Please read the warnings located in the prologue. If you have not, I suggest you do. Strongly.

Disclaimer: Naruto and all it comes with does not belong to me. It's all Kishimoto. This is a work of fiction, don't confuse.

Part I

Chapter I-a

The day was sunny and bright, a clear late spring morning, cloudless and azure. The sun lit up the limestone courtyard before the mountain of the Hokage monument, warming those waiting there. One in particular was fidgety, leaning his head on the like limestone railing, watching the horizon.

The day was beautiful, but lining the horizon was charcoal gray clouds.

A hand dropped on his shoulder, as did a voice in his ear.

"It will be all right."

Suddenly aware of his outward signs of nervousness, he tried to play it cool. "That's right," he said, throwing a wide, toothy smile over his shoulder.

"Naruto-"

Right then, a small finch landed on the rail between them, chirping and hopping a bit. After it picked a few ants off the rail, it leapt off and fluttered away, twittering. "I think," Naruto said, "It is best we go now."

Exiting the courtyard, they entered the building below. Few were in the halls as they passed through. Unlike the lower levels of the building, this floor was devoid of the buzz of many voices.

Together, they entered a small hall, a place where the elite spoke with the Hokage and its council, a place where they all had been witness to the beginning of many things. Naruto smirked to himself, remembering the proud day he became a jounin.

Walking to the front, he sat cross-legged on the closest cushion, and placed his hands on his knees. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Sasuke sat beside him. Despite the fact that the Hokage was just on her way, they were the first ones to arrive.

The room was filling, and within the next few minutes, every cushion was occupied. It was only then that the Hokage entered the small hall.

Before them behind a crescent desk, Hokage sat herself, followed by the two of the executive committee. The Hokage still looked many years younger than she truly was, and Naruto wondered for a moment what she really looked like—as if it mattered, she was hot.

The Hokage lifted her hand in greeting, and had the attention of all. Clearing her throat, she said, "Thank you for coming today, respected shinobi. Right now, I have a short but very important announcement to make…"

One of the council interrupted, "If I may, Hokage-sama," Tsunade nodded her head. "You have been called here today because your Hokage has seen it fit to renounce her title." A ripple of murmurs went through the gathered people. "So the executive committee called council, and has thus agreed with her request."

Fingering his token necklace around his neck, he looked about the room. Naruto was not surprised as those around him. Tsunade herself had told him days previous. Though told he was in her favor, he also remembered the other things she said. That people could interfere if they were so inclined. Naruto was positive he had what it took to be Hokage. He was all confidence there. But what of those who may despise him?

+

"I figured I'd find you here, if not at Ichiraku." Here being on top of the Yondaime's head.

Lying on his back, looking at the stars, Naruto acknowledged his visitor.

"Tsunade."

Tsunade walked to where Naruto lay, and, folding her legs, sat near his head. Splaying her fingers on the top of his head, she began playing with his hair, twirling the strands about her fingers. "Naruto, I need to speak with you."

Smiling toothily at Tsunade, Naruto replied, "You are, granny."

Tsunade tugged at his hair, none too gently. "I mean seriously! I…" She quieted, and paused. "I suppose I could have called on you, or met you somewhere, but this is just right. I have something very important to say. Something just for you, for the time being." Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she said it. "I am relinquishing the Hokage title." Tsunade opened her eyes quickly to see his reaction.

Naruto had kept his eyes on the stars, face unreadable. "That's…great." He finally gave out. Naruto didn't know how to respond to the words. What was she trying to say?

"You dummy!" Tsunade punched him—hard—on the head.

"Ow!" Naruto sat up and brought his arms up over his head. "What was that for, you freak of—"

"Naruto! What do you think all that training was for?!" She grabbed the collar of Naruto's shirt and pulled him to her face. "All this time—Kakashi couldn't only train you because he was busy—was that what you thought?! Since the war began, and has been over, I've been training you to be my successor!" Letting go of his shirt and letting him drop to the ground, she sighed. "Jeez, you're always 'Hokage this, Hokage that' and you don't even know exactly how one becomes Hokage."

Massaging his head, Naruto said, "Well, I just figured I would just be the strongest, and I dunno, I would go from there…and, and! Jiraya trained me half the time, too, so…"

"With three of the village's greatest shinobi training you, you really should have figured it out." Uncrossing her arms, Tsunade leaned back on them. "I never really planned to be Hokage that long, only until I thought you were ready. I never thought I would be cut out for being a leader, especially in the beginning. I found I had a knack for it, but…" She sighed. "I'm tired, Naruto."

Then, it finally sunk in.

"Old lady! Old lady! I love you SO much!" Naruto had lurched forward and given Tsunade a staggering hug.

Smiling, Tsunade said, "You'd be taken of most missions, and you'd be a political figure. It's a serious job, and its hard work."

"You think I don't know that? It's a top job for any shinobi! Hokage title, hit me with all you got!" Naruto's words were muffled against Tsunade's shoulder. He was still squeezing tightly.

But suddenly, Tsunade stopped smiling. "One more thing, Naruto…" Brushing her fingers through his hair, she spoke softly, "The council, when I informed them, they objected. They said there were other worthy shinobi out there that I should consider. There will be a gathering…but only those shinobi."

Naruto had still, and though Tsunade wished for him to say something, Naruto remained quiet.

Placing her hand on Naruto's shoulder, she pushed him back, looking at his once again unreadable face. Pushing his hair aside, she kissed him on the forehead. "Just remember, Naruto, in the end, it is me who picks my own successor."

+

Spotting Iruka as he was looking nervously about the room, Naruto gave him a big grin. He wondered to himself, if someone beside himself was interested in the Hokage title, what would happen? Would there be a fight? How would this person prove to be better than Naruto?

+

"Thank you for coming…Homura, Koharu. This is a matter which you should be informed of immediately," Tsunade greeted her council members.

The two fossils nodded their heads, sitting in the high-backed chairs placed in front of the Hokage's desk.

"I realize this may come as a shock, but I have chosen to retire my Hokage title."

If the news fazed the old pair before her, their only show of it was glancing at one another.

Homura spoke first. "We didn't realize you had a fully trained successor, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade nodded. "Indeed, I haven't been training him in front of everyone, but I have seen that his training is fulfilled. There is no other reason for me to relinquish the title. That his training was done was my only reason to do so."

The two glanced at one another once more, and this time, it was Koharu that spoke. "Miss Tsunade, we realize you have been training this one for a while now, but it still may be to early. He is young, and there are a few other shinobi in the village that are, perhaps, more qualified."

Tsunade snorted. "Nonsense. Naruto has the spirit, the guts, and charisma to be a leader. Most of all he has the strength, probably more than anyone in this village. I believe that makes him the most qualified to be future Rodaime."

"It is that, Tsunade-sama, that makes us wish you would reconsider."

Realization dawned on Tsunade, and she narrowed her eyes at the council members. "I see…so it's just that, all along." Tsunade gave a quiet laugh. "You fear him. You poor fools, you fear him!" She let out a harsh laugh. "You fear what direction a corrupted, unstable child would put the village in. Clearly you are looking out for the people!" Glaring at them. "You fear the very seal on his belly, you truly doubt the Fourth! You doubt even the Fifth, for her decision." Tsunade leaned forward on her desk. "You fear what he is, and you have never saw him as the boy her really was; the man he really is!"

What person wishes for a Hokage that they could trust, without even trusting their current one! As well as the one before! To be a carrier of a demon, to bear the burden, surely they knew the Fourth meant for the boy to be a hero! But surely, they don't know the gift the Fourth bore to Naruto.

Tsunade stared down hard into their expressionless faces. "I pity you." Setting her hands on her desk, she said, "Do as you wish. Bring me these 'qualified shinobi.' Show me those you wish to pit against the Hokage's choice."

+

Naruto wasn't so dense that he couldn't figure it out. The council had objected not because of they thought he was an unable shinobi, but for the fact that he carried inside of him the power of a demon. A power he acknowledged and a power he craved. It was a part of him, and what made him Naruto. That those old farts did not acknowledge him compromised his dream, the one he strove for all his life, and was so close to accomplishing.

He felt a bit hot, and his palms were sweaty. Naruto glanced at Sasuke, sitting at his side. Surely one of those other shinobi would be Sasuke. What if Sasuke had accepted? Once again, he would have to pit himself against his friend, his teammate. He could have accepted only to test Naruto…but was it not Sasuke who told him not to worry?

But how could he not? He was not yet Hokage and people already doubted him.

Naruto felt someone placed their hand on his, and he looked to the owner. Sasuke was looking at him calmly, and gave him a small grin. "Why are you so nervous?"

Naruto clenched his fists and whispered, "They fear what I am." Naruto did not elaborate.

Sasuke was going to continue, but the din had died down, and Hokage spoke, herself.

"Today I announce the successor to the Hokage title. This is the one shinobi I have seen fit, qualified, and able to take my place. A person to lead on a new generation—a generation of tolerance and acceptance…"

+

Sakura sat to the side in the small office, witness to the meeting before her. Hokage had asked her to come—something about documents—but she realized she was witness to a private meeting only when the five shinobi before her arrived, and no one else.

Those five stood before the Hokage and her council members, all three sitting at a desk, hands folded.

Sakura's eyes flew to the Hokage as she cleared her throat. "You have been called here for a sort of—interview." Sakura's brows furrowed. She figured it would be about a mission. "You may have or may not have heard that I am looking for a successor."

Sakura's eyes widened. If this was so…why wasn't Naruto here? He was qualified as any of the shinobi here.

The jounin before her stood stonily still, quiet.

The female council member continued. "As executive council, we have agreed with her request, and asked you here to…see if you are interested. Take in to account that this is the highest of honors, to be acknowledged as the strongest in the village…"

"I decline." Sakura's wide eyes moved to Kakashi, who had stepped forward. He ducked his head and stepped back, turned around and sauntered to the exit. Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled, and gave Sakura a wink.

Sakura blushed and quickly moved her eyes to the clipboard in her hands, and made to look as if she were writing something. Only to look up again as Gai, not to be outdone by his rival, stepped forward and said, quite seriously, "I gracefully decline." And, like Kakashi, he exited the room.

"Well, it wasn't quite supposed to go like that, but...Anko—Anko do you accept?" But Anko was no longer there. Koharu sighed—Tsunade smiled.

Homura spoke, "As for those still here, Sarutobi Asuma, Uchiha Sasuke, do you accept?"

Asuma shifted his weight to his other leg and sighed. Picking his cigarette from his lips, he exhaled blue smoke as he said, "I, Sarutobi Asuma, refuse your proposal that I take the Hokage title."

Sakura looked to Sasuke, as did those behind the desk, and she wished she knew how he would answer. She knew he had no intention of crushing Naruto's dream—however, accepting this could further his own: the revival of his clan.

The room was filled with tension, and there was no denying that his answer was anticipated. Sasuke was still, quiet, with an unreadable expression on his face. Everyone watched as he parted his lips and spoke the words, "I, Uchiha Sasuke…"

+ to be continued in part ii+

Yes, it is a "to be continued". Sorry, fellows. Basically, I'm testing this out. Hey, if you didn't read the warnings, please do.

And as always, please review. I'm tellin' ya, it totally inspires me.