Going The Whitebeard Route In Naruto

(Word Count: 3,946)

The day after my conversation with the Hokage, I'm pretty sure that I'm now being watched by some ANBU. Not like I can spot anything, but it's obvious I would be watched after my conversation with him. And if the ANBU knows about me, then Danzo would learn of me sooner or later. If he didn't know about me already. 

Well, there's nothing I can do about it. Not like I can even try to evade them anyway.

I also wove the locks of hair that I had taken into braided bracelets. So now I have two bracelets, one woven brown and green, my parents, and the other brown, Shoji. I had to keep Shoji's hair separate because his and Dad's hair were the same color. Luckily, grandma had some supplies for handicrafts and she had some small metal beads with the right kanji for their names.

The funeral ceremony for everyone who lost their lives in the war is going to happen today. I've already received the ashes of my family this morning, so I wouldn't go except it's likely that Tsunade would be there. It would be a good opportunity to try and talk to the Senjus. I'd rather not have to try to go to their compound uninvited.

I finished up my morning training for today, took a bath, and headed out. I have some time to kill before the ceremony, so I stop by the hospital to check up on Grandma. She had woken up, but the attack left her frail so the doctor was keeping her there for another couple of days for observation before she's released. She's going to need some daily care from now on, that I won't be able to give her. We'll need to somehow arrange for a live-in nurse for her. I would like to help arrange it for Grandma, but I highly doubt anyone would let a 2 year old sign any paperwork for that. Do we even have the money for this? Is this something I could ask the Hokage for? He did say to come to him if I needed anything.

"Don't stress yourself, Sakai." Grandma's voice cut me away from my thoughts.

"What?"

She looked at me sadly. "It'll be ok, Sakai. I may be getting on in years, but I'm a tough cookie. I won't die until you're giving me my great grandchildren."

I snorted wryly. "I'm only 2, Grandma."

"Exactly, you have nothing to worry about." She eased herself to the edge of her bed and motioned for me. "Come here, dear." As she held me securely, protectively, lovingly, softly stroking my hair, emotion filled me. All the pain that I was holding back came out. I cried, sobbed, and wept loudly in her arms. I don't know how long we cried together, but eventually, I ran out of tears. With a hic, and a last sob, I wipe away the tears on my face and look back up at Grandma. She smiled warmly down at me, and kissed my forehead. 

Just then, a doctor came in with a nurse. They must have waited for me to stop, which was considerate but a bit embarrassing. Turns out that Grandma had already done the paperwork for the nurse before I had arrived and the nurse would be the one to make home visits.

Soon it was time for the ceremony, and I left the hospital. Grandma wasn't too happy with me leaving on my own, last night she was too busy being unconscious to arrange a babysitter for me, so she had called for Aunty Aiko. I would be staying with the Hatakes until she could be discharged. Sakumo himself was away on a war mission. So together with Aunty Aiko and a young Kakashi, who was strapped to her chest, we made our way to the ceremony. Aunty Aiko had only heard about my family's deaths this morning, and on the way to the ceremony she was showering me with tears and kisses.

The ceremony itself was boring, just the Hokage was speaking about the will of fire. What I didn't expect was the Sannin being present. The last I had heard, they were all out on the battlefronts. Even more unexpectedly was that they were looking at him. Well, I guess that's even more people that know about him. Hopefully, the Senjus would be willing to provide protection.

The ceremony ended, and I was trying to come up with an excuse to break away from Aunty Aiko to go find Tsunade, when my problems were taken care of for me. The Three Sannin approached me on their own. They all looked to be in their young twenties, like in the flashback episodes in the anime for Nagato's past. I barely came up to their knees, I was tiny compared to them.

Honestly, Jiraiya was looking really cool. Around this time, Jiraiya would be in his "search for the peace-bringer" mode, and not the "perving on women in baths" mode, so I guess it makes sense. 

It was Tsunade that opened the conversation. "Excuse me, Mrs. Hatake, we need to speak to young Norihide here about something important. Would you mind if we take him for a moment? We'll make sure that he gets back to you safely afterwards."

The influence of being both the Senju Princess and a Sannin was great, Aunty Aiko didn't think about it too much and left me in their care. 

Now we were alone. They must have heard about my foreknowledge and come to question me about it. It was the only thing that made sense. So before any of them could ask any questions out in the open I started talking first. "Hello," I bow in greeting. "Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, Lord Orochimaru. It's an honor that you came to speak with me. I was actually needing to speak with you, Lady Tsunade, about something important. But we should find somewhere more private." I wanted to make a good impression, so I tried to speak formally.

Tsunade looked taken aback that I was already wanting to speak to her about something. "Sure, we can meet at my place. These two here wanted to ask you some questions, but why do you need to speak with me?"

"It's about something important, though I don't want to say it out here." We started making our way to the Senju compound.

Tsunade leaned over to Orochimaru and whispered. "Is it just me, or is this kid kind of creepy? I mean, he's what, 2?" I sigh. Well so much for making a good impression.

I snuck a peek up at them just in time to see Orochimaru smirk down at me. He obviously knew that I heard. Tsunade wasn't really the best at being subtle. "I don't know," he said, "I think it's cute how he's acting all grown up."

A shiver ran up my spine, and I stepped closer to Jiraiya looking distrustfully at Orochimaru. "You know, it's comments like that that got everyone calling you a pedo in the future." Both Tsunade and Jiraiya laughed loudly. Orochimaru was shocked, then face curled in disgust. But that shut him up for the rest of the way.

As the Senju's princess, Tsunade lived in the main house, which was a huge sprawling Japanese style manor in the center of the compound. Though the Senju compound was huge, there was barely anybody here. Only a handful of people could be seen as we made our way to Tsunade's home, passing through the street. Looks like there's barely any Senju left. They had taken a big hit in the first shinobi war and now most of them were out on the front lines in this one.

In Tsunade's home, we all sit in the lounge, and it seems that we're the only ones here. I briefly wondered where Mito was.

"Now, kid, we have some questions. How do you know the future?" Tsunade demanded. 

I look at her weirdly. It wasn't like I was obligated to explain everything to her. However, I did want to get on her good side for protection. "Before I say anymore, can I ask if we're actually alone? I most likely have ANBU following me around."

They looked impressed. Jiraiya said, "Not bad, kid. You do have an ANBU guard, but they stayed outside the Senju's compound. Once you leave, they'll resume their detail."

It was one thing to suspect, it was another to have it confirmed. Anxious, I asked "do you know if they're one of Danzo's Root ANBU? I don't want one of them following me around."

"They're all Hiruzen's ninja." Tsunade answered.

I breathe a sigh of relief. "I don't know how I know the future, it was just something that I was born with. Knowledge of the world, seeing events happen spanning across many years like a hidden observer. But because of it, I was born fully aware of myself, able to understand people speaking around me."

"Fascinating!" Orochimaru said, licking his lips eagerly. This must be tickling his scientific brain, wanting answers. I couldn't help but scoff.

"Yeah, you try to have an adult mind stuck in a baby's body. Not fun."

"Enough about that, what about the future?" Jiraiya interrupted, "Have you seen the child of prophecy? Are you the child?" He seemed eager.

"First of all, I'm willing to give each of you advice on what your future holds, but not for free."

"What!" Jiraiya exclaimed. 

Tsunade scoffed, "what a greedy kid. What do you want, money?"

"You have to understand that knowing the future is one of my biggest assets right now. Knowing the future, I can change things around to ensure my safety and net me the biggest profit. The more I tell others though, the more the future changes. I'll lose that safety net. So my first condition is your guarantee of protection. From all of you. Word is already getting out that I know the future, so I want you three to protect me, especially from Danzo. Given the chance, Danzo will likely kidnap me to strip all the information out from my mind for himself."

"Your first condition? What else is there?"

"Two more things. The second condition is your secrecy, don't tell anyone what I tell each of you, not even the Hokage. The last one is that I want a favor from each of you."

"That's a lot to ask for for our simple curiosity, Norihide." Orochimaru said, annoyed. "How do we know that your advice will be worth it?"

"If at the end, you don't feel what I say is worth a favor from you, then I'll accept only the first condition. My safety is my priority, after all."

They all accepted.

"Then, let's start with you, Lord Jirayia. Let's speak privately in another room." We moved to an empty room down the hall. On the way there, I couldn't help but marvel at the encounter. They let me lead that conversation. They must be more curious then they let on.

We situated ourselves in the empty room.

"So, kid, what do you know about the prophecy? Are you the child of prophecy?" Man, Jiraiya really wants to know about this, huh?

"I know that the great toad sage Gamamaru said that you will mentor the child that will either save or destroy the world. And no, I'm not him. Though I do know of him. He is the one my foreknowledge was centered around afterall. I saw the events surrounding his journey as a ninja. From graduating the academy to becoming the Hokage."

"Really! Haha!" He laughed, "This is great! So, who is he? Where can I find him?"

I sigh thoughtfully. What should I tell him? "Unfortunately, he isn't born yet. He's born roughly 13 years from now right here in Konoha. And before you ask, I won't tell you who his parents will be, you'll know exactly who he is when he's born. As you can imagine, the birth of someone as important as the child of prophecy is a future that I don't want to inadvertently change."

"Right here in Konoha? But the sages told me to travel the world to search for him."

"I imagine that was for you to learn of the world yourself to gain the wisdom necessary to properly teach a savior, and not a destroyer. Any other questions, Lord Jiraiya?"

"No, that's all I wanted to know."

"In that case, allow me to ask you a question. Lady Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki. Did he already die?" 

Jiraiya jumped to his feet in anger. "You knew that was going to happen?" He snarled.

I grimaced. I had hoped that he hadn't died yet. "Unfortunately, since the center of my knowledge revolves around the child of prophecy, 13 years from now, the events during this war aren't clear on when they happen. Just that they did. Please, Lord Jiraiya, I asked because I had hoped I wasn't too late to warn Tsunade." Jiraiya calmed down and sat back down.

"Unfortunately, it was precisely young Nawaki's death that Konoha declared war. Tensions were already high, and the death of the First Hokage's grandson served as the spark to ignite everything."

"I see. The cause of this war wasn't clear to me. I'm sorry." I bowed slightly to him.

"It's fine, kid. You meant well."

"One last piece of advice. At some point during the war, you will meet three young war orphans. Two boys with red and orange hair, and a girl with blue hair. The boy with red hair has the legendary rinnegan."

"The rinnegan!" Jiraiya exclaims.

"Yes. Because of this you decide to stay in the land of rain to teach him. But doing so I feel is a terrible choice. Instead of staying there, you should bring all three of them back here to konoha. All three of them go on to become powerhouses." 

Jiraiya hummed thoughtfully. "Bringing foreign people into the village to be trained as shinobi won't be easy."

"You're now renowned as a Sannin. You should have enough sway to vouch for them. And also, because you chose to stay in the land of rain, you loose your chance with Tsunade. It'll only be 30 years later before she's willing to give you another shot. Unfortunately for you, you die before you can take it."

If I'm right, it's during this time when they meet Nagato and Konan that Tsunade is emotionally overwhelmed by the war and is vulnerable. I believe it is this time that she meets Dan Kato and falls in love. However I believe that Tsunade was looking for Jiraiya before he stayed in Rain. Honestly, I think they would make a great couple so I'm rooting for them.

Jiraiya had a pervy smile on his face. I clear my throat. "I believe we're done here. So, do you think my advice is worth a favor?"

"Yeah, kid. I'd say you earned it."

We returned to Tsunade and Orochimaru. They had gotten tea from somewhere and were waiting patiently. "Heeey, Tsunade~" Jiraiya called to her with a creepy grin on his face. I kick him in the back of the leg. "Ow! What was that for?" He frowned at me.

"Don't be weird, man."

I look at Orochimaru. "Your turn."

"Excellent."

We moved back to the same room I used with Jiraiya.

Hmm… honestly I couldn't really think of anything I wanted to say to him. He wasn't a villain right now, and I don't think he was even obsessed with immortality yet. I guess I'll have to see what questions he has for me.

"So, what would you like to know?"

"You know of the future, yes? Tell me, what do you know of my ambitions?" He eyed me predatorily, as if waiting for the moment I would get in his way.

I gulped. "Well, I know that you want to learn every jutsu there is. I know that you want to become hokage to gain access to all the forbidden jutsus. I also know you experiment with captured enemy ninjas to study their kekkei genkai. Though I have to ask, I would think it would be easier for you to become the head of the anbu. Does that position not have the same access to forbidden jutsu?" Because if so, then when Minato or Tsunade become hokage, Orochimaru can be the Anbu Commander no problem. 

Orochimaru clicked his tongue. "Unfortunately there are forbidden jutsus only the hokage can have access to."

That's a shame.

"Any other questions for me?"

"Yes. Since you know about the kekkei genkai experiments, do you know of any leads to further my studies?"

… should I? One guy comes to mind. "Do you three have a friend named Hiruko?"

"Yes, he's a low ranked medical ninja. Though he is often jealous of our achievements."

"In the future he would find a way to steal ones kekkei genkai for himself and he had a plan on merging 5 different kekkei genkai to create what he called the perfect body. He nearly succeeded but he was stopped before he could complete the ritual. Obviously, he hasn't made any of these discoveries yet, but maybe you should bring him into your studies? He could provide some insight."

I can't believe I pointed two big villains to work together. But then again, pointed in this direction, Orochimaru won't go to create a bunch of torture prisons. …okay, he probably still will.

Needless to say, Orochimaru was intrigued. He liked his lips. "Interesting. Do you know which kekkei genkai he tried to fuse?"

"I believe they were Storm, Swift, Steel, and Dark releases. For the fifth, he was trying to get the sharingan."

"Intriguing."

Why does he have to be so creepy? "Anything else?"

"No, that is all."

"Very well. Would you say that this was worth a favor?"

"Yes, I would say this was worth a small favor. What do you want in return?"

Eh? He wants me to cash it in right now? "Can I save it for when I'm older?"

"Tsk. Very well then."

We returned to Tsunade and Jiraiya. Jiraiya was knocked out against the far wall. Tsunade looked pissed. I sighed.

"You brat! What the h*** did you tell him?"

"I didn't say anything." I denied everything.

"You liar! You must have said something, Jiraiya's being insufferable!"

"Isn't he always?" I quipped.

Tsunade paused, then scoffed. "Okay, you got me there, brat."

"It's your turn now, Lady Tsunade. Shall we?"

We went back to the same separate room.

"So, brat, you said you wanted to talk to me about something. What is it?"

I took a deep breath. "There's no easy way to say this."

"Just spit it out,"

"The Senju clan is being deliberately killed off."

She froze."The h*** are you saying?"

"The unusually high rate of mission accidents and misinformation within the Senju clan isn't an accident. Your clan is being deliberately hunted down. I believe the main culprit is Shimura Danzo."

Tsunade was trembling in rage. "Brat, you better not be lying."

"I wouldn't lie about something like this. Danzo hates both the Senjus and the Uchihas. He considered both clans too dangerous to live. Because of him, both clans will eventually be destroyed. However, if nothing is done right now, then you, Tsunade, will be the last person alive with any Senju blood."

Tsunade was dumbfounded. She wanted to go directly to Danzo and kill him, but she couldn't do anything right now with no evidence and only the words of a 2 year old to go off of. Even if the 2 year old supposedly knows the future.

"I would suggest pulling your clan out of this war. With the excuse of being an endangered clan. This would remove any direct opportunity to get rid of anyone."

"You realize that this whole war was because my," she cleared her throat. "My brother died. The Senjus can't just pull out of the war, especially with nothing but your word."

It was a little frustrating, but understandable. "I understand that you need to gather evidence and verify what I've said. Danzo is an Anbu Commander afterall. It won't be easy to move against him. Especially since he's protected by the hokage."

"Are you saying my teacher's killing my family as well?" Crap, she's so angry. 

"No no no. It's just that the hokage considers Danzo a friend! Because of this, Danzo is a blindspot to the hokage. Danzo commits a lot of dark deeds outside of the hokage's eye." I pause, "and, unfortunately, when one of Danzo's deeds comes to light, the hokage would often let him go unchecked and unpunished. All Danzo has to say is crap like 'it was necessary for the good of the village' or 'you are the light and I am the darkness of konoha' and he's let off."

"I haven't told the hokage anything about Danzo because of this relationship. I don't know if Hiruzen would take my side or even start to consider me a threat."

Tsunade sighed tiredly. "He is soft on his friends." She stands up. "Well, kid. I should talk to my grandmother about this."

"Ah, wait! There's another thing."

She sits down in a huff. "What can be more important than this?"

"At some point during this war, Iwa, Kumo, and Kirigakure all come together temporarily to destroy the Uzumaki clan. As a result, there's barely a handful of Uzumakis left when the war is over. Konoha, for some reason, never shows up to help them. I don't know if this is deliberate or if we were simply too pressed fighting on another front. Please tell Lady Uzumaki about this as well."

She clicked her tongue. "Brat, you keep getting worse and worse."

I grimaced. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you doing this? Why try to save the Senju and Uzumaki?"

"Because, I… " I couldn't resist the tears coming to my eyes. "Because I just lost nearly my entire family. I at least have my Grandma left. But you will lose everyone. I couldn't sit back and let you go through that."

For the first time since we met, Tsunade actually looked at me warmly. She gave me a tender sad smile, and hugged me. "Thank you, Sakai." I hugged her back.

After the hug, I couldn't help but ask. "So, did I earn a favor?"

She laughed. "Alright, yeah. What do you want?"

"I want to be a medical ninja. Please train me as your disciple."

She was shocked. "You want to be a medical ninja?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"Well, learning medical ninjutsu requires a lot of skill in chakra control. Maybe in a couple of years, when you've mastered it, we'll talk. For now, it's a bit too early for you."

"That sounds perfect. I can wait. Though, I'm having trouble sensing my chakra. Is there any tips on how to get started?"

She nodded again. "It can be tricky to get a feeling for one's chakra, but here, I can help. Give me your hands. I'll use some chakra on your hands so you can get a feel for it."

I gave her my hands, and she held them in hers. I closed my eyes to focus. Her hands started to feel warm. The warmth slowly spread up my own arms, down my body to settle near my stomach. Then the warmth retreated back to Tsunade.

"Woah."

"Remember that feeling Sakai, soon you'll be able to sense your own chakra."

We ended the meeting there, said farewell to Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and Tsunade took me back to Aunty Aiko. Today has been a long day.