1) Prologue

The war was over.

This time he had saved nothing less than the entire world. But, you know, life goes on. Within those few months he had learned a lot. He was confronted with a guy who had his own aspirations and his own dreams, before getting lost in the labyrinth of solitude and hatred. Obito had felt mortally wounded in his soul, completely betrayed by those he loved. Inevitable that those who are at your side disappoint and betray you sooner or later, but the important thing was to go ahead anyway, right?

Yet, if it had happened to him, a complete turn from the people he loved, he was not sure how he would react.

Yeah.

If he wanted to become a Hokage, he recognized to have some way to go. Looking at Sasuke or Shika he felt just like an immature brat ... extraordinarily strong, sure, but immature. And being the head of the village was not just a matter of strength, but also of wisdom, foresight ... And a billion of other things that he did not even remotely think of owning.

Oddly enough, but just at the moment when everyone saw him as the inevitable and designated successor of Tsunade-sama, it was him, Naruto "sennin" (title added to popular acclaim) the first one that did not want to be hokage. Not to mention that, according to the formalities, he was still only a genin! (And he had never even captained his team, let alone govern a whole country!)

Not that he wanted to give up his dream, but he recognized as necessary, in its own way, of course, two important qualities: humility and patience.

So Let Tsunade-baa stay in his place for a while!

With these intentions in his heart, he began to serve the village in every way he could, both in terms of missions, both to give a hand to rebuild, never pulling back. The Hokage also made him an ambassador of Konoha in the other villages, for its unparalleled quality of communication, combined with a certain amount of openness and unpredictability. During those years, made of long journeys and tireless activity had begun to attend often the estate of Nara. He became a tireless companion of shogi for Shikamaru, although, inevitably, always losing against him. But the company of the "great strategist of the leaf", as it was now nicknamed Shika, had become indispensable to him. If he wanted to learn to be a good captain and a good guide there was no better person.

With his and Sakura's help, in less than a couple of years he had become a Jounin. Meanwhile, he noted with relief as Sasuke, was, at least apparently, inspired by the same zeal. In the village they did not meet often, actually, but every week, at dusk, they found themselves in the valley of the epilogue to train together.

Or rather, to compete in grueling encounters that often went on all night. During these "meetings" they did not talk much. Besides, what was the need? The two of them, as he had often claimed Naruto himself, spoke much better with their fists, than with mere words. And they were the only times where you could see a smile on the lips of Sasuke, to tell the truth; perhaps because the Uchiha felt free from the shadows that lurked in his mind only in those moments of desperate fight between Kurama and Susanoo.

When, every Friday night, who suffered from insomnia felt, from Konoha, lightning in the distance, they thought of remote hurricanes. Who knew them instead, let out a half-smile. Sakura often woke up and, looking out on the horizon with the lost look, tried to imagine these epic clashes.
In the end, Sasuke had become a member of the ANBU team, not without some resistance from the elders, passed by the insistence of Tsunade and Naruto (which in that circumstance was threatened to be banned for his lack of tact in speaking with the counsellors).

After two years, however, had come to "the fox", a much-awaited moment: the first students!
He would graduated them? Or they would be sent back to the academy? How they would be like?

Obviously he could not think of Kakashi and that day, many years ago now, when he, Sasuke and Sakura had faced the "trial of the bells."

However, he had a certain fear: he would have been able to teach teenagers what it meant to be a real ninja?

Driven almost unconsciously by these thoughts, he went to visit his old master.

"Kakashi-sensei, are you home?"
Kakashi opened the door. Needless to say, received him with his favorite book in hand, 'Icha Icha paradise'.

"Oh, Naruto, come in. You're lucky... You have chosen one of the rare days that are relatively free for me. What brings you here? "

"Well, no, I wanted to talk to you about some things ... But ... Again with that book? But you had not already read and reread the same crap now? "

"Hmmm ... True. But even though I know it by heart, it remains my favorite book. Lately I've been thinking of going to recover Orochimaru to learn Edo Tensei no Jutsu. You know, to bring back to life Jiraya and force him to write more ... "

Naruto laughed uproariously, then, hardly trying to regain composure, added: "Well, actually tomorrow Tsunade will give me the reports of the three academy brats that will be in my care. And ... Truthly speaking, sensei, I do not feel cut to act as teacher. And I could not think back to that day when three snotty, little, idiots tried in vain to take the two damned bells tied to your belt. ", He concluded with a smile.

"Naruto, it's not like you to pull back without even trying! Anyway, If I was you, I would not worry. I've always been myself. I never tried to please you. And anyway, I would have really kicked you out if you had not passed the test. You know, in truth I couldn't care less to find out your potential. But then it went how it went ... "

"Reassuring!" Naruto replied sarcastically.

"Come on, don't be mad. You'll recognize yourself that at the beginning you were really annoying... And anyway you will have fewer problems, than me ."

"In what sense Kakashi-sensei?"

"Well, because first, you're a hero, so the kids will love you; second because with all the disasters of war, exams will become less selective, I suppose."

"Not really, master. Tsunade insisted with the elderly because to mantain the ratio of three teams on nine ... "

At the news, Kakashi was slightly surprised: "Ah. I didn't expect it. However, some idea for their test? "

Naruto made one of his usual wide smiles, then said, amused, "if you do not mind, I would follow your example, the challenge of the two bells. Or is it too little original? "

At that, the other laughed heartily: "No, no, in fact, is flattering to think that in this respect you want to follow my footsteps. That were also that of your father ... "

The hero of Konoha was dumbfounded: "what!? That training was invented by my dad? "

"Yeah, the fourth tested it with me, Obito and Rin. Needless to say that we were very similar to you, Sakura and Sasuke. Or rather, I and Obito. At least Rin gave a show a bit less petty than the pupil of the Hokage. But don't tell that to her, otherwise she could beat me with one of her fists ... "

Naruto laughed again. After that chat he felt much more relieved. "Well - he said - tomorrow we'll have some fun."

Meanwhile, the hospital, Ino felt a sudden roar, and said: "What a sneeze, Sakura!"

Xan corner

Well... Not that I'm trying to gain your pity but... Yeah, english is not exactly my mother tongue...

I'm translating (slowly... Veeeeery slowly) a story that I wrote in my language. Don't ask me why, dunno. Probably 'cause i wanted to improve my english skills?

Anyway, hope you enjoy this first little chapter...

C'ya!