Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Two Back, One Gone ❯ Two back, One gone ( Prologue )

Prologue: Two back, onegone

D. A. Nico

 

 

 

“Hokage-sama!”

 

Tsunade only had enough time to glance up and wince at the power put into opening the door and wondered vaguely how the piece of wood had remained on its runners and in tact. However, that concern was knocked much farther down the list as she looked up to a red-faced Shizune who was panting for breath as if she'd run the entire way here.

 

"Shizune-san… what's wrong?" she asked continuing to sit behind her desk without a thought of getting up. Shizune, while loyal, had a knack for overreacting towards things that could very easily wait another couple days. Or maybe it was Tsunade's lack of worry towards those things that made it unimportant, either way Tsunade wasn't braced for her next couple words.

 

"Tsunade-sama, they've returned! Naruto and Jiraiya-sama, even Sasuke! All three of them together!" she squealed. The woman was absolutely exuberant which resulted in Tonton's confused but excited squeals.

 

The sudden commotion in her office made her head spin, there was quite possibly also a little help from the sake that she'd been constantly taking sips out of. Right now, with this news she'd wished that she'd drunken another couple bottles. She didn't need this right now, but she was more then happy to have those three back in the village.

 

"Is Uchiha Sasuke being brought against his will?" she asked Shizune skeptically.

 

"No, it was reported by one of the ANBU that he looked remotely happy, I guess as happy as the Uchiha could get, and at one point he even smiled at Naruto." She said visibly bouncing back and forth from her left foot to her right foot.

 

All of Konoha had learned of Naruto's last mission, which was to go after Sasuke and try to persuade him to come back to Konoha. If Sasuke were to adamantly refuse then Naruto was supposed to kill him. Having Sasuke alive had been too much of a risk to her village for her to take comfort in the fact that at some point in the past, Orochimaru's original plan to destroy the Leaf would be taken into effect.

 

Nodding her head as she knitted her hands together with a small frown on her lips and a crinkle in her brow, she glanced up to Shizune who was anxiously waiting for an answer. "Fine then, bring the three of them to me the moment they're in the gates," and even before she could flick her hand to dismiss her apprentice there was only a fading smoke cloud in her previous spot.

 

A small sigh of relief gushed from her lungs as she visibly drooped a little in her seat, as if a large weight had finally been removed from her shoulders. So much had happened in the last couple of years, that having one of the biggest problems come to an end was more then a relief, at least for the moment.

 

She could easily recall all the memories and urgent things in her memory from the past couple years, all of them. Every memory had painful emotions to it, some had happiness and many had tears and remorse to go along with it. She only hoped that this was a sign from some far greater power that things were beginning to wrap themselves up in this nightmare induced saga.

 

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It had been fifteen minutes ago that she got the report that the three shinobi were heading back into the village. It had been estimated for them to reach the gates in about twenty and every second closer to that time was another knock up the pole for Tsunade's agitation to get the best of her. Sake was also a heavy influence towards her jittery mood but she wasn't about to admit that to everyone around her.

 

Golden eyes roved over towards the forehead protector that lay on her book case. Its medal reflecting the light of the setting sun and with a heavy heart Tsunade turned away from the small treasure that she had obtained two years ago.

 

Two delicate hands reached up to untie the protector from her head before very slowly handing it over towards the Hokage.

 

Tsunade stared in amazement as her apprentice stared back calmly. She wasn't so sure if she was willing to take it from her. "You're giving up your loyalty to the Leaf?" she asked in anger, disbelief and amazement.

 

The pink haired kunoichi almost smiled, something that very hardly graced the young girls lips these days, and then they opened to talk, "Tsunade-sama…" she stared, bowing her head low in deep respect for her teacher. "My entire life, besides the few missions I have been sent on has been behind these walls. I love this village will all my heart as well as the people in it. However…"

 

The hesitation in Sakura Haruno's voice made Tsunade's heart jump into her throat.

 

"However, these walls also bring the continuous painful memories of many people lost to me. Sa-" she stuttered almost in pain, "Sasuke has left this place in search of power from the snake, Naruto has left with Jiraiya-sama once more to gain even more strength, and here I am sitting at home hoping and dreaming. Dreams come to an end when the sun rises and hope can be shattered in a millisecond." She offered before taking another breath, "Tsunade-sensei I am not here to resign my loyalties to your land, but I am merely here to offer you something in return for your acceptance when I return."

 

Tsunade's eyes widened with realization about what the green-eyed girl had just said, "Wait, what are you saying?" she asked stupidly.

 

Sakura gently set the forehead protector on the older woman's desk, "When I come back to the Leaf offer me this head piece and we will see where my loyalties continue to lie, but for now I can not remain here and pray that my team comes back to me."

 

Tsunade noticed a light in Sakura's eyes that had been long diminished. This was a mission created by the girl's mind. It was possibly and very probable something she needed to do and Tsunade knew this. However her attached heart screamed at her to stop the dumb girl as she turned to leave.

 

She wanted to grab her by the shoulders and scream that this was all the sadness and desperation talking. That she wasn't allowed to leave and if she did she would have her locked up for years but she didn't move from her seat, she didn't utter a word or sound as the door slid closed. The clicking brought her back to the present world as she whispered very gently, "Good luck…" It was all she could offer from there on out.

 

However, the ever present knocking brought Tsunade back to the matter at hand. She couldn't show sadness at the moment, so as the shinobi rule that she learned long ago had stated; she locked her biggest emotions up and placed on a more serene face as she got up from her desk to approach the window. "Come in…" she offered before looking out onto the Hidden Leaf Village.

 

A small group of people were congregating near the tower's doors in hopes of seeing either the kyuubi vessel or the Uchiha traitor. Either way the quiet scuffling of six feet made her smirk before backing away from the window, "Quite a crowd you all bring." She offered before turning around to take in the sight of the three.

 

Naruto had grown even more. His yellow hair must have gone unclipped for a couple weeks because it now hung a little lower. She couldn't believe how much he looked like the fourth Hokage, it was almost scary. He'd kept his trademark orange and black clothing as well as that idiotic smile. Some things never change, despite the fact that she could tell he was stronger and that his personality maybe, just maybe was a little bit more mature than beforehand, nothing truly struck out at her.

 

Next in line was a face she never expected to see again, well at least not alive. With nearly all of the Akatsuki dead including his older brother Itachi, Sasuke seemed a little more open and less tense than before. Just like Naruto, he had kept his trademark black wear however he'd matured a little with his clothing style. His hair was still kept in the random spiked style that she could have sworn wasn't natural when she first saw a picture of him. All in all he looked in control, and that had been her biggest worry.

 

Then there was Jiraiya, and well… Jiraiya was Jiraiya and nothing would change that. He was still grey in the hair, he was still aging with grace and he was still a pervert, but his travels for the last two years with these two was enough to assure Tsunade that nothing was going to get overly out of hand. She would get a full report from him over some sake later. For now however she had hardly anything to say.

 

The three looked at her and remained quite, surprising since Naruto was usually loud enough to cover for all three of them… plus some.

 

Her golden eyes glittered towards Sakura's forehead protector, 'If you had only stayed a couple more years you could be here with me…' she thought sadly before reaching up to scratch her cheek in thought. Maybe that would have been a little too hard on Sakura.

 

"Welcome back to Konoha," she started not quite sure where this would go. She hadn't practiced a speech; she hadn't expected to need one. She'd come to a horrible conclusion that it was quite possible for Naruto to fail. She herself had seemingly given up.

 

"We're all very tired I see, so go home and rest up for a couple days. You two," she said pointing at the younger two of the three men, "are on strict probation not to leave the Leaf, should you break that rule until trial you will not be welcomed back into Konoha and considered criminals. Do you understand me?" she asked, her eyes pleading with them to understand.

 

Sasuke automatically nodded his head, he wanted to start anew. He'd destroyed his brother just as he had promised himself, now it was time to start the Uchiha clan over again.

 

Naruto on the other hand offered a cheesy grin and scratched the back of his head, "Of course you old hag!" he laughed, his happy demeanor coming off in waves as he tried to infect the people around him with his joyful behavior.

 

Tsunade couldn't help the smirk. For that little comment on her age she would sooner or later give Naruto a well earned flick to the head. For now she glanced out the window at the falling sun, "Your sensei Kakashi will meet you at the training grounds with the last member of your temporary team. Temporary meaning until the true punishment has been dealt with through a trial. Just to see how well you all work together of course." She offered simply, "You're dismissed; don't cause trouble!" she snarled the last couple words as her eyes traveled to Naruto then to Sasuke; and last to Jiraiya.

 

Naruto nodded his head and turned to leave with Sasuke following behind; his words however made her want to go screaming after him as he announced, "I can't wait to see Sakura's face when she sees the two of us back!" he virtually yelled throughout the hallway.

 

By the time Tsunade had looked back Jiraiya was gone and Shizune had weaseled her way back into the office, "Tsunade-sama why didn't you tell them about Sakura-san?" she asked with a worried frown on her face.

 

Tsunade looked over towards her apprentice and then went to sit back down at her desk, "Shizune… something's even the Hokage cannot say. I think it would be best for them to either figure it out themselves or for Kakashi to tell them. Either way it was not my place." She simply offered before going back to her paperwork, halting all continuation with that simply gesture.

 

 

Author's Note:

Yeah, so... this is my first fanfic that I plan to actually finish but who knows since plans can change. A long time ago I tried an InuYasha fic but I hadn't planned it out and hadn't had the time, encouragement, nor interest to continue it. I'm hoping this won't be the same ordeal. I've been reading many, many Naruto fan fictions these past couple weeks and by golly I was getting inspired by quite a few of you.

Prologue/First Chapters are never my strong point. I've never figured out how to successfully start something like this so I usually wing it. I know a lot of random confusion here. Questions like: Where's Sakura? Who killed the rest of Akatsuki? What about Sasuke's Hebi team? (Yes they're in this.) This story is basically up-to-date with the current Japanese manga so there might possibly be many spoilers so be forewarned. However everything since Jiraiya, Naruto and Sasuke's adventure is mine. All the questions will be answered hopefully sooner then later.

Last but not least my writing in general. This was rushed and I'm horrible at catching my own mistakes. Please forgive. Grammar in general isn't my strong point and I type so fast weird words will come spouting out (i.e.; bough instead of bought). It's quite amusing for some people but annoying for myself.

Any who, there is a huge plotline to this and I'm slowly making up some miniature side ones to go along with it. Please be patient and give me your thoughts. Try not to flame me, it's a bugger but criticism is more then welcome. Everyone needs to be brought down to Earth sooner or later right?

Ciao for now.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (neither manga nor anime); I do not own any of the canon characters that will appear in this story. All rights to these things are reserved for Masashi Kishimoto who is indeed the creator of said things.

 

However, the plot line that is portrayed in this chapter and all future and past as well as the noncanon characters making appearance will be copyrighted to me.