Chapter 07

"Of course he could have chosen any other mother in the village to adopt Naruto, however he saw something very special in you Tsunade-sensei that you might have not seen in yourself to move him to believe so strongly that you were fit to become Naruto's new mother. I strongly believe that you'd make a terrific mother to any child, blood-related or not. And I know your little brother and Uncle Dan would have felt the same way about you."

Tsunade stood there in awe at Shizune. Her heart-felt words were filled with wisdom beyond her age. It amazed the older woman that her young apprentice could make her see and acknowledge something like this.

"Thank you Shizune," Tsunade said appreciatively as she wiped away the new tears that fell from her eyes before smiling, "I really needed to hear that. And those words coming from you really mean a lot to me."

Shizune smiled knowing that she managed to heal and restore her sensei's self-confidence. Unknown to the two women was that there was someone listening to the entire conversation from behind the door. The revelation about baby Naruto possessing Yondaime Hokage inside him and eventually acquiring Yondaime's attributes greatly intrigued the interloper.

The possibilities with this new Yondaime Hokage are truly unique, the interloper thought before exiting quietly before being detected.

(Hours Later That Night; Elsewhere)

At an undisclosed location, Naruto was sleeping peacefully in a room guarded outside with two ANBU. No one without authorization from the Hokage himself was allowed into the room. Fifteen minutes later, the ANBU saw Sandaime making his way towards them.

"Sandaime-sama," the ANBU said as the two of them bowed in respects to the elderly Hokage who nodded and greeted them.

"Is everything alright here," inquired Sandaime. The first ANBU answered, "Uzumaki Naruto is resting quietly sir. No troubles have arisen Sandaime-sama."

"That's good to hear," Sandaime replied, "I will like to check up on the child now."

The ANBU nodded and stepped to the side as Sandaime entered the room before closing the door behind him. Sandaime afterwards quietly walked over to Naruto's crib and looked down at the young boy, before forming a sinister smile on his face…

(A While Later)

The two ANBU waited outside the room for Sandaime to exit. As they waited, a voice from behind them asked, "Is everything all right here?"

The two ANBU turned speedily in surprise to see Sandaime approaching them with two other ANBU following him to relieve their fellow ANBU from their watch.

"S-Sandaime-sama," the second ANBU exclaimed in confusion, "Didn't you just enter inside the room a while ago?"

In seconds Sarutobi registered what just happened as his eyes widened in horror and shock.

"WHAT," Sandaime exclaimed before running to the door, finding it locked.

"SHIT," Sandaime cursed before breaking the door down, storming into the room with the four Anbu following. They came to see an empty crib and an opened window. Whoever came into the room had posed as him using a Henge No Jutsu and kidnapped Naruto. But the question was who and how did he or she find out about Naruto. This was exactly the situation that Sandaime feared would occur and to his horror it didn't take long for this secret to somehow get out.

Turning to the four ANBU, Sandaime ordered with full authority, "Lock the village down and station as many Jounins and Chuunins at all exit ports to the village as you can! Gather all of the ANBU, and explain to them that Naruto has been kidnapped! Search the village! Search everywhere! I want Naruto found and the kidnapper brought in alive for questioning! We need to found out if he or she is working alone or with an accomplice!"

"HAI," the four ANBU complied disappearing in a puff of smoke. Turning to the empty crib, Sandaime thought, This is exactly what I feared: enemy forces coming against us during our weakest and most vulnerable moments right after a most catastrophic event…Yondaime, for your son's sake and the sake of the entire village, I hope Naruto will be found and brought back safely and fast…

(Meanwhile)

Tsunade was finding it hard to sleep with all the commotion going on outside. She put the pillow over her head to try to drown out the noise but it was to no avail. Frustrated, she got up and walked over to her bedroom door and opened it. Upon stepping out though, she stepped on something with her barefoot. Looking door, she saw something that wasn't in the apartment before, which didn't belong to either her or Shizune. It was a notepaper that had names of clans and organizations written down on it.

"Someone was here," Tsunade realized. A moment later, Shizune ran into the apartment and went over to her sensei.

"Tsunade-sensei," Shizune called out. Turning to the young girl, Tsunade asked, "What is it?"

"All of the exits ports have been sealed off," Shizune explained, "The village is under complete lockdown by order of the Hokage! From what I've heard, there's been a kidnapping of some sort!"

It hit Tsunade like a ton of rocks as she looked at the notepaper in her hands. Clinching the paper tightly until it was crumbled in her fist angrily, Tsunade said, "Wait here!"

Not waiting for a reply, Tsunade stormed out of the apartment.

"Tsunade-sensei," Shizune cried out, but her cries fell on deaf ears as Tsunade speedily ran out to pursue and apprehend the kidnapper. She didn't care about the fact that she was barefooted and still in her sleeping kimono. All that mattered to her was getting to and rescuing Naruto in time. From breaking an entry into her private lodging to kidnapping the newborn that was meant for her to adopt, for what it's worth, the culprit behind these crimes have just incurred her wrath…