Naruto : Fate

It took the better part of a week of traveling from town to town for Jiraya to get Tsunade's location. Throughout that time Jiraya taught Naruto the first two steps to the Rasengan. He didn't let me watch their training, probably because he wanted to make sure only Naruto learned the jutsu. I can't blame him. In the correct hands the Rasengan is a deadly tool and let's face it, Jiraya doesn't know me at all.

We didn't talk much, mostly it was Jiraya ordering me around and Naruto working solely on the Rasengan. Naruto never even challenged me to a spar, every waking moment he had was devoted to the technique. I was basically left alone to do my own thing, I threw myself into training hardcore.

I still have nightmares from the Chunin Exams. I doubt they will ever go away. It wasn't strange for me to stay out all night, I would just keep going not realizing how long I was gone for. Turns out I can go for days, literally. The first two nights I didn't sleep. My body never got tired thanks to the Jiongu, and I ignored the desire to sleep. Sleep meant remembering. I don't want to remember.

Eventually I decided that I deserve a break and need to relax. Just because I can train for days without stopping doesn't mean I should.

That is how Jiraya found me in our hotel room for the day, relaxing on the couch and reading a book.

"Oi, kid I know where... she's... is that Icha Icha?"

"Yep." I don't bother looking up from the book, I'm at a good part.

Jiraya's whole body is brimming in happiness. "You know who wrote those right?"

I turn the page. "Yep. Nice work, after seeing Kakashi read these so much I decided to give it a shot. It is surprisingly well written, it's not just pure smut like I expected. You have character development and real life situations. Out of curiosity is the plot based off of your experiences?"

Jiraya actually has a tear in his eye. "Why can't Naruto be more like you?" He whines to the heavens.

"Self sufficient and enjoys good literature?" I ask for clarification.

"Yes! My life would be so much easier!"

I laugh, "Naruto is starved for attention. The village hates him, I don't get it. He's a good kid. Yeah, he can be annoying but we all have our quirks. He's annoying, you like to introduce yourself with a song and dance, and I... uh... huh. How am I quirky?"

"You're obsessed with chakra strings."

"I am not! They are just so cool! And useful! And awesome!"

Jiraya laughs at me. "I watched you train a few times, kid you are obsessed. Elemental chakra strings? That sphere defense you do with those is impressive. And those floating kunai? It is no wonder people think you have the magnet release. No one has ever used chakra strings the way you do. You'd be a terror with just those alone. Honestly I'm surprised you're not in any official bingo book yet. You made some serious waves during the invasion."

I grin and look up from my book. "I know right? Finally someone appreciates my brilliance. That makes two people!"

"Who was the other one?" Jiraya asks, genuinely curious.

"Orochimaru." I growl out. "It is probably what inspired him to give me the Jiongu, it works similarly to chakra strings to begin with."

The atmosphere turns sour. Orochimaru is a touchy subject for us both. We sit in silence for awhile, Jiraya lost in thought and I go back to my book.

Finally I break the silence. "You were saying something when you came in here? We kind of got distracted."

Jiraya straightens up to his full height. "That's right! I've gotten a lead on Tsunade. She's only supposed to be one town over, they have some large casinos there. It makes sense, she does like to gamble."

"Great!" I put my book down. "I'll start packing. You go get Naruto since you don't want me observing his training. Stupid secretive shinobi." I mumble the last bit to myself.

"We leave when I get back with Naruto." Jiraya heads to the door.

"OI! I am not packing your stuff for you!" I call after him.

...

On the Road to the Next Town

"So Naruto, how goes the super secret jutsu that I have no idea about?" Jokes on them, I already know.

"It's really difficult. I'm on the last step though! I'll have this down in no time!" Naruto boasts loudly.

"Good for you. Is it cooler than my combo with Gamabunta?"

Naruto gets a dreamy look on his face. "I wish. That was so COOL! Gamabunta was like 'blurgh' and you were all 'whoosh' and that thingy you use was like 'spit' and BOOM fire everywhere!"

Jiraya laughs at Naruto's description.

I sigh, "Yes Naruto. That's exactly how it all happened. Those sound effects and everything."

"You should teach me how to do that!" Naruto grabs my shoulders and looks at me with big puppy dog eyes. "Please?"

"Gross, you should never make that face again. Ever. That look is reserved for kids or hot women. Besides, it would only work if you have multiple elemental affinities. I doubt you have fire, water, and whatever the oil one is based off of. Earth?"

"Actually," Jiraya cuts in, "that is something the Toads teach. It isn't really a nature change, it's closer to a unique form of summoning. Tastes disgusting."

"Well, I'm never going to learn that then." Pity, spitting oil would be great. I could do my own combination attacks with it to enhance fire.

"Yeah, I'm the only summoner of the Toads for our generation." Naruto adds in. "You could get another contract though! It won't be as cool as the Toads!"

"You got that right!" Jiraya boasts, "Nothing is as cool as the Toads! Besides, they wouldn't accept you as a summoner. You don't fit their criteria."

"Thanks Jiraya. You really know how to cheer a guy up."

Can I even use summons? I hope the Jiongu didn't mess with that, having a summon would be cool.

"Its business time now kids! I can see the town."

Sure enough there it is, the walls are in sight.

"I could have sworn there was a castle here." Jiraya scratches his head. "Come on brats, we're checking this out. I've got a bad feeling about this."

Jiraya breaks into a run with Naruto and I right behind him. Soon we come up on rubble, ruins of what once was a castle.

"I knew there was a castle here. I wonder what happened? It isn't everyday a castle crumbles."

"We can ask around town while we look for Tsunade. I'm sure the townspeople have rumors about the event." I offer a solution, standing here and looking at the castle won't do us any good.

We head into town. I can tell Jiraya is listening in on conversations from the civilians, I am too. It's super easy for me since the Jiongu naturally enhances my senses. Say what you will about it, but it does come in handy.

"Did you hear what happened to the castle just outside of town?"

"Yeah some giant snakes destroyed it. How crazy is that?"

Jiraya and my eyes lock together. We both have the same thought, Orochimaru. He's here.

"Come on kids. Let's get some food then find a place to stay. We might be here a while looking for her." Jiraya is on high alert. I wonder how long it has been since all three Sannin have been in one place?

We make our way over to a random bar and enter. "Jiraya," I say, "You do know that Naruto and I can't legally drink yet right? Cuz this is a bar. Can we even be in here?"

"You're wearing a shinobi headband. You're fine." Jiraya observes the occupants quickly, taking stock of everyone here. "Well I'll be a Toad's Uncle! It's Tsunade!"

Sure enough, Tsunade is sitting with what has to be Shizune in one of the far booths and she's drinking like there is no tomorrow. That is incredibly lucky.

"Hey! Tsunade long time no see!" Jiraya plonks down in the booth across from Tsunade. Naruto sits next to Jiraya and I pull up a chair, the booth only seats four. "How have you been?"

Tsunade sighs in defeat. She's trapped and she knows it.

"I am well. How are you?" Tsunade responds very formally.

"I'm doing great! I've got me a new student here. Oi. Naruto. Introduce yourself." Jiraya starts poking him in the shoulder, "Go on. Do it."

"Hi!" Naruto says with way too much enthusiasm. He's wearing his mask again, he's hiding behind this ridiculous exterior so no one really sees his pain. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I like ramen, the Toads and Jiraya-sensei and Alvarcus! I dislike waiting the two minutes it takes for ramen to cook and Jiraya's weird perverted books. My dream for the future is to be the Hokage one day!"

Tsunade is overwhelmed by Naruto's exuberance. Her mouth is gaping open.

"Yes, he is always like that. I'm Alvarcus Mar. Pleasure." I flag down the waiter and Naruto and I place food orders.

"I'm Tsunade. This is Shizune." Tsunade grunts out quickly, her formal tone is now gone. Shizune waves friendly at Naruto and me.

...

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