I do not own Naruto
Chapter 2-The cost of victory
"Kakashi Sensei...Gai Sensei..How are the others doing? They are safe? What about the Zetsu army and Edo Tensei Madara…Calm down Naruto" Naruto was cut short by Kakashi
"We don't know, the last orders came hours ago where all the available shinobis were to regroup against Madara. By now they should have brought him down" pointed the Copy-Nin at the silence on the battle field.
"Good job" said Kakashi helping him get on his feet. Naruto, taking support on his shoulder, slowly swirl around to contemplate their victory against the Akatsuki. Chaos was just right to describe everything; mountains literally cut half, craters everywhere, burning trees, dead and injured bodies lying here and there with the scent of blood floating. A victory gained at too great a cost
Then taking a few more steps Naruto came across the two lifeless bodies of the last two Uchihas lying in a similar crater. "Dobe, you've proved to be a true hero, I'll leave to join Itachi" these words echoed Naruto's mind. Noticing the face of his student Kakashi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Kakashi sensei I've brought him back" muttered Naruto fixing the body of his teammate "He has finally acknowledged me for who I am but I…I..." stammering "I couldn't brought him physically…..In a way I've failed Sensei…I've….."
"Naruto you are far from failing, you've brought back our comrade, the Sasuke we all know, the Sasuke of Konoha from all the hatred Tobi and Orochimaru have drowned him in" insisted Kakashi in all his calm "He is perhaps not physically among us but Sasuke have left peace in mind…That's the true success"
Naruto's expression suddenly changed with his bright blue eyes fixing his sensei. "Thank You Kakashi sensei" with a genuine smile of his. "No Naruto. Thank YOU to be my student" replied the Copy-Nin with a one eye smile.
"I'm proud of you my eternal rival the power of youth is strong in you two" said Gai with anime tears and his trademark smile. When the emotional scene ended, the three shinobis went in search of their comrades.
"You've really turned like your father Naruto, The Second Yellow Flash of Konoha. The way you've surprised them, flashing above to deliver the final blow was the replica of Yondaime Hokage" proudly noted Kakashi
"Uh...Yeah….I'm his son after all…It's in my blood" grinned Naruto towards his sensei scratching the back of his head. The two jounin looked proudly at the saviour of the world, the legacy of the Fourth. "He has by far surpassed me and has also surpassed you sensei" thought Kakashi.
"I'll also have to learn his hiraishin no jutsu and sealing techniques. I can't let the Namikaze's special jutsu fade like this" explained Naruto looking at his sensei. "I'll need your help for this sensei".
"I can only give you some scrolls and his special kunai. But as you've said it's in your blood, I'm sure you will manage it" replied Kakashi smiling under his mask.
"You are telling me to master a technique which he took years to master and manage by my own. What kind of sensei are you…those pervert books of Ero-sennin have turned you lazy" fumed Naruto towards his sensei.
"Naruto you have surpassed me by far, there are nothing more I can teach you. I can only help you but you will have to manage the rest by yourself" replied Kakashi trying his best to calm his student. "You've mastered the rasengan and rasenshuriken in less than one week . It's a remarkable prowess Naruto"
"Yes I'm the best, I'll be Hokage in no time" grinned enthusiastically Naruto towards the Copy-Nin. "The first genin to become Hokage" teased Kakashi
"Hey what do you mean Kakashi sensei, I'm sure Baa-chan will make me jounin for saving all your asses" shouted back Naruto
"Talking of Baa-chan, I'm pretty sure that Madara has understood that we don't easily mess up with the Godaime without payack" pointed Naruto "Kicking that damn Uchiha's butt with a few chakra enhanced punches will certainly dissipate the jutsu, not forgetting the other Kages to catch up" consoled Naruto with a thumb up towards his senseis.
"YOSH" yelled Gai "Our Godaime wall mostly feared for his anger and monstrous force". Kakashi sweat dropped at the idea, figuring the countless number of times in replacing the Hokage's desk and window panes in her anger burst.
"Kakashi Sensei do you think…." started Naruto in a worried voice "do you think Sakura-chan will ever forgive me for what happened to Sasuke…..you know h… Naruto!" Kakashi cut straight "Sakura is no more the twelve year old fan-girl you've known. She has seen the threat which Sasuke is and being a shinobi of Konoha, she has resolved to take the right measures. Also she has faith in you Naruto and knows you will do the right thing for the sake of Team 7 and whole Konoha"
The expression of Naruto brightened up to the words of his sensei and nodded positively at him.
"Kit, there is a problem" suddenly Kurama interrupted. "We should be near the next battle field but I'm only detecting few chakra signatures, very weak ones. Hurry up Naruto"
With any delay Naruto quickens his paste earning a puzzled look of the two jounins. "Sensei, Kurama has a bad sensation, we should join the others quickly".
They nodded and quicken their paste. "Sensei I'm heading first, with your injuries I doubt you can keep like this without collapsing". As Kakashi was about to say something, Naruto went in Nine-Tail Chakra Mode and disappeared across the distance in a yellow blur.
"Naruto waaaiiittt…Damn it!" shouted Kakashi in vain. "Gai we should join him quickly, knowing Naruto, he might overdo everything". Nodding positively to his eternal rival both fetch in their last reserve to accelerate the movement.
Reaching his intended destination, Naruto fell on his knees at the sight; everything was tainted in red, the blood of most allied shinobis trailing the ground, the lifeless bodies floating in this river of death. Naruto felt his heart torn, in front of him lie the bodies of the 5 Kages. He rushed towards the godaime "Baa chan wake up….The war is over…..open your eyes…..Baa-chan..Baa ch.." tears ran uncontrollably down Naruto's cheek. Frustrations, anger, fear filled his words when suddenly Tsunade open her eyes and with a trembling hand patted Naruto's shoulder. "I'm not yet dead Naruto. Not before seeing you become Hokage" she whispered with a weak smile.
"Baa-chan I'm so happy…..I thought you were dead…You can't leave me alone…Baa-chan stay with me…BAA-Chan" urged Naruto seeing Tsunade slowly collapsing. Kakashi and Gai finally reached Naruto's side, witnessing the chaos, the scent of death filling the air.
Holding Tsunade firmly Naruto looked powerless at the motherly figure of his Baa-chan "Kakashi sensei try to find a medic-nin…Baa-chan you can't leave me like Ero-sennin did…."
With her last forces Tsunade fixed Naruto and the two jounins"Being the Godaime Hokage of Konoha, I hereby announce my successor…." coughing blood she claimes high and loud "Uzumaki Naruto, in the presence of Maito Gai and Hatake Kakashi, I proclaim you ROKUDAIME HOKAGE"she finally collapsed in the new Hokage's hands with a weak smiling face.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock at the news " Finally I've become Hokage, but at what price…..All these people….all the Kage's…..everyone was fighting for me…to protect me….They give their life for my sake…All these death because of me….How can I face their families…..How can I face myself" thought Naruto cursing himself
"Kit you are not the one to blame for. They all knew the risks involved, this is the painful reality of war Naruto" replied Kurama to his host. "Kurama they were all fighting for me. How can I face their families…How can I face Konoha…..How can I face myself" shouted back Naruto. "You are the hero who saved them all, the child of the prophecy. This is how people will react to you, as their saviour, if you hadn't stopped the Uchihas there would be more victims" growled Kurama
"For Kami's sake you are safe Naruto" a familiar voice came behind. "Sakura-chan….I'm so happy you're safe also…..So many dead….Baa-chan, Gaara,…..all because….all because of me" Naruto muttered in between his cries and tears. The pink-haired kunoichi suddenly hugged him shedding some tears "Naruto you have saved us all…..Stop blaming yourself…..I hate see you in tears…you have to be strong for all of us…..for me….for all our friends….for the whole shinobi world"
Both stood still for a moment before breaking the deadly silence "Sakura-chan how are the others doing?" Sakura remained silent holding Naruto tight "I see. Check the Kages if anything can still be done"
Sakura broke the embrace, walking towards the Kages for a diagnosis. Sakura's hands glow green and went through a quick scan before giving Naurto a tensed and worrying look. "They are all chakra depleted from their fight against Madara. Chances of survival are very weak….without emergency admission….I..I can't do anything"
"Shishou and the other Kages gave everything to bring down Madara…..Being the 5 Kages they had to do it"
At the very moment everything grew darker and Naruto passes out, finding himself in front of Kurama
Working on the next chapter…Till then keep reviewing
