Chapter 129: Loyalties and Affinities

Disclaimer:

Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.

I own nothing but the original characters I create.

Chapter 129: Loyalties and Affinities

Jiraiya and Shizune stepped outside the office, quietly closing the door behind them.

Naruto turned back to face Tsunade. "What is it you wanted to discuss that requires so much privacy?"

"It's nothing of major importance, but I didn't want them to know about my concerns regarding this matter," Tsunade replied.

"Very well… What is it, then?"

Tsunade met his gaze. "I was informed about the incident on the hospital rooftop."

"It was just a short fight, if you can even call it that," Naruto commented nonchalantly.

"That's what your Sensei said in his report. But a civilian on a nearby rooftop saw Uchiha attack you with lightning chakra. If it was the jutsu I think it was… it's more than just a little fight."

"To me, it wasn't," Naruto shrugged.

Tsunade pulled out another sheet of paper. "I've been reading up on your teammates. After meeting the boy in person once and reviewing all the reports about him, I can't help but feel concerned."

"Concerned about what? His mental stability? His loyalty to the village?"

"Yes, those are my biggest concerns," Tsunade admitted.

"Shouldn't you be having this conversation with Kakashi?" Naruto asked.

"I have reasons to believe Kakashi will protect his student and hide information from me. He's already done that before. What I want is the truth on this."

"And you think I wouldn't lie to protect my teammate?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"No, I don't think you care enough to lie," Tsunade said bluntly.

"So that's the impression I give, huh?" Naruto smirked.

"I'm skilled at reading people's character," Tsunade replied.

"And what do you think of me, then?"

"I'll keep that to myself," she said, her tone unreadable.

"That bad?" Naruto chuckled.

"Now, back to the Uchiha. Answer me honestly… what are the odds of him betraying the village?" Tsunade asked, not beating around the bush.

Naruto paused, considering his response. He knew the answer but needed to decide how much to tell her.

"There are no 'odds'… It's only a matter of time before he realizes his ambitions can't be fulfilled here."

Sasuke sought power at any cost. Unlike Naruto, who had the Kyubi as a source of strength, Sasuke had no such advantage. Staying in the village offered him little in the way of what he craved most.

If Naruto were in Sasuke's position, he too might be tempted to leave the safety of the village to explore the outside world. The quickest way to grow stronger was to train and fight constantly, risking life and limb against dangerous opponents.

It was a path many had taken, though only a few succeeded. But those who did often became fearsome individuals that no one would dare challenge.

"A matter of time?" Tsunade hadn't realized it was that serious.

"He wants power and revenge. That's his only goal, and if he can't get what he needs here, it makes sense he'll look for it elsewhere, doesn't it?" Naruto replied, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair. "I guess his loyalty to the village died with his clan."

Naruto said nothing to that. The only things he knew about the Uchiha massacre were what he'd read in books, and those didn't go into much detail.

"If that's all…" Naruto made a motion to stand up.

"Yes, that's all for now."

"Farewell, then, Lady Hokage," Naruto said with a hint of mockery in his tone.

He was almost at the door when she called after him.

"Tomorrow morning is the surgery for Gai's student. I'm just telling you because you seemed interested in the case," Tsunade said.

Naruto showed no outward reaction, but he hadn't mentioned his conversation with Lee to anyone. That meant someone had been keeping an eye on him while he was in the village.

'I'll have to be more careful about what I say and do. At least until I can sense anyone who gets too close to me,' Naruto thought.

"I see… I wish him luck, then." Naruto left the office.

Outside, he spotted Jiraiya waiting, though Shizune was nowhere to be seen...she likely went off to tend her other duties.

"I'm going to be leaving for a month or so. I've got an important mission I can't talk about," Jiraiya informed him.

If Jiraiya didn't look so serious, Naruto might have thought he was in a rush to get back to the brothel. Then again, with Jiraiya, it could easily be both.

"I see," Naruto said, still unsure why Jiraiya felt the need to tell him this.

Jiraiya pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket.

"I didn't have time to grab any from the Capital, but it was easy enough to get here."

Naruto looked at the blank piece of paper in his hand. It looked like regular paper to him, but Jiraiya was clearly implying there was something special about it.

"This is chakra paper. Remember how we talked about finding your chakra affinity?" Jiraiya handed him the paper, and Naruto took it.

"So, what do I do?"

"Just hold it in your palm and circulate your chakra. This paper is very sensitive and will react depending on your affinity," Jiraiya explained.

Naruto did as instructed, channeling his chakra a few times before opening his palm.

As he did, the paper was cut cleanly in half.

"Huh?... It got cut…" Naruto wasn't sure what that meant.

Jiraiya stared at the paper in shock. "Wind?... Wait, just wind?" He looked back at Naruto, bewildered.

From what he'd seen Naruto do with fire, Jiraiya had assumed his affinity was with fire...almost as if he had an incredible natural affinity almost comparable to the Second Hokage's legendary connection with water.

But it turned out Naruto had no affinity for fire at all. And yet…

A thought crossed Jiraiya's mind.

'What could he accomplish with wind?'

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