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Here's the next chapter hope you like it :3

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Chapter 2 – Tides of change

Naruto stuffed his hands into his pockets and hung his head all the way to Sasuke's apartment. Walking up to the door he knocked on it roughly. "Sasuke! Sasuke! I know you there open up!" The door opened to reveal a scowling Sasuke drying his hair with a towel wearing only a black sweat pants. "Naruto… could you be quieter when you knock on my door!" the Uchiha groaned out. Naruto did not say anything and pushed into the apartment and headed for the kitchen. Finding and bottle of saké he grabbed two cups and headed to the lounge.

Sasuke followed behind him wondering what happened to put him such a mood. He sat down next to him and picked up the full cup of saké and drank it with him. "So are you going to tell me what happened or should I guess...?" Naruto sighed and slumped back into the sofa hoping it will swallow him. "Obaachan held a meeting to choose the next Hokage…" Sasuke looked at him confused. He should be happy coming from that meeting… "She said that I was not ready to take over as Hokage because I don't know how to run the village." The tone of Naruto's voice was laced with anger and resentment. "Did she say who she was choosing instead…?"

Naruto stood from his seat and began to pace the room as he explained the events of the meeting. "She chose Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru and Hinata! Kakashi and Shikamaru I can understand but why Hinata?! "Blinded by anger Naruto began rant on how terrible choice Hinata was. "She is so Weak! Sure she is the head of her clan so what! She is too soft to be in any kind of leading position!" Sasuke could not take any more of Naruto's pathetic excuse for a rant and punched square against the jaw. Naruto flew back and hit the wall behind him.

"What The Hell Was That For Teme!" Sasuke ground his teeth in frustration. "Don't EVER speak about her like that Ever Again Understand!" Naruto looked up to his friend in confusion. "If you have been pay attention lately you would that she is not only the head of her clan but an ANBU Captain… MY ANBU CAPTAIN! BAKA! She is not weak... in fact she is far from it..." Sasuke laugh sarcastically at Naruto "Too think that she was in love with you for the longest time… I wonder what she will think of you now if she heard what she said about her…"

Naruto got up silently and stood in front of Sasuke. "Oh don't forget because of her and Neji you are alive to today… Now Get Out Naruto!" Sasuke walked away to his room while Naruto stood there in silence with a solemn look on his face. He grabbed the bottle of saké and headed for the door. Sasuke heard his door slam shut and he fell back onto his bed staring at the ceiling.

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Shikamaru took a lazy stroll towards Kurenai's home. He took his time to stare at the clouds as he walked by. When he arrived there 'mini Asuma' was running around in the garden playing with the puppy Hinata and Kiba gave him last Christmas. Takashi spotted him walking towards the gate and ran towards him, with little Shiro following behind him. "Shika!" the little boy called out as Shikamaru picked him up and place him on his shoulders. "Shika-ojiji where's Hina nee-chan?" Shikamaru look up to him. "Oi how come Hinata is your nee-chan but I'm you oji (uncle) huh?" Takashi grinned and looked down at him. "Cause Hina nee-chan does not look as old as you!"Takashi giggled and pulled out his tongue.

As they reached the door the little boy called out. "Okasan Shika –ojiji is here!" Kurenai opened the door and smiled at the two of them. They settled down at the kitchen table while Takashi was sent to clean his room. "Shikamaru-kun I was not expecting you today. Did something happen?" Shikamaru explained his situation and made it known how troublesome it was. Takashi heard the ending his explanation and ran out. "YOU GOING TO BE HOKAGE! Ojiji!" Shikamaru chuckled at his expression. "Well I don't know yet" the little boy sighed and giggled when Shikamaru tickled him. Kurenai smiled at the sight before her hoping Asuma is watching over them.

"Shikamaru… who do you think is the person they will pick?" He paused for a moment and gave her his 'all knowing smirk' Kurenai looked at him and knew who it was. "Do you think she will be okay?" he looked at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "She has me remember and the rest of her team. Kurenai prayed that everything will go well for her student whom she had come to love as a child of her own…her daughter.

~X~

At the KIA (Killed In Action) monument Kakashi stood in front of it talking to his best friend. The rustle of leaves behind him brought him out of his little world. "Thought I might find you here… Hokage-sama told me what happened. It's not such a bad thing Kakashi… you could well in this position." Kakashi sighed and replied. "I know Gai but it is not my dream or anyone of us who were chosen. It feels like we are taking one more thing away from him. He has lost so much already… he doesn't deserve his dream to be taken away from him from someone he cares about."

"I guess so but this post is not permanent Kakashi… it's just until he is ready!" Kakashi looked o to the sky thinking about what Gai had just said. "Maybe you are right"

~X~

Hinata knock on her father's study door and waited for him to answer. "Come in" Hinata slid open the door at stepped inside. "Hinata; back so soon from the Hokage... Did you want to discuss something with me? I m sure I could help if you need any…" Hinata remained quite but instead took a seat in front of the desk. "The meeting today was to chose the next Hokage…" Hiashi's interest peaked in the topic of the conversation. His silence gave her the go ahead to continue. "Naruto will… will not be the new Hokage because he is inexperienced. She and the council have chosen three candidates; one will be picked as the temporary Hokage. I am one of those candidates…" Hiashi stood there speechless. His daughter could become Hokage, even though it's just temporarily. "Who are the other two chosen? "

"Nara Shikamaru and Hakate Kakashi" Hiashi studied the look on his daughters face as she continued. "If I am chosen I would need Hanabi to take the head of the clan I cannot be the head of the clan and the Hokage at the same time it will not be fair if I cannot put all my energy into running clan if I'm spending it on the village."

"Hinata you'll still be the head of the clan Hanabi could be your co-leader if need be after all being Hokage is temporary."

"That could work…" Hinata bit her lip in thought. "We have to talk to her about this but tomorrow the Hokage wants us to be there in the morning… I'll talk to her tonight instead." Hiashi nodded in agreement with his daughter. Hinata got up from her seat and kiss Hiashi's cheek "Goodnight Otōsan" and she left the room to talk to her sister.

Hinata went to her room change out of her kimono. When she arrived at her room Kō and Hanabi were waiting outside her room door. "Congratulations nee-chan!" Hanabi said and hugged her. "Thank you Hana-chan. Come inside there are something's we need to discuss, Kō I need you in here too."The three of them walked inside her room. Kō sat by the desk in her room, Hanabi sat on her bed and Hinata remained standing. "Hana-chan I'm assuming Kō told everything that happened at the meeting?" Hanabi nodded." Then you know if I get chosen that is a big if I do, then I want you to help run the clan. I will not be able to run the clan and the village at the same time and I will need your help." Hanabi smiled happily at her sister. "You always have my help nee-chan, so does this mean I get to keep Kō?" both Hinata and Kō sweat dropped.

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Next morning

The three Hokage candidates stood in front Tsunade waiting for her to speak. "Well I hope all of you are well rested, this is going to be a long day. The council meeting is the first on our 'to-do list'. Hope you are all prepared. Oh and later we have a very special guest." Tsunade said grinning.

~X~

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