In The Leaves | A 'Naruto' fan story | SasuNaru

My Ninja Way

Konoha, though victorious, had suffered heavy losses in the village's defense, chief among them being the loss of their Hokage Hiruzen. Fearing that other parties might prey on them in their weakened state, Konoha earnestly tried to find a new Hokage. 

At first, the councilors decided that Jiraiya would become the new Hokage. Jiraiya, however, refused the job on the grounds of being was too "irresponsible" and eventually persuaded his former team-mate Tsunade to replace their mentor as the Fifth Hokage as she oversees the village's reconstruction effort.

Until Konoha's forces could otherwise be replenished, the surviving ninja were forced to go on more missions than usual and of higher ranks than they were accustomed. 

Naruto, whose world came crashing down, was in a state of overwhelming sadness. He lost Grandpa Hokage and his best friend, whom he thought was his soulmate. 

He couldn't sleep, eat, or focus on anything. He was...depressed. 

Jiraiya offered Naruto to come with him to find Tsunade. 

Jiraiya and Naruto arrive at a nearby town's hotel where they'll rest for the night. Jiraiya, being a pervert through and through, notices an attractive woman that's showing interest in him. So that he can get acquainted with the woman, Jiraiya sends Naruto up to their room. 

"Stupid Pervy Sage." Naruto mumbled. "You know you're going to get rejected." 

 Someone knocks on the door. 

"Must be him. I knew he would get rejected." Naruto opens the door, finding instead Kisame and Itachi. 

"Hello Nine-Tails." The one with the Sharingan said. 

Naruto remembered that Sasuke was the only Uchiha left of his clan besides his brother. Who is-

"Itachi Uchiha." Naruto said. "What are you doing here?"

Perplexed by Itachi's Sharingan and the two's knowledge of the demon fox within him, Naruto leaves the safety of the room to find out what's going on.

~

Jiraiya arrives just in time to save Naruto from the clutches of the two Akatsuki members. 

Naruto cursed himself for being weak, and promised himself to get stronger to save Sasuke and his village. 

~ 

Jiraiya and Naruto found Tsunade after long walking and obstacles. She was grambling. 

They all go to a restaurant to talk amongst each other, but Tsundae was only drinking till she got drunk and Jiraiya nervously trying to find a way to bring up the Hokage topic.

"Who is that?" Tsundae asked pointing at Naruto. "That's your son?" 

Jiraiya shook his head. "God no, I didn't find me a honey just yet, no this is Naruto Uzumaki. He's the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki."

"Nice to meet you kid." Tsundae slurred as she tilted her head back to drink another shot. 

Naruto nods. "Nice to meet you too Grandma." 

"Don't call me Grandma." Tsundae says. "I might be an old soul but my beauty still remains." 

"You're around Pervy Sage's age so you are a grandma." 

"Don't get your ass beat kid." 

"I can beat you lady." Naruto said with a hint of confidence in his tone. 

"Ha! As if you could." 

"Lady Tsunade." Shizune said trying to calm Tsunade down. 

"Naruto, don't cause a scene." Jiraiya said. 

Naruto leaned back and crossed his arms. "Whatever." 

Jiraiya laughed nervously. "Sorry, ever since something happened to him in his personal life, he'd been more on the edge and cranky." 

"I'm not cranky." Naruto argued. 

"Anyway," Jiraiya ignoring Naruto. "So...I'm here to request you being Konoha's fifth Hokage." 

"What happened to the old man?" Tsunade asked pouring herself another shot. 

"He died trying to stop Orochimaru." 

"Hmm..." Tsunade threw back the shot. "I'm not doing it. All the past Hokage have wasted their lives for the village and only a fool would ever want the title."

Naruto jumped on the table and hovered over Tsunade. "What did you say?" 

"Naruto get down!" Jiraiya ordered but Naruto ignored him. 

Tsunade looked up at Naruto. "You looking for a fight?" 

"Hell yeah I am, because no one talks bad about my village and the Hokages." 

"Outside." Tsunade slams down her glass. "We'll fight outside." 

"Tsunade-" Shizune tried to stop Tsunade but her and Naruto walked outside already. 

~

Tsunade easily wins against Naruto using only one finger for offence and defence, but she's uneasy by how similar his resolve is to Nawaki and Dan's. While she's distracted by this, Naruto attacks her with an incomplete Rasengan, which she once again avoids using only a finger. She scolds Jiraiya for teaching Naruto the Rasengan at all, declaring it cruel to let someone as untalented as him believe he can master something as complicated as the Rasengan. 

Naruto vows to complete it in three days, prompting Tsunade to make a wager: if Naruto can master the Rasengan in a week, she'll give him the First Hokage's necklace; if he can't, she gets his wallet. Naruto agrees.

 ~

Tsunade keeps tabs on Naruto as he trains, but by the end of the week he has failed to master the Rasengan and the intense training leaves him bedridden.

Later, Tsunade had drugged Jiraiya to go see Orochimaru secretly. She was going to 'heal' his arms, but instead had a killing intent which Kabuto figured out. When asked why, she answered that she found out he was lying about leaving Konoha alone.

They draw her away from the city and Kabuto, a medic-ninja, tries neutralising her, but she heals all the debilitating damage he does. Unable to stop her through conventional means, Kabuto slits his own wrists and coats her with his blood, paralysing her due to her phobia.

Jiraiya, Shizune, and Naruto eventually arrive to help. Shizune looks after Tsunade as she shudders from the blood while Jiraiya fights Orochimaru and Naruto fights Kabuto. Naruto is quickly defeated by Kabuto, as is Shizune when she tries to face him afterwards. Kabuto approaches Tsunade and tries to restrain her, which she is unable to fend off in her condition. 

~ 

By the end of the battle against Orochimaru and Kabuto, Naruto gained Tsunade's trust and she gave him the necklace if he promised to not die before becoming Hokage. Naruto promised and turned to Orochimaru in anger. 

"Where's Sasuke?" 

Orochimaru snickered. "Who knows? But I do know he'll be my next vessel soon." 

Before Naruto could say anything else-Orochimaru and Kabuto disappeared. 

"Naruto..." Jiraiya said trying to see if Naruto is alright. 

"I'm fine." Naruto mumbled, he brushed off his clothes and sighs. "I'm not going to give up or run away, and never go back on my word. That's my Ninja Way." 

Jiraiya smiles. "Right."