Once again, my wonderful readers, another fanfiction comes to a close. I know a few of you have written reviews wondering what others in the shinobi world are doing, but alas, this story was planned out and nearing its end already and no detours were taken. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Have a great 2014! CG
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"Mom, can we meet you there instead of walking together?" Kasai asked his mother. She was busy getting Chi ready for the outing and Chi wasn't really cooperating.
"You need to meet in your classroom, right?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah," Kasai confirmed. "All the Academy students are sitting together and we're supposed to go to our classrooms first."
"Go ahead then, but make sure you don't leave your sister behind," Sakura insisted. "She's still little."
"Ok, Mom," Kasai said. He walked out of the room and shouted, "Senshi! Mikoto! We're going first!"
Sakura heard the door slam just as she finished zipping up Chi's jacket. "Are you ready little one?" she asked her youngest.
She hoisted Chi up into her arms and located Kenji playing with a few toys in his room. "C'mon Kenji, we need to go," she told him.
"Where's Dad?" Kenji questioned.
"We're meeting him at the Academy," said Sakura. "He had to work this morning and he said he'd meet us there afterwards."
Of all the days, she couldn't believe that Sasuke was called away the morning of the graduation of Kiro and Aiko. They were, after all, the children of their teammate and the first of the children of the next generation to graduate from the Academy. Even if it hadn't been for that mysterious message that she received a few days ago, she would have been there anyway.
She reached into her pocket where she had put the message. The doorbell had rung but no messenger was there to greet her which she thought was strange. All that she found was a small paper scrap with her and Sasuke's names on it highly recommending that they attend the graduation because part of the ceremony would be of great interest to them.
In only a few more minutes, Sakura and her two youngest children were on their way. She was actually a little glad her three oldest had already gone ahead. This way she could leisurely walk at her own pace and not be constantly prodded to go faster.
"Sakura!" shouted a voice from the other side of the street. It was Ino and her daughter Keiko, also heading in the direction of the Academy.
Sakura waved at her friend and changed course to meet with her.
"So you are attending the graduation?" asked Ino.
"On our way now," answered Sakura.
"Us, too," said Ino.
"I'm surprised you are going to the graduation," Ino said. "None of yours are graduating."
"Keiko is your only daughter and she's not even in the Academy yet, so why are you going?" Sakura answered with another question.
"Well, the truth is...I got a weird message the other day," Ino admitted.
"You, too?" Sakura asked.
"You got one, too?" Ino asked watching as Sakura pulled the message out from her pocket. "Do you know what's going on?"
"No, not a clue," Sakura admitted. "Where's Chouji?"
"He's actually away from the village on a mission. I wonder what the big deal is with this particular graduation...I hope Chouji doesn't miss anything important. Where's Sasuke anyway? Is he out on a mission, too?"
"No, he left for the Hokage Tower early this morning. He said he'd meet us there," Sakura said.
"Oh, I see," said Ino.
The small talk continued until they reached the Academy. When they arrived, they immediately stopped dead in their tracks. The lay-out was completely different than for a normal graduation. It was so much bigger. Something just didn't seem right.
"Have you ever seen it set-up like this?" asked Ino.
"No, and I've attended a few graduations over the years," said Sakura.
"Maybe something important is going on today," added Ino.
Sakura looked around. Instead of the normal chairs for family and a seating area for current students, there were stands! She looked at the normally small stage which had increased its size three-fold. There was a special section off on one side as well, for who, she had no idea.
"C'mon Sakura, let's go sit over here," Ino said as she pointed towards the stands.
Sakura was really getting curious now.
They had arrived a little earlier than most, but soon enough, the stands started filling up. Soon, all the underclassmen came out of the Academy building class by class and took seats on the ground a little in front of the stands. Sakura looked for her kids...Kasai was off to the left sitting with Hokori and Emi...Senshi was more towards the center sitting with Koinu andYochu. It appeared that they may have been sitting by year so Mikoto was probably off to the right somewhere.
"I wonder where Sasuke is," Sakura said aloud. She was getting worried that he'd even make it.
"I'm sure he'll be here," said Ino. "After all, if his business was with the Hokage this morning, well, she has to be here for the ceremony, doesn't she? Maybe he couldn't find us and just found a seat somewhere else."
"Good point," added Sakura.
"Hey, is that..?" Ino said out of the blue.
"Who?" Sakura asked.
Ino paused. "I know you are going think I'm crazy, but it looked like the Mizukage."
"Where?" Sakura asked.
Ino pointed to that special section off to the side. "Over there."
Sakura looked over in that general direction. "It can't be. There is absolutely no reason for the Mizukage to be at a Leaf Academy graduation."
Then she saw a flash of bright red in the same general direction. If she wasn't paying attention, she would have thought it was Gaara. She turned her head and smiled...it was just a child with the same colored hair. The child was quickly ushered back into the sea of people. Sakura was left to wonder what the heck was really going on...and why it was such a big secret? This was just a graduation, right?
Someone starting touching the microphone from the main podium thus making a popping noise and getting everyone's attention. Sakura looked over...it was one of the senseis from the Academy. "We are about to begin, so we ask that everyone take their seats. Thank you."
The crowd that was not in the stands found spots to sit in and the loud talking settled into a low murmur as they waited for something to happen.
The doors to the building opened and the line of graduating students appeared. They made their way to the platform itself and took seats next to one another. Once the students were finished, the senseis from the Academy followed, taking seats behind the students on the podium. Finally, the Hokage herself was seen, followed by her panel of advisors including Shikaku and Kakashi.
The Hokage gave a short, simple speech welcoming the crowd to the graduation ceremony. She introduced Iruka Umino, one of the most tenured senseis at the Academy to explain what these students had gone through and what steps would be taken next in their shinobi career. Once he was done, Lady Tsunade and a few others stood up at the podium to read the names of the graduating students so that they could come forward to receive their headbands signifying them becoming actual genin.
The ceremony itself seemed to near its ending. Once the last student was recognized, Lady Tsunade took the podium once again and thanked everyone for coming. The crowd started rustling as if getting ready to depart in a few seconds.
"Now...onto the next part of the day...," the Hokage added.
Most people looked a little confused, but nonetheless could feel the expectation that they remain where they were until everything was for sure done.
"I'd like to welcome two special guests today," said Tsunade. She held out her arm towards the special section. In a few seconds, both the Mizukage and Kazekage appeared and waved at both the crowd in the stands and at the students.
Meanwhile, the doors to the Academy building silently opened and a small group of shinobi - Naruto, Sasuke, Neji and Shikamaru - exited the building. Just as the two Kage retook their seats, the four Konoha shinobi climbed to the platform and took seats next to the podium.
Sakura no longer wondered about the strange set-up or why Sasuke hadn't apparently shown up yet. Now she was sure something was going on based on the guests in the stands and the fact that both of her teammates were now sitting on the stage at an event that supposedly had nothing to do with them.
Lady Tsunade was still at the podium and upon everyone taking their seats, she began speaking again. "I have been the Hokage for well over 15 years now and after a significant amount of preparation and planning, I have now determined it is time to pass the torch to the next generation."
A deafening silence overtook the crowd. So that's what was going on...
"Naruto Uzumaki, unlike all the other Hokages, has had the opportunity of training and preparation to undertake the position of Hokage. It is a blessing that he can take the post with the training and experience he has had and not in an emergency situation due to death or war. Over ten years ago, when the war ended, Naruto was the most formidable shinobi in the world. Now, not only is he powerful, but he is mature, and he is well-versed in what this post entails and he will do a fine job as the sixth Hokage. Today, as his two oldest children become genin, he will rise to become the next Hokage of the Leaf."
Naruto rose from his chair and Sakura could clearly see that he was wearing a long coat, very much the kind that his father, the Fourth Hokage, used to wear. He gave Tsunade a small formal hug and took over her place at the podium.
"Greetings. Ah, it would seem that you all were in for more than you expected," he said with a broad Naruto-like smile across his face. "I appreciate all of you staying to watch the official transition of power between Lady Tsunade and myself. I hope that she enjoys her retirement while continuing to keep an eye on me. No one has more experience as her at being a great Hokage."
The crowd applauded.
"For me, this is really a dream come true. As many of you know, I have wanted to be Hokage since I was a small boy." He paused. "I'd like to thank these fine shinobi for agreeing to be my panel of advisors." He used his hand to wave towards several shinobi also sitting on the platform.
"Lady Tsunade will continue to advise me, and her advisor Kakashi-sensei will continue to serve under me. In addition, I have asked Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara and Neji Hyuuga to join my cabinet as well. I'm not very good with words or at giving speeches, but I hope that you will allcontinue to support me as we go forward."
Enormous applause erupted as Naruto sat back down. The crowd, who obviously already loved the Leaf's own Naruto Uzumaki, stood on their feet and smiled from ear to ear.
The ceremony itself came to an end as the applause died down and both students and audience members got up and started milling about.
Sakura made a bee-line for the platform to greet all three of her Team 7 team members and give them a piece of her mind for excluding her from the ceremony.
Sasuke jumped down to the ground. "I know what you're going to say...I couldn't say anything...I wasn't allowed," he explained.
She exhaled. "I know," she lamented. "I -" She paused. "I was just so happy to see all of you up there. I can't believe he is actually the Hokage. He finally made it."
They both turned to look at Naruto as he jumped down to the ground to give Hinata a hug and greet his two oldest children.
"Naruto!" someone shouted from the crowd. Many had made their way to where the new Hokage stood so they could wish him well and perhaps even shake his hand. "Naruto!"
"Gaara?" Naruto questioned aloud after hearing the voice.
Gaara finally made his way to the new Hokage. He stood facing him and not a word was spoken at first. Gaara held out his hand. "Congratulations to the new Hokage," Gaara finally greeted.
Naruto looked at his friend, the Kazekage, and finally smiled. He gladly took his hand and pulled him to him in a bear hug.