Ginchiko groaned as she blearily opened her eyes the bright lights of the hospital room pained her and caused her vision to blur. As she placed a hand to block out the harsh glare.
"I see you finally return to the world of the living."
She groaned and weakly turned her dead catching sight of the familiar figure in green. "Guan?" She questioned quietly. "Where am I?"
"In the hospital, I thought that would be obvious." He said as he stood and walked over to the table by her bedside. He poured water into a cup and gently lifted her head as he brought it to her lips. "Drink." Was his simple command. She complied, drinking the whole glass very quickly. Guan placed the cup back on the table and walked back to his seat.
"How did I get here?" She asked after a few moments of silence.
"That Uzumaki boy was the one who brought you in, apparently he managed o arrive just as you collapsed." He answered.
She turned incredulously to him. "What? But…they sent seven Anbu after him." She said incredulously.
Guan nodded. 'Indeed, each of them were also part of our former Mizukage's personal guard." He looked to her then. "And he escaped without a single injury."
"That's impossible, not even you could do that! The only person who would have a chance at doing that would be Kisame!"
Guan nodded. "The boy is powerful…remarkably so. Possibly stronger than even Kisame ever could be."
"You've got to be kidding me? Kisame was the strongest ninja ever to grace Kiri since the Shodaime Mizukage. What could possibly make you think that?"
"You would be quite impressed by the information one could gather by simply remaining in the shadows." He took a breath. "He is apparently a Jinchuriki, what demon he houses I do not know, he was raised as a weapon from a very young age and took over the hidden leaf when the Sandaime Hokage died." He finished and stood as he began walking towards the door.
"Guan!" Ginchiko called behind him making him pause. "I'm…sorry, you and Hidetada never did get along…but…he was still your brother and…"
"Ginchiko." He interrupted firmly. "Just…tell me…what were his final words."
She closed her eyes and smiled somewhat sadly. "He asked me to fulfill his dream…you know…that old one our sensei stuck in his head."
"Really?" Guan asked as his interest peaked. "Interesting.'
"How so?" She asked.
"I don't assume you know why this Jinchuriki wants Kiri for himself do you?"
"For our land and our navy, which now controls practically the entire eastern sea."
"That may be what he told you…but no…the real reason he wants Kiri, is because he wishes to unify the land…to conquer every hidden village."
"What…but…That's ludicrous!" She yelled but winced as spasms of pain ran through her body.
"Do you know why he wants to do this?"
She didn't speak.
"It was the last request of the Sandaime Hokage."
She scoffed. "Last I heard the Sandaime was a peace loving old man. Guess I heard wrong."
"The Sandaime's last wish was to bring peace to the entire land" That stopped the woman cold…not just Konoha, or Kiri but the entire land…he wants to end all of the wars." Guan paused. "Therefore in a way….serving this boy…will help in fulfilling my brothers dream." He looked back over his shoulder at her. "You can make your choice, weather to serve him, or defy him…but...I think I've already made mine Ginchiko."
Meanwhile Naruto sat in a meditative position in one of the many spare rooms of the Kage residence, after the Mizukage's death, it only took one day to subdue the entire village of Kiri, a few insurgents and loyalist to the old regime had been driven out and had taken up refuge in the surrounding marsh lands, but Mika, Hinata and Shibi would deal with them soon enough, now all he had to do was remain in the area for a few days to firmly secure his place in the seat of power. He would assign Kakashi and a few Anbu to be the Overseers. Keeping a reputable Jounin presence here would work well to keep any power hungry fool in line.
He was broken out of his thoughts as soft thumps reached his ear. He looked to the side and saw a frog hoping towards him with a scroll on his back. 'A message from Jiraiya.'
The frog plopped itself down infront of him, untied the scroll from his back placed it on the floor, waved once and POOF. Was gone.
Naruto blinked before he grabbed the scroll and unrolled it.
'So…" He drawled. "The slug and Toad are coming to the mist" He paused for a moment, as if contemplating something. "I wonder…Tsunade…what is it that you desire?"
It was three days later that Jiraiya and Tsunade finally arrived in Kiri, they could have arrived much sooner but for some reason Tsunade had insisted to simply walk at a normal pace and take plenty of rests. Every time Jiraiya questioned her she simply said that it had been a while since she had come around these parts and wanted to enjoy the scenery.
When they finally arrived in Kiri the two immediately noticed two things, repairs were underway on many buildings and…Hatake Kakashi was standing as the gate guard?
"You have got to be shitting me?" Jiraiya and Tsunade muttered to themselves. It had merely been five weeks…there was no conceivable way that he could have subdued Kiri already.
"Ahh, Jiraiya-sama, Tsunade-sama." Kakashi greeted lazily as he waved, never removing his eye from his book. "Naruto-sama has been expecting you." He spoke as he turned a page.
.
.
.
‼️If you want to access to more than 400 advanced chapters, wait no more and subscribe to my Ko-Fi, where you can buy books in completely downloadable PDF format.‼️
☕️ko-fi.com/skyarc☕️