REBIRTH OF THE LEAF – RETURN TO THE VILLAGE
The Hidden Leaf Village
To the left is rubble. To the right is debris. This place has become unrecognisable to its once inhabitants.
The majority of villagers partied and celebrated into the early hours of the morning. That didn't hold back their excitement about returning home, they were woken early in the morning by the excited cries of the children who have been waiting far too long to return home. After that, they had little intention to wait around, lead by the 9th Hokage they started to walk South towards their home.
Sarada has eyes that grant her outstanding visual prowess, the ability to read things that nobody else can, the capability to see something very small from miles away. Such wonderful eyesight is not required to take in the sight before her and the other villagers. Their village is a shell of its former self, it has been razed to the ground by a single explosion. Not a single building is left standing, not a single facility that can be used, not a single house that is liveable.
Despite these conditions, the villagers smile widely.
This is home.
"I hadn't returned since that day" Sarada sighs, taking in the sight of the village she swore to protect. The structures may have been destroyed but structures do not make a village. The landscape may have been dashed, but scenery does not make a village. Sarada has done what she swore to do, she protected the village because the villagers are still here.
"That bomb really made a mess" she notes as her thoughts drift to the men who sacrificed themselves for this.
Sarutobi Konohamaru, her sensei and her predecessor, the 8th Hokage. From the time he was a child, he had dreamed of becoming Hokage, of escaping his identity as the 3rd's grandson. His dream has come true, for now he is not known as the grandson of Sarutobi Hiruzen. Instead, Hiruzen is known as the grandfather of Sarutobi Konohamaru.
The other, Yamanaka Sai, a family friend of hers. The man who joined team 7, who protected the village throughout his entire life, first as part of Root and then as a shinobi who fought in the war.
"Rubble can be cleared, houses can be rebuilt". The 3rd Hokage recites information that is known very well be all Hokage but is always worth being reminded of. "But the village has survived, because you're all still here".
A nod in response, from the 9th to the 3rd. Two words of appreciation are passed, "Thank you" Sarada sincerely offers as she looks around at all the surviving villagers.
"Well then" Boruto steps forward to the front of the group, "I guess we had better start clearing all of the rubble away". With a smile on his face the shadow Hokage crosses his fingers, an action succeeded by the sound of twenty small explosions, succeeded by the sight of twenty poofs of smoke. Twenty clones are formed, clearly clearing the village will be quicker if the shinobi are to use clones to help.
Himawari approves of the action, a small smile coming to her face as she knows where this is all going. Crossing her own fingers, she emulates her brother's intention by creating a total of four shadow clones. "I still can't make as many as you, brother". Of course, Boruto's younger sister is at a disadvantage, she has not accomplished what Boruto has accomplished, she has not awoken the Tenseigan.
"Do you know what would be really helpful" Boruto asks rhetorically.
His younger sister smiles, "Someone who could create a lot more clones than the two of us, they could clear the village really quickly couldn't they".
While it is clear this sideways remark is not aimed at him, Minato decides to add his contribution of clones. Crossing his fingers, he strains himself to his utmost, drawing on the abundance of chakra that has been stored within him. More smoke results than for anyone else before him, he manages to create a whole fifty clones. "Even with the nine… even with Kurama's help, I can only create fifty clones".
Currently there are three full copies of the nine-tails in this world, all three summoned from the past. All three of these Kurama's came here being hosted by an Uzumaki. The first, hosted by Kushina, was passed from her to Minato in order to save his life. The second, hosted by Mito, was passed from her to her brother in law, Senju Tobirama when she died. He is able to create the same number of clones using Kurama's chakra. "Yeah, me too".
Naruto understands what they are waiting for, he wields a smile and gently shakes his head from side-to-side, their smiles are all of anticipation, waiting for him to act. He is about to speak when he feels a gentle push in his back. He stumbles two steps forward before looking over his shoulder with wide eyes towards the one who pushed him. "Hinata…".
"Go on" Hinata cheerfully urges him, "It's your job, Lord 7th".
Lord 7th. This is the first time since arriving in the future that he has truly been able to relax when he has been referred to by this title. Although rebuilding the village will require work, the stress, the strain, they are nothing compared to before. It is his dream come true, he has worked for this title, he has fought for this title, against Sasuke, Madara, Kaguya and Clyde. It seems now he has truly earnt it and to fulfil the obligations that come with this title, for him that is a pleasure.
Naruto steps forward and nods before crossing his fingers.
Clones. Many clones. Tens become hundreds. Hundreds become thousands.
Two thousand!
Naruto is able to create two thousand clones.
Naruto looks towards his two children with a grin on his face. "You guys better not use this as an excuse to sit back watch me do all of the work".
Regardless of how hard Boruto and Himawari are to work, the results will surely be insignificant to what Naruto achieves under these conditions. Still, Boruto is the shadow Hokage, someone with a position of responsibility himself, "Of course I won't, Himawari's birthday party is tonight, it would be nice if we had somewhere to sleep by then".
Hinata joins her fellow shinobi in creating clones. Though she is only able to create two.
"Mom?" Himawari turns in surprise.
"We haven't been able to get you anything for your birthday" Hinata points out with a hint of regret, despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her daughter's birthday. "So, we'll make you a new home, as a gift to you".
Himawari had never expected anything at all as a gift for her birthday. She knew going into the contest against the invaders that it would be a miracle if the shinobi were to survive the encounter, but they did. To have her family celebrate her birthday with her is already more than she could have hoped for. A new home as well, is a dream come true. "That's the greatest gift I could ever receive" she gratefully declares as she looks towards her three closest relatives.
"OK then" Naruto shouts as he punches his right fist into his left palm. He yells to his own clones. "I don't want to see a single one of you slacking off".
"Right" the clones all shout in reply.
With that the many clones begin the arduous undertaking before them. They begin to clear the debris. They take the first step towards creating a new home.
A Few Hours Later
Hashirama has been contemplating the ongoing process of rebuilding the village. During his contemplations, he came to a realisation about the progress that must be made, how the reconstruction must go ahead. To that end he summoned the most prominent shinobi of the current era, the golden shinobi so to speak. Amongst this group are the individuals who have been the most influential in recent history.
Naturally, the single two most influential shinobi of this era are Boruto and Sarada. The Hokage and her shadow Hokage, the duo who have made the most decisions regarding the village over the last few years. Sarada has remained in this village, providing people with food and water, comfort and protection. Boruto has followed the example of his first master, Sasuke, he has toured the world, seeking out threats and injustices, crushing them before they can affect the leaf or any of its allies.
He also pulls aside Mitsuki and Mirai. These two have also been greatly influential in determining the destiny of the village. Mitsuki is a talented shinobi, the son of Orochimaru, as the teammate of the Hokage and shadow Hokage, as well as the student of the previous Hokage, he has been a key advisor in many of their decisions. Mirai has been one of the key leaders for the military, often leading attacks, she has had significant input on the training regimes and missions the leaf's shinobi have been on. As well as this, Sarada assigned her to be Boruto's partner on his last mission before the Hokage of the past arrived.
Additionally, the three members of the latest Ino-Shika-Cho formation have been summoned. A trio of shinobi who the village relies on for their most difficult of missions. Along with them is Metal, the leaf's leading taijutsu expert. Several times when the shinobi of the village had been in mortal danger, they had only been saved at the last minute by Metal's incredible powers.
There is one last person amongst this group. The birthday girl. It's Uzumaki Himawari. Many would mistakenly think that Himawari's influence is sourced from being the 7th Hokage's daughter. Himawari is actually a genius in her own right. Having awoken the Byakugan at a young age, she went on to complete many successful missions each of vital importance.
"You wanted to speak to us, Lord 1st" Mirai asks, opening the discussion.
"Yeah" he replies with a smile on his face, "You guys are going to be responsible for building the new hidden leaf village".
"Aren't we all responsible for that?" Sarada questions. For a moment, she is unsure what Hashirama means. Surely Naruto isn't going to stand aside and let them do it all, that would be a terrible waste of his ability to create shadow clones, a jutsu he is far more proficient at than any of those who have gathered.
Hashirama concedes that he misspoke. "Perhaps, it would be better to say that you guys will design it".
"Design it" Himawari asks.
"We are all relics from the past, summoned to the future" Hashirama looks at the nearby clones of the various summoned Hokage and their spouses. Tobirama, Hiruzen, Biwako, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade, Dan, Kakashi, even Naruto and Hinata, all of them are indeed from another age. An age without the technology and architecture enjoyed by the youths of today, even if Kakashi was the one to usher it in. "We are here to protect your world, not to advance it, how we move forward should be up to you, not up to us".
"So, you want us to start designing a new village". Boruto is surprised by this development, he attempts to confirm Hashirama's sudden intention. "Just like that?".
"Just like that" his master nods, "I know you may not have much to work with but let me provide you with what I can".
Suddenly, his hands take off. He weaves signs in quick succession, with the present group thinking just one thing. 'Fast'. Even for the likes of Boruto and Sarada who were thought to be close to Hashirama in power, this is surprising. This sort of incredible prowess is why Hashirama's name has been passed down through generations, this prowess is why he was able to defeat Uchiha Madara and why he, other than Naruto and Clyde, was the strongest to compete in the contest.
Behind him, piles of wooden planks appear, enormous piles the height of an average house. After the invasion of Pain, Yamato did something similar, to provide the villagers with building materials. The scale then and now is different though, Yamato only had power over the wood release because of having Hashirama's cells. The 1st Hokage, is the origin of those cells, this is reflected in the extent of their power, the volume of materials they produce.
Out of the entire group, most look on in awe, however, there is one person who looks on in bitterness. That person is Shikadai. 'This is the sort of power you need to fight against the enemies. When… when will any of us wield that sort of power?'. This is the curse of intelligence, of wisdom, you question things so deeply, that sometimes you are forced to realise your own uselessness.
Hashirama places his hands in his pockets. "Looking around, it seems you created buildings out of metal in the future. I'm sorry, but I cannot provide you with metal, for now this is all I can do, I'll leave the rest to you".
Having given this enormous responsibility to the shinobi of today, he leaves.
Being the Hokage, Sarada takes the initiative. She starts to organise the group. "Well, it's in our hands now, what do you want to do?" she asks with a smile.
Shikadai makes a swift decision to stop dragging everyone else down. He is the first to offer his unique services, "I know about the villager's practical needs from my time as the Hokage's assistant, I can help with planning the village in that sense". His time in his job qualifies him for this even more than Sarada. While Sarada must weigh up various bits of information to come to a decision, it is different for Shikadai, he must remember all this information, he has to play devil's advocate to every one of Sarada's thoughts, to guide her to the optimum solution.
"OK" Sarada nods gratefully, understanding Shikadai's qualifications better than anyone, "Anybody else have anything to offer?".
"I can help aesthetically, if that is required" Inojin offers. His artistic capabilities are well recognised and are the basis for many of his jutsu.
"It would be just as well to make the village nice looking" Boruto nods approvingly before he gives his sister a gentle push in the back. As Himawari stumbles forward he speaks for her, "Himawari can help with that".
"Brother…".
"You're an artist" he smiles to her, recalling the conversation they shared with their father. He also recalls that annoying picture of him that she drew, despite that, he will always give his best to help her pursue her artistic dreams. "Have confidence in yourself".
"I can help with constructing defences, I think with Clyde and his men here, defences are more important than ever". This offer comes from the chakra anomaly amongst them, the military expert Mirai. One of the strongest amongst them, to have her work on something so important will be of great comfort, not just to them, but to every resident of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Metal works something out and exclaims, drawing everyone's attention. "I know about training facilities, I've spent so much time in them after all. I can help create training areas for all sorts of shinobi". Most of them nod at this suggestion. With the risk of another attack ever present, developing and training shinobi is more important than it has ever been before.
"I know about important food sources and outlets" ChouChou shouts with her hands on her hip.
A bead of sweat trickles down the head of all the others in the group. 'Don't you just'.
Mitsuki is the next to think of how not only he, but he and Boruto can be useful. "Boruto and I got in trouble once and had to help the waterworks, we can obtain a suitable water source for the village".
"Oh, that time" Boruto frowns as he thinks back to it. He had been trying his best to help, to fix as may problems as possible. All of his ideas were stupid, but Mitsuki just grinned and went along with them. "I don't remember us being very good at it though" he admits. He doesn't argue though, realising that despite that, he and Mitsuki are still probably the most suited to this job amongst those gathered.
"You guys got me in trouble too" Sarada says waving her fist at her teammates. "Unlike you two, I went to an ironworks. I guess I'll put my experience to use too. I'll melt down all the scrap metal from the debris, I'll get you guys some materials to work with".
"Shikadai" she continues, "Can you oversee the process, make sure everyone's plans fit together".
"I'll do my best, Lord 9th".
"OK. Thank you. We all know our jobs" Sarada calls out to the group, who have now all offered their services to designing vital sections of the village. "Shikadai, the villagers and the other shinobi will probably want to help too, send them our way when you can".
"Roger".
"Everyone" she smiles, "Let's rebuild our village".
A Few Hours Later
Himawari and Inojin are gathered around a makeshift desk, one of the tables Hashirama constructed using his jutsu previously. Of course, what the 1st Hokage creates using his ninjutsu could never compare to what they would produce using sophisticated techniques and delicate craftsmanship, otherwise he could create a new village entirely off his own back. Everyone is determined not to live in huts anymore, new houses will be constructed, proper houses, houses in which they will start their new lives.
Inojin takes a deep breath and wipes the sweat off his brow. "OK, so we are going with this design?".
Himawari nods. "I think it meets the practical and aesthetic requirements that we have agreed upon".
"Yeah, I agree". Inojin turns his head to the sky. It is burning orange, burning like the fires he used enjoy as a child. Often, he would sit by around a fire with his mother and father, listening to their stories of the past. Some exciting stories, some educational stories, some frightening stories but one thing was common to all of them, they created memories for Inojin. His father may have died detonating a bomb, his mother may do in the future as well, but his memories of them will live on with him, forever.
"The sun is already setting" he says with a nostalgic smile, "I'm going to retire for tonight". He departs, heading for one of the many temporary residences that Shikadai arranged for the construction of on the first night. They are not the most luxurious of houses, but they are a step-up on the huts they have been living in as of late.
"Thank you for your hard work" Himawari calls to him as he leaves.
She tidies up a few of the most important documents before leaving herself. It only takes a few steps before a trio step into her path. The most familiar trio in the world. Her father, her mother and her brother.
"Hey sis" Boruto raises a hand to acknowledge her presence.
"Mom, dad, bro, what are you doing here?".
"Hey" Naruto calls to his daughter, "Don't tell me you have forgotten already".
"It's your birthday party tonight" Hinata smiles.
"Of course, of course it is" Himawari smiles, having almost forgotten that today is her birthday. It's been a busy day, a hard day, a day where she has had to work had. Still, given what the previous few months have been like, it's been the most enjoyable day she has experienced in what feels like forever.
Naruto pushes Hinata towards Himawari, the mother approaching her daughter with both hands behind her back. It is clear she is hiding something. "I know it's not much" Hinata smiles awkwardly. She brings a small wrapped gift from behind her back, it's wrapped in some old dirty newspaper tied with a few pieces of frayed string.
"Happy Birthday, Himawari".
Himawari unwraps the gift with a smile on her face but is shocked by what she finds. A photograph frame.
"One of dad's clones managed to find it amongst the rubble" Boruto explains with his own smile, the photo is just as important to him as it is his sister, "We hope you like it".
A tear drops from the corner of Himawari's eye as she looks at it.
It's a photo of the four of them together, a photo from when Himawari was only ten years old.
She opens her arms and embraces her three closest family members. "I love you guys" she declares, "I love all of you".
"We love you too, Himawari" Boruto smiles as he hugs his sister. "Now, come on, the others are waiting, let's celebrate your birthday".
The four of them leave, heading to a temporary residence where the other members of Himawari's family are waiting. In the worst possible circumstances, Himawari finally gets what she had always wanted for her birthday. A celebration with all of her family.
Boruto, Hinata and Naruto. Kushina, Minato and Hanabi. They celebrate with Himawari and talk about old times.
An education for those from the past. A recollection for those from the present. The best birthday ever, for Uzumaki Himawari.