Notes: A Idea I had come to me the other night about what if Naruto became the Sixth Hokage. I was initially hesitant to write this since I didn't know what I could add that would change a ton on the grand scheme of things, so I eventually decided to make it a AU to tell a more original story.

Changes to The Canon.

-No Tobi

-No Madara

-No Kaguya

-Pain was the leader of the Akatuski and that was it.

-Characters who are dead/alive will not be changed.

-Sasuke and his crew are still on the run.

-I plan to Introduce new challenges for Naruto and crew to overcome.

Sorry if this makes anybody mad, but I thought it was the best route for me to tell a story I would enjoy writing.

Thanks for reading.

Note* This is the Prologue; Most Regular Chapters will clock in at 7k-10k+


The Small room was completely closed off, its ironclad walls keeping all contact with the outside world completely at bay. The Sunlight outside had no way into the room, creating a feeling of dread among the small number of people huddled together inside of the room.

Torches were lit on all sides of the table, as two Konoha Shinobi stood by the lone Door to the room holding torches as well. The rest of the room was shrouded in darkness.

At the head of the small table was the Fire Daimyo, Yoshiyuki Shiijimi, who sat in the best Chair out of everybody gathered. His hand was raised as he fanned his face, a scowl on his face as he gave a small sigh and shook his head.

To his right was his own personal delegation of advisors, while to his left were representatives from Konoha.

The reason for this meeting?

Konoha was in shambles.

Destroyed beyond repair, with multiple injured. Some would make a full recovery, others would be lucky to live a normal civilian life at best. The entire village was destroyed by the leader of the Akatsuki, Pain.

Such an attack had no historical precedent, and while that alone would cause an emergency meeting, it wouldn't necessarily need the Daimyo himself present. His advisors could simply draft proposals to immediately send funds and workers to Konoha, and all the Daimyo would have to do would be to sign off on them.

No, the reason the Daimyo was here today…

His fan snapped closed as he opened his eyes, looking over towards Shikaku Nara as he questioned. "Tsunade…How is her condition?"

Shikaku let a sigh escape his mouth as he gave a slight shake of the head. "Lady Hokage still hasn't awoken from her sleep, even with all the medical help that we can muster. At this rate…"

The Daimyo stared at Shikaku as he trailed off, before giving a slow nod as he responded. "I hate to entertain the notion but…What are the chances that she ever wakes up?"

Silence followed once again for a few moments before Shikaku gave an answer. "It could go either way at this point."

"Meaning that after the worst attack the village has ever seen…Their leader may be dead…Or she may be alive…But there's no telling when a concrete answer is known."

"That is correct, Daimyo-sama…"

The Daimyo nodded again, opening his fan back up as he began to wave it near his face as he looked over to his chief advisor. "Should we appoint an interim in the meantime?"

The Chief advisor nodded as he opened up one of his scrolls. "That would be the best course of action, we can have one of the Jonin assume command of the village, and if Lady Hokage doesn't awake within a couple weeks, we can-"

The Chief advisor was suddenly interrupted by a simple knock against the table, causing everybody to look to the man sitting beside Shikaku as the Daimyo raised an eyebrow. "Something to say, Danzo?"

Danzo Shimura, head of the ANBU Root, and a powerful political figure in Konoha. He was the former team mate of the Third Hokage, a position he himself was considered for albeit very briefly. Over the many years he had worked tirelessly to obtain as much political capital as one could.

"I apologize for the interruption, but I believe this talk is wasteful." A few eyebrows were raised, although Shikaku gave more of a glare. "The fact of the matter is, appointing an interim leader would do more harm than good. The people would be forced to listen to somebody who only holds the job because the current Hokage is unable to fulfill her duty, and this isn't a time for uncertainty."

"What are you proposing then Danzo?" The Daimyo continued to wave his fan as a small smirk appeared on Danzo's face, something Shikaku did not miss.

"I propose that we name the Sixth Hokage of Konoha." His voice was stern but calm, yet a chill rang out over everybody present. To suggest something as drastic as appointing a successor to the current Hokage while their condition was still unknown would be…

"I object!" Shikaku raised his voice, glaring at Danzo before addressing the Daimyo. "Lady Hokage could very well still be alive and able to perform her duty! We must-"

"Even if that were the case, she's proven that is incapable of the Position." Danzo countered rather quickly as he kept his calm posture. "Not only was the entire village destroyed under her, but she couldn't even defeat the threat! Instead she had to rely on that Blond Devil to do it for her!"

"Still! She used her power to heal everybody and stop the casualty rate from being even more outrageous! We wouldn't even have a population left if it wasn't for her!" The two men traded barbs as they glared at one another, as the Daimyo kept quiet.

As the seconds ticked by in silence, the Daimyo spoke back up. "Danzo does have a point…The village is undergoing the most vulnerable time of it;s life, and it needs a leader. Furthermore, while it's true that she prevented more casualties, not being able to ultimately defeat the threat could lead to unrest amongst the villagers."

"But…" Shikaku trailed off as the Daimyo folded his fan, slapping it against his hands as he ordered.

"Any Objections will be ignored…We will now Commence the naming of the Sixth Hokage!" As soon as the words left the Daimyos mouth, tension skyrocketed amongst everybody. The possibility was always present that it would turn this way, but… "I always wanted Jiraiya to be Hokage, but sadly he is no longer with us. Do the Jonin have anyone they wish to consider?"

Shikaku saw Danzo's smirk grow even wider, causing him to quickly rise and shout. "I nominate Kakashi Hatake for Sixth Hokage!"

Danzo bit his lip but stayed calm as the Daimyo nodded. "Kakashi Hatake? He was one of the students of Minantoi wasn't he?"

Shikaku nodded. "Yes, he was directly trained by the Fourth Hokage himself. From one Hokage to another would be rather poetic."

"Hm I see…Any Objections?"

"I Object." Danzo wasted no time as he raised himself up, grabbing his cane as he held himself steady. "Kakashi Hatake comes from the same line that caused this massacre."

"How do you mean Danzo?"

"The Third Hokage was Trained by the Second…The Fifth Hokage was Trained by the Third…The Fourth Hokage was trained by Jiraiya, who was trained by the Third as well. Kakashi Hatake would be another one from this line, a line that has failed us."

"Failed us? Explain."

"The Fourth Hokage had the Kyuubi Attack, resulting in hundreds of deaths. The Third Hokage had Orichumarus attack with Suna, and now the Fifth Hokage has had the entire village wiped out! All three of them are connected, and each has had a tragedy occur under them, making the village less safe. Kakashi Hatake comes from this same line, so I feel that naming him Hokage would only invite a future disaster."

"Hm…You raise valid points. In that case, who do you wish to nominate instead?"

"This village needs new leadership, leadership with a proven track record and history." Danzo smirked as he raised his hand out. "I nominate myself for the position of Sixth Hokage."

The Tension only grew heavier as everybody looked at Danzo, sweat forming on a few faces as the Daimyo nodded. "I always have liked you Danzo…Very well."

The Daimyo stood up and went to point his fan.

"If there are no objections, I name Danzo as-"

"I object!" It was Shikaku's turn once again to speak as he pushed himself up, sweat rolling down his head as he gripped the table.

"Shikaku…If your Objection lacks merit, then I will end this Commencement with Danzo as the new Hokage."

Shikaku could feel more sweat forming on his head, his mind empty. He had simply objected just to object, he hadn't thought of a rational argument. Everything he would say he knew Danzo could sweet talk the Daimyo his way, the man had been preparing for this for who knows how long. Gripping the table tightly, he said the only thing he knew to say. "I…Object with a new nomination."

"Hm?"

"I…." Shikaku shook his head, thinking of somebody to nominate. Might Guy? Too eccentric. Kurenai? Not exactly the highest ranked Jonin. Himself? Blugh, he hated the thought.

But he had to think of somebody-

Instead she had to rely on that Blond Devil to do it for her!

T-That was it! The only way to defeat Danzo…

Would be to use his own words against him!

Straightening himself out, he gave a small gulp as he offered his nomination.

"I Nominate Naruto Uzumaki as the Sixth Hokage of Konoha!"

….

Silence.

The entire room was filled with silence as the other Konoha Reps, and the advisors to the Daimyo stared at Shikaku. Some of them confused, others dumbfounded. The only ones with differing expressions was Danzo who had humor plastered on his face, and the Daimyo who held a neutral look.

Finally, the Daimyo spoke. "Naruto Uzumaki?"

"He doesn't even warrant it, but I will still make it known I object." Danzo spat out as he turned to the Daimyo. "The Jinchuriki is a weapon for us to use, not somebody we trust with the leadership of the village. He would not only put us into immense danger, but he still comes from that line of failure I mentioned earlier."

"I wonder…You mentioned three things Danzo. The Kyuubi Attack, Orochimaru's Attack, and Pain's Attack on the village. What do all of those have in common besides who the Hokage was?"

"...What do you mean?"

"All three attacks resulted in new leadership. Minanto-sama was killed by the Kyuubi…Hiruzen-Sama was killed by Orochimaru…And Lady Tsunade has been rendered helpless if not killed herself by Pain. However, there is one stark difference between Pain's attack and the other two attacks."

"..."

"The Kyuubi was sealed inside of Naruto…Oricihimaru escaped. However, Pain wasn't sealed nor escaped…He was killed, never to be a threat again unlike the other two. Do you know who killed Pain?"

"...You…"

"He was killed by Naruto Uzumaki! Something you admitted when you said Lady Tsunade had to rely on the "Blond Devil" to save the village! If anything, Naruto has proven that in times of crisis, whenever they happen, he can deal with the threat and be rid of it for good! Something you have never shown to do!"

"You insult me?"

"Just speaking the truth…Why didn't you fight off the Kyuubi? Why didn't you fight off Orochimaru? Why didn't you fight off Pain!? If you're Hokage material, then you need to answer these questions!"

"Thats-"

"Silence!" The argument was interrupted by the Daimyo as he clapped his Hands together, the small room echoing the clap around its walls. "I have heard enough, and I have made my choice."

Danzo and Shikaku looked at the Daimyo, who closed his eyes. "Both of you have made valid points, however…Shikaku."

"Y-Yes Lord?"

The Daimyo opened his eyes and looked at him, before smiling as he raised his fan and pointed it at him. "I accept your Nomination."

"Wha…So that means…" Shikaku swallowed hard as Danzos eye went wide, as he quickly turned to the Daimyo.

"Daimyo-sama! You can't-"

"Quiet Danzo. I have made my decision." The Daimyo raised his fan and pointed it right at Shikaku, who tensed up as the Daimyo smiled. "I name Naruto Uzumaki as the Sixth Hokage of Konoha."

Silence followed after the Daimyos words, Danzo was especially shell shocked as he held out his hands. "D-Daimyo-sama, you can't-"

"Peace Danzo, I have made up my mind." The Daimyo shook his head. "A true leader would be respectful of that."

"Urk…" Danzo gritted his teeth as he stepped back, anger in his eye as the Daimyo turned his attention back to Shikaku.

"Inform the Sixth of this when you arrive back in Konoha…I assume he is still well?"

"Y-Yes…He was in the hospital for exhaustion but it's nothing serious, he can make a full recovery no problem. Kakashi was by Naru-...H-Hokage-samas side when we left to come here."

"Very good, inform him of my decision and quickly have a private ceremony arranged. The public ceremony can be delayed until repairs are complete. I trust you can Advise him well Shikaku?"

"O-Of course!" Shikaku saluted with a fist over his chest before he spoke again. However, Lord…Concerning Lady-...The Fifth, what if she recovers from her condition?"

"Although unprecedented, I'm afraid she has been removed from her post as Hokage. She will receive the benefits that Hiruzen had when he retired from the post."

"U-Understood." Shikaku gave a bow as the Daimyo nodded once again and turned towards the door.

"With that matter settled, I leave the construction and Repairs to my advisors. Send my regards to Naruto when you return." Everybody bowed towards the Daimyo as he turned to leave, the outcome decided upon.

However one man was still seething, his face bright red as blood dripped from his lips as he bit down hard on them.

His hand making his cane crack, as he thought to himself.

"Naruto Uzumaki…You will Pay For this!"