Ch. 37 The Decision
A group of four sat around a large oak tree keeping cool from its shade. There were two girls, one boy, and one adult male.
"Sensei, why do you keep turning down the council's decree for you being Hokage?" one of the girls said.
"Because I have other ambitions, those which don't involve becoming Hokage." he young man replied.
"But Don sensei, you've been picked for Hokage for the past five years now, do you know how many people would kill to be picked?" the boy said.
Don took a deep breath and sighed, "Mizu, Tochi, Ki..."
His students looked at him with full attention.
"I'm not going to be around forever. When you guys become chunin, my remaining time in this village will start coming to an end." he said.
Ki looked at Don curiously, "What do you mean sensei?" he asked.
"Do you remember all those incredible stories I told you guys about that friend of mine?" Don asked.
"Yeah, the one who ran away from Konaha, became a sand ninja, and then did some crazy stuff and betrayed Konaha and Suna to 'protect them'?" Mizu asked.
"Yes, the very same person." Don said.
"What about him?" Tochi asked.
Don smirked expecting the worst, "That man was me. That man is me."
There was a long silence and his students' eyes went wide with shock.
"Think what you will, but everything I said was true. I had my reasons. My goal is to return to Suna where I belong. I just haven't gotten the feeling it's the right time yet." Don said.
"I refuse to believe that my master is the same scum bag who betrayed everyone he ever cared about!" Ki getting up furiously.
Don looked at Ki, "This isn't a matter of belief, it's a matter of fact. A fact which you will just have to come to terms with." he said in a serious tone.
Ki glared at Don and then ran off into the woods.
Don sighed, "I'll go have a talk with him. Ladies, y'all are dismissed for the day. Go enjoy yourselves." He then got up and followed after Ki.
Don finally caught up with Ki who was lashing out at a tree.
"No matter how hard you punch that tree, it doesn't change the past. It doesn't change who I am." Don said.
Ki stopped and glared at his sensei, "I really looked up to you, and to find out that my master is a piece of shit who didn't think twice about turning his back..." he was cut off by Don punching him in the face and sending him straight into the dirt.
"And maybe someone who looked up to me so much would have some compassion and understanding! I've paid the price for my actions of the past, but I can't run away from who I was and who it's made me now. Ever since day one of being readmitted here, I've been working on trying to set things right, to repair the damage I've caused. I don't care, if at this point, you hate my guts for knowing the truth, but you will show me respect because I am still your sensei!" Don said with an intense glare looking down at Ki.
Ki glared back at Don as Don walked off.
As Don walked back to his home, he was stopped by an ANBU. "Come with me." he said. Since Don could tell it was something important, he complied with the ANBU's demand.
Don was led to the village headquarters where we was then led to a conference room. When Don entered, it was nearly pitch black and only a table full of silhouettes.
"Sit down, Don. Make yourself comfortable." an elderly voice said.
Don sat down at the head of the table and glared at the silhouettes. "What is this about?" he asked.
"This is about your continuous refusal of the position Hokage. When this council selects a person for that position, it's expected of that person to comply." the voice said.
"Aw, well I'm sorry I hurt your feelings for refusing to become your slave. I have plans that don't involve becoming a puppet for a bunch of old farts who can't tell a sand ninja from a leaf ninja." Don said boldly.
"You little bastard! How dare you talk to us that way! We could have you banished from the village for that!" another voice said.
"Then go ahead! What are so afraid of? I'm going to be leaving anyway." Don replied loudly. A few moments of silence passed over. "Ah, but you won't. You bastards are still trying to find a way to use me for your own hidden agenda. To hell with all of you!" Don said rising from his chair.
"Your lover Sachiko and your daughter, Natsuki, was it? They are the only reason why you are determined to return to Suna, are they not? If we took them out of the equation, you'd have to stay in Konaha, you'd have no other reason to return to that sandy shit hole." the elder said.
Don glared at the silhouettes with boiling anger, "If you dare lay a finger on Sachiko and Natsuki, I will kill each and every one of you in cold blood. I will show you no mercy and I will not care what consequences will follow me exacting my revenge upon you all."
The room fell silent once again, "Very well, you are dismissed." the elder said. Don got up and left the room.
"What do we do now?" an elder asked.
"Simple, we go through with our plan. We will show Don no to undermine us."
Don returned home and sitting at the dining room table, wrote a letter to Sachiko telling her what happened. When she replied, she said that Suna would be on higher alert now in case something were to happen. Among other things, Don asked about Natsuki. Sachiko was happy to report that Natsuki was going well at the academy. However, the instructors were having problems with her beating up on the male students and having random bursts of energy and summoning trees everywhere. When Don read about it, all he could do is laugh himself to tears. Tears of joy but sadness. Natsuki was going to be five years old soon and he hadn't seen her since she was born. Five years that she has never seen her father in person.
Almost a year had past since Don's confrontation with the elders. The chunin exams were finally here. This year, the exams were to be held in Konaha and this year was going to be the year that Don would be able to see Sachiko and Natsuki for the first time in five years.
Don waited by the village gates waiting to see Natsuki and Sachiko among the Suna crowd, however they did not appear. Don did catch sight of Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro walking together. When the three caught sight of Don, Gaara gave them a look which told them to move on ahead.
"Hey guys, welcome back. Have you..." Don began.
"Don, we need to talk." Gaara said pulling him off to a side alley.
Don looked confused, "What's up? Is something wrong? Where's Sachiko and Natsuki?"
"Don..." Gaara began. "There's no easy way to say this..."
Don grabbed Gaara by the shirt lifting him up some, "What happened to them?" he said angrily.
"It happened just last night. Someone sneaked into the village undetected, they kidnapped Sachiko. There were signs of a major struggle, and while Natsuki made it out alive, but with severe bruises..." Gaara said.
"What happened to Sachiko?" Don roared with his temper beginning to shorten and his breathing becoming more animal like.
"We don't know. All we know is that she was kidnapped and managed to prevent Natsuki from being taken. I have everyone looking for her. Rain and Gazu are watching over your daughter while she recovers. Though, Don, you do have to consider the possibility that Sachiko is dead..." Gaara said.
Don stepped back with his face pale. "I can't believe those bastards actually did it. After I told them they'd all be killed." he then chuckled with an insane look. "Those old bastards are going to pay. Each and every one of them. I will drag them all down to hell with me!"
Gaara looked at Don shocked. "Who are they?" he asked.
"The village elders, they threatened to kill Sachiko and Natsuki if I didn't become Hokage. Well guess what, they want to play chess with me, I'll play chess! They've taken my Queen, but now they are about to feel the full wrath of the King!" Don said furiously.
"What do you plan on doing then?" Gaara asked.
"I'm going to be Hokage." Don replied.