Well hey there. I hope you guys enjoy because the next chapters will be getting very intense.
Tsunade had been more than pleased with Naruto's work. She'd seemed impressed actually, and the letters had been sent off after the woman had read through them and given her approval-they were signed by both Naruto and Tsunade.
They'd also gone through Naruto and Itachi's proposals for changes to the Academy program, and Naruto and Tsunade had sat with Iruka for some time to discuss them and figure out what would need to be done to make such changes possible-then Naruto and Tsunade had spent over three hours going through the villages budgets and figuring out where to make adjustments.
It had taken a lot of work but they'd sorted things out, and when the next council meeting came Naruto had attended alongside Tsunade, and she was the one who spoke, explaining the new proposals and arguing for them-she'd noticed several of the shinobi council members shooting her approving looks.
And of course that wasn't even considering the progress Naruto had made, applying the new seals to Neji, Hinata and Hanabi and starting the long process or removing the Caged Bird Seals from the branch house members.
In any case the week of training went well, and five days after the week came to an end Naruto was once more called into Tsunade's office, a small smile on the woman's face as she watched Naruto for a long moment as she made her way into the room, and the blonde gave a light hearted grin.
"Hey Baa-chan. How did your meeting with the Daimyo go? It was a couple of days ago right?"
"It went well brat." Tsunade looked amused, "And of course I had the village elders and the Anbu and Jounin commanders there."
"You did?" Naruto paused, "Why Baa-chan."
"How old was your friend Gaara when he was officially named Kazekage?"
"He'd have been thirteen, maybe fourteen I think. Why?"
"You're fifteen now." Tsunade stood up, laying her hands on the hat that was resting on the desk, "I remember the day I met you. I knew then you were going to be great."
"Baa-chan I don't-"
"Sensei said it'd be between four to six years that I'd have to be Konoha's Hokage. I agreed, you already know that of course but still, I agreed, because I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was handing this hat down to you."
Naruto felt a sudden nervous excitement rising slowly in her stomach.
This couldn't be going where she thought it was going could it?
"I admit that you're young still-and you've made one or two mistakes-but you have the strongest heart I've ever known Naruto-chan. And you do have a decent head for the politics-which surprised me. I expected to have to train you for a few years but you passed every test I gave you-"
"Test?"
"I told you the week was training, and in a sense it was, but it was also a test, to see how you'd handle the tasks I set you-tasks that you will be responsible for. And you handled them perfectly Naruto-chan. Your actions have eased tension within the Hyuga clan. Your plans are even now being put into effect to help the Academy improve it's effectiveness for students without the advantage of shinobi parents. Your letters are on their way to our fellow villages, in an attempt to strengthen our ties to all of them and increase good will, and in Iwa's case push them into forgetting old grudges since they'll been weary of causing trouble if we have alliances with Suna, Kiri and Kumo. Naruto-chan you handled all of this expertly-and when you were struggling instead of overworking yourself you recruited someone you knew you could trust and got their help with the fine details of your planning. I've even spoken to sensei and he's agreed that you're ready Naruto-chan."
"I'm-" Naruto's breath caught in her throat, a stunned look on her face. "I'm ready?"
"Yes." Tsunade lifted the hat off the desk and moved around so that she was stood in front of Naruto, placing it carefully on the blonde's head. "Don't panic. I won't just dump the job on you. I'll be there to help in the background as you transition into becoming the Hokage. But I think it's time don't you."
Naruto swallowed hard, reaching up to brush her fingers over the rim of the hat.
It would be hers. She was going to be the next Hokage.
"W-when-"
"The ceremony will take place in two months time." Tsunade smiled gently, "During the time preparing you will be stepping up and taking on most of the duties with me guiding you."
"Right." Naruto nodded, a wide smile spreading across her face as she did so. "I... this is... I.." she felt happy enough to burst-she was only just holding herself back from squealing, "This is amazing I- would you mind if I tell Kurama, he's sleeping right now so I'll have to wake him up."
"Sure." Tsunade laughed, "You sit down and go into your mindscape."
Naruto did, dropping down into the chair opposite from Tsunade, slipping almost instantly into their mindscape, and she grinned brilliantly at the sight of Kurama curled up sleeping.
"Oi! Kurama, wake up."
"Go away brat." Kurama's voice was an annoyed rumble that made the blonde giggle.
"You've gotten lazy in your old age."
"I'll show you old age-" Kurama's tail shot out, sweeping Naruto's feet out from under her and sending her falling to her ass-though Naruto just burst out laughing as Kurama gave her a little smirk.
"Shove off fuzzball." she giggled, "Is that any way to treat the future Hokage."
"Yeah yeah brat I know-" Kurama paused, he'd clearly picked up something from her tone because his head snapped around to look at her, his eyes narrowing "Wait one second brat. When you say the future Hokage do you mean in the distant future?"
"I mean two months time in the future."
"Wait-" Kurama's mouth dropped open in surprise, "Two months."
"Two months."
Then Naruto was squealing and launching herself at the giant fox, wrapping her arms around as much of his neck as she could-which admittedly wasn't that much, and pressing her face into his thick warm fur.
Kurama shifted slightly, a tail whipping around to press to her back to push her closer, a rumble filling the air, a pleasant pleased noise.
"About damn time brat." but there was a note of pride and fondness in his voice. "You're going to be the best damn Kage there ever was."
"I'm gonna be the Hokage!"
"That you are brat." Kurama chuckled fondly, "Congratulations Rokudaime-sama."
"This is the best day ever!"
"You deserve it-and if you tell anyone I said that I'll murder you brat."
That made Naruto laugh brightly. "I love you so much Kurama, you know that. And don't worry I won't tell you." she let out a breath, "I can't wait to tell everyone at home."
"Then see if Tsunade will let you go home to tell them."
"The only one who'll be at home is Itachi-san."
"Then tell him first and track everyone down."
"Kakashi-sensei should be training with Karin-chan, Sasuke-kun and Sai-san." Naruto said thoughtfully.
"And your cousin can track down the others."
"Perfect." Naruto smiled brilliantly, "You're a genius fuzzball. And I really should tell Itach-san first he's been helping me so much lately."
"Go then." Kurama rolled his eyes, "And I will get back to napping thank you very much."
"Nap then." Naruto smiled and gently pushed herself out of her mindscape, opening her eyes and grinning to herself.
"Have a nice chat with the fox?" Tsunade asked lightly.
"Yeah, yeah I did." Naruto smiled brilliantly, "Is it okay if I take a break and go and tell everyone?"
"Brat I don't want you back here until tomorrow am I clear. You have the day off. Now shoo."
Naruto laughed, leaping to her feet as she pulled the hat off her head and carefully laid it onto the desk "You keep the hat warm for me okay Baa-chan."
"Two months and it'll be yours." Tsunade grinned, "At least you'll have to attend your own Inauguration." that made the blonde laugh.
"I had a good excuse for rushing off!"
"Yeah yeah brat."
Naruto grinned, "I'll see you tomorrow Baa-chan. Does Ero Sennin-"
"He has no idea." Tsunade laughed, "I figured you'd want to tell him yourself."
"I do! Thank you Baa-chan!" with that Naruto was Hirashining home into her bedroom, where she took just a moment in private to squeal again before she burst out of her room and rushed down the stairs-Itachi was sat in the kitchen-he tended to spend a fair bit of time there, either reading or cooking when he had nothing else to do, this time he was cooking-that was good it meant that even if she distracted him she wasn't liable to cause him to burn food or start a fire, which had happened on one memorable occasion.
"Itachi-san." Naruto called out happily. "Itachi-san!"
"Naruto-san?" Itachi focused on her, brows furrowing as he raised an eyebrow, "What's going on, is everything okay?"
"Thank you!" Naruto launched herself at him, hugging him tightly, ignoring the startled look on his face. "Thank you so much!"
"What are you thanking me for?"
"For helping me with everything over the last week or so-"
"There's no need to thank me for that. Truthfully I was glad for something to do."
"Well you'll have a lot to do as my formal advisor in two months time."
"I'm s-" Itachi paused "Wait?" he gently pushed Naruto away from him slightly, leaning back with his eyes narrowed as he stared at her. "Wait a
second did you just say-"
"Two month time, think you're ready for a new job?"
"Are you saying that the meeting today-"
"She's met with everyone she needs to and Baa-chan says I'll be the official Hokage in two months time."
Congratulations." Itachi's smile was wide and genuine, "You've worked hard enough lately to prove yourself capable."
"You really did help me" Naruto laughed, "You're gonna be the best advisor ever."
"I'll do my best." Itachi smiled, "I presume you want to let everyone know."
"Of course." Naruto nodded eagerly, "You coming with?"
"Of course." Itachi paused, "How about we pick up some dango on the way. My treat, a congratulations present for your good news."
"Now I like the sound of that." Naruto grinned, "I'll just grab the keys to lock up."
"I'll get a jacket, it is getting colder out these days."
Together they made their way out into the hall, Itachi grabbing a jacket-it had been a present from Sasuke, plain blue with the Uchiha symbol printed on the back, and Naruto grabbed the keys from the hook, both of them heading outside, Naruto locking the door quickly before they took off, heading towards the dango stall.
Thankfully it wasn't a long walk so they were there within fifteen minutes, and they headed straight to the counter-it was fairly quiet, Anko seemed to be the only other customer and she raised an eyebrow at them as Itachi made their order.
"Naruto-san right?" Anko grinned, "I wondered if I'd run into you, you're the one who fucked with Orochimaru."
"That would be me." Naruto gave a proud grin, "You're the crazy proctor lady-"
"Hah." Anko laughed at that "Glad to know I made an impression-you sure as hell did. I'm surprised to see you here don't you usually go for ramen?"
"I do, but Itachi-san offered to treat me to some dango."
"Oh." Anko smirked, looking amused as she glanced between them, "He has good taste."
"It's not bad." Naruto smiled as Itachi turned to her holding out her dango, which she accepted with a grin as she popped it into her mouth, letting out a pleased noise as she ate it. "Almost as good as ramen."
"Nothing will ever be as good as ramen in your eyes." Itachi chuckled, a smile flitting across his lips that made Anko raise an eyebrow, though she didn't comment.
"Well, it was nice talking to you Anko-san. Itachi-san and I are gonna go and find Sasuke-kun and his team."
"You do that." Anko gave a little wave as Naruto grabbed Itachi's arm with her free hand and started towing him towards the training grounds that were, in Naruto's mind, team Seven's training grounds. They always had been and always would be.
The blonde gave the Uchiha a sidelong glance as they walked and ate their dango.
He looked very different than he had when they first met, his skin was still pale but it was no longer sickly, there was more color in his cheeks and his shoulders seemed less tense.
And she no longer felt the clouds of self hate that had engulfed him before, sure sometimes he'd have bad days but he was so much better than he had been when they'd first met.
A shadow had been lifted and each day seemed to make it easier for the older shinobi to smile, it was nice to see that he was getting the chance to have a good life, nice to see him so happy-and of course Sasuke was much happier too, with his older brother home and safe.
