AN - Wanted to get this chapter out, though it is shorter than I planned. In the next few chapters, I'll try and at least touch on everyone's training before the time skip. Of course, I'll focus predominantly on Team Seven. Currently, I'm reworking and touching up Chapter Two, and then I'll probably add a bit to this chapter before Four is posted. Hope you enjoy.

Strength of a Sage

Chapter Two - Sadness and Sorrow... Strong and Strike!

No one could hide their tears at the funeral.

Even though the sun dared not shine on the day Konoha put its' brightest shinobi to rest, the gray, overcast sky refused to provide the gathered shinobi the luxury of cover and convenient excuses.

A prideful Inuzuka Kiba had to reiterate again and again that Shino's bugs kept flying in his eyes. Likewise, the usually silent Shino uncharacteristically muttered that he had developed a sudden allergy to Akamaru.

As Godaime Hokage, Tsunade stood at the head of the assemblage, adorned in her traditional white robes and hat – which she usually refused to wear. In her grasp she held a single white blossom, which was the first to be lain across Uzumaki Naruto's cold body. She couldn't stop her hand from trembling.

The others followed suit, the remainders of the Rookie eleven tailed by their Jounin and Chuunin family and sensei, with any civilian guests to close. It was a rather modest gathering, but then again, Tsunade had to remind herself that it wasNaruto, who still hadn't quite broken the image of village pariah sadly.

Then Tsunade had taken a flame and touched it to the pyre surrounding Naruto, illuminating the rooftop with a magnificent and beautiful blaze, echoing the Jinchuuriki's own immutable inner fire. For the third time, the Hokage watched a boy she loved disappear into oblivion. And once again, it was the hardest thing she ever had to do.

Naruto was gone, and had been so for over a week, and yet the funeral wasn't over. Konoha was a lot quieter for it— sadder— and the silence was noticed by all within the village. No more happy, boisterous shouts that could be heard for blocks… no more glaring blurs of orange streaking across rooftops… Konoha was too peaceful now.

Tsunade stood atop the Hokage Tower, looking out over her village solemnly, a half-empty bottle of Sake on the rail next to her. She could feel Shizune approach from behind, but the dark haired woman remained silent, not wishing to interrupt her teacher's meditations. Normally, Tsunade mused, the young medic would scold the Sannin quite loudly for slacking off and drag her back into the office. But these days, Shizune's sharp tongue was curbed, not having the heart for it.

"Did anyone show up to take missions?" Tsunade finally asked, running a finger along the rim of the Sake bottle.

"All missions have been passed out, Tsunade-sama, and some of the special Jounin are even pulling double and triple duties," Shizune informed.

"That's not exactly what I meant."

"Hai," Shizune nodded, understanding. "Yui Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, and Maito Gai have all left on A-Rank missions. Though their students are still absent."

"Of course," Tsunade chuckled. "And what of Hatake Kakashi?"

"A-ano," Shizune sighed. "No one has seen him for days now. Not since the funeral."

"Any signs to indicate if he's left the village or not?"

"None. Gai-san still claims to be able to feel his... erm... 'youthful and hip' presence, but speculates he's remaining well hidden."

Tsunade sighed and massaged her brow. "I suppose when the Copy-cat wishes to be found, he will be. That will be all, Shizune."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama."

Tsunade waited until her apprentice took her leave before turning to the looming faces upon the Hokage monument above her. Her saddened gaze focused on the nostalgic visage of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Just what would you say now, sensei? What would you do to inspire these Shinobi?"

During the last week, anyone who looked upon Haruno Sakura would swear she was the walking dead - a shinobi who had let depression take an impregnable hold on their heart. Gone was the youthful glimmer of happiness in her emerald eyes and the pearl white smile on her lips. Even her usually vibrant pink hair seemed to have lost its luster. Now she shuffled about, silently, refusing to look any greeter in the eye on the way to her destination. The route she was on had become routine with Team Seven, and she still refused to break it, even if she now walked it alone.

She had to pause for a moment as she passed Ichiraku's. Before, as she, Naruto, and Sasuke would walk by the establishment after a session on the training field, the loud blonde would always break away for a bowl - or seven. Sometimes Sakura would join him alone, or even on a rare occasion Sasuke and Kakashi would as well. The familiar scent of various ramens wafted through the air, as it always did. And yet... gone was the happiness the little stand had previously exuded.

The smell made her sick.

A few moments of travel later, Sakura finally found herself stepping into the Yamanaka family's Floral shop. It took some courage, for she hadn't been in the establishment since the boys had returned from the mission, and was afraid to see Ino attending the counter.

But she was able to sigh in relief as she was greeted merrily by Yamanaka Kaoru, Ino's mother, who was situated behind the counter adding the finishing touches to a rather beautiful arrangement. The middle-aged woman was tall and slender, with bountiful curves and startlingly deep purple hair, a shocking contrast to her daughter's and the traditional Yamanaka platinum lock's. The woman smiled brightly and gave a small wave, which Sakura unenthusiastically returned. She had become like a second mother to the pink-haired girl upon befriending Ino , and was constantly doting on Sakura. But due to her war with Ino over Sasuke's attention and subsequent falling out, she felt guilty for having neglected the elder Yamanaka. Apparently though, Kaoru didn't hold any animosity towards Sakura over it.

"Good morning, Sakura-san!" The matronly woman spoke, setting aside her project so as to give her customer her full attention. "I haven't seen you in a while. How... are you feeling?"

Horrible. "I'm... not exactly sure," Sakura said, fidgeting under the woman's searching gaze.

"Ino told me about what happened," Kaoru murmured, going right after the elephant in the room. "The mission... Sasuke... the Uzumaki boy... I'm so sorry, Sakura-san."

The young genin tried to smile in gratitude, though she couldn't quite manage. "Arigatou, Yamanaka-san."

"Sakura," the florist admonished. "How many times have I told you to please call me Kaoru? And I want you to know that if there's anything you need, we'll always be there for you. Just ask."

"Arigatou... Kaoru-san."

"Now then," Kaoru laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Are you here to see Ino? I can..."

"No," Sakura shook her head, not ready to face any of her fellow shinobi just yet. "Just... I... came for some flowers. I'm heading to the memorial stone, and wanted to take something... for..." Naruto.

"Oh. Of course, love. Did you have anything in mind?"

"No... not really," Sakura admitted.

"Then would you mind if I made some suggestions?"

"P-Please do."

Kaoru tapped her chin in thought, "Well, first you have to tell me about Naruto. I only know a... a bit." She was vague and elusive, but Sakura didn't press, her curious nature quite subdued at the moment. "What was he like?"

"Loud," was the first word from the pinkette's lips. Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Well, he was so energetic and never stopped. I don't think he could. And he was always yelling about how he was going to be Hokage and protect everyone. He was... kind... and a really big idiot."

"Aren't most men?" Kaoru added, earning a slight giggle from Sakura. "Hey, I got a laugh. There's hope for you yet." Sakura appeared bashful, but she didn't immediately drop back into depression.

"And so... what was this Naruto to you?"

"He was my friend," she said simply, not hesitating. "But he... he always had a crush on me, and was always asking me out. But I... wasn't able to return those feelings. I don't know."

Kaoru nodded, taking note of the obvious guilt and uncertainty in the girl's words. She was young, after all, and oh so confused. That age was already rife with emotional trouble and instability, and for her to lose two of her rocks... Kaoru could only imagine.

"Okay, love, I believe I know just the thing."

Shortly after, Sakura stood silently before the marble memorial stone, a modest but colorful bouquet in her hands. Kaoru had chosen, without her hands flying over the various flowers expertly, a few Zinnias, purple Hyacinth, and red-orange Camellias. Upon asking why these particular flowers, the Yamanaka matron had wagged a finger and proclaimed, "That's a secret."

Sakura silently placed the flowers on the grave and clapped her hands together.

It was her fourth day in a row standing in that exact same spot.

While she had attempted to resist the pull, trying to occupy herself with other duties, she would still make her way to the stone and sit and reminisce about past triumphs and mistakes with her teammates. She couldn't help but believe she was becoming her teacher Kakashi.

Remembering the sight of his quiet, cold body upon the funeral pyre prepared for him, she had stepped up to her teammate's prone form, expecting… hoping he would hop up, smile, and proclaim, 'Gotcha'!' In which she would promptly punch him half-way across Konoha… and then very happily treat him to Ichiraku's.

But he hadn't moved… Hadn't smiled at her… hadn't called her 'Sakura-chan.' She had never once expected to miss the sound of his voice or that damned honorific. To think, she would never hear him scream 'Sakura-chan' from half a mile away again. She would never hear that awkward, embarrassed chuckle of his ever again. She… would never again hear him proclaim that he would be Hokage. Naruto would never become Hokage.

"No! Sakura-chan!" Naruto's holler echoed throughout the enclosed Chuunin arena, stopping her from raising her hand in forfeit. From within her mind, the invading Ino cringed at his piercing cry, wondering just what he hoped to accomplish.

"You've come so far to get here! It's going to be a disgrace if you lose to that Sasuke-obsessed freak!"

And thanks to his cheer, he had saved her from an embarrassing defeat. But… that wasn't all, was it?

"Eh, Sasuke-kun. You saved all of us from the Sand, didn't you?" Sakura asked timidly, a bright blush coloring her cheeks. But Sasuke only grunted and turned a rather… jealous gaze on Naruto—who was embarrassingly attempting to perform the Chidori.

"No. It was Naruto that saved you," the Uchiha said simply. But that didn't put much of a pause in her advances.

"Now, now, Sasuke-kun, you don't need to be modest. It's true Naruto's gotten stronger, but he couldn't…"

"It's true," Sasuke snapped vehemently. "He fought with everything he had to save you. He even showed powers that I'm sure he didn't even know he had."

"He did?" Sakura blinked. "For me?"

Sakura smiled warmly amidst the fresh tears. She never had truly thanked him, had she?

"Arigatou, Naruto."

She remained in that position for several long moments, even as there came a rustling of grass behind her. Footsteps were unmistakable, and the individual obviously wished to make her aware of his presence. But she didn't acknowledge him, already very well versed in the feel of that particular chakra and more than happy to make him stir.

"I thought I might find you here," came the lazy drawl of Hatake Kakashi, who did his best to keep his tone light, despite the dark cloud hanging over his head. "If you're not careful, you may beat my record of days spent here."

Sakura didn't respond.

"It's a stupid question, I know," Kakashi scratched his masked chin awkwardly, refusing to be willed away by his student, "But how have you been, Sakura?"

His attempts to comfort were quite appalling, he lamented.

"Terrible," the pink-haired youth said bluntly.

Kakashi nodded, having expected something along those lines. After all, how exactly was he himself fairing?

'At least she didn't say fine,' he thought inwardly. "Sakura, I... know I don't have to right to ask anything of you right now. But, please, I need you to come with me. There's... something we need to discuss."

"What?" Tsunade bellowed, her small office reverberating painfully from the sheer volume. Her fist was poised dangerously in the air, but she stopped herself from bringing it down upon her new mahogany desk. The last thing she needed was to have to wait on a replacement. For Hatake Kakashi to shirk his duties for the last week without word, and then suddenly appear before her with such an outlandish request... infuriating was too light a term.

Kakashi, meanwhile, felt repeating himself could be detrimental to his health.

Sakura stood behind her teacher silently, still weary of his plan, but willing to hear him out. She was intrigued, to say the least.

"I'm requesting an indefinite leave of duty for Sakura and myself, Hokage-sama," he stated, as eloquently and inoffensively as possible.

"And why would you request such a thing?" Tsunade asked shortly, folding her hands before her face and leveling her stern glare on the copy-cat. Kakashi recognized it as the 'your answer better be good' posture.

"Before he left, Jiraiya informed me of the group Akatsuki and their movements..."

"That's nothing new to me."

"... And as you know, they have many powerful shinobi at their disposal. Uchiha Itachi being a prominent example, one of the last Shinobi to wield the Sharingan. And now, due to Sasuke's defection," Sakura winced, "Orochimaru possesses the Sharingan as well. That's two of the largest threats to Konoha, both with one of our world's greatest weapons at their disposal."

Tsunade, to say the least, was curious with the direction the scarecrow was taking this.

"The past weak I've been searching through the Uchiha compound," Kakashi revealed, and Tsunade's eyes widened. So that's where he was.

"And in my search, I uncovered a secret seal that could only be seen with the Sharingan. It revealed this." He set a scroll down gingerly before the Hokage, who sat back and examined it carefully.

"This is..." Tsunade breathed, clearly impressed. "This is a list of secret Uchiha hideouts throughout the nations. It's an amazing find."

"Arigatou, Hokage-sama."

"And you...?"

"I wish to travel to these locations and see what secrets I can uncover," Kakashi stated, though Tsunade merely smirked, easily seeing right through him.

"What is this really about, Hatake? If you tell me the truth, then perhaps I'll consider granting your request."

Kakashi sighed in defeat, and slowly reached up to uncover his implanted Sharingan.

"I'm too weak," he stated flatly, causing Sakura to protest loudly.

"But, Kaka-sensei, you're the strongest shinobi Konoha has!"

Kakashi flinched, suddenly picturing Gai's 'youthful' fury coming down on top of him.

"That's… debatable," he chuckled nervously. The Hokage smiled at the student's naive praise. "But, Tsunade-sama, if I can uncover anything that may strengthen my Sharingan, it could prove to be an asset to Konoha in the coming troubles."

"I can see the logic in that. But what does it have to do with Sakura?"

"I believe she has what it takes to become the strongest kunoichi in Konoha," he answered truthfully, earning stunned silence from Sakura herself. "I also believe that, one day, she would make a fine replacement for you, Hokage-sama."

"You don't say," Tsunade laughed, to which Sakura began blushing stupendously. "Are you saying you'll be handing her over to me, Kakashi? I don't take on weak apprentices."

"That's why I wish to instill her with everything I know, like I should have from the start. And because I failed her," he finally admitted. "I failed them all. I failed to guide Sasuke away from that dark path. I failed to strengthen both Sakura and Naruto, so that they could help Sasuke shoulder that burden. I failed in pushing Naruto towards his goal of becoming Hokage. From the very beginning, my tutelage of them was a failure. I…"

But he paused as he felt a pair of small arms wrap around his waist. It took him several seconds, but he finally worked up the nerve to look down upon Sakura, who had thrown herself tearfully into his flak jacket. Tentatively, he managed to return the small girl's hug, albeit slightly uncomfortable. But even Tsunade had to admit she was touched.

"I'm sorry, Kaka-sensei," Sakura cried.

"It's okay Sakura," he said. "I know how wrong I've been. This… what I've been doing... it's an injustice to our Naruto. And I want to finally do right."

"Hai, Kaka-sensei!"

"And what do you think of this, Sakura?" Tsunade asked, bluntly breaking through the moment. Sakura pulled herself away from her teacher, appearing unsure. "Can you leave Konoha?"

"Kaka-sensei?" Sakura asked meekly, looking for some sort of guidance. The Copy-cat smiled down at her pleasantly and placed a hand atop her head.

"Sakura, this wasn't a decision made naively. I myself have to travel far, that's a fact, and I want my one remaining student to come with me. I… forsook Sasuke and Naruto. I want to do right by you. But, ultimately, it's your decision."

"But… you're leaving no matter what, Kaka-sensei?" Sakura questioned, only to receive a nod. "Then I can only say, 'Hai!' I'll come with you! But you had better teach me everything you know!"

"Of course," Kakashi actually bowed, a sign of true respect and devotion. Tsunade and Sakura weren't sure what to make of it.

"Fine, fine, do whatever the hell you want," Tsunade crouched, waving her hand at the two. Though, inwardly, her curiosity was piqued. Words were one thing, and she wanted to see just what growth the two could accomplish together. "Drop your Konoha headbands on my desk. And Kakashi..."

"Hm?" He smiled at the Hokage, who didn't return it.

"If you fail that girl, you'll find out why Jiraiya feared me."

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

Shikamaru napped quietly atop his family's roof, allowing the steady wind and flowing clouds to ease his mind. It was about the only practice that worked. When attempting to find some semblance of rest during the night, he would be disturbed awake by images of his teammates all smiling at him and telling him not to worry before rushing off to die. In the end, he would always be standing over the lifeless bodies of Choji, Kiba, Neji, and... Naruto. Even though he had seen Choji, Kiba, and Neji all standing before him, all commending him for his leadership during the mission, once he had laid eyes on Naruto's still form and watched him disappear in flames, he had lost every bit of his strength.

And it still hadn't returned days later.

Asuma would come by daily to play Shogi and attempt to pick up his spirits. But he had failed at every attempt thus far, and on this particular day, the smoking Jounin hadn't show up at his usual time at all. Perhaps he had finally given up.

He was beginning to think so before he was blown across the rooftop by a chakra powered gust of wind, nearly dropping him into the yard three stories down. He scrambled to keep his grip on the roof's edge as Temari of the Sand laughed jovially at his misfortune.

"Are you crazy, woman?" He actually bellowed, still in shock from the sudden attack. The sandy blonde merely shrugged.

"Some would say so," she said, watching merrily as Shikamaru rolled himself back to safety, breathing heavily from the unexpected exertion.

"What... are you doing here?" He snapped, eying her suspiciously. But she grinned like the proverbial cat that caught the canary and brandished a shogi board. To which he promptly groaned.

It was only a few minutes later, however, that found the two seated somewhat peacefully across from one another, both concentrating on the pieces between them. Shikamaru was losing rather pitifully, which Temari took a snipe at every couple of seconds. Her favorite insult was a direct strike to his manhood, though he rarely took the bait. To her, though, it made the occasions on which he did true triumphs.

"So your sensei stopped by to see us this morning," Temari began, actually attempting to strike up a conversation.

"Us?" Shikamaru murmured, only half listening.

"My brothers and I, of course," she explained. "Said he had a mission and that you were feeling down," she mockingly wiped imaginary tears from her eyes with a laugh. "Asked, as a favor, if I could pick your worthless ass up again."

Shikamaru ignored the blatant baiting."Why you? Why not Ino or Chouji? You know... my teammates."

"He said you needed a strong woman's touch," she flashed a devilish grin that he couldn't quite place.

Outside the operating quarters, of Akimichi Chouji and Hyuuga Neji, the Chuunin leader Shikamaru shifted about nervously, ignoring the painful twinge in his lone broken finger. He would fidget, count the seconds, pray to who knows what, adjust his position, and fidget some more.

Occasionally, he would glance across the hall at the Suna girl that seemed to refuse to quit staring at him. She had taken her seat shortly after he arrived and hadn't budged, fixating him with an unchanging look that, even with his own genius intellect, he couldn't decipher. She had crossed her long legs, folded her hands across his knees, and leveled her deep green eyes on him. It was far too troublesome.

Finally, after feeling like he had a hole burned through his forehead, he heard her harsh taunting words break the silence that had long since held them.

"There's nothing being nervous can help," she stated evenly. "Sacrifices are a given in the duty of a shinobi. You've undergone psychological training, haven't you?"

The barb was clear, and Shikamaru scowled. As if she knew anything...

"Real battles are different from training. I knew what missions were. I was told repeatedly what the life of a ninja was supposed to be like. This mission was my first time appointed as a group leader. That's when I knew… I'm just not cut out for this life of a ninja."

"Unexpectedly fragile, aren't you? Or maybe it is expected."

"Even though I was appointed as the group leader, all I could do was leave the battles to everyone else. I'm just… not strong enough. I'm too naive. And this is my entire fault."

"That reminds me... why are you still here again?" he grumbled.

Temari, though, only smiled softly, "My brother Gaara isn't in any shape to travel after the funeral."

"You're smiling as if that's a good thing," Shikamaru quirked an eyebrow, to which Temari surprisingly nodded.

"Gaara has..." but the girl froze, realizing she was about to reveal something deep and secret to a Konoha shinobi... something personal. But when she looked to him, he nodded slightly, telling her she had his full attention. It was a few more silent seconds before she finally relented.

"Gaara has always been alone. Since his birth, he was... special. No one trusted him. No one wanted to be around him. Some even tried to kill him. He grew cold, callous... actually, that's a very light way of putting it. He questioned his own existence, constantly searching for an answer, and eventually, due to clever conditioning from our father, was only able to find it in combat," Temari focused solely on the pieces under her finger tips, afraid that if she looked to the boy she would lose control of her emotions. "Whenever Kankuro and I eventually tried to get close, it was... too late. He tried to kill Kankuro, and it was only due to Baki-sensei and my father stepping in that Kankuro still has use of his legs. But when he met that Uzumaki kid... when they fought... something changed."

"I know they fought," Shikamaru interjected, finally moving his own piece, having forgot they were even playing for a moment. "But I don't know the whole story. What happened out there?"

"Gaara... was beaten outright. Even though my brother pulled out every trick he had... that boy never backed down. He was always screaming at the top of his lungs, screaming that he would... protect everyone." Shikamaru couldn't help the violent flinch that traveled throughout his body. That sounded like Naruto, all right.

Temari suddenly laughed, and the shadow-user blinked at the sound, having never hear anything from the woman other than harsh insults and taunts. It was... nice. "The brat..."

"Naruto."

"What?" Temari asked.

"His name is Naruto,"Shikamaru reiterated. "Not brat. Call him Naruto."

Temari seemed ashamed, at least, as she nodded.

" Naruto even managed to shove a kunai up Gaara's ass!"

"Wait... what?"

"Yep. I'm not kidding. Gaara had surrounded himself in sand, looking like a true demon, and Naruto created all of these clones in order to get behind him. It was a rather skilled display, and I had wondered just what great offensive strategy he had thought up, only to see that it was a kunai enema."

"That Naruto," Shikamaru chuckled with a lopsided grin. "He would..."

"But the thing is, he had attached an explosion tag to it, and BOOM!" Temari cheered, and Shikamaru joined in with a loud laugh. "And then, even when Gaara released the Ichibi, that Naruto summoned a giant toad on the spot-"

"A giant toad?" Shikamaru asked, completely forgetting about Shogi and intent on hearing this particular tale he had missed out on.

"Yep!" Temari laughed, motioning with her hands exuberantly about the size- all notions of nation, rank, and her previous stiffness forgotten. "It was this big! Like a mountain! And he was standing on the toads head in this really heroic position... I was shocked that even he could look so cool."

"Careful, it sounds like you have a crush." At his light prod, there was a faint tint to her cheeks, but she quickly waved it away.

"There's nothing wrong with a little hero worship. And that's what he was to our family. He... after that battle, Gaara changed. Naruto had said things to him that really broke through that shell Gaara built around himself. Hell, he beat things into him. Ever since then, Gaara has been talking to us like he never did before. Asking us about our experiences, and just trying to get to know us. I think he looked at Naruto as his first friend, even if they had tried to kill each other. And this... I don't think he was ready for this tragedy. But... he's become strong. He'll pull through. I never thought I would be saying this, but I have faith in my brother."

She smiled warmly, not looking at him or the shogi board, but off into the distance... probably at her brother. It made him happy he got to see it.

"What did Naruto say to him?"

"I... don't really know. The only thing Gaara has told me, is that he and Naruto were the same."

Shikamaru blinked, not quite sure what that actually meant. He didn't have much time to mull it over either.

"SHIKAMARU!"

"Kame..." the Chuunin groaned, slapping a hand across his forehead. Temari looked at him questioningly and he shrugged. "Mother," he explained.

"Someone is here to see you!" The 'troublesome' brunette stuck her head out the window, using her motherly senses to pinpoint his location.

"I'll be right down," he waved, and he and Temari agilely sprung through the nearby window into the Nara living room. His mother grumbled a few things about 'ninja's and 'all their jumping' before returning to her work, and Shikamaru was left standing before a rather nervous Haruno Sakura.

"Sakura?" he questioned in confusion, her visit not one he expected. Last he knew, she hadn't left the memorial stone since Naruto's name had been carved into it.

"Hello, Shikamaru," she half bowed, fidgeting nervously in her place. "I... erm... came to see how you're doing."

"He's been moping like a bitch," Temari blurted before the Chuunin could reply, earning a grumbling 'troublesome.'

Sakura giggled. "I imagine you could say the same about me, but I had something to discuss with you."

"Gah... two women's admissions in one day?" He smiled jestingly, though Temari socked him on the shoulder.

"Don't think you're some sort of Playboy, crybaby," the Sand Shinobi bit. Sakura's eyes danced between the two, unsure of what was going on.

"Ignore her," Shikamaru advised, to which the pink-haired girl nodded.

"Shikamaru," Sakura began, though seemed unsure of her words. "I just wanted you to know that I'm leaving."

Shikamaru was forced to blink, unsure what that had to do with him of all people.

"... Okay?"

"Kaka-sensei and I are leaving Konoha, and these next few years, I'm going to travel through every nation, learning all I can, and I'm going to become the strongest kunoichi in history! And do you know what I'm going to do when I get back, Shikamaru?" The shadow-user shrugged, perplexed by what she was getting at telling him this. But his eyes widened when she threw her clenched fist out towards him, the resemblance to her blonde teammate almost too much for comfort. "I'm going to become Hokage!"

Shikamaru trembled, his jaw going slack and his mind going a mile a second. He couldn't help the outrageous images of Naruto constantly cheering those words throughout the entire village. He even remembered the challenge he had laid out to every foreign shinobi during the first round of the Chuunin Exams, proclaiming he would never lose to any of them. Slowly, he began to smile. Temari was the first to break the silence however.

"You're going to be the strongest kunoichi, huh?" Temari questioned, though there wasn't a single drop of malice in her tone. Instead, she smiled as brightly as she could muster, further shaking Shikamaru's foundation. Apparently she had caught on just as quickly. "Well, you're going to have to beat me. And kunoichi nothin', pinky! I'm going to become the strongest shinobi there is!" She announced, thumbing her chest proudly.

"I will!" Sakura nodded. "Promise of a lifetime!"

"So troublesome," Shikamaru shook his head, though he couldn't remove the smile from his face. "Well, you can try to become Hokage all you like. Won't happen."

"Why not?" Sakura beamed, already knowing the answer.

"Because I'm going to become Hokage!" Shikamaru proclaimed, earning a rather endearing gaze from Temari.

"Then it's a challenge!" Haruno Sakura bowed formally, which Shikamaru proudly returned. "Until then, see ya'." And she was gone in a dramatic plume of smoke. Shikamaru couldn't be more grateful, for no matter if the demonstration was just for show, it had worked. He could truly feel the Will of Fire flowing throughout him again. When he and Temari returned to their game, he promptly defeated her in three moves and vanished, slipped on his Chuunin vest, and set about getting in touch with the rest of the Konoha Rookies.

Temari stared at the pieces, her chin resting in her palm, looking insanely smug for someone who just lost miserably. "It's about time," she breathed, blowing the board and pieces away with a strong wind.

Tsunade sat at her desk, gently wrapping her fingers rhythmically along the fine wood as she stared at four Konoha headbands spread across her desk, all belonging to Team seven. "So... they're all gone?" She asked to herself.

The scenario was screaming 'deja vu' so loudly it was almost painful.

She still remembered the visit from Jiraiya she had received that had sparked this entire situation to begin with.

"So you figured it out?" Jiraiya asked, though he didn't seem surprised.

"I knew that... that thing," she emphasized by pointing to the corpse of Uzumaki Naruto rather avidly, "Was a fake as soon as my hands touched it! The only reason I played along and didn't piledrive you into the ground was because I knew you wouldn't do something like this without a good reason. So you had better deliver before you become a permanent resident of this hospital!"

Tsunade cracked her knuckles for emphasis, causing the Toad Hermit to gulp nervously.

"First, just to put your mind at ease, know that Naruto is safe," Jiraiya smiled, and Tsunade felt the spirit crushing weight lifted from her shoulders. Forgetting just how tense she had been, the sudden relaxation was almost numbing, and she had to lean against the wall behind her for support.

"Where is he now?"

"With the Toads."

Tsunade was stunned. To send Naruto to Mount Myōboku seemed drastic. "Was that necessary? What will that accomplish?"

"Akatsuki isn't waiting, Tsunade. Their spies have been active throughout every country. They're on the move, and their aim is the Jinchuuriki. Mount Myōboku is the safest place for him right now. I intend to train him there," Jiraiya stated, and immediately Tsunade knew what that would entail.

"You're going to make him a…"

"A Sage, yes," Jiraiya grinned.

"That means he's... gonna get tattoos and stuff," Tsunade groaned, causing Jiraiya to guffaw.

"Hey! These are sexy!" He challenged, pointing to his own red facial markings. Tsunade wasn't impressed, so Jiraiya chose to push forward.

"Just trust that I'll teach him everything I know, and he won't return before then."

"How long will it take?" Tsunade knowing that her cherished 'son' was alive and well tended to, the sudden idea of a spell of quiet was looking appetizing.

"It will take as long as it takes. Years, I can guarantee at least that."

"And what am I supposed to do about that?" Tsunade sneered at the corpse that was still very much disturbing.

"Hold a funeral and burn it," he shrugged, but elaborated upon receiving the Hokage's grimace of disgust. "We can't have village S-Class secrets being revealed by enemy grave robbers, can we? The Akatsuki and Orochimaru will suspect something afoot, and will probably figure out the truth in time. They are geniuses after all. But the loss may initially cause Akatsuki to falter, and I'm hoping it could lead to some mistakes that we can take advantage of."

"You've… thought this through," Tsunade smiled, actually impressed. "Keep up this routine and I may actually take you up on that date you asked for."

Jiraiya laughed out loud, "Me go out with an old hag like you? Wasn't the last time I asked you out twenty years ago?"

"Old bastard," Tsunade's eye brow twitched, though she couldn't hide the amused smirk.

"Tsunade," Jiraiya cut the joviality short, once again turning grimly serious. "You will not tell the others— Hatake, the pink-haired girl, all of his other little friends. They cannot know."

"But… do you have any idea what that will do to morale?"

"They'll survive. They're the strongest generation of Shinobi I've had the privileging of seeing. If anything, this tragedy will only strengthen their resolve," Jiraiya grinned toothily. "Have faith in the strength of your shinobi, Hokage-dono."

Tsunade sighed and absently massaged her temples. "Don't call me that. It just sounds wrong coming from your perverse lips. Makes it almost dirty."

"Hey! I still have some credibility!" The sage scoffed. "But… it's about time I take my leave."

"You mean…?"

"Yes, you won't see or hear from me until Naruto's training is complete. I've been lax on him up until now, and that's going to change. He will have my full attention, just as…" Jiraiya immediately softened, even saddened, though there was still pride. "Just as Minato did."

"Jiraiya," Tsunade smiled, always seemingly deeply touched when he chose to show this side of himself.

"Well, don't miss me too much. Can't have those wrinkles starting to show or those massive breasts sagging out of sadness," the old hermit laughed, and the Hokage sighed, muttering how he always had to ruin every tender moment. "See ya'."

And he was gone, leaving Tsunade with one hell of a mess. But she couldn't help but be confident that it would turn out okay. It was Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya after all.

And he had been right about this particular back of Konoha Shinobi rising to the occasion.

It was only a few moments before that she had every remaining member of the Konoha Eleven, with Shikamaru leading down the pack, breaking down her door for missions, each and every one of them proclaiming they would be the next Hokage. She had nearly fallen out of her chair in shock at the conviction that each of them displayed.

"It'll be a troublesome job, but sure... I'll be Hokage. Why not?" Shikamaru nonchalantly shrugged, though he couldn't hide the excited glimmer in his eyes.

"Hokage-sama! Even though I can't learn ninjutsu... I'll become the first purely Taijutsu Hokage!" Rock Lee proclaimed loudly, bowing so deeply he almost headbutted Tsunade's desk in half.

"Hokage's just not in your fate, Lee," Hyuuga Neji smirked, arms crossed and pearl-white eyes closed. "It's mine."

"No-not disrespecting cousin," Hinata said timidly. "Bu-but, ano, Naruto-kun's dream was to be Ho-Hokage. I want to carry on his dream."

"Ne, Hinata, you're too quiet to be Hokage!" Inuzuka Kiba teased, nudging the Hyuuga heiress softly in her side and causing the girl to blush brightly. "I'll take over, grandma! Just say the word!" Akamaru yipped in agreement.

"And you're too loud, Kiba," Aburame Shino stated cooly. "I believe I'd make the appropriate Hokage."

"Oh yeah, bug boy?"

"And you smell of dog," Shino reiterated, undeterred by his teammates threatened advances.

"Ne, we need a beautiful Hokage, just like Tsunade-sama," Yamanaka Ino flirted, striking a sexy pose, "and like me."

"Sexy is one thing, but an actual strong woman is another," Ten-Ten fired onto the scene. "With Tsunade-sama as my goal, I've strived to be the strongest Kunoichi in Konoha. And now that she's Hokage, I'll shoot for that as well!"

"You're just fooling yourselves," Choji stated through a mouthful of chips. "Konoha needs a truly imposing Hokage. That's me!"

"The only thing imposing about you is your gut!" Kiba shouted over Shino, who was promptly sandwiched between the two warring gennin.

"Please stop touching me," he breathed uncomfortably, bugs beginning to spread about the room.

Tsunade had very promptly ejected them all with hurriedly assigned missions, unable to cope with the sheer amount of Naruto's that had appeared. She massaged her throbbing temples and swore that the blonde idiot had created clones and disguised each of them as one of his peers. The Hokage wouldn't put it past him.

But at the same time, she couldn't stop smiling. Even if most of those damned kids were all talk, it was still good to know that their spirit had returned. Finally, after all that Sarutobi had taught her, Tsunade finally began to understand the real meaning behind that thing he called 'the Will of Fire.'

She once again turned her eyes to the four headbands on her desk. Team Seven...

Kakashi had made a poor teacher. But he admitted it, and was willing to learn at least. But to gain a true command over the Sharingan he possessed, he had to go elsewhere. That meant leaving Konoha.

Haruno Sakura... Tsunade liked the girl. She had amazing chakra control, would be a monster with genjutsu, but was far too love struck to develop what abilities she possessed. Granted, the girl had developed some sense of duty after the funeral, possibly realizing what exactly the Uchiha had done. But only time would tell. The traveling and experience with Kakashi would do her a great service... if it didn't kill her.

Uchiha Sasuke... she absently traced the scar carved through his headband... was a deserter and, at the moment, a murderer. He would not be granted a reprieve. If he was captured by Konoha Anbu and not killed outright, he would be brought before the Konoha council. in which he would be very lucky not to be publicly executed.

Then there was Uzumaki Naruto... and it made her smile just thinking his name. He was alive, and training under the strongest man she knew. When he returned, it would be an absolute bombshell. And while it made her feel unbearably guilty to keep such knowledge from his friends, she couldn't wait to see that particular explosion go off right in the middle of Konoha.

But... until then...

"The funeral was today, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto bowed before the heavily bandaded serpent, who gazed upon his follower with a single, glowing amber eye.

"Was it confirmed?" The Konoha Sannin hissed, but his medic could only shake his head.

"No. Konoha... the Hokage burned the body, proclaiming any S-class secrets he held a potential threat."

"Very sly of Tsunade and Jiraiya," Orochimaru chuckled. "I can't decide. It could go either way. Sasuke-kun, you fought him. Did he die?"

From the shadows, a solitary figure raised his head, ruby eyes glowing in the darkness. "Does it matter either way? If he's dead, I killed him. If he's alive, I'll kill him. When do you start teaching me?"

Kabuto flinched, motioning to the Uchiha to keep it down, though he was blatantly ignored.

"Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru chuckled. The young boy reminded the serpent so much of himself. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't welcome either.

"All I want from you is power," Sasuke reiterated, his crimson eyes flashing dangerously.

Next Chapter - Beginning...

And for those wondering about the flowers, Zinnias are for 'thoughts of an absent friend,' Purple Hyacinth means "I'm sorry/please forgive me/sorrow," and red Camellias say "You're a flame in my heart."