Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
For people who are interested in my writings, I'm so sorry that I'm so inconsistent. But as a once great writer said,
"Creativity is not something that you can turn on like a faucet." –Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes.
Anyways, I truly think about my stories, the ones I've started and new ones too, all the time. However, since I'm very picky, very little actually makes it onto paper, and even less makes it on to the website. It's especially difficult to add to stories that I already have going on. Since I clearly like the stories well enough (how they're written, as well as plot) to actually put it up online, I could never bring myself to mar it with an imperfect chapter, just for the sake of keeping the story moving.
Sooo…. I understand that all y'all are really annoyed, and this is not an excuse – merely an explanation.
Anyways! A couple of these stories that I have out, I'm planning to compile them all into one major story… well, we'll see what happens.
He truly is remarkable.
I don't think I realized it yet, watching him walk up to the elders, beaming with pride, ready to accept the lifelong responsibilities of Hokage. The obligation to protect the village at all costs. With tears in his eyes – what a baby! – he turned to face the villagers with an impish grin. This grin, somehow, always would fill the recipient with hope and joy, and I remember watching the crowd not shout and cheer, but express a more silent, real joy. The village was bursting with pride at the sight of their promising new hokage on whom they would rely as a child relies on his father.
At the time, I thought that the elders had made a funny choice in him. Too kind, really. I never thought that he would be able to survive the harsh life of a shinobi. Yet, he would tell me gravely, "You'll see, Jiraiya-sensei, I'll be Hokage one day." And true to his word, the tortoise finished the race.
And the hare? He had a glorious illustrious start, sweeping past the turtle, yet in the end, he lost the race due to his own laziness. The student has surpassed the teacher. Despite my illustrious start, earning the title of sennin, the rest of my race is filled with failures…
Tsunade turned me down every time…
I couldn't save my friend…
Compared with all the Hokages who came before me, my accomplishments have been petty and insignificant. But the true measure of a shinobi is not how he lives, but how he dies. Time's still left, though, to finish the race.
But as I watch my student… I can't help wondering if I already have.
Amidst all the revelry and joy, it seems odd that the "guest of honor" should look so serious. I know better – that's just who he is. He gazes upon the village with a sense of purpose, determined to bring about the peace and prosperity he envisions.
Our eyes meet.
He will finally bring peace to the world… the Great Sage frog said to me.
My heart fills with pride. Child of prophecy or not, he grew up to be the man I hoped he would.