It was a few days before the Chunnin exam, Naruto was bring his team back from a short training trip that they all were glad to see come to an end. On their way back he stopped at a large water fall that spilled into a valley, "does anyone know what this place is?" Naruto asked. When no one answered he continued to speak, "this is the Valley of the End. This is the place that the battle between Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama took place after the formation of Konoha. But this place means something a little different to me. This is the place that I lost my best friend and the reason that I brought you here is to tell you something that you won't really understand until you understand it. Every choice we make effects those around us, we all know that to some extent…but how much it effects them isn't something we can see right away. In a search for power he lost who he was, if it is your goal to become stronger make sure it is for the right reason…even Uchiha Madara did what he did for what he believed to be the right reason whether it was or not isn't for me to decide."
"How do we know if we are doing something for the right reason or not?" Rin asked.
"That isn't something that I can tell you, you have to look inside yourself to answer, but my rule of thumb is would you lay your life on the line, can you face your end with pride. The reason I fought to become strong has changed over the years. First it was to be recognized, then it was to bring my friend back, then to bring peace to Konoha, finally I fought to bring peace to the world."
"What did your friend fight for?" Ryu asked.
"Revenge…but when someone is out for blood they often find it, but not the blood they are looking for," Naruto explained.
"Sensei…I remember when you fought Neji-niisan during the Chunnin exams, the chakra you used after you had all your chakra points shut off…what was it? How did you do it?" Hanabi asked. He didn't look at any of them he just continued to stare out over the Valley of the End a small little smile crossed him lips.
"Sensei…?" Rin said sounding a little worried.
"That power you saw was the same reason I had no friends as a child, I am a Jinchuriki the host of the Kyubi and that power that Chakra was the Kyubi's Chakra."
"You could control the Kyubi even back then?" Rin asked sounding amazed.
"No, if I got a little here and there I was fine, but back then once I went past one tails I lost control. After my training with Ero-Sennin I was able to control three."
"How about know?" Ryu asked.
"I can go all nine without losing control, but I can also give the Kyubi control of my body," Naruto replied.
"But why would you do something like that what if it decided to kill everyone…" Rin asked.
"Do you want to know the secret to controlling a Biju?" Naruto asked smiling they all nodded at him, "you can't."
"What do you mean you can't?" Ryu asked sounding confused.
"You don't control them, you work with them. You build a relationship of trust. And there are times I can't do something the Kyubi can so in those times I give control over to him. And so when I need his powers he gives me everything he has," Naruto explained, "we our relationship has had its rocky moments where he wanted to rip me apart but I am sure he wasn't the only one."
"Would you have done anything differently if you could?" Hanabi asked.
"I would have saved my friend…but it is never too late," Naruto said, "I guess we should be heading back you guys get the rest of the time off until the exams."
"Before we go…can we see the Kyubi?" Ryu asked.
"Are you sure you want to see him?" Naruto asked, they all nodded and he smiled before jumping off the edge. He was immediately covered in a golden chakra that took the form of a massive fox with nine tails.
"Wow…" was all they could say the amount of Chakra he was giving off was unreal. The Kyubi vanished and he reappeared beside them.
"Are you happy now?"
"Hai…" they all said in shock.
An hour later they arrived back at Konoha, the sun was seating over the village, "Hello Naruto-Kun, I see you and your most youthful team have returned from training," Lee said giving him the thumbs up.
"Hai, I had them crying for their moms and daddies ten minutes into training," Naruto said sounding pleased with himself.
"We weren't crying…we just something in our eyes," Ryu said folding his arms and looking away.
"I wonder what Ino will say when I told her you were balling like a little baby."
"You are evil Sensei," Ryu said his eye twitching.
"Me evil…" he said in a mock hurt tone, "I have never been so insulted before…all I wanted to do was make my students stronger so I never had to deal with them again…good day team."
"Sensei, come back!" Rin called out dramatically. He stopped and turned.
"I said good day," and he vanished.
"You hurt Sensei's feelings," Hanabi said looking at Ryu.
Naruto made his way back to his apartment only to see Kakashi on his couch, "what are you doing here?"
"Today Anko wanted four sweet bean soups and five orders of dangos…I got her five sweet bean soups and four orders of dangos…she tried to kill me and I am afraid to go home so I came here instead," Kakashi said nonchalantly.
"That's what you get for dating the crazy snake lady," Naruto said with little pity for his Sensei.
"But she has…a particular skill set that…well is very impressive and I am a weak man," he said his head dropping in shame.
"It's okay Sensei, we have seen it happen to better men," Naruto said placing his hand on Kakashi shoulder.
The next morning Naruto got ready for the day ahead. He started for his parents' home in a much nicer part of Konoha. He knocked on the door and his mother opened it and smiled at the sight of her son.
"I was starting to think that you forgot where we lived," Kushina said smiling at her son.
"I'm sorry I have been getting my team ready for the Chunnin exam," he said return his mother's smile. She stepped aside letting him in, "I see you are busy entertaining."
Minato was sitting at the table with Hinata and Sakura, "Hello Naruto, this is a pleasant surprise," his father said smiling.
"Hi dad…it's good to see you're out of the hospital Hinata-Chan…but what are you guys doing here?" Naruto asked.
"They unlike someone who shall not be named actually come and visit once in awhile," Kushina said making him feel a little guilty.
"Kushina give him a break, he is busy with his students making sure they are ready for the exam," Minato said.
"Naruto-Kun, how do you think your team will do," Hinata asked.
"I have faith they can pass," Naruto replied, "after what they went thru I think they will be too afraid to fail. Enough about me what have you guys been up to while I have been away."
"Men have been falling head over heels for me ever since the war," Sakura replied, "but I have turned them all down I am too busy with my work at the hospital."
"What about you Hinata-Chan do you have people flocking for your affection?" Naruto asked and her face turned bright red.
"Hai…" she finally said.
"We all know that you have girls flocking to you, and your thousand titles…I mean really how many names do you need?" Sakura asked smirking.
"Only two are Uzumaki Naruto approved," he said smiling.
"Oh and which two would those be, Shinobi no Kami, Rinnegan no Naruto, or is it something else?" Sakura asked.
"I decided to drop all pretenses and just go with Kami," he said nonchalantly causing Hinata to giggle and Sakura shake her head, "but in all honesty you will know my titles soon enough."
"What is that suppose to mean?" Sakura asked.
"The time isn't right…but I will tell you I have something big planned," he said smiling.
"I have to go, Kushina-Sama, Minato-Sama," Hinata said bowing.
"You can drop the Sama we are just normal people we aren't even Shinobi anymore," Minato said smiling.
"But you were the Yondaime Hokage so I must always show you that respect," Hinata replied, "I will see you later Sakura-Chan, Naruto-Kun."
With that she left, "Naruto…I need to talk to you."
Naruto got to his feet and followed her out into the garden, "how do you feel about Hinata?"
"What is this about Sakura?" Naruto asked watching her.
"I want to know how you feel about her," Sakura repeated, "I know you care about her or you wouldn't have lost control like you did during the fight with Pain."
"Nagato," Naruto corrected.
"Naruto, just tell me the truth," Sakura said.
"Very well the truth I care for you deeply but I am not the right guy for you and I have realized that, and I also care deeply for Hinata more than I first realized," Naruto said calmly, "so will you go on one date with me that is all I ask, let me have the date I never got when I was younger."
"Very well," she said wondering what Naruto was planning; she had known him for far too long not to think he had something up his sleeve, "You already know?"
"That Hinata has a meeting with a suitor today and tomorrow…hai, I am aware," Naruto said smiling, "I will see you tonight at eight."
Naruto started back inside leaving a shocked Sakura, it was rather scary how well informed Naruto was, Hinata hadn't even told her sister about the suitors so that Naruto wouldn't find out. When she finally entered the house again Naruto was gone, "where did Naruto go?"
"He needed to talk to Tsuande-Sama about something," Minato answered.
At the Hokage tower Naruto was standing before Tsunade, "In about a month you will be named the new Hokage and there are things we need to get situated now so the transition will be seamless, first order of business will be your council."
"I was hoping you Ero-Sennin and my father would agree to that, my assistant will be Nara Shikamaru," Naruto answered.
"I will agree to be on your council but you will have to talk to the other if they will agree to it, then what about your personal guard?" Tsuande asked.
"Kakashi and then the second will take a little more convincing but I am sure it won't be a problem," Naruto said nonchalantly.
"And who would that be?"
"I don't want to ruin the surprise," Naruto said wagging his finger while smirking.
"I am sure Kakashi will be honored," Tsuande said.
"Alright it is time to do some convincing," Naruto said leaving the office the first place he went was to the women's bath to talk to Jiraiya.
"Ero-Sennin, you are going to be on my council when I become Hokage," Naruto said causing Jiraiya to jump.
"I heard they were making you the Rokudaime Hokage," Jiraiya said smiling.
"Have you told anyone?"
"No…I was sure if it was true or not so I didn't want to spread rumors and besides if you wanted us to know you would have told us," Jiraiya replied.
"Well let's keep this quiet until it is announced," Naruto said patting Jiraiya on the back.
"Do I get a choice if I am on your council?"
"No, because if you are not I will banned your book from being sold in the five nations," Naruto said smiling.
"You are not a nice person," Jiraiya said flatly.
"I have been hearing that a lot lately," he replied with a smile. Next he went to the Nara residence.
"Shikamaru, guess what," Naruto said appearing next to his laziest friend.
"It is something troublesome," Shikamaru replied.
"It is troublesome but there are more troublesome things out there and it will insure a long boring career," Naruto said smiling.
"I'm listening," he said glancing over at Naruto.
"You are going to be my assistant, when I become Hokage," Naruto declared.
"And when is that?"
"At the end of the Chunnin exam so in about a month."
"I wondered why they were holding the Chunnin exam here and why it was so soon after the war they plan on announcing you as the new Hokage…troublesome," Shikamaru said.
"Hai, and after that you will never have to go on a mission unless it is a good will mission," Naruto said.
"I guess I don't have a choice, so I will just agree to make it easier on myself," Shikamaru said lying back down. He just had a couple more people to talk to then he would get ready for his date with Sakura.
He left back for his parents home, "twice in one day…I think you have visited more times today than you have the entire time we have been back," his mom said answering the door.
"I have something I need to tell you and dad…and also something to ask," Naruto said as she led him back into the kitchen where his father was eating lunch.
"What is it?" Kushina asked.
"I have been named Rokudaime Hokage, and I will take up the position in about a month and I want you on my council dad," Naruto said smiling.
"Of course, I would ask you mom but that would be redundant since dad does whatever you say," Naruto said causing Minato to rub the back of his head sheepishly.
"Who else in on your council?" Kushina asked.
"Ero-Sennin, Baa-Chan…my assistant is Shikamaru," Naruto replied.
"The Nara who came with you to the Summit?" Minato asked.
"Hai," he replied.
"I would have to say that was a good choice, a Nara is always good to have around," Minato said smiling.
Naruto quickly spoke to Kakashi about take the position as one of his elite guard and he agreed with little effort, and Naruto got ready for the date he has always wanted.
When eight rolled around he was outside Sakura's apartment, "Hi Sakura, you look pretty tonight," he said smiling as she opened her door.
"And you don't look bad either," she said with a smile. She was surprised that he wasn't taking her to get ramen but instead to an expensive restaurant that was normally impossible to get into but considering her date was Naruto and he made the impossible possible at least six time a day she wasn't surprised they got in.
After they had ordered she noticed that Naruto was being too quite, "is everything alright?"
"Hai…but the real reason I asked you here was not just the date as I am sure you figured…" he said as he pulled out a box, "I am going to ask Hinata to merry me," he said showing Sakura the ring.
"Naruto…are you serious?" she asked stunned. The ring was beautiful the band was white gold the diamond was blue with lavender alexandrite on either side of the diamond.
"Do you think she will like it?" Naruto asked.
"I think she will love it," Sakura said unable to look away. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Hinata, but she knew she had no right to she had her chance with Naruto constantly turning him down.
"Don't worry Sakura-Chan you will find Mr. Right soon enough, it is the promise of a life time," he said smiling.
After dinner Naruto had one more thing to do, one more person to see and everything would be in place.
In an unknown location Naruto made his way into the darkness the only sound was the dripping of water, "what are you doing here?" a voice called out.
"I have to offer you a position as one of my personal guards," Naruto said smiling.
"Very well."