Swaying Necklace: All grown up

Chapter overview: Tsunade is ready to resign to a quiet role as an advisor; the elders have made their choice for her replacement…

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Morning in Konoha is a beautiful time. A vivacious student and his energetic sensei, both clad in matching green are out early, training, each betting the other that they can perform more kicks, punches, sprints, jump-ropes, or whatever it is today than the other. Elsewhere another trio is training together without their sensei who is home caring for her sick child. White eyes shining, the dark blue haired girl sends another blast of chakra from her hand toward her nearest opponent. She has grown so much that it takes both her teammates to battle against her now. She hears a growl to her left and another to her right and knows her teammate has performed his half beast technique and he and his canine fighting partner are trying to rush her from both sides. She deftly slips out of their attack line, and is rushed from behind with a swarm of insects. She pulls up short knowing these are her other teammate's chakra eating type of insect, and her using Juuken on them will only increase their strength. Instead she trains her vein circled eyes toward where she feels the strongest chakra, and locates the source of the bugs. "Found you, Shino," she mutters to herself. She sends a blast of chakra in his direction, and flips through the air to land directly in front of the man as he tries to dodge the attack. She is already in her stance, and calls out, "Juuken, two strikes," as she attacks. "Four strikes, eight." She reigns in her chakra, she doesn't want to seriously injure her teammate, merely render him incapable of continuing the battle. He drops to the ground, his bugs crawling out of the holes in his skin trying to heal him.

"You got me good, Hinata. You closed not only my chakra holes, but my bug holes too. You really are getting stronger." He comments in his almost monotone voice.

The typically shy girl blushes at the compliment. Her other teammate uses the distraction to his advantage and tries to get a hit in while she isn't paying attention. Unfortunately for him, she has her Byakugan activated, and deftly hits both his arms, causing them to go momentarily numb. Akamaru barks angrily, as Kiba falls to his knees panting. "Okay, okay, I give." He calls out laughing. "You can't blame me for trying!" he says laughing.

He rolls over onto his back and lays catching his breath on the soft grass of the training ground. The girl relaxes from her stance, and sits down gracefully between her teammates. She too is breathing rapidly, and is tired. "That was a good workout, Kiba, Shino." She says smiling her soft smile at them in turn as she says their name. Akamaru barks once. "Yes you too, Akamaru." She says laughing.

In the village proper the enigmatic blonde is finally waking up. He had gotten a free bowl of ramen from Ichiraki, and then Kakashi had actually bought him two more bowls. He had said they were for the two years Naruto had been gone this time. He, of course, wasn't going to question why; he was thrilled to be getting so much free Ramen!!

He pulled on his orange pants, black net shirt, and orange jacket. Then he stumbled into his kitchen planning to make himself some breakfast. It was only when he entered said room that he remembered he had yet to go grocery shopping, and as such, had nothing to eat. His stomach let out a loud growl.

"What's the matter? Didn't you plan ahead?" ask a smart aleck voice from his window.

Naruto turned to see one of his best friends Shikamaru sitting on the ledge. "Shikamaru!!" Naruto exclaimed.

"It's troublesome, but here." He said holding out a basket which Naruto gratefully accepted. He looked inside and discovered sweet dough rolls and rice cakes with bean paste. He began stuffing rolls into his mouth as fast as he could swallow them, mumbling 'thanks' and 'this is great' between mouthfuls.

"You were supposed to go to the Hokage's office first thing this morning." Shikamaru offered in a bored voice.

Naruto nearly choked on his breakfast. "Oh yeah!! I better run! Thanks for the food!" he shouted as he ran for his front door. Shikamaru just shook his head and wondered if his friend would ever really change. He didn't even get the chance to tell Naruto who it was that had made him the food.

"Oh well, I'll tell her he enjoyed it when I see her again." He said before hopping down from his perch and leaping at a loping pace over the housetops to return to the Hokage's office from where he had just originated.

Naruto had already beaten him there and was getting a lecture on punctuality from Tsunade. Shikamaru knew better than to enter when she was in one of her tirades, and retired to his own little office next door instead. He sat down in his chair thinking again how troublesome it was being the undersecretary to the Hokage. He wasn't even sure how he had reached this post. One day he had received an official letter that he would no longer be going on missions; rather he would be planning them and sending others to complete them. It was shortly after that day that this office had been cleared and prepared for him, and he began assisting the Hokage daily.

Shikamaru was lost in his reverie when his name in a loud shout rudely snapped him to attention. He rose quickly and stepped into the office next door. Naruto was still there, standing with his eyes glaring at Tsunade. She was red in the face, and was sitting stiffly in her chair behind her desk. "Shikamaru, you have been ordered to appear before the council of elders at noon today." She said to explain why she had called him.

She then turned her attention back to the orange clad ingrate in front of her. She smiled in spite of herself as she took in his colored cheeks, and piercing eyes. Their relationship had been stormy from the day they met, and now they seemed to always have a yelling match anytime they communicated. She thought to herself, if only he weren't so stubborn. Her eyes held sadness as she thought about the meeting Shikamaru had been summoned to that would transpire in about an hour's time. She wanted to fume and rant and rave about what it was he would be told. Who are they to make this decision, I'm the Hokage, don't I get a say in who my replacement is going to be?

Naruto noticed her staring at him with a sad look in her eyes. "Baa-chan, why are you looking at me like that?" he asked innocently.

She took the opportunity of telling him off for calling her an old lady again to change her mood and try to make him forget his question. She just didn't have the heart to tell him what she was thinking. He stormed out of her office; nearly knocking over one of the old advisors as he rushed out of the building and leaving him grumbling about how that blonde is a certain nuisance.

By the time the advisor had passed her office Tsunade had made up her mind about what she had to do. She knew she needed backup, and called out the open window, "I need you."

"I never thought I'd hear you say those words." Jiraya said in a flirtatious voice. As soon as he saw her downcast face, he became serious. "I know what you need of me. I'm willing, but is he ready?" he paused, then muttered again more for his benefit than actually asking, "Is he really ready?"

The look of gratefulness on Tsunade's face was almost more than he could bear. He recalled their talk from the previous night.

"Naruto has really grown up." Tsunade said softly.

"Yes, he's really become a man. So much like his father, as I said before." He commented snidely.

"I still see his mother in him. Maybe he looks so much like Minato, but he really has her personality. He'll always succeed with that." She countered.

Their discussion had continued late into the night. They had discussed Naruto's future, as well as delved into the mysteries of his past. Tsunade expressed deep regret at the childhood he'd had, and regretted never getting to knowing him through those times. She told Jiraya how she was happy he'd been there, and how glad she was Kakashi had helped. Jiraya told her about Iruka-sensei, and explained what he knew of the intricate relationship between Naruto and Sasuke. She'd learned almost as much about the boy in that one night as she had learned through the years she'd known him. In the end they had reached an agreement that he had really matured. They also conceded that if he really lost his characteristic innocence he'd lose that essential part of himself that could bring about changes for the better in people; and cause them to become close friends to Naruto. Jiraya had even joked that when he did become Hokage he'd already have a great network of close allies to bring with him.

Jiraya looked at Tsunade, who was looking gravely back at him. "Shall we go?" He asked. She nodded, saving her words for where they would carry the most weight.

They entered the council chamber, and requested an audience with the council. Many of the elders complained stating that this could surely wait as they already had an important appointment with Nara, Shikamaru to discuss his becoming the next Hokage. Tsunade roughly pointed out that she was still the current Hokage, and as such could demand an audience when she felt it necessary!

Shikamaru who had just arrived outside the chamber stopped short when he heard what was said about him. Me? Me a lazy, cloud-loving slacker the next Hokage? Who is so crazy to think that I would make a good Hokage? His thoughts raced as he leaned against the wall for support. He was first filled with a sense of wonder, then an uncontrolled rage began to build within him. It was an anger so raw and feral he wouldn't have believed he had it in himself. I will not be the next Hokage. That is Naruto's dream, he has worked so hard to reach his goal, I will not accept the position.

Having made up his mind, Shikamaru prepared to enter the chamber to voice his rejection, but the words he heard next stopped him.

"He does have the right to become Hokage. He's the Yondaime Hokage's only son!" Tsunade all but screamed at the apparently ignorant, self-centered, arrogant, pompous old geezers seated before her.

Her words had the desired effect of completely shutting all protests off at once. Each elder was fixedly gazing at her. Finally one of them voiced the question they all were pondering, "Have you any proof?"

Jiraya, who had remained silent up to that point, stepped forward and pulled a small scroll from within his robes. He slammed it onto the stone desk that stretched between him and the council hard enough to leave a crack. His eyes were filled with anger and yet challenged the elders to reject the document he offered. The one seated nearest the scroll picked it up gingerly; as if afraid it might be a trap. He cautiously unrolled it pausing only to gasp at the seal keeping it closed. He knew that seal. His grandson was the current metal smith in Konoha, his son the previous one; the one who had created the seal casts for each Hokage up to now. He had cast the mold that created this seal; the official seal of the Yondaime Hokage. He read the contents wordlessly, then passed the scroll to the elder seated next to him. When they had all read it, they cast furtive glances at each other wordlessly calling a private meeting.

As they departed to discuss the new information, Jiraya strode over to a chair and sat down. He motioned for Tsunade to join him. "They will be a while determining what ramifications this implies, as well as what they should do now." He smiled at her reassuringly. Then he turned his gaze to the door, "Come in Shikamaru." He called to the figure leaning still too stunned to move on the wall opposite the doorway.

At Jiraya's invitation, he moved his feet and walked into the chamber. He didn't need to speak; his eyes said everything for him.

"Yes it's true. Furthermore, you should know by now why the council is reluctant to allow Naruto to ever become Hokage." Jiraya studied the man heralded to be one of Konoha's most introspective geniuses.

Shikamaru finally found his voice. He was a bit surprised at the anger his words carried with them, "Yeah, because of what's sealed inside him." When had he become so protective of Naruto? he wondered. They'd been friends for a long time, but now he felt a sort of protective bond with the blonde he'd never realized before.

Jiraya didn't say anything, he knew Shikamaru understood. Tsunade looked at her undersecretary, and was stunned to realize she didn't know he knew Naruto's deepest secret. She wondered when he had found out.

Shikamaru looked from the bushy white haired old man to the sleek young appearing face of the Hokage. "I heard what they wanted to talk to me about, just a few minutes ago, when I was about to enter the room. I decided I would turn them down." He stopped to allow his words to take effect, then added, "Before I even heard the last part. Naruto's dream has always been to be Hokage. I didn't even want to be undersecretary! I was glad for the chance to get to sit and not have to run around doing missions all the time. However I also didn't like having to assign those missions to my friends." He stopped there, because he realized he'd said all he needed to say. He crossed over to grab another chair and pulled it over closer to where the two Legendary Sannin sat in silence waiting for the council to return and disclose what they planned to do next.

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Okay that's chapter 2. Same disclosure…I don't own..Masashi Kishimoto does..blah blah…

AN: Sorry if I have some character's out of order. I am trying to be true to the character's Kishi created, but this is my story, and I hope I am allowed creative immunity to make some changes as necessary. :D

I like how it's progressing so far, hope anyone who's reading along does too! Plan to update tomorrow…Chapter 3 at least, maybe more if I get them written. Also if this goes well I might do a sequel…depends on how this goes!

-Kneise