I was re-reading the previous chapters and I have to apologize for the technical errors. My brain's been pouring out ideas so fast that I just had to write them down. And as usual, I don't re-read my chapters until after I posted them or just for the heck of it. Also, I don't have a beta.
Also for the reader who wondered why I chose Kakashi over Naruto as Hokage, we have to consider the fact that the hero doesn't always have the top rank from the very beginning. And it's not as if Kakashi did absolutely nothing so that he would never merit even the smallest consideration of becoming Hokage. He also fought with Obito and he fought alongside everyone else during the war, not wavering in his convictions. Even with Naruto's remarkable feats, he's still very young with a lot to learn. Even Minato, who was younger than the other Hokages by comparison, was still older than Naruto. He still has a lot to learn even with his strength. Aside from that, Kakashi won't keep the title to himself until he dies. If you read the manga, Kakashi isn't really the type to hog power all to himself. He even closely resents responsibility (hence, the bouts of laziness). Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, with all his strength, didn't embrace the title of Hokage until his deathbed and bequeathed it to Minato (though he had to after Minato's death, but still, he had the option to retire).
Thanks for the reviews, fav's, follows, etc. I won't force you guys to leave reviews like I always did back then. It's up to you.
Chapter 3
The Departed
"For the last time, Hokage-sama, please sign these!" a frustrated Shizune nearly screamed. It had been a day since the reports of finished missions came, and Hatake Kakashi, Rokudaime Hokage, had yet to sign even a single one of them. If this continues, there will be another flood of work before the weekend and that meant that Shizune would have to put in more work days.
The dark-haired kunoichi could feel dizziness sweep over her. She was being overworked by Kakashi for more than two years now. She was sure that wrinkles were starting to appear all over her face and if Tsunade-sama could see her now, she was sure she was going to give the current Hokage a prompt beating.
And here she thought that Tsunade's habits were bad.
"Relax, Shizune-chan," Kakashi said, reading a scroll that was sent to him by Gaara, the Kazekage of Sunagakure. "I have plenty of time to attend to that."
"No, you don't," she said with particular emphasis. "You have to attend a meeting with the Jounin Commander and the Interrogation Unit this afternoon. God knows how long that will take."
"Another meeting?" the copy-nin said, a frown marring his masked face. If you worked with Kakashi for two years and four months, you would know the subtle changes in his expression even though his face was half covered.
"That's because you re-scheduled this meeting," she explained with all the patience she could muster. "If only you actually pulled through with the original schedule, then you won't have to be compelled to do more than you should right now."
"Gomen," Kakashi said, scratching the back of his head. "I've been really preoccupied lately."
"You're always preoccupied."
"This is another thing entirely," he said, his tone taking a serious note to it.
Shizune stared at him. "What is it, Hokage-sama?"
"Tsunade-sama," he replied without hesitation. "She has stopped sending reports."
She blanched. Senju Tsunade, former Hokage, was on a mission for more than two years now. And every two weeks, she always sent a full-detailed report of what was going on. Only Kakashi knew what she and Hinata were up to but the Hokage had always assured Shizune of the general condition of her shishou.
"For how long?" she asked, worried.
"Two months," Kakashi responded. "I can't send any ANBU to check up on where they were last seen. That was Tsunade's last order before she passed the position to me."
"But how come you never told me right away? Naruto's been asking non-stop," Shizune said, her eyes taking a faraway look as she remembered how much Naruto has pestered her for information ever since the two kunoichi left.
"Naruto should know that he's not always entitled the answers that he asks for," Kakashi explained. "And I'm sure there's a good reason why Tsunade-sama failed to report. Let's just be patient and hope for the best."
Shizune nodded, though her palms were still clenched against her chest.
"Stop worrying Shizune-chan," Kakashi said, smiling up at her. "We could go out for lunch."
"G-go out?!" Shizune repeated, startled and unable to stop the blush from creeping up her face.
"Hai," Kakashi said, not knowing what effect his words had on his assistant. He stood up and strode towards Shizune's nervous form. "I'll get to the paperwork after the meeting."
"I-I think you should stop stalling and start doing it now!" Shizune said, cursing herself from the obvious weakness in her voice. This man will be the death of me! "I'll just send up lunch for you here."
"But that's boring!" Kakashi whined. "I really am not in the mood to sign anything as of now."
"The Hokage doesn't let mood swings dictate how and when he should go about his responsibilities!" she chided.
"Fine," he finally conceded, going back behind his desk and sitting down. "As long as you also bring your lunch up here and eat with me. It's boring without anyone to talk to."
Shizune smiled. "Hai, hai, Kakashi-sama."
Naruto has barely touched the miso ramen he ordered at Ichiraku's. Teuchi and Ayame had been giving him repetitive looks from time to time, mentally noting that the blonde had not even taken a sip of the tempting broth for about twenty minutes now.
"You had better eat, Naruto," Teuchi said, smiling. "The broth is getting cold. You wouldn't want that."
Naruto's eyes rapidly connected with the old man's and grinned. But the old man knew better that the smile was rather strained. "I was just thinking about some stuff."
"Clearly," Sasuke said from beside him. Naruto had forced Sasuke to come with him to Ichiraku's. The black-haired boy already finished his bowl of ramen and was seriously considering ordering a second, when he fell into the owners' habit of observing Naruto. Recently, the blonde dobe hadn't been himself. It was as if he was worried senseless.
"What's going on, Naruto?" he asked, finally making up his mind and deciding to order another bowl.
"Tsunade-baa-chan hasn't sent a report for about two months now," the blonde confessed, running his hands through his hair. "Something must have happened."
"Sometimes shinobi fail to report when they're caught up in something important," Sasuke explained. "Doesn't mean that it's something bad."
Naruto stared at his friend hard. It was unlike Sasuke to try to comfort him in some way. He had to admit that he was losing it from that time when Shizune and Kakashi-sensei stopped giving him updates on Tsunade and Hinata's condition. From what he could discern, it was Tsunade-baa-chan who always sent in reports. Hinata didn't write them personally. He had to take the former Hokage's word that Hinata was in good condition.
But other than that, he knew absolutely nothing.
And it turned into the worst possible situation now. From little word from them, it turned to absolutely no word from the two kunoichi.
"It's not like Tsunade-baa-chan to miss anything," Naruto said.
Sasuke scoffed. "It is like her to forget something."
"So you mean she's gambling, getting drunk or having too much fun for two months?!"
At this, Sasuke sighed. He really didn't know how to reason with Naruto. "If you're so bothered, why don't you go after them?"
Wrong suggestion. "You know what, maybe I will," Naruto said, standing up without even finishing his bowl.
"You know Kakashi won't permit you."
"Who says that he has to permit me?"
Sasuke closed his eyes in frustration. "Because he's Hokage, you numbskull. Disobeying a top-priority order would mean removal from duties."
Naruto smirked. "Didn't stop you."
"Well, that was an entirely different thing," Sasuke said. Yet, it seemed to the former nuke-nin that it was a bit similar. It seemed that even though the dobe doesn't admit or even realize yet, but he may have developed some odd feelings for Hyuuga Hinata.
"You're right," the other ninja conceded. "I'm not an avenger." With that, he laughed.
"Shut up," Sasuke said, glaring at him.
"And since you're still here even with the very evil intentions you had for leaving the village, I doubt Kakashi-sensei would remove me from being a shinobi just for making sure a comrade's alright," Naruto said, leaving money for his ramen and walking out of the shop. "Besides, he won't punish the hero of Konoha."
"Heh," Sasuke replied, fighting the urge to pummel Naruto. "You're just as arrogant as ever."
"Not unlike you," Naruto threw back.
"Shanaroo!" a yell suddenly pierced the relatively peaceful air. Naruto blanched and thankfully dodged just in time. Sakura came out of nowhere and sent an enormous kick at where he stood, leaving the ground destroyed.
"What the hell!" Naruto roared. It seemed that Sasuke was just as fortunate as he was and was able to dodge the move in time. Thanks to the Sharingan.
"TEME!" he added. "Why didn't you tell me that Sakura-chan was trying to kill me?!"
"I'm not your keeper," Sasuke replied shortly, turning away.
"What are you planning to do, Naruto?!" Sakura screamed, effectively removing all potential eavesdroppers from the passersby, fearing for their civilian lives.
"Following Hinata," he answered.
The lack of fear and reluctance in the answer rattled Sakura. Naruto would usually falter whenever she confronted him with stuff. But now, it seemed that he was intent on doing this. "You know you can't," she said, sighing deeply. "It's Tsunade-sama's final order. And it's also been made top priority by Kakashi-sensei."
"And why?" Naruto asked, his bubbling frustration that was kept at bay for years finally reaching the surface. "I want to know what's going on!"
"It's your fault you didn't talk to Hinata properly," Sakura said, knowing where all of this is coming from. "If only you just talked to her, then you wouldn't be lashing out like you haven't had closure or something."
Sasuke had to agree, although he didn't say anything. He'd rather be anywhere than here. He really didn't want to discuss feelings and the overcomplicated relationships of his fellow shinobi. Besides, Sakura could handle such things.
Naruto stayed silent, his head bowed and his eyes covered by the fringes of his hair.
"If only you tried to understand, even though you didn't know anything," Sakura continued, knowing that she finally got through after two years. "Hinata would never leave unless she had to. You know that. She won't leave you, most of all. She loves you."
"I know that!" Naruto suddenly said, startling both Sasuke and Sakura. "I just…"
"Just what, dobe?" Sasuke finally joined in the fray. "You didn't get the chance to tell her that you loved her too?"
Naruto stared at Sasuke, wide-eyed. "I-I don't love her! Not in that way!"
"Really, Naruto?" Sakura said, getting annoyed.
"As of now, no," Naruto said. "That much I'm sure."
Sakura stopped his eyes from actually rolling. "Then why are you like this? Have patience!"
"I feel like something bad is going to happen," he finally admitted. "I've been having dreams. I don't even know if they're dreams. They all seem so real."
"Visions?" Sakura asked, anxious. "You should have told us sooner! You should have told Kakashi-sensei."
"Visions are impossible to have," Sasuke said, his face set. "You haven't shown any indication of having the ability before."
"But it doesn't say that it's impossible to have them forever if you haven't displayed earlier signs," Sakura said. "It must be a link of some sort."
"A link?" Naruto repeated.
Sakura nodded. "What have you been seeing?"
Naruto inhaled sharply. "A bijuu."
"A bijuu?!" Sakura and Sasuke said in unison.
"But all the bijuu aside from the eight and nine-tails were destroyed along with the tree," Sakura said. "The three of us did it ourselves."
"I know," Naruto said, frustration creeping in again. "But it seems that the bijuu was after Hinata."
"Even so, Naruto, the bijuu are no longer evil entities," Sakura said. "You said so yourself. You talked to them."
"I know," he said again. "I'm not sure if its intentions are good or bad, but it's there. And it wants Hinata."
The two other members of Team 7 were silent. They were carefully trying to take in the information when Naruto finally said, "That's why I'm trying to come after them. That's why I want to know what's going on. It's always the same dream for years now."
Sakura gave a subtle nod of understanding. "What else did you see?"
"Twins."
"Twins?" Sasuke said.
"Yes," Naruto confirmed. "Two kids – a girl and a boy. They were about nine or ten, I think. And they were destroying Konoha."
"You have to survive this Hinata," Tsunade said urgently, unable to take her eyes away from the amount of blood gushing out of the Hyuuga's mouth. It seemed that every inch of Hinata's body was spouting out her blood. The extent of the damage was too great.
"Are you sure we should go on with this?!" Gamakichi said, alarmed. From the many things he had seen during battle, this was one of those moments that left him shaken.
"If she were what is foretold, she should survive this," the toad sage said. "If not, then there will be chaos."
"It was left to us to seal the beasts and we have accomplished sealing six so far," Gamatatsu said. "Why is it so difficult to seal this one? I'm getting hungry!"
"Stop being so noisy, Gamatatsu," Gamabunta said. "It's hard because of what Hyuuga-san was destined for. And besides, her body is resisting this. She originally doesn't have big chakra reservoirs and monstrous potentials like the other jinchuuriki."
"Then why her?" Gamakichi said again, flinching as Hinata let out a scream. "It's been a year already! All the training from the previous year didn't prepare her for this? And now, after a year of being a jinchuuriki, she still hasn't gained control over the bijuu!"
"The bijuu must be giving her a hard time," Gamakichi said.
"It's not like that," the Ogama Sennin explained. "The bijuu are changed after the war."
"Ojiji-sama, was it because of Naruto?" Gamabunta asked.
"Yes," the old toad replied. "Hinata Hyuuga is the young woman whom my prophecy referred to. This time, it's as clear as night and day."
"The woman who will bear the most powerful children of the world," Tsunade breathed, trying to heal Hinata's wounds. "The reason you have brought me here along with helping to seal the bijuu is to re-heal Hinata's wounds, only to be opened and torn many times over."
From her expression and tone, it was clear that Tsunade was disgusted by the task. But she followed through, healing Hinata even though she was writhing and bleeding profusely.
"The woman who can bring forth the ultimate change the world is searching for," Gamakichi added. Because of this, Ogama-Sennin repeated the prophecy that he had told two years ago, for the benefit of those who do not understand in their group.
"The woman who will bear the most powerful children of the world,
The woman who can bring forth the ultimate change the world is searching for,
The woman with the ability to form and break bonds,
The woman who will be the last container of one of the great beasts,
The woman who will be the both the wife and the mother of Hokages."
The old sage finished, his eyes roving around his descendants, the former Hokage, and the new jinchuuriki.
"But it's been two years. A year of training then a year after sealing Isobu," Gamakichi said, his doubts still consuming him. "She still hasn't improved. In fact, she has gotten worse over the past two months."
"I haven't made a mistake," the powerful toad said once more. "I haven't made such a clear-cut prophecy in my entire lifetime. We have confused the Child of the Prophecy so many times, only to believe that it might refer to more than one child. But now, there is no mistaking it, there is only one woman."
"And how can you tell, Ojiji-sama?" Gamatatsu asked.
"For all we know, it could have been Sakura," Gamakichi said. "From what we know, this woman will be the wife of a Hokage. We all know that Naruto's a sure shot at that title, meaning that this woman will be Naruto's wife. Naruto loves Sakura."
"And it makes more sense since her chakra control and her capabilities are better than Hyuuga Hinata," Gamakichi added.
Gamabunta glared at his son. "You have always not permitted other possibilities. Such is your limitation – the limitations of your youth."
"What?" Gamakichi said, confused.
"Hinata has always loved Naruto," Tsunade interrupted. "She has always tried her best and stood by him. Sakura is the same, but she has always loved Uchiha Sasuke, not Naruto."
"And so? Just because she loves her doesn't make her the woman in the prophecy," the young toad contradicted once more.
Gamabunta landed a punch on his son's head, effectively silencing his son. "Naruto has started to care for this girl. Ojiji-sama said it so himself. The departure caused a connection. The boy has been having visions of her."
"What do you mean?" Tsunade said, looking up.
"There's a reason as to why I have instructed you to stop sending messages to Konoha, Tsunade," the toad sage explained. "It is to finally strengthen the link between Naruto and Hinata. Naruto's visions of Hinata and the children of the future are becoming stronger. At this rate, it seems highly likely that he would come searching for her."
"And what if he finds out about this prophecy?" Tsunade asked. "You can't very well expect anyone to understand that they're destined to marry someone then have children so strong that they can potentially destroy the world."
"Then that might be the push they need. You underestimate the boy, Tsunade. What the future holds is very unclear even to us who are given the gift of seeing. Much of the future of the children depends on how these two young ones will raise them."
Tsunade, for all the time that she spent at Mt. Myoboku was still confused to everything that was going on. There was no clarity to the prophecy and the involvement of Naruto and Hinata. All that he was certain about was that Hinata was the woman who will be pregnant with children that can change the world in the future. It was also apparent that these children will become Hokage in the future, having the power to do incredible things. It's also very sure and very true right now that Hinata was the jinchuuriki of the three-tails, Isobu, and that her body wasn't taking it well. It's also part of the prophecy that she will be the wife of a Hokage. Eliminating Kakashi because of the sheer improbability of the set-up, then that would mean that Hinata would be married to the 7th Hokage of Konoha.
And Tsunade knew too well who the elders were considering as Kakashi's successor.
There were many candidates for the position because of the sheer talent of the succeeding generation. Nara Shikamaru belonged to the group, being a very intelligent and driven shinobi. Even Uchiha Sasuke, with all the red marks in his ledger, is considered a potential candidate for the position. But for all the work he has done for the village and the indomitable Will of the Fire that he had, Uzumaki Naruto was a shoe-in for the title.
What wasn't clear was how Hinata was chosen. Aside from the fact that she shared a unique bond with Naruto. Even the other toads knew that she wasn't suited to be a jinchuuriki. People who housed a bijuu have specific qualities to them that made them viable hosts. Even with the apparent 'gentleness' of Isobu, Hinata was rendered incapacitated for a year already, having bouts of fever, bleeding, sweating, and near-death experiences.
Tsunade could barely find the time to rest. It had been crystal clear what the sage's intentions were in bringing her along with Hinata. She was the only kunoichi, aside from Haruno Sakura, with the capability to sustain Hinata's life as much as she can. Of course, Sakura could not be sent to such a delicate and secretive mission. Tsunade's experience merited her the gruesome task of keeping Hinata alive.
"If Hinata dies, Isobu will die with her," Gamabunta said. "And when Isobu dies with her, there will be great imbalance between all jinchuuriki and bijuu. That was why Isobu had been revived even though he died along with Nohara Rin."
"What else will happen?" Gamakichi said, fearing the worst.
"The connection that's already established between Naruto and her will break," the older toad answered. "This will render Naruto's mind unstable."
"Unstable?"
"It means he will go mad. Kurama will channel that negative energy and turn insane himself, reverting back to a rampaging monster. If he does, he will send ripples in the bijuu world, triggering the monstrous sides of the remaining bijuu once more. This will lead their jinchuuriki to have the hard life once again – maybe even harder," the old sage supplied. "The bijuu will rampage and will take it upon themselves to control their masters. They will form the ten-tails themselves, without the aide of anyone."
"How's that possible when Isobu will have died with Hinata?" Gamakichi asked.
"You forget that Isobu and any bijuu can come back from the dead," Gamabunta said, his face grim.
"Through Hinata's death, the world will indeed be changed for the worse," Tsunade said, comprehension dawning. "Without the accomplishment of marrying a Hokage and producing the powerful heirs, Hinata's death will draw out the worst in Naruto, and in effect, the other jinchuuriki and bijuu."
"Then she has to live!" Gamatatsu squeaked in fear. "But she's – "
"She is strong," the sage said. "That is also one of the reasons that she was chosen. Even with a body that does not meet the requirements of being a jinchuuriki, she has fought on. And even though her body is giving in, her will makes her survive all of the trials. She is indeed like Naruto in every way."
Tsunade smiled softly. It was indeed true. Hinata has kept up the fight for a year. There was no way that this was going to end now.
But all of a sudden, Hyuuga Hinata stopped breathing.
Naruto suddenly collapsed, his hand clutched against his head.
"NARUTO!" Sakura screamed, barely having the time to catch Naruto. Fortunately, Sasuke did.
"What happened?" Sasuke said.
"We have to take Naruto to the hospital," Sakura said after assessing the situation. "Naruto is in pain and I don't know why until I've made a complete diagnosis."
Sasuke mentally cursed, carrying Naruto and running with Sakura towards the hospital. Naruto was groaning and sweating profusely, his teeth gritted with pain. They were doing nothing besides talk about what Naruto's plan of action was. They were only standing under the tree in the place where they fought with Kakashi before when Naruto suddenly stopped speaking and collapsed.
"I don't understand," Sakura was saying as they went through the doors of the hospital and wheeled Naruto in to the emergency room. "His vitals seem okay, but his head. It seems that the pain came from the head."
"No migraine is this bad, Sakura," Sasuke said as he watched Sakura and two nurses hover over Naruto, trying to assess the situation before them or any damage that was going on.
"If only Tsunade-sama were here," Sakura said, and it just wasn't because she was missing her shishou badly. If there was anyone who can identify an unknown case, it was the former Hokage.
"You're not Tsunade's disciple for nothing, Sakura," Sasuke spoke up, surprising Sakura. "You can do this."
Sakura, for all the urgency of the situation, couldn't help but blush. It was unlike Sasuke to try to elevate her spirits by complimenting her, but then again, he did the same thing during the chuunin exams when he identified her as the best genjutsu identifier from their team.
"MAKE IT STOP!" Naruto yelled out of the blue, thrashing around and effectively dislodging the grip the two nurses had of him. This made Sakura use her strength to pin him down, signalling Sasuke to do the same.
Naruto yelled once more, a sound that shook both Sasuke and Sakura. They had never seen Naruto like this and it alarmed them more that they couldn't see the source of his distress. It seemed like he was losing control once more as Sasuke could see Kurama's chakra cloaking him in a subtle way that only his Sharingan could detect.
"Sakura, the kyuubi's chakra is spilling," Sasuke said, deeming it better to inform Sakura. "He hasn't lost control of him ever since the war. What's going on?"
"I-I don't know," Sakura said, trying to think. "I can't pump in more chakra to try to heal something that I don't even understand. I have to identify – "
"HINATA!"
White eyes opened, clashing with amber ones.
"Tsunade-sama?" Hinata croaked. She heard him. She heard his voice. Naruto-kun... he's calling out to me.
"Hinata!" Tsunade said, eyes red from tears that she had just shed. "You're alright!"
"Y-yes," Hinata said, feeling every inch of her body protesting as she struggled to get up. "I heard Naruto-kun. Inside of me... my mind..."
Tsunade sighed. The link. "I'll explain later, Hinata. Right now, you have to rest."
Hinata nodded, still disoriented. She hadn't been fully awake for more than a year now. It was unusual to be aware of her surroundings as she had been before. But now she knows that something's different.
Isobu. Three-tails. Jinchuuriki.
"You're finally awake," the old toad said, smiling.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble," Hinata said, smiling weakly back.
"Now it's time to summon him."
Now the mystery…
