Two Days Later – Konoha
Upon arriving in Konoha, they went straight to the Hokage Tower to report their mission.
Tsunade opened the window and spotted Naruto and Jiraiya perched on the narrow ledge just beneath it.
Both were crouching, though Jiraiya still loomed a little taller than Naruto.
"You think you can sneak into my office like that, brat?" Tsunade said.
Naruto grinned up at him and said,
"I figured I'd make my way back to Granny Tsunade's office in style."
With that, Naruto disappeared, followed closely by Jiraiya.
Jiraiya leaned against the wall near Tsunade's desk, noticing there was also a new face in the room.
"Hey, who's that girl?"
Tsunade and Kakashi both turned their gaze toward Naruto. Naruto gestured for Tamako to come forward, and she stepped forward nervously.
"This is Shimizu Tamako. First, seal the room and dismiss your Anbu—I've got more to say."
Tsunade frowned slightly but nodded. As the atmosphere in the room grew serious, her guards had already exited.
Naruto continued:
"I found her in Uzushio Village."
Jiraiya shot him a confused look.
"Why did you go there? How even did you know about that place?"
Naruto answered straightforwardly:
"I requested to visit Uzushio Village to see if there was anything suitable for me. And there was... a lot of things."
Naruto pulled out a scroll from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"I found a lot of stuff in Uzushio Village. Mostly sealing techniques—ones I'm eager to try out—and this sword on my back. My old one snapped during my fight with the Akatsuki."
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"You fought Akatsuki? Was it Itachi and Kisame?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Thank goodness… because if it had been them, I'd be asking how you survived."
Naruto sighed.
"It wasn't them, but it was still a fierce battle. I found Tamako in an underground tunnel. She was sealed inside a vault chamber."
"How long had she been sealed?" Kakashi asked.
"She was sealed at the age of fourteen. That was when Uzushio Village fell—she was the only survivor. She's been trapped in that seal for at least twenty years. She's a Grade Nine Sealing Expert… better than you, Pervy Sage."
Tamako interjected softly, "Actually, I was rated Grade Nine, but I never took the promotion exam, so I don't know what level I am now."
Jiraiya stared at Tamako in disbelief.
"This little girl is better than me in sealing techniques?"
"Yeah, she really is. [Sealing Technique: Animated Statues] She crafted a seal that animated statues, turning them into chakra-draining killing machines—they nearly killed me."
As everyone turned their attention to Tamako, she blushed slightly.
"You don't have to flatter me like that, Naruto-sama..."
Kakashi cut in.
"So, Naruto, tell me why she calls you 'sama' and 'Lord Uzumaki.'"
Tamako shrugged.
"Naruto-sama is obviously the only living member of the Uzumaki Clan. I owe my life to the Uzumaki Clan—they saved me. That's why he is my Lord Uzumaki."
Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief as he slowly pulled out his notebook.
"Go on..." he urged, lecherous grin spreading across his face.
Tamako continued speaking, unaware of what Jiraiya was doing,
"I will fulfill anything he wishes for, provided I am capable of providing it. I obey every one of his commands."
As Tamako spoke, Jiraiya eagerly scribbled notes with a perverted smile.
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"I won't make Tamako do anything she doesn't want to do, but she'll be staying with me. That way, I can help her adjust to life here."
Tsunade nodded.
"She can register as a citizen of Konoha. Does she want to become a ninja?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Tamako isn't a ninja. She's just really good at sealing techniques."
Tamako nodded.
"Naruto-sama is correct. I wasn't a ninja from Uzushio Village, but I still found my place. I hope to find one here as well."
Tsunade glanced at the scroll Naruto had left on her desk.
When Tsunade unrolled the scroll, a pile of broken pieces tumbled out. She saw a head roll across the desk before hearing Jiraiya gasp.
He held up a piece marked with a scorpion insignia:
"This is the mark of Red Sand no Sasori. Kid, are you saying you captured one of his puppets?"
Naruto shook his head.
"No, this is Sasori himself. He transformed himself into a puppet. I might've crushed his heart during the fight."
Jiraiya placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Good job, Naruto. You've really improved lately."
Tsunade smirked.
"Well then, Naruto, now you can take your friend to settle down."
Naruto nodded.
"Come on, Tamako."
Ignoring Tsunade's surprised look, Naruto scooped Tamako onto his back, walked to the window, gave a salute, and jumped out.
******
Naruto pushed open the dorm room door and flicked on the lights.
Tamako followed him inside.
"Lord Uzumaki, why was everyone staring at us like that?"
Naruto shrugged as he wandered around the room.
"Most people hate jinchūriki. A lot think I'm the demon himself reborn."
Tamako sat down on Naruto's couch.
"That's ridiculous. Nobody ever treated Lady Mito like that."
Sighing, he walked back toward the master bedroom.
"Yeah, I only have one bed, Tamako. You can sleep first until I get my next paycheck and buy you some stuff. I'm thinking about moving."
A knock came at the door.
(Sigh) "Come in, Tayuya."
Naruto walked toward the kitchen to check if there was anything edible for both of them.
Tayuya entered and saw Tamako sitting on the couch.
Leaning against the doorway, she hesitated before asking:
"So where the hell did you go?"
Naruto didn't turn around.
"Uzushio Village? Ever heard of it?"
Tayuya kept staring at him.
"No. Why'd you go there?"
"Family stuff. I wanted to learn a few things," Naruto said, rummaging through the fridge. "Tamako, you don't seem too fond of ramen. What do you like eating?"
Tamako fell silent, thinking.
Tayuya couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Why are you telling me this now, when you said nothing before leaving?"
Naruto pulled a carton of milk from the fridge and closed the door behind him as he replied,
"You didn't need to know before. I'm only telling you now because Tamako's staying with me, and you at least deserve to know where she came from."
"She's staying with you?" Tayuya asked in disbelief. "Why?"
Naruto returned to the main bedroom and sat down on the sofa beside Tamako.
"She's from twenty years ago and knows almost nothing about the modern world. Plus, she's dead set on serving my family. I can't talk her out of it, so I'll do my best to help her—and maybe even find something else she'd like to do."
Tayuya turned her gaze toward Tamako.
"Seriously? She's really from twenty years ago?"
Tamako nodded.
"I was sealed and preserved. [Sealing Art] is a highly advanced technique."
"Alright, alright," Naruto cut in. "Not much food left here. Let's grab a bite outside."
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