Chapter 5
Konohagakure
Author POV
10 months after Naruko left
After Naruto left for those who actually cared about him, it wasn't the same.
Konoha started taking hit after hit, other villages got into contact with them asking if what they heard was true. Tsunade, knowing this was coming, kept her mouth shut, smiling all the way. If word about Naruto's banishment has already reached Tsuchi country, then it won't be long before everywhere else finds out either. Tsunade is honestly surprised she hasn’t heard a word from the Suna yet, knowing Gaara would have a few choice words to say.
Sitting at her desk, Tsunade thinks back to the day Naruto was forced to leave. First the instant reaction to those in the village, second the village in general.
Flashback
The village was the loudest it has been in a long time, possibly since just after the Kyuubi attack. It was a grand celebration, banners hung high connected to street lights above everyone's head. They walk the street as though they all have just won a war, cheering and laughing coming out of every bar, pub and food place lining the street. Tsunade could see some of the original teams in one of the food restaurants, both Sakura and Ino hanging off of Sasuke's arms, laughing all the way fighting for his attention. She’s disappointed how Sakura turned out, as Tsunade had trained her for nearly a year, beating out the fangirl. Tsunade looked back and saw that she was mistaken to take Sakura on, but rectifying that when Sakura comes in to train tomorrow the girl will be in for a rude awakening.
Looking back at the group, Tsunade spotted Kakashi and couldn't help but a wave of both grief and anger wash through her all at once. She couldn’t believe that Kakashi of all people would turn their back on Naruto. Tsunade knows that Kakashi knows who Naruto’s parents are, what she can't grasp is why after all that he has been through Kakashi would do this.
Shaking her head as she spots and mentally names more people, Tsunade continues on twisting and moving out the way of drunk people. Walking out of the shopping district, Tsunade made her way to training ground 7. Taking a breath, she walked over the little bridge and made her way into the clearing, stopping in her tracks as Tsunade realized she wasn't the only one.
Taking a few steps closer, Tsunade gets a better view of who is already sitting in the clearing. Upon realizing who it was, she wasn’t all that surprised. As she walked closer, they took notice of her and nodded their heads in greeting. Getting close enough, Tsunade took a spot on the grass and sat down along with the group. Smiling slightly as she realized these are the people that really cared for Naruto, and didn’t want him to leave.
“My clan is thinking of leaving Konoha” completely out of the blue as that statement may be, it was honestly something Tsunade had expected. Turning to glance at Shikamaru, his face wasn't the normal blank mask of boredom it normally is. Instead, there is a look of both sorrow and determination, like Shikamaru’s mind is already made up.
Looking around the group, Tsunade can see that Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame were both nodding in agreement to what Shikamaru had said.
Looking at the Hyuga children, Tsunade can see that their clan has probably been talking about it. The two Jonin that were also in the group were looking at the kids in understanding, they looked at Tsunade and their look said all she needed to know.
Taking a breath, “I understand why your clans want to leave, I don't blame anyone for wanting to leave. We all know how this village has treated Naruto, even if it was only recently. It doesn’t change that we all now know how Naruto has been treated by this village is a disgrace and I wish I had known sooner. I still don't know the full extent of how he was treated, and for that I’m ashamed. I shouldn’t have left the village all those years ago, and with what has happened now I don’t think Naruto will ever trust me.” looking at the ground as she spoke, Tsunade refused to look up, not meeting eyes with anyone in the group.
“I am also ashamed.” Hearing the soft whispered voice of Hinata, everyone in the group turned to look at her. Making the already shy girl curl into herself more. “I just mean, I knew what was happening but I couldn’t do anything. Naruto saved me all those years ago from being kidnapped by someone from another village. After that, I was filled with gratitude so I wanted to thank him properly, but being even more shy back then. I didn’t know how to approach it so I just watched. I saw what they did, what they would do, how Naruto would never fight back because he knew that if he did…. Well” hearing the shy girl admit that was hard for them all to hear. They didn’t like hearing what Hinata had to say, but it was a bit eye opening about how long and how bad it actually was.
When Hinata had finished talking, a silence fell over the group. No one was talking and not really moving either, no one in the group knew what to say after that. When the conversation did pick back up, it was all about Naruto. The funny things he used to do, Shikamaru told the group a story about how Naruto would break into the Nara clan gates and avoid the guards. No fail every time and he was barely ever caught, no one in the clan to this day knew how he did it, as every time Naruto broke in, it was fixed. Every Week without fail Naruto found a way to get into the clan, the nara clan didn’t even really care as it was good training.
The Hyuga’s said something similar, though they said it used to annoy the older people in their clan, but not for the last few years. What changed was Naruto got more creative with his breaking into the clan compounds, it started becoming a challenge to those that would be in charge of the gate, so they took it as training.
More stories of funny things Naruto had done over the years, the whole group ended up spending the rest of the night laughing away at the stories. All the while most of Konoha is celebrating the fact Naruto has finally left.
Flashback end
Coming back to reality, Tsunade takes a deep breath smiling at the memory of all the stories that were spilled that night. No one knew but Kurenai set up a camera and took a photo of the whole group just relaxing and laughing. That very photo sits on her desk in a nice frame, staring at her, reminding her that what has happened brought some people closer. That group has since then caught up every so often sharing more stories that they had forgotten. Those were the best days, days where they shared those memories and moments. It made them all realize who was actually there for Naruto, who were his real friends. You would think included in that group would be Naruto's old team, but it was only Sai who had just sat and listened, not having known Naruto for long.
Those times were amazing, the memories were incredible. Tsunade learnt more about Naruto more and more each meeting the group had.
Hearing a knock on the door, Tsunade calls to come in. Putting the photo back onto its spot on the desk, waiting for the person to enter through the door.
The person who walked in, was a very nervous Kakashi. Now Tsunade knows that Kakashi is afraid of her, especially after the party that nearly the whole of Konoha held. Not getting into those very satisfying memories, she focused more on how nervous Kakashi was. It wasn't just nerves from coming to talk to her no, it was something else. Curiosity peaked, she signaled him in again when he didn’t move from the door. This time the Silver haired man came in, slowly shuffling into the office
“Pardon my intrusion lady Hokage, but the umm…. The um.” seeing this is going nowhere Tsunade rolled his eyes and cleared her throat.
“Who is waiting to come into my office Kakashi.” patience slowly slipping, full authority dropping from her voice. That got Kakashi moving, straightening his back. He didn't look straight at her but it was a close thing.
“Lady Tsunade The Kazekage is here to see you.”