Chapter twenty-five
There was no moon in the sky that night as it cast shadows everywhere on the village that was left in destruction. I had just returned from the hospital and told Naruto that Hiruzen had died and it broke my heart as he cried and yelled how unfair it all was and I agreed with him on that and stayed with him until he fell asleep in his hospital bed. I was currently sitting on the roof where Orochimaru killed him and looking at the destruction to the arena when an ANBU dropped down next to me.
"Raven-sama, the council would like to see you right away." He said calmly. I rubbed tiredly at my eyes and stood up as the ANBU disappeared again. I didn't bother going to ANBU Headquarters to get changed but I just put my mask on and headed for the meeting room in the Hokage's tower and bowed to Koharu and Homura who were still mourning like I was at that moment.
"What may I do for you this evening?" I asked, my voice void of all that I was feeling at that moment.
"We would like for you to find Jiraiya and bring him to us once you have found him." Koharu said calmly.
"Jiraiya-sama is back? Since when?" I asked, acting stupid and rolled my eyes.
"Morino Ibiki reported that he had taken down the giant snakes destroying the village along with a dragon that was seen to be on our side. We would like to talk to Jiraiya as soon as possible considering the next position for Hokage." Homaru answered. I bowed again.
"As you wish, I shall bring him to you as soon as possible once I found him… I am sorry for your loss today." I said calmly bowing again and leaving. I began running once I put my mask away and reached the roof of the Hokage's tower and flew up to the stone heads of the Hokages and sitting on the stairs between Hiruzen and Minato's head, hiding my anguished and pained features behind my arms resting on my knees I had pulled up to my chest and forced the stabbing yet numbing pain in my chest, wiping away the stubborn tears that kept escaping.
"Why didn't we just kill him when we had those so many chances… This wouldn't have happened… If I stayed with the bijuu when they were created, Naruto, Gaara and other jinchuuriki's wouldn't suffer along with the poor beasts… Naruto wouldn't be alone, Gaara wouldn't be alone, I wouldn't be alone. Minato and Kushina would still be here and perhaps hundreds of other people like Iruka's parents and Itachi wouldn't be a missing nin right now… I've made so many mistakes and now it's too late to fix them." I said out loud, wiping away the stubborn tears, refusing to cry no matter how tight my chest got as I curled further into myself and shook from the anguished emotional pain, remembering all of my mistakes, leading me here now.
"Do you really believe it's too late?" Kakashi's voice said from in front of me as I looked up and saw him standing there, observing me calmly.
"If it wasn't, my seal would still be fine and life just perfect but it's not and now… It's causing everyone I care about pain… What do you want Kakashi?" I asked as I forced myself not to break and continued to wipe away the tears.
"To make sure you're okay… You have more right than anyone to cry right now, you just lost someone important to you but you're still forcing yourself to be strong and for what? You may be immortal but you still feel and you need to let it out before it destroys you." Kakashi explained calmly with his hands in his pockets wearing his usual outfit without the chunin flack jacket and his hitai-ate.
"If I hadn't been so caught up in my own problems that night twelve years ago, Minato would still be alive, Naruto would be happy and so would you… Orochimaru would be dead right now instead of Hiruzen who should have selected a new Hokage after the Yondaime… You should have seen Naruto's face when I told him, he cried himself to sleep… Dammit." I said when I was loosing my battle with my tears and emotions and I wiped at them furiously and put the palms of my hands over my eyes so he wouldn't see as I forced back my sobs threatening to break through and shake my body. "Just please, leave me alone." I whispered weakly. I heard a slight sniffle and looked up to see Kakashi crying right in front of me and freely, not trying to cover it up.
"I learnt something else twelve years ago… It's not easy to suffer in silence and on your own. Just let me return the favour you gave me those many times in the past." Kakashi said, his voice also cracking a little as he held his arms open for me. That did it for me as I looked away and my anguish broke free and sobs tore at my body and I shut my eyes and mouth into a thin line, still trying to hold back. Strong and warm arms wrapped around me and also shivered and shook with silent sobs and I buried my face against Kakashi's shoulder and let out my cries, gripping his shirt in my fists as I took deep breaths and cried with him as he sat down next to me and pulled me onto his lap and into his warm embrace as he cried against my shoulder as well, quieter than me from years of being silently sobbing like he had.
I opened my eyes to the village being illuminated by orange as the sun rose over it as some clouds drifted by and threatened to rain later. The destruction was a sorry sight to see but my attention turned back to Kakashi who still had his eyes hidden against my shoulder and sleeping, making me wonder how he could sleep like that. I wrapped my hands gently in a combing motion through his soft silver hair and his arms tightened around me.
"It's time to wake up now Kashi." I whispered softly as I leaned my chin on his shoulder and continued to stroke my hands through his hair.
"You haven't called me that since I was fourteen." He said roughly as he raised his slightly red rimmed eyes to meet my own as I pulled back and gave him a small and sad smile.
"I save it for special occasions since it's so cute plus I don't think you would appreciate being teased about it to your friends if I called you that out in the open." I said and ruffled his hair roughly and stood up from his lap and held my hands out to help him up and get the circulation back into his legs. "My circle's planning a big fry up for after the funeral and they've already started, you up for some greasy comfort food this morning before the rough day ahead?" I asked him, still holding his hands as I looked up at him, as I was standing on a few steps lower than him.
"Sounds like a plan… Let's jump across the rooftops until I can wash away the puffiness around my eyes." Kakashi said, taking one hand and rubbing at them like a kid, making me smile with nostalgia.
"I have a better idea." I said and shimmered us to my tower that was still standing untouched and led him down into the club where we were greeted with my circle members all pitching in to help as Kakashi and I stole some food quickly and ate it, sitting at the top of the tower looking over Konoha in silence and within our own thoughts. He left not long after finishing eating and I got up to dress for the funeral as well.
I willed the storm on as I watched the clouds getting darker as I stood behind some trees watching Kakashi stare at the memorial stone, also in his funeral attire when Yuugo came up behind him and waited calmly with flowers in her hands.
"Is that for Hayate? Sandaime's funeral has already begun, hurry up." Kakashi said calmly as he moved to the side for her. I wasn't at the funeral at that moment as it would cause me to cry again then end up with a killer migraine when I should be finding Jiraiya again for the damn council.
"Kakashi-senpai, did you come here for Obito-san? You should come here earlier instead of thinking up excuses for being late." Yuugo countered back respectfully.
"I do… early in the mornings. But when I come here, I feel like punishing my old foolish self." Kakashi said and it made me want to cry again but I refuse dammit then my eyes fell to see Jiraiya standing by the old training stumps and walk over to him.
"Jiraiya…" I asked calmly, coming up to the stump next to the one he was leaning on. He looked up calmly and looked at me and nodded to let me continue with what I wanted to say. "Koharu and Homaru want to see you and I've been ordered to bring you to them no matter what… Will you come willingly?" I asked watching his expression carefully.
"I'll see them later and I'm sure you know when… I expect to see you there and back me up… You know I don't want to be the next Hokage but I have a person in mind… I'll explain it later, you should get to the funeral before it ends and pay your last respects, you two were old friends and I can see this has effected you greatly." He said calmly, looking down at a puddle as it began to rain.
"Thank you and I'm sorry for your loss as well… It's tough to loose a sensei. See you later." I said calmly as I shimmered to the one pillar on the top of the Hokage's tower and watched as people lay flowers by Hiruzen's picture and scroll and noticed Kakashi and Yuugo had arrived already as well. I looked up at the Hokage's monument and noticed the big crack along the third head and knew it must have been an omen from the day before as the rain stopped. The people went off to their daily lives and left as the sun began to come out. I jumped down and kneeled in front of Hiruzen's photo and sent a little prayer for him when something chilled me and put me on guard instantly.
'Someone on guard duty for Naruto right away, now.' I urged to my circle.
'No problem… What's happening Sonea?' Star responded instantly with some worry as I saw her moving to find Naruto right away.
'An unwanted presence alert me to anything unusual Star, no matter how small it is.' I urged and she complied as she began tailing Naruto. Seth was following Jiraiya who got caught by the elders for peaking and I decided to deal with that first and maybe get Naruto out of the village quickly without the unwanted presence finding out as I began to run at full speed and slipped into the shadows to continue listening.
"Old man Homura and Koharu-sensei huh? What do the advisors want from me?" Jiraiya asked as he looked straight at me quickly then pouted at the two elders.
"What do we want? You should already know without us telling you." Homura said sternly and Jiraiya stood up defensively to face them then smirked.
"You don't have to look so serious. The talks with Suna went well right?" Jiraiya asked.
"Suna has publicly announced that Orochimaru set them up. Also, they have surrendered to Konoha so that topic is no longer relevant." Homura explained.
"Konoha had no choice other than to accept their surrender in order for us to revive our power." Koharu said.
"But Konoha's power has declined enormously. In this situation we must prioritise preparations for worse situations."
"We do not know when a bordering country may do something radical. So until the village's power is restored we have decided to gather the top people from each squad and assemble an emergency executive committee to deal with this problem. But first… We need a trustworthy and strong leader. There are many problems right now and it's not just about Orochimaru."
"You didn't have to waste your time reporting such things to me. I'm going to resume my research now." Jiraiya said, looking annoyed.
"Let me tell you one basic thing we have all agreed on… We need a Gondaime Hokage as soon as possible." Homaru said sternly.
"And just yesterday at the emergency meeting with the Daimyo, you were chosen Jiraiya." Koharu said and Jiraiya was definitely not impressed.
"Unfortunately I'm not very well suited for that." Jiraiya said coolly.
"It has already been decided. Also if you, the ninja praised as one of the Sannin then who is?" Homaru asked.
"There's one other Sannin. Tsunade." Jiraiya stated coolly.
"It is true she may be capable of it but we have no idea where she is." Homura said, a little unsure.
"I'll find her. You have no problem with that right? The witty Tsunade is better suited for it than a lazy person like me. What is your decision?" Jiraiya asked almost threateningly.
"Alright, we will take that into consideration. I will make three ANBU members accompany you on your search for Tsunade." Homaru said calmly.
"That won't be necessary… It would only make Jiraiya's job harder, I can assure you that." I said, calmly stepping out of the shadows with my arms crossed.
"Who are you?" Koharu asked with annoyance.
"I'm Raven without my mask, I got tired of it and didn't have time since you cornered Jiraiya so nicely." I said coolly, making them flinch and Jiraiya smirked.
"There is one guy I want to take with me though. I found an interesting egg." Jiraiya said with some evil glint to his eye.
"No." I said plainly as we eyed each other in an internal battle.
"Since you seem so calm to take control Raven, you will stand in as Hokage until Jiraiya returns with Tsunade so you are to stick to your promise that he won't run away and not return… Good luck Jiraiya." Homura said and left with Koharu, leaving me speechless and almost fuming… I hated paperwork.
"Jiraiya, he is not Minato. Besides, I heard from him everything you did while you two went on your trips and with Akatsuki being loose, I cannot allow you to go with him alone." I said with authority and he seemed to pout.
"It wasn't that bad besides he'll be perfectly safe with the first choice of the next Hokage, they wouldn't try anything with me around him." Jiraiya said with challenge.
"Fine. However, I will have one of my wolves following you, just in case. Is that condition fine?" I asked and he nodded. "Just take good care of him Jiraiya otherwise I will have your head on a silver platter for sticking me into this position." I warned and set off to complete a few things before I sat down to start with the paperwork of being a Hokage wearing my ANBU mask.