I'm happy to say that everything will be right with the world of Naruto during this chapter. Love letters, realizations, and the "passing of the torch" will occur. So enjoy!
Once again, read the first chapter's disclaimer
Chapter Three: Passing the Torch
Unfolding another blanket and laying it carefully over a sleeping child, Kaede smiled for the first time in hours. After setting out the plan with Ibiki, and getting Sakura and Naruto on her side, she'd left the small room full of her friends. From there, she had gone to the larger rooms—about the size of gymnasiums—where the women and children milled about, trying to hide their fear. Only a few of the men had made it back to their families, and those who had lost loved ones wept when others weren't looking. All the children, no matter their age, went off by themselves and silently fought back what they were feeling. Kaede's heart went out to them—they were so strong, even at their young ages.
She had carried blankets to ever person in the rooms, sharing consoling words with them, giving them comfort, providing them with something to cover up with in the damp rooms. For the children, she made makeshift toys out of the supplies she could spare, fashioning pillowcases stuffed with cloth into teddy bears, the handles of kunai knives into play hammers for them to hit the floor with. She played with each child individually, playing patty-cake, peek-a-boo, hand games, hopscotch, and a menagerie of other games. Some of the kids had brought along toys of their own, and happily shared stuffed animals, board games, and playing cards. Kaede encouraged this sharing, and watched with a warmed heart as the cheer spread through the mourning groups of kids.
After kissing the child lightly on the head, she stood up and adjusted the stack of blankets in her arms. Watching smiles on children's faces helped to make her day a little bit better. She wasn't in the best position of her life. Sasuke had reappeared out of nowhere, and she couldn't bring herself to ask him where the hell he'd been—she could barely think about him without getting queasy and having to sit down. Even after kissing him in the spurt of a small achievement they weren't on the good terms with each other. She couldn't look at him; he couldn't stop looking at her. He wanted to hold him; she wanted to be left alone. And on top of it all, Naruto wasn't talking to her. The blond kyuubi vessel had, for years, been her greatest confidant, before Miki, and even before Sakura had gained her trust.
Sure, the kunoichi was speaking to her, and even helping her with the children, but without Naruto there to crack jokes and make funny faces, it didn't seem right.
Kaede sighed and made her way towards a worried-looking woman with an infant in one arm, a toddler in the other, and a five-year-old tugging on her skirt. Silently, she took the weeping two-year-old from the mother and handed her a blanket for the baby. Then, she lightly tugged the older child off the woman's skirt and scooped the little boy into her arms.
Shushing the younger of the two and sitting down next to their mother, Kaede settled the two children on her lap and grabbed a blanket off of the stack she'd set on the ground. She wrapped it around the little kids and rocked them gently. The two-year-old yawned and nuzzled into her shoulder, grasping the blanket in one tiny fist. A pair of big green eyes looked up at Kaede, and she smiled down at the older daughter, and the little girl smiled back.
Across the room, unbeknownst to Kaede, stood Sasuke, watching the tender scene with warmth in his eyes. He wore simply a half-open white shirt and black, baggy pants, but something was missing. It was something about his face…his headband. He wasn't wearing a headband across his forehead like he'd used to. But that didn't matter. His eyes were only for Kaede, cuddling and comforting the probably fatherless children while the mother rocked the infant to sleep. All around the room, children were napping or playing with the few toys available to them. They, along with their families, would be here for a long time. No one knew how long the supplies would last. All of these people meant so much to Kaede. And no matter what, Sasuke realized, she would take care of them and make sure they had everything they needed. Well, he wouldn't let her do it alone.
With a determined nod, Sasuke turned and left the room, intent on helping his Kaede, and these people, whether she wanted it or not.
Kaede set the children down next to their mother, on three pillows bunched together to make a small bed. She gave the woman a one-armed hug, an encouraging smile, and a promise to come back later and see how everyone was doing. As she walked away from them, eyes already locked on another small family, she found her mind wandering to if she would ever have a family. No, she told herself. She wouldn't think that far ahead. Her only goal was to get these people what they needed, and to take Konoha back into the hands of its citizens.
She knelt next to an older couple, holding tightly onto each other. With a soft smile, she handed them one big blanket, and they took it gratefully. Next to them was their few possessions they had brought—two bags of clothes, and what looked like a diary. The old man, seeing her small glance at the book, smiled gently and picked it up, caressing the leather binds.
"It's a book of our letters to one another," he said, patting the space next to him and inviting Kaede to sit down. She did, and looked up into his crinkled face. His features were not hardened and firm like the other men. His were soft, kind, and welcoming. Like a grandfather, which she bet he was.
"That's so sweet," Kaede gushed, acting like the nineteen-year-old girl she was, and the old man and woman laughed.
"Yes," the woman said, looking up at her husband. "We've been together for nearly fifty years."
"Wow," Kaede said softly, staring at the book with a new appreciation. The wrinkled leather cover was faded and worn with age, and the pages yellowed. If these two people had been married for that long…their love must be a great thing, she marveled, still gazing at the book.
Seeing the warm way she was looking at the book, the old man handed it to her, pressing it into her hands when she tried to give it back. "You should have it," he said, putting an arm around his wife. "You're young, and we already know the words by heart. It needs to go to someone who will take care of it, and maybe one day, when you're old and still married with your own book of letters, you can give this one and yours to some youngster who needs it. Just like you do."
Amazed, Kaede thanked them and stood up, clutching the book to her chest. She picked up her blankets and strode across the room, heading for Sakura. The book represented much more than a relationship between two people. Its pages, however worn they were, and the words written on them, showed how a man and a woman could possess such a love than ran deep enough to last them some fifty-odd years. Kaede had not known something like that could stay strong for that long. Even she and Sasuke's relationship had always been sort of unsteady, no matter how much they thought they loved each other. When he left, it sent their link spiraling down an endless black hole, irretrievable, nonexistent.
Sakura greeted Kaede with a bright but tired smile and relieved her of her blanket burden. She noticed the book that the Hokage was holding and tilted her head. "What's that?" she asked, pointing at the letters.
Kaede glanced down, then back up. "Oh." She laughed softly. "Sorry, I was totally out of it. These are letters," she explained, flipping through the pages to show the other girl. "An old couple gave it to me—they're over there." But when she turned around to point them out, they weren't there. She blinked and scanned the room again, but didn't see them anywhere. "I guess they went to another room or something."
But Sakura shook her head. "Nope. No one is allowed to leave at all. Maybe they're laying down or something and you can't see them."
"Maybe," Kaede mused, rubbing her thumb over the spine of the book. She shrugged one shoulder—the one that wasn't injured—and linked arms with the pink-haired kunoichi. "Let's go see what else these people need."
Sakura balked, shaking her head. "No, Kaede. You need to rest," she reasoned, redirecting her through the door. "Come on, we can go sit down in the cafeteria and read through these letters." She held a finger to Kaede's lips when she tried to protest. "Ok, you used forbidden jutsu, were dragged eight miles, and thrown off the top of the Hokage temple. You. Need. Rest."
Unable to argue, Kaede agreed and they walked to the cafeteria, which was really just a large room lined with tables and benches made from wood. It was all rather dreary, and the only light came from candles, but it was all they had.
They sat down at a table in the far corner and leaned against the wall, propping their feet on the bench. Kaede sighed and opened the book to the first page. A withered, pressed rose fell out and landed on her lap. She picked it up and held it to her nose; the sweet scent was still there. She handed it to Sakura, who placed it on the table.
"OK," Kaede said, placing the book in between them. "So, who wants to read it first?"
"Um," Sakura mumbled, tapping her chin and thinking. "I think I'll read the first one, and then we'll keep switching, K?" When Kaede nodded, Sakura cleared her throat and read:
Dearest,
There are no words to describe how much I miss you. Here in Suna, where the sun beats down on us during the day and the winds whip us at night, I can't help but think of you wherever I go. Whenever I step outside into the heat, I wish you were walking with me. When I wrap up in layers of cloth against the blowing sands, I want to wrap you up here next to me.
Our work is going smoothly. Soon, the new Kazekage Temple will be up and you will be able to see what we have done. The other men and I are working hard to finish this project, and head home to our families. The youngest in our team, a boy named Daichi, says he has a girl back in Konoha waiting for him. It's sweet to see young love blooming so perfectly.
I've got to get back to work now, dear. I hope to see you soon, and I will write to you in every spare moment I have.
Love,
Hideo
"Aww!" Sakura cried, hugging the book to her chest. "That's so sweet! Oh, and he's so far away from her!"
Blinking, Kaede tugged the book from her friend and flipped to the next letter. "Here, it's one from his wife."
Dearest,
I am so glad that your project is almost finished. I cannot wait to see how the new temple turns out. When are you going to come home? The other wives and I are looking forward to having you men return.
That boy, Daichi, seems to have caught the bug just like we did a few years ago. Do you remember? I can still see you walking towards me, holding that bouquet of roses—I still have one of them. Wasn't it funny when you tripped over your own feet in your nervousness and fell flat on your face? And just as you were about to say that big pick up line of yours. What was it…ah, yes. "Your eyes are blue pools in which I could drown in forever." It seemed sweet then, but I guess you didn't realize that my eyes weren't blue, but green.
Please be save, dear. I love you so very much, and am eagerly awaiting your arrival. Remember the roses?
Love,
Chizo
"That's so sweet," Kaede whispered, looking at the dried up rose, as was Sakura. She reached out and picked it up, placing it back in front of the first letter where it belonged. Sakura turned the page and started on the next letter. For hours, she and Kaede read through every letter, ooh-ing, aww-ing, and clinging to each other as the words became sweeter and sweeter. Chizo and Hideo seemed to be so deeply in love.
When they turned the page to where the last letter was supposed to be, there was nothing, except for a faded picture. Sakura gently picked it up and held it to the light, trying to see it better. Both girls peered at it together, and gasped at the same time. Inside the white frame, two people, a man and a woman, stood smiling. The man's arm was wrapped around the woman's waist, their heads tilted against each other.
Even in the picture, their feelings towards each other were obvious. They were positively glowing as they stared at the camera, grinning ear to ear.
"Wow," Sakura said, tucking the picture in the back of the book again. "Those were so sweet. I can hardly believe the way they talked about each other. It was so…I dunno, fairy-tail-ending, I guess."
"Yeah," Kaede agreed, watching as Sakura closed the book and laid it on the table. The pink-haired kunoichi stretched and looked up at the ceiling.
"You know," she began, and Kaede glanced over at her before following the other girl's gaze. "Naruto has always been a little angry at you."
Kaede nodded, having already gotten that message. "I think it's because I became Hokage, and not him." When Sakura nodded slowly, Kaede went on, "The only reason I set my goal so high was because of…well, Sasuke left. And I guess I wanted to prove that if I was strong enough, and skilled enough, he would come back to me." She sighed. "He did, but just a little too late."
Sakura was silent. Kaede darted a look at the kunoichi, and saw the way her eyes had taken on a far-off look. She seemed to be thinking what Kaede had said over, and for a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then, Sakura said, "I don't think it's too late."
Gaping, Kaede stared at Sakura, but she stood up and straightened her skirt. As she was walking off, she called over her shoulder, "Sasuke came back for you, Kaede. I wouldn't let a chance like that pass me up."
The kunoichi walked out of the room, leaving Kaede staring after her. Kaede hugged her knees to her chest, still leaning against the wall, and rested her chin on top of them. Her eyes strayed from the book to the wall. She couldn't help but think about what Sakura had said. Sure, Sasuke came back for her. But what he'd done—leaving her—was, in her mind, unforgivable. And yet there was that little thump-thump her heart did every time his name came to mind. She felt like she was torn in two, one side begging for Sasuke's arms to wrap around her, the other wanting to shun him. Her entire life for the past years had been focused around her village, but underlying that focus was something completely different.
Underneath that focus was the hope that some day, somehow, if she became good enough, that Sasuke would come home to her. She looked at the book of letters, then back at the wall, wondering why she became Hokage in the first place. Sure, she loved Konoha with all her heart, but she knew that wasn't the reason. She'd become Hokage to prove herself. Well, that just wouldn't work, would it?
She stood up abruptly, scooping the book off the table as she went. Her feet carried her at a flat-out run out of the cafeteria and into the room where she'd woken up many hours earlier. She found that her muscles were no longer screaming in pain—Tsunade must have healed her in her unconscious state. But that didn't come to her as a pressing matter. The only thing on her mind was reaching the old Hokage and asking her what could be the most important question for the sake of Konoha.
"Tsunade!"
The Sannin turned at the sound of her name to see Kaede dashing towards her at top speed. Her eyes widened at the sight and she waved her hands in front of her, mouthing "no" repeatedly. Kaede skidded to a stop just inches from crashing into Tsunade, breathless and panting.
"Um…are you OK, Kaede?" Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes…can I….talk…to you?" Kaede panted, leaning on her knees for support and wiping her brow with one hand. Tsunade nodded, and allowed the Hokage to lead her to the same corner they'd spoke in before.
Tsunade crossed arms and stared harshly into Kaede's hazel eyes, making a point that this better be good. Kaede found herself unable to talk under the woman's gaze. She was afraid of Tsunade—why, she didn't know. But she would just have to suck it up and get it over with.
"Tsunade?" Kaede said a little more quietly that she'd originally intended. The Sannin lifted her chin in encouragement. Kaede took a deep breath and went on, "Say that you were Hokage again. And you were tired of your position and didn't think that you could fulfill everyone's expectations. So you wanted to give the title of Hokage to someone else. Could you do that?"
Tapping her chin and taking a moment to think, Tsunade nodded slowly. "I believe so." She paused and sized Kaede up. "Is there any particular reason why you wanted to ask me this?"
A mischievous grin spread across the young Hokage's face, she rubbed her hands together and stood on tiptoe to whisper in Tsunade's ear. The older woman's eyes widened and her smile matched Kaede's. When Kaede pulled away, Tsunade placed a hand on her shoulder, silently asking if this was what she really wanted to do. She nodded, and Tsunade pulled her into a crushing hug.
"I'm proud of you," Tsunade said in a low voice, then they parted, Tsunade keeping one arm around Kaede's shoulders. "Let's go find him, eh?"
Kaede nodded, and they walked across the small meeting room into another hallway. This hallway connected to a makeshift kitchen, more supply closets, and a small room holding white sheeted beds for those who became sick. Kaede and Tsunade walked into this tiny hospital, knowing that the young man they were looking for was in there, getting his battle wounds healed.
"I'm telling you, I don't need to be healed! I'm fine!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes as the irritated, familiar voice floated across the room. She gave Kaede a little push ahead of her, and the very nervous Hokage fumbled with the end of her shirt as she walked up to the blonde kyuubi vessel. Naruto turned to glare at her when she stopped in front of him.
"Naruto," she said, thinking of her words before they came out of her mouth. "A few years ago, my goal shaped into being the Hokage. I didn't care if I had to beat you and a dozen other people; I just knew that I would get there. And I did. But it was wrong of me. I wanted to become Hokage to prove my power, my strength, and possibly—," she hesitated, unsure of how she was to put this, "—bring back someone that left me." Naruto nodded in understanding, but his look was no less cold. "It wasn't right of me. You, on the other hand, yearned to be Hokage to prove yourself, to gain respect, and to serve and protect Konoha. Those are the right reasons to become Hokage. I chose the wrong way."
"Where is this going?" Naruto snapped, jerking his arm away from the nurse who was trying to bandage him.
Kaede sighed and locked eyes with the blond. He seemed startled by the fierceness in her gaze. "I am passing along the legacy of the Hokage. To you."
Silence.
"Wha—what?" Naruto stared in a mix of wonder and confusion at the stubborn girl in front of him. "Do you mean—" He hesitated, not wanting to voice the words that he had longed to hear since childhood.
She nodded. "Naruto, you're the new Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves." Carefully, she leaned closer to him and kissed both his cheeks. "Congratulations."
In a flash, Naruto was standing, knocking the poor nurse off of her feet, and he was wrapping his arms around her in a bear hug that rivaled Tsunade's. He swung her around jubilantly, repeatedly kissing the top of her head and thanking her. Kaede couldn't do anything but laugh at his excitement. Finally, she felt like she had done something right. Naruto had accomplished his dream.
He set her down on her feet, and she wavered a little, dizzy from Naruto's impromptu celebration. She was still laughing, she realized, and so was he. He grabbed her hands in his and held them tightly, his blue eyes boring into hers.
"You have no idea what…I mean, Kaede, this is…Oh, thank you!"
Chuckling, Kaede shook her head. "I know what it means to you, it's wonderful, and you're very welcome. You deserve to be Hokage." Feeling a little sad, she took her hands from his and touched his arm. "Naruto, you are the new Hokage. You have the love for Konoha and the determination that it takes to lead this village. I hope that under you, the Leaf will once again reign as the strongest."
Then, with one last glance at a still astonished Naruto, Kaede turned and walked out of the small hospital, Tsunade following her. The older Sannin stopped her just outside the door and smiled warmly at her. "You did the right thing, Kaede. You've just given Konoha the best Hokage we could have asked for."
Yahoo! And in the next chapter, we reveal where Sasuke was for all of those years. Keep on reviewing, I love you all!
Nicola