Jiraiya nodded, still slightly dumbfounded. "Uhhh, Kakashi…where is Naruto now?"
"He should be in the tower, beginning his administrative duties."
Jiraiya blinked with an expression of disbelief mixed with a kind of 'Holy shit' look before he turned to Tsunade. "Well, lets get going, now's a good time as any."
She nodded, and the two remaining Sannin entered the village of Kiri.
When Tsunade and Jiraiya entered the tower they didn't even bother to speak to the administrative workers as they made a b-line for the strongest chakra source in the building.
They entered the Mizukage's former office and found Naruto speaking to a large man wearing green robes. "Very well Guan."
The man bowed his head once before he turned and walked past the Sannin. As he passed Tsunade however his eyes shifted. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes and caught his gaze. His gaze was completely blank as he walked past her without a single word.
"Ahh Jiraiya." Naruto's hollow voice brought her out of her muses.
She turned her eyes onto him, blood red robe and hood, armor as black as midnight and metallic facemask. His voice dead, hollow and void of any emotion. His eyes, eyes hidden in as much shadow as the rest of his being. Her eyes narrowed. This…this was the man Jiraiya believed would bring peace to the world?
She was brought out of her contemplation by Jiraiya's voice. "And so, she agreed to come here and meet with you."
"I see." Naruto spoke as he turned to her. "Well then Tsunade, you wished to speak, so speak."
She squared her shoulders. "I would like some privacy for this conversation, why don't we go someplace else?" She seemed to think for a moment. "As a mater of fact, I know the best place."
"You do?" Jiraiya questioned.
She smirked as she turned to him. "You know the place too Jiraiya, its where we camped out during our first mission here."
"Ahh." Jiraiya said as he remembered and nodded.
"Only one question, Tsunade. I was told you had an assistant, Shizune was it? Where might she be?"
Tsunade shrugged. "She didn't want to come, and decided to wait for me back at the village Jiraiya found us in, if I decide to join you then I'll call her."
Naruto paused and after a long moment nodded. "Very well then, let us leave."
The three walked through the village, watching as the people worked. Tsunade caught many looks of fear pass over the villagers faces as they laid eyes on Naruto, as well as some looks of anger from others dressed in black garb, no doubt families burying their loved ones.
She closed her eyes.
The three continued their walk until finally they came to a clearing overlooking a small ten foot rock face, Tsunade walked over to a tree which had four names carved into it. Jiraiya had done it.
'Jiraiya, Tsunade Orochi-teme and their sensei Sarutobi. Greatest ninja team ever!'
She closed her eyes and looked to the sky with a slightly pained expression on her features. 'How did it come to this?'
"Hehe, I remember that." Jiraiya's voice brought her out of her thoughts. She turned and looked at her teammates bittersweet expression.
She smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. Jiraiya sensed her tense and turned to look at her. "Tsuna" He was cut off by her whisper. "I'm sorry."
He tried to pull back but it was too late, she tightened her grip on him and spun him around so his back was facing her. She charged some chakra into her finger tips and taped the base of his neck before she delivered a solid kick to his ribs, sending the sannin flying, crashing right into a tree.
She closed her eyes and prayed that she hadn't hit too hard before she turned to look at the blond Jinchuriki, who seemed as impassive as ever at Tsunade's actions, she sneered at that. 'Bastard probably doesn't even care.'
"What is it that you desire Tsunade?" He questioned simply.
She scoffed. "To stop you and your idiocy right here and now."
He shook his head as he unsheathed one of his swords. "No Tsunade, what is it that you truly desire….the desire hidden, in the dark pit of your soul."
Two figures leapt down from the rock face, revealing Akina and Shizune as they flanked the Jinchuuriki both bearing Kunai and Shuriken.
Jiraiya struggled to stand, but that tap to the neck had completely messed up his nervous system he couldn't move properly. 'Damnit, that's why she wanted to walk, she wanted for them to get here first and be ready to ambush him. I should have seen this coming.'
Naruto craned his head to look at Shizune, the woman held a determined gaze but there was a definite underlying fear and nervousness. She may know what to do, but this was probably one of her first true combat experiences.
He then turned to the other uninvited guest, Akina. The girl looked at him with a hatred he had not seen in any before her. Possibly even more that Sasuke's hatred for Itachi.
It was then that he locked eyes with her and time seemed to freeze as his eyes flashed red without his consent.
Unbeknownst to anyone Kyuubi smirked from behind the bars of his cage. "Yes…."
He began chuckling then, at first slow and menacing, then blowing up into a mad laugh of bloodlusting glee.
His red eyes glowed in the darkness of the seal "Soon Naruto…soon I'll feel your bones crunching between my teeth. Once I'm done with you not even the Shinigami will find the pieces!"
"One who betrays must expect betrayal." Naruto spoke lazily before he snapped his fingers.
A massive broad sword flew through the air, making both girls leap back to avoid it. Before the sword could hit a tree an individual in green caught the blade by the hilt.
"Guan, you deal with those two…I will deal with Tsunade."
The bearded man nodded before he adjusted his grip on the blade and began walking towards Shizune and Akina. The blond girl appeared to want to go after Naruto but held herself back in favor of helping Shizune.
Naruto walked forward as his sword glinted in the flickering sunlight that filtered down through the tree tops. Red chakra pooled at his feet and encased his form its fiery embrace as his eyes glowed a deep red beneath his hood. "If my death is what you desire Tsunade, then you'll have to come and take it."
She sneered at him. "I don't know if you can even be called a man or if you really are a demon any more Uzumaki. But even if you are a demon it doesn't mater I'll do whatever I have to do to stop this ambition of yours here and now."
Naruto stopped and felt an unfamiliar feeling of anger bubbling in his chest. For some reason, being called a demon…irritated him. For what reason, he did not know, people had said it, both in and out of the battlefield for as long as he could remember.
He never cared then, why should he now?
He then remembered Hidetada. That gripping pain in his chest as he stared at his unmoving form.
Perhaps that was why. Because before, he cared for nothing, he could kill, maim murder, it didn't matter. But…now…now for the first time in his life he had felt guilt, true guilt over his actions…demons did not feel guilt…therefore, he could not be one.
He looked into her eyes, his blood red orbs seemingly piercing her.
"I'll let you in on a secret Tsunade…Uzumaki Naruto…is nothing…but a man."
And with that quiet declaration the blond rushed the slug sannin!
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