Chapter Eight

Unbeta'd so please bear with the errors.

One Month Later

Hi no Kuni

Bandit Camp

Commander's Tent

"So how do you want to do this?" A well muscled tall bold man with a brown greying beard and black eyes asked the man sitting across from him, between bites of the roasted chicken he was eating.

"Do what?" A lean man with shoulder length straight green, black eyes and a pretty boy face asked the bold muscled man who was wolfing down a full chicken.

"Do what?! Are you seriously asking me do what?! Raid the unguarded village that's half a day's walk away from here. What else would I mean Daichi?!" The bold man asked the now identified Daichi, who he would have hit for saying something as stupid as that had he not been enjoying his chicken.

"Raid their camp why would we do that?"

"Why would we do that? Did you Daichi just ask me why we would do that? Because if you did you are seriously starting to piss me off." The bold man told Daichi as he glared at him. "They have no guards, have food and wine stocked up for the winter and their women don't get me started on those delightful creatures." The bold muscled man listed. A lustful tone entering his voice at the end as he thought of all the women he had seen on his scout trip yesterday. "Those idiots are just begging to be raided and are begging to have their women pleasured. So Daichi the right question to ask isn't why would we do that instead its why wouldn't we?" The bold man corrected with a grin expecting to see a matching one form on his companion's face but much to his annoyance seeing a disapproving look instead.

"Because they are innocent people you pig!" Daichi shouted angrily. "Innocent women and children and stealing from them is wrong! Just like like those vile things you plan on doing to the wome-"

"Who are you?" The bold man demanded in a chilling tone as he put down his chicken, interrupting Daichi.

"W-What?"

"I said who are you?!" The bold man demanded again in a raised voiced that was filled with his growing anger. "The Daichi I know would have never said anything you just said about 'innocents'. He would have cared about one thing and one thing only. The women. Whether they were easy on the eyes or as ugly as our dead mother. So I am going to ask one last time who are you?!"

"I am Dai-"

"You are not Daichi!" The bold man furiously cut off the impostor sitting across from him. "You are not my brother." The man added before he picked up the knife he had been using to cut his chicken and used it instead to swiftly cut open Daichi's throat. "You are not my brother." The man repeated as he went back to eating his chicken. Uncaringly watching the corpse that wasn't his brother's bleed out on the floor before him as he did.

Line Break

Outside The Bandit Camp

"Ino are you okay?" A concerned voice asked the blonde who woke up with a loud gasp.

"I'm fine Chouji." Ino reassured the worried boy squatting over her after taking a moment to calm down. "I ended the Shintenshin no Jutsu(Mind Body Switch Jutsu) in time." Ino added as she rubbed her neck that would have also been slit open had she ended her clan's technique a split second later than she had.

"How many bandits are in the tent Ino?" Ino heard a voice ask as she accepted Chouji's hand who helped her up off the forest floor of the woodland her and her team were currently remaining hidden in. That surrounded the clearing that the bandit camp they were scouting was set up in.

"They were two Asuma-sensei." Ino replied after she thanked Chouji, turning to face her sensei who stood beside her teammate Shikamaru as she answered his question. "Now there is only one." Ino revealed earning a questioning look from Shikamaru. "I didn't kill him Shika." Ino quickly reassured her teammate knowing what he was thinking; that she had killed one of the bandits. A month ago she would have yelled at him and called him stupid for assuming things. But after Sasuke's death, things had changed. Ino had changed. Her eyes and the eyes of her classmates' had been opened to the realities of the shinobi world by the tragic death of their strongest classmate. And it had all affected them all in a different way.

Her friends Ami and Sakura along with twenty one other graduates of her class had all dropped out of the shinobi program after Sasuke's death. Leaving only Shino, Chouji, Hinata, Kiba, Shikamaru, Toka and herself in the program who all also had changed. They had all become better shinobi, trained harder and all worked on their flaws that held them back. Hinata trying to become more confident, Shikamaru trying to become less lazy, her trying to become less of a bitch and so on and so forth. Each of them working hard on improving themselves after having their eyes opened to the realities of the shinobi world. That wasn't about fighting bad guys and saving princesses like they all had previously thought but about blood, violence and death.

"Added to the sixteen outside the tent that makes seventeen." Shikamaru stated as he glanced at the bandit camp him and his team were scouting out with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Naruto-sama is that how many you counted?" Shikamaru asked as he and the rest of Team Asuma turned to look in the direction of the Senju armour wearing man squatting with a single finger buried in the ground.

"Eighteen." Naruto corrected as he got up. "There is one standing behind the tent. Toka." Naruto revealed before calling out to his granddaughter/apprentice who was standing a few feet away from him. "I want you to lead the assault. Ino, Chouji and Shikamaru will support you."

"And where will you and Asuma-sensei be oj- sensei?"

"We'll hang back and support you from here." Naruto told his granddaughter knowing that the four genin wouldn't need him and his sensei's son's help to take out eighteen bandits who had civilian chakra levels and no proper weapons. Not after the training him and Tsunade had given Toka the past year.

"Come on guys." Toka instructed her three friends after nodding to her grandfather. Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji obediently following her forward as she lead them towards the bandit camp to eliminate the bandits and complete Team Asuma's first C-rank mission and Toka's eighth.

"Do you really think they won't need our help Naruto-sama?"

"I do Asuma-san." Naruto immediately replied, his violet eyes glued on his granddaughter and the genin of Team Asuma who were stealthily making their way forward before stopping as Toka pulled out a single kunai from her pouch which she threw forward towards the bandit camp they were a few feet away from.

"Kunai Kage Bunshin no Jutsu(Kunai Shadow Clone Jutsu)!" Naruto heard his granddaughter call out after she formed five quick hand seals. Turning the one kunai she threw into three hundred. Earning an impressed whistle from Asuma and a proud look from Naruto who both watched the three hundred kunai rain down on the camp. Badly wounding fifteen of the bandits and leaving only three for the four genin to take out.

"You are right they don't need our help."

Line Break

Konoha

Senju Compound

Mikoto's New House

"Sasuke-chan."A teary eyed Mikoto whispered from her spot on the lounge sofa she sat on as she stared down at the picture in her hands. It was a picture of her two sons that Naruto had thoughtfully, without her asking, retrieved for her from the remains of the Uchiha Compound with a few others that the inferno that scorched her home hadn't burnt.

In the picture was her four year old son Sasuke. Who sat smiling on his brother Itachi's shoulders who was also shockingly smiling. The picture having been taken by Mikoto herself years ago who remembered the day she took it as though it was yesterday.

Even though it eight years ago, the day after her then ten year old son Itachi had been promoted to chunin to be more precise. The day after he won the Kumo Chunin Exams. His sensei having given his team the day off from missions and Fugaku having also given him the day off from any training. Giving Itachi the entire day to do whatever he wanted for the first time in years and he had chosen to spend it with Sasuke. The two of them had spent the entire day doing anything Sasuke wanted and Mikoto had watched them the entire day with her camera. Taking multiple pictures of her two sons here and there. Who before that day she had never seen so happy and content.

Thinking back to that day Mikoto couldn't help but let out a sob as she thought of how much things had changed in the eight years that followed it. How much her family especially had changed. Her eldest son Itachi who at the time many whispered about becoming the first Uchiha Hokage was now an S-class missing nin. Known around the village as a traitor and clan killer.

Her husband Fugaku who at the time was slightly distant but still compassionate. Who at the time cared about his clan and family. Who at the time cared about her. Was now uncaring and cold. Abandoning her after their son's death by refusing to move with her to the Senju Compound after Naruto and Tsunade offered. Refusing to even see or talk to her when she sought him out to comfort her after the death of their son Sasuke. Finding it instead in the arms of another. In the arms of a man who in the past month she had grown to love; Naruto. Who in the past month had been their for her instead, holding her when she cried, whispering soothing words into her ear as he did, reassuring her and simply being there for her. Unlike Fugaku whose coldness the past month opened Mikoto's eyes to an ugly truth she had been refusing to see for four years now; the end of her marriage. That had ended the night of the Uchiha Massacre.

And finally her youngest son Sasuke. Her sweet Sasuke. Who at the time smiled at her, called her kaachan and clung to her side whenever Itachi was too busy for him. Was now dead. He was dead and had died not acknowledging her as his mother. The once sweet little boy who use to beg her to add tomatoes into everything she cooked even the dishes that didn't need them was now dead. He was dead and had died distant from her and that fact broke Mikoto's heart. Who traced her son's smiling face as she sobbed.

"Sasuke-chan." The sobbing Mikoto remorsefully said as she continued to run her finger over her son's face. "I failed you. I failed you sochi. As your mother I should have done more. -(sniff)-(sniff)- I should have done more and been a better -(sniff)- mother to you after the massacre. If only I had been th-(sniff)-(sniff)- then maybe -(sniff)-(sniff)- we would have come back from the academy together. Maybe -(sniff)-(sniff)-(sniff)- you would have let me walk you -(sniff)- and you would still be alive. -(sniff)- I failed you Sasuke-chan. I failed to be a good mother to you and protect you like I p-promised -(sniff)-(sniff)- Itachi-chan." The sobbing Mikoto said as she looked at the smiling face of her eldest; Itachi. Her other child that she had failed at being a good mother to. "I'm sorry -(sniff)-(sniff)- Itachi-chan I failed you again. I failed to protect Sasuke-chan like I promised."

'Promise me kaachan. Promise me you will protect Sasuke.'

'I promise sochi-chan. I promise I'll always protect Sasuke-chan.'

Those had been her last words to her son the night of the Uchiha Massacre before he vanished in a flock of crows. A promise. A promise to protect Sasuke and she had failed to keep it.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock

The sobbing Mikoto heard someone knock on her front door breaking her from her thoughts as she turned in it's direction wondering who it possibly was.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock

"Mikoto!" The person knocking called out causing Mikoto to smile as she instantly recognised the voice's owner.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock

"Mikoto!" The person knocking called out again as Mikoto wiped away her tears with her sleeve before getting up to go open the door for the person.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock

"Mikoto are yo-"

"Tsunade-chan." Mikoto greeted with a smile as she opened the door for the person knocking who was none other than Tsunade Senju-Uzumaki. The only person who truly knew what she was going through. Not her best friends Tsume and Tsunami or Naruto, the person who been there for her the most the past month, but Tsunade. A fellow mother who also lost a child of her own like she had.

"Mikoto." A smiling Tsunade greeted the raven head, immediately noticing her puffy and swollen red eyes that told her Mikoto had been crying but deciding not to say anything about it. Since when Kushina died she personally didn't like it when people pried everytime she cried which Tsunade assumed Mikoto felt the same way. "I was just going to buy some groceries would you like to join me?" Tsunade offered wanting to give Mikoto something to do to keep her mind occupied and away from thoughts of her dead son.

"Hai I would." Mikoto said smiling appreciatively at the blonde who she knew exactly what she was doing since this wasn't the first time she had done it. "I was just looking at Sasuke-chan's pictures. Let me quickly put them away then we can go." Mikoto added lowly. A pained tone entering her voice when she said her son's name. That Tsunade immediately noticed but decided to do nothing about since she knew unnecessarily comforting Mikoto right now would only increase her pain and keep her thoughts focused on Sasuke. Which Tsunade knew she had to shift them away from.

"Well hurry up. I'm making ramen tonight for Toka-chan and Naruto-koi and we have alot of shopping to do." Tsunade told Mikoto to take her mind off Sasuke which worked. Mikoto breaking out into a fit amused giggles as she laughed at Tsunade's over exaggeration of the word alot.

"I'll hurry up." Mikoto promised as she suppressed her giggles. "And don't worry I will make the army of bunshin to carry the grocery bags after we're done shopping for the ingredients for Toka-chan and Naruto-kun's ramen." Mikoto jokingly added with smile before her onyx eyes slightly widened as she realised her slip up and how affectionately she had said Tsunade's husband's name. "I mean Toka-chan and Naruto's ramen." Mikoto quickly corrected as she looked at Tsunade nervously. Expecting to see anger flash in the blonde's brown eyes but seeing a calmness in them that both surprised and unnerved Mikoto. "Tsunad-"

"You love him don't you?" The calm Tsunade questioned matter of factly as she interrupted the woman who she knew loved her husband. Having watched Mikoto around Naruto the past month.

"H-Hai I do." Mikoto nervously admitted knowing that she did love Tsunade's husband. Having come to the realisation sometime during the past month. During which Naruto anchored her when she was at her lowest. Where along the line in the past months she knew him did she fall for him? Mikoto didn't know. She simply knew she loved. "But I would never do or try anything." A panicked Mikoto frantically added truthfully. Wanting her friend to know she would never do that since it would be wrong and even if it wasn't Naruto undeniably loved Tsunade and not her.

"I know." Tsunade told Mikoto surprising the Uchiha who somewhat calmed down after hearing that. "Otherwise if I thought you would I would've kicked you out of this compound a long time ago." Tsunade told Mikoto seriously. "Now go put those photos away and make that army of bunshin so we can go." Tsunade instructed a smile returning to her face. "We only have a few hours before they return and we're going to need them all." Tsunade added jokingly earning a giggle from the now relaxed Mikoto who knew it would take them far less than the few hours Tsunade was implying to buy all the ingredients they needed.

"Tsunade-chan." Mikoto called to her friend after she finished giggling feeling there was something she needed to say to her before she left to put away the photos. "I meant what I said I would never try take Naruto-ku- Naruto away from you." Mikoto repeated needing to Tsunade to know.

"I know Mikoto." Tsunade repeated. "Now go." The blonde instructed earning a smile from Mikoto who ran into the house after Tsunade returned it. Leaving behind the brown eyed woman whose smile dropped as soon as Mikoto left a thoughtful expression taking its place on her face as she thought back to what she or rather her clone overheard a week ago.

Flashback: A Week Ago

Senju Compound

Training Ground

Sparring in the centre of the Senju compound training ground were two figures that danced around each other as the sound of wood smacking against wood sounded between them.

The figure on the left was none other than Toka Uzumaki-Senju. Whose sweat covered face was set in a determined expression as she relentlessly attacked the figure on the right with her wooden practise katana.

The figure on the right was none other than Mikoto Uchiha. Whose face, unlike Toka's sweat covered one, only had a few beads of sweat on her forehead that had formed during the four hour kenjutsu only spar her and Toka had been having. During which Mikoto had remained on the defensive. Effortlessly blocking Toka's blows with her own wooden katana as she observed and corrected the young girl's form whom she had been teaching for the past week.

"Drop your left shoulder, Toka-chan." Mikoto instructed her kenjutsu student who dropped a shoulder but not her left one. "Your left shoulder Toka-chan." Mikoto repeated emphasising the word left as she blocked three impressive slashes Toka sent her way.

"Hai obasan," a panting Toka said as she did as she was told. Before continuing her assault by sending out six more sword slashes towards Mikoto which like all the ones before were all effortless blocked.

"Okay stop," Mikoto said after she blocked the six slashes. "That's enough sparring for today Toka-chan." Mikoto added earning a sigh of relief from the exhausted girl who immediately dropped her practice katana onto the ground, that now felt like it weighed a ton unlike four hours ago when it was weightless.

"Obasan. -(pant)-(pant)- You -(pant)- baachan and ojiisan -(pant)- are the same." The panting Toka informed Mikoto between laboured breaths. "You -(pant)- are all -(pant-(pant)-(pant)- trying to kill me dattebayo."

"Kenjutsu training is hardwork Toka-chan. I told you that in the beginning." Mikoto reminded referring to the first kenjutsu lesson the two of them had a week ago after Toka relentlessly begged her until she agreed. "If you want me to st-"

"No obasan!" A now panicked Toka yelled cutting off Mikoto who smiled. Glad to see her trick to motivate Toka had worked. "You can keep trying killing me all -(pant)-(pant)- you want. But just -(pant)-(pant)-(pant)- don't stop teaching me till I become a level four kenjutsu master!"

"Level five Toka-chan," Mikoto corrected. "You can only start using a real katana after you become a level five kenjutsu master."

"Obasan!" Toka whined. "You said I could start using a real katana when I was level four."

"Well I'm changing my mind." Mikoto informed. "It's now level five."

"Obasa-"

"No arguing Toka-chan." Mikoto interrupted the girl firmly. "You can only use the special katana I'm going to give you when you reach level five."

"Special katana?"

"Hai," Mikoto confirmed smiling at the girl whose violet eyes brightened at the word 'special'. "I was going to give to it Sasuke-chan." Mikoto told Toka, her smile vanishing as her face saddened. "But after (sniff) after (sniff) (sniff) after (sniff) after h-(sniff) (sniff) (sniff) Here let me -(sniff)- show you." A now teary eyed Mikoto who was still unable to talk about her son said as she decided to instead just show Toka the katana.

"Wow," a wide eyed Toka whispered in an utterly awed voice as she looked at the sheathed katana Mikoto had just unsealed. Earning a smile from the Uchiha who used her katana free hand to wipe away the tears that had formed in her eyes as she smiled at the young redhead's expression. "Obasan this katana is so cool." Toka said awed as she looked at the weapon in Mikoto's hand. An all white katana with elaborate black dragon design running around it from the bottom of the sheath to the top of the hilt.

"It's more than cool Toka-chan." Mikoto told the young girl smiling at the expression on her face that was identical to Kushina's the first time she showed her. "It's special." Mikoto added as she unsheathed the katana in a single fluid motion earning a gasp from Toka who stared memorised at the now revealed beautiful blade of the katana. That contrasted the white handle with it's jet black colour.

"Wind?" A confused Toka read out as she looked at the kanji inscribed in silver on the side of the black blade.

"Hai wind." Mikoto confirmed with a smile. "It's one of the things that make this katana special."

"One of? Does that mean it has more than one thing that makes it special dattebayo?!"

"Hai Toka-chan it does." Mikoto confirmed with a giggle as she looked down at the girl brimming with excitement. "This katana is very special it belonged to my father, Kagami." Mikoto informed Toka. "It was given to him by a Kiri blacksmith whose son's life he saved. Who gave my father one of the eight unique blades he forged to thank him. That like the other seven of its kind was special in it's own way. This one having many things that made it special but none comparing to its sentient nature."

"Sentient?"

"Hai the blade can only be used by the first person to channel their chakra through the blade's chakra metal. Once someone does in the hands of another the blade becomes dull and effectively useless."

"That means I can't use it dattebayo." A disappointed Toka said with a pout.

"You can Toka-chan." Mikoto informed the girl whose cute pout she smiled at. "My tousan never channelled his chakra into it and neither have I. Meaning the blade hasn't bonded to anyone yet." Mikoto explained causing the pouting Toka's downcast expression to turn into one of excitement.

"I was going to give it to Sasuke-chan as a graduation present but after what happened I want you Toka-chan to have it." Mikoto told the girl who she had yesterday decided to give the blade to.

"Obasan," a moved Toka whispered not knowing what to say or do before she ran forward towards the Uchiha woman and embraced Mikoto after she decided to simply hug her. "Thank you obasan." Toka whispered earning a teary eyed smile from Mikoto who hugged the girl back as part of her wished it was her son instead like she had over the years always imagined this moment to be when it played out.

"You're welcome Toka-chan."

"Can I channel my chakra into it now dattebayo!?" Toka asked excitedly after a moment pulling away from Mikoto.

"No not until you're a level five kenjutsu master." Mikoto informed Toka as she sheathed the blade before sealing it away. "Until then I will keep it safe for you." Mikoto promised earning a smile from Toka who was okay with that.

"Obasan I want to train now." Toka announced determinedly every ounce of exhaustion she felt leaving her body as she turned to pick up her practice katana.

"Toka-chan we've just sparred for four hours." An amused Mikoto reminded Toka as she smiled at the re-energised girl's antics.

"I don't care I want to become a level five kenjutsu master as soon as possible even if it means training every second of everyday!"

"Toka-chan kenjutsu takes time to learn added to your missions and training with your ojiisan and baachan it's going to take awhile for you to become a level five master."

"Like I said obasan I don't care. I will become a level five kenjutsu master as soon as possible. Even it means training ever free second I have I will earn that katana dattebayo!" Toka promised determinedly as she shifted into the starting stance Mikoto had shown her. Earning a smile from the Uchiha woman who shifted into her own stance before the two charged at each other as they began their second round of sparring

Sidelines

"There is something about that gaki," Tsume said to her new friend Tsunami as they sat watching Mikoto and Toka. "She's like a moving loud-mouthed portable antidepressant." Tsume stated smiling at Toka. "She can literally make anyone smile."

"I know." Tsunami agreed also smiling at the scene before her. "In the past weeks I've only seen Mikoto-chan like that around Naruto-sama." Tsunami added referring to the way Mikoto had been smiling, laughing and even giggling around Toka which was something she rarely did these days not since she tragically lost her son.

"She deserves someone like him. Not that piece of shit Fugaku." Tsume stated growling at the name of the poor excuse of man her Uchiha friend had married. Who was less than half the man Mikoto deserved, Naruto. The man Mikoto was obviously and undeniably in love with. The man who reconciled hers and Mikoto's friendship.

Flashback within a Flashback: Two Weeks Ago

Senju Compound

Standing outside the Senju Compound was a conflicted and torn Tsume. Who bit the bottom of her lip with her sharp canine-like teeth, drawing abit of blood as she inwardly debated with herself.

It had been a week since her former friend son's tragic death and Tsume wanted to be there for Mikoto. But she didn't know how. No. She knew how but was just afraid to do it. She was afraid that after everything that had happened between them, after everything she had done to Mikoto the past four years, Mikoto would not want Tsume's comfort and friendship hence why she stood out here conflicted.

"Also you coming here after her son's death doesn't look good Tsume-chan." The conflicted Tsume muttered to herself wondering what her former friend would think about her wanting to repair their friendship now after Sasuke's death. Would she think she only wanted to be her friend again out of pity because her son died? Would she reject her because of it? These were the kind of questions that went through the conflicted Tsume's mind as she stood outside the lavish Senju compound.

"Are you just going to keep standing out here talking to yourself or are you going to come in?"

"Naruto-sama," an embarrassed Tsume greeted the handsome man who interrupted her thoughts with a slightly embarrassed blush, that dusted her tattooed cheeks after realising she had been caught talking to herself, as she turned to face him.

"I'm a clone." The Naruto before Tsume informed. "Boss is with Itama and Nawaki." The clone revealed, a tone of pride entering its voice that Tsume easily picked up on as it said the name of its creator's twins. "Now are you going to stand out here and keep talking to yourself like you have the past week or are you going to come in?" The clone questioned Tsume.

"Naruto-sama I c-"

"You can't," The clone finished with a disappointed sigh cutting Tsume off. "You know Mikoto told boss about you, her and Kushina-chan back in the academy. She said the three of you were near inseparable. That whenever someone tried to make fun of Kushina-chan's hair y-"

"Mikoto-chan would immobilise them with a genjutsu. While I sent Kuromaru to bite them." Tsume finished with a feral grin remembering those days in the academy. The days when her, Mikoto and Kushina were truly inseparable like the clone had said. The days their biggest problems were the mean girls in their class that made fun of Kushina's hair. The days before life had dealt them the cruel hand it had.

"Hai. Now Mikoto told me that she and you use to do that to stop Kushina-chan from getting into trouble if she dealt with the bullies her way." The clone stated earning a smile from Tsume who knew that was true. Her redhead friend had hospitalised several bullies and had gotten into trouble for it more than once hence why her and Mikoto had taken up taking care of Kushina's bullies. "But you also did it because you knew the bullies' words hurt Kushina-chan." The clone added. "Mikoto is hurting now Tsume and she needs you to be there like you were for Kushina-chan. The question is are you going to like the academy Tsume would have? Or are you going to be a coward and run away like the Tsume before me has for the past few days?" The clone asked before puffing out of existence. Leaving behind a solemn looking Tsume who thought about the clones words.

'Mikoto is hurting now Tsume and she needs you.' Tsume heard the clone's words ring out in her head as she came to a resolution.

"Your right Naruto-sama," a resolved Tsume said as she ran into the Senju Compound. "Mikoto-chan needs me."

Flashback End

"But he's married." Tsunami said to her Inuzuka friend breaking her from her thoughts of that eye opening conversation.

"Three words Tsunami-chan. Clan Restoration Act." Tsume stated brushing aside her friend's protest that Naruto was married.

"I have heard about that." Tsunami stated disapprovingly with a frown as she remembered the conversation she overheard at Ichiraku's between two perverted teenage boys. That there was actually a law in the village that allowed men to take more than one wife.

"Oh come on Tsunami-chan." Tsume said after seeing her friend's disapproving look. "We're a shinobi village and doing things to gain power like giving a man multiple women to build a clan that will increase our village's strength should not surprise you. And I doubt you would still be frowning like that if Naruto-sama was under the act and chose you to be one of his wives." Tsume teased earning a deep blush from Tsunami.

"H-He's happily married Tsume-chan," Tsunami stammered disapproving. Yes she found Naruto attractive like most women in the village and yes she liked the good qualities he possessed that she looked for in a man, like being a good family man and husband. But he was happily married. Anyone could see that from the way him and Tsunade were together, the way their eyes brightened when they were around each other. So whilst she wouldn't exactly complain if she was put in this absurd Clan Restoration Act with Naruto like Tsume had said, she would refuse. Because it would be wrong and she wasn't the type of woman who would agree to sharing a man no matter how good looking he was or what good qualities he had.

"Okay fine you're right Tsunami-chan," Tsume concurred as she held up her hands in front of her as a sign of defeat. "Placing Naruto-sama under the CRA would be wrong." Tsume agreed. "But Mikoto-chan deserves to be happy after everything she has been through these past years she deserves at least a bit of happiness." Tsume reasoned earning a sigh from Tsunami who couldn't argue with that.

"She does." Tsunami agreed as her and Tsume turned back to watch the two sparring figures in the centre of the Senju Compound Training Ground. Neither noticing one of the several kage bunshin Tsunade had left behind in the compound to take care of the twins, that stood within hearing distance of the two friends with a thoughtful expression on its face.

Flashback End

'She deserves at least a bit of happiness.' Tsunade repeated to herself quoting the words Tsume said that had her for the past week thinking about them. 'Naruto-kun could make you happy Mikoto like he's made me. He could make you truly smile like Tsunami told me you haven't since your son's death. But the question is can I share him.'

Line Break

Hokage's Office

"Come in." Hiruzen told the person he heard knock on his door.

"Hokage-sama." A respectful voice greeted as the person knocking entered the office. Surprising Hiruzen who nearly dropped his pipe as he saw who the person who had respectfully called him 'Hokage-sama' was and what he was wearing.

"Fugaku-san." The surprised Hiruzen greeted as he looked at the former Uchiha clan head. Whose clothes like his once disrespectful tone, that was now respectful, had changed. Gone was the elaborate blue, black and red kimono worn by the Uchiha Clan Head since Madara's time. Replaced now by a simple, cheap all black one that shocked Hiruzen who never once thought the prideful Fugaku would wear such a cheap piece of clothing that even civilians would think twice about wearing. "How may I help you?" Hiruzen asked as he gestured for Fugaku to sit which he did.

"I would like to make a request Hokage-sama."

"What request?"

"I would like to request a few months away from the village Hokage-sama." Fugaku respectfully elaborated playing out the part of his and Danzo's plan as he inwardly sneered at the man who in a few months he would watch his corpses burn with the black flames of Amaterasu along with the rest of the village.

"Am I right in saying that this time away from the village that you are requesting has something to do with you grieving your son Sasuke?" Hiruzen questioned referring to the Uchiha boy murdered a month ago. Whose death he had covered up by telling the village populace Sasuke had been killed by an unknown enemy nin. That infiltrated Konoha to try steal the Sharingan and defile the Uchiha Clan's name by writing false statements about them on the clan's compound walls.

"Yes it does."

"Fine I will grant to it to you Fugaku-san, take as much time as you need."

"Thank you Hokage-sama." Fugaku falsely thanked with a bow smirking on the inside as he saw his simple lie had worked on the simple minded Sarutobi like he knew it would. "I know after what my clan planned to do we are not in the best of terms Hokage-sama. So thank you for granting me this I know it must not have been easy."

"Losing a child is not easy Fugaku-san. Doing what any decent man would do and granting a grieving man who has experienced the unfortunate fate of losing their child a little time to mourn their son is." Hiruzen told Fugaku who bowed gratefully again before promptly leaving the Hokage's office after he excused himself.

"Ryu-san." Hiruzen called out the instant Fugaku closed his door. Summoning the ANBU head codenamed dragon who he knew was hiding behind one of the bookshelves in his office. "I want you and your personal squad to follow him and find out exactly where he's going now." Hiruzen ordered as Ryu stepped out from his hiding spot. The dragon masked man shimmering into existence in front of the Hokage as he dropped his cloaking jutsu.

"Hai Hokage-sama." Ryu said with a bow before he shunshined away to follow the man who other ANBU had been ordered to follow and watch the past month.

"Neko." Hiruzen called to Yugao summoning her after Ryu left.

"Yes Hokage-sama." Yugao respectfully said as she moved out her own hiding spot and knelt before Hiruzen.

"Go find Jiraiya-kun and tell him to meet me here immediately. Tell him it is an emergency." Hiruzen instructed earning a nod from Yugao who shunshined towards the hospital where she knew Jiraiya was.

'I hope you are not right about Fugaku Naruto-kun because if you are we may have a second Madara on our hands which is the last thing we need.' Hiruzen thought after Yugao left. His mind wondering to the theory his successor put forward a month ago the day of Sasuke's murder.That Fugaku killed or had something to do with Sasuke's death.

After hearing from Iruka that Fugaku, who wasn't the greatest of father's to say the least, visited Iruka at the academy for the first time ever in four years to hear about his son's progress the same time Sasuke was killed. Naruto had first voiced his suspicion that Fugaku had something to do with it since his unusual meeting at the same time as his son's death was too much of a coincidence for him not to. Which Hiruzen had agreed with but had decided not to do anything since besides the suspicious meeting there was nothing to support the suspicion.

Then after Tsunade found, with her superior medical nin skills, minor near not noticeable scar tissue from a recent eye operation on Sasuke's partially burnt corpse. When she performed an autopsy on it and hearing what Toka saw during her spar with Sasuke. Hiruzen knew his successor Naruto suspicions were right. Having heard stories from his sensei about the Sharingan's evolved form that gave Fugaku a perfect motive to kill and perform an eye operation on his son. So he could gain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

After hours of discussing what they knew about the dojutsu, Sasuke's death and Fugaku. Hiruzen and his three students decided not to do anything except watch and closely follow the Uchiha man so they could find out who he was working with since his meeting with Iruka at the time of the incident proved he wasn't working alone and to find Sasuke's eyes that Tsunade had confirmed weren't the ones in the sockets of the boy's corpse.

Line Break

Konoha Hospital

Shizune's office

"One more page Shizune-chan, you know you are enjoying it." A begging voice pleaded a perverted tone entering it at the end.

"I am Jiraiya-kun." Shizune admitted to the man whose lap she sat on with a blush. As she looked down at the first draft of 'Icha Icha Paradise: The Tale of the Young Shy Doctor and the Gallant Shinobi Veteran' that she and Jiraiya had been reading together. "But I need to work and what if Tsunade-sama finds out about this?" Shizune questioned as she held up the stack of paper of the first draft of Jiraiya's next book that she and him been reading together the past week since he finished it. "What if finds out about you and me?" Shizune questioned the man she had been seeing for nearly the past five weeks now. A nervous tone that conveyed her fear of her sensei finding out about her relationship with Jiraiya entering her voice as she did.

"She won't find out." Jiraiya reassured Shizune understanding where her nervousness was coming from since he too was beyond scared of how Tsunade would react when she found out he was dating her apprentice. "And besides the door is locked no one will come in."

"You always come in through the window." Shizune deadpanned. "In fact our relationship started because you jumped in through my window when my door was locked remember?"

"Of course I remember when I found out that Tsunade's apprentice was an Icha Icha fangirl." Jiraiya replied with a playful grin earning himself a smack on the chest from Shizune who turned around to face him. That caused him to let out a pained groan as he felt the results of Tsunade's training. Shizune having used the super strength technique Tsunade taught her to slightly increase the force of her hit.

"I'm not an Icha Icha Paradise fangirl. I am a fan." Shizune corrected. "And Tsunade-sama can never find out about that Jiraiya-kun." Shizune told her boyfriend seriously knowing her sensei may very well disown her as her apprentice if see found out she read Icha Icha.

"She won't. She won't find out about that or us until you ready. No one will." Jiraiya reassured Shizune seriously earning an appreciative smile from her.

"They will if you keep coming to visit me at the office like this." Shizune told Jiraiya knowing he needed to stop visiting her in her office like this or else they would eventually get caught.

"Shizune-chan it's impossible for anyone to find out. The door is locked and no one is as gallant as me to jump in through the window." Jiraiya reassured with a grin earning an amused giggle from Shizune.

"You're right Jiraiya-kun no one is as 'gallant' as you." Shizune told her boyfriend with an amused smile knowing that no was like him. "No was is like you Jiraiya-kun." Shizune told Jiraiya wanting him to know what she was thinking before she brought her lips to his own and kissed him to silence him before he said something perverted and turned her own words against her like he had several times before.

"Am I interrupting something?" An amused voiced asked behind Shizune causing the dark haired medic to jump off Jiraiya's lap in fright, ending their kiss. The papers of the first draft of Jiraiya's new book in Shizune's hand flying everywhere as she did.

"Yugao-chan." A blushing Shizune greeted, calming down as she looked at her ANBU friend who already knew about her and Jiraiya. Along with Anko, Kurenai and Hana. "What are you doing here and how did you get in?"

"I got in through the window." Yugao told Shizune, prompting the medic to shoot Jiraiya an 'I told you so' look having known that someone would eventually catch them if Jiraiya kept visiting her at the office. "And as to why I'm here Hokage-sama wants to see your boyfriend." Yugao said teasingly causing Shizune to blush and Jiraiya to chuckle. "It's an emergency Jiraiya-sama." Yugao told Jiraiya seriously silencing his chuckles.

"Did he say what it was about?" Jiraiya questioned Yugao a serious expression on his face that surprised both the women who had never seen Jiraiya like this.

"No Jiraiya-sama." Yugao told Jiraiya earning a nod from the Yonnin who stood up from the chair him and Shizune were sitting before moved towards the window to go see his waiting sensei.

"We'll finish this later Shizune-chan." Jiraiya promised before shunshining away. Leaving behind a shocked Shizune who for the second time today was surprised by Jiraiya who had left without trying to get a goodbye kiss or without trying to grope her like he always did each time he left.

"Finish what?" Yugao asked breaking Shizune from her thoughts.

"Nothing."

"Finishing reading 'Icha Icha Paradise: The Tale of the Young Shy Nurse and the Gallant Shinobi Veteran'?" Yugao questioned as she held the title page of the first draft of Jiraiya's next book that she had picked up off the floor after the Yonnin shunshined out.

"Yugao you can't tell Anko, Hana or Kurenai." Shizune pleaded referring to both the book title and the fact her and Jiraiya had been reading it together.

"I won't." Yugao said earning a sigh of relief from Shizune who didn't need Hana or Anko earning more teasing ammunition than they already had from all she revealed to them the day she confessed she was seeing Jiraiya.

Flash Back: A month ago

Dango Stand

"So when are you going to start training the gakis Nai-chan?" Anko asked her friend as she nibbled on one of her dango sticks.

"Tomorrow." Kurenai informed her best friend. "Hokage-sama said he'll tell them to meet us at the academy," Kurenai elaborated in an excited voice earning a smile from the listening Anko, Hana, Yugao and Shizune who easily caught onto their friend who had just told them she was officially named a sensei's excitement.

"Well here is to Nai-chan." Anko said as she held up her sake cup to toast her best friend. "May she give those gakis hell especially Hana-chan's perverted runt of a brother."

"That's my brother Anko-chan." Hana reminded her friend with a disapproving tone and glare, not liking the name she just called Kiba.

"Which is why I didn't emasculate him when he stuck his head up my skirt Hana-chan."

"He was five years old Anko-chan." Hana pointed out defending her brother. "I doubt he even knew what he was doing when his head ended up, up your skirt."

"The gaki knew what he was doing Hana-chan. Why do you think he's always blushing when he's around me?"

"Because my kaachan told him the story when he asked why you're always glaring at him!"

"W-"

"Guys we're here to celebrity Kurenai-chan's appointment as sensei and to hear Shizune's big news. Not to argue about something that accidently happened seven years ago." Yugao reminded cutting off Anko to end the ridiculous ongoing argument between her friends that till this day had not been resolved.

"Shizune-chan you have big new?" A surprised Hana questioned, this being the first time she heard about her friend having news.

"Hai." Shizune confirmed with a blush as she saw all her friends eyes turn to face her.

"You're finally dating that perverted cyclops." A grinning Anko deduced from her friend's flustered expression. "It's about time you and Kakashi started dating. I thought I would have to lock you two up naked in a room so yo-"

"I'm not dating Kakashi!" Shizune interrupted with a blush wondering why her friend would think she was dating Kakashi of all people.

"Come on Shizune-chan we all know you have a thing for Kakashi." Hana teased as she and Anko shared knowing grin. The two of them having caught their friend more than once blushing around the silver haired pervert.

"Guys I've never had a thing for Kakashi." Shizune rebuked her friend's statement that was definitely not true. "Besides I'd never date him he's a pervert."

"Oh and Jiraiya-sama isn't." Yugao deadpanned before quickly covering her mouth with a gasp as she realised what she had done.

"Yugao!"

"I'm sorry Shizune-chan it just slipped out." Yugao apologised as she looked at her three friends who were frozen, shocked beyond words as they processed what they just heard.

"JIRAIYA!" Anko, the first of Shizune's friends to break out of her shock, yelled. "YOU'RE DATING JIRAIYA!?"

"Yes I am Anko-chan but please keep it down people are looking." Shizune pleaded as she noticed the people in the stand giving the five of them curious looks.

"Shizune-chan how are you dating Jiraiya-sama?" Hana questioned breaking from her initial shock. "You just said you wouldn't date Kakashi because he is a pervert. But compared to Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi as perverted as Kurenai-chan's ideal boyfriend."

"I know he's a pervert Hana-chan. But Jiraiya-kun has othe-"

"Wait. Wait." A disbelieving Anko cut off her friend with a wave of her hands. "Jiraiya-kun? Jiraiya-kun?! This is really happening." The disbelieving Anko stated with a laugh as she sniffed the sake in her cup to check if it had been spiked with a hallucinogen of some kind that caused her to hallucinate the last couple minutes that had just happened.

"Shizune-chan." A concerned Kurenai called out gently to her friend as she finally broke out of her shock. "Did Jiraiya use some kind of seal to control you?" Kurenai questioned concerned as she glanced around urgently for a Hyuuga to use their Byakugan to find this hidden mental manipulation seal that was obviously on Shizune.

"No I'm not being controlled by a seal Kurenai and this is really happening Anko. I am dating Jiraiya-kun!" An upset Shizune said firmly as she shot her three friends a disappointed look. Having expected them to take the news better. "And I know he's a pervert ten times worse than Kakashi but under that perverted exterior is decent funny man who I've grown to know the past six days." Shizune defended Jiraiya shocking her friends into silence who never once thought they would hear Shizune of all people so wholeheartedly defend Konoha's biggest pervert.

"You're not being controlled or being forced into this anyway?" Kurenai questioned breaking the silence that had befallen the table after Shizune's shocking statement.

"No I'm not Kurenai-chan." Shizune answered truthfully.

"Good. Then I'm happy for you." Kurenai said with a smile earning one back from Shizune. "But if he does anything to hurt you I will trap him in an eternal erotic yaoi harem viewing genjutsu." Kurenai promised seriously earning a nod from Shizune who turned to face Anko.

"Hey as long as you're happy I'm happy." Anko told her friend as she picked up her half-eaten dango stick to finish eating it. "But if he hurts you unlike Nai-chan here I'll do something that will actual hurt, something permanent. Let's just say your boyfriend is going to be the first person my babies sterilise from the inside."

"Anko!"

"What Shizune-chan? I'm not going to let anyone get away with hurting one of my friends." An unwavering Anko firmly said. "If that pervert hurts you my snakes are going up his urethra and feasting on the inside of his balls." Anko promised simply as she ate her mouthwatering dango earning a sigh from Shizune who knew that the outrageous threat was her friend's version of a blessing.

"I'm with Anko-chan if you're happy then I'm happy." Hana said with a smile as Shizune turned to her. "But if he hurts you my triplets will finish off what parts Anko's summons leave behind." Hana promised seriously, still concerned about her friend dating Jiraiya.

"See I told you Shizune-chan." Yugao spoke up excitedly as she smiled at her friend. "They would need a bit time but eventually they would be okay with it."

"Wait you knew?"

"Of course I did Hana-chan." Yugao confirmed. "Who do you think convinced her to give him a chance."

"Convinced her." Kurenai repeated disbelieving. "Why didn't you stop her?!"

"Because like Shizune-chan said there's more to Jiraiya-sama than a pervert Kurenai-chan. And I thought you were happy for her?"

"I'm not! I mean I'm happy that you're happy Shizune-chan but I still have to get use to the fact that it's with that per- I mean that it's with Jiraiya-sama." Kurenai quickly explained earning an understanding nod from Shizune who knew it would take her friends sometime to truly get use to the idea of her and Jiraiya.

"So Shizune-chan. How did the gallant 'Jiraiya-kun' get you of all people to go out with him?" Anko questioned with a grin.

"J-Jiraiya-kun." Shizune stammered slightly with a blush causing Anko's grin to widen. "Kind of blackmailed me."

"He blackmailed you. I did not see that one coming." Anko scoffed sarcastically.

"He blackmailed you." Kurenai repeated lowly, standing up to go have some words with the man she now knew had in fact manipulated Shizune into dating him like she had initially suspected.

"He didn't blackmailed me. He kind of did and that was only to get me to go on the first date with him. The rest and everything else I did afterwards was willingly." Shizune reassured Kurenai who sat back down begrudgingly.

"What could the biggest pervert in Konoha have possibly blackmailed you Miss Sweet Innocent Shizune-chan with?" Anko questioned curiously.

"Well..."

Flashback: A Week Ago

Konoha Hospital

Shizune's Office

"Did you write up the birth certificates for both the twins?" Shizune questioned the woman before her who had assisted with the birth of her sensei's twins the previous night.

"Hai senpai I did." Naoko told Shizune who sat behind her office desk.

"Okay then Naoko-san, that's all for today. If you're finished with doing your rounds you can go home now." Shizune told her understudy who bowed before swiftly leaving the office eager to get home.

'Finally some alone time.' Shizune thought to herself excitedly as she got up, locked her door before running back towards her desk and opening its hidden compartment that hid her guilty pleasure. 'Icha Icha Paradise: The Story of the Resurrected Samurai and the Drunkard Princess.' Shizune excitedly read out the title of the book in her hands that she had just retrieved from her hidden compartment. Before briskly sitting down so she could finishing reading the moving story she had been binge reading about the resurrected samurai Menma and his lost love Princess Nade.

"You know most of my fans say that's my best work yet. What do you think?" A voice questioned startling Shizune who shot out of her seat as she turned to face its owner.

"Jiraiya-sama." The startled Shizune said surprised as she looked at the grinning man squatting on her windowsill.

"The one and only." The grinning Jiraiya confirmed "So what do you think?"

"What do I think about what?"

"The book. Is it my best work yet?" Jiraiya questioned as he gestured at the orange book that lay open on Shizune desk.

"T-This isn't what it looks like Jiraiya-sama." Shizune stammered in panic with an embarrassed blush as she realised what she had been caught doing.

"It is exactly what it looks like Shizune. Tsunade's apprentice is reading my greatest master piece!" Jiraiya exclaimed with a proud grin.

"Tsunade-sama," a now wide eyed Shizune gasped as panic filled her being. "You can't tell her!" Shizune pleaded desperately with Jiraiya not wanting to know what would happen if her sensei, who was not a fan of the orange books to say the least, found out.

"Relax Shizune I won't tell Tsunade or anyone else." Jiraiya reassured from his spot by the windowsill causing Shizune to sigh in relief as she relaxed. "If you do something for me." Jiraiya added causing Shizune to grow panicked again.

"What?" A now nervous Shizune asked.

"Go out with me."

"What?!" Shizune exclaimed shocked.

"Go out on a date with me."

"A date!" The shocked Shizune repeated. "Jiraiya-sama we barely know each other." Shizune reminded the man she had only had a handful of conversations with.

"That's what the date is for Shizune. I won't tell anyone that you're an avid fan of my life's greatest work if you go out on a date with me."

"Fine one date." Shizune agreed knowing that there was nothing else she could do or else her sensei and possibly her friends would find out about her guilty pleasure.

Flashback End

"That night Jiraiya-kun and I had a really good time and I told Yugao-chan about it afterwards. Who encouraged me to give Jiraiya-kun a chance and go on a second date with him which I did." Shizune informed her friends as finished her tale.

"You read Icha Icha?" A disbelieving wide eyed Anko questioned, before she burst out into a loud fit of laughter after seeing Shizune nod. "You Miss. Sweet and Innocent Shizune read Icha Icha. What's next?" Anko asked between laugh as she clutched her sides.

"What do mean what's next?"

"I mean what's next Shizune-chan?" Anko questioned as she suppressed her laughter. "What bomb are you going to drop on us next? Are you going to tell us you're pregnant? Is Konoha going to be filled with little white haired perverted mini Jiraya's that spy on the women at the hotsprings during their father-son bonding with dad? Because with the way you're going today Shizune-chan I won't be surprised if you told us you had mini Jiraiyas cooking in the oven." An amused Anko stated half seriously/half jokingly as she grinned at her friend she still couldn't believe read porn.

"Anko-chan I'm not pregnant." Shizune reassured her grinning friend with a blush.

"You're sure? I mean with the way your an Icha Icha fangirl. I'm sure you and 'Jiraiya-kun' have tried turning some of that fiction into reality."

"I-I'm not pregnant." The blushing Shizune repeated. "We've only been dating for a few days and haven't done that yet." Shizune revealed lowly with a deeper blush.

"But you have read Icha Icha Shizune." Kurenai said disapprovingly as she shook her head, not believing her friend Shizune of all people read that Kami awful filth that filled the pages of those despicable orange books.

"Yes I have. I enjoy the good romance stories written in Icha Icha. And I know the adult literature in it i-"

"Adult literature that stuff is porn Shizune-chan." Hana interrupted with a scoff. "You're starting to sound like Kakashi. Is that why you sometimes blush around him? Because the two of you will be discussing your favourite 'adult literature' passages?"

"No! Kakashi caught me buying an edition the once and he's always teasing me about it. That's why I'm sometimes embarrassed around him not because we discuss passages."

"Well Shizune-chan." Anko began with a grin. "Add me and Hana-chan to that list of people who tease you about your 'adult literature'. Because after everything you told us today you are not going to hear the end of it."

Flashback End

And not hear the the end of it she did Anko and Hana had merciless teased her like Anko had promised about both Jiraiya and Icha Icha. Even Kurenai who had grown use to the idea of her and Jiraiya had started to also occasional tease her.

"The heated kiss became tender again as she felt his rough hand slide up her thigh to her hips, resting there briefly before wandering up her side towards her naked bosom. 'This is wrong.' Shozuni moaned as she felt her lover roughly pinch her erect nipple. 'D-Doctors s-shouldn't take a-advant-"

"Yugao stop reading that!" A blushing Shizune told her friend who was reading another one of the papers that were scattered across her office.

"Reading what Shizune-chan? Your adult literature?" Yugao questioned as she waved the paper she was reading off in front of Shizune's face.

"Yes my adult literature."

"Why? I was just about to find out what doctors shouldn't do to their patients."

"They shouldn't take advantage of them." The blushing Shizune told Yugao as she snatched the two papers she was holding out of her hands.

"Like you did Jiraiya-sama?" Yugao teasingly questioned causing Shizune blush to deepen

"I never did that to Jiraiya-kun." The flustered Shizune denied. "You know Jiraiya-kun and I haven't done that yet Yugao-chan."

"But the book says you have Shizune-chan so I don't know what to think."

"It's fiction."

"I don't know it seems abit too detailed to me to be fiction Shizune-chan." Yugao teased giggling behind her white mask at her friend's growing embarrassment. "'Jarioyo-kun' Shozuni breathlessly whispered, her lover's hot breath caressing her nipple as she raised her hips and brought them back down again. Impaling herself again with her love-"

"Give me that!" The blush Shizune said as she snatched another paper of Jiraiya's book out of Yugao's hand. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"I do." Yugao replied knowing she had to return to the Hokage's office now.

"But not before I take a few of these for later." Yugao added quickly grabbing a few sheets off the floor before shunshining out the office before Shizune could say anything.

"Yugao!" A wide eyed Shizune yelled. "Bring those back!" Shizune demanded as she stuck her head out the window Yugao had left. "Dammit Jiraiya-kun I told something like this would happen if you kept visiting me!"

Line Break

Hokage's Office

"Achoo!"

"Jiraiya are you okay?" A concerned Hiruzen asked his student seated across from him.

"Hai sensei I am." Jiraiya quickly reassured his sensei. "You were saying something Fugaku requesting time away from the village?"

"Hai Fugaku requested a few months away from the village so he could mourn his son."

"And you thing he was lying?"

"I know he was." Hiruzen confirmed. "I knew he was requesting the few months away so he could get the eye transplant."

"So you granted it so Fugaku could lead whoever you have following him to his accomplice and Sasuke's eyes." Jiraiya deduced earning a nod of confirmation from Hiruzen.

"Yes. I had Ryu-san and his squad follow Fuga-"

"Hokage-sama." The said man Hiruzen was talking about interrupted the Hokage as he shunshined into the office. "We lost Fugaku." Ryu urgently informed as he knelt before Hiruzen.

"What do you mean you lost him?"

"One moment he was there by the village gate Hokage-sama. The next his left eye started bleeding then he just disappeared." Ryu informed Hiruzen who gained a thoughtful expression as he thought of what do.

"Go back and search for him or any clues of where he may have disappeared to. Taking another two ANBU squads." Hiruzen ordered earning a nod from from Ryu who left the same way he came in to carry out the order.

"You know they won't find him." Jiraiya stated knowing Fugaku was long gone.

"I know."

"You know this also confirms Naruto's theory." Jiraiya added as he thought about Ryu description of Fugaku's eye bleeding before he vanished that was very similar to one of his spy's description, who had the Mangekyo, of how the dojutsu worked.

"Does he know?" Hiruzen questioned having read Jiraiya's thoughts.

"He doesn't. His brother was the reason why he agreed to do what he's doing. If I tell him it may turn him against us." Jiraiya told his sensei voicing the reason why he never told one of his most valuable spies what happened a month ago.

"Well he needs to Jiraiya-kun or he may turn against us if he finds out some other way."

"I know." Jiraiya said with a sigh. Unsealing a small scroll before grabbing a pen from his sensei desk to write the message he would have delivered by toad:

'Weasel the red tomato has greened.'

Line Break

Several Hours Later

Senju Compound

"Ojiisan when can we go on our first B-rank mission?" Toka asked her grandfather as they made their way towards their home.

"When I say you are ready Toka-chan." Naruto told his granddaughter as he thought about the troubling news he had just heard from his sensei that Fugaku disappeared from the village using somekind of Mangekyo Sharingan ability. The troubling news indeed confirming his theory that somehow Fugaku was involved with his son's death. 'How am I going to tell Mikoto?' Naruto wondered. Wondering how he was going to tell his friend Mikoto who deserved to know since Sasuke was her son and Fugaku was her husband.

"But we've been going on C-rank missions for a whole month now." Toka pointed out breaking Naruto from his thoughts.

"No complaining Toka-chan. Most genin teams do D-rank missions for several months after they graduate out of the academy before getting a single C-rank one. The standard requirement for a genin to be allowed to take their first C-rank mission is to first complete 25 D-rank ones. Which you didn't have to do so don't complain."

"You are right ojiisan." Toka said with a sigh knowing her grandfather was indeed right. Her friend/crush Hinata's team which was still doing D-rank missions according to what Hinata told her two days ago at Ichiraku's was proof of that. "I just want a B-rank mission dattebayo!"

"I know and I will give it to you when I think you ready." Naruto promised his granddaughter earning a smile from her.

"You are back!" A happy voice said excitedly turning Naruto and Toka's attention to Tsunade who stood smiling in front of their house.

"Baachan!" Toka excitedly exclaimed running forward to hug Tsunade who eagerly hugged her back. "Where are Nawaki-chan and Itama-chan?! Where is obasan?! And did you make ramen dattebayo?!" Toka excitedly asked rapidly firing question after question at Tsunade as she broke their embrace.

"Slow down Toka-chan." Tsunade told her granddaughter with a giggle. "To answer your questions yes we are having ramen. The twins are in the house and Mikoto is with th- Damn brat didn't even miss me!" An offended Tsunade angrily said with a tick mark on her forehead as she watched Toka run into the house. The girl having bolted away from her the second she told her where Mikoto and the twins were.

"She missed you Tsunade-chan." Naruto reassured his angry wife with a chuckle. "She just excited to see the twins." Naruto told Tsunade as he pulled her into his arms bring his lips down towards hers to kiss her. But instead meeting the flesh of Tsunade's cheek, the blonde having turned her head rejecting Naruto's kiss. "What's wrong Tsu-Tsu?" Naruto asked concerned looking down at his wife who had never rejected his kiss like she just had.

"Naruto-kun we need to talk." Tsunade said seriously as she stared into her husband's concerned violet eyes.

"About what?"

"Mikoto."

Line Break

Secret Location

Hidden Uchiha Base

"Sasuke." Itachi whispered as he sat on a stone throne. A lone tear running down his cheek as stared down at the small scroll in his hands with six words written on it that he had read over and over again:

'Weasel the red tomato has greened.'

The six word code that he and Jiraiya had agreed upon. The six word code that told him Sasuke was dead. The six word code that awoke the Curse of Hatred in him. The six word code that gave Itachi Uchiha a new purpose; revenge.

"Sasuke I shall avenge you ototo."

A/N: So here is the next chapter I hope you liked it. Even if it was all over the place and a bit rushed.

Anyway I'm back in high school. Started my second last year of HS yesterday meaning my updates will slow down abit but not stop which is why this update was abit late. I have been preparing my things for the past week.

As for this chapter I struggled writing it. I didn't know what to write. So after rewriting it twice I just decided to post this.

Now next chapter will go back to canon storyline and action: The Wave Arc. Which will mainly focus on Naruto again. So I'm hoping to finish that Arc in that chapter and finally get to the chunin exams arc I have been building up.

Anyway please leave your reviews and sorry for not getting back to those who left them last chapter like I said I was busy with high school prep the last week and with enjoying Christmas and all that the weeks before I just didn't have time for it.

ON A FINAL NOTE. THANK YOU ALL MY 900+ FOLLOWERS AND MY 700+ FAVS YOU PEOPLE ARE THE REASON I KEEP GOING SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT! I JUST ASK YOU ALSO FAV MY OTHER FIC PEIN'S BROTHER V2! LOL Shameless self advertising. ANYWAY THANKS GUYS AND STAY AWESOME! TILL NEXT TIME!