5

Those Who Inherit the Will of Fire: The flame burns on

It's time to make the right choice; history revealed!

--------------------------------------

Naruto was sitting in the one place where he could be expected to be most easily found. He hadn't planned for this; actually he had simply followed where his feet had led him after storming out of Granny Tsunade's office. He stared absently into his steaming bowl of Ramen. Ichiraki noticed he wasn't eating and commented, "What's wrong? Isn't my ramen good enough for you today?"

His words finally snapped Naruto back into the present, and he flashed his enigmatic grin, "No, it's just I had something on my mind." He rubbed the back of his head in his typical gesture. Then, as if noticing the ramen for the first time, he called out happily, "Itadakimas!" Then he greedily slurped the whole bowl down.

Eating ramen cheered him up, and he was in higher spirits when he heard his name called out in a tone that seemed to be in disbelief. "Nande?" he asked. He peered out from the banners that covered the front of Ichiraki's ramen stand and was greeted with a squeal typically reserved for Sasuke.

"Oh my god! You look so good! When did you get back?" The girl with the long blonde ponytail said all in one breath.

"Yesterday." He said simply, and turned to wave at someone walking along the other side of the street, "Ah Sakura-chan! How are you this morning?"

Not liking to have been so easily dismissed, Ino huffed and screamed out angrily, "Don't you just ignore me for that billboard brow!!"

Naruto looked from Sakura, whose face was slowly getting redder and redder to Ino whose eyes were bugging out and a vein had popped out on her forehead. Suddenly the two girls were face to face shouting at each other about who was uglier and names from the past like billboard brow and Ino-pig were thrown in casually. Naruto didn't know what to do, but finally he said he was going to go, which caused the two girls to stop bickering and focus once again on him.

"Where are you going?" Sakura asked politely.

"Ah, heh, I have to get some groceries. I forgot to do it, and didn't have anything for breakfast. Shikamaru brought me some rolls and rice cakes, which were great…" he was cut off by Sakura asking him how he'd liked the food. With his brow furrowed he pondered why she cared. Typically of him, he didn't understand until she explained she had made the food for him knowing he probably had forgotten to buy anything when he got home the day before. This served to enrage Ino again, and confuse Naruto. People weren't this nice to him, and he wondered what was going on.

Ino glared at Sakura and ask her what she thought she was doing cooking for Naruto when she was married to Sai. To which Sakura replied that she could cook for her teammate anytime she wanted and Ino needed to just get over it. Seeing that the girls weren't about to stop arguing, Naruto tried to slip away unnoticed. Unfortunately Ino saw him and grabbed his arm.

"Come on, we'll go shopping together." She gushed, grabbing Naruto's arm and pulling him toward the shops. Sakura reluctantly followed, as she had been headed to the store when Naruto had called to her.

The girls were civil to each other, as they went their separate ways once they entered the shop. Ino tugged Naruto around convincing him to put things into his basket he wouldn't have chosen for himself. If he resisted she would merely toss them in saying he'd love this or should try that. When he got to the checkout Naruto was sorry to see the bill. He paid with tears in his eyes, and complained about how his wallet had sure gotten thin quickly. Ino took the opportunity to invite her self for dinner by claiming she would help him cook the wonderful foods she had helped him choose.

Not knowing how to say no without getting hit upside the head again, he just nodded and trudged home. It was only when he was putting the food away that he realized she hadn't allowed him to purchase one instant ramen. He pouted and determined he would have to go back to the store to get some 'real food' later.

Naruto, being one not used to sitting in one place for any length of time, was soon headed out his door again. He had a huge grin on his face and was genuinely happy to be back in Konoha. His two year mission to the hidden village of the sand had been a good time, and he had had many long talks with the Kazekage, but nowhere could be quite like home. He could even, for one day, put the negativity of some people's glares aside and just enjoy walking through the streets.

Soon he was greeted by another friendly voice calling out his name, and he was surprised when a dog nearly the size of an elephant knocked him down and proceeded to sit on him. He turned to glare at the laughing man standing over him, then turned his face away insolently. When he did he caught site of the others who had been with Kiba and Akamaru. He grinned, his mood quickly lightening again and greeted many of his old friends. Choji finally convinced Kiba to call Akamaru off Naruto's chest, and helped him stand up.

Naruto warmly greeted Choji, and then Hinata, Shino, Neji, and Ten Ten. He couldn't believe he'd met up with almost the entire rookie group he'd grown up with at once. They walked off reminiscing about old times, and catching up on what had happened over the past two years. Naruto was happily surprised to see that Neji and Ten Ten had gotten married; Hinata was dating; although she wouldn't say who, and Kiba and Shino seemed to be awfully close now. Choji even boasted about having a girl. Naruto just grinned, he was thrilled, and yet a little saddened by all the coupling that had taken place. He thought about it, but since he'd come to peace with Sakura and Sai's union he really couldn't think of anyone he liked well enough to date. The group chatted and walked through the village peacefully, laughing and enjoying each other's company. They laughed quite loudly when Naruto let out a powerful sneeze that caused one of the street vendor's stands to topple. They teased him that someone was talking about him. They were shocked when he apologized and explained he'd forgotten to control himself, as he'd spent a lot of time training in wind jutsu's, control of wind, and nature chakra manipulation while he'd been at Suna.

On the other side of the village, the cause of his sneeze was notably that the council had resumed their places, and was beginning to explain their decision concerning said sneezing blonde to Tsunade, Jiraya, and unexpectedly Shikamaru who had been told to stay and listen by Tsunade. Each elder had been asked to comment and offer their opinion before a vote was then cast. There were various differences of opinion from stalwart opposers who simply could not accept the Jinchuriki being Hokage, to those who remembered the strength, conviction, and honor with which the Yondaime Hokage had conducted himself. These elders argued forcibly that the Yondaime was a great man, and if Naruto was his son he would be a great leader also. Eventually a terse agreement had been reached. This agreement was what was being explained to the trio of listeners at this moment.

The elders agreed that Naruto was now a likely candidate for Hokage. They all knew his record, as Tsunade had been very insistent they keep aware of his progress. They all knew his conviction, and not one could deny that there was something about Naruto that was more than meets the eye. The opposition was that this something could be the influence of the Kyuubi, and they were afraid if this demon was allowed to control the village it could lead to Konoha's downfall. Thus they had agreed to allow Naruto to assume the title of Hokage on a trial basis. They would monitor him for one year. Based on the happenings of this year, they would reach their final conclusion.

Shikamaru had been all too happy to lend his services as undersecretary to the new Hokage, a move which even Tsunade had to comment on teasingly. So the session was concluded, and the council was left to call Naruto for his formal meeting to be informed of the decision. It was with a triumphant cry of joy that Tsunade left the chamber, causing some of the stuffiest elders to crack an unaccustomed grin.

Shikamaru raced through the village faster than he'd ever moved, such was his great excitement to deliver the scroll to his friend as soon as possible. He didn't have to look far, because the group was still congregated in the middle of the village. They were silent now, as they were all observing the newest names carved onto the remembrance stone monument. Naruto leaned forward and ran his finger across the weathered names of Sarutobi, Asuma and the Sandaime Hokagi. He felt a tear slide down his cheek as he found another name carved so long ago in a place of high honor; Namikaze, Minato. Why did you seal that demon inside me? He wondered as he brushed the name free of a fine coating of dirt.

He stared up at the sun and used that as an excuse as to why he had a tear in his eye, and wiped it away. It was at this moment that Shikamaru burst into the clearing. "Finally, I found you!" he called out gleefully. "Here, you have a meeting at once!" he explained grinning from ear to ear as he handed the scroll to Naruto who took it with a look of suspicion.

"What did I do now? I only just got back yesterday!" he asked incredulously. He tore open the seal, and pulled the scroll open. He read the contents. He looked at Shikamaru questioningly. Shika nodded with that same goofy grin on his face. Naruto read the scroll again. Then he took off so fast no one saw him move except as a blur of orange.

Cries of what was that all about, and what just happened echoed through the clearing. Shika would only comment to get ready for the celebration of the century. The group dispersed, each heading their own way now pondering what had just transpired.

Naruto leapt into the council chamber a look of confidence on his face. The scroll had asked him to present himself for questioning about his parentage, as well as for consideration. That was all; it was basically a hidden message. Naruto had been fired up for this session because he finally had a chance to talk about his parents, and to ask about what he had learned over the two years he'd been in Suna.

He stood proudly before the council, and there was not one member there who harbored any doubts as to his lineage as they took in his visage. His level gaze, his clear blue eyes full of strength and conviction, his blonde hair defiantly sticking up. They all gazed upon him with new eyes.

Finally the most centrally seated elder spoke, he was the one with highest authority and posed as the leader of the group. He began to ask Naruto about what he knew of his parents. They went back and forth for two hours; asking questions, offering answers, eliminating speculation, until finally what lay before them all was the pure simple truth. Naruto smiled and turned his azure gaze upon the elders, one of them momentarily forgot herself and softly cried out, "Minato."

Naruto fixed her with his iciest glare, "No, but he was my father, and I am proud to admit it." Then his face broke into that grin that none could resist responding to. The council adjourned after one last reply was spoken.

"Naruto, we will hold your inauguration in one month's time."

Tsunade had been unable to resist the chance to hear for her self what had transpired, and as the last council member exited she stepped from her concealed listening post. Naruto slipped out of the room with a smile on his face so wide anyone would think he'd just won the lottery. "Congratulations, Rokudaime Hokage." Naruto didn't speak; his face clearly said more than words ever could.

------------------------------------------

Well that's chapter 3, I still haven't run out of ideas, and my story is still on track. Yay! Heh, dunnoh if I am even writing this for anyone other than myself… but that's all I ever intended to write it for… so it's all good!

-Kneise