Chapter 23

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything related to it or Bleach.

Chapter 23 - Drunken Sannin

Naruto sat at the noodle stand eating another order of Fried Noodles. They had now been in the town an additional two weeks making it three in total.

Those two weeks were spent training and having fun. After a few days the Festival itself had gotten stale for the kids, but they still managed to have fun. Plus, the village itself was pretty large. There was usually something they could find to do even away from the main areas of the Festival.

Katsu was mainly in his own world that revolved only around his new girlfriend Teruko for a week. She was already gone though and back in the Capitol. He got back to work after that and returned to training, but everyone could tell he still wasn't focused enough.

Unfortunately the last two weeks hadn't been completely smooth. Jiraiya had become a bit of a nuisance. The man was insistent upon having some role in his training. He was also showing up around his hotel room, which made both Akari and Miyuki uneasy since they knew his reputation in detail thanks to Kushina.

At least he still had to find Tsunade. That was taking up much of the Toad summoners' time. He wasn't having much luck, which was really frustrating for the spy master of Konoha.

Naruto was simply enjoying this time with his friends and girlfriends. Of course he spent time with his Kaa-san and cousin as well. With Karin in toe the girls had practically made themselves at home in his hotel when they weren't training.

The hotel being one of the most expensive in the town naturally had amenities that were impressive. Especially the indoor spa and outdoor hot springs they featured. It was like a paradise especially with the female wait staff that would bring them drinks out doors. The ladies were feeling well cared for and Naruto gladly footed the bill.

He wasn't really enjoying the thought of what it would be when they finally checked out though. The room was five thousand ryo a day so with this being the third week that would come out to close to one hundred thousand so far. That wasn't even including the room service, food, and other charges that had been racked up.

Truthfully, he could have moved out after the first couple of days when things had calmed down a bit from the opening days of the Festival. But it was a great place and the girls had enjoyed it so much that he didn't bother with it. The pay from the mission would cover what he spent and he had more than enough money to cover the growing bill in a scroll he had stored in a seal on his body. He admittedly enjoyed the looks on people's faces when he pulled out large sums of cash from seemingly nowhere.

Clearing his mind of such thoughts Naruto went back to eating his noodles. At least he could still find a nice cheap meal in the village. Not that he would ruin his appetite for the dinner he would be feasting on tonight. He could already taste that roast pig.

Naruto continued to eat the noodles and was almost finished when Jiraiya showed up. Naruto quickly swallowed the remainder of his food and fixed the man with a stare.

"What do you want Jiraiya-san?" Naruto asked.

"A small order of noodles would be good" He said nonchalantly.

"Coming right up!" The stall owner shouted.

Before Jiraiya could stop the man he was already placing fresh noodles on the grill. So he turned to face Naruto.

"I need your help" Jiraiya says plainly.

"Alright" Naruto responded.

"What, your not going to make fun of me or question my ability as a spy master?" Jiraiya asked.

"We've been here three weeks. It's been nice, but I think we are all about ready to move on and finish this mission. Now I was thinking …" Naruto started.

"Whoa … hold on there champ. I just need you to come with me to a place where I think someone will have information regarding her whereabouts" Jiraiya tells him.

"Why would you need me to go with you to check out an informant?" Naruto asked.

"Look I'm not asking much. I just need you to come with me to his one place" Jiraiya responds.

Naruto looked at the man skeptically. This all seemed phony to him. But he would play along.

"Fine when and where should I meet you?" Naruto asked.

"Just come back here in a few hours after the sunsets and try not to get too sidetracked by your girlfriends" Jiraiya says.

He even wiggled his eyebrows at the end, which only served to annoy Naruto. The blond immediately left as Jiraiya watched him go.

'That went well. Now to loosen him up and what better way than a night of indescribable pleasure with a beautiful woman you don't know' Jiraiya thought.

It was after nine o'clock when Naruto arrived back at the stand. Jiraiya was already waiting for him.

"Where have you been gaki? I have been waiting for you for about two hours" Jiraiya states.

"Trying to finish a jutsu I am working on. If you have no further questions …" Naruto responds.

But Jiraiya wasn't buying it. He took a few deep sniffs and instantly knew what he smelled.

"I'm betting Miuki's the type that would secretly be into bondage. Did she let you tie her up or was it more SM oriented" Jiraiya queried.

"What?" Naruto asked.

He tried to hide it, but Jiraiya could see a little color rise to his cheeks.

"You know spanking, biting, maybe she's into being tickled. You can tell me kid. I've personally seen and done it all" Jiraiya boasts.

Throughout the whole explanation Naruto was getting angrier and angrier. Why did he let the thought of all that money make him agree to spend even a day with this sick pervert?

Naruto just turned away from the old man and started walking away.

"I will not talk about my private life with you. Now can we get moving and find this informant you think knows of Senju-san's whereabouts" Naruto responds.

Jiraiya just watched as the kid walked angrily away.

'Was it something I said?' Jiraiya asked himself.

"Wait up!" Jiraiya called out.

He hurried to catch up to the kid and then led him to their destination, which no surprise was the same Bordello that Naruto heard his voice come from the first day they arrived in the town.

They walked through the entrance and Naruto saw a single chair facing the entrance/exit in a simple dark room with dim lighting. There were some stairs indicating there was more to the shack, but Naruto could care less. He didn't see what information could be gained here.

Jiraiya took his customary place in the large red lounge chair and kicked back. It only took a minute for two girls to come out and surround the old perv. Both sat on the arm rests of the chair leaning over the old man to give him a good look at their cleavage.

Naruto just stood watching the whole thing before Jiraiya called attention to him.

"Ladies! Ladies! Ladies! It's soo good to see the both of you again. Did you miss me?" Jiraiya started.

"Of course we did Jiraiya-sama. What will it be tonight?" A light brown haired girl asked.

"Lobster or Steak, Jiraiya-sama?" Asked a dark haired woman.

"Only the best for my girls!" Jiraiya boasts.

"Alright!" The girls squealed.

Naruto then watched as Jiraiya produced a white card with the days of the month on them. Naruto recognized it started from when they got there and each day had been marked by a stamp.

"What is this Jiraiya?"

"I thought we were looking for information?" Naruto asked.

"Calm down kid. This is my process. Just give it time and you'll see we'll be on Tsunade's trail before you know it" Jiraiya responds.

"Hey cutie, why don't you come with me and let me take care of you" Asked a new dark haired girl that came from up the stairs.

"I'm fine, thank you Miss" Naruto responds quickly.

"Aww … come on don't be that way. You'll hurt my feelings. Let Aya take care of you" The woman offers.

She moves closer to him moving her hands over his arms and chests as she drapes herself all over him.

"Sorry mam, but I have my girlfriends waiting back home and I don't think they would appreciate your generosity" Naruto answers her and moves away.

"Look Jiraiya, if this is the way you want to go about things then fine. Just give me a picture and I'll get the information we need tonight" Naruto declares.

'I really want to avoid paying for another day in that hotel if I can' Naruto thought.

"And how are you going to do that?" Jiraiya asked.

He raised an eyebrow at the kid.

'Doesn't he understand how delicate work of this nature is. Surely he knows getting vital information of this nature isn't as easy as walking up to someone and asking if they have seen this person. That rarely works and never on the first try' Jiraiya thought.

"Just give me the picture and you will find out" Naruto tells him.

"This I got to see" Jiraiya responds.

He reaches into his shirt pocket and procures the picture handing it over to the blond boy. Naruto looks at it for a minute before going through the hand seals Dog - Boar - Ram.

"Henge no Jutsu – Transformation Technique" Naruto calls out softly.

Those in the little brothel poke their heads out to see what's going on only to see a cloud of smoke. When the smoke clears a large breasted blond with pigtails, a green haori, grey kimono-style blouse with dark blue obi, and dark blue pants is standing there.

"How do I look?" Naru-Tsunade asked.

Jiraiya had hearts in his eyes.

'Who knew the kid had a talent like this. I can even tell this isn't a normal henge' Jiraiya thought.

The old man quickly blew off the two girls trying to sit in his lap and stood up to look over the transformed blond.

"Hmmm … not bad kid. You need to work on that voice, but other wise not half bad" Jiraiya comments.

Naruto knew he was going to need a nice long bath once this mission was over with. It wasn't just Jiraiya, but several male patrons came out of their rooms at the top of the stairs in various states of undress and were clearly undressing him.

He didn't stick around to wait for anything else to happen and quickly got out of there with Jiraiya in toe.

"What's this plan of yours?" Jiraiya asked.

"You said she's a gambler right?"

Jiraiya nodded seriously at the question.

"And she's bad at it?"

Again Jiraiya nods.

"If she was here she probably gambled some and lost her money. She might even have left a tab here. If I walk into a few of these gambling dens looking as her someone will recognize me and try to confront me. When they do we ask them questions subtly and find out where she, I mean I went. If we get lucky we might not even have to say anything" Naruto explains.

Jiraiya thought it over as they continued to walk towards the first gambling den.

'It's a solid plan, but …'

"Tsunade is always followed around by her apprentice Shizune and their pet pig they named Tonton. And wouldn't it be easier to act as Shizune looking for her master?" Jiraiya questioned.

"Maybe, but I'll stick with this. If it makes you feel any better though, tell me what Shizune and the pig look like" Naruto tells him.

He quickly creates two shadow clones who then henge into Shizune and Tonton after Jiraiya instead hands him another photo of the pair with Tsunade in it. With the entourage complete they walk into the first gambling den.

Naruto heads towards an area where some men were playing a game of Mahjong, but aside from leering at his henged form he didn't detect any signs of recognition so he walked away and headed towards a roulette table. No one seemed to recognize Tsunade here either, but for fun Naruto placed a small bet.

Half an hour later he was at the slots. These people were more focused on the machines than anything. Still he won 20,000 ryo before he noticed a growing number of people watching him before he fled to the slot machines.

After ten minutes of waiting for Jiraiya to find him Naruto decided to test his luck with the slot machines. After getting a few Ryo converted into coins he slid a coin in and pulled the lever.

'Apple … Cherry … Lemon'

'Cherry … Cherry … Banana'

"Hey kid, you ready to go?" Called Jiraiya from close by.

Naruto looked beside him and noticed Jiraiya and both clones were there and looking at him expectantly.

"One more try" Naruto says.

Before they could protest he placed another coin in the machine and pulled the lever down.

'Cherry … Cherry … Cherry'

"Jackpot!" Naruto shouts.

The siren and lights went off as everyone in the casino stopped to see who won. Naruto just laughed as he collected the coins pouring from the machine. He even had to get clone Shizune to help scoop up all the coins.

After Naruto cashed out they left and went to another gambling den looking for the female Sannin. The group struck out there as well, but Naruto made even more money at this stop.

They went to two more places before they came to a gambling den with a mahjong set up and a bunch of shady looking guys sitting at a long table.

"Your back!" Shouted a dark haired man.

The group instantly perked up at this. This guy definitely knew Tsunade or had seen her.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" The henged Naruto asked.

"Of course! You were here a couple weeks back. I thought you were headed to Tanzaku Town" The man says.

"Ehh … yeah I went there. Didn't have much luck" Naruto responds.

"I bet" another man snidely remarks.

"Does that mean you are here to try your luck again against us?" The man questioned.

Everyone at the table seemed to gain calculating looks that didn't speak well of Tsunade's previous experience at this den. Naruto didn't like that look. Maybe he would have to try his luck here as well.

"Why else would I be here? What is the buy-in tonight?" Naru-Tsunade questioned.

At this the smirks and dark looks only grew.

"You owe us 500,000 ryo from last time that you didn't pay. The buy-in is 100,000 ryo, but I'll cut you a break and let you in for 75,000 ryo upfront" The man barters.

Naruto nods and produces the scroll that held his money, when Jiraiya grabs his arm.

"Tsunade … do you understand what you are getting into here?" Jiraiya question.

"I know what I'm doing Jiraiya!" Tsunade shouted and jerked her arm away.

"Fine, but I warned you" Jiraiya states.

He stands back with Shizune and the pig.

"Who's the old guy?" The dark haired man questioned.

"Just my old teammate" Naru-Tsunade answered.

"We playing or chatting like some old hens?" Naru-Tsunade taunted.

Things grew serious as the henged Naruto produced the cash for the buy-in plus an extra hundred thousand ryo he had won that night. Nothing more was said as the game began.

Five hours later the henged Naruto, Jiraiya, clone Shizune, and Tonton walked out of the gambling den. As the door closed if you glimpsed inside you would see a bunch of grown men crying over the remnants of a game.

"That's some luck you got kid" Jiraiya comments.

Naruto just shrugs grinning proudly as he held the scroll that now contained ten times what he bet.

"Those guys were suckers. They underestimated me, because of Senju-sans reputation and past performance" Naruto admits.

"Maybe, but that doesn't count for anything after your third victory. I can't believe that guy with the glasses actually bet his house after his tenth loss" Jiraiya continues.

"I feel bad for his wife and kids. I'll give him a couple of months to move out. I'm not trying to throw people out on the street" Naruto responds.

Jiraiya then looks at Naruto before commenting.

"Awful comfy in that henge are you? Any reason you haven't dispelled it yet?" Jiraiya asked.

"I was just waiting to get further away before I did, but fine if it bothers you so much" Naruto retorts.

He quickly dispels the henge and dismisses the clones.

"When do we leave?" Naruto asks.

"We'll leave at noon. We should make it to Tanzaku Town before sunset" Jiraiya answers.

Naruto nods at the answer and then leaves. Jiraiya watches him go and then heads back to the brothel. He never did get his reward after all those dinners he paid for.

The next day the large group was crossing a massive stone pathway. They had run the entire way at Jiraiya's insistence due to him not wanting Tsunade to get away. As they made their way across Kushina asked a question she had wanted the answer to since the night before.

"How exactly did you two finally find out where that Slug went?" Kushina asked

The venom in her voice when she said the word slug was palpable.

'Damn, it seems like waiting around for 3 weeks only made her more anxious and eager to find Tsunade. If it gets too bad I'll have to step in. I don't think Tsunade is in any condition to fight Kushina after being on the road so long' Jiraiya thought.

He then looked at Naruto who once again was far ahead of him. Seems little had changed for the blond in how he felt about him.

"You can thank that boy of yours. He henged into Tsunade and walked into every gambling den we could find until we came across someone that had seen her and point us to Tanzaku Town" Jiraiya answers.

"WHAT!" Shouted Kushina, Akari, and Miyuki.

"Your not a cross dresser are you Naruto-kun?" Karin asked as innocently as possible.

It wasn't, everyone could see a bit of steam rise from the collar of her shirt and her head turn an increasingly red color. Kushina, Akari, and Miyuki pretended not to notice this. Jiraiya quickly scribbled something down in his notebook.

"NO! I only did it so we could finally find this woman and finish this mission" Naruto responds quickly.

His denial came a little too quickly to some. Naruto just walked a little faster forcing everyone to keep up with him. A few hours later it was dark. The group had begun to search for the last living Senju with the eight of them splitting into groups of two.

Unfortunately Naruto was stuck with Jiraiya once again and he was getting hungry. He hadn't eaten since they left their previous location. Jiraiya noticed the kids' problem and decided he was a little hungry himself. He stopped right in front of a nondescript tavern.

"What are we stopping here for?" Naruto asked.

"This searching is getting us no where and I don't know about you, but I haven't since this morning. I figured a quick stop in here wouldn't hurt anything" Jiraiya explains.

"Why here? I see a restaurant up ahead that we could stop at?" Naruto asks.

"We're in a hurry and foods food" Jiraiya replied.

"You coming?" He asks as he heads in.

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming" Naruto replies.

As soon as they walk in Jiraiya does a quick scan of the place and squints his eyes. Naruto looks to see what the old Toad is squinting at.

'Of all the luck' He thinks shaking his head.

"Tsunade!" Jiraiya calls out loudly.

Of course Tsunade and her apprentice noticed the pair as soon as they walked in although they were mainly focused on Jiraiya. Naruto could tell even from afar that the blond haired woman was wasted.

"Jiraiya!" Tsunade yelled back.

"I should have known you would have been in a place like this" Jiraiya says as he walks towards her.

Jiraiya quickly sat at Tsunade's both facing his old teammate and her apprentice and Naruto slid in beside him. Naruto was glad that a waiter came quick and took his order, which was sardine's since there was little else. Jiraiya just ordered more Sake and a plate of Kabobs for the table.

When the food came Naruto just watched as the two Sannin stared at each other from across the table. He bit into the little fish ignoring the confrontation between the two. Tsunade started to shuffle a deck of cards as Jiraiya poured some Sake for both of them.

"Why are you here Jiraiya?" Tsunade questioned.

She set the cards down and Jiraiya picked them up and shuffled them a little more.

"I'll cut right to the chase"

He placed the cards back down between them.

"Tsunade … In it's infinite wisdom, the village has decided to name you as the Fifth Hokage" Jiraiya says.

Tsunade's apprentice was the only one at the table to audibly react to the news, but Naruto saw Tsunade's hand pause as she reached for the cards. Her eyes also widened, but the pause only lasted a second before she started dealing out the cards although her eyes still held that shocked look.

"You heard about the Third Hokage …" Jiraiya says.

He looks over the cards he drew. Tsunade took a moment longer before picking up her own cards.

"It was Orochimaru right …" Tsunade replies.

Naruto just continues on eating the food in front of him. The apprentice is worriedly looking between both Sannin confused about what's going on. They both seemed focused on their cards.

"I'll say it once again. The Leaf Village has made it's decision. They have chosen you to be the Fifth Hokage" Jiraiya repeats.

"So what's your answer?" He asks after a slight pause.

"Do you accept it Tsunade?" He continues.

"Well, I'm waiting. What do you say?" He questions.

"Impossible" She responds throwing her cards down.

"I decline" She answers.

"You know it's kind of funny … that's the answer you gave me the first and only time I ever asked you out" Jiraiya responds glibly.

"You know you can't refuse Tsunade. There was no one that contributed more to the Leaf's victory in the Great War than you.

You combine unrivaled skills as a warrior with the ability to heal. Even more you are the granddaughter of the 1st Hokage, the neice of the 2nd. You have the ability and the heritage needed to do the job. You are the only one the citizens and ninja of the village can look up to and believe in" Jiraiya argues.

"All the Hokage's died before their time. Money is one thing, life is another. To risk your life against all the odds … that's a sucker bet. My grandfather and his successors all died for that village.

And for what? The village is no safer than it ever was" Tsunade responds.

"You've changed Tsunade. I don't know what happened to make you like this. But the things you have said … in public no less …" Jiraiya throws back.

"I'm not as young as I look Jiraiya. The years have taught me a great deal. Sarutobi-sensei as well … look what being a hero cost him. What did he expect would happen at his age.

Playing at Hokage … it's a fool's game. Count me out" Tsunade says with finality.

"I guess that's that. You can't blame her for turning you down Jiraiya. After all she wasn't the first person they had in mind for the job, now was she" Naruto says.

Everyone at the table turned to look at him with Tsunade and her apprentice finally noticing him.

"Who's this Jiraiya?" "Another apprentice?"

"He looks nothing like the last one, he looks much stupider and funny looking too" Tsunade mouths off.

"That wasn't very nice. You bring true meaning to the words beauty is only skin deep" Naruto retorts.

"What was that?" Tsunade questioned angrily.

"And you are quick to anger as well. It's a good thing you are turning the village elders down. The village your grandfather built would be destroyed before you could see your next birthday … baa-chan" Naruto taunts.

That was it Tsunade stood up angrily banging her hands down on the table nearly causing it to crash through the floor.

"Who the hell do you think you are punk! No one talks to me like that and lives!" Tsunade shouted.

She reached for his shirt, but Naruto just slapped the hand away like she was a child.

"Is this really how the Legendary Sannin act. One spends his time trying to cheat death by doing every unspeakably horrible act he could think up, another spends his time writing porn and peeping on women when he isn't wasting money in whore houses, and then there is you …" Naruto starts.

"Naruto that's enough!" Jiraiya shouted.

"No Jiraiya let the child say what he was going to say. I want to hear this" Tsunade responds.

"You old lady are possibly the worst of the three. You walk around the elemental nations spending your familys hard earned fortune gambling and boozing your life away. Do you even remember what it means to be a ninja?" Naruto questions.

"You don't have to answer that. You act like you are the only to have ever suffered a tragic loss in their life. Get over yourself already.

I feel sorry for your ancestors. What they must be thinking in the after life to witness the last of their line acting like such a worthless bitch" Naruto says.

As soon as he finished Tsunade launched one of her mountain destroying punches only to hit nothing but the booth seat Naruto had been sitting in a second earlier. The seat was reduced to splinters. And the ground formed a crack from one side of the tavern to the other and deep enough to go straight through the cement floor and a few inches deep into the earth. Thankfully it was a rather thin crack, since she never hit the actual floor.

The old woman was breathing hard with anger as she stared Naruto down.

"Stand still!" Tsunade yells.

"How about we go outside instead, because I am not paying for what you destroy" Naruto says calmly.

As he said that Tsunade gained back some measure of control and looked around. The patrons of the tavern were huddled together in terror and the bartender was none to happy, but like wise keeping as far away from the psycho kunoichi as possible. She could also see the look of concern on Shizune's face. She really hated to make her worry.

"Fine, let's get this over with" Tsunade grumbled.

As they passed them the patrons at the bar cowered closer together fearing they would be caught up in this. Tsunade couldn't suppress the visible flinch that came when she saw a child with her parents look at her as if she was the scariest monster ever.

Naruto walked out first and then used a quick shunshin to move beyond the town. Tsunade, Jiraiya, Shizune, and Tonton quickly followed. The bartender that had been to afraid to move before called out as they did.

"Hey! Who's going to pay for this!" He shouted.

The fighters were soon standing facing each other in clearing with a waterfall and a bunch of withered old trees. Jiraiya, Shizune, and Tonon off to the side.

"You should really re-think this old lady. You don't want to fight me" Naruto tells her.

"Like hell I don't! I won't even need one hand to beat the stupid out of you. I'll only use one finger. That's all I need to beat some little wannabe punk kid like you!" Tsunade taunted.

"Tsunade, I wouldn't underestimate him" Jiraiya warned.

He knew he should stop this, but maybe a beating is what it would take to finally get through to Tsunade. He held no illusions about who would win this fight. Naruto still hadn't reactivated any of his seals and had been training for three weeks before this. He doubted Tsunade had trained at all recently.

Shizune however was really worried for the blond boy. She had never seen her master like this.

"Lady Tsunade please don't do this! He's just a boy" Shizune called out.

"Be quiet Shizune. I'm not going to hurt him too bad … just enough to show him his place" Tsunade says.

She cracks her knuckles and grins eagerly.

"Whenever your ready … baa-chan" Naruto says.

Tsunade flashed out of view and flicked her finger at the blond boys head. She just knew this was over.

"Wow, your really slow … baa-chan" Naruto said from behind her.

Tsunade couldn't stop herself from turning around right into Naruto's incoming fist. She flew back hitting one of the old trees, but quickly got back up.

"Lucky shot gaki. That was the one and only time you will ever put your hands on me" Tsunade says.

She then raced across the distance to punch the blond forgetting all about her taunt to only use one finger. Naruto just slapped her hand aside at the wrist with his left hand and punch her in the face with his right.

He followed that up with a kick to her knees and then another punch to her face. Tsunade flew back and hit the ground as her back and head dug slightly into the ground.

"Ready to give up?" Naruto asked.

"No *Pant* I can *Pant* do this * all night!" Tsunade shouted.

Tsunade launched herself again at the boy determined to show him who was boss. As soon as she got with in range everyone in the clearing felt a build up of chakra, but Tsunade couldn't stop.

Her fist collided directly with Naruto's and with both releasing their built up chakra at that exact moment. The resulting explosion shook the area even halting the flow of the waterfall for a second.

A ball of light emitted from the point of impact surrounding the two fighters in it's glow obscuring them from view, but it only took a second for Tsunade to fly out as the light died down and crash into the rocks of the waterfall. Naruto only slid back a few feet as he feet dug a small trench in the ground.

Tsunade wouldn't stay down. She jumped out from under the waterfall soaking wet with scratches and tears littering her attire and skin. Shizune quickly rushed to her master.

Jiraiya had moved to stand in front of Naruto.

"That's enough you two!" The Toad Sennin bellowed.

"Tch … your team mate should learn to better judge who she attempts to pick on. She's old, drunk, and out of practice. I could have done much worse if I wanted to" Naruto says loud enough for all to hear.

"I said that's enough Naruto!" Jiraiya shouts at the teen.

Naruto doesn't respond to the old man and just turns away.

"Where are you going brat? I'm not finished with you!" Tsunade shouted.

"Lady Tsunade, that's enough" Shizune tells the woman.

"Stay out of this Shizune, I don't need your help or yours either you old Toad. That brat just got lucky!" Tsunade shouts.

"I am going to find my mother. We split up to search for you in this town and I am sure my mother would like to know as soon as possible that we found you" Naruto responds.

"I'd like to meet the whore that made you so I can tell her what a bitch her son is" Tsunade taunts.

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune yelled.

"Bad move" Jiraiya says quietly.

"I'll be sure to tell her you said that. By the way old lady you lose" Naruto responds.

Naruto could feel the questioning glare at the back of his head.

"You used more than your little finger. Remember, you said that's all you would need to beat me. Seems you were wrong. You couldn't beat me with both hands" Naruto taunts.

Of course no one in the clearing could see the grin. It was a decidedly evil grin that spoke of nothing good happening for those in the clearing. He took off using the shunshin technique once more in the direction he figured he would find his mother and Karin.

"Jiraiya-sama …" Shizune called out.

"Yes Shizune-chan" Jiraiya responded.

"Why are you groping my butt?" She yelled.

"Oh … hehe, sorry reflex" Jiraiya says as if that explained it.

"Jiraiya …"

Was all the warning he got before he was punted over the waterfall and away from the town.

"Ahh … now I feel better" Tsunade says.

Now that they were alone Shizune turned to her master.

"Lady Tsunade … do you know who that boy was?" Shizune asked.

Tsunade looked at the younger woman questioningly before answering.

"No, but I am guessing he's that flat chested tomboy Kushina's brat. The one she had with Minato before he sacrificed himself" Tsunade says as if it were a normal thing.

"I … think you should apologize when we see him again" Shizune says.

"Hah, I'll sleep with Jiraiya before I ever apologize to that brat. Now come on I need to get another drink. I'd leave if I didn't think that old toad wouldn't just find me again" Tsunade says.

She walks out of the clearing and heads towards a bar on the other side of town. She so wasn't paying for destroying that seat or cracking the floor.

Shizune followed, but her mind was elsewhere.

"Oink, oink" The pig says getting Shizune to focus.

"I'm fine Tonton" She replied.

Shizune then noticed that Tsunade had left her behind while she was thinking.

"Come on, we better catch up with Lady Tsunade" Shizune says.

The duo ran to catch up with their erstwhile master. Meanwhile, Naruto did find Kushina well more like she found him with Karin's' help.

"I'm surprised you didn't find me earlier if your using Karin's sensor ability" Naruto states.

"We did. Auntie didn't want to stop your fight with the Senju" Karin remarked.

That surprised Naruto making him turn towards Kushina.

"Why didn't you come say hello? I thought you wanted to find that old lady more than Jiraiya" Naruto asked

"I … I did, but that henge she was using … something about it just bothered me" Kushina admitted.

"I can understand why. Underneath that henge she looks worse than that old crone Koharu that was apart of the Sandiame's council" Naruto says.

"What?" Kushina says shocked.

"Yeah, it was pretty bad. I'd say however she created that henge or whatever it takes to maintain it is draining any traces of youth and vitality she has" Naruto replies.

"That's not possible sochi. She is at least a quarter Uzumaki thanks to her grandmother being Mito. She should have some of the Uzumaki genetics for long life and vitality" Kushina remarks.

"I don't know what to tell you Kaa-san, but whatever she has done to herself caused her to age two or three decades in advance" Naruto informs them.

Both Uzumaki girls stood shocked until Naruto asked Kushina a question.

"Do you feel sorry for her now?" Naruto asked.

Kushina thought about it for a moment. She still wanted to beat the woman into a temporary coma, but …

"There is nothing worse for a woman like Tsunade than to loose her looks. And if it's truly as bad as you say it is then … yeah I do feel a little sorry for her. I'm still going to beat her until she's on her knees begging me to stop, but I won't do it tonight" Kushina says.

"Then we should probably find the others and get some rest" Naruto directs.

Karin nodded and activated her minds eye technique.

"Sochi … what you said about Tsunade stays with us for now, okay?" Kushina asked.

"Sure" Naruto replied.

Karin quickly led them to Yuudai and Katsu at a restaurant near the one Tsunade wrecked. They found Akari and Miyuki a little later. Everyone was hungry so they found another restaurant and had dinner before finding a hotel and calling it a night.

Naruto swung his sword with his right hand while sliding away from Kushina's attempt to slice his arm off. Naruto was practicing his kenjutsu and Kushina was helping. The rest of the group was also training with clones of Naruto and Kushina further away. Turns out shadow clones really were made for Uzumaki.

Naruto grunted as Kushina easily evaded his attack and got under his guard enough to deliver a nasty punch to his stomach. That was the only reaction Naruto gave though as he tried to kick Kushina back only for her to pin his leg and shove him to the ground.

Naruto sunk into the ground and then popped up a few yards away from his mother. He noticed she was no longer focused on him, but towards some rocks. It was easy to see what she was looking at.

"How long are you going to stand there watching Tsunade?" Kushina questioned

"I see you actually filled out a little Kushina. When your brat told me you were here I was expecting to see the same little string bean I remembered always hanging around my home" Tsunade starts.

That comment dug a little at Kushina. It was obvious what she was implying.

"And I see you haven't changed at all. Still trying to compete for the title of most desirable kunoichi even after that fight was lost by you a long time ago" Kushina throws back.

The tension between the two was palpable for Naruto.

"Why are you here Senju-san?" Naruto asked.

Tsunade refocused, but didn't take her eyes off Kushina.

"I came here to offer a challenge" Tsunade says.

"A challenge?" Naruto asked.

Kushina blinked at the statement as well.

"I want a rematch. You shot your mouth off last night when I was drunk and didn't know your skill level, but now that I do I won't hold back" Tsunade declares.

"A rematch huh?"

Tsunade shook her head. There was something about this brat that just really irked her the wrong way.

"I'm going to have to pass" Naruto answers.

"What?" Tsunade shouts.

"I said I pass. There is nothing in it for me to fight you. You couldn't beat me last night and sober or drunk you still couldn't beat me even if I let you train for a week" Naruto states.

"Fine, what if I make you a bet" Tsunade says angrily.

"What kind of bet?" Kushina asks interested.

"Jiraiya told me all about you last night and your deal with the village. I'll give you one week to get ready. When I win you will rip up that agreement you made with Sarutobi and stay a shinobi of Konoha until you are my age" Tsunade decrees.

Naruto and Kushina looked at the woman skeptically.

"What could you possibly have that would make me want to take on such a bet?" Naruto asks.

"If you win … I'll give you this" She holds up a necklace with a green rock attached.

"A necklace … you think I'd bet my freedom over a stupid necklace" Naruto retorts.

"This is the necklace of the First Hokage, brat. It's worth more money than the whole village of Konoha. So what do you say brat, are you scared you'll loose" Tsunade challenges.

"Hahaha, that's funny baa-chan. Me loose to you … never" Naruto retorts.

"Then it's a deal" Tsunade says.

"Hold up, I never agreed to anything" Naruto says.

"Then you are scared" Tsunade taunts.

"No, I'm just not interested in the wager or the fight. Instead of fighting me … how about you fight my mom. Win by submission, knockout, or death and no restrictions on jutsu" Naruto challenges.

"The wager stays the same?" Tsunade questions.

Naruto nods.

"Then it's a bet. Lemon tits over there couldn't beat me when she was a kid and she won't beat me now. You have just signed over you life to the village kid" Tsunade taunts.

Kushina's hands shook with rage as she was barely able to stop herself from beating the older woman to within an inch of her life.

"Why do you care?" Naruto asked.

Tsunade and Kushina couldn't help but settle down and stare at the boy.

"Why do you care if I stay in that village?"

"To bet away your prized possession and family heirloom over something as stupid as a fight … why do you care if I am apart of that village?" Naruto asks again.

Tsunade thought about it. She didn't know how to answer that honestly.

"I don't care. I just know it's something you care about and I am going to take it away from you" Tsunade responds.

"That's it? You just want to take away something I care about?" Naruto questions.

"Why?" Naruto asked when she nodded her head.

"What does it matter … just be here in a week" Tsunade says.

She quickly leaves the clearing before anything more can be said. Now that they were alone Kushina focused on her son.

"Are you sure about this sochi?" Kushina asked.

"I'm sure … besides now you can beat her up all you want and no one can stop it. I thought that was what you wanted" Naruto says.

"It is … but I don't want you to throw away you freedom over a silly feud between me and cow tits" Kushina responds.

"If I thought you would lose I wouldn't have made the bet. I have faith in you … Kaa-chan" Naruto tells her.

Kushina couldn't help herself as she rushed to hug her son. It was the first time he called her mom in such a way and genuinely meant it.

"Maybe we should get back to training. I still have a few things I'd like your help with" Naruto says as he hugs her back.

Kushina stands back and grins at her son.

"Give me everything you got, sochi" Kushina responds.

The two quickly get back to their training and forget all about the Senju not noticing someone else was watching from further away.

It was a day later and Naruto was alone in the room he was sharing with Yuudai and Katsu. It was nothing like the room he had back at the town with the festival, but it was decent and at a more than fair rate.

The girls were splitting two rooms since there was more of them and Jiraiya was once again on his own although they suspected he had shacked up close to Tsunade. It wasn't like they planned to be here long. A week or two tops and they would be headed back.

Naruto was still unsure at to how he felt about that exactly, but Tsunade nor Jiraiya seemed the type to be in a rush to get back to the village. Naruto was actually counting on one or both dragging things out. By the time they got back to the village 2 months would probably have past by.

It was somewhat curious that the village could afford for Jiraiya to take his time like this. They had already been gone almost 6 weeks, which meant the village had gone 6 weeks without a leader. Surely other villages would see this as a sign of weakness possibly inviting another attack on the village.

Naruto got off that train of thought. He was alone because the girls decided to take a tour of the local castle. Everyone else thought it was a great idea and while he would enjoy seeing the castle with them, Naruto had no interest in taking a four hour tour of the thing. Although the girls had made an interesting last minute pitch about what they could get up to if they broke away from the group to explore on their own after awhile.

'Maybe I should have gone after all' Naruto thought.

His excuse was that he wanted to get in some more training, but the truth was he just wanted a little alone time. But now he was bored and he didn't feel like training for some reason.

Fortunately or unfortunately his alone time was interrupted.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Excuse me, but is this Uzumaki Naruto's room?"

Naruto recognized that voice.

'Wonder what she's doing here' Naruto thought.

"One minute" Naruto called out.

He went to the door and opened it finding Shizune standing outside.

"What can I do for you …?" Naruto asked.

"Shizune … my name is Shizune" She responded.

"Then what can I do for you Shizune-san?" Naruto amended.

"Umm … can I come in?" She asked.

"Sure"

Naruto walked back into the room and sat on his bed as he watched Shizune close the door and stand in front of him. The woman seemed to be struggling with something.

"Why have you come to see me?" Naruto asked.

"I heard about the bet Tsunade-sama made with you. I want you to … cancel it" Shizune tells him.

The room had a small balcony. Naruto went over to it turning his back on the dark haired woman.

"You do understand that by canceling the bet I would be forfeiting and subject to the punishment we agreed upon. I don't know this Tsunade well, but she doesn't seem the type to allow someone out of a bet easily" Naruto responds.

"Please you must!" Shizune shouted.

Naruto turned and gave the older woman a stern glance before turning his gaze back outside.

"I would appreciate it if you don't yell so much" He responds.

"Sorry … it's just you don't understand … that necklace … nothing good will come of this bet if you were to win" Shizune tells hims

This time Naruto turned around to face her leaning back on the railing as he did so.

'This might be interesting' He thought.

"Enlighten me then. What about this necklace has you so concerned for me?" Naruto asked.

"The necklace is cursed. It doesn't acknowledge anyone but Tsunade-sama. Anyone else that wears that necklace will … DIE!"

Naruto just looked at the woman with a smirk.

"I assume there is a story behind this that will explain why you would make such a statement?" Naruto asks.

Shizune turns to sit down on the bed. She needed to make him understand and she was sure he would once she told him.

"She wasn't always like the woman you met the other day. She has to have a caring heart that loved the village, but she changed … All because of that day …" She trails off dramatically.

Naruto wanted to snort at all the theatrics, but decided not to and heard her out. The story seemed to drag on for hours before she finished, but it was an interesting at the least. It also informed him of a few things he was unaware of.

"Can you understand now, Naruto-kun. From that day forth Tsunade-sama has … has been struggling to this day …"

She didn't say anymore, because the young man in front of her walked across her and towards the door.

"Naruto …"

"It was an interesting story Shizune-san, but now I'm hungry so I'm going to get something to eat. You are free to join me of course, please lock up on your way out" Naruto says as he leaves.

Shizune sat there unsure what exactly just happened.

'Did I fail' she thought.

The woman got up and left the room making sure to lock the door behind her. That's when something she said caught up to her.

'Did I really call him Naruto-kun?' She thought with a blush.

A week later everyone was gathered in a large rock filled clearing away from the town. Both Kushina and Tsunade were making a show of warming up. Kushina by doing a slightly exaggerated stretching routine, which got most of the males to blush, and Tsunade by crushing rocks with her hands.

They took a few minutes to finish and then stood facing each other. Apparently Jiraiya insisted that he referee the match to make sure things didn't go too far. Konoha still needed a Hokage after all and it wasn't going to be him.

"You should quit know Kushina. We both know you could never beat me before" Tsunade taunts.

"A lot has changed since then Tsunade. I'm not the same little girl you used to make fun of and picked on" Kushina responds.

"You look like the same flat chested brat that I remember" Tsunade throws back.

Kushina didn't wait a second longer. She launched herself at Tsunade and reached her faster than Tsunade expecting punching her right in the mouth and sending the older woman right onto her butt.

"How's that feel you old cow!" Kushina shouted.

It felt good to punch the Senju right in her uppity mouth. But Tsunade wasn't done that quickly. She got up and took measure of Kushina now taking this seriously.

"Lucky hit, you won't get another" Tsunade responds.

This time Tsunade launched herself at Kushina leading with a punch that if it landed would punch a hole through a mountain. To everyone's surprise Kushina also launched herself leading with her first, which collided directly with Tsunade's. The result being the same as when Naruto did it only times ten.

Kushina barely even moved from the impact point, but Tsunade was thrown clear through one of the large rocks.

"Lady Tsunade!" Shizune shouted.

All of the kids including Naruto were suitably impressed and shocked to different degrees. Jiraiya seemed unfazed, but internally he was panicking.

'NOOO! Not another Tsunade!' he weeped dramatically in his head.

Once again Tsunade stood up bits of rubble falling off of her. She couldn't understand what was happening.

'First the brat and now Kushina, what's next' She thought.

"How did you like that Tsunade! I had a lot of experience watching you practice how to do that. You even used it on me a few times, but nothing like what you did to the pervert.

One of the things I did while I was away from Konoha was practice controlling my chakra everyday until I could do the same thing you did. And now my son knows it too!

And that's only one of things I learned during the 12 years I was kept away from my son. But that doesn't mean I haven't worked on my own skills as well!" Kushina shouted at the woman.

Before Tsunade could ask what she meant the ground began to shake around her. She looked around nervously waiting for the attack to happen, but instead she was punched in the mouth again and sent into another large boulder.

This time Tsunade got up and spit a little blood out of her mouth.

"That was a cheap trick" Tsunade shouts.

"It's only cheap if it doesn't work" Kushina retorts.

Tsunade having enough of being thrown around grabs a large boulder from the ground and hurls it at Kushina. Everyone in the clearing save for Naruto and Jiraiya bolted for safer ground.

The rumbling grew louder and more intense, but still nothing happened yet. Kushina just seemed to watch as the rock came at her at near impossible speeds. That is until several chains erupted from the ground and speared through the rock breaking it up and causing the pieces to fall harmlessly around her. Except for one that left a small cut on her cheek.

Tsunade stared in a slight bit of shock. She had forgotten about Kushina being able to do that … and now that she thought about it.

Before she could react eight chains broke through the ground around her and grasped a limb. Two to a limb with a nigh circling her waist holding her in place. Tsunade struggled against the chains trying to break them with her strength, but if Kyūbi couldn't she couldn't either.

Kushina walked slowly towards the struggling woman. She had purposefully let the rock cut her. She rubbed her hand against the would causing more blood to drip out and onto her hand.

The effect was almost instant once Tsunade saw it. She completely shut down and stopped struggling against the chains. Kushina retracted all of them and watched as the woman slumped to the ground basically at her feet.

The Uzumaki gave no quarter as she rushed to kick the downed woman giving into the feelings she had long harbored against this particular Senju.

"Now this is a cheap trick. I didn't need it to beat you, but I had to do it. I have heard stories about your hemophilia since Dan's death, but I never thought it was this bad" Kushina says as she kicks the woman again.

"You are so pathetic! The great world renowned medical ninja Senju Tsunade of the Sannin reduced to a pathetic quivering heap by the mere sight of a drop of blood!" She taunts and gives the downed woman another kick.

"This is what you deserve!" kick.

"I was just a little girl!" kick.

"I looked up to you!" kick.

"My entire village was destroyed and my family taken from me!" kick, kick.

"Why did you have to be such a bitch to me!" kick.

"I just wanted you to be my friend!" Kushina shouted.

She reared back to give the downed woman a fierce and possibly deadly kick when Jiraiya finally intervened pushing her away. That's when Kushina also spotted Shizune with a handful of poison coated senbon directly aimed at her crouched down over Tsunade.

"That's enough Kushina!" "You've won alright!" Jiraiya shouts.

Regardless of what's passed between them Jiraiya never wanted to see Tsunade like this. It was almost too much for him to handle.

Kushina relented. She knew she had gone too far, but she didn't regret it at all.

Shizune seeing that it was over dropped the weapons and went to work on patching up her master. She may have disagreed with Tsunade on how she handled her uncles' death, but she felt a great depth of loyalty to the woman. She wouldn't allow anyone to seriously harm her master if she could stop it.

Naruto and the others just stood quietly and watched. It was a short, but terrible fight. Their opinions varied about how it ended, but none held it against Kushina. They all had come to know how she felt about Tsunade and figured this was a likely outcome.

However, it seems like their day wasn't over.

*Thunk* *Thwap* *Thunk* *Thunk*

Various ninja tools came flying out of seemingly no where to assault the group. Naruto and the gang were able to easily avoid the projectiles.

"Who's out there!" Shouted Jiraiya.

Obviously instead of responding even more weapons flew at them. Everyone got serious then. Kushina gave Karin a look obviously meant to get her to use her sensory technique.

"I can see … there are 25 Oto ninja surrounding us. I can sense that three of them are far more powerful than the others and are sticking towards the back of the group for now" Karin informs everyone.

Jiraiya, Shizune, and rather subdued beaten looking Tsunade had joined them.

"Karin … I know you were with Orochimaru for a period of time before joining Kusa. Do you recognize any of the chakra signatures?" Naruto asked.

"What!?" "How?" Karin asked shocked and a bit scared.

"Because I also knew the Snake for a period of time before I officially become a Konoha-nin. Now do you recognize them or not?" Naruto responds.

All around him the members of the group reacted to that bit of news. Jiraiya clenched his fists, while the girls minus a still unfocused Tsunade gasped, and his team mates eyes widened. The team mates knew Naruto had met Orochimaru before as did everyone else save for Tsunade and Shizune, but this suggested something more than he had told them before.

"Umm … yes … I recognized the three in back. One of them is called Jūgo of the scales; he is the last known member of the Sage clan and was the basis for Orochimaru's curse seals. He's bipolar thanks to his clan's bloodline ability and is known to go into psychotic murderous rages with little provocation" Karin informs them.

"I've heard of him. It is said he destroyed an entire village and killed everyone in it once because he saw a man kill a deer" Jiraiya adds.

The others took this information in. This guy would definitely be tough to beat.

"The second one is Guren. She was the strongest Kunoichi in Orochimaru's forces and fanatically devoted to him. Guren was Orochimaru's number one assassin and he had her destroy numerous villages and people. She posses the Crystal release Kekkei Genkai" Karin says.

"The last one was the strongest ninja Orochimaru had, even stronger than Kabuto. His name is Kimimaro and he's the last known surviving member of the Kaguya clan" Karin tells.

"Wait, weren't the Kaguya's all destroyed by the Mizukage when they attempted to overthrow him all on their own?" Miyuki asked.

Having lived in Kiri she and Akari both knew of the Kaguya and their terrible reputation. Their attempted coup of the Mizukage was equally well known for how disastrous and stupid it was.

Things in Kiri had been going down hill and the Mizukage was taking every opportunity to goad the kekkei genkai clans into striking against him for some reason, but no one was foolish enough to do it. Except for the Kaguya. The result of such actions led to the Purge. It was a bloody and cursed clan in the two girls' opinion.

"Yes, but Orochimaru was hunting for kekkei genkai wielders in Kiri believing they would easily follow him to escape persecution when he stumbled across Kimimaro. Kimimaro had been abandoned by his clan, because he was the only one at that time that had their kekkei genkai the Dead Bone Pulse.

However, last time I felt his chakra it was very weak like he was ill. I'm sensing that is no longer the case and at full strength he might be stronger than Orochimaru. He was also just as devoted to Orochimaru as Guren. That's all I know" Karin says.

"Thanks Karin, you told us enough" Naruto says.

"What are we going to do?" Shizune asked.

"First I'm going to take care of the grunts" Naruto says.

"How are you going to do that?" Shizune asked.

"Just watch" Kushina says.

Naruto moves slightly away from the group and uses his favorite hand seal. Four clones pop into existence circling the group standing in the four cardinal positions.

Naruto forms the tiger release hand seal and calls out, "Katon: Hibashiri – Fire Release: Running Fire".

The clones also form hand seals Tiger - Snake - Ram and call out, "Fūton: Kami Oroshi – Wind Release: Godly Wind from the Mountains".

The attacks combine causing the fire from Naruto's attack to spread out like a torrent of flames in the surrounding area.

Everyone could hear the cries of the enemy as they were hit with the fast moving attack and unable to escape. A few came stumbling out of the attack into the open their face and bodies charred beyond recognition only to fall down soon after.

It was a horrific sight and shook up the younger ninja among them. The girls all shut their eyes to the sight while the older ninja appraised the attack breaking down it's effectiveness.

Naruto didn't end there. He didn't bother to form a hand seal as sixteen more clones popped into existence. No words were even exchanged as the twenty clones ran in different directions to find the enemy.

It didn't take long for the clones to wipe out the remaining grunts. A few had made a run for it right into Naruto and the group. The result was a quick kunai to the heart by Kushina or Jiraiya. So far none of the clones had been destroyed so Naruto sent them to attack the three strongest enemies.

He sent them in groups of three wanting to force them to come to him. The sounds of battle raged between Naruto's clones and the tree Oto ninja.

Meanwhile, Naruto had brought out his sword as did Kushina. Katsu and Yuudai also readied their swords, frankly they were eager to fight. They had only been fighting each other and Naruto for most of the trip.

Akari had begun to build up her chakra, which was visible as her eyes took on a shining golden color. Miyuki also took a ready stance as they waited. Karin was concentrating on the clones fighting the three Oto ninja. Shizune was beside her with Tsunade standing in the middle of the group to better protect her master.

Jiraiya stepped out to stand by Naruto. He was tired of standing around and wanted to show his godson he was on his side. Kushina stayed with the group. She had no interest in fighting unless they hurt her child.

The clones were actually doing fairly well in their fight. The three remaining Oto ninja had all become extremely frustrated as they took down group after group of the same damn guy. The nasty little after effects didn't help matters either, but they were quick to switch to long range tactics instead of facing the clones in tiajutsu.

Of course they weren't expecting the clones to be able to use ninjutsu as well. And worst of all they couldn't tell which clones held the nasty surprise effect or what the effect would be. So far they had encounter a trio of lightening, fire, earth, water, and wind clones.

The earth and water clones were the first groups to go in using their effects to try and trap the three. Jūgo was the only one not able to escape the attempt as a water clone engulfed him in a bubble of water only for a waiting lightening clone to use a low level lighting jutsu to zap him.

Still that just had the effect of sending him into a rage as he blindly rushed to destroy all the clones. Taking him out would be a simple matter as he rushed after a couple of clones' intent on killing them. The clones left the area keeping the raging psychopath focused on them by throwing kunai and shuriken at him.

With him gone it was just the Crystal user and the Kaguya, but unlike their unstable friend they were both very strong and smart enough to stay calm. Between her crystal wall jutsu and his bone bullet jutsu the clones were having trouble. So far the wall had regenerated quickly from any attack that was thrown at it and the bullets were long range so they could be hit while the bone user hid behind the wall.

Naruto seeing where this was going stopped the remaining 4 clones from attacking to test a theory. When none of the remaining clones were dispersed Naruto knew what was going on. He turned to the group.

"I'm going in. Two of them have stopped attacking my clones while the Sage Clan bloodline user is being led on a wild goose chase by a few other clones. I'm going to see what these guys want" Naruto says.

"I'm coming with you" Jiraiya says.

The tone in his voice let Naruto know he wasn't asking.

"Do what you will" was his response.

"Then I'm coming too" Kushina says.

Naruto shrugs before running to where he last remembered his clones being. He quickly found the two Oto ninja and could hear the crash and booms caused by the third in the distance. He didn't even look away from the duo behind the pink crystalline wall as he created a trio of dark clones and sent them after the third member of the group.

"What do you want?" Naruto asked.

"We came here to kill Uzumaki Naruto" Declared Guren.

"Why?" Asked Jiraiya.

"Because he killed Orochimaru-sama!" Guren yelled.

"I did not kill Orochimaru" Naruto retorts.

Naruto noticed the bone user seemed to focus on him when he answered.

"LIAR! Kabuto told us it was you that killed him!" Guren shouts.

"Hahaha … and you never thought he was lying to you?" Naruto throws back.

Guren nor Kimimaro had a response to that. This was something that weasel would do.

"Kabuto lied to you. The Sandiame Hokage killed Orochimaru using the Shiki Fuin, which is why you no longer have the curse seal marks on you … am I correct?" Naruto says.

'When I see that little weasel again … I'll kill him!' Thought Guren in her mind.

Naruto could see the visible signs of hatred the two displayed in their different ways. Kimimaro's eyes perceivably tightened and Guren's knuckles were turning different hues from how tight she was gripping them.

"I'm guessing he either sent you here to kill me, because he deems me a threat or you were the threat and he believes I will kill you" Naruto deduces out loud.

"I'll kill that worm" Guren says angrily under her breath.

Everyone still heard it though.

"We don't have to fight …" Naruto throws out.

"WHAT!?" Shouted everyone.

"I don't know if you know her, but my cousin Karin used to work for Orochimaru. This was before we knew about each other being family as her parents were Uzumaki. A fact I'm sure made Orochimaru very interested in her especially with her variant of the Uzumaki bloodline.

Anyway she told us about each of your abilities. You would make valuable additions to my group. Instead of killing each other I propose that we work together" Naruto offers.

"Naruto, what do you think you are doing?" Jiraiya whispers.

"I think I am gaining several powerful new allies" Naruto responds, but didn't whisper.

"Sochi … are you sure about this?" Kushina asked.

She was nervous about this. Trusting anyone that dealt with Orochimaru was asking to be stabbed in the back in the worst possible way.

"Trust me" was his simple response.

"It isn't you we are worried about for now. How can you trust them? They worked for Orochimaru. Anyone that worked for my old teammate either had a screw loose or were as insane as he was" Jiraiya responds.

Naruto didn't even blink.

"Orochimaru preyed on people's weakness" Naruto says aloud.

"For instance, with Jūgo Orochimaru preyed on his fear of hurting people when he looses control. He never intended to help Jūgo with his issue. No instead he used him to further his experiments with his curse seals and then locked him up in one of his bases.

You Kimimaro he found after your clan abandoned you. You were in your weakest moments abandoned, starving, near death. He took advantage of the mistreatment you suffered at the hands of your clan and family to use you as well. I'm sure you would have thrown down your life for him … and you would have if that seal been allowed to corrupt your body any longer.

And you Guren he used your want for revenge against the villagers that shunned you as a child because of your kekkei genkai. You were happy to follow the one that got rid of your tormentors, but you paid a price I'm sure.

How many people has he asked you to kill for him?

How many innocent villages did you destroy?

How many mothers, fathers, and children have you killed in the name of Orochimaru?

But that's just the way Orochimaru operated. I know, because he offered the same thing to me a long time ago?" Naruto says.

Several sharp intakes of breath were heard. Naruto's face remained neutral, but inwardly he smirked as he saw the wheels turn in all of their minds.

"And you refused?" Kimimaro asked.

"I did" Naruto responds.

"Why?" was everyone question, but Kimimaro asked it.

"Part of it was timing. When he asked me I was in the hospital recovering from another beating by a mob of villagers. At that time though I still believed that I could change how the villagers saw me and that they would all respect and love me some day" Naruto answers truthfully.

Several scoffs were heard at that explanation.

"I know it was naïve on my part, but that was how the village wanted me to think and at that time I desperately wanted to believe in that possibility that bit of hope" Naruto explains.

"Then what changed?" Jiraiya asked.

Naruto looked at the man from the corner of his eye, but he could see his mother was interested as well. The Oto duo also looked interested.

"Everyone has a breaking point Jiraiya-san and I reached mine" Naruto answers.

"Then why do you wear their bands of allegiance and loyalty?" Guren asked.

She was intrigued, because he sounded like she used to before she met Orochimaru. She could practically see the suffering in his eyes.

"I will only wear these for 2 years and 3 ½ months. I made an arrangement that will allow me to leave the village behind after I serve 3 years in their forces. Also, I was allowed to have a number of people join me in the village under my protection but they have to leave when I do. I am also under no obligations to follow anyone orders outside of the Hokage and even then I can refuse if I don't like the order given" Naruto answers.

Guren nodded at that. It did sound like a nice deal even if she still didn't understand why he just didn't leave anyway.

"You said that timing was part of the answer. What was the rest of it?" Kimimaro asked.

Naruto smiled at the question. He was glad to get things back on the track he wanted instead of answering unnecessary questions.

"The other reason is the Hokage always told me to stay away from Orochimaru, that he was a bad person. He wouldn't tell me why, but at that time that was all I needed. If he told me not to then I wouldn't do it, because I thought he was someone … actually the only person at that time that I could absolutely trust" Naruto answers.

The others nodded at that.

"I was I want to say 4 at that time. My dream was to be Hokage, because he was the only that took care of me so I thought and I saw how everyone respected him. I wanted to to be just like him.

As they say like student, like teacher. The old Hokage played on my desperate need for affection, innocence, and ignorance to manipulate me in the way he wanted. Just like his student Orochimaru went on to manipulate each of you" Naruto says.

Jiraiya visibly bristled at the insult to his teacher.

"Orochimaru was nothing like sensei! Sensei would never do the things Orochimaru has done!" Jiraiya shouted.

Naruto just looked at the man neutrally.

"That's your opinion. Fact is before he was expelled from Konoha the old man thought the highest of Orochimaru out of the three of you Sannin. It was Orochimaru he planned to make his successor before my father became the choice after his exploits in the Third Shinobi World War. Or until he felt his prized prodigy was tainted by his old rival Danzō when he joined the Root program.

Orochimaru had two teachers and was molded by his experiences with both. Sarutobi shares equal blame with Danzō for what happened to his once prized student or perhaps more" Naruto responds.

Naruto eyed the Toad Sannin as he seemed to be struggling with his emotions. Naruto just smirked at the man.

"Kid … there are a lot of things you say that I will take and live with it, but this isn't one of them. I suggest you shut your mouth before I shut it for you" Jiraiya threatens.

Kushina hit both on the back of their heads immediately dropping the tension.

"Kaa-san" Naruto asked as he turned to her.

"Both of you shut up. Now isn't the time for this" Kushina reminds them.

"Fine, but this isn't over brat" Jiraiya says before focusing back on the Oto-nin.

"If you say so frog man" Naruto responds.

"It's Toads!" Jiraiya shouted.

Kushina smacked them both again.

"sorry" "…"

"Look are we going to fight or talk, because it seems like your friend is coming back and he's not happy" Kushina says.

And just like Kushina said Jūgo came crashing through the rocks with an insane look on his face. He charged with some kind of weird instruments on his legs expelling chakra propelling him faster. However before he could reach them he was punched back the way he came.

"I'll handle this one, after all it takes a sage to face a sage" Jiraiya says haughtily.

Naruto just nodded he didn't really care. He saw Jiraiya leave to face Jūgo. He looked over at the remaining two and could see a look of determination on the Kaguya's face.

"It seems you have decided. Are we going to fight?" Naruto asked him.

A nod was his answer.

"And what will this solve?" Naruto asked.

"If you win I will serve you along with Jūgo" Kimimaro states.

"What of the crystal user?" Naruto asked.

"The names Guren brat and I don't care about him or anyone else. I know you had something to do with Orochimaru-sama's death. I don't care if you didn't kill him. I am going to kill you myself in Orochimaru-sama's honor" Guren states.

Naruto just stares at the woman for a moment. And in that moment she moved to attack sending several crystalline projectiles at him, which were deflected at the last second by Kushina.

"I'll never let you harm my son. Your fight is with me!" Kushina declares.

"Fine I'll kill you first and then deal with him after I'm done" Guren states confidently.

Naruto and Kushina stared at the woman after her proclamation.

"Crazy and stupid … not a good combination. Try to leave her alive Kaa-san" Naruto remarks.

"No promises" was her reply.

Naruto could only sigh at the expected answer, but he knew she would try for him. This of course greatly angered Guren as she believed they were thinking she was weak.

"I'll show you!" Guren shouted.

The crazy kunoichi created a volley of crystal shuriken and launched them at Naruto and Kushina. The speed was impressive, but both Uzumaki easily dodged or deflected the projectiles with their swords.

"You are going to have to do better than that!" Kushina shouts at the young woman.

Before Guren could even respond Kushina was in front of her and delivering a nasty straight punch to her stomach. She was then sent flying away by a spinning heal kick that hit her forearms as she tried to block it.

"Now that they are gone it's just you and me. I suggest you come at me with everything you got" Naruto says cockily.

"You will regret having said that to me" The Kaguya retorts.

Naruto watches as a bone begins to protrude from his shoulder. He looked on fascinated as Kimimaro pulls the blade from his shoulder like it was nothing.

"Is it true that the bones of a Kaguya are as hard as steel?" Naruto asked.

"Harder" Kimimaro boasts.

"Good. I wouldn't want this to end before I can have some real fun" Naruto says.

Naruto didn't wait for him to take a stance he flashed appearing half way from where he was to Kimimaro only to flash again and appear almost in front of him. Kimimaro wasn't even able to move his sword it happened so fast as Naruto flashed again and was now behind the Oto-nin.

Kimimaro's head turned to view his enemy before he fell to the ground several large gashes erupted in blood from his body. Still it was clear the bones held up as the skin closed up making it look like he was never hit. Kimimaro slowly rose up from the ground and pointed his bone sword at Naruto.

"Your tough" Naruto says with a grin.

"That won't be enough to defeat me" Kimimaro says.

As he says that Naruto notices more bones protrude from his body.

"Seems so … I think I'm having fun" Naruto says.

Kimimaro just stares at the blond strangely. Naruto reseals his sword up and gives Kimimaro a grin. Suddenly his hands ignite in black flames.

"Let's try this again shall we" Naruto says.

Once again he flashed out of sight. Kimimaro raised his left hand pointing his finger forward just as the blond flashes closer again. Immediately he fires several bone bullets. He never even saw the fist that impacted his side beneath his arm pit.

Kimimaro was sent flying by the fist and barely managed to hold in the grunt of pain from being hit in such an akward area. He was able to twist in mid air and regain his footing then bring his sword to bear in front of him.

"The bloodline of the Kaguya, it holds up to the stories told it about it. Still like all bloodlines there is a point of weakness" Naruto says.

This time it was Kimimaro that went on the offensive.

"Teshi Sendan – Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets" Kimimaro calls out.

The bone bullets fly out of his free hand aiming to hit the blond. Naruto surprised him once more by snatching each of the bullets out of the air faster than Kimimaro could see. He then starting throwing three of them up and down in his hand.

"That's a nasty little jutsu. If my hands weren't coated in chakra that really would have hurt" Naruto comments.

He then closed his hand around the bones and gripped tightly the flames on his hand seemed to dance wildly for a second. Then he opened his hand to the wind. The bullets were still intact, but they were charred almost completely black as Naruto let them fall to the ground.

'He actually caught my bone bullets' Kimimaro thought.

It didn't show on his face besides a slight widening of the eyes, but he was very surprised by this.

'No one has even been able to dodge my attacks … except for Orochimaru-sama' He thought.

"You are better than I thought" Kimimaro admitted.

"I get that a lot" Naruto says nonchalantely.

"Then I shall take you seriously from this point forward" Kimimaro says.

Naruto watches as he loosens the top of his Kimono allowing the top half to fall off and hang around his waist. Bones began to pop out from under his skin all over his torso and back.

"After the curse seal that Orochimaru-sama gifted me was taken from me I found that the higher more chakra intensive forms of my fighting style were no longer attainable for me. This is currently my strongest form of defense and attack. My third dance, 'Karamatsu no Mai – Dance of the Larch'" Kimimaro says.

He ran at Naruto displaying impressive speed, which Naruto easily matched. Naruto threw the first punch and his hand was snared by the bones. Kimimaro then through a punch with the bones of his wrist surrounding his fist. Naruto simply used the substitution technique to replace himself with a small rock.

Kimimaro's fist hit nothing but air. Naruto then used the shunshin no jutsu to get behind the Kaguya, but the bones on his back lengthened in attempt to skewer him. Naruto backed up, but Kimimaro quickly spun around and attempted to catch Naruto with a punch.

Naruto ducked and backpeddled as Kimimaro kept punching. Naruto did a baseball slide trying to take out his legs, but Kimimaro jumped up into the air and then did a series of mid air flips before coming down on the area Naruto was like a bone saw.

Kimimaro hit nothing but dirt, but before he could get up he felt a scorching heat hit his back. He was immediately thrown forward into the dirt before he rolled and jumped back up to his feet. His sword was stuck in the ground from where he was hit.

"Seems your bones also offer a measure of protection against ninjutsu as well" Naruto says.

He then unseals the scroll he kept the Kusanagi in knowing he would need it to deal with the Kaguya's bones. That is if he had any interest in keeping him alive and he did.

Naruto noticed the sword had changed some since he took it off Orochimaru's corpse. The first change he nodded was the blade had a darker coloring to it appearing nearly black or a dark gray. The hilt was different as well. The guard was gone and the pummel was wider and slightly curved at the ends sort of resembling an anchor. It was also black in color matching the darker blade. The grip was extended allowing it to be used either single handedly or with a two-handed grip.

Naruto held the sword in his right hand and took a few swings with it. The sword was heavier and sturdier looking than before as well. Naruto pushed some of his chakra into it to see if it would still extend and it did. He took a few more swings testing the lengthening ability increasing and decreasing the length of the blade.

Kimimaro watched all of this with narrowed eye. He would recognize that sword from anywhere regardless of what form it took.

'The Kusanagi … then he …' The Oto-nin thought angrily.

"Where did you get that sword?" Kimimaro asked.

Naruto stopped testing the sword and looked at the Kaguya.

"I took it from Orochimaru after the Sandiame Hokage killed him using the Shiki Fuin" Naruto answers.

"Then you stole it from Orochimaru-sama" Kimimaro accused.

"Can't steal from a dead man and as far as I know he had no family. Not that that would have stopped me from taking it. This sword is legendary and I don't know how he got his hands on it, but I'm willing to bet he didn't ask nicely for it" Naruto responds.

Kimimaro didn't care for that response and immediately fired a round of Bone Bullets at Naruto. Naruto merely used the Kusanagi to cut each of the bullets in half before they even got close to hitting him.

Naruto returned the sword to it's normal size after having extended it to deal with the bullets. He then dashed at Kimimaro who also ran to engage him with the bone sword he managed to get back. The swords clash and to Naruto's surprise the bone sword held up, but there was a deep groove where the Kusanagi had hit nearly half way through the bone.

Kimimaro quickly grew another bone sword using a dual sword style as he rapidly slashed and hacked at attack was dodged or swatted aside as Naruto retaliated with precise strikes aimed to destroy one or both swords.

Kimimaro was relentless in coming after him never giving pose as he sought to kill the young Uzumaki. Naruto just grinned as the fight progressed. He really was having fun.

Meanwhile with Jiraiya and Jūgo the fight had grown boring for the Toad Sannin. Jūgo was still young and learning. He had a powerful ability, but his rage just made his attacks mindless and easy to read. He didn't even have to use Sage mode, which was a bit of a disappointment.

It had been easy for Jiraiya to knock out the out of control Jūgo and restrain him. He was actually watching the fight between Naruto and the Kaguya kid. It seemed like every week the kid was working on some new skill or trick, but he had not used anything he hadn't seen before yet except for the flaming hands trick.

Kushina on the other hand had a little rougher time with her opponent. Say what she wanted about the other woman, but Guren was a skilled fighter and killer. Her use of her bloodline was also extraordinary considering she probably had no one to show her how to use it properly.

Still she too was standing over a chained up Guren. Well more like standing on a chained up Guren whom was gagged to stop her from saying anything else that would cause Kushina to forget not to kill the crazy bitch.

But at least she now knew why her son wanted these three alive. They were already A-rank level ninja without Orochimaru's curse seal and would be even stronger in the future. They would be three very strong allies … perhaps only two if something couldn't be done to further control the Sage Clan guy.

Turning her attention to the fight between Naruto and the Kaguya she had been very impressed with both the bloodline and the user, but it seemed Naruto was ready to end the fight.

Back with Naruto and Kimimaro, Naruto had been slashing and hacking Kimimaro's bone attacks redering his third most powerful dance ineffective. He had nearly been sliced into by the sword a few times, but he knew about the poison coating the sword and managed to avoid any cuts that would penetrate the thin layer of bone he had under his skin.

Naruto was perfectly fine. His clothes sported a few rips and tears, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. He had had his fun and was ready to end the fight that had gone on for ten minutes.

Chains erupted from Naruto's back, multiple black chains tipped with spear like heads. They instantly shot into the ground.

Kimimaro glanced around, but kept his eyes focused on the blond. When the chains erupted from the ground he skillfully and with great agility and speed dodged them. No movement was wasted as he seemed to dance through the growing number of black chains as they began to rattle in the sky above him. Kimimaro tried to move outside the growing forest of chains, but found he couldn't get around enough of them before he was forced to move back forcing him to contain him movements and prevent him escaping the trap.

Seeing where this was going Kimimaro held his bone swords tight as he stilled and waited. The ground stopped shaking as the chains stopped coming up from the ground. Several chains started to circle the Kaguya has he eyed them and their creator carefully.

When the chains finally attacked Kimimaro engaged them with his bone swords believing they would be sliced apart easily. However his swords just 'thunked' against the chains as they then wrapped around the weapons. Kimimaro let the swords go as the chains easily took them out of his hands and tried to jump back, but fell awkwardly as his leg was caught on something.

He tried to yank his leg back, but couldn't move it and looked to see the links of a chain circling his leg moving higher and higher up it until reach mid-thigh. Kimimaro reached down to get the chain off when two more quickly wrapped around his forearms and yanked him backwards.

Several of his bones snapped off as the chaines wrapped him up completely and put pressure on him. He struggled for a minute before becoming still. Naruto slowly walked up to the bound shinobi.

"Do you yield?" Naruto asked.

Kimimaro nodded at the question unable to bring himself to actually say the words, but he knew he was beat. Naruto retracted the chains freeing Kimimaro from his binds just as Kushina and Jiraiya moved to stand beside him and dumped their packages on the ground.

"You can let them go" Naruto says.

Kushina's chained instantly desolved allowed the pissed of Guren freedom, but she wasn't stupid enough to attack again. A bit of her pride was damaged by how quickly the old woman had dispatched of her. She had not been able to land a finger on the older woman.

Jiraiya removed the rope binding Jūgo and released the seal that was keeping him unconscious. Thankfully when he awoke he was back to his calmer gentler personality.

The three Oto-nin stood together and faced the Uzumaki's and Sannin.

"Now what?" Kimimaro asked.

"I guess that depends. If you were telling me the truth earlier then follow me back to our group. If not you are free to leave. I have no interest in holding someone against their will. Either way we'll be here for a few days. If I don't see you again thanks for the fun fight … it was interesting" Naruto says.

He signals Kushina and Jiraiya to follow as they leave the area. The three former Oto-nin just watched them leave. Of course Guren wasn't happy about that.

She shoved Kimimaro before saying, "Why are you letting them go. This is the only chance we have to avenge Orochimaru-sama".

Kimimaro only took a glance at her before he started to walk in the opposite direction with Jūgo following.

"Feel free to do so on your own Guren. This is the end of our partnership" He says as he walks away.

Guren clenches her hands tightly and screams after them, "Cowards! I'll do it on my own! Just you watch! I don't need the help of cowards and weaklings!"

She watched as they all left her alone by herself in an area devoid of life except for the crushed rocks that would signify the quick battles that happened here. She dropped to the ground as her hands gripped the dirt.

'I will avenge your death Orochimaru-sama! I will avenge you!' She thought.

Naruto, Kushina, and Jiraiya made it back to the group and found a now standing and seemingly back to normal Tsunade.

"What the hell happened out there" She demanded.

"Are all of you okay?" Shizune asked.

"We're fine it wasn't a big deal" Naruto answers.

"Are they gone?" Karin asked.

"For now" Jiraiya answers.

"We should leave" Kushina says.

Everyone nodded except for Tsunade.

"Wait" She says.

She takes off her necklace and throws it to Naruto. He catches it and looks it over before tossing it back.

"What are you doing brat?" Tsunade questioned.

"Giving it back to you, I don't want it" Naruto answers.

Tsunade pitches it back to him.

"I lost the bet. Kushina won and I lost so keep it" Tsunade responds.

"Not going to argue about it not being a fair fight?" Naruto questions.

"Fair fights don't exist brat … not between ninja. You won the bet now take it" Tsunade says.

Naruto looks at the necklace again as if judging it's worth.

"You know I won't keep it. I'll just sell it to whomever offers me the most money for it" Naruto says.

Shizune and Jiraiya eyes widen at the admission.

"Do what you want, I'm leaving. Come Shizune it's got to be happy hour in one of these bars" Tsunade says as she leaves the area.

Shizune looked torn like she had something she wanted to say, but quickly run after her master.

"Shouldn't you go after her?" Naruto asked the Toad Sannin.

"Yeah, alright kid. I still want to talk about what happened out there later" Jiraiya says.

"You should focus on getting her to agree to become the Hokage. If she doesn't agree to come with us tomorrow we're heading back the next day and you can finish the mission on your own" Naruto says.

Jiraiya just looked at him questiongly for a minute.

"If I didn't know better I'd say you were anxious to go back home, to Konoha" Jiraiya says.

"Then I'm glad you do know better Sannin" Naruto responds.

Jiraiya grins before leaving. He did have a job to do.

"What are we going to do?" Katsu asked.

Before anyone could answer their stomachs did it for them.

"I saw a nice restaurant in town. We can all catch a late breakfast or an early lunch" Kushina says.

The kids all nodded. They left the area soon after.

Jiraiya found Tsunade tossing back a small bottle of Sake forgoing any manner of etiquette. He viewed the scene for a minute before joining her.

"Where is your apprentice? I saw her run after you" Jiraiya says as he sits.

"Shizune … she's back in her room" Tsunade answers.

Jiraiya held a couple of fingers up to the bartender ordering a couple of bottles for himself.

"Why are you here Jiraiya?" Tsunade asks.

"I am here to ask you one more time to become the Godaime Hokage and lead Konoha" Jiraiya responds.

"Go-dai-me …" Tsunade mumbles.

"And why would I want such a job. It holds nothing, but bad memories for me" Tsunade responds.

"Because … Dan and Nawaki would want you to do this" Jiraiya answers.

Tsunade actually put the Sake bottle down to look over at Jiraiya. She then went back to drinking. Neither Sannin said a word as they both drank the evening away.

The next day Naruto, his team, girlfriends, cousin, and mother were once again touring the castle. The girls wanted him to see it once with them before they left and the others tagged along. They would be heading back tomorrow so it was a nice way to end what amounted to a long vacation.

As they were walking through the building they came across Tsunde and Shizune, who were also visiting the castle. Shizune of course being who she was stopped to speak them forcing Tsunade to.

"Hello Naruto-kun" Shizune addresses him.

"Hi Kato-san, Senju-san … what brings the both of you here today?" Naruto asked politely.

"Oh, I was dying to see the castle before we left" Shizune answers.

"Your leaving?" Naruto asks.

"Didn't Jiraiya tell you?" Tsunade interrupts.

"Tell us what?" Kushina breaks in.

"I decided to take the villages offer. You can now call me Hokage-sama" Tsunade informs them.

None of them could hide their shock at the answer.

"What made you change your mind?" Naruto asked.

He never believed in a million years that she would change her mind after everything she said when they first met.

"I have my reasons" was all she said.

"Did Jiraiya get you drunk and trick you into it or something?" Kushina asked.

"Just be packed and ready to leave tomorrow. I expect all of you to protect me with your life and see to it I make it to the village safely" Tsunade says.

"Come on Shizune, I told you I want to go that bar in the north west corner of the village before nightfall" Tsunade says as she leaves.

"Umm … it was nice seeing you again Naruto-kun" Shizune says before she leaves as well.

"Hmm … I never believe she would accept" Naruto says.

"Neither did I sochi" Kushina agrees.

"Maybe that ass kicking you gave her knocked something loose" Naruto jokes.

The group laughed at that, but not too loudly and then continued on their tour. The next day some time in the afternoon the large group began their treck back across the stone bridge that brought them into Tanzaku Gai. Halfway across Naruto noticed a couple of familiar figures.

The group kept walking until they reached the other side of the bridge where the duo was waiting.

"I take it you have decided to join me?" Naruto questioned.

"Hai" Kimimaro answers.

Jūgo just smiled not resembling the maniac they had encountered before. This time he seemed a lot more at peace.

"Then welcome Jūgo-san, Kimimaro-san. Is Guren not joining us as well?" Naruto greeted and asked.

"No, she still blames you for Orochimaru's death" Kimimaro answers truthfully.

"Do either of you?" Naruto asked.

Both young men shook their heads.

"Good, then we should go. Lady Hokage probably wants to get to the village as soon as possible" Naruto responds.

"Now hold your horses brat. If I am going to be stuck behind a desk for the rest of my life I am damn well going to enjoy what remaining freedom I have" Tsunade interrupts.

"Oh joy, this probably means it'll take another month before this mission ends" Naruto laments.

"And here I thought you would enjoy the delay" Tsunade responds.

Naruto just shrugs as he starts walking. He wasn't going to dignify that with a response. Several members of the group laughed before also walking albeit slowly back to Konoha.

At the other end of the bridge a lone figure slowly trailed behind the group. They tried to stay just far back enough to not be noticed, but not so far back that they lost sight of their target. Keeping pace with the group was easy thanks to the slow pace they were keeping.

The group would make it back to the town they had staid in before arriving Tanzaku Gai and decided to stay the night. That night would be extended to several nights when Tsunade learned that the debt she had racked up previous was taken care of thanks to one transforming blond.

Of course the Sannin was quickly back in debt up to her eyeballs much to the joy of the illegal gambling dens owner. The gang quickly left after the total hit the mid six figure level.

The lone figure watched it as they hadn't had the right opportunity yet, but they were persistent. Nothing would deter them from their goal.