Naruto: Legacy Undone

"In who then?"

Sarutobi gave him a look."Silly me. From my perspective this was something of a bomb you dropped on my desk. I'm sorry; I should have had a list of newborns ready for this eventuality."

Orochimaru rolled his eyes. "What sanctions will you demand from Iwa for their breach of the Chuunin examination treaties?"

Sarutobi lit his pipe as he responded. "None."

Orochimaru wasn't sure weather he wished to face palm or growl in seething, angry surprise.

"What"

Sarutobi chuckled under his breath. "You've always been too quick to seek retribution. Always prickly. Its always been one of your biggest issues."

"Iwa has-"

"Just lost their Jinchuuriki." He interrupted, looking up at his student. "We've gained their Bijuu where we had none." He shook his head. "Do you really believe they want the world to know that? Not only did they violate the treaty signed by all five great villages, not only did they lose in effect a princess but also that they lost something so valuable? Iwa won't be bringing this event to light. They'll bury it like we buried losing the Kyuubi two years ago. But if you go airing their little escapade against us word will get out. And if word gets out what happens then Orochi?"

The Snake sneered. He always did hate when his teacher still had something left to teach. "The other villages will be made to think we now have two Jinchuuriki."

Saru nodded. "Indeed. Once that gets out they won't sit idly by. Kyuubi was the strongest of the nine. Add to that the Yonbi and, at the very least Kumo might start getting ideas to get to us before our new Jinchuuriki comes of age and is made stronger. Iwa has everything to lose should it become public and we have very little to gain and much more to risk. What did I always tell you?"

"Knowledge is power and power is guarded."

The older man nodded, waving him away. "Exactly. Now go. Celebrate with your team or lock yourself in a room with a scroll. I have a lot of work to oversee with these developments.

-0-

The kiss Tsunade left him, he knew, left a big red lipstick stain on his forehead but he didn't mind it one bit as the female Sannin reached down to hug him goodbye with Dan ruffling his hair and Shizune chattering away.

They'd treated him to one of the better restaurants in the village, paying for everything as they asked him about everything that happened in Iwa.

He'd had to...skew the lines between the truth a bit when it came to just how he'd held off Kitsuchi, and Tsunade had all but thrown a fit, ready to lead the charge for the next great war against Iwa when she heard they sicked Jounin after them, (at least according to Orochimaru) forming a bit of a scene.

But it'd been nice...to say the very least.

He hadn't really...done something like this in his youth...

That had always been...something of a bitter coil in his chest. A little, angry part of him that was always there when he saw other kids being congratulated by proud parents whenever they aced an exam, when they got their headbands or made it to Chuunin.

He hid the anger well...but he couldn't deny that an envious bitterness did linger within him.

So this had been...very very nice and throughout the evening much to his embarrassment he actually had to swallow down the emotion that would have no doubt made him weepy if he let it linger too long.

Shizune-chan had distracted him well enough, asking rapid fire questions.

What was the exam like?

How many did you have to fight?

What training did you and your team do to prepare?

Were you nervous?

What was Iwa like?

Were they all earth users?

Who the hell is this Haku girl?

The last one had been asked by Tsunade. With a frown. And a glare.

Dan listened, questioning certain, important events and tossing some black humor jokes at Iwa nin's expense. Tsunade mostly listened, drinking some wine with her head resting on Dan's shoulder as she did.

It was...strange...to see her so happy with Dan. Even at the best of times the smile he could remember on his Tsunade's face just couldn't match her smile here.

He didn't really understand why.

Well...he did. She was in love with him. But he didn't understand why this happiness was something that didn't exist for her back home.

Dan, to him, was just so much like Ero-sennin-sans the super perveted-ness of course- that he simply didn't understand why Jiraiya and Tsunade didn't work back then like Dan and she are working now. And that did make him a little sad at the thought.

But still, those thoughts were pushed aside and he did his very best to enjoy the evening with all of them.

It didn't take very much effort in that respect.

But all things must eventually come to an end and soon enough Shizune had to leave to pack up for her first C rank mission outside the village in the morning, Dan had to leave to file a report on a mission he'd completed a few hours ago and Tsunade had to return to the hospital.

When they left, they said they were proud of him.

He was proud of himself for keeping the happy tears from flowing until they were well out of sight.

He smiled the whole way home.

When he got home though...

He opened the door and the smile fell.

.

.

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