29 The Start of the Search

Skip the part where Naruto uses his "Talk no Jutsu."

Ishizu POV.

The funeral was on the next day. People silently cried about their loved ones who died in the attack. Although Konoha was attacked by two villages, it had the least casualties. When Suna saw that their Jinchūriki had lost, they immediately retreated. The Sound was not well off as my few wood clones slaughtered a lot of the Shinobi.

If Danzo wasn't such a bitch, I could have killed a lot of them but the warmonger let some of them escape. Before I lost consciousness, my clones dispelled to hide the fact that those people were wood clones.

Even though people died, I was happy that I could save a lot more.

Naruto had a few bruises, but he was fine. Sasuke didn't even fight against Gaara and Sakura was helping the civilians. Everyone did their best job.

The death of Hiruzen hit the people hard who were closest to him. People who were very close to Hiruzen were silently crying. They were Naruto and Konohamaru. For them, Hiruzen was a grandfather that they loved dearly and now he was gone but I was happy.

I repeat, I couldn't be more happier.

Because of this attack, the new generation was seeing that this world was not all happy but one needed to be stronger to survive the hard reality. The faster one learned the truth the stronger one could react to changes. Everyone has to go through it. Nobody was spared.

General POV

Hokage office.

"The 3rd's last words were to find the next Hokage and I will tell you both that I won't take it for myself," said Ishizu as he looked at the Hokage hat. Both elders were looking at Ishizu concerned. "Sasaki-san, we want to know the reason for the decline. You are one of the best to take the mantle and the hat. Hiruzen even wanted to make you Hokage. Being the student of the 4th makes you the perfect candidate," explained the old man.

Ishizu looked annoyed at the old man. "And I tell you I will consider the words of Hiruzen and look for a suitable person. I already have someone in mind."

A voice was heard as Danzo came to the office. Ishizu narrowed his eyes. "I won't even say anything about you coming here, but I suggest Tsunade Senju. She is the last Senju and I believe you also want her to be in the village instead of roaming the continent and gambling her money away."

Danzo nodded: "Of course I want her in Konoha but we do not know where she resides." Ishizu smiled at that: "Yes but we have a spy agent and a former teammate of hers. That's it then: I announce as the substitute of Hokage that Jiraiya the Sannin and Naruto Uzumaki have an S-rank mission to retrieve Tsunade Senju back to Konoha at all cost."

Ishizu couldn't see Danzo's expression, but he knew it annoyed him. Ishizu smirked: "To be 100% sure that the Kyuubi Jinchūriki is not killed I will also come with them."

"No, this is not acceptable. You are a capable Jonin and to go for such a stupid mission is under your worth Sasaki. Jiraiya can protect the container just fine and I could dispatch somebody else," announced Danzo.

Ishizu put a serious expression on his face: "I know how strong Jiraiya-sama is but he also has a great weakness and that are women. I heard of a group called Akatsuki who hunt after Jinchūriki and Jiraiya can be misled by them and they will capture Naruto. I will come with them and that is final." 'And no way in hell will I let a ROOT come with Naruto.' Danzo showed his disappointment but left.

Ishizu sighed: "We will leave in a few days. I will leave the village to the Shinobi and civilian councils." The two advisers nodded and left.

Later

Naruto and Jiraiya were standing in the Hokage office. Naruto smirked as he saw that Ishizu didn't wear the Hokage hat: "Hey Sensei, why don't you wear the hat? I think it looks good on you."

Ishizu rolled his eyes at Naruto's remark. "I am no Hokage. Too much paperwork and I don't like it. The important matter is that I am a substitute for the next Hokage." Ishizu looked at Jiraiya who quickly crossed his arms thinking Ishizu knew what he wanted from him.

"I don't mean you. I mean your comrade, Tsunade Senju. The 3rd gave me the last order before his death, and that was to find a suitable Hokage. I know you don't want to be the next one, Jiraiya, so I made a mission to find Tsunade. You and I will go together with Naruto to find her. If I remember correctly, she liked to drink and gamble so she is in some casino."

Ishizu stood up.

"The reason I will come is that I want to make sure nothing happens as I have a bad feeling as someone came into the land of fire to cause trouble." Jiraiya thought for a second before agreeing as 2 teachers were better for Naruto to finally master the Rasengan."

Next day.

Ishizu POV

I waited for the two to arrive at one of Konoha's gates. I wanted to leave as soon as they got here as I knew that Itachi and Kisame will be in Konoha in a few hours or so. As the two arrived, we left to find clues.

One hour after the 3 left two hooded people walked into Konoha. Even with the disguise, 3 Jonin recognized them sitting in a bar.

A fight was coming.

(I will skip the fight between Kakashi vs Itachi as it is the same as in canon.)

Search for Tsunade Team POV

2 weeks past as the team left Konoha.

As Naruto knew the basics for the Rasengan, Jiraiya showed him how to make a normal-size one without using the kyuubi chakra. Most of the time, however, he was in some kind of bar talking with the girl. He was information gathering, but it was so lame to do so for Ishizu. Instead of searching and changing the plot too much, Ishizu waited and trained as well.

The Tsunade search arc was important. He knew that he changed things but it was mostly inside Konoha so the changes outside should be small. Still, Ishizu looked for potential danger around Naruto. The worst case would for Pain to meet Naruto outside.

It was a stupid thought, but it could happen.

Ishizu was interrupted from his toughs as he heard Naruto celebrating his complete grown Rasengan.

'So he did it before Tsunade. I hope she will come back without challenging Naruto,' thought Ishizu. Ishizu walked over to Naruto.

"I see you did it. And even before the time Jiraiya thought you would," said Ishizu.

(The Original needed 37 days, but this could already do a mini version so to add chakra he needed less time.)

"You did good but don't think that is all to it. See, the Rasengan is a special jutsu, but at the moment it is weaker than the Chidori of Sasuke. The reason: Elemental transformation. The Rasengan has no element. It is neutral so it is weaker, but if you add an element, it will be powerful. Another reason the Rasengan is so strong is that it can be combined with almost all elements. Kakashi made the Chidori as he couldn't combine his Raiton with the Rasengan but you can do it with Futon. Here let me show you the next step."

Ishizu opened his palm to show him the normal Rasengan. "This is the normal one but this..." Naruto saw as the Rasengan began to change and small saw-like rings formed around it. "This is the next step."

"Futon: Rasengan."

"Now let's go back to rest."

In the room, Naruto collapsed and fell asleep.