purses her lips.

Kushina hugs her to her side, tacks on a smile for her despite her stomach's churn.

A bite if nausea singes the back of her throat that she's been far too reckless today.

'You have kids now with you Kushina. You're going to be a Mother before years' end.'

The reminders poke and needle, pushing them aside.

Only Kakashi knows the fastest way to Danzo's storage rooms. She doubts the Uzumaki scrolls ever fully interested him with how often Mikoto says she sees him trying to look into Uchiha clan affairs. Always poking around at the police station and for any assigned missions one of their shinobi gets, but she needs to find out for herself.

"Try to never be alone with him. He's always trying to look for the right opportunity to gain more power."

Kushina blows out a breath to steel her nerves, he's most likely on the other side of the village in a meeting with Minato right now and those other Elders.

She peers to Kakashi, grins lightly.

"So...where to next?!"

He shakes his head at her faux cheeriness, waves them to head to the opposite wall.

"Everyone stay behind me; no rushing ahead." Kakashi commands, looks at Boruto and Kushina as he speaks.

As he unfortunately expects, only Himawari nods her agreement.

Naruto & Hinata-Hyūga Compound/Backwoods

"I know this isn't very fun; I probably shouldn't have invited you if everyone was going to be so cruel." Hinata sighs.

A knot slides into her chest that saying that aloud includes her Mother.

Giggles and light snickers echo behind them making her coil her fists, picking up the pace to move deeper into the forests.

She watches as white and pink petals along the trees soon get replaced with deep shades of green, vines and roots tangling at their feet the color of damp earth.

Naruto moves to catch up to her and Hinata grins, taps at her cheek where he's smeared a bit of frosting from the desserts.

He swipes at his cheek and Hinata's smile widens, thumbs the rest away before carrying on.

"It's okay really! I don't mind-" Naruto starts.

Hinata stops in place, pearl twisting back to blue, ocean blue eyes turning as dark as the deeper parts of the forest seeing her worry.

"No. It's not okay to say my guest is unbecoming, that you lack table manners just because you don't know a salad spoon from a soup spoon for serving! Even I don't remember every lesson of calligraphy or table etiquette from my youth. And..."

Naruto watches as Hinata purses her lips.

"And Mother just stood by watching as they insulted you. I had to say something on your behalf; I-I thought she would, but she didn't."

Naruto rubs at his neck, whispers of conversation ringing back up in his mind.

"So, she somehow ended up in the past with this boy? Looks like Lord Fourth's secret love child or a long-lost sibling?" Haruka murmurs.

"We've seen how Kushina gets when she's...err excited. Perhaps this boy is from her side of the family." Hikari shrugs, bites into her macaroon, opalescent observing as Naruto swirls at his broth.

"Well, he certainly lacks Lord Fourth's manners, he's clearly never had a fine dining meal in his life before from the way he holds his utensils."

Hinata sends them both a glare, clears her throat getting both Elder's attention.

"I'm sorry there's no time for such lessons when war is about to start in Naruto and I's correct time period. While you two hide away in the manor, it's our fellow Hyūga and Konoha shinobi out on the frontlines bleeding out, dying."

Pink floods Haruka's cheeks looking away as Hikari's gaze nervously drops to her bowl.

Hitomi pats at her hand, Hinata turning to see her lips set in a soft smile reminiscent of the one she gave her upon her first arrival to the manor, rest of her features a mask.

"Let me deal with them."

She hadn't waited around to see what her Mother would actually do besides just more verbal admonishing, needing a walk.

"You sure are familiar with these parts. You and Hanabi must've played in this area a lot growing up, huh?" Naruto remarks, letting Hinata lead them around trails of fallen branches and moss.

Hinata shakes her head. "Just me really. These woods can loop around to the training grounds and near the Naka river. I used these pathways to get away from Father. From Neji and the Elders too when I wouldn't spar to the level they thought fitting of a Main clan member, as the next heiress..."

Her voice falls away and Naruto blinks in surprise as they reach a clearing, sunlight falling openly along the grass and nearby elm trees.

"Ah, reminds me of practicing in the evenings after our lessons at the Academy with Iruka-sensei." Naruto smiles nostalgically.

Are these woods even still here in their correct time period?

Hinata nods, reddening at a sudden thought.

"Yes, I remember. I wish...I wish I had joined you here at least once. I've watched you practice the transformation jutsu and substitution jutsu here over and over and couldn't think of a way to speak up and give you some tips."

The admittance turns Naruto's attention back to her, Hinata still studying the spots where she once saw him toss kunai at paper targets, make scratch marks against the trees to see how tall he's gotten compared to their classmates.

'I really did think all the girls in the class liked Sasuke. Guess not!'

Now that he thinks about it, all those times he assumed Hinata was being weird and supposedly looking down on him by averting her eyes whenever they met was just her nervousness.

And if her clan has always been like this, especially with the way those two old hags casually insulted them, he can see why she'd hesitate to speak beyond just in whispers.

'Ah, but now I can't get her attention!' He notes at her gaze everywhere but him.

His hand moves for her flushed cheek, raindrop landing on his index finger midway.

Hinata shifts backward as a raindrop hits her head.

A batch of clouds rolls in blotting out the sun, Naruto grabbing at Hinata's hand leading them back into the forest.

Raindrops chill her skin with goosebumps, Naruto draping his jacket onto her before she can protest.

"I'll be fine, this should just be one of those quick spring storms we always get around this time year y'know!" Naruto assures her.

Still, Hinata scoots to his side, shoulders bumping together as the drizzle turns into a downpour.

The elm and sycamore trees catch most of it, pair huddling under the trunk of the largest tree in the area.

Hinata's gaze stays locked in the opposite direction of the Hyūga compound.

Her voice comes out muffled against his arm, Naruto leaning his head down just enough to hear her.

"That's fine no matter how long it is. I'd rather stay out here as long as it's falling."

Minato & Kushina- Hokage Office/Uzumaki Household

"There was a security breach at the Root Foundation this afternoon." Danzo mentions, last to leave the meeting hall.

Minato looks up from his tea, realizes he'll need something stronger from his icy expression.

"What was stolen?" He asks straight to the point.

Danzo dryly chuckles. "Stolen isn't the right word I suppose. More like your wife 'retrieved' some Uzumaki scrolls and books that had been given as a gift to me from Lady Mito before her passing. She may give you a different story or version of events once you return home based on the report one of the Root members told me.'

'Kushina has had an adventurous afternoon.' Minato covers his smile too late.

Danzo barely hides his scowl. "See to it that in the future Kushina goes through the appropriate channels if she ever wishes to review collections from any archive in the village."

Minato's expression sharpens. "I would appreciate you not talking as if Kushina is an obstinate child. The Foundation shouldn't have had them in the first place. I'm sure you have other materials that I can assemble a team to audit and review into as well."

The veiled threat sits in the air, Danzo scoffing waving away the idea.

"That isn't necessary Lord Fourth. I'm sure the shopkeepers of Konoha along with Fugaku and the Uchiha clan in general are keeping you busy enough."

His cane clacks against the hardwood as he steps away with a bow, finally taking his leave.

Minato sighs, slides down in his seat.

'Great.'

Kushina is all smiles at least once he returns back home, Boruto and Himawari dozing on the sofa.

He brushes away drool from their cheeks, blue meeting violet.

"This is my first time seeing them so deep asleep, what type of adventure did you take them on?"

Kushina waves up a spoon, grinning ear to ear.

"Oh, nothing exciting compared to your day I'm sure Dear!"

Minato approaches up behind her, hands brushing at her stomach before pulling her flush against him, breath warm in her ear.

"Is that right? I'm sure I can find a way to get you to talk. But I already have a hunch."

Kushina hums playfully, wiggles out of his hold.

"Somebody squealed, didn't they?! I bet it was Kakashi, he never hides secrets from you y'know."

Minato shakes his head. "Actually, it was Danzo. Not that Kakashi wouldn't have told me eventually of your outing."

Kushina snorts at that, rubs at her head as Minato switches positions with her to finish the miso soup and check on the roast.

"Everything okay? No nausea or headaches?"

Kushina shakes her head, lightly smiles as she grabs a water from the fridge.

"Well, I can't say either is completely gone, but it's better than what it was. As for Danzo, I'm sure you'll be interested to know he was holding Uzumaki scrolls in Root Foundation's storage area. It's a lot to go through, but I got them back!"

Minato's brows furrow, Kushina brushing her hands with his as he notes her half-smile.

"Don't worry, I'll take my time going over them! There's just so much I want to teach Naruto and the grandchildren y'know! Hmm, still feels weird saying that out loud!"

Minato stirs in a mix of soy sauce and chive, peers back up at her. "Speaking of, I haven't seen Naruto or Hinata around."

Kushina waves it off, points to outdoors where gray clouds sit on the horizon.

"Probably got held up by the rain. They must still be at the Hyūga compound."

Minato nods at that, considers something.

"Everything we teach Naruto and even Hinata they can use in the war effort."

Kushina frowns, squeezes his arm until he meets her gaze again.

"Hopefully there's no war for them to go back to Minato."

Jiraiya & Tsunade-Amegakure Outskirts, Abandoned Mine

"These symbols are connected to multiple lands. What makes you so sure of checking Ame first?" Tsunade prods.

The rain does little to settle her mood since she agreed to this, considers what Jiraiya will do if she turns around right now.

Jiraiya waves away her concern, gestures for her to follow him up a muddy hill.

The rain thankfully calms to a light drizzle revealing sunshine and blue skies in patches.

Below to the north is a network of steel towers, where the rain clouds are heading.

"It's a bit risky to head directly into Ame not knowing if Hanzo is still running things or someone else behind the scenes right now. This is a mine I came across when we were last here. The workers would drill for gemstones they could trade for ryo in the Land of Silence or Keys." Jiraiya explains.

Tsunade arches a brow, looks into the looming dark. The smell of coal and sulfur persist even years later. "You saw the symbol? In there?"

Jiraiya smiles. "If you're scared, just say so! You can hold on to me!"

Tsunade jabs him in his side as she walks on ahead of him.

"You really did cover every nook and cranny of this place to ensure there was no leftover bomb tags or weapons." She muses.

Jiraiya shrugs. "What can I say, Konoha will always be home, no matter how far away! Gotta be sure none of the other villages are hiding things they could use against us in the future!"

Tsunade snorts.

This is the same village that's taken so much from them, will continue to take from them if Jiraiya is to be believed.

"All villages keep some form of secrets; Ame just didn't scrub this one away completely. I have a feeling these mines were being operated also as a cover for transporting goods and in this case, weapons/scrolls the other nations would be interested in." Jiraiya further reasons.

He flashes his lantern against the left wall opposite them, where the trickle of rainwater stops.

Jiraiya points up and Tsunade follows the cracks in the walls until she sees it too.

Amber eyes take in the symbol of rainfall, code etched in stone.

A match to the scroll.

She can't help the smile that edges at her lips, it truly has been years since she's done an assignment of this caliber.

'Huh, we actually may be on to something here.'

-x-

Does anyone here also like watching Severance? And Solo Leveling? Invincible? And Sakamoto Days?! I think I've been gushing over all these shows to the point my coworkers to my brother are prepared to hear me talk about it on weekends lol. Ugh, though most of their seasons just ended!

A lot of the codes and spy themed ideas coming up in this story and the other ongoing ones are influenced by these shows which is why its on my mind right now.

Appreciate any thoughts!

As always, pa-tre-ons get early access to chapters and bonus content! I go by TheLovelyMidnightWriter there!

Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!