Tsunade was walking through the Torture and Intelligence Department with Ibiki as she prepared her village for what she was sure would be a very rough patch. With Jiraiya's passing, Konoha now found itself in a rather difficult position since in purely militaristic terms it had lost a considerable asset. She hated thinking of her friend's death in such a way, but in the shinobi villages which prided themselves on the quality of the men and women they trained. The death of Jiraiya was the equivalent of losing a third of the village's military might. One of the reasons for the Toad Sannin's constantly being on the move, outside of his skills as a spy, was because it had kept the enemies of the village on edge. By allowing Jiraiya to travel about freely it forced the other villages to account for him should they want to move against the Leaf Village.
Tsunade was aware that one of the reasons Iwa had sent a battalion of Genin led by the Jounin, whose body Seven now occupied, was because Jiraiya had been in the Land of Birds at the time. Although at the time Bird Country hadn't bordered the Land of Earth directly due to it having not absorbed the Land of Noodles at that point, having Jiraiya just a short distance away had forced Iwa to move several squads of Anbu and Jounin to the border it had shared Noodle Country in case he retaliated for the attack on his home.
With him gone though, she knew it was only a matter of time before not only Akatsuki moved against the village, but Iwa and possibly Kirigakure as well. She couldn't rule out Kumogakure unfortunately, but hoped they had made enough positive inroads that the Raikage didn't decide to test Konoha's defenses.
Entering a corridor where most of the initial interrogations that the village performed were held, she allowed her thoughts to wander a more personal matter. Naruto had informed her that morning that he intended to go to Mount Myoboku to train with the toads in the sage arts. He had apparently been rather busy as she slept because upon entering the Den's main hallway she had nearly bowled over Naruko. The Hokage was aware that the young woman knew that it had been her to send Jiraiya after her. Tsunade would admit that a part of her still resented the woman for how she had treated Naruto. But looking at her, she knew that at the very least she had come to care for Jiraiya like Naruto and she did. As a result, she had let go of that anger as she had offered her condolences, which were quickly returned. The small exchange nearly had both women prepared to shed tears again, but the moment was broken when Naruto had informed her he planned to go to the home of the Toads to learn from Fukasaku.
Despite the small measure of understanding that the two women had just achieved. Tsunade would admit that she had felt like disagreeing with her lover when he had informed her that he had also extended the offer to learn from the Toad Sage to Naruko. However, a quick glance to Naruto had been all she needed to know that he would not be willing to listen to her concerns on the matter. Plus, she would admit to understanding that Naruko, as a fellow student of Jiraiya, would have as much right in trying to avenge him as anyone. It also didn't hurt that she believed that the more time the young woman spent around Naruto, the less likely it would be that she would become a threat to him.
Although she knew it would not have mattered in the end she had still given her blessing, something which had obviously surprised Naruko. But Tsunade would admit it would have been totally worth it, if only because of the pleased smile she had received from her lover.
She hadn't exactly been prepared when after inquiring as to when he would be leaving, he had answered immediately. A part of her had wanted to remain wrapped up in his arms, but she knew it couldn't be as they both had duties to perform. She had been surprised that at least as far as she knew she had been the only one of his lovers to spend any time with him as he grieved. But she quickly realized that due to their shared grief the other women were giving her and Naruto a chance to work through it together.
She imagined some of them may have regretted that as after telling her that he was leaving immediately, he then disappeared into smoke as did Naruko. Although having been reversed summoned herself before, what had shocked her was that as soon as he disappeared she had been unable to feel him via her foxmark. She felt the sudden disappearance of Naruto send a ripple concern through the network of women connected to him. To her surprise, she even felt Konan's alarm. However, when she felt her immediately calm it confirmed for Tsunade that the blue-haired was of the opinion that Pain was coming to collect Naruto. Closing her eyes Tsunade had pinpointed Konan's location and although the lone female member of Akatsuki was closer to the village then she normally came. The Hokage doubted that she had entered the Land of Fire as of yet. Aware that Naruto may not be Pain's first target, she nevertheless believed that the reason Konan had calmed so quickly was because she was of the opinion that they had found a safe place to hide Naruto.
With the understanding that Pain was likely coming soon, Tsunade had made her way to the teleporting seal located in the Den. Standing on it; she sent a calming sensation through the network of women who bore the same mark as her alerting his other lovers that Naruto was okay. She then bottled up her own emotions of pain and grief as she would follow Naruto's example. Disappearing from the Den, she appeared in her own bedroom where she quickly stripped in order to shower and make herself presentable to those she needed to lead. There would be time to grieve later, as for now she needed to direct her energies in protecting the living.
Tsunade's recalling of the events of that morning ended as she stepped into a room where the members of the Torture and Interrogation Department generally started their questioning before they began to use their more draconian forms of interrogation. She stepped into the room and although she had known as much due to her foxmark, she was still surprised to find Yakumo Kurama there. Entering behind the Hokage was Ibiki who gave Yakumo a brief nod before directing his attention through the glass where Anko was questioning the shinobi that Jiraiya had stored away in a toad summons of his. Tsunade stared at the man who was sitting back with a smirk before asking, "I take it that Inoichi and the others had no luck reading his mind."
"It was inconclusive at best," Ibiki answered crossing his arms in annoyance at his lack of progress. "Despite being a genin his mental defenses are quite high. However, I believe this is a result of some sealing method that Ame shinobi are put through. It would explain why we were caught so I'll prepared by the news that Hanzo of the Salamander was no longer in charge there."
Tsunade kept the frown she felt from reaching her face as she had known the truth of the matter ever since Konan had become a member of the Harem. It bothered her that if was information she hadn't been able to share, but when measured against the safety of one of Naruto's lovers, of her family, she would continue to do so. "Well the secret is out now," she said as she watched the Rain Shinobi Ryusui smart off to Anko. Unable to hear what he said, she nodded to one of the Chunin operating the recording devices.
Understanding the silent command he pressed a button and suddenly the observation room was filled with the genin's voice as he said, "Give it up bitch. Eventually Lord Pain is going to flatten this pathetic village and when he does, I'm going to enjoy being the one that makes you talk."
"That's big talk coming from a lowly genin like you," Anko said amused. Her voice took on a throaty whisper as she added, "Although, it's making me kind of hot. Why don't you tell me what you'd do to get me to talk?"
Ryusui smirked as Anko stood while he said, "Oh, I think you know exactly what I'd do..."
Anko came around the table showing Tsunade that she was wearing a predatory smile as she said, "I think I do." She then surprised Tsunade by reaching for the hem of her skirt and slowly began to pull it up. As she did so she said, "I'm thinking that if our roles were reversed, you'd have your way with me until I told you every little secret I knew."
"You have no id..." Ryusui began to say but trailed off as a look of horror appeared on his face as Anko's finished hiking her skirt up.
Tsunade was slightly confused as a glossy black dildo sprang up between her legs after she undid a strap that had tied it to her thigh. Although far from naked as she was wearing a pair of tight shorts beneath the harness the dildo was attached to, Ryusui's reaction seemed to convey quite the opposite. He tried to spring away from the kunoichi, but the heavy metal chair he was strapped to did not allow him to budge. "What the fuck are you?" Ryusui asked as Anko began stroking the plastic sex toy as if it was flesh and blood while she moaned accordingly.
Tsunade began to understand Ryusui's reaction as she directed her gaze to Yakumo who gave her an amused smile. One Tsunade couldn't help mirroring as Anko began to drool coating her toy in her saliva before rubbing it against Ryusui's face. The Ame genin tried to recoil in horror since the genjutsu he was under had him believing that there was a giant cock between Anko's legs which was coated in precum. "S-stop...please..." he said prompting Anko to pull back for a moment.
"Only if you start spilling your guts about Pain."
"I'll never betray Lord Pain."
"That's what I wanted to hear," Anko said summoning a pair of snakes on top of the table. The snakes wrapped their tails around Ryusui's wrists before slithering to the opposite side of the table where they wrapped themselves around the legs of it. Anko undid the bindings holding Ryusui to the chair as the snakes began to coil themselves around the table's legs pulling him to his feet until he was bent over the top of it. Anko came up behind him and leaned over Ryusui making sure to press her package up against his ass as she whispered, "It's always pleasurable for me when they talk after I have my way with them. It's a good thing you worship Pain, because I don't have any lube."
He felt Anko reaching around for the clasp of his pants and not prepared to lose his anal cherry to a kunoichi shouted, "I'll talk...I'll talk...just put that thing away."
Anko pouted. But instead of doing as he asked moved to the chair she had been sitting in earlier. Playing with the plastic toy like it was the real thing Anko said, "That will depend on what you have to say. Now talk!"
Ryusui nodded quickly as he said, "I don't know much about Pain. But recently he's had us searching everywhere for corpses."
"Why?"
"I don't know," Ryusui said a little too quickly for Anko's liking.
"I think you do," Anko said preparing to stand from the chair. "Looks like I'm going to have to take a hands on approach after all."
Ryusui whimpered pathetically but broke causing Anko to retake her seat as he said, "Alright, I can't be sure what he needs them for. But a friend of mine says they are to house his Divineness."
"What are you blathering about?"
"Lord Pain is a god," Ryusui said his tone leaving little doubt that he believed as much. "My partner says that the corpses we deliver are how he is able to manifest himself. He one time witnessed Lord Pain as he was leaving the village with Lady Angel. He said that one of the men that were with Lady Angel was a corpse that he delivered to God's Tower. He was sure of it even though the man's hair was orange and he had these weird piercings in his face." Ryusui lowered his head as he tried to tear his gaze from the angrily throbbing cock between the women's legs
"Keep talking," Anko said nudging his face up with her foot.
Tsunade turned away as the Ame genin began spilling his guts in order to pacify Anko. Most of it was of little use, but Tsunade hoped there would be a few nuggets of worthy intel trapped in the genin. Sure that Anko would find it if it existed she headed out of the room followed by Ibiki. "What do you think the significance of the corpses are?"
"I'm not sure," The Hokage answered feeling a great deal of concern about it. "It could just be that Pain was aware that he would be entering into some major conflicts soon and would need replacements. But..."
"But?" Ibiki repeated wondering what the Hokage was thinking.
"But according to Fukasaku, Pain appears to have the ability to heal these paths somehow." Tsunade frowned but added, "Still there may be a limit to how much damage he can heal or how many times he can do it."
"It could also be that he would need a replacement if the path capable of healing was destroyed somehow," Ibiki suggested.
"True," Tsunade said but was positive there was something more to the matter. She let it drop for the moment as she said, "Ibiki, I want you to put together an intelligence packet on all we know of Pain thus far. Distribute it to every active shinobi with the orders they are to study it and prepare."
Ibiki nodded as he didn't need to ask for what they were to prepare. Turning to follow his orders, he knew exactly what she was telling them to prepare for.
Tsunade headed outside and delighted in the fresh air as she had always found the Interrogation Department's headquarters to be quite oppressive. Following her own orders, she headed to a Training Field to find Yuugao and fifty of her Anbu waiting. Having directed the Anbu captain to gather her best shinobi she smiled as she removed her green jacket. Tossing it aside she said, "I have a meeting at eleven-thirty, please try your best to make it till then."
Yuugao understood immediately as she pulled her blade to charge Tsunade. The other Anbu hesitated which prompted Tsunade to smash the ground sending the least prepared flying as the earth cracked and splintered. Yuugao managed to land in front of the Sannin and swiped at the blonde with her blade. Tsunade bent backwards to avoid the attack, and then retaliated with a kick that caught her opponent in the side of the head. However, instead of flying away the log she used as a substitution exploded into splinters. By then the rest of the Anbu had recovered and converged on the Hokage. By the time Tsunade needed to leave the many combatants had been reduced down to two. The two women left standing were still going at it as they felt the threat to their happiness that Pain represented greater than most.
*****************************
Ino prepared to open her family's flower shop. Luckily it was something she could do on autopilot at this point as her mind was stuck in the past. Thinking about the night before she unlike Naruto's other lovers had decided to see how he was doing. However, upon approaching the abandoned building that the Den sat below she had begun to lose her nerve. Also, she realized it wasn't because the others didn't want to help him deal with his grief, but they were keeping their distance for Tsunade's sake. Upon coming to that conclusion she understood that Tsunade may actually be taking the death harder than Naruto considering it had been another of her important people taken from her.
She was about to return home when she felt Naruto stirring as he began coming to the surface. When he appeared from the building she noticed a toad standing on his shoulder. The toad then dispelled itself leaving Naruto alone who then began heading to his apartment. Ino had doubted he was aware of her presence due to his looking lost in thought. He passed by the alley she had been in and despite consciously having decided to let him by without talking to him, was nevertheless surprised when her voice calling, "Naruto," brought him to a stop.
When he turned to face her, she felt her heart go out to him as his eyes were still red and puffy from the tears he had shed. Yet, now that she was face to face with him, she couldn't recall why she had decided to head out in the first place. Still, she knew there was one obvious place to start so quickly said, "Naruto, I'm so sorry for your loss."
"Yeah," Naruto said unemotionally, "me too." Ino wanted to pull him into a hug, but considering what had passed between them recently held herself back. In truth, she knew that she loved him and was quite sure if she asked Hinata to verify it that her chakra would be a bright red. But, even though Naruto had told her that he still loved her, she felt that before she could return to their previous level of intimacy they needed to clear the air between them.
She guessed Naruto felt the same as he turned away and said, "Ino, I know I owe you a conversation. But I'm afraid it's going to have to wait. I need to become stronger if I'm going to be ready to face Pain when the time comes. The Toad Sage that trained Jiraiya has offered to take me on as a student and I've agreed. I'll be out of the village for a while."
"H-how long?" Ino asked feeling a little relieved, but also disappointed. While she didn't exactly relish admitting how much she had come to miss having him in her life. Or, how although she still didn't like how reckless he was with his life, would admit she couldn't imagine him being any other way. She would admit that learning it would be a while longer before she could take him into her arms was greatly disappointing.
To her surprise tears began to form in her eyes upon his answering, "I-I don't know." Her lover proved that he would probably always be capable of surprising her, as despite her belief that he was as hesitant to show his feelings through physical contact as she. He cupped her face and used his thumbs to wipe away her tears. He then stared into her eyes and genuinely said, "Ino, thank you," before kissing her tenderly. While the kiss didn't grow into a searing hot passionate one, it would remain one that Ino would remember forever as it confirmed to her that his feelings for her hadn't faltered in the slightest. As well as it confirming to her that her heart belonged solely to him and the family she had made with him. Needless to say despite it appearing to be just a chaste kiss that lovers often shared in public, it stole Ino's breath away.
Naruto pulled away first to stare at her face prompting her to open her eyes again. He smiled at her and although it still held quite a bit of pain in it. She took some solace in it appearing as if some of the pain had faded. He then stepped back as he sadly said, "Ino, I need to get going."
She nodded in understanding so Naruto began to head towards his apartment where she then felt him Hiraishin to some location in Tea Country. He had returned briefly to the village, before disappearing once more. This time though his presence literally disappeared. Ino's thoughts immediately began to believe the worse had happened, but she calmed as she felt Tsunade send a reassuring sensation through the network of women connected via the foxmarks which signified their commitment to Naruto.
The brief moment of fear she had felt when Naruto's presence had disappeared did show Ino one important thing about herself. She truly didn't care if the world became a better place or not. She cared because Naruto did. She was aware that Naruto stood at another crossroad in which he would choose just what kind of man he wanted to be. She felt this one was more crucial than the others as it would be the first time where Naruto would battle someone that had stolen a person he cared about from him. If Naruto decided to kill Pain in retaliation for what he did to Jiraiya, she felt it would be akin to his turning his back on Jiraiya's dream which he had made his own. Of course, Ino couldn't exactly see a way where a battle between the two didn't end in one or the other's death. However, she knew it would be what was in Naruto's heart at the time he struck the final blow that would determine what path he would take afterwards. But truthfully to Ino it didn't matter as long as he survived and if he did change after the fact by deciding the world needed to burn. Well so long as he wanted her by his side, she would be the first one to strike the match that did it.
The sound of a bell being hit by the door snapped Ino out of the dark place her thoughts had turned to. She threw on a happy smile as she greeted the early morning customer. Watching the woman as she looked through the newest arrivals, Ino shed her dark thoughts like a duck did water. The reason being that while Naruto was currently striving to come to terms with his own anger and rage at Jiraiya's death. She had no doubt that he would find a way to still remain the man that could look at the world and believe he could make it a place where the Shinobi Villages saw each other as allies instead of enemies. It was her faith in him that made her believe that, as he wouldn't be the man that she loved if he couldn't.
*****************************
Mikoto sighed as she sat in the warm water of the Hot Springs located on Kiyomi's property. She wasn't alone as she noticed Tsume Inuzuka and what she guessed was her daughter at the opposite end. She had been informed that all the women that would be at the bath were aware of her still being alive as well as her recent escape from Konoha Prison. However, she wasn't surprised by Tsume's lack of welcome as the two of them had never been close. Truthfully, she was of the opinion that Tsume more than likely hated her guts. Not that Mikoto could blame the woman for her opinion. The girl that Mikoto had been during the early days of her time in the Academy had not exactly been a pleasant one.
The reason being was that she had been afflicted with what her friend Kushina had described as Snooty Uchiha Syndrome. Mikoto hated to admit it, but she had been, especially before her having met the fiery red-head. Tsume as a member of what many in the Uchiha considered an inferior clan had often been a target of Mikoto's, and other aspiring Uchiha kunoichi, to pick on. Not that the future Inuzuka head ever would take it lying down, but considering there were very few kids willing to stand up to the Uchiha it meant more often than not she would find herself being ganged up on.
Things had continued on in that vein for several years with Mikoto being what many considered the queen of the academy until a new transfer student arrived. Mikoto smiled in the hot spring as she let the warmth of the water mingle with the similar feelings she had upon remembering Kushina's first day at the Academy. Granted they hadn't been friends, if anything she had come to see Kushina as a threat to her reign over the kunoichi of the school. Especially when during her introduction to the class she had stated her intention of being the first female Hokage. It had been Fugaku, her future husband and the man she had been betrothed to who had led the charge of boys mocking Kushina for her dream. Mikoto had found it amusing that a kunoichi from an inferior clan believed she could become Hokage when even an Uchiha had yet to earn the honor.
That amusement had lasted until the first recess, where Kushina had approached Fugaku and after demanding an apology had proceeded to pound him into the ground when he scoffed at the idea. Mikoto still had a hard time believing how easily Kushina had handled the other boys that had leapt to their leader's defense. Mikoto's disbelief wouldn't last long as she had decided to avenge her betrothed's embarrassment by handling the girl herself. Mikoto had learned the hard way that Kushina was more than a match for her despite her being the top kunoichi in class. The confrontation had ended with Kushina pinning her to the ground, where she had the preceded to rearrange her facial features with her fists. This was despite her ambushing the girl with several of her friends as back-up. But once Mikoto had gone down, she learned how much her friends were willing to do for her as they had scattered with just a look from the Uzumaki.
When Mikoto had reached her home that night, her mother had naturally wanted to have Kushina expelled. But, Mikoto had known that would only further make her appear weak in front of the other future kunoichi. However, what Mikoto didn't realize was that the damage had already been done. She hadn't been surprised when the next day she found Kushina and Tsume sitting next to each other in class. But, what had, but she realized in hindsight shouldn't have been all that surprising, was how soon her so called friends had begun to gravitate towards Kushina. The reason being was that unlike her, Kushina hadn't been concerned about things such as clan status or the like. None of that mattered to the Uzumaki; instead the only thing that mattered was whether or not they were kind to her and her friends.
Mikoto learned that one didn't necessarily need to be her friend to fall under the red-head's protective influence either. By the end of Kushina's first year at the academy it could easily be said that she had taken Mikoto's place as the queen of the Academy in a manner of speaking. Not that she cared about such things as she felt that it had no bearing on her becoming Hokage. However, there were plenty of people who did, especially since as former targets of the previous queen felt they could get a little payback now that she was not the most feared girl in the school. Being on the receiving end of an ambush, Mikoto found herself backed into a corner until Kushina had charged in hitting the ring leader in the jaw.
Mikoto still remembered the scene of being on her knees due to a sprained ankle while behind a defiant Kushina as her attackers tried to reason with the red-head. But, the other girls realizing their words wouldn't sway Kushina to stand aside decided to take her out as well feeling it would raise their own popularity in a similar matter as it had the Uzumaki. But Mikoto understood while watching Kushina fight that even if the other girls had managed to win. The people that had befriended Kushina wouldn't abandon her as they had Mikoto. She realized that the people that had become Kushina's friends had done so based on the strength of her personality, not because of the clan she belonged to or her having bested Mikoto previously.
Still despite that as Kushina, after handling the would-be bullies, carried Mikoto home on her back the Uchiha had asked, "Why?"
"Why what?" Kushina had replied confused. Yet, having some idea as to what Mikoto was inquiring about she answered, "They were picking on you."
"B-but still there are plenty of people who think I deserve it," Mikoto had countered.
"Well, I don't," Kushina said blowing out an annoyed breath, "Besides, if I had just walked away and let those girls have their way then I wouldn't have been able to ask if you would be my friend."
"Y-you want me to be your friend?" Mikoto asked not quite sure if she was hearing the girl correctly.
Kushina nodded her head quickly and looking over her shoulder gave the Uchiha a wide smile as she answered, "Absolutely! You're really strong and you're kind of like I was when I first arrived."
"W-what do you mean?"
"Well," Kushina said pausing as she thought a moment, "You might have been surrounded by a bunch of people. But deep down, I just felt you were lonely just like I was."
"B-but I attacked you," Mikoto said still surprised that the red-head would want her as a friend.
Blowing out a breath nosily indicating her disregarding Mikoto's point Kushina countered, "Who cares about that? What kind of place would if it be if people can't let the past go in order to build better relationships in the future?"
Despite her upbringing telling her it was a weakness to show emotions to outsiders, Mikoto found herself tearing up as she began to tell Kushina she accepted. However, before she could a screech of, "Mikoto," filled the air. Mikoto looked up to see her mother bearing down on them as she added, "You little demon what have you done to my daughter?"
Mikoto felt Kushina stiffen at being called a demon. Kushina quickly set her down before taking off running but not before shouting, "Let me know what you think tomorrow at school okay?"
Mikoto's mom had let Kushina go to tend to her daughter but promised the little hellion wouldn't get away with it. That was until Mikoto had told her to drop it. When her mother had asked her why, the future Uchiha matriarch had given a genuine smile as she answered, "Because she's my friend."
True to form when Mikoto had approached Kushina the next day the Uzumaki had welcomed her into her circle of friends warmly. That wasn't to say that all of them had welcomed her though as Tsume had never truly forgiven her. That didn't mean they didn't put their differences aside when around Kushina, but after her death neither woman had seen the point in continuing to try to get along.
Mikoto ended her recollection of the past in order to concentrate on her current situation. Watching Tsume with her daughter caused her own heart to grow pained as she thought of her children, but pushing past the pain she tried to spend some time trying to understand what her role in bringing Sasuke back to his senses was going to be. It proved difficult due in part to her watching Tsume and her daughter. But it also stemmed from her being incarcerated for close to a decade. There was a list of things she wanted to indulge in now that she was free and the dip in the hot-springs was just the first. She smirked as she thought of how her ability to leave the mansion was a rather recent change of events as she had asked Naruto shortly after he had brought Seven to the mansion from the prison.
Naruto had quickly agreed, provided that she promised him not to try to escape. Mikoto had, but nevertheless hadn't been surprised when Kiyomi quickly interjected that she refused to modify the seal binding Mikoto to the mansion's interior. This had sparked a rather heated argument between Naruto and the Fox Bijuu, who had been in the midst of training the Taki-nin to be more self-sufficient. During the argument, Naruto still upset about what had been done to the three kunoichi had jerked his thumb towards a quiet Miya Asama that had been sipping tea and asked, "Just who the hell is this? Don't tell me you went out and find yourself another guinea pig?"
Naruto went stock still as an evil aura seemed to fill the room. Turning, he saw what appeared to be a purple demon head floating in the air. Startled, he had fallen backwards and watched it seemingly fade into Miya, whose face never lost its cheerful demeanor. After taking another sip of her tea she said, "If you were curious as to who I am, all you needed to do was ask? It's quite rude to just point and yell."
Mikoto had smirked due to her long practice of picking up what a willful child would mumble under his breath so heard Naruto mutter, "And just how rude is it to try and give a person a heart attack to make a point."
"What was that," Miya replied the demon head appearing again as if to eat the blond man.
Naruto reacted accordingly covering his face as if to ward off the demon, but then peeking out between his fingers asked, "Um...where did you learn that jutsu?"
Miya appeared surprised by the question but indulging Naruto's curiosity answered, "From my sensei, why do you ask?"
Growing a little nervous Naruto answered, "Well it just kind of reminds me of something I saw when Zabuza killed Gato."
"Zabuza," Miya said thoughtfully before saying, "Oh yes, he was the monstrous child Takehito-sensei took on as a student after my squad." Naruto frowned at her description and was glad Haku was out of the village as he could only imagine how she would react to it. Miya was able to pick up on Naruto's seeming displeasure at her description of Zabuza so informed him, "Trust me, it is a fair explanation for what that boy was. He, without any warning, leapt the fence where the graduating class of the academy was slaughtering each other and proceeded to kill everyone. Yet despite this, no one wanted to train him. Takehito-sensei was in between students at the time and decided to make him his apprentice. But, how do you know him?"
"He was the first real ninja that I faced as a shinobi," Naruto said standing, "I was also there when he fell in battle to protect the dignity of someone special to both of us."
"Zabuza's dead," Miya said surprised. Naruto nodded prompting her to ask, "What about Kisame?"
"No, he's still kicking and a member of Akatsuki," Naruto answered, but Mikoto had been able to tell that he didn't like the look that had appeared on Miya's face.
Especially as she had, "Good," darkly with a look that she would picture a wolf wearing as it licked its chops.
Mikoto was about to recall her reunion with Seven, but let it drop as she noticed a nude blonde woman approaching the hot spring. Although kept in the dark about a lot of recent events while in the prison, she had heard a few of the major ones like the death of the Third and how Tsunade had taken his place. She recognized the approaching woman from when she had lived in the village, and although she had heard rumors of how she had begun to change her appearance to hide her age, would admit that she was surprised the woman would choose such a young age to henge herself to. But as Mikoto watched her, she began to believe that as incredible as it was the Hokage wasn't wearing one at the moment. She also noticed the small fox mark on her inner right thigh. Having noticed the ones on Tsume and her daughter she began to wonder as to the significance of the mark.
She wasn't surprised Tsunade had decided to give her a wide berth as she slipped into the water. Besides the old rivalries that she was sure the Senju had experienced with members of her clan, Mikoto felt it was also due to her outsider status afforded to her by her not having the same mark as the other women that she had thus far encountered. Mikoto turned her head away as Tsunade began to study her discreetly, but returned the gesture by watching her and the other women via their reflections in a decorative waterfall that was feeding the spring.
Although she doubted the Sannin didn't know she was still being observed it was apparent she had wanted to ask the Inuzuka clan head something and wasn't going to let the Uchiha's presence dissuade her. However, she was beat to the punch by Tsume, who asked, "What's up with the seal? I thought you didn't plan to use it again wanting to make your second chance last this time around."
Mikoto hadn't been able to "hear" what Tsume had asked since she had kept her voice down as she was aware Mikoto had yet to be made aware of all of their secrets. But the Uchiha had read the woman's lips via her reflection in the various water sources, something that was extremely difficult to do normally, but made considerably easier via the Sharingan.
Tsunade made sure to keep her head directed away from Mikoto as she answered, but the Uchiha was able to read what she said due to her reflection on the water's surface. To her surprise Tsunade had answered, "Well, considering what we may end up facing I figured it was prudent to begin storing a reserve of chakra again."
"Aren't you worried about the side-effects?" Hana asked worriedly.
"No," Tsunade replied, "Actually it kind of ties into what I wanted to ask your mother about."
"What's that?" Tsume asked leaning forward in interest.
Tsunade appeared to grow a little nervous and sent a look towards Mikoto who aware the glance was coming had deactivated her Kekkei Genkai. She reactivated it again when Tsunade looked away and just picked up her saying, "...as one of the oldest currently among us. I was curious if you've been noticing any changes."
"What sort of changes?" Tsume asked not sure what the Hokage was trying to ask her.
"I think she means changes similar to what she's gone through mom," Hana said carefully obviously not taking it for granted Mikoto wasn't looking in their direction.
"Exactly," Tsunade said sending a grateful nod towards the younger Inuzuka.
Tsume seemed to grow embarrassed as she answered, "No...not really."
The two women frowned, but Hana said, "Well I have." Tsunade obviously was surprised at the admission, but it disappeared as Hana explained, "Not in me, but in Mom."
"Really, what sort of changes," Tsunade said deciding to go with the secondary verification of her theory. "Well, she's grown a little tighter if you know what I mean. Plus, she wouldn't want to admit it but some bitch had been challenging her for her spot as the Inuzuka head. They fought a few months before...Mom's new relationship...and she barely held on for the win. The woman challenged her again recently and Mom beat her hands down."
"Really," Tsunade said giving Tsume a telling look.
The Inuzuka huffed as she said, "Fine, I admit it. It feels like I'm getting the same stuff you did only spread out over a period of time. I first began to notice it when my times as I ran around the village started improving instead of getting worse. I just chalked it up to my...being involved. I'm guessing that your prying means that it isn't just that."
Tsunade nodded as she began to get out of the water while answering, "We can talk about it further later."
Mikoto frowned as she deactivated her jutsu since Tsume and Hana had decided they wanted to hear what the Hokage was thinking now as they followed her out of the water. Mikoto began to try and piece together what she learned to see if it matched with the other tidbits she had been able to gleam. However, sensing she wasn't alone she said, "Well if it isn't my Bijuu buddy?"
Seven sighed at Mikoto's annoyed tone as she slid into the water next to her. "Are you really going to keep calling me that? It's beginning to grate on my nerves."
"Really," Mikoto said, "Imagine how I must have felt upon learning that the woman I was trusting my life too was actually a freaking Bijuu."
"I don't know, maybe relieved that you had such a powerful ally at your back," Seven said. Her tone grew slightly dark as she asked, "Or, was it upon learning of my Bijuu nature that you suddenly found yourself less capable of trusting me."
Mikoto met the other woman's stare, but ended up looking away first as she said, "Or maybe I was hurt that you apparently didn't feel you could trust me."
Seven stared at her for a moment before cracking up laughing as she said, "Really, I can imagine how much you would have trusted me after that conversation. Hey Mikoto, I'm actually not a disgraced Iwa kunoichi, but actually an ancient chakra beast sealed away in a disgraced Iwa-nin whose body is now mine to control. It was done to me by my sister, also an ancient Bijuu, all for the sake of getting eyes in the prison to put down a plot by one of Konoha's elders. Oh, and less I forget my sister also happens to be the Kyuubi no Kitsune who despite trying to flatten Konoha before, is now actively trying to protect it." Seven gave Mikoto a sarcastic look as she added, "Yeah, I'm sure if I told you that. You would have still decided to trust me."
Mikoto stared at Seven blankly before giggling as she admitted, "I suppose you have a point. Still, I can't say it doesn't bother me that I'm apparently still being kept in the dark about quite a few things."
Seven gave her an understanding look as she replied, "I know. But my hands are kind of tied. Kiyomi as I'm sure you can tell is not the most trusting, and can be pretty secretive. Plus she hates your clan with a passion."
"Because of Madara?"
"And quite a few others," Seven said, "He was just the first to actually succeed at controlling her. However, your clan has been chasing our power for quite a long time. They just most often focused on her."
"I suppose I can understand why I would make her nervous," Mikoto said, "But I'm not my clan."
"True, but she hates your son something fierce as well. I know Naruto hopes you can talk him into abandoning his quest for revenge. Kiyomi doesn't hold out much hope of you succeeding."
Mikoto looked pained as she stared off into the distance before saying, "I see, it appears you've earned your sisters trust. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks," Seven said her tone obviously showing how pleased she was to be in Kiyomi's good graces again.
Mikoto continued to look away as she said, "Naruto does strike me as a rather optimistic person, perhaps overly so. Kiyomi said she was a part of Naruto when Sasuke defected. So what does she believe my chances of convincing Sasuke to abandon this path of an avenger are?"
Seven sighed, before saying, "Look my sister could be said to be overly pessimistic..."
"Please," Mikoto said to which Seven could tell the Uchiha expected Kiyomi's read of the matter would be the more accurate.
Seven paused for several moments but finally answered, "Kiyomi says that no matter how she looks at it. Unless you are prepared to kill Sasuke, you're the one that doesn't walk away from the encounter."
Despite having expected such an answer Mikoto angrily snapped, "Where does she get off saying that? She doesn't know Sasuke."
Seven looked down at the water before replying, "Maybe...but maybe she isn't the only one." Seven put her hands up defensively as she said, "Look, Kiyomi's views of your son may be tainted...but the way she lays everything out is pretty damn persuasive. According to her, you're the one that first clued the Hokage in on the pending rebellion. Kiyomi believes that if Sasuke is aware of that then he's going to kill you before you can even talk to him. Even if he doesn't, he may be convinced to abandon his path, but the second he does learn you become enemy number one again."
Mikoto couldn't deny that Kiyomi's scenarios sounded plausible especially considering the Uchiha's Curse of Hatred. She decided she didn't want to think about it any further at the moment so turned her attention to Seven. She noticed that the woman seemed far more relaxed. Granted the last time they had been in a dangerous situation where the slightest misstep could had led to their doom so she figured Seven's calm demeanor may just because of the change of venue. But if Mikoto had to really place her finger on it Seven's demeanor was that of a woman that just did a stint in prison and had gotten out to enjoy a good fucking. Yet, Mikoto laughed the idea off as her being in need of a good lay herself.
Mikoto dropped the current train of thought before she could get herself too worked up over the idea. Sighing in contentment she said, "I'm glad Kiyomi relented enough to modify the seal so I could at least roam the grounds. These hot springs are incredible."
Seven quickly agreed, but said, "They are. But to be honest considering how quickly she did, I admit to being surprised that she is being so steadfast in keeping those Taki kunoichi. It's obvious Naruto is not going to just let the matter drop. But for whatever reason she seems determined to keep them around. Yoruichi is just as confused since she's seen how much Naruto's opinion matters to her. "
Mikoto got that feeling as well, but said truthfully, "Honestly, I can't say I pity them. If they had their way I'd be one of Akame's mindless drones right now."
Seven nodded, but said, "I can. Especially after hearing what happened to that new kunoichi."
Mikoto's curiosity was piqued as she sat up asking, "What new kunoichi?"
Seven shrugged before saying, "Yoruichi told me about her. Apparently, she was kidnapped some years ago and had a false personality implanted in her. The kicker is she was somehow aware of everything that happened over the years. Well at least until that Kushina lady wiped her memory of that time."
Mikoto looked stunned as she said, "K-kushina...you mean Kushina Uzumaki."
"Yeah," Seven answered noticing the color draining from Mikoto's face.
"I-it can't be," Mikoto said incredulously, "she's dead."
"I'm not sure of all the particulars," Seven replied not sure why her friend looked so pale, "But she is apparently sealed in her son and is now connected to Kiyomi's original chakra form." Mikoto stood and moved to get out of the hotsprings, but was stopped as Seven grabbed her risk to ask, "Where are you going?"
"I...I need to speak with Naruto...if Kushina is a part of him...I need to tell her why I couldn't look after him better."
"You can't," Seven said matter of factly.
"Why?" Mikoto responded almost pleadingly.
A pained look crossed Seven face as she answered, "He's out of the village at the moment."
Mikoto sank back into the water fearing the reason that Kushina hadn't made her presence known to her was because she was upset at her. But wanting the chance to explain her reasons asked, "F-for how long?"
"I don't know," the Bijuu replied, "He recently lost his teacher...a man named Jiraiya. He's gone to the home of the toads to learn the Sage arts in order to grow strong enough to defeat his teacher's killer."
"I see," Mikoto said sadly feeling horrible for the young man. Detecting a hint of fear in her friend she asked, "What's wrong. You seem concerned about this training he undertaking."
Seven Chomei looked up at the sky and although only exposed to his presence via the seal for a short time already missed the comforting warmth he admitted into the network of women she was connected to. Knowing the perils of the training he was undertaking she answered with a question, "Have you ever encountered a person who claimed to be a master of the sage arts before?" Mikoto shook her head prompting Seven to explain, "The reason for that is you could build a mountain with the number of people who've died trying to master Natural Energy for every one person that has ever achieved that title."
Mikoto was surprised at the genuine concern Seven was displaying so placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder to say, "He'll be fine. I know for a fact he comes from a family that refuses to be intimidated by the impossible."
*****************************
Whack!
"Argh, Dammit this is fucking impossible," Naruto groaned as he rolled on the ground to ease the pain in his back where Fukasaku had hit him with the staff that knocked the natural energy out of him.
Naruko sighed in annoyance before saying, "Just take it like a ma... (whack)...god dammit that hurts."
"Honestly you two," Fukasaku said shouldering his staff as he watched Naruto roll on the ground and Naruko rub her head, "It's like you're actually getting worse at gather and controlling natural energy."
Naruto sat up as he replied, "I'm in so much pain here that it's hard to concentrate. I beginning to think you're mistakening the swelling for me turning into a toad."
Fukasaku chuckled lightly as he smacking his hand with the staff gently as he responded, "Well I think you would agree it is better to be safe then the alternative." Both Naruto and Naruko looked around the pool of toad oil where they were training to take in all the frog statues that stood in testament to all those that had tried to master the power of a sage and failed. They nodded their agreement to the Sage, who then said, "Good, let's take a few more whacks at it and call it a night."
"Did you have to say whacks?" Naruko said dryly as Naruto took a cross-legged seat next to her again. She closed her eyes as she sat in a similar position and felt the cool oil that Fukasaku began splashing on her and Naruto in order to aid in the ability to both feel and call on the natural energy that surrounded them.
Naruto took a few more moments to ready himself for his next attempt. Looking at Naruko out of the corner of his eye, he was somewhat regretting bringing her along. It had nothing to do with their history together, but because of the first step to becoming a sage. Namely, he found it quite hard to concentrate as a beautiful woman, dressed simply in a pair of tight black shorts and a white sports bra, was being coated in oil. He was just glad that the old toad had yet to catch on to how distracting he was finding his fellow student of Jiraiya as her skin glistened from the oil and the setting sun. Closing his eyes he tried to get his head straight and concentrate on the task before him. However, he let out a small self-deprecating chuckle as he thought, "This is most likely karma for all the times I used that jutsu in the past."
Naruto though would be quite surprised to learn that he wasn't the only one unable to fully concentrate on the first stage of Senjutsu training. "Why'd I have to spy on him when he was with his lovers?" Naruko questioned herself. While it was true that the event helped Naruko come to terms with her gender, she didn't think it would have been much of a concern. However, that was until Fukasaku had explained what the first step of their training would entail. Naruto, who had shown up to the training in a loose fitting A-shirt and shorts, upon learning he'd be splashed with oil had quickly pulled his shirt off. Naruko upon seeing his shirtless frame had suddenly found herself propelled back to the day she had peeked on him as he had pleased several of his lovers. His soon being coated in oil hadn't made it any easier for her to concentrate.
Yet, she did eventually manage to find her center so began to strive once more to balance both her physical and spiritual energy with the natural energy she was gathering. For a moment, she began to feel her senses expand as she became more in tune with the world around her. She attributed this to the fact that she was taking in the energy given off by all living things. Fukasaku had told them that one of the internal signs that pointed to a true sage was their being hyperaware of the people and environment they found themselves in.
However, it all slipped away as pain became her world when Fukasaku took his staff to the back of her head. "Ow...shit!" she cursed rubbing the spot he hit with both her hands.
Fukasaku didn't say anything as he warily watched Naruto having grown accustomed to their failing to adequately balance their chakra in close proximity to each other. Naruko also half expected for Naruto's grunt of pain to shortly follow, however when the pain in her head faded and he hadn't called out she focused on him to see him still sitting in the same pose as before.
Naruko watched as the seconds turned into minutes. Fukasaku also watched on and began scratching his chin as he said thoughtfully, "Hmm, very good. He's gathering it pretty steadily now." Naruko felt a spike of jealousy as it appeared Naruto was on the verge of proving she was nothing but a less talented copy. But it turned into amusement as his features began to morph and their toad sensei said, "There it is," before whacking him on the head with his staff.
She giggled as Naruto rubbed the top of his head with his hands as if to ease the pain and asked, "Do you really need to hit us so hard with that thing?"
"No," Fukasaku replied causing both blonds to look at him evilly until he added, "I could give you a half-hearted pat and not knock all the natural energy out of you causing you to turn into toad statues."
"I was just asking," Naruto said properly chastised as he didn't want to become a garden decoration.
Fukasaku chuckled in amusement as he began to leap away towards his home as he said, "That's enough training for one night youngsters. Let's go get a good meal and call it day."
Both Naruto and Naruko paled as they began to wonder where they could get such a meal since neither of them could call the bug heavy dishes Shima prepared good. Naruko was just resigning herself to the upcoming battle with her stomach, when she heard Naruto say, "Actually do you think it would be alright if I pass on dinner...I really want to check on how my clones are coming along with the shelter they are building."
"I'll let Ma know," Fukasaku said, "I guess it'll just be..."
"Actually, I should go as well," Naruko said not wanting to face the possibility of an extra helping since Naruto wasn't going to be there, "I'm not all that hungry and would like to settle in for the night."
"Are you sure? I know it might be a little cramped, but you can both stay at my home."
"That's okay," Naruto said quickly as Naruko nodded her head rapidly, "We wouldn't want to impose and besides by now my clones probably built us a pretty cozy place to stay. No sense in letting their hard work go to waste."
"Very well, have a good night youngsters."
"You as well," Naruto said. A moment later he stopped and asked, "Speaking of clones, do you think the training would go faster if I used some during training. That way I could get a lot of experience in a short amount of time."
Fukasaku paused for a moment giving the matter some thought before answering, "I suppose that might be possible. However, we'll start out with only two for each of you. We don't want too many since if one turns all the way then you'd share its fate. Well, unlike you two, I'm famished so goodnight."
Fukasaku disappeared down his path, and almost as soon as he was gone the silence that had descended on the area was ruined by the sound of twin grumbling stomachs. "I'm so hungry," Naruko whined as she rubbed her stomach.
"Me too," Naruto said trying to ignore the gurgling coming from his protesting gut. "But, eating Shima's cooking would be just as bad since I'd be throwing up whatever I ate."
Naruko followed as Naruto began heading to the area she figured his clones had decided to build a shelter. Naruto had decided to build it shortly after their breakfast with Shima and Fukasaku, and although the toad couple had offered to let them stay in their extra room. It would have been confining for one person, let alone two. Therefore, after making sure it was alright, Naruto had created several clones to build them a place to stay.
Naruko watched Naruto as he apparently knew exactly where he was going although neither of them had explored the area after arriving early that morning. She guessed that one of his clones must have dispelled itself to let the young man know where they had built the place they would be calling home during their training. Naruko was about to ask how much further when the delicious smell of something cooking reached her nose. Her stomach responded immediately, and before she knew it she was running to find out what it was. To her surprise waiting at the end of the path wasn't the simple shelter she expected to find, but a small cottage. Still milling about were several clones putting on the finishing touches, but what captivated Naruko attention was the smoke coming from just behind the cabin. She looked behind her hearing Naruto approach as he either already knew about what was behind the great smell or had decided to conserve his energy. He smiled at her, making Naruko guess her face still contained some of the surprise she felt from just how busy his clones had been. "You do nice work," she said complementing him.