Disclaimer: Naruto and characters associated to this manga are creations of Masashi Kishimoto. This story and other ideas not associated with Naruto are mine, unless otherwise disclaimed. This fanfiction is written for entertainment purposes only.
Note: So I was tempted to put forth another challenge for you, the reader, to review for the story. The reward would be another chapter posted the same day. Because school started and life happened, I'm a little hesitant to put forth the challenge. Yeah, I have the next chapter already complete and ready for reading, but I'm still in the midst of writing the following chapter... which still needs to be proof-read at least twice. I usually do the proof-reading on the day after I write the story.
How about this? The review count goes up to 45 TOTAL, and I'll update the next chapter before the day is over. I live in the Central Time Zone, so you do the math- where ever in the world you live. :)
Sound good?
Challenge 8: Hokage (day 17)
Aside from all the excitement this past week generated for the young shinobi, it was still unnerving when his father called him to the Hokage Office for some 'business'. He had a sliver of a hint why his father would call him unexpectedly to his office during the daytime. Hopefully he would come out of this alive.
He was crossing his fingers for luck.
He knocked on the door to the Hokage's office and waited to be called on.
"Come in Naruto."
He gulped.
So his dad wouldn't be wasting any time, eh? This meeting must be serious then.
Closing the door behind, Naruto approached the desk with never ending piles of paper—paper that he had one day "pushed" off the desk with his flying, projectile-like body making one hell of a clean-up job for the office assistants and secretaries.
That was the day everything seemed to go downhill.
Or maybe uphill? Naruto finally received permission from Hyuga to be with his daughter—it just so happened to be a more permanent relationship.
"Please sit down," ordered the Yondaime's voice.
Naruto sat down desperately trying to calm his jitters.
After a series of hand seals and a faint glow of blue, Minato sighed leaning forward in his desk chair, his blue eyes calculating.
Naruto hated it when his father did this.
"Son, I have sealed the room from any eavesdroppers. You may say anything you want, and it will not leave this room."
Naruto didn't move an inch, but his own eyes betrayed the curiosity in his mind.
Folding his hands on the desk, the Hokage smiled, "Now, we only have a little time for a father-son talk about this arranged-marriage you agreed too."
Were Naruto's ears deceiving him?
"I can tell you have many questions about this large step in life. Your mother and I apologize for not ever speaking to you about marriage."
'We'd never thought we'd see the day…' his mind continued.
Which in a sense was true considering his rash behavior on the battlefield and with the female population… no thanks to Jiraiya, the super pervert, and Kakashi, via Icha Icha—the super pervert's creation.
"Please ask any questions you have Naruto," nodded the father to his son, "I want to make sure you at least have some understanding of what will be happening in 17 days—that's a little under three weeks. No question is stupid; I promise I will not judge you."
Really?
With squinted eyes, Naruto carefully evaluated the words his father stated. He had always been a bit nervous to approach his father on certain topics… like girls. Sure, his dad was very smart and all, but he would always casually blab this information to his mom.
And that was a big no-no. Especially with her social-butterfly tendencies.
"You promise not to speak to mom about this conversation?" questioned Naruto, his mind still suspicious of his father.
"My lips are sealed."
Naruto grinned.
"Then answer this," commented Naruto with annoyance, "why does everyone keep on bringing up the subject of babies when they talk to me about this marriage thing?"
Minato desperately refrained from raising an eyebrow. "Well, having a baby could be a big thing in marriage," replied the father. He received a blank stare from his son, "You know as well as I do that in a shinobi village many ninja die on missions. Correct?"
Naruto nodded his head. "Well, to replace the older generation of shinobi or those who died on the field, couples need to have children so there will be people to continue their legacy—"
"Like the Uchiha clan?"
Minato nodded, "Yes, but you know that the Uchiha's are very selective on who comes into the clan through marriage."
Naruto scoffed, "No joke about that."
The Hokage was finally smiling. Maybe this whole talk wasn't such a bad idea—
"But that still doesn't answer my question why people keep talking to me about 'making' babies."
Spoke too soon…
Minato bit back a degrading comment. "Well, Naruto, if you and Hinata do have children, they will be very strong and powerful."
"O-okay."
"And your children may be great ninja one day. They may be born with the Byakugan and or could have your exceptional fighting skills! There are great things expected from both you and Hinata."
As the older watched his son's face change from confusion to understanding, the Yondaime mentally thanked God. Looks like this subject of 'making babies' didn't need to be dragged out.
Naruto nodded. "Now I see why it's so important…"
Minato smiled. What a relief…
"We'll make sure to make twenty children!"
Minato fell over in his chair.
