The door opened. The hut glimmered in firelight, shadows casting along the walls. The morning sun rose in the distance, rays of sunlight piercing through the cloud cover.

Naruto walked in. Sasuke leaned against his shoulder, slumping slightly as she forced herself through the doorway.

"Where were you?" Nōtō questioned softly, his expression grave.

Naruto glanced to one side.

Nōtō sighed. "It doesn't matter now. Provided you haven't been possessed by a demon."

"One is enough for me, thanks."

Nōtō coughed.

Leaves drifted downward outside the hut, falling over the scene of the battle

"Well, at any rate, we'll have to leave. I need to speak with Aka briefly. Regarding what occurred last night, there are a number of questions. You three should continue to the village."

"The village?" Naruto blinked. "Is there like a South Star Village or something?"

"I can't claim that's the case. If there is such a place, I don't know of it. Rather, you should return to Hidden Leaf. Something's happened." Nōtō walked forward.

Naruto frowned. "What are you talking about? Aren't we curing the disease?" he demanded in shock.

"This is slightly more important."

Naruto tensed. "Lives are at risk!"

"We could lose Hidden Leaf entirely!" Nōtō snapped. He reached upward, rubbing his temples.

Naruto's eyes widened.

"…We could lose it entirely. I need to speak with Aka. Then we're leaving immediately."

Naruto rubbed his chin. Jeez. He's pretty serious.

"Hurry."

Sasuke glanced momentarily toward Naruto. She cleared her throat. "I'll let Kōju-san know. You go on ahead."

Naruto blurred forward through the trees.

Leaves drifted to the ground outside the hut.

"Sasuke-chan, our treatment seems to be working. Heat more poultices!" Kōju shouted.

"We need to go, now." Sasuke placed her hand against the metal, her hand shaking. Her body trembled with energy. "I'll heat it one last time, but we need to leave."

Smoke rose. Flames rose from the metal.

"What?! Sasuke-san, we can't leave now!" Kōju slammed her hand against the table.

"We don't have a choice. Nōtō-san told me to tell you." Sasuke leaned against the door, her face blank and empty.

"I'm not leaving." Kōju folded her arms across her small chest.

Sasuke glanced over her shoulder. "Kōju-san, can't you leave behind records of your methods?"

Kōju scowled. "We promised we'd get them well, didn't we?" she demanded harshly.

Sasuke closed her eyes. "We don't have a choice." She rubbed her temples hotly.

Kōju groaned. "You too? The rules are important, but those who abandon their feelings are worse than trash!"

"…Kōju-san, whatever it was, it's serious." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I'm genuinely sorry I can't stay here as well, but some things are more important. We need to go home."

"Shut up!" Kōju scowled. "I have the power to fix the problem…" She extended her hand rapidly.

Sasuke gritted her teeth. "Kōju-san, leave behind records and go. You should be able to teach the local wise woman your methods."

Reluctantly, Kōju nodded.

The pair raced through the trees.

"I wonder what's going on?" Naruto remarked, landing beside the pair.

"He's dead." Nōtō leapt over the heads of the pair. "Su can handle things from here, if I understand your solution. More importantly…"

Sasuke looked upward.

Kōju's lip stuck outward.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen is dead."

Kōju gasped. "Eh?"

Naruto stumbled backward. "No way." He cleared his throat, coughing. "Jii-chan is dead?"

Sasuke lowered her hand. "How…?"

"He died in his sleep." Nōtō's eyes narrowed. "Poison is suspected, but we have found none yet."

Naruto gasped. "…"

"This… This is villainous." Sasuke swallowed tightly.

Nōtō turned.

The forest glimmered. Water dripped downward from the branches, dewy and shining.

"Damn it…" Naruto hurried through the trees. Tears fell from Naruto's face. Too soon! Too damn soon!

Kōju glanced over her shoulder nervously.

Naruto wiped away the tears, his eyes blazing with rage.

Sasuke touched her sword.

"The era has passed."

Naruto looked upward.

"We need a Fifth Hokage." Nōtō closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't…" Naruto closed his eyes. Tears poured downward. "Don't apologize! It's my fault." Naruto wiped away the tears. "It's my fault for trusting that… that damn old man!"

Sasuke bit her lip. Her hand extended slightly. "...I don't think it's your fault..." She drew in a deep breath.

The team vanished into the daylight.

History

The round table creaked. Eight chairs sat around the table. Snow blew by the window, the iron citadel glimmering in the light. Flames rose from a single central fireplace.

"So he finally kicked the bucket, eh?" Unmei sighed wearily. "Poor bastard." He rubbed his temples as he looked out the window. "I suppose I should pay my respects soon, though it pains me."

"Can't you have a bit more decorum, Unmei-san?" the boy questioned quietly. His green hair flickered in the light. "We lost our opportunity to resolve matters peacefully with that."

"And here I thought that things could be made clearer." Unmei sighed. He stared at the window. "Well, we're here to decide on a temporary successor, right? For the Kazekage as well, since he died recently."

"You Kage have no right to do it," an old woman in a shawl growled.

"Shut up, old woman." Unmei rolled his eyes heavenward. "We can't have someone backing out after starting a war. Once you find a true successor, of course, you're welcome to start talking about legitimacy and rights. But it's quite dangerous to have someone unpredictable in office."

"I have a name," the woman growled. "It's Koharu."

"Can't agree more," a black man with a goatee growled. He glared pointedly at Unmei. "Unpredictable people are irritating as hell."

"Still, it is quite perplexing. With that, the only remaining Pillars of Shinobi are I, Hanzō-san, and Roshi-jii. Which reminds me, where the devil is Hanzō-san?" Unmei rubbed his chin.

"He has sent me in his place." The man with white hair and goggles smirked, his eyes flickering behind his mask.

"You must be his chief replacement." Unmei smiled. "Well, it looks as though you have some competency…"

"Enough of this, you garrulous old bastard." The boy grunted.

"Heh. You do have quite a temper, Third Mizukage. But you shouldn't be so arrogant. Everything has its time and place." Unmei paused. "To be quite honest, I'm surprised that you're not more talkative, Ōnoki-san. You were familiar with him, right?"

A man with a short beard scowled. "Well, there's little choice. Even if I am familiar, we have much business to attend to."

"More to the point, there's also the matter of Gaara to address." Unmei glanced around. "…Opinions?"

The old woman raised her hand, her face stern. "Kill him."

"As expected of Chiyome-san." Unmei glanced sideways. "Well, such bloodthirsty—"

"Unmei-sama, I must request that you cease your words. If you continue speaking without decorum, everyone here will attempt to kill you," a man in a heavy set of armor stated shortly.

Unmei raised an eyebrow. He fell silent.

"Well, that's why I, Mifune, was selected to moderate." Mifune cleared his throat. "As Unmei-sama has indicated, we have two options. We can either kill Gaara, or transfer him to a holding location."

Ōnoki cleared his throat. "Don't kill him."

"Kill the brat, and transfer the Tailed Beast." The black man scowled.

"Kill him," the masked figure agreed.

"Preserve his life," the Mizukage started.

"Two votes yes, two votes no. I'll vote no, to make things more interesting." Unmei grinned.

The pair in Hidden Leaf's corner glanced at each other. "No," the pair agreed.

The pair in Hidden Sand's corner scowled. "It seems the decision has been made for us," the pair muttered quietly.

Ōnoki scowled.

"The Blood Prison it is." Mifune cleared his throat. "Now, for the position of Hokage."

Unmei nodded. "Okay. Let's move forward. I vote Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya…"

"Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya."

"Jiraiya."

"Well. That seems very clear." Unmei folded his hands together.

"Lastly… there's the matter of the new Kazekage. Are either of you two siblings interested in the position?"

"YAHAHA!" Chiyome rolled backward on her chair, laughing. "No! What use would I have for such a position?"

Unmei's brow dripped with sweat.

The Raikage growled under his breath.

"I have a recommendation, though. There's a certain monk, named Shikai Kū, who might be of some use to you all." Chiyome's eyes narrowed. "He's stable, if a bit loquacious."

"That is no disqualification for a Kage, it would seem," Mifune remarked dryly, glancing at Unmei. He nodded. "Does anyone object?"

Unmei shrugged.

A silence fell over the table.

"In that case, I'll allow that recommendation. This concludes the Fourth Kage Summit. Be careful—the northern passes have grown slick as time has passed." Mifune cleared his throat. He bowed deeply.

One by one, the Kage dispersed.