Sarutobi Hiruzen woke up early in the morning to get ready for his job as the Hokage. He got up from his bed took a bath, dressed and started on his journey to the kitchen in order to see what Asuka-baa-chan had made him for breakfast.

It had been four days since Sarutobi had formally adopted Naruto Uzumaki. He had decided not to give him the Sarutobi name in order to make sure than none of his enemies would try to take revenge on him by harming Naruto. Though if Naruto ever decided to that he wanted to take his name he would never stop him.

But that was not what was on Sarutobi's mind at the moment. He was more worried about Danzo as he had yet to try anything since their last discussion regarding the fate of little Naruto. As Sarutobi reached the kitchen and sat down at the table he couldn't help but wonder when Danzo would make his move to get his hands on Naruto. He was sure that Danzo wouldn't take long and Sarutobi had to be ready to counter anything that he might try.

"Well Good Morning Saru-chan!" Asuka said as she smiled at Sarutobi.

"Good Morning Asuka-baa-chan. How is little naruto today?"

"Well he is sleeping, I am surprised at how much the little kid sleeps. Kids his age usually cry late at night for food or just because something woke them up. But Naru-chan has never woken me up in the middle of the night in the last three days at all."

"He must be tired from all the stress his little body has been going through the last few days. Once he feels comfortable here I am sure he will be like any other normal kid and keep you awake the entire night."

"Well I hope he doesn't keep me awake too long, I am old now and need my sleep as well." Asuka chuckled as she handed Sarutobi his breakfast.

"Ramen again? Asuka-baa-chan you know I like the ramen that you make, but I would like it if you gave me something else every once in a while." Sarutobi said as he looked at Asuka with a pleading look.

"Oh hush you, what would you know about the glories of ramen. Quietly eat your ramen and be off." Asuka said as she shoved the bowl of ramen further towards Sarutobi.

"I hope you won't feed ramen to Naruto everyday once he starts eating solid foot." Sarutobi said in a whisper so that Asuka would not be able to hear it.

"I heard you young man, and for your information I know about feeding a growing kid that you. I raised you, didn't I?" Asuka said as she glared at Sarutobi, "Plus I can already feel it, he will be the one who shall finally truly understand the glory that is ramen. Just you watch Sarutobi I am never wrong" Asuka said as she smiled and looked in the direction of Naruto's room.

Sarutobi just shook his head and finished his breakfast. After he was done with it he got up went up the stairs to Naruto's room to check up on him. He quietly opened the room and walked upto Naruto's crib to look down at the peacefully sleeping face of the baby who had whisker markings on his cheek. He gently put his thumb on the top whisker on his left cheek and gently stroked it and smiled down at him. He stopped when Naruto stirred a little. When he was sure that Naruto was sleeping peacefully again he bent down and kissed his forehead before going out the room and down the stairs.

"I am going now Asuka-baa-chan. I will leave a ninja here for your protection just in case. You can ask him to send a message to me if you want to tell me something."

"Ok already, this is not my first time taking care of a such a baby. Get out and do some good for the village."

"I will, take care of Naruto for me till I come back." Sarutobi said.

And with that he walked out of the Hokage Mansion and started walking towards the Academy. The Academy was located directly at the base of the Hokage monument. It was also where prospective ninjas from various clans and even some civilians joined in order to have chance at becoming ninjas of Konohagakure. As the academy was quite close to the Hokage mansion it didn't take Sarutobi long to reach it. He quickly climbed up the stairs of the building in order to reach the doors of the Hokage office. He quickly opened them and walked up to the seat behind the big table present in the office. He looked at it for a few seconds before sitting down.

It was still hard for him to sit down on the chair that he had vacated just a year ago to Minato. He had hoped that once he Minato was made Hokage he could spend the rest of his life with his wife Biwako. But, alas, that was not to be. He quickly left that train of thought and got back to the files and papers that were present in front of him. Almost all of them were regarding the damage that the village had gone through during the Kyuubi's rampage.

Just as he started reading the first file a ANBU ninja shunshined into the room. Sarutobi looked up from his file to see Rabbit bowed down in front of the table.

"Get up Rabbit and report" Sarutobi commanded his ANBU ninja.

Rabbit slowly got up and faced Sarutobi before speaking in a steady voice.

"Good Morning Hokage-same. We have just been informed that Danzo-san has requested a council meeting today at twelve o'clock."

This did not surprise Sarutobi and he was sure what Danzo wanted to arrange the council meeting for. He quickly looked at the watch to see that it was still eight in the morning. That meant he had ample to time in order to think about what Danzo might say to get the council to give him Naruto. He knew that if he wanted to could cancel this meeting, it was within his power as the Hokage of the village, but if he did that Danzo would try some other methods to try and get his hands of Naruto. So he decided that he would attend this meeting and make sure that the council saw that keeping Naruto with him would be the best idea.

He dismissed Rabbit with a wave of the finger and got back to the files, he would try to finish all of them by elven and spend the last hour trying to think of ways to get the council on his side.

-4 Hours Later-

Sarutobi walked towards the Council room as he once again ran his head through all the scenarios that he thought would happen inside the room in a few mins. Once we was done with that he opened the door to the council room to see that everyone was seated at their respective positions and talking among themselves, including Danzo who just looked at Sarutobi as he walked into the room. He quickly reached his seat that was the largest in the room. He sat down and acknowledged his two former team members, Koharu and Homura, who were also his aides in running the village. He then asked for silence from all the members of the council and when the noise had mellowed down he got up to speak.

"Dear distinguished members of the council I thank you all for coming here at such short notice. We are gathered here today because Danzo Shimura requested for this meeting. So, without further ado I would like to grant the stage to Danzo Shimura."Sarutobi said as he sat down and waited for Danzo to get up and begin his speech.

Danzo got up for a few seconds and cleared his throat as he began-

"Thank you Hiruzen Sarutobi" Danzo stopped for a few seconds here as people began to mummer about the disrespect that Danzo was giving to Sarutobi, thought Sarutobi himself let it slide.

"I have convened this meeting here today in order to decide on a matter of grave importance to the village's present and future well-being. This is a matter that should have been taken care as soon as kyuubi was defeated and the news of our beloved Fourth Hokage came forth. I have convened this meeting today, esteemed council members, in order to decide who should take over as the next Hokage."Danzo finished and smiled as he looked at the faces of all those present in the room.

Pandemonium ensued after Danzo finished his speech, even Sarutobi was surprised by Danzo. He had not expected Danzo to try to take his seat, though in hind sight he should have thought Danzo would try something like this. Thought Sarutobi was the Hokage at this point, there had never been an official meeting to appoint him as the Hokage once again, everyone had just assumed that since the fourth had died and with him still alive he was the Hokage and even Sarutobi himself had just gone with it and continued on his work as Hokage for the past week.

He was foolish to think Danzo would not try to take advantage of this and if he became Hokage he could easily force Sarutobi to hand over Naruto to him as a Jinchuriki was, in many village, considered a property of the village rather than a person and despite Sarutobis influence he wasn't sure that he would be able to stop Danzo from taking Naruto away if he became Hokage. Sarutobi's worked his mind furiously as he ignored the people that were shouting around him, he had to make sure he left this room as Hokage.

"What is the meaning of this Danzo-sama?" One civilian member said.

"You say such things in front of the Hokage himself?" Another began.

"This can be counted as treachery, you are trying to usurp the Hokage Danzo-sama. Even we cannot let this slide." Another countered.

While some Civilians were shouting their heads off, the ninja and clan members of the council kept quiet. They realized what Danzo was trying to do and that no matter what some of the civilians thought he had every right to call on this meeting. They could see that not every civilian member was shouting at Danzo, some didn't even look surprised. Danzo let the few members of the council to continue their shouting a few seconds longer before he once again started speaking.

"Dear council members I ask that you please stay calm. While I have nothing against Sarutobi it cannot be ignored that we have yet to appoint anyone as the Hokage after the death of the Fourth and while Sarutobi has been kind enough to take over the duties that he had left over an year ago, he was never given the post in the first place."

Danzo's explanation caused most of the shouting members to quiet down a bit so that Danzo could continue.

"Now, Sarutobi has been a wonderful Third Hokage to Konoha and we will always be grateful for that. But he has been the Hokage far too long and we need someone new to lead us in this hour of need. We have just lost our Fourth and many good and powerful ninjas during the Kyuubi's rampage, even Sarutobi lost his beloved wife in the disaster."

Sarutobi glared at Danzo as he brought up his wife into the conversation but Danzo ignored him and continued.

"And while Sarutobi is, no doubt, a strong shinobi and a great leader he is still human and after the loss of his only family member that is close to him I believe he should be allowed to rest his body and mind. I suggest that at the end of this meeting we leave this room with the confidence that the new Hokage who will lead this glorious village will have the necessary will and the mind to lead us out of these dark times and into a bright future that previous Hokages envisioned."

With that Danzo sat down.

Sarutobi continued to look at Danzo as he let a little smile to grace his features at having out-maneuvered Sarutobi. Though Sarutobi did not like it he had no choice but to ask if there awas anyone in the council who supported his agenda and hoped Danzo would not get the two supporters that he needed in order to begin the process of selecting the new Hokage. Sarutobi got up and began

"Thank you Danzo-san for that. Now as is required by law I ask if there is anyone in this council that supports Danzo?"

Immediately a hand shot out from the civilian side of the council. Sarutobi turned to see that it was Roronoa Ichigo. He was the most influential civilian in the village and Sarutobi feared that if Danzo had him in his corner the other members of the civilian council might be swayed and vote for him, even the ones who were protesting a mere minutes ago.

"I support Danzo-sama in this call for a new Hokage" Ichigo said.

But this was still just a single vote in his favor, Danzo still needed another members support in order to go ahead with his idea. Sarutobi looked around to see if anyone else was going to support Danzo. The civilian side of the council looked unsure of themselves suddenly while the ninja side kept to a pensive look on their face while they contemplated on the issue. He then turned to his left and saw Homura thinking very deeply and was about to say something when another voice interrupted him.

"I support Danzo Shimura as well in his call for a new Hokage to be installed at the seat."

Sarutboi turned his head so quick some feared that he might break it. He saw that the person who had lifted his hands was none other than his old team-mate koharu Utatane. She looked straight ahead and refused to look Sarutobi in the eyes. Sarutobi quickly composed himself and looked back towards the council members.

"Well, now that I have the two supporters I need by law I would like to declare this meeting be officially begin and I would also like to nominate myself for the post of Hokage" Danzo said as he looked at Sarutobi with a smirk.

"Very well," Koharu began still refusing to look Sarutobi in the eyes, "Is there anyone else who would like to nominate a candidate for Hokage?"

Sarutobi got up and nominated himself for the post once again and when no-one else said anything Koharu continued.

"We have two candidates for the position of Hokage, Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi. You both will now be given time to present your case for your selection as Hokage. Danzo-san if you would please start first."

Danzo looked at Koharu and nodded.

"Thank You Koharu-san. Dear council members I believe that I would be the best candidate for the Hokage at this very crucial time for our village. I was, for a short time, a student The Second, along with Sarutobi, and have learned everything there is to know about the village, its history and the know-how of leading it from him. I used to train and lead the now defunct group of elite ninja called ROOT, which I might add was grave mistake on Sarutobi's part." Danzo said as he pointed at Sarutboi.

"I have taken part in the First Great Ninja war and thus know first-hand what it take to win a fight against one of the great ninja villages. Now some of you may think all the qualities that I have listed before are present in Sarutobi as well, and you might think what makes me a better leader than him. Well first and foremost I would like to point out that while we may share the same qualities how we use them is different. Sarutobi had been the Hokage for a really long time and thus has become predictable. All the great ninja villages know him and have fought against me. Whereas they almost nothing about me and at this time when we have been weakened by the bijuu's attack and are vulnerable we do need someone who our enemies know inside and out, we needs someone new who mill confuse and mistify the enemies with tactics they would not expect from us. Make no mistake honorable members, there will be attempts to dislodge us from our position as the strongest ninja village after this unfortunate attack."

"I have always been loyal to the growth and development of our village, ever since I was made into a full-fledged ninja I have done everything I could to make sure we, as a village, would always stay on top and that the people who stay here," He pointed at the civilian members," can do so without worrying about the lives your loved ones. Konoha cannot afford to let go of its grasp at the top, even when we low in manpower and thus I ask you all at such a time who would you like to lead you, a man who has lost almost everything to this same attack and who may or may not have recovered from losing his wife, his one sole member of his family that was close to him, or a man who has always been ready to serve and protect this great village we call our home."

With that Danzo sat down satisfied and waited for Sarutobi to say his piece.

Sarutobi got up slowly and looked at all the people present in the room before he began.

"Dear Council members, like Danzo-san pointed out before, I have been the Hokage for a long time but unlike what he said I have not become stale, I have continuously learned from this job and I have proven my worthiness many times over the course of my tenure as Hokage, from my sudden appointment as Hokage in the middle of the Second Great Ninja war to my guidance and leadership during the Third. I have shown that I am a great leader of ninjas as well as I trained the Sanin and made them into who they are today, the greatest ninja team of our village and the strongest ninjas in the world."

At this Sarutobi once again looked around at the people present in the room, including Orochimaru and Jiraiya.

"Danzo said that I may still be weeping at the loss of my wife and may not be able to lead the village properly, but he forgets that I lost my first son in the middle of the Third Great Ninja War and I did not let that affect my duties as the Hokage and lead us to victory and even now I shall continue to lead this village to my very best. That is all."

With that Sarutobi sat and down as Koharu once again got up.

"Everyone will now be given thirty minutes to think about their decision and when they have decided they will write their vote and put it in this container here." Koharu said and she used a hadn sign and made a ballet boxes appear infront of her.

"Once everyone has voted, the council will be given a thirty minute break as the votes are counted out. Once the break is over all the council members will gather back in this room and the result will be read." Koharu said down as she finished speaking and everyone started thinking about their vote.

-One Hour Later-

Everyone had once again gathered in the council room as Koharu and Homura stood on either side of the Sarutobi. Once everyone had sat down on their respective seats Koharu began speaking.

"Thank you for your votes. We have counted down the votes and the results are out. There were fourty-one votes with ten no-votes. With a count of 23 with and 18 against the Hokage is still Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Once the results were read Sarutobi let out a breath of relief as many people came up to congratulate him. He happily shook their hands as he noticed Danzo quietly slip away from the room.

-Later that Night-

Sarutobi once again walked into his house a tired man, both mentally and physically. He walked into the living room to see Asuka-baa-chan sitting there with Naruto in her lap. He couldn't help but smile at them as they played with the various toys that he had bought for Naruto.

Asuka-san turned when she heard a sound and sent Sarutobi a small smile and then asked him to come and play with Naruto. Sarutobi slowly walked upto Asuka-san and sat down at the chair opposite to her. He continued looking as Asuka lifted Naruto from the ground and put him on her lap and sat down at a rocking chair herself and started moving her body on the chair.

Asuka never asked Sarutobi about what had happened in the office, she did not care about that. She cared about Sarutobi and Naruto's was greatfull that Asuka-san did not ask him about his office.

As Sarutobi kept his eyes on Naruto, Naruto suddenly lifted his head from the toys in his lap and looked directly at Sarutobi, he looked at him for a few seconds before lifting his hands and opening and closing his fists while he pointed them at Sarutobi.

Sarutobi chuckled as he got up from his char and took Naruto from Asuka-san. She gladly gave Naruto to him as she went to make dinner for them.

Sarutobi looked down at the little boy in his arms as he looked up and grabbed his goatee and started playing with it. Naruto laughed as he kept his hold on the goatee and even though it hurt Hiruzen a little he let Naruto continue as he looked down at the reason for continuing to fight to stay in his position as Hokage of the village hidden in the leaves.

[h]

And that's a wrap. God-damn this is the longest chapter I have ever written period. I wanted to get Danzo out of the way for now so that I could later concentrate on Naruto, Sarutobi and Asuka's lives. Hope you enjoy it and if you find something that you did not like please tell me what it was.

By the way I do not think the other chapters after this will be as long as this one(they might take longer to update though), to be honest I didn't think this would be so long but still hope you like it and don't forget to Read and Review and tell me what you would like to see in future chapters.

Well that's it from me.

"A Witty Catchphrase"