Title: Heirs
Author: perfectioninmypride
Summary: They are the heirs. But what does it mean to be 'The Heir'? – They are the inheritors of their predecessors' hopes and dreams. They continue the line, everything that has been passed down to them. It is their right, their duty, and their destiny.


AN: A bit of an idea that I had while trying to get to sleep. I really should be working on my other story but… well I had to get this down! Just be warned, this is in a slightly different style to my other stuff, but give it a read! J
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Don't sue.


Heir to the Hat

For his entire life, he'd believed he was a nobody. The eyes of the villagers had judged him, all with that same… look. A look of fear, intermingling with hatred and utter disregard.

They loathed him. He was worth absolutely nothing to them.

But he'd never given up hope, that one day, there would be something different in their eyes. Every prank he'd played, every stupid thing he'd done, had been for some sort of acknowledgement. Even if it was annoying, at least that way, they remembered him.

He needed them to see he was someone too.

So that day, when he'd been tricked into stealing the scroll, was special too him. That day, someone had noticed his potential.

Iruka-sensei had been the first to see him through new eyes.

Slowly, he'd done everything he could to gain people's trust, and even possibly, their admiration.

He'd started off small. Defeating Neji at the Chunin exams had surprised many people. For once, he got noticed for doing something good.

Then he'd beaten Gaara when Orochimaru invaded. He'd helped bring back Tsunade, while learning Rasengan. He'd battled Sasuke at the Valley of the End.

People saw him in a different light now, but still, there were those who still hated him. To some, he was still the demon.

He'd chosen to leave with Jiraiya for 3 years then. When he came back, he realised that he had really missed Konoha, even though not all of Konoha had missed him.

After arriving back, he'd saved Gaara from Akatsuki, created a new jutsu and defeated Kakazu. Saving their Kazekage had gotten him respect from Suna at least.

After Jiraiya had died… that had been a time when he'd felt more alone than ever. Yes, Konoha's citizens cared more for him, but he had lost his godfather. It hurt.

He'd defeated Pain and saved Konoha. He'd done it for his home, but also, for the man who was the grandfather he'd never had. He'd also managed to earn everyone's respect.

He'd done the work now. No longer was he merely 'the fox brat'. Finally, everyone was noticing the good in him, how he'd grown.

They were seeing him, as a person, not as a demon fox.

All his life he'd had the dream of becoming Hokage. Everyone had known it (he hadn't exactly been subtle about it) but only now were they taking him seriously.

With all that he'd done, it was expected that he would take up the hat one day.

The First Hokage's Will of Fire burned strongly within him. It had been passed down, from sensei to student, until finally reaching and catching alight in him.

The First handed it to the Second, who passed it to the Third. The Third than set Jiraiya ablaze, who had in turn, handed it down to the Fourth. From Jiraiya, and The Fourth's student, Kakshi-sensei, he had received the Will of Fire.

One day it would be his turn to set the flame ablaze in others, as the leader of Konoha.

His father had been Hokage, not that many people had known at first. Minato Namikaze, legendary Yellow Flash of Konoha, Fourth Hokage, and saviour of Konoha from the Kyuubi.

One of his biggest regrets was the fact that he'd never known his father properly. It wasn't his fault, but still…

If just once, he could turn back time and see his father again, he would be happy. He'd even be willing to go through everything all over. The Invasion, the pain, the destruction of his home, he would willingly live through it all again to see his father one more time.

And his mother of course…

When the Kyuubi's hatred started to overwhelm him, she'd appeared. It was her love, and his happiness at meeting her, that kept the demon fox at bay.

Afterwards, he had realised something. His parent's had given their lives to ensure that the village would be safe. They'd even been willing to even abandon their own, newborn son to save the village they lived. One day he hoped that he would be able to as well. He would honour their sacrifice by becoming stronger.

That's why he had to win this war. Everyone, every single person he loved was fighting to save him and Bee, to stop the madman, Madara Uchiha, from taking over and destroying everything they held dear.

He was what they were protecting. He was partially the cause. So he had to be the one to kill Madara, and, if need be, his own best friend.

Sasuke and Madara Uchiha. The last two members of Konoha's most prominent clan. They were the last two carriers of the Uchiha's Curse of Hatred.

He was destined to battle that curse with his Will of Fire. No one else, but him.

And he would fight to accomplish this goal, even if he died. Why?

Because he was carrying the hopes of all of Konoha on his shoulders. He would save them all.

After all, it would be rather hard to be Hokage if Konoha no longer existed, wouldn't it?


OK, that certainly rambled on for a bit. What did you think? Great? OK? So bad it made you want to smash your computer screen? Leave a review, tell me what you think!