Chapter 43: The Same Question.

A sillhouette was seen running as quickly as she can. Behind her, there are three man who is trying their best to chase after her, sometimes throwing some projectiles attack at her.

"Tenshi, stop running. You won't be able to get away from us again this time." said a hybrid red dragon.

"Dragon Breath: Blue Cannon!"

one of the pursuer shoot a blue beam towards Konan, whose alias is Tenshi. Konan jumped to the side and continue to run again.

"She is really very persistant." said Kisame. "We are almost reaching the border of Fire country. This might be problematic to us."

"Then, let's catch her as soon as possible." Jin then transformed fully into a dragon. After that he flew up to the sky and zoomed toward Konan quickly. Before long, he already upon the fleeing Konan.

"Water Release: Great Sea Impact!"

The blue dragon expelled great amount of water and trapped Konan inside of it. The water expanded its area and reached Kisame and Shin. Seeing this, Shin turned into full dragon form and fly to the sky. Kisame on the other hand turned into a shark form and swam in the water.

Konan who got trapped in the water tried her best to get out of it. However, the blue dragon and the shark are already close to her.

"Water Style: Thousand Hungry Shark!"

Suddenly, thousands shark-shaped water come into being and attacked Konan. She tried to explode those water shark but her explosion tag was really restricted inside the water.

On a higher ground not too far away, two sillhouette was seen looking at the fight here with some interest.

"Jiraiya sensei, they are bullying a beauty. What should we do?"

"What to do? We as a gentleman need not to question our resolve when it comes to beauty. Saving is a first." said Jiraiya.

"Then, how are we going to help her? There are two dragon and a shark over the opponent side."

"Natsu, you go handle that red dragon. I'll try to give some aid to that girl."

"Fine by me. That red dragon seems to be a fire type dragon." said Natsu with a glimmer of excitement in his eyes.

After that short discussion, Jiraiya then jumped down of the high ground.

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

Mid-air, he opened a scroll and summoned a big frog.

"Gamafuu, I need your help to suck out these water."

The big frog just nodded. Upon contact to the water, Gamafuu sucked in the water.

Siuu!

Gamafuu's stomach stretched out like a baloon when he sucked in the water. In just a moment, the water level decreased, until the ground were now visible.

"What!?" both Jin and Kisame.

Konan who was struggling in the water was also surprised. She looked back and saw Jiraiya is standing not too far from her.

"Jiraiya sensei?"

"Konan?"

They both are surprised to see each other again. Suddenly, Kisame jumped toward Konan and slashes his sword toward her.

Bang!

Before he manages to do so, he was sent flying by Jiraiya's kick.

"Sage Mode!"

Jiraiya is now in the Sage Mode state. Different from the original story, this Jiraiya can perfectly use the Sage Mode without the help of Fukasaku and his toad wife.

"What happen here Konan? Why are you being attacked by these two?"

"It doesn't matter. It does not concern you." said Konan.

"What's with the attitude? Hei..." before Jiraiya finished his words, Konan is already escaping from that place. Seeing her running away, Jin tried to catch up to her, but blocked by Jiraiya. "You better not involve yourself in this matter. You will only get your Konoha village in trouble." said Jin, warning Jiraiya.

"Like it or not, she is my former disciple. So, I have the obligation to help her. Just let her go." said Jiraiya.

"Then you will have to face the consequences. Blue Cannon!"

"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"

Jiraiya evaded the blue beam as fast as he could. After that he summoned Gamabunta out.

"Jiraiya, why did you suddenly summon me?" asked Gamabunta.

"I need your help to contend against that dragon."

"Dragon? What the...there is really a dragon?" Gamabunta was surprised to see a blue dragon in front of them. The dragon charged at them and made a claw attack at them. Gamabunta hurriedly unsheated his sword to block the claw attack. The attack still send him skidding some meters away.

"That's really hurt." Said Gamabunta. On the side, Jiraiya already summoned another two toad. These are Gamaken and Gamahiro.

"Jiraiya, are you in a bind that you needed to summon us?" asked Gamaken.

"We are facing a bijuu level opponents here. I summoned you guys to prepare, just in case the situation go south." answered Jiraiya.

On the opponent side, Jin already retracted his dragon form and stood some distance away from Jiraiya's group. Kisame walked and stood besides Jin.

"That guy just brought more of his toad helper." said Kisame, reminding Jin.

"I know. This will take sometimes." nodded Jin. "Forget it. Let's just withdraw for now. We might attract others if we continue to fight."

"You scared?"

"Its not about being scared. Its called being cautious. Let's go." Jin then left in another direction. Shin who is still flying on the sky followed Jin. Kisame glanced at Jiraiya for a moment, before also following the dragon brothers.

Jiraiya saw them retreating, but did not try to pursue them.

"So, they decided to retreat. I was expecting some fighting scene here." said Zokuto, suddenly appearing besides Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was startled and jumped to the side.

"Who are you?" asked Jiraiya warily.

"I have to say this to you. I have been asked the same question several times lately. So, I need to ask you to please remember my new appearance. I'm Uzumaki Zokuto."

"Uzumaki Zokuto! Thats why you seems familiar. Why are you here? And what happened to you?" asked Jiraiya.

"My appearance doesn't matter. I sensed some irregular chakra energy from this direction, and I came to check. Who knows, you guys are fighting such a half-assed fight. Such a disappointment."

"You don't nee to rile me up to fight those guys." replied Jiraiya. "Did you stay nearby or train somewhere close?"

"Nope. I was at Konoha just now."

"What!?" Jiraiya was shocked when he heard Zokuto. That is way too far. Here is at the border of the land of Fire. 'Can someone really sense that far? Or did he lied to me?' thought Jiraiya.

"By the way, you two should go back to Konoha. I already got rid of those pests that are ruining Konoha. So, right now, Konoha is a safe and can be said to be a peaceful place to live." stated Zokuto, glancing at Natsu who is standing at the high ground. Natsu who didn't get to fight the red dragon felt disappointed. However, when he saw Zokuto, his eyes flashed with the intention to challenge.

"Is that why you said you came from Konoha?" Jiraiya.

"Sort of. Well, I will be on my way now. Bye." Zokuto then vanished in an instant.

"Hei..." Jiraiya hold out his hand to halt Zokuto, but was too late.

Tap!

Natsu jumped down and approached Jiraiya.

"Sensei, where did that guy go? Who is he?"

"He is Uzumaki Zokuto. I don't really know where he gone off to."

"Zokuto!? He already that old?"

"I don't know either what happen to him to become a young man now." replied Jiraiya. "Anyway, we have been out of Konoha for a very long time. Let's go back to the village." Jiraiya.

"Uh, are we really going back already?" asked Natsu. "Can we just take some more time to play around...I mean, train outside?"

"No. We are going back" said Jiraiya. He then pulled the unwilling Natsu toward Konoha's direction.

...

On a certain closed cave in the land of Fire, two dead body who were wrapped by many papers are placed on a stone platform. Suddenly, the stone barrier that was used to block the cave entrance are pushed to the side. A somewhat tired girl walked into the cave. This girl is Konan. After she got inside, she once again pushed the stone barrier to close the cave entrance.

"So, you have been staying in this place. Is that the dead body of Nagato and Yahiko?" said the busy body Zokuto.

"Who are you?" asked Konan.

"Sigh. I'm Zokuto. Uzumaki Zokuto." replied Zokuto, feeling tired of hearing the same question everywhere. He then asked, "What will you do to these two friends of yours?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Well, do you want to resurrect them to life?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if I say, I have a way to resurrect them back to life?"

The moment Zokuto said that, Konan eyes widened, and she subconsciously flinched.

"Do you really have a way to resurrect them? Is it an ability that is similar to Nagato's Rinnegan eyes ability?" asked Konan. Her eyes flashed with a glimmer of hope.

"It's in a way similar, but also not the same. If you agree, I can resurrect both of them." said Zokuto.

Konan looked at Zokuto, while pondering his offer. It seems too good to be true. "What is your condition?"

"Condition? I...have not thought of it." replied Zokuto, starting to ponder for any kind of condition. A moment later, he then said, "How about this, when both of your friend is resurrected, you become Konoha Ninja?"

"No!" Refused Konan instantly. "Our village was almost destroyed because of the shinobi from Konoha."

"That is years before. Right now, I already seized control over that village." said Zokuto. Seeing that Konan have no intention to change her answer, Zokuto sighed. "Fine. How about you three become my subordinates then?"

This time Konan showed a change in her face.

"I agree then."