"Normal Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Kyuubi"

'Kyuubi Thoughts'

+++++Flashback+++++

Jutsus being used/ reading letter, note

Of Legends

"I am so glad you listened"

Naruto only nodded his head in consent. This agreement was further enforced by seeing Jiraiya flying through the air past him, there was a trace of fear on the old sage's face as he hit the ground head first causing a small crater.

'I think we found Tsunade.'assumed Naruto.

His assumption was proven correct as he saw a blond haired woman who was clearly pissed off stomping towards Jiraiya. What caught him more off guard was how young she looked but he could worry about that later as he backed away from the current situation.

"I can explain I can explain" Jiraiya had managed to pull himself out of the crater and was backing away from a clearly angry Tsunade.

"Talk to the fist you pervert." she was going to sock him again by the looks of it.

Naruto was holding back his laughter at the spectacle although even if he was a bit distracted he was still aware. Someone was approaching him from behind, whoever it was they weren't being stealthy. He looked behind him and saw a black haired women wearing a kimono and holding a pig in her arms, she had a weary apologetic look as if this happened a lot.

"Uh hi what just happened?" asked the boy with obvious amusement.

"Lady Tsunade hates peepers." the lady let out a sigh. "Especially this one."

"At least now I know what he meant by research. When he said it he made it sound like it was something useful." though he probably should've expected it considering how the old man had so openly declared himself a pervert which, was further proved when he tried motorboating Tsunade and got a blow to the head instead for his troubles. Naruto face palmed feeling embarrassed and noticed Shizune looked downcast herself at the whole thing. "Uh should we just let them get on with it and have some lunch?"

"Are you asking me out?" replied Shizune looking at him accusingly.

"Wait wha?" the boys eyes widened and started waving his arms franticly. "I'm not like that perverted sage, I was just asking cause they look like their goanna take some time. I'm sorry if I sounded like a pervert, I'm honest. Don't hit me." he finished by shielding his face reckoning that this woman must be like Tsunade and expected to get hit, he could also hear Hikari almost busting a gut in laughter followed by being called an idiot.

No blow came instead Shizune started giggling. "I won't hit you, Lady Tsunade doesn't usually either but Lord Jiraiya is the exception." she smiled and turned around starting to walk away. "I'd be happy to have lunch with you uhm..?"

"Oh! Man I'm rude, I'm Naruto." he hastily answered. "Very Smooth kid"

"Shizune, nice to meet you." she looked down at the pig she was holding. "This is Tonton." thus they excused themselves from the ongoing affair of the two Sanin publicly saying hello in their own way…

Sasuke Uchiha wasn't one to openly show his frustration but alas he could not help it after separating from Naruto and the Sage Jiraiya they'd initially searched the new casino after Kakashi distracted one of the doorman allowing he and Sakura to sneak in they unearthed that she had been here, lost a lot of money and on the last table she played had told a woman she was with that their luck would improve in the smaller gambling districts. Annoyingly the Slug Sanin had been to almost all of the establishment in the gambling district… and after all that they had come up empty. For sure it was a part of information gathering and though the raven haired teen wasn't going to whine about it anyone could tell he was annoyed.

"Earth to Sasuke." said Sakura as she waved her hand in front of his face. "You were scowling so much you spaced out." she smiled at him. "We got a lead she went to the market district to eat."

Kakashi pointed to a board with a map on it "The quickest way is through the hot springs how long ago did she leave Sakura?"

"About ten minutes." she replied.

"Hmmm… then at the leisurely pace Tsunade seems to be moving at she's probably just made it there." 'Unless Lord Jiraiya went straight to the hot springs' the copy ninja spotted what looked like a shooting star crashing to earth. 'Well at least she won't be going anywhere for a while.' he sighed. "We'll move at pace, lets go."

Upon their arrival at the hot springs they were greeted with the remains of some kind of scuffle, the ground was cracked in two places as if someone had stomped the ground and scuff mucks indicating someone had been punched backwards. 'She hasn't lost her strength… or her temper' Kakashi was easily able to piece together what'd happened but the two genin didn't whom were now searching the immediate area for clues, Sakura was doing this more franticly. "Calm down." he sighed. "What happened isn't what you think."

"But how do you know that?" asked Sakura.

"There'd be more damage to the area for one." Sasuke was kneeling next to a set of footprints using his hand to pick up some of the dirt. "Naruto was standing far away and he didn't get involved with what happened. Though that doesn't explain what exactly happened but you do… Sensei?" he glared at the copy ninja knowing the man was hiding something.

"It'll be easier if we find Lord Jiraiya, no doubt he has met Lady Tsunade and their catching up on old times." though for Kakashi catching up had a double meaning as he knew the Toad Sage was probably receiving a beating right now…

Back with Shizune and Naruto they'd gone for Ramen much to Hikari's displeasure she reminded him that stuff wasn't the most healthy of food to which, he retorted that he was allowed to treat himself once in a while. 'I don't eat it all the time.' "Says the boy who lived off it for nearly ten years." 'Hey I cut back.' "Not enough your almost addicted to it." 'What do you want me to do? Quit it?' when no reply came he narrowed his eyes as he had a feeling Hikari was smirking that was exactly what she wanted.

"Uhm are you ok? You keep pulling faces." asked Shizune raising an eyebrow at the boy's antics.

"Yeah I'm fine! Just thinking about stuff." he replied sort of honestly.

"About Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya? Don't worry the same thing happened three years ago, he opened with a joke about me and Lady Tsunade… it went downhill for about half hour before they actually spoke like civilised individuals." Shizune sighed hoping whatever he was here for would be revealed soon then she reminded herself that Naruto must know too. "Anyway why are you here?"

"Well basically we're here under the Hokage's orders to bring The Slug Sanin Lady Tsunade back to Konoha. We're not off to the greatest of starts by the looks of it though."

"That'll be near impossible she's practically sworn never to return. Lord Jiraiya is the only thing that remotely connects her to that village."

"I won't know until I try it's my mission so I won't just give up that easily, deep down she must still care all we gotta do is remind her."

"Forgive me but I'm not insulting you but it can't be done, ever since that d-ay… no it's not my place to say." after saying this Shizune looked down at her food allowing a very awkward atmosphere to take over.

Tsunade had stopped punching the living daylights out of Jiraiya for a moment and now lifted him by the scruff of his neck. "What are you doing here and don't even think about being smart."

"We came here looking for you." Jiraiya winced a little as he was let go landing on his feet. "Me and my dazzling new appren…tice?"

Both of the Sanin looked equally confused when they noticed they were the only ones left in the street having naturally scared off the local public though for Tsunade it was unusual for Shizune to just leave this wasn't exactly the first time her assistant had witnessed her temper. As for Jiraiya he was looking to the side so that his expression couldn't be seen for it was obviously lecherous and yet he felt pride that his work with Naruto was already paying off.

"Hey!" shouted the Slug Sanin. "Look at me! Where the hell did your brat take Shizune?"

"Oh he's learning so fast." Jiraiya pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "At this rate he'll be as great as me." he shook with excitement and fist pumped. "Oh Yeahhh!" obviously his brain must've shut down for self preservation had gone out of the window completely, Tsunade had a murderous feel about her and by the time the old pervert realised this half of his face had appeared to of caved inwards as he got blasted off into the sky.

"Don't panic where that white and red dot lands is where we'll find Tsunade." said Kakashi. He had thought that after the Sanin's initial greeting there wouldn't be another one of Jiraiya's flying lessons to witness alas the only bright side was they now knew exactly where everyone was. The sceptical look on the two genin's faces made him crack an eye smile. "I'd wager an A rank missions pay to one of your D ranks on it."

Naruto stared into his now empty bowl he'd been struck into silence by Shizune's gloominess her suddenly downcast mood was making it hard for him to think. 'Kid secrets and promises should always be kept. She feels ashamed for almost telling you something told to her in confidence.' 'That explains it but what do I do, uh… your a woman can you…' 'No and it's got nothing to do with gender, just wait for a distraction those two Sanin must be on their way by now.'

A minute later and his wish had been granted as a red and white blur came hurtling towards the ground crashing on the opposite side of the street where they were sitting. Despite the sudden and violent interruption Naruto felt a huge sense of relief as he immediately put down some money without looking at it then ran over to what appeared to be a crater. As he saw who was stuck inside it the boy face palmed 'Is this guy for real.' "Seriously! Does this always happen to you… Ero- Sennin."

"Only one special lady." Jiraiya sat up rubbing the side of his face. "with the magic touch of heaven can send my mind, body and soul across the sky." the old man grinned but then retracted it in pain. He leapt out of the crater next to Naruto. "I have to say she hasn't lost her touch at all."

"Did you at least get something out of it?" Naruto paused then quickly added. "I mean mission wise."

"Jealous are we? No not yet I was getting round to it but you'd gone on a date so we got distracted." Jiraiya leaned closer to the boy and nudged him with his shoulder. "I have to say you've got the date part down so quickly."

"It's not a date! You were too busy getting beaten up and we were hungry." Naruto's face had flushed.

"No need to be modest, you found an excuse to take her to lunch and you even paid for the meal. Throwing out the old gentlemen card are we?"

"What? No I only paid for mi..ne?" the blonde looked over and saw Shizune standing outside of the restaurant. "Shut up! It's your fault!" 'You invited her, only vulgar young men do not pay the full tab afterwards.' 'Who's side are you on?' 'Isn't it obvious?' Hikari was clearly enjoying the little scene, the chuckling that followed made him feel even more uncomfortable.

"Don't feel so embarrassed, actually if you play that right with your looks women will find it cute. It worked most of the time when I was younger and it still does." said the Toad Sage with a smile.

"Look lets just leave it, your perverseness is probably goanna frighten her away." Naruto narrowed his eyes when the old man's expression became more sly. "Is that the first thing you think of, actually Ero- Sennin don't answer that."

Tsunade could feel her anger subsiding after letting it all out on the old pervert, it was akin to punching a pillow but more satisfying. Though she wondered who that boy was he looked very familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it. He didn't bother her mind you as for one Shizune could handle herself and for two despite how annoying Jiraiya was he wasn't one to take advantage of other women and he wouldn't let just any child become his apprentice. 'Now all that's left is to find out what they want.'

She only got to take a few steps before sensing others approaching and rapidly, it was doubtful that it was Jiraiya since her punches take a bit longer to recover from than that. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a coin flipped it into the air the suddenly threw it towards one of the wooden beams of a flat roof. The ones approaching suddenly stopped in time for the coin to imbed itself into the beam right next to a very shocked Sakura.

"Kakashi, is that you? How long's it been, five years?" she quickly looked over the copy ninja and noted that the only changes was that he'd gotten taller along with his hair a touch longer.

"Six actually. I see you are well and as beautiful as usual." Kakashi remarked as he leapt over the roof onto the ground closely followed by his two students.

"Cute kids, seems like everyone is taking on students lately."

"I take it you have already met lord Jiraiya." there was an almost apologetic tone in his voice but then his posture became more upright. "So how did it go?" he didn't even need an answer Tsunade's expression told more than words could. "Ok did he say anything important?"

"No but I can gather it's something important if they sent you with a bunch of kids." there was obvious sarcasm in the Sannin's voice which, made Sakura frown this wasn't exactly how she imagined the older woman to be like.

"Then it's best we hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak." the copy ninja already knew; this was going to be a long day…

Phew got there in the end, sorry about the long hiatus but everything shall now resume. So tune in next time as they try to convince Tsuande to return to Konoha.

Don't forget to review if you liked it, see you later.