Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction, I own none of it.

Summary: A more rational Danzo takes on team 7. The world changes accordingly

Chapter 16 - First Day

Back at the Uzumaki temple

"I'm… I'm going to be Hokage?" The blond stuttered out as she stared at nothing in particular. In shock at the sudden revelation.

The Daimyo continued smiling at her. "Your father had a similar reaction, Naruto-chan." He waited a moment for her to focus back in. "Of course, there are some stipulations. I've talked with Jiraiya and Kakashi at length to iron out the details and we've agreed on a few things. First and foremost as we're electing a very young Kage, as such you will not be appointing your own eder council as previous Kages have." Naruto nods at him in understanding. "Good, so your elder council will consist of Kakashi, Jiraiya, and one, and only one seat you can appoint yourself." He sees Naruto about to ask a question but raises his hand to interrupt her. "Sorry dear, questions at the end if you don't mind." She nods again, listening carefully. "Also, you're original form, I'm assuming this one?" He gestures at, well all of her.

She chuckles a little scratching the back of her head. "Yeah this is me, figured meeting you for the first time I should come in person."

He laughs a little. "Not a bad instinct at all Naruto-chan. However, from here on out it would actually be imperative that people not be able to know which of you is the original. It doesn't matter if you're meeting with a clan head or foreign Daimyo, those are the places a potential assailant would assume you would go in person." Naruto looked a little puzzled at this but the Daimyo elaborates. "I think we both know that you're not Kage level Naruto-chan, and I mean this with no offence. But I do think you represent an S-Rank threat through your ability to support your allies. Lean into that. Make yourself a Kage of the people, go on missions with your team, hell take a genin team if you want. You don't need to be weighed down by the hat like your predecessors, you have the unique ability to actually conquer the task of ruling." He finished, fist hitting the palm of his other hand as he finished his surprisingly passionate speech.

Naruto was shocked that the Daimyo had so much faith in her already. "Wow… You really believe in me… I'll do my best Daimyo-sama, thank you."

The Daimyo smiled and offered up his cup in a toast, Tsunade joining in. "To you, Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto, The Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato. Youngest Kage in history, first woman Kage in history, and first Kage picked personally by me!" He finishes with a cheer of clinking glasses. Tsunade clearly being a few ahead of the two of them as she cheered loudly.

Eventually the bottle was empty, and the Daimyo stood and dusted himself off. "Well then, it seems everything in Konoha is in order, I should be getting back to the capital." He looks at Tsunade. "Come on Tsu-chan clean it up you're taking me."

The obviously drunk Senju groans before her hand glows green and she touches it to her head, the redness clearing up almost immediately as her eyes focus back in. "Fine, only because it was on my way though." She brushes herself off as she stands, the Fire Daimyo smiling at his old friend.

"Of course, nothing at all to do with us being friends or you being a citizen of my country." He teases as Tsunade starts walking off.

"And you're damn straight. Good luck being Hokage brat, it's in your blood or whatever. I'll be in touch." She throws the victory sign over her shoulder as the Daimyo follows after her.

Naruto waved after them as they left, laughing as Tsunade's candor with the Daimyo.

But as their backs faded from view her smile fell somewhat.

Was she really ready for this? She couldn't help but wonder as she ran her hands over the recently restored wood of the Uzumaki temple. Feeling the latent chakra of the building built by the first Hokage and lined with countless lines of sealwork by his wife, Naruto's great great aunt or something, she was overcome by a whim. She gently pushed her chakra into the wood, and felt the chakra of her ancestors pulse and hum in harmony with her own.

A small but genuine smile grew on her face. It didn't matter if she was ready. Who could ever be ready for this?

But people believed in her. People were putting their faith in her that she would provide for them, to protect them. And hadn't Haku said that people get stronger when they're protecting their precious people?

As she felt her chakra dance with that of her predecessors she knew one thing with her whole being. This was her home. This was her village. These were her people. Even if they hadn't always seen eye to eye.

She took a deep breath, the words of her Sensei echoing in her mind. "It's okay to be nervous, it will keep you alert. It's okay to be afraid, it will motivate you to succeed. What you must do is understand the cause of these emotions so they can't control you. If you understand your feelings, they can serve you."

Anyone would be nervous. She should be nervous. So that's okay.

She was Hokage now, and that meant she had lots of work to do. First and foremost meeting her new summon. Focusing the barest minimum of her ocean of chakra as she nicked her finger and flew through the signs.

A poof of smoke and a small portion of Katsuyu the size of Naruto's pinky finger came into existence. Naruto knelt down and offered her hand for the slug to climb onto, feeling her chakra be drawn upon as the slug seemingly grew larger, to about the size of a puppy. When she was seemingly satisfied with her new size, Katsuyu's eye stalks turned to look at Naruto, who inclined her head when she did so.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Katsuyu. I'm Uzumaki Naruto, your new summoner." Naruto's signature smile greeting who she hoped would be a new friend.

Seemingly off to a good start Katsuyu inclined her… head? Before speaking. "The pleasure is mine, Naruto-chan. Lady Tsunade has spoken highly of you."

Naruto scratched the back of her head as she laughed awkwardly. "Aw, what? I hardly know her; she didn't need to upsell me." Naruto shook her head. "Well, I hope we can spend some time together so you can form your own opinion."

Katsuyu couldn't exactly smile, Naruto's natural empathy and chakra sense told her the summon was pleased. "Of course Naruto-chan." She looked around the clearing and at the temple. "Was there anything else you needed from me Naruto-chan?"

"Not in particular. I've just been declared Hokage by the Daimyo and I thought this would be a good time to meet and learn how we can work together?"

Another happy chakra pulse. "Of course Naruto-chan. Unlike other summons I am one single entity that can be summoned and divided as necessary, only limited by the chakra you can provide. Tsunade has before summoned enough of me to stand above even Manda, the Snake Summon Boss. I utilize potent acid to attack, capable of melting stone or injury the toughest of opponents. I can also communicate telepathically between my clones, and can use them to deliver chakra from my summoner. Lady Tsunade has used this to heal people, even on mass scale by deriving power from her Strength of a Hundred Seal." Katsuyu's chakra probes against Naruto's. "You're chakra however appears both potent, and vast Naruto-chan. I expect we will be able to work very well together."

Naruto's smile was wider than ever as she took in everything Katsuyu was saying, an idea already forming in her mind. "That's super awesome Lady Katsuyu! You're really cool." Naruto scratched the back of her head again as she smiled at the slug. "So I specialize in support, espionage and reconnaissance. What I think most people consider my "signature ability" is my shadow clone jutsu, which I've modified with the help of my team to allow real time telepathy just like you and your clones do! Maybe I'll talk to Sakura and see if we could combine our networks somehow…" Naruto trailed off for a second before snapping back to attention. "Right, sorry anyways. I've also mastered what I think of as my "Forced Replacement" Jutsu, which I can use to swap places with pretty much anyone or anything with less chakra than me. Which like, good luck fending that off I have a freakin Bijuu in my gut. Who's also not as bad as he's made out to be you know? Sorry that's off topic. I also use wind ninjutsu, I'm pretty sure I'm the best in the village right now. At least I hope so, I spent like thousands of hours on it. Oh, and I've got my chakra chains. They're not unbreakable like my Mom's but I use mine to transfer my restorative chakra to them." Naruto makes a pensive face for a moment before nodding her head. "Oh, and I can shapeshift, like for real. So yeah, that's me!"

Katsuyu is incapable of going wide eyed, or having her jaw drop. Which was favourable when trying to appear dignified. "That's very impressive Naruto-chan. I'm sure we'll work very well together."

"Oh yeah I've already got tons of ideas, first of all." A clone poofs into existence next to them. "Can you use some of my chakra to divide so we can both have one of you?" Katsuyu obliges. "Cool, so you said you could transfer chakra from your summoner to your clones?"

"That's correct, just send your chakra into the part of me on the original you and I can handle the transfer." Both pieces of Katsuyu started glowing as Naruto let her chakra flow through. The clones smile letting her know it was working without needing her telepathy.

"Is there a range limit, or diminishing returns or anything?" Naruto asked, aware of the limitations of most techniques.

"The chakra travels through my body in the summon realm, the chakra loss is the same regardless of distance."

Naruto's smile couldn't be bigger. "Lady Katsuyu, I do believe we were made for each other." At the slugs quizzical look (tilting her eye stalks) Naruto continued. "The only real limitation my clone jutsu has is that they run out of chakra and they're done. But with you they can have access to my chakra, and I can refill my reserves rapidly if I keep myself healthy, and if I really need to I can ask Kyuubi for a top up-"

"We're not there yet." Kurama's voice in her mind distracted her for a moment.

"Oh, sorry about that Kurama. I was just getting excited." She thought back at him mentally before continuing.

"Sorry about that Katsuyu-sama, Kyuubi distracted me for a moment." She explained before continuing. "Anyways, if you're willing I'd like to have you with me whenever I'm awake, and probably a few of your clones on some of my clones. I promise it won't be all work either. I think you and I could really be good friends."

Katsuyu looked fondly upon her new summoner. "It would be my pleasure, Naruto-chan." Her fringe began wriggling as she moved up Naruto's arm and behind her neck, concealing most of her body under Naruto's braid as her eye stalks poked out from behind one of Naruto's ears. "Would this be okay Naruto-chan? If I'm going to be here long term I prefer to be out of the sun as much as possible."

Naruto meanwhile was trying not to giggle at the odd sensation. "Of course Katsuyu-sama, I'll see about getting some spaces set up for you in my office and at home so you can be more comfortable. What kind of stuff do you like?"

Warmed by her summoner's kindness she seemingly wiggles in joy making Naruto's giggles louder. She settles down a little to allow Naruto to catch her breath. "You are very kind Naruto-chan. I prefer to be warm and damp, and favour mushrooms and fruit."

Naruto pats her… head between the stalks as she starts walking out of the clearing. "I'm sure we can work that out, just try not to tickle me during important meetings." She finished, giggling to herself at the idea of ruining a diplomatic meeting because she was ticklish.

"Of course not Naruto-chan. I'll be sure to save that for ruining romantic meetings." Which had Naruto laughing loudly again.

"Oh I'd be sure to find a way to get back at you, I used to be something of a prankster you know?"

"What?" Katsuyu feigns outrage. "You Naruto-chan? I can't possibly imagine." She finishes sarcastically, Naruto's smile never leaving her face.

"Oh yeah, we're gonna get along just fine Lady Katsuyu."

Naruto took her time as she walked through the village, Konoha wasn't a monarchy so there would be no coronation event. It would make the paper for sure, but that wouldn't happen until tomorrow. For today she could still walk amongst Konoha as one of her people and not her Kage.

Even without her being acknowledged, Kage the villagers' attitude towards her had changed dramatically. Smiles and waves greeted her from civilians, some of which even tried to apologize for the way they treated her. She just waved them all off though.

"Tell you what, you feel bad for the way you treated me? Good, don't treat people like that, don't treat anyone like that. Do that and we're square." She would tell them. Some didn't understand, and some thanked her profusely. But they all listened, and that was a really good start as far as she was concerned.

Katsuyu, if her senses were anything to go off, was continually pleased with her summoner so far. It seemed the ancient slug favoured kindness and goodwill as much as Naruto herself did.

The shinobi Naruto passed were a mixed bunch. The Jounin had of course voted her in and as such they saluted as they passed, confusing some but most just figured it was a sign of respect for her newly unveiled heritage. The village's genin largely didn't acknowledge her more than a friendly wave, having mostly been stationed near or in shelters.

But the chunin, those were the real standouts to Naruto. Making up both the majority of Konoha's forces, and the most utilized battlefield troop, the chunin knew Naruto better than any of them. They knew her as a shadow, appearing out of cover to rescue endangered shinobi, distract the enemy, and heal their comrades. The one who would appear when they thought they'd lost and struck down their enemies. Fittingly they knew her as a shadow, being Hokage now and all.

Regardless, it was a lot of introductions. Lots of hand shakes, a few hugs. About a hundred invitations to various post invasion parties that she declined politely. Eventually she arrived at her first destination, seeing as her team already knew.

As she walked into the academy she was struck by how much had happened in so short a time. Just seven short months ago she'd been struggling to graduate. But it hadn't really been seven months ago. Not for her. No for her it was closer to ten years if she had to guess. Her copious use of clones already starting to make her feel older than she really was, never mind the thousands of ways she had died. Luckily the clones didn't usually remember the killing blow itself, but they felt all the same fear as a normal person would.

When she thought about it like that maybe she was ready to be Kage, she'd already died for the village a few hundred times in a way. She chuckled to herself morbidly as she knocked on the classroom door she'd just arrived at. It was getting late but she knew Iruka would still be here, probably planning a lesson around the battle tactics used in the recent invasion attempt.

"It's open, come in!" Her old Sensei's voice can be heard through the door as she lets herself in. Sure enough Iruka is filling the board with information about ambush combat and guerilla warfare.

"Hey Iruka-sensei, got a minute?" She asks with a smile as she comes through the door.

Iruka's face lights up as she enters. "Naruto! Of course, it's always a pleasure to see my favourite student."

Naruto's laugh is like music to his ears after the invasion. "Oh please Sensei, I was a terrible student."

They both laughed for a moment before Iruka continued. "Well, I never said best student did I?"

Naruto's smile turned impish as she responded. "Well maybe you should, you know I've been turning a couple heads lately."

Iruka nodded. "Yeah, especially amongst chunin you've really turned people around. It's nice to hear people saying nice things about you for a change. Your performance in the exam and invasion really took some of the attention off of your heritage in shinobi circles at least."

Naruto's grin persisted. "Not just them. I got to sit down with the Daimyo and Lady Tsunade today."

Iruka stopped what he was working on, Naruto's prankster grin and the new information not sitting right with him. Used to her being in all kinds of trouble he got ready for a lecture. "Naruto, please tell me you didn't-"

But Naruto couldn't keep the ruse going, doubling over laughing. "Oh I wish you could have seen your face when you thought I'd pranked the Daimyo. You know you really shouldn't doubt your Kage like that, chunin-san." The impish smile was back as Iruka's eyes went wide.

"Naruto you can't joke about that. Even if the Daimyo likes you he couldn't just make you Hokage. You'd need-"

"To be voted in by both the Clan Council and Jounin Collective of the village?" Naruto interrupted Iruka, his jaw nearly on the floor as Naruto chuckled at his expression. "Yeah I know, I couldn't believe it either." She walked over to look out the window as she finished. "Youngest Kage in the history of the Elemental Nations, first female Kage in the Elemental Nations, and Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato." The weight of her statement settled on the room before Naruto shook her head. "I don't really know how the Daimyo managed to get me elected, but I have Jiraiya and Kakashi as the first two members of my elder council."

She turned back to make eye contact with her old sensei. "But, and I mean this with no offense to you, I was hoping at some point we could go over the academy structure and curriculum together. I'm not sure Danzo's way of training us was right either, but neither is the academy's."

Iruka looked at his former student, awe struck by the marvelous kunoichi she'd become. "Of course Naruto, I'd be happy to do that with you. Do you know when you'll have the time?"

Another Naruto poofed into existence and gave a little wave before dispelling itself as Naruto smirked a little. "I always have time Iruka. How 'bout I give you a week or so to get together a dossier on the current academy structure and brainstorm some of your ideas, and we can figure out a rough draft together. Say your place next Thursday night? I'll bring dinner this time."

To Iruka, it was like music to his ears. One of his students was Hokage and had a vested interest in education? And It's Naruto, his pseudo little sister of all people. "I'd be honored, Hokage-sama." He finished with a wink.

Naruto blushed a little but tried her best to school her features. "Oh don't you start with that. You just started calling me Naruto-chan and I don't want to lose that just because I have some fancy new title."

Iruka realized his mistake and his smirk shrunk down to a small smile. "Of course Naruto-chan. Anything you need."

The two shared a quick hug before Naruto headed back out the door.

"Thanks Iruka-nii. For everything." They shared one last smile before Naruto closed the door and headed off to her next stop. Winding through corridors of the academy until she reached the administrative building's central lobby and started up the stairs.

The stairs she'd taken so many times as an academy student, being brought up to the Hokage for bad behaviour usually. She'd always been so adamant she'd be Hokage one day, and now it was really happening. These were the stairs to her office now.

When she reached the top she found the reception desk empty, but she could feel Kakashi in the next room so she just let herself in. The third had never kept many personal effects in the office but the few he did were already gone. The large windows behind the desk ensure that the Hokage would always be viewed with their village behind them. Framed pictures of the four Hokage to come before her on the walls.

Kakashi, it seemed, had been waiting for her. "Ah there you are. Not often I get stuck waiting for other people but I suppose our new Kage can be excused." He gave his signature eye smile. "Jiraiya is tying up some business out of the village, but he'll be back to take his position on the elder council with me very shortly."

Naruto walked towards the desk as she spoke. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Kakashi-san. I decided to get to know my new summons and make a personal stop on the way." Before she sat down she seemed to remember something, and created a few clones. "Lady Katsuyu, would you be able to give them all a clone of yourself?" The slug summon nodded, glowing brightly as she consumed Naruto's chakra to split multiple times without shrinking. All the clones had matching Katsuyu clones, she gave herself a group hug, and all of them did the replacement jutsu. One of them looked back to Kakashi. "Can you tell the difference between us?

A cursory glance obviously not sufficient, he raised his headband to look at the assembled "Naruto"s. "Nope, you're all the same."

They all smiled and another one of them spoke. "Perfect, we can get to work then." Before another one of them sat at the desk, while the rest opened the window and started jumping out into the village.

Kakashi was pretty impressed with her ability to make even him unsure of where the real Naruto was. "Alright then. So we've got a couple of things to go over, first off is who you'd like as your personal assistant and receptionist."

Naruto hadn't realized she needed one of those. "Oh, um. I thought that just sort of came with the job…" She thought to herself for a moment. "Does it pay well?"

Kakashi checked his notes. "Hiruzen paid his fairly well yes. Did you have someone in mind?"

Naruto smiled fondly "I'll ask Ichiraku Ayame, one of my clones was going to stop there to buy dinner anyways."

Kakashi nodded approvingly at her choice, knowing she was doing a kindness to one of her oldest supporters. "Perfect, I'll take a Miso please-" Naruto laughed at that but Kakashi continued. "Next on the list is just some housework following the invasion. First up, hostages. We have lots of them, including their Jinchuuriki-"

"Gaara, his name is Gaara." Naruto interjected.

"Right, sorry. Including Sabaku Gaara who they'll likely be wanting back. However, Suna has yet to send an ambassador to negotiate their return. Likely because we have reports that Rasa, the last Kazekage was found dead, and not recently dead."

Naruto nodded, understanding his meaning. "Can you tell me more about the political situation with sand?"

Kakashi flipped to a different page. "Of course. Suna has been struggling for some time now, their Third Kazekage vanished at the beginning of last war, and Rasa spent almost his entire career in his shadow. Having their Kage vanish, the Wind Daimyo lost faith with the village and began outsourcing most of his missions to us. Suna simply can't beat our prices, needing to import most of their water and food. So they've been in decline, trying measures ever more desperate to retain their place as one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. I should also note it would appear their Daimyo didn't sanction the invasion so he's likely to withdraw even more support."

Naruto looked pensive, thinking deeply on the situation. She wanted allies, and she wanted strong allies. But she also had to look strong in the process, these being some of her first major decisions as Kage. "So their Daimyo isn't supporting them, they have no Kazekage, and we've decimated their forces… Even if I didn't negotiate at all, and just gave them their shinobi back… Would they be able to recover from this?"

Kakashi seemed to think for a moment before responding. "Perhaps. Maybe if the Daimyo changed his mind. Or if his son were to become Daimyo at some point, I believe he's quite favourable towards Suna."

The implication weighed heavy on the room. But… They were a Ninja Village. "Do we have anyone that could make it look like another of Orochimaru's crimes?" Naruto asked, the tone of her voice making it apparent she found the idea unpleasant.

Kakashi though nodded. "We do, Mitarashi Anko, you might remember her as the proctor for the second exam." He got a nod from Naruto at that. "She was Orochimaru's student as I believe you know. She possesses the Snake Summoning contract and many of Orochimaru's jutsu."

Naruto chews on her bottom lip a little. "Would she be willing to do it?"

Kakashi doesn't even skip a beat. "Without hesitation. She'd probably get quite excited at the idea of an S-Rank mission pay." Kakashi has no problem envisioning her in a pool of dango. "Beyond that, she's been vying for Jounin for some time, and if you were to agree to put a blank S-Rank on her file it would greatly boost her eligibility."

Naruto nodded at that. "I didn't really expect to be giving out assasination orders today." A clone pops into existence and begins writing down all the stuff she was about to say. "Alright so, waiting till after all that plays out I want to frame the whole thing as to Konoha, an insignificant mistake. Send all their Shinobi back in good health, and with a serious show of force returning them to Suna. Maybe we get Itachi and Tsunade to do it. In exchange for our gracious treatment of their shinobi and willingness to overlook their misdoings I want to negotiate a trade and labour deal between us, giving us preferred rates on silk, spice, and rare metals. On their end give them preferred rates on fire countries' foodstuffs."

Kakashi nodded, thoroughly impressed with Naruto's solution. "Will that be all on the matter then?"

Naruto furled a brow. "No, in exchange for Jiraiya's seal maintenance on Gaara I think I want to have joint training with him personally. Just once a month or so, Jinchuriki to Jinchuriki. He's welcome to bring his team with him when we do. Oh, and can you summon Anko? I don't know where she lives or anything."

"Ah, this is something I'm supposed to show you." Kakashi came around the desk putting his hand on a specific spot that could easily be done naturally from seated, the smallest flux of chakra brought an Anbu into the room. Clapping his fist to his chest in salute as he entered. Kakashi looked down at Naruto as she realized it was her place to speak.

"Ah sorry. I was hoping you could summon Mitarashi Anko?" She asked, almost unsure of herself.

The Anbu shinobi for his part didn't seem to mind. "It will be done, Lady Hokage." Bowing slightly before poofing into smoke.

"That seems like cheating." Naruto couldn't help but say now that they were alone again.

"You'll get used to it, Lady Hokage." Kakashi chuckled at the face she made, before her eyes turned to the door just before it opened. Revealing Ayame, the rest of Team 7 and another Naruto are loaded with takeout bags.

Sakura's eyes fell on the Naruto sitting behind the desk, and immediately the whole situation really came together. "Sweet and holy mother of fuck. You weren't screwing with us."

Sasuke elbowed her in the ribs with a little grin on his face. "Told you so."

"Yeah yeah whatever, start pulling some chairs up and let's eat. I have no idea why Naruto wanted so much." Naruto grinned sheepishly.

It was actually Kakashi that raised a hand. "Well, one for me, three for Naruto, a bowl of veggies hold the salt for Katsuyu, probably one for each of you, and one for Anko." He finished cheerfully, just as the door opened to reveal Anko, a used Dango stick hanging out of her mouth.

"Heya Sarutobi-" She stared at the room in surprise, noting a distinct lack of Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Um, hey guys, know where the Hokage's at? I got summoned for a mission."

A Naruto looks up from the takeout bag she was handed. "Ah, just in time Anko-san. I do have a mission for you, but first food." She handed her a ramen container. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm still new at this and my clone hasn't finished your mission dossier yet."

Anko took the offered noodle bowl stunned. "Huh." She looked around the room, eyes settling on Kakashi. "This legit?" He just nodded, causing her to shrug and throw herself into a chair before she started eating the provided meal.

The group made small talk as they ate, but Naruto decided to enjoy the rest of tonight with her team.

Tomorrow could be her real first day.