"How does anyone stand this heat?" Tsunade questioned as she and her party neared the entrance of Suna. The weeks since the second Kyuubi incident had passed in a blink of the eye. Things in the village returned to normal, except for the rise of a new celebrity in Naruto.
Speaking of her nephew, as punishment for withholding information about the Kyuubi she lowered the price for his instruction. Anyone with the equivalent payout of a D rank mission could get the son of the Yondaime to teach them nin, gen, ken, or taijutsu and he could not use shadow clones to fulfill the requests nor shortchange Hanabi. True, she only keep it at that price point for three weeks but the lesson was learned.
"You can regulate your body temperature so you're only complaining about the idea of the heat, Tsunade-chan," Orochi pointed out, teasingly. She and Kakashi were covered in tan, light-weight cloaks and shemagh. Tsunade was in traditional red and white Hokage robes with the diamond shape hat to match. The Godaime ignored her friend, feeling it was her right to complain about the desert heat regardless of how affected she actually was by it.
The trio approached the valley entrance and were greeted by Temari. After an exchange of pleasantries and a security check, they were escorted to the arena. Orochi noticed the village was in much better condition compared to the last time she was here. What really stood out was a lush and green oasis with fruit bearing trees and various ponds. It was, apparently, treated as a playground as children were seen throughout. Tsunade noticed the environmental anomaly as well.
"I haven't been inside Suna in a number of years but that oasis looks newish, Temari-san."
"Oh, yes, Godaime-sama. It was a gift to Suna."
"Who could gift such a thing?" the Godaime inquired.
"No one but Kazekage-sama knows. It simply appeared one night. Kazekage-sama said it was from a personal friend and left it at that." That wasn't remotely true. Everyone in Suna knew who made it just like they all knew who Gaara's only acknowledged friend was but unlike some villages, the residents of Suna knew how to keep their mouths closed.
Arriving to the arena, Temari walked the Konoha nin to location of the other Kage. The area was open except for a sandstone ceiling, offering shade and temperature control. Temari introduced Tsunade and took her position behind Gaara, along with Baki. All five Kage were in attendance, Gaara and Tsunade having worked out her arriving last. It was meant to send a subtle message that Gaara didn't require his closest ally in attendance with the other Kage present, as the young Wind Shadow stood on his own. Tsunade took her seat as her party got into position, having removed their travel wear.
"You cut it awfully close, Tsunade-hime," Onoki said, a mocking tone to his voice.
"That's the arrogance of Konoha ninja. Even their pissy brat genin have it while having accomplished nothing," Ay barked, his head resting on top one of his hands. Tsunade chose to ignore the Raikage.
"I'm sure you understand a ninja should neither be too early nor too late, Tsuchikage-dono," Tsunade responded. The Fence-sitter said nothing in retort.
"I have to admit, Tsunade-sama, I am disappointed your delegation didn't include Naruto Uzumaki. I understand him to have several treasures of Kiri and would love to work out a fair exchange. Item by item if need be," the Godaime Mizukage purred. Tsunade could sense a slight tensing behind her and hoped Orochimaru wouldn't reveal herself to be a jealous girlfriend now of all times.
"I hear the brat isn't allowed out of the sights of Jiraiya. How that boy going to ever be a man if you keep a minder on him?"
"I am sure Naruto would be flattered by your interest in his development, Raikage-dono. As far as these Kiri treasures, I know not of what you speak but if you would like to present a formal request I will, of course, give it all due consideration, Mizukage-dono."
Mei simply smiled having gotten the answer she expected. Ay tightened his grip on his chair and clenched his jaw, angered at having been dismissed again. "Although, I also hear whispers that he has the most potential of any shinobi of any village since the Shodai Hokage himself. Defeated the very Kyuubi Minato was said to have killed with no help from anyone. Konoha is just a factory for genius ninja."
"Was there a point, Raikage-dono?"
"Just remarking on your village's ability to churn out bullshit superman stories about your alleged prodigies while you hide them away. At least Minato was out in the field so I could take his measure."
"Kukuku, from my understanding it was Minato-kun who took yours," Orochimaru retorted, much to the ire of Kumo's leader.
"Whatever stories you may have heard and however they have come to be, you must choose for yourself whether or not to believe them. We in Konoha like to concern ourselves with ourselves," Tsunade added.
"History would tell another story," Onoki countered, referencing Konoha's participation in all three Shinobi wars. With the exchange having died down Gaara called an official start to the finals. As the Five Shadows of the ninja world watched a proxy for war, several could only think about the real thing. And while they were preoccupied with the thoughts of war their seconds were vigilant for any signs of aggression. All except one.
The most infamous woman in the Hidden Villages wasn't concerned with war or children exchanging love taps. She only wanted to get this trip over with so she could share the good news. Tsunade confirmed herself, eight weeks along. Naruto-kun would have an heir, a child of his own. And she'd tap into previously unexplored reserves of cruelty and sadism if anyone should attempt to harm his child. It was a promise of a lifetime.
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Frail and defeated were a far cry from how Shinno had started his day. He was so confident in his victory, that Konoha would burn under his superior might, intelligence, and technology. It had all gone so smoothly it felt like fate. And thanks to Zetsu, he even had enough information to reliably target Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke. His longtime associate never revealed why he wanted them to die in particular but it didn't matter, as he was going to have as many Konoha killed as possible anyway.
It all went wrong. The sky fortress was infiltrated and his ninja killed before initial take off. The Uzumaki and a Hyuuga took turns dismantling him, showing him that rapid regeneration wasn't always a boon. He was stabbed and cut repeatedly. Burned. Electrocuted. Drowned. Made paralyzed by gentle fist strikes. The Uzumaki sealed the Zero Tails as if it were a mere academy exercise. With the Zero Tails gone and his chakra system compromised Shinno had to suffer through a genjutsu of being torn apart by panthers under a blood-red moon.
His current location was interrogation as, he assumed, the village's best went to work. He'd already given up Ay and Zetsu's involvement. He didn't know what more they wanted but the purple-haired woman just wouldn't leave him be. He was so tired and his once muscular frame had withered to near-nothingness.
"What more do you want?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm just curious about something. Seems like you could have been taken in without much fuss but those two boys worked you over. So, what did you do to piss one or both of them off?"
Shinno groaned at the memory. A piece of intel Zetsu had given him about the Uzumaki's relationship with his former associate, Orochimaru. He goaded the boy, suggesting there was more to their relationship than was true. By the time he said she'd do anything for an immortality jutsu he felt a sword through his heart.
He dropped to the ground in shock and when he looked up, those blue eyes weren't even angry. They were filled with pity. The Uzumaki then said something to the Hyuuga about assholes always making things personal and never knowing when to shut up. Shinno was a smart man and had no intention of repeating what he said to Orochimaru's sadistic student. Anko laughed at his silence as she resolved to get the full story from Naruto when he got back.