-2 days later-

Naruto was heading back to his new apartment; Tsunade was going to debrief him tomorrow. For now, his mind lay on two things, his ninja life and his apparently newly found social life.

-Flashback-

"What happened?" asked Neji spotting his cousin on the floor

"N-Nothing…" Naruto said turning a fair shade of pink. Noticing his friends outside, he gestured them all in, after seeing that Hinata was fine, everybody started rejoicing at Naruto's consciousness.

"YO! Welcome back to the living" yelled Kiba while Shikamaru was shaking his head

"How are you feeling?" asked Gaara while Neji and Tenten were trying to wake Hinata up

"…and she still feints…" muttered Ino wondering what other reason could there be as all her gossip senses were telling her something juicy happened.

"I'm… not fine yet but happy u guys are" Naruto said with a grimace.

"If it helps, we'll have an eating contest once you're out" said Chouji

"You're paying" interrupted Shikamaru remembering the two had the biggest stomachs in the group.

Everybody pretty much talked about their stations how everyone nearly died, the usual. Naruto was about to comeback with a comment before he noticed the lack of green. Looking at Neji and Tenten, he asked.

"I don't see fuzzy brows here. Where is he?" asked Naruto while Neji and Tenten slightly tensed but nonetheless answered.

"He's been… injured" said Tenten. Naruto felt weird by the smile that was suddenly on her face while Neji looked a bit red.

"Er… should I even ask why? He's at least alive and I'm guessing Sakura ain't here because she's with him." concluded Naruto.

"How do you know?" asked Ino realizing just now that her best friend never followed them inside

"Just assuming. So anything new I should know about?" asked Naruto while they all started talking about news, their newly appointed ranks, more gossip… Kakashi's possible face. It was a relief talking about everyday trivia.

-End Flashback-

Naruto was about to reach his newly designated apartment when he saw another familiar face. Tsunade was waiting for him in his new home. The scene reminded him when Sandaime did it when he was young.

"Yo baa-chan, whats going on?I thought my debriefing was tomorrow?" asked Naruto

"It is. This isn't a debriefing, I just want to talk about a few things. Can I come in?" asked Tsunade not taking "no" for an answer holding a scroll.

Thinking about the lack of reaction to the word "baa-chan", he thought she must be a bit serious. He gestured her in and settled down his stuff at the nearest sofa. After that, he looked around for a bit memorizing his new place.

It was better than his old place, living room, TV, double bedroom, the works. He was going to offer Tsunade tea when he realized he didn't know if the place had anything he could use. Tsunade herself was making herself comfortable while observing Naruto pulling drawers. Noticing his slight fidget earlier, she assumed that he was going to offer tea but decided to check first if he had anything to prepare.

"Ahem… sit… its fine if there's no tea. I expected this much" said Tsunade stopping Naruto in his tracks.

"Alright, sorry bout that. Next time I guess." Replied Naruto and thought about his shopping list for later.

"Right… How… would you like to be promoted?" asked Tsunade tentatively while Naruto looked at her with a huge smile on his face.

"Beats being a genin to be honest. I mean I'd love to be a Jounin" replied Naruto while Tsunade smiled.

"I'm not talking about you just becoming Jounin." Said Tsunade patiently hoping he'd catch her drift.

"You… uh… want me to be like Anko then? Elite Jounin or even like Kakashi! Oh yeah! ANBU training's so going to be a piece of cake" said Naruto. She watched his excited and it was infectious and truthfully, watching him becoming a step closer to his dream made her smile too but she'd want him to grow up a bit more before she handed it to him. Still, every bit of happiness you give wouldn't hurt she thought.

"If that's what you like, I'd gladly give it but I was hoping you'd accept a much higher role" teased Tsunade putting emphasis on higher starting to unroll her scoll.

"You…. You don't mean…." stuttered Naruto. He wanted to hear it, his dream of Hokage…

"No… I don't think you'd want it… after all, you'd prefer being in the same rank as Anko now wouldn't you" teased Tsunade even more while Naruto was both embarrassed and frustrated. His hoping was too high and as a shinobi he knew it was too damn high.

"Tell me what it is already, and I'm pretty sure Anko would use me as a target practice if I ever become an Elite Jounin." replied Naruto smiling at her.

"I was here to inform you personally that you are one of the candidates of Hokage with a rank similar of Jounin but under the label advisors." said Tsunade smiling at him.

"…"

"…"

THUD

"Wow… he took that well." Muttered surprised Tsunade expecting cheers of joy and definitely a lot of cockiness but feinting… last on her list.

…

…

…

Naruto woke lying on something soft, they smelled of wood, pork and sake. Realizing where he was, he slowly got up realizing that he was on Tsunade's lap while Tsunade was watching him all this time. He was embarrassed to say the least to admit that feinting was the least of Hokage attitude but he never really expected it this early. After explaining to him that he was only a candidate, Naruto began to calm down knowing he had some time before actually getting that title.

"So, who are the other candidates?" asked Naruto wondering who his competition is.

"Kakashi and Shikamaru's Dad." replied Tsunade smiling at Naruto's shock.

"Well, Kakashi is damn famous… I gotta admit that, and he's definitely seen a lot more than what I have. Shikamaru's dad… dunno much about him but if that's where Shikamaru's brain comes from, then even I'd get scared." Thought Naruto.

"So er… what does being a candidate do exactly?" asked Naruto

"Here's the thing. Nothing." Replied Tsunade.

"Eh?"

"Sandaime and Jiraiya chose me under a process of elimination meaning it was a personal choice for them and for me, I find that if I had to go somewhere and had someone to temporarily do my job, I can trust you, Kakashi or Shikaku to do my responsibilities though… " said Tsunade simply

"How I am even qualified, I mean… I'm grateful and definitely beyond happy to be even considered but what about my age or you know being a Jinchuuriki?" inquired Naruto.

"Power, leadership and love. To be a Hokage, one must be strong enough not only to protect the village but burden anything that comes from it as well including the sacrifices needed to keep it safe. As a Hokage, you must also consider the lives of your shinobi as your own and instruct them accordingly. Lastly, as your duty, you put yourself as well as those who have sworn on you to protect this village regardless of the cost your own being." Explained Tsunade.

"…"

"Naruto, I believe you already have the power to protect this village as much as the village's respect and love for you and besides, what about Gaara. He was Shukaku's host before he became Kazekage so I'm pretty sure age isn't a problem." Further added Tsunade

"I guess… but the whole leadership thing… that's something I have to learn isn't it?" asked Naruto

"That's up to you. You have the strength, Kakashi's got loyalty and Shikaku's got the brains for it but personally… you made a promise to me brat to become Hokage so better make sure you do become a Hokage regardless whether you're the sixth seventh or tenth… just do it before I really get old." Then suddenly Tsunade's smile became crueler and feral.

"By the way… I know you and Hinata… kissed." Putting emphasis on the word, Naruto paled at her knowledge seeing as at that time, no one was in the room.

"I didn't kiss her, she kissed me." Argued Naruto while Tsunade's smile was become wider and wider.

"And you didn't like it?" teased Tsunade.

Naruto blushed remembering all the emotions he felt Hinata share with him while thinking of nothing except how good she looked plus with everything Jiraiya ever taught him finally clicking in place, he started having… vivid dreams about her. Tsunade noticed the blush go from pink to red thinking how fun it was to tease him, like how she used to tease her brother a long time ago.

"So tell me… any plans on answering the poor girl?" continued Tsunade.

"I… dunno to be honest. I can't say I don't like the feeling but…" Naruto was at a loss of words; thankfully Tsunade foresaw this and merely smiled at his dilemma.

"Try talking to her. Be a friend before a boyfriend" advised Tsunade knowing what kind of reaction Naruto will have on the word girlfriend. Sure enough, Naruto again blushed.

"Enough about that for now… I want to know more is when you were elected, wasn't there like a council or something that decides also if your fit to be Hokage?" said Naruto trying to go back to the original topic.

"Yes, there is that. However, it's by a popular vote plus a majority of it can be influenced by the current Hokage and its competition. I'm under the assumption you know who your birth parents are. Let me tell you a story then…" Tsunade stretched for a bit before continuing

"Your mother, Kushina Uzumaki… was one of the most annoying brats I have ever had the fortune or misfortune to meet. She couldn't stop bragging about becoming the first female Hokage and that she was going to kick my ass and take her place just because I was Shodaime's granddaughter." said Tsunade having Naruto's complete attention.

"Your father and her got together one mission and has been together a lot. At times, when I'm not on mission and when I can watch Jiraiya train your father, I have lengthy conversations with your mother. She would tell me that she'd give up being Hokage for your dad's sake and vice versa and they both fell in love with each other more." Tsunade paused allowing some of the pain of the memories hit her before continuing

"At that time, when your mom was about to be a candidate for the position along with your dad, your mother literally refused and simply gave Minato the title. Minato, of course, tried to do the same but she said something about being his ultimate partner for life and Minato couldn't refuse." Remembered Tsunade while Naruto digested the facts and adding it to what he already knew.

"Baa-chan doesn't know mom was a Jinchuuriki as well as her grandma… Even if I tell her, I don't have facts or does she?" thought Naruto.

"Shortly after your dad had become Hokage, the village had one of the best love stories you could've been a part off. Your dad was busy all the time while your mom was emotionally and physically craving for him. I swear, you'd think they were already married with the way your mom could barge in his office demanding to spend more time with her. Your mom was about to actually give up on your dad when your dad did the most romantic thing a Hokage can do, he advertised his proposal to her in the whole village." Reminisced Tsunade.

"What did he do?" asked Naruto hoping to get something from the story.

"He was always known as Konaha's Yellow Flash and he made sure every guy in his generation would remember it. He properly timed his Hirashin and practically wrote on the night sky "Uzumaki Kushina, I am a complete moron and I love you, will you please knock my head, put some sense into me and marry me." I swear, when I and along with everybody else saw it, I think well… except Orochimaru, we all felt some peace knowing that something as simple as love survived the war plus it came from our current Hokage. It definitely set the bar for some of the guys. Of course, your dad, after being nearly depleted of chakra, still had enough for one more Hirashin to literally kneel before your mom and hand her a ring. She fell for it head over heels alright, bonked his head hard enough to hear him scream loud enough to be heard by the whole village because he was embarrassing her and then I hear rumors about them almost making out in the street and they lived…well happy enough to have you afterwards. Shortly after that, I mourned for Nawaki and Dan, I bid your parents a happy life, left Konoha and hadn't heard from them since till Sandaime informed me of their deaths." finished Tsunade.

"Wow… dad was really a charmer, plus mom gave up being the first female Hokage… Hehe… It just means I really have to be cooler than the both of them before I can even face them. So wait, does that mean anyone can give up the position of Hokage?" Replied Naruto.

"Yes. Each Hokage must find a willing successor. If the person isn't willing then it shows that they found something else to love more. Your mom obviously loved your father more than being Hokage while your dad loves this village as much as he loves your mom. Right… I've said all I needed to… in private and while this is not strictly confidential, I'd advise you to keep it a secret. You'll be 18 soon and then you can decide what to do with your life. For now, think of everything I told you and how will you act upon it." Said Tsunade

"Now, this is my gift to you as it was all I could find." Said Tsunade handing him a smaller scroll with a standard Jounin uniform. Naruto looked at the scroll, it was a letter. He was going to read it but Tsunade suddenly stood up.

"With that, enjoy the rest of your day." Tsunade stood up, kissed Naruto's forehead and smiled at him before turning around walking towards the door and heading back to her office but not before leaving Naruto with one final message.

"Oh, I forgot, Hinata is heading towards Ichiraku's before I got here, I thought you should know" and with that Tsunade left smirking at him. He began to read the scroll before even considering lunch…

Naruto had a serene expression on his face while reading the letter. Some parts of the letter, he knew from his mom already explaining how Kyuubi was now his burden; but it felt real now more than ever that his mom truly lived. Her warm hands had been thinking about him before he was alive and wrote about her concerns and her fears.

"Dear Naruto"

"If you are reading this, know that I gave my life to give birth to you and I expect your dad and godparents to take care of you. If they don't I'll definitely remember to beat the crap out of the both of them. "

"…Mom…" mutter Naruto happily before continuing reading his letter.

"I want you to grow up healthy, strong and proud. You are born into a family of shinobis and that death is really scary but it helps us remember that we are human beings and not just weapons. Every time a shinobi dies, they will always leave something behind so that you can remember who your precious people are but in my case I can only leave you these words and I seriously hope you never read this. If by some sheer bad luck, your dad also dies, do try to avoid Jiraiya and listen more to Sarutobi and if you're only left with Jiraiya… I'll just pray really really hard you don't turn out perverted. I also pray you inherit the good stuff from us rather than the bad stuff like your dad's face and my hair and your dad's brains and my chakra capacity especially since your dad's dense and a complete idiot in ninjutsu. Hopefully you don't inherit both."

"Love Mom"

Naruto was reading and rereading the letter over and over… it wasn't much but to him it was everything. He noticed though that below the letter is a seal. Wondering what it was he tried applying chakra into it, causing a tripronged kunai to appear with a small note tied at the end of it.

"Naruto, this is for you when you become a proper ninja and something to remember me by in every mission."

"Dad"

"P.S. Don't let Jiraiya see that. He knows the theory of it and I never taught him this jutsu, he is still a seal master and has some knowledge of how to use it even if he ends up with his face on Hokage Monument. Not that I trust him… but I still don't forgive him for using me and your mom as a partial reference in the Icha Icha series… and don't read those either!"

Sweat dropping, he folded the two letter and thought of actually reading the series. He wanted more tips on his… girl problem. Looking at the kunai, he thought it was wicked cool. Seals on the handle and the design alone made him feel badass. Still, he did recognize it slightly from the history books as part of his dad's fame Hirashin. Throw it and poof your there in a flash or so he read.

"I dunno if I can ever use this jutsu but… I've still got a long way too got huh mom…dad…" thought Naruto before getting up and actually thinking of looking for Hinata.

"Ok… game plan. Simple… ask her to eat with you, avoid the kissing talk, no emotional talks for now, just get to know her… plain and simple." Thought Naruto while going towards Ichiraku's

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