Naruto - Five years of waiting (part 1)
Naruto belongs to kishimoto ©
Story by Juan Manuel Suarez (me of course)
Gramar by Greatkingrat88
The sun was shining, like it always did. The soft wind blew gently between the valley and the Hokage monument. The sky was so clear; it made people take a deep breath and say: "God, what a beautiful day!"
They all loved this place, because it was the only home they ever knew. To think that those terrible events five years ago were nothing but a bad dream was difficult; but they all knew the awful truth: Five years ago, the akatsuki leader had all but destroyed the village in his quest for peace. Five years ago, many loved ones had been lost. Five years ago, a crater had taken the place of most of their beloved home, taking away almost every single one of their dreams and hopes. Five years ago, their lives started again when someone took all their lost dreams and made them real. Five years ago, their loved ones return to the life. Five years ago, a hero was born.
The village hidden in the leaves had never enjoyed such a long-lasting peace. Thanks to the labour of all their brave and loyal shinobi, the village was reborn, stronger than ever. Most citizens were happy, and tried their best to improve all their lives, and all this was thanks to the example of their beautiful and stubborn leader. A woman who had refused to die until all the damage that Pain caused her village was repaired. The last of the three sannin: Senju Tsunade, who at this very moment was in a meeting with the Elders of the village.
"Why are you being so stubborn? He has earned it." The aging woman argued, trying her best to persuade the elders into accepting her decision.
"We know that, Tsunade-hime." One replied, "But he is far too young, immature and rash to be ready for this yet. Besides, we know the motherly feelings you hold for him, so the nomination is hardly impartial.".
These elders were starting to anger her. It was no secret to anybody in Konoha- anyone with a higher level of political awareness, at least- that the two elders were often contesting and challenging her will, often trying to prove her wrong, that her decisions were unwise- particularly when it was about this jonin.
"I don't know how our daimyo-sama feels, but personally, I like the option of him being the new hokage". Tsunade's first official spoke calm and quiet like always. He was one of the most respectable shinobi in all the land of fire, and his name was a legend. "He earned the chunin and jonin rank in just a couple of years. In the last five years, he has performed more missions than all the chunin teams put together, and all above the C rank. He's a great leader, and one of the most valuable shinobi in this village. And all of Konoha loves him"
"Is that what you think, Hatake?" the Daimyo said sternly "because I respect your opinion, seeing as how you are the jonin commander."
Kakashi took a minute to choose his words, and then said:
"I appreciate your trust in me, Daimyo-sama. I was his old jonin sensei, and I think that I know him well enough- I'm sure that he will be an excellent hokage."
"Well, then it is decided!" The daimyo of the land of fire said, satisfied that the council meeting was finally over. The Two Elders seemed to be disappointed, unsurprisingly. "As of next week, Uzumaki Naruto, son of the yondaime hokage, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina; student and heir of the great Sannin Jiraiya, will become the seventh Lord Hokage!"
Meanwhile, by the gates of Konoha, a group of three young chunin and a jonin were entering to their beloved home, after being away on a mission for two weeks.
"Oh man, I'm so tired! It's good to be back in Konoha. Now let's go to eat something, -kore!!" Konohamaru was as loud as he always was after finishing a mission. His loud proclamation made his captain smile. He was a lot like he had been when he was younger.
"Konohamaru-kun, please be patient. We have to go report, to Tsunade-sama, isn't that right, Udon?" As always, Moegi was trying to put Konohamaru in his place, and looked to her teammate for support. She was a good kunoichi, and she was not comfortable acting without the approval of her captain.
"Moegi is right. Since we're Chunin, we must report to the hokage, in order to keep her informed of all the aspects of our mission. Ebisu-sensei taught us that, and you know it, Konohamaru." Udon, the sleepy-head, was as adherent to protocol as ever. He was a clever enough boy, and always tried to act as his jonin-sensei, Ebisu, had taught him.
"Okay, cut it out guys. Each one of you has a point." The blonde captain- who always drew everybody's attention with the long, orange sage coat he wore over his jonin uniform- finally stopped reading his favorite novel, and started to talk. "Moegi and Udon are right. Our duty is to report to Tsunade-baachan immediately after we finish a mission. However, it's not necessary for all of us to go. I mean, it was a simple B-rank mission, and there weren't any complications, so I say that only two of us will have to report to the Hokage, and the other two can go to have a bite to eat, -ttebayo." The young jonin said, while Konohamaru smiled happily at his fellow teammates.
"The boss is right, two of us will be going to the Hokage's office, and two of us are going to dinner, -kore!" Udon and Moegi looked at him, upset. It was well known to them that there was a level of friendship between Konohamaru and their captain that neither of them had.
"Well, since all of you seems to be in agreement on that, Konohamaru and I will be going to talk with Tsunade-baachan."
Konohamaru's smile quickly vanished as he heard is captain's order.
"W-wait, are you serious?"
"Of course I am, Konohamaru. Udon, Moegi, You're dismissed"
The two others members of the team made a big, mocking smile to Konohamaru, who seemed more amazed at his friend's order. "As you order, Naruto-Taicho." They said sullenly, and both disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Ok, explain to me again: why do I have to go with you while Moegi and Udon go for dinner? I mean, of the three of us, I did the most in this mission, remember?" Konohamaru was almost upset with brother-like friend, who kept reading his favourite book.
"Konohamaru, your abilities are far beyond chunin level. You can perform different earth release jutsu, and you're starting to improve with the fire release. Do you know why you still aren't a jonin?" Naruto, who was a last minute replacement to Ebisu, since he had been sent out on another mission, was trying to prove a point in his close friend.
"It's because I'm loud and reckless, and because I'm not a level-headed ninja, right?" Konohamaru said with a shameful look on his face.
"That's not it at all, Konohamaru." Naruto sounded almost upset about his friend's words. He hated seeing people put themselves down. "You're strong enough to be a jonin, but you have to learn to be a leader before that comes. Moegi and Udon looks up to you. They trust in you enough to give their lives in order to protect you. That's a big responsibility, Konohamaru, and you must not take it lightly and…"
For a moment, Naruto look at Konohamaru's face. He had seen that face before, so many times. Is the face that he used to make; when someone tells him that he was just a child, that he wasn't a good enough ninja. Is the face that he used to make back in those days when the people look at him like some kind of monster. He just hated those memories.
Naruto knocked on his own head for what he was doing. As his captain, he can scold Konohamaru, but he doesn't need to do it so badly. He used to be just like him.
"Ok, I'm sorry. After we go to Tsunade-baachan's office, I'll take you to Ichiraku's ramen bar. Of course, I'll pay, -ttebayo" Naruto's big smile made Konohamaru feel a little better- he couldn't help but trust in his replacement jonin captain and friend.
"Thanks Naruto-niichan."
"Well, well. You sound just like a real sensei, Naruto" A sweet female voice came. It was two Kunoichi; one of which always made Naruto feel a little uneasy. Eight years earlier, he had made a promise to her. He had sworn he would bring back someone important to her. And just three years after he made that promise, he had killed that person, right in front of her eyes. Even though she forgave him a long time ago, he still felt that he had failed her.
"You're going to Tsunade-sama's office, right? We're going somewhere near to there, so let us join you." Sakura said in a friendly tone. Naruto was her most dear friend and she felt really comfortable around him. The other Kunoichi was just a genin, and Sakura's student, who was learning the Medic arts under her tutelage. Naruto could not help noticing that her face looked awfully red. She always seemed so shy around Naruto, and he never understood why. He stooped, and with a big and gentle smile he said:
"Maho-chan, would you join us?" Maho's face turned redder than it already was, and she turned tail and ran.
" W-wait, Maho-chan!" He shouted. "Aahh, crap, why is she always like that around me? I don't remember doing anything to hurt or scare her, -ttebayo."
Konohamaru and Sakura looked at each other, and started giggling.
"And that's the proof that you haven't grow up- you still don't get it. It's just like back then, when you didn't see Hinata´s feelings." Sakura said to him, amused. To her, Naruto was still the immature kid that she knew back from her time with team seven.
"Yeah, she's right, Naruto-niichan. In this moment, you're the most popular Konoha ninja with the female population. You're such a heartbreaker, -kore!" Konohamaru exclaimed loudly, as he laughed at the naiveté of his captain.
"Y-You're saying that she has a crush on me?" Naruto's amazement seemed to reach a whole new level, and his friends just couldn't stop laughing.
"Almost all the girls in Konoha have a crush on you, Naruto. Now, come on, it's past noon already. I'll go with you to Tsunade-sama's office, now that Mr. Heartbreaker has scared my student away." Sakura was enjoying Naruto's surprise, but none of them had any clue that this afternoon held a much greater surprise for him.
"Well, let's keep going. I want to finish this as quickly as I can. I mean, I've had enough revelations for one afternoon. Besides, I wanna know if my girlfriend's team has come home yet, -ttebayo." Naruto was trying to put himself back in his shoes. "Sakura, Konohamaru, Let's go"
In unison, they both answered: "Hai, Naruto-Taicho!"
TO BE CONTINUED....