The streets were bustling with civilians and shinobi alike. It was barely in the late afternoon, and going to the Hokage Tower wasn't how he wanted to spend it.
Slowly striding through the streets waving at those who waved to him. He loved the acknowledgement he gained after his triumphant defeat of Pein. Going through the village was now one of his favorite things to do.
His pace had slowed since his destination had came into view. Never once in his life had he never wanted to step foot in the building.
The empty halls echoed back his loud footsteps. He came to halt outside a door he would normally just abruptly open. He thought of maybe just going back home, sure Tsunade would get mad, but if anyone he could take her dangerous rants; sadly he wouldn't get that chance,
"Naruto, I know you're out there.. Get in here..NOW!"
Her angry voice already scared him him from wanting to enter. Truly though he didn't have any other choice, he really cursed his terrible chakra control.
Gulping he twisted the knob opening the door. He now understood why she was angry; there in front of her desk stood the village elders Homura, and Koharu. Any time these three got together an argument was sure to arise over anything. Now he was going to be the article of the most likely heated debate.
Everyone stood staring at the young blonde, frankly it was a tad bit uncomfortable. He always hated when people stared or looked at him for longer than a minute or less.
"What am I here for, Baa-Chan?"
The elders eyes shot fire, even if the boy had saved the village he shouldn't address the Hokage in such a manner.
"Naruto Uzumaki, you are addressing the Hokage." Homura spat with venom.
He never did like the elders probably more than Tsunade's lack of like towards them. It was because of them that he never was told about his ancestry let alone his parents; but he'd have to suck it up this time.
"My apologies, Lady Hokage."
Tsunade couldn't help but almost burst out in laughter at how sarcastic he made out his apology She knew the boy would never quit calling her old even when she passed the seat of Hokage over to him, weirdly it sounded odd for him to not call her it.
"Well as you know you have a month to find a girl to marry, so we gathered a list of twenty possible candidates for you to use as a guideline."
The fifths simple explanation made him understand it a little. He gripped he had to find a bride, and that they already had twenty possible candidates for him, hopefully avoiding fan girls.
Soon Koharu handed him a piece of parchment that as said did list the amount spoken. A few things immediately grabbed his attention; first: Sakura was no where on the list. Second: The final two names where very familiar with him, Hinata Hyugga, and one Shion
"H-Hinata Hyugga.?"
Everyone struggled to grip why the boy had such wide eyes at the fact the Hyugga heiress was on the list of eligible candidates. The only thing that came to his mind was how she attempted to aid him in the fight against Pein; her confession still replayed in his head.
"Yes Hizashi, thinks that it's time that she got married, I hope her candidacy doesn't bother you." Koharu said in annoyance to the head Hyuuga's pushing the council to find a suitor for his daughter.
"Its nothing really, but why is the priestess of Demon Country, Shion, on the list? Shes from outside of the village."
The elders inwardly smiled truly they hoped the boy picked the priestess, for it would strengthen the villages trade, economic and social status's.
"Well it seems that she has taken quite a liking to you , and sent us a formal marriage proposal a few days earlier. With that she was added to the list." Homura chimed
He was somewhat pleased with the explanation, but still he hadn't seen the blonde in over a year an half. Plus there was the fact that they lived in two different countries with two different loyalties bound to them.
"I can see why she was added, but still we're from two different places how would a long distance marriage work out?"
He thought he had the elders pinned in a corner, but their immediate grins told him they had already thought this way ahead of him. It was basically like playing Russian roulette, he could choose any girl from the list but the likely hood of him favoring them was low.
"Your view is well thought, but in recognition we have already arranged for her to come to Kohona's Mid-Fall Festival, where you will be here escort/protection." Koharu spoke calmly.
They now had him backed into a corner an he an Tsunade both knew it. Truthfully she didn't like the councils ruling on forcing the boy to find a bride in such little time, but council ruling's are final an that was that.
"Well then... Wait were still from different villages an my duty lies here so how would the marriage its self work.? "
Once again he thought he might have just shifted the tide in his favor he was once again shut down this time by Homura.
"If the wedding were to take place you would become an ambassador of some kind to Demon Country thus spending the majority of your time there, plus staying loyal to your village."
Damn, it seemed like they had thought all possibilities for this out. His back was pinned an he knew it all to well. With a sigh he faced his mom like Hokage.
"If that's all I'll be going."
He swiveled his body to leave the way he came but was told to stay as the elders left. Now the only ones in the mid sized office was him an the Hokage herself.
"Alright Kakashi you can quit hiding outside the window."
With that a white haired man wearing a mask over half his face appeared almost instantly in the office. Chuckling awkwardly he turned to face his superior.
"Hmm, sorry Lady Hokage for not announcing my presence sooner."
Truth of it was she had known he had been there since the moment he first decided to sit an read his Icha Icha, for maybe the one hundredth time. She knew full well why he was there, any sensei would be worried if a former student was going through something forced by the council.
"Well Kakashi, since you're so interested in this matter, do you have any advice for your student.?"
He thought on the question for what might have been three minutes coming to the conclusion that he honestly was never one for relationships, but there was something he could give him that might.
"Oi, here Naruto." He said while tossing him a copy of his favorite orange novel 'Icha Icha Paradise'.
Both Naruto an Tsunade sweat dropped at the Jounin's reluctance to bring his perverted novels into such trivial matters, but never the less maybe the book could help him.
"Uh, thanks I think, Kakashi-sensei."
The boy no longer saw it important to stick around in the boring office, wanting to return to the girl he left alone in his apartment over an hour ago. He bid both goodbyes and began he trip back home.
A/N: I hope I did better at creating a longer chapter this time around. I'll be getting to Sakura finding out about the whole ordeal in the chapters coming up... There will be slight NaruHina coming up followed by some dramatic NaruShion.