How Troublesome

Chapter 19: An Upsetting Utterance

They reached the gates of Konoha the next morning.

Naruto let out a whoop and ran ahead, waving with zeal at the shinobi at the gate. "Hey! I'm back!"

Shikamaru heard the guards laugh and welcome the blonde ball of energy back. He, himself, followed at a more leisurely pace, still keeping one eye on Keita, Hikari, and Shota. They hadn't shown any signs of wanting to run away, and they still didn't. If anything, they looked nervous.

Naruto was questioning the guards when he caught up with them. "So, how has Baa-chan been while I was gone?"

"You mean the Hokage?"

Naruto gave him a look that clearly said, "Who else?"

"She's been her normal self. Punching people. Drinking sake, maybe a little more than usual," the guard replied, and then looked past Naruto to give a nod to Shikamaru. Then, he looked at the three siblings. "Who are they?"

"Oh, they're friends. Don't worry. I'll vouch for them, " Naruto assured him.

Shikamaru repressed a laugh. Only Naruto could call people who she had just met, and who were assassins captured on their latest mission, friends. Of course, that was a whole lot more likely to get them into the village than telling the whole truth. Not that Naruto lied or anything.

The guard, a man in his thirties with mousy brown hair, looked to Shikamaru for confirmation of Naruto's words.

He sighed. Way to drag him into this mess. He nodded. "Yeah, I'll vouch for them, too." And he was rewarded for saying that with a five thousand mega-watt smile from Naruto. His heart thumped loudly, and he willed down a blush. Damned hormones.

There were no more questions or problems, and, a minute later, they were in Konoha. They went straight to the Hokage's office, surprisingly not meeting any of their former teammates on the way and were shown directly into Lady Tsunade's office.

The big-breasted Hokage was busy pouring herself some sake when they arrived.

Shikamaru shook his head. He really shouldn't be surprised. The woman drank sake how other people drank water. What was her blood-alcohol level anyway? It was probably off the charts.

Her eyes widened, and she stood up behind her desk. "Naruto, Shikamaru! You're back!" she said, sounded extremely relieved. She swiftly skirted around the desk and brought Naruto into a crushing embrace.

Shikamaru stepped back in case he was going to be the next victim.

Naruto flailed her limbs and gasped out, "Baa-chan! Can't breathe..." And it was true, she was being smothered by obscenely large breasts.

Tsunade let go, slightly embarrassed by the overt show of fondness and sat back down behind her desk while Naruto took gulps of air. The Hokage turned her attention to the three people in the room that she didn't know. "Who are they, Brat?" she asked.

Naruto opened her mouth to explain, but Shikamaru stepped forward and brought out the scroll that Takeshi had given him. "Maybe you should read this first, Lady Tsunade. It might explain some things," he offered.

She nodded and took the scroll from him, taking another gulp of sake before settling back in her chair and reading it. He sat back down and glanced at Naruto, whose attention was riveted on the Hokage, one leg bouncing with suppressed energy and nervousness. He sneakily grabbed a cigarette from his pouch and lit it, inhaling the smoke, and then blowing it out through his nose.

Naruto was too absorbed to even notice, for once.

He took another drag. This was probably his first cigarette, or at least the first one he'd actually gotten a chance to savor, since he'd found out Naruto was really a member of the fairer sex, and he was damn well going to enjoy it.