DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN SHIT!

AN: I hope you like this story. I know I haven't written in a while and thats mainly due to writers block, depression, and no computer. Finally this january i was able to push my depression aside and write again. while I haven't finished a story i have written the beginnings of two notebooks full. This is just the one that seemed like I needed to post even if I hadn't finished it yet. So I got out my phone and started pecking it out. What can i say? Just because my inspiration came doesn't mean a laptop did. lol.

Watching the Sand siblings run away with Gaara; Naruto jumped onto Gambunta's back. One hand sign later two clones appeared and carried his teammates to the hospital. Heading towards the gates he swore as he saw a group of large Snake summons breaking down the North gate. Immediately he shot a large fireball at one drawing its attention away. Slapping one of his specially made explosive tags onto a kunai he waited for the Snake to attempt to bite Gambunta. Seeing his chance he threw the kunai into its mouth and quickly cast an Earth jutsu. Within seconds a stone wall rose between his fellow nin and the snake just as it exploded.

Looking at the injured nin around him Naruto drew from Kyuubi chakra and created five hundred clones. " One hundred of you start helping to secure the civilians and dignitaries. You two hundred start tending to the wounded and get them to those medivac tents we passed. You seventy start attacking those fucking invading bastards. I need you thirty to slow down the enemy force. Go set up traps in the forest, but make damn sure it won't be triggered by any of our own. As for the rest of you go protect the medivac tents and hospital."

Sending Gambunta after the remaining summons Naruto headed to the scarred head examinor. Wincing grimly as the screams of enemy nin wrung out throughout the forest he saluted the jounin. "Orders sir?"

The interrogator shook his head and laughed as if amused, "Just continue what you're doing brat. As far as I'm concerned look forward to a promotion after this."

All over the village a familiar blonde was seen fighting off the invading force with a combination of seals and ninjutsu. Others were seen doing firstaid on the injured while more could be seen to be digging out shinobi and civilians alike ou from beneath rubble and carrying them to medivac tents. Though many popped pretty easily yhe upside was that soon Naruto was directing chunnins and jounin where the were needed.

AN note: just so you can see what his actions changed in this story.

ORIGINAL UNVERSE:

Deaths: 372; 123 of those ninja

Hospitalized: 245; 36 permanently injured

THIS WORLD'S UNIVERSE:

Deaths: 32; 27 shinoibi

Hospitalized: 351; 5 permanently injured

Exhausted Naruto sat on a chipped stoop as he upended a canteen of water over his head. Shaking out his hair he absently stared as those around him helped in the rebuilding. He much to the mednin's displeasure had even created a dozen clones to help. Much to the blonde's confusion the normally hateful nins were now acting like motherhens. It amazed him how him being seen fighting during the invasion had changed everyone's opinion of him. He always thought it would be a more gradual change, but apparently fighting for the village instead of joining their enemies was something everyone believed the Kyuubi would never do.

Even some chunins and jounins who had ignored him up until now were giving him pats on the back. He almost didn't know what to do with himself now that he no longer saw those cold eyes he was so used to. Though a small part of him felt comforted when his skittishness brought guilt to the faced of those who had mistreated him. It was nice to see that the people who had beat him, destroyed his property, sold him faulty goods at high rates, ect. didn't pretend like they never had. It made forgiving them easier which oddly enough almost feelmade him feel lighter for some reason. Some had even come to him to apologize. Some store owners had even told him that from now on they would sell to him at a discounted rate to hopefully make up for stealing from him. Some who had beat him before had even come to him and apologized and had even offered to let him hit them back or offered to turn themselves in to the authorities for their dishonorable actions. While Naruto could admit to himself that there was a small part of him that wanted to see these people hurt he had managed to overcome it and merely requested them to get counseling.

Shaking himself from his thoughts he nearly jumped when an Anbu appeared before him. "Naruto Uzumaki, you are hereby summoned by the Shinobi Council."

Swallowing nervously Naruto nodded and shunshined to the Hokage Tower. Knocking he was quickly admitted. He kept his face blank and bowed lowly to the Fire Daimyo, before he lowered himself into the traditional kneel used by ninja when receiving orders. The Daimyo walked toward him with a regal air that he had only seen a few times from the old man. His voice had a smoky quality as he spoke though that took nothing from its authoritative wording, "So you are Naruto Uzumaki, the one who to many reports I've seen is the reason why our enemies today were so viscously stamped down. I've also read that many of my peoples lives were saved yesterday by your quick action and protection. For that I applaud you and have personally put an accommodation into your service file."

Naruto blinked back tears as he looked up to the approving face of his country's ruler. The man merely showed the barest hint of a smirk as he continued, "After reading the reports on you I have to say that you show more maturity than I did even a decade ago. If I had been a junchurikki and someone had bemoaned there seal to me in the way the Hyuuga kid did to you; I would have lost my temper with them. I admit that later I may ask you the particulars on how you created that seal on the entire grounds of the arena unnoticed. For now I will just express my pleasure that the famed Uzumaki sealing skills have not died and simply say well done on your fight and that thanks to you I am now the proud owner of a dog from Grass country. Maybe if I am lucky the thing will finally kill my wife's demented cat. I swear that menace is immortal."

Soon the tension in the air was gone and chuckles rang throughout the chambers joining the husky laughter of the Fire Lord. Naruto finally felt himself calming since entering and relaxed his shoulders. The Daimyo appeared to have been waiting for this as now his features finally grew serious. "Laughing matters aside I believe it is finally time we get to the real reason I have summoned you here. I, Kyouka Obasaki, the Twenty- Third Daimyo of Fire Country hereby offer you, Naruto Uzumaki, The position of the Godaime Hokage. Do you accept this position and the responsibilities that come with it?"

Pale faced with shock Naruto shakily raised from his position and stood. Looking around at the blank calculating gazes around him Naruto licked his cracked lips. Thoughtfully he wondered what was holding him back from just saying yes and finally claiming the dream he had so oftenly announced he wanted. Suddenly he realize what was holding him back. Was he really Hokage material? He thought back to the speech he had given Konohanamaru six months ago when the kid declared that he would take the position of Hokage and use to gain rightful recognition he 'apparently' deserved.

_FLASHBACK_

Naruto listened slowly becoming more enraged as the special jounin boasted to the young Sarutobi about how he would teach him all the shortcuts to getting the Hokage position; before listing all the things the kid could get using the power of the position. The only good thing on the list had been secret jutsu though the worst had definitely been free toys from all of Konoha. While he had been nice to the kid for his spoiled wishes for being Hokage as those of a naive child he could not ignore such teachings from a jounin and adult.

Unable to take the arrogance Naruto snappishly commented, "That is why you could never be a Hokage nor should be. How dare you disrespect the sacrifice and honor of the Hokage by such selfish preaching. Power and greed should never be the reason for anyone to become a Hokage."

The jounin snorted and glared at the demon brat disdainfully. "Oh really then why don't you tell me what a Hokage is and why anyone should become one?"

In the Hokage Tower the Elders and commanders watched the exchange with interest as the Hokage spied on his grandson before they started their meeting.

"A Hokage," Naruto began his eyes nearly shining with an inner fire his face detemined and serious, "is a person who is selfless above all else. The position is a place were petty feelings have no right being. It isn't what the position can do for you but what you can do to even have the honor to be a Hokage. To the Hokage nothing comes before the good of the village. Not family, not friends, not power, not ego, not yourself, and not even the right to sleep peacefully at night. A Hokage must order people he wishes to protect to go on missions that they may not come back from. He must choose to do things that goes against the very morals of his being to protect this village. He must stay strong so that his people will even if all he wants to do is fall to his knees and weep. A Hokage is about being more than yourself."

Konohamaru looked at Naruto almost in awe and even Ebisu wasn't unfazed by Naruto's charisma or words. Though his hatred was still strong enough to snarl out his derisive words, "Oh really and your just right for that ,huh?! What right do you have telling anyone they want to be Hokage for selfish reasons? I believe everyone one time another has heard you say that you want to be hokage so that everyone will acknowledge you as anything other than what you are. A worthless dreg on our great village!"

Naruto held back the indigent Konohamaru from attacking his sensei. Meeting the jounin's smug stare Naruto spoke his voice filled with some unidentifiable emotion, "I don't want the position so I can be acknowledged. I want to be acknowledged so that I can be Hokage. Sure I as a person would like being able to walk down a street without being treated as that dreg you so lovingly call me. I would love to be treated as if I am a human being with thoughts and emotions like anyone else, but that isn't the point! How can I ever be Hokage and protect my village if I am not even seen as a human being? I want to be Hokage so that I can be apart of something greater than taking out bandits or stealing information. I want to make a difference! I want to do something like all the hokages before me but different. The Shodaime gave us a home. The Nidaime gave us structure and order. The Sandaime gave us a voice and refused to bow as he led us through war after war. The Yondaime gave us hope, awe, and even his life to protect us even when there was no hope in sight. He gave us our will to continue and be something more. He gave us inspiration. Me I don't know what I can give, but I damn well want to try. So sorry if I think a Hokage should be more than a want for power."

_Flashback Ends_

Dwelling on that memory Naruto's thoughts swirled. Was he ready for such a sacrifice? Was he ready for that kind of power? What if he got everyone killed? His inexperience could bring this village to ruin. Looking around once more he wondered how these people could have so much faith in him when he didn't even have faith in himself. In the end there was only one word he could say.

"Why?"