Ramen Doodles
By Andrew J. Talon
Disclaimer: I do not and probably never will own Naruto or any other copyrighted works mentioned in this story. I am not writing this for profit.
Author's Note: When I have writer's block, I often write a lot of random snippets of ideas, omakes, and continuations of other author's ideas that kind of petered out. As I'm afflicted with a bit of writer's block regarding Key Through the Heart (again), I've decided I'm not going to leave you guys in the lurch. Therefore, enjoy some writing I've been doing over at The Fanfiction Forum.
The hat was atop his head, the cape fluttering in the breeze. The faces of the Hokage who had come before gazed down upon his back, and his eager people stared up at him from the village square below.
"Namikaze-sama," Homura said softly. "It is time."
Namikaze Minato, the recently declared Fourth Hokage, smiled slightly at the old advisor. Homura and Koharu, the Third's advisors, stood at either side of him. The Third himself was at the edge, expectant and calm.
Even the murmuring of the crowd was soft, so many below him.
Minato nodded, and stepped forward. In his vest pocket, he could feel the speech he had worked on in front of the advisors, that had been shown before the council. It had no effect on his tenure as the new Hokage, but it was considered tradition, polite tradition, to let them know what you intended to say. Preserved for posterity, showing the way the new Kage might handle things.
They had been shocked, to say the least. Even Hiruzen, staunch supporter of postive change he was, had been taken aback. But the Third commanded loyalty, and he had been convinced by Minato. The others had fallen suit. The Daimyo, eager to avoid the slaughter his conventional troops had gone through, had also agreed.
Danzo though... His block had agreed only very reluctantly. They had motives beyond what was written on paper, this Minato knew. But only time would reveal what they had planned.
As for him... He knew the obstacles. The biggest ones were out of the way, for now, but even so... There would be no turning back.
He stepped up, the crowd's talk softening ever so slightly. It then stopped entirely, every eye in Konohagakure upon him.
"My people," he began, "our last war with Iwagakure and Kumogakure has made me realize something. That, no matter what reasons are being fought for, no matter how noble the goals, war is destructive. War takes. Not just lives but innocence, joy, love, tranquility. At times it is necessary, but it is never wished for. Never truly wanted."
He took another deep breath, the only sound he could hear the beating of his own heart and his voice.
"As Hokage, I take upon this mantle, this office to defend and protect you. But that is not enough. Not for me. The Hokage means so much more than the most powerful ninja in a village, than your leader. It means... A person who embodies the will of fire. Who does what is right, no matter how difficult it may be." He looked over the crowd. He still had them. Good.
"The shinobi arts are our livelihood, and I would never deny it, never deny the ninja," Minato said. "But, we cannot continue fighting wars like this. We cannot continue to allow personal ambitions of other nations or mistakes on our own part to cause these conflicts. To give life to war out of arrogance, ignorance, or anger. I refuse to allow more lives to be lost and destroyed by another such conflict."
He looked over them all, hoping, praying that his next words would be understood. Would be supported. Even with the Council and the Daimyo, if his people couldn't back him up, it would fall apart.
He smiled, filling it with the hope he felt, the fear and uncertainty fading into the background.
"To that end... With the support of the Daimyo and the Council, I have authorized the start of the Kami no Tatsu Project. In neutral territory between the major powers of the continent, a village will be constructed. This village will host representatives of every hidden village and country, allies and former enemies alike.."
He could feel the uncertainty and tension in the air slowly fade away, and he pressed on.
"Kibougakure no Sato, the Village Hidden in Hope, will be operated by Konohagakure, but it's aim will be to allow all of us a place to work out our differences peacefully. I therefore call upon you all, to support this project fully, in the hopes of a better tommorrow. Because, in the end... We believe it is our last, best hope for peace. A hope for peace I will commit to, fully, even at the cost of my life. Because I feel it is the best thing I can offer you, my people."
There was silence for only a moment after he finished. Too long and he would know he had lost them. Too short...
One pair of hands began clapping. He traced the source, and his eyes widened. There, on a nearby rooftop, Uzumaki Kushina smiled warmly and applauded. Others followed, until cheers and celebration broke out among them all. Hiruzen gave his successor a smile of his own, and even the two old advisors, grumpy and conservative to the last, were approving.
Namikaze Minato, Fourth Hokage, smiled out at his people. His dream would take form. There was a long road ahead of him... But together, he knew they would make it.
And so it begins...
Inspired by my recent binging on Babylon 5, I present this idea to make the Naruto story more symmetrical.
On one side, we have Pein-He desires peace, but will ensure it by destroying the urge to war, by causing such horrific pain to all that none will dare try to make war again.
On the other, Minato's dream of peace-Through cooperation, understanding and talk. Through alliance and diplomacy. Offering hope and building bridges.
In the shadows, Madara works his plans to counter the Senju's-Opposing philisophies that clash through clans and villages.
Namikaze Minato dies saving his village from the Kyuubi, leaving the survivors to take up the burden of Kibougakure. The neutral village is built, despite much controversy and political intrigue. And with the rise of Akatsuki, the machinations of Madara and Danzo, and the dozens of nations and ninja villages all with decades of conflict in their histories, it won't be an easy job.
But, if anyone is going to pull it off as the darkness grows, it will be Uzumaki Naruto, who takes his father's dream of a united humanity as his own. He will be Hokage some day, but until that day, he will fight for the success of the Tatsu no Kami project.
Discuss, make suggestions, and just play around with the idea.