My Chibi Dobe

Chapter 15 Love’s Interlude

Naruto sat in the outer office with Shizune while he waited for his godfather to arrive. He had little time left to get his Godparents together but they we weren’t making it easy. He was running out of ideas on how to accomplish that. They were both so scared of commitment that neither was going to give the other a chance to make them happy. The fire of their desire for each other burned so bright; that it could be seen by anyone from Konoha to Suna. The chibi sat at the little table with his crayons and continued to draw as he plotted with Kyu and Big Naruto but even they were running low ideas as well.

“Nee-san Why Ojii and Obaa-chan not mawwied?”

“Well I…” Shizune was taken back by the question from the innocent chibi. She knew that her Sensei loved the perverted sage and she knew the sage returned her sensei’s feelings. The problem was that they were both too stubborn and too afraid to given in.

“It’s because I’m an old fool, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m gonna ask her to marry me tonight.”

“Jiraiya-sama?” Shizune jumped back as the Sannin came through the window.

“And you all are going to help me. You too Weasel.” Shizune jumped again when the ANBU appeared behind her.

“Wha-cha gonna do Ewo-Sennin?”

“Brat! I told you to stop calling me that! First off I’m going to need you guys to get to Nade’s house. Here I already I bought the flowers…” ‘That was a hellish moment.’ The toad Sage thought back when he had entered the Yamanaka shop. He thought that he would only have to dodge the young kunoichi at the register, but no he was confronted with both Mother and daughter. There was no escaping the interrogation after that. Those girls could give Ibiki a lesson or two. “I also got the food and had it sent to the house but I’m not the greatest cook.”

“Kyu-chan says you bad cook!” The chibi smiled.

“Brat quit listening to that furball.” The toad sage growled, ignoring the snickering chibi. “Now look I need you three to go over there and set up the place for me. I’ll keep Tsunade busy here till dinner time. Then I’m hoping that you can watch the chibi for the night. I know that you have apartments here in the tower Shizune Naruto would be safe here surrounded by ANBU and Weasel here will be your personal guard. So what you do say?”

“Well… I don’t mind. If it’s alright right with Naruto and Weasel-san, then I don’t think it will be a problem.” Shizune agreed.

“Good! Here’s the key to her house Naruto can disable the traps and we’ll see you in a few hours!” Jiraiya smiled as he pushed the three plus the ninken out the door.

“Wait how did you get her key?”

“Oh I just borrowed it. Now hurry up!” And the door slammed in their faces.

“I guess we have been dismissed. Let’s go I’m not sure what Jiraiya-sama has planned but I’m sure it will take some time to put it all together.”

“Kay! We help! Right Koori, Kaji?”

“Yip, Yip!” (Yes! Help!)

Itachi said nothing as he followed the group out. He wondered how in the hell he was going to get through the night. This was a nightmare! How was he supposed to spend the night with the woman he had been dreaming about for years? This was his mission to protect The Sunspot after he escaped his last ANBU detail. He smirked beneath his mask at the thought. It had to have been a rookie that didn’t know the chibi very well to have been out smarted like that. The smirk faded as he thought more about spending time with Shizune. Even though she didn’t know who he was, Naruto did know it was him. He would have to extra careful around the chibi because he did not want to be caught up in the crazy match making plans that seem to be going around.

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“Okay Jiraiya what are you up to?” The Fifth Hokage question for what seemed like the millionth time.

“Nothing Nade I’m just keeping you company it’s such a slow day I thought you could use a friendly face and maybe a little sake? Don’t worry so much.” The Toad Sage smiled.

Warning bells were going off in her head. When ever the pervert said nothing to worry about was a sign to run for the hills. The Last time he said don’t worry her and Orochimaru ended up under cover in a brothel when they were 16.

“Fine just don’t get in my way. Shizune!”

“Oh don’t bother the poor girl just tell me what you need and I’ll get it for you.”

“I need a briefing with Kurai.”

“No problem I’ll just send her a toad!” Soon enough there was a little toad hopping out the window.

“Jiraiya I think it would have been faster just to send Shizune.” Tsunade sighed and went back to paper work.

“You work the girl too hard let me help you out to relax a bit.” The sage smiled as he poured a cup of sake for his love. Tsunade sighed not believing his smiling face. There had to be a catch but for now she would give him some leeway. She worked in silence with Jiraiya wandering around her office when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

“You wanted to see me Hokage-sama?” The Yoru-nin bowed.

“Your report said that you were done with the potion. How soon can we have Naruto back to his abnormal self again?”

“It will be another week Hokage-sama. There are complications with restoring Uzumaki-san to the right age because he carries the Kyuubi inside of him. He had to grow accustomed to the extra chakra, mind body and soul since the moment the demon was sealed within him. If he were restored to the age of 17 the chakra would overwhelm him best case scenario he would go into a coma till he was adjusted to the chakra. The worst case would his body being torn apart by the chakra.”

“I was afraid of that. He has grown into both chakras even making them stronger. Is there a way we can return him to normal with out a coma or death? I will not lose My Gaki now that we are so close to a cure.”

“Yes there is.” Sukora removed a file from her black lab coat handed it to Tsunade to look over. “I have divided up potion in six doses and each dose will age him two years. This will ease his body into the chakras. Unfortunately this will make him very vulnerable because he will not be able to use chakra during and about a week after the transition.”

“Understood, I will give this to Ibiki. He will make the necessary arrangements for Naruto’s protection. Is there anything else I need to be aware of? I want to make sure nothing is over looked at this critical stage in his healing.” The youthful looking woman looked at the young Kunoichi with an intimidating glare but it lost it’s affect by the genuine concern in her eyes.

“There is one more precaution with the cure. After the Labs were broken into I knew that there are many who would not Uzukami-san return to his rightful power. That is why; when I made the cure made enough for twelve doses. I will leave six with you to secure and six with me. Not even my team knows that I did this. It’s not that I didn’t trust them but the few people that know the better. Should something happen during this week to the potions I have then you have the back up potions.”

“Very smart. You’re title of Tokubetsu is well deserved. I’ll take the potions and seal them here in the office. I would like to wait until Sunday night before checking Naruto into the hospital.” Tsunade said as she closed the file.

“I would advise against putting Uzumaki-san in the hospital. There is much hatred towards him here in the village. It will be to easy for someone Ninja or Civilian to get to him. My team and I will be monitoring him at the Aburame Compound. Its location is ideal for his recovery he would be protected from potential threats. It would be better if he didn’t leave the compound until his transition is complete.”

“I’m not comfortable with that I would preferred to have him close to the hospital should there be in the complications.” Tsunade glared at the shades wearing kunoichi. Naruto was the closest thing she had to a grand… I mean son. It had upset her when she discovered that she couldn’t cure him. She was supposed to be the Sannin of Medicine and she couldn’t do a thing to help her Gaki. She was not about to let this just out of the academy kunoichi tell her what was best for Her Gran… uhh.. Son.

“With all due respect Tusenade-sama, you have no experience with potions as well as poisons.”

“Watch it Kurai. I was healing long before you were even a glimmer in your parent’s eye.” Sukora didn’t even flinch when the Hokage snapped at her. While others would cower in the presence of the Legendary Sannin, Sukora would not, because she would not risk Naruto’s life just to sooth another’s ego.

“These are the ‘Facts’ Hokage-sama. I have read your methods on treating and extracting poisonings. They are impressive and your skill is not to be over looked but you do not counter the potions like I do. You treat the symptoms and only strive for a cure when all else fails. You do not have the knowledge of poisons and ingredients that I do. You do not know the affects or side affects of the plants and herbs. Should something happen you can not purge it from his body unless you want to kill him. I have dedicated my life to these potions and I refuse to let him die when I know I can save him.”

Tsunade and Sukora stared each other down neither one was backing off. Jiraiya was having trouble breathing because the tension in the room was so thick. How could two strong willed women who wanted to help the same chibi be at such odds? Something had to give but he prayed Naruto didn’t suffer in the end.

“Very well, Kurai we will do things your way for now. I want to be notified the moment anything happens to Naruto. His trust in you that is the only reason I am let him go with you. If anything happens to him there is nothing on this earth to stop me from tearing you limb from limb.”

“I understand Hokage-sama.” The Jonin bowed before she placed six vials one the desk. “I will see you here Sunday night.”

“Very good, you’re dismissed.” Tsunade watched the girl bow and leave again. As much as she wanted to deny it the girl was right. She was a medic and healer but she did not devote her life to any one area of healing. She studied a bit of everything blending techniques to give every Shinobi the best possible care and chance for survival. Whatever she didn’t know she look up in her medical books and scrolls. Anything new to try was a gamble. There was no way in hell she would gamble with Naruto’s Life, so she would have to back down for now.

“It’ll be alright Nade you’ll see.” Jiraiya tried to soothe the medic-nin’s ruffled feathers.

Tsunade ignored the Sage and continued with the paper work and counted down the minutes till the day was over and she could go home. This would be the last weekend she would be with the chibi. Soon Naruto would no longer be the cute little boy going through his second childhood but the grown man and strong warrior that they all knew and loved.

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Shizune with the help of Naruto cooked an elegant dinner with the ANBU silently watching. It was strange she didn’t feel anxious or stress with the silent guard if anything she felt safer. It was as if she knew this ANBU but she didn’t remember any Konoha ANBU with long hair. There was just something about him that made her happy.

“They Here!” Naruto shouted from his perch on the window with Kaji. Koori began to bark waking Oushi.

“I’m up, I’m up.” The huge Nin-ken yawned as he got up. Naruto and Kaji jumped down from their seat.

“Hmmm smells good.” Tsunade smiled as she made her way into the kitchen. “Shizune what is all this?”

“Konbanwa Tsunade. We hope you enjoy your evening.” The younger medic-nin smiled.

“We made dinner Obaa-chan!”

“I can see that but why?” Tsunade asked as she looked around the dinning room.

“Because I asked them too.” Jiraiya said as he stood behind the confused Hokage.

“What?”

“I asked them to make dinner for just the two of us. Shizune will be taking care of Naruto for the night at Hokage tower.”

“But Why? This is Naruto’s last weekend to be five I don’t want to miss this time with him.”

“You won’t miss time with him he’ll be back in the morning right now we have to talk.”

“Goodnight sensei we’re leaving now.” Shizune bowed before scooping up the chibi and taking him out of the room followed by the silent ANBU and ninken.

Tsunade watched them go as the confusion and sadness flooded her eyes with tears. She didn’t understand what was going on. All she knew was her Gaki was going away and she was left here alone with her former Teammate who was about to get thrown out the window if he didn’t start explaining things right now.

“Come on Tsunade sit down and enjoy this meal.” Jiraiya was able to coax her to the table but he knew she was less than thrilled to miss time with Naruto. He began to sever then the dinner that Shizune prepared but he held back on the sake. He did not want to have Tsunade’s judgment diminished tonight.

“Jiraiya what is going on? You are not acting like yourself. In fact you are acting downright gentlemanly.”

“Tsunade we’ve known each other a long time. When we were gennin the world was a whole new place. The three of us young stupid and nothing could stop us.” The sage sat back and smiled as he thought of those days long ago. “I see us in those kids you know.”

“I do too.” Tsunade looked to the mantle where she had a copy of their old team side by side with the picture of team seven when they made jonin.

“I’m jealous of them. They were able to come together after being shattered. We just left our pieces where they fell. I should have been more like Naruto and fight to bring him home. In the end I wasn’t strong enough and Orochimaru was lost to us.”

“Jiraiya there was a lot we both could have done but in the end we are not Team Seven. Those three are too stubborn to let each other fall away without a fight, especially Naruto. He doesn’t know the meaning of failure.” The Hokage smiled softly.

“Yeah the brat thrives on a challenge but he is a lot smarter then everyone gives him credit for. He knows what he wants and he goes after it; whether it was mastering Rasengan in a week to dragging that Uchiha’s Emo ass back home. I swear that, that boy will one day be a great if not better Hokage than his father.”

“I believe it. He is something special that no one can ever forget.”

“Sometimes we even learn a thing or two from the Brat.” Tsunade looked up in surprise as Jiraiya got up from his seat and knelt before her. “Naruto taught me if you really want something than you go after it and don’t stop to until get it.”

Tsunade breath was caught in her throat as she watched Jiraiya pulled a tiny box from his pocket. “That chibi has made me realize that I have been chasing you for years and that it’s time I caught you. You are the only one who can tolerate my research and my other faults. Please be My home, be My Best Friend that you have always been and Please Never let me wander alone again. Tsunade, I love you. Please Marry Me?”

“I will always be your best friend.” Tsunade smiled as the tears ran from her eyes. “Whether you knew it or not you always had a home here. I have never let you wander too far alone and I never will let you go alone again. You say I can put up with you faults but the same goes for you. You know my short comings and less then pleasant hobbies and yet you are still here. I’ll take your bet Jiraiya and it will probably be the best gamble of my life, because there is no way I can lose this.”

“I love you Tsunade!” Jiraiya shouted as he jumped up and swung her in his arms. “You won’t regret it because I’m the bet of the lifetime.”

“I love you too.” Tsunade whispered as she held on around his neck. It took almost fifty years but they had finally found one another.


AN: Yes I know it’s short but please don’t kill me. This was not the chapter I planned to post but I need a little more time. You see the Chapter I had planned to post in not even close to being finished so I decide to cut in with and Interlude. Also I have set up a Face Book Page under the name Sukora Kurai and Twitter account User Name Sukora Night for updates on my ongoing stories. I have not stopped writing even if I am in the middle of Moving. Thanks again for reading keep Reviewing.