Naruto stared at Jiraiya for another moment before turning his attention back towards his grandmother and big sister. A wide smile appeared on his face before he rushed towards the couch, causing Tsunade to quickly place her cup of tea down on the table. Naruto practically threw himself into his grandmother's arms, wrapping them tightly around her as she let out a surprised laugh. Shizune barely had time to stand before Naruto reached over and pulled her into the hug as well.
"Grandma! Big Sis! I missed you guys!" Naruto exclaimed as he hugged the two women.
"We missed you too, sweetheart," Tsunade replied as she wrapped both arms around her grandson and pulled him closer. "You have no idea how much."
"It's so good to see you again, Naruto," Shizune said as she hugged her little brother. "It hasn't been the same without you around."
Naruto continued hugging them for several seconds before finally pulling back enough to look at their faces. It had only been a few months since he left the Fire Capital to return to the Leaf, but after spending practically his entire life with the two women, being separated from them for that long had taken some getting used to.
A loud oink interrupted their reunion, causing Naruto to look down towards Tonton, who was standing beside the couch and nudging his leg with her snout. The little pig let out another indignant oink, apparently unhappy about being the only member of the family who hadn't received a proper greeting.
"Sorry, Tonton!" Naruto said with a laugh as he reached down and scooped her into his arms. "I didn't forget about you!"
Tonton let out a happy squeal as Naruto hugged her against his chest.
"She missed you too," Shizune said as she reached over to scratch Tonton behind the ears. "She's been looking for you every morning since you left."
"Have you now?" Naruto asked as he looked down at the little pig, who responded with another oink. "Well, I'm glad to see you too."
Jiraiya watched the reunion from his chair, a small smile on his face as he observed his godson with the two women who had raised him.
"Alright, brat, don't forget about your favorite godfather," Jiraiya eventually said with a grin.
"You're my only godfather, Pervy Sage," Naruto replied without looking away from Tonton.
"That doesn't mean I can't be your favorite!" Jiraiya complained.
"You're certainly his loudest," Shizune commented, earning a laugh from Naruto.
"Come on, Naruto. Sit down and tell us how you've been," Tsunade said as she gently pulled her grandson towards the couch.
Naruto placed Tonton down before taking a seat beside his grandmother, while Shizune settled onto the opposite end of the couch. Tsunade immediately wrapped one arm around Naruto's shoulders and pulled him closer, something he didn't bother protesting. Jiraiya remained in his chair across from them while Naruto's clone collected the empty teacups and headed towards the kitchen to prepare another pot.
"So, what brings you guys here so early?" Naruto asked as he looked between his grandmother and big sister. "I wasn't expecting you until about a week before the finals."
"Can't a grandmother visit her grandson because she misses him?" Tsunade asked.
Naruto stared at her for a moment before slowly turning towards Shizune.
"Big Sis, did Grandma lose more money gambling?" Naruto asked seriously.
Shizune immediately covered her mouth to hide a laugh while Jiraiya burst out laughing from his chair.
"Naruto!" Tsunade shouted as she smacked him across the back of his head.
"Ow! What was that for?!" Naruto complained as he rubbed the back of his head.
"For assuming I lost money!" Tsunade replied.
"So you didn't?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
"That's not the point!" Tsunade snapped, causing Jiraiya to laugh even harder.
"She definitely lost money," Jiraiya said between laughs.
"Shut up, Jiraiya!" Tsunade shouted.
Naruto and Shizune exchanged amused looks before both started laughing. Tsunade let out an irritated huff before pulling Naruto closer to her side again.
"Anyway, enough about me," Tsunade said as she looked down at her grandson. "What have you been up to since returning to the village? I expected you to spend most of your time training and doing missions, but imagine my surprise when I arrived and found out you own a shipping company."
"Oh, you saw Senju Shipping?" Naruto asked.
"It's rather difficult to miss," Shizune replied. "Especially with the Senju symbol displayed on the building."
"I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that," Tsunade said. "When did you decide to become a businessman?"
"A little while after I got back," Naruto answered. "I figured there wasn't much point in letting the clan's money sit around doing nothing, so I decided to invest some of it."
"And you decided to start a shipping company?" Tsunade questioned.
"Why not?" Naruto replied. "The Land of Fire has plenty of merchants who need their goods transported, and with the village growing, I figured there was an opportunity to make some money. Besides, it's not like I'm running the entire operation myself."
"Well, at least you had enough sense to hire people who know what they're doing," Tsunade commented.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Grandma," Naruto replied sarcastically.
"Don't get smart with me, brat," Tsunade warned, though she made no attempt to hide her amusement.
Naruto spent the next several minutes explaining what he had been doing since returning to the Leaf. He started with his early missions under Yamato, including the mission to the Land of Waves where they assisted Kakashi and Team 7 against Zabuza and Haku. Both women listened with interest as Naruto explained how the mission had gone considerably beyond its original classification and how it eventually resulted in the completion of the bridge connecting the Land of Waves to the mainland.
He then moved on to the Senju Compound and the work he had been doing to restore it. Tsunade was particularly interested in hearing about the repairs, especially since she hadn't seen the compound in person since leaving the village with Naruto shortly after his birth. Naruto explained how he had been using Wood Release and Shadow Clones to repair damaged buildings, restore the training grounds, and maintain the property. He also mentioned the gardens and how Ino had helped him bring some life back to the grounds.
"Ino?" Tsunade questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, Ino Yamanaka," Naruto replied. "She's the one who helped me with the flowers around the compound."
"That's Inoichi's daughter, isn't it?" Tsunade asked.
"Yeah," Naruto answered.
"Well, that was nice of her," Shizune commented.
"She's actually pretty good at it," Naruto replied. "The place looks a lot better now."
Tsunade studied her grandson for a moment before deciding not to question him further about the Yamanaka girl. Instead, she asked him about the rest of the compound, particularly the condition of the main house and the training grounds. Naruto assured her that most of the important repairs were already finished, though there were still several buildings he planned on restoring over the coming months.
"You're certainly keeping yourself occupied," Shizune commented once Naruto finished explaining everything. "Although knowing you, I have to wonder whether you're actually getting enough rest."
"I'm getting plenty of rest, Big Sis," Naruto replied.
"Really?" Shizune questioned skeptically. "Because I remember a certain little brother of mine who used to spend entire days training until Lady Tsunade or I had to drag him away."
"That was years ago!" Naruto protested.
"And I'm sure you've completely changed since then," Shizune replied dryly.
Naruto opened his mouth to argue before thinking better of it, especially when he noticed his grandmother nodding in agreement.
"Between missions, training, council meetings, and the business, I haven't exactly had much free time," Naruto admitted.
"That's what I thought," Shizune replied.
"How have the council meetings been?" Tsunade asked. "I imagine Sensei has been keeping you busy."
"You have no idea," Naruto replied with a sigh. "I swear, every time I think I'm going to have a day to myself, someone shows up telling me there's another meeting. That's actually what happened today."
"Welcome to being a clan head," Tsunade replied. "You wanted to represent the Senju Clan, and attending those meetings is part of the responsibility."
"Technically, I'm only supposed to be doing it until you get back," Naruto pointed out.
"And you've been doing a good job from what I can see," Tsunade replied. "The compound is being restored, the clan has a business again, and you've been representing our interests on the council. I'm proud of you, Naruto."
"Thanks, Grandma," Naruto replied.
"Although I might have to reconsider taking my seat back," Tsunade added with a mischievous grin.
"Don't even think about it!" Naruto protested as he immediately turned towards her, causing Tsunade and Shizune to laugh while Jiraiya chuckled from his chair.
"Speaking of keeping busy, how have the Chunin Exams been going?" Shizune asked. "We heard you made it through the preliminary round."
"Pretty well," Naruto answered. "I'm fighting Neji Hyuga in the first round of the finals."
"A Hyuga?" Tsunade questioned. "You better not underestimate him. Their Gentle Fist can be dangerous if you let them get close enough to strike your chakra points."
"I know, Grandma," Naruto replied. "I've already seen him fight, and I'm confident I can handle him."
"Good. What about the others?" Tsunade asked.
"There's a Sand genin named Gaara who's caught my attention," Naruto answered. "He's fighting Sasuke in the second match, and I'm hoping he wins so I can fight him myself."
"What makes him so interesting?" Jiraiya asked.
"His sand," Naruto replied. "He can control it without using hand seals, and it automatically protects him from attacks. I watched him fight Rock Lee during the preliminaries. Lee managed to get past his defenses with his speed and even opened several of the Eight Inner Gates, but Gaara still managed to win."
"Sounds like a dangerous opponent," Shizune commented.
"He is," Naruto replied. "That's what makes him interesting. I want to see how his sand holds up against my Wood Release."
"And how exactly do you plan on getting past his defenses?" Tsunade questioned.
"I have a few ideas," Naruto answered confidently. "His sand might be fast enough to protect him from most attacks, but that doesn't mean it can defend against everything. Besides, my Wood Release gives me plenty of options when it comes to controlling the battlefield."
"Having plenty of options doesn't mean much if you don't know which one to use," Tsunade pointed out. "Remember that."
"I know, Grandma," Naruto replied. "I'm not planning on rushing into anything."
"Good," Tsunade stated.
"Speaking of Lee, he was pretty badly injured during that fight," Naruto continued. "Gaara crushed his arm and leg with his sand, and opening the Gates caused additional damage to his body. I sent a couple of Shadow Clones down to stabilize him before the medical team took him away."
"How badly was he injured?" Tsunade asked, her attention immediately shifting towards the medical side of the conversation.
"Bad enough that I'm not sure how much he'll recover," Naruto answered. "I managed to stabilize him, but I didn't have enough time to properly examine the damage."
"You used Shadow Clones to treat him?" Tsunade questioned.
"Yeah," Naruto answered. "I was watching from the stands, so I sent two down to help while the medical team was getting into the arena."
Tsunade considered his answer for a moment before nodding.
"Not a bad decision," Tsunade commented. "Especially if you were able to stabilize him before the medical team arrived. What did you find?"
Naruto gave his grandmother a brief rundown of the injuries he had managed to identify, including the damage to Lee's arm and leg. Tsunade listened carefully, occasionally asking questions about the extent of the injuries and the treatment Naruto had performed.
"Actually, Grandma, since you're here, do you think you could take a look at him?" Naruto asked once he finished. "I'm sure Guy would appreciate it, and if anyone can help Lee recover, it's you."
"I suppose I could," Tsunade replied. "But I'll need to examine him before I can say whether there's anything I can do."
"Thanks, Grandma," Naruto replied.
"Don't thank me yet," Tsunade said. "Let's see what condition he's in first."
Naruto nodded, glad that his grandmother had agreed to examine Lee. If anyone could help him recover from those injuries, it was Tsunade.
"What about you two?" Naruto asked as he turned towards the women. "What have you been doing since I left?"
"Traveling, mostly," Shizune answered. "We spent some time in the Fire Capital after you left before heading towards a few smaller towns. Lady Tsunade wanted to visit some old acquaintances, and we stopped at several hospitals along the way."
"Some of them needed help with medical supplies and training," Tsunade added. "Shizune spent quite a bit of time working with their medical staff."
"We also treated a few patients who couldn't afford proper medical care," Shizune continued. "Nothing particularly dangerous, though we did encounter a rather unpleasant group of bandits outside one of the towns."
"What happened to them?" Naruto asked curiously.
"They made the mistake of trying to rob your grandmother," Shizune replied.
"Poor guys," Naruto muttered with a wince.
"They survived," Tsunade replied dismissively.
"Barely," Shizune added.
"And how much money did you lose along the way?" Naruto asked as he turned towards his grandmother.
"Would you stop bringing that up!" Tsunade snapped.
"So that's a lot, then," Naruto replied, earning another smack across the back of his head.
The conversation continued for some time as the family exchanged stories about their respective travels. Naruto told them about some of the more amusing missions he had completed with Yamato, while Shizune shared several stories about their time on the road. Tsunade occasionally interrupted whenever Shizune mentioned her gambling habits, which only encouraged Naruto and Jiraiya to make more jokes at her expense.
Eventually, Jiraiya leaned forward in his chair and rested his elbows on his knees.
"Alright, there's something else we need to discuss," Jiraiya stated seriously, causing the conversation to come to a stop.
"What is it?" Tsunade asked as she turned towards her former teammate.
"The Akatsuki are on the move," Jiraiya answered.
Naruto's expression became serious while Shizune looked towards Tsunade with concern. Tsunade's arm tightened around Naruto's shoulders as she stared at Jiraiya.
"What have you found?" Tsunade asked.
"Not as much as I'd like," Jiraiya replied. "But over the last several weeks, my network has started picking up reports of Akatsuki members moving throughout the Elemental Nations. They're traveling in pairs now, and several of those pairs have been spotted in different countries."
"Which countries?" Naruto asked.
"Mostly the smaller nations so far," Jiraiya answered. "We've had reports from the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain, along with a few sightings further west. Nothing confirmed near the Leaf yet."
"Do you know which members were spotted?" Naruto questioned.
"A few descriptions, but nothing I'd consider reliable enough to put names to," Jiraiya replied. "Most people who recognize those cloaks have enough sense to stay out of their way."
"And what are they doing?" Tsunade asked.
"That's the problem," Jiraiya answered. "We don't know. They've been keeping a relatively low profile, and most of the information we've managed to gather comes from sightings rather than anything concrete."
"So they're finally starting to make their move," Tsunade muttered.
"Looks that way," Jiraiya replied. "Whatever their ultimate goal is, it's still unclear. I'll keep my spies looking into it, but for now, I want you all to be careful."
Naruto leaned back slightly as he considered the information. He had known about the Akatsuki for years, ever since Jiraiya first began explaining the dangers associated with being a Jinchuriki. The organization had always been a potential threat, though until now there had been little indication that they were actively pursuing their larger objectives.
"Well, at least we have one advantage," Naruto stated.
"What's that?" Shizune asked.
"Nobody knows about my tenant," Naruto replied as he tapped his stomach. "As far as the rest of the world is concerned, the Nine-Tails disappeared when my father died."
"That's true," Jiraiya agreed. "And I intend to keep it that way. But don't assume you're safe just because your status isn't public knowledge. We don't know how much information Akatsuki has managed to gather."
"I know, Pervy Sage," Naruto replied. "But if they're moving around the smaller nations, I'd like to know if any of them start getting close to the Land of Fire."
"You'll know," Jiraiya assured him. "I've already told my contacts to keep an eye out for those cloaks. If anything turns up, I'll make sure the information reaches you."
"Good," Naruto replied.
"And don't even think about going after any of them on your own," Tsunade warned as she tightened her arm around his shoulders.
"I wasn't planning to, Grandma," Naruto replied.
"You better not," Tsunade stated. "If those bastards come anywhere near you, they'll have to deal with me first."
"And me," Shizune added.
Naruto smiled at the two women before looking back towards Jiraiya.
"Anything else we should know?" Naruto asked.
"Actually, yes," Jiraiya replied as he leaned back in his chair. "Orochimaru."
"What about that bastard?" Tsunade growled at the mention of her former teammate.
"He decided to make an appearance during the second stage of the Chunin Exams," Naruto answered.
"What?" Tsunade demanded as she immediately turned towards her grandson.
"Yeah. He showed up in the Forest of Death while I was taking the second exam," Naruto explained. "We fought for a while before he eventually retreated."
"You fought Orochimaru?" Shizune asked in surprise.
"Unfortunately," Naruto replied. "He's still as unpleasant as you two described."
Tsunade stared at her grandson for several seconds before turning towards Jiraiya.
"How long have you known about this?" Tsunade demanded.
"I only found out about it myself after the second stage," Jiraiya replied. "Naruto didn't exactly go out of his way to tell me about it."
"And you didn't think this was something I should know?" Tsunade questioned as she turned back towards Naruto.
"I was going to tell you when you got here," Naruto answered.
"Naruto, we're talking about Orochimaru!" Tsunade snapped. "That bastard is one of the most dangerous shinobi alive, and you decided to fight him in the middle of an exam?"
"He attacked me, Grandma," Naruto pointed out. "I wasn't exactly going to stand there and let him do whatever he wanted."
"That's not the point!" Tsunade replied. "I know exactly what Orochimaru is capable of. I spent years fighting alongside him, and I know how far he's willing to go when something catches his interest."
"I'm fine, Grandma," Naruto assured her. "He didn't manage to do anything to me."
Tsunade studied him for a moment before letting out a frustrated sigh.
"You're just like your father sometimes," Tsunade muttered.
"There's more," Jiraiya interrupted before Tsunade could continue. "Orochimaru also placed a Curse Seal on Sasuke Uchiha during the exam."
Naruto went on to explain how Kakashi had placed a suppression seal around Sasuke's Curse Seal, though the Uchiha had already demonstrated a willingness to use its power during his preliminary match.
"That bastard," Tsunade growled. "First he attacks my grandson, and now he's experimenting on children again. Some things never change."
"He hasn't given up on those experiments of his," Jiraiya agreed. "And considering who he decided to mark, I doubt we've seen the last of him."
"There's more to it than that," Naruto stated. "We think he's planning something during the finals."
Jiraiya nodded before continuing.
"I spoke with Sensei and the shinobi council earlier today," Jiraiya explained. "Orochimaru is behind the Sound Village, and we have reason to believe he's working with Sand to attack the Leaf during the finals."
"Sand?" Shizune questioned in surprise.
"That's what the intelligence suggests," Jiraiya replied. "Orochimaru has been moving around their territory, and with the finals coming up, there's a good chance they're planning to use the exams as cover."
Jiraiya went on to explain what his intelligence network had uncovered about Orochimaru's movements near the Sand Village and the possibility that the upcoming finals would provide the perfect opportunity for an attack. Naruto added what he knew about Gaara and the contingency plans discussed during the council meeting, including his role in dealing with the Sand Jinchuriki if the situation required it.
"So let me get this straight," Tsunade said once they finished. "Orochimaru attacked you during the second stage, placed a Curse Seal on the last Uchiha, and now there's a good chance he's planning an invasion during the finals?"
"Pretty much," Naruto replied.
"And you're expected to fight in those same finals while also being prepared to deal with a potentially unstable Jinchuriki?" Tsunade asked.
"That's the plan," Naruto answered.
"Does Sensei actually expect you to handle that boy by yourself?" Tsunade questioned.
"No," Naruto replied. "The council is making preparations in case things go wrong. But if Gaara loses control, my Wood Release gives me a better chance of restraining him than most shinobi would have."
"That doesn't mean it'll be easy," Tsunade pointed out.
"I never said it would be," Naruto replied. "But I'd rather be prepared to deal with him than stand around waiting for someone else to do it."
Tsunade let out a long sigh before shaking her head.
"I swear, I leave you alone for a few months, and you somehow manage to get yourself involved in an international incident," Tsunade complained.
"In my defense, I didn't exactly invite Orochimaru to attack me," Naruto replied.
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Tsunade stated.
"Well, at least he's taking after the family," Jiraiya commented with a chuckle.
"Don't encourage him," Tsunade snapped.
Naruto grinned at his godfather before turning back towards his grandmother. Tsunade studied him for a moment before crossing her arms.
"Well, since I'm here, I might as well make myself useful," Tsunade stated.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"You have a month before the finals, correct?" Tsunade questioned.
"Yeah," Naruto answered.
"Then I'll be helping with your training," Tsunade stated. "It's been several months since I've seen what you're capable of, and after everything you've just told me, I want to see exactly how much you've improved."
"Seriously?" Naruto asked excitedly.
"Seriously," Tsunade replied. "And don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because I haven't seen you in a while."
"Wouldn't dream of it, Grandma," Naruto replied.
"Good," Tsunade stated. "Because starting tomorrow, we're going to see just how much you've improved since leaving home. Especially that Wood Release of yours."
Naruto grinned at the thought of training with his grandmother again. It had been several months since they last trained together, and he was looking forward to showing her just how much he had improved.
Though knowing his grandmother, he was probably going to be sore by the time tomorrow was over.
**The Next Day**
Naruto woke up shortly after sunrise and made his way out of bed. After spending several months living alone in the Senju Compound, it felt strange knowing that his grandmother and big sister were sleeping in their old rooms again. He had grown accustomed to having the place to himself, with only his Shadow Clones keeping him company most mornings. Still, he was glad to have them back, especially with the finals of the Chunin Exams only a month away.
After getting dressed, Naruto headed downstairs, where he found Shizune preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Tonton was sitting beside her feet, occasionally letting out an impatient oink whenever she walked past with something that smelled particularly appetizing.
"Morning, Big Sis," Naruto greeted as he entered the kitchen.
"Good morning, Naruto," Shizune replied as she turned towards him. "You're up early."
"Couldn't sleep much longer," Naruto answered as he took a seat at the table. "Besides, Grandma said we were training today."
"Yes, she did," Shizune replied with a smile. "Although I wouldn't be surprised if she decides to make up for all the training sessions she's missed since you left."
"That's what I'm hoping for," Naruto replied.
"Of course you are," Shizune muttered as she returned her attention to the stove. "Just remember that you're supposed to be training for the finals, not spending the next week recovering from them."
"I'll be fine, Big Sis," Naruto assured her.
"That's what you always say," Shizune replied.
A few minutes later, Tsunade entered the kitchen, already dressed in her usual green haori and gray blouse. She took a seat across from Naruto while Shizune finished preparing breakfast.
"Morning, Grandma," Naruto greeted.
"Morning, brat," Tsunade replied. "Ready to get your ass kicked?"
"Pretty confident for someone who hasn't seen me fight in months," Naruto replied with a grin.
"Keep talking, brat," Tsunade answered with a smirk. "I'll make sure you remember that confidence when we're finished."
"Can the two of you at least wait until after breakfast before you start threatening each other?" Shizune asked as she placed the last plate on the table.
"Tell that to Grandma," Naruto replied as he reached for his food.
"Watch it, brat," Tsunade warned, though the smile on her face made it clear she wasn't particularly offended.
Shizune had prepared grilled fish, rice, eggs, and vegetables for breakfast. Naruto wasted little time helping himself while Tsunade poured herself some tea. The three spent the next half hour eating and discussing their plans for the day, with Tsunade making it clear that she intended to spend most of it evaluating Naruto's progress.
Once breakfast was finished, Naruto helped Shizune clear the table while Tsunade finished her tea.
"Alright, Naruto," Tsunade stated as she placed her empty cup down. "Enough sitting around. Let's see what you've learned."
"Actually, Grandma, there's something I want to do first," Naruto replied.
"Oh?" Tsunade questioned. "And what's that?"
"Come with me," Naruto answered as he motioned for them to follow.
Naruto led the two women out of the kitchen and through the main hallway before making his way towards the staircase leading down into the basement. Tsunade raised an eyebrow at their destination but followed without complaint, while Shizune picked up Tonton and walked behind them.
Upon reaching the basement, Naruto continued down a familiar corridor until they arrived at a large wooden door reinforced with metal. Several intricate seals covered its surface, having protected the Senju Clan's private library long before Naruto's return to the village.
Naruto placed his palm against the center of the door and began channeling chakra into the seals. One by one, the markings faded as the security measures were released. A moment later, the heavy door unlocked with a quiet click, allowing Naruto to push it open.
Beyond the doorway lay the Senju Clan's private library.
Rows of wooden shelves stretched throughout the large chamber, each filled with scrolls, books, and documents collected by generations of Senju shinobi. Some contained records of the clan's history, while others held information on various techniques, medical practices, sealing arts, and battle strategies. The more valuable scrolls were kept in specially marked sections, protected by additional preservation seals.
"Well, I'll be damned," Tsunade muttered as she stepped inside and walked towards one of the shelves. "I haven't been down here in years."
"Brings back memories?" Shizune asked as she followed her inside.
"More than a few," Tsunade replied as she ran her fingers along the edge of a nearby shelf. "My grandfather used to spend hours down here whenever he wasn't busy with the village. Sometimes he'd bring me along and let me look through the old clan records while he worked."
"I've been coming down here pretty often since I returned," Naruto explained. "There's a lot of useful information stored here. Some of these scrolls haven't been opened in decades."
"I imagine so," Tsunade replied before turning towards him. "Now, what exactly did you want to do down here?"
"I want to look through Grandpa Hashirama's records," Naruto answered. "Specifically, anything he wrote about using Wood Release to suppress the Tailed Beasts."
"Thinking about that Sand boy?" Tsunade asked.
"Yeah," Naruto replied. "Grandpa Hashirama could restrain the Tailed Beasts with Wood Release, but I haven't figured out exactly how he did it. If Gaara loses control during the finals, I want to be prepared."
Tsunade nodded slightly. She had already heard about the Sand Jinchuriki and the possibility of Orochimaru using him during the invasion. While she had confidence in Naruto's abilities, she wasn't particularly comfortable with the thought of her grandson having to confront another Tailed Beast.
"Grandfather had several techniques specifically designed to restrain powerful opponents, including the Tailed Beasts," Tsunade explained. "Whether he recorded the details is another matter."
"Only one way to find out," Naruto replied before bringing his hands together and forming the familiar cross-shaped hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed.
A series of loud popping sounds echoed throughout the library as one hundred and fifty Shadow Clones appeared around him, filling the open spaces between the shelves.
"You're still using that many clones?" Shizune questioned as she looked around at the numerous copies of her little brother.
"Actually, I've been using a lot more than this," Naruto replied casually.
"How many more?" Shizune asked suspiciously.
"Depends on what I'm doing," Naruto answered as he scratched the back of his head.
"Naruto," Shizune warned.
"About twelve hundred when I'm really pushing it," Naruto admitted.
"Twelve hundred?" Shizune repeated as she stared at him.
"Sometimes a little more," Naruto added.
"Are you trying to kill yourself?" Shizune demanded. "Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to absorb that many memories at once?"
"Relax, Big Sis," Naruto replied. "I've been doing it for months. I don't dispel them all at once."
"You'd better not," Shizune muttered.
"She's right about being careful, brat," Tsunade stated as she watched the exchange with an amused expression. "Having enormous chakra reserves doesn't mean your brain can handle everything you throw at it."
"I know, Grandma," Naruto replied. "I've already learned that lesson."
"Do I even want to know?" Tsunade asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"Probably not," Naruto answered with a grin.
"Figures," Tsunade muttered.
"Alright, everyone, listen up," Naruto announced as he turned towards his clones. "I want you to go through every scroll related to Wood Release, along with anything written by the First Hokage. Focus on information about the Tailed Beasts, especially any techniques used to suppress or restrain their chakra. Read everything you can find, and once you're finished, dispel yourselves in groups so I can get the memories."
"Got it!" the clones replied together.
The clones dispersed throughout the library, some heading towards the sections dedicated to Wood Release while others began searching through the personal records of the First Hokage. Within moments, the sound of scrolls being opened and pages turning filled the chamber.
"You're planning on having them read through everything while we train?" Tsunade asked as she watched the clones begin their work.
"Pretty much," Naruto answered. "Once they dispel, I'll receive everything they learned. Saves me from spending the next few weeks sitting down here reading."
"Not a bad idea," Tsunade admitted. "Although I still expect you to understand what you're learning. Memorizing a technique and being able to use it properly are two different things."
"I know," Naruto replied. "That's why I want to start looking into it now instead of waiting until the finals."
"Good," Tsunade stated. "Now, are you finished?"
"Yep," Naruto answered.
"Then get moving, brat," Tsunade replied. "You've kept me waiting long enough."
Naruto nodded before leading the two women out of the library, leaving his clones to continue their research. After restoring the security seals on the door, the three made their way back upstairs and headed towards the private training grounds located behind the main compound.
The morning sun had risen above the surrounding trees by the time they arrived. The training ground was a large clearing surrounded by dense woodland, with several wooden training posts and stone targets positioned along its edges. Naruto had spent a considerable amount of time restoring the area since his return, including reinforcing sections of the ground to withstand some of his more powerful techniques.
Shizune carried Tonton towards the treeline, choosing a spot where they would have a clear view of the training ground without being directly in the path of any stray attacks.
"Try not to destroy the entire place," Shizune called towards the two.
"No promises!" Naruto shouted back.
"Naruto!" Shizune warned.
"Relax, Big Sis! I'll fix anything we break!" Naruto replied.
"That's what I'm worried about," Shizune muttered as she placed Tonton down beside her.
In the center of the clearing, Tsunade removed her green haori and tossed it towards Shizune, who caught it before folding it over one arm. Naruto stood several yards away from his grandmother, already looking forward to their upcoming match.
"Alright, brat," Tsunade stated as she rolled her shoulders. "Let's see what you've been doing with yourself these past few months."
Naruto nodded before reaching towards the storage seal on his wrist. With a small pulse of chakra, the seal activated, and a puff of smoke appeared around his hand. When it cleared, his familiar six-foot black staff rested comfortably in his grip.
"Still using that staff, I see," Tsunade commented as she glanced towards the weapon.
"Of course," Naruto replied as he gave the weapon a quick spin. "Big Sis gave it to me. Besides, it's served me pretty well so far."
"Then quit standing around and show me what you've got, brat," Tsunade stated as she settled into a fighting stance.
Naruto lowered his center of gravity and positioned his staff diagonally across his body. He had spent years training under his grandmother and knew firsthand just how dangerous she could be. Despite how much stronger he had become since leaving home, he wasn't foolish enough to underestimate her.
"Ready?" Tsunade asked.
"Whenever you are, Grandma," Naruto answered.
"Then come at me," Tsunade stated.
Naruto rushed forward, closing the distance between them with his staff held at his side. His opening strike came from the right, aimed towards Tsunade's shoulder, but she shifted aside before catching the following thrust with one hand. Naruto twisted the weapon and attempted to sweep her legs, only for Tsunade to leap over the attack and bring her foot down towards his position.
Naruto jumped backward as her heel struck the ground, sending a violent tremor through the clearing. The earth cracked beneath the impact, and several chunks of stone were thrown into the air. Before the dust could settle, Tsunade launched herself towards her grandson, forcing him to raise his staff to intercept her incoming fist.
The impact sent a powerful shock through his arms, causing Naruto to slide several feet backward. Rather than attempting to match her strength, he redirected the force of the blow and twisted his staff towards her exposed side. Tsunade caught the weapon against her forearm before attempting to grab him, but Naruto released his grip with one hand and spun away before forming the Snake hand seal.
"Wood Style: Wood Binding Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed.
Several thick wooden roots erupted from the ground around Tsunade, twisting towards her arms and legs. Tsunade shattered the nearest root with a punch before spinning around and destroying another with a powerful kick. Naruto used the distraction to close the distance again, swinging his staff towards her head while directing another root towards her ankle.
Tsunade ducked beneath the staff and caught the approaching root with her free hand. With a sharp pull, she tore it from the ground before swinging it towards Naruto.
Naruto raised a wooden barrier, only for the root to smash through it and force him backward. Tsunade followed through the opening and drove her fist towards his stomach. Naruto twisted aside at the last moment, feeling the force of the blow pass dangerously close to his body. He brought his staff down towards her shoulder, but Tsunade caught it and pulled him forward.
Naruto twisted his staff free from Tsunade's grip and leapt backwards, creating enough distance to form another hand seal.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" Naruto exclaimed.
The ground beneath Tsunade softened, transforming into a flowing mass of mud that began pulling her feet down. Naruto retreated several yards before forming the Snake seal again.
"Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall!" Naruto shouted.
Several thick wooden pillars erupted around Tsunade, curving inward to form a reinforced enclosure. Before the walls could finish closing, Naruto inhaled deeply and released another technique.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Naruto exclaimed.
A powerful blast of wind swept across the training ground, striking the wooden enclosure and forcing it deeper into the unstable earth. The surrounding trees bent beneath the pressure, and dust billowed across the clearing.
The enclosure held for several seconds before a deafening explosion tore through its center. Tsunade burst through the reinforced wall with a single punch, sending shattered wood flying in every direction. She landed on solid ground and launched herself towards Naruto, crossing the distance between them before he could complete another hand seal.
Naruto raised a wooden shield to intercept her attack, but it shattered the moment Tsunade's fist connected, sending him flying backward into one of the wooden training posts. He crashed through it before rolling across the ground, managing to push himself back to his feet just as Tsunade approached again.
He raised his staff to block her next strike, but the force behind it nearly knocked the weapon from his hands. Naruto ducked beneath a follow-up kick and attempted to strike her exposed leg, only for Tsunade to twist aside and drive her elbow towards his chest.
Naruto managed to avoid most of the blow, though it still caught his shoulder and sent him stumbling backward. He recovered his footing and brought his staff around in a wide arc, forcing Tsunade to move out of its path. The brief opening gave him enough time to form the Snake seal.
"Wood Style: Great Forest Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed.
Several enormous wooden branches erupted from the ground around him, spreading outward across the clearing. Rather than directing them all towards Tsunade, Naruto began using the branches to divide the training ground into several smaller sections, limiting the directions from which she could approach him.
Tsunade destroyed the first branch blocking her path, only to find another growing behind it. When she attempted to move around the obstruction, several roots emerged beneath her feet, forcing her to leap onto one of the larger branches.
Naruto had anticipated the movement. A thick wooden pillar shot upwards towards her position, forcing Tsunade to jump again. Before she could land, two more branches twisted towards her from opposite directions, attempting to catch her in midair.
Tsunade struck one with her fist and used the resulting momentum to propel herself away from the other. She landed several yards from Naruto, though another root was already moving towards her ankle.
From the treeline, Shizune watched as Naruto continued manipulating the battlefield. His Wood Release had improved considerably since leaving the Fire Capital, but what impressed her most was how he was using the techniques. Instead of simply overwhelming his grandmother with large attacks, he was attempting to control her movements and create openings for himself.
Tonton let out a surprised oink as another branch crashed into the ground.
Back in the clearing, Naruto landed on one of the larger branches and brought his hands together.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed.
A dozen Shadow Clones appeared around him before spreading out across the wooden structures. Four immediately rushed towards Tsunade while the others took positions around the clearing.
Tsunade destroyed the first clone with a punch before ducking beneath the second one's staff. She caught the weapon and pulled the clone forward, driving her knee into its stomach and causing it to disappear in a puff of smoke.
The remaining two clones attacked from opposite directions, forcing Tsunade to defend herself while Naruto prepared his next technique.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed.
Several compressed blades of wind shot towards Tsunade, cutting through the wooden branches surrounding her. Tsunade jumped backward to avoid the attack, landing in a narrow opening between two of the larger structures.
Naruto had deliberately left the opening clear, and the moment Tsunade landed, one of his clones completed another technique.
"Earth Style: Earth Shore Return!" the clone shouted.
A large wall of earth erupted behind Tsunade, blocking her retreat while several wooden roots surged forward from the opposite direction. Two additional clones appeared above her, preparing to attack the moment she attempted to escape.
Tsunade glanced towards the earthen wall before looking at the approaching roots. Rather than attempting to avoid the trap, she planted her feet firmly against the ground and drove her fist into the earth.
The impact sent a violent shockwave through the clearing, shattering the earthen wall and destroying several of the wooden branches surrounding her. Naruto's clones were thrown from their positions, disappearing in bursts of smoke as the ground split beneath them.
Naruto leaped from his branch as it broke apart beneath his feet, landing near the edge of the clearing. Tsunade emerged from the dust, completely unharmed.
Naruto studied the destruction for a moment before tightening his grip on his staff. He had expected his grandmother to break through his defenses, but he had hoped to keep her occupied long enough to land another attack. Unfortunately, Tsunade's strength made it difficult to maintain any advantage for long.
Still, he had one technique he was particularly interested in testing against her. Naruto placed his staff back into the storage seal on his wrist before forming the Snake seal.
"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu!" Naruto exclaimed.
The ground behind Naruto erupted as an enormous wooden dragon emerged from beneath the earth. Its long body twisted through the air, wooden scales covering its surface while its massive jaws opened as it lunged towards Tsunade.
Shizune's eyes widened as she looked towards the enormous construct. She recognized the technique from the stories Tsunade had told her about the First Hokage, though this was the first time she had seen Naruto use it herself.
The dragon lunged towards Tsunade, its massive jaws closing around the spot where she had been standing moments earlier. Tsunade leapt onto one of the remaining wooden branches before jumping again as the dragon's tail swept towards her.
Naruto directed the dragon upwards, forcing Tsunade to twist in midair to avoid its jaws. She brought her fist down against the creature's head, shattering a large portion of the wooden construct. However, before she could land another blow, fresh wood grew over the damaged area as Naruto poured more chakra into the technique.
The dragon twisted around her, its enormous body curling through the air as several thick branches extended from its sides. Tsunade destroyed the first few restraints, but another branch wrapped around her ankle and pulled her towards the dragon's body.
She shattered the branch with a kick, only for the dragon's tail to strike her from behind. Tsunade was thrown several yards before landing on her feet, but Naruto directed the dragon towards her again, its massive body crashing through several of the remaining wooden structures.
Rather than attempting to destroy the creature, Tsunade jumped onto its back and began running towards Naruto. Several wooden branches erupted from the dragon's body, forcing her to dodge between them while Naruto directed its tail towards her position.
Tsunade leaped over the approaching tail, but Naruto had already anticipated her movement. Several thick roots erupted from the ground beneath her intended landing spot, forcing her to change direction in midair. At the same time, the dragon twisted its body around her, its massive coils closing together before she could escape.
Tsunade struck the nearest section of the dragon with her fist, shattering several layers of reinforced wood. However, Naruto continued feeding chakra into the technique, causing the damaged section to regenerate while additional branches wrapped around her arms and legs. Within moments, Tsunade found herself restrained against the dragon's body.
Naruto activated the storage seal on his wrist, summoning his staff back into his hand before launching himself forward. As he approached, he directed several smaller branches towards Tsunade's arms, tightening the restraints while preparing to strike.
Tsunade flexed her arms and began breaking through the wooden bindings, but Naruto had already closed the distance. His staff struck her across the ribs, forcing her several feet sideways before she managed to tear herself free from the remaining restraints.
Naruto landed on the dragon's back and immediately directed another attack towards his grandmother. Tsunade avoided the dragon's jaws before landing on the ground, one hand briefly resting against the spot where Naruto had struck her. She looked towards her grandson, who was standing on the enormous wooden construct with his staff resting across his shoulders.
For the first time since their match began, Naruto had managed to land a solid hit.
Tsunade lowered her hand and examined the enormous dragon. She had been holding back throughout most of the fight, wanting to see how Naruto approached different situations rather than simply overwhelming him with her superior strength. However, the fact that he had managed to restrain her long enough to land an attack was something she hadn't expected.
It was time to see how he handled an opponent who stopped giving him opportunities to prepare.
Naruto barely had time to react before his grandmother launched herself forward. She crossed the distance between them in an instant, moving considerably faster than she had throughout the earlier exchanges. Naruto attempted to raise several wooden branches between them, but Tsunade shattered each one without slowing down.
The Wood Dragon lunged towards her, its enormous jaws opening as it attempted to intercept her approach. Tsunade leaped into the air and brought her fist down against the creature's head, shattering the entire front section of the dragon and sending enormous chunks of wood crashing into the ground. Before Naruto could regenerate the damage, Tsunade landed on the remaining body and rushed towards him.
Naruto raised his staff to defend himself, but Tsunade struck the weapon with an open palm, knocking it from his hands before driving her fist towards his chest.
Naruto twisted aside, but the blow caught his shoulder and sent him flying backward. He crashed through several wooden branches before striking the ground hard enough to create a shallow crater. The Wood Dragon began collapsing as Naruto's concentration faltered.
Tsunade landed near the remains of the enormous construct before turning towards her grandson.
Naruto slowly pushed himself back to his feet, his shoulder already beginning to recover from the impact. His breathing had grown heavier, and maintaining the Wood Dragon had consumed a considerable amount of chakra. He still had plenty left in reserve, but the constant effort of controlling the battlefield while defending himself against Tsunade was beginning to wear him down.
Nevertheless, Naruto wasn't finished. He retrieved his staff and formed the Snake seal once more. Several wooden roots erupted from beneath Tsunade's feet, but rather than attempting to restrain her, they spread outward and formed a series of barriers between them.
Naruto moved behind the nearest barrier and created two Shadow Clones, sending them in opposite directions while he prepared another attack.
Tsunade smashed through the first barrier and caught one of the clones attempting to strike her from behind. She destroyed it with a punch before turning towards the second, which disappeared after receiving a powerful kick to the chest.
Naruto used the distraction to approach from above, his staff raised for an overhead strike. Tsunade looked up just as he descended, stepping aside and catching the staff with one hand before pulling Naruto towards her. Naruto attempted to twist free, but Tsunade caught his wrist with her other hand and pulled him off balance.
Her knee struck him directly in the stomach, lifting Naruto from the ground and driving the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, Tsunade grabbed him by the front of his shirt and threw him across the clearing.
Naruto crashed into the ground, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop near the edge of the training ground. He attempted to push himself up, but his arms gave out beneath him, and he collapsed onto his back with a groan. For several seconds, the only sound in the clearing was Naruto's heavy breathing.
Tsunade walked towards her grandson, stepping over several broken branches along the way. Shizune and Tonton emerged from the treeline and hurried towards Naruto, with Shizune kneeling beside him as soon as she reached his side.
"Hold still, Naruto," Shizune instructed as she placed a hand against his chest and began examining his injuries.
"Never better, Big Sis," Naruto replied weakly.
"You're a terrible liar," Shizune muttered as she checked his ribs.
Tonton let out several worried oinks before nudging Naruto's arm with her snout.
"I'm fine, Tonton," Naruto assured the little pig.
"His ribs are already healing," Shizune reported after a moment. "Some bruising around his shoulder and chest, but nothing serious. He'll be fine after some rest."
"Good," Tsunade replied as she stopped beside them.
"You could have been a little gentler with him, Lady Tsunade," Shizune commented as she glanced towards the destroyed training ground before looking back at Tsunade.
"He asked for a spar, didn't he?" Tsunade replied. "Besides, I was holding back."
"I noticed," Shizune muttered.
"Don't worry, Big Sis," Naruto replied with a tired laugh before wincing slightly. "I've had worse."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Shizune answered.
"Not bad, brat," Tsunade stated as she folded her arms across her chest and looked down at her grandson. "You've improved quite a bit since leaving home."
"Thanks, Grandma," Naruto replied.
"Don't get too excited," Tsunade continued. "Your Wood Release has gotten stronger, and your control is much better than it used to be. I especially liked how you used the terrain to limit my movements. But you've still got some bad habits we need to fix."
"Like what?" Naruto asked.
"For starters, you rely too much on your Wood Release when someone gets close to you," Tsunade explained. "Every time I broke through your defenses, your first instinct was to create another barrier or put more distance between us. That's fine against someone who can't get through them, but what happens when you're fighting someone who can?"
"I end up on my back," Naruto replied dryly.
"Exactly," Tsunade answered with a smirk. "Your taijutsu has improved, but you need to stop treating it like something you only use when your ninjutsu fails. You should be using both together."
Naruto nodded as he considered her words. He had noticed the same problem during their match. Whenever Tsunade managed to close the distance, he had struggled to regain control without relying on another technique.
"And another thing," Tsunade continued. "That Wood Dragon of yours was impressive, but you were putting too much chakra into maintaining it. You spent so much effort keeping it intact that you weren't paying enough attention to what I was doing."
"I figured you'd destroy it if I stopped feeding chakra into it," Naruto admitted.
"Then let me destroy it," Tsunade replied. "You don't need every technique to last forever. Sometimes all you need is a few seconds to create an opening. You managed to land a hit because you caught me off guard, not because the dragon was stronger than me."
Naruto thought about that for a moment before nodding.
"I see what you mean," Naruto replied.
"Good," Tsunade stated. "Because we're going to spend the next month fixing those weaknesses."
"Looking forward to it," Naruto replied with a grin.
"Of course you are, you little masochist," Tsunade muttered as she shook her head.
"Well, before you two start planning another fight, he's going to rest for a little while," Shizune stated firmly as she helped Naruto sit up.
"Fine, fine," Tsunade replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Let the brat catch his breath."
Tsunade looked down at her grandson, taking another moment to examine the injuries that were already beginning to heal. She had expected Naruto to improve during his time away, but even she had been surprised by how much his Wood Release had developed. There were still plenty of weaknesses she intended to correct, though judging by the condition of the training ground, the next month was going to be interesting.
**One Month Later**
The day of the Chunin Exam finals had finally arrived.
Naruto stood in front of the full-length mirror in his bedroom, examining the new outfit he had commissioned several weeks earlier. With the finals being held in front of thousands of spectators, including several important figures from the other Great Nations, he had decided that wearing something a little different from his usual attire wouldn't hurt.
He wore a fitted black, high-collared shirt beneath a sleeveless burnt-orange coat that extended to just above his knees. The coat had black lining along its edges, with white accents decorating the shoulders and hem. Its back was split to allow him to move freely during combat, while the shoulders and sides had been reinforced to provide some additional protection. Embroidered across the back was the Senju Clan's symbol in white, surrounded by a thin red border. Naruto had specifically requested that the emblem be large enough for the spectators to recognize.
His black shinobi pants were tucked into a pair of dark boots with reinforced shin guards, while a black belt secured several equipment pouches around his waist. A pair of black fingerless gloves completed the outfit, leaving his fingers free to form hand seals. His Leaf forehead protector rested across his forehead, its metal plate polished until the village symbol shone beneath the morning light.
Naruto turned slightly, examining the Senju emblem on his back before giving a satisfied nod. He wanted people to know exactly which clan he represented when he stepped into the arena, especially considering how long it had been since someone bearing the Senju name had participated in the Chunin Exams.
"Not bad," Naruto muttered with a grin. "Definitely better than wearing the same thing I always do."
Naruto turned towards the window overlooking the Senju Compound. Beyond its walls, the Hidden Leaf was already bustling with activity. He could hear merchants calling out to customers, children laughing, and people discussing the matches taking place later that morning. The village had been preparing for this day for weeks, and judging by the noise outside, everyone seemed eager for the finals to begin.
Naruto couldn't blame them. He had been looking forward to this day himself.
The past month had been one of the busiest periods since his return to the village. Between training, council meetings, preparations for the finals, and his various business interests, there had hardly been a day when he wasn't occupied with something.
Most of his time had been spent training with his grandmother. Tsunade had wasted little time making good on her promise to correct the weaknesses she had noticed during their first spar. Their training sessions usually began shortly after breakfast and continued well into the afternoon, with Shizune occasionally joining them to assist with his medical training.
Much of their work focused on improving Naruto's taijutsu and his ability to fight opponents who could close the distance before he had time to prepare a technique. During their first spar, Tsunade had repeatedly taken advantage of the openings Naruto left whenever he attempted to transition between his staff and ninjutsu. She had also pointed out his tendency to rely on larger Wood Release techniques whenever an opponent managed to pressure him.
Tsunade had made it abundantly clear that she wasn't going to allow him to rely entirely on Wood Release whenever things became difficult. Unfortunately for Naruto, her preferred method of teaching usually involved knocking him into the ground whenever he made a mistake. There had been several occasions when he had barely managed to get back to his feet before his grandmother was already charging towards him again.
He had lost count of how many times Shizune had been forced to patch him up after one of their training sessions.
Still, Naruto couldn't complain about the results. His movements had become more efficient, and he had grown increasingly comfortable transitioning between his staff, taijutsu, and ninjutsu without interrupting the flow of combat. Tsunade had also forced him to become more economical with his movements, pointing out that there was little reason to waste chakra on an elaborate technique when a well-placed strike or smaller jutsu could accomplish the same thing.
Their training included several sessions focused entirely on his chakra control. Although Naruto already possessed excellent control thanks to his medical training, Tsunade had identified areas where he could improve, particularly when maintaining larger Wood Release techniques while simultaneously fighting at close range.
Naruto had found those exercises particularly frustrating. Maintaining a complex technique while trying to avoid getting punched through a tree by his grandmother was considerably more difficult than it sounded. Nevertheless, the training had improved his ability to divide his attention between multiple techniques without allowing his concentration to slip.
Whenever he wasn't training with Tsunade, Naruto continued researching the Senju Clan's records. His Shadow Clones spent countless hours examining the scrolls stored within the private library, focusing primarily on Hashirama's Wood Release techniques and their ability to suppress the chakra of Tailed Beasts.
While much of what Hashirama had written concerned techniques Naruto wasn't yet capable of reproducing, the information had given him a better understanding of how Wood Release interacted with a Tailed Beast's chakra. He was still far from mastering those methods, but he felt considerably more prepared to deal with Gaara should the Sand Jinchuriki lose control during the finals.
Jiraiya had spent much of the month traveling between the village and several neighboring countries, following leads concerning Orochimaru's activities. Whenever he returned, he usually spent a few days helping Naruto with his training before leaving again to continue his investigation.
Unfortunately, even with his extensive network of informants, the Toad Sage had been unable to uncover every detail of Orochimaru's plans. What he had learned, however, was enough to confirm that his former teammate was preparing something significant for the finals. With only a month to prepare, Hiruzen had ordered the village's defenses strengthened while doing his best to ensure that the visiting dignitaries remained unaware of the potential threat.
Naruto had attended several meetings of the shinobi council alongside his grandmother, although the first meeting had proven considerably more entertaining than he expected.
To say the council had been shocked to see the legendary Sannin standing beside the Senju heir would have been an understatement. Several members had nearly fallen out of their seats when Tsunade entered the chamber, while others immediately began questioning when she had returned and why they hadn't been informed.
Hiruzen had been equally surprised, though his reaction had been considerably more pleasant once he realized his former student was finally back in the village. Tsunade, on the other hand, had little patience for the questioning, especially when one of the council members suggested that she should have informed the Hokage of her return sooner.
Naruto still remembered having to hide his amusement when his grandmother told the man that she hadn't returned to the village to ask permission to visit her grandson.
The meetings that followed had been considerably more serious. With the possibility of an invasion becoming increasingly likely, the shinobi council gathered on multiple occasions to discuss the village's defenses. Tsunade and Jiraiya attended the meetings, providing their assessments of the threat and helping Hiruzen coordinate the village's response.
The village's first priority was protecting its civilians. Should an attack occur during the finals, the shinobi assigned to evacuation duty would immediately begin directing everyone towards the designated shelters. Other teams would secure the entrances and prevent enemy forces from reaching the civilians while the evacuation was underway.
Once the civilians were being secured, the Leaf would begin its coordinated counterattack. ANBU and available jonin would focus on containing the invading forces, while the remaining shinobi would reinforce critical positions throughout the village. Additional patrols had been established near the walls, and several important buildings had received increased security.
Naruto was pleased with how thoroughly the village had prepared, although he knew that even the best plans could fall apart once a battle started. Orochimaru was hardly someone they could afford to underestimate, especially with the Hidden Sand potentially supporting him.
Preparations for the finals themselves had also progressed rather well. Several weeks earlier, Naruto had visited the Chunin Exam stadium to inspect the construction work being carried out by Tazuna and his workers.
The old bridge builder had been delighted to see him again, and Naruto was impressed with the progress. Tazuna and his crew had done an excellent job restoring and expanding the stadium, completing most of the work ahead of schedule. The spectator stands had been reinforced, several damaged sections of the arena walls had been rebuilt, and additional entrances had been constructed to accommodate the expected crowds.
After speaking with Tazuna about the improvements, Naruto turned his attention towards the arena itself. With the construction work nearly finished, he had finally been able to install the barrier seals he had been planning for months.
The seals were placed at carefully selected points along the arena walls, forming a connected network designed to contain powerful attacks within the fighting area. Before each match, the barrier would be activated, creating a transparent protective wall separating the competitors from the spectators. It would remain active throughout the fight and only be lowered once the match had officially concluded and the arena was safe.
Naruto had installed a control point that allowed the match officials to activate and deactivate the barrier without needing him there. The system had undergone several tests, and everything appeared to be working as intended.
Of course, he wasn't foolish enough to believe the barrier was indestructible. It could withstand considerable punishment from ordinary ninjutsu, but if Gaara transformed into the One-Tail, there was no guarantee it would hold indefinitely. Naruto had designed it with that possibility in mind, hoping that even if the barrier eventually failed, it would give the spectators enough time to evacuate.
Despite spending most of the month training and helping prepare the village for the finals, Naruto had still managed to keep track of his various business interests. Fortunately, things had been progressing rather well in the red-light district.
The Red Lotus had experienced a particularly profitable month thanks to the steady arrival of visitors for the Chunin Exam finals. Merchants, wealthy travelers, and foreign dignitaries had been pouring into the village, bringing with them plenty of money to spend. Yoru had taken full advantage of the opportunity, with several evenings bringing in more money than the establishment had previously earned in an entire week.
With the renovations completed and the establishment's finances considerably healthier than when he first approached Yoru, the Red Lotus was finally operating without requiring additional funding from him.
His efforts to undermine her competition had continued producing results as well. The smaller establishment that had closed previously remained out of business, while the investigation into another owner's questionable tax records had created additional problems for that establishment. Two of the larger businesses were continuing to experience difficulties with their suppliers thanks to the transportation agreements offered by Senju Shipping.
Yoru's workers had continued gathering information from their customers, listening to the conversations of merchants, businessmen, and visiting officials. Most of what they heard was ordinary gossip, but Naruto had instructed Yoru to pay particular attention to anything involving the foreign visitors arriving for the finals.
Every few days, a disguised Wood Clone would visit the Red Lotus to collect those reports and check on the establishment's progress. Yoru continued dealing with him only through his chosen identity, Mr. Black, and Naruto intended to keep it that way.
The last thing he needed was for his grandmother to discover that he was secretly financing an establishment in the red-light district. Knowing Tsunade, he would probably spend the next several days recovering from whatever punishment she decided was appropriate.
Naruto chuckled at the thought before deciding that it was probably best not to dwell on it.
Turning away from the window, Naruto walked towards his desk and examined the equipment he had prepared the previous evening. Several storage scrolls rested beside a small collection of kunai, shuriken, and other supplies. After checking their contents one final time, he secured everything within his equipment pouches and activated the storage seal on his wrist to confirm that his staff was properly stored.
With his equipment taken care of, Naruto glanced towards the mirror once more.
His first opponent would be Neji Hyuga, a talented member of the Hyuga Clan whose reputation had only grown following the preliminary matches. Naruto had watched enough of Neji's fighting style to understand the danger posed by the Gentle Fist, particularly its ability to disrupt an opponent's chakra network.
Naruto had spent part of the month considering how to approach the fight. Neji was undoubtedly skilled, but the Hyuga's fighting style relied heavily on getting close enough to strike his opponent's chakra points. Naruto had several ways of preventing that from happening, although he was curious to see how Neji would react once he realized that closing the distance wasn't going to be as simple as he expected.
Of course, Naruto wasn't planning to spend the entire match running away from him. After everything his grandmother had put him through during the past month, he was rather interested in seeing how his improved taijutsu would hold up against the Gentle Fist.
"Should be fun," Naruto muttered with a grin.
Naruto made his way towards the bedroom door, giving the Senju Clan symbol on his coat one final glance before stepping into the hallway and closing the door behind him.
The familiar corridors of the compound were quiet, though the sounds coming from outside had grown considerably louder. Somewhere beyond the compound walls, Naruto could hear a group of children excitedly discussing which competitors they thought would win their matches. He chuckled as he continued downstairs, wondering whether any of them were betting on him.
Upon reaching the ground floor, Naruto followed the smell of freshly prepared breakfast towards the kitchen, where he could already hear several familiar voices.
Tsunade sat at the table with a cup of tea in front of her, while Shizune was busy arranging several plates of food. Tonton rested beside her feet, occasionally letting out an impatient oink. Jiraiya had also joined them, sitting across from Tsunade with a rather large breakfast already in front of him.
All three looked towards the doorway as Naruto entered.
"Well, look at you, brat," Tsunade commented as she examined his new outfit. "Trying to impress someone?"
"Maybe," Naruto replied with a grin.
"Someone whose name starts with an I?" Jiraiya asked with a knowing smile.
"Don't start, Pervy Sage," Naruto replied as he walked towards the table.
"I think it looks wonderful, Naruto," Shizune stated with a warm smile. "The clan symbol was a nice touch."
"Thanks, Big Sis," Naruto replied.
Tsunade examined the white Senju emblem on his back, her eyes lingering on it for several seconds. Seeing her grandson wearing the symbol reminded her of her grandfather and the days when the Senju Clan had been one of the most prominent clans in the village.
"Looks good on you, brat," Tsunade admitted after a moment. "Your great-grandfather would've liked it."
Naruto looked towards his grandmother, slightly surprised by the compliment.
"Thanks, Grandma," Naruto replied with a genuine smile.
"Don't let it go to your head," Tsunade warned as she took another sip of her tea. "You still have a match to win."
"Don't worry," Naruto replied confidently. "I haven't forgotten."
"Good," Tsunade answered with a smirk. "Because if you lose after everything I put you through this month, we're starting your training all over again."
"Nice to know you have so much faith in me," Naruto replied sarcastically.
"Oh, I have plenty of faith in you, brat," Tsunade answered. "That doesn't mean I'm going to stop giving you a hard time."
"Don't listen to her, Naruto," Shizune said with a small smile. "You've worked incredibly hard this past month. Just remember not to push yourself unnecessarily, alright?"
"I'll be fine, Big Sis," Naruto replied with a reassuring smile.
"That's what you always say," Shizune answered with a sigh.
"Come on, Shizune," Naruto complained. "You make it sound like I spend every day getting myself injured."
"Would you like me to remind you how many times I've had to heal you this month?" Shizune asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"That's different," Naruto replied defensively. "Grandma was the one causing most of those injuries."
"And I'll cause a few more if you keep complaining," Tsunade threatened with an amused smirk.
Naruto wisely decided not to respond, earning a chuckle from Jiraiya.
"Well, brat," Jiraiya said as he pushed his empty plate aside. "Today's the big day. You ready?"
"Of course," Naruto replied confidently. "I've been waiting a month for this."
"Good," Jiraiya answered with a grin. "Just remember what we talked about. Keep your eyes open, especially if anything starts looking suspicious."
Naruto nodded. After everything they had learned about Orochimaru's plans, he knew better than to let his guard down.
"Don't worry, Pervy Sage," Naruto replied. "I know what to look out for."
"Just making sure," Jiraiya answered. "Knowing Orochimaru, he'll probably wait until everyone's distracted before making his move."
"Then we'll just have to make sure we're ready for him," Naruto replied.
Tsunade gave her grandson an approving nod. She knew how much work he had put into preparing for the finals, and while the threat of Orochimaru's invasion concerned her, she was confident Naruto could handle himself.
"Alright, brat," Tsunade said as she stood from her seat. "Enough talking. Let's get going before we're late."
Naruto looked towards his grandmother, his older sister, and his godfather before turning his attention towards the kitchen window. Beyond the compound walls, the Hidden Leaf was preparing for one of the biggest events of the year. After an entire month of preparation, Naruto was more than ready to see what the day had in store. A confident grin spread across his face.
"Let the games begin," Naruto replied.
**Chapter End**
Please Leave a Review.