Chương 25: A
Chapter 410:
Kurenai misinterprets Ino's balking by saying, "that's right. You're already sharing him with
Temari, and while I don't think Naruto is the type to neglect one in favor of the other, you will
have to come to grips with this. Essentially, you won't just be in a relationship with Naruto,
but with Temari as well, and who can say it'll end there. Don't expect a third or fourth girl, just
prepare yourselves for the possibility. Ask yourself if you'd be comfortable sharing him with
Temari or each other, if it came to it… or even me, if I were ordered. That's the fickle reality
of this affair, and if neither of you can accept that, then this may not be for you."
Ino isn't sure why Kurenai is emphasizing interacting with Temari or other potential wives,
but fortunately, Ino already has experience sharing Naruto. Her original goal was to be in an
open relationship with both Naruto and Sakura, and though she doesn't feel anything for
Temari, Ino knows, at the very least, she can see herself sharing him. Sakura may not be
open to marrying Naruto, but if there's a possibility, Ino owes it to herself and her best friend
to try.
Resolute in herself, Ino confidently voices, "I don't know Temari. I'll likely learn more about
her after several meetings, but regardless of what I learn about her, I know who I am… and
more importantly, who Naruto is. That gives me faith that no matter what lies ahead of this
relationship, as long as Naruto is the Head of our clan, we can weather any storm. That's
just the kind of guy he is, so why would a relationship with him be any different?"
Ino allows the pleasant rush of seeing Kurenai's smile and nod wash over her. The blond
beauty felt like she could relax a little as the gorgeous sensei then turns to her rival and
asks, "Hinata?" The Hyūga heiress is silently having an internal battle of wills. Hinata
seemed so conflicted to her, giving Ino more confidence that she'll be Naruto's first wife.
"Just be honest. Under this roof, you'll never go wrong expressing yourself," Kurenai
encourages, mildly upsetting Ino to hear the kunoichi she admires supporting someone else,
however, she understands why.
'Hinata is her student, after all,' Ino thought. 'Why wouldn't they have a strong bond when
Kurenai is so amazing and mature?'
Hinata takes a deep breath before delicately voicing, "the last thing I want to be is a burden
on anyone-"
"You're not a burden, Hinata," Kurenai assured her. "Not to me and certainly not to Naruto."
"I just feel like it wouldn't be right to accept the Omiai without considering Naruto's feelings
first," Hinata softly argued. "What if… what if he d-doesn't w-want me- or the Omiai? I don't
want to add to his troubles."
"I see," Kurenai hums, also making Ino begrudgingly award a point to her tender-hearted
rival. "I just naturally assumed he would say yes, but you're right, we should get his input.
How about the four of us talk when he gets back? For now, I want you both to think about
what we discussed, and try to imagine what marriage with multiple wives will be like. What's
important here is honesty. If you still believe this is a path you'd like to take, come see me
and we'll talk more. If not, know that your decision is completely fine and you're not letting
anyone down. Understood?"
Ino and Hinata both nod as their minds slowly begin to travel down a rabbit hole of
polygamous imagination.
MEI
"I'm literally amazed," Mei hums in humored disbelief. Sitting up to hear his story with her
arms wrapped around her knees and her head resting on her forearms, Mei muses, "I can
understand Suna's campaign to overthrow Konoha, the need to neutralize you, and using an
Omiai to get close to you in a believable manner—it's pretty crafty—but for it to backfire like
that…" Mei chuckles lightly before asserting, "goes to show you what could happen if you
don't think things through. For Suna to lose and then Konoha insist on the Omiai… there's a
perfect storm if I've ever seen one. Are you okay marrying a girl who actively deceived you to
destroy your village?"
"Things might've gone down that way but I always understood why," Naruto pointed out.
Seated with arms behind him propping him up, he assures her, "I know for a fact that Temari
is actually a good person. And even if we're getting married, it's not like I said yes for shits
and giggles. I care about her, she cares about me, and the marriage isn't going to for a while
anyway. We have time to get to know each other, and if it doesn't work out, we can still be
friends. Easy."
"Easy…" Mei scoffs, feeling irritated for some reason. He's young and getting married…
younger than her and getting married… it's almost like he's saying she'll never get married.
Mei turns to him with an evil glare, making him shiver in danger as she declares, "don't make
me kill you."
"I," a confused Naruto tries. "What did I…"
Mei takes a calming breath before hotly educating him. "Easy? As if it's such a simple thing;
finding someone who's strikingly handsome, kind as the heavens yet fierce as hell, gentle as
a breeze yet strong as a hurricane, and all-around amazing. To then fall madly in love and
navigate the land mines of melding our personalities to perfection before finally getting
married. Don't look down the magnitude of such an enigma. No, there's nothing easy about
it."
With wide and confused eyes, Naruto slowly vocalizes, "mnnn, well, easy is probably a bad
word… how about, comfortable? That's a better word. I love my friends and family, and I
know I'll love my wives too… which is something I never thought I'd say," he admits, making
Mei scoff in irritation. Clearing his throat, he confesses, "you know, one of my sensei says,
as long as you have love, real love, it'll always work out, even if that means you're better off
as friends. I'm sure you'll find that guy for you."
Suddenly feeling happy, Mei cheerfully exclaims, "I think so too!" Picturing the fairytale life,
she whimsically adds, "what's he going to be like, how he'll treat me, how we'll live
together… mmnn, I picture it all the time."
"Why do you want to get married so bad," Naruto asked.
Looking at him like he's insane, she asks, "why wouldn't you? Living with an amazing person
who loves and cherishes you every day for as long as you both shall live… Someone you
can rely on who you can share your whole heart with… it's been a fantasy of mine since I
was sixteen."
"Huh, I thought about that same thing when I was a kid," Naruto admitted, drawing on Mei's
curiosity. "Only I was thinking about having parents."
Chapter 411:
His words brought about memories of her father and the day he died and the change of
heart that time summoned in her. Whimsically, Mei couldn't help admitting to the blond boy
beside her, "you know, before then, I never thought about getting married. It's what my
father always wanted. I thought he just wanted to be rid of me." Mei snorted at the
recollection of her younger self, adding, "plus, I was a fat girl with chubby cheeks, short for
my age, and flat-chested, so I thought he was just being cruel. I didn't think anyone could
love a girl like me, so I just beat up all the boys and spoke my mind."
Mei snickers a bit at herself for opening up far than she had planned to. She thought it
might've been a combination of things; his strength, the fight they went through, wanting to
be on his good side so he'd help her, the painkillers still circulating in her system, the
pleasant breeze of the beautifully sunny day, and Naruto's comforting presence. He's
already different since he's not an enemy or a subordinate, allowing Mei to make the
conscious effort to roll the dice on what category Naruto might fall into.
"Sounds like we would've been great friends or rivals," Naruto happily remarked.
"Either one would've been good with me," a smirking Mei assured him.
"Hell yeah," Naruto agreed. "You can't have too many friends or rivals." Mei strongly nodded
in favor of, appreciating the common train of thought. "What changed your mind about
marriage?"
Mei's thoughts returned to sentimental memories as she slowly answers, "my father passed
away." Since it seemed like their agreement to be honest with each other extended beyond
the game of trading questions, Mei shared, "…I'm the illegitimate daughter of the Sandaime
Mizukage, so I grew up angrier than most. I acted like I didn't care but deep down I was
desperate to prove my worth to him and the main family."
"So your tou-chan was a Kage too," Naruto noted with a small smile.
"He was," she returned. "I think you would've liked him. He always talked about peace and
finding diplomatic solutions to our problems with Iwa, but peace is harder for Kiri to accept
than war, so my father and his family didn't last very long. It wasn't until he was gone that I
saw how much better he was for our country, rich and poor alike. I realized too late that he
was right about a lot of things that I just couldn't see before."
The silence between them extended for several minutes and Mei was grateful for the time.
Her mind was putting away those needless memories when Naruto eventually asks, "so…
you want to get married to honor your father?"
Blinking her emerald eyes, she mulls over the question a moment before answering, "in a
way, I suppose you could say that."
Slowly, as if trying to solve a tough math question in his mind, he asks, "can I ask, are you
looking to marry a guy you genuinely like, or someone you think would make your father
proud?"
Swallowing with her very dry throat is hard, but she rather that pain than trying to answer
that question. Even if she didn't talk about him often, Mei couldn't deny her father rarely
strayed from her thoughts. She simply did too much he would approve of to not think about
him.
"You're really pretty," Naruto effortlessly stated, without embarrassment. "And that alone
could get you married in no time at all. I just think your tou-chan would want you to be happy,
even if the guy you marry isn't some ultra amazing guy you think he'd approve of."
Huffing in a bit of laughter, Mei leans in a bit and remarks, "my, my… you're wiser than you
look."
"I know, right- Hey!"
Mei laughs and instantly regrets it when the pain in her torso flares up. "Maybe you have a
point," she admitted after calming down. "It's not like I have many friends I can talk to about
this."
"You don't have friends back in Kiri?"
"I have allies, acquaintances, subordinates, trusted advisers, bodyguards, but no true
friends," Mei whimsically claims. "When too many people rely on you for their way of life, the
road of a leader is often a lonely one."
"Poppycock," Naruto called out with a stern shake of his head and arms crossed overhead in
an X. "Everyone deserves to have friends. I don't care if you're the Hokage or a Jinchūriki,
you need a friend, or else, who do you have fun with?"
"Life isn't all about fun, Naruto," Mei replied. "There's just too much to do… too many lives to
think about."
"Hey, I get that," the blond assured her. "Remember, I not only want to save Konoha lives, I
want to save everyone, regardless of country. But you're still allowed to have some fun. I like
eating Ramen, watering my plants, working on my Fūinjutsu, and hanging out with my
friends and family. It's true I'm not leading an uprising like you are, but even if I were
Hokage, I don't think I would stop having friends just because I have a job to do." Mei can't
quite deny that logic, however, Konoha and Kiri are very different cultures, so it's surprising
when Naruto offers, "And even if you can't have a friend in Kiri, I'll be your friend. You can tell
me anything and I'll listen to ya."
Though touched by his offer, Mei sadly reminds him, "friends from opposite countries don't
typically work out well."
"Me and Haku are best friends," he effortlessly countered. "Gaara, Temari, and Kankurō are
new friends. And I even made friends with Ma-chan and Sa-chan from Kumo."
"Well aren't you just a popular guy?" Naruto snickers as Mei then asks, "how are you
supposed to maintain a friendship with those girls from Kumo? Unlike Suna—where you
could visit free of hostility—it's not like Konoha and Kumo are allies."
Naruto quickly becomes wide-eyed and beaming as he happily claims, "actually, I thought of
something that could help me and them keep in touch! I could even be invited to go to Kumo
without causing a war!"
"Oh," Mei hummed curiously, leaning a little closer. "This I have to hear."
Smirking with confidence, Naruto leaned in as he began, "okay, so, you know my Omiai?"
Chapter 412: Legends
ITACHI
Secured in a bare room with his eyes covered and his hands securely bound, all Itachi
wanted to know was, "…someone from the future?"
"Mnn," a mildly bored Naruto hummed.
Itachi has long believed in peace & duty and was never one to put limits on the possibilities
of reality. The world has it's established rules and altering those rules with the use of chakra
is only limited by time and imagination. Accepting things as they are is why he's never truly
surprised by the dangers he comes across in battle. It's that mentality that helps him find the
weakness in anything because everything has a flaw. However, in a world where even the
dead can be summoned, he's never once come across traveling through time. Itachi
assumed time travel was simply too complex or time-consuming to properly or practically
utilize.
Last he learned, the current philosophy on presentism holds that the future and the past
exist only as changes that occurred or will occur to the present, and so have no real
existence of their own. From this perspective, time travel is impossible because there is no
future or past to travel to. On the other hand, he's also aware of time dilation. Thinking of
time travel through time dilation isn't truly time travel since that's little more than one object,
like the planet, moving much faster through time than another object, like a different planet.
A round-trip from planet to planet and back would render the illusion of time travel.
'So, do I believe him?' his quick-thinking mind wondered, listening to Naruto fidget where he
sits. For once, Itachi had no answer, so asked again, "someone from the future told you?
Again, Naruto casually answered, "mnn."
Itachi didn't quite know how to process that. Knowing the future would naturally tempt
anyone, an effective premise for a trap, however, he can't be sure what kind of trap Naruto
would be setting up. He's talked to him long enough to get a sense of the boy. He's earnest,
honest, a little slow, and wears his heart on his sleeve. He has a good heart, which is little
more than a death sentence to a shinobi.
'Yet, he fights,' Itachi thought before asking, "what else did this person from the future tell
you?"
"Sorry, that wasn't part of the deal," Naruto called out to the room. Itachi could see how a
loud rash and blunt shinobi like Naruto could annoy many, but somehow, he found it
refreshing to see someone that wasn't so cold and calculating. He smirked as he listened to
Naruto finish, "so you believe me?"
"Maybe," Itachi replied.
"Good enough for me," a suddenly energetic Naruto responded. Itachi can hear him sitting
more alert as he voiced, "more importantly, we need to figure out how to help Sasuke
because what you're doing now isn't working."
Deciding to acquire every scrap of relevant intelligence, Itachi asks, "did the future person
tell you that?"
"He didn't need to," Naruto answered. "But if that'll get you to help, then yeah."
"Help how?"
"Tell him the truth, I guess," Naruto replied, clearly conveying he has no clue. "It's what he
needs the most."
Though he admires Naruto's spirit, he shakes his head at the lack of forethought while
asking, "have you considered what knowing the truth would do?" Naruto's slow thoughtful
hum is answer enough for Itachi to continue, "with undeniable reason, Sasuke's current
target is me. When he kills me, he will naturally feel a release from his hate in the form of
justice. If he learns the truth of all involved, his target could very easily shift from me to
Konoha-" Thinking of the lengths of Sasuke's hate, it suddenly dons on Itachi why someone
from the future would warn Naruto, leading him to ask, "…that's what happens, isn't it?"
"Pretty much," Naruto glumly confirmed. "I was told he leaves Konoha to learn how to kill
you from Orochimaru, he tries to kill the five Kages at a summit meeting, and he actually kills
Danzō."
"He kills…" Itachi begins to repeat but only stops himself because it seems so obvious that's
what the hate within Sasuke desire most. Burdened by his failure, the Uchiha asks, "what's
to stop Sasuke from taking out all his hatred on the village or the country?"
Just as casual, but with absolute certainty, Naruto easily answered, "me." The fact that he
knows the future adds more weight to his words when the blond adds, "I have friends and
loved ones who hated or really disliked me before they changed their minds. Besides
Sasuke, I have one friend who's really angry with me right now. He's ignoring me and
everything, but I won't stop trying to make up with him… because that's just what happens
when I'm the one who takes the hate. Even if I get beat and bloodied by Kurama or Sasuke,
I know I can endure better than anyone because that's what friends do."
'A weapon of heart,' Itachi thought with amusement, absolutely sure Shisui would've liked
him. Deciding to think of his own plan, Itachi moved on to another concern and asks, "you
must know why I'm a member of Akatsuki… what our mission is."
"Mnn," he hummed in the affirmative, mildly surprising Itachi. Even he doesn't know the
scope of their mission. The blond then suspiciously questioning, "you're not going to try and
pump me for info about them, are you? Because we really don't have time for that."
"They're not going to allow me to leave like this," Itachi pointed out to the young shinobi.
"Kisame, in particular, will not stop chasing me until I've returned to the fold with reason or
as a corpse. I know too much."
"Well… I don't mind sharing intel," Naruto eventually asserted, mildly surprising Itachi yet
again. The Uchiha feels he should be more guarded with valuable intelligence. On the other
hand, Naruto would likely know who to tell and who to be wary of. Naruto continues, "but I
want to know you're going to help Sasuke, first."
Not surprised by the stipulation, Itachi voiced, "oh?"
"Yeah, and none of this, 'from the shadows,' crap, either," Naruto returned. "Sasuke needs to
be your top priority. When I see that he's different, like less angry, maybe even apologizes
for trying to kill me, then I'll tell you everything I know."
Chapter 413:
Sasuke without his hatred, Itachi suddenly felt heavy by the daunting task. Itachi had a mind
for tactics and strategy, a body for the short life of combat and warfare, a soul for peace and
serenity, but he couldn't claim to have the heart to genuinely move people the way Naruto
seems to. If it was a fight, Itachi was more than capable, but placating Sasuke's righteous
fury seemed insurmountable.
"Do we have a deal?"
Itachi's mind easily acknowledged that he's currently bound and blinded, however, he won't
always remain so. Curious if Naruto had considered the simplest way for him to acquire what
he wants to know, Itachi asks, "what if I simply take the information?"
"You can try," the blond readily replied. "But don't think I won't fight you off." Funnily enough,
he added, "and I'd be really disappointed that Sasuke's older brother is that kind of guy.
From what I've been told, you're a pretty cool dude."
His reply only reinforces to Itachi the type of person Uzumaki Naruto is. It made Itachi's mind
spark with the realization that the best person to truly help Sasuke is the person with the
biggest heart. He tells Naruto, "like every shinobi, I've always been prepared to die by my
choices and for my duty. It's why I'll leave Sasuke to you, Naruto."
Itachi could hear the blond boy sit up sharply, demanding to know, "what! Why?"
"It's for the best if I remain embedded with the enemy and hinder their plans," Itachi
reasoned. The fewer enemies for Naruto to take on, the better he'll be to face Sasuke when
the time comes. Of course, what he now knows about Naruto is an enormous liability and
says more to himself, "I'll make myself forget the past few hours-"
"Will you stop running!" Naruto yelled loud enough for Itachi to feel the vibrations in the air.
Itachi can't see but he's certain Naruto's face is quite upset when he continues to argue, "I'm
telling you staying with Akatsuki is a bust! Why would you want to keep wasting your time
with them instead of helping your own brother?"
Knowing where Naruto's concern stems from, Itachi returns the honesty by admitting, "the
only real way to help Sasuke is to die by his hand-"
"Then train him to do that!" Naruto yelled, confusing Itachi until he adds, "just don't leave him
again."
'Loneliness,' he thought. Itachi knows Sasuke feels alone in the world, 'but that'll only make
him stronger,' he concluded.
"What you're doing right now…" Naruto pauses for several moments to gather his thoughts
before expressing, "what you're doing isn't going to make him better or stronger. You're just
running away and hoping the problem solves itself. How's that any different than what Ji-
chan did? He didn't get involved and talk with your tou-chan like he should've… and look
what happened. Isn't that why you hate him? If Sasuke needs to fight someone, fine! He can
fight me! He won't win, but I'll be that for you guys if you'd just stop running and be the
brother he needs."
Itachi remained silent for several minutes, thinking about his actions and how powerful
Naruto's heart is, then asks, "would you be the bar by which he measures his success? To
fight him to the death if need be?"
"If you mean, 'will I put my life on the line,'" Naruto clarified in asking before asserting, "then
hell yeah I will."
Itachi could only snicker at the refreshing ninja before answering, "I'll think about it."
THE LEGENDS
"Finally!" Jiraiya exclaimed, throwing out his arms in triumph as they walked through the
East Wall's gate of the biggest gambling town in Fire Country. The three ninjas were sweaty
and breathing noticeably heavy from a long day of continuous sprinting, but no worse for
wear. Jiraiya quickly led them to the inn he generally stays in whenever he visits the city. In
their haste, the three quickly shower, drop off their gear and traveling cloaks before meeting
out front again.
They wore their usual attire, Jiraiya in his green pants & kimono shirt under a red haori with
two yellow circles on each side and wooden sandals; Sakura in her short-sleeved red qipao
dress with slits along the sides and tight dark bike shorts; and Naruto wearing his orange
and black outfit under his short-sleeved red cloak with a black flame pattern at the hem.
Though the three were hungry for a proper meal, they have a mission of vital importance to
complete.
With only a few hours of daylight left, Jiraiya grabs a confused Naruto's wrist and exclaimed,
"now let's go talk about the sorcery you pulled out of your ass to win over Kurenai-chan."
Groaning, Naruto rolls his head back in sheer disbelief while Sakura quickly became torn
between her dream of meeting her idol and very much wanting to learn more about this
unbelievable affair. An indecisive power struggle rages within her as Naruto blurts out to his
Godfather, "but we still have to find her-"
"No, no, no," Jiraiya huffed with finality. Leaning down and sternly eying the blond, he points
out, "it's the afternoon! What kind of gambler you know gambles during the day?"
"It could be all of them, for all I know," Naruto yelled back. "It doesn't mean we shouldn't
look-"
"Send your clones," Jiraiya interjected as they start walking. "There's a lot of ground to
cover, so, the solution is simple. Cancel all the ones you left training and spare a dozen to
search the city while we finally talk!"
Naruto sighed and acquiesced for fear Jiraiya might lose it if he didn't. As they walk into an
empty alleyway, Sakura agreed this solved her dilemma; his clones can search for Tsunade
while she finally learns a love mystery unlike anything she's ever heard before. In the empty
alley, Naruto creates a dozen clones that leap away to search the city then dispels the
hundred clones he left training earlier that morning.
With only a squad of clones searching the city and the few keeping Mei and Itachi company,
Naruto's focus didn't feel burdened anymore and it was a great relief. He was, however,
dragged through overly loud, rude, and busy streets whilst repetitive memories are painfully
shoved into his brain, forcibly hardwiring strong chemical interactions at the synapse of all
his neurons. Though his head hurts, he's happy to note he's become better at release
chakra from both his elbows. It'll take him a while to master exerting chakra from all of his
tenketsus but he'll do it if it means using the Hiraishin as much as he wants without passing
out from exhaustion.
Chapter 414:
Allowing himself to be taken via piggyback on his Godfather's broad back is uncomfortable.
It's already sunny, his white hair feel like needles, and his body is too warm, however, Naruto
vaguely realizes he doesn't object to answering Jiraiya and Sakura's intense curiosity. It's
been two days since they learned about his relationship with Kurenai and without much
details or even proof, they've been forced to take it at face value.
'That's not really fair,' his hurting brain reasons. There are times when even he's amazed by
how a woman like Kurenai ended up loving him, of all people. But when Jiraiya made steps
to enter a bar, a concerned Naruto is forced to ask, "uh, where are we going?"
Jiraiya's answer of, "a nice and private bar to talk-" is immediately cut off by Naruto's
frustrated reminder, "I'm underage!"
Stopping his clacking feet mid-step, Jiraiya huffs "fine," before rushing a few streets over,
with Sakura right beside them, as he added, "a nice and private restaurant where we can
finally sit down and talk!"
The first restaurant they enter, Jiraiya scans the lively room for empty tables and booths with
a blasé Naruto hanging apathetically from his back when the elder shinobi is slowly stunned
to see Tsunade and Shizune eating at one of the booths to the left. The blond gambler is
eating a piece of fish when her wandering eye coincidently meets with his. It takes them
several blinks before Jiraiya stomps his right foot forward, points aggressively at his old
teammate, and yelled, "Tsunade!"
Tsunade slams her palms on the counter as she stood up, shaking all the cutlery on the
jolted surface, spits out the bit of fish, and pointed just as sternly before yelling, "Jiraiya!"
Naruto hops off his Godfather's back, rekindling his energy for the mission as he looks over
to the booth with the two women and a pig. Sakura moves right beside him to see her idol.
Naruto recalls Naru-nii's description and knows the fair-skinned woman with onyx eyes, jet-
black hair in a long white-trimmed black kimono is Shizune. And the blond-haired, brown-
eyed girl wearing a grass-green haori over a gray kimono-style blouse held closed by a dark
bluish-gray obi that matches her pants is Tsunade. Naruto and Sakura both raise their
eyebrows at the sizable amount of cushy-looking cleavage showing.
For once, Jiraiya didn't care about the beautifully full shape of Tsunade's soft-looking bust.
Eyes watering in unbearable defeat, the elder sage is so horribly torn between his mission
and his passion that his shoulders slump low and his collar sags to the side. His duty is to
convince his old teammate to return to Konoha, heal the Hokage, and become the fifth
Hokage, however, his life's mission is much more sacred. A Jōnin falling in love with a Genin
is the holy grail of his research and all Jiraiya wants to do is ask Naruto about the impossible
hurdles he must've surmounted to be in a relationship with Kurenai-sensei.
Eying the curvaceous blond woman who looked like she was in her late twenties, Naruto
mumbles to Sakura, "uuwhhaaa, so that's her. She really does look young even though she's
old."
"Don't say that," Sakura whispered back.
"But it's true. Just look," Naruto reiterated in a whisper as Shizune joined them with her pig in
her arms.
Never expecting to judge her idol as anything more than factually amazing, Sakura stutters
to reply, "I- I- …I'm sure she has a really good reason."
Walking over to her old teammate, Tsunade's honey-brown eyes grow worried as a pale
Jiraiya mumbles nonsensically to himself, "she's so gorgeous… but he's such an idiot…
How? Why? I don't understand so much about the world…"
Raising a brow, Tsunade asks with concern, "what are you crying on about?"
Raising his hand in firm greeting, Naruto called out, "Tsunade-no-baachan," stunning
Sakura's green eyes into the size of saucers. Even Shizune grew scared for Naruto when
Tsunade turned an evil eye on Naruto as he continues, "heard a lot about you; most of it's
pretty awesome. I'm Uzumaki Naruto, number one Hokage candidate!" As if recalling his
manners, he introduces, "ah, this is Sakura-chan-"
"Haruno Sakura, Tsunade-sama," Sakura respectfully interjects with a polite bow. "It's a
great honor to meet you."
"Why'd we have to find her so fast," a teary-eyed Jiraiya mumbled to himself. "Is this good
luck? Bad luck? I couldn't even ask one question…"
Ignoring his Godfather, Naruto buoyantly adds, "she's read all your journals and she's going
to be the best medi-nin ever." Delighted to hear his praise, Sakura avoids eye contact as she
feels her blush heat her neck and cheeks. She shakes her head in embarrassment, amusing
Tsunade's sharp eyes. "I'm so glad we found you before Orochimaru did," Naruto voiced with
obvious relief.
Turning to a distraught Jiraiya, Tsunade asks for clarity, "Orochimaru?"
With a heavy sigh, Jiraiya digs deep for the courage to be patient in the face of his habitual
joy, and cries to himself, "be strong… keep it together." Turning to each of the gathered ninja
and pig, he added, "let no one here claim I'm unwilling to make unreasonable and unfair
sacrifices for the greater good! Now, Tsunade… let's drink and forget our worries."
"No thanks," she flatly answered, then turned to Shizune. The ebony-haired woman walked
back to the table to get the check as Tsunade states, "we already finished. And before you
ask, we're leaving the city tonight so we'll have to postpone catching up for next time."
Looking quite confused, Shizune asks, "we are? Didn't you want to get your revenge on that
gambli-" Tsunade's stern evil eye stunned Shizune into silence.
Ignoring her bald-faced lie, Jiraiya tells her, "oh, come on! I'm sure you heard what
happened in Konoha last week. We've been running non-stop. You can spare us some time
before you go." Pinning after the gold mine that is Naruto's love life, Jiraiya whines, "I've had
to ignore extremely vital research to be here… even when I have so many questions… is it a
jutsu? …is it love? …It has to be… but how? Or is the jutsu of life, love?"
Staring at him blankly, Tsunade diagnoses, "…I think you've finally lost it."
Chapter 415:
To his Godfather, an exasperated Naruto wearily emphasizes, "I promise we'll talk later." He
then turns to Tsunade and asserts, "we need you to come with us and heal Ji-chan-"
"Is that so," a serpentine voice said from behind them. They turn to Orochimaru as he
casually walks through the entryway of the restaurant toward them with Kabuto right behind
him. "Oh, I do hope Sensei isn't too gravely injured."
"Asshole," Naruto angrily huffed. Sakura is immediately on high alert as Naruto balled his fist
as he proclaims, "don't pretend you care when you were the one who hurt him!"
"Naruto," a serious Jiraiya warned, looking around the restaurant full of people.
"I must thank you for your hard work," Orochimaru gratefully voiced. "We haven't been here
long and you led us straight to her." Jiraiya and Tsunade feel the trap as Orochimaru turns to
them to ask, "this is such a rare opportunity, how about a drink for old times' sake? It'll offer
us a chance to reminisce about the olden days."
The sight of Orochimaru reminds Naruto of all the pain and suffering he's caused both
Konoha and Suna, of the people that died because he wanted to invade their village, and of
his Ji-chan, looking sick and worn from the poison getting closer to killing him with every
second. At the sight of Kabuto, all Naruto saw was the look of disappointment on Haku's
face, and before he knew he took a step toward both of them. A strong palm landed on his
shoulder and kept him from moving another inch.
"Wait," Jiraiya ordered before commanding the blond, "look around you. There are a lot of
innocent people here."
"You really should pay better attention to your surroundings, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru sang
in his husky yet old voice. "Kabuto."
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto replied as he raises his right hand to his chest, his fingers
formed in a hand seal as if ready to activate a jutsu at any moment. For Jiraiya, Tsunade,
and Shizune, it's an unknown, yet very real threat they can't afford to ignore.
Realizing there's very little to do but play along, Tsunade responds, "I'm fine with drinks, as
long as you're paying." She turned to her ward and voiced, "Shizune," knowing full-well her
companion will focus on saving the lives of everyone in the restaurant.
"Hai," Shizune submitted with a hard countenance.
Jiraiya ordered Naruto and Sakura, "you two stay here and stick together." While the pink-
haired kunoichi nodded stiffly, Naruto only glared at Orochimaru and Kabuto. Jiraiya
repeated, "Naruto-"
Pointing at Tsunade, the blond Chūnin asserted, "I'm not letting her out of my sight."
"Don't worry, I'll stay with her," Jiraiya assured him.
Tsunade couldn't help wondering if the boy was prone to emotional recklessness or if he's
just daring, and snarled, "I really feel like I'm being looked down on." Turning to Naruto, she
asserts, "hey brat, I don't need anyone watching my back, much less some snot-nosed
rookie fresh out of the academy!"
Tsunade was mildly amused he kept his attention dead-on Orochimaru as he touted, "maybe
not, but I don't trust that snake shit for nothing. He put a cursed seal on Sasuke and
poisoned Ji-chan and the Kazekage."
"Ah, to be young again," Orochimaru quips with a wide grin. "You're right not to trust me,
Naruto-kun, but hasn't it yet crossed your mind that I might use all the lives around you as
hostages? Are you keen enough to sense my little yet very venomous snakes near the
vulnerable ankles of women and children, or perhaps the explosive notes I secured on the
building before walking in here?" Naruto is quiet as he begins to listen and smell for threats
around him. The snake-nin chuckles as he asks, "no? Sometimes power is not as effective
as leverage, boy, but if you'd be so kind as to realize you're incapable of going against me, it
would save us all time."
A little girl and her older brother run around them toward their family at the far table as
Kabuto makes clear to Naruto, "remain here and no harm will befall these people." Turning
to Shizune and Sakura, he adds, "make the slightest move against us and I turn this
restaurant and everyone in it into a crater."
"With you in it," Shizune pointed out.
"I'll gladly die for Orochimaru-sama," the silver-haired traitor replied with a humorless smile.
Keeping his hand seal to his chest like a trigger ready to pull, Kabuto moved toward the both
as he asked, "shall we have a seat?"
Before Orochimaru leaves, Naruto sharply asserts, "if you do anything to Tsunade-baachan,
I won't go easy on you."
Orochimaru only smiled happily as the legendary sannins leave the restaurant.
NARUTO
Kabuto orders Naruto and Shizune to sit opposite himself and Sakura in the booth Tsunade
was originally sitting in. He even orders them to keep their hands flat on the table. There's
very little any of them can do with the rowdy room filled with family and friends being used as
hostages, however, that doesn't stop Naruto from glaring at Kabuto. Sakura is concerned for
the people joyfully dining around them, Shizune tries to think of a plan that would actually
work, and Kabuto simply smiles disingenuously.
"Just so you know, I always knew you weren't worth a damn," Naruto couldn't keep from
asserting. "I'm just pissed you're stabbing Haku in the back in the process,"
"That's a little dramatic," Kabuto snorted to say.
"Doesn't mean it isn't true," Naruto hotly returned.
"I didn't stab him in the back," Kabuto pleasantly replied. Tilting his head as if remembering
the feminine boy, the silver-haired shinobi remarks, "I'm sure he had a sensed of what I am.
He understands better than most."
Agreeing with Kabuto makes Naruto more annoyed as he practically spits at the amused
boy, "he liked you! For whatever reason, he had faith you weren't a bad guy, and I hoped he
was right, but here you are, stabbing Konoha and Haku in the back. How can you be okay
with that? Didn't he mean anything to you?"
"You're a compassionate person," Kabuto noted with a hit of sadness. "Compassion has no
place in our world-"
Chapter 416:
Leaning forward to eye him more critically, Naruto interjects, "or maybe it has the most
important place." Kabuto notes Naruto's hand remain flat on the table as the blond
continues, "you think just because you wear that Hitai-ate and take orders you suddenly stop
caring? You suddenly stop being a person with feelings? Don't try to sell me on some bullshit
about needing to be dead inside to be a shinobi because that only tells me you're a coward
who can't hack it."
"So virtuous… but I don't care, Naruto," he quietly replied. "Be upset, or mad, or
disappointed in me. What your narrow mind fails to understand about this world is not my
concern. The only thing that matters—that has ever mattered—is what you can and what
you can't do. And at this very moment, you can't do anything to save these people other than
sitting there, being quiet, and cease testing my patience."
"Why," Naruto daring retorted, earning a warning from Shizune.
"Uzumaki-kun-"
But Naruto continues regardless of Shizune and Sakura's valid concerns. Naruto is much
more clear-headed as he bluntly exclaimed, "let me guess, you don't want to hear how upset
Haku would be to see what you're doing? He wouldn't hurt a soul but you're fine killing a
restaurant full of people, yourself included, for some nutjob. Was Haku wrong having faith in
you?" They stare at each other for a moment, and when it seemed Kabuto had no reply he
wished to share, Naruto honestly expresses, "you're right. Haku's one of the smartest people
I know, and do you know what he said about you?" An irritated Kabuto just listens as Naruto
answers, "he said nothing about you is original. He said you're like the combined product of
everyone you know… which is why you need better people around you. Because then you'll
be better too."
In Naruto's stern blue eyes, Kabuto seemed reflective as he inhales deeply and shifts in his
seat. Naruto extends the smallest of olive branches as he asks with a lukewarm attitude,
"wouldn't you rather be around people who'd at least care enough about you to see the real
you?"
The silver-haired boy seemed more agitated at the question as he hotly retorts, "are you
trying to save me, Naruto? Is that what you think you're doing?"
Eying the boy unflinching, Naruto replies, "I'm trying to help Haku's friend-"
"Well don't!" he yelled, smacking the table with his free hand, making Sakura and Shizune
extremely nervous for the safety of everyone around them. Leaning forward, he continues,
"it's not your place! And all you're doing is tempting me to blow this building up just to shut
you-"
Kabuto stopped moving his open mouth mid-yell. The lively guests around them no longer
moved an inch. Everything around Naruto froze; from the billowing smoke of meat grilling to
the soy sauce punched out of a stubborn container, to the sounds of a rowdy restaurant
vibrating everywhere in the air. With his chakra activating his Hiraishin Fūinjutsu contract, it
all froze perfectly still and silent for several moments before the three-dimensional reality of
the booth he's sitting on, the table in front of him, and the people around him all warped
around Naruto, like being at the center of a cylinder.
The beveled tunnel created and maintained with Naruto's chakra stretched images of
Kabuto, Shizune, and Sakura toward the kunai maker in Sakura's back pouch. Fortunately,
Naruto didn't have to travel far, and he had half-a-day of more chakra-control training, so, in
addition to releasing spirit energy out of his hands and feet, he can also propel himself
through the dense vacuum with both elbows. It made orienting himself in the crushing void to
Kabuto's left much easier.
"Up," Kabuto finished yelling at a now-empty seat. Leaning back, he suddenly needed a
second to realize Naruto suddenly disappeared. His onyx pupils flick to his right then quickly
to his left just as a spinning mass of blue chakra hits through his hand. As Naruto didn't want
to kill him, he stopped driving the drilling ball of chakra just above Kabuto's sternum. The
tremendous force of the spin easily broke and bent every inch of Kabuto's fingers and hand
like paper. The force of the momentum pulls his forearm in circularly, snapping more bone,
followed by the rest of his arm, and then his entire body is sucked into the great spin of the
miniature tornado.
Kabuto's traveling clothing is shredded as he's spun around like a ragdoll caught on a drill
four times before Naruto cancels the jutsu, shooting the flailing body up. The silver-haired
shinobi hits the ceiling, cracking it before falling to the ground, unconscious, with a heavy
thud. From the tip of his right hand all the way up to his shoulder, skin is shredded, bones
are crushed, muscles are torn apart, and he hemorrhages terribly on the floor. There are
similar, though less severe, injuries to the rest of his body, however, Kabuto seems to be
alive.
With the same Fūinjutsu-covered bindings he used for Itachi, Naruto ties Kabuto's broken
and purple limbs. Shizune rushes throughout the entire restaurant sniping every snake she
saw with little needles while Sakura ran outside to clear all the explosive tags off the walls.
The patrons are all watching in curious fascination, unaware of how close they were to being
poisoned or blown up.
When the kunoichi return to Naruto's side, Sakura remarks, "they couldn't have gone far."
Shizune sternly asserts, "you two stay here-"
However, Naruto shakes his head as he interjects, "not a chance." Crossing his fingers, he
calls out, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." A single clone appears before immediately dispersing,
instructing the clones he originally sent to look for Tsunade to begin tracking the Sannin.
Naruto tells them, "I got my clones looking for them but we should be out there too."
Sakura asks, "can't you just teleport to Jiraiya-sama?" A curious Shizune repeats, "teleport?"
to herself as Sakura continues, "didn't you give him a kunai too?"
"You're the only person I gave one to," Naruto answered, making a mental note to give one
to all his loved ones.
"I'm sure Tsunade-sama will make a large enough commotion for your clones to spot,"
Shizune told the young ninjas. "But I want you to promise me you won't do more than find
their location and tell me. I don't want either of you to engage in any form of combat. I
understand want to help but these are three of the strongest shinobi in the country. Against
an opponent like Orochimaru, even I wouldn't be of any aid to Tsunade-sama, do you
understand?"
"You're saying we'd hinder them more than help," Sakura sadly replied.
"Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama can take care of Orochimaru," Shizune assured them
"…If they don't need help, I won't do anything," Naruto eventually replied, though he couldn't
stop himself from adding, "but I can't promise I'll stand back if they do."
Chapter 417:
THE LEGENDS
Orochimaru asks with his slippery voice, "who do you take me for, Tsunade?
It was a quiet walk through the moderately filled streets and alleyways of the gambling city.
Orochimaru led them well away from the restaurant to a quiet, small, and unassuming bar
near the edge of the city. Walking underneath the white flaps the three take a seat at a round
table. Orochimaru orders a bottle of sake but no one drinks. The three are blasé about the
tense animosity hiding just underneath the surface.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru have never truly got along, beginning with a rivalry and evolving to
enemies; a son of Konoha protecting his home while another son wants to destroy it.
Tsunade understood both sides and didn't want to be apart of either. She's had enough
blood for a lifetime, however, here she is, sitting between natural archenemies being
dragged back into the world she left.
"I wouldn't come empty-handed, Tsunade," Orochimaru continued. "I'm fully aware Jiraiya
would never betray Konoha, and under normal circumstances, neither would you. However,
perhaps if I promised to revive young Nawaki-kun and your beloved Dan… I wonder if that
would entice you to help me subdue Jiraiya and allow our sensei to pass peacefully."
Orochimaru was having fun gazing at each of them as he spoke and smiled when Tsunade
scoffed at his offer, complimenting him by speaking, "you've always been a son-of-a-bitch."
"Ku, ku, ku, and yet I don't feel I'm being unreasonable," Orochimaru voiced in solidarity.
"You know I don't lie when it matters and you've long since left the shinobi world behind,
Tsunade. All I'm asking is you remain as you are, and in gratitude, I'll revive your long lost
loved ones to reunite with."
"What he's leaving out is if you don't, he'll try to kill you," Jiraiya dourly points out.
"Only if you attempt to save Sensei's life," Orochimaru argues as if it's a perfectly reasonable
point. Whimsically, he very nearly complains, "I've planned that invasion for years and went
through quite a lot trouble to see that man die. It would be rude of you to interfere with all my
hard work."
"That disgusting talk is precisely why you never had any friends," Tsunade bites back, clearly
upset he brought up Nawaki and Dan. As often as she thinks about them and cries or
wallows, the last person she wants to bring them up is Orochimaru. 'Because it's too
tempting to ignore,' a voice in her head thought with the picture of their smiling faces
dancing in her memories.
"If I remember correctly, he didn't need 'em, right," Jiraiya sarcastically asked Orochimaru.
"'Life's greatest hindrance,' you said."
"Oh, how well you know me," Orochimaru nodded to his former teammate. "All one needs in
this world is talent and skill in supreme abundance. While the pair of you have indulged in
your vices, I've spent those years surpassing all human limitations and dismantling any
obstacle in my path. Nothing is out of reach for a mind like mine." Turning to Tsunade, he
finishes, "…not even reviving those who have died."
Tsunade may not have reacted, but she desperately wanted to take a drink of sake. Sensing
something of a shift in Tsunade's silence, Jiraiya quickly asserts, "it's not nor will it ever be
our place to meddle with the balance of nature. Many have tried, many will continue to try,
and it will always end terribly."
Smiling at his sanctimonious tirade, Orochimaru returns, "as ever, your narrow-minded
thinking is still the greatest of your many weaknesses, Jiraiya." Tilting his head to look out
the shop's entry flaps, Orochimaru voices, "sadly, we don't have much time." Jiraiya picked
up on his heedfulness and begins sensing his surroundings as Orochimaru tells Tsunade, "if
you like, I can revive one of your lost loves this very moment and prove to you how effective
my technique is. All I'll need is a freshly deceased body," he finished turning his attention
directly to Jiraiya.
"Don't be fooled, Tsunade," Jiraiya sharply asks of her. "I know how much you're hurting but
you can't kill someone just to bring them back. You know they wouldn't want that and you'd
hate yourself for the rest of your life."
"I'm certain they wouldn't want to be dead either," Orochimaru casually remarked. "And with
my technique, they don't have to be. How much do you love them, Tsunade? How much do
they really mean to you?"
Observing Tsunade critically, he admits, "healing sensei isn't the only reason he sent us. He
also wants you to take over as Konoha's Godaime Hokage." Orochimaru snickers to hear
that as Jiraiya adds, "I didn't want to tell you like this but some asshole wasn't leaving me
much choice. You know what being Hokage meant to them. Are you sure-"
"Enough," Tsunade emphatically asserted as she the bottom of her fist through the old wood
table, knocking the ceramic sauces and bottle to the hard floor. Having reached her
tolerance of being a puppet with her emotional strings being pulled, she turns her irate eyes
on Jiraya, she sharply says, "I expect that kind of emotional manipulation from him but not
from you."
Jiraiya looked at her sideways, daftly asking, "since when have I ever been able to convince
you of anything? We'd be married with a liter of brats by now if I had any say about it." He
can tell the small jest calmed her down some, then adds, "I get you have a choice to make
here, but it only makes sense you be aware of all the details."
"I've grown quite eager to know your answer," Orochimaru voiced with his cruel smile.
Standing to his feet, he asks her, "shall I send you to meet them in the eternal lands, or shall
I bring one here for you?"
Chapter 418:
NARUTO
Naruto, Sakura, and Shizune are on the top of the tallest building in the pub area searching
the throng of drunk, passive, or lively people meandering through the streets for any sign of
the legendary Sannin. The three didn't believe they would find them in the colorful, ever-
shifting crowd but they hoped for the signal Shizune assured them would occur. It's been
twenty minutes As the sun closes in on the horizon, and Naruto is beginning to imagine the
worst when he receives a quick cache of memories.
On a rooftop at the edge of town, his clone spotted a five-story tall explosion of displaced
earth, grass, and rock a mile or so away into the green valley. His clone squints to see into
the distance, and in the gnarled landscape, he saw small figures fighting one another; a
blond woman in a green tunic fighting a white-haired man in red while a pasty white-skinned
man observed. The Naruto clone quickly created another clone that instantly dispersed,
letting the Boss and all the other clones know their location and how he's going to rush in to
help.
Turning east-south-east, Naruto called out, "they're three clicks east of the city!" He leaped
off of the tallest roof to the roof one-over. The wind rushes loudly through his cloak, speeding
toward the rooftop below, and when he lands, he takes off at full speed.
"Uzumaki-kun, wait," Shizune called as she and Sakura jump to catch up to him.
"They're two, maybe, three miles away," Naruto called back as the three leap from rooftop to
rooftop. "If we push it we can get there under three minutes!"
"That's not it," Shizune voiced from beside him. "I want you to promise me you won't get in
the way. You could end up making things harder for Tsunade-sama!"
"Right now she's attacking Ero-sennin," Naruto called back, hating having to explain as it's
only delaying them that much longer.
Shizune is a mixture of stunned and curious as she begins to ask, "why would she-"
"It's fine," Naruto cut her off. Trusting in Naru-nii's account of Tsunade as the next Hokage,
the sprinting blond assured them, "I'm sure she has a reason. It's Orochimaru I'm worried
about."
THE LEGENDS
From straight above him, Tsunade dropped her heal like an ax, and rather than shattering
him into bloody pieces, an alert Jiraiya rolls out of the way, letting the ground take the hit for
him. As expected, the sheer chakra-force released with pin-point accuracy erupts the earth,
dirt, grass, and stone-like a tidal wave, hitting his rolling body as he's shoved much farther
away. He lands on his feet several yards away, covered in dirt and grass as he eyes a very
fierce and determine Tsunade of the Senju.
Though called the Legendary Sucker, Tsunade is more widely known for her talent in Iryō-
ninjutsu, but the chakra control critical to her prowess as a medical ninja easily translates to
her combat ability. Unlike many shinobi, Tsunade is blessed with large chakra reserves,
intellect, and a durable body. She's easily frightening to ninety-nine percent of the ninja
population and even after two decades of drinking more regularly than training, she isn't
going to be stopped. Jiraiya was in the one percent.
Eying the beautiful Slug Princess as the earthy remnant of debris fall around them, the
white-haired shinobi always thought they shared an intrinsic connection. It was as if every
reincarnation in every lifetime whereby they are alive, they'd meet and love each other in
some form. Even if he were a toad and she was a slug, he felt their story couldn't be told
without the other. Jiraiya still felt that connection as an orphan next to her intimidating
lineage, when he teased her about her flat chest, when she rejected him for Dan, when she
lost her grandparents, her brother, and her lover. Even now, as she was fighting him in
earnest at Orochimaru's behest, he did not feel betrayed.
Jiraiya prepared himself as Tsunade blitzed him with cold ferocity. The air wisped in pain with
how fast and strong her punches broke through it and Jiraiya either blocks, evades, or
parries four strikes every second. Whether sweeping to attack his footing, erupting the earth
with a punch or ax kick, Jiraiya can weather her offense well enough, however, she
managed to grip his sleeves and flip him several yards away on account of Orochimaru's
interference.
The snake-nin made fighting all the harder for Jiraiya with his continuous faints at the worst
time. The pale shinobi would stalk Jiraiya like a predator and would strike with every opening
in his defense, Orochimaru would attack with his sword of Kusanagi or faint an attack simply
to keep him off balance. After Tsunade's shoulder throw tossed him several yards away,
Orochimaru is instantly attacking with volleys of fire bullets.
Jiraiya blocked with his wrist guards or dodge as Tsunade maneuvered around him and
attacked just as Orochimaru finished. Jiraiya does his level best not to be outflanked or
overwhelmed as his former teammates continue their combination attack. It wasn't until
Jiraiya dodged a spear of snakes jutting from Orochimaru's wide sleeves that Tsunade
landed a kick to his side, knocking the wind out of his lungs and telling him exactly where
she stood.
Jiraiya grunts loudly from the hard hit and leaps near Orochimaru's strike zone. Despite the
flare of pain rushing through his body, a clean hit from Tsunade would've broken his ribs and
ruptured his organs. Knocking the wind out of him is her declaration of intent and though
Jiraiya knows he's in prime position to be attacked by the pale shinobi, he trusts he won't
meet his end.
Jiraiya shoots Orochimaru with white spikes from his hair as Tsunade leaps in the air and
prepares her attack. Orochimaru slithers around the spikes and attacks in tandem with
Tsunade. The Sannin converge on one point and in a disastrous conclusion, Orochimaru's
sword is parried by Jiraiya's wrist guards as Tsunade kicks him solidly in the chest. The
ebony-haired shinobi is sent flying several meters before hitting the ground rolling on dirt and
grass until he eventually skids to a stop. His mouth opens to spit out blood before opening
even wider to spit out an entirely fresh Orochimaru.
Though betrayed, the snake-nin smiles as he ever does, his slitted eyes focusing on
Tsunade beside Jiraiya as he wonders out loud, "I wondered if you were truly on my side.
Such a shame, but it would appear I'll have to kill both of you."
Chapter 419:
More words need not be spoken between the three for a solid second. They measure
themselves and calculate tactics in the moment before Tsunade and Jiraiya attack
Orochimaru together. Jiraiya and Tsunade attack like jutting spears from either side of
Orochimaru who uses his masterful taijutsu and Kusanagi to parry, block, or evade.
Orochimaru's feet are constantly moving, leaping away before Tsunade destroys the ground
like a tidal wave or positioning himself from getting outflanked by the eight limbs snapping
violently fast strikes at him.
Attacking with his snakes is quickly dealt with by Jiraiya. Defending against Tsunade's
chakra-enhanced strength always keeps Orochimaru on the defensive, and the snake-nin
can tell if he doesn't get distance from them, his chances of defeating them would be low.
However, Orochimaru can't deny he loves the challenge. A few punches or kicks away from
taking serious damage, his blood is pumping in glee. The sweat on his brow, the wisp of air
from the punch he narrowly evades, the needles and Rasengan he narrowly avoids or
blocks with Kusanagi, Orochimaru loved the fierce battle. They wanted to kill him, and he
loved the attempt because he always had a strategy up his sleeve.
Orochimaru can sense ahead and feels Tsunade's intent to outflank him. The cunning
Snake-nin ignores the move to his back in favor of striking Jiraiya, surprising his old
teammate. Orochimaru parries one of Jiraiya's guards but is blocked by the second as
Tsunade sprints in for the organ-rupturing punch. A plume of dark-red blood explodes from
Orochimaru's back, splattering the red viscous liquid all over Tsunade's ample chest and
lovely face.
Everyone stops. Face-to-face with Jiraiya, Orochimaru smiles pridefully as he drops the now
empty blood capsule from his grip. Over Orochimaru's shoulder, Jiraiya focuses on the large
splatter of blood all over the frozen Tsunade and is immediately concerned for her, her
mental state, and how that vulnerability will alter the direction of this fight. Jiraiya is quicker
to react and instantly grips Orochimaru's wrist to forcibly toss the man away.
As if rejecting everything going on around her, Tsunade only focuses on the red sight and
heavy feel of blood on her face and chest. Her skin itches and burns as she feels her heart
rate and blood pressure increase uncontrollably, making her breath faster and muscles
tense and tremor. Her blood flow changes, rushing away from her heart, stomach, and
intestines to her limbs, effectively disrupting the chakra flow throughout her body. Her pupils
dilate, forcing her to see the trickling red threat more clearly as well as the memories of her
past loved ones dying bloody deaths, and the imbalance causes Tsunade to drop to her
knees when she no longer felt any energy left in her.
With Tsunade temporarily neutralized, Jiraiya does not allow Orochimaru the opportunity to
attack her, using taijutsu, his hair needles, and earth release to alter the terrain to block the
snake-nin when he'd blitz toward her. The pair go back-and-forth, trading blows and jutsu to
either protect or exploit Tsunade. However, it's far too easy for Orochimaru to summon
snakes to slither toward Tsunade, forcing Jiraiya to snipe them with shuriken he'd then
multiply with Kage Bunshin.
Though Jiraiya is fighting Orochimaru back, he can't ignore Tsunade. The smiling defector
won't let him. Any time it seems as if Jiraiya might plan a counter, Orochimaru would attack
the insensible Tsunade, forcing Jiraiya to give up any plan of attack and become
disadvantaged protecting her. With sword in hand, Orochimaru purposely kept the fight near
her to use her stunned state to his advantage whenever he pleased.
He feinted a slice from a high guard that Jiraiya used to throw Orochimaru farther away from
Tsunade, however, Orochimaru summons a dozen serpents to slither around Jiraiya toward
Tsunade and double. A hundred and forty-four snakes slither venomous fangs toward the
shaken Tsunade. With two flickers of hand seals, Jiraiya held Tiger seal as he called out,
"Doton: Yomi Numa!" The earth ten yards around Tsunade turns to mud which the snakes
quickly sink in as Jiraiya then yells, "Katon: Karyūdan!" He spits scorching fire out of his
mouth heating and hardening the swamp, killing all the snakes, but allowing Orochimaru to
fly toward Tsunade with sword primed.
Using Kawarimi to replace himself with the nearest dead snake to Tsunade, Jiraiya just
manages to slap palms together, catching Orochimaru's Kusanagi sword meant for
Tsunade's neck between his hands. Purposely waiting for the counter allowed Orochimaru to
land a clean kick into Jiraiya's stomach, shooting him into the ground and dusting up grass
and earth as he rolls onto his feet. Jiraiya was desperate to get back to Tsunade, however,
Orochimaru is already on him, thrusting his poisonous sword straight for his heart. Not
having expected his nemesis within point-blank range, Jiraiya instinctively knows he can
either die immediately with a thrust through the heart or sacrifice a limb to continue fighting
until the poison kills him.
Raising his forearm, Kusanagi is about to pierce through his guard and flesh when Naruto
bats the legendary sword away with his chakra covered knuckle blade. In the stillness of that
moment, Orochimaru stares at the unexpected arrival. Orochimaru's golden irises with slitted
pupils stare into and Naruto's yellow irides with horizontal bar-like pupils. The reddish-
orange pigmentation around Naruto's angered eyes only emphasizes the fury flowing within
him.
Naruto had just managed to collect enough natural energy originally meant to pass along to
the Boss when he arrived, however, he couldn't stand back and let his Godfather sustain a
critical injury. Naruto's chakra-covered blade clanged against Orochimaru's sword, forcing
the legendary shinobi to leap back a good distance. Far too close to Tsunade and Jiraiya,
Naruto extended his blade as Jiraiya stood and prepared himself. They both stand
defensively in front of Tsunade.
"Naruto-kun," Orochimaru evenly began. With the distance between them, Orochimaru
observes the strong boy and doesn't like what he senses. Somehow this boy continues to
grow every time he sees him. Rather than give in to the irritation Naruto continues to be,
Orochimaru smiles and says, "I thought I eloquently explained what would happen if you
followed us."
With a strong, 'HMPH!' Naruto sarcastically asks, "why the hell would I ever trust the shit that
comes out of your mouth?"
Understanding the implication of Naruto's eyes and the pigmentation around them,
Orochimaru remarks, "it would seem the reports I read about you achieving sage chakra
were not exaggerations. I'm impressed. I admit, I didn't think anything of you but it would
appear I may have been too harsh in my assertion."
"He's trying to stall," Jiraiya cuts in, lowering his stance in preparation. "He knows there's a
time limit to senjutsu."
Turning to Jiraiya, Orochimaru smiles when his nose and sight note, "oh, I managed a
scratch."
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