He was lost in a sea of paperwork! He couldn't get out! He was being suffocated by the mounds of paper, inkwells, stamps, pens, orders, requisitions, warranties, and records! He was never going to get out!
Naruto stared at the foot tall paper pile in front of him, feeling his soul try to escape his body. They expected him to do all of this in one day?! They must be mad! Groaning, he reached for the first paper of the pile, staring at it blankly. He never considered that being the Hokage mean, he would have to do paperwork, but it came with the job. He was leading the village after all. Glaring at the "request to file records" paper, Naruto stamped it with the Hokage seal, looking up as someone knocked on his door. He needed to get out of this hellhole and fix his seal! "Come in…"
The door opened, and a young group of female kunoichi came barreling forward. "Naruto-sama!" One girl giggled, holding up a bento. "I made it for you! I know it's not proper, but I really, really like you!" The other two girls did the same, and the Hokage was a bit flabbergasted. He had not expected this either.
"Err… Ah…" He didn't know quite what to say, and dumbly took all three bentos, setting them on his desk. "Thank you?" He managed to state, scratching the back of his head.
The girls giggled, turning to barrel past a rather amused Kakashi. "Accepting bentos from girls now, Naruto-kun? Ah… To see how you've grown." The jounin took a seat in front of Naruto's desk, a smile evident through his mask. "I remember the time that you kept hitting on Sakura and…"
"Kakashi-sensei… Please, I'm already in enough pain. I don't need to reminisce about past events." Naruto stared down at his desk again, the bentos forgotten. "Hey Kakashi-sensei do you think you could-"
"No." The jounin cut him off, pulling out Make Out Tactics! and started to read it.
"But you don't even know what I was going to ask!" Naruto snapped.
"I have an idea, and no, I will not be your substitute Hokage." Kakashi stated, flipping the page to his book.
Naruto sighed, sliding down onto his desk. He needed to get away and deal with his problems, but he could not leave Konoha. "Who do you think I could ask?" Naruto inquired after a moment, peering up at Kakashi through his fringed bangs.
"There are a number of people you can ask, such as the man who cooks Ramen, the architect for the building, even Konohamaru." Kakashi jibed, continuing to read his book.
"Someonequalified to substitute, I mean…" Naruto remarked, letting the annoyance of his teacher's logic seep into his voice.
"Ah… That is a different matter." Kakashi shut the book, putting it away. He seemed to be thinking about what to do, and placed a hand under his chin. "Why do you need a substitute anyways? Does it have to do with the Yodaime's scroll?"
Naruto nodded in response, sitting up from his slouched position. He took a stack of papers, and started stamping them all, not even bothering to look at their contents. "Yeah… It sorta does." He winced as chakra spiked through his right hand, making him drop the stamp. "Shoot…"
Kakashi watched as Naruto picked the stamp up, noticing a peculiar outline that only those gifted with dojutsu could see. Taking Naruto's hand, he pulled up his Konoha plaque, his Sharingan spinning as he peered at his pupil's body. The skin seemed to be deteriorating on a molecular level from the inside, and if some large force was constantly pressing against it, trying to get out and rip Naruto's body to shreds.
The jounin turned Naruto's hand over, studying how the Hokage's hand twitched at this slight movement. He could see the muscles starting to change in the boy's body, towards a more feral, more yokai appearance. There was even a slight haze around his right hand in the shape of the Kyuubi's claw. "I see…" He let go of Naruto's hand, the blonde letting out a sigh as well. "I will give you one suggestion. Do not appoint a single ninja; that person will be looked at as your successor and it could cause bad blood between the clans or ANBU. Rather, leave the village to the Council."
The Hokage nodded, listening to the wise advice of his former teacher. He stamped another stack of papers, only reading their headlines. "To do that, though, I would have to address them and tell them what I am doing and why."
"Yes, but would you rather leave the village unprotected?" Naruto shook his head at that, leaning back in his chair to study the ceiling. This was going to be a very hard set of events to pass with the elders. All of them were old, cranky, and conservative. In a way, they were comparable to the first generation of Sand Siblings; Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro's grandparents.
Naruto stood, moving to telephone. He turned the dial of the numbers, reaching the private quarters of the Head of the Council. "Ah yes, Anyi-sama. Yes, yes… I am fine, no there is not an attack. No… No…" It took him a few moments to reassure the Council Member before he was able to give his order. "I need the Council to convene tonight, in secret. Yes, that's right; it will be an off record meeting. Thank you." He hung up the phone, turning to Kakashi. "It's all settled then…"
Kakashi nearly smiled, saluting Naruto. "You've become quite an accomplished sweet talker of young girls and old men. Careful, Naruto, you might actually be good at being the Hokage." Both men laughed, even if Naruto was a bit annoyed with the comment. "Here, I'll help you stamp, if you'll allow it." Kakashi took a seat at the edge of the desk, taking a stack of papers.
"O-of course!" Naruto rushed forward, pulling out a second stamp and inkpad. "Thanks, Kakashi-sensei."
"About that…" The jounin said, looking to Naruto. "You don't have to refer to me as sensei anymore, you do outrank me now." The ninja inwardly sighed, what a scary thought, Naruto outranking him!
The blonde grinned, and shook his head. "Of course not, you will always be my sensei, just like Iruka. I still respect you and him, so I see no reason why to call you by anything else."
Kakashi smiled, and simply let the issue slide. Naruto had matured more than he had thought.
x.x.x.x.x.x
Naruto wrung his hands together, pacing back and forth in his office. He had been wondering since he made the call if what he was doing would be the right thing. He had just become Hokage, and to ask for leave so early on would be seen as odd, and probably damaging to his reputation.
Scowling, he stopped in front of his double doors, staring at the monogrammed Konoha seal that was just above his desk. Kyuubi was growing impatient, it knew that its prison was starting to weaken, and it was letting more and more of its potent chakra emit from the seal. Wincing, he touched his stomach lightly, feeling the sharp crackle of malign energy. No, this was the right course of action.
With his resolve intact, he turned back around, opening the doors of his office. He needed to get to that meeting, and fast. If he debated anymore or tried to stall, they would deny his request altogether.Even if they do that… I still have to go. Naruto would put his reputation and title of Hokage on the line to finish what his Father had started all those years ago.
x.x.x.x.x.x
"Hokage-sama is late." One of the Council Members remarked, tapping his fingers irritably against the large table underneath him. "You'd think he would come on time to a meeting that he called!" The Council Members are huffed their responses, the old ninja annoyed.
The Head of the Council, Anyi, was a man who outranked even the Sandaime in age. Some believed that he had fought with the Nidaime, and others thought he was the brother of the Ichidaime. No one knew for sure, and hardly any of the ninja or citizens of Konoha knew of the Council it self. In a sense, the Hokage was just a figurehead to their power, the title being more of an honor given to the strongest ninja rather than an actual position. Of course, the Hokages knew nothing of that part of their job.
The doors to the room slammed shut, and Naruto bolted into the room, his face flushed from running. "I'm sorry Council Members I…" He huffed, leaning on his knees to catch his breath.
"You're here now, that's all that matters." Anyi stated, standing from his position at the middle of the table. "To get right to business; why have you called us here?"
Naruto stood, wiping his face off. He regarded the Council Members with some interest before moving onto his point. "I need to take a leave of absence for about a month." This surprised the Council; they had not expected this sort of request.
One of the Council Members immediately rejected the proposal. "Of course not! We have elected you Hokage based on your ability and drive to protect this village. What makes you think that you can go cavorting around like some rogue ninja?" The man snapped, his comments gaining a few murmurs of agreement.
This was annoying… "Because!" Naruto took a step forward, drawing his Konoha-plaque out from his robes. "I owe it to this village to finish what my Father started!" This was met with an even more surprised silence.
"You… You know of your heritage to the Yodaime?" One Council Member asked slowly, shifting forward in her seat. "How did you find out?"
Naruto scowled, and set his plaque down on the Council's table. He had bridged the gap between them in the past few moments, something that went against propriety. "Of course I know. I found out from Jiraiya-sensei, but that doesn't matter now. What I need is to leave the village, not for my own reasons but for the safety of everyone."
"What do you mean?" Anyi asked, peering at Naruto through his bushy eyebrows. "We need some sort of evidence of what you are planning to do…"
He knew it would come to this. Of course, these old bats would need some sort of proof that he wasn't going to perform an Uchiha style exit. Sighing, Naruto regarded the Council. "I understand." He let his white Hokage robe fall to the ground, and pulled off his long-sleeved t-shirt. The Council was confused, but Naruto continued before they could protest or make any other unnecessary and distracting remarks.
He centered his chakra at his core, feeling the painful heat from the Kyuubi's energy take over his natural chakra and overwhelm it. Red and black streaked across his body, collecting at his stomach. The seal suddenly burst into play, keeping the Kyuubi from gaining a larger foothold. The black markings stood out against Naruto's pale skin. Only five prongs remained, showing that four of the tails were now free.
"This is why…" He let his collected to chakra dissipate, some of his body graced with burns where the chakra had pushed out of his skin. "I cannot protect the village in this condition and I would become a threat to all of those who live here." He reached for his clothes, putting them back on.
Anyi watched Naruto, his bleary eyes studying the young man's form. "I see, and you received the scroll then?" Naruto was surprised that the Head knew of what his Father was working on, but nodded.
"Yes… Yes I did."
"What scroll, Anyi? What are you two talking about?" The other Members demanded, wanting to know the full story.
"It is not my place to tell, only to guide. Council!" Anyi stated, and suddenly the Members had regained their composure. "We need to vote on this and one other issue." The other Members nodded. The 'other' issue was how to address Sound's request for a formal duel. "All of those in favor to let Hokage-sama do what needs to be done to get the Kyuubi under control…" Five of the nine raised their hands, showing that Naruto was allowed to go. "We will watch over Konoha for you."
Anyi stood from his chair again, "Hokage-sama. We need to receive orders on how to act with the Sound's proposition. The challenge was addressed specifically to you, not the whole of Konoha, so we do not have any jurisdiction of the matter. What would you have us do?"
Naruto thought for a moment, rubbing his neck. Should he fight his once best friend to the death? There seemed to be no other way. He had to ensure the wellbeing of the Konohagakure nor did he want to kill Sasuke. "I…. I will accept it." The village was more important than his personal feelings.
"Good… Now that the larger issues are out of the way, we need to make a team of ninja to escort you."
"I propose the Sannin. They are powerful and have experience." One Member suggested.
"No." Naruto stepped forward again, "I will choose my own team. Jiraiya-san and Tsunade-san have finally found rest after years of fighting; I would not drag them into another battle. I will take Yamato-san, Kakashi-sensei, and Sakura-chan with me."
"Why do you choose these three ninja, Naruto?" The Council asked.
"Yamato can suppress the Kyuubi if it's needed, so he would go either way. Kakashi-sensei is one of the most skilled ninja around, and his Sharingan would be indispensable in times of great need. Sakura is the only other non-ANBU or Council Member that knows of Kyuubi, and she is very skilled with healing. Undoubtedly there will be injuries along the way."
Anyi nodded, "a wisely made team them. You know your companions' strengths and weaknesses well Hokage-sama. We will inform these people that they are going to have an S-ranked mission. One last thing…" The Head stopped Naruto, who thought the matters had been resolved. "Where will you be going first?"
"Sangakure." Naruto replied calmly. He would have to talk to Gaara about these matters. Even if his fellow Jinchuuriki had emotional issues, they were still friends and had similar predicaments.
"Ah… Well then, take Temari and Kankuro with you. You can use people who were born in the sand. I'm sure they will help you if one of you becomes incapacitated." Anyi replied, and nodded to Naruto. "Do you have any other requests of this Council?"
Naruto thought for a moment, rubbing his neck again. No… There was nothing else. He didn't want anything from them, and Konoha was going to be fine underneath their protection. "No, thank you for the Council's time." He bowed to the group, who returned to the gesture as well. Everything would turn out all right, he had to stay hopeful.
x.x.x.x.x.x
The Kyuubi was angry, as if it knew something was going to change soon. Naruto shuddered as the yoki tried to push through its prison, pressing his mind and body to its limit. He would be ending this eternal struggle soon… Placing a hand on his stomach, the Hokage had to reassure himself again. He would be leaving before dawn the next morning, but this feeling of uneasiness haunted him. The Kyuubi knew something was going on but it didn't know what… Yet.
Laying down on his futon, Naruto brought his comforter up to his chin. He just needed sleep. Maybe that would clear his mind about how to find the other half of the 900 seal-technique.
x.x.x.x.x.x
What is it that you are trying to pull, kit? Growled Kyuubi, the beast raging behind the weakening seal. Naruto turned to address the yoki in his inner self. It had started here, eight years ago when he had requested help from the beast. By tapping into its chakra, he had started the deterioration of the seal.
"I am not your tool!" Naruto shouted, pointing at the Kyuubi. "I am a human, a person with my own wants and desires! I will not become your vessel for mayhem and destruction!" The Kyuubi roared, water flying around Naruto.
Do you know whom you are challenging!? It growled, angry red tendrils escaping behind its bars to wrap around Naruto. I could kill you in an instant, you annoying pest.It seemed happy with this fact, and squeezed the tendrils, Naruto's air nearly cut off. The chakra burned where it touched his skin, the smell of seared flesh greeting his nose.
"But…" He gagged, his blue chakra surging and counter acting the yoki's. "If I die, you die with me!" His blue chakra erupted around him, forming a half dome to push Kyuubi back. "I did not choose to have you put in me, and neither did I want to admit that you were inside me but I won't fall victim to your evil schemes!" His chakra formed around him again, solidifying into a swirling ball in his left hand. "I am a person and you are simply an unwanted factor in my life!"
The Kyuubi laughed, rearing behind its cage. Come! Destroy this barrier between us so that I might feast on your flesh and become my own being again! Come for me, little boy! I remember when you came here the first time, nearly dead from that Water ninja's jutsu. Oh… How I loved the feeling of being free! It roared and energy flew at Naruto, the man blocking it with his own chakra.
Enough was enough. He was not going to be played by this monster, this relic of ancient wars and destruction! Letting out a growl of rage, Naruto's Rasengan changed forming into a large, green shuriken. "I will not be your toy!" He leapt forward, striking at a wave of red chakra with his Rasengan. The two energy forces surged and rolled, trying to push each other to the side to reach their attacker, but something stopped them.
A white being appeared at the middle of their two attacks; a small, white and blue Kyuubi. Unlike the one behind Naruto's seal, it did not give off an angry or malign aura and its eyes were closed. Rather, it stopped the attacks, keeping the two sides from mutually destroying each other. Naruto flew back, and in an instant, that being was gone, along with their destructive chakra. Kyuubi seemed equally as docile, and with a swipe of its paw, pushed Naruto out of its sanctuary.
Doors and passages flew by, and suddenly Naruto was back in his futon. Gasping, he sat up, sweat pouring down his face as he stared at the comforter in front of him. He was in pain all over his body, his wrists, neck, and torso a burned red where the Kyuubi's chakra had wrapped around him. The Kyuubi was growing even more powerful, and he could feel it working at his seal every moment of everyday.
Pushing his comforter down, he stared at his stomach, the black seal standing out against his skin. He still had five prongs. Good. Letting out a sigh of relief, he leaned his upper half forward, staring at the cotton comforter in front of him. This would all be over soon… Very soon. Then he could be a true Hokage, where he wouldn't be haunted by the Kyuubi.