Chapter # 2: The New HokagePassing the Torch

"Ts-Tsunade Sama, I must strongly disagree with this decision, he's simply not ready yet." said Shizune upset as we walked out of the office.

"If I say he's ready then he is, end of discussion." I said trying to end the discussion there.

"He's much too young inexperienced still, I admit he has come along a great deal and in a very short time, but this is taking it too far." She persisted annoyingly.

"Shizune, I'm old, I know I don't look like it but my age is finally catching up to me, I can't keep this up forever, if Akatsuki ever decides to attack we need to be at our strongest, thus we a stronger leader, Naruto was already able to kill one of their members three years ago, and now that he has completed his training with the village of the toads, by now he's stronger than me or even Jirai..." I stopped for a moment, my old comrade was an issue I didn't touch often, I still suffered his loss more than anybody.

Shizune stopped at his mentioning, knowing it was better to leave at that, she had never dissuaded me from any decision and it wasn't about to change now. We walked outside into the terrace with the view of the whole village.

The crowd had already gathered; everyone shinobi and citizen was here for this occasion, as they had been when I had received the honor.

"Tsunade Sama" said a girl with short pink hair and stunning emerald eyes, a short black skirt and matching shinobi boots, with a red long sleeved shirt underneath a custom made Jounin vest, slim and tight, matching better her developed figure.

"Thanks Sakura." I told her as she handed me what I had requested, the hat and the white robe of the Hokage.

"Today is the big day Master, are you sure you're ready" she asked, not because she disagreed with my decision like Shizune did, on the contrary she approved, but my retirement would be a shocker to anyone…especially once they saw my successor.

"Yeah I thinks it's time, he's thrilled too, probably couldn't sleep with all the excitement." I responded and then turning to address the people.

"Citizens of Konoha, as you know I have gathered you here to make an announcement of the outmost importance…I've…I've decided to retire as your Hokage." In came the murmur of the crowd, mixture of confusion and anger, clearly they disapproved, but touched as I was I needed to continue.

"also I'm here to present to you my successor, the man who will take my place as the pillar of this great village…he," here I paused, all the village would react to this in some way, and there was no guarantee that they would approve, considering his background bur…most of them would have seen this coming eventually anyway. "He…well I'll let him speak for himself." I moved aside and snapped my fingers, and from the top of the building came a shout of joy as he humped down.

"Gooooooooood morning people." He yelled at them, the crowd fell silent, their faces contorted in ridiculous shock, at the sight of the blond Shinobi, his hair longer now, styled very much like his father, but with a long tight ponytail wrapped in bandages. His clothes too had been swapped for slimmer black pant and male Shinobi style boots, a white shirt contrasting with the green pendant I had given him so long ago.

The headband he was so proud shinning against the sun as he stepped forward to my side, giving a thump up at Sakura inquisitive eyes.

"Hey everybody, guess what," he actually paused to wait an answer, if the people were in dumb shock it was nothing to how they were now. "Iiiiii did it, I did it, oh yeah I did it, I'm Hokage, I'm Hokage I'm Hokage, hell yeah." He continued to yell while dancing stupidly in honor of his own victory.

Oh god, seconds thoughts came to mind like a flow of water with dozens scenarios, all curiously where I murdered him for this.

"Jejeje, in any case, I'm honored for the position, and I promise not to ever let you down, I will protect this village with my life if necessary, and not hesitate to give it like my father The Fourth. I hope you will all accept me willing as your leader and just because of the judgment of The Fifth," he bowed done on his knees and inclined his head down in respect before shouting. "I, Uzumaki Naruto, pledge myself to you, this I swear on my life!" everyone face began to change at these words, leaving aside the confusion and smiling instead.

Among them were many who already knew him, having watched him grow in the fine young man he was, like the cook at the ramen place, the teacher at the ninja academy, Iruka included, and all the teammates of his generations, now all proud members of the Jounin Elite, most of them were here today, except Shikamaru, Hinata, Neji, Yamato and Sai.

Shikamaru, Yamato and Sai were out on duty but the other two I did not know why they would miss this day, especially Hinata.

The crowd began to applaud him and even cheer, until an uproar broke loose, everyone, absolutely everyone roared in approval now. Naruto raised his head in surprise, tears falling down as he smiled warmly at them; at last his dream had come true.

I stepped forward and placed the white robe with red flame pattern that had belong to Minato, his father on him, then the hat, it almost looked as though he was destined to wear them. I did make a little adjustment though; on the back of the robe I had placed the spiral symbol of his family, and thus the New Hokage is born.

"Konoha, I give you the Sixth Hokage!" I said finally, to close the ceremony, and a wave of approval followed, Sakura patted him in the back as did some of his other friends, coming up to congratulate him.

"You did it man." said Kiba as Akamaru, the giant dog liked all over the face in Happiness.

"Naruto…congratulations." said Shino morbidly, although that was just his nature, I'm sure he meant well.

"YEEESSS, FEE FOOD FOR ALL OF US." said Choji passionately, already foaming at the idea of a meal.

"Hai, Naruto kun now we can compete!" exclaimed Lee, his eyes firing up at some distant thought too passionate for mere mortal to glimpse. The other stayed back a little more quiet but happy all the same.

Tsunade Sama, a word please" said Yamato hidden from view by being fused in the ground thanks to his Mokuton ability.

"Can't it wait?"

"It's urgent I'm afraid please come with me." I nodded and followed him to the floor beneath through the stairs; the others were too busy to notice thankfully. Once he had made sure none was close he materialized. He was wearing his Anbu mask again having being restored into the special ops.

"Call your partner out now." I instructed, and from the window he jumped in, also in the tight black suit and white mask but shorter in stature.

"Special Op Sai reporting Tsunade Sama" He said bowing down.

"Ok you two, it better be good, I remember instructing you to be present at the ceremony, and believe me Naruto will have noticed."

"Sorry but I assure you it was urgent, we have terrible news." said Yamato most seriously, sounding even aggravated.

"Out with it then."

"As you commanded we've been on the lookout for Akatsuki members, and following the lead provided by Nara Shikamaru in Sunagakure after its attack, we tracked down their missing leader to the hidden village of the Rain, where I believe we lost Jiraiya Sama." Again I tried this not to bother me even though it did.

"It seems that they've taken the Kazekage under their control somehow, and that's not all…they've…they've also taken Uchiha Sasuke to their ranks, he's now fully fledged member now, and by his choice." Damn it, I suspected as much but hoped against it, now that Itachi was dead I had hoped he would come to his senses instead he joined those bastards…If Naruto finds out of this.

"The Sixth must not be informed under any circumstances, you two report only to me as that finally." I said.

"We understand but it may not make much difference very soon, for they are also gathering their own army, using the ninja of the rain and the sound together plus mercenaries from many different villages. They're already on the move an will arrive in a short time, the Hokage must be informed in order to prepare for battle. He said, stating his own opinion in the back note of his statement.

"Yes, I guess there's no helping it, then I will inform him of the situation, but please keep Sasuke's involvement in this…for now at least." I turned to leave.

"One more thing, there is also another ninja of Konoha in Akatsuki now besides Sasuke…Kakashi San has also been taken." He said before disappearing with Sai back to duty.

This really was blow to us, Naruto would be devastated by this, he had already lost a teacher in Jiraiya, losing Kakashi would be too much. "Dammit" I yelled angrily, hitting the wall and breaking it entirely with my fist.

Why must there always be such bad news on such joyous days like this.