Strength of a Sage

Chapter Four: The Long Road Ahead

Dawn broke on Mt. Myōboku to a resounding rumble that had many of its populace wondering if Lord Gamabunta was throwing another one of his drunken tantrums.

In his own lavish domicile, Toad Sage Jiraiya's eyes slowly flickered open in the rising morning light, the normal grogginess of a good sleep quickly blinked out with years of experience. He rose gingerly, stretching his bear-like body widely with several noticeable pops that earned a wince. He rubbed his lower back as he rose, mumbling curses against time and old-age under his breath.

Another quake shook the bamboo floor under his feet, and his left eye twitched in annoyance. 'Well, that felt familiar,' he thought.

"Don't tell me..." he grumbled, his large calloused hand palming his face in annoyance. He plodded down the hall to his student's room, only to be met with the sight of an empty bed and multiple bandages and cast remnants covering the floor. "Why that idiotic, overzealous brat!"

"Rasengan!"

The blue and white spiraling energy collided with the stone face of a steep cliffside, carving through it deeply and casting rubble in every direction as it spun. Naruto gritted his teeth as every muscle in his body seemed to protest the continued duration, but he didn't stop.

'More... more... MORE!' He screamed internally. The chakra sphere began to erratically tremble, but Naruto continued to hold. 'Sasuke's out there, getting stronger everyday! I can't fall behind! For Sakura-chan...'

The thought of his love's trembling form and tear-stricken face caused his eyes to briefly flash red, his inner emotional turmoil beginning to get the best of him, and crimson chakra mixed with light blue to turn his Rasengan a frightful purple.

"Naruto! Please! Please bring Sasuke-kun back to me!" The pink-haired kunoichi sobbed, her arms encircling her own small, fragile frame. Painful cries continued to wrack her body, and it crushed Naruto to see such a strong young woman reduced to such a state. She truly did love the teme.

Naruto looked sadly at the ground, acknowledging that he just couldn't win this girl's heart. No matter how hard he tried, and no matter how much he improved, he was indeed dead last in that race. 'That's the only battle I'll lose to you, idiot Sasuke!' His heart raged.

But his brief frown was quickly replaced with a vibrant, confident smile and he threw a thumbs up out before him. In that instant, he changed the entire mood, and Sakura looked at him with a glimmer of hope in her otherwise morose emerald eyes. He couldn't disappoint her. He wouldn't disappoint her, no matter what.
"I'll definitely bring Sasuke back! It's the promise of a life time!" He boasted, marked with his usual Uzumaki charm and pride.

Sakura's eyes widened in shock, and then another sob escaped her lips. But this one was instead of happiness and grattitude. Perhaps, Naruto wished, she knew she could always rely on him to keep his word, especially to her. He hoped one day she would truly come to appreciate that.

"Thank you. Thank you, Naruto!" She cried.

Naruto roared in fury at his failure to keep that promise, knowing he couldn't appear before the girl he loved until he was strong enough to finally keep it. With a renewed burst of emotions and chakra, the Rasengan expanded exponentially, much like his previous battle with Sasuke. Only this time, he strained to keep it under control rather than unleash it's explosive power.

He carved deeper into the mountainside, creating a fairly deep cave for himself. Just how far could he take this?

"YOU IDIOT!"

"Wha-?"

The interruption was enough to ruin his hard fought concentration and the bloated jutsu poppped like a water balloon - or rather bomb - throwing chakra in every direction and casting the young boy backwards flat on his back. Luckily, thanks to his control and form the reaction wasn't nearly as violent as the explosion that resulted at the Valley of the End. Otherwise he may have truly ended up dead.

"Just what do you think you're doing Gaki?!" Jiraiya bellowed, stomping into the area with the medical toad Gamakase in tow. "You were due for at least another week of bed rest! Do you want to undo all of the progress we've made? Do you want to make it permanent?!"

Gamakase hopped to Naruto's side, his large palms instantly glowing a deep emerald and roaming over the young ninja's damaged arms and chest. "Just relax Naruto-san. This'll only take a moment."

"Neh, Ero-sennin, I can't keep laying around and waiting. That teme Sasuke is training with Orochimaru and getting stronger, I know it. I have to train, and if you won't do it, then I'll just go it alone."

'I apologize Sarutobi-sensie, if I was EVER this stubborn,' Jiraiya pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, and took a calming breath. "I thought we discussed this, gaki. You're in for the long haul here. And I will personally insure that you become as strong as you possibly can be. I will teach you every thing I know, from the tiniest insignificant jutsu to the some of the greatest secrets of the Ninja nations. But I can't do that, and you can't learn, if YOU KILL YOURSELF BEFORE WE CAN PROPERLY START!"

Naruto winced at the Toad Hermit's rebuke. With Gamakase's healing session complete, he flexed his arm and outstretched a palm towards the blue sky. He lazily gazed through his fingers at the passing clouds, slightly losing focus and interest in the current discussion. Just how much power did these hands hold? Was it enough to punch some sense into Sasuke? Was it enough to dry Sakura's tears? Could he protect Konoha with these fists?

"Ero-sennin... how was my funeral?"

Jiraiya was caught off guard by the question, and his fury was momentarily abated. He blinked, unsure of where the thought came from. "What was that, brat?"

"In Konoha... what was my funeral like? Did they carve my name on that memorial stone?"

"Look at this. Look at the many names engraved on this stone..."

After thoroughly embarrassing the three gennin with ease with his misleading bell test, Jounin sensei Hatakae Kakashi had the rookies planted before the 'Loser's stumps,' with Naruto literally bound to one rather painfully.

"This stone is where the names of heroes of Konoha are carved," the copy-cat nin explained solemnly, his lone eye wandering over the obelisk monument. He bowed his head slightly, and the entire mood in the area seemed to change. Both Sasuke and Sakura quieted down immediately and awkwardly directed their gazes elsewhere, feeling rather uncomfortable with the tonal shift. But Naruto himself had never been great at reading the room or, for that matter, any form of subtetly whatsoever.

"That-that-that-that! I like that!" Naruto hollered with the cockiest grin he could muster, unaware of the furious glares he was receiving from his teammates. "I've decided now to get my name engraved there too! A hero! I'm never going to die like a dog!"

"But... they're not just your ordinary kind of heroes."

"No kidding? Then what kind of heroes are they?" Naruto seemed perplexed.

"They are the heroes killed in action," Kakashi explained.

"Killed in action?"

"It means they died during a mission," Sakura had to explain, wishing to thrash her blond comrade for his denseness. Those words were instantly sobering to the child Jinchuuriki, who now recognized his foolishness and had the humility to look both ashamed and furious at himself.

"This is a memorial. The names of my friends are also engraved here," Kakashi gingerly ran a hand over the engravings.

"Can I be... a hero?" Naruto mused to himself, not expecting an answer from his teacher.

Jiraiya sighed heavily and ran a hand through his heavy silver mane. He actually hadn't thought much about what he would discuss with the kid about the matter of his death, other than the facts that he was believed dead and he currently must remain in hiding. Going over the intricacies of his friends feelings and what it meant for Konoha itself wasn't something that had actually crossed his mind for a significant amount of time. But, there wasn't any time like the present.

He took a cross-legged seat on the ground next to the young ninja and rubbed his chin in contemplation, thinking to himself, 'This certainly is not my forte.'

"To answer your question, yes, your name is on the memorial stone. You were killed doing your duty to Konoha after all. But, it can easily be removed. It's not the first time a previously thought dead shinobi returned to action."

"Really?!" Naruto sat up, eyes wide with shock.

"What? It's really not that unusual. The first I know of is the Second Hokage himself, before he was Hokage that is," Jiraiya laughed. "And as for your funeral, I was told it was a small affair. Not many turned up. Just your closest comrades and their teachers were present. I hate to tell you, but the general population hasn't been effected much."

Naruto wasn't surprised by this admission, as he still couldn't say he had actually been accepted by the people of Konoha, especially those who had hated him so passionately before. While he was able to notice that many had warmed up to him after his speeches and battle with Hyuuga Neji during the Chuunin exams, it was simply mild tolerance as opposed to outright ostracization.

At the mention of his favorite ramen stall, Naruto's stomach growled so loud it echoed around the immediate area, earning him an arched eyebrow from the Toad Hermit. The Jinchuuriki chuckled in embarrassment with a blush. Jiraiya nodded and rose to his feet, carefully dusting himself off.

"I think that's a clear sign we need to stop and get something to eat. I'll make something back home," said Jiraiya. 'I need to do something to get this kid's mind back on track and understand he needs to continue resting. But how? Perhaps Gamabunta may have some ideas.'

Naruto didn't rise to follow, and instead remained planted. "Would it really matter if I ever returned?" He asked quietly, barely above a whisper, but Jiraiya's strong hearing was still able to easily pick it up. Naruto knew this, and immediately launched into a bout of laughter, slapping the dirt uproariously with his palm, a clear overreaction. Jiraiya knew he was faking. "I mean, of COURSE I'll return, Ero-sennin. But..."

Jiraiya promptly walloped his foolish apprentice, leaving him with a comically sizeable knot.

"Idiot. You're going to be missed, and you're going to be loved when you return as the most powerful shinobi, greater than even my last pupil the Fourth."
Naruto's cerulean eyes grew wide in unbelieving shock. Jiraiya put forth a thumbs up and a bright white grin of his own for the first time, and Naruto couldn't help but return the smile enthusiastically. "I promise," The Toad-talker said, meaning every word.

The recently appointed Fifth Hokage Tsunade, the Slug Princess and all around medical genius, read over another mundane piece of paperwork, a document granting a farmer extended grazing rights to a few acres. It was a return, since he'd done right by the land and had aided Konoha with appropriate taxes, even during the crisis. He owed a fair amount, but even before and after the invasion, he had paid his debt.

She was seizing a lot of land these days, as many had tried to take advantage of the Sand invasion and shirk their debts. But this one was worth a stay. If there was one thing the Slug Princess knew about, it was gambling, debt, and collection. Most of the farmers had bet on the Sound and Sand triumphing over Konoha, and had drawn exponentially large loans for their lands with the Konoha bank. Now... they must repay.

'I'm a forgiving soul, am I not? I've been in their shoes...' As Hokage, they should be punished for disloyalty to the land. But as one who walked the land, helped those in need but also took advantage of those at the same time, Tsunade knew being altruistic would be hypocritical. She reviewed every one of the farm's papers, what they owed, stamped them "Under review." They would get their funds, but be heavily scrutinized.

After what felt like days of work, she bowed her head into her own hands, just resting her eyes before the next inevitable knock or paper delivery.

Knock, knock

'It never fails,' Tsunade mused appropriately, raising her head and steadying her gaze to meet the next challenge.

It was normal for her apprentice Shizune to step in and introduce the next visitor. Only that didn't happen. The door curiously remained open by itself for several moments, before Gennin rank Gaara of the Sand decided to step through. Tsunade couldn't help but flinch, caught off guard herself by the silent Sand-nin.

She sent the message to the Sand nation requesting aid, and they delivered the Sand Siblings in return, due to their previous knowledge of Konoha in the Chuunin Exams, as well as their general prowess. But Gaara was something anyone would have trouble anticipating.

Gaara leveled a gaze upon her that simply read as 'equal.' She returned it, but didn't challenge, even though every fiber told her to. She was the Slug Princess, now Hokage, and she wanted to crush the Sand whelp. But she had to be that thing called "diplomatic," so she smiled sweetly and welcomed him with a smile and a handshake. Which Gaara only glanced at and quickly turned away from, choosing to keep his arms crossed protectively. Tsunade's left eye twitched, 'This brat...'

"Naruto is dead." Gaara stated quite bluntly, shocking Tsunade. Of course it was common knowledge, and she knew of Naruto's battle with the Sand Shinobi. 'Did Naruto have such a strong effect? Just what do I do?' It was easy to proclaim a shinobi death, but what if a national cooperation hinged on that death or life?

"Yes, he is," The Hokage finally answered.

"How did he die?" The red headed Sand-nin asked. It was a simple question, with seemingly no emotion behind it, and it had an easy political answer to it. But Tsunade felt it was a difficult answer to give. For one, she was Hokage, and it felt as if she was the one being interrogated, even by a foreign shinobi in her own office. Two, while this Sand Shinobi may seem to want a simple straight answer, she was also aware of his psycological profile. Could she potentially trigger a monstrous reaction in her village by telling him the truth?

But he kept a calm demeanor, his arms crossed and his gaze fixated out the office window at the village below. He seemed to be watching the people, Tsunade noted as she walked around the mahogany desk to meet him. 'He's a genin,' Tsunade internally laughed, calming her own spirits, even though he could potentially put up quite the fight against her.

Tsunade kept eye contact with the young man for quite some time, maneuvering around her own office. It felt as if she was speaking to another Kage, yet here was this gennin, insanely powerful as he was, staring her down. She wanted to punch something. But there was genuine concern in the young man's voice when he spoke of Naruto as well. There was a certain urgency, and it reflected strongly in the Sand Shinobi's normally emotionless eyes so much that Tsunade couldn't help but lose the gamble.

'This kid will probably be my peer and the next Kazekage after all,' Tsunade mused.

After enough pointless political posturing, she returned to her seat and took a deep drink of Sake, which Gaara only slightly flinched at. As Tsunade released a deep breath of satisfaction, she laughed loudly and invited Gaara to sit.

"He was on a mission, a stray mission, to bring a Konoha shinobi back," Tsunade explained. "The same mission as you. 'Retrieve Sasuke As Hokagae, I must ask about your battle with Rock Lee and the Sound Shinobi..."

"Your ninja was brought back in satisfactory condition, correct?" Gaara countered coldly, momentarily shocking Tsunade. "His name is Lee? Correct? I hope he is doing well," it was the first time Gaara had ever wished a fellow shinobi well. "He's a strong shinobi. It would be a shame to lose him."

Gaara absently rubbed his cheek, the one cheek Lee had planted a particularly strong punch upon... the first time he had ever been successfully punched by an opponent.

"Lee is just fine, Gaara-san," Tsunade chuckled, feeling more comfortable with the young man as the moments passed. Reading him, he was like an anti-Naruto. He was very concerned about matters, but whereas Naruto would loudly proclaim his intentions and feelings, Gaara was very much reserved. 'He'll make a great Kage,' Tsunade mused, churning her own Sake bottle.

Gaara began walking towards the door, his questions answered, but he stopped and turned back towards the Hokage. He almost couldn't help it. Tsunade's deep golden eyes met Gaara's black gaze, "He would've made a great Hokage."

It was a shocking admission, but Tsunade could only agree with an emphatic nod. Gaara exited the room, and she felt guilty. There was a young man who, as far as she could see, looked up to Naruto, wanted to meet him and his goals on level grounds, would likely rise to Kazekage, and not know Naruto was still alive for years. It was enough, as Hokage, that Tsunade felt guilty.

"It was a pleasure," Tsunade smiled and bowed, shocking Gaara. He couldn't return the gesture fully, but appreciatively nodded his head and dissipated, returning to his own cousins and teammates. Once by herself, Tsunade picked up the sake bottle and took another deep drink, for Konoha, for Gaara, and for the future.

"If that kid becomes Kazekage, and when Naruto returns... we will definitely have a powerful alliance on our hands." She said as much to no-one in particular, but it should still ring true for the future.

YES! New Chapters coming soon, hopefully daily or weekly!