Chapter 4: The Desiccation Of Future

In the Hidden Leaf Village, life continued as usual, but with an undercurrent of anticipation. Many were aware that Naruto had left on a training journey with Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, and speculation ran rampant about how strong the young ninja might become.

At the Hokage's office, Tsunade sat behind her desk, buried in paperwork as usual. She paused for a moment, looking out the window towards the Hokage Monument, her thoughts drifting to Naruto and his unusual request before leaving.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Enter," Tsunade called out.

The door opened to reveal Shizune, looking slightly concerned. "Lady Tsunade, Jiraiya-sama has returned to the village. He says he needs to speak with you urgently."

Tsunade's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Jiraiya? Already? Show him in immediately."

Moments later, Jiraiya strode into the office, his face serious but with a hint of excitement in his eyes.

"Tsunade, we need to talk about Naruto," he began, closing the door behind him. "And you might want to sit down for this..."

The atmosphere in the room tensed as Tsunade prepared herself for whatever news Jiraiya was about to share about their young protégé.

Jiraiya began explaining everything to Tsunade, starting with Naruto's shocking revelation about seeing the future. As he spoke, Tsunade's eyes widened, but then her expression turned thoughtful.

"Wait," she interrupted. "This might explain Shikamaru's strange behavior lately. He's been intensively training ten specific genin, which is completely out of character for a Nara. When questioned, he just said something about 'not repeating what happened with Sasuke,' and everyone accepted it, but..."

"Let me finish," Jiraiya said, raising his hand. "There's more."

He continued, telling her about Naruto befriending the Nine-Tails and the chakra imprints of his parents within the seal. Tsunade nearly fell out of her chair at this news.

"But here's what's going to shock you," Jiraiya added with a mix of pride and amazement. "The kid's potential is incredible. At the rate he's growing, in about a year, he'll surpass even me. That's why I'm here - he needs those medical jutsu scrolls you promised him, and the yin seal information too."

Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "That's not something just anyone can learn. He'll need proper instruction, and you don't know medical ninjutsu."

"And you can't leave the village," Jiraiya nodded.

"Then bring him back here. I'll train him myself," Tsunade declared.

Jiraiya shook his head grimly. "That's too risky. Don't forget about Danzō. If he learns about Naruto's potential... who knows what he might do? The kid needs to stay away from the village for now."

Tsunade frowned, knowing Jiraiya was right. Danzō was always a wild card, and his actions regarding power he couldn't control were unpredictable.

"Then what do you suggest?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Jiraiya rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The medical jutsu scrolls aren't the main problem - anyone with good practice could guide him through those. But the yin seal..." he shook his head. "That's your specialty, Tsunade. Only you could properly teach that."

Just then, a knock interrupted their conversation.

"Enter," Tsunade called out.

Kakashi stepped into the office, his visible eye showing mild curiosity at finding both Sannin in what appeared to be a serious discussion.

After a moment's hesitation, Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged glances before nodding to each other. They quickly brought Kakashi up to speed about Naruto's situation, the future knowledge, and their current dilemma.

"I see," Kakashi said, absorbing the information with his typical calm demeanor. "And you need someone to teach Naruto medical ninjutsu, but can't spare Shizune because the village is still recovering from the invasion?"

"Exactly," Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. "We're short-staffed as it is. The hospital is still dealing with casualties from the invasion, and I need Shizune here to help manage both medical and administrative duties."

"Not to mention," Jiraiya added, "whoever we send needs to be skilled enough to handle any potential threats. We can't risk Danzō or anyone else discovering what Naruto knows about the future."

The three ninjas fell into contemplative silence, each trying to think of a solution to their predicament.

Kakashi's eyes curved in thought before he spoke. "I might have a solution. There's an ANBU I know, Tenzō. He possesses the Wood Style kekkei genkai, and while he's not a medical specialist, he has a solid foundation in medical ninjutsu. He could effectively oversee Naruto's training with proper scrolls and some initial guidance from you, Lady Tsunade."

Jiraiya perked up at this suggestion. "That could work. And for the Yin Seal training, what if we arranged periodic check-ins? Naruto and Tenzō could return to a secure location every few months, where you could evaluate his progress and provide more advanced instruction, Tsunade."

Tsunade considered both suggestions before nodding. "That's a good plan. We can make it work."

However, her expression turned serious again. "But there's another issue we need to address. Shikamaru knows the future. We need to figure out how - did he also see the future, or did Naruto tell him?"

"I could summon Naruto here to ask him directly," Jiraiya offered.

"No," Tsunade quickly rejected the idea. "If he's in the middle of chakra control training, a sudden summons could be dangerous. We can't risk it."

"If I may," Kakashi interjected, "there might be a simpler solution. If anything unusual happened with Shikamaru, Shikaku would have noticed and questioned his son. He's not the type to miss such changes in his child. If we want answers, we should start with him. Plus, if Shikaku is already aware of the situation, he could become one of our strongest allies in this."

The other two nodded, recognizing the wisdom in Kakashi's suggestion. Having the Jōnin Commander's support would indeed be invaluable.

"You're right, Kakashi," Tsunade said, a determined look crossing her face. She turned to her desk and quickly penned two short messages. With a snap of her fingers, two ANBU appeared in the office.

"Deliver these summons immediately. I want Tenzō and Shikaku Nara here as soon as possible," she ordered. The ANBU nodded and disappeared in puffs of smoke.

While they waited, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Kakashi discussed the details of Naruto's training plan and how to approach the conversation with Shikaku.

Within minutes, there was a knock at the door. Tenzō, still in his ANBU gear but without his mask, entered first, followed shortly by Shikaku Nara.

"You summoned us, Lady Hokage?" Tenzō asked, his eyes darting between the three high-ranking shinobi in the room.

Tsunade nodded, her expression serious. "Yes, we have some urgent matters to discuss. Tenzō, we have a special assignment for you involving Naruto Uzumaki. And Shikaku," she turned to the Nara clan head, "we need to talk about your son, Shikamaru."

Shikaku's eyebrows raised slightly, but he remained calm. "I see. I assume this has something to do with the changes I've noticed in Shikamaru lately?"

Jiraiya and Kakashi exchanged glances, impressed but not surprised by Shikaku's perceptiveness.

"Indeed," Tsunade confirmed. "But first, let's brief Tenzō on his mission. Then we'll address the situation with Shikamaru. What we're about to discuss is highly classified. Are you both prepared to hear it?"

Both men nodded solemnly, ready to receive the unexpected information that was about to be shared with them.

Tsunade turned to Tenzō first. "For official records, you'll be assigned to a long-term secret mission outside the village. However, your actual task will be to train Naruto Uzumaki under the alias of Yamato. The details are sensitive, and Jiraiya will brief you further. Can you prepare to leave with him shortly?"

Tenzō straightened, accepting the mission with a sharp nod. "Of course, Lady Hokage. I'll prepare immediately." With a respectful bow, he left the room, leaving them to address the matter of Shikamaru with his father.

After Tenzō left, Tsunade turned her attention to Shikaku, who was watching them with calculating eyes.

"Shikaku," she began, "we've become aware that your son has knowledge he shouldn't possess. Knowledge of future events."

Shikaku's expression didn't change, but his eyes sharpened. "So, you've noticed. I was wondering when this would come up."

"You knew?" Jiraiya asked though he didn't sound particularly surprised.

"Of course," Shikaku replied, crossing his arms. "My son may be clever, but I'm his father. I noticed the changes in his behavior immediately after the mission to retrieve Sasuke. His sudden interest in training hard after it and even training others, and most notably, his increased concern about Naruto Uzumaki."

Kakashi leaned forward slightly. "And you didn't report it?"

"I observed him first," Shikaku answered. "Whatever knowledge Shikamaru gained, he's been using it to protect the village. I've been watching his moves carefully."

Tsunade exchanged looks with Jiraiya and Kakashi before addressing Shikaku again. "We need to know how he obtained this knowledge. Did Naruto tell him, or did he experience it himself?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Shikaku suggested. "He's been waiting for this conversation. In fact," he smiled slightly, "he predicted it would happen one of these days."

Tsunade nodded and quickly dispatched an ANBU to summon Shikamaru.

"While we wait," Tsunade began, "we should fill you in on—"

"The future until the end of the Fourth Shinobi War?" Shikaku interrupted calmly. "I already know."

"What?" Jiraiya straightened. "How much exactly do you know?"

"Everything," Shikaku replied. "About the Akatsuki, Madara, the Ten-Tails, even about Kaguya. Shikamaru told me after I cornered him about his strange behavior. As his father and the village's chief strategist, I needed to know."

Before they could discuss further, there was a knock at the door. Shikamaru entered, his usual lazy expression quickly shifting to one of mild surprise as he took in the room's occupants.

"Man, Naruto is really bad at keeping secrets," he muttered, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I told him to be more subtle about it."

"So it was Naruto who told you about the future?" Kakashi asked directly.

Shikamaru sighed, closing the door behind him. "Yeah, troublesome as it is. Naruto spilled everything when he was in the hospital after the Sasuke retrieval mission failed. Said he couldn't bear to see things play out the same way again." He glanced at the assembled group, his sharp eyes taking in their expressions. "I assume we're here to discuss how to handle this mess?"

"First," Tsunade interjected, her tone brooking no argument, "we need to know exactly what you know and what you've been planning, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru slouched against the wall, hands in his pockets. "I've been working on various contingency plans, but it's been... complicated. Naruto's memory isn't exactly reliable, and he's keeping some details to himself, claiming they're too dangerous. The future isn't as clear-cut as we'd like it to be." He straightened slightly. "Before I share my plans, I need to know how much each of you knows. Except for my dad, of course."

Jiraiya nodded, his usual jovial demeanor subdued. "Fair enough. I know about Akatsuki's true goals, Pain's identity, the Fourth War, and the reanimation jutsu. Naruto mentioned we win, but he's tight-lipped about the man pretending to be Madara Uchiha."

"Same here," Kakashi added quietly, his visible eye narrowed in thought.

Tsunade crossed her arms. "My knowledge aligns with theirs."

"Alright," Shikamaru nodded. "That helps. Naruto's told me more but in bits and pieces. He was pretty emotional and stressed when he shared it, so it wasn't exactly an organized briefing."

Tsunade leaned forward, her gaze intense. "What exactly have you planned so far?"

"Well," Shikamaru began, his tone becoming more serious, "we need to deal with immediate threats first. The Akatsuki will move soon, and we need to be ready. But more importantly..." He looked directly at Jiraiya, his expression grim, "We need to prevent certain deaths this time around."

Jiraiya's eyes widened slightly, understanding the implication. "Naruto told you about my..."

"Yes," Shikamaru confirmed. "And Asuma-sensei's too. Among others." His voice carried a hint of pain at mentioning his teacher.

Tsunade's brow furrowed, recalling Naruto's behavior in the hospital. "That explains his odd reactions back then. It wasn't just trauma from the failed mission."

Shikaku watched his son with pride, noting how efficiently he was handling the situation despite the enormous pressure.

"There's something else," Shikamaru added, his tone cautious. "Itachi and Sasuke... Naruto knows the truth about the Uchiha massacre. He'll try to prevent them from killing each other and might even attempt to bring Itachi back. We need to figure out how to handle that situation."

Kakashi's eyes narrowed further at the mention of his former student. "Sasuke's situation is... delicate. We'll need to tread carefully there."

Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully. "This is a lot to take in. We're essentially rewriting history here."

Tsunade nodded, her expression resolute. "We need to be strategic about what we change and what we let play out. Shikamaru, I want a detailed report of everything you know and all the plans you've made so far. We'll need to coordinate our efforts carefully."

Shikamaru nodded, a hint of his usual lazy smirk returning. "Sure thing. Just don't expect it to be as organized as one of Shizune's reports. This whole situation is way too troublesome for that."

Tsunade nodded, her expression serious. "Alright, we've got a lot to process and plan. For now, I need everyone to leave except for Jiraiya." She turned to Shikamaru, "I want that report on my desk first thing tomorrow morning. And remember, this information doesn't leave this room."

Shikamaru nodded, pushing himself off the wall. "Understood. What a drag... looks like I won't be cloud-watching today."

Kakashi stood up, his visible eye creasing in what might have been a smile. "Well, I suppose I'll have to find another excuse for being late to my next appointment."

Shikaku moved towards the door, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Good work, Shikamaru. We'll discuss this more at home."

As they filed out, Tsunade called out, "Shizune, hold all my appointments for the next hour."

Once the door closed behind them, leaving only Tsunade and Jiraiya in the room, the atmosphere shifted. Tsunade's shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of their new knowledge evident in her posture.

"Jiraiya," she began, her voice louder than before, "Why you didn't tell me about your Death. Your idiot!"

Jiraiya's expression softened, a sad smile playing on his lips. "Ah, Tsunade... Naruto never actually told me outright. But the way that kid looked at me, like he was seeing a ghost, and the fact that I wasn't mentioned in the war stories..." He shrugged, trying to maintain his casual demeanor. "It wasn't hard to figure out. But seeing how much pain Naruto was in just looking at me, I couldn't bring myself to ask him directly. Shikamaru just confirmed what I already suspected."

Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk, causing several papers to flutter to the floor. "Not that important?! You fool! How dare you say your death isn't important!"

"Now, now, Tsunade," Jiraiya raised his hands in a placating gesture, though his eyes held a serious look. "You know as well as I do that in our line of work, death is always a possibility. Besides," he added with a slight grin, "now that we know about it, we can prevent it, right?"

Tsunade's anger deflated slightly, but her eyes remained fierce. "You're still an idiot. We're going to talk about this mission of yours, and you're not going anywhere near Amegakure without a solid plan. I won't..." she paused, her voice dropping, "I won't lose another precious person."

"Hime..." Jiraiya's voice softened, using his old nickname for her. "I understand. We'll figure this out together."

At one of Konoha's training grounds, the remaining members of the original Rookie 12 were gathered, working on their techniques and sparring. The atmosphere was focused but friendly, each ninja driven by their own motivations and past experiences.

Lee and Hinata paired up, an unlikely duo. Lee's taijutsu prowess complemented Hinata's Gentle Fist style, pushing both to improve their close-combat skills. Lee, remembering his defeat by Gaara and the subsequent rescue mission for Sasuke, pushed himself even harder. "Hinata-san, let us fan our flames of youth and become stronger together!" he exclaimed. Hinata, determined to become someone Naruto could rely on, nodded with newfound confidence. "Yes, Lee-san. Let's do our best!"

Kiba and Shino sparred nearby, their contrasting styles creating an interesting match-up. Kiba and Akamaru, driven by their past failures, worked on perfecting their combination techniques. Shino, quiet but equally determined, used his insects to counter Kiba's attacks, both aiming to surpass their previous limitations.

Neji and Tenten trained together, their teamwork honed by years of practice. Tenten, still stinging from her defeat by Temari, unleashed a barrage of weapons which Neji deflected with his Rotation technique. "I won't lose so easily next time," Tenten declared, her eyes fierce with determination.

Ino and Sakura, once rivals, are now trained side by side. Ino, not wanting to be left behind, worked on expanding her mind transfer Jutsu's range. Sakura, driven by her desire to be useful and to bring Sasuke back herself, focused on enhancing her chakra control and strength. "We'll both get stronger, Ino-pig," Sakura said with a smirk. "You bet, Forehead," Ino retorted, but there was no malice in their words.

Choji, without his usual partner Shikamaru, trained alone, but with no less intensity. He practiced his expansion jutsu, determined to become a pillar of strength for his team and village.

As they trained, each of them carried the weight of their past experiences and future aspirations, pushing themselves to new limits in preparation for the challenges that lay ahead.