Sayonnara
"If you three are done!" Izuku's voice made the pile jump slightly, "Sakura, Naruto, Tsunade wants us in her office in five minutes, Itachi's got breakfast, Sasuke using the downstairs bathroom, and if you aren't ready soon I'm leaving without you! Ino, Shisui has your chakra exercises ready for you before you spar with Tayuya, Katsuki is already on his way there!" They all scrambled from the bed.
"We saw her yesterday," Naruto threw his hands up, "Could she not have said about it yesterday?" He quickly left the room and grabbed his clothes, "I'll be two minutes!" He dived into the bathroom, having a very quick, very cold shower. Showering so quickly his hair was still wet as he walked (Read: Jumped) down the stairs swinging round the bannister. Itachi handed him a plate of still steaming food as Izuku sat down opposite him. The brothers sat in silence for a second.
"I don't know what she wants to talk about but I have a suspicion,"
"What's that?" Naruto spoke between mouthfuls, watching as Izuku slowly wiped spittle and scrambled egg off his face.
"Three Sannin, one of which is the Hokage, the other two were elects but never chosen, my bet is you're going to have to train under all three of them to make sure the Akatsuki don't get hold of you as a jinchuuriki, which reminds me, you put your formula on Gaara right? Ah" Izuku raised a finger as the blond went to talk, "Just nod or shake your head," Naruto nodded, "It's inserted into the seal isn't it?" Another nod, "Great, now like I was saying, you'll probably be taught by all three of them to defend yourself, Tsunade will be chakra control, Orochimaru will be taijutsu and some ninjutsu while Jiraiya should be mainly ninjutsu and maybe summoning," A figure sat next to Naruto, "Morning Sakura,"
"Heya Izuku, did you deal with the Hyuugas?"
"I have a Shadow Clone overseeing the removal of the seal on all Branch members, as well as one getting taught techniques by Neji," A small smirk, "Anyway, Sasuke should be done in the bathroom in a minute and then you two need to brush your teeth and we can warp over to the offic hopefully making it before Katsuki like I promised Tsunade," Both nodded and ate quickly, before pushing their plates at Izuku.
"Thank you for the meal!" They both called to Itachi, rushing to a different bathroom each. Sasuke opened the door with a towel around his shoulders, leaving enough room for Naruto to squeeze past.
"Be quick dope, Katsuki left five minutes ago," Sasuke grinned as the blond grabbed his toothbrush. Two minutes doesn't seem much when he's running but staring at his reflection with a mouthfull of toothpaste stretches time to no end. After mentally counting and trying to ignore Kurama's random number inputs Naruto dashed back out of the room.
"Watch out!" Sakura called as Naruto turned, the pinkette had begun jumping down the stairs as he'd left the room. Izuku appeared next to Naruto with Sasuke in tow. Catching up immediately, the blond put a hand on his brother's shoulder while reaching out for Sakura, fingertips barely brushing against her as the group vanished in a flicker of green light.
Tsunade should've expected an explosive entrance and cursed herself that she didn't. The priceless look of shock on Shizune's face as the four appeared, only for Izuku to drag Sasuke backwards, allowing a floating (What?) Sakura to collide with Naruto, sending both crashing to the floor. Suddenly the pinkette was sat on the blond's chest, faces inches apart. "Hi," Naruto mumbled awkwardly.
"Hey," Sakura's face went pinker than her hair.
"Oh come on!" Katsuki's voice drew their attention and they all saw the winded blond, panting with his hands on his knees at the doorway. "I went as fast as I could,"
"And you're only five minutes behind teleportation," Izuku chirped as he and Sasuke sat down in the seats. Katsuki balked at him.
"You're teaching me that," Izuku just nodded, "You wished to see us Lady Hokage?" He stood behind both chairs while Sakur and Naruto sat on the floor again.
"Yes, I have some, problematic news, it is a decision I have deliberated for a while now, you five are the newest ANBU the village has, not only that but you have some of the greatest teamwork I have seen in a long time, which makes this decision even harder, but Squad Seven, your first official mission is going to split you up," Naruto opened his mouth as a hand was placed on his shoulder. Izuku had a stone face and joined.
"Go on,"
"Naruto, it is too dangerous for you to be in the village at the moment, so you are to go with Jiraiya under the guise of training, he will teach you certain things but you will be working with him to gather intel from around the five nations, Sakura, you are to stay here, I will be teaching you what I know, Izuku has told me about your dedication to being a med-nin and how you are already working on your byakugo, Katsuki and Izuku, you are to do what you can to gain information for us on the Akatsuki, which rogue nin are part of it, along with analysis of their ninjutsus, strengths weakness, which of our ninja have the best chance of beating them, all of it, everything you can, Sasuke you have a choice of going with Orochimaru or staying your family to develop your abilities, please make your choice soon," The raven haired teen nodded.
"Understood,"
"Apologies Lady Hokage but Jiraiya and Naruto? I urge you to please reconsider," Izuku raised his hand, "There's no,"
"Izuku, I understand your concern and Jiraiya has promised to not behave as he has for the duration of his trip with Naruto, he knows the consequences of otherwise," Tsunade shook her head, "The cover stories will go as follows, Izuku and Katsuki are taking a journey to try and figure out the origins or explanations of their primal chakra, if you can do that alongside your mission, even better, as I stated Naruto will go with Jiraiya under the guise of training, Sasuke will go under the pretense of avenging his clan if he chooses to, the rest of the shinobi world does not know of the developments of Danzo's transgressions or Itachi's suffering, but they will once Danzo is brought to trial, Sakura will be training under me in the hopes of uniting her team once again, you all follow?" Five nods, "Wonderful you have a week to pack and prepare, that goes for you too Sasuke, make your choice quickly,"
"I will go with him," Sasuke nodded, "Orochimaru is a sannin, one of the examples of modling a skill to work in a team, I have much to learn from him,"
"Very well," Tsunade returned, "I shall inform Orochimaru as soon as I can," The five ninja stood before her, "This mission will take several years, as such I expect a report after the first three months and then every six afterwards, it does not have to be in person, since Sasuke being seen near the Leaf would be problematic,"
"Will any of us be labelled missing-nin?"
"No, any other questions?" Silence, "Alright, dismissed"
"I don't like this," Izuku folded his clothes carefully before sealing them away. "I don't like it at all,"
"Nor do I," Naruto shook his head as he packed as well, "So much time away from here, all the work we,"
"No, that's not the problem," Katsuki interrupted as he also packed. "From reports I read, You guys have effectively strong armed Lord Third into doing finally facing his mistakes, now Lady Fifth is picking up the slack, she won't do what he did, Izuku isn't happy leaving you with Pervy Sage for that long,"
"I trust Tsunade, but I don't trust Jiraiya, even if she does, he will have to try harder to gain mine,"
"And I might not know who he is, but from what you've told me, he doesn't seem like the responsible type, more like a senile old man," The three chuckled. Naruto sighed.
"Look I appreciate that you don't trust him, I don't either, but you can't come with me," Izuku froze for a second. "Besides this could be the only chance we give him,"
"Oi you three," Itachi entered the room, "You aren't really thinking about this are you?"
"About what?" Izuku asked innocently,
"If you and Katsuki are going to find information I am too,"
"You can't rejoin the Akatsuki, mainly because you can't leave,"
"They don't know I've left, they think I've gone to repay a favor,"
"You aren't joining them again," Naruto shook his head, "Not after we met Kisame, they'd bury you if they ever see you again, look at how much they hunt Orochimaru,"
"I can still go back to,"
"You are staying home or so help me I will make you," Izuku narrowed his gaze. "Challenge me on this Itachi,"
"Izuku you wouldn't,"
"I can and I will," A screeching filled the room. Naruto put his clothes down and turned to his brother.
"You are not using Kotoamatsukami on him," Arms folded as the blond stare at his greenette brother, who's eyes had bled red, "You aren't doing it,"
"I will, don't,"
"If you were going to do it, you wou;d've done it already," Katsuki flipped through the book of seals in his hand. The three all turned to look at him, "Izuku remember we were six, Izumi was about to put us in the attic of the Bakugo house, you said you'd make her pay if she did,"
"While we were meant to be locked in I used substitution to leave a box in my place before I launched a rock through Katsumi's window and then substituted back into the attic, Katsumi didn't talk to her for a week," Izuku relaxed, "You've made your point, I'm not one to hesitate," Itachi let out a sigh in relief, opening his mouth to talk, "But you still are not joining the Akatsuki again, the mission was given by a traitor to continue it would be to follow a traitor,"
"Izuku,"
"Itachi, I will not let you join the Akatsuki," The Uchiha raised his hands in surrender,
"Alright, alright, I'll stay here and look after Tayuya and Sakura, Shisui too but he,"
"KAMI FUCKING DAMN IT!!" The latters' voice tore through the house, informing the street he'd missed the cup and burnt his wrist again. Three heavy sighs.
"He does that a lot doesn't he?" Katsuki resumed sealing clothes away into the booklet he'd carry with him. Naruto could only shrug and Itachi left to deal with it.
"You know if I find out you've gone after Danzo alone, either of you, I will personally hunt you down and smack you before I drag you back here by your feet," Naruto warned at the table, everyone was gathered to eat some katsudon.
"Same goes for me, except I'll have a chance of doing it," Izuku smirked, "Because Katsuki will be coming with me,"
"I don't need to try to knock sense into you dopes," Sasuke shook his head, "This will be good for us,"
"If you die I won't forgive any of you ever," Sakura's hand shook as she gazed down at her food, "So you better come back in time alright?"
"Uh, wait, where are you four going?" Ino asked, Tayuya and Shisui matching her look of confusion.
"We've been assigned some training," Izuku started making up the cover story, "Naruto is going with his dad's mentor, Sasuke will be going with Orochimaru, just to make sure neither are targeted in the village anymore, I'll be going with Katsuki to try and figure out where our primal chakra stems from, Sakura is staying here to train with Tsunade,"
"You're leaving?!" Blonde rounded on blonde, "How could you not tell me?"
"We don't make tracks for a week, there's no need to worry Ino," Sasuke finished a mouthful, "He was probably going to tell you tomorrow once we organized everything, right?"
"Yeah,"
"But were any of you going to tell me?" Tayuya mumbled quietly, "Orochimaru said he had to go and shut down his labs, making sure Danzo couldn't get anything, kabuto could only stall for so long, he didn't say you'd be accompanying him,"
"I'm only going because it gives me a chance to grow outside of the village, I won't be gone forever,"
"Just three to four years," Izuku snaked on Sasuke so calmly Naruto had to check it wasn't Orochimaru in disguise.
"Grass," The side eye did nothing to unnerve Izuku.
"Make peace with your demons before you meet them," He blew on his food. Naruto and Sasuke both looked at him before being smacked around the back of the head.
"Three or four years?!" Both Ino and Tayuya exclaimed, "Why?"
"Because training is going to take a long time, Sasuke might not be as long as Naruto but there are reasons for both," He shook his head "They'll both be fine,"
"How do you know that?"
"Because I will have a Shadow Clone with both groups, as well as one left here to learn everything Konoha has to offer, I'll be leaving one everywhere we go, disguised or not, so I can learn everything this world has to offer,"
"Sharpen a blade too far and it shall shatter," Itachi recited,
"Then take the shards and reforge a better blade, bad maintenance breaks a weapon, meditation and healthy habits will accompany myself and Katsuki no matter where we go,"
"I'll accept that," He grumbled to the greenette, who kept passive face, eating his food. Naruto stifled a chuckle and continued eating.
"Actually if we get ready we could,
"No, we aren't leaving early," Naruto eaved his chopsticks in the air, Izuku just blew hot air from his nose. "I want to make sure we have everything, double check we have enough gear, maybe double check with Tenten I've got the right equipment for maintenance,"
"Fine, we'll leave in a week, enough time for you to actually get this Wind Shuriken your trying to make,"
"Oh so we're going there?" He shot back quickly, soon enough the table descended into the normal upbeat conversations.
Ino sat on his bed as he continued to seal things away. "Do you have to go?"
"Unfortunately, this is something I can't turn down," Naruto sighed as he sealed away another kunai, why he couldn't do them in a bunch was beyond him but Izuku had made the point that needing one and getting five could be problematic in battles so the blond had conceded.
"But you promise you'll come back,"
"Ino," Putting the book down he faced the blonde.
"You promise?" She insisted firmly,
"I thought you'd want to stop Sasuke more than me," Her hand covered his book as he turned back to it.
"Sasuke didn't help me, didn't train me or make me feel my efforts weren't subpar, you've been a rock for me ever since the Chunnin exams, and now you've got to up and leave in a week? That's not fair," A tremble in her voice gave him a mental slap,
"I promise Ino, I'll be back before you know it, you won't even have time to miss me I'll be that fast, promise," Gently he encircled her in his arms, "At least Sakura is here,"
"BUT YOU'RE NOT!" She yelled, "You won't be here! You promised to always have my back, how are you going to do that when you're not even here?!" Naruto began understanding slowly.
"Ino, do you trust me?"
"What kind of question is that? Of course I do!"
"So if I were to say I had a technique marker for a jutsu that could get me back to you instantly, you'd take it?" A nod into his chest, "And if I said it had to be on you?"
"O...on me?"
"On a piece of clothing you'd wear everyday, or a piece of skin,"
"I, well," Naruto stepped back, talking slowly.
"Or I could mark a kunai for you to carry with you all the time?" After wiping her eyes Ino seemed to give the idea some thought. He waited with baited breath until Ino gently pulled out a book and tapped a seal. A flower poofed into existence on the page.
"Can you mark this?" She handed him the flower, it whad delicate bright white petals that turned sky blue towards the stem. Holding the dark green stem in his hand Naruto quickly applied his marker and handed it back to her. "And now I can do this," Gently she put the flower into her hair, "So you can still reach me,"
"Push some of your chakra into the flower and I'll know to come get you wherever you are, wherever I am,"
"I'll hold you to that," They chuckled together. "So do Sasuke and Sakura have one?"
"Yeah, since they're teammates I didn't give them a choice, It's on Sasuke right and Sakura's left, Izuku's got is on his right too and Katsuki has it on his back, Kakashi has it on the back of his mask while Itachi and Shisui both have a kunai, while Tayuya has it on her flute,"
"So I was the last one?"
"I wasn't sure if you'd want it, you haven't known me as long as my team, Izuku, Katsuki, Tayuya, Itachi and Shisui are family, so I kinda thought you'd say no if I'm honest," Ino suddenly hugged him.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about how I acted in the academy, it was just so easy to follow the curve, even my old man told me off for it sometimes, but,"
"Hey, don't worry about it, things happen in life that we can't always control, but it's up to you what you do after it, you've been better, you got better, you're a hell of a lot more patient and calm now, say that for free,"
"Alright just cause I'm upset you're leaving does not mean I won't backhand you something chronic,"
"Is he upsetting you?" Sakura joined the conversation as they looked over to see the pinkette in the doorway, "Cause if he is I'll,"
"No I applied my marker to the flower in her hair, she was just apologizing for the academy days,"
"Sakura, help me make him stay, please," The pinkette grimaced, "You know he'll listen to us,"
"I want him to stay I do, but he'll just be in danger here, remember how easily the rogues came after us when we were done in thr training grounds?" Ino sniffed, clutching to Naruto tighter.
"If I stay, you'll have a target on your back, a target I couldn't cover, it'd be a matter of time before I slipped up and you got hurt on my account," Naruto stretched out an arm and pulled Sakura into the hug, "I couldn't live with myself if something like that happened to either of you, I'll come back strong enough to protect this whole place, promise,"
"Why are you acting like we're leaving now?" Izuku appeared in the doorway, "You guys have six days still, go out, have fun, there's a travelling circus in the village right now, maybe buy a few trinkets, Naruto start a ritual to grab something from every village and town you visit," The three all looked at him, "Ino, Sakura I'm trusting you to keep working on your training, my Shadow Clone will be too busy to help you everyday, on the topic o us going, have any of you seen my spare bowstaff? I want Katuski to at least get the basics before we leave," Naruto looked at the two girls blankly, Sakura's eyes widened,
"Oh, yeah, it's in the attic, very front of the house, it was one of the first things we put up there because it was such a trip hazard,"
"Thank you," Izuku tapped the doorway and walked away. The three faintly heard him yelling for Katsuki.
"How much do you have left to pack?"
"Nothing I can't do tomorrow," Relenting before they could break him, the girls smiled as they dragged him out of the room and into the village.
Tsunade laced her fingers together and rested her nose on her hands. The level unemotive gaze began unnerving Naruto and he wasn't even the one getting the look. "I'm sorry, but you're excuse for a horde of injured shinobi who need several days to heal and a new lake for Konoha was,"
"Bowstaff training," Izuku nodded unfazed as Katsuki shied behind him. "That is correct," He and Katsuki had been summoned mere moments after Jiraiya and Naruto had, the latter pair now stood to the side while the former duo faced the first female Hokage's wrath.
"And are you going to explain just what happened?" He tilted his hand,
"Would you like the truth, one that will leave you without a headache or one that won't leave you reaching for sake?" The Hokage sighed and closed her eyes, a vein threatening to burst from her forehead,
"I'll tell you what, if you can tell me the truth in a way that doesn't make me reach for sake, I'll let you off this time," Izuku scratched his chin, thinking for a second, Naruto wasn't sure how his brothers would get out of this one.
"I was teaching Katsuki the basics of fighting with a bowstaff, several of your elite Jounin found us and challenged me to a spar, each one became more aggravated as the line went along,"
"And the lake?"
"I, uh, I might have had some Shadow Clones practising powerful water jutsus, I'll turn it back soon as I get the chance,"
"How?"
"A few fireball jut-,"
"Uzumaki Izuku, you are not using fireballs strong enough to evaporate a lake next to a forest,"
"I wasn't going to aim them across the lake," Izuku smiled, "I was just going to just from cliffs and fire them straight down, besides, anything I burn down I can regrow with Wood Style,"
"Of course you have Wood Style, what don't you have?"
"The Rinnegan, the Byakugan, a samurai sword, a loving mother, Iron Style, some Shogun armour,"
"What was that?"
"Shogun armour? It's really cool,"
"Not the armour brat! A loving mother,"
"Oh yeah that," Izuku feigned caring. "Well neither of my genetic donors cared for me, claiming I was an accidental byproduct so they could have the daughter they always wanted, I was starved, beaten, neglected, traumatized, the works but that's the stuff I do have, I'd really like Magnet release, the Ketsurygan," He waggled a finger "I don't have that,"
"We are not glossing over the fact you could have serious mental health prob-,"
"My mental health is fine thank you very much, I've gotten this far haven't I? 'sides, you need to save the therapists for people who actually need it, like Naruto, or Sasuke, maybe even Kakashi Hatake,"
"You rang?"
"Sweet Kami boy!" Jiraiya cried as the grey haired Jounin appeared from nowhere,
"My ears were heating up and I figured one of my little students was talking about me,"
"I'd like to apologize for a remark I made shortly after we met each other Kakashi, I've done more reading around the subject,"
"If you are truly sorry, never bring it up again," Tsunade stared between the shinobi before sighing heavily,
"Kakashi, you are going to be meeting with a trained therapist every week from now on, that's a direct order from your Hokage, Izuku, you are going to be having a very lengthy conversation about your, um,"
"Genetic donors? It's what I call my mothers,"
"Those," She pointed at him before pausing, "Wait mothers?"
"A tale for another time Tsunade,"
"Well whatever, we'll be talking about that after I'm done with Jiraiya and Naruto and after Kakashi tells me he just so happened to be in the area yet again," The Jounin shrugged,
"Heard Izuku made a new water feature, wanted to confirm," A neutral shrug from the cycloptic ninja, Naruto held back a sigh. Izuku was quite infamous among the Jounin of Konoha, the pranks he pulled on his own were the worst to get caught in, poor Asuma still has someone else open his cigarette packet after Izuku put spring loaded paper snakes in one. Tsunade groaned,
"At least that's one thing done, Izuku get out please,"
"Peace!" Izuku and Katsuki disappeared in a flash.
"Naruto, Jiraiya, what I wish to discuss is much less taxing than that," She sighed and leant back in her chair, "Naruto you can already preform the Rasengan correct?"
"Yup,"
"Wonderful, now how many tails can you use?"
"About three, four and I get impatient,"
"Alright, so while you are on your journey, Jiraiya will be teaching you about Senjutsu, or Sage arts,"
"Sage arts?"
"It is the practise of harnessing nature energy, external chakra if you will, to preform powerful attacks, trace chakra, it will be a long and arduous task because it requires immense focus and training, even if you use Shadow Clones, yes Sarutobi sensei did warn me the lot of you have learned the jutsu," A quick nod of acknowledgement, "It will allow you to better control the Nine Tail chakra without losing control, this is why you are to be gone for a few years, you can return once you have mastered it, understood?"
"Yes Lady Hokage," Naruto grinned widely, "It's never fun if something is too easy,"
"I hope you keep that attitude when you return,"
"Bet your bottom ryo I will!"
"Good, dismissed," Naruto smirked and disappeared in a second.
"So this is it huh?" Sakura smiled sadly at the boys. All four stood with travelling packs on their backs and some food already in their pockets. The depatures were timed so they wouldn't leave all at once. Naruto watched the pinkette's eyes water, Ino was stood next to her looking away from the group.
"You better come back alive," Her voice quavered, "All of you or I'll come hunt you down and bring you back to kill you myself,"
"Understood," All four chorused before laughing gently. The great gates opened behind them as Orochimaru was first to appear by the group, walking over slowly. He still wore the same style of clothing as their meeting on Lookout Tower, except now there was a Konoha headband wrapped around his upper left arm.
"Sasuke, it's time to go I'm afraid," The raven-haired teen nodded solemnly before turning back to the group.
"I'll be back stronger than ever guys, once we're done I will have mastered my Eternal Mangekyou and I'll stand proudly as a member of Squad Seven," With that, the two walked away, slowly becoming smaller until they disappeared over the horizon. Izuku sighed and nudged Katsuki.
"Guess it's time we make tracks too, gotta let knucklehead say his goodbyes," The two chuckled lightly and Katsuki said his goodbyes. Izuku made a hand sign and his Shadow Clone popped into life, waving before jumping to the rooftops.
"I'll see you all again soon, promise," Katsuki gently hugged each of them, "You better be stronger when I get back or I'll kick your asses!" He challenged as the two made their way to the gate. "Especially you Naruto, I want a proper fight next time we see each other!"
"You got it Katsuki!" The blond cheered in response, ready for the fight. Soon enough the otherworldly brothers were gone on their own journey. Naruto shook his head, fighting back the tears but already in wonder of the stories they would all tell when they returned. Ino and Sakura were both crying as they hugged him tightly.
"You better come back, just come back," Sakura buried her face in the left side of his collar, "Because if you don't we will hunt you down and drag you back by your toenails,"
"We'll even get Tsunade to teach us how just for it," Ino confirmed through her own onslaught of tears. "We wouldn't be anywhere near as good as we are today without your help Naruto, so you better get stronger so we can keep training together, got it?"
"Y-yeah, I do," He stuttered, keeping his own tears away still, he could tell however he was starting to fail. Jiraiya appeared in a whirl of leaves and smiled gently.
"Let's move Naruto,"
"You got it Pervy Sage," He smiled as Tsunade appeared with the girls as the sage and blond reached the gates. Izuku had taught a lot in these walls, undoubtedly he teach him even more when they got back inside, but one lesson stuck with Naruto more than the others.
When you are trying to move forwards, do not make the mistake of never looking back, because looking back will always remind you why you are doing something.
And so Naruto turned on his heel and looked back, waving wildly as he saw the vision of his entire family stood there. Itachi, Shisui, Katsuki, Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, Iruka, Kakashi, Tsunade, Orochimaru and Jiraiya to a lesser extent, Grampa Third and Tayuya as well and, there in the centre, smiling proudly stood Izuku his eyes giving an unspoken challenge. 'You better do your best'. His gaze moved up to the great stone faces and his fist clenched.
"You better believe it Konohagakure, I'm only gonna get stronger from here!"