Fan Fiction Name: Requiem for the Rokudaime

Chapter Name: Eyes of a Hokage: Tsunade

Info: As all in Konoha gather to pay respects to the Rokudaime Hokage as he takes his place on the Memorial Stone, some people take some time to remember his exploits and his quirks. The Rokudaime is not who you think! Rated T for general cursing.

Disclaimers: Well, I do not own any of Naruto, nor do I own the many characters of these fan fictions, save my own creations. It's sad, but all too true. How I wish I owned them….waaaaaahhhhh!!!!!

Requiem for the Rokudaime

Chapter 7

I must say that I am a genius.

When you managed to wrest Uchiha Sasuke from the grasp of Orochimaru and made him loyal to Konoha again, you caught my attention. When you had managed to end that traitor Danzos coup, I knew I had my main candidate for the next Hokage. I know that the Council, even when exposed to Danzos treachery, did not think very highly of me. So, when I announced that Hatake Kakashi was to be the next Hokage and would undergo training with myself and Jiraiya, I know it was popular. I mean, you were the student of the Yondaime Hokage and you were a powerful ninja in his own right. You were one of only two ninja left with the power of the Sharingan, and you were someone who was a prodigy in his own right.

But my attention is not on the memorial Stone, or the big casket in front of me. It's on the people here. I'm trying to see what the people here are thinking, and why they are here. I know what I am thinking. I'm grateful that you were willing to take up the mantle of Hokage (in your own, strange kind of way). I was having a lot of problems with Danzo, and even when you had stopped his coup there was some problem.

Another big thing was you and Shizune. The two of you tried to hide it, but when you had come up the Hokage Tower with Iruka when the two of you came across Shizune-chan. Even with all the fighting, I know she thought you were amazing. I saw the little crush begin. Now, with you being the normally apathetic bastard you are, I had no clue what you thought of her. But then, I heard from Anko that you had some mystery woman and Ankos mission was to find out who that was. Well, as soon as I heard that, I knew who it was. The smiles from Shizune were a sign. The subtle movements from you to be closer to her were another. Then, when your training was up and you were to take the mantle of Hokage, the two of you began showing more affection towards each other then ever. Exactly one month and five days ago, when you had taken the mantle of Hokage and I stepped down as the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure, is when I knew how much the two of you came to care for one another. I had heard that the two of you had spent the night together. I now what had happened, obviously.

Ever since that night, she and you spent the night together twice, and I know it wasn't for charades or pillow talk. The last one was the day that we had heard that Orochimaru was on the move. It was about four days before the Battle at the Gate. The day of the battle, Shizune was a bit sick, but I had originally the nervousness of having to fight against the most bloodthirsty creature of this generation. But even after your death, she kept getting sick. I thought she was coming down with something. But then…I found out. I know there was something that she wanted to tell you from the result of that last night together.

You, Hatake Kakashi, the "Bachelor Hokage", are going to be a father.

That last night together had gotten Shizune pregnant. I know that is part of the reason why she isn't here. She had gotten sick again earlier today. But I wouldn't be too surprised if she is under the covers now, crying her eyes out for her newfound love. Sometimes, though, fate can be a cruel mistress. It was just as cruel in taking my little Nawaki. It was just as cruel in taking Dan. It was just as cruel in taking the Yondaime Hokage.

Speaking of which, I look towards the blond enigma that had come with Jiraiya to find me. The young man looked to be nearing tears in his thoughts. I know that, should he be talking, his voice would be wavering and uncertain. That is something that I never would have thought I would have seen. The young boy, normally so bright and cheerful, was now a mess. But when he perks up a little, my eyes follow his glance to his immediate right, to the young Hyuuga heir at his side. What a pair those two are. Just like Narutos own parents.

Yes, I know who they are. After all, I have access to all the records of Konoha. Both his parents shared many qualities, with his mother being a bit quieter than his father. However, they also shared many qualities, both having strong, nearly untouchable wills. Both had bright colored hair(although his mothers was bright orange). Both were stubborn as all hell. In fact, they were both students under my own teammate. They acted like they couldn't stand each other. In fact, I distinctly remember Jiraiya saying to me, so many years ago, that two of his students were about three seconds away from ripping each other limb from limb. I really didn't know what had happened after I had left, but as I had seen from the records the two became romantically involved and eventually married.

Almost as a gift for becoming Yondaime, the young woman Uzumaki Kushina had become pregnant and was due about one month after his appointment over Orochimaru. However, once the Kyuubi was moving within the Fire Nation, just a week before the due date, everything went wrong. Kushino started having issues with the later end of her pregnancy. Kyuubi was heading straight for Konoha. Yondaime-sama was in a major dilemma. The Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had to come up with a plan. The plan he came up with was supposed to be foolproof, but in the end it was disastrous for himself and his family. It required him to disable the Kyuubi long enough to for someone to use a seal to seal away the Kyuubi into a newborn baby. However, it was at the urge of the Council of Elders (headed by that old bastard Danzo) to use his own baby. Yondaime-sama fought long and hard against the idea, but in the end he agreed. But his wife became weaker and weaker, and the Kyuubi showed itself and attacked Konoha. His wife died while in labor, and his baby was born without a living mother to care for him. However, the Kyuubi proved too powerful for the initial plan and the Yondaime used a forbidden technique to seal the Kyuubi. He sacrificed himself to save all of Konoha, but in the process the newborn boy lost all of his immediate family.

When I found this out, I wasn't surprised at all. In fact, I had seen pictures of the Yondaime when he was young. He does have eerily similar features to the young boy in front of me now. But what the Uzumaki blood gave him was more subtle but far more intriguing. For example, before their demise, the Uzumaki clan was known for their knack of wind-based jutsu and their rather large chakra coils. I always thought that came from the Yondaime himself, but it was actually a legacy of the Uzumaki clan, who themselves were from Uzu no Kuni. Another interesting fact: just two generations ago, when they had just settled into Konoha, several Uzumakis married into other clans. Most of the time they were minor clans and most eventually disappeared, like the Uzumaki clan itself, but one major merging has lasted.

The most direct and altogether interesting marriage was to the Yamanaka clan. In fact, the paternal grandmother of one Yamanaka Ino is in fact a full blooded member of the Uzumaki clan. So he does have some relatives alive today. In fact, the Yamanaka girl has a bit of a resemblance to her grandmother. She, minus the bright orange hair, is the image of a normal Uzumaki woman. Narutos mother was no exception.

Now my gaze goes to the Uchiha kid. Ever since he had come back, he had been going on and on (well, as much as someone as quiet as him could) about how you showed him "true power." Its funny, he has no clue what really happened. He has no proof of how much of a genius you are.

When you initially caught him (with the help of one of the Hedugakure shinobi) you were about to perform the seal when you got an idea. You performed a minor genjutsu on the seals focus itself, and then (with the Uchiha brat yelling and screaming the whole time) applied the seal to Sasuke directly, transmitting the minor genjutsu straight to the seal itself. Because it was so subtle (and the brat didn't have the Sharingan on at the time) Sasuke was none the wiser and reestablished his ties to Konoha. Not only that, but he has some support in his return as well. Naruto and Sakura. I'm surprised just how smitten she is now. It's a good thing, too. Sakura needs just as much love as Shizune did.

Now I see Iruka and Anko. Despite her powerful hormones making her kick his ass left and right, the two obviously love one another deeply. Iruka has proven himself skilled and altogether loyal to all he had pledged his loyalty. To his "son," Naruto. To his wife, Anko. To me, the Hokage of Konoha. I doubt he will ever reach your skill, but he will be a stone for our generation and the next. Unwavering in the face of any power. Unwilling to back down when all he cares for is on the line. Something a ninja should be.

In that sense, he has a lot in common with you.

Now I see the timid little Hyuuga girl become bold. She just stuck her hand in Narutos to give him some support here. I know she looks up to Naruto. I know what she said to Naruto before he left to set the front line with you. She is finally becoming strong enough to step up and break away from everything her life has told her. She had finally taking charge and taken what she wanted.

Good for her.

I guess I'll be taking back the mantle of Godaime Hokage. It kind of sucks to lose such a promising man like yourself, but in the end it what happens. My own sensei gave his life to make sure that Konoha was safe. The Yondaime gave his life so that his own son may live. You gave your life to make sure that Orochimaru no longer threatened your loved ones.

Like I said, I am a genius. I'm a genius to have put you where you were. Only that bastard Orochimaru is responsible for putting you in that hole, away from those you care about.

Rest well, Kakashi.

END

A/N: One left. The secret is almost here…Mwahahahahahahahahahaha! One thing for sure, I certainly hope it is good enough to be up there with the rest of the chapters. May I say that, after my experience with Tales, I never really would have thought I could get that amount of reaction. Guess I have some fans now…so I sure as hell don't plan to disappoint.

Oh, and I know Hedugakure isn't in Japanese…but it's a little hint for the future…

Hehehehe!