Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, the Valley of the End.
June 28, x788.
In the afternoon of the day following Alfonzo's departure from the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi were waiting in the Valley of the end for the mission targets.
"To think we would be assigned the same mission for the second time in two years." Genma said while twisting the senbon he held between his lips with his right hand. "Doesn't Alfonzo usually come and go without an escort? Why does he need a team of Jōnin to escort him."
"Weren't you paying attention during the mission briefing?" Raidō asked. "He'll be coming with people other than himself this time. And some of them have never been to the village before."
"Plus, he'll be coming with a lot more people than previously." Iwashi added. "So, it's only natural."
"Yeah, I heard all that." Genma replied. "But Alfonzo is basically a shinobi of the Leaf at this point, isn't he? I don't know why we're on guard against him like this. We should just form a cooperative relationship with them. That way, missions like these will be unnecessary. I mean, it's not like you all haven't heard of Fairy Tail's reputation before, right?"
"I get where you're coming from, Genma." Raidō said while patting Genma on his shoulder. "But that's not for---"
"Hey, someone is coming!" Iwashi shouted while pointing towards the direction of Karakura Town.
Immediately, Genma and Raidō turned their heads in the direction of Iwashi's pointing finger. And when they did, they could barely see a small dot on the horizon. However, it was approaching at very high speed.
"Is that them?" Raidō asked while raising his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun.
"I don't think so, it looks like there is only one vehicle." Genma replied while channeling magic power into his eyes to improve his vision temporarily. "And it's way too small for all the people that should be coming."
*Vroom!*
Not long later, the trio could hear the sound of a loud, high-pitched engine coming closer. Shortly after that, they could hear the sound of a woman screaming in a panicked tone.
"Master Retsu~~~~! Slow down~~~~~!"
Hearing that voice, Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi exchanged glances. They all thought the voice sounded rather familiar. Unfortunately, neither of them could put their fingers on where they head heard it before.
About a minute later, the trio could finally make out the approaching figure. It was a black two-wheeled magic vehicle with white accents. Sitting atop the vehicle was a woman wearing a black kimono, a white haori, and a black helmet with a white diamond and the kanji for four drawn in the middle of the diamond. There also seemed to be someone sitting behind that woman, who also wore a helmet. However, because of the rider in front, they could not make out anything else about the second rider.
A few moments later, it seemed as if the driver of the two-wheeled magic vehicle saw the three shinobi. Then, she increased her speed even further.
"Master Retsu~~~~! You're going to kill us~~~~~!"
Ignoring the screaming woman behind her, the woman wearing the black kimono, Retsu Unohana, turned the motorcycle and skidded to a stop in front of Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi, scaring them half to death. However, there was no need to worry, as the motorcycle came to a stop about three feet away from them.
In the next instant, the large-breasted woman riding behind Retsu, who wore a leaf green haori with a red circle on the back and the kanji for gamble in the middle of that circle, a sleeveless, grey kimono top, dark blue pants, and a matching obi, hopped off the back of the motorcycle, flung off her helmet, revealing her blond hair, hazel eyes, gorgeous face, and a blue diamond on her forehead, and started emptying the contents of her stomach all over the ground.
"Lady Tsunade!" x 3
Seeing that the screaming woman was Tsunade, Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi were shocked. Then, they rushed over to check on her condition. Meanwhile, Retsu relaxedly took off her helmet, revealing a refreshed smile on her beautiful face.
"*Sigh* Nowadays, nothing relaxes me quite like taking a joyride on my motorcycle." Retsu said in a happy tone. "I really should thank Alfonzo for introducing me to such a fun thing."
Hearing that, Tsunade did her best to glare at Retsu. However, her glare was far from threatening thanks to all the dry heaving she was doing after there was nothing left in her stomach to throw up. On top of that, she already knew that her glare would have no effect on Retsu. So, she decided to stop. Besides, if it went on for too long, Retsu might punish her. And she's died enough times in the last two years to last her a life time.
'I'm gonna make that kid pay for this.' Tsunade thought as she used her [Medical Ninjutsu] to soothe her nausea. 'If it wasn't for him showing Master Retsu such a demonic magic vehicle, I wouldn't be dragged to go on her joyrides so often.'
"Lady Tsunade, who is this, if we may ask?" Raidō asked after Tsunade finally stood up.
"*Cough* *Cough* This is the fourth master of the Mermaid Heel Guild, Master Retsu Unohana." Tsunade said begrudgingly. "She came with me to watch the Chunin Exam Finals. And if possible, to scout some talents like Anko to join the guild."
"I see." Iwashi replied. "but we were not made aware of your visit. Does Lord Hokage know?"
Hearing that, Tsunade glared at Iwashi, causing him to shrink back in fear.
Everyone in the village over a certain age was completely aware of the fact that Tsunade was rather quick to anger, and even quicker to resort to violence. So, Iwashi was genuinely scared for his well-being.
"Since when do I, granddaughter of the First Hokage have to notify anyone that I'm returning to my home?" Tsunade asked as she turned her nose up.
"Is that what your grandmother taught you, Tsuna?" Retsu asked calmly from the side.
Immediately, Tsunade froze. Between thinking about making Alfonzo pay for the motorcycle and Iwashi's question, not to mention trying to not think about Retsu in fear of being punished for looking at her the wrong way, Tsunade had completely forgotten she was right there.
"*Sigh* Mito would be so disappointed if she could see you now." Retsu continued in a forlorn tone. "As an old friend of hers, I really should have tried to educate you better."
Tsunade could only remain silent in response. However, she did eventually turn her menacing glare towards the three Jōnin.
"That's' right, you three must be the escort squad for that brat, right?" Tsunade asked.
"Pardon my asking, Lady Tsunade." Genma said hesitantly. "But by 'that brat', are you referring to Alfonzo Marcus from Fairy Tail?"
"Who else could I be talking about?" Tsunade asked sharply, causing the three Jōnin to shiver once again. "Anyway, he should be here in a few minutes. We passed him on the way here. And He's got a few people with him spread over a few cars."
"Understood." X 3
Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi replied simultaneously while straightening their backs.
"Anyway, take care of them properly." Tsunade said. "We'll head into the village in the meantime."
With that, Tsunade walked past the three and started moving towards the forest outside of the village. However, before she could get very far, Retsu's voice stopped her in her tracks. And she almost tripped over her own feet.
"Actually, I think I'd like to stay here." Retsu said with a gentle smile. "It's been a while since I've seen that young man. And I wasn't able to attend his last wedding thanks to business I had to take care of. So, I can congratulate him, as well."
'Damn it.' Tsunade thought to herself. 'I just want to go home, lay down, and have a drink. I really need one to get over that ride from hell. And Shizune should have already gone to my house and cleaned up. So, I wouldn't even have anything to worry about after getting home. Why does Master Retsu like to torture me so much'
A moment later, Tsunade turned around with a smile on her face that was only a step away from crying.
"If that's what you want, Master Retsu." Tsunade said. Then, her eyes lit up as a bright idea formed in her mind. "In that case, I'll head home and prepare a room for you. That way, you'll be able to relax once you get there."
"Although I'm thankful for the thought." Retsu said in a gentle tone. "Did you forget, we have to go see that kid, Hiruzen when we get there. It would be inefficient if you went home just to have to come back not long afterwards, wouldn't it?"
While Tsunade gritted her teeth at the fact that her plan was foiled so quickly, Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi stared at Retsu with their eyes wide open in surprise. To think she would call the respected Third Hokage not only by his name, but a kid, as well.
In the end, Tsunade stayed with Retsu to wait for Alfonzo and the rest of his entourage. Meanwhile, Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi stood to the side feeling rather awkward.
Luckily, that awkwardness did not last for too long, as a convoy of three magic vehicles approached from the Direction of Karakura Town. And when the three Jōnin could clearly see the person driving the frontmost vehicle, they sighed in relief.
Eventually, the three magic vehicles pulled up in front of the three. Then, after only a moment, people started climbing out of them.
From the first vehicle, Alfonzo, Elicia, Ikaruga, Grayfia, and Miyuki stepped out. From the second, it was Cana, Laki, and Saeko. And form the third, Lucy, Mavis, Shizuka, and Rika hopped down from Lucy's hot pink, metallic 1500.
"Hey everyone, how are you guys?" Alfonzo said in a clearly exhausted tone.
"Kid, why do you seem so tired?" Tsunade asked in atone filled with Schadenfreude.
"Oh, you know, the usual." Alfonzo replied with a tired smile. "Completed a Ten Years Quest, sailed for a day, drove for another day, reported on the quest and talked about magic with the first master for a day, spent two days making sure all my businesses in Crocus were ready for the Grand Magic Games, flew to the Leaf Village, spent a few hours here, flew back to Magnolia, then drove nonstop from Magnolia back to the Valley of the End. You know, nothing special when you live a life like mine."
Hearing everything Alfonzo had done over the last ten days, or so, Genma, Raidō, and Iwashi looked at him like he was inhuman. Even Tsunade, who intended on teasing him about having too much fun with his wives at night, could not say anything. Only Retsu nodded in understanding after hearing all that.
"It sounds like it's truly been hard on you, Alfonzo." Retsu said with a gentle smile. "Therefore, I'll wait until tomorrow morning to enjoy one of your wonderful home cooked meals."
Hearing that, Alfonzo's upper lip started twitching violently. Even so, he had no intention of declining. It's not like making food for one more would be an effort. And Retsu was even considerate enough to push back her visit to the next day.
"Anyway, now that the kid is here, let's head into the village." Tsunade said, sounding a bit impatient. "Oh, and I'll be there for breakfast tomorrow, too."
After that, and without giving anyone a chance to reply, Tsunade turned around and started walking towards the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Meanwhile, Retsu shook her head. Then, she looked at Alfonzo with her, trademark, gentle smile.
"Alfonzo, would you mind bringing this along for me?" Retsu asked while gesturing towards her motorcycle.
Alfonzo could only look at Retsu's smiling face with a helpless expression before using his [Metal Magic] to lift the four vehicles. At the same time, he used his [Electromagnetism Magic] to bend the visible light around them before floating them high in the air and following behind Tsunade with the rest of the group.