23)Foxy Adventures: Ch.23

“This the spot?” Jiraya asked as the three of us stood in front of a bar, to which Karin closed her eyes for a brief moment to concentrate before nodding.

“Yep, this is the spot. Also, the three chakras from earlier have vanished completely from my senses.”

“Hmm, they either had a reverse summon planned or are hiding deep underground to where you can't find them.” I spoke up and she sighed as Jiraiya nodded.

“That lines up with Orochimar's tactics to escape. However, we have someone else to deal with for now. Let me do the talking.”

“Won't hear any complaints from me. / Sure thing, Pervy Sage.” Karin and I spoke respectively and he rolled his eyes as we walked into the bar, the patrons immediately looking away the moment they caught sight of Jiraiya.

However, my gaze were focused on two other things that caught my attention the moment the buxom blonde lady stood to her feet and slowly turned with wide eyes towards Karin, who gave me the same look back.

“You seeing what I'm seeing?” She mouthed and I nodded as I slowly turned back, occupied with the fact that Tsunade had knockers that were the size of my head plus my hair.

The woman in question looked surprised to see Pervy Sage and he pretended to be just as surprised as we made our way over to her booth.

'That's Shizune? Damn, the anime did not do her justice as all.' While she did not have the curvaceous build of Tsunade, she was still a beautiful woman and she smiled as Karin and I waved at her with a smile.

“Why are you hanging around with these kids? Did you take a new team or what?” Tsunade began immediately as we sat down and I just relaxed in my seat while chewing on the dried sardines as Jiraiya snorted.

“Not at all. This is Karin Uzumaki and Naruto Uzumaki. They're cousins, not brother and sister.” I heard Jiraiya answer and open my eyes slightly to see her narrowed brow while Shizune looked slightly surprised.

“Hmm, the Nine Tails' Jinchuriki, eh?”

“Being my Jinchuriki is better than being a descendant of that wretched tree-loving fool. At least I give my Jinchuriki something to prove that they are mine.”

'She's just trying to provoke us, bud.' I answered even as I stifled my smile at Kurama's grumbling, taking another sardine and smirking at her disappointed gaze as Jiraiya spoke up for me.

“Actually, I wouldn't say that so condescendingly. The kid and the Nine Tails are friends and he can hear everything that Naruto here hears. Also, the kid lets him free now and again so if you keep insulting him…” Jiraiya trailed off and Tsunade frowned slightly while Shizune paled.

“Bullshit.”

“Careful what you wish for, spawn of that tree-fucker.” I let Kurama take over for a brief moment to speak and had to hold in my laughter at her surprised look before I found myself back in the driver seat once again.

“Like Pervy Sage said, don't provoke him unless you're willing to fight him.”

“Oi! What have I said about that stupid name?”

“Pervy Sage…Huh, it fits.” Tsunade spoke up after having snapped out of her surprise and Jiraiya grumbled as Karin patted his shoulder before taking a sardine to eat.

“Don't you start with it. So, what's this I hear about a snake and a lion with wings? You must know something about it, right?”

“Nothing really. Just a little exchange of words and insults between old teammates.” Tsunade answered nonchalantly while taking out a deck of cards from her cleavage, shuffling them as I rose an eyebrow at her words.

'Huh, guess she's still deciding to stay silent in this universe. Guess I'm going to have to learn that Talk-no-Jutsu to figure out how to convince her to come back.'

“Is that so? Sounds quiet nice.” Jiraiya answered back as she placed down the deck and he sliced it in half before expertly shuffling them and placing them back down.

“Why are you actually here, Jiraiya? For what reason have you decided to come looking for me?”

“I'll give it to you straight. The old man has decided that he's getting up there in years so you've been called back to become the Fifth Hokage.”

“…Eh? I thought…Eh?” I was stumped for words as both Karin and I looked right at Jiraiya, not caring for the others' reaction as I watched only to be even further surprised by the lack of amusement on Jiraiya's face.

'Oh, he's serious. I mean, I was kind of expecting some kind of twist, but this…this was something I was not expecting.'

“Two young Uzumaki get sent out with a Sannin to bring another one of their clan back? Yeah, that had 'hidden objective' written all over it.” Kurama answered with a scoff and I took a deep breath while mentally rolling my eyes as Tsunade hummed.

“You being serious here, Pervy Sage?”

“As a heart-attack.” He answered without looking away from his cards, making me frown before I looked at Tsunade right as she looked at me.

“The kid is quite nosy, isn't he?”

“Remind you of someone?” He asked her in turn with a smirk and she simply looked at me with a stoic gaze before humming as she looked back at her cards.

“Somewhat. However, unlike your previous apprentice, this one is a bit slow and a bit ugly to match.”

“Says the woman who has to make herself look younger to get some attention. You know that just because you look twenty doesn't mean you're actually twenty, right?” I asked with a raised eyebrow, smirking as she narrowed her eyes at me while both Jiraiya and Shizune looked a bit nervous.

“Those are some fighting words there, brat.”

“Ooh~ Now she pulls out the brat. Want me to get you a walking cane to let you finish the look? Oh wait, that's right. You'd rather have a stripper pole because you need some way to get the money that you owe your debt collectors.”

“Naruto, I would cut back if I were you.”

“And another thing. I know I'm not old enough nor experienced enough to say this, but Pervy Sage here and so many other shinobi have faced just as many tragedies if not more than you have and I still see them doing their duty to their village just like they swore to. Yet, you run the moment you lose two people precious to you. News flash, old hag, everyone dies, but that doesn't give you a reason to quit your work. If anything, you should use that as motivation to protect the ones you still have. Then again, like the Nine-Tailed Fox said, what can you expect from someone that is descended from one of my role models yet does not have a single smidgen of his Will of Fire?”

'Sorry for calling you Nine-Tailed Fox there, Kurama.'

“You just earned your spot as my second favourite human.”

'…Still below Karin?'

“Still below Karin.”

'Eh, I'll take it.' I thought with a sigh as I stood up, looking at Jiraiya as he looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I'm going to go catch some air. Once the little girl over there decides to either become a woman and return to her duties or run away like the frightened little girl she is, you can come find me.”

“…Sure. Karin?”

“I'm going with. What I'm seeing in front of me is just nauseating.” Karin answered with a scoff as she stood up, the two of us leaving the bar before I stretched with a groan and looked at my cousin.

“Wanna go hang out?”

“Depends. We getting ramen?” She asked with a look and I smirked as I raised my pouch.

“Six bowl limit…each.”

“I like that idea.”

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“So…you gonna explain why you just went and insulted my old teammate?”

“Why? You pissed I ruined your chances with her or something?” I asked as I sat on the windowsill of our room and Jiraiya snorted as he walked over and sat down next to it while Karin slept peacefully in her bed.

“A bit annoyed that you ruined the negotiations like that…but also a bit proud with the way you insulted her.”

“…Pervy Sage, do you think I was a bit harsh?” I asked and heard him hum in response before he spoke.

“What makes you think that?”

“Well, I know everyone processes grief differently and I know some may take a longer time than others, but it's just…she's had decades to get over their deaths, but she's still unable to just move on.”

“Well, let's look at it from her perspective. She just gave her twelve year old brother a gift and later that same day, he died from an explosion. Then she found someone who helped her through it for the next year and they had even considered marriage…only for him to die a day before he wanted to propose. To compare it, it would be kind of like you losing both Karin and Hinata all in the span of a year.”

“…Well, now I feel like shit…Shit that was still in the right, but shit nonetheless.” I muttered while looking out at the sky only to look back as the man chuckled and ruffled my hair with a smile.

“Precisely. If you feel bad even if you are in the right, it's just because you're a good guy that wants to see everyone be better than what they are now. A quality I hear most Hokage have….though that's about the only thing you got going for you.”

“You wanna go?” I asked with a smirk and a glare as I cracked my knuckles and he snorted as he began walking back to the door and shook his head with a stretch.

“Nope, it would be too easy of a fight for me to enjoy.”

“You're sounding like someone who knows he's going to lose.” I spoke with a grin and he rolled his eyes as he closed the door behind him, leaving me alone in the room once more as I took a deep breath and looked back out at the sky.

'I guess if I have to, I'll apologize…but only if I have to…'

“So~ You actually like Hinata that much, huh?”

“Karin, go back to sleep.” I muttered and the girl in questions giggled as she rolled back over, leaving me with a snickering Kurama who decided it would be his job to torment me for the night.

“You're damn right. I want you to name your first son Kurama. A strong name for a boy.”

'This is about to be a long night.'

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'We expected this.'

“We did. Well, I did. You were the one who still had some doubts.”

'Because I thought we got through to her, but this?' I asked with a raised eyebrow as I looked at Jiraiya, who looked like he was breathing heavy while Shizune struggled to carry him.

“That's why I always say to never put all your trust in someone you just met. They'll be quick to betray you if you do.”

'Kurama, you're a lot more talkative since you agreed to help.'

“The only reason I am is because you're not nagging me for my chakra every time we talk like the other jailors I've had.”

'Right, I forgot everyone saw you as a demon up until now.'

“A late night gone wrong, Pervy Sage?” I asked as I helped Shizune place him on the bed, to which the man just rolled his eyes before I frowned at the sight of blood on his shirt.

“Don't…worry…It's mine…and the wound is closed already.”

“That just makes me worry even more. Miss…uh, just realize I never got your name…”

“Shizune. Ms. Shizune.” Shizune introduced herself with a smile and I nodded while kicking the bed where Karin was still asleep on.

“Right, Ms. Shizune. Don't suppose you know any medical ninjutsu, right?” I asked and sighed as she shook her head.

“I have healed his stab wound and the poison used with it, but there is another toxin inside of him that is beyond my expertise.”

“How did she even stab you with a knife? Aren't you supposed to be this all-powerful Sage?” I asked with a raised eyebrow and gave him a deadpan stare as he blushed slightly while having a dopey grin on his face.

“She may have distracted me.”

“She flashed you, didn't she?” I asked and groaned as his grin widened while Shizune turned a bright red.

“Pervy Sage, you really need to stop thinking with your head down below.”

“My head below is what…defines me as a man.”

“Sure it does. Ms. Shizune, when is Tsunade supposed to meet Orochimaru and his companion?” I asked as I looked at her, to which she looked surprised before answering.

“T-Today. It was supposed to be in a week, but I guess she wants to get it over and done with.”

“Or…your speech from last night…was enough to convince her…” Jiraiya offered before snorting as I gave him a stoic look.

“…Yeah, you're right. She's probably going to help them. Help me up and we'll go stop her.”

“I'll give some help.” Karin answered as she rolled up her sleeve and I frowned slightly at the bite marks as Jiraiya raised an eyebrow while Shizune looked confused.

“You sure?” I asked and she snorted as she helped Jiraiya sit up before letting him bite down.

“I've….had nothing to do…for the entirety of the mission. Let me…do something.”

“Very well.” I nodded and watched as Karin's breathing grew a bit ragged while Jiraiya stopped biting down and lifted his head away, his eyes widening as he clenched his fists before my own widened as the guy went from sitting on the bed to standing on the outside walls with a grin.

“You are a goddamn miracle worker! Now come on and let's go save my idiot teammate!” With a grunt, I watched as the man sailed through the air with one leap and I sighed before turning to Karin who nodded.

“Okay, then. Let's go save an old hag.”

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“Damn, the destruction is off the charts.” I muttered as we landed on the outskirts of the city, staring at the gigantic craters that left a trail out from the city along with the charred ground and deep cuts all around each of them.

“From the looks of it, Orochimaru is fighting back and the deep cuts must be from his apprentice so we need to hurry.” Jiraiya spoke before he took off, the three of us hot on his heels as we quickly raced in the direction that gave off the most noise.

However, as we caught sight of a blonde figure jogging after two others, my eyes widened as I heard the ground rumbling behind us, Jiraiya quickly spinning around and spitting out a barrage of flaming oil bombs right as numerous bandages shot out of the ground.

“Well, well~ It appears your senses have not dulled at all, Jiraiya.” I was utterly confused by the voice as I had never heard it in my life, but it appears Jiraiya had as his eyes widened the moment a teenage boy covered in bandages emerged from the ground with a gleeful look in his eyes.

“Know him, Pervy Sage?”

“…Hiruko. You three go and help Tsunade.”

“He that bad?” I asked and my eyes widened as I felt an immense pressure rippling from his form, his gaze never wavering from the figure who appeared to be focused entirely on Jiraiya as well.

“I'd wager you start running right now.”

“Got it!” That was all I said out loud as I spun around and took off towards Tsunade, Shizune and Karin quickly following after as I heard a devastating explosion echoing behind us.

If he was more serious about fighting this guy than he was about fighting Orochimaru…yeah, I'm making sure to stay the hell away from it.

Watching as Tsunade threw a punch at the ground and unleashed a devastating shockwave, I quickly made a cross hand sign right as I saw Kabuto spotting and rushing towards us.

“Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!” With a large burst of chakra, a giant cloud of smoke obscured us right as I grabbed Shizune and Karin by their collars, both of them looking surprised before their eyes widened as I whispered.

“Go to Tsunade and help her. I got this guy.”

“Charge!” Before they could argue, a clone in the middle shouted that as he rushed forward, the rest of us quickly running around the two ladies and towards Kabuto who looked surprised to see an army of Naruto clones charging out from the smoke.

Time for this bookworm to take on the new and improved Naruto Uzumaki!

A/N: Like I said, this arc isn't going to be a long one as I want to get to the next arc already which is going to be a Nova-original.

Anyway, next chapter, the Surgeon vs an Army of Idiots. Who will win? Find out.

Also, if you guys want, I can write out Jiraiya's section of the battle next chapter before we move onto the Kabuto vs Naruto fight for the latter section of the chapter.

Only if you guys want. If not, we'll jump straight into Naruto v Kabuto.

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!