Later That Night; At Tenmangu-Machi)
Jiraiya and Tsunade were sitting together in a private V.I.P. section in a tavern, both enjoying their shots of sake. While they were in their alcoholic merriment, Jiraiya took the time to explain everything in details, everything he learned about Naruto and everything that happened in Konoha since their long absence. There were a number of things about Naruto that Tsunade personally found hard to believe, like him using Edo Tensei to briefly resurrect his father to protect Konoha during the Suna-Oto invasion. But Jiraiya made it clear that he, Orochimaru, Hiruzen and practically the entire village of Konoha and the joint Suna-Oto forces eyewitnessed that feat themselves.
"I can see why you hold the boy in such very high regards," Tsunade commented, "Hell, I honestly think I'd have done the same myself if it were my student."
"Who knows?" Jiraiya suggested, "With Hinata and Karin as your apprentices, there's no telling how far they'll go."
"I'm taking them as my apprentices either way," Tsunade said, "I don't know why but I felt something unique about those two that captured and held my interest. I'm confident that under my wings, they'll accomplish and make great changes."
"Naruto and the Uzumaki clan are making huge changes to Konoha and in history," Jiraiya said, "It would be great if we share and participate in their historic change, together."
Tusnade looked up and saw the look on Jiraiya's face.
"This isn't a date Jiraiya," Tsunade retorted.
"Not yet it isn't," Jiraiya said undeterred, "But that doesn't mean I can't use this opportunity to pretend that it is. After all, I'm the one treating you out to drink with me after you willingly accepted."
"You never give up, do you?" Tsunade remarked.
"I know a good thing when I see it, Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said, "I always trusted my guts when it came to that and it never steered me wrong," Jiraiya jokingly added, "Even Naruto is cheering me on as my wingman."
"You sound confident that he'll win this bet," Tsunade said.
"Naruto pulled off deeds that would have killed a normal man long ago, Tsunade," Jiraiya stated, "And he accomplished feats that even I was unable to pull off."
"Are you serious?" Tsunade asked curiously with a look of disbelief.
"This is not something I would joke about," Jiraiya said seriously, "But there's more to Naruto than that. There's an organization I've been investigating and tracking for years after learning Orochimaru was once part of it."
"What organization would that be?" Tsunade asked.
"They're called "The Akatsuki"," Jiraiya informed, "It's a secret organization composed entirely of S-class missing nin."
"I can see why such an organization would put you on edge," Tsunade remarked as she listened carefully to everything she was told, "But what does this have to do with Naruto?"
"They're hunting down Jinchuuriki and Naruto is one of their targets," Jiraiya enlightened, "They're trying to gather all nine bijuu. Their reasons for doing so are unknown for now, but as we speak, it's still being looked into."
"I wouldn't be a heavy sleeper myself if I had a group of S-class ninja hunting me down," Tsunade commented as she poured another shot of sake for both herself and Jiraiya.
"Seijiro already proved that point after you learned he was tracking and hunting you," Jiraiya joked, only to receive a frown from the Slug Princess.
"It costed me everything I won these past couple of days just to get him off my back," Tsunade groaned.
"At the very least you merely had to pay the money you owe," Jiraiya replied, "For Naruto, no amount of money will get the Akatsuki to stop hunting and going after him. He and his clan along with Kakashi and a few others already had a run-in with them in Konoha almost two weeks ago, and it ended with Kakashi being put into a coma by Itachi who's now part of that organization."
"The missing-nin who genocide his own clan?" Tsunade said, "He was sent after Naruto?"
"Him and his partner who's a missing-nin and former member of Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen, Hoshigaki Kisame," Jiraiya informed.
"And I thought I had problems with debt collectors tracking and hunting me at almost every corner I turn," Tsunade remarked.
"Right now, Seijiro and I are working on tracking and hunting them down," Jiraiya said, "I don't know how long it'll take but we're working on ways of handling and dealing with the Akatsuki when the time comes."
"That's quite an undertaking," Tsunade remarked, "Going to war against an organization comprised of S-class criminals."
"We faced worse, Tsunade," Jiraiya reminded, "And you had your share of close calls despite your monstrous strength and medical prowess. I'm sure you remember Hanzō the Salamander."
"How could I forget about him?" Tsunade commented, "You, Orochimaru and I barely made it out of that battle in one piece after our entire Konoha squadron were wiped out in that one battle against Hanzō. It's hard to believe that we got the title "Sannin" because of him…," Tsunade sighed as she took a sip of her sake.
"Hanzō and almost everyone connected to him were killed years ago," Jiraiya revealed, "By one of my pupils I personally trained."
Tsunade spat her sake out of her mouth on hearing that revelation. She looked back at Jiraiya with a disbelieving expression and exclaimed, "And you got be kidding!"
"It's no joke," Jiraiya said seriously, "I recently found this out by a most reliable source. But what grieves me is that my pupil, and his partner whom I also taught, are also part of the Akatsuki. And what adds to the irony is that they're hunting for my current pupil."
Tsunade paused for a moment to take in and process everything Jiraya just revealed to her. Soon she inquired, "Who are those pupils you're talk about."
"The orphans from Amegakure," Jiraiya revealed, "Nagato and Konan."
"The same kids Orochimaru suggested we kill when they were originally following us during our time battling in Amegakure?" Tsunade asked.
"That's right," Jiraiya confirmed, "Their other friend Yahiko died some time before Hanzō's death, but his body is being used like a puppet by Nagato while leading the Akatsuki under the name "Pain." It was Nagato, after taking on the name Pain, who battled and killed Hanzō and his forces before taking over Amegakure. Since then, it's been said that Pain never lost a fight. Interestingly enough, the Akatsuki wasn't always the criminal organization that it is now."
"I take it that you know some important history about that organization's origins," Tsunade deduced.
"It was originally founded by Yahiko during the Third Shinobi World War, alongside his childhood friends Nagato and Konan. The three of them created Akatsuki as a way to bring peace to their home country of Amegakure, which too often got caught in the crossfire of the Five Great Shinobi Countries' many conflicts. Their desire for an end to war attracted many fellow Ame ninja to their cause and, in time, word of their exploits began to travel beyond Amegakure's borders. Akatsuki's early fame was owed largely to Yahiko's leadership and his natural charisma, which kept the group united and motivated them to persevere despite the difficulties of their goal. Yahiko, however, viewed himself as merely a facilitator for Nagato, who would ultimately be considered the actual source of world peace because of his Rinnegan."
"The Rinnegan?" Tsunade asked, "I always thought that dōjutsu was a myth."
"It's no myth," Jiraiya confirmed, "I saw it with my own eyes during the years I was train Nagato and his two friends."
"I see," Tsunade remarked.
"In time," Jiraiya continued, "Akatsuki's fame began attracting unwanted attention. They were first approached by Tobi, who claimed to be Uchiha Madara."
"What!?" Tsunade replied skeptically, "Hashirama-jiisan killed Madara years ago in their famous battle in the Valley of the End."
"While that's true," Jiraiya said, "This unknown Uchiha approached and offered to lend his assistance to the Akatsuki, specifically Nagato. Yahiko however was wary of Tobi and refused his offer."
"How do you know that this Tobi is an Uchiha?" Tsunade asked.
"He has the Mangekyō Sharingan for starters," Jiraiya revealed, "And while Minato was summoned through Edo Tensei, he himself revealed and confirmed that it was Tobi who plotted and used Kyuubi to attack Konoha years ago. Tobi found out where Kushina was going to give birth to Naruto, and attacked Minato and everyone helping them during Naruto's birth. He tried to kill Naruto in order to get Minato away from Kushina so he could retrieve the Kyuubi from out of her seal. Sarutobi-sensei's wife and assistant, along with several ANBU, were also killed by that same man as they were also there helping with Naruto's birth. Minato eventually defeated Tobi and severed his control over Kyuubi, forcing Tobi to retreat and leave Kyuubi behind after it rampaged through Konoha. Minato and Kushina ultimately died while protecting Naruto and sealing Kyuubi into him."
Again, Tsunade was shocked by the revelations Jiraiya was sharing with her as it helped to clarify and make sense of everything that happened which led up to Kyuubi's sudden appearance and attack on Konoha.
"With regards to Ame's leader," Jiraiya continued, "Hanzō, also became aware of Akatsuki and perceived them as a threat to his rule, a belief encouraged by Shimura Danzō. Hanzō approached Akatsuki offering to help them negotiate peace between Konohagakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure. When Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan arrived to meet with him, however, they were ambushed by Hanzō's men and Danzō's Root, who took Konan hostage and forced Yahiko to commit suicide in order to save her. Enraged by Yahiko's death, Nagato summoned the giant dark sealing statue and used it to slaughter their attackers, though Hanzō himself escaped.
"After Yahiko's death, Nagato began using the alias "Pain" while using Yahiko's corpse so that Yahiko could symbolically continue leading Akatsuki. Nagato sought out Tobi, under the guise of Uchiha Madara, and accepted his earlier offer of support, which he provided in secret. After the Third Shinobi World War, Akatsuki began recruiting S-class missing-nin, including Orochimaru and once Akatsuki recruited its target of ten members, they began following a three-step process to achieve this stated objective:
"Obtain enough money to support their organization.
"Provide mercenary services at well under the competitive rate, using the money gathered in the first step to offset costs. That would make countries increasingly dependent on Akatsuki's services and corner the entire market for shinobi missions. The early years of Nagato's Akatsuki were very successful, as the hidden villages increasingly hired Akatsuki to fight in wars and perform assassinations that the villages themselves were unwilling to get involved in during times of peace. Their other objective is to gather all of the nine bijuu for reason not yet disclosed to the other members of the organization. Orochimaru left that organization after a battle he had with Itachi that he lost to."
Jiraiya stopped briefly when he saw the contemplative look on Tsunade's face.
"How did you learn this much about that organization's history and objectives," Tsunade asked.
"Like I said before," Jiraiya reminded, "From a very reliable source. I am a spy master after all."
"Why did you choose to share all of this with me?" Tsunade inquired.
"To establish trust, confidence and reliability," Jiraiya answered candidly, "The time will come that I, Naruto, Seijiro and others will have to face off against the Akatsuki and I want to have faith that I can count on you backing us up. Ignorance isn't bliss especially when your loved ones or those closest to you are targeted by enemies."
"I already lost most of all those closest to me," Tsunade commented, "And Naruto declaring that becoming Hokage is his dream reminded me too much of my brother Nawaki. Shoot, the way Naruto smiles and talks when he's not serious and the very fact that Naruto is willing to take dangerous risk at personal cost reminds me of Nawaki."
"Speaking of Nawaki," Jiraiya confessed, "There's something very important and personal I never told you concerning him for these many years."
Like a fish with bait in its mouth, Jiraiya had Tsunade's full attention. Giving the Toad Sage a most curious look hungering answers, Tsunade implored, "And what would that be?"
"This was a few months before Minato became my student and apprentice," Jiraiya revealed, "I tried fervently to convince Sarutobi-sensei to allow me to have Nawaki become my new student and apprentice."
Tsunade's eyes widened on that that revelation that completely shocked her.
"You what?" Tsunade asked as though she couldn't believe her ears, "You wanted and tried to convince Sarutobi-sensei to let my little brother become your new student?"
"I saw potential in Nawaki," Jiraiya elaborated, "Him being the grandson of the Shodai and Uzumaki Mito, being related to the Nidaime, being your little brother and seeing part of myself in him as he carried such an optimistic carefree spirit; it was just practical. Plus…"
"Plus what?" Tsunade asked.
"I was hoping that if I was given the opportunity by Sarutobi-sensei to teach and train your brother to become a mighty and strong ninja like how Minato became then I would earn major points with you," Jiraiya confessed truthfully, "But Sarutobi-sensei denied me, believing that I only wanted to train Nawaki for selfish purposes considering that he was related to you. He accused me of wanting to use Nawaki to get closer to you since he knew how much I deeply liked you despite you beating me almost to death for peeping on you once.
"I argued and told him about the possibilities I could achieve through Nawaki, but Sarutobi-sensei didn't believe my words and stubbornly refused my request. Secretly, there was always a small part of me that resented Sarutobi-sensei for not granting my petition to let me train Nawaki, especially after the boy was killed not too long after becoming a Genin. I wanted to comfort you after Nawaki's death but you chose Dan over me.
"As a result, I quietly accepted defeat and left things the way they were. When we were in Amegakure after our fierce battle against Hanzō and during the time we ran into those three orphans, I saw potential in those three kids and thought that maybe one of them would become the Child of Prophecy I was looking for. That was why I chose to stay behind with them in Amegakure for three years to teach and train them."
"Even through all six of my students I've trained through my life all become S-class ninja, none of them proved to be the chosen Child of Prophecy. That's why I'm hoping that Naruto, my seventh student and godson will become the chosen child I've spent all these years searching for. Plus, what adds to my hope in this is because out of your own mouth Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya grinned widely and continued, "He reminds you so much of your late little brother Nawaki. So, in some ways, it'll be like me training Nawaki like how I originally wanted."
Tsunade didn't give Jiraiya a reply as she took and mediated on the bombshell revelation he just gave to her. The Toad Sage saw the look on her face as he was trying to read her emotions. He knew that it was a lot for her to take in in such a short time but everything he's been telling her were things he wanted to confide in her about. After what felt like an eternity of silence…
"I wonder how Nawaki would have turned out had you've been given a chance to train him, even if part of the reason was to get close to me," Tsunade admitted with a tone she expressed that she was both touched and saddened, "If things had happened differently, if I had known about your intentions and reasons ahead of time, I would have vouched for you and took your side in letting Nawaki become your new apprentice. I'm convinced that Nawaki under your training would have been alive today as a formidable and mighty ninja. He might have rivaled Naruto's father for the position of Yondaime.
"I wish you had told me that you wanted my little brother as your student."
"I wanted to," Jiraiya revealed.
"Then why didn't you?" Tsunade asked.
"Because back then I had no way to knowing if you would have believed me," Jiraiya explained, "Having the infamous reputation for peeping and nearly being killed by you because of that, I figured that you would believe that I would corrupt your brother while not believing my reasons for training him before punching me either into or off the Hokage Monument.
"After Orochimaru and I found Nawaki's body after he was killed by one of Kumo's hidden land mines, all I could think about was what if I had come sooner, what if Sarutobi-sensei wasn't so hardheaded and granted my request…so many thoughts came to mind. And after seeing the emotional state you were in after Nawaki died and how you took comfort from Dan without giving me so much as a look, I saw no point in telling you that I tried to get Nawaki to become my apprentice before his demise. At the time, I figured Sarutobi-sensei and I would take that secret with us to the grave."
Tsunade said nothing after listening to Jiraiya's explanation. She allowed everything the Toad Sage was saying soak in to her mind.
"I had no idea you carried this weight with you for all these years," Tsunade admitted, "While it's true that you have your share of vices however, I self-righteously acted like you were a bad influence for anybody while pretending my vices were of lesser consequences than yours."
"Regardless of how you would have reacted to hearing everything I said to you up till now, I felt it was time I got it off my chest," Jiraiya said, "It was a load I didn't want to carry with me anymore even if it makes you think less of me."
"Think less of you?" Tsunade repeated and then confessed, "Back then, I had always thought that Dan was someone you could never measure up to. I thought and looked at you as someone to never bat an eye at or even consider to be dating material like how Dan was."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you think that way of me even now," Jiraiya remarked, "Because if you do, then you truly don't know me as well as you think."
Tsunade didn't dignify that reply with a retort of any sort. She took a sip of her sake and added, "While Dan was alive, I had always thought we'd be married someday. But he died long before he could ever propose to me. Having a lover is one thing, but having a husband and being a wife is a whole different dimension. Dan's death costed me both."
"Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said, "I know and understand that losing Dan was truly heartbreaking and unbearable for you but-"
"You understand?!" Tsunade retorted indignantly, "What could you possibly understand Jiraiya!? You never had or lost a lover who died in your arms like I did! You never once considered moving on with your life and going after another woman besides me for all these years despite all of the peeping you've done throughout your life!"
Jiraiya gave Tsunade calm but cold glare that showed that he didn't appreciate what she said of him.
"Don't presume to know me Tsunade!" Jiraiya sternly rebuked, "While it's it true that you were the first woman I truly loved despite the numerous times you've rejected me in spite of my best efforts, I moved on with my life!"
"Yeah, you moved on alright!" Tsunade replied skeptically, "To look for other women to peep at for your so-called research!"
"Just as I thought!" Jiraiya stated, "Presumptuously believing you know everything about me!"
Jiraiya reached into his pocket inside his red vest and pulled out an old picture. He presented it to Tsunade who took a good look at the picture to see a picture of a very beautiful woman. She had green eyes and brown, light brown chin-length hair that covered her ears and framed her face. She was a fairly tall woman of a curvaceous build. She wore a red pink form-fitting outfit with only a long-sleeve on her left side and an orange sash.
"And who's this woman?" Tsunade asked.
"The best thing that happened to me," Jiraiya said, "Someone who helped me to see pass you."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade asked, "What made her so special to you?"
"Her name was Uzume-hime. She was the leader of Nadeshiko no Sato (Nadeshiko Village), which is located near the Land of Water. The families of that village are organized through matrilineality. The village itself is positioned upon the lightly forested top of three massive and steep hills standing in a line, with two bridges spanning the gorges between them. The hills are situated within a lush forested valley in a mountainous region. In terms of construction the village seems to be similar to a stronghold or palace, with numerous walls, towers and brickwork being dominant features."
"How did you meet her?" Tsunade asked.
"One night, years ago, Uzume-hime encountered me after I had entered her village to do "research" for my next novel," Jiraiya started off.
"What a surprise," Tsunade remarked with a frown of annoyance.
"There's more to this story Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya replied and continued, "After I escaped the village when a band of kunoichi were hunting me down, Uzume-hime herself found me few miles from her village by a large stream that runs through her village. The stream itself was said to be blessed Uzume-hime and she found that very location fitting to challenge me to a duel for my hand in marriage."
"Was that a joke?" Tsunade replied in disbelief, "She challenged you for your hand in marriage?"
"I'm not making this up though what I'm saying is hard to believe!" Jiraiya said and explained, "By law and custom, women from Nadeshiko must venture outside to find men strong enough to defeat them, resulting in them being taken to the village to marry the kunoichi they defeated. Uzume-hime's choice of weapon was a sword and to my surprise she was truly skilled in the arts of kenjutsu. As the match dragged on well into the next day, I called for the match to be postponed, as neither of us were making headway against the other, to which Uzume-hime grudgingly agreed."
"She managed to fight you to a draw?" Tsunade asked with a surprised tone.
"She was that strong and powerful, Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said, "You yourself and Orochimaru for that matter, wouldn't have been able to beat her if I wasn't able to. She was equally on par with us."
"So what happened afterwards?" Tsunade asked.
"I explained to her that there was a woman that I was already in love with and who's heart I wanted to win," Jiraiya said, "But I promised that if I couldn't win your heart Tsunade, then I would return to Nadeshiko to resume our match until I emerged as the victor. Surprisingly Uzume-hime accepted, though she didn't like that I had another woman in mind whom I wanted to try to win over first. Nevertheless, she accepted that it couldn't be helped since I knew you first for a much longer time."
"I'm sure you used that excuse to never go back to Nadeshiko in order to avoid having to keep your promise," Tsunade assumed, believing she already knew what Jiraiya did with regards to that.
"Again," Jiraiya retorted indignantly, "Being presumptuous and thinking you know everything about me! You couldn't be more wrong and far from the truth Tsunade! I actually did return to Nadeshiko; twelve years ago in fact!"
That revelation surprised and caught Tsunade off guard as she wasn't truly expecting Jiraiya to come out and state what he just said.
"I kept my promise when I decided it was time for me to let go of all aspirations of pursuing you and move on with my life," Jiraiya revealed, "To my own surprise, Uzume-hime truly did wait patiently for my return. And the fact that I returned willingly to challenge and duel their leader wasn't looked at lightly by either her or her people."
"So, you made quite an impression on both her and the citizens of Nadeshiko," Tsunade stated.
"I was highly respected by everyone when I returned in fact," Jiraiya said, "In the beginning, many skeptically didn't believe that I would actually return after they learned about what I promised their leader. Some had even believed me to be a spineless coward who was using that promise I made to their leader as a ploy to keep myself from ever going back. But all of their misjudgments and incorrect speculations of me were proven wrong when I returned that day to challenge their leader to a duel. Though Uzume-hime didn't facially show it at that moment, but through her eyes I was able to see how happy she was that I returned to challenge and duel her as promised.
"Uzume-hime and I returned to the same spot in the forest by the stream where we first met and battled. There were many kunoichi who came to watch the duel as they heard from their leader how strong I was and they wanted to see it for themselves."
"With all of those kunoichi coming to watch the fight, I'm sure you couldn't leave them disappointed," Tsunade remarked as she took a sip of her sake.
"The Gallant Jiraiya had to deliver as promised," Jiraiya said in good humor, "That day I was able to see the fire and excitement in her eyes and face as we stood facing each other with so many onlookers waiting to see how our match would play out. When our duel finally began, amazingly, it was just as fierce as before as her speed, strength and skills in kenjutsu never weakened at all. And like before, the surrounding landscape was completely leveled and heavily battered as though an all-out war broke out. It felt like I was fighting you Tsunade-hime, as though I was fighting to prevent you from trying to beat me to within less than an inch of my life again."
"Now I'm wishing I was actually there to have watched that match," Tsunade commented.
"As fierce as that match was however," Jiraiya said, "There were a number of kunoichi watching the match with looks of jealousy, wishing they were the ones challenging me instead of their leader."
"Some were jealous that they weren't fighting you?" Tsunade asked, "Why was that the case?"
"Having a strong and powerful husband who can match and defeat you in combat is look at with honor and great respect in Nadeshiko," Jiraiya explained, "For the women in that village, it means having potentially strong offspring, preferably daughters, who can continue the family line. Now having a husband who could rival and outmatch their village leader in combat and skills would have been considered the highest honor with the hopes of having daughters, if not sons, just as powerful once they were born, educated and trained."
"In other words," Tsunade figured, "Dueling the men was their way of gauging the men's capacity of giving them strong children and being good husbands. Men who chose to run away from their challenge to a duel are considered cowardly weak and unfit to marry and have children with."
"Behind every strong woman is a stronger alpha male," Jiraiya remarked.
"Sounds like one of those amazon warrior stories I read about years ago," Tsunade commented, "I wonder if those stories were based on that village."
"Well," Jiraiya replied, "Whatever the case, everything I told you is the truth and you can travel to Nadeshiko to confirm the story yourself if you don't believe anything I'm saying."
"I believe everything you're saying," Tsunade answered honestly, "I know this isn't something you would lie about. So how did the match turn out? Did it end in another draw?"
"No, not this time," Jiraiya said, "Unlike the first time, I was determined to win and in the end, I came out as the winner though it was still a close match. Defeated, Uzume-hime took me back to Nadeshiko where we were wedded six months later."
"Six months later?" Tsunade asked, "It wasn't immediate?"
"We took the time to date and get to know each other first before we got married," Jiraiya explained, "We were given quite a major reception on the day of our wedding. The whole village was happy for both me and their leader. And despite my perverted nature, Uzume-hime was the first and only woman I was sexually intimate with, even now."
Tsunade couldn't believe her ears. For all these years, she always thought Jiraiya would always want and pursue her. She never thought Jiraiya would truly give up on her and find somebody else to love and marry. And to make the shock deeper was that it was a strong female leader of a ninja village that loved and married Jiraiya of all people. It was just hard to believe.
"So what happened during your time as a married man?" Tsunade asked, "Was it hard readjusting to a different life as a married shinobi in oppose to life as a single free-spirited man?"
"During those years," Jiraya explained, "I was still able to keep up with my spy network and keep tabs on Orochimaru's movements and activities. There were occasions when my wife and I ventured out of the village to track Orochimaru's movements or that of the Akatsuki. We even had run-ins with some of my old enemies and even those she had. It was really adventurous having her at my side as we had each other's backs during dangerous missions and encounters with our enemies."
"It sounds like you both were quite a team," Tsunade commented and then inquired, "So what happened between you both?"
"During the seventh year of our marriage, during one of our journeys to meet up with one of my contacts of my spy network, we ran into three members the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure, these being Kurosuki Raiga, Munashi Jinpachi and Hōzuki Mangetsu. Though Kirigakure were known for their swordsmen, that generation of swordsmen we encountered was the strongest in that village's history and Mangetsu was one of the most powerful shinobi produced within Kirigakure. As a member of the Hōzuki clan, Mangetsu was proficient in the use of water nature manipulation and was able to use his clan's main secret technique to liquify his body at will. Mangetsu was also called "Kijin no Sairai" ("Second Coming of the Demon") and his skills, power and chakra were such that he was able to wield all seven blades of the other swordsmen."
"He was that powerful of an enemy I see," Tsunade noted, "So how did you and your wife end up in a battle with them?"
"They intercepted and killed my spy contact after he retrieve some vital information about what was happening in Kirigakure with regards to the bloodline limit purge that their Yondaime Mizukage enacted," Jiraiya explained, "While I was caught up battling Raiga and Jinpachi, my wife Uzume-hime was locked in fierce combat with Mangetsu. In that conflict, Mangetsu fatally wounded Uzume-hime before I managed to trap him and kill him. Jinpachi took Mangetsu's sword and escape with Raiga.
"After the battle was over, I did everything I could to keep Uzume-hime alive but she lost too much blood before her student, Shizuka, and her team could arrive with their medic ninja," Jiraiya paused for a moment as Tsunade took another a sip of her sake and then he continued, "Before her death, Uzume-hime thanked me for giving her the best and happiest seven years of her life but apologized knowing she wouldn't live long enough to take care and train our daughter to become her successor-"
Tsunade spewed her sake out again and turned back to Jiraiya and…
"DAUGHTER!?" Tsunade shouted with widened eyes in absolute disbelief, "YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER!?"
"That's why I told you not to presume to know me Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya remarked, "Yes, I had a daughter with Uzume-hime. Her name is Konohanasakuya-hime. But for short, she's also known as Sakuya-bime. Currently, she's eight years ago and lives in Nadeshiko."
"Why didn't you bring her with you and raise her as a parent should?" Tsunade asked with a tone of disappointment.
"You think I didn't want to or tried to?" Jiraiya replied while indignant at Tsunade for the implication of her question, "It wouldn't have been possible since she's Uzume-hime's legal heir and chosen future successor. She was already being taught and trained to take her mother's place as leader of Nadeshiko in the future. Plus, there were too many politics involved that made things difficult for me; not to mention what would have happened to Konohanasakuya-hime if it got out to all of my enemies that she's my daughter with Uzume-hime.
"In my wife's final moments, she asked me to keep our daughter safe and that she grows up into a strong kunoichi and woman and that she takes her rightful place as the future leader of Nadeshiko. Shizuka and the group with her eyewitnessed Uzume-hime's last words and the promise she had me make to her before she died in my arms soon after. My daughter was three years old when her mother died and she was deeply grieved by it since they were practically inseparable.
"After Uzume-hime's burial and giving myself and daughter some time to mourn, I asked Shizuka, who was eight at the time, to become Sakuya-bime's big sister and bodyguard while helping the other kunoichi in the governing court take care of her. I had to leave Nadeshiko and return to my duties as Konoha's field spy master after learning that Orochimaru and the Akatsuki were on the move in search of new recruits. But I always kept in contact with my daughter and made frequent visitations on her through the years. However I always had to do so secretly," Jiraiya looked directly at Tsunade and stated, "You're the first person I'm telling this to Tsunade. Not even Naruto or Sarutobi-sensei are aware of this, at least not yet."
Jiraiya placed the picture of his late wife back in his pocket inside his red vest and took out another picture and showed it to Tsunade. What Tsunade saw practically melted her heart. It was a picture of Jiraiya holding and carrying his smiling eight-year-old daughter dressed in princess training garbs and sandals. She was the spitting image of her late mother though she had very long white her like Jiraiya, except it was straight and reached the back of her kneecaps.
"You have a beautiful daughter," Tsunade complimented, "It's just so hard to believe that you of all people actually have a daughter, despite your infamous perverted, peeping nature."
"Life is just full of surprises Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya said as Tsunade handed him back the picture, which he took and put away, "I'll have to reveal her existence to Naruto and explain my story to him more appropriately, especially as to why I wasn't there during the first years of his life. Hopefully, the boy will come to forgive me after listening to my story."
"Honestly," Tsunade said, "I'm happy that you did find someone who loved and cherished you. You were privileged to experience life as a married ninja and parent unlike me. I'm sorry about what I said earlier about you not understanding the pain of losing a lover. I was completely out of line and overcome by emotions. I truly apologize. I can't say I'm not jealous of you because of that."
"I have a lot of fond memories of my late wife," Jiraiya said affectionately, "Much of which were in the bedroom and whenever I peeped on her in the bathhouse."
"You peeped on your own wife?" Tsunade asked with a raised eyebrow, "That doesn't even make any sense."
"And why not?" Jiraiya replied with a grin, "She was a real elegant beauty and though we were married, I enjoyed role playing as someone who was an unmarried dirty pervert peeping on girls. And while we did that and other kinds of role playing, that was just one of my favorites."
"Don't tell me you used her as research for your books," Tsunade commented.
"No I didn't," Jiraiya said with all truthfulness, "But peeping on her made things fun for us as I would try to do so without getting caught."
"Did she ever catch you?" Tsunade asked, finding it strange that she even asked.
"On a number of occasions," Jiraiya admitted, "Whenever she did, just for fun, she'd chase me out of the village and challenge me to a duel after she found me, just like how I got caught the first time I came to Nadeshiko. It helped keep the romance and fire in our marriage burning. I had some amazing times with her as she made me learn some things about myself that I never knew and thought were possible."
"Like what?" Tsunade inquired with a curious tone.
"What I'm capable of as a ninja, husband and father," Jiraiya replied, "While she was alive, she helped me appreciate true romance and what women look for in a man and what to look for in a woman. It would be an outright lie if I said I don't miss her. But I know deep down she wouldn't want her untimely death to be the reason for me to spend the rest of my life being unhappy. I know she would still want me to live a long and satisfying happy life, if I don't get killed first that is. And I'm sure that Dan would want you to be happy and find a new love Tsunade."
"Are you presuming that new love to be you Jiraiya?" Tsunade asked.
"I presume nothing!" Jiraiya replied, "I'm just stating what I'm sure of since I can talk from personal experience as a man who was once married and know the joys are having a wife who loved me before she was killed. I know those future seven dates with you won't guarantee that I'll win your heart as you accepted the conditions of the bet with Naruto with great reluctance as you only sort to have your bet with Naruto satisfy your own interests. It's clear that you don't see yourself with me and were considering ways to make every date with me as financially difficult as possible since you accepted the condition not to act violently against me. Deep down, you wish it was Dan sitting here with you and not me."
Tsunade wanted to get mad and give Jiraiya a violent retort. But she refrained from doing that when she realized that doing so would only prove his point. She wanted to tell him off and say how wrong he was. But she had no ground on which to base her arguments on. There was a brief moment of silence that lasted for a couple of minutes as Tsunade meditated deeply on all the profound things Jiraiya told her about himself and his past. Soon though, the time came for the silence to be broken.
"I can't ever look at you the same way again Jiraiya," Tsunade remarked, "You're definitely not the same man I once knew."
"I don't think I've changed that much," Jiraiya replied.
"No Jiraiya," Tsunade said sincerely, "You have changed a lot. You've showed me a whole new side of you I never knew exist. For a long time now I never thought you'd ever make a good husband to any woman, let alone a father to a daughter. I thought you'd spent the rest of your life being rejected by every woman you come across. But you proved me wrong tremendously and married a strong woman who loved you for you and had a family with her.
"I never once gave you a chance to prove yourself; even now as I just presumed to know all there is about you. But from everything you told me concerning Nawaki and your wife, you proved that I don't know you as well as I think. I carried years' worth of misjudgments and wrong beliefs about you and for that Jiraiya, I'm truly sorry."
There was a short silence between the two Sannin before it was Jiraiya's turn to break the silence.
"It's water under the bridge or over a dam, Tsunade-hime," Jiraiya assured after accepting her apology, "I'm not holding it against you in any way."
Jiraiya stood up and left the private V.I.P. booth to go pay for the sake. After he was done, he returned to Tsunade and said, "Well, we both learned a lot this evening Tsunade and I'm sure it's given you plenty to think about. But I'm going to head out and enjoy the rest of the night elsewhere."
"Where are you planning to go now?" Tsunade asked.
"Hn," Jiraiya grinned confidently, "If you really want to know Tsunade-hime, then you'll just have to follow me. If not, then you're free to enjoy the rest of the evening alone or at a casino."
Saying nothing further, Jiraiya turned and started on his way out from the private booth and out of the tavern leaving Tsunade with her thoughts as she sat there and watch him leave.
"I know those future seven dates with you won't guarantee that I'll win your heart…It's clear that you don't see yourself with me and…Deep down, you wish it was Dan sitting here with you and not me…you're free to enjoy the rest of the evening alone or at a casino."
Those words haunted and robbed Tsunade of peace as she felt a measure of guilt surface from deep within herself as she watched Jiraiya get further from her with every step he took. He truly moved on from her and wasn't desperately pining after her like he used to anymore. He was walking away from her with such confidence and dignity she never saw before and the only thing to keep her company was a half empty bottle of sake he bought for her.
Jiraiya was walking peacefully through the town streets when he felt someone take hold of his left shoulder. He turned to see Tsunade standing and looking back at him.
"You were seriously going to leave me back there," Tsunade remarked.
"I gave you the invitation to follow after me Tsunade," Jiraiya replied, "It was your choice to accept it or not. You don't have to date me out of obligations to a bet you made with my student. I'll talk to Naruto tomorrow and get him to nullify that part of the bet."
"Don't!" Tsunade replied, "I accepted the bet out of my own free will. No one forced me to accept the terms, so don't try talking to Naruto about anything concerning that."
"Very well," Jiraiya agreed, "So what do you want to do now?"
"We can walk and talk together about the old days, can't we?" Tsunade suggested, "You remember that time you talked Orochimaru into pretending to be a masked ninja coming to challenge me one evening so you could valiantly come to my rescue? I had just returned from a casino after losing all of my money in a poker game and was in a really bad mood. I can still remember Orochimaru slowly backing away from me as he clearly didn't want to feel my wrath unleashed against him."
"Unfortunate for him though," Jiraiya recalled, "You violently fissured the ground in front him with a shock wave of gravel and debris coming at him," Jiraiya laughed, "I can still remember his loud scream of panic and fear as my plan backfired! I wonder if he's still sore about that."
The two Sannin continued talking and walking together through the town streets as they reminisced about their younger days.
(Meanwhile)
Karin was with Shizune at a diner conversing with the older woman. Shizune decided to enlighten and entertain Karin about her time and travel experiences with Tsunade while having a small meal together. Seijiro was with Kansui and Arashi at a bathhouse after the twins convinced him to take a breather from his work and take the remainder of the night to rest and relax.
Naruto had summoned sixty clones and sent them to a secluded spot in the forest to study and practice his new S-class ninjutsu, Senko Tanken (Flashing Daggers) and the dormant ability his patriarch ancestor Uzumaki Susanoo infused into his being. They still had a long way to go before perfecting their new training but they were planning on losing to Tsunade at all. Even if it meant exhausting their chakra to the point of unforeseen self-dispelling.
(Elsewhere)
At a love motel in the red-light district of Tenmang-machi (Tenmangu Town), in one of the rented guestrooms on the third floor of the motel that had a "Do Not Disturb" sign posted on the locked door knob, Naruto was lying naked on the bed with Hinata who was also lying naked next to him with her head on his right shoulder. Both of them were sweating and catching their breaths after enjoying a good lovemaking that burn out what stress they had. While lying there quietly with Hinata in his arms, Naruto was enjoying his private alone time with Hinata.
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, "Are you alright? You're clearly deep in thought about something."
"Just thinking about everything that's happened since we were given this mission to find Tsunade," Naruto revealed, "In such a short time I found more members of my clan, learned what really happened to my people's homeland from a surviving Uzumaki brother who was old enough to remember what happened from being there when it happened, and consummating my love for you."
"Those were all wonderful things Naruto-kun," Hinata said, "I'm just happy that I'm able to be part of all of this."
"I know you especially enjoyed the last part," Naruto teased. Hinata replied back, "You enjoyed it just as much if not more."
"We both took pleasure in exploring each other bodies and discovering what methods set our souls on fire," Naruto said with a pervy smile, "I want us to always be this happy with each other, come what may."
"I want that for us too," Hinata agreed happily while resting her right hand on his chest, "But we will face challenges and other difficulties along the way, but that just comes with life."
"Our lives have always been filled with difficulties and dangers," Naruto said, "I know that as ninja, there's always that possibility of something happening to one of us or both. While I try not to think about it often however, I know it's a cold hard truth we can't ignore and pretend doesn't exist."
"I know," Hinata agreed, "But I know I can always trust you to protect me. You've always done that since our younger days at the ninja academy. And you know you can always count on me to always stay at your side to help you through whatever comes our way. By the way, how's things progressing with that new jutsu of yours?"
"I'm still working onl it as we speak," Naruto said, "Sixty of my clones are in a secluded area working on that ninjutsu in an effort to make a breakthrough. Hopefully I'll have something before the week is out."
"You staked your dreams and wealth on the line in exchange for Karin and I having a chance in becoming Tsunade-sama's new students and Jiraiya-sama having a chance to date Tsunade-sama. I can't think of anyone who'd selflessly go this far for the benefit of others rather than themselves. Anyone would call you either insane or some other derogative term."
"People who think such things are narrow-minded," Naruto said, "I don't pay them any mind. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to come this far. I'm confident that I'll win this bet against Tsunade-obaachan and get ero-jisan to finally have his chance with that old lady he's been chasing after longer than either of us been alive on this planet."
"Jiraiya-sama has been interested in Tsunade-sama for that long?" Hinata inquired.
"Ero-jisan has been in love with Tsunade since they were Genin," Naruto said, "But she never gave him a chance and would always brush him off, many times very violently. And she brutally beat him nearly to death just because he peeped at her once."
"Forgive me if this offends you Naruto-kun," Hinata said meekly, "But that sounded similar to you and Sakura-san back then."
"I'm not offended," Naruto assured, "I'm sorry to say that was the same path I almost took with Sakura. I'd have wasted so much time and effort going after that pink haired harpy and lose out in all the time I could have invested in you and making us happen."
"So why are you going out of your way playing the wingman for Jiraiya-sama in helping him woo Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked, "Wouldn't it be practical if you encourage him to pursue happiness with another woman?"
"Ero-jisan's feelings for Tsunade-obaachan are genuine and sincere regardless of how much of a pervert he is," Naruto said "Truthfully, he did try moving on from Tsunade-obaachan and be with other women. The problem ero-jisan had with them was that they weren't Tsunade-obaachan. Despite ero-jisan's outer vices and past mistake, deep down he's really a great guy and powerful ninja. Tsunade-obaachan lost so many years of happiness she could have had with ero-jisan if she had just given him a chance. Instead, she wasted those years drowning herself in gambling, drinking, amassing huge debts and dwelling too much on the past. It's amazing she didn't self-destruct and resort to senpukku."
"That wouldn't have solved any of their problems," Hinata commented.
"No, it wouldn't have," Naruto agreed, "Tsunade-obaachan proclaims herself as a strong kunoichi and world-renowned medic. While that's true and all, what she needs yet won't admit to herself, is a good and strong man who understands her pain, loss, and sorrows, and actually wants to be there for her in everything. Believe me Hinata-chan, I do understand ero-jisan's feelings."
"I do believe you Naruto-kun," Hinata said honestly, "I have no reason to doubt that. I just wanted to understand your reasons for your actions."
'That's because Jiraiya's memories of Tsunade-obaachan are infused inside me,' Naruto thought, 'Thankfully his genuine feelings and affections for her weren't also infused into me, otherwise that would have given me massive problems on a grand scale. Clearly when my patriarch ancestor created and designed that seal, it wasn't designed with the capacity to copy and infused emotions and affections of one person to another. The problem I have is that I had the displeasure of seeing first hand through his eyes what being beaten to less than an inch of your life by obaachan's monstrous strength was like.'
Naruto physically shuddered when he recalled waking up in cold sweat from that nightmare memory he experienced when that memory from Jiraiya awakened in one of his past dreams. He remembered taking a couple of minutes to calm and get himself together and understanding what happened, which led to him developing methods of escape and self-defense in the event something like that were to happened. Being beaten to death wasn't one of his future life goals though he was careless that one time with Anko when one her of summoned diamondback rattle snakes managed to bite and inject venom into him.
"Are you OK, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked with concerned, "You trembled uncomfortably for a moment there. Is something the matter?"
"Just some very bad memories that briefly haunted me," Naruto honestly, "It almost killed the mood we're having here, but I managed to overcome them. However…"
"However what, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked.
"There are still other important diplomatic clan affairs that I as the Uzumaki clan leader still have to give an answer to sooner or later," Naruto said.
"You mean the one regarding the priestess from Oni no Kuni," Hinata deduced.
"Yeah," Naruto answered calmly, "I've been trying to come up with a way to properly handle that that matter without causing too much problems for everyone. Before leaving for this mission, I asked jiisan how he would have handle matters if he were in my position but he refused to give me any feedback, stating that doing so would be overstepping his boundaries as the Hokage. He told me this was a decision I had to make. Then I considered the idea of having one of my brethren step in as my substitute."
"In other words," Hinata realized, "You're trying to find a way of accepting Shion's offer without having to personally conceive daughters with her. You're trying to have Shion conceive daughters with another male Uzumaki."
"That's the idea," Naruto said but then stated, "However, it's not exactly a perfect idea that would work though."
"And why is that?" Hinata asked.
"For starters," Naruto elaborated, "Arashi's has a bad habit of groping females in public. I doubt very much that the people of Oni no Kuni would take kindly to having their priestess betrothed to someone who openly behaves with such brazen indecency. I thought about hooking Kansui with Shion, but there's the matter of whether or not Shion would even accept such a compromise since she said she wanted the future priestesses to be direct descendants from my bloodline. Seijiro-jisan is obviously out of the question as he's way too old for the priestess anyway."
"I see that your options are very limited as you were giving the matter a lot of serious forethought," Hinata remarked.
"I didn't want to keep the fact that I was deeply contemplating how to handle Shion's offer a secret from you," Naruto said, "Whatever choices or actions I decide to take on with this matter will affect you as much as it'll affect me and the future of the Uzumaki clan and by extension Konoha. I didn't want to decide on anything without discussing it with you and coming to a decision afterwards. I do value your opinions and feelings and whatever feedback I can get from you."
"Well Naruto-kun," Hinata reminded, "Like you said, you're the Uzumaki clan leader whereas I'm the Hyuuga clan heiress. What do you strongly believe will be in the Uzumaki clan's best interest?"
"My thoughts were how I would feel if a foreign male dignitary or nobleman possessing a powerful bloodline limit wanted to ask if he could have a son or daughter with you because he believes that fusing his bloodline limit with yours would produce a more powerful hybrid Hyuuga or whatever it is that his bloodline would possess," Naruto reasoned.
"You do bring up an interesting point Naruto-kun," Hinata said, "But it's not as easy as you make it out to be. The rules and customs are different when it comes to noble males having an interest in a female of high status of another clan. Unlike the priestess, the nobleman, foreign or not, or male dignitary have to beseech the clan leader's permission for my hand in marriage before conceiving any child with me. It's not like he'd be allowed to have and impregnate me in hopes of producing a powerful offspring without marrying me first."
"Yet you allowed me to have you," Naruto teased playfully.
"Only because I know my sure future is with you as you'll go before my father to ask his permission and blessings to marry me," Hinata replied, "And after everything you've done and how you've helped me throughout the years, there's no possible way father will refuse."
"That goes without say," Naruto confirmed, "And knowing your clan, I'll possibly have to be formal about it too."
"Be that as it may," Hinata said "But the point is, if a female of high station like Shion were to entreat a clan leader, nobleman or dignitary to impregnate her for the sole purpose of preserving her line without the need to marry her, then it would be at his discretion especially if there no other ulterior motives behind her wanting to conceive a child with him."
"Other ulterior motives?" Naruto asked.
"Some would falsely try to accuse a foreign noblewoman or dignitary of trying to seduce the male of interest into having a child with her solely so she could try to use the child to stake her claim on what belonged to his or her father by birthright later on down the years should anything happen to the child's father," Hinata explained, "If the child were to return to claim an inheritance from his or her late father without any documented medical proof or a legal birth certificate bearing the names of his or her birthparents, that could lead to more legal complications, especially if the father didn't leave behind a written will with his stamped seal explaining everything in clear details about how he wants to apportion whatever inheritance he left behind for all of his children, including those he had with another woman, legitimate or not."
"Funny how Iruka-sensei never discussed these serious topics with us in class," Naruto remarked.
"Iruka-sensei isn't from any noble clan like us Naruto-kun," Hinata said, "These were lessons Hanabi and I were taught by our father."
"Well I surely learned a whole lot just from listening to you for these few minutes," Naruto remarked, "It certainly gave me a number of things to meditate on."
"I'm happy my limited input was able to give you some ideas on what future course of action you may decide to take for the benefit of the Uzumaki clan," Hinata said.
"Hinata-chan," Naruto said, "Whatever decision I make will affect you as well. You are the future matriarch of my clan after all."
"While I'm happy and honored to be regarded as your clan's future matriarch in both your eyes and in the eyes of your Uzumaki brethren however," Hinata said candidly, "The Hokage and the rest of the shinobi council won't acknowledge whatever feelings or opinions I have regarding whatever decision you make as Uzumaki clan leader with regards to Shion's proposal to your clan."
"Why would you say that?" Naruto asked.
"For starters," Hinata pointed out, "You and I aren't married, therefore I'm not an official member or matriarch of your clan. Secondly, like my father, you're an official member of Konoha's shinobi council, a governing political hierarchy of our village. Therefore, if I were to openly and vehemently object to whatever decisions you make for your clan when it poses no potential harm or threat to Konoha or to any of your clansmen, then the shinobi council would see me as an insolent Chuunin and Hyuuga clan heiress overstepping my boundaries and interfering with diplomatic businesses that was solely between the Uzumaki clan and Oni no Kuni.
"In an extreme worst case scenario, if I were to act recklessly or violently against the priestess out of jealous rage, it would cause an international incident between Konoha and Oni no Kuni. Everyone would blame me for it if war was Oni no Kuni's response to my actions and there would be dire consequences not only against me but possibly against my clan as well. You already know the story between my clan and Kumo."
"The Kumo Ambassador tried to kidnap you and bring you to Kumo because they were after the Byakugan," Naruto said, "Your father was within his rights to protect you and kill that bastard."
"Regardless," Hinata said, "It almost led to war between Kumo and Konoha. My uncle Hizashi died in my father's place to prevent that from happening."
"Well I don't want to do anything that would cause you to behave and do something reckless and irresponsible," Naruto said.
"Naruto-kun," Hinata replied, "I would take full responsibility if my actions, no matter my reasons, caused you and your clan tremendous problems of any sort. Even though I'm not an official member or matriarch of your clan, the very fact that you're discussing these important clan affairs with me reassures me that you truly do love me and consider my feelings and opinions as important to you. But no matter what decision and course of action you decide to take for your clan, I won't leave your side, not after everything you've selflessly done for me and with me. You'll have my full support. I'll stick with you through thick and thin, Naruto-kun," Hinata promised, "No matter what happens or whatever comes our way, I won't leave your side."
"And I won't ever leave yours, my Moon's Eye Spring Rabbit," Naruto promised before moving to kiss her. Hinata returned the kiss before they embraced and held each other. As the pair were making out, heat and arousal started developing in their beings again before they caved in and made love again with Hinata riding Naruto for all he was worth.