Speech by the Fifth Hokage was held in the late afternoon and was preceded by a meeting of the council of Fire Daimyo. Kakashi sighed, looking at the Shikaku's empty chair, which now was his to make a sit. Shikaku Nara was undoubtedly the smartest member of the council. And it will be difficult to replace it. When Tsunade has made a proposal of appointment Nauto to the Seventh Hokage, truly the strongest ninja of Konoha, two people were against it. For Kakashi their opposition was not a surprise.
"He's too young" said Homura. "He's not 21 yet, there is no chance that he can handle the responsibility. Strenght is one thing, responsibility is something else."
"He's the same age as Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage, one of the latest war's hero" said Tsunade. "And if we are talking about accountability, Naruto showed that for him the most important thing is the life of his comrades and joined to fight when he found out, that its purpose is to protect him. And why? Because he felt responsible."
"It is a violation of the rules, Naruto is a genin." Homura said. Tsunade snorted angrily.
"So! We need to organize Chuunin exam as soon as possible!" said emphatically Feudal Lord.
"If Naruto will take part in the exam, someone who will face him in qualifying, will lose the chance to become Chuunin that year. He's too strong for newbies." Choza noted.
"Exactly" Tsunade nodded, "this rule is not fair nor wise. On the one hand you don't want to allow ninja stronger than many Jonins becoming the Hokage because he's a genin and he's too young, but during the Third War you allowed six-year boy participating in Chuunin exam, because his abilities were so great that you wanted to send him to the battlefield , sending a genin was just not proper."
"There was a war and it was our mistake. But what worries me is not the fact Naruto is a genin" said Koharu. "Hokage's duty is to defend the people not only on the battlefield! He must defend the ordinary villagers, civilians, and not only against enemy ninjas, but against hunger, poverty, demoralization and even illiteracy. Gaara is young, but before he moves, he thinks. He's smart. Can we say the same things about Naruto?"
"I've never heard complaints about the reign of the Fourth Hokage," said Kakashi. "And as his former student, I dare say, that he didn't aspire to the title of expert on the economy and literature. He's uniqueness was not only stuck in combat skills, but also in the fact that he could talk to people and listen to them. Naruto is his son, blood from blood. He has the same ability. He is respected hero."
"Entertainment youngster cannot be Hokage just because he's strong and talkative!" said Koharu. "It's not his generation's time to take over, why don't we go back to the idea of making Hatake Sakumo's son the Hokage?"
"I won't accept the title" Kakashi said quietly. "Believe me, it's for the good of us all. Besides. That war was the best proof... I mean, in few days from now, whoever will be Hokage, today's Chuunins will be Jonins. Don't you see it? They've already took over. And Uzumaki Naruto is not just entertainment youngster. He is the man who can work hard , the higher the pressure, the better he is. Proved it hundreds of times, and all of his former teachers, including me, confirm that. He's not only able to work, he wants to do it. And you're a Konoha Council, Honoured Opinion Watch, precisely in order to advise the Hokage, to be his right hand. And like you were respected and listened by the Fourth Hokage, you will be also respected and listened by his son, I'm sure of it. Koharu-sama, Homura-sama, Uzumaki Naruto has never disappointed our hopes."
There was a long silence, and Feudal Lord stopped fanning.
"In that case," he said "if Tsunade withdraws from office, we have to select a new Hokage . I manage a vote. Who wants to entrust Uzumaki Naruto the function of Seventh Hokage, raise your hand up. So?"