"Hinata-san?"

I turned away from the window to find the elders looking intently at me.

"Yes?"

"What do you think of our proposition?"

I could feel my cheeks begin to turn hot. I hadn't heard their proposition; I hadn't heard much of what was said at this meeting, to be truthful. It was thoughtful of them to invite me, though I couldn't see what use I was. Still, I suppose it was only respectful to invite the late hokage's wife to be a part of the decision making as to who would take over her late husband's position.

"Neji-san. What do you think of Neji-san as the next hokage?"

"I…I think that…he would be a very capable hokage."

Around me some of the council was nodding in agreement, while others began murmuring their discontent.

More suggestions were made, among them some up and coming talented young ninja, as well as some familiar names. Neji-niisan, for one, though Sasuke-san, Sakura-san, and even Shino were mentioned as well. One elder even went as far as to propose that Shikamaru-san should leave his position as head tactical leader in the sand village and return to Konoha, though that idea was discarded.

An older woman with her hair done up in a tight bun spoke up.

"In the end being Hokage takes something more than just ability, and none of these candidates have it."

A wave of consensus could be heard around the table.

Next to me a middle-aged man stood up and addressed the council.

"There's really only one person in Konoha who is worthy of being hokage..."
"And you are ignorant enough to assume we haven't asked him?"

Irie-sama, the eldest of the council turned directed himself towards the middle aged man.

"We went to him first, before calling together a council was even considered."
"And what was his answer?"
"Do you think that we would all be here if he had accepted?"

The room was silent now, and Irie-sama spoke again, though to no one in particular.

"That man has never sought out the position of Hokage, and is adamant that we can find another better than him….He is wrong however, and Konoha needs him now, more than ever."

I thought of Naruto, and how he had always placed his love for this village foremost in his heart. He wouldn't stand for the thought of this village being handed over into incapable hands. Yet here I was now content to let them do as they pleased so long as I could leave this meeting. It was shameful really, I was not bringing Naruto's memory honor with my selfish thoughts. I needed to stand for him now; I needed do as he would have wanted.

"Maybe I can….."

The voices of the council overlapping made it virtually impossible to hear my feeble petition.

I stood up and clapped my hands together loudly. The others now turned and stared at me with slack faces. The attention made me automatically blush and I almost reconsidered but I couldn't stay silent now.

"Maybe I can try to convince him. I understand I do not have the same influence as Irie-sama, but I still think that maybe...well, it would not hurt to try."

My statement was met with a sea of apprehensive stares and I felt my hope begin to fade. I was nowhere near as good at rousing others as Naruto was.

Finally Irie-sama broke the awkward silence, by saying in a monotonous voice,
"I suppose it can't hurt."

"Thank you!" I made a quick bow and then rushed out the door, running as fast as my legs could move.

"Hinata-san, the meeting isn't over yet!"

I pretended not to hear Irie-sama's voice resounding through the hall as I made my way to the small home across the coppice.

The house was small, and meticulously well-kept from the looks of it. Now that I was here I found myself hesitant to knock. Would he turn me away, slam the door at my face and laugh at me?

I shook my head trying to rid myself of the thought. Of course not, he had always been pleasant to me…though perhaps that only because I was something to Naruto. Now that's Naruto's gone what if….my mind wandered into imaginings of various ways the situation could end: me humiliated, me crying, me dead…

Wait, what was I thinking? He was not a criminal in the least; I was letting my imagination get the best of me.

I stood in front of the door and hastily knocked before I could change my mind. There was nothing to be heard, no sign of any inhabitants.

I turned on my heel almost relieved, but in the back of my mind was the nagging thought that Naruto wouldn't give up so easily. I could almost hear his voice encouraging me, "Don't back down now Hinata, you came for an answer and you better not leave until you get it!"

I turned in front of the door again and knocked more forcefully this time.

The door flung open and Kakashi stood in front of me, slouched to one side.
"Yo."

"I am sorry to bother you, but I have something to discuss with you, that is"

Kakashi cut me off, standing aside and motioning for me to enter.

The home inside was also immaculate, but I suspected it was because Kakashi owned such few possessions rather than he had a great love for cleaning.

"Eh, I'd ask you to take a seat but as you can see I have no seating available. Sorry about that, I don't have many guests so I never saw any need to buy chairs and the like." He scratched his head then turned back towards to me. 'To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you again, Hinata-san?"

"I suppose you know that the council members are looking for a new hokage."
"So Irie-sama is using you now in an attempt to entice me into a position I already denied?"
"No! I mean, I came here of my own will."

He sighed and looked at me seriously. "I don't want this job. I'm too old, too weak, I'm sure they can find someone more adequate than I."

"You're wrong Kakashi-sensei. You have to believe me, there is no one in this village more capable than you for this position."

Kakashi shook his head. "The village would never accept a man as hokage whose father abandoned them. Besides, my strength is not what it used to be, I could never live up to your expectations."

A sudden feeling of urgency rose up within me. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that if Konoha was handed over to any other our village would be in trouble. The news of the death of the hokage had spread fast, and several council members feared surrounding villages were waiting for the announcement of the new hokage, making plans of attack to be put into action if they thought it could succeed. Kakashi needed to accept the offer before him for the villager's sake, for my children's sake, for Naruto's sake…

"Naruto would have wanted this village to be protected and safe, it's what he lived for and it's what he died for. I speak for Naruto as well as myself now, this village needs you and it'd be wrong of you to turn away. Whatever concerns you have of acceptance and your own safety are selfish ones. I've always respected you as a ninja and a person, but you're nothing more than a coward if you don't accept."

Realizing what I had just said I blushed with remorse and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean those harsh words but please Kakashi-sensei, this village needs you."

I looked down at the ground, afraid of his answer. Kakashi then crouched into my line of vision, causing me to look him in the eye.

"Tell them I accept."

He looked out the window and faced away from me. Taking that as my cue to leave I slowly backed my way out, still astonished at what I had just heard.

"Thank you, thank you so much Kakashi-sensei."
"Oh, and Hinata-san?"
"Yes?"
"You should hold your head up from now on; you do speak for Naruto after all."