Chapter Fourteen: And the Sixth will be…

Two months had passed since Naruto's proposal to Hinata. The child was growing normally, and so far no Kyuubi details had shown. Sakura had taken over as chief Medical Ninja in the village, and she was in charge of Hinata's monthly examinations. The child had been confirmed as a three month old female fetus, which caused the Hyuga Clan to celebrate. Hinata was especially beautiful, even more so than usual Hyuga women. This alone was a cause for celebration, but even more so was the fact another Hyuga was to be born. Even more of a celebration was due to the fact that Tenten was now pregnant by Neji, and she would bear the clan a son. Sakura and Sasuke were experiencing difficulties due to the Cursed Seal.

Not all was well in the village however. Tsunade had grown more violently ill. She could not move out of her own bed without feeling faint. She had finally determined the cause of the illness, but why she had not discovered it years ago was beyond her. She christened it the O Virus, after its creator, Orochimaru. She deduced that it was transferred through a bite, but not while performing the Cursed Seal Jutsu. Why Jiraiya had not contracted it was beyond her limited understanding of the disease. Tsunade was a brilliant medical ninja, but she was still a human, and all humans eventually died. Tsunade knew her time was near, and she had told no one. She called for Shizune, to give her a message.

"I want you to bring Kakashi, Jiraiya, Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, Hinata and Sakura to me. And be quick about it would you?"

Shizune nodded and went about her business. Kakashi was with Jiraiya, talking about the recent inactivity of Akatsuki. Shizune told them that the Hokage required their presence but they had other things to attend to first. Shizune nodded and left to find Shikamaru next. She found him on the roof of the Academy, where he was now an instructor. He was staring at the clouds like he did everyday when Shizune stepped in front of his view.

"You know Shizune, every time you come to find me it is never good news. Did Sasuke run off again? How troublesome…"

Shikamaru sighed heavily and leapt to his feet as Shizune gave him a stern glare.

"No, she has called for you and a few others. She has not been feeling well these last months. I fear she may be… dying."

Shikamaru's usually blank eyes lit up at the news of Tsunade's health.

"I'll go see her immediately."

Shizune smiled at him and placed a hand to his shoulder in a display of thanks before she left to find the others Tsunade had called for. She spied Neji training in the courtyard of the Hyuga Compound with Naruto. They had become very close as of late. Hinata was watching them both, with Kiba and Shino. Sakura was there just to be with her friends. Sasuke was not present, for he was off on a recon mission. Shizune dropped from the rooftops and alighted in front of Hinata with a very grim look on her face.

"The Hokage wishes to see you all, except for Kiba and Shino. It is a very important meeting, and I need you to come immediately. Tsunade-sama has been ill for two months, and even though she has said nothing to me, I fear her time may be near."

Sakura was the most shocked of them all.

"What do you mean near? I haven't noticed anything more than a cough, even if she does have the O Virus."

Shizune's eyes narrowed dangerously at the younger Kunoichi.

"You knew? She told you but not me. I found out the truth my own way."

Sakura stood up and nodded.

"Let's settle this later. We shouldn't keep her waiting any longer."

Shizune sighed in defeat and nodded as they walked back to Tsunade's room in the Hokage residence. As they opened the door, Sakura rushed to her teacher's side and dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth. Soon after, Kakashi and Jiraiya entered the room and Tsunade forced herself to sit. She coughed loudly and raggedly before she spoke in a hoarse voice so unlike her own.

"Listen to me carefully. I have a final request to make of each of you. Jiraiya, please. Put a stop to Pein once and for all. Make this world safe for all. Kakashi. I remember the very first time I met you. You are such a talented Ninja, and as such, I want you to become an instructor at the Academy. Please, raise more young Shinobi in the same manner you raised Naruto and Sakura. Shikamaru. You are so intelligent, yet you waste that intelligence by staring at the clouds. In addition to your position at the Academy, I want you to be an ANBU Captain as well. You were born to lead. Neji, I wish the same for you. Also, when your child is born, please, for your father's sake, name the child in the Hyuga fashion. Hinata. Continue to grow stronger. Train with Naruto and Neji. You have a great power inside you, waiting to be released. And when your daughter is born, raise her just the way you were raised, and she will grow into a strong young woman. Sakura. I know you and Sasuke are trying to conceive, but have faith. You will one day have a child. Sakura, you were likened to my second coming. You are more gifted even than I. Please, become a skilled doctor and help your friends and this village. That just leaves Naruto. You and I are so very alike. We're both related to previous Hokages. My grandfather was the First, and your father was the greatest of them all, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze. I want you, Naruto Uzumaki, to follow me as the Sixth Hokage. This I ask… of each… of you."

Tsunade laid her head back down on the pillow and smiled peacefully. Shizune let silent tears fall from cheeks as she held her mistress's hand in hers, remembering all the times they had spent together. Sakura dabbed her teacher's sweat soaked cheeks gently, and Tsunade's chest rose and feel gently.

"Perhaps it was all of this talking, but I would like to rest now. Just a little… sleep."

Tsunade said as her head fell limply to the side as the Fifth Hokage breathed her very last and passed away with a smile on her face. Everyone in the bedroom bowed their heads in silent prayer for Tsunade's soul to find peace in heaven. Sakura and Shizune drew a sheet over her lifeless body and all of them paid their respects to their leader. Jiraiya stood to deliver the tragic news to the village, but was stopped by Kakashi.

"I'll go instead. Naruto, come with me. We should do this now."

Naruto nodded and kissed Hinata's cheek as he slipped away from her and back to his former teacher's side. The news devastated the village. Tsunade's body was to lie in state for three days so the entire village could remember the Fifth Hokage. Now there was just one Sannin left in this world.

To be continued…