Visiting Hours
Chapter Five: "Hokage"
"What a day," sighed Fifth Hokage Tsunade as she slumped at her desk. She'd just dealt with two major surgeries, three other genin with serious but non-critical injuries, a veterinary emergency, and getting a new apprentice. A bottle of sake still sat on the desk—necessary for her, Jiraiya, and Kakashi when Hatake had to give a verbal report on what he'd found at the Valley of the End. He had left some time ago, and she didn't blame him. She would have too if she didn't have this responsibility.
"Hmph," she snorted. "When did I start taking this whole Hokage business seriously?" She looked out the window and saw the Hokage monument. "Another fine mess you've gotten us into, Sensei. Some genius you were. You never saw Orochimaru turning until he did. And now look at where your mistake's gotten us." She took a drink, as usual, not caring how drunk she got. She figured she deserved it after today.
"And you, Fourth," she added after emptying her cup in a single shot. "They say you had some precognition. If that's true, then why couldn't you have warned us about all of this? That Uchiha Itachi would slaughter his clan and utterly screw up his little brother to the point he's willing to murder someone who thinks of him as a friend, rival, and brother? But no, you were too damn idealistic to think of that.
"And Uncle, Grandfather, neither of you was any better. Together, you brought the Leaf into peace and prosperity, but you both failed at leaving behind a good instruction manual for your successors. The rest of us were just trapped in your shadows." And those shadows kept getting longer the more Hokages there were before. Tsunade was the Fifth, so she had four very long shadows to contend with. And as expected of shadows, everyone expected her to be just as great as those before her. Never mind the fact that they'd all died violent deaths in vain; Tsunade, a medic at heart, knew that the best thing she could do was to keep alive and heal the village. And they'd all just have to learn to accept that.
"That won't be easy, beloved granddaughter," whispered a voice behind her. Tsunade smirked and turned around to see the just-visible forms of the previous four Hokages standing around the desk.
"Well, it just figures. The one time I'm drunk enough to hallucinate, I see you four," she commented. "Is there anything I can do for you gentlemen?" The Fourth smiled—it looked eerily like a calmer version of Naruto's infectious grin. Tsunade rested her chin on her hands and watched them carefully.
"Sensei's friend," the Fourth addressed, "I wish I'd gotten to know you better. But from what I do know, I think you'll be exactly what the Leaf needs."
"Oh?" she asked.
"The village is in danger, my niece," the Second informed. "You've seen her external enemies, but there will be internal strife to come, especially now that it turns out that our golden prodigy has betrayed us and our hated demon has done all he can to try and save him." Tsunade frowned at the comment about Naruto—the Fourth and the Third also looked incredibly serious at that remark. But the Second showed no ill will toward him; he merely was voicing the village's thoughts.
"What do you plan to do?" the First asked.
"Whatever I can," Tsunade promised. "I'm reorganizing the shinobi, even if I have to disband some teams in the process. We're short on manpower, so I've assigned Kakashi to more of our higher level missions. Naruto will spend the next few years training under Jiraiya while I train Sakura."
The Fourth grinned. "They really believe they'll be able to save their friend. I hope they're right."
"And you can't see it?" Tsunade questioned.
"Naruto has sworn to defy fate," the Fourth answered, still grinning. "And he's unpredictable by nature—the most unpredictable ninja the Leaf has ever had. How can I see anything in his future, other than what he promises will happen?" Tsunade couldn't help but grin herself.
"Tsunade," the Third addressed, and the Fifth turned her attention to the man who had been one of their most beloved leaders. "You are not my student anymore, but I still feel as though I never taught you enough. And now all I can offer you are words I hope you remember. Things will be difficult for the next few years. The Hidden Leaf has many enemies, especially Akatsuki and Orochimaru—threats I should have anticipated. We are short on manpower, and we have many other problems within us as well—clans that are questioning their traditions, ninjas who are changing their viewpoints, children who are just now growing up. But never forget that we are strong."
"We have a will of fire," she remembered.
"And nothing can ever extinguish it," he added just before all four of them faded like the last embers of a dying fire.
Shizune opened the door to see Tsunade sitting and staring out the window. It was such an unusually quiet moment for her that Shizune wasn't sure whether or not she should disturb her. But when Tsunade said, "Come in," she hesitantly walked in.
"It looks like everyone's recovering well," she reported. "Inuzuka Hana says that Akamaru is out of danger, and both he and Kiba are sleeping peacefully. Hyuuga Neji regained consciousness long enough to have a brief talk with his family before he went back to sleep. And earlier, I chased Konohamaru out of Naruto's room so he could rest. Here's his updated medical information." Tsunade nodded as Shizune dropped the folder on her desk. From this angle, she could see what Tsunade was staring so intently at: the Hokage mountain. Soon enough, once the village itself had recovered enough, Tsunade's face would join its predecessors.
"Amazing men, weren't they?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, they were," Shizune agreed. "But I think they'd be proud of how you've done so far."
Tsunade nodded. "It's ironic how the fire can cast such a shadow, though. It gives light, warmth, and strength, but there's still an impression of its form when you look at the shadow cast by the candle. And the Hokage is the strongest fire of them all."
"But the fire also heals," Shizune reminded her. "Before we knew such advanced medical jutsu, we used heat and flame to burn away infection. And that's what the village needs right now."
Tsunade reached for her sake bottle. "A toast to the Hokages then?"
Shizune didn't argue this time, accepting a clean glass. "To the great fire of the Leaf."
They drank in silence, staring out over the village as the sun sank in the horizon.
The Fourth Hokage's comments about precognition come from my fic "Foreshadow," but that and "Visiting Hours" aren't necessarily in the same continuity.