Naruto followed the three elders as they made their way back into the Hokage building and back to the Hokage's office, but they bypassed it and headed around the curving wall to another room; one Naruto had never been in. Sasuke followed silently, he was looking at Naruto and Naruto noticed the gaze boring into his back. He didn't turn around or say anything; he just followed the Elders into what was unmistakably a conference room, or tribunal. There was a raised dais on the back wall and the Elders headed straight for it and took their seats leaving only one empty seat in the middle. Naruto stopped in the center of the room and Sasuke advanced to stand beside him. The two boys were close enough to feel each other's body heat, and they were both nervous. Naruto stood stock still, which is absolutely out of character for him. Sasuke stood in an easy stance with his arms folded across his chest, his face was carefully blank so as not to look too arrogant. No one would guess that he was actually very worried on the inside. The doors at the back of the room shut with a loud bang and the unmistakable slap of a seal being applied to them was heard.
In a moment the woman began to speak, "Naruto we have brought you here to try you for treason against Konoha." Naruto's eyes opened wide in shock and anger, but he held his tongue. Well actually he bit it hard enough to draw blood to refrain from speaking out. His silence seemed to make the Elders angry and the woman glowered at him before turning to Sasuke.
"We believe you aided in sneaking Sasuke into Konoha, knowing he is a missing nin and wanted for treason himself. Your unaccounted for disappearance and unannounced return are questionable acts." She looked from Sasuke to Naruto with a malicious grin. Finally they had evidence against the Jinchurikki; enough to lock him safely away unless he was needed to fight for Konoha.
The two men said nothing; one even looked almost apologetic to be there. Sasuke merely offered a "Hn," in his defense. Naruto clenched his fists and drew off Sasuke's calmness to remain silent. He wasn't going to give them anything they could use against him. He had done nothing wrong.
The woman spoke again, "What, Naruto, no loud outbursts and threats and taunts? Don't you have some trick up your sleeve to try to wriggle your way out of this as usual?"
Naruto turned his eyes to the ground as his teeth gritted together loudly. His eyes were livid and had actually grown elongated pupils, not quite the slit shape of the fox, but nearing it. He was angrier than he'd ever been in his life, but he knew they were baiting him. For once he allowed the typical veneer to fall away and the real Naruto, the intelligent, controlled, and very dangerous Naruto, to show himself. Sasuke looked at Naruto out of the corner of his eye; he was impressed at the Dobe.
Eventually the man on the right spoke, the one with the turban wrapped around his head, "Have you no defense against these charges, Naruto?" he seemed to be looking for something from the tone of his voice. Naruto couldn't be sure if he was looking for a way out of this or a way to make it worse so he kept his mouth shut.
The woman stood in her place and glowered at Naruto and Sasuke. She opened her mouth to speak just as a cloud of smoke appeared at the empty seat. She actually jumped in surprise; they had not expected to be disrupted here. They had sealed the doors for a trial and no one could enter without their allowing it, except… "Tsunade," the old woman hissed.
Tsunade stood in her respective place; she was dressed in the ceremonial Hokage's robes. The Elder's looked uncomfortable, she never wore the robes. The woman spat at her, "So what lies and contrivances have you dreamed up to save the boy this time?"
The old man with the turban looked even more uneasy, and the other man merely looked puzzled. This had obviously not been in their calculated plan. Tsunade carried an official scroll in her hand, and it bore the seals of two Hokage. The woman cringed at the sight of it, her tone changed to outrage, "What is the meaning of this!?! Why have you brought that sacred scroll?" Both men were looking at the two women now, and Naruto had only softened his expression slightly at the sight of Tsunade. Sasuke, as usual, had not moved in the slightest.
Tsunade looked at the three elders, "You dare to try your tricks to lock Naruto away, and you challenge the authority of the Hokage to bring in a missing nin for questioning?" Her voice was controlled, but held a note of vehemence to it. The turban man flinched, the other man's slight smile froze on his face, but the old woman was livid in her anger.
"We challenge the authority of the Hokage when the actions of said Hokage are considered dangerous for the good of Konoha!" her face was bright red in her outrage.
Tsunade smiled. The old woman took a step back, it was a self assured smile and one that said I know things you do not. Tsunade formed a seal and broke the two official seals on the document. She stepped forward and began to unroll the scroll; it began to glow with a shimmering light as she did. The old woman sat down, hard, in her seat. The old man with the turban leaned forward. The other man sat on the edge of his seat. "The scroll of prophecy," he murmured in awe.
The scroll pulsed with its unnatural light and lit the room with dances of energy and plays of moving light. Naruto felt suddenly calm and he relaxed. A soft smile spread over his features. Sasuke stiffened as the energy hit him; it seemed to be testing him. Eventually he too relaxed, although he remained as he was with arms folded across his chest. The old woman whispered in a shaky voice, "It can't be! The child of prophecy, here, now!?"
Tsunade began to read from the scroll, "I Namikaze, Minato do hereby set my seal on this scroll." She looked at Naruto, did he know this name? He didn't move, but she noticed the expression on his face, and a small tear fell down his cheek. She continued reading, "and I Sarutobi, Hiruzen do hereby set my seal on this scroll." Everyone noticed the two names, the Yondaime and Sandaime Hokage. Sasuke chanced a look at Naruto; he had only recently found out about Minato, did Naruto know it was his father? The expression of adoration on Naruto's face would convince Sasuke he did, and if that weren't enough Naruto was actually crying…well a tear had run a track down his face. What had he heard when the light washed over him? Sasuke had heard voices in his head that could see through him and knew everything about him. They revealed all his deepest secrets and hidden thoughts; some he'd rather have stayed hidden. In the end they must have liked what they saw because he heard a soft affirmation before the voices ceased.
"This document is a testament and legal fact that the child born is the true heir of Namikaze, Minato, and Uzumaki, Kushina. He shall be given his mother's name to help him become a productive citizen of Konoha and not feel the weight of living under the reputation of his father. He shall grow up in the training and way of the Ninja and shall be given his proper status as son of the Yondaime Hokage. In time when he reaches the age and training to prove he is ready he shall stand in his place to be considered for Hokage of Konoha. He shall be heralded and treated with the honor and respect due to him as the savior of Konoha. He shall be revered and heralded for the great power he has within him to rule the Fire Nation and bring it to even more power and peace. He shall be known as the child of the prophecy, the one to restore all the great nations to peace and prosperity. His mate shall be his equal, and his opposite. This person shall be given the respect and honor due to the mate of the Hokage and the chosen representative to continue the lineage of power and privilege that the Hokage requires. This child, Uzumaki, Naruto, my son by name, shall be forever known as the child of prophecy." Tsunade stopped reading.
She turned to the Elders, would you require hearing the charges that would be brought to anyone who opposes this child. You are all guilty in your treatment of him through his life. You have feared him and wronged him at every turn. It was you who chose the final exam every year at the academy; chose the one task you knew he had never mastered and refused to allow the instructors to properly teach him. You tried his whole life to restrict him and hold him back." Her expression changed to a smirk, "And yet you failed. He is the most powerful Ninja in Konoha. His circumstances have prevented him from taking the examinations that would afford him the rank assigned to his abilities, but you know as well as I that he has surpassed even Special Jounin level. He is on level with very few Ninja. He has also grown. Do you see before you the Gacki we all knew? Or will you finally admit that he is the man he is today in spite of everything you have devised to thwart his efforts.
Should I continue? You paired him with Hatake, Kakashi, knowing Kakashi had never passed a Genin team. You paled when his ability to control the Kyuubi's power was hinted at and then revealed to be true. You devised ways to keep him within Konoha's gates and under your supervision. I challenged you and sent him out to allow him to grow and learn the political skills he would need as the future Hokage."
The Elder's eyes grew large and uncertain, as if to ask if she knew who he was from the beginning. Her knowing smile revealed that she had learned it long ago and had not revealed it to them.
"So you have called a trial today, should we continue with the trial…except it is you who would be tried. You closed minded simpletons resistant to change; even when change is what this Nation needs! You who act as if you are the ruling force of Konoha, and the Fire Nation. You together with Danzou would have this boy chained up in some prison cell as an animal to control and wait for your bidding. I stand here to challenge you.
Today I name my successor, Uzumaki, Namikaze, Naruto is the Rokudaime Hokage of Konoha!" Her eyes blazed liquid gold as the seal light up golden and bathed the room in light before filtering down to nothing. The words were burned into its surface and the elders sat in their seats not knowing what to say.
"Speak, you old fools! What say you? Yea or Nay?" Tsunade challenged.
The old man with the turban recovered first, a slow grin spread across his face as he could speak his mind, "Aye, I accept the nomination of Uzumaki, Namikaze, Naruto as Rokudaime Hokage." His grin challenged the others to say anything derogatory.
The other man sighed in defeat, "Aye, I accept the nomination," his grin revealed his dubious enjoyment at not officially saying the name.
The woman looked at her companions; two had been her teammates, along with Sarutobi, when they were young. The other, the man who had just assented to the nomination, had been a contemporary of Danzou. They were all older and had a lot of experience between them. They had supported Sarutobi and had thought him a great Hokage; he had even died protecting the village from Orochimaru. They were slow to challenge the old ways, and they did not like things to surprise them. The man who had trained with Danzou knew a lot of Danzou's plans and dreams; he would not be pleased that he had once again been denied the Hokage's position. Everyone looked at the woman.
She glowered at them, she was the one who usually contrived the plans and gave orders to the other two. This change of events did not please her. But she could not go against an official document signed by not just one, but two Hokage. She took in a deep breath and blew it out, "I accept the nomination."
She stomped out of the room pausing only to make a hand seal to dispel the seal on the doors. The other two Elders rose without a word and followed her. The man with the turban paused to look at Naruto and offered him an apologetic smile as he passed.
Tsunade looked at the child who really did have the power to change their world. He had proved it time and time again, without even trying he caused change where he went, just by being himself and showing others how he understood their situation because he too had been slighted and put down. She smiled to know that the very plan the Elders had put into effect to keep Naruto down and make him feel worthless had backfired and given him the strength to persevere and to win others over with his story.
"Well, Naruto have you nothing to say? Where's the smart comeback and witty retort?" she asked with a grin.
Sasuke looked at Naruto, he hadn't moved at all since Tsunade had opened the scroll. "Naruto?" he asked in concern.
Naruto turned in slow motion to look at Sasuke. The expression on his face was a smile of pure bliss, and yet a little consternation. Sasuke approached him and placed his hand on one cheek. He smirked and chuckled, "Naruto," he repeated shaking his head.
The voices had told him things, and Sasuke was certain they had told Naruto things too, had tested him and found him ready. Sasuke couldn't help but wonder what else the voices might have told Naruto. Did he know that he had a great Father who was one of the most respected Hokage? Did he understand that he was always wanted and loved, and his life wasn't how it was supposed to be?
Naruto blinked and looked at Sasuke, whose h and was still softly resting on his cheek. Naruto put his hand up to cover Sasuke's hand. He really looked at the other boy. Sasuke's eyes were soft and full of concern. Naruto saw the expression he had seen on the other Sasuke's face when he had admitted he loved him. "Sasuke, I love you," he admitted out loud for the first time.
Sasuke smiled and cupped Naruto's cheek in his hand. He closed the distance between them until he was standing right in front of Naruto. "I know, me too," he admitted.
Tsunade laughed from her place up on the dais. "Your training starts tomorrow, early!" she said and poofed away in another cloud of smoke. Both boys turned to look at her briefly then looked at each other. Sasuke leaned in and touched his lips to Naruto's gently, tentatively.
Naruto grinned into the kiss, and raised his other hand to tangle it into Sasuke's hair and deepened the kiss. Neither of them noticed Shizune as she gently closed the doors and placed a light seal of no admittance on them. The boys could leave when they wanted, but no one could come in and disturb them. She walked away smiling at the turn of events.
In a cavern under the Anbu Black Ops training grounds Danzou was untying a small scroll from the leg of the bird who had delivered it. He crushed it into this hand after he read it. It was as he feared, and he knew he had to act fast before anyone else learned this news. It would ruin everything he had set into motion if anyone learned that Naruto was the son of a Hokage. He summoned Sai who appeared instantly.
Danzou outlined the plan and Sai bowed, "May I keep the code name Sai?" he asked. Danzou was puzzled at the request, this Black Op had never disobeyed, and he had followed every assignment perfectly. Danzou dismissed the concern, it was actually a good plan to continue the ruse as Sai, Naruto had a relationship with Sai and it would make staying in his confidences easier. He hobbled away tapping his cane with every step as Sai disappeared as silently as he had appeared.
Hmmm… I think this was an Ok chapter; I couldn't remember the names of the Elders and didn't feel like looking them up. Sorry! There's just a little more to the tale, and then it's officially done! ((I don't; know if there will be any more flashes to Kohona…it depends on the rest of the story and where it goes, I only have the idea, the story always writes itself!))
-Kneise
