A/N: I know some of you are like, "What the hell is that moron thinking?" but please allow me to clarify any misconceptions you may have about some of the plot, characters, and their motives.
I think I'll just mix them together and let you draw the picture from there:
Orochimaru- Orochimaru hates Konoha because of how after all the good and all the praise they gave him as a Sannin, in which he helped to win two wars, just about everyone in the village turned their backs on him for his experiments. The only ones not to hate him were; Tsunade and Jiraiya, but Tsunade had left the village at the time. Jiraiya stayed his friend because, unlike everyone else, he knew Orochimaru was using these experiments to help deal with his pending fear of death. When the persecution of him and his character became so bad to make him leave the village Orochimaru, in anger, swore he'd burn the village to the ground and build on its ashes. He swore he'd make a better village where a person is judged by the good they do, and not the few evils they commit. Jiraiya tried to stop him, but Orochimaru's mind was made up, so Jiraiya swore he'd protect the village because innocent and precious people, like his student at the time Minato, were still there. Orochimaru and Jiraiya then began their 'game' of chasing after their dreams and one another.
Orochimaru, at some point during this time, overcame his fear of death, but had grown to like playing the big bad villain of Konoha. Jiraiya told him that he could be somewhat of a double-agent protecting Konoha from the outside and making it look like he was being evil at the same time. Orochimaru liked the idea of messing with the people of Konoha so he joined the Akatsuki, since he knew they were hunting Jinchuriki. Around this time Itachi Uchiha had become a member and Orochimaru attacked him; thinking he'd be upping his villain reputation by killing the Uchiha clan murder and eliminating a real threat to the village. Itachi, thinking Orochimaru wanted his eyes like the rumors said, went into Orochimaru's mind using his Sharingan and saw what Orochimaru was really doing, but not before he cut off the man's hand.
Itachi and he then had a talk and both were annoyed with the fact that neither was any true threat to the village. Itachi proposed that they, at separate times, return to the village just to keep them on alert in case of real threats, since both were powerful enough to escape the village. Orochimaru liked the idea, so he returned to terrorize the village, and Anko, every three to five years. He even told Jiraiya that he'd do it under the pretense that he wanted Sasuke and that he was planning the destruction of the village. Jiraiya liked it, and Orochimaru let him catch wind of the Invasion he was planning.
During his battle with Jiraiya last Chapter the two spoke of Naruto and Sasuke and Orochimaru began to think of the future more than his fun with being evil. He resigned to have Sasuke trained as the new Snake Sannin since Jiraiya had already began Naruto's training in the Toad ways. Orochimaru has come to realize that when he left Konoha he was bitter, hated, and hunted, and that he didn't want anyone else to experience that if he could help it, so he formulated a plan… which you'll find out about later.
Kakashi- Kakashi was on a mission while Naruto was made the Fifth Hokage. Once he got back, the next day, he was overjoyed that one of his students was made Hokage, and the youngest ever Hokage at that; though he didn't get to enjoy this for long as he found out that Itachi Uchiha was in the village. Kakashi tailed Itachi until it came to a battle, which left him with so much mental pain that it hut to move about physically. Once he was resting in his bed he actually put serious thought into Naruto having been made Hokage. He knew Naruto could do it, but was concerned with the boy's lack of experience in dealing with politics and other mentally stressing situations.
It was long before his friends came to visit him with news that Naruto and Jiraiya had set out to find Tsunade to heal him. He was very glad to hear that, but was still pressed on his thoughts of Naruto being Hokage. He made the mistake of messing up his words and his friends took it as a lack of faith in the Fire Daimyo and Shinobi Council's decision of having Naruto as Hokage. Later on he reflected over what was said when his friends stopped visiting him. He wanted to slap himself, but the pain of lifting his arm was good enough. He reviewed what was said and then thought out what he actually meant by his words, or what he missed in his sayings. He decided that as soon as he was healed that he'd track down Naruto and set things straight while also finding out what really happened during the Invasion with Gaara.
Sasuke- Sasuke truly cares for his teammates as if they were his family, but keeps himself from showing it so he won't get attached. He's under the thought that if he has loved ones Itachi will only come back and kill them. He is afraid Itachi will come back and destroy any happiness he has because he's under the impression that Itachi is insane and will do anything to make his life miserable as hell.
He recently learned, since he gained the second tome of the Sharingan and read the Uchiha Secret Tablet, that in order to obtain a Mangekyo Sharingan, like Itachi has, he must kill his the closet person to him; Naruto. Ever since he read that, which was directly after the Invasion, he has shut himself off from everyone and from caring for others, including his team. He doesn't realize this behavior is driving him closer to what he doesn't want to happen.
Naruto is his best friend and he thinks of them as brothers. He thinks of Sakura as a friend and little sister. He is also frustrated at the fact that Naruto has found power in caring for people; by loving and protecting them, while he fears to do so because of his fear of what Itachi may do. He is also angry that after the Invasion Naruto was not around and that he seemed to be hiding something from him; his Hokage position. Sasuke wants to know what Naruto is hiding and if Naruto can help him with Itachi.
After his pathetically one-side battle with Itachi he was placed in a coma. While in this coma he began to reflect over his life, his fears and those close to him. He resolves that when he wakes up he'll get Naruto to tell him his secret so he can tell Naruto about the Uchiha tablet. He believes that it's time to stop running from his fears and face them head on, with Naruto and Sakura at his sides.
Boy… that was a lot… Oh well, now do you guys guy it? Orochimaru isn't all evil, but he loves being bad and it's all one big prank to him. Kakashi is too lazy to think before he speaks and resigns to do it later. Sasuke is an emo-kid who is finally getting the thought "Strength in friends" and Sakura is just well… Sakura! I don't even need to explain her! So I'll just say, "Enough of this crap" and move on with the show.
Last Time:
"Summoning Jutsu!" The three legendary Sannin exclaimed in unison as they all slammed their left hands to the ground in unity.
Just then all view from the outside was obscured as three large clouds of smoke erupted into the air. The win blew and in the place of the smoke clouds were three gigantic animals; the toad, the snake, and the slug; better known as Gamabunta the Toad Boss, Manda the Snake Lord, and Katsuyu the Slug Queen. The three most powerful summons in the world.
Now:
Chapter 9: Closure of the Sannin Showdown
Shizune with Tsunade starred down Orochimaru atop Katsuyu. Kabuto, along with Orochimaru, looked worried as they gazed at the other two summons upon the head of Manda. Naruto, along with Jiraiya, looked a bit saddened that things had to come to such a large scale battle. Although, as Naruto looked at each of the three Sannin, it seemed to him that they were each having a trip down memory lane, so to speak.
"Manda and Orochimaru, Katsuyu and Tsunade. The dear old faces reunited once again." The Toad Boss said as he smoked his pipe and looked around seeing the slug to his left and the snake to his right. "Did you bring a hanky Jiraiya? I think I'm gonna cry."
"You old fool. I didn't summon you here, after all this time, just to listen to your stupid jokes. Today I'm ending Orochimaru here." Jiraiya said as Orochimaru sneered at him.
"Well Orochimaru, why have you called me here? You know I don't like being summoned." Manda said coldly as Orochimaru continued to stare at Jiraiya. "Maybe I should just eat you and be done with this?"
"No, please don't say such things, Manda-sama. We merely required your help in dealing with some difficult opponents. You'll be well rewarded for your troubles don't worry-" Kabuto tried to be as polite as possible in the face of the largest snake summon and lord of all snakes.
"You dare speak to me whelp? Who do you think you're talking to? So, Orochimaru, when this is over I demand one hundred human sacrifices!" Manda said, sounding furious as Kabuto wisely backed off.
"You will get your sacrifices, Manda." Orochimaru hissed out, not really caring either way so long as he got what he wanted, and right now he wanted both of his old teammates, and their apprentices, knocked into the dirt so he could escape.
"Katsuyu, prepare for battle." Tsunade said as the Slug Queen ready herself for the fight that was to come.
"As you wish, Tsunade-sama." Katsuyu replied as she began creating acid slime in her stomach.
"I'm gonna pop you like a balloon, you stinkin' dirty toad!" Manda said as Gamabunta put a ready hand on his weapon as he prepared for the fight.
"Then please, come on and try it. The wife was bugging me about a snake skin purse anyway." Gamabunta said in a pleasant and casual tone as Naruto looked shocked.
"You're married!" Naruto exclaimed as every human being face faulted from their battle ready positions; even the three enormous beasts sweat-dropped at his little moment. Jiraiya got up and smacked him upside the head while Tsunade and Orochimaru were asking about the boy's mental health.
"Are you sure he's it or is it his evil twin brother? Because there is no way that obnoxious brat could ever hold a title I was once recommended for!" Orochimaru exclaimed as Tsunade was agreeing all the way.
"Really Jiraiya, what are you teaching brats now-a-days; How to be half-assed and crazy like you?" Tsunade yelled to Jiraiya as both he and Naruto chuckled nervously from on top Gamabunta.
"No more jokes. Let's get to it!" Jiraiya said as he and everyone else quickly switched gears back to serious as the fight began.
The wind blew as they gave each other another stare down. Tsunade and Katsuyu decided to make the first move.
"Katsuyu!"
"Right, Acid Slime!" Katsuyu said as she spitted out a geyser of green acid, forcing the snake lord to dodge behind a rock.
In retaliation, Manda slithered over to the Slug Queen with impressive speeds and wrapped himself around her, squeezing her as if trying to pop a balloon. Gamabunta tried to take the opening with a sword stab, but his weapon was grabbed away by the serpent's mouth, who then turned it back to his captive, chuckling evilly.
"Katsuyu!" Tsunade said as Katsuyu already knew what her lady wanted of her. Tsunade and Shizune nodded to each other as they jumped away from Katsuyu.
"Yes, Milady. Katsuyu Great Fission!"
Katsuyu split into countless small slugs and simply dissolved out of the snake's grasp. Once Manda saw that his prey had gotten away, He turned his sights, and tail, on Gamabunta; making the giant toad flip back to dodge said tail. After he was a good distance away Manda threw the blade at him, forcing him to dodge to the side as the blade then fell before Katsuyu. Tsunade and Shizune used it as a level to hop back onto the Slug Queen's head. Tsunade smirked as she saw the sword, while Shizune back away a bit.
"Here they come!" Jiraiya said as Gamabunta grunted.
"I can see 'em." The toad boss snapped back as Manda charged forward.
"Katsuyu-sama, stay back! Gamabunta-sama, time for some oil! Jiraiya-sensei, a little fire would be appreciated!" Naruto yelled as all three nodded in unison, and raced through hand signs. Gamabunta gathered toad oil from his stomach and into his mouth as he prepared for his part.
"Toad Oil Bomb!" Gamabunta exclaimed mentally as he shot out a stream of toad oil. Acting quickly Jiraiya took a deep breath and cast his jutsu a spilt second after Gamabunta.
"Fire Style: Toad Flame Bomb!" Jiraiya cast as Naruto gathered wind chakra in his hands and fired it upon seeing that his sensei had enacted his jutsu.
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" Naruto exclaimed as he shot his hand forward into the toad oil and the flames of his sensei's jutsu.
As all three techniques combined they completely overtook Manda and the land behind the Snake Lord. The very earth was melted into a lava earthen-trench from the powerful flames of the jutsu. Not a single speck of Manda was left put the ashes that scattered to the winds. Yet, Jiraiya and Naruto continued to be serious faced as they gazed down at the ground.
"Damn snake shed his skin and when underground." Jiraiya said lowly as Gamabunta nodded while the ground beneath them started to break apart.
"Yeah, I can feel it." The Toad Boss said as he reacted quickly and grabbed the tail of the snake. Wait… the tail! Naruto turned quickly as he flashed through more hand signs.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Naruto exclaimed as he spat out mud, which quickly became a large mountainous wall of earth.
It was not a second to soon as Manda came up from the ground only to smash his face into the wall. That was when Jiraiya looked up, having saw something gleaming in the sun above him; only to see Tsunade coming down on the Snake Lord… with Gamabunta's sword! The sword went through Manda's mouth and impaled the ground as well with the force she had used.
"Take that you over-sized garden snake! Do you know for how many years I wanted to do that, but couldn't because you were a comrade! Well now we aren't, you fake-ass King Cobra!" Tsunade yelled and ranted on about how she hated Manda while Orochimaru and everyone else sweat-dropped at her words.
Orochimaru had enough and finally shot his tongue out at her as he wrapped it around her neck. Shizune rushed forward to stop him, but Katsuyu stopped her, saying she'd get killed if she interfered. They all looked on as Tsunade fell to one knee while Orochimaru choked her. It was then something white and orange blurred forward and slammed a fist into Orochimaru's face, causing him to loosen his hold on Tsunade just enough for her to escape.
Orochimaru turned to who hit him only to see Naruto as his haori blew in the wind showing the orange inside of the long overcoat.
"Ku, ku, ku… Always have to have some orange, eh, Naruto?" Orochimaru asked teasingly as he found himself bent over with Naruto's fist in his gut not a second later.
"Less talking and more of me kicking your ass." Naruto said as he forced Orochimaru into the air, pounding away at the Snake Sannin while adding more and more chakra with each punch until he found his max under the limiter.
"Kyuubi, remove the limiter! I'm going all out on him! He won't escape, no; he won't live for what he did to the Old Man and Sasuke!" Naruto shouted mentally as he continued punching Orochimaru through the air.
"Geez, not one day with it on and you already want in off…." Kyuubi grumped, but complied with Naruto's request.
Naruto quickly felt all his strength returning to its previous 45% without Kyuubi's chakra and started kicking things up a notch. While they were still in the air Naruto punched Orochimaru higher than himself, but then grabbed the man's purple rope tie to pull the man back to him and kicked the older man back down to land where he crashed landed forming a crater. It appeared as if nothing had happened to the Snake Sannin as he got back up and tried to run away.
"Oh no you don't! I'm not done with you yet!" Naruto yelled while running after him and then flipping over him, delivering a roundhouse kick to the man's face. The White Snake faulted but quickly regained himself as he back-flipped and began running away again.
"I've to get away from this brat! He punches almost as bad as Tsunade, but still she'd cause almost instant death." Orochimaru thought as he knew he didn't have the chakra to do anything but run away. Damn the chakra it cost him to summon that useless Manda! Naruto flipped into his path again, but this time began laying into him with brutal punches and kicks.
"Can't rest! Can't let up for a second!" Naruto thought as he continued his onslaught. Orochimaru couldn't escape as Naruto continued his onslaught on the weakened man. Naruto gritted his teeth as he kept thrashing the man, but felt like something was wrong.
Orochimaru shot out his tongue, and it quickly wrapped around Naruto while pulling him in as Orochimaru's sword came from his throat. Naruto used what little movement he could and unsheathed Senbonzakura half-way to block Orochimaru's. He used Kusanagi as a stand to whip-kick Orochimaru away from him. As Orochimaru went flying away with his long tongue hanging from his mouth, Naruto grabbed it and pulled him back to his, where his fist was already cocked back.
"You aren't going anywhere!" Naruto yelled as his fist connected with Orochimaru's jaw.
"I don't get it! I keep pounding him and pounding him, but why don't I feel like getting anywhere?" Naruto thought as he started his brutal attack again. Not even Jiraiya could survive some of these punches and kicks while still being able to move like Orochimaru could. What the hell is wrong with this guy? All the while Jiraiya and Tsunade watched the one-sided battle with narrowed eyes. Jiraiya appeared near Tsunade and Shizune as the two Sannin watched Naruto knock Orochimaru away once again, only to be fast upon the Snake Sannin.
"You don't think he did that, do you?" Jiraiya asked as Tsunade remained silent for some time.
"I do." was Tsunade's only curt and cold reply as she watched Orochimaru jump over Naruto's kick and jump back from a punch. The man was beginning to dodge more, but Naruto ended that quickly.
"Hold still!" Naruto said with a quick jab, which knocked Orochimaru away; into a daze and off balance.
This was his chance! He focused all his chakra to his left fist as he held it at the ready. He slowly made his way to Orochimaru and added Kyuubi's chakra to his own, turning the blue glowing fist into a vermillion color.
"This will end it! Say hello to HELL!" Naruto said as he punched Orochimaru with all his might dead in the center of his chin. He may not have been as good with chakra strength as Tsunade, but the last time he hit someone like that, with the person being Neji, they were down for the count. Now that he was at least twice as strong as then, he was sure that he snapped Orochimaru's neck, effectively killing the man. That punch had to do it!
They were all surprised when Tsunade came from nowhere with her full strength, and socked Orochimaru into Gamabunta's sword, which was still stabbed through the mouth of Manda. Now Naruto was sure Orochimaru was dead. If not then he'd have a lot of respect for the Snake Sannin to have survived two chakra-packed punches! That would be like him surviving that Kakashi-sensei's Chidori three times, and one of them being to the heart.
"Two punches of Herculean strength, and he took the full brunt of both!" Kabuto said in an awed whisper as he made his way toward Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama…" Kabuto said as he pulled his 'master' up into his arms.
"It's finally over…" Jiraiya said with grief laced in his voice. Gamabunta nodded in agreement.
"That little fool, he made me clumsy and careless! I'd eat you both right now, but I won't be eating solid food for weeks. But if we meet again, well he better pray we don't!" Manda said as he dispelled himself back to his home world.
Naruto's vision was going; he could tell he'd be out like a light in a few seconds. "Dammit, I've never used that much chakra before in one fight! I just hope they can handle the… rest." Naruto thought as he fell backward and sprawled out on the ground unconscious. Tsunade, just a few meters away, dropped to her knees. She had, however, been used to using such large amounts of chakra, whereas Naruto had only one day of previous experience, and that was the Invasion of Konoha. Shizune quickly made her way to Naruto's side, but saw that he was only down from Chakra Exhaustion.
It was then the smoke from Manda's escape was blown away by the wind and eyes widened upon what they saw. Orochimaru was still standing, although ragged and looking on the verge of death, alongside Kabuto. Tsunade didn't have the strength left to punch him in his mouth for smirking the way he was, but she really wished she did.
"Tsunade, even if… you would not heal my arms, I have other ways… of getting what I desire…" Orochimaru rasped out as his eyes gleamed with something Tsunade couldn't place. Her own eyes snapped wide, but then narrowed as she noticed that his skin is peeling, revealing the face of the body that he is using. It was a young girl. Tsunade was absolutely repulsed, yet Jiraiya only remarked, inwardly, that Orochimaru using other people's bodies for himself was despicable, though he knew he shown have been the one to dish out judgment on the man, since every ninja, hell even himself and Minato had to do things they weren't proud of. So he settled for thinking that was why Orochimaru had been acting differently from his old self.
"I'll be looking forward to seeing my good friends again soon, and next time I shall crush Konoha in my wake. Good-bye for now… and good day, Hokage-sama… ku ku ku…" Orochimaru said as he sank into the ground and disappeared.
"See you around, Konoha-nin."Kabuto said as he made hand-signs and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Tsunade dropped to the ground, exhausted. Damn those two smug bastards!
"Wait!" Jiraiya said, but then cringed as he felt a sharp pain in his ribs and right foot. "Damn, with a broken foot and cracked ribs I'm no good to anyone." He thought with a sigh. At least Orochimaru lived to escape another day… He looked over to Naruto's sleeping form as he remembered Orochimaru looking at Naruto pointedly while saying Hokage-sama. Jiraiya was sure Orochimaru was trying to subtly clue Tsunade in on it, but Jiraiya was sure that Tsunade wouldn't have known the fact if it slapped her ass. Heh, heh… her ass…
Jiraiya and Tsunade moved to where Naruto was by Shizune, and stood over the boy; just to be sure he really was okay. Jiraiya looked at the necklace Naruto was now wearing in amusement as he turned to Tsunade.
"Tsunade, you always were a bad gambler." Jiraiya said in mirth as Tsunade's hand began to wrinkle. "That Genjutsu of hers must be wearing off…" Jiraiya thought.
"No, he was just a great one… and don't worry. I just need some rest, and I'll be back to normal." Tsunade replied sorrowfully as she was sure Jiraiya could see her medical ninjutsu wearing off.
How she must have looked to him; a person who was able to still look so… okay in their age? As the three adults stood there gazing; Shizune to Tsunade, Tsunade to Naruto, and Jiraiya to… the sky, Naruto slept peacefully, able to hear everything that was going on around him.
With Sakura:
She had just gotten her mom to let her out so that she could go to the hospital. She had bought some flowers for her sensei and friend who were there. Suddenly she stopped on her way with that thought.
She just realized that she could call Sasuke her friend… She came to even further realization that she had a friend in Naruto too. That thought made her cringe a bit in guilt. Naruto was her friend and she had purposely bad-mouthed him and his talents in order to cheer up Sasuke. True she did feel remorse while doing it, but it still didn't make it right. She knew how hard Naruto worked, how far he had come, and with her tearing that down just to boast Sasuke's ego. She sighed as she continued down the street. Yeah right, like that thing needed anymore boasting…
She'd have to make it up to Naruto as soon as he returned and Sasuke was feeling better.
She then caught a shadow moving over her as she walked down an alley as a short cut. It wasn't as if she was startled by just that. She did live in a ninja village after all. But that wasn't what caught her. No, it was the fact that each building she pasted the shadows would jump to that building. Was she… was she being watched by the village? Or was it an enemy spy in the village?
She walked through another alley, but she flashed through hand-signs as she timed their jump. She made a standard clone walk in front of her as she substituted with a cat that she knew was in the alley, since it had been there before. As she went through her plan she watched from behind a large box, where the cat had been, as three shadows followed her illusion. Her eyes widened as she got a good look at them, since the jump was a bit longer to those buildings near the hospital. They were Konoha ANBU!
She was being tracked… by her own village?
She jumped to the roof as soundlessly as she could and followed the ANBU. She had heard them talking to each other; in a form of code or something, but she couldn't catch any of it well since they were a pretty good distance away.
"Does she really think she's on our level?" The one to the right, who wore an Ox mask, said in code to the one on the far left, who wore a Boar mask.
"Of course not, but she knows that if we caught her that we'd have to answer to the question of why we're following her around." Boar said back in their code. The lead ANBU, the one who wore a Cat mask nodded.
"Yes, but remember our mission. Dragon-senpai, said to watch her while teams one and two watch over the other two. We are not to fail Hokage-sama or Dragon-senpai." Cat said, in their code, as the other two nodded. They then stopped once they were on the roof opposite with the Hospital and crouched low. They could tell she was still behind them, but that didn't warrant any avert from their mission.
She wasn't sure what to do, so she replaced herself with her clone and walked into the hospital. Just because they were following her didn't mean she was in trouble… right?
She quickened her pace when she was sure she was out of their sight. She wished Sasuke or Kakashi-sensei was feeling alright so she could talk to them about it. It was too bad they were under the weather. She knew that Kakashi-sensei had fallen ill after a battle, but she wasn't sure what really had happened to Sasuke. Asuma-sensei; who had taken to keeping her, for the time Kakashi-sensei was sick, had said Sasuke's condition had something to do with his brother. She didn't know the guy, but she knew he was bad news.
Oh well… at least maybe Naruto would be back soon… at least she hoped…
Outside with the ANBU:
"I win again." Cat said as he laid his cards out on the roof. Boar and Ox sighed in annoyance as they both fished out a scroll each and handed it to him, for him to place it in the already impressive pile.
"Man, am I gonna love learning your jutsu…" Cat said smugly as he corseted the pile of jutsu scrolls.
"Yeah, yeah… Hey, I have a question; who's Hokage-sama now? I mean, I know Dragon-taicho said it was classified, but you must know Tora-senpai." Boar said as Cat laid a hand on his mask, tracing it with a finger.
"I do know… but I'm not really allowed to say. Although, since we're bored, and he didn't say you couldn't figure it out; let's play something like charades. I'll give out clues and you'll have to guess who it is." Cat said as he got up from and struck a pose.
"Tora-senpai… you're… strange…" Ox said as Cat sweat-dropped. He got into position as the two folded their legs and waited.
"Okay, first clue; I'm able to out run us everyday no matter the fact that I'm below our rank and have never been a part of us." Cat said as he made gestures of running and jumping.
"Are you… Might Guy…?" Ox asked as Cat shook his head.
"Nope…" was all Cat said as they could feel his knowing smirk under his mask.
"Okay, next clue; I wear something that just screams target, and I do it to be noticed." Cat said as he gestured toward his own Anbu gear.
"Are you… A Hyuga clan member?" Boar asked, snickering as Cat shook his head at her.
"No, not at all, in fact the next clue is that I'm the complete opposite of the Hyuga."
"Are you… Might Guy?" Ox asked as Boar slapped him upside his head; his mask falling just enough to see his brown eyes and some form of scars on his right cheek.
"You idiot! You already asked that one!" Boar exclaimed as Ox fixed his mask back.
"Sorry, but there aren't too many people who are the complete opposite of the Hyuga, so… I… you know." Ox said as he rubbed the back of his head. Boar only scoffed and folded her arms.
"Yeah, okay… so last clue; I am a scroll, not the kunai I contain. I wish to be seen as a person and not for the darkness I pertain…" Cat said as he could feel their eyes widening behind their masks.
"No way…" Boar whispered out, her voice no longer hidden in roughness, but clearly female.
"Impossible… Him?" Ox let slip past his lips. He remembered that they used to use that phrase when they guarded the kid as a child. It was how they found out about a lot of ninja pretending to be ANBU; both foreign enemies and their own kin…
Cat nodded his head as he slipped off his mask. It wasn't like anyone would know who he was unless they serviced with him. Besides, only seven people in total knew his face, and two of those seven were sitting right in front of him.
He had short brown hair and black eyes. He wore the standard attire of a member of the ANBU, with a sword strapped to his back and his cat's mask covered in green and red markings was now in his hand as he let his fingers graze it.
The other two ANBU members followed his lead as they too took off their masks.
The female Boar was first. She had long black hair and brown eyes. She wore the official uniform of the ANBU, and carried giant shuriken as well as a tantō on her back. She liked to thing she was pretty special as she was the only female to acquire the Boar mask, one that was normally given to Earth-master male ninja. She was adept at Earth-style ninjutsu so she was given the mask, but not before proving herself against the contenders.
The last of the gathered three took off his mask. He had short brown hair, and beady black eyes. He wore the standard ANBU attire, but had a bundle strapped to his back, although that didn't slow him down at all. He was used to it by now. It was given to him by his father while he was a Genin after all… How he missed the days of being a rude, obnoxious, snot-nosed brat…
"So… they made him our Hokage, huh? I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later; especially with the way he would yap about it…" Ox said as he leaned into a napping position.
"I don't get it! There are other ninja from the village they could have made into Hokage, but they chose that brat?" Boar exclaimed as Cat sighed and sat down lazily. This would be a long rant from her if he didn't end it quickly.
"Look, the council wasn't too happy about it at first either, but the Fire Daimyo insisted that he be made the next Hokage. Some were just happy it wasn't Danzo. From what Dragon-senpai told me about the meeting, the Daimyo even threatened to completely cut funding from the village at one point when Danzo was screeching in protest to it. The Daimyo then explained that Naruto was the best candidate to become Hokage. He's young, moldable, and a firm believer in the Will of Fire. That coupled with some of his better traits and you have the best possible Hokage for the job." Cat explained, but Boar's cheeks quickly puffed out.
"Yeah so what if he's 'moldable', that doesn't mean a damn thing! He's still immature, obnoxious, brain-dead, and goofy. We'll be taken over in a week!" Boar argued as Ox sighed loudly.
"Come on, Boar, he's only a kid. Besides, I'm sure that he's already getting schooled on how to do the job properly." Ox proposed as Cat nodded.
"From what Dragon-senpai said the boy is, but he might not need it. He's on a trip with Jiraiya-sama to bring back Tsunade-sama. But before that even came up he did something no one could do. He proved Danzo still had ROOT around and took command of it." Cat said with a smirk on his face as his teammates mouths dropped. He wished he had a camera or Sharingan to capture the moment forever…
"How…?" was the only thing the two could whisper out as they knew that the Third Hokage had spent a lot of time trying to pin Danzo for some of his crimes.
"Apparently he was using Shadow Clones to flash through the overdue and tedious paperwork. One of the clones had found a form in a bunch of crap the Third had signed off on; probably on one of those stressful days he wanted to get out of the office." Cat said as the other two sighed. The Third was known to sign anything if it meant that he could get away from his office. It was why the Civilian Council had control of the shops and the Academy.
"So what happened?" Boar asked incredulously. While she was amazed the kid had gotten Danzo, she was sure it was a fluke of luck.
"Oh right, so after he got the paper Danzo calls him for a meeting; probably to get him to back down or let Danzo control him from behind the scenes. But, when Danzo walks in the office and begins his intimidation tactics, the kid flips the scroll on him and tells him point-blank that he's taking ROOT and that Danzo is under his control; not the other way around. Then he tells Danzo, rather sneakily if you ask me, that if he doesn't like how things will be run from now on or if he can't show the proper respect, that he can be killed and replace." Cat finished as Boar gaped like a fish. Ox was chuckling to himself as he was sure the kid was just bluffing and pulling old Danzo's leg.
"So what, it was lucky that's all. He's still too much of a dumbass." Boar grumped as Cat sighed.
"He and a few of us ANBU helped capture Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki. He then had them interrogated by Inoichi, since he knew the Yamanaka could go into the mind without eye contact. Inoichi found out a big few things and told Hokage-sama. I wasn't privileged to know what, but it was good enough for the two to be released into the village and acting as personal spies for Hokage-sama inside some organization. About two days after that and the time he left Might Guy came back to the village carrying Sasuke Uchiha and telling Dragon-senpai that Hokage-sama is using regular ANBU to watch the village while ROOT is to be sent out on Hunter-ninja missions and S and A-ranked, which he probably didn't know are high mortality-rated. He also commanded that we normal ANBU be sent in on joint missions with Jonin and Chunin on A and B-ranked missions. I'm telling you Boar-san, he's gonna do a great job at this." Cat said as Boar and Ox were gaping once again. It was an old tactic, but a very useful one at that; especially with the ROOT now being loyal allies instead of semi-enemies.
"Okay, but I gotta know how the Councils are takin' this." Ox said as he sat up from his sleeping position.
"Well that's the thing; only the Shinobi Council knows so far. Asides from us, the Jonin-sensei, and a few others no one knows anything. I think that once he returns to the village he'll be introduced to the village as Kage, but I'm not sure how the civilians will take it…" Cat said as he and his teammates sighed.
"Well, they'll have no choice but to take it. Oh and when are the others getting back?" Boar said as Cat sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I'm not sure, but the council is discussing that now. They've also just taken care of a rather large bill the kid made while out with Jiraiya-sama." Cat said with a chuckle.
"Hmph, it was probably on ramen anyway…" Boar said, snickering as she did so. Ox's stomach gave a rather loud grumble as he looked down at it and patted it.
"I could go for some ramen ran now… Hey look, that girl is coming out." Ox said as they quickly shifted back into mission mode and placed their masks back on. They followed her all the way back to her house, and Sakura felt more and more frightened every step of the way. After she got home the three ninja used Henge to look like civilians as Ox wanted to get some ramen. His two teammates sighed as they followed him. He was always thinking with his stomach like the Akimichi…
With the Council:
"… and that is when we will bring the majority of the population back from the safe zones in Fire Country." Homura said as his fellow council members nodded.
"But why not now? We're losing income and valuable resources each and every day they're being kept there." Sayuri Haruno said as she had stood to speak. Most of the Civilian Council agreed with her.
"We're keeping them there so as to if another attack it done against the village they wouldn't have to be moved or caught in the cross-fire. We're still not in the clear of one of the neighboring lands making a move for power, but as soon as Jiraiya gets back with or without Tsunade, we will be." Koharu said as she frowned at the woman.
She was always speaking up n matters she had no understanding of. It annoyed the old woman to no end that this young girl could try and debate what was best for a ninja village that only one-third of the population made up civilians. Also, they the Shinobi and Elders had decided that Naruto would be inducted publicly as Hokage. They were sure that the village had changed and he would readily be accepted as Hokage… right?
Homura saw the very prim expression on Koharu's face, and that meant only one think; his old teammate was having doubts about something. It was too hard to know what since there were few things they doubted in their old lives were. He knew it was about Naruto's installation as Hokage. He was sure she was having the same exact thoughts he was having. Would Naruto; the boy in which the villagers and even some, if not most of the shinobi, called a demon for over 12 years; be accepted to protect the village? Even with all other factors such as age and intellect thrown out, he wasn't sure the village would accept him just on the notion that he's human. He knew some of the civilians had the delusion that the boy was a demon in disguise.
He realized that he and Koharu weren't angels in their own right. They both had authoritarian view points, but at least they always had the village's best interests in mind and heart. Like Koharu, he was more militant than the Hokages he had served under, and sometimes he even leaned more toward Danzo's point of view. This became most apparent when he and Koharu supported the Uchiha Clan Massacre and later, when they wanted to restrict Naruto's participation in the Chunin Exams. He knew they never saw the boy as a demon, but they frequently reminded Sarutobi and other high ranking ninja of the village, and other villages, that he was the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi and that meant he was to be approached with caution; though that was mostly their fault for going against Hiruzen's decisions to train the boy properly. Oh well, that was in the past now… and young Naruto need-not-know.
"Well then," Homura said with a cough to get everyone's attention, "I believe that concludes that mention of business; now, on to mission and shinobi status. We'll start high today; Danzo and Dragon, what have you to report?" Homura said as he turned to the two commandeer of ANBU divisions.
"All missions have been completed to the letter; not a single death or hospitalization, but we have had some minor injuries. The specifics can be found in the mission reports, which are being reviewed, in the Hokage's office. That is all." Danzo said, talking deliberate glancing toward the civilians as he spoke. It was to remind everyone that non-shinobi members of the council weren't privileged to mission details, but only the status of them.
Dragon nodded as he stood from his chair to address the council. "Not a single intruder has been found and all teams not assigned to village watch are doing fairly well on their person watch." Dragon said as he too looked at the civilians, but they couldn't tell much from the mask.
"Good then, let's keep up the good news so when Jiraiya-sama comes back he won't have to do any… house sweeping, if you know what I mean." Shikaku said as he yawned from his napping position. Hiashi nodded as he gazed at his fellow council members.
"I would hope he finds this all to be more than good. After all, we don't know how much this last month away from the village has changed him." Hiashi said as he sat without slouch or poor posture.
"Yeah, but what are we going to do about that… bill?" Asuma asked as his fingers twitched. He had to stop smoking, and he really needed a smoke after seeing that thing.
"It's been taken care of, so no worries. We simply took it out of some of the higher ranked mission that has been completed in triplicate this month." Homura said as all the shinobi side let out a sigh of relief.
"Well then, this meeting is closed and we shall meet back here tomorrow around the same time. Good day to you all." Koharu said as everyone rose from their seats and left.
"Hiashi, do you wish to come with us this time around? You could relay some information if you want." Danzo asked as Hiashi nodded.
Hiashi, Danzo, Shikaku, Homura, and Koharu walked down the hallway of the Hokage mansion and took a left. Right there were the doors to the Hokage's office, looking as plain as could be, yet they all knew it was far more than met the eye.
"Kai!" Danzo said as he put his hands together. The door in front of them rippled and revealed a large seal matrix on it.
Homura walked forward with Koharu and both placed a hand on either side of the door, making the seal glow and then dissipate. They pushed open the door to see clones running about with masses of paperwork, going over and reviewing them as if something were wrong. Behind the desk sat the blood clone of one Naruto Uzumaki… eating ramen.
"Where did he get that?" Koharu asked as she pointed to the bowl he was happily slurping down.
"Oh he had one of us henge into a civilian and bought it." One of the many shadow clones of the blood clones said as he stopped to greet them. It was a good thing all of them were either too dignified or too lazy to face-palm themselves as they walked up to the desk. The clone had just finished the bowl when they reached him and he happily put it aside to speak with them.
"Good evening, what have you come to report to me today?" He asked as they stood in front of him.
"It has been decided that before the real you returns to the village we shall recall the population of the village that went into safe zones around Fire country." Koharu said as he nodded.
"Just how big is this population?" He asked as he leaned forward in his Hokage chair. For a clone he was pretty damn set into this job already.
"Over 20,000; 10, 500 are ninja with ranks from Anbu, Special Jonin, and Chunin. The other 9,500 are civilians who were too important to the survival of the village; mostly children though." Homura said as the Naruto clone nodded once more; not allowing his shock to be shown.
"Is that why the registry and roosters have gapes in them?" he asked as his to elderly advisors nodded.
"Fine then, what else?" He said with a sigh as he leaned back in his chair.
"The real you will be inaugurated as soon as he is back and settled into the village. This will be done in front the entire village." Koharu said with no room for argument. The clone's eyes widened as he paled at the mere thought of it. They all shifted uncomfortably, except Danzo though he did it mentally, as they knew what path his thought process was taking.
Fine… what else?" He answered, more somberly than they ever thought him possible.
"Does he think it really that bad?" Hiashi thought as he gazed at the clone. If the mere clone was like this over the thought, what would happen when the real Naruto found this out?
"I have some news for you as well. If you could, please relay to the real you that my daughter, Hinata, shall not be the only girl pinning for him. It seems as though Ino Yamanaka, and maybe a few other girls have shown interest in the real you. I have… overheard my daughter speaking with other young girls about the prospect of marrying the real you, so I thought he should know ahead of time." Hiashi said as the cone flinched back. It seemed as though even the clone could understand the concept of girls and their… less than pleasant ways of getting a man's attention. Oh how Hiashi was glad he and Minato married the crazy ones who would scary all others away.
"Okay… I'll be sure Boss knows that. Also, they have made contact with Tsunade. A rather large battle has just ended so they should arrive back in the village in a matter of days. As for this paperwork, I didn't realize the Old Man was so backed up on the stuff. I had to make clones once I saw that some of the forms around here weren't filled out or incomplete. Now I'm going through every document to be sure not a single thing gets by. Gotta make Boss' life easier!" The clone said as he gestured to the clones running about the office.
The clones were reading through documents and putting them into plies. One pile would be picked up and handed off to another clone while the other pile would be placed back inside a drawer or sealing scroll. The pile handed off to the clone would then be worked on. Shikaku could see just how versatile the use of shadow clones was, too bad Naruto, and only Naruto and other Jinchuriki could use that many and make them last so long.
"Alright then, we'll be on our way." Danzo said as he and the others began to leave the office. They shut the door behind them and the clone pulled a drawer open in his desk. There inside the drawer was a hot steaming bowl of ramen.
"Ahh, it good to be the Kage…" The clone said as it happily dug into the bowl with gusto.
A Day Later, With Naruto:
"A Hot Spring? Forget it; we've got a long way to go before we get back and everyone's there waiting for us!" Naruto shouted at Tsunade, who sighed. They had come to a crossroad, and she needed to… take a detour for… personal reasons, though she easily played it off as relaxation time.
"You know, for once I actually agree with him. For all we know the village could be in trouble." Jiraiya said as he gazed down at Tsunade. He knew she wasn't bringing this up for relaxation, so what was her game…?
"Oh loosen up, one day's not gonna make much of a difference." Tsunade said as they both shook their heads, indicating that it would. She sighed as she knew she'd have to resort to drastic measures. She leaned over to Jiraiya, and stood on the tips of her feet.
"I hear it's popular with women… and they allow mix bathing." She whispered into her old teammate's ear. He perked up at that idea, but she was regretting it now. Those poor women being around Jiraiya… Kami forgive her for unleashing such evil upon them…
Jiraiya began walking forward; much to Naruto's shock as he knew that Jiraiya was just as worried for the village as he was.
"W-where are you going? We have to get back to the village! There could be danger!" Naruto said as Jiraiya turned to him with a weird face that the younger male couldn't read.
"Well you see, I've got this kink in my… Well that is… everyone deserves a break every once and awhile, even you and me. Besides, you can check on the village well we're here, so it's fine!" Jiraiya said as Naruto crossed his arms and puffed out his cheeks. He needed to get Granny back so she could heal Kakashi, Sasuke and Lee. This wasn't helping much with them taking a day's break; especially since they had only been walking for a day.
"Fine, but we need to make this quick." Naruto said coolly, dropping his childish act, as he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He needed a haircut or maybe he'd let it grow out… he'd decide once he was back in the village. He knew that he could transfer information to his blood clone at just about any time, so he simply resigned to do that.
Back at the Village, With the Girls:
Hinata, Ino, and Tenten were sitting inside of a dango shop, discussing the finer points of life; kunoichi training, clothes, and to a lesser extent; Naruto and other boys.
"I'm so glad we were all off today! Eating is so much more enjoyable with other girls!" Tenten said excitedly as she sipped her tea. Ino and Hinata nodded.
Ever since they had come together, to get Naruto, they became better friends out of it. Hinata wasn't shy around them now that they knew of her love for the blond and Ino's rather… chose language made sure they knew she wanted him too. Tenten had stated, quite clearly, that if things didn't work out that there were always other boys out there for three beautiful ladies such as themselves; though Hinata shook her head and sighed at the comment, claiming that her heart belonged to and with Naruto.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I usually have to have lunch with a chain smoker, a lazy ass genius, and a boy who takes food seriously. I needed new friends!" Ino said as she put down her dango to talk.
"M-my team isn't so bad. I at least have Kurenai-sensei, but then Kiba feeds Akamaru from his plate, and sometimes at the table. As for Shino… you don't want to know…" Hinata said, finishing with a collective shiver from all three of them. They all knew of the Aburame clan's rather… stoic ways of doing… everything!
"Well you two have it easy. I have Guy-sensei and Lee, enough said. Then there's Neji and his constant regal attitude, which includes meal times too." Tenten said as Ino and Hinata actually did feel bad for her. They could only imagine the insanity she was put through being around the three males almost all the time.
"Well that'll all change once we tell Naruto-kun about this little thing. From there our free time will be spent hooked to his arm and on dates!" Ino declared as Hinata blushed at the thought, but Tenten gave Ino a confused look.
"What do you mean once we tell him? Didn't you tell him before he left so he could thing about it while away?" Tenten asked as Hinata looked away and Ino looked down.
"N-no… Naruto-kun left before we came up with this. My father said he left to find and bring back someone named Tsunade Senju-" Hinata was saying, before Tenten went wide eyed and stood up, slamming her hands on the table.
"You're kidding! He's gone to see and get back Tsunade-sama! If he does it I'll love him forever!" Tenten exclaimed as Ino and Hinata gave her confused looks.
"Who's Tsunade Senju, and why did you call her Tsunade-sama?" Ino asked as she raised an eyebrow at the heart in Tenten's eyes.
"Tsunade Senju is the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and grandniece of the Second Hokage. This simple fact makes others call her "Princess". She along with Jiraiya-sama the Toad Sage and Orochimaru-sama the White Snake are former students of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. During the Second Great Shinobi War, Tsunade-sama and her teammates got the title of Sannin or Three Legendary Shinobi. Throughout the war, she would become famous for frequently counteracting poisons. Tsunade-sama's medical prowess and amazing strength was the reason Konoha won the war! She's my idol and I want to be a famous kunoichi like her someday!" Tenten said, overly-excited as she explained about Tsunade. Hinata and Ino's eyes were wide in awe that a kunoichi had been that powerful, and that Jiraiya, apparently another famous ninja, had wanted only Naruto to go with him to find her.
"Whoa…" was the only thing that could slip past their lips. Tenten grinned as she sat back down.
"I know." She said as she smirked, taking another sip of her tea.
"So why did Naruto-kun have to go get her?" Ino asked as Hinata thought about it.
"I think it has something to do with his teammates and Lee-san. I believe Naruto-kun left with Jiraiya-sama in order to bring her back to heal them all. I know Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-san are in the hospital for some reason." Hinata said as Ino nodded.
"Yeah, I asked Sakura about it, but all she did was tear up and said she had to be somewhere. She was at my family's flower shop getting flowers for Sasuke I think." Ino said quietly.
"I'm surprised that Naruto would do that for Lee. I mean I know they kind of became friends during the exams, but would he really go through all that trouble for Lee too?" Tenten said.
"Naruto would do anything for his friends and this village. He'd protect those special to him with his life, and he'd never go back on his word or break a promise. That's his nin-do; his ninja way!" Hinata declared, with far more confidence that Tenten had ever seen the girl with.
Tenten sighed dreamily as she just chalked it up to the good things about Naruto; he could bring the good, and the better, out of just about anyone. Sure Naruto was a runt, but he was a good runt and besides; he was sure to hit a growth spurt some time soon.
"Well then, I think I really could find myself with him after all…" Tenten said as she finished her cup of tea. Ino sighed dreamily as well as she leaned on her folded arms.
"Yeah, I think I could actually fall for him…" Ino said in a daze as Hinata nodded meekly. They could or already had fallen for Naruto.
With Naruto:
He sighed, because today was just getting better and better; first the detour, and now this. He, the Godaime Hokage of Konoha, in a hot-spring kimono and tied to a tree while waiting for Tsunade to come rescue him. Oh wait; let's not forget the parts about more girls than Hinata being interested in him, one of them being Ino! And then there's the fact that as soon as he gets back to the village he'll inaugurated, a word he didn't even know he knew, as Hokage in front the village; which was not just a simply 1,100 people, but a full-blown 21,100 people in total! He didn't even know Konoha was that damn big! Why did Kami hate him so much? What evil deeds did he do to have: perverts as teachers, a shy and meek stalker as future wife, and a loud-mouth body-snatcher as a potential love interest? Damn was his life screwed up! Oh well, here came Tsunade. Now they could put their plan into action…
With Shikamaru:
He loved his life. Ino found friends in Hinata and that Tenten chick so she no longer bothered him during their off time. Asuma and his father, Shikaku, were now stuck in council meeting on a daily-basis, so there were no missions or chores. Choji took to hanging with Rock Lee, which was a bit saddening but still pleasant, as they both enjoyed eating with a passion. So the only thing he did now-a-days was nap, and laze about. Life was sweet…
Though one thing did bug him; Naruto Uzumaki. The guy was always difficult to figure out, but why did he suddenly leave the village? To go find Tsunade-sama, but for a guy like Jiraiya-sama to want only Naruto to go with him would mean Naruto was… something special. The only thing he could think of was the Kyuubi.
What? Surprised? Well don't be. He had figured that little detail out back when they were in the Academy. Naruto's birthday, the villagers' treatment of the guy, Iruka's at first cold attitude turning into one of a kind big brother. Oh and let's not forget the nightmares Naruto had about a 'giant fox' telling him to rip off a slip of paper from its cage.
He wasn't like most of the others, he paid attention to detail. Like the fact Naruto was the son of Minato Namikaze the Yondaime Hokage, and Kushina Uzumaki. The resemblance between him and his dad was so fucking there that he pounded his head against the desk at the academy every time someone called Naruto a clan-less orphan, or when Naruto would cry and ask why his parents didn't want him. For Kami's sake Naruto had the face of Kushina and the everything else of Minato!
The only other who had figured most, if not all, of it out was Shino, but even that was a stretch. The two of them had become friends over a little talk about Naruto's 'secrets'. They looked out for Naruto when they could and they made sure their families did the same, but their dads had been doing just that for all 13 years of Naruto's life. Relations between the Nara and the Aburame had strengthened over the years the two of them became closer.
This was why he was sitting across from Shino inside his living room having tea.
"Life is good, huh Shino?" Shikamaru asked in lazy cheer as Shino nodded mutely.
"Quite, the lack of missions and teammates has given me much time to reflect and even some time to train in more of my clan's jutsu." Shino said, in what Shikamaru was sure to be an Aburame's cheerful voice.
"Really now? How far are you into your clan jutsu?" Shikamaru asked as he sat down his tea cup.
"I've progressed half-way through the Chunin-level techniques and are now working on the mid-B level jutsu my father feels that I'm ready for." Shino answered quietly as he took a sip of his tea.
"That didn't really answer my question…" Shikamaru deadpanned as Shino gave a quiet chuckle.
"I know, just as you should know we're ninja first and friends second. Today's good friend could easily be tomorrow's worst enemy." Shino said as Shikamaru sucked his teeth at the comment, but was too lazy, and smart, to dispute it.
"Whatever…" Shikamaru said as he sighed.
"You seem rather out of wit today, Shikamaru. Something on your mind?" Shino asked quietly as Shikamaru nodded.
"Yeah, it's about Naruto." He replied to the bug-user.
"What is it about our very secretive friend?" Shino asked, more interest in his monotone voice than Shikamaru could say he ever used in any other subject of conversation the two would regularly have.
"It's about his leaving to retrieve Tsunade-sama. Why did Jiraiya-sama take Naruto with him when he could have taken a tracking team instead?" Shikamaru asked, more to himself than Shino.
"Perhaps it is not the retrieval that warrants Naruto's being there, but more so of something else. Training perhaps?" Shino said as he sipped his tea. Shikamaru struck his thinking pose as he thought about it in-depth. It sounded and was plausible enough to go on.
"Well, Jiraiya-sama did train Namikaze-sama, so maybe he wants to train Naruto so as to continue on his legacy." Shikamaru said as Shino nodded.
"Sounds plausible, but remember; Jiraiya-sama is the only one to know why he's training Naruto. Also, have you heard the rumors? We are to have a new Hokage once Jiraiya-sama returns." Shino said as he finished his cup of tea and placed it down. Shikamaru for his part looked shocked.
"What? They've chosen one already? Where did you hear that?" Shikamaru asked with wide eyes that a Hokage was chosen in less than an entire month, thought it wasn't too shocking.
"Yes they have. I overheard some of my clansmen speaking about it while at dinner. Apparently one was chosen three days before Jiraiya-sama and Naruto left. No one knows exactly who it is, but they say he's to be announced once Naruto and Jiraiya-sama get back. Also, the populace will be returning by the end of tomorrow, so the new Hokage will be announced the following day." Shino said as Shikamaru got over his shock.
"So… do you think it's Tsunade-sama?" Shikamaru asked as his face reflected just how serious his question was.
"Maybe, since only she and few others are qualified to properly take the position."
"But what if it isn't her?"
"Then I suppose it would be Jiraiya-sama or even you.
"Me?" Shikamaru asked as his spit out his tea, thankfully Shino had moved just in time.
"Yes, the truth is anyone could take the job of a Kage, but only a few ever get it. In our whole class the best person to take the job would be Naruto, then you, Sasuke-san, me, then maybe Hinata. Everyone else would not take the job if offered though, just as sure as you would not; unless there was a total crisis." Shino concluded as Shikamaru blanked at him.
"Wait a second; you said Naruto was the best person to take the job out of our class. Why?" Shikamaru asked as Shino peered at him from behind his shades.
"Naruto has the most drive. He would do anything for the village just to notice him as something more than the burden he carries. Although lately, that drive has change to protecting the village because it is precious to him and the ones he loves. So in short he is the perfect candidate for Hokage. That plus the power and skill he could hold if he truly is being trained by Jiraiya-sama is nothing to sneeze at either. The only thing is would truly be missing is-"
"A brain?" Shikamaru asked with a raised brow and a lazy smirk on his face. Shino couched a bit as he contained his laughter.
"I was gonna say political lessons, but I think you may be on to something." Shino said with the slightest mirth in his voice.
"Yeah, he was never one for using the he has, so it may be in need of replacing." Shikamaru said as he lounged in a napping position on the floor of his living room.
"Maybe, but he has shown us that he can and will use it in battle; perhaps he can use it in all forms of battle." Shino said as he stood and walked to the door, Shikamaru not even bothering to show Shino out since the guy had been over to his house far too many times for such pretenses.
"Perhaps…" Shikamaru said as Shino walked out of the door and closed it behind himself.
Perhaps Naruto would make a great Hokage. That was, if the guy could ever get over his ramen addiction.
With Naruto:
He ran down the street as Tsunade, who he knew was actually Shizune in a henge, chased after him to get the suitcase he had. He made many shadow clones at first, but they were all taken down so now it was just him. Oh, did he mention that Shizune had created an army of her own clones as well? No, well she did. He would had marveled at her progress with her amount of charka and control over it. Well he would, except he was running for his life!
He really wanted some ramen right now…
Later That Same Day:
He could cry, really he could. They were now walking down the road home, but earlier they were seated around a table with some guy from Tea country saying that Tsunade's debts with some clan was settled and that the two guys could return home. He wanted to burst into tears over the wasted day. He could have done so many other things, but no; he just had to be noble! Oh well… at least he didn't have to deal with the Pervy Sage.
Wait a minute… where was the Pervy Sage?
"Oh crap! We forgot Pervy Sage back at the hot springs!" Naruto said as he ran back to get the old man. It didn't take him long since he was now practicing his speed move, which he had yet to come up with a name for.
The older man was laying in the hot waters of the spring, looking just as crazy as a man in the middle of a desert. He was laughing to himself when Naruto threw a towel over him and threw him in the room by the time Tsunade and Shizune got there.
"Maybe we should just leave tomorrow, Naruto. He doesn't look so good…" Shizune said as Tsunade checked Jiraiya over.
"It's just heat exertion. He'll be fine in five hours and a couple buckets of ice. Since he was still here that means the rooms we bought for the day are still ours, so we'll stay until he comes back from the world of perverts and idiots." Tsunade said as Naruto sighed.
"But that could take forever." Naruto whined as Tsunade chuckled and smirked.
"I like your sense of humor, brat. Why don't we have another match while the perverted toad is out like this? This time I wanna see more than just that sword from our last little scuffle." Tsunade said as Naruto grinned up at her.
"You sure your fake face can take a beating? Pervy Sage told me about that genjutsu you use to make yourself look younger." Naruto said as he cracked his knuckles. Tsunade said as she raked a hand through her hair.
"Oh man, Jiraiya you idiot. Listen kid, this isn't a genjutsu. It's actually an advanced medical ninjutsu I use to revitalize the cells of my body. It works like a transformation though. It doesn't dissipate when I exert myself for long periods of time, whereas a normal transformation would be dispelled when the user is injured. The form is a physical transformation and it only breaks when I'm low on chakra. To make it work I use a very small and constant amount of charka on the external skin of my body and rejuvenate the cells; making my looks at a constant state of 25 years-old." Tsunade said as Naruto gazed at her with awe; to look young until death. No looking like Jiraiya or the Old Man, just young and handsome Naruto forever.
"That's cool!" he exclaimed as Tsunade smiled down at him.
"And the best part is that I've been doing it for so long it's automatic." She tacked on as Shizune sighed.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" Naruto asked as she smirked at him.
"Maybe later." She said as Naruto's face dropped, but then he looked at her with a more serious face.
"Doesn't the constant regeneration of cells shorten one's life?" he asked in a more serious voice while she smirked at him again.
"That would be so, but skin cells are limitless, and besides I'm not regenerating them; I'm rejuvenating them; meaning that my body doesn't create new external skin cells and has stopped using energy for that function. I diverted that function's energy into charka creation and cell regeneration; which is why the seal on my forehead exists today." Tsunade explained as Naruto nodded.
"I thought you two were going to battle?" Shizune said as she sat down.
"Nay, the kid would win with that speed of his. Kabuto outclassed me in the aspect, so I'm sure the kid would as well." Tsunade said as she sat down.
"Fine, then what do we do now?" Naruto said as he had so wanted a real fight, but then he remembered Orochimaru from the Chunin Exams. If Orochimaru was that good playing around with them, then how good was Tsunade really?
"We wait." Tsunade said frankly as Naruto sat down as well.
It wasn't long before Jiraiya had come around and they were back on the road. Jiraiya could tell something was bothering Naruto. While the two were in the hot-springs Naruto told him of what was happening in the village. He couldn't really blame Naruto for being bothered. It would bother him to if he were to be inaugurated as the Hokage of a village that isolated him for the better half of 13 years; though he couldn't see the problem with the girl situation. He sighed as he resigned to have to tell the boy of his great fortune. "Truly the Gods are smiling down upon him to have women after him like I did when I was a spry young chicken." Jiraiya thought as they were closing in on Konoha. Due to them needing to get back and quickly, for reasons Tsunade and Shizune weren't told, they had gone at shinobi speed and taken to the trees once they were in a forest. Jiraiya could see the
"There it is, gang! The Village Hidden in the Leaves; Konoha!" Jiraiya said with great cheer as Naruto gave a small smile beside him as they hopped from tree to tree.
"Yeah… now's it time to get to work…" Naruto said as he subconsciously squeezed a scroll that he had been reading ever since they started on their way again.
"No matter what Naruto; know that you will make us proud, whether it's in Konoha or elsewhere. Good luck Naruto-kun, I know that you will become a great shinobi, and maybe even Hokage; if the village is as Minato has always said… even though I know that's not the case..."
Love,
Kushina Uzumaki, your mother
He held back the tears as they jumped into the clear path of the village gates. He hoped his mother was wrong, and that his father was right, because now these were his gates, his village, and his people. So he hoped to Kami-sama, that she was wrong about that last part…
"Welcome back, Jiraiya, Naruto-sama, and an especially long-overdue welcome to you two; Tsunade and Shizune." Homura and Koharu greeted with Asuma, Shikaku, and Dragon standing behind them as the group had jumped in front of them.
"Yeah… it's good to be back…" Naruto said, not taking his eyes from the ground as he walked alongside Jiraiya, in front of Tsunade and Shizune, into… his village.
Yeah… it was good to be home alright…
That's all for today folks! I'll be back someday with more, so check the INFO CENTER for more information on what's to done, posted, or even dropped.
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Until Next Time, See Ya!
-T.K