Hiruzen is rifling through his early morning paperwork when Naruto barges in, followed by Jiraiya and a tired-looking Tsunade. "Tsunade!" Hiruzen stands and smiles, happy to see his student after so long.
Tsunade smiles rather tiredly and says, "Good morning, sensei."
"Welcome back, all of you," smiles Hiruzen. "Especially you, Tsunade."
"Thank you," says Tsunade. "We got back last night. I've already seen and operated on Sasuke. Okami assisted me. We will do two more operations once we are both rested and have fully recovered our chakra."
Hiruzen sighs in relief. "Thank goodness Sasuke will be alright."
"We have other things to report as well," says Jiraiya.
"Yeah!" pipes up Naruto. "There was this dude in a mask, but he wasn't Rain, he was evil, 'tebayo! He got in a fight with Granny Tsunade, and then I saved the day and broke his mask. But then he ran off so I didn't see his face."
"That is troubling," says Hiruzen, sitting back down. "But where were you when this happened, Jiraiya?"
"I was fighting a half-black half-white plant monster," explains Jiraiya. "It seemed intent on stopping me from reaching Tsunade to help fight the Masked Man. It called itself Zetsu, and was far stronger than me. It used wood style with great skill. It left once a strange white person appeared out of the ground and told it the Masked Man had retreated."
"Hmm...this is unpleasant news," says Hiruzen. "What did this Masked man want from you, Tsunade?"
"He wanted me to help him with some idealistic quest to create peace or something," scoffs Tsunade. "He is bad news, whoever he is."
"Well, I shall have some people look into this plant monster," says Hiruzen. "In the meantime there are other things to deal with. Jiraiya, have you met Kimiko yet?"
"Yes, I have," says Jiraiya. "What the hell am I supposed to do with her?"
"Who's Kimiko?" asks Tsunade.
"Jiraiya's illegitimate daughter," says Hiruzen, smiling.
Tsunade laughs. "I knew this would happen eventually! How old is she?"
"Eight years old," says Hiruzen, smiling. "And as to what to do with her, she seems perfectly happy living with Naruto's grandparents. Perhaps you should leave her in their care."
"We'll build on more rooms so that you can stay with us when you're in the village," says Naruto. "And Kimiko can live at my house and be my little sister, 'tebayo."
Tsunade is still laughing merrily.
Well, Tsunade and Jiraiya seem to be in agreeable moods. He might as well ask them now. "So, Tsunade, Jiraiya," asks Hiruzen, getting their attention. "Would either of you like to be Hokage?"
"Hell, no!" says Jiraiya, reeling backwards.
"F### NO!" yells Tsunade, and marches out of the room.
Jiraiya follows closely behind, leaving Naruto alone with Hiruzen.
"Now what am I gonna do?!" moans Hiruzen, laying his head down on his desk. "I want to retire!"
"You could make me Hokage," suggests Naruto innocently.
"You're still too young," says Hiruzen. "We need an adult to be Hokage."
"Oh," says Naruto thoughtfully. "But will I still get to be Hokage?"
"Maybe you'll be the Sixth or Seventh," says Hiruzen. "What we need is someone who the village can rely on, someone with plenty of experience, someone who would give their life to protect the village, but is strong enough that they won't die and I won't have to take the hat AGAIN. I really just want to retire and spoil Konohamaru and bug Asuma about getting married."
Naruto screws his face up in thought. Then he sighs and says, "Why don't you make the guy who is practically Hokage already the Hokage, 'tebayo?"
Hiruzen sits up, astonished. "Who are you talking about?"
Naruto walks up to Hiruzen and whispers a name in his ear.
Hiruzen's eyes widen in surprise. He never even thought of that particular person. But why not? He fits all the requirements, and he's fairly well respected. Hiruzen bangs his forehead down on his desk. It was so obvious that the person Naruto suggested is the best choice! "I am an idiot, and I am ashamed of myself!" Hiruzen says flatly. "Naruto, you are right."
"SWEET!" Naruto grins. "So is there gonna be a ceremony?"
"Yes," says Hiruzen sitting up. "Now please go and get Chief Fugaku so I can discuss the security arrangements for the new Hokage's inauguration." Then Hiruzen grins, feeling like pulling a little prank. "And don't tell anyone who I've picked. I want to prank them as my Good Bye present to the village."
Naruto grins, understanding perfectly what Hiruzen is up to. "This sounds like so much fun!"
"Oh, and tell Fugaku to finish what he's doing before he comes. We'll have the inauguration on Friday, so there's no rush," adds Hiruzen.
Naruto grins excitedly and leaps out the window.
Fugaku is headed towards the hospital with a bag of things for Sasuke when Naruto skids up beside him.
"Hello, Naruto," says Fugaku, smiling down at the rambunctious almost-chunin. "What are you up to?"
"I have a message from the Hokage," says Naruto, grinning. "He's picked the Fifth Hokage and he wants you to go and see him once you're finished what you're doing so he can discuss the security arrangements for the inauguration on Friday."
"Alright," says Fugaku.
"So what are you doing?" asks Naruto.
"I'm just taking some things to Sasuke," says Fugaku. "She'll be super annoyed if she wakes up from her coma and discovers she's wearing a hospital gown, so I'm taking her some proper pyjamas."
"Nice," says Naruto. "When is she gonna wake up?"
"Oh, um, after Tsunade and Okami have done all the operations and Sasuke is completely out of danger." Fugaku carries on walking, realizing Naruto probably doesn't plan on leaving any time soon. "So who has Lord Third chosen as the new Hokage?"
"Lord Third will tell you," says Naruto. "He wants to keep it a secret from the village as a kind of prank."
Fugaku smiles. That's the sort of prank he can happily get on board with.
"Oh, there's Konohamaru!" says Naruto, and runs off.
Fugaku shakes his head and continues on to the hospital. Sasuke won't just be annoyed if she wakes up in a hospital gown, she'll be embarrassed. So embarrassed.
When Fugaku arrives at the hospital, he finds that Sasuke is in surgery again, so he leaves Sasuke's pyjamas (a brand new pair he brought especially) with the nurse in charge of looking after her. Fugaku promises to come back once he's seen what the Hokage wants and heads off to the Hokage tower. Hopefully Sasuke will be out of surgery when he is finished with the Hokage.
Fugaku senses Lord Third up on the roof and heads there. "Lord Hokage," says Fugaku, bowing.
"Ah, Chief Fugaku," says Lord Third, turning his head and smiling. "Come over here."
Fugaku walks over to stand beside the Hokage.
"I am in a bit of a dilemma, and I am hoping you can help me," he says. "You see, I know who I want to appoint as Fifth Hokage, but that person may need some convincing."
"It is a rather important job," says Fugaku, gazing out at the village. "No one should take the hat lightly."
"Yes, it is an important job," says Lord Third, smiling. "But one that I am too old for. So on Friday, I will appoint the Fifth Hokage."
"What if the person you chose does not agree?" asks Fugaku.
"I will find a way to convince him," says Lord Third, smiling. "But first we must discuss the security arrangements for the inauguration. I will, of course, need to speak to whoever you appoint as the new Chief of Police."
Fugaku's blood runs cold. "New...Chief of...Police…"
"Why yes," says Lord Third, smiling. "You can hardly be Hokage and Chief of Police, can you, Fugaku? Or should I say, Lord Fifth."
Fugaku takes a step back, away from Lord Third. What is going on here? "What are you talking about? I can't be Hokage!"
"Yes you can," says Lord Third, still staring out across the village. "You fill all the requirements, and if it were not for you, this village might very well have been destroyed when the Sound and Sand attacked."
"But, but, why?" asks Fugaku. "Why me? What about Jiraiya, or Tsunade- they refused, didn't they? I'm your last resort."
"Yes, they refused," says Lord Third. "But you are not my last resort. Those two were my last resort. Someone suggested you, and you know what-"
"It was Naruto, wasn't it?" Fugaku sighs.
"Yes, it was Naruto," says Lord Third. "But the moment he suggested you I felt like a fool for not seeing that you are practically the Hokage already."
"I couldn't possibly be Hokage," says Fugaku. "They'll all hate me." He turns and walks away, towards the stairs leading down to the ground.
"Fugaku," says Lord Third softly, but firmly. "Take the hat."
A wind blows up, sending leaves dancing across the rooftop. Fugaku turns to see Lord Third standing facing him, a smile on his face.
"Alright," says Fugaku. "I'll take the Hat."