I OWN NOTHING. Masashi Kishimoto owns the characters, places, and everything in general.
A/N-I wanted to take a short moment to thank all the people who took the time out of their days to faithfully review my story, because I will say that without them, I would have given up this story around chapter 7 when it actually began to start getting hard to write.
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Once more, thank you all who stuck with my story even when I was not the easiest of writers to stick with... Now! On to the story!
Chapter 36
Rain fell from the sky, the fat droplets pelted the masses of people all arrayed in black facing a massive stage. The rain was taken as a symbol that the heavens were weeping with them. Naruto bit his lip to distract himself from tears, no matter how much it rained. He didn't turn about, he already knew that the others were shedding their tears. He focused on the dark haired Jonin leading the services.
"I'm sure that... Sarutobi... No, that my father is looking down on us with a big smile, happy that we miss him so much. But if he were to speak, I think he would be telling us off. I'm sure that the old man would want us to save our tears, and keep walking towards our future." His soft words were carried across the silent masses, and drew out murmurs of assent. The man stopped as if he couldn't bear to speak anymore. Then he stepped to the side, and held a short silence before a burst of smoke plumed up. It took a few seconds but when the smoke died down, there was a person standing on the platform in the full regalia of the Hokage, the robes covering all of the body, and the hat shielding the face from view. After a moment of shocked silence, a voice boomed from the figure.
"We are gathered here, to commemorate the death of a fool." The crowds gasped.
"He was an old man, who tried to stave off death far too long, and man full of regrets. His life was full of failures and futile efforts." Now the people were murmuring.
"One of his biggest failures, and yours, is present here, and mourning for the loss of the man who made his life hell." Now, there were cries of outrage. The figure did not move, nor did it speak until it was silent once more, until all that was heard was the raindrops.
"Yes, his life was one full of regrets. But even he, was able to create a light in such darkness." Naruto scrunched his face, starting to recognize the voice.
"That light was what he lived for, strove for, and ultimately, died for. What is that light, you ask?" The voice got softer.
"He loved this village with all of his being, indeed, it was his life, even until his last breaths." The figure reached up and grabbed the Hoakge's hat.
"If my master, with a life so full of regret and failures, could die with a smile on his face, and peace in his heart, because of this village, because of this light." The hat was whipped off of the figures head, revealing a crying Tsunade.
"Then as his student, how can that not be enough for me? From now on, I shall move from my regrets and from my failures, and follow my Teacher's footsteps. I will guard this village and its people, by placing my life on the line, as HOKAGE!" She roared the last part, and the cries of the village were loud and joyous. Watching all of this, Naruto looked up into the murky darkened clouds.
Ojii-san? Can we really move past regrets?
Just as he was about to look away, the clouds parted just a little, and a single solitary ray of sunlight flashed in. Seeing this brought back the Sandaime's voice.
Flashback
"Naruto..."
"Shut it old man."
"Ie, Naruto, come here." The old Hokage demanded, and the six year old boy reluctantly closed their distance. The Hokage smiled gently, and took his hand, and lead him to the window.
"Look out there, Naruto. What do you see?" When the boy looked, athe sky was filled with black angry stormclouds.
"Rain clouds..."
"Ah, and did you know that they just came in this morning." The boy stared back at him.
"It means Naruto, that when you tried to hurt yourself today, the heavens began to cry."
"Why?"
"Because, in the heavens are your parents, they sit in the sky watching over you, and when you are in pain, they will cry with you. Today, you caused them such pain, that their tears overwhelmed the spirit world and flooded into ours." The small blond sat thinking.
"Why don't they talk to me then?" The earnest question of youth made the oler man chuckle.
"Because, that is the test of death, child. To see if we can find love enough to overwhlem our hatreds."
"But why does that need to happen?" The boy's cerulean eyes were beginning to fill with tears.
"Life is merely a test, a great chance to gain experience. A most precious gift. It is what we do with that gift, that counts." The boy stared at him confused.
"Hmmm... alright lets try something else, then. How about the village?"
"HUH?"
"Usually, the village is what?"
"Calm, quiet. But it depends where you are, I guess."
"That is right, but look at the village now." He gestured to the window.
"It looks... sad..."
"Yes it does. But guess what?"
"What?"
"Even this sadness, is temporary, soon the clouds will break, and the sunlight will come back in." Just as the word's left his mouth, a single beam of light shot from the sky and lit up the faces of the Hokages.
"Sugoi!" Naruto crooned.
"Ah, always remember Naruto. Its never truly dark, there are always beams of light, waiting just behind the clouds."
Flashback End
Sumimasen, ojii-san. I shoulda listened better. Naruto thought as the light hit the new Will of Fire monument to the third.
"Naruto..." He turned to see a soaked Iruka gazing softly down at him.
"Are you ok?" Naruto glanced back at the gravesite.
"Yeah, I'm going to be fine." He stepped towards the stone monument, and ignored all the stares. He gently placed his hand on the giant object.
"Ojii-san, you were one of the only people who cared whether I lived or died. For that, I-I can't thank you enough. So to make it up to you, for being such a hard headed idiot, I'm making this village my dream, just as Tsunade did, just as ... as you did. Maybe then, I can find my peace." He removed his hand and turned back. He froze, there was a line of people waiting for him. The line started with Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi and Iruka they were talking quietly to each other. Then next to them, was Sasuke, Sakura, Itachi and Hinata, the four were quietly watching him. Just beside them were all the genin from the Chunin Exams, Shikamaru, Chouji, Ino, Kiba, Shino, Tenten, Lee, and even Neji. They all were waiting patiently. Naruto took one more glance up at the skies.
"Arigato, Ojii-san." Then, he strode up to his friends.
"I'm HUNGRY!" He growled, to a mass groan.
"Really, Dobe? Thats the note on which we leave the funeral?"
"But, Teme! I'm starving! Obaa-chan-" He ducked a half hearted swipe.
"Treat me to some ramen!" Another mass groan.
"Hell no, gaki! If we're all going to eat on my purse, then I choose." She growled, and Naruto spun around joyfully.,
"Did you hear that, Teme! She's gonna treat everyone!" Sasuke glared at him, as the rest of the group burst into laughter.
"Naruto, treat the Godaime with some repect." Itachi chided gently.
"But I don't wanna-"
"Obbaaa-ccchhhaaaannn!" He groaned as Tsunade smacked him.
"Hush, gaki! You're making me treat all these people!"
"But, You're Hokage now! You can't be hitting me-" He got no farther, as both Sakura and Tsunade smacked him together.
"Hmmm..." Tsunade looked the pinkette up and down.
"Come see me next week, and let's talk." The busty blond muttered, before grabbing Naruto's collar, and began dragging him down the road.
"Lets go eat."
"LEMME GO, DATTEBAYO!" Laughter rang throughout the streets of Konoha, as the small group followed their fearless Hokage through the village.
Six Months Later
Sasuke pulled on his black shirt, and pants before sliding on his Chunin's jacket. He smirked at the sense of accomplishment from the memory of being presented it with several others from their group.
"Sasuke." Itachi's voice gently glided up to his room. Without a backwards glance he moved downstairs.
"Nani?"
"The Hokage would like to speak with us."
"Ah... Alright. I'm coming."
Naruto stretched in bed, and began to press further into the comfy matress when a loud voice caused him to jump.
"OHAYO GAKI!" Jiraiya roared. Naruto rolled and jumped at the same time, ending up falling into a heap next to his bed.
"NANI! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT WITH ME AT THIS INDECENT HOUR!" THe blond boy screamed in frustration. Jiraiya pulled the fingers out of his ears, and smiled at the irate teen.
"Well well, isn't it good to be up and about, Naruto?" THe toad sage spoke brightly.
"The hell it is! Get out! I'm tired!"
"Come on.. I just wanted to treat you to some Ramen before I had to leave..." THe older man continued on softly.
"Ramen? Wait.. leave? Where are you going?"
"I have to go out for a while."
"What? How long?"
"Come on, Gaki. We'll talk about it over breakfast."
"But-"
"No buts, get up lets head out."
Sasuke stood completely still, shocked beyond belief.
"Wait... Itachi and I are going on a mission? For three years?"
"You are quite correct. But you will be leaving tommorow, so please take this time to get your preparations done." Tsunade nodded.
"Will we be leaving on our own?" Itachi asked not moving.
"Ie, tommorow you will be heading out with one or two tag alongs, perhaps." Tsunade looked up from her paperwork.
"You are dismissed." Both Uchihas bowed and vanished from sight.
"Honestly, those two better stop being soo annoyingly formal.." She muttered and pulled out a bottle of sake.
"And that pervert better take good care of that dumb brat, or I will tear his testicles off with a rusty spoon." She growled and took a deep draught.
"Yeah, thats right, take care of him, Jiraiya."
Naruto slurped down his noodles with more haste and energy than was usual.
"Oi! Gaki don't eat so fast! You'll choke and die!"
"And that matters why?"
"Tsunade'd roast me on a spit!"
"Ahh.. Obaa-chan wouldn't eat you!"
"I didn't say she would!"
"Ah shut it! Just tell me why you're going!"
"I'm going to be heading out for a couple of years to do some traveling, research, and visiting old contacts."
"Y-years?" Naruto stammered, his heart dropping.
"Mmm... It's going to be a long hard campaign." Jiraiya murmured and slurped some noodles. Then, he turned and face the blond.
"So, I thought why not bring someone who can suffer with me? You know what they say, misery loves comapany!" Chopsticks fell from numbed fingertips, as the blond stared at his master.
"You-you want me to come with you? On this trip?" He blinked to keep tears from his eyes, and lowered his face to hide his face behind his hair.
"Ah, gaki! You catch on fast! So are you coming?"
"Hai.." He whispered softly.
"Good!" Jiraiya ruffled his hair fondly.
"Get packed we leave in the morning."
The Next Morning
Jiraiya stood leaning against the gates, looking back towards the village he was to leave for a short while.
Flashback
"Why do you want him, Jiraiya?" Tsunade thundered.
"Because, he is a jinchuuriki, and as such, he needs to become much stronger. That is something I can help with." He reasoned, and she frowned. Then, she sat back down.
" I hate it when you actually make sense. Its so strange, it seems this dastardly fate is everywhere." She muttered and brought out a sake bottle and two cups.
"What do you mean?"
"Look what team he is on, baka." She pushed the form at him, and he quickly scanned it. As soon as he finished it he began laughing.
"Well, I'll be... He's a team seven as well? That seems to be the Hokage chosen team isn't it?"
"Ah, Sarutobi-sensei was in Team 7, which became Team Tobirama, then we became Team 7. Then, you taught Minato and his team 7. Then he taught Team 7, with Kakashi, Obito and Rin, mind you Obito was an Uchiha and Rin a medical nin. And now, Kakashi is head of Team 7, with Naruto, Minato's child, Sasuke, Obito's nephew, and Sakura, a Medical Genius that will proobably surpass me soon." Tsunade sighed.
"Ahh, I understand, its amazing this pull fate has on us."
"Whatever, if you're going to take him." She said suddenly becoming serious and the tempertaure dropped by ten degrees.
"If he gets hurt in any way, I will hold you personally responsible, Ji-rai-ya." She said it playfully, but the cold aura of death told him her true meaning.
"Ah... Hai.. I'll watch him carefully."
"Good, bring my otouto back safely." She whispered quietly, before turning back to her work.
END
"Heh, otouto, eh Tsunade? Well, he feels more like a grandchild to me." He muttered as a blond ball of energy appeared in the street.
"ERO-SENIN! YOU'RE STILL HERE!" He yelled.
He's so different from the first time I met him, and yet the same...
"And where would I go gaki?"
"I dunno... away?" Naruto finished as he strode up, about to speak some more when a voice cut in.
"Mah! Naruto, you're so loud in the morning! What happened to the annoying boy I once knew?" Jiraiya looked over the blond's shoulder and saw the two Uchiha walking up towards them.
"Huh? Nani, why are you here teme?"
"We are here to head out on a three year mission, that the Hokage gave us. We were supposed to meet our traveling companions-" He stopped, and then smiled.
"I see-"
"Ahh, well since we're all here, we should-"
"Oi!" Tsunade's voice cut in drawing everyone's attention back towards a fast moving Hokage with three women behind her.
"Eh? Tsunade-obaachan?"
"Hmm? I wanted to say something before you all left." She spoke softly, and then Sakura and Hinata appeared from behind her.
"OI! Neither of you two said anything to me or Hinata about leaving!" Sakura thundered, and Hinata chuckled gently behind her.
"Sumimasen, I was going to but I got distracted by Ero-senin." She turned from Naruto to Sasuke.
"I didn't want to deal with a goodbye." Sasuke shrugged, and Sakura growled.
"Well... guess what? You're getting one!" She yelled and grabbed both boys in a big hug.
"Both of you two... be safe and come home." She whispered.
"Of course, who do you think you're talking to?" Sasuke shook his head, and Naruto chuckled. Then he extricated himself from their group hug and swept Hinata into a large tight hug.
"I'll miss you too, Hina-chan!" She blushed but managed to return his embrace.
"Me too, Naruto." She whispered and released him. THen, the Hokage was in front of the blond boy.
"Obaa-cha-" He froze as she pulled a new hitai-ate from behind her, and dropped to one knee.
"Naruto, you are a very special person to me. I want you to remember that, and remember that you are the reason I stand as the Hokage." She said
softly and pulled off his hitai-ate. Then she pulled a medallion from her pocket.
"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune cried out on seeing it.
"Hush Shizune." She muttered before turning back to Naruto.
"Before I met you, I had a little brother and a man that I loved with all of my heart. They were the reasons for loving the village. However they both had the same dream, to become Hokage." Jiraiya smirked as his student stiffened.
"So, just as I did with them, I give you this my last family heirloom, in the hopes that this time, it will grant you luck and watch over you always." She slid it over his head, and set in on his neck. Then, she picked up her new hitai-ate, and before placing on him, she gave him a small kiss on the forehead.
"Go safely Naruto, and come home quickly." He smiled brightly as he tightened the headband.
"Hai! Hokage-sama!" JIraiya waved a short goodbye to the small crowd as they began walking away.
"Oi, Gaki. How do you feel, leaving Konoha?" The blond boy turned back to look one last time at the village.
"I know I should feel sad that I'm leaving, but I don't..." He turned back and began walking beside the Toad Sage and the Uchihas. Just as he was about to sigh, Naruto continued.
"But I will say this, I can't wait to come back." Jiraiya smiled.
"Good Gaki, good."
"Eh? Why are you worrying about my feelings now?" Jiraiya stretched his arms outwards and sped up.
"Oh, we've got to make it out of the Fire Country by sundown, lets speed it up!" He yelled and leaped up into the trees.
"OI!" Jiraiya smirked as the three others bounded to catch up.
Don't worry Naruto, one day, you'll know the answer. Until then, just keep walking as you are now. If you do.. He flipped over a branch and head faster up into the branches searching to gain more speed, but cast one glance over his shoulder to see his blond student trying to race with the youngest Uchiha to see who could catch up the fastest.
Then one day you'll outpace us all.