The Enlightened One Ch.79

— Naruko —

“Teach it to me!” Naruko shouted at the perverted Sannin as he ate.

“You’re a persistent brat, you know that? It’s getting annoying.” Pervy-Sage grumbled out between bites, only further lighting Naruko’s impatience.

“And I’ll continue to be until you teach me!” The blonde demanded once again, earning a deep sigh from the Sannin.

“You know what? Fine.”

“Eh?” Naruko blinked.

“I said fine, I’ll teach you; the longer it keeps your mouth shut, the better.”

Naruko’s face slowly lit up as the meaning of the Sage’s words began to make sense in her mind. He was going to teach her the Rasengan!

Naruko’s blue eyes shot over to the Senju Lord, who was smiling at her and laying his back against a tree.

“Yes! When do we start?!” Naruko practically jumped up from where she was sitting. Her excitement was too much to contain, and her already hyperactive mind and body couldn’t sit still.

She was going to learn one of the greatest jutsu of all time! One created by Lord Fourth himself, the strongest of the Hokage!

“Why not now?” Jiraiya sighed and stood up. “Both of you listen closely because I’m only going to explain it once.”

“Pervy sir, yes sir!” Naruko put her hands behind her back and grew serious. Jiraiya stared at her for a few seconds before slapping his hand against his face.

“I should have come alone…” He whispered to himself before he put up a hand sign.

*POOF*

A puff of smoke appeared in his hand and when it cleared, he was holding two balloons in each of his hands that looked like they were filled with water.

Naruko blinked at the balloons and narrowed her eyes.

“Is this a joke?” She asked with a deadpan. Any amusement she once had was gone. She had been tricked.

“It is not, but damn would it be a funny one!” Jiraiya laughed hard, making Naruko’s deadpan shift more into a glare.

“You said you would teach us the Rasengan! How are we supposed to learn a powerful jutsu with water balloons?!”

“Less talking, more listening, and you may just get the answer you’re looking for.” Jiraiya shrugged, and immediately, Naruko bit her mouth shut. She wanted nothing more than to insult the Sannin again, but if she did, he could withhold the knowledge of the Rasengan from her out of spite.

Naruko flinched as she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked beside herself to see Lei standing there with a look of pure amusement.

“Tell us then, Lord Jiraiya; how do we go about learning the Rasengan?”

Jiraiya looked at Lei for a moment before a wide grin split the old man’s lips. “Someone’s eager! Instead of telling you, I’ll show you.”

Jiraiya held out his right hand where one of the water balloons lay in his palm.

“Watch the balloon.”

Naruko didn’t know where the perv was going with this, but she did as he said and focused her attention on the water balloon. For the first few seconds, nothing happened, but after a small while, the water balloon began to contort before inevitably popping, filling the Sannin’s hand with water.

“That’s how you learn the rasengan.” Jiraiya grinned and held his now free wet hand into another handseal.

*POOF*

Another puff of smoke and another water balloon in his hand. He threw one to Lei and one to her.

“Do what I did and pop the balloon without touching it with your other hand.”

Naruko blinked at him, still surprised by what he had done and what he was asking.

“How the hell are we supposed to do that?!”

“Figure it out yourselves.” Jiraiya put his finger in his ear and walked away uncaringly, leaving her and Lei to learn the jutsu.

“Damn that pervy sage!” Naruko shouted loud enough for him to hear even with his fingers in his ear. She then turned to Lei who chuckled and frowned. “Do you think this is funny?! He’s keeping that super cool awesome jutsu all to himself!”

Lei raised a brow with a firm smile still locked on his lips as he held up the water balloon. The balloon began to contort and move about before eventually popping.

Naruko’s eyes went wide with surprise as she looked at the water balloon in her hands then at the water dripping down Lei’s hand.

“How the hell did you do that?!” Naruko ran up to him and grabbed his shoulder with her free hand.

“You’re gonna have to figure that out yourself.” Lei threw his arms behind his head and whistled as he walked away.

“Wha… Lei! Where are you going?!” Naruko’s eyes widened as Lei walked over to Jiraiya and sat down beside him.

They both were leaving her to do this all by herself?! She had expected the pervy sage to do something mean like that, but her boyfriend was supposed to be different!

Naruko cooled herself down as she thought back on all the time she had known Lei. Never had he been rude to her for the sake of being rude. Sure he would tease, but he never meant any harm with his words. He also never passed up on a chance to teach her something she wanted to know, unless he didn’t know how to do it, but even then the full extent of the Senju Library was open to her to learn anything she wished.

So why would he act like this now?

Naruko already knew the answer. She looked down at the water balloon and realized that this was a test, a challenge.

She needed to figure out how to pop this water balloon by herself, like Jiraiya and Lei had done. If she couldn’t do that, then she didn’t deserve to learn this super awesome technique!

Naruko sat down and began straining as she attempted to pop the water balloon with nothing but her mind and chakra.

She’d get this done without any one’s help, believe it!

— Lei Senju —

I sat with Jiraiya as he finished the rest of his food. As he did, his black eyes met my green and curiosity filled them.

“You’re not gonna give a solid attempt?” He asked as he swallowed down the boar meat.

“I’m done.” I admitted making him blink in surprise. I had to admit, he hid it well, if I hadn’t been looking for it I wouldn’t have even known that he was surprised.

“You’re done?” The Sannin asked slowly.

“I’m done.” I nodded.

He stared at me for a few seconds before he held up his hand and a puff of smoke erupted out. He tossed me the water balloon through the smoke and once I caught it, he gestured for me to pop it.

I held the balloon with one hand under it and ran my chakra through it. A couple seconds later the balloon exploded and water burst from it. The water splashed onto my clothes and I narrowed my eyes at my own foolishness before using a simple wind jutsu to dry myself off.

Jiraiya stared at me for a long while before letting out an exhausted sigh.

“Why do I always have to get all the geniuses?” He facepalmed.

“You have Naruko.” I pointed out helpfully and he looked up at me with some amusement.

“Oh, are you saying your girlfriend isn’t a genius?” The older man placed a hand on his chin as he stared at me curiously.

“That’s what I’m saying, yes.” I nodded easily. “Talented, sure, but a genius… are we talking about the same Naruko?”

“Haha!” Jiraiya burst out laughing. As he let his laughter go, I watched on with a small smile. My intention wasn’t to disrespect Naruko, she’s practically a genius when it comes to chakra control because of how well she can control the bottomless pit that is her chakra reserves, and that’s without even mentioning the Nine Tails. Her chakra control exceeds my own, but when it comes to everything else, she’s a bit slow on the uptake.

“Ya know kid, you remind me of a man I once knew many years ago. I met him when he was a kid, maybe a bit younger than you.” Jiraiya hummed as his eyes glazed over and he reminisced about the past. I had a feeling I knew which kid he was talking about, which is why I showed my surprise to the older man.

“Oh what’s that look for?” Jiraiya tilted his head with a sly smirk. “Come on, spit it out, what do you have to say?”

“You’re talking about… the Fourth Hokage.” I frowned and Jiraiya wasted no time supplying me with a nod.

“I am. Minato was a genius among geniuses, and he was so reserved, just like you.” Jiraiya closed his eyes and hummed in thought. “He could be a kind boy one second, and a ruthless Shinobi the next. Some may go as far as to call him the perfect Shinobi.”

“And what do you think?” I questioned with genuine curiosity. I pretty much knew his answer but I wanted to hear it from his mouth.

“If you know I was referring to the Fourth Hokage then you must know I was his sensei.” Jiraiya’s eyes locked on mine as

I nodded. “I’ve trained six people to date, and I have to say, Minato was by far my greatest student, though I suppose that’s not that surprising, he was the Fourth Hokage after all… There was not a Shinobi alive that could hold Minato back, or an army that could take him down. He was a good friend, a great husband, and a perfect Shinobi, but a terrible student.”

“A terrible student?” I inquired with a raised brow.

“Yeah.” Jiraiya looked up at the sky. “A genius. Geniuses are no fun. All you have to do is show them a technique and leave them to figure it out by themselves. Once you come back to them they’ll have it all figured out.” Jiraiya returned his gaze to me as his smile grew. “But a student… like that girl, that’s the best kind of student. One who will struggle for hours, or days, or even months, but they won’t give up and eventually they’ll figure it out.”

I closed my eyes and smiled at his words. I had to agree, there was something so inspiring about seeing Naruko strive to achieve what she set out to from the beginning. When her mind was set on something, there was little that could pull her away from it. Hinata, Satsuki, and I all picked up that trait from her, but none of us had it to the extent she had.

She was born to be great, not through talent, not through the powers she had been given at birth, but through her character.

“I’m a lucky guy.” I admitted aloud and heard the Sannin snort.

“No kidding. Three girlfriends and you’re not even fourteen yet, buy a lottery ticket.”

“There are lotteries in Konoha?” I blinked in surprise. Why hadn’t I been told of this?!

“Not in Konoha, there are contests there though.” Jiraiya shrugged. “If you want to enter a lottery you’d have to go to one of the many tourist villages, like the Hot Springs Village.” The Sannin stood up and looked down at me with a small smile. “I’m gonna go look around, watch the girl eh?”

“I’ll keep her safe.” I nodded. There was no way in hell I was letting Naruko get hurt, though I hoped he would come back soon.

“Good man.” Jiraiya said before jumping away into the trees.

Well… if I’m alone now I may as well preoccupy myself.

I looked down at the floor in thought as I formed some plans for the future. I’d definitely have to visit some of those tourist villages. I doubted the lotteries could give me more money than I already have, or allow me to make any real amount of ryo, but I’d try anyways for the fun of it.

Plus… a vacation spot besides the beach house I’m building in Waves would be pretty cool.

Now that I think about it…

I sent a mental order to my clone in Waves to send me back what he was seeing and memories of his business meetings with Sento filled my mind.

The house had begun its construction already and some of the forest bordering the beach was being cut down for space.

The people of Waves had allowed me to do with that entire plot of land as I pleased and I was essentially the Lord of Waves along with Sento who was still doing business there.

I mentally thanked my Waves clone before focusing on my Mist Clone and my heart warmed at the memories it sent me.

The war was far from over and the rebels were being pushed back. My clone was of no real use to the entire war effort as it’s made up of so little chakra. That being said, Mei still hadn’t changed one bit and even though the rebels were losing, Mei remained positive. She was determined to create a Mist Village where she and the rest of the rebels would be allowed to live without being persecuted for just existing, and she conveyed her wishes of marriage to my clone daily.

Basically, she expected a ring the moment the rebels won the war.

… I don’t know if I’d even be ready for marriage at that point.

By then I’d be maybe fifteen or sixteen, if things play out similar to how they did in canon. Plus I’d want to marry my girls in order, not just mixing it up, so I’d have to ask for Hinata’s hand, then Naruko’s, then Satsuki’s, then finally Mei’s.

I guess I’d have that to look forward to.

The rebels losing the war thus far was concerning though. I knew that soon Gramps would send some Shinobi toward the Mist village to help out the war effort, and there was a high chance I’d be among those Shinobi.

Though I wondered… should I send a wood golem that way? If I did then I’m sure that wood golem would change the tide of the war. There would be no way the rebels would be in a losing situation unless the Fourth Mizukage himself came out and dealt with the golem.

I could probably even send a clone as well. I could halve my chakra through the creation of a clone and then regenerate it later while the clone goes off with half of my chakra reserves. It could definitely provide some real aid to the Mist Shinobi, I’m certain of that.

I’d definitely do that in the future. If not a golem I’d at least need to send a new clone. The one that’s already in the Mist Village is of no real use.

“Lei!” Naruko shouted and immediately I teleported over to her using Flying Raijin. I looked around with a wooden tanto already formed and within my grasp. “Lei…”

I looked down to see Naruko sitting with slightly wide eyes.

“There’s no enemy, I just needed some advice.” Naruko admitted as she scratched her cheek nervously. “Sorry.”

I blinked at her and let the wooden tanto morph into a stick. With a small gathering of nature energy, flowers began to blossom out of the stick and I handed it to Naruko, surprising her.

“Don’t apologize, it’s my fault for getting so worked up.” I said as I crouched down to her level. She averted her gaze as her face went red so I gently grasped her chin and turned her head back to me.

“I-I… thank you.” She breathed out with love filled eyes.

“So what did you want from me?” I offered her a smile and she blinked in confusion. “You called me over for something, didn’t you?”

“I did… yeah, I did!” Naruko snapped out of whatever trance she had been as her cheeks grew even more red. “I need your help with this jutsu.”

“I can’t tell you what you need to do, Naruko.” I frowned. I definitely could but it would go against the whole purpose of her learning it by herself.

“No, I don’t mean it like that, I just don’t understand, I’m running my chakra through it and it’s not working.” Naruko pouted and I quickly turned away. I was not going to be goaded into helping just because of some puppy dog eyes!

I looked back at her to see she was still making the same face as even though I tried to look away again, I couldn’t. All I could remember was all those days Naruko would be upset after being mistreated by the village and how it was my job as her friend to cheer her up.

“Naruko…” I frowned and let out a sigh. Explaining what she could focus on would only help, it wouldn’t give her the perfect answer she needed. “Fine… applying chakra alone is not enough, you need to keep the water balloon steady while applying chakra to the water within it. That’s the most I’m gonna say.” I turned away and Naruko immediately wrapped me in her arms and rubbed her face against my cheek.

“You’re the best, Lei! Thank you, thank you!” She beamed and I took her affection with hesitance. I didn’t know if it was necessarily the right thing to do, but Naruko getting stronger more quickly had to be a net positive in the long run.

I sat and watched Naruko for the rest of the day as she worked on popping the water balloon. Even though I had told her what to do, it still took until the end of the day before she had finally managed to pop it.

When she did, she ran back to Jiraiya with a smug look and demanded another water balloon just to pop it in his face.

Jiraiya had barely reacted to her completing the first step and handed her a rubber ball before throwing me one.

“You think you can pop that one, kid?” Jiraiya asked with a sly smirk as I caught the rubber ball.

I held it in my hand and began circulating my chakra through it. The rubber ball barely moved at first but eventually it started to contort before ultimately popping.

“Well done.” Jiraiya nodded with satisfaction. “Rubber balls are much harder than water balloons, so good look to you.” Jiraiya turned around and waved.

“Damn it!” Naruko shouted.

Jiraiya suddenly stopped and turned around. “Oh, I forgot to say this before, but it’s time to move, figure it out on the way.”

Both Naruko and I shared a look before nodding.

We all hopped back into the trees moving at a quick pace toward the next town.

I really wanted to get back and focus on my training again, and also check on Satsuki… so hopefully Tsunade was in this town.

— Tsunade Senju —

“Ah, bummer!” The owner of the place winced with a cheeky smile on his face. “Seems like you’ve managed to lose again… what do you say? Wanna go for another round?”

The blonde haired woman who had suffered loss after loss frowned deeply at the man before picking up her cup of sake and downing it one gulp.

“Shizune! I’m going all in!”

“Um Lady Tsunade… that was all of the funds you had.” Shizune rubbed the back of her head nervously. The Slug Sannin looked at her student with wide eyes. How could she have blown through her money already?!

“You’re out of funds?!” The owner’s grin wore off as exasperation filled his features. “How the hell are you gonna pay the debt you’ve accrued?!”

Tsunade looked at him with a drunken gaze and narrowed her eyes. The last thing she was worried about was paying this guy! She needed her money for more booze and to gamble more!

“Please forgive Lady Tsunade, she’s a bit intoxicated at the moment, I assure you the debt will be paid in full next month.” Shizune bowed to the man.

“Next month ain’t gonna cut it! Pay what you owe now or we’ll take ittake!” The owner’s grin returned as he looked down at Tsunade’s breasts.

Shizune straightened up a bit at the threat while Tsunade only relaxed further. She wasn’t concerned with these guys and she didn’t want to ruin her night by spilling blood on her clothes.

“Shizune, we’re leaving.” Tsunade said as she pushed herself up on her wobbly feet. Shizune followed after her and they made their way toward the exit.

“Not so fast.” The owner whispered behind them. Tsunade turned around to see Shizune standing still with the owner’s hand on her ass. “No debts left unpaid.” His grin turned malicious as he licked his lips.

“Shizune…” Tsunade’s drunken nature began to leave her as she circulated her chakra through her coils.

“Yes, Lady Tsunade?” Shizune asked with a calmness Tsunade had come to respect from her student.

“Kill them.”

“As you wish.”

The man didn’t even get a chance to remove his hand before Shizune raised her hand and three senbon flew into the owner’s neck.

The other men around gasped as the owner fell to the floor.

“Don’t tell me you’ve grown soft, Shizune.” Tsunade asked with narrowed eyes at her student. She was the best damn medical nin in the world, she could diagnose an injury, how it was caused, and even how much time had paused with a mere glance. Three senbon to the neck was hardly fatal.

“No My Lady, but I do not believe you are in your right mind.” Shizune defended her action with reason which made Tsunade sigh.

“Yeah yeah, whatever.” Tsunade sighed and turned around to look at the group of shaking men. “Just so the rest of you know, that jackass cleared my debt with that hand of his. Had he touched my student for any longer I guarantee that all of you would have been in debt to me, and I would have expected your lives as compensation.”

Tsunade didn’t wait for any of their whimpering words and walked out of the small casino. Shizune followed after her quietly as their bodies were embraced by the cold night sky.

“How did I run out of funds, Shizune?” Tsunade asked with unhidden annoyance. She already knew the answer but she didn’t want to admit it herself.

“I believe it was the drinking and gambling…” Shizune trailed off as Tsunade turned around and gave her a half hearted glare.

“I want my bed.” Tsunade yawned as they made their way down the dirt road of the small village they found themselves in.

They had caused quite a ruckus tonight, it’d be for the best if they left the village early in the morning tomorrow.

The road was relatively quiet with only a few people out this time of night. Tsunade ignored all of them as she fell into her own little world. She’d have to ask her sensei for money sooner than her monthly payments permitted, otherwise she’d be broke for the next dozen days, and she couldn’t have that. How would she survive?!

“Shizune, it may be time.” Tsunade admitted sadly.

“For what, Lady Tsunade?” Shizune tilted her head in confusion.

“We are going to be hungry for the next few days… we’ll have to survive off of TonTon.”

“No!” Shizune denied immediately as she held the small pig tightly into her side. “We will not be eating TonTon and that’s final!”

“Tsk.” Tsunade frowned and turned away. “You fight so hard for that pig but don’t fight for anything else. When are you going to get married?!” Tsunade turned around suddenly and pointed an accusatory finger at her student who blushed at the insult.

“I-I have my duty as your student! I will get m-married when the time is right and no sooner than that!”

“Mmm, that’s what they all say.” Tsunade grinned and rolled her eyes, making Shizune blush even harder. The Slug Sannin turned away and continued her walk toward the inn. Her grin dissipated as emptiness replaced it.

As harsh as her words may have been, she truly wanted nothing but the best for Shizune. The girl had been her student for so long, and at this point that wasn’t even what their relationship was. Shizune was more like her caretaker, keeping her out of too much trouble and checking her when she went over the deep end.

She was a lot like him… like Dan.

Tsunade ran her hand over her face and sighed. She needed another drink, then another, then another until the pain of her losses was drowned out completely under the buzz of alcohol.

“It’s a bit late for a walk, don’t you think ladies?” A male voice laughed behind them.

Tsunade paused and froze. She knew that voice… she had heard it too many times over the course of her long life.

A breathy sigh escaped Tsunade as she turned around and looked at her old squad mate. “Jiraiya… why are you here?”

“Ouch! That’s rude! No hello? No, howNo how are you? I’m hurt,Tsunade!” Jiraiya clenched his heart and dropped to a knee. Tsunade watched him, completely unimpressed before her eyes went to the two children beside him. Her eyes lit up in recognition as she looked at the straight blonde haired, blue eyed girl. It didn’t even take more than a moment to process who she was.

The girl looked exactly like Kushina with Minato’s hair and eye color after all. Tsunade then looked at the boy on Jiraiya’s other side and she felt her heart drop.

Tsunade knew this boy… how could she not?

“That’s the face I expected to see!” Jiraiya stood up and grinned as he pointed at Tsunade.

“Lies…” Tsunade whispered as she took a fearful step back. The smiling brown haired boy raised a brow at her actions.

“Is something wrong?” He asked with clear concern in his green eyes. Her heart sped up as she took another shaky step back.

“Y-You… you need to stay away!” Tsunade demanded. Thoughts of her deceased brother filled her mind. The moment she gave Nawaki her necklace and kissed his forehead, then the moment she pulled the covers up from his body and saw his remains…

“Lady Tsunade?” Shizune called out with a tone filled with concern.

“That’s her?” The blonde haired girl, Naruko Uzumaki, tilted her head.

“Live in the flesh, Dear Naruko!” Jiraiya walked forward.

“I said stay back, all of you!” Tsunade shouted louder as sweat dripped down her face. Dan was the next to appear in her mind. The man she fell in love with and was prepared to marry. Her love lying in the cold dirt as he bled out… and there was nothing she could do about it!

“Tsunade…” The boy called as he stepped forward.

“I said stay away!” She demanded but he didn’t stop walking toward her. He held up a hand sign and frowned.

“It’s really as bad as Gramps said. You really need to lay off the alcohol and lock in!” The boy channeled chakra through his hands and weaved more hand seals. “Sage Art: Wood Style: Detoxification Jutsu!” He shouted and suddenly Tsunade’s world became much clearer. It was like the haziness of her drunken mind had completely left her. She had not had such a clear mind in years… not since her lover’s death.

“Is that a real jutsu?” Jiraiya raised a brow and the boy nodded.

“Yeah, I camecame up with it a while back, it’s not actually a sage art… but sounds cooler that waylike that.” The boy, the last of her family, scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

“It does sound cooler.” Jiraiya stroked his chin as she closed his eyes and nodded sagely.

“I’m so lost… if this is the Sannin Lady does that mean our mission is completed?” Naruko asked and Jiraiya laid a heavy hand on her blonde hair.

“Normally things would work out that way, but Tsunade has never been a normal case.” Jiraiya winked at her and Tsunade felt like slapping him upside his head.

“So we still have work to do?” Lei tilted his head and stepped toward Tsunade. She saw Nawaki in the boy as he approached her, and though everything in her body told her to step back and run away… she didn’t. He stopped just in front of her and looked down at her. She hadn’t thought he would have grown this fast, but look at him… he was already taller than her.

“You know… I was born an orphan and never even considered that I could have a family memberhave family alive.” Lei Senju started quietly as a small smile tugged on his lips. His green eyes were locked with hers, and Tsunade couldn’t pry her own brown eyes away. “Yet here you are… I’ve wanted to meet you for so long.”

Tsunade didn’t know what to say to him and thankfully she didn’t have to say anything. The boy wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. She felt his head in the crook of her neck as she stared off into space.

The boy… the same boy she had tried to stay far away from… had wanted to see her this whole time?

Tsunade clenched her fists as tears filled the corner of her eyes. She killed them before she could shed them as she returned the boy’s embrace. She had been selfish, she had left Lei to struggle all by himself for years because she had told herself that it was the right thing to do, and in the process she had hurt this poor boy.

Tsunade hugged the boy tightly, fearing that she would lose him forever if she let go. This was her family… the only family she had left, and she wouldn’t lose her family… not again.

— Chapter End —

Beta Readers: @Dragonboy1

Author’s Note: It’s a good day, Tsunade meeting out of the way. I’ve had these chapters put aside with no update for a while, it’s about time.