The Forsaken and The Angelic

By Quick-n-Popular

Disclaimer: "Naruto" and "Final Fantasy VII" are not mine, nor are their characters.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Preparations

Daylight was upon the group as the early morning hours came in. Jiraiya and Shizune were slumbering softly with Tonton making soft grunts as he dreamed in his sleep. Naruto's eyes opened a few times before the haze had ended and he soon regained his bearings.

"Glad to see you're finally awake, kid."

The teen turned his head towards Tsunade who was drinking sake by the fire.

"How long was I out?" He asked.

"Two days," The medic replied, "Although, considering what happened, I might, for once, count myself lucky that things ended up the way they did."

The teen comprehended what she had said and drew the obvious conclusion that they made it out unscathed from their run-in with Orochimaru and Kabuto.

Thinking about the Snake's underling had Naruto remembering what had happened and how he, again, lost control.

"By the way," Tsunade said, setting down her cup, "I've been meaning to ask about those eyes of yours. Are they some sort of bloodline?"

Naruto shook his head, "No, they're not. Funny, I thought the pervert would have talked all about me to you."

The legendary healer scoffed, "Despite what he is, he has some tact about him. He told me to ask you, if I wanted to know anything further."

Naruto blinked, surprised at what Jiraiya had done. Maybe he gave him too little credit.

He decided to tell her, "It's the result of a drug, or medicine, that one of the people who raised me tried on me when I was sick. This, among with...well...what you probably saw happen, are the result of that."

Tsunade nodded, "I take it this, drug, was what took the Kyuubi out of you as well?"

Naruto nodded, "I guess Jiraiya told you some things, huh?"

The blond woman shook her head, "I pieced it together, myself. I knew the people who were your parents. I'm sorry for your loss."

The Strife boy sat up and shrugged, "I may have lost them, but I was able to find something else, in return."

Tsunade returned to her drink, "You're fortunate, then. Most people don't."

Naruto made to talk but was silenced when she got up from her seat and walked over to him. She reached behind her neck and undid a strap and then produced a crystal hanging from the strap.

"Do you know what this is?" She asked him.

Naruto shook his head.

"This belonged to my grandfather, the First Hokage." She looked at it for a moment before returning her gaze to him. "Tell me, Naruto Strife, what are your dreams for the future? What are your aspirations?"

Naruto thought for a moment as he considered what she was asking. His thoughts, of course, went to his family and then to Hinata. However, he then thought about the Sandaime and his late father the Yondaime. This conversation had not come up with the people he looked up to, before; but he had been considering it since agreeing to be a shinobi for Konoha.

"I want for there to be peace in Konoha, the village of my birth."

Tsunade nodded, "How would you go about doing that?"

Naruto closed his eyes, "Strength is not enough. I want to work with the people of the village to become its guide, its champion, and to bring it peace." He opened his eyes as stared at the woman, determinedly, "I want to be its Hokage."

Tsunade sighed and then gave a soft smile. "Then I, Tsunade Senju, recognize your dream and will support you to the best of my abilities." She then put the revered crystal around the boy's neck and tied it up for him.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya, having awoken not too long ago, was in deep thought from what he heard.

Kakashi Hatake walked at a sedated pace on his journey to the hospital where his student was in recovery. Upon being summoned by the council to instruct him that his students, Sasuke and Hinata, were to go with Naruto Strife on a journey to a place called Midgar; he was left feeling a bit mixed about it.

Sasuke needed a BIG wake-up call and losing his arm didn't seem to deter his single-minded focus against the man who murdered his clan. Losing to that man didn't seem to humble him either as, upon waking up in the hospital, demanded to be let go in order to confront him again.

When Kakashi talked with Naruto's adopted father about the whole grim situation, it had him feeling a little more reassured. Cloud had said that the persons who'll be in charge of his new prosthetic, and the lessons attached to it, were ones that had zero-tolerance for his type of behavior and that he'd be going through hell if he got on their bad side. So, the experience might be ultimately beneficial to the last, loyal, Uchiha as Kakashi wasn't getting anywhere without stepping out of line.

Hinata was another person in recovery and was slowly escaping her own demons, mostly on the part of intervention by that of her boyfriend and her absent father. From what he understood from Cloud, she was making headway with learning the fighting style of his wife's and seemed to be having less-frequent nightmares and anxiety attacks by spending her time with their family. Truthfully, Kakashi didn't know what he would've been able to do to help her. After all, the mash-up of Team Seven was mainly due to the council and their goals surrounding Sasuke.

With little options available to help either of them, sending these two away from this world would most likely do them good.

In the meantime, he would work out the kinks in Sakura's demeanor with the help of Kurenai and the remaining members of her Genin team.

Kakashi pondered on these thoughts as he made his way to Sasuke's room, pausing only to put his book away. Upon entering the room, he was immediately aware of the mood of the patient as he heard the tossing and turning and shuffling of the hospital sheets.

Sasuke's attention came at him and a scowl appeared.

"Sensei. What do you want?"

Kakashi sighed as he stood in front of the bed. "How are you doing?"

The Uchiha boy grabbed the stump of his arm and gave a hollowed laugh, "Just perfect."

Kakashi nodded, "You got off easy, considering who it was you were facing."

Sasuke grit his teeth and snarled, "I HATE being this weak. What have I been doing if nothing gets the result that I desire!"

The boy's Sensei sighed, "Everything takes time, Sasuke. Your brother-"

"NEEDS TO DIE!" Sasuke roared as he threw the breakfast tray in front of him at his sensei.

Kakashi waited patiently as Sasuke breathed heavily and started to calm down.

"You still have a long way to go, Sasuke. You have a lot of potential. The saying goes, "Pride goeth before the fall" and there are some anticipating that you'll self-destruct before even coming close to matching up against your brother."

The boy scowled and clenched the blankets, "What else am I to do? He took EVERYTHING from me..."

"Again, you are wrong." Seeing that his student was about to lose his patience, he decided to tell him what he came here to say. "I came to tell you that the Council has made a plan for you."

Sasuke chuckled, darkly, "So...I guess they're done with me..."

"No." Kakashi said. Then, seeing his student's surprise, decided to be blunt, "Although, there had been some talk of that, they're taking an alternative option for you."

"What then?" Sasuke asked.

Kakashi crossed his arms, "You are going on a journey to a place called Midgar where you will be able to get something to replace your missing arm. While doing this, you'll also be inlet-gathering along with two others with you. This is going to be treated as a mission."

The boy was quiet but Kakashi saw some of the determination come back into the teen's eyes.

"Who are the other two who will be going, also?"

"Hinata and Naruto. Plus, the Council is sending someone to act as insurance that you are well cared for until you are able to fight on your own again." Kakashi didn't miss seeing the boy frown at the names of the other two people accompanying him but he didn't seem to make a fuss about having the aid.

"When will I be leaving?"

Kakashi chuckled as he could tell the hospital and its staff had irked the boy greatly. He took this moment to leave and answered the boy before doing so.

"Tomorrow."

Tsunade had her thoughts all over the place as soon as Konoha's main entrance was in sight. Everyone in their group seemed to be preoccupied with his or her own thoughts, as well. The injury on the Strife-kid's chest had fully healed and their trip had been a quiet one. For the most part, Tsunade was grateful that it was, as she had time to prepare herself for what now lay ahead of her.

The guards at the gate were quick to notice them and to permit them to enter the village immediately. Looking around at the village she had once discarded, it was remarkable that little to nothing had changed. Despite the three-way battle that it had endured, it seemed very quick to be in recovery.

Upon arrival at the Hokage Tower, the boy, Naruto, excused himself and left, leaving the three of them to venture on into the building. Inside, she was met with surprised looks, greetings, and then, further on; the arrival of three people she was not hoping to meet so soon: Koharu, Homura, and Danzo.

"Glad to see you've come back, Tsunade." Koharu said firmly as she gave a respectful nod.

Homura nodded as well and turned to Jiraiya. "Well done, Jiraiya. We're pleased with what you have done."

The Toad Sannin shrugged before putting a hand on Tsunade's shoulder and whispered in her ear that he'd discuss additional things with her later, before making an exit.

The last person had yet to say anything and it was making Tsunade a little guarded.

Danzo turned to the Advisers, "Make sure she's up to date. We need to make preparations."

The two nodded and then, like Jiraiya, the man left.

Tsunade watched his retreating figure and was, actually, pleased that she didn't have to converse with the man so soon.

"Tsunade, there are some things we need t go over as soon as you are ready." Homura said.

The legendary medic nodded and motioned for Shizune to follow as she led the way to her late Sensei's office. When inside, she took a moment to reflect on the prior owner before finally taking a seat in the chair behind the desk. Shizune brought some tea to serve to her and the other two before taking a place next to Tsunade's side.

What followed was pretty much what Jiraiya had already informed her on. Most of what the Advisers brought to her attention was the recovery effort of the village following the invasion at the Chuunin Exams. She listened patiently as they went over every last minute detail. Following this was the mission to have three Genin travel to the place called Midgar, planned by the Sandaime.

Tsunade was curious and a little suspicious by the last minute planning by Danzo to have the amputated last Uchiha and one of Danzo's students to go on this mission with Naruto and the Hyuuga girl. She knew that he must have something in mind.

"That about covers it." Koharu said, setting her tea down.

"Do you have any questions, Tsunade?" Homura asked.

Tsunade nodded, "How long will the expedition to Midgar take? I imagine it will do little to hurt Team Seven and Team Eight, but will there be a significant impact?"

"The time being spent there will be roughly a month, if not a week. All depending on Sasuke Uchiha's recovery and rehabilitation." Homura said.

"Their teams will focus on training and doing D-ranked missions around the village with maybe one or two joint team missions outside of the village." Koharu said.

Tsunade nodded. "Then all seems fine, in the time being."

Shizune collected their cups as the two dismissed themselves from the office leaving Tsunade and her student.

Tsunade sighed as she leaned back in her chair and rubbed the temples of her forehead, wearily.

"Shizune."

The petite brunette looked up, "Yes, Tsunade-sama?"

"Can you arrange for Naruto's father to come in, today? I need to understand what happened at that meeting."

Shizune nodded, "Of course, Tsunade-sama. I'll notify him right away."

Tsunade nodded and then began what she had been dreading from the start. Paperwork.

Naruto felt a weight lift off of his shoulders as when he came to his parent's hotel room and saw Hinata smiling as she talked with Marlene.

Knocking on the door got their attention and Hinata stood up and quickly walked to her boyfriend and the two embraced.

"Hey." He said, holding her tightly.

"Hi." She happily replied.

Their reunion was sweet and then the two rejoined the others in the room. Naruto told everyone of his mission while Hinata told Naruto of her training with Tifa.

There were reassurances on their part of his having lost control once more and congratulatory on his for his girlfriend doing so well in his mother's art of fighting.

When it was time for lunch, Naruto suggested that the four of them go to Ichiraku's.

Cloud was relieved with the idea that he'd be not going back to the Hokage Tower anytime soon as tomorrow he'd be back in Midgar. However, he'd be there one more time until then as a Chuunin had came to him and Denzil, when Cloud had been practicing his swings.

Denzil had left to meet back with Tifa and the others which left him to meet the new Hokage alone.

The shinobi in the building look better than last time. Their spirits seemed lifted, most likely having leadership once more, he'd probably guess.

Upon entering the Hokage's office, he was met with mild cursing and grunts as the new Hokage behind the desk was searching through the drawers for something.

"Dammit! Where did Sensei hide his sake?!"

Hearing this, Cloud could picture his friend Cid probably going through the same situation, which left Cloud chuckling out of nostalgia.

That alerted the woman to his arrival and she sighed as she halted her frenzied booze hunt and looked at the man.

"Sorry for that, Strife-san, as you can see I'm just trying to get settled here." She then paused as she looked at him more carefully and sighed, "Seeing your eyes, like that of your adopted son's, I take it that more than one person in your world has had their eyes looking like yours, am I right?"

Cloud nodded, "Unfortunately. However it's a long story, which I guess you really don't have the time for."

Tsunade nodded, "You're right. The reason why I had you come in was I wanted to know a little more about the meetings you've had in regard to sending your son and three others to your world."

Cloud raised an eyebrow in surprise, "I had assumed your people would have given you every detail? Or have they not yet?"

Tsunade shook her head, "They have but they've given me a condensed version of it. I'd like to hear from you in particular seeing as how it has been arranged by you."

Cloud nodded and began telling her about the meeting with Hiruzen and Jiraiya following with the scattered meetings until the final one that had the man Danzo tossing in two others for the mission. When he had finished, Tsunade looked away in deep thought.

"That man..." She sighed before turning her attention back to her visitor. "I, myself, have a guess as to his motivations but nothing really substantial to put forth. Nothing he might be planning can be considered dangerous at this point but I can never can tell with him, most of the time."

She looked over the document she had on the mission itself and the information about the world her shinobi would be going to.

"I'm a doctor first and a Hokage second, Strife-san. Can you tell me if there's anything that can make it dangerous for this team to go to your world?"

Cloud thought for a moment and then shook his head, "No, there shouldn't be anything that would hurt them or make them ill. We do have some wildlife outside of the city that might hurt them but I know that they're more than likely strong enough to handle them."

Tsunade nodded, "Even Sasuke Uchiha, as he is?"

Cloud sighed, "I think so."

Deep within Root's chamber, Danzo sat in seat as a yound boy kneeled on one knee in front of him, his head down.

"Do you understand the purpose of your mission?" Danzo asked.

The boy nodded, "Yes, Danzo-sama. I am to observe and protect Sasuke Uchiha."

Danzo closed his visible eye and nodded, "Remember what we discussed. When an oprotunity presents itself do not hesitate to act."

The boy nodded.

To be continued...

A/N: I have many apologies to make. One being how late this is and its length. I'm struggling with writing this and getting from the Elemental Nations to Midgar. However, I wanted to give you guys something to chew on since you've been very patient with me. Thank you for that.

A/N II: I'm sorry I forgoed this chater being about their going to Midgar. I'm hoping for them to make the journey in the next chapter. As always, stay tuned and thanks for those who've reviewed thus far.

Q-n-P