Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Naruto vs. Sasuke The Aftermath ❯ Hangovers, Meetings, and Shocking Visions ( Chapter 6 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Chapter 6 Summary: Kakashi awakens the next morning with huge hangover and scattered memories of the past 24 hours. As Kakashi attempts to reconstruct his memories, he's been ordered to a meeting with Lady Tsunade, who may kill him recalling their last encounter. Not to mention, this will be a life-changing day for many people.
Naruto vs. Sasuke The Aftermath
Chapter 6: “Hangovers, Meetings, and Shocking Visions”
As the morning sun shines through the window onto Kakashi's face, he begins to stir and groaning, slowly opens his eyes to face the day. Staring upwards, he realizes that this is an unfamiliar ceiling he's looking at. Confused, Kakashi sits up and begins to survey his surrounding and finds that it's not just the ceiling, but the entire room is also a mystery to him.
“Where the Hell am I?” Kakashi says to himself.
He swings his legs over the side and begins to rise out of the bed rubbing his forehead, as he attempts to remember how he ended up here. As Kakashi begins to move about, he slowly begins to piece together the fragments of the previous days events in his mind. However, the pounding headache he was currently enduring was not helping the process in any way.
`Damn it Kakashi think!' He silently mused as he walked over to a small table to retrieve his shirt, which was neatly cleaned and folded to put it on. He then entered the adjacent bathroom to splash some cold water onto his face, and began to remember.
`Alright, I remember disbanding Team #7 and leaving the hospital afterwards. I then walked around the village for a while until I stopped in at that sake bar. The sake bar, oh man, that explains why my head feels like a bowl of soggy ramen. I seem to remember something about a fight in the bar. Who did I fight? Oh yeah, it was Sakura's father Taro and his buddies. Ok, after that I left the bar and something about another fight. What was it? That's right it was with Ishi, Sakura's mother. She drugged me, and was kicking my ass pretty good judging by my mouth and ribs.' As he surveyed the damage of both injuries in the mirror.
“What happened after that?” Kakashi said to himself as he racked his brain for the answer. The solution to where he was finally dawned on him, as he said to himself.
“I seem to remember something about Kurenai.” Yes, that's it! This is Kurenai's apartment. She brought me here after she took down Ishi, to help me with my injuries. But where is she?”
Kakashi then exited the bathroom and ventured forth into the living room and kitchen area of Kurenai's home, looking for the owner. As he surveyed his surroundings he realized that he was all alone in the apartment. He spied his mask, which had been expertly mended next to a bottle of sake with a note attached sitting on a small table in the kitchen. Kakashi walked over to the table and unfolding the note began to read.
Kakashi,
I figured I'd better leave you a reminder of your meeting with Lady Tsunade in her office at 10:00 this morning. I've cleaned your shirt and mended your mask so that you can be halfway presentable to her. Take this bottle of sake as a gift to the Hokage, it's a very good vintage and hopefully it will help to smooth things over with her. I had an early morning training session with my team, so we'll have to talk later at some point. Good luck with your meeting and try to stay out of any more trouble if you can?
Kurenai
`Well, that explains the shirt and mask, and Damn it, I had forgotten about that meeting!' Kakashi thought to himself, as he looked to the clock to see what time it was.
“Shit, I only have 15 minutes to get to the Hokages office!” Kakashi exclaimed, as he grabbed the bottle and began to head towards the front door.
`I wonder what Kurenai meant about talking later?' Kakashi thought, as he reached for the doorknob, when suddenly he froze as one more memory came crashing to him.
`The Kiss! Oh my God, I kissed Kurenai last night! Why am I still alive, I don't know?' Kakashi in a panic thought to himself, as he slowly exited the apartment. The shock of his last remembrance sapping what little energy he had to begin with. As he began his trek to the Hokage's office all he could think about was one thing?
`What am I going to say to Kurenai?'
As Kakashi was heading out the door pondering his future conversation with Kurenai, a certain hyperactive knuckle headed ninja was awakened by Konoha hospital nurse and told he had some visitors. Naruto slowly sat up in his bed, shaking his head to drive away the remaining cobwebs and waited to greet his yet unknown guests. He hoped it was Kakashi Sensei and maybe Sakura, although he wasn't entirely sure about the latter. He was very surprised to see Shino Aburame and Kiba with Akamaru walk in. Hinata, holding some flowers and being slowly pushed into the room by her Sensei Kurenai, followed them. Masking his slight disappointment he flashed his trademark goofy smile, and cheerfully greeted his guests with his usual phrase upon meeting his friends.
“Hey guys, what's up?”
“Hey yourself goofball, you look to be in good spirits.” Kiba jovially says.
“Greetings Naruto, you do look much better than the last time I saw you.” Shino says in his usual calm and monotone voice.
“Thanks guys, I do feel a lot better, hopefully they'll let me out of here soon, so I can get back to training.” Naruto replies with glee in voice.
“Yeah, we just finished up with a training session, if you want to call it that.” Kiba moaned.
“What do you mean Kiba?” Naruto asks curiously.
“Well me getting my butt kicked by Shino, while Hinata and Sensei watch isn't my idea of training, if you know what I mean. Man, I haven't been this sore since I fought you in the Chunin exams.” Kiba complains while rubbing his shoulder.
Upon hearing Hinata's name, Naruto looks past Kiba and spies Hinata still in the doorway in front of Kurenai holding flowers and says.
“Hey Hinata, I can barely see you all the way over there, can you come a little closer?”
A gentle push from Kurenai gets Hinata moving over towards the bed, as Kiba steps aside to allow his teammate to get by and next to Naruto.
“H, H, Hi Naruto, how are you feeling?” Hinata stammers in a soft voice.
“I'm doing fine, you know me, you can't keep me down for very long.” Naruto laughingly says, until a jolt of pain coming from his chest brought on by his laugh makes him wince slightly.
“Oh, Naruto, are you sure your all right?” Hinata asks, the concern evident in her tone.
“Well, I guess I still need to heal up a little bit more, but I'll be ok.” Naruto says with a determined voice.
“A little bit more! Jeez Naruto, that prick Sasuke puts a hole in your chest a day and a half ago and you say that? Man, you've got a lotta guts!” Kiba says, as Akamaru barks in agreement.
Naruto face becomes very stoic for a moment. He's not ready to talk about Sasuke and what happened just yet, and quickly tries to change the subject. Turning to Hinata he asks.
“Are those for me Hinata?”
Hinata slightly blushes and realizes she's still holding the flowers she had gotten for Naruto in her hands and quietly says.
“Y, Yes, Naruto, I hope you like them? She then gently lays the bouquet upon his lap.
“I do Hinata, they smell real nice, and are pretty just like you, thank you.” Naruto says as he closes his eyes and sniffs the bouquet.
“Your, your welcome.” Hinata says, blushing even worse than before at Naruto's compliment.
`The kid's a charmer even if he doesn't know it.' An amused Kurenai thinks in the back of the room watching the entire scene.
`I wonder if Kakashi taught him that? God, what am I thinking! Kurenai get a hold of yourself, Damn it! You've had Kakashi on the brain all morning!' Kurenai silently berates to herself and shakes her head, trying to drive the thoughts away. Naruto's voice brings her back to reality.
“Hinata, I know this isn't much but please take this.” As he takes a single flower from the bouquet and puts it in her hair, and places a friendly kiss upon her cheek, eliciting a small yelp from Hinata as he does this.
“I want to thank you for helping Lady Tsunade and Shizune save my life. I understand you might have gotten seriously hurt doing what you did. Don't scare me like that. I'm very happy to see that you're ok. But please don't ever do something like that again, not for me. You're way more valuable to the village than I am.” Naruto says with sincerity and concern ringing throughout his statement, as he leans back into the bed.
`Oh my God, Hinata you had better snatch this boy up quick, because in a couple of more years, every girl Konoha is going to be after this kid, if this is how he truly is!' Kurenai silently thinks, as she looks upon her student who has gone rigid with shock.
Just then, a nurse walks into the room, pushing a cart filled with bandages and medicine. She announces that it's time to redress Naruto's wounds but if his visitors wish too, they may stay in the waiting area until completed and visit again afterwards.
“That's alright, we have to be going anyway, and we'll come back again another time.” Kurenai says, as she signals Kiba and Shino to exit the room, helping Hinata along as they go.
“Nurse, might I have a few more minutes with the patient before you begin, there is something I need to talk to him about?” Kurenai sternly states.
“Just a few minutes please, I'll go and check on some of my other patients.” The nurse replies as she leaves the room.
Naruto stares quizzically at Kurenai as she approaches his bed.
“Naruto, I just wanted to let you know that my team made a request to me and took a vote this morning and it was unanimous. As soon as you are healed and can begin to train again, I do hereby offer you a spot on Team #8, if you so desire with my blessing.” Kurenai says with vigor.
Needless to say, Naruto is a bit shocked at this offer, he thinks a moment before answering and says.
“I'm honored Lady Kurenai, but I don't think Kakashi Sensei would be too happy with me if I left him and my teammates on Team #7 to go join another team. Thanks for the offer but I'll just stay with Team #7, if that's ok?”
Kurenai looked at Naruto confusingly, before realizing that he hadn't been told yet what had happened. Saddened by the fact that she was going to be the one to tell him, she thought a moment that maybe she should say nothing. Kurenai quickly rejected this, after everything he's been through he deserved to know.
“Naruto, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but there is no more Team #7.” Kurenai informs him as best she could.
“What do you mean?” Naruto bolts up and asks in a panic stricken voice.
“Naruto, with Sasuke's defection, Sakura's attitude, and your injuries. Kakashi felt it was in everyones best interest to disband Team #7 and he resigned as Sensei yesterday.” Kurenai replies in a solemn voice, as she takes his hand to give him comfort.
Naruto stunned beyond belief at this news silently stares out the window for a minute before asking in a choked voice.
“Will I ever see Kakashi Sensei again?”
“Yes Naruto, don't be sad, you will, I guarantee it!” Kurenai says with confidence, as she remembers what Kakashi had told her the night before.
“Now lay back and get some rest, you've earned it.” Kurenai says, as she lets go of his hand to brush some hair away from his eyes.
Th, Thank you Lady Kurenai, I'll try?” Naruto says in a shaky voice, as she leaves the room.
While Naruto was being given the news of his teams demise, Kakashi finally arrived at the Hokage's office, bottle in hand and with barely a minute to spare. Not that it mattered, as Shizune let Kakashi into the office they both were greeted with the sound of snoring and Lady Tsunade face down upon her desk with an empty sake bottle still clutched in her hand.
“Not again!” groaned Shizune, as she and Kakashi entered the office.
As Kakashi takes a seat, he looks to Shizune and asks a simple question.
“Why don't you just wake her up?”
Shizune, looks back annoyingly at Kakashi and says.
“Because Kakashi, the only thing more dangerous than pissing off Lady Tsunade when she is sober, is trying to wake her up when she is drunk! She tends to have a little kill the messenger complex, when she's like this. Besides, you're a big tough Jounin, why don't you wake her up?”
Kakashi looks at the sleeping Hokage for a moment, but then remembering his last encounter with Lady Tsunade as he absently rubs his jaw, turns back to Shizune and says.
“No thank you, I'm in no condition myself for a S-ranked mission right now. Besides you're her friend and assistant, aren't you paid to handle these types of things?”
“There isn't enough money in the village to get me to - -,” Shizune began to say before she was interrupted by a puff of smoke in the office and a loud voice saying.
“All right you brave shinobi of the village, I guess it takes one legendary Sannin to wake up another one. Shizune, take this balloon and fill it with water and bring it back to me.” Jiraiya says with a snicker in his voice.
Shizune quickly followed his orders, not entirely sure what he had planned but she knew one thing for certain.
“Better him than me!” She giggled to herself, as she filled the balloon with water and returned to the office.
As she gave the water filled balloon to Jiraiya, he told Kakashi and Shizune to step back to the far wall. Both Kakashi and Shizune quickly complied. Jiraiya using his chakra to suspend the balloon directly over the Hokage's head then began to churn the water inside at an ever-increasing rate.
“I haven't done this since Naruto's Rasengan training,” Jiraiya says to the other two Shinobi snickering even more now. Just then the balloon explodes and a torrent of water comes splashing down upon Lady Tsunade.
The response was immediate as the Hokage leapt up out of her chair her blonde hair wet and stringy as it fell in front of her face and she screamed.
“Shizune, I'll kill you for this!”
Lady Tsunade then brought her fist down upon the desk, breaking it in two upon its impact. As she pulled her hair away from her eyes to find out where her assistant was at, she saw Shizune cowering behind Kakashi in the far corner of the room pointing to something and shaking her head from side to side. She turned to look where Shizune was pointing at and immediately began to grind her teeth at what she saw. A lazy, good for nothing perverted old man sitting in a chair, trying his best to stifle his laughter.
“Jiraiya! You had better have a good reason for being here and doing this to me, because your about 5 seconds away from being nothing more than a bad memory!” Tsunade angrily says, as she began to step through the destruction that was once her desk to get to the Toad Sage.
Jiraiya immediately leapt up and holding his hands in front of him palms forward said.
“Whoa Tsunade, slow down. I'm here because you asked me to be here for a 10:00 meeting. Now, as for the way you were awakened, I just couldn't think of another way to do it. Funny, I don't remember you getting so upset when Sarutobi Sensei used this method to wake you up?”
“I was a child and he was an adult, I've grown up since then you idiot!” Tsunade growled, as she slumped back into her chair.
“You could have fooled me.” Jiraiya said under his breathe as he too sat down again.
“What was that!” Tsunade shouted towards Jiraiya her anger beginning to boil again.
“Nothing Tsunade, just agreeing with you that you have grown up. In fact it's never been more apparent to me than right now!” Jiraiya lasciviously says, as he begins to leer at Tsunade's drenched blouse.
Lady Tsunade looks down to see what Jiraiya is staring at and quickly realizes the objects of his vision. She grabs the empty sake bottle and hurls it towards him missing his head by mere inches and shouts.
“You old pervert, I may kill you yet. Even if I do need you for this mission!”
“What mission is that and am I involved with it?” Kakashi calmly asks as he pulls up a chair to sit down in.
“Oh yes, Kakashi I forgot you were here, as for your question, I don't know yet? Please sit down; I wanted to discuss it and some other things with you. However, first things first, Shizune bring me a towel and one of the spare desks from the other room in here.” Tsunade says her voice beginning to lessen in intensity.
Shizune quickly wheels in another desk, pushing the remnants of the previous one out of the way, and hands Tsunade a towel. Who quickly uses it to dry out her hair and then to cover her wet clothing, much to the disappointment of Jiriaya. After a couple of minutes, Tsunade finally says.
“Well Kakashi, how is your jaw? No permanent damage I hope?”
“No, thank you Lady Tsunade, it's been tended to.” Kakashi politely replies, as his thoughts begin to drift towards Kurenai. Suddenly, Tsunade's voice snaps him out of his deep daydream.
“Kakashi, Kakashi! Are you sure you're alright? You kind of spaced out there for a moment. Maybe I should have the Medic Nins check you out after this meeting. I might have hit you harder than I thought? Even if you did somehow manage to block a portion of it.”
“Really Kakashi, you managed to block one of Tsunade's haymakers, that's impressive my boy, not many people have done that!” Jiraiya says with amusement.
“Shut up Jiraiya!” Tsunade says, annoyed both at the fact that Kakashi had blocked her punch and at the fact that Jiraiya was complimenting him on the feat.
“Anyway Kakashi, I apologize. I overreacted without having all the facts, which I tend to do when it comes to my Naruto-kun. Please forgive me?”
“I've completely forgotten about it Lady Tsunade, please don't trouble yourself anymore in regards to it.” Kakashi politely states.
“Right, now that that's out of the way, let's talk about what an interesting day you had yesterday.” Tsunade says in an official tone, as Kakashi begins to squirm a little bit in his chair.
“I understand you disbanded Team #7 and resigned as Sensei yesterday, tell me Kakashi what are your plans now? If kicking the crap out of the Haruno clan is your new vocation, I've got to tell you I don't think there are that many left? I think there might be a couple of cousins and possibly a grandmother you haven't met yet? I can get you their addresses before you leave if you wish?” Tsunade says, trying to stifle a giggle as she says it.
“That won't be necessary Lady Tsunade, I am sorry if any of my actions yesterday caused you any problems. In fact, I've brought you this bottle of sake as a token of my apology, and I would be happy to try and explain my actions in full if you would like? Kakashi replies in as polite a tone as he can muster.
Lady Tsunade accepted the bottle and looked at the label, her eyes grew wide in surprise and said to Kakashi.
“You apologize well Kakashi, this is a very fine vintage of sake, let's get some glasses,” as she yells to Shizune to bring some in. Tsunade mouth was almost watering in anticipation of drinking this sake. Shizune entered with a tray and 3 porcelin cups and sets it down upon Tsunade's desk before leaving again.
“As for explaining your recent troubles shall we say with the Haruno clan, there is no need. Jiriaya has already told me what happened in the Sakura incident, as for the rest, the ANBU reports I've been reading give me a pretty good idea as to what transpired. Now, let's crack open this bottle and discuss your future shall we.” Tsunade said with a gleam in her eye and voice.
As Kakashi watched Lady Tsunade open the bottle and begin pouring the sake into the cups, his thoughts once again drifted back to Kurenai.
`Smart and beautiful, you're the whole package Kurenai. Your sake probably just saved my ass from a very uncomfortable situation.' Kakashi quietly thought to himself.
“A toast, to the speedy recovery of one Naruto Uzumaki!” Jiraiya bellows, as he drains his cup in one gulp.
“I'll drink to that!” Tsunade says, as she clinks cups with Kakashi and they both down their own sake.
“You'll drink to anything Tsunade!” Jiraiya laughingly says, as he downs another cup of sake in one quick motion.
“I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself Jiraiya, I still haven't decided yet if your gonna make it out of this office alive or not?” Tsunade irritated once again at her fellow Sannin says, before downing another cup of sake in quick succession herself.
“Now Kakashi, since you've dissolved Team #7, I can't have one of my best Jounin sitting around all day with nothing to do. I have a job in mind for you, but I want to hear your thoughts first about what you have planned? Tsunade states, while pouring sake into everyone's cup for another round of drinks.
Kakashi quickly drinks his cup of sake before answering the question, in somber yet hopeful tone says.
“I've given this a great deal of thought and with your permission Lady Tsunade and yours as well Master Jiraiya. I wish to help in completing Naruto's training on a full time basis. The powers and skills he has developed in such a short amount of time, lead me to believe he could become one of the greatest shinobi this village has ever produced. I also believe that we are going to need his strength and skills in the future for the Leaf village to continue to exist.”
Kakashi quietly puts down his cup and crosses his arms, as he anxiously awaits a reply from both Sannin. After waiting what seemed like an eternity, Tsunade finally spoke.
“Ok Kakashi, that answers my question of what you want to do. Now I want you to tell me why you want to do this?”
Kakashi gives pause a moment, as he unfolds his arms and places his right hand under his chin before saying.
“I don't know if this is a satisfactory answer to your question Lady Tsunade, let's just say I owe it Naruto, and leave it at that.”
“No Kakashi, I can't leave it at that, I need more.” Tsunade says, before drinking another cup of sake.
“The truth of the matter Lady Tsuande is this. Naruto has a dream of one day becoming Hokage. I believe that it is a dream worth having. I failed him as a Sensei, wait that's not quite right. I failed all of my students as a teacher. But, I feel I failed Naruto most of all and I want to rectify the mistakes I've made. It is a selfish reason I realize Lady Tsunade, but my one hope or goal in life now is to help Naruto achieve his dream, if I'm given the chance to do so? I will abide to whatever you and Master Jiraiya decide my fate to be, but what I've told you is what I desire most.” Kakashi states with sincerity and determination as he looks to the Hokage for her answer.
Lady Tsunade finishes another cup of sake before setting it down to look directly at Kakashi. After a moment, a wry smile begins to spread across her face and she says.
“A good answer Kakashi, and I concur with your thought process. In fact it makes the job I had in mind for you that much easier. Jiraiya approached me last night and requested that I assign to him a high level Jounin to help him complete Naruto's training. He stated that he needed someone with exceptional skills for Naruto to train with and against for him to reach his maximum potential. Jiraiya suggested you, since Naruto holds you in such high regard already. And as much as it pains me to say, were going to need Naruto to improve a great deal for the battles I fear are coming our way. Between Orichimaru and Sasuke, not to mention the Akatsuki, the Sound village and God knows what else? I'm afraid the Leaf village is heading towards a dark period in its history and Naruto may be our only hope to survive? So Kakashi, have another drink. I do hereby grant your request, but remember this. If you screw up again with Naruto, there's going to be Hell to pay from me you got that. Now, finish your drink and go see your student, I've got some things to discuss with the pervert sage in private.”
Kakashi quickly downs his drink and bows before the two legendary Sannin and says.
“Thank you Lady Tsunade, and thank you Master Jiraiya for the opportunity to help Naruto and perhaps redeem myself as well.” With that said, Kakashi begins to leave the office before Tsunade voice stops him.
“Wait Kakashi, I almost forgot. There is still one matter we need to discuss, Sakura.”
Kakashi pauses upon hearing this and without turning back says in a stern voice.
“Lady Tsunade, I've already said everything I wish too on that subject. I will no longer be her Sensei and that is final!”
“But Kakashi, I've already heard about what she said to Naruto yesterday, and I'm pretty pissed off about it myself. However, the fact of the matter is, she also possesses a great deal of skill and strength and could develop into a very powerful Shinobi one day as well. And as we've already discussed, this village is going to need as many talented shinobi as we can produce for the days that we fear are coming. Tsunade expertly states, waiting for Kakashi to answer, after a brief pause Kakashi looks back and says.
“I understand your concern over Sakura's development. However, my feelings towards this matter dictate that I can no longer be her Sensei, and it goes much deeper than what she said yesterday. I already suggested to the girl that she seek out Gai, Asuma, or Kurenai to continue her training. But as far as I am concerned, my relationship with Sakura Haruno is finished!”
“Very well Kakashi. I won't force anything upon you. You may leave; I'll deal with the Sakura situation at some point in the near future. On your way out, tell Shizune I'm not to be disturbed for the next couple of hours.”
“Thank you Lady Tsunade, I shall.” Kakashi politely says, as he exits the office closing the doors behind him.
As Kakashi shut the doors behind him, he leans back and breathes a sigh of relief. Shizune sitting at her desk noticed this and decided to poke a little fun at him.
“So the mighty Kakashi managed to survived, I'm very impressed!” Shizune said laughingly.
Kakashi looked over at Shizune and rolling his eyes sarcastically said.
“Thank you Shizune, you have no idea how much it means to me knowing that I impressed you. For you see, it's every shinobi's dream in this village to impress the all-powerful Secretary of the Hokage. Now that I've achieved it, I can mark it off my life's list of goals to attain.”
Shizune, looking slightly annoyed upon hearing Kakashi's reply, responds in like fashion with a smirk on her face.
“Keep it up mister, and I'll send you back into the office for the butt kicking, I'm sure you were expecting to receive today.”
“That would not be wise, Lady Tsunade asked me to tell you she isn't to be disturbed for the next two hours, and she seemed quite earnest in that request. Besides, I need to go see Naruto right now.” Kakashi replies in a serious tone, as he turns to leave.
“Damn, I still need Tsunade to sign off on some of these reports, maybe I'll sneak in and have her do it right now before her two hour hiatus begins?” Shizune says, as she grabs some reports off her desk and heads towards the Hokage's office. Before entering, she stops and calls out to Kakashi before he exits the room.
“Kakashi, can you do me one small favor when you see Naruto, please give him my love, I, I mean tell him I'm thinking of him.” Shizune says, in a soft yet sad tone of voice.
Kakashi a bit confused at the tone of her request, answers as sincerely as possible.
“I shall Shizune.” He then leaves the room to head over to the hospital.
`Thank you Kakashi.' Shizune silently thinks to herself, as she wipes a tear away from her eye and begins to open the door to the Hokage's office. The sight she beheld would forever be burned into her memory. The vision Shizune eyes were fixated on in total shock was of Lady Tsunade leaning against her desk, her eyes screwed shut clutching Jiraiya's face to her ample naked chest quietly moaning in pleasure. Meanwhile, Jiraiya was making very distinctive sucking and slurping noises while attempting to remove his own clothing. Shizune stifled her scream, as she covered her eyes in blatant horror and attempted to retreat to whence she came, silently closing the door behind her. The image she witnessed and what it meant would haunt her for the rest of her life.
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