Tsunade's mouth hung open as she stared at the tall figure in disbelief. It couldn't be...but it was. Her former teammate, Jiraiya, had just walked into the ramen shop.
"Jiraiya," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in surprise as he spotted Tsunade sitting at a table in the corner. He made his way over to her, his long white hair swaying with each step. He wore his usual outfit - a black haori with a red interior, a white undershirt, and black pants.
"Tsunade," he said, his voice filled with equal parts surprise and joy. "I can't believe it's really you."
Naoki, oblivious to the history between the two, watched the scene unfold with confusion etched on his face. But he could sense the tension in the air, and he knew better than to interrupt.
Tsunade finally found her voice. "Jiraiya," she repeated, still in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, as you know me, I've been traveling and collecting research for my novel," Jiraiya said, a playful glint in his eye.
"Ugh, same as ever. You haven't changed a bit." Tsunade said with annoyance.
Jiraiya let out a hearty chuckle, "Hey now, what can I say? Some things never change," he replied with a mischievous grin.
Tsunade rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Unfortunately, that includes your perverted tendencies," she said, her tone laced with frustration.
"But the real question here is why are you here?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Tsunade calmly replied, but her response was quick and to the point. "I'm going back in the Leaf."
Jiraiya's voice echoed across the restaurant, his surprise palpable as he stared at Tsunade in disbelief. "You're heading back to the leaf? What's the occasion?" he asked, loud enough for nearby diners to turn their heads and listen in on their conversation.
Tsunade let out a sharp exhale, clearly irritated by Jiraiya's booming voice that had attracted the attention of the other diners. However, her irritation quickly gave way to a proud smile as she pointed to Naoki with her thumb. Jiraiya looked at Naoki with confusion etched on his face, but as he remembered who the boy was, his expression quickly shifted to one of surprise.
"Be quiet, will you. I'm going back to the leaf so that Naoki here can become a genin," Tsunade said firmly, her eyes fixed on Jiraiya as if shout again.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in surprise as he processed Tsunade's words. "Wait. Genin? Did I hear that right?" he asked, confusion etched onto his face. "How old is he? He should've turned 5 not very long ago."
Tsunade replied nonchalantly, as if Naoki becoming a genin at the age of 5 was a common occurrence, "Yeah? What about it?"
Jiraiya's mind was swirling with confusion upon hearing Tsunade's response. 'What about it? Becoming a genin at 5 is impossible, isn't it? The only one who has ever accomplished that feat is Kakashi Hatake. Or am I going crazy?' Jiraiya questioned himself, trying to make sense of what he had just heard.
As Jiraiya opened his mouth to speak, Tsunade interjected with a sly smirk on her face. "Oh, don't look so surprised," she said, leaning back in her chair. "I've seen Naoki in action myself. He's a natural prodigy. And if you still have doubts, feel free to test him yourself. I have no doubt he'll prove his worth." The other patrons of the restaurant had gone back to their conversations, but the tension between the two legendary ninjas had caught their attention, and they watched with curiosity as the exchange continued.
"In any case, that will occur once our food arrives and we have eaten," Tsunade stated in a commanding tone.
As they slurped their ramen, the flavours of the Tonkotsu broth mixed with the firmness of the noodles and the tenderness of the pork, sending their taste buds on a delightful journey. Tsunade let out a contented sigh, "This is just as good as I remember it."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement, "I don't know how they do it, but the ramen here just keeps getting better and better."
The conversation flowed easily between the two old friends, their voices tinged with nostalgia as they recounted the missions they had been on and the people they had met along the way. They talked about their triumphs and failures, laughing and joking as they remembered the good times.
As they spoke, Tsunade and Jiraiya began to form a closer bond, the years of being apart seeming to melt away. Their faces lit up with genuine warmth as they shared stories and experiences, and the moments of silence were filled with a sense of understanding and mutual respect.
Shizune and Naoki watched with admiration as the two legendary ninja reconnected, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment. It was clear to them that Tsunade and Jiraiya were more than just old teammates, they were friends who had been through thick and thin together.
As they finished their ramen, Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged a knowing look, their eyes filled with a sense of shared understanding. It was a moment that Shizune and Naoki would never forget, and one that reminded them of the importance of friendships and the memories they create.
----
The tall trees swayed gently in the breeze, casting a dappled shade on the lush green grass that stretched out before Naoki and Jiraiya. The grass itself was a vivid shade of green, and the blades were so soft underfoot that they felt like a plush carpet. The pond nearby was crystal clear, with a school of fish swimming lazily just beneath the surface.
Naoki and Jiraiya stood on the grass, their eyes locked in a fierce stare as they prepared to spar. Tsunade and Shizune watched from the side-lines, their expressions filled with pride and happiness as they saw the two men standing together, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment.
"Alright kid, I don't know how strong you are, so why don't you make the first move?" Jiraiya suggested with a grin.
"Very well." Responded Naoki. He focused his chakra to his feet and launched himself forwards, performing the Body Flicker jutsu. Naoki appeared in front of Jiraiya in a mere second and cocked his fist back about to punch Jiraiya in the face. Jiraiya stood there stunned, however he quickly recovered before blocking the fist with his forearm.
As Naoki's punch was blocked, he swiftly executed an acrobatic manoeuvre and spun through the air, his leg poised to deliver a lightning-fast strike towards Jiraiya's head. In a split second, Jiraiya deftly countered, blocking the kick with his other arm before smoothly pushing Naoki away to create some distance between them. Though brief, the exchange provided Jiraiya with valuable insight into Naoki's strength and abilities.
Naoki, propelled by Jiraiya's push, gracefully performed a backflip and landed on the surface of the pond. In a swift motion, he weaved intricate hand seals, channelling his chakra to execute a jutsu. As his final seal came to a close, the once serene water began to stir and churn, coalescing into sharp, formidable projectiles that seemed to be at Naoki's command.
"Water Style: Water Bullet Jutsu!" Naoki's voice boomed, his hands moving with practiced ease as he summoned his chakra. In an instant, the once-peaceful pond erupted into a chaotic battlefield as Naoki's jutsu took effect. The tranquil water droplets coalesced into small, but deadly, water bullets that hurtled towards Jiraiya with alarming speed and precision, each one hitting its target with lethal force.
Jiraiya, ever the skilled ninja, was not one to be caught off guard. As the water bullets closed in, he quickly performed a series of hand seals, his fingers dancing through the air with practiced ease. With a quick touch of the ground, a mud wall sprang up to shield him from the incoming attack.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
Jiraiya watched with surprise as the barrage of water bullets hit the mud wall he had just erected. While the wall held up against the attack, it was visibly damaged. Jiraiya was taken aback by the force of Naoki's Water Bullet Jutsu, as it is commonly known that earth is stronger than water. He quickly realized that Naoki's mastery of the jutsu was far beyond what he had anticipated, and he needed to be more cautious in their fight.
As soon as the water projectiles ceased, Jiraiya saw an opportunity to test Naoki's defensive capabilities. He launched himself towards Naoki with speed that surpassed anything Naoki had demonstrated before. Naoki managed to dodge Jiraiya's initial punch, but was caught off-guard when Jiraiya twisted his body and delivered a powerful kick to Naoki's back.
Jiraiya was surprised when he realized that Naoki had transformed into water. "A Water Clone? How many jutsu does this kid know?" Jiraiya said, both shocked and impressed by Naoki's skills. He remained vigilant, scanning his surroundings for any sign of Naoki's next move.
Tsunade, with a prideful look, eagerly anticipated the accomplishments Naoki would achieve and how he would elevate their clan to its former glory.
Naoki who had been hiding underwater using the water bubble jutsu, a jutsu allowing the person inside the bubble to breathe underwater. He knew that going head to head with the legendary Sannin was a daunting task, but he refused to back down. Naoki had been deep in thought, trying to come up with a strategy to gain an advantage over his formidable opponent. After a moment of contemplation, he finally decided to unleash a jutsu he had been developing with Tsunade's help during their training sessions.
"Water Style: Water Whip!"
With a loud splash, a massive whip made of condensed water shot out of the pond, taking Jiraiya by surprise. He quickly leapt into the air to dodge the sudden attack, but as he did so, he caught sight of Naoki emerging from the water. Jiraiya's instincts kicked in, and he immediately began to weave hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Bullet Jutsu!"
Jiraiya's hands moved in a blur as he unleashed his earth release jutsu. The earth around him began to tremble, and earth bullets materialized in the air, hovering around him like deadly projectiles. Naoki, who had just emerged from the water, quickly noticed the incoming attack and reacted swiftly. He formed a shadow clone using the shadow clone jutsu, and the clone immediately began to do hand seals, summoning a powerful wall of water that rose up from the pond to protect them. As the earth bullets struck the wall, some were deflected, while others were destroyed by Naoki's water whip.
Jiraiya smirked as he watched Naoki deflect his previous attack. He knew he had to bring out the big guns to catch the young ninja off guard. With a flick of his wrist, Jiraiya summoned a burst of chakra, causing the ground beneath him to tremble. He then performed a set of hand seals, and a menacing B-rank earth jutsu began to take shape.
The air around them crackled with energy as Jiraiya unleashed the jutsu, sending a massive earth dragon bullet hurtling towards Naoki. The force of the attack was overwhelming, even for a seasoned ninja like Naoki. Jiraiya knew that he had him right where he wanted him.
Naoki, however, wasn't one to be taken down so easily. He quickly performed the shadow clone jutsu and summoned several clones to aid him in his defence. They began to furiously weave hand seals, and a deluge of water swirled up from the pond, coalescing into a massive water tornado.
"Water Style: Water Tornado Jutsu!"
The water tornado roared towards the earth dragon bullet, colliding with a deafening roar. Sparks flew as the two forces clashed, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. The ground shook and the trees swayed as the two forces fought for dominance.
But despite Naoki's valiant effort, the earth dragon bullet continued its relentless march forward. Naoki realized too late that he had underestimated Jiraiya's power, and the dragon's jaws were closing in fast. Desperately, Naoki attempted to evade, but Jiraiya was too quick for him. He moved with lightning-fast reflexes, brandishing a kunai and pressing it firmly against Naoki's neck.
Jiraiya's eyes glinted mischievously as he spoke, a faint grin on his lips. "Not bad, kid," he chuckled, his voice full of amusement. "Your versatility and your massive chakra reserves are certainly impressive, and they make you a force to be reckoned with among chunin. But even then, chunin could probably take you down, since you still lack the combat experience necessary to truly excel. If you did, you might have tried something like the water clone jutsu and hid underwater, but that'll come with time."
As Tsunade and Shizune approached the duo, their eyes were gleaming with pride and admiration for Naoki's growth. The expressions on their faces spoke volumes of the amount of hard work and dedication that Naoki had put in over the years. With a confident stride, they made their way to the young ninja and congratulated him on his remarkable performance.
Jiraiya turned to Tsunade with a grin on his face, his eyes still fixed on Naoki as he spoke. "Well, well, looks like you weren't wrong when you said this kid was talented," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of awe. "He's a monster at his age."
Jiraiya then turned back to Naoki, appraising him with a look of genuine admiration. The way the young ninja had handled himself in battle was impressive, and Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in the boy's achievements. "You've got real potential, kid," he said, nodding his head in approval. "Your chakra control is impressive, and your fighting style is nothing to scoff at. With a little more experience under your belt, you could be a real force to be reckoned with."
--
As they walked through the bustling streets of the town, Jiraiya and Tsunade continued to chat, reminiscing about old times and catching up on what they had missed in each other's lives. Naoki walked beside them, listening intently and occasionally asking questions.
The town was filled with vibrant colours and sounds, as vendors shouted out their wares and children ran around playing games. The smells of food from the various street vendors mixed together, creating a tantalizing aroma that made Naoki's stomach grumble.
Jiraiya and Tsunade strolled leisurely, taking in the sights and sounds around them, enjoying each other's company. They had always been close, but after years of being apart, it felt like they had so much catching up to do.
As the sun began to set, the streetlights flickered on, casting a warm, orange glow across the town. The hustle and bustle of the day began to fade away, replaced by a more subdued atmosphere as the residents settled in for the night.
Jiraiya looked over at Tsunade, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, how long are you guys staying here? I'm assuming you're leaving tomorrow," he asked.
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering away from Jiraiya's. "Actually, I was thinking about staying a few days longer," she replied, a hint of shyness in her voice.
Jiraiya's face lit up with a wide grin. "That's great! We can catch up some more and reminisce more about the past ."
Naoki heard Tsunade's comment about leaving tomorrow and was about to interject when he noticed Shizune placing a gentle hand on Tsunade's shoulder. In that moment, Naoki could see the unspoken understanding between the two women. Shizune knew that Tsunade was hesitant to leave because she wanted to spend more time with Jiraiya.
Naoki looked over at Jiraiya who was still chatting with Tsunade, and could see that the two of them were enjoying each other's company. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two legendary ninjas, who had been through so much together, finally being able to spend some peaceful time in each other's presence.
Shizune turned to Naoki and whispered, "Let them have this time, Naoki. They deserve it." Naoki nodded, understanding the sentiment.
As they continued walking through the bustling town, Naoki couldn't help but feel grateful for the opportunity to train with such powerful and experienced ninja. He knew that he still had a long way to go before he could reach their level, but he was determined to continue pushing himself to become stronger.
The three spent three days with Jiraiya, and during that time, Naoki sparred with Jiraiya and even learned the basic principle of the Rasengan from him. As the time came for them to leave, the four of them stood at the entrance of the town, Tsunade and Jiraiya clearly hesitant to part ways.
Tsunade didn't say anything, but her tone of voice betrayed her reluctance to leave. She knew they had missions to complete, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of longing to stay with Jiraiya a little longer. Jiraiya, too, seemed to be struggling with the idea of parting ways.
Naoki could sense the emotions swirling in the air and couldn't help but feel a little sad himself. He had grown to admire Jiraiya's skill and personality in the short time they spent together, and it was hard to say goodbye so soon.
As they said their final goodbyes, Tsunade and Jiraiya shared a lingering gaze that spoke volumes of their unspoken feelings for each other. Their eyes locked, conveying a silent conversation that only they could understand. Naoki looked away, not wanting to intrude on their moment, but he couldn't help but feel the heaviness of their departure. It was as if the air around them had thickened with emotion, and the weight of their unfulfilled desires hung heavily upon them.
The parting was bittersweet, and a deep sense of melancholy settled upon them. Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged one last embrace, holding each other tightly as if they could never let go. Naoki could see the sadness etched on their faces, and it pained him to witness their pain.
However, the reality of their duties and responsibilities could not be ignored, and soon they stood at the entrance of Konohagakure, The Village Hidden In The Leaves, after two long days of travelling. The familiar sights and sounds of the village brought a sense of comfort and familiarity, but also a twinge of sadness knowing that their time together had come to an end.
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A/N- How is this chapter, I think I was too descriptive in the other chapters and decided to change things. Is this one better or do you guys prefer the older style of writing?
Also, if you hadn't noticed it yet, Tsunade and Jiraiya will become a ship in this fanfic, I really wanted them to get together in the original series and you know how that turned out. Also, if you have any ships you wished to happen please send away. Also spoiler alert, Itachi x Izumi will happen.
I'm not a great writer as I exceed in creative writing and describing scenes so anyone can could visualise it. The reason I do this is because in majority of fanfics we are left to capture the scene in our heads ourselves. However, for this fanfic I want everyone to capture what I see. I think this could make everyone connect better to the fanfic and contribute more. I tried to balance it out however compared to last chapter, by including more dialogue, including in the battle.
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed the dialogue and the fight scene. It was my first time trying to convey emotions with dialogue, also it was my the first fight scene I have ever written, so I hope it's up to par.
Also, while the MC is strong for his age, he's not going to be broken and just one shot people. As Jiraiya said, while the MC could perhaps rival a chunin in terms of power, the MC will still probably lose because, 1-hes only five, and 2- he's inexperienced. Also, the MC's strength mostly comes from his versatility. Remember, the Senju were once the fiercest of all clans because they were known as the clan of a thousand skills. They are extremely versatile which made them rivals to the Uchiha clan for a millennia, we are talking about child wielding Mangekyo Sharingan users, who were born to fight from the age of 4. And the Senju never had a kekkei genkai until Hashirama came into existence.
Next chapter is- Konoha, Village Hidden In The Leaves.
Also, please comment if you have any suggestions that you wish to be included in the fanfic or any ways I could improve.
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VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: I was originally going to make Naoki around 3 years older than Naruto, should I stick with it? Or should I make him older by 1 year. The reason I don't want to make him younger is because I want a special Ninja to become to Jonin Instructor.
https://discord.gg/vgJrmuV7
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, see you in the next one~