Naruto - Five years of waiting (part 2)
Naruto belongs to kishimoto ©
Story by Juan Manuel Suarez (me of course)
Grammar by Greatkingrat88 (Thanks man)
Slowly, the afternoon was passing by. There had been no trouble yet, and the citizens were enjoying themselves. The weather was extraordinarily good, and the only wind there was, was a gentle breeze, which only made the weather more comfortable. Many of the villagers remembered the old days when the Third was still alive, and felt sure that he would be proud of what his successors had done for the village so far. Particularly that problematic and hyperactive boy, who used to be the headache of all the Konoha, and now, was their most beloved hero.
During this pleasant afternoon, three young ninja were on their way to the Hokage's office. Konohamaru was boasting his latest achievements from his last mission to Sakura, while Naruto seemed to be really enjoying his lecture.
"Ok, now I'm curious. What are you reading, Naruto?" One of the things that make Sakura feel really proud f herself was the fact that between herself and Sai, she had managed to convince Naruto to take up reading. They had convinced him, that if he really wanted to be the next Hokage, he needed to be a more learned person, and the only way for him to be just a little more learned was reading.
"Ah, this? This is my favorite novel. I really love it; it is one of the books that ero-sennin wrote a long time ago and…" Naruto's explanation was suddenly interrupted by an amazingly strong punch right to his face. He went flying several meters, and crushed into a wall.
"S-Sakura-chan, why did you hit me so hard? I didn't say anything stupid this time, -ttebayo!". Naruto said loudly, rubbing his aching cheek. He looked up to see his old friend, and a wave of fear flooded all his body. He knew perfectly well that each time that Sakura gave him that glare of death; he was in a big trouble.
"You didn't say anything stupid? Then why don't you look at that pervy novel that you have in your hands! Even if it belongs to Jiraiya-sama, it stills an erotic novel, YOU PERVERT!!"
Sakura was really upset. It wasn't the novel in itself, but the fact, it was just because she knew perfectly well how that Naruto, despite his heroics, still had some lecherous tendencies- and she would not stand for that.
"W-WAIT, YOU'RE WRONG SAKURA-CHAN. IT'S NOT ICHA ICHA, LOOK!"
Sakura's fist, which was about to come down on Naruto's face again, suddenly stopped mid-air as she read the title of the book.
"Tales of a Gutsy Ninja? I never heard about it before. So it's not related with the erotic novels that Kakashi-sensei used to read?" Sakura was starting to feel a little guilty about the strong punch that she gave to Naruto a moment ago.
"No, it has nothing to do with the Icha Icha works. It's a great story. Every time I read it, I feel as if ero-sennin was telling me his story again, -ttebayo!"
The glimmer in Naruto's eyes as he spoke of his mentor made Sakura and Konohamaru smile. Jiraiya had not just been Naruto's teacher, he was also like a grandfather figure to Naruto- in fact, he was actually his godfather. They knew how much Naruto missed him, and to see him with that pure smile made them both feel good.
"Ehm… I'm sorry for hitting you like that Naruto. Here, let me help you"
Even though Sakura felt guilty about hitting Naruto like she did, she knew that it was just a matter of time before he said or did something stupid enough to earn a beating again. It was just the way that their friendship has always been, and none of them wanted to change that.
"Naah, its okay, Sakura-chan, don't worry about that little things, -ttebayo. Besides, I only read Icha Icha when I'm alone in my house, when no one can disturb me." Right after he said that, with a sly smile in his face, Naruto broke into a run towards the Hokage's office, with Sakura at his heels while Konohamaru pursued them both.
"NARUTO STOP, YOU PERVERT!"
"…So that's all you have to report? Reporting to me like that makes it almost sound like a boring mission." Tsunade smiled; satisfied that Konohamaru's team was just as efficient with Naruto as with his Jonin-sensei, Ebisu.
"Yeah, even though it was a B-ranked mission, it was kind of boring. At least we already know why Naruto-niichan always works without a team. He can be an army by his own, -kore!" Konohamaru said, finishing his report to the leader of his village. It has been just like Naruto has said; it was a short and quick report for an "easy" B-ranked mission.
"Well, if you don't have anything else to report, then you're dismissed. Naruto, can I have a word with you in private? Shizune, you can stay. You already know what we are going to talk about." Shizune, Tsunade's assistant, nodded to her sensei and boss.
"Well, I have to go and find Maho-chan. She still has some things to do. Will you join me, Konohamaru-kun?" Sakura said to the young chunin, while she walked out the door.
"Sure thing, Sakura-chan. Hey, Boss, since you'll be a little busy today, why don't you take me out for ramen tomorrow?" Konohamaru said, right before jumping out of the room, closing the door behind Sakura and him. Since always, Konohamaru hadn't been the kind of guy to pass up on an opportunity for free food, just like Naruto.
"Well, baa-chan, how can I be helpful?" Even though the both of them got along well, Naruto knew that Tsunade did not like it much when he called her 'grandma', and he just loved to tease her.
"That isn't going to work, Naruto. At least not until I gave you the big news. I think you know pretty well what special date is coming up next week, don't you?"
Naruto's smile quickly disappeared. Of course he knew what was going to happen the next week. He had lived fearing that day in all his twenty-one years in life. Back in his childhood years, that used to be the worst day of the year to him.
"It's the anniversary of the attack of the fox, the tribute to all who died that day, the memorial ceremony in honor to the fourth Hokage, my father, who gave his life to protect us from the kyuubi no yoko and..."
Tsunade stopped Naruto, gently placing a finger in his mouth. "And more important that all, it's your twenty-first birthday, right?"
"C'mon, baa-chan, you know damn well that just a few people in this village remember that. They just remember only the pain that the kyuubi caused them those twenty-one years ago. It's difficult enough for them to forget all they had lost, and I don't blame them." Naruto was trying not to sound too sad about that, but he could not fool these two women, who had seen him grow up to be a man.
"We know that, Naruto-kun, but that's exactly why Tsunade-sama wants you to hear what she is going to do, so please sit down and listen." Shizune was worried about Naruto's reaction. She too was close to Naruto; if Tsunade was like a kind of grandmother to him, Shizune was like an older sister.
"Okay, Shizune-nee-chan."
Naruto took a seat.
"Naruto, I'm perfectly aware of that situation, and I want to change that. You have done a lot for this village, and for the entire shinobi world. You're respected now, but even so, that date seems to make them look at you in trepidation, as if you would turn into the beast just because of it is the anniversary of that day. But, I've been thinking of a solution for that, and I finally found something that could work."
Tsunade seemed a little excited now, about whatever she was thinking, and Naruto found himself wanting to know why.
"Well then, tell me what you have in mind! You wanted to speak to me in private, so what are you waiting for?" Naruto's excitement suddenly died down when he felt Shizune's hand on his shoulder, and saw the look on her face.
"It's not that simple, Naruto-kun. Please don't interrupt Tsunade-sama while she's talking."
Somehow, Shizune seemed… sad.
"As you, Sakura and Shizune perfectly knows, I'm not going to be around forever. I used my Mitotic Regeneration quite heavily when Pain invaded, and my life has become severely shortened because of this. As you know I don't have more than a couple of months." Tsunade said in a serious tone, and Naruto and Shizune donw their heads. Tsunade has told them a year ago her current situation, and remember it makes them feel useless. There was nothing they could do.
"Hey! Why the long faces??" Tsunade seemed anything but upset. Even though she was talking about her unavoidable death, she was not sad or frightened. She had long since accepted that she would die early, and that there was no helping it. She would rest peacefully, far away of all the conflicts of her ancestors, knowing she had fulfilled her duty as Hokage. She would, indeed, be the first Hokage to die a somewhat natural death in all the history of Konoha- she could have done worse by far.
"True, I won't live much longer. But that doesn't bother me at all. I've lived enough to see many of my loved ones die; to know how hard is to be a good leader. Even though I've made decisions I regret, I'm more than satisfied with the result of all what I've achieved in life. I need a rest before my final goodbye to this world. I want to live a peaceful, easy life for a while, and then I'll join Jiraiya, Dan and Nawaki after all this time."
Tsunade's words made both him and Shizune so heart-wrenchingly sad. She seemed so nostalgic every time she talked about her loved ones.
"But I can't leave just yet. I have to make sure that this village will be in good hands once I'm gone. Since you became a jonin, I've been busy trying talking the village council into accepting my successor, about the person who has to succeed me, who should inherit the will of fire. The Elders, though, seemed hell-bent on denying my choice my heir. Well, after two long years of discussions, we finally convinced our daimyo to accept the person I chose to be the next Hokage!"
Tsunade seemed spirited again, excited, as Naruto was starting to feel that his breath was beginning to fail him.
"For that reason, Uzumaki Naruto, I can finally after five long years of waiting, officially appoints you as my successor: the seventh Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves!"
Naruto felt for a second as if he was just dreaming.
TO BE CONTINUE....