Chapter 2: The Hokage's Son
"...And I shall give my life for Konoha, as the Godaime Hokage."
Watching his mother soak in the thunderous applause of the audience from the sidelines, Naruto had to admit that it felt real good to finally call a place home for the long run.
Not that he didn't enjoy his life on the road together with his mother and two adopted sisters, but in every town they went to, he always felt like a stranger.
But that was not the case in Konoha because he felt at ease here. A part of him probably knew that this was his birthplace which is why it felt so familiar and comforting.
Though Naruto sure didn't feel so welcome a few days ago. He had been told by his mother before of the attempts on his life as a baby just because he had Kyuubi sealed within him so it was understandable that some of the older ones would recognize him and call for his death just because they percieved him as the biju reborn.
But just like before, his mother and two adopted sisters had repelled all threats to his well being. This time with a little help from some unexpected sources.
(Flashback)
"This is highly irregular Sarutobi." Koharu declared, recovering quickly from the shock of seeing Tsunade as Hokage. "The selection of a candidate for new Hokage normally requires the approval of both councils of Konoha before the candidate is proclaimed."
"Yes that IS the procedure under normal circumstances." Sarutobi agreed. "But the decision to proclaim Tsunade as the Godaime Hokage didn't occur under normal circumstances."
Taking note of the confused looks that both councils were giving him, Sarutobi continues his explanation. "You see, even before I was reinstated as Hokage after Kyuubi's defeat, the Fire Daimyo had already selected a new Hokage for us and that was Tsunade. And since it was still an emergency situation then, he is authorized to select his candidate without consultation from our councils."
"But that was thirteen years ago!" A civilian council member protested. "Surely that can't be valid now."
"On the contrary, his ruling on the matter is retroactive which means that Tsunade can assume the post anytime she wishes since she was not able to do so back then due to reasons that I'm sure all of you are aware of." Sarutobi stated, causing some members of the council to wince. How could they forget the time when people tried to attack the newly born Kyuubi jinchuuriki without considering who his mother was? It was one of the primary reasons why Tsunade left Konoha in the first place if only to prevent further casualties from the populace.
"Look. If you idiots are still too damned stubborn to comprehend the situation, let me spell it out for you in simple terms that you can understand." Tsunade spoke up, her patience wearing thin from all the protests that was bombarding Sarutobi. "The Fire Daimyo himself appointed me as the Godaime Hokage so deal with it. You think I'm not fit for the job? Prove it." Tsunade challenged, placing the Hokage hat in front of her as if daring anyone to take it.
As expected, nobody took up the challenge. Both the shinobi and civilian councils knew that they stood no chance against the Daimyo's decision from a political and legal standpoint. And outright challenging Tsunade for the position is suicidal even for the strongest heads of the shinobi clans.
In other words, she is now and shall forever be known as the Godaime Hokage.
"Nobody wants to try? Good. I'm glad we understand each other." Tsunade said as she took her place at the Hokage's chair in the council room with Sarutobi standing besides her. "Now then, there's no reason why this can't be a working council meeting so let's get down to business. I have gone over Konoha's charters and mission reports and frankly speaking, I'm not very happy with what I've read. For this reason, I intend implement some changes in our system."
Nervous whisperings can be heard all around the room and even the normally lazy Nara Shikaku sat up in attention at the Godaime's announcement. Something big was about to go down and the lazy genius had a feeling that things were going to get interesting.
"Effective immediately, the civilian council no longer has authority over decisions and matters pertaining to shinobi affairs. Likewise, the shinobi council cannot exert authority over decisions and matters pertaining to civilian affairs. Only I, in my official capacity as Hokage, can decide on wether or not your input on a matter outside your jurisdiction is required." Tsunade said. As expected, the room erupts in a flurry of protest from both sides which was quickly silenced by a burst of killing intent from the Godaime Hokage.
"Enough." Tsunade boomed as she glares all around the room, taking note of the look of approval from a surprising source. The old warhawk Danzou seemed pleased by Tsunade's decision which didn't really sit well with the Godaime since she knew of his reputation. But right now, she needed all the support she can muster.
She takes a deep breath to calm herself and explains her reasoning. "For a long time now, we have allowed unqualified parties to interfere on matters that they clearly know nothing about and that has led to abuse and misuse of manpower and resources that's better off in areas where it is truly needed. Once this decree is implemented, we put the right people for the right job which in turn will increase overall productivity and success rates of our missions without the gross wastage of resources."
Grumblings can be heard all around but majority of the council from both the civilian and shinobi side saw the wisdom of Tsunade's plans.
"In light of that, I and my new council of elders shall be reviewing the village & shinobi bylaws and charters and implement changes wherever necessary in order to benefit Konoha as a whole. Furthemore, any new laws and charters will only be ratified if it is approved by myself AND my advisors." Tsunade stated before looking at Hiruzen and Jiraiya. "I am also appointing Kazama Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen to my council of elders together with Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu and Shimura Danzou."
And just like that, any power one side may have held over the other was effectively nullified by the Godaime Hokage. A few members of the Shinobi and Civilian council looked disgruntled at this but the majority didn't seem to mind the ruling.
"Now then, let's move on to other matters." Tsunade said, bracing herself for what she was about to say. "I am aware that the Sandaime has enacted a certain law about Kyuubi while me and my family were absent from Konoha. So for your own safety, I suggest you strictly follow that law now that I'm the Godaime because I will NOT hesitate to enforce it." She said.
Both councils knew that she was referring to the Sandaime's law which prevents them from speaking about what they knew of Kyuubi at the pain of death.
"You are being unneccesarily harsh Hokage Sama and there's no call for that." A civilian member of the council protested.
"Is that right?" Tsunade said with an arched eyebrow as she gave the signal to allow someone to enter the council chambers. The doors open and a young man with blonde hair and whisker marks on his face enters. An individual whom many in the council recognized despite being older.
"It's the demon fox! Kill th... URK!" The same civilian council member who protested started to say before a snow white, razor sharp blade cuts his throat from behind. A moment later, Uzumaki Kushina steps out from the shadows with an empty look in her normally joyous eyes. She wipes her sword using the dead civilian's clothes, sheaths the blade inside her cloak and jumps down to stand behind Tsunade's chair.
"As I've said, I will NOT hesitate to enforce the law." Tsunade said coldly. "Don't fuck with me on THIS matter. We've all had thirteen years to get our heads straight but if you still insist on treating my son like a monster, then I WILL pick up where I left off years ago and there's not a damned thing ANYBODY in here can and will do to stop me this time around."
(Flashback Ends)
Funny how that single act changed the way many people saw Tsunade when they heard about it. None of the previous Hokages were ever THIS brutally decisive.
But then again, this was her son they were talking about. A mother's wrath was truly something to be feared.
And even though Naruto didn't really find it necessary to kill the councilman as letting him off wouldn't have given his detractors more reason to hate him, he DID understand that his mother needed to set an example no matter how ruthless it may seem in order to protect her family.
"Are you ready for the meet and greet, Naru-Chan?" Naruto's mind snaps back to reality as his mother addresses him.
"Stop calling me by that blasted girly nickname Kaasan." The blonde Jinchuuriki grumbled.
"Only if you stop using THAT jutsu." Tsunade replied sweetly.
"C'mon Kaasan. That is a legitimate medical experiment in progress! You're the one who told me to learn all I can about the human anatomy!" Naruto protested.
"I did, didn't I? Which is why I'm NOT calling you any OTHER embarrassing nickname." Tsunade said. "Most boys your age shouldn't even know anything about something like that just yet."
"But I'm NOT like most boys. I'm a thirteen year old trained by the world's best medic to be a doctor." Naruto insisted. "It's not like I'm not going to be encountering something like this in the near future, especially if I'm going to be working at the hospital."
Tsunade sighs in resignation as Shizune merely smiles at the exchange between Naruto and Tsunade. "We'll talk about that later. Right now let's go do the meet and greet."
Naruto simply nods at this and follows his mother. The first group they met turns out to be members of the civilian council who wasted no words lavishing him with praises as the 'Honored Son' and 'Senju Heir'.
But of course, the blonde knew that they had been cowed to submission by his mother's actions the other day and their words and praises were just a means NOT to incur her wrath again.
The next group they talked to were the heads of the major shinobi clans of the village. Unlike their civilian counterparts, they were properly respectful to him with just a hint of skeptism in their eyes and body language.
He didn't really mind it too much though. Naruto would much rather earn their respect and acknowledgement through his actions and not just because he is the Hokage's son.
The genin teams were up next. During the meeting, Naruto got reaquainted with the Sandaime's son Asuma whom he and his family met at the Fire Capitol some years back and was now the sensei to one of the genin teams who turns out to be the second generation of the famed Ino-Shika-Chou Trio.
He also met the heirs of the Aburame, Inuzuka and Hyuuga on a team headed by a beatiful red-eyed kunoichi named Yuuhi Kurenai.
Aburame Shino and Inuzuka Kiba were typical examples of their clans. Stoic and calculating for Shino and loud and brash for Kiba. But the girl named Hyuuga Hinata acted nothing like members of her clan. As a matter or fact, she seemed rather meek and shy especially around him which he personally found cute.
Then came the squad led by the famed Copy Nin Hatake Kakashi which consisted of Councilman Danzou's adopted son Sai, a pink haired kunoichi who hailed from a civilian clan named Haruno Sakura and the sole survivor of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Sasuke.
Shimura Sai smiled WAY too much for it to be sincere while Haruno's Sakura conditioning didn't look up to snuff based on her physical structure. But it was Konoha's last Uchiha who caught his attention the most. The boy's eyes were full of pent up rage and anger that he believed that he must have suffered some sort of mental trauma during that dark night where his entire clan was killed by his own elder brother.
Naruto briefly wondered if Sasuke was recieving any sort of psychological help for his problems.
Finally, it was the elder's turn to talk to him. Homura and Koharu seemed polite enough if a little distant which suited Naruto just fine since he didn't really like them all that much.
But the last elder, the heavily bandaged one named Shimura Danzou who his mother warned him about, took the time to chat with him which immediately raised alarm bells in his head.
"Good day Senju Dono. How are you finding the village thus far?" Danzou asks almost pleasantly.
"Please just call me Naruto, Danzou Dono. It would be unseemly of you to address someone as young as myself in such a manner." Naruto said with a short bow. "As for how my experience in Konoha have been so far, I'd say that it could've gone much better. But like my mother, I still look forward to serving it's people to the best of my abilities."
Danzou nods sagely at this. "Indeed. It's a shame that many foolish people fail to appreciate what kind of sacrifices a jinchuuriki has to make." The old bandaged man said as he walks past and places his uninjured hand on the blonde's shoulder. "But let me assure you that I am not one of those foolish ones. You will always have an ally in me so don't hesitate to ask for my humble assistance anytime you need it."
Though the seemingly friendly gesture from the old man unnerved him, Naruto was too levelheaded to let it show. "Thank you Danzou Dono. I shall keep that in mind." He replied politely though he swore to himself that it would be a cold day in hell before he would seek help from Danzou. As the old councilman hobbles away, he couldn't help but feel that something was off about him.
"Now that you've met him, what do you think about Danzou?" Tsunade asks as she steps up besides her son.
"I don't trust him." Naruto said flatly. "He may be able to dupe others into thinking that he's just a crippled old man but not us. He's hiding something behind those bandages Kaasan. I don't know what but I don't like it."
"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about him for now. All we can do is keep an eye on him." Tsunade said before facing her son. "But enough about him. Have you made your decision yet? If we're gonna pull this off, I'm gonna need your help."
Naruto sighs in resignation. "Yeah. Sorry for putting it off for so long Kaasan. But I'll accept the commission and serve as a medic."
"Wonderful." The Godaime said with a smile, kissing her son on the forehead. "I knew I can count on you."
"Always Kaasan. Always." Naruto said, sounding more confident then he actually felt. He had a feeling that this was just the beginning of his trying times in Konoha.
Author's Notes: New chappie's done. As usual, R&R