Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Rescue Mission.
In Konoha.
Jiraiya returned to Konoha a week after he met Zokuto. He was still thinking of his conversation with Zokuto. His thought ended when he reached the Hokage's office.
When he knocked the door and opened it, he saw his sensei, Hiruzen was in the middle of a serious talk with Danzo. Seeing Jiraiya entering the office, both elders stopped talking.
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo and said, "Danzo, we are done here."
"Hiruzen. Like I said before, Itachi's promotion as an anbu is only a waste. Let him join the Root, and I promise you to make him a good asset for Konoha."
"The decision has been made, Danzo. From now on, Itachi will be In Kakashi's team. That's final." Finalized Hiruzen.
Hearing this, Danzo frowned. Without saying any words, he left the Hokage's office. At the door, he just glanced at Jiraiya for a moment, and then walked away.
"Hei Jiraiya. It's rare for you to come back early. Have you got any new intel?"
"Sarutobi sensei, it's regarding Uzumaki Zokuto. Just last week, I met that boy near the shore of this Land of Fire."
Hiruzen was startled and stood up instantly.
"Did you manage to bring him back?"
"No, he said he is still on his long term away training." said Jiraiya while look at Hiruzen's countenance. As he looked at this old man, Zokuto's voice was played out in his mind. Jiraya felt a bit conflicted when he thought about it.
"Why did you not catch him and drag him back here?" asked Hiruzen, a bit unsatisfied.
"He managed to knock me down instantly. I don't think anyone could outrun him, not to mention catching him." said Jiraiya. "Also, he said to bring a message to you."
"What is it?"
"He admitted that he was the one who helped Naruto and the others to escape from Konoha. He said that you don't need to worry about them."
Bang!
Hiruzen slammed his hand on the table in anger. "So, it was him who influenced the rest of the kids to escape."
Jiraiya looked deeply at Hiruzen. "Sensei, there is actually another matter that I wanted to ask you."
"Just speak Jiraiya. What do you want to ask?"
"Have you been killing the people of Konoha?"
Bang! Crash!
The table could not handle Sandaime's attack and crashed to the floor. Some part of the table even turned into smaller pieces.
"Jiraiya, be careful with your word. I will forgive you this time as you are my disciple. However, I won't tolerate it next time. You better not made another unfounded accusation."
"Is it really unfounded accusation? Tell me Hiruzen, what happen to those Senju clan, Kurama clan, and Uzumaki clan? How did they suddenly decline to the point of leaving them only with one or two clan members?" Seeing his sensei lash out in anger, Jiraiya lost his emotion and did no longer care to call Hiruzen his sensei.
"Jiraiya!? What happened to you?" Hiruzen was shocked when he saw Jiraiya's attitude.
"Answer me. Did you kill those people?"
"Jiraiya, calm down. Let's not talk about this."
"I need an answer! Not an excuse."
"Sigh. You already know that the Uzumaki was besieged by the shinobi coalition from those four village. For those Senju, they died on their mission."
Hearing that, Jiraiya showed an expression of disappointment. "You said that. But is that even possible for so many Senju to die in a mission, and leaving only Tsunade?"
"That..." Hiruzen was stumped for a word. "Sigh. You don't understand Jiraiya."
"What is there for me to understand?"
"You don't understand. The Senju is too powerful, and I cannot control them. For the benefit of the people of Konoha, I was forced to cut some of their power."
"Cutting some power, huh. Killing almost all of them and you said it to be just cutting some power?"
"Jiraiya, If one day you become a Hokage, you will understand my action. So, for now, let's forget this topic."
"It seems you really dirtied your hand Hiruzen. I regret it. I shouldn't have came back here after meeting Zokuto. Now that I know the truth, I feel really disappointed. I'm disappointed of you, Hiruzen." Jiraiya felt his heart crush into pieces when he heard Hiruzen admitted his involvement in the extinction of the Senju Clan.
He looked at his teacher, full of regret and disappointment. No longer having any interest to talk to the old man, he turned around to leave that place. However, he was stopped by an anbu, who suddenly appeared and blocked the door.
"Hiruzen, what is the meaning of this?" Seeing the anbu, Jiraiya glanced at the Third Hokage with a glint on his eyes.
"Jiraiya. Promise me that you won't tell Tsunade about this." said Sandaime with a worried face. He bowed a bit and added "Please Jiraiya."
Looking at him, Jiraiya totally lost his sense of sympathy toward Hiruzen.
"I just remember, I have another message for you from Zokuto. Hiruzen, stop acting as a hypocrite, and also stop being a useless Hokage. Stop killing your own people." Jiraiya looked coldly at Hiruzen, and said Zokuto's message in a cold tone.
In that instant, Hiruzen froze. He was stunned when he heard the message.
"I got my own message too, for you. Don't ever try to harm the twin Uzumaki. As their godfather, I will do everything in my capability to destroy you if you mess with them."
"Jiraiya you..."
Before Hiruzen could say more, Jiraiya turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared. His voice was still ringing in Hiruzen's head even after the guy already left.
'He was reverse summoned? He actually came prepared.' thought Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, that Jiraiya..." the anbu was unable to do anything.
"Forget it. Leave me for the time being." Hiruzen dismissed the anbu. The anbu left the Third Hokage who just received a verbal attack from his student.
Hiruzen just sat on his chair with a blank look on his face. Have I been killing my own people? For the first time, Hiruzen really fell into deep thought. He started to contemplate about all of the things that he have done.
Without him knowing, some strand of his hair turned even whiter then it's silver color.
...
Somewhere at the border of the Land of Fire, near the Land of River.
"Why Zokuto-kun? Why did you force me to go to Sunagakure? Did you give up on me? How, how could you...huhuhu."
A chibi Saya was kneeling on the ground, and tears were flowing down on her cheeks.
"Stop with your drama. We need to move out now." rebuked a chibi Nero.
"Sigh. Nero-kun, can you not interrupt me? I was trying to imagine the worse case scenario of Zokuto not wanting me anymore. You just have to ruin my moment."
"You have been doing that more than five times already. Besides, Zokuto did not force us to go to Sunagakure. He asked for our help to keep an eye on these Genins." said the fed up Nero.
"Sigh. You guys are too loud. Why did Zokuto send me together with you two? I just wanted to rest and sleep." said a mini Mora, while closing his paw on his mouth and yawning.
'Why am I together with these two problematic beast?' thought Nero. He, did not speak anymore and just moved toward the three Genin from Tonika Village. Seeing this, Saya smiled and followed him. Mora sighed on the other hand sighed, but still followed the two, lazily.
Further away in front of the three Bijuus, three Genin are running towards the direction of the land of Sand. After running for about an hour, they found a secluded place and rested in it.
The leader, Kara decided to ask some opinion from her teammates, "So guys, how do we find the Sabaku sibling?"
"You decide. You are the leader." said Kubo.
"Come on. At least give me some suggestion."
"I think we should ask around in Tanigakure while we cross the land of River." suggested Jun.
"See that, he got a decent opinion." said Kara looking disdainfully at Kubo.
"Ugh. Fine. I suggest we get some information from those merchant that stayed near these area." said Kubo.
"That's also a doable way. Let's do both suggestion while we are crossing this land of River." said Kara, deciding their course of action.
'She did not even say her own suggestion.' thought both Jun and Kubo.
After some rest, there then continued their mission to recruit the Sabaku sibling.
...
On another side, Zokuto is seen running swiftly towards Kusagakure. Heading towards Kusagakure was his own intention, to find and rescue Karin and her mother.
"According to the original Naruto timeline, Karin's mother should be still alive. Hopefully I can still rescue them." whispered Zokuto.
He then suddenly remember that at this time of the year, Itachi should be entering the anbu squad, and was assigned under Kakashi's team.
"After he become anbu for about six month, it would be the time for the news of Uchiha Shisui death." Zokuto stopped in his track. He pondered for a moment, "Should I rescue Shisui?"
"Shisui is one of the best fighter, and have a good sense of peace. Right now, I got plenty of time. So, it would be easy for me to help him overcome his fate." In the end Zokuto decided to go and rescue Shisui. He then created a clone and tasked him to check on Shisui.
"Gurr, I need your help. Can you go and accompany him?" asked Zokuto.
"Sure." Gurr agreed readily.
"You know what to do." said Zokuto to his clone.
"Leave it to me. I'm off then." after Gurr jumped and perched on the clone's shoulder, the clone then headed towards Konoha.
"Now it's just me and my little rescue mission. Well, I should also get going now."
"Did you forget that I'm here too?"
"Oh. I mean, now it's just the two of us left. ha ha." Zokuto almost forget that a mini Kurama was sitting on his head.
"Whatever. Let's go." said Kurama, jumping down off Zokuto's head and run speedily toward Kirigakure. Zokuto felt amused when he saw those short leg of chibi Kurama running on the ground.
"Wait for me." Zokuto followed behind Kurama.
...
Next day.
Zokuto managed to reach Kusagakure early in the morning. Upon arriving, he searched for a hidden place near the village, and meditated in it. Not long after that, he entered into Bijuu Sage Mode. He then projected his senses onto the Kusa village to find the whereabout of the Uzumaki.
"Found them!"
Zokuto found the two Uzumakis staying at one of the house in the center of the village. He then quickly moved toward the Uzumakis house. After some hiding and skulking in the shadow, he reached his destination. He knocked on the door and a kid of his age opened the door.
"Uzumaki Zokuto!!"
Karin was surprised when she saw the most power Genin from the golden screen, standing outside of her house.
"So you are the one who have been hiding outside the village." said Karin's mother.
"Ah, I forget you both are a sensor ninja." Zokuto smiled. "You should already know about me. let me reintroduce myself. I'm Uzumaki Zokuto, son of Uzumaki Kushina."
"Princess Kushina! So, you are her son. How is your mother?"
"She should be alright soon." replied Zokuto.
"Alright soon? Did something happen to her?"
"Well, let's leave the topic for later. I came here to rescue you two. I know that you..."
"Uzumaki Midori. Just call me Midori."
"Midori-san. I know that the village higher up has been treating you badly. Therefore, here I'm trying to rescue you from this village. If you agree, I will try my best to take you out of this village."
"Are you going to bring us to Konoha?"
"No, I will be bringing both of you to the place where I'm currently staying."
Midori contemplated for a moment before she nodded. After that, Zokuto brought both of them out of Kusagakure.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone