Chương 26: S
Chapter 420:
Naruto then notices Jiraiya's forearm is bleeding from a shallow sword cut into his forearm.
"That's more than enough to kill you," Orochimaru tells them. "Unless you take the antidote,
of course. I can give it to you, Jiraiya. I wouldn't mind… so long as you leave." Jiraiya and
Naruto revolted by the offer, even as Orochimaru's scratchy voice adds, "and there's no
need to worry about Tsunade. I'll take special care of her."
"The nerve of you," Jiraiya snickers in disgusted disbelief. "Taking a piss and calling it rain."
"That's… enough," Naruto and Jiraiya hear from behind them. They shift their heads a little
to pay attention as she sadly adds, "just leave me."
With a sigh, Jiraiya stands straighter and turns to Tsunade. He gets down on one knee,
getting closer to her eye level, and palms her shoulder comfortingly. "Naruto," he voices.
"Take care of him."
Nodding, the blond Chūnin confidently asserts, "ah, leave it to me."
With Sage mode running out, Naruto moves fast, meeting Orochimaru in fractions of a
second and pistoning fists with blurring speed. And yet, Orochimaru can keep up with his
speed. He isn't smiling anymore and his tactics were clearly superior, but he wasn't winning
either. The only edge Naruto thinks he has on the snake-nin is his Frog Kata. The blond
Chūnin's fist narrowly slips by his albino cheek, however, harnessing the natural energy
surrounding him, Naruto manages to tag Orochimaru so hard in the face, he could hear the
Snake-nin's neck snap as the body flies back ten yards.
Hearing Jiraiya's, "don't let up. That's not going to stop him," from behind him, Naruto sprints
toward the body as its broken mouth opens wide. Watching another Orochimaru slither out
of its injured body makes Naruto wonder what it's going to take to actually kill him. Bringing
out his knuckle-dagger, Naruto extends the chakra blade before rushing the new body of
Orochimaru.
Orochimaru can easily read the movement of Naruto's body for tells, however, he's not fast
enough to capitalize on any openings. Orochimaru dodges and evades or blocks and
counters Naruto's hard and fast strikes. He can feel his bones anguish with every block.
Even Kusanagi's longer reach is barely able to keep Naruto at bay, let alone pierce the
blond's skin. Orochimaru just needed one scratch and the pair fought hard to end the other.
While Naruto and Orochimaru rage in fierce battle Jiraiya turns to his distraught friend and
asks, "Tsunade, can you do anything about the poison?"
Near the point of crying, a shaking Tsunade sullenly expresses. "just take the brat and go."
When she looks up to see him, he can see the pain in her eyes, the suffering of her
memories as she pleads, "leave… I'm just too… I…"
Palming her cheek, smearing some of the blood, Jiraiya chuckles and says, "I'm not going
anywhere. This time, I'm staying by your side," he finished, and empty of responses,
Tsunade only shakes in silence.
Naruto is head-slipping a series of rapid sword thrusts from Orochimaru, gradually losing in
precision timing to the point he might get stabbed through the head. Though he didn't have
eyes that can keep up like the Sharingan, his body instinctively knew flow and feeling, and
something felt right about falling backward onto his hands and using one swinging leg to
defend while the other lands on Orochimaru's stomach before kicking off as hard as he
could. The kick's momentum flips Naruto on his feet and shoots Orochimaru back to a
skidding stop.
The snake-nin vomits bile and blood before wiping his mouth and focuses his slitted eyes on
Naruto. "I'm curious, Naruto-kun," he said. "How many clones can you create while in sage
mode? From my research, I understand it can be very difficult to maintain multiple clones
while concentrating on balancing the flow of energies."
Naruto doesn't answer and with the limited amount of sage mode left, Naruto moves to
attack when Orochimaru extends his arms outward. Out of each sleeve, Naruto witnesses
Orochimaru expel a bundled train of greenish-brown snakes in a hurried flow. The snakes hit
the ground before wiggling and squirming in a bunch, merging into two copies of the Snake-
nin. With three Orochimarus side-stepping for a better positional advantage, the clones
quickly ignore Naruto to attack Jiraiya and Tsunade.
The moment Naruto tries to create clones of himself, Orochimaru quickly intervenes,
pressing a continuous attack on Naruto to keep him from protecting Jiraiya and Tsunade.
Jiraiya tries as hard as he can to defend Tsunade from Orochimaru's clones, mostly blocking
their merry strikes, but it's more than his poisoned body can deal with. Feeling his chakra
control destabilize, slowing him down and weakening his muscles, Jiraiya purposely took the
punches and kicks as he desperately blocked the sword strikes. Jiraiya is solidly kicked
away from Tsunade and a clone begins kicking her while she's down. As Naruto was battling
to get away from the original Orochimaru, it was clear to everyone in the rocky valley, the
clones were toying with them.
"I think that's enough fun," the real Orochimaru stated once his clone dropped Jiraiya on his
back. The clone put his foot on his neck to keep him firmly in place while slowly raising his
Kusanagi high. Sensing the distance and how much sage chakra he had left, Naruto's sage
clone dispels, confusing Orochimaru to ask, "perhaps he didn't want to witness your end?
No matter. Goodbye Jiraiya."
As Orochimaru's clone brings his sword down, a trembling Tsunade yells, "NO!" as a blade
punctures explosively through Orochimaru's chest, offering a sweaty and beaten Jiraiya
enough opportunity to twist away from the deflected strike and narrowly missing his head.
Orochimaru's snake clone is looking at the large blade made of blue chakra sticking three-
feet out of his chest.
Using the last bit of Sage chakra transferred to him by his clone, the real Naruto grips
Orochimaru by the neck with enough force to snap the muscle-covered spine. He rips his
sword out of the snake-nin and hurls the body toward the other clone like a missile. Tsunade
grips the leg of the clone that was beating her and it slices the clone thrown at him. It's in the
midst of slicing that body when sage Naruto clears the distance in a fraction of a second,
and just as the first clone is completely cut in two, the second clone's chest is hit with a
senjutsu Rasengan. Naruto drove the drilling sphere of chakra through its muscle, heart, and
spine until there was little more than snake parts and blood flying everywhere.
Chapter 421:
Naruto turns to Orochimaru as the last of his sage chakra runs out and they both glare at
one another as Shizune lands beside Tsunade. She quickly snatches her up then leaps
toward the sickly Jiraiya and Sakura. The heaving, white-haired shinobi can't help but
sluggishly bemoan, "kkuehh… that idiot. He knows… she has a phobia of blood… and he
splatters snake guts all over her…"
Shizune quickly begins cleaning off the snake blood all over Tsunade as Sakura tells the
revered shinobi, "please don't say that. We were too far and if Naruto hadn't somehow
reached you in the blink of an eye, you'd likely be dead."
"Fine, fine," Jiraiya waved her off with a chuckle. "Good work," he stated before
commanding, "Sakura… clean off Tsunade. Shizune… help me with this poison? I need you
to… mask the symptoms."
Turning to Naruto with worry as he walks closer to one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru,
Sakura anxiously asks, "shouldn't we help Naruto?"
Shaking his head groggily, Jiraiya informs her, "helping me and Tsunade… is helping him."
"But-"
"Don't worry," Jiraiya assures her with more force. "He's a lot tougher than you know."
In the field ahead, like looking at a matching from the Chūnin exams, Jiraiya, Sakura, and
Shizune witness Naruto face off against a legendary ninja. As the wind blows kicking up
loose grass blades, all three feel a sense of urgency when they realize Naruto will, for a
time, have to face Orochimaru alone. For the minutes it'll take to get Jiraiya and Tsunade
back to fighting strength, Naruto will have to hold the renowned shinobi off, defeat him, or
likely die trying.
"You never cease to irritate, Naruto-kun," Orochimaru felt enough humility to acknowledge.
"Perhaps I should dissect you bit by bit to learn if that's a skill or a curse."
"It's definitely a skill," Naruto snaps back with a fire in his words. "Cuz I'm only irritating to
evil assholes like you."
Orochimaru snickers before wondering aloud, "but without your senjutsu, how will you fight
me now, I wonder?"
He barely finished uttering his question when Orochimaru quickly launches after Naruto.
Giving Naruto no time to plan is the ultimate compliment Orochimaru can pay him. It says
Naruto is enough of a threat to take seriously, however, without the strength, speed,
endurance, durability boost that comes from his sage chakra, Naruto is woefully outmatched.
He's kicked in the stomach hard enough to send him thirty yards back and land hard enough
to make him see stars.
Orochimaru didn't let up. His hand blur through several seals before he voices, "Suiton:
Suiryūdan no Jutsu." Moisture is sucked out of the air to create a large water dragon. With
the thickness of a tree trunk, the water serpent launches after Naruto like a bolt out of a
crossbow. Despite his slight daze, Naruto senses his water dragon is much stronger than
Zabuza's and is confident a normal Rasengan will only blow him away.
The blond waits for the most critical millisecond before dodging out of the way. The hard
force of water clips his leg as it rotates unnaturally fast and targets Naruto again. With no
time to do anything else, Naruto creates a large Rasengan to battle the great head of the
water dragon. Naruto leans his entire body into the attack to counter the water dragon's
momentum when it connects, nearly dislocating his shoulder from the force and splashing
water everywhere.
Remaining where he stands, Orochimaru's don't stop connecting seals and follows that
Suiton technique with, "Raiton: Gian." Destructive lightning in the shape of a spear surges
out of his mouth, crackling and flaring toward the blond wet target. Lacking any techniques
that can directly counter the piercing lightning, Naruto ends his Rasengan and allows the
rest of the water dragon to engulf him just as the lightning spears hit. Most of the fatal
current zips evenly across the surface of the water, however, Naruto is still close enough to
feel the strong discharge of electricity, shocking and paralyzing him.
In the midst of the lightning-covered water washes off of the stunned Naruto, Orochimaru
smoothly connects his lightning technique with, "Doton: Doryūsō." In a straight line from
Orochimaru to his blond enemy, mud and stone erupt out of the muddy rocky earth floor into
spikes to skewer him. On his hands and knees in a puddle inches deep, spasming from the
stunning aftershocks of the lightning, Naruto has no other option but to grab the most vital
spikes before they can pierce his body.
His shaky hand grips the point of the spike aligned with his heart as well as the one that near
drives into his stomach. He slips the spike that would've ripped through his neck and head-
butts the spike aiming for his eye. Though he feels the shock of the painful impact, the spear
did not go through his Hitai-ate. Naruto is cut at his thigh, shoulder, and side. Gripping the
spear tips and hit in the forehead, Naruto is lobbed in the air before landing ten yards away,
mercifully in some soft earth.
Observing his enemy as he walks over to the trembling blond, Orochimaru remarks, "how
disappointing, Naruto-kun." Bleeding from the cuts, shaking from the electricity, and wet,
Naruto struggles to stand as Orochimaru continues, "I commended your development by
taking you seriously but you can't even defend against a few elemental techniques."
"Get him out of there," Tsunade with a little more strength in her voice. Now that she's clean
of blood, she turns to Jiraiya and orders, "I'll take Orochimaru, you get everyone else away."
Flexing his uncoordinated fingers, he tells her, "just let Naruto handle it-"
"He's going to get killed," Sakura practically yelled, watching a bleeding and huffing Naruto
finally stand on his own two feet. "Don't you care at all?"
"This isn't the time for training," Tsunade cautions Jiraiya, assessing how well she can mold
chakra. As she is, she'll be hobbled against someone like Orochimaru, but it's better than
letting another boy die in her place; especially one who looks so similar to Nawaki. "He's
obviously no match."
Chapter 422:
Gripping her forearm with a trembling hand, Jiraiya contends, "how much do you want to bet
he is?" Tsunade looks at Jiraiya with fire in her eyes, disappointed in him for betting at a time
like this. "Neither one of us is ready to do anything significant yet," he tells her eyes. "I know
my Godson. He's putting his life on the line to get you back to Konoha. The least you can do
is come back and help Konoha if Naruto wins."
Ripping her arm free from Jiraiya's grip, Tsunade angrily retorts. "are you really willing to
watch him die so you can get me to go back?"
"And be Hokage?" Jiraiya interjected, before simply answering, "yeah, I am. I'm willing to sit
right here and risk just as much as he is."
Taking pause by the seriousness in his eyes, Tsunade asks with a desperate need, "why?
Why do you have so much faith in him? In that stupid title?"
Jiraiya understands much about Tsunade. He knows that her fear of blood stems more from
her PTSD than an actual fear of it. He knows that after the tragic loss of Nawaki and Dan,
Tsunade lost faith in the title of Hokage, certain the only thing the hat represented was
death. However, watching Naruto stand in defiance of his old teammate, Jiraiya chuckles as
he proudly answers, "because if there was ever a gutsy brat who's worth it, it's Uzumaki
Naruto."
Orochimaru smiles as he taunts a heaving Naruto with, "if I didn't know any better, I'd say
you're nothing without your sage or Kyūbi chakra."
Sweating and dirty, Naruto spits blood from his mouth before he yells back, "whether I know
one thing or ten, I'm still kicking your fucking ass!"
Chuckling, Orochimaru pridefully remarks, "nothing you do will work against me. Even your
red chakra, will never be enough…"
While Orochimaru talked, Naruto centered himself. In a white room, he reached up for the
abundant globule of life energy above him and it stretched down to reach his need. Before
the five ninjas observing, yellow chakra suddenly engulfs Naruto, coating his entire body in
yellow energy reminiscent of flickering flames. A black prominent swirl design manifests over
his stomach and shoulders, and extend various dark lines along their body. His blue eyes
are now orange, two of his bangs point up like horns and six magatama markings form
around their neck and under his cloak.
As Jiraiya smiles, Sakura is the only one to voice what the other three are thinking. "What
the hell is that?"
Fast milliseconds for most ninjas feel like seconds to a faster Naruto and in a flash, he clears
thirty yards to punch Orochimaru in the stomach harder than he's ever been punched before.
Launched back through the deafening air and hitting terminal velocity in less than a moment,
Orochimaru is unable to move his limbs or recover before hitting the ground and rolling
several times before skidding to a stop on his feet. With his burning stomach feeling like it's
been gouged out, the snake-nin immediately vomits blood.
Orochimaru immediately brings out Kusanagi within the moment it takes for Naruto to be on
him again. The flaming boy evades or blocks all of Orochimaru's quick sword strikes and
cuts, and though Orochimaru can evade every slash of Naruto's knuckle chakra-blade,
blocking a punch or kick nearly fractures his bones and sends him flying. Speed and
strength suddenly became Naruto's advantage and Orochimaru was smart enough to
change the playing field as quickly as possible.
Kicked far enough away again, the wincing onyx-haired shinobi wets his palm with the blood
letting from his mouth, blurs his hands in a flurry of seals, then yells "Kuchiyose no Jutsu,"
before slamming his bloody hand on the ground. A large gaseous exhaust of white smoke
erupts around Naruto before he's pushed back by a solid wall. The smoke quickly
evaporates to show Orochimaru escape to a high elevation atop of Manda's head.
Sensing the tiny opponent in front of him, the largest snake summon demands to know,
"Orochimaru… tell me you did not summon me to eliminate one brat."
As the great serpent speaks, Orochimaru snaps his head back. His neck cracks and shifts
around before ten white fingers extend out of his widening mouth. The hands grab the
boundary of pale lips before broadening the entire mouth wide enough for a recovered
Orochimaru to hop out of.
"He's no ordinary boy," a renewed Orochimaru admitted. "Rather than eliminate, I only need
you to play with him."
The chakra-covered Naruto looks up the towering snake. It was as tall as a small mountain
and Naruto wondered how he should attack. Its body looked tough and Naruto wouldn't be
surprised if its protective hide was several feet thick; making his knuckle blade useless.
Jumping to its head or running up its body would leave him open to attack, but staying on
the ground and attacking the body didn't feel like an option. It dons on Naruto how lackluster
his arsenal is in a situation like this and kicks himself for not learning more.
"Play? You waste my time with this," Manda asked. "You had better prepare a hundred
sacrifices for me or expect the worst."
"Then I leave him to you," Orochimaru called before leaping off its head toward Jiraiya,
Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura.
With the sight of Kusanagi in hand as the deathly-pale shinobi free falls toward his loved
ones, Naruto immediately tries to leap over the large snake, however, it's faster than he
anticipated and hits Naruto with a quick coil of its long body. Though it's the equivalent of
being hit with the side of a brick wall, Naruto doesn't feel any pain, however, he does feel the
delay. While Orochimaru close in on his targets in a straight line, Naruto has to move around
or leap over grand waves of the snakes twisting and coiling body; taking up precious
seconds. It's clear to Naruto, Orochimaru decided to ignore him and focus on his mission of
killing Tsunade and likely anyone around her before he can reach them.
Chapter 423:
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura can see Orochimaru sprinting toward them and
prepare to meet him head-on—taking out their kunais—but it's clear who his target is. With
the poisonous sword in his right hand, he leaps to stab a moderately shaken Tsunade when
Jiraiya leaps in front of her, arms braced for defense while Shizune and Sakura are on either
side of her.
Sensing Naruto is still far away, Orochimaru laughs, "you can die together," as he extends
Kusanagi's blade to reach the pair quicker.
No one, not even Orochimaru could feel the stop in time, but his slitted eyes are suddenly
blunted by a flash of brightness. A yellow chakra-covered Naruto appears out of nowhere to
catch the tip of Orochimaru's Kusanagi with his left hand, the searing metal easily cutting
through the flesh between his middle and ring fingers as it's angled away from Jiraiya and
Tsunade. Naruto's blood coats the length of the blade until the fewer working muscles in his
hand grip the guard and Orochimaru's hand. Tightening his grasp with his chakra-enhanced
grip, Orochimaru isn't going anywhere as Naruto forms a Rasengan in his right hand.
Sweating profusely around his broad smirk, a fierce Naruto eyes Orochimaru ferociously as
he chuckled, "hehe, you should really stop underestimating me." No matter how much
Orochimaru pulls, Naruto slams the giant ball of shredding chakra into his gut, calling out,
"Rasengan!"
Ripping through blood-filled muscle, Orochimaru is shot back sixty yards with a torrential
propeller-like spin for seconds until he slams into a sizable boulder, radially fracturing the
surface of the stone loudly. Half of a bloody body drops to the floor with a wet thud while the
other half is plastered to the rock. Out of that horrendous mess slithers out a white snake
covered in streaks of blood and out of that white snake's mouth, slithers a whole but
weakened Orochimaru.
Naruto only manages three steps before he loses Kurama's chakra and drops to a knee,
fizzling out of his yellow cloak. Heaving for air, a sweaty Naruto begins to feel pain travel
from the deep cut on his left hand up his arm to his heart, lungs, and stomach, wresting
away his tentative control over Kurama's chakra. Rotating his head back, he eyes the bloody
blade of Kusanagi and recalls the poison that handicapped Jiraiya. Naruto feels monstrously
sick and his chakra was horribly unbalanced, like trying to grip water in his hand. Forcing
himself to stand again, he brings up his sharp-enough knuckle-blade as he tries to regain
more control over his haywire chakra-network.
Though exhausted, Orochimaru rises to his feet as Manda slithers around the large boulder
to view him. The evil snake peers down at the foiled Snake-nin and condemns him. "Pitiful,"
it says. "I should kill you now," it threatened.
Though Orochimaru only focuses on Naruto taking tentative steps toward him and
inexplicably recalls his own, long-passed battle with Hanzō of the Salamander; when he was
a Konoha shinobi. Watching a defiant Naruto standing protectively in front of his former
teammates, his hitai-ate reflecting the last bit of sunlight, Orochimaru felt perplexed,
uncertain, and uneasy, and feeling anything in battle other than excitement bothered him.
Naruto truly bothered him.
"Wait… Manda-sama," a silver-haired boy with a wrapped stomach calls as Kabuto lands
unsteadily beside Orochimaru. He looked equally exhausted, thoroughly injured with his
entire right arm, shoulder, and chest completely bandaged, in a sling, and many band-aids
on his face, and yet, he was still moving. Naruto wondered why he healed so fast as he
pleaded with the large summon. "If you must kill everyone… please kill them ahead of
Orochimaru-sama… if only… to avoid the embarrassment of killing your own summoner in
front of them."
Manda hisses angrily, "you speak of embarrassment when there's no greater
embarrassment than being summoned by such a failure! I'd just as well devour all of you
before erasing you from my memory!" Turning to Naruto and the company behind him,
Manda finished, "beginning with you."
When Manda begins slithering toward Naruto, Kabuto grabs Orochimaru and shunshins
away. As the large towering snake with its menacing eyes approaches them, Naruto tries to
harmonize with Kurama's chakra, turning from golden-yellow to his normal appearance with
irregularity. Running wasn't going to work, and without the control necessary, he didn't trust
he could use Hiraishin to spirit them away safely. His foggy and exhausted mind is trying
desperately to think of a strategy when a hand claps his shoulder firmly.
"Not bad, brat," Tsunade voiced as she stepped ahead of him. He oddly noted the pressure
of her hand on his shoulder felt strong as she slowly added, "I owe you one. Shizune, take
care of him."
Landing on his other side, Shizune replies, "hai, Tsunade-sama," before taking him away.
Tsunade bites her thumb, drawing blood, and though it gives her pause to see the red liquid,
the beaten and bloody boy behind her makes her wonder. To face that Orochimaru and beat
him back, saving her and Shizune in the process, Tsunade is forced to realize that time
washes over all things. Snickering, Tsunade is annoyed at herself for being saved by the boy
behind her.
'He's special,' she thought, 'not unlike Dan and Nawaki… chasing after that title until he's like
that.' Tsunade didn't like it now any more than she did back then. She didn't like that one bit.
'But… I… can hold the title,' she realized. As Manda approaches, she feels a measure of
hope at the thought, 'until he's ready, I'll hold that bloody title out of an easy reach and show
everyone the sad sacrifice it takes to wear the hat.'
With conviction, Tsunade slams her palm on the floor and yells, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
A grand waft of smoke erupts from nothing, and out of it, the gentle giant slug Katsuyu
emerges into existence, raising Tsunade and company with into the air. Immediately Katsuyu
splits three smaller versions of itself underneath Naruto & Shizune, Jiraiya, and Sakura, and
quickly begin transporting them off the main body and away from the battle.
Sakura is surprised at the speed of the elephant-sized slug. Her hair whips in her face,
they're moving so fast. As they get farther and farther away from the large summons battling
one another, Sakura asks over the rushing wind, "shouldn't we help?"
"Nah," Jiraiya points out as he lays comfortable on the soft silk body of the rushing slug.
"Katsuyu is nearly impossible to kill," he pointed out. "Tsunade's going to drag it out to make
sure we get clear before escaping herself."
"She'll be reversed summoned to Shikkotsu Forest," Shizune further elaborated while
focusing on treating an unconscious Naruto. Her chakra-covered hands are on his chest and
wounded hand as she adds, "once we're safely away, Tsunade-sama will rejoin us."
Looking from her slug over to Naruto, Sakura yelled over the loudness of their speedy travel,
"can I help treat him?" However, Shizune does not reply and Sakura can tell why. She's
focused on saving his life, and for the entire ride back to the city, Sakura wished she was the
one saving his life.
Chapter 424:
ITACHI
It's been many hours since Naruto's clone explained why he would be disappearing. He
didn't explain exactly what he learned, but Itachi can tell from the sounds of his pacing and
elevated breathing that it was worrisome. Itachi promised to give his answer to the real
Naruto, and though the clone accepted what could very well be a lie, somehow Itachi felt
more burdened than the clone seemed to. It was as if Naruto was water, strong when
needed, generally tranquil most of the time, and can fit any shape. Itachi simply knew that
regardless of what he decides to do, Naruto will act accordingly and in Sasuke's best
interest.
Itachi sighed, sitting alone, free of his bindings and blindfold, and is still uneasy about the
choice ahead of him. He knew himself well enough to know his plan would lead to an
outcome favorable to Sasuke's continued survival in this world, however, there was clearly a
cost, and Itachi is starting to doubt if it's worth it.
'A short and sweet life or a long and lonely one,' he thought absentmindedly, wondering
which journey would be worth it. A shinobi's life is generally short. It's why so many wish to
live a long life. However, from the perspective of a normal civilian, a shorter interesting life is
more appealing than their longer dull life. It made sense to Itachi that Sasuke live a long life
when so many of his family and clansmen have died. No matter the cost, Sasuke should
continue their clan, however, he couldn't shake from his mind how similarly he'd expect
Sarutobi Hiruzen to act and that was a thought he cannot abide by.
Itachi wasn't certain, and acting without a plan was foolhardy, but then he heard rushing
footsteps coming from the end of the hall. He then hears a familiar sucking of air through
teeth as well as heavy breathing. Well passed of the glowing Fūinjutsu-covered walls, Itachi
heard his brother's steps moving from room to room, knocking and listening.
When he finally reaches his room, it's the moment of truth for Itachi. He can practically see
Sasuke through the door, looking desperately for his brother and he calculates the
probability of his original plan with what he learned about the future. No matter how high the
number, Itachi could only feel doubt. And he knows how doubt can kill any shinobi. He then
calculates the probability of Naruto's untested road and though the number is low, there's a
stronger measure of hope and possibility he can sense.
"Hello," Sasuke yells through the door. "Is anyone in there? Naruto? Sakura?"
Itachi makes his choice.
MEI
As rays of the setting sun slanted into Mei's empty room, she stares at the parchment of
Fūinjutsu Naruto left her. Since her youth, Mei has been exposed to quite a bit of Fūinjutsu,
enough to be comfortable with many arrays or orders of execution. However, the
multifaceted, somehow interlaced layout made no sense to her. She couldn't even tell where
the function began and ended. The only section she can read said, 'miso chāshū ōmori,' and
she failed to understand the significance of the ramen order. The clone said it was his
favorite phrase, though, miso ramen with roasted pork fillet explained nothing to her.
'He's either a genius or a jester,' she thought, setting the important scroll down.
With a long exhale, Mei takes solace in the fact that he agreed to help her. He gave her his
blessing to use Zabuza and if Haku agreed, he'd travel with him using the Hiraishin.
However, his promise to help her came with the condition that she help him meet and speak
with the Yondaime Mizukage. Mei still didn't understand what was so important that he
needed to talk with Yagura about but she didn't get the impression that it would come back
to hurt her cause.
'Of course, this all means I have to pretend to get married,' she thought, and a full five
seconds pass before she starts smiling. After another moment, she's snickering lightly,
shaking her head at the absurdity of the optional plan. The silence of the room once again
descends and Mei is disappointed to be alone after spending so many hours talking with
Naruto. But going to sleep, her dreams were of funny interactions with him and she slept
soundly.
JIRAIYA
Jiraiya stuck to the wall of the three-story inn they were residing in. He was dressed in all
black, glued to the wall three stories up, and facing away from the moonlight to blend
flawlessly into the wall's shadow. His heart rate was dangerously low and his breathing was
so shallow to avoid sound, he doubted a K-9's ears could hear him. Listening to the night-
time sounds of In the gambling city, Jiraiya listened to the night-time sounds of girls
propositioning, men catcalling, shouts of evening specials, thieving, drinking, and gambling,
all the while feeling tremendously nervous. Jiraiya had far too much riding on this covert
mission.
Confident in his stealth, Jiraiya turned his gaze to the intended target room's window. He
knew he couldn't touch it yet it was open just a crack to allow cool air to enter. The opening
was impossible for him to fit through, but he was not deterred. Reaching into his black coat,
he pulled out an elderly blue and orange toad and smiled at the brilliance of his plan. Slowly
moving the toad to the window, the bored-looking thing suddenly and unexpectedly croaked
far too loudly, startling Jiraiya so severely, he nearly killed it with a jerking squeeze.
Any sound during this critical mission is unforgivable, and bringing the toad to his eye-level,
he relayed that serious information with the desperation of his murderous eyes alone. The
toad is instantly terrified and nods repeatedly before Jiraiya slipped it through the space of
the ajar window. Jiraiya is reversed summoned to Mt. Myōboku and then again within the
toad's mouth before it grows in size then lets Jiraiya out into the snore-filled room of one
Uzumaki Naruto.
Jiraiya observed his heavily bandaged Godson sleeping comfortably without a care in the
world. Snarling, he thought, 'as if I hadn't been waiting for him to come clean about
everything he's done with Kurenai-chan!' Jiraiya mentally cried over the self-restraint he's
been forced to endure for the mission. With the wait so very nearly over, his wide grin nearly
breaks his face as he mentally cheers, 'finally! Please, Kami-sama, let it be the best story
I've ever heard!'
With his very first step toward his sleeping, drooling, target, a furious Tsunade kicks the
sliding door to the side hard enough to shake loose dust from the ceiling, and yells at the
stealth Jiraiya, "what the fuck is the matter with you!? Let my patient rest!"
Caught like his life was in grave jeopardy, Jiraiya retorts, "y-y-you're the one yelling right
now," as he takes a step toward the window.
A fuming Tsunade grabs him by the ear before he escapes out the window and drags him
out as she yells, "because this is the third fucking time! Now get out and stay out!"
Oblivious to the world, Naruto remained sleeping soundly in his futon.
Chapter 425:
MABUI
Through expansive forests, green valleys, marshes, rivers, and lakes, to the familiar geysers
and fjords of the home country, the three run non-stop up the mountain Kumogakure rests
upon. Within the range of mountains, there are several access points known only to high
ranking shinobi and though it's nearly impossible to see through the thick clouds and falling
snow, Samui leads them flawlessly to their designated return entry.
In her traveling cloak, Mabui wasn't cold, however, there was a chill she couldn't shake no
matter how much chakra she used to keep herself warm. She casually noticed it when they
were leaving Fire Country, but up in the freezing mountain, the chill is much more prevalent.
During their speedy return, she thought a lot about the mission, the boy she left behind her,
and the boy in front of her. As a psychologist, trained in accepting difficult realizations and
emotions, Mabui had to think the chill she can feel in her chest has a lot to do with the
aftermath of her choices.
Darui may have only thought of her in a casual way, but Mabui shouldn't expect him to be
completely emotionless about what she's done or what she's about to do. Immediately after
entering the secret access point, Team Samui is escorted by security directly to the
Raikage's office. Mabui, Samui, and Atsui are at attention in front of Ay at his desk, Dodai to
his right, and Darui to his left.
In the large office, Ay slamming the butt of his fist on his sturdy table echoes amazingly well
throughout the hollow chamber. He yells, "where the hell's my tea!?"
Mabui listens intently for Ay's nervous secretary as she rushes in a best she can with a tray
of tea clattering in her shaky palms. Mabui wouldn't have noticed how cute she was if Darui
didn't take the tray from her and she smiled in gratitude. She bows before leaving and Darui
sets Ay's tea on the desk.
Somehow Samui knew that was the right time to voice, "team Samui reporting."
"Mnn," Ay grunted, though Mabui wasn't sure if he was acknowledging Samui or happy with
the sip of tea he had.
Without any pleasantries, Dodai clears his throat and begins, "you were tasked with
acquiring Kubikiribōchō by any means necessary. The mission was later amended to
securing Konoha genin Uzumaki Naruto by any means necessary as acquiring him, meant
acquiring the sword, his Uzumaki blood, and his talents in Fūinjutsu."
Darui looks as bored as ever, though he voices, "you had enough time to figure out a plan."
Ay sets his steaming tea down to grimly confess, "and it appears you've failed to capture a
single genin. I expected more from you, Samui."
So as to maintain the level of respect the Raikage is always due, Dodai leans closer to his
leader and whispers, "perhaps we should hear them out, Ay-sama."
Grumbling, the muscular, shirt-less, leader leaned back in his chair, uncaring, as he gruffly
commanded, "speak."
Mabui and Samui have talked and prepared precisely for this moment. Both of them knew
this plan had a high likelihood of failing and Mabui was happy to know neither of them
wanted that. This was a mission within a mission, because more than anything, Mabui
couldn't leave Naruto behind. Her body flared hungrily every time she thought of him. It's
why she dreaded losing him and why she believes the chill won't go away until she sees him
again.
Sensing Samui beside her, Mabui is also thrilled at the prospect of her joining them. Though
this is strictly limited to the bedroom, Mabui can't deny she enjoyed dominating the powerful,
yet submissive woman with Naruto. She enjoyed handing her over to Naruto, like a toy to
amuse himself with. Though it's a double-edged sword, because thinking about Samui's
submissiveness also makes Mabui recall how much better Samui is at satisfying Naruto.
Mabui internally sighs.
Quietly respecting Samui for her many talents, Mabui listens to the blond begin to report,
"mission success is still pending, Raikage-sama."
"Explain, thoroughly," Dodai kindly voiced, knowing Samui's propensity to be brief. Mabui,
however, grew scared Samui might actually be far more explicit in her report than she'd like.
"First, Uzumaki Naruto," Samui continued. "No matter how many traps we prepared, direct
combat, whether with Konoha shinobi or Naruto himself, was not an option."
"Combat within enemy lines is always difficult for a three-man team," Darui dully voiced.
"And this team wasn't formed for combat, but he's still a sixteen-year-old boy fresh out of the
academy. A simple bait & trap would've worked."
Mabui would agree if it were any other sixteen-year-old, and silently agrees with Samui
when she responds, "even I'd be unable to defeat Naruto."
The three men posture their bodies straighter to hear Samui admit as much, and Dodai
asks, "aren't you overestimating him a bit too much?"
Samui says nothing, which may as well be a no to everyone gathered.
"Naruto, you say…" the droopy-eyed Darui casually noted. "You seem to have developed a
personal connection with your target."
Again, Samui's silence is her confirmation, however, Mabui speaks, "we have." They turn to
her as she adds, "with reason."
"I'll be the judge of that," Ay told her.
"Continue, Samui," Dodai asked.
"Of the two feasible options available, securing an exit and keeping Naruto sedated the
entire journey back to HQ was the least ideal," Samui reported. "Once Naruto awoke, we
would have to convince him to stay or fight him, and fighting would likely come with a heavy
cost."
"I don't understand," Darui grumbled. "Is he, or is he not a genin?"
"He is," Mabui answered. She could feel her ire toward Darui rise every time he pointed out
Naruto's age or rank, and humbled him by conveying, "and also Konoha's Jinchūriki with
some degree of mastery over his tailed beast."
"All the more reason he should be next to you now, on the floor in chains if need be," Ay
called out angrily to Mabui, however, she would not cower before the much larger and more
powerful man.
Holding her ground, she reveals, "and he also excels in Senjutsu." Darui's droopy eyes fully
opened, Dodai's brows drew together in deep thought, and Ay's broad shoulders flexed
tensely. They remained quiet for several moments in deep thought, reassessing what they
think they know before Mabui adds more for Darui's benefit, "a genin, perhaps, but he's
obviously atypical."
Dodai eventually asks, "what was the other option?"
Samui continues, "the overall goal of our mission was to convince Uzumaki Naruto to defect
to Kumogakure, however, he's a patriot and would never forsake Konoha within the time
frame we had."
"If you're thinking of requesting a long-term mission, you can forget it," Ay immediately
interjected.
"If you couldn't do it in a month," Darui contended, looking at Mabui as he adds, "even with
the lengths you were approved of going, then it wouldn't matter if you had more time."
Mabui held her tongue and clenched her fists as Samui agrees. "Correct, however, as
reported, Sunagakure and Otogakure's joint invasion of Konoha failed, and from that failure,
a unique opportunity presented itself. In an effort to neutralize Naruto prior to the invasion,
he was offered an Omiai by the Kazekage for his daughter in hopes of freely getting close to
him. The document was signed by both Hokage and their Daimyō, making it official, and
allowed the Kazekage's daughter to get close to him."
"Clever," Dodai remarked. "Though I don't see how that helps us or your mission."
"That legally binding Omiai Konoha insisted Suna honor was written to include multiple
wives," Mabui answered as she withheld her smile.
"No way," Darui snorted, quickly figuring out the scheme. "You can't be serious."
"Uzumaki Naruto is a gold mine that we do not own," Mabui conveyed. "We can either deal
ourselves in to share the wealth, destroy him so no can have him—likely causing a war—or
leave him be and lose out."
"Then you should've killed him," Ay growled, standing in a burst of frustration.
"It's just as difficult to kill Uzumaki Naruto as it is Bee or Nii-sama," Mabui dauntlessly said to
her irritable Kage.
"So send me and I'll kill him," Darui offered, irking Mabui.
Speaking clearly yet without provocation, Mabui explains to her commanders, "if you sign
the Omiai, Naruto is willing to come here." Turning to Darui, she added, "then you can see
for yourself what a value he is."
Chapter 426: Stranger Than Fiction
KURENAI
Observational Log: W:21 D:04. 103 days and counting.
…Personal Notes:
The person I love the most is getting married to another woman. It's a political marriage.
Because he's far more important than I ever could've dreamed of. Having little to no say in
who you marry is bad enough, but due to astronomical circumstances, he's arranged to
marry two women. TWO! And neither of whom are me… well, one could be me. But I can't
walk down the aisle without at least giving someone I care about a chance. If she says no…
well, I hope she won't hate me too much.
SF won't be getting married soon. It's just a contract at this point, so there's enough time.
But a marriage will happen months down the line… and I have to figure out the best way to
remain in his life. He's my boyfriend, which is surreal enough on its own, but my future
husband as well? This really is the most outlandish sequence of events… but honestly,
nothing is set in stone. If progressing our relationship for months continues to prove he's
every bit the person I'm want to spend the rest of my life with, I don't see why I wouldn't
marry him… even if that also comes with sister-wives.
It's as if we're creating a community around him; a distinct and private club where we're all
our own person with our own interests, yet also bonded together because of the gravitational
force of SF. Even the sex isn't an issue because, in all honesty, he's already more than I can
handle. I'm fine with 1 or 2 sessions every other night, or 1 big all-nighter once a week.
Going every night with his sex-drive was going to drive me insane. If another girl wants to
pick up the slack, I'll gladly pencil her in and bed SF every other day. Oh boy…
Observational Log: W:21 D:06. 105 days out of who knows at this point.
…Personal Notes:
Sex with other pretty girls. It's only natural to feel upset or jealous when your partner has sex
with another person. But I feel like that stems mostly from fear or insecurity; fear you'll lose
the person you love, and insecurity due to doubts of being good enough. However, neither of
those apply to my relationship with SF because of his upbringing and this marriage. Having
gone so long without love and affection, he isn't the type to let it go when he's found some.
He holds on to his relations even if the other person isn't deserving of it. Additionally, I can't
lose him to another younger, more beautiful girl because that girl will be in the same
relationship.
It's not as if I haven't prevented him from having sex with other girls. He did it with a girl right
behind me, and at the time, rather than be upset or jealous… it only excited me. I taught him
everything he knows… how to love a woman… how to make a girl squirm, and she couldn't
even handle it; the way she moaned, screamed, and begged before climaxing… it was such
a rush to know my lessons- the way I educated him made her succumb to him. He was too
much… and I taught him that.
While sex isn't everything in a relationship, I feel like it's the icing on a cake; incomplete
without that sweet layer of cream on top. Summer Fox is a big cake with an abundance of
cream and I've already come to terms with sharing… so long as the girl fits us. I know what I
mean to him and I'm confident no one can take that away. The trick now is getting the other
girl(s) to feel the same… … … …
A knock on the door ends Kurenai's journal entry. She looks up to see Hinata open the door
just enough to slip her head through the opening and Kurenai quickly feels more at ease.
She enjoys the way Hinata's long hair dark captures the light and falls so gracefully, and has
the urge in her hands to brush it. From what Kurenai remembers, neither of her parents ever
brushed her hair, and though she likes her slightly tousled ebony hair, she felt a little sad it
wasn't straighter.
"I'm leaving first," Hinata cheerfully called.
"So soon?" Kurenai looked at the clock on her desk before noting, "our team isn't meeting
for another hour."
"Now that I've been cleared, I want the extra time to catch up," Hinata explained, opening
the door a little wider.
"Oh, okay," Kurenai replied and as her young student made to leave, the beautiful sensei
stood from her seat. "Actually, before you go…" Kurenai thinks better of the timing and
instead closes her journal, which automatically seals with Fūinjutsu characters that brighten
and dim before disappearing. Kurenai walks around her desk as Hinata meets her in the
middle of the offce. "There's something we need to discuss later tonight, and I want you to
be prepared for it, okay?"
Hinata's regal face frowns in worry before nodding in understanding, as if the girl already
knows what the topic will be about. 'Why wouldn't she?' Kurenai thought. 'She's just barely
learned to hug a boy and now her village is asking her to marry him… I doubt she can think
of anything else.'
"I know I'm taking a long time thinking about this-"
"Hinata, I only have your best interest in mind," Kurenai interjects. "All that matters to me is
you making the best decision for yourself, and for that to happen, you need to know the truth
about… well, everything."
Hinata looked as if her mind was running her dizzy with everything being asked of her. "I
know I wouldn't be his… o-only w-w-wife," she managed as her cheeks flushed with
redness. "I understand the uniqueness of this marriage. I'm just thinking about Naruto-kun,
Temari-chan, Ino-chan, my family. "
"I know. You're always considerate of others," Kurenai agreed with a small smile. "But the
decision to proceed- to take that first step, can't be about anyone else but you… and I
haven't told you everything… but I will. Tonight."
Hinata slowly agrees before leaving and Kurenai instantly feels anxious about finally
revealing the truth to her. The considerate Hyūga has a special place in her heart and the
last thing Kurenai wants to do is let her down.
Chapter 427:
KARIN
Bright and early, Karin was led by a pair of masked shinobi and Kakashi through the halls of
Hokage Tower. Thankfully, she'd been notified the night before so she wasn't overly nervous
and had ample time to make a choice for the future of Konoha. Though she was still nervous
about Root's interest in her, Naruto said she can trust Kakashi-sensei and the Hokage's
men. Even though she checked their chakra signatures, she feels comforted Haku is hidden
nearby as an additional precautionary measure.
Karin is led to the Hokage's round office, however, rather than sitting behind his desk straight
ahead, he's laying upright in a hospital bed to the right where the couches used to be. The
old man heralded as the Professor looked as if he were on his death bed. In a bright white
gown, he's hooked up to several machines by his right finger, forearm, and chest. His eyes
were sunk in and discolored, he looked feeble, and worst yet, his left arm has been
amputated to the elbow. Karin didn't think he'll survive another night.
On either side of Hiruzen stood Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, the three stopped
talking politics when Kakashi and Karin stopped at the foot of the Hokage's bed. Hiruzen
slowly looked up and seemed surprised to see either Kakashi or Karin.
"Karin-chan?" He asked curiously before looking to both of his advisers for an explanation.
He asks them, "why is she here?"
Never one to shy away from unsavory or morally questionable truths, Koharu remarks, "she
has a unique ability that may save your life. It would be foolish not to use every asset
available to-"
Standing beside the ever-calm Kakashi, Karin took some offense to being called an asset as
Hiruzen interrupted with a deeply disappointed tone, "Koharu, Homura."
Though everyone can tell he was displeased, Homura continues arguing their point. "This is
for your life and the supremacy of our village," he told his leader. "We must not allow our
neighboring enemies and beyond to believe an invasion could successfully eradicate the
very head of our command structure. It will only make them think we're weak."
"Your death will only embolden our enemies to attack us again," Koharu stated evenly.
"We need only be moral and just to create enemies and the death of an old man is sure to
embolden no one," Hiruzen tells Koharu. To Homura, the elder explains, "it's very rare for
any leader, let alone a Kage, to die of old age. Leaders live and protect until their dying
breath. That is the way of things."
"Please do not be so stubborn, Hokage-sama," Homura stubbornly returned before abruptly
turning to Karin and asking, "what have you decided?"
All the high-ranking eyes of the top hierarchy of the village turn to the young seventeen-year-
old, expecting a reply. Karin's chest tightened as much as her throat, and she had to swallow
before replying to the glasses-wearing elder, "…I p-promised my cousin- er, the Head of our
clan I wouldn't use my ability like that anymore." Until she walked into the room, Karin wasn't
sure she would use her cursed ability again. Turning to the Hokage's feeble and weakened
state, she cautiously explains, "I don't… I'm not certain if I'm able to counteract the poison,
but I know how much you mean to Naruto, Hokage-sama. For him, you, and my new home,
I'll happily help in any way I can."
It seemed like even smiling was a struggle for the elder, but she can feel his gratefulness
when he spoke, "I'm touched you'd offer to help me, Karin-chan." He needs to take a breath
before continuing, "however, I know precisely why Naruto-kun asked you not to offer your gift
so freely and I agree with him. While I appreciate your generosity to do this for my sake, I'd
much rather protect you." He feels like a man of conviction even in the face of death and not
even the elders argue with his decision, so neither does Karin. Taking a deep breath,
Hiruzen tells them all, "there's no need to worry about me. I have faith Jiraiya and Naruto will
bring Tsunade soon."
Feeling a need to do something for the considerate elder, Karin steps forward to ask, "is
there anything I can do for you?"
Hiruzen hums for a spell before nodding and saying with a smile, "take care of Naruto,"
however, she didn't like the way he said it, as if he didn't think he'll live to see another day.
"And be kind to Temari," he added. "She may not be from this village, however, she'll be your
family soon. Since her birth, I've known her as well as I could—through gifts and letters—
and I can say with some confidence she has a good heart. Try not to judge her or her village
on this one mistake. They were led astray and we should not blame them."
"I will, Hokage-sama," Karin promised. Thinking of anything that might make feel at ease, the
redhead notes, "the construction of Uzumaki Tower is nearly complete. With your
permission, I can take Temari-san on a tour of Uzumaki's properties; so she can see where
she'll be living."
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Hiruzen happily stated. "I'll have to appoint a protective
detail but if you're open to it, allow Gaara and Kankurō to join as well. They'll be your family
soon and should know more about you and Naruto."
"You want me to talk up Naruto don't you," Karin asked, to which Hiruzen only smiled. "I
don't know what I can say about him. I'm kinda annoyed he left me to do practically
everything. It's a good thing I'm amazing at infrastructure, business, and management or our
clan would've been screwed!"
Karin was happy to see Hiruzen chuckle, even if weakly, and Kakashi-sensei smile, even if
with his eyes.
Chapter 428:
SAKURA
Looking over Tsunade's shoulder as she delicately examined Naruto's left hand, wrist, and
forearm, Sakura couldn't help but remark in astonishment, "I can't believe you're completely
healed after one night."
Bright and early in Naruto's room, Tsunade is inspecting Naruto's injury, Sakura is observing,
and Shizune is putting away all of their futons. As Jiraiya couldn't be trusted to allow Naruto
to sleep in peace, the three girls had to sleep in the blond shinobi's room as well. It was
more stressful for Sakura than she expected. After being physical with him, sleeping next to
Naruto now always has the option for more, and all the way to morning, it frustrated her
mind, heart, and body.
Obliviously smirking at his pink-haired teammate, Naruto humbly replies, "not completely."
He wiggles his fingers, then opens and closes his hand as he informs them, "the wound
might've closed up but it still hurts a lot when I move it."
"The fact that you can move it at all is a small miracle," Tsunade voiced all while testing the
reaction of his tendons to locate any lingering nerve damage. "The sword cut through
muscle, tendons, and nerves, yet all I had to do was clean the wound. Your body removed
the dead tissue and contaminants all on its own."
"That's amazing Naruto-kun," Shizune voiced from the corner as she finished packing their
traveling gear. Naruto just snickered happily.
Letting go of his arm, Tsunade gave him a clean bill of health before informing the room,
"we'll get going after we eat breakfast."
"We'll need to find Jiraiya-sama first," Shizune reminded her mentor and companion.
Quirking his brow as he rolled down his sleeve, Naruto asks the three girls, "what do you
mean? He's not in his room?"
Tsunade huffed in annoyance, crossing her arms, and refused to anger out of aggravation.
Shizune weakly smiled as she shook her head and when Naruto turned to Sakura, the pink-
haired girl slowly answers, "he… was very upset and needed to be alone."
Naruto didn't understand even when Tsunade hotly alleged, "knowing him, he's in a brothel
neck-deep in booze and women."
Worried for the children, Shizune yelled, "Tsunade-sama!"
"Oh, don't be a prude Shizune," a snorting Tsunade replied, waving her hand as if slapping
the modesty out of the room. "I'm sure these two have learned about what men and women
like to do at night."
"That's not the point," Shizune adamantly argued as Sakura couldn't stop her cheeks from
blushing pink.
Ignoring her devoted assistance, Tsunade turns to Naruto and wonders out loud, "that idiot's
always been annoyingly outlandish but I don't get why he's so obsessed with taking you to a
bar." 'I know,' Sakura thought as Tsunade describe, "He just would not stop last night;
sneaking in here at all hours of the night. I mean relentless! If we hadn't decided to sleep
here, he would've been at it all night. It makes no sense. It's a new level, even for him."
Naruto asks, "has he really not come back?"
Indifferent to her exasperating teammate, Tsunade haughtily declares, "and how much
sense does it make to pay for a room when you're going to sleep in a ditch?"
"You'd only use the money to gamble anyway," a snarky Naruto mumbled loud enough for
everyone to hear, making Tsunade glare at him as he falls silent, likely thinking about the
legendary shinobi with growing concern. Sakura appreciates how concerned he is for his
Godfather's well-being, making her heart beat faster and her stomach flutter for a moment
before immediately clenching her whole body in terror. The pink-haired girl was quickly
denying what she couldn't even put into words yet as Naruto grabs his travel pack and
informs them, "I should go look for him."
"More than worrying about him, you need to eat Doctor's orders," Tsunade begrudgingly
ordered, putting her hand on his shoulder and squeezing a little harder than she should;
giving Sakura the impression that Tsunade can be immature when she wants to. "Jiraiya
won't die so easily and I don't want you running to Konoha on an empty stomach."
Sakura expected him to argue to get his own way, however, he instead ponders the problem
a moment before asking, "can you reverse-summon into Konoha?" Though Sakura
understood why he asked, she wasn't expecting him to add, "as long as you get there to
heal Ji-chan and be the next Hokage, it's mission complete."
Aghast, Sakura repeats, "the next Hokage?"
"I can't imagine Jiraiya sharing that with you," Tsunade noted, eying Naruto suspiciously, and
turning to Shizune, Sakura could tell that she knew as well. The blond kunoichi asks the
blond shinobi, "how'd you know?"
Shrugging, Naruto casually answers, "I think Ji-chan's done enough. And you're pretty
awesome too so I just thought it'd make sense you becoming the next Hokage-" Cutting
himself off, he quickly asserts with vigor, "ah! For a limited time, obviously. I'll be taking that
hat off ya before you get too comfortable."
Smirking with approval, Tsunade remarks, "hmmmn, you've got more going on in that head
than I thought,"
Shizune asks with a clear concern for her mentor, "will you really become the Fifth Hokage?"
Sakura turned to the legendary kunoichi, excited to hear a favorable answer. Like many
women in the village, Tsunade-sama a paragon of beauty and strength, so Sakura was
thrilled to hear Tsunade confirm, "I wouldn't have agreed to come back if I wasn't willing to
do that much." She turned to a less-impressed Naruto and tapped his forehead as she
asserts with childish esteem, "and keep in mind brat, that hat isn't coming off my head to
anyone who can't take it from me. So don't get your hopes up."
Eying her with that familiar unbridled confidence, Naruto happily clarifies, "so all I have to do
is beat you? Fine by me."
With restrained irritation, Tsunade fires back, "careful you don't want to take me too lightly.
You might lose your life."
"Bring it on granny!"
"You cheeky brat-"
Shizune quickly steps between the two, asking in an effort to keep the peace, "why did you
ask about reverse summoning?"
Chapter 429:
Sakura takes Naruto by the forearm and moves him away as he lamely replies, "I told Ero-
sennin we'd talk as soon as possible but we never could since something was always getting
in the way. I figure the faster you get to Konoha, the faster I can keep my promise to him."
Curious, Tsunade asks, "what's so important you need to talk right away?"
Though, Sakura mentally answered, 'the most absurd and amazing secret ever,' Naruto
vocally grumbles, "it doesn't matter if you can't reverse summon. Can you?"
Almost offended by the question, Tsunade hotly answers, "I can but it'd be pointless. I'd need
an extension of Katsuyu in Konoha to summon me there, which means we'd have to run
there anyway."
"Hmm," he hummed a moment before proposing, "what if I just send a clone with your slug?
Then we can relax here a little longer and I can talk with Jiraiya. How's that sound?"
"That's over a day's worth of sprinting," Shizune remarks. "If your clone is attacked or runs
out of chakra at some point along the way, we'd be starting even later, wasting precious
hours."
"My clone's made longer trips without any problems," Naruto assured her. "I'll think of it like
training and get there in half the time!"
"What about us," Sakura asked, worried she might not have another opportunity to travel
with Tsunade.
"Ero-sennin can escort us back," Naruto happily answered.
"…I suppose," she responded with lackluster enthusiasm as Tsunade's curiosity had her ask,
"I still don't get what's so important that you two need to talk now."
"It's not that I need to," Naruto told the slug princess. "But Jiraiya's waited long enough and I
did promise."
Hoping to be in the vicinity of that conversation, Sakura asks, "why not teleport us back?"
Snapping her fingers, Tsunade asks, "is that what you two need to talk about? I can
understand the urgency if it's about the Hiraishin. As the next, and possibly greatest
Hokage-" Naruto held his tongue though grumbled at Tsunade's gall. Sakura smirked at their
competitiveness as Tsunade continues, "I wouldn't mind knowing how you managed to learn
that technique. It'll easily double our military power."
"It's not that," Naruto cut Tsunade off. Turning to his pink-haired teammate, Naruto explains,
"I've managed to take people sure, but I was pretty desperate at the time. I haven't
completely mastered the Hiraishin, so I don't want to risk anyone's life unless absolutely
necessary. If I'm not focused, it can easily squish you to the size of a grain of sand!"
Shocked, Sakura couldn't help but yell, "you've been using a dangerous technique you
haven't mastered yet?"
"I… uh, well, yeah," Naruto confessed, stunning all three kunoichi. Naruto was so bugged by
the silence, he defended his actions by reminding them, "what choice did I have? It was
either use it or people die."
"But you could've died," Sakura yells.
"Maybe," he said with a casual shrug, upsetting Sakura in the process. "You know I always
do what I can. I thought I could make it, so I did."
'He's right,' Sakura thought, but that upset her to admit, as if this is just the life Naruto is
destined to live, always on the edge and against the highest risks. Sakura said nothing and
just worried about him, then grew angry at how much she worried about him.
"Fine, make your clone," Tsunade voiced. "I'll give you a shade of Katsuyu and once it's in
Konoha, I'll reverse summon there."
"Sweet," Naruto called before making his clone. Tsunade summoned a small slug that easily
fit inside Naruto's pocket, however, it didn't leave right away. Naruto leaped out of the
window while the clone sat cross-legged. In less than three minutes, the clone of Naruto
entered sage mode then followed the original out of the window. Sakura can see the clone
leaping over buildings when at the crest of a jump, it suddenly flares bright white before
being enshrouded in a yellow cloak of chakra. From a distance, Sakura can tell Naruto looks
a little different but she can't make out details before it's gone in the blink of an eye, making
her wonder how fast he'll get to Konoha.
"Che!" Sakura hears behind her. Turning to her idol, Sakura observes an irked Tsunade
lament, "that brat never even said what this mysterious conversation is about." Crossing her
arms, she bellows, "now I'm going to be curious about it all day!"
Sakura's mind suddenly developed a plan in a fraction of a second. Looking at the older
more experienced women, the pink-haired girl knows there's no way they would resist
learning more about Naruto's love life. It's too salacious to ignore, and Sakura couldn't help
blurting out the bait. "It's about his girlfriend!"
Bug-eyed, a stunned Tsunade touted, "girlfriend!? Him!? Really?" Looking at Shizune in
amazement, she finishes, "uhwaahh, I never would've guessed."
With a little more pep in her shoulders and a sharper arch in her back, a very interested
Shizune asks, "is he, by chance, popular in Konoha?"
Super eager to follow Naruto and hear the story herself, Sakura sweetened the mystery by
replying, "he isn't, at all!" They're shocked and hungry for more. Sakura moves in closer and
the women instantly do so as well until they're heads nearly bump together, and she adds,
"the reason Jiraiya-sama is so obsessed about talking with Naruto is because… apparently
—that is, if you believe the uncorroborated and circumstantial evidence—not only is Naruto's
girlfriend among the most beautiful and respected women in the village… but she's also a
Jōnin eight years older than him!"
"UUWWHHHHHAAAAA," both Tsunade and Shizune sound before clapping their hands to
their mouths, thunderstruck by the revelation. The blond and raven-haired kunoichi look at
each other in surprise before turning to Sakura and demanding, "tell us everything!"
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