The Meaning of Peace
Chapter 4: The Good, the Bad and the rest…
Kakashi's POV
Boy, the atmosphere sure is serious... Guess I won't have the opportunity to read my icha icha books after all, well, it would be the fifteenth time after all... I should ask Naruto if he is interested to take up on this side of Jiraya's legacy as well as the quest for peace one... It is almost as important right? Ups, the daimyo is talking, should pay attention...
"I have granted this audience to you three to discuss some things and announce others" They had gathered in the conference room dedicated exclusively for audiences with the daimyo of the Country of Fire, Tsunade had posted both Yamato and Sai outside of the door and had two other ANBU's doing perimeters around the Hokage building "But first things first, Tsunade being here is obvious, since she is Hokage but I want to tell you why I selected you two to participate in this meeting as well"
"Hatake Kakashi, you have shown your true valor both as a Jonin and as a mentor in charge of Team 7, the squad that won the war against... whoever they were. It would be silly not to consider you as the natural successor to Tsunade as the 6th Hokage when she deems it is time to step down. As such, your presence in these meetings is both welcome and necessary, to prepare you for your future responsibilities, if this is okay with Tsunade, of course..."
"For the first time in many years, my lord Daimyo, we agree on that and he is indeed my choice to succeed me. I am thinking of stepping down some time during the next year, when I know, you will be notified" Thank god I am wearing this mask, thought Kakashi, it's not that I am a heavy blusher but somehow I have never got used to compliments by allies, I'm fine with the ones from enemy though - I should see what's wrong with my brain sometime soon, preferably before I become Hokage...
"Splendid! That settles that and I'm glad we thought of the same thing. As for you, Nara Shikamaru, as you may have been told, I always held a deep respect for your father and listened to his council. As your mentor, before dying, told me by letter that you have inherited your father's skills as a tactician and a councilor I would like to make you a permanent member of this council"
"My lord, you honour me with your gesture and your words. Unfortunately I would much prefer to stay in Konoha and take care of the next generation so..."
"Not to worry, this council only convenes when the new Hokage needs to be chosen or an issue of such severity so you are allowed to stay in Konoha and only have to participate when you are called by me"
"If that is the case I do accept this great responsibility and hope to serve you with as wise a council as my father before me" Shikamaru said, great for you, Kakashi thought, maybe now you can have closure on your father's death, you will be continuing his Will of Fire with dignity.
"That settles it then, on to the topics of this audience. I have been in regular communication with the other daimyo of the 5 great nations and we have declared the following: First, we are going to meet in two weeks time to discuss the war events. For this we require a report by the 5 Kage who will be present in said meeting. We would also like the presence of all members of Team 7. Shikamaru you are included as a member of my council of course. Second, we want the 5 Kage to meet before us to present us with measures to prevent future bloodshed, either within or between the nations. Third, we are transferring the power to judge certain shinobi from the 5 Kage to us, the 5 Daimyo, I'm sure you know but to make it clearer I am talking about Sasuke-kun and Orochimaru-san. As such we expect that the report submitted has a special focus on these two war participants. Am I clear?"
"Clear..." He heard Tsunade said with an almost mocking tone "That you are, it doesn't make me happy about it though."
"Tsunade-sama, if I may. What the Hokage is trying to say is that criminals or missing-nin are the jurisdiction of the Kages as is every other shinobi, the Daimyo has juridical power when it comes to the Kages themselves or the ordinary people. What is the reason for this measure, if I may ask?"
"Although what you say is true, we fear that in the case of these two specific shinobi, there is a lack of objectivity by the part of the 5 Kage. To prevent an emotional judgment we have taken this decision upon us. Are there any more questions or can we finish this audience in agreement?"
I should speak, after all I need to justify the praise that I received "My lord, if I may, you mentioned the 5 great nations, are there plans to include the other nations and the Country of Iron in this conference? After all, one could argue of the negative effects that excluding these have had in the recent times"
"Ah, you may be right... you may be right... Guess that there would be no problem in inviting them as our guests or observes, I will take this matter up to the other Kages, now I will take my leave."
Everyone got up their sits and Tsunade through clenched teeth said "Thank you for this audience my lord. We will do as instructed..." for the time being Kakashi heard her finish in a very quiet voice, man this woman is furious... The daimyo left them in the room.
Now that this is finished I can go lie down in the sun... "Kakashi!" Oh no, this is going to be bad "Go to the remaining Team 7 members and tell them of the "invitation" for the meeting between the 5 Nations, of Sasuke's judgment and tell them to deliver me their report by the end of this week. This last one includes you too... Don't go lazy on me now, our schedule has been cut in half after all..."
"Hai Hokage-sama! It will be done, anything else you need of me?"
"No, me and Shikamaru will work on our own preparations for the meeting and send messengers to the other Kage about this. You're dismissed until further notice!"
Kakashi then proceeded to find his old team... the meeting had been a bit too stressful for his taste but boy, did it make him glad to hear others speak of Team 7 so often again!
Naruto's POV
Life in prison sucked! I mean, he was the war hero... why did he have to suffer this? "You know why kukuku..." The voice of Kurama answered, he seemed to be having fun at his expense "Its' NOT fair dattebayo! I am trying with all my might here, you know?"
It all started after Kakashi-sensei had told them what had been decided by the daimyo. He had not been happy about the change of Sasuke's judges but it didn't really mattered since he was never going to let anyone do anything to his friend and rival... No, the worst part had been when he was told that he had to finish the report in two days time...
He had been so proud of having it done in 5 minutes that he was smiling when he entered the Hokage's office. The smile quickly was replaced by a suffering expression when Granny Tsunade read and reacted to the one sentence present on the sheet of paper that said "I am a hero and Sasuke is a good person dattebayo". Women sure had a funny way to react to things! Hinata might be a strange person but at least her weird coloring issues were not aggressive to him… While he was quietly slipping into a coma he was ordered to redo it…
At his 500th attempt, Tsunade gave up on him and made Sakura responsible. She had chosen to keep him in a locked cell without ramen. She even convinced the other people of Konoha not to visit him until he had finished… Even though he had a bit of a problem with writing, he knew he could have done it at his first try… Its just that he didn't want to write anything against Sasuke but he also didn't want to escape the truth…
"Why not just say the truth and finish it with the fact that you were able to change his mind during your battle? Maybe people will be so impressed with your ability to change him, they will not pay attention to the first part of the report.." Kurama said, trying to be a little more helpful
"I guess I have no choice, but I'm not doing for that stupid reason, stupid!" After all they were going to leave for the Iron Country tomorrow so he had no choice but give the Granny something good today.
"SAKURA-CHAN" he screamed after having written the boring but truthful report "I am finished, this time for real!"
His jailer came to his cell, read the report he had given her and gave him a serious nod, as she let him out of the cage. "This is good enough, I guess… I will give it to Tsunade-sama myself, meanwhile, get your things ready for tomorrow's journey"
"Got it… Just out of curiosity, what did you write on your report Sakura-chan?"
He noticed she was blushing slightly when she said "I.. the truth of course… It was a bit sad writing the whole genjutsu scene, but you cannot interfere with the truth in a judgment right?" Her tone when she finished the sentence was more one of questioning if she was right than one would use in an affirmation, but he let that go… for now
"Right! Guess I should be going now, see you later Sakura-chan!"
"Hmmm… See you…" Sakura whispered, eyes pointing down, seemingly in deep thoughts about her own report.
Next time, the 5 kages Conference, I am going to skip the journey part, sorry to all that like travel writing! Hehe. Thank you for the views, favorites, follows and the one review! YES, got one finally! Thank you so much Tanialari for your support!
