Rivals For The Hokage's Love

An Answer Much Deserved

"WHERE IS HE?!" Everyone in the waiting lounge jumped as Tsunade charged into the room.

"Ts-Tsunade-sama!" Shizune and Sakura both were struggling to keep up with the furious lady.

"Where the hell is he?!" she bellowed again, looking absolutely monstrous, her voice echoing.

"I-In the i-intensive c-care," Ino stuttered; having been taught by Tsunade at one point, she was the only one who dared to speak after realizing the female Sannin was on a rampage.

"Move it, Sakura, Shizune!" Tsunade marched down the hall, scaring even Baki out of his wits.

"That woman is a demoness," Sasuke muttered, as he recalled the fierce look in her eyes.

"No," Azuma said, and his own eyes softened. "She looks upon Naruto as her own son, is all."

"Her own son?" Shisui and Itachi both turned to the man who had spoken, in complete shock.

"Well, Sasuke, you should know. But instead of waiting to find out, you had that impromptu fight with Naruto, then ran away to Orochimaru," Shikamaru began to retell the familiar story. "Jiraiya-sama had no intention of becoming Hokage, even though he was approached by the council, once the Sandaime-sama had died. In exchange, he offered to bring Tsunade-sama to take up the position. For whatever reason, he took Naruto along with him. Turns out that when they finally met, Naruto being the idiot he is, said something inappropriate, and they made a bet. If he mastered Rasengan within a week, she would give him the First Hokage's Necklace of Death, and even take up the position of Hokage. Would you believe it, she lost even that bet. Naruto saved her from Kabuto, and the Three-Way Deadlock Battle that occurred then, was to protect Naruto, since Orochimaru decided that he had taken a fancy to him. With Kabuto down, and his arms useless, though, that old snake didn't stand a chance against two Sannin."

"Trust Tsunade to become Hokage over a bet," Azuma grinned. "She really sucks at gambling."

"But to think Naruto mastered Rasengan in one week?" Itachi countered, looking thoughtful.

"Yeah, that idiot always goes beyond everyone's expectations," Sasuke breathed out a chuckle.

"Hey, has anyone seen Tsunade?" Everyone turned as Jiraiya strode into the waiting lounge.

"She's treating Naruto in the intensive care," Shisui said, and suddenly, realization struck him. "Wait, how on earth did the Godaime-sama get here? The journey takes two days!"

"We just told you." Shikamaru grinned. "She wouldn't let Naruto die, not over her dead body."

"What has that brat gone and done now?" Jiraiya looked as though it wasn't unexpected.

"He should be fine," Ino smiled. "I mean, all the healing experts are in there with him, right?"

"Well then, I'll just wait for Tsunade-hime with you," Jiraiya sighed, as he also took a seat.

"I heard you were defeated by Nagato," Itachi said. "Before he attacked Konoha, that is."

"He attacked Konoha?!" Jiraiya jumped up, and all three of the Uchihas began to laugh.

"Jeez, dead men walking sure are troublesome," Shikamaru groaned. "Yeah, Pain attacked Konoha soon after your death, Jiraiya-sama. Naruto stopped him all on his own."

"He wouldn't even hear of us backing him up," Neji smiled, shaking his head at the memory.

"True!" Lee nodded his head in violent agreement. "We tried, but Katsuyu-sama stopped us."

"He was right, though," Neji continued. "It wouldn't have ended peacefully if we interrupted. He actually convinced Nagato to return the lives of the people who had died in that attack."