Chapter 20: Striking Back

                                    

                                          
Tsunade and Shizune performed the procedure on Choji. He would keep the prosthetic leg but Tsunade would actually graft skin and nerves through the prosthetic leg to the bottom of the artificial foot. Chakra could then flow on 'flesh' allowing Choji to use the leg. It would also respond much better to him then a normal prosthetic. Tsunade had to have Jiraiya use a seal that kept the flesh from decaying since no nutrients could flow to it.
                          
The procedure was not dangerous to Choji however it was extremely difficult to do and it took hours of painstaking precision before Tsunade and Shizune were finished. Choji would not be able to use all of his family jutsu but he could definitely now once again be a member of Asuma's team.
                          
Tsunade was thanked over and over again by Shikamaru, Choza, Ino and many others. Tsunade felt a warm glow of accomplishment fill her. She had forgotten what it was like to heal shinobi from Konoha. Walking back to her temporary abode she did not feel the sadness and despair she normally did when walking the paths of Konohagakure. 'Perhaps it's time I stayed here. Shizune is happy and I'm sure I could convince Jiraiya to start a medical program like I had always wanted.'
                          
***BREAK***
                          
Kakashi met with the Godaime Hokage towards the end of his team's week off of serious missions. It was late at night and Jiraiya was still doing paperwork. Kakashi chuckled as he entered, "Good evening Hokage-Sama." Jiraiya had sensed him as he came into his office and looked up. "This is your fault you know." Kakashi gave him an eye smile, "My fault? That you have become Hokage and are ensuring our village's protection? Why yes. Yes it is."
                          
The toad sage grumbled, "Gloat all you want behind that mask Kakashi but because of you there won't be any more Icha Icha books!" Kakashi scratched at his mask. "Hmm well that is powerful incentive for me to stop punishing you." Jiraiya looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What do you mean?"
                          
"Well with the training I've used with my students I've learned how to deal with paperwork but I had been keeping it from you since you nearly got my students killed fighting Orochimaru!" Jiraiya nervously laughed, "Oh come on now! How was I supposed to know he would be there?"
                          
"And then you did let yourself be drugged…"
                          
Jiraiya growled, "All right enough! Tell me how to escape this paperwork!" The Hokage glared at Kakashi and warned, "And if you say a Katon jutsu I will be assigning you D ranked missions for the rest of your career!"
                          
Kakashi chuckled, "Maa Maa, no need to be so hasty. It's simple." Kakashi stared at Jiraiya for a few seconds letting the tension mount. "Kage. Bunshin." Jiraiya's eyes popped to their widest possible. The Kage Bunshin could do the paperwork for him! He could easily create a couple and have plenty of time to do research, write his novels and just relax while all the work got done!
                          
Jiraiya had tears in his eyes, "Kakashi… thank you! I thought my life was over, stuck behind this desk never to experience the joy of a sweet round…" Kakashi cleared his throat loudly. For some reason he was OK with reading his erotica but to hear Jiraiya go on about the research that supported was disquieting. "Yes well, I do expect the next book to be autographed. And maybe a little insert thanking me personally for the series being able to continue wouldn't be too out of line either."
                          
Jiraiya laughed, "You got it kid." Jiraiya was dancing for joy on the inside but he put on his Hokage face and simmered down as he got down to business. "All right Kakashi, you mentioned earlier you had a plan you wanted to run by me?"
                          
"Hai, since you have nixed the strike at Suna I believe we should deal with Orochimaru before he can rebuild his shinobi force. Here is what I have in mind." Kakashi was quite detailed in his plans and Jiraiya was soon nodding in agreement. It would be risky but it was far past time for the snake to be brought to justice.