A journey
"Senju Tsunade," They stood in a casino, by lot machines. A platinum blonde sat at one glaring of the spinning wheels. Naruto watched her eyes flick to the four and promptly back to her machine.
"What?"
"You've been summoned by your Hokage," Naruto folded his arms. It had been agreed by the boys that he'd do most of the talking since Izuku had lost his patience with Jiraiya very easily, they weren't very hopeful he'd be calm with the female sannin either. He hoped Tayuya was okay, it had only been a day between getting her into the house and him leaving on a mission.Sasuke had stayed behind since 'someone needs to be the powerhouse' while the two were out of the village.
"I don't listen to the Hokage anymore, I left the village,"
"And that's worked out so well for you hasn't it? A broke gambler with raging alcoholism, yeah, life really doesn't reach higher peaks than this," Izuku rubbed a finger on one of the machines, taking the fine layer of dust off it. Tsunade simply eyed him with spite. The machine dinged and showed that Tsunade had lost her money, with one disc out of line. With a heavy sigh she reached into her purse. Naruto nodded his head and Izuku unfolded one arm, smacking the machine with the side of his fist. The single loose disc spun and an obnoxious siren came to say Tsunade won. Clearly Izuku had broken smoething inside the machine too as Ryo just kept pouring out of it. She gaped open mouthed as Izuku looked on emotionlessly before slowly closing his eyes and sighing deeper than anyone thought possible. Naruto looked at the woman in front of him and began tapping a foot. "This should be enough to clear her numerous debts," Orochimaru coughed lightly.
"Boys, I hate to be the one to tell you this but," He regarded the pile of money "This isn't going to cover all her debts, a good portion sure but not all," Izuku growled and turned on his heel.
"Give me twenty minutes at a Blackjack table," And with the the greenette was gone.
"So are you going to bag this up or am I going to have to seal it for you?"
He couldn't help but rub the bridge of his nose as five figures sat around the table. Izuku was still collecting his winnings from the casino, so it was Naruto, the three sannin and Shizune. Tsunade's trainee slash personal assistant. "Alright from the top it is then," Orochimaru gave him a weak sympathetic smile. The blond definitely wasn't expecting the snake shinobi to be his supporting role. "Danzo used his ROOT seal to control Orochimaru, forcing Orochimaru to do the things that got him exiled, my adopted brother and I were able to remove it and sort out the fallout before it became catastrophic, after the attack by Suna and a controlled Orochimaru, Grampa Third decided it was time for a fifth Hokage, because he's finally realized he's too soft and old for the job, he named you as his successor,"
"No,"
"What?"
"No, I'm not taking the job, three of the Kages gave their lives for the village, and the only surviving one is a senile old man, the job is a joke," Naruto slammed his hands on the table, standing up so fast he knocked his chair over.
"How dare you," He snarled, "Insulting some of the greatest shinobi ever and you call them a joke?"
"What are you goign to do about it pipsqueak?"
"Outside, right now," A challenge if there ever was one, "And to make it fair, I won't use my dad's jutsu on you,"
"Your dad? Who is he?"
"Currently? A stone head on the a mountain, right next to your sensei's," Tsunade faltered a moment, her jaw dropping slightly.
"Naruto?"
"In the flesh, what's it to you?"
"I knew your parents,"
"Everyone knew the Fourth Hokage and the Red Hot Habenero,"
"No, I knew your parents," Tsunade reiterated, "As in I met your father, I trained your mother in medical ninjutsu, swore to protect you as godmother," Orochimaru raised a hand prepared to say something gestured for her to continue. "When the attack happened Danzo told you me you'd died in the crib impaled on the claw along with your parents,"
"And you believed him?"
"You must understand Naruto, the two people I cared for most died days after I gifted them this necklace, in hopes of breaking the cycle I gave it to Minato, with the instructions that it was to go to you after you were born, not a week later and I get news not only Minato but his wife and newborn son were dead," Tears began falling down the sannin's face. The blond simply grasped her hand softly looking her in the eyes.
"Well, I'm here now aren't I?" Enveloping her in a hug gently the woman began truly sobbing, whether it was regret, fear or just relief Naruto didn't know but what he did know, was getting them out of her system was clearly a big improvement.
"That's all she gets? A 'you knew my parents? oh we are cool' and a hug?" Jiraiya glared, Orochimaru raised a hand, actually speaking up this time.
"Well, she was told Naruto was dead, she ran away from the grief and the pain, without responsibilties tied to it, from what I can gather, you simply ran because he looked like Minato with whiskers, so you abaondoned the one responsibility your pupil had left you,"
"I get it, stop driving that part in," Tsunade wiped her eyes as she pulled back from Naruto.
"Wait, Jiraiya you ran away?"
"You did too!"
"I thought he was dead! I had no way of knowing I had a responsibility to them, to him!" Silence settled in gently before Tsunade hugged Naruto again suddenly. "Right that means I haev thirteen birthdays and Christmases to make up for,"
"Lady Tsunade, perhaps now isn't the best time but," Shizune began to speak up.
"If anyone mentions her not having enough cash," Izuku spoke from the doorway "I may punch you," He threw a small book towards Tsunade. "Your winnings, each seal has about then thousand Ryo," The female sannin flicked through the book, eyes scanning each page carefully.
"There's easily a million Ryo in the first few pages,"
"Like I said, don't say you have enough cash, many of the patrons hate me right now and yet I still wish to get out of here as soon as possible," The book was snatched out the air as Tsunade threw it back to him.
"I'm not going back, not now and if I take that book I'll owe you, so no thanks,"
"And why not?"
"A gambling acoholic, is that really what a leader should be? Do you want me as your leader?" Izuku shared a glance with Naruto and gave a noncomittal shrug. Naruto gave the same shrug.
"It's not up to us," He responded evenly, "Grampa Third has decided to nominate you as his successor, and since you're the only elect you'll be given the role,"
"The civilian council,"
"Disbanded, no-one will argue,"
"I still can not return,"
"Why?" Izuku hid his groan from all but Naruto, he knew the greenette. He had no patience for superstition, preferring to believe that only chance and coincidence could derail a plan.
"Everyone I loved died,"
"Welcome to life," Izuku spoke bitterly, "I saw many of my friends die before they reached ten, many because they took their own lives, unable to cope, here that is considered a cardinal wrong, at least your loved ones went out with a fight,"
"Still, I can not come to the village," Izuku's folded arms fell to his sides.
"Give me one good reason,"
"I will do more harm than good to the village," The blond snorted.
"You can't do more than Grampa did in his recent years, with what he let Danzo get away with," Izuku looked up and disappeared in a green flicker. Naruto shrugged and continued talking. "Anyways, you know,"
"Does he do that often?"
"No, just an emergency at home, probably nothing to worry about," Izuku reappeared patting his sleeves and smelling slightly of smoke, grumbling to himself.
"Pardon me, Sasuke decided he was going to try and cook again and honestly I don't want him ruining the new kitchen so soon, Sakura called me since she figured you would be busier than me,"
"How considerate, what did he set fire to?"
"The kitchen," Naruto made an 'O' noiselessly. "Anyways what were you just saying?"
"That I can not return to the village, I will simply do more harm than good," Izuku froze and snapped his head up.
"How would you do more harm than good?"
"I...People get hurt when I am," Two very large sighs silenced her.
"You are a med-nin are you not?" izuku began
"Uh?"
"You can heal most every injury and the knowledge you'd bring to the hospital, never mind the skills," Naruto continued, "We could have a med-nin on every team, everyone would know basic healing jutsus,"
"If you and Orochimaru combined your efforts you could revolutionise medicine across the world let alone the village,"
"But,"
"Oh dear god," Izuku rubbed his temples, "Surely you can't be this sttubborn, this thick?! Jiraiya not a goddamn word,"
"Shizune what do you think?"
"I...Um, well....I, think... returning may do Lady Tsunade some good, both physically and mentally,"
"There it is five agaisnt one, right guys?" Shizune nodded slowly while Jiraiya eagerly gave a thumbs up staring at Tsunade giddily.
"I believe it is the right course of action," Orochimaru agreed, "With Danzo on the loose and the Akatsuki to worry about, we could prioritze the Akatsuki while you boys hunt down Danzo," Tsunade lowered her head.
"Very well, I will return to the village and see if it has changed, if I feel it would benefit for me to be Hokage, I will take the mantle,"
"That's as good as we'll get," Naruto put his hands on his hips. "Izuku you take Orochimaru and Jiraiya, I'll take Tsunade and Shizune," They both grabbed hold of their targets and closed their eyes.
"SWEET SAGE OF SIX PATHS!" A voice cried as they reappeared in the Hokage room. Grampa Third sat staring in surprise while some paper floated down around him. To the group's left Asuma Sarutobi and Kureni Yuhi had leapt together while Anko Mitarashi and Kakashi had jumped back together. The yell had come from Anko, who simply had let her guard down for a moment.
"Anko!" Orochimaru exclaimed, "Kami I completely forgot about that," He walked over to the kunoichi and rested a hand on the back of her neck. Kakashi tensed minutely as she winced in pain. "I am sorry for applying that, I was Danzo's puppet long before I did,"
"As I explained moments ago Orochimaru was trapped under one of Danzo's seals, so far the shinobi council is hesitant to trust him, which is the main factor I chose to send him on this mission, aswell as a preventative measure to make sure Izuku did not kill Jiraiya," Anko's eyes began watering as she hugged Orochimaru.
"I knew that wasn't you sensei! I just knew it!" The sannin patted her head gently, unknowing of how to react.
"Tsunade I take it you accepted my decision to announce you as my successor?"
"Not exactly sensei, I decided to se if I could benefit the village if I were to beomce Hokage," Izuku rubbed his face with his hand. "I believe that people would only get,"
"For the love of Kami! You are a med-nin, focus on the damage you can undo, if I focused on the negative of my past I would've never come to get you, never would've trusted Sakura or Ino, or been a supporter for Tayuya to be brought into our household," There was a great silence.
"He was abused by women, a lot," Naruto summarizes, "Deep trust issues of the opposite sex that he's been working on undoing, don't test him."
"Now that the matter is settled, Tsunade how long would you wish to come to your decision?"
"I believed it's already been made, I'll become Hokage,"
"Wonderful, until the appointment you are free to roam the village, I suggest buying a house somewhere close by, else you may ask the Uzumaki boys for assitance in getting to work on time," Tsunade expertly caught the small book Izuku had flung at her again.
"Housing and taking care of myself is no problem, but I do wish to inspect your hospital, I will be heading that up as well, since I am one of the most accomplished med-nin in the world," For the first time since meeting her, Naruto heard pride in her voice.
"Bout damn time," Izuku smriked, "Come on Naruto, we should go home, let the adults do their thing," Let them think we are ignorant to what they are discussing. The sentence finished mentally, reminding Naruto that yes, his brother could read minds. They waved before disappearing in synchrony.
Naruto grimaced as he watched the battle play out in front of him. Izuku was busy measuring Katsuki's skills and it was undeniably awesome. The greenette had brought out his Sharingan to use his full abilities and Katsuki was taking all and dishing it back out. It was very clear the boy had fought Sharingan users before. Although it was a simple taijutsu battle they were fighting on the river that ran through the training arena. "Figures we'd find you guys here," Sakura's voice caused his head to turn, showing that the pinkette and Ino were standing with a picnic basket.
"What are you girls doing here?"
"We've been looking for you, Itachi is cooking dinner, Tayuya is touring the village with Sasuke and Shisui is trying to spar with a dummy," Sakura sat down on his left. "So we figured we'd come and find you three before Itachi was forced to collect you and leave the kitchen and Sasuke unattended again," The three chuckled. "Plus we brought snacks,"
"You do know how to convince me," Naruto clutched his hands over his heart as Ino sat on his right.
"So what's happening?" She asked while Sakura opened the picnic basket, handing them both a stick of dango.
"Izuku is just testing Katsuki, to find the baseline of his training, since he trained with Itachi and Shisui for a month and started from a point worse than Izuku we neede to know where he was comparitively," They chewed their sweets for a moment. "So far he seems to have come in in leaps and bounds after Itachi fed him up,"
"He seems better than us already,"
"Don't forget they had literally nothing else to do, even we were busy shopping and doing housework, they didn't for a month straight Katsuki was fighting and working on his taijutsu, ninjutsu, everything, Itachi could get food while Shisui taught chakra control then Itachi would train him to fight and use ninjutsu,"
"For a month straight though, that's hardcore,"
"Yeah and that's why Katsuki is an Uzumaki, he never once gave up or slowed down, never took a single break," Naruto leant back against the tree behind them.
"If he shares history with Izuku then he's got tonnes of energy since his body would have adapted to run as best it could while malnourished, anything beyond his usual intake would've been repairing the body and building it up for at least a few days," Sakura leant into Naruto.
"And his physcological profile means that he would do anything that gained positive reinforcement and encouragement until it killed him," Izuku was launched into the cliff opposite them, where he crouched and jumped back to Katsuki, leaving a bigger crater than when he landed. A wave splashed up and landed just shy of the trio's feet. Ino leant into Naruto as they continued watching the boys spar. It was incredible to see. Izuku blocked a kick with his forearm before slipping his elbow over Katsuki's leg and snapping his arm down to knock the blond off balance. Katsuki would return, using the momentum to spin into an axe kick, which Izuku would push back and leave Katsuki back on both feet. Izuku tilted his head to avoid a jab to his neck and Katsuki simply stepped into the attack, striking out with his elbow to knock Izuku off balance before the greenette dodged the follow up kick aimed for his temple. The boys weren't holding anything back and it showed. Two pebbles skitted across the water, Naruto just grinned wider. "Why did they just throw stones?"
"As a sign they're going to start using ninjutsu, they want a fair fight and just throwing a fireball at someone wouldn't be a fair fight," He watched as Katsuki began throwing water style ninjutsus, taking from the rives below his feet to make them more powerful. Izuku threw a single kunai and put his hands to his fingers before inhaling deeply.
"Stolen bloodline, ice style!" Breathing over his fingertips, a bright blue wisp of air formed just after his hands. Naruto sat up a little straighter, Katsuki jumped backwards, anticipating a fireball instead. The water dragon began slowing down as it became an ice sculpture, the eyes remaining the same bloodred. It turned around and began chasing Katsuki instead, who was forced to obliterate it with a fire ball. As the blond landed his hand crackled with electricty.
"Chidori!" He crossed the water, leaving arcs in his wake. Izuku met the charge headon.
"Rasendori!" Came the responsive cry. Sakura and Ino both sat up, still leaning on Naruto's shoulders.
"That's just a Rasengan though," Sakura gazed at the blue orb.
"Remember what Izuku did at the bridge?" They watched the greenette put his hand forward. The orb glided over Katsuki's hand, Izuku launched himself into a flip, dragging the blue sphere of chakra over the blond's arm, taking the electricity with it. As Katsuki's eyes widened in shock Izuku let the electrified jutsu strike his chest. The greenette landed just behind his opponent and crouched low. As the blow sent the blond stumbling backwards he fell over Izuku and crashed into the water. The jutsu however continued to race onwards before arcing straight into the air, barely completing the mountain before exploding. Izuku smirked before pointing a kunai at Katsuki.
"I believe that means I win,"
"No fair, you hijacked my jutsu," They both got up and began walking over.
"It's all in the chakra control, I just made mine match yours, you could do the same after some time, and a lot of practise," The two sat down opposite the trio. "I take it Itachi is making dinner right now?" Sakura nodded, Izuku's mouth seemed to water. "It's been ages since we had his katsudon,"
"Or his ramen, like the bacon or veggitarian ones," Both boys began getting lost in food daydreams. They shook their heads at the same time. "Alright we should probably go home now then,"
"But we just got here," Sakura whined.
"We need to set the table, and with nine people to feed we need to make sure everyone is accounted for at least five minutes in advance," Izuku got to his feet and dusted himself off. "Sasuke and Tayuya are probably going to be touring the village, so it'll take a while to find them and Shisui will have either locked himself in somewhere or gotten lost," Katsuki and Naruto stood up, the latter helping both girls to their feet. "You guys can find Shisui, I'll get Sasuke and Tayuya, Katsuki, see if Itachi needs help in the kitchen," The six all leapt away on their route home.
Naruto noticed it first. A quick gesture to Izuku and he knew too. There was something not quite right with the air around them. It seemed damper than normal. Katsuki appeared to notice as well when he eyed his brothers. "Naruto, get the girls home, return once all heads are accounted for, make sure Itachi does not come to fight," Naruto nodded. "If he doesn't seemed convinced, just say Akatsuki, he will understand," Izuku and Katsuki came to a stop on their next rooftop, Naruto leading the girls away. They heard two sinister laughs behind them and the beginning of a taunt.
"Naruto, what's going on?"
"I don't know but whoever they are, they are dangerous, I'm getting you two home and making sure the others are safe before I swap out for Katsuki," Grabbing both of their hands he dropped down to the streets and began to blend in with the crowd. It wasn't long before they found Sasuke and Tayuya laughing as they walked. "Sasuke," He grabbed the raven haired boy's attention. "We need to get home, now, two enemy, in the village, Katsuki and Izuku are trying to deal with them,"
"So we're on guard duty?"
"You and Katsuki are, they're most likely going to be after me and you, so long as we split up,"
"They can't win, good thinking," Sasuke nodded as the five continued to make their way to the house. Naruto led everyone up the stairs.
"You three into the attic, Shisui and Itachi will,"
"What will we do?"
"Stay with them, Sasuke and Katsuki are going to look out for any more attackers,"
"I can still fight,"
"Izuku asked me to not let you fight them," Naruto looked at his former sensei, Shisui was letting Sasuke guide him up the ladder to the girls.
"I'm not letting you,"
"Akatsuki," Naruto interrupted, "Izuku told me to tell you that, he said you would understand," Itachi gulped and nodded.
"Very well, I know why he asked this of you, hopefully we can explain later," The blond nodded as he watched the older shinobi climb the ladder and closed the latch behind him. Sasuke had already opened the nearest window and was scaling the wall to the roof.
"Alright, I'll warp to Izuku and send Katsuki here,"
"Understood," Sasuke nodded "And dope?"
"Yeah?"
"Come back alive," Naruto disappeared in a flash of yellow.
His hand rested on Izuku's shoulder as he instinctively jumped with Izuku over the swipe of a large sword. "I take it you're here to tap out for me?" Katsuki took his attention. The blonds leapt towards one another. Naruto took in his soon-to-be opponent. A pale green face with dark blue hair shaped like a fin smirked at him.
"This is the kid we're after?"
"Orange jumpsuit, blond hair, he's the Uzumaki of Konoha," Izuku fell back to the two blonds, a tanto in hand. Naruto realized as he looked at is brother, Izuku was wearing ANBU gear. The typical mask on his left temple instead of over his face.
"Excuse you btu the three of us are Uzumaki," Naruto smirked as he rested a hand on Katsuki's shoulder, the boy disappeared without a sound. "You can explain the gear later, right now let's get these guys gone,"
"Kisame, find the other blond, there's a chance the Uchiha brat is with him," The other man spoke and Naruto felt his eye twitch. The green skinned man smiled.
"With pleasure," He dissolved into water and disappeared. Naruto tensed his fists.
"Oi," Izuku muttered "You remember our blade training?"
"Like I'd forget,"
"Good, hold this," Naruto took the tanto, clutching it tightly, "Let's take formation E," The greenette led the charge against the man, ducking low and running across the man's body. Following his brother, the blond ducked and ran the opposite side. As he lifted the blade to strike, the mysterious ninja lifted a famaliar blade to deflect it. Izuku quickly pivoted on his foot. He let go of the handle and the blade spun over his opponents, his brother grabbed it and scraped it up the opposing blade, generating sparks until their opponent twisted their blade to catch the tanto in a semi-circle cut out near the handle. Izuku leapt back before he was cut in half, the brothers regrouping just out of the swords reach. "You weild Kubikiribocho," The opponent laughed.
"Of course, it was my blade first, that upstart Zabuza was able to take it from me when I defected from Kiri, little wannabe rogue died like a chump, leaving the blade ripe for the taking,"
"We buried the blade with the body grave robber," Izuku growled "Original owner you say? That must make you Biwa Juzo, rogue nin of the Akatsuki, you'd be a great toy for T and I," Juzo laughed.
"You think just cause you killed Zabuza you can kill me? Please pipsqueak, I'll kill you and take blondie before you can say fight me,"
"Fight me," Izuku's eyes narrowed as the tanto was handed back to Naruto, who took it readily. Izuku pulled out a small scroll and ran it across the palm of his hand, a second tanto puffed into existence. "Formation C," The two raced forwards. Naruto took the lead, throwing several shuriken and pulling out a kunai. Juzo stepped backwards and blocked the stars before deflecting the strike from the tanto. He rolled to the side as Izuku rolled over the blade and kicked out. The cloaked man ducked backwards, the move too far in his guard to deflect. Naruto was already on his heel, diving in for another attack, his slash being deflected upwards. Both boys kept it up, attacking with each movement. Juzo was on the backfoot getting pushed by the force, unable to dish out an attack of his own. Naruto crouched and leapt into the air.
"Finishing combo J," His tanto was thrown to Izuku, who caught it in a reverse grip and immediately launched into a combination attack. Naruto landed behind him after pulling out a second kunai. Izuku planted his foot and rotated out of the way, his attack knocking Kubikiribocho out of the way. Naruto's kunai sliced Juzo's chest in a cross before the blond was passed the rogue ninja. Izuku's rotation completed as both tanto buried into Juzo's chest.
"Perish," Blood trickled from Juzo's mouth as he stared down in shock. There was a sickening sound as the blades were drawn from the body. Izuku spun them in a circle to hold both in a straight grip before slashing the air creating two crossing arcs of blood. The blond stared at his brother as one tanto turned to smoke while the other was slid into its holster on his back.
"You have some explaining to do,"
"Later, go and back up Sasuke and Katsuki, I have to seal the body and deliver Kubikiribocho to the Hokage office," Izuku knelt to check for a pulse as Naruto disappeared in a shimmer.
"Guys!" A kunai was thrown into the needle like blade that would've split Katsuki in half. It crashed into the concrete next to the boy, who kicked out at the fish like man, sending both blade and wielder backwards. Sasuke had a bleeding wound on his arm while Katsuki was panting, a bloody wound visible through a gash on his trousers. Naruto growled at the man named Kisame. "Juzo is dead, Izuku killed him, don't think we won't kill you,"
"I don't doubt you would if you could,"
"Funny, Juzo thought the same until he was turned into Juzo-shish kebab," The man frowned, Naruto flicked his head towards Sasuke. "Did you know Izuku was ANBU?" A shake of his head. "Great, can you guys still fight?"
"Yeah," Katsuki tried standing from his positon, only to fall onto one knee. "Maybe not,"
"I can," Sasuke grunted "But I've already overused Chidori trying to get this guy, he just turns to water before I get him," Holding up his left hand revealed that it was lightly burned from the electricity generated by Chidori. Naruto glared back at Kisame.
"If you run know you can keep Samehada as well as your life, continue fighting and you will lose both," Izuku appeared behind Naruto and Sasuke, still in his ANBU outfit, this time with the mask over his face. "But I should warn you, you have thirty seconds to decide and after fifteen a squad of ANBU will begin hunting you down and those guys don't like it when people try and hide from them,"
"The mission failed after Juzo lost Kubikiribocho anyway," The man gave a sharp toothed grin, "Next time we meet you'll have that cocky attitude knocked out of you, along with your head from your shoulders,"
"I'd like to see you try," Izuku challenged, Kisame just frowned.
"I'm going to enjoy killing you brat," The man turned to water and splashed down to the ground. Izuku sighed and turned around before pulling off his mask.
"BRAT!" Tsunade's voice broke their momentary silence, "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ABOUT YOU FOUR FIGHTING ENEMY SHINOBI?!"
"Two members of the Akatsuki infiltrated the village aiming to come after Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke to take them for unknown reasons, one is dead Biwa Juzo, his sealed body and his blade Kubikiribocho are in your office I neutralized him working with Naruto, together Sasuke and Uzumaki Katsuki were able to defend the buildings from Hoshigaki Kisame, he made a retreat upon hearing that his teammate was dead," Izuku spoke flatly. "Lady Hokage if you would allow me to,"
"You aren't pursuing him, there's already a squad of ANBU doing that since you informed them before me,"
"Time was of the essence Lady Hokage, informing you while you were at the hospital would have be detreimental to the repulsion of the invaders, as it stands Katsuki and Sasuke are both hurt badly and require medical aid, Naruto appears to be fine however I would like to take him to be checked nonetheless,"
"And you Green?"
"Unharmed Lady Hokge,"
"Very well, I'll give you a pass this time Green, but next time you come to inform me first,"
"Hai Lady Hokage," Izuku lifted his hand into a seal and in a puff of smoke he was back in his regular clothing. The three boys looked at him incredulously. "Man, that sure was something huh?"