49 Ch.49

-Zach POV-

Jiraiya, Nawaki, and I traveled back to the Leaf Village at a decent pace. It had taken us about 4 days, we could have gone faster but we stopped at the first town we could to buy Nawaki different clothes. He complained at first but quieted down when I told him it was only temporary and I'd make him something cool when we got back. Over the past couple of days, I've stayed in my armor so that I could make the surprise even better when he finds out who I really am. Jiraiya is loving every bit of it, with all the shenanigans he's pulled I knew he would love everyone's reactions. Speaking of Jiraiya, he and Nawaki have become inseparable. I couldn't blame either one there is a lot of lost time to make up for.

We were leisurely strolling up to the gate of Konoha and I spotted two familiar faces sleeping on the desk. As we got closer the closest one lifted his head with drowsy eyes and drool running down the side of his mouth. Upon seeing me the visible eye widened greatly as he shook his partner in crime awake.

Jiraiya: "Izumo, Kotetsu sleeping on the job again?"

Jiraiya's voice calmed Izumo down for an instant as he noticed him in our group. But that didn't last long as another fear assaulted him then.

Izumo: "W-we were just training our senses."

Kotetsu: "Yeah, we knew ya'll were coming for a long time!"

Jiraiya: "Uh-huh, I'll keep my mouth shut but it'll cost ya."

Izumo: "What will it cost?"

Jiraiya: "I need dirt on the latest hotspot that the ladies are at!"

I just facepalmed at that and shook my head. Looking at Nawaki he was doing the same, smart kid at least he knows that's not a good trait. Feeling a bit mischievous I butted in.

Zach: "Yeah, but that won't buy my silence."

My voice surprised the two.

Kotetsu: "Zach?"

Zach: "Yo, so what can you offer me?"

Izumo: "What do you want?"

Zach: "Buy treat Naruto to some ramen."

That got an evil chuckle out of Jiraiya, but the two had an easy-going smile thinking it was nothing.

Zach: "Each of you will do that."

Izumo+Kotetsu: "DEAL!"

During this whole exchange, I saw a green dot at the edge of my radar disappear out of range. Turning over to Jiraiya I motioned my head that we have to go.

Zach: "Tsunade knows we're back, we need to go."

Jiraiya nodded at that.

Jiraiya: "Yeah, I saw Shizune on one of the roofs run towards the compound. Well, guys, we need to go see Tsunade before she hunts us down. Nawaki stick close to me ok?"

Nawaki: "Ok Nii-chan."

With a wave goodbye to the two, we made our way to the Senju compound. As we got close my heart started to beat faster, what would I be coming home to? How angry will she be and how much trouble am I going to be in? Caught up in my own internal thoughts we had reached the compound gates and stood there.

Jiraiya: "You do the honors, Zach."

Zach: "Can I still just run away?"

Before we could do anything Nawaki sprinted ahead and jumped over the gates.

Nawaki: "NEE-CHANNNNN!"

I just sighed and decided to get this over with and opened the gate letting Jiraiya walk him, and followed behind him closing it behind me.

--Tsunade POV--

It's been almost a week since Zach and Jiraiya left. I want to say that I was caught up in my head the whole time but unfortunately I couldn't. Even with my problems the world still turns, which I was grateful for. But, every night I was reminded of my screw-up when Zach's side of the bed was cold and empty.

Today I decided to take the day off and I'm having tea with Kayla, while Naruto and Karin were reading books about Fuinjutsu. It was semi-peaceful when Naruto wasn't yelling about not getting something. Luckily Karin is a smart girl and able to guide Naruto to the answer leaving me and Kayla to enjoy our downtime.

By mid-day and our 3rd cup of tea, Shizune had shown up out of breath. This made my heart lurch, not much would make her exert that much effort. Thinking the worst, I braced myself for her report.

Shizune: "Tsunade, they're back."

Tsunade: "Is something wrong? You're all out of breath."

Shizune: "I didn't see Zach. I saw Jiraiya, a boy, and a metal man who I think is Zach but I couldn't confirm."

I just sighed and placed my hand on my forehead.

Tsunade: "Was the color of the metal man Forest green and had a gold visor on the face?"

Shizune: "Yes that's the exact colors!"

Tsunade: "I can't believe he actually made it."

Kayla coughed and butted in.

Kayla: "What did he make?"

Tsunade: "Zach had shown me this game that he grew up playing called Halo. The main character had full metal armor and was a super-soldier. Zach recreated that armor, and if I know him he went overboard."

Naruto: "OH! Do you mean Spartan 117?! I loved that game, Zach let me play it after I had beat him in Beyblades!"

Me and Naruto started to explain the game letting the people who had never heard or seen it know what to expect. As the minutes went by I could feel my heart starting to beat faster as Naruto took over the story and my mind started to wander. 'What will I say to him? Will he stay? Is he still mad at me? What has become of Nawaki?' I was broken from my thoughts by a commotion in the room. Everyone was looking towards the front of the house where we heard yelling, that was getting closer.

???: "NEE-CHANNNNNNNNN"

That froze me solid for a second, but I shook it off and stood up. Making my way to the door I pushed past Shizune and started into a jog. 'Damn being pregnant.' Jogging through the halls to the entrance of the manor I made it in time for the front door to open. My heart stopped for a second as Nawaki came through the door with a wide grin on his face that got even bigger when he saw me. All I could do was fall to my knees and hold my arms open.

Tsunade: "Otouto"

Nawaki started to cry as he ran into my arms and we hugged each other. I couldn't hold back my tears either as I started to kiss him on his forehead and all over the top of his head. We stayed like that for what felt like an hour until we cried ourselves out. Letting go of the hug I had him at arm's length looking him over making sure he was real.

Looking at his body there were no signs of the paper look that usually came with the Impure World. I cycled my chakra through him and he was a healthy young boy, with massive chakra reserves. But I did find a mutated gene… He had the same mutated gene that grandpa had, he had Mokuton. But how, he didn't have it with his original body… Orochimaru must have used the cells on his body, and transferred over during the resurrection!

With a nod at the checkup I did to Nawaki I started to stand up. A metallic hand reached out to assist me and I grabbed it and was heaved onto my feet. Looking over the metal armor, I had to admit it was damn cool.

Tsunade: "Fitting for a Spartan, now take that off."

Nawaki: "NEE-CHAN YOUR PREGNANT! GOOD JOB NII-CHAN, I KNEW SHE'D GIVE IN ONE DAY!"

I could feel the vein bulging on my forehead as I looked at Jiraiya with daggers in my eyes. He was just giving a dejected and defeated look.

Tsunade: "JIRAIYA WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN TELLING NAWAKI?!"

Zach: "That's not all, he tried to have Nawaki wear the Orange Shoot-Me-First."

That infuriated me even more, as I stormed over to Jiraiya and grabbed him by the neck of his shirt. Dragging him over to the door, I opened it and threw him out as far as I could. I swore I heard him say, "Looks like Team Rocket is blasting off again!" but I was distracted by Shizune running out the door after him. Patting my hands together to clean off the dust I closed the door and turned to the two remaining in the room. Zach was no longer in the armor and was snickering as Nawaki was looking on curiously.

Tsunade: "Nawaki, Jiraiya, and I aren't together. Zach behind you is my husband and the father of our two kids."

I lovingly rubbed my belly while looking at the two of them. Nawaki turned around and jumped as he saw Zach.

Nawaki: "Woah! You're not a metal man, you're just like us! So cool!"

Zach just smiled at him and ruffled his hair. Then he got down on a knee and reached his hand out for Nawaki to shake. Nawaki curiously extended his hand and grasped the outreached hand.

Zach: "Nice to meet you officially Nawaki. I'm Zach, Tsunade's husband, and your brother-in-law"

Nawaki smiled and shook his hand enthusiastically. It warmed my heart to see them getting along. From the corner of my eye I spotted a yellow head peeking around the corner along with a redhead, all I could do was shake my head.

Tsunade: "Naruto, Karin, come on over and meet my brother Nawaki."

The two jumped at getting caught but ran over to greet Nawaki. Naruto, who has never known a stranger, kicked off the greeting.

Naruto: "HI NAWAKI! I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI, AND I'M GONNA BE HOKAGE!"

Nawaki: "Nice to meet you Naruto! I'm Nawaki Senju, and I'm going to be Hokage!"

Naruto put a hand on Nawaki's shoulder and with his free hand gave him a thumbs up.

Naruto: "Then you better train hard! You'll have to beat me in order to get it!"

Zach: "YOUTH!"

I just stared at Zach, I've heard enough about Youth from Guy to last me for the rest of my life. I stomped over to Zach and grabbed him by his collar and started to drag him towards our room.

Tsunade: "You three go do something, I need to talk to Zach."

They just nodded, and I saw Naruto let out a little prayer for Zach. Damn little bastard, I need to make sure he hangs out with people that are good influences more. Maybe I should make some more playdates for him and Hinata. With that thought, I dragged Zach to our room like a sack of potatoes.

Reaching our room I let him go and walked to the corner of the bed and sat on it staring at him. He made his way into the door and closed it behind him, standing tall and stared at me. We stayed staring at each other for a good 10 minutes of silence before I decided to break it.

Tsunade: "So, are you going to say anything?"

Zach: "Will you even listen?"

I winced at that, he wasn't wrong. All I could do was sigh in defeat at that, checkmated in one move.

Tsunade: "You're right. I didn't even give you a chance to explain. I was fixated on Impure world and forgot who I was talking to. I know in my heart that you wouldn't hurt me, but my mind always thinks of the worst. Seeing how cruel this world has been to everyone, how many schemes within schemes there have been. How the Uchiha's, Uzumaki's, and my family were destroyed because people feared us! How one of my oldest friends, someone who I thought I could trust at the time, was involved in killing my brother. I'm stubborn, and I've become jaded with this world. But you're not from this world, I can't hold the same standards with you. You, who've come into my world and flipped it upside down. You, who has shown me nothing but love and trust. You, who has seen the worst of us and still decided to make us stronger. So that we can pull ahead and avoid all the shit that is ahead of us. People who don't know you have been wondering what you do to deserve me. But the real question is, what have I done to deserve you? I clearly don't, with the way I was acting. I can't change what I did, but I can change what I will do. I'm sorry, I regret strongly, and the only thing I can do is say those words over and over. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'M SORRY!"

Halfway through my speech, I started crying, and by the end, I had my head held low not looking at him. I was exhausted, physically, and mentally but it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Suddenly I felt arms wrap around me and a comfortable warm weight envelops me.

Zach: "I'm not perfect, I could have handled it differently. But for a relationship to work, there has to be trust and communications. I will always do what I think is best for our family, but I'm not the best at getting my thoughts out correctly. What I thought best for our family was for the kids to have their uncle. I'm not sorry for what I did, I'm sorry for how I did it. I'll forgive you if you forgive me."

I raised my head to look Zach in the eyes and raised my hand to caress his cheeks. I could see water in his eyes and realized how much he's been hurting too. I just wanted to put all this behind us. I leaned my head forward and kissed him softly, which he returned. Breaking the kiss he leaned his forehead on mine and started into my eyes. I could feel the gentle smile he was giving off and it was contagious.

Tsunade: "I hope this is the last time we fight like this."

Zach: "Me too."

We kissed again and crawled into bed, with him being the big spoon as we just lay there enjoying each other's presence. Things probably won't be like they were before, but we'll come out stronger from this.