Chapter 4

AN: here it is guys...chapter four. Now my word limit is 4000-6000 words so don't expect anything longer or shorter, also the polls will be closing at the end of the week…well there's nothing left to say soo….enjoy!

Chapter 4

Individuality

Her eyes peered open, as the morning light pierced through the drapes. She wiped off the gunk from her eyes and opened them wider. She sighed 'today's the day I seduce the Hokage' she stood up and walked into the bathroom and washed her face. She picked up her toothbrush and toothpaste, a new brand that was said to be herbal. It had a green leaf on the white body and figures that boasted its usefulness. She stared at the green leaf on the tube, something itched her brain about it. She shrugged it off as a minor thing, 'it'll come to me'. She turn the hot water on and let it flow into the tube, she picked up her strawberry shampoo and poured it down into the hot water, she needed to smell fresh if she wanted to impress the Hokage. A fraction of a memory flashed through her head, 'I don't roll that way' she couldn't place the rest but it was slowly coming back to her, she shrugged it off, she didn't want a headache during the interview, she had to stop thinking. She turned the red knob and then turned the blue knob, mixing the hot water with cold, the bubbles of shampoo had begun to rise already.

With a toothbrush in her mouth she walked out her room scrubbing her teeth once in a while, she checked the hallway and walked down the stairs to the kitchen. A scent invaded her nose as she approached the kitchen she couldn't quite identify it her left nose was blocked, it felt like she stayed out in the rain, she had a terrible cold she realized. She walked into the kitchen to see the maid chopping vegetables, the woman of about thirty years seemed to notice her presence and greeted "Good morning Hiyori-sama!" she spoke excitedly as if something so wonderful had happened. Hiyori nodded toward her and greeted back through her toothbrush. "What are you making?" her voice was stiff and slow, the cold had reached a comfortable level it seemed.

The maid stopped her chopping immediately she heard the question, her face turned grim and all smiles disappeared. Hiyori raised an eyebrow to this reaction, it was a simple question, so why the fuss?

"Tell me, what you are making" she tried to shout but her blocked nose made it come out more of a growl

"Hiyori-sama" the woman began "you won't like it, its…ramen, miso, pork and salt ramen" Hiyori froze, it all made sense now, it was all coming back to her, she wasn't meant to be here right now 'stay at my apartment' 'ramen is disgusting' 'I don't roll that way' everything made sense now and shit!.

She ran up to her room and burst into her bathroom, she was met by a short lone figure in bright orange pajamas, it had different toads on it and it wore a conical orange hat also decorated with toads and on the figures face was a white fluffy scarf. The figure had just finished turning the knob off, her rug was already soaked and her towel on the way. The figure turn around and looked up at her. And her suspicions confirmed.

"Good morning Hiyori-san!"

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She sat on the couch in her room, face in hands and mouth open. The Godaime who sat opposite to her had explained how he came to be in pajamas in her home. Apparently the Godaime lived two blocks away from Hana's apartment complex and happened to be on his way home when he saw her 'shivering like a frightened school girl who had seen a scary clown'. Her father had let him crash at their house for the night after he had introduced himself as….come to think of it.

"Um…Godaime-sama?" the young man in front of her looked up from his ramen and stared her in the eyes "you never said your name, I want to know who you are"

At this he dropped his bowl and tugged his scarf upwards, he noticed how she tried to sneak a peek at his face, his scarf could be easily blown away, he would have to find some way to work with this. He straightened his pajamas and stood, he stared down at her and spoke. "That is something you do not wish to know" she looked up at his cerulean eyes and saw. She saw pain beyond comprehension and her eyes watered. He just stared her in the eyes and the pain disappeared, replaced by…something.

"I need a bath Hiyori-san, I've got work to do" she nodded dumbly and wiped the tears that threatened to fall, she kept her head down all the while after he left. She had no idea what came over her. She walked over to the desk at her bedside, she sat on the bed and picked up the key that was on the desk. And her partner came to mind. Hana. She sighed and dropped the key. She looked to her bathroom. She needed to clean.

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He had left the Ikumori family compound half an hour ago, he changed into his yesterday clothing and was on his way to get fresh ones, this one felt stiff and cold, maybe it was just the weather.

He arrived at his apartment and looked up, he cringed at the sight of the crooked building. One day soon, this place will be worth looking at. He reached into his pocket and searched for the key. He couldn't find it. He heaved a sigh. He had left it at the Ikumori compound. He looked at the door and sighed again. He raised he left foot up and thrust it forward, pushing the weak door lock out of the way. The door swung back and forth on the last surviving hinge until that gave up as well. . He wasn't about to cross over to section D of Konoha just to cross over to section B again. He walked over the door and went straight to his room. He stripped down to his underwear he pulled out his grey and red outfit. He tweaked his head to the right and wondered. What to wear? He raised them both as if on a scale. He eventually dropped the red and began to put on the grey. Once his cloak was on he went for his shinobi sandals, these ones were reinforced. He found a lot of things in Tanzuka town.

He straightened himself and was about to jump out the window until he heard a horror filled cry at his door.

"Naruto! Naruto?! Where are you?"

It was Kakashi, he burst into his room and looked around frantically until he saw who he was looking for. He visibly relaxed and then his eyes widened again

"Naruto! Where have you been for the past twelve hours?!" Naruto climbed down from the window sill and stared at Kakashi incredulously "what do you mean? Why were you looking for me, is something wrong?" Kakashi looked as if he was about to rip his hair out of his scalp. He set his hand on his fore head and left hand on his waist as he stared at the ceiling with an open mouth.

"Are you kidding me Naruto? Do you have any IDEA who you are? The Anbu have been looking for you all over Konoha and they are still searching! You can't just disappear like that! You are the Hokage for god sake!"

Naruto's eyes widened, he just now realized. Today was the inauguration.

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Naruto and Kakashi burst into the tower as they raced against time, the inauguration had begun several minutes ago. Jiraiya had just finished his speech-and also selling his book-to the public. Thousands of people stood below. Naruto looked at the clock on the wall they were approaching. It read five minutes into twelve. He had been in Konoha for over a week after bringing Tsunade back, he had just been to the tower for the first time yesterday. And, he had lost all sense of time. He nearly cried. He was going to miss what was to be the best part of his life, the most memorable event of his life, and why? Because he wasn't…fast enough.

He felt so stupid. He had been around civilians to long. He skidded to a stop and turned to Kakashi who was about to scream for him to keep running. "Wait!" he screamed, and before Kakashi could say the words, he continued talking. "What the hell are we doing?" Kakashi stared at him as if he were stupid-and he probably was- "we are ninja!" Naruto smiled up at Kakashi as he too realized his stupidity.

Kakashi reached out to Naruto and placed a firm hand on his shoulder and his left hand flew into a one-handed tiger seal. And with that they flickered to the top of the building.

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They arrived right in front of an injured Jiraiya. Tsunade was there too, and so was the daimyo he had never met but he instantly recognized. Three of the twelve guardians were there too and of course three of Naruto's bodyguards.

The daimyo waved Naruto into the other room and told to Tsunade to keep the crowd satisfied. They walked into a small room covered in red. Naruto looked around and saw the fire country's symbol on a large red banner. And beside it was Konoha's symbol, the leaf on a large green banner. It was probably the only thing that wasn't red in the room. Naruto felt weird. He should have worn red after all!

He fell in to step behind the daimyo. The weird looking man didn't exude any feeling of power really. He just felt smug and rich, and like all high born, his nose was in the skies. Naruto really didn't want to respect this man, but, he couldn't ruin his chances. He hadn't gotten the hat yet. And by all laws the daimyo could easily pronounce someone else Godaime. He had to make a good impression. They stepped in front of the two large banners, the daimyo stood in front of the fire country's banner and Naruto stood in front of the green leaf. At the corner of his eye, Naruto could see the daimyo shift in his clothes, getting ready to address him.

"I have heard a lot about you, Uzumaki Naruto" he paused. They both stood still at their positions. At this moment Naruto didn't know whether to turn or stay where he was. The thought of what was at stake was making him fidget. He took a deep breath through his mouth and breathed out through his nose, just like he had seen the old man do when he got stressed. But that was with his pipe, and Naruto wondered if he would be needing a pipe anytime soon.

"I have heard that you are completely incompetent to hold this position" Naruto went pale. He thanked the lords that he had a scarf on. "What do you say to such comments to your capability?"

Naruto had to use the calming procedure again, he had to give a reply, and it had to be smart. What would the old man do? His eyes brightened and he regained his Uzumaki valor "let them say what they want. The fact is…I will protect Konoha incompetent or not. Besides, I have three legendary shinobi as teachers. They say I am incompetent but they didn't say I am imbecilic, so that means, like everybody who has come to power before me…I will learn." At this point the daimyo had turned to look at Naruto, his eyes held an appraising look, he was impressed.

Naruto smiled, he looked to the balcony. Tsunade was getting red. He looked to the daimyo and smiled underneath his scarf. The daimyo got the message, but insisted for a minute. "I also hear that you wish to keep your identity hidden, after the ceremony we must discuss this matters." Naruto nodded and they both went to the balcony.

The daimyo began his speech, all the while looking at the crowd through his nose "today…we say goodbye to the thirds reign…and say hello to the beginning of the new. The reign of the Godaime! He may be young and he may be small. But we've seen many young and small grow to be strong leaders" the crowd hummed in affirmative to the daimyo's words "and we've seen many grow to be monsters, but let us pray that we never see such in his reign. I present to you, the fifth Hokage of Konohagakure, may his reign be long!"

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At the far end of the balcony, a bandaged man sat with a permanent scowl on his face as he saw the daimyo introduce a boy as the highest ranking official in the world. Yes in the world. The Hokage was the leader of the greatest village in the shinobi nations was indefinitely the highest rank in the world. He would not sit by as a child threw the power of a god into trivial things like pranks and ramen. He was strongly against this and yet, the daimyo went along with it, the foolish scheme of that Nara Shikaku. This boy will not last a month in power.

"…. I present to you, the fifth Hokage of Konohagakure, may his reign be long!"

Danzou scowled. Not too long.

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Naruto stood on the highest pedestal he could ever stand on in his life. He was nauseas, he felt like puking. He looked at all the eyes who stared up at him. Hypocrites. The lot of them. Yet he loved them all. And that felt like a punch in the gut. His hand flew to his mouth and he gagged. The cheering slowly died down. And confused faces looked up at him. Shit. He needed to get a grip.

Lucky for him Tsunade was no slouch. Her palm rested on his back and medical chakra flowed in and out of his body. Jiraiya took a place at Naruto's right. And things began to make sense.

Naruto took initiative the moment Kakashi stood behind him too. He had Tsunade on his left, Jiraiya at his right and Kakashi at his back. And he was at the center of this reassurance. He smiled and he spoke in a firm unshakable voice that sent pride down the souls of his teachers. "I have three people to guide me. I have Konoha to love me. And I have the world to show me who dares to threaten those who love me. I will protect Konoha with all my heart, my sweat and strength. I will overcome all hopeless situations, because. I am your Godaime Hokage! And the will of fire burns within me! I will conquer and crush your enemies and uplift your friends. I will die serving you, because I is my dream to see Konoha rule. Konoha will not fall as long as I have the will of fire! I will live on in your hearts! I am your Godaime Hokage and I live to serve!"

The crowd was in silence, the speech was a bit wavy but Naruto was sure he nailed it, right? And then he looked closer. The hypocrites were crying, they were crying tears of joy. And at that moment Naruto knew his name would be written in history books for the first man to break the great Konoha with few words.

He smiled and he stepped down from the pedestal and the daimyo placed the red hat on his head and the white and red cloak onto his shoulder. He pumped his fist into the air and the crowd roared.

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Hiyori smiled up at her new leader. She really wished Hana was here to see how confident he could be. She couldn't believe she tried to seduce this man.

A soft hand landed on her shoulder, she whipped her hair around and looked to see her sister. Itsuki Ikumori. She smiled at her sister and was soon after sucked into a strangling hug. She smiled shyly and looked around nervously "what's all the excitement about?" she was released from the hug and her sister had her hands on her shoulders staring at her happily.

"Father says you made the Godaime happy yesterday…even though there were some mishaps" Hiyori's eyes widened. Shit! They talked? Of course they talked the Godaime drops off your unconscious daughter at your front door and you don't talk? What was she thinking?

"He says there's a good chance for you out there" Itsuki nudged her head towards the waving Kage. "I am to bring you to him…you don't look happy" true enough Hiyori's face wasn't all that exuberant. "Why? You've made father happy, for the first time since you were six actually. Shouldn't you be bouncing?"

Hiyori scowled. She knew exactly what her father was going to say, and she didn't like the consequences. She slouched and began walking "let's just go, okay?" her sister looked at her with great concern but nodded at her anyways.

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Naruto stepped out of the balcony and was on the way to the restroom. His hands were shaking. He tightened them into fist as he tried to regain control. And at moment an Anbu operative appeared kneeling besides him. "Godaime-sama, we have a situation" he looked at the man besides him and sighed. His fists stopped shaking and he spoke with respectable authority "what is it zebra?" the man spoke as Naruto walked into the restroom and splashed water on his face. Careful not to get the robes wet. "A senior year Genin is outside the gates demanding an audience with you, she says you know her personally"

Naruto walked out with a towel pressed to his face. He finished wiping and sighed. "I know a lot of Genin personally zebra, don't be vague with me" the man gulped and lowered his head in apology. "She says she's your teammate and she identified herself as Sakura Haruno, sir"

Naruto dropped the towel and revealed a hardened face, he began walking at fast pace, his body guards not too far behind. "Bring her to me"

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He stepped into the office and immediately poured himself a glass of water. His temporary assistant stepped in, "Hokage-sama, are you alright do you need anything?" Naruto looked at her from the recliner he was relaxing on. "No I don't think I ne-" he was cut short when he heard a roar of female exuberance coming his way. He looked at his assistant with pursed lips "on second thought, get me an aspirin" she nodded and headed out, it wasn't too long before Sakura came marching in.

Naruto stood up and sat on his armchair. He lifted his white scarf from his face and spoke clearly "all of you, get out" they seem to protest but Naruto insisted. "Out! Don't let anyone in" they nodded and went out of the office, leaving the two alone.

Sakura puffed like a roaring dragon. She wore he usual pink and her hair was growing back steadily. Her eyes were puffy and swollen, it looked as if she had been crying. "Naruto! Do you have any idea why I'm here?" Naruto gave his signature foxy grin "to congratulate me?"

Sakura was dumbfounded, her face twisted in a ridiculous way "what? That hadn't even crossed my mind! What the heck Naruto?" Naruto frowned at his crush and stood from his chair, he walked toward her until he was really close. "What, what are you saying? You're not happy for me?" she looked up at him sharply and frowned at him "what? Of course I'm happy for you, you've gotten your dream come true Naruto." He smiled down at her. He had he yet to notice, he had grown taller than her. She stared at him with a strange face. Her head tilted to the side a bit and her pupils had dilated.

"But what about the rest of the team Naruto? What about me? What about Sasuke?!" Naruto was taken aback by the outburst, he moved a bit back and stared at her slack-jawed. "You put Sasuke in detention! What about his dream! What about my dream? You're just going to crush that because you achieved yours? So fortune and I can go to hell huh?" at this moment she had tears in her eyes. And with the way she shook her head they dropped down to the carpet. Soaking them.

He had so much confusion in his eyes, what was she talking about? "Sakura-chan…I don't know-" she cut him off with another angry burst "you put Sasuke in jail because you hate us all, don't you? That fancy speech you gave out there, huh? All lies! You are just one hell of a demon Naruto!"

SLAP!

Her head flew back and she stumbled to the floor, her hair covered her face. Naruto stared at her. She flipped her head towards him with an open mouth swollen eyes and a red cheek where her hand laid.

Naruto's eyes hardened, his body exuding a deadly aura. One that reminded Sakura of the time with Orochimaru. "Don't you dare call me a demon. You have no idea what a demon really is, Sakura" he hissed like a snake and stared at her. "Stand up, take a seat and begin explaining this to me, and don't expect me to know ever thing that happened"

He walked over to the kettle on hot coal in his office. He actually just noticed it. There was a whole cupboard filled with different variety of tea. He poured her a cup of hot water and placed a bag a green tea in it. He walked over to where she had taken a seat, he placed it in front of her and whispered "it's hot" he sat in his armchair and told her to begin explaining

She sighed heavily and placed both hands on the cup, she brought it to her face and felt the warmth. "after you humiliated Sasuke and told the Anbu to unarm him, they took his to a cell in one of these underground places like…I don't know, I didn't pay much attention to the environment, all I know is that its dark." She swallowed heavily as if what she was about to say was appalling. "I saw him Naruto, our teammate, locked up and bruised, he was broken, like a dog!"

Her hands clenched around the cup, and Naruto not wanting a mess took it from her. He sighed and whispered incoherently about aspirin. He clapped his hand and looked at Sakura with a small apologetic smile, her face was bruised and swelling. He reached out to her and gave her a small smile, his forehead touched hers and they both closed their eyes instinctively, it was as if he was sending her a message.

Finally after a long silence he rubbed his forehead back and forth affectionately "I'm sorry Sakura, I'll go see what I can do" he pulled away from her and picked up his scarf and wrapped it around again "go home Sakura, I'll take care of this" he smiled at her and picked up his donned his hat and walked out of the office.

She could hear a choruses of 'yes sir' out the door.

She looked into the tea cup and stared at the swirling. She sighed and picked it up, it was getting cold.

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Naruto walked out of the office and his smile turned grim. He didn't hear anything about Sasuke in prison. He sighed. It couldn't be helped. He did attack the highest ranking official in the village. What did he expect the Anbu to do to him after wards? He turned to the two Jounin besides him. "Take me to the cells" the stood at attention and chorused 'yes sir' in reply and they began walking out of the tower

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The cells were indeed underground. And was indeed dark, the road was narrow and it branched out like a leaf at different places. One of the Jounin noticed Naruto's interest and spoke out "it's a labyrinth, Godaime-sama" Naruto smiled to himself behind his scarf, and replied the Jounin "I know, I just figured that out"

They finally reached the office of the person in charge, on the door it read 'Ibiki Morino' the head of Konoha Anbu Torture and Interrogation Force. Naruto hummed to himself. He knew this man. The Jounin besides him made to knock but Naruto raised a hand, telling him to wait "you may go now, I'm in safe hands don't worry" he grinned at them and shooed them away.

He took a deep breath and knocked.

A gruff voice came from behind the door "who the fuck is it? It better not be you Anko!" Naruto sweat dropped heavily. He didn't even want to think of replying the man. He remembered where he heard the name Ibiki now. The Chuunin exams. The super scarred proctor.

He knocked again and this time he heard footsteps coming his way. He wiped his sweaty palms on his robes. They had been fitted for his size so it didn't sweep the floors. The door opened and Naruto noticed immediately the significant height difference. The man look left and right for the annoyance. "Who's the bastard knocking damnit!"

Naruto sighed quietly and flipped a kunai in his sleeve and made to stab the man, he was blocked "whaa- the hoka-" Ibiki couldn't finish his sentence has he felt multiple presences in his vicinity. He looked around and saw many clones around, all preparing to pepper him with kunai. He twisted unnaturally and expelled lightning from his fingertips, popping all clones.

The room was filled with smoke from the clones. Ibiki breathed hard "an assassination attempt?" he then heard a voice from behind his armchair "no…not an assassination attempt" Ibiki moved forward a single step before he felt his chakra sap away. "Ahh…you've noticed it." Ibiki looked at his feet to see a blue tag with symbols written on it, underneath his feet. He gulped.

"that tag will explode the moment you lift your feet or use your chakra, a gift given to me by my sensei…all you have against me are your projectiles, but you don't have your pouch do you?" a grey pouch was thrown on the desk. And Ibiki gulped again. "Don't worry Morino Ibiki, I am here strictly on business." The armchair swung around to show Naruto's concealed face, the hat bent in such a way that it shadowed his face.

"Godaime-sama! I had no idea it was you!" Naruto laughed heartily. "You know for someone who taught me a great lesson I think you deserve to know who I am" Ibiki looked up with wide eyes. "It would be an honor Godaime-sama, I can confirm the rumors for myself" Naruto's eyebrows twitched "what rumors" he made a sign and the glow on the blue tag disappeared.

Ibiki looked at him sheepishly. And for someone who frowned all the time, it looked…happy. "You haven't heard?" Naruto shook his head and Ibiki placed his hand at the back of his head. "Well when word went out that your identity would not be revealed, people started saying you probably had mutilations and you were probably some sort of S-rank monster." Naruto smiled.

"Well that isn't so bad" he began slipping his scarf off "Ibiki, I trust you know how to keep a secret. I don't want a single person other than the others who know who I am to know my identity" Ibiki nodded vigorously and the scarf fell, hanging by Naruto's neck.

Ibiki went slack-jawed for a second then closed his mouth and placed a hand on his chin "so the rumors are true" Naruto looked at him strangely and Ibiki went on to explain "during your speech today you mentioned your three teachers. Kakashi was a dead giveaway" Ibiki smiled at Naruto as he slouched and sighed.

"Rumors do fly fast don't they?" Ibiki nodded and Naruto sighed again before wrapping his scarf around his face and straightening up "well I'm not here on a social call" the seriousness in his voice made Ibiki straightened up too. "I am here for my teammate, Uchiha Sasuke. Can you brief me on what has been going on the way there?" Ibiki nodded and began walking beside Naruto down the hallway

"Uchiha was brought in for attacking the Hokage, we sealed of his chakra and threw him in with the rest of the hoodlums in there, the first day wasn't hard for him, he beat most of the Chuunin and Genin in there the ex-Jounin stayed out of the way and waited out their various sentences. It was the today that he was woken to a hoard of angry ex-shinobi." They reached the cell holding him and Naruto saw a broken and beaten Uchiha Sasuke. "As you can see. These are the results. Do you pardon him?" Naruto ignored Ibiki completely. He continued staring at the half naked Uchiha with a black eye and swollen cheek, some teeth were knocked loose and he was so bloody Naruto couldn't find the source.

"Sasuke." The Uchiha boy looked at his teammate and spat a tooth at him. Naruto didn't flinch. "You can go Scott free if you pledge your absolute loyalty to this hat I wear Sasuke. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Sakura. So make it fast."

Sasuke looked over to him and by this time the other prisoners had quieted down. Sasuke walked over to him until the only thing separating them were the cold iron bars. Sasuke clenched them and stared his teammate in the eye. "You expect me to pledge loyalty to you after this" he addressed to himself with his hands, showing Naruto all the damage HE had caused.

Naruto looked at him with disgusted eyes. They weren't rivals anymore he realized. "Do you ever want to see Itachi again? And hold his skull in your hands and crush it? Do you ever want to see the life leave your brothers eyes? Do you want that satisfaction?" he had done some research on the man Uchiha Itachi and had put two and two together. Sasuke's one working eye widened furiously as he began hyperventilating.

Naruto stared at him for a while longer. Then turned his back and began walking away, until Sasuke caught his arm. He turned to see a blazing sharingan boring through his soul. "I. Will. Kill. You. NARUTO!" Naruto's eyes shook with surprise and, a bit of fear. His friend never had such resolve in his eyes before. To see it now was…terrifying. He tore his arm away from Sasuke and continued walking away.

"Ibiki! Clean him up and get him his own cell, I don't care how, just do it." His head fell to face the floor a bit and he whispered to himself "I promised Sakura I'll do something about it"

On the tile he had just stepped on, one could see a single tear drop soak the dirt. He had just lost a friend to jealousy and hatred.

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AN: how tragic!

Please review and criticize properly. Don't hate Sasuke…I just have BIG and MAJOR plans for his character in this story. I hope you loved it. Oh and does everyone really want a naru/temari fanfic? Cuz at this rate, the only one that will be able to console him would be Hiyori. Though she's a civilian, she has experience with tragic matters, which will be seen in future chapters, besides I need Naruto to be dominant!

Please tell me your thought on this in your reviews!

~Genocideshinobi~