REBIRTH OF THE LEAF – THE HOKAGE'S SUMMIT
The Hidden Leaf Village, One Week Later
A week has passed since the day the citizens of the hidden leaf returned to the devastated landscape that was once their home. Slowly but surely, the village is being rebuilt in the image of the current generation. With the visual design dictated by Inojin and Himawari, the organisation done by Shikadai and the defences innovated by Mirai. Ironically, the destruction of the village has created an opportunity to improve upon it's former faults. Many decisions were made in the days of the 1st Hokage that would become inconvenient for developing the village in the days of the 3rd Hokage. This is a chance to create a perfect village and everyone is trying to make the most of it.
Quick progress is being made in the rebuild. A task like this is very complex but the villagers are enthusiastic about completing it. The greatest contributing factor towards this speed is the shinobi of the past though. Naruto by himself could create two thousand clones to contribute towards the rebuilding effort. In addition to this, Tobirama and Minato, the other two Jinchuriki, could create fifty clones each. Shinobi have an enormous physical advantage over the other villagers, with so many of them to help, it is no wonder how such great speed is achieved.
In the evening, Naruto walks along the street alongside his elderly friend, Nara Shikamaru. It's a difficult thing for them to get used to, the age gap between them. Despite being born at a similar time one of them is a teenager but one of them is an old man. Still, their friendship persists regardless of their age group. For Shikamaru, most things are still a drag. For Naruto, ramen is still the most delicious food in the world. It's not just the little things though, it's the important things as well, their beliefs, their determination, their loyalties, these things will never change.
Shikamaru had sought out Naruto's real body a few minutes ago, telling him that there is a place he must take him. It was a convenient time for Naruto who was just coming to a halt for the day's work. The elder shinobi began to lead his old friend through the streets, adopting a leisurely pace that he claimed was necessary due to his old age but was just an excuse to enjoy a conversation with a dear friend from the past.
"Ah, this building" Naruto exclaims. Shikamaru had informed him that he had been asked to bring him to a building near the centre of the village but he hadn't been specific about which one. "Man, you should have just told me which building you meant. I helped to build this you know".
"Sorry" Shikamaru offers with a shrug of his shoulders. He knew Naruto would know this building, he just was enjoying a walk. "Anyway, I was just told to bring you here. That's all that is required from me". Having said his piece, Shikamaru turns his back to Naruto and raises his hand in a simple farewell gesture.
"H… hey". Stammering, Naruto turns around and reaches after Shikamaru, "Where are you going?".
The Nara clansmen smirks as he continues to walk away. "You can't expect me to work into the night. I'm an old man. Go get them Lord Hokage". Shikamaru disappears around a nearby corner, a smirk still fixed on his face. He knows that the teenage Naruto he has just left has wanted for all his life to become the Hokage, to finally present him with a challenge relevant to that title is a true pleasure. 'Good luck, Naruto'.
The 7th Hokage shakes his head. 'Shikamaru is still the same as he always has been'. His friend had taken the greatest responsibility of anyone when it came to Naruto's training. The strenuous exercise and practise program that Shikamaru put Naruto through facilitated little time to spend together as friends. Now that they have been able to speak in a relaxed environment, the Hokage is truly happy. This situation has turned out better than he could have hoped when he came to the future.
Naruto opens the door to the building and walks inside.
The building was designed for communal purposes. There are three rooms in total, two bathrooms and one very large hall with a tall ceiling. At the centre of the room is a large round table. The circular table has a hollow centre, allowing something to be placed there on the ground.
Shikadai is stood in the centre of that table, surrounded by a table that is bare, with the exception of a few seats and one person. Sarada is sat on one of the many seats.
"Welcome Lord 7th" Shikadai smiles as he welcomes one of the many Hokage alive at present. "Please, have a seat".
Sarada points to a seat that has been previously designated for Naruto. He walks around and looks at the rear of that seat, it has a number on it. The number 7. Naruto contemplates the number for a moment before pulling the chair back from the circular desk and sitting on it. "What am I doing here?" he asks.
"It was Shikadai's idea" Sarada smiles.
"Now that we have several Hokage, the hierarchy in this village isn't so clear" he explains. Currently there are multiple Hokage, from the present and the past. In order, Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, Minato, Tsunade, Kakashi, Naruto and Sarada. As a matter of fact, every Hokage is alive and well except for the 8th, Sarutobi Konohamaru. "This is an attempt to sort a hierarchy out".
With a flash of gold, Minato arrives next to Naruto as Shikamaru had requested he do not so long ago. "I am here" he declares as he looks between the various occupants of the room.
"Lord 4th, your chair is the one that says four on it". Sarada explains this as she points a finger towards the chair three spaces to the right of Naruto's.
Minato takes a glance at the back of Naruto's chair. It has the number 7 written on it, corresponding to his position as the 7th Hokage. He then looks clockwise to the back of Sarada's chair which is decorated with the number 9 on it. Naturally, this number also corresponds to her position as the 9th Hokage. "I see" Minato smiles as he heads to his position at the table.
The 4th Hokage sits at his chair and looks towards the only non-Hokage in the room, to Shikadai at it's centre. Likely, he is the mastermind behind this room. "This is a decision-making facility, isn't it?".
"That's right. I am here because of my position as Sarada's assistant. I am here to make sure that all eight of you have a fair chance to speak. I am going to direct the conversation between you". Shikadai is the perfect choice for this. While he has not had the decision-making duty of the Hokage, he has been responsible previously for memorising all the facts that must be taken into account when making a decision. A role which requires good organisational skills is ideal for him. "I will remain impartial and organise a fair debate and decision-making process".
"So, with eight Hokage, each decision would have to be approved by at least five of us, assuming we are all present".
"Correct".
"It's a good system" a man compliments Shikadai as he enters. It's the 3rd Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Walking in the door, he judges from the positions of the other Hokage that he should be sat at the chair marked with the number 3, next to Minato.
Soon afterwards, Hashirama, Tobirama, Tsunade and Kakashi all enter before moving to their respective seats.
"Alright everyone" Shikadai calls, ending any conversations between those gathered. "You need to decide how we will move forward from here".
"After all. You are the Hokage".
Naruto raises his hand, interrupting Shikadai just a few seconds after the meeting begins. "Can I ask something?". Despite being revered as the greatest Hokage by many of the villagers alive today, it is important to understand that Naruto is the youngest active Hokage ever. Currently he is just seventeen years old, thus his understanding of etiquette in these situations is limited compared to his counterparts.
"Of course, go ahead Lord 7th".
"There is a vacant chair to my left". He places his hand on it as he looks to the centre of the circle, "Is this in honour of Konohamaru".
An awkward silence descends on the room. Only four of the nine people present ever met Konohamaru. He was a senior shinobi to Shikadai. A talented young shinobi to Kakashi. To Sarada he was a sensei. To Naruto he is a friend that he helped greatly during their youth. Despite so few having met him, the earie silence speaks to the respect that is held for him. Every Hokage understands the determination they have, the will of fire. To sacrifice oneself for the village is the ultimate showing of the will of fire. It is regretful then, that despite fulfilling his role as the Hokage, Konohamaru is the only one who cannot be present.
"I never knew my grandson" Hiruzen breaks the silence, "But from what I have heard of what he did that day, he deserves to be honoured".
"A funeral?" Tsunade asks.
"Konohamaru sensei was never given the proper funeral that he deserves so much" Sarada explains. Konohamaru died shortly before the other Hokage arrived. He had helped her to summon that hope, something from the past. "Sai also deserves a funeral, he also sacrificed himself to detonate the bomb".
Naruto nods.
Minato reflects on their values as the Hokage. "It's important to remember what was sacrificed so that we could make it this far. Konohamaru and Sai gave their lives to protect the village. It is only because of what they did that we made it here, they should be honoured for that".
"In that case, Mito should have a funeral too" Tobirama declares as he turns his head to look at his brother. As he says nothing in reply, the younger Senju brother continues, "She also gave her life so that we could make it this far. Without her, I would have never been able to defeat Peterson".
Shikadai nods. "Lord 1st, as Mito's closest relative, would you like for Mito to have a public funeral?".
"I don't know if Mito would have been proud of what happened after the contest. Personally, I think in her last moments she would have wanted for the invader's threat to disappear forever" Hashirama speculates as he thinks back to the death of his wife, how it had affected him. The longer he considered it the more sense it made, against such an overwhelming, vile threat, there is little chance Mito would be hoping for their survival in her last moments. "But, she gave her life so that we could make it that far, she deserves a public funeral".
"I will arrange for a funeral" Sarada nods, of course, she knows who is responsible for funeral care, unlike the Hokage of the past. "But Lord 7th, there is a misunderstanding here, this chair is not for Konohamaru sensei".
"It's not?".
"No, it's not". Sarada spins the chair around to face her recently adopted master, revealing the number on the back, it is not 8 but instead it is 9. "This chair is the for the 9th".
"What do you mean?" Shikadai asks, he had also believed the chair was for Konohamaru and had not realised until just now the number on the back is 9.
As Shikadai asks this, the door to the building opens and a man steps in from the darkness. A man with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Naruto is stunned by the arrival, "Boruto…".
Boruto bows, "Greetings Lord Hokage". After offering his polite greetings, he rises to his full height once again and approaches the chair next to Sarada. Sitting in it, it quickly becomes clear to the others, the seat has been set aside for the son of Naruto.
"Sarada?" Shikadai raises an eyebrow.
"Boruto is the shadow Hokage, I have no right to ignore his opinion". Sarada asserts this given her past disagreements with Boruto. While she may have disagreed with his opinion on those occasions, she has recently come to understand just how important it is to listen to those who disagree with you. "Thus, if we debate any issues here, he and I will operate as a single voice, the vote of the 9th Hokage will be decided by the joint consensus of Uchiha Sarada and Uzumaki Boruto".
This brings a smile to Naruto's face. In the past Naruto had attained an enormous amount of power. Power that put him higher than almost anyone in the history of the shinobi world. It was also power that put him on a level playing field with Uchiha Sasuke, a man who disagreed with him on a great many subjects. It is only when the two of them put their differences in ideology aside and worked together that they were able to save the world by sealing Kaguya away. For him, it is a wonderful surprise to see his and Sasuke's children doing the same.
"Does anyone object to this" Shikadai asks as he looks around. His concern is that this cuts Sarada's power in half, for if she and Boruto ever disagree on an issue, it would mean that the 9th Hokage's vote would be recorded as an abstention. To get only a single vote between them could cause problems further down the line.
"No" Minato firmly denies having any objections, "The more differing opinions we consider the better off we will be". Having said this, he gives a gentle nod to Boruto and the grandfather, grandson pair share a smile. It is this very thing he said to Boruto after his grandson requested Hashirama stop tending to Minato. It is an opinion that many disagreed with but it was important to consider for the optimal solution to be reached.
"I agree with Lord 4th" Hashirama smiles as he also nods to his student. To have someone who agrees with him fundamentally on a lot of issues is, naturally, in his best interests.
"As do I" Tsunade declares.
After Shikadai checks each person for their opinion, it is unanimous, Boruto should be here, as part of this process. "OK, let's pose the first question for debate then. How does the hidden leaf move forward from here?".
"Don't we just return to being a village?" Minato asks with a smile as he looks between his fellow summit members, "Carry on as if there is nothing wrong?".
Hashirama refutes this, "There is something wrong though, isn't there?".
"Is there?" Tobirama snaps at his brother, "General Clyde promised to deceive his fellow generals, so does it matter?".
Upon this being said, Boruto and Naruto turn to face each other and share a knowing glance. It is when Boruto spoke with Naruto alone that he first told someone else about the existence of a portal, of an even stronger foe on the other side. Currently, the two of them are the only ones who know just how terrifying the threat the face is, that there is someone out there who even Clyde is weaker than.
"What if he lied?" Tsunade asks. Ever since the contest, the 5th Hokage has questioned her lack of contribution to it and whether the correct decision was made in sparing the most dangerous enemy the village has ever faced.
"Fighting against the colonels made me realise that they are people of honour, I don't believe they would lie to us". This is the opinion of Uchiha Sarada. More than anyone else during the contest, Sarada changed the opinion of her rival. She made Sheer's philosophy change. If a task is impossible, don't give up and just do it anyway.
"I know" Tsunade winces, "But what IF they lied?".
This is a manner of thought that Boruto happily entertains. "I think we should go on the assumption that they have lied to us".
Shikadai takes this opportunity to redirect the conversation to the Hokage who currently has the most experience of any of them. "Lord 3rd, would you agree with Boruto on that".
Hiruzen scratches his chin as he thinks over the issue for a few seconds. "The safest choice would be to hope for the best but to assume the worst-case scenario".
Shikadai asks if the other Hokage agree with this, going around each of them in turn. While there are a few words of protest about doubting Clyde or even trusting him at all from Naruto and Hashirama, there is a rough agreement with Lord 3rd's suggestion. They decide to do as he says and hope for the best but expect the worst.
"What does this mean we should do as a village, Lord 6th?".
"If we are assuming that the lied, then another threat will come. They only sent one general this time, presumably next time they will send several, that would be a more terrifying threat even than this one". The masked shinobi has never been one for holding back and his opinion here is a reflection of that. When Shikadai asks the other Hokage, this is also an opinion they generally approve of.
Boruto is not thinking along the same lines as the rest of them though. He remembers his eyes meeting an enemy general, a woman who was speaking down even to Clyde, who's demeanour alone was enough to make Boruto feel like he was suffocating. The threat they have to worry about, in his opinion, isn't multiple generals, instead it is her. After all, Clyde himself said that the darkness element made him stronger than normal generals, yet this woman is stronger than even he is.
"You've seen more of this threat than anyone, how should we deal with it Lord uh…" Shikadai stumbles over what to refer to Boruto as, given that they have been using formal titles up until this point. "Lord Shadow 9th" he says, making a title up on the spot.
Boruto continues to stare into the space in front of him, ignorant of Shikadai's call to him.
Sarada nudges Boruto in the side, "How should we deal with any potential threat from generals?".
"Sorry" Boruto offers as she shakes his head to wake himself up, "I think we should look into how they get their reinforcements, after all, in this world's history, this threat has never appeared to us before".
"I think we all heard them talking at some point in the contest, about their world, about us 'locals'" Hashirama notes before looking at Boruto, "I don't know whether they were being literal or metaphorical but there is a chance they travel between worlds".
"I see" Tobirama nods his approval at this strategy, "If we cut off their reinforcements supply, that would solve all our problem".
Naruto places a hand on the shoulder of his son. "It's OK" he says, "You can tell them".
"Tell us what?" the 1st Hokage looks questioningly towards his pupil.
Boruto sighs. "I never told you about this before, given our situation it would have been wrong to tell you something so terrifying, but I guess I should tell you now, what I saw on the other side". Boruto goes back through his story of how he and Mirai were scouting out the enemy when they came across the portal. About how he distracted Mirai and went through himself. And, about the terrifying attack he saw on the other side.
"So, if we destroy this portal, that would cut off their reinforcements" Tsunade smiles as she punches her open palm. Excitingly for her, this is a chance to eliminate the doubt she feels, a chance to save the hidden leaf, once and for all.
"Potentially". Boruto is cautious about if this is their only reinforcements source, whether it is possible to destroy or whether that would be the end of things.
Minato spots a flaw in this plan. "If we go around looking for it though, wouldn't that appear slightly underhanded to Clyde and his followers?".
"We could claim to be looking for survivors" Kakashi offers.
Shikadai polls the opinions of the Hokage present and this is a popular suggestion. A way to end this conflict that he invaders couldn't possibly debate. If they were to ever find the portal has been destroyed, the worst they could do is attack again, which wouldn't benefit them at all. It is even possible they may not win, Naruto is already stronger than Clyde despite being much younger.
"This may not be the end of it, even if we do destroy the portal".
"We have to keep getting stronger so that we can protect ourselves" Boruto resolves.
"We have to keep getting stronger, until we can kill them".
Author Note:
I want to address an issue before anyone (quite rightly) complains.
Don't worry, this is NOT going to become a political drama. I have watched the phantom menace, it doesn't work. This gathering is only present to justify plot developments in the future. It will appear only a few times in part 4 and will appear very rarely, if at all, in part 5 and beyond.
Thanks for reading,
Cbehrills