Outsiders

🍥ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕀🍥

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED GO TO KISHIMOTO, WHO CREATED THIS UNIVERSE.

***

A/N: I know that the chunin exams and everything happened before Tsunade was Hokage, but for this fanfic I NEED her to be Hokage, so please understand. This is not at all in sync with canon, so I beg your forgiveness.

''DAMN IT BRAT I SAID NOT TO CALL ME THAT!'' Tsunade hollered.

It wasn't every day that she got to present Naruto with an A rank mission. She sighed, grabbing a few pamphlets and flopping back onto her dreaded chair. She might have to pull another all-nighter after this.

As the fifth Hokage, it was her duty to protect her people. Her old teammate, Orochimaru, one of the three legendary Sannin, was on the loose... AGAIN.

Most of the Jonin were still cleaning up the mess from the Chunin Exams, meaning she had to find anyone who was up for the job to go find Orochimaru. She lifted her head and a wicked grin was plastered to her face, a look, Shizune, her assistant, knew very well.

''Tsunade-sama, you were hungover two days ago! Do you know how much more paperwork there is? Sunagakure wants to create an alliance and the Mist wants to pay their respects for those who have fallen. How many escorts will that require? No more drinking for a month, is that understood?'' Shizune poured out, exasperated.

Naruto tapped his foot impatiently. Unable to hold back any longer he spat out ''SO WHEN DO WE SET OUT? BAACHAN CAN I-''

''HOLD YOUR HORSES BRAT, AND STOP CALLING ME THAT OR ELSE'' she cracked her pale knuckles, a miasma of killer intent radiating off every cell in her being.

Naruto visibly shuddered and swallowed what he was going to say next. Even though Tsunade was old, she had superhuman strength, not to mention physical prowess, enough to make any man quiver in his shoes. Unfortunately, he had learned that the hard way, undergoing a plethora of mild concussions.

''You head out at 2 pm today, at the main gates to Konoha, which leaves you with three hours to pack.'' She said, a hint of satisfaction in her syrupy voice.

Beside him, an emo black haired nin stood with the ghost of a smirk painted on his face. To his right, a girl with short pink hair and turquoise eyes looked down at her shoes, ashamed of her teammate. Behind him, a lazy cloud-watching ninja with a hairdo resembling a pineapple stood with his hands in a relaxed position, elbows up, hands grasping the back of his neck. He looked almost bored then, a classic, trademark Shikamaru attitude.

''I understand why you're sending Team 7, but why me?'' Shikamaru inquired, eyeing the Hokage, forcedly keeping his eyes off her bosom.

''I will be sending you along, as the brat- Naruto, cannot make good decisions, rather he charges head-on, which won't be tactical regarding who you will likely be dealing with today. Is that all?''

''Tsunade-sama, if we do face him in person, will we have ANBU follow us?'' Sakura, the pink-haired beauty asked, her arms fiddling behind her back.

Tsunade looked at her and gave it a thought, but all the remaining ANBU there was were all either injured or hadn't returned, meaning they were dead or had gotten lost under the rubble.

''I suppose not, but you will have this'' she handed her a scroll ''Send this using your summon animal back to us, and we will send some Jonin your way. Until then, stall your enemies. This should work out fine.'' She grinned to herself, zoning out and thinking 'being Hokage is easy'. Her face fell when another tremendously tall stack of solid paperwork was brought in on her 'silver platter'.

''Then again, I guess not'' she mumbled, taking back everything she had said about the easiness of her job.

A familiar tapping was heard from the window, and the form of Jiraya, the Toad Sage, one of the legendary Sannin, (and legendary perverts), crouched on the sill.

''PERVY SAGE!'' Naruto yelped, hoping he would help with this situation.

''DAMN YOU BRAT YOU DARE USE THAT NAME ON ME AGAIN?'' Jiraya said, an accusing finger pointed at Naruto. Tsunade only giggled and Shizune trembled.

''Teme'' Sasuke, the emo nin, whispered under his breath.

With a look and a 'is that all' from Tsunade, the nins blanketed their expressions once more.

With a slight nod from everyone and a grumble or two from Naruto, she turned to them and gestured to them ''You are dismissed.''

Everyone slouched off to their own residences, leaving Shizune, Jiraya and Tsunade alone to discuss their own matters. Leaping from rooftop to rooftop, Naruto didn't stop until he arrived at his destination. Sasuke speed-ran to the feared, lonely Uchiha district, the souls and cries of those who had been slaughtered that night can still be heard if you walk there at dusk.

Shikamaru and Sakura walked their separate ways, each one walking casually towards their homes, back to their families. Sakura walked by a park colonised by children, their parents cheerfully chirping from a distance. Their happiness made her smile, as she walked into the gates of her home.

Little did they know, shadows outside the ring of mountains were watching their every move, intensely studying them through a pair of tattered binoculars.

''Its time'' the tallest one whispered, motioning his accomplices to usher away in a puff of smoke.

A/N: Hey guys, this is my first story btw. The timeline this follows will be a bit different from canon, but that's alright. Let me know what you think, and I'm sure to be sending out chapter two in the (very) near future. Thank you for your time -Skull