DISCLAIMER!: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Thought you'd know by now...
(A/N): my GOD! Never thought I'd get to chapter 61...feels good.
Well, the title should explain what this chapter's about. There will be small time skips throughout this chapter sooooo yeah
TO THE STORY!
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Chapter 61: Aftermath
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Cole looked to Naruto. "Now Minato-san, I'll be sending you off to the pure realm. The Shinegami owes me one so I think he'll let you out of his stomach to be with your wife." he says as he places his hand on Minato's head. Minato's eyes widened as tears ran down his face. He was only able to say one thing before he was sent onto the next life.
"Thank you..."
. . . .
A week has past since the incidents of the Chunin Exams. The village began reconstruction with the assistance of Genin and some off duty Chunin. There wasn't much damage to the interior of the city, but there was a large crater outside of the village gates that needed to be filled.
There was also minor damage to the walls from battles that got too close to the gate. Several downed trees needed to be removed and the bodies needed to be cleaned out of the village. The cleaning process took two days to complete before reconstruction could begin. Most of the damage was caused by Uzumaki Seinaru and his battle with the previous Kage. The Uzumaki clan would be paying for most of the damages for those buildings, and when the clan head heard this he was weeping anime tears for his poor wallet.
In other news, the Sound Four was captured shortly after the battle. With the consent from the council, Uzumaki Seinaru was allowed to take custody of them for his study of how to remove Orochimaru's Curse Seal. The Snake himself was able to escape from the Anbu assigned to capture him. He and Kabuto were able to escape from the village without a trace. Several of the Genin were surprised that not only was the older Genin that gave them helpful advice in the exams a traitor, he was Orochimaru's right hand man.
The hospitals were crowded with injured civilians and shinobi. In total there were over two hundred Suna casualties and one hundred and fifty Oto casualties. However, due to the heroics of Uzumaki Naruto, and the leadership of the previous generation of the Ino-Shika-Chou, the number of Konoha casualties were kept in the fifties.
And speaking of Uzumaki Naruto, rumors upon rumors began to spread. Some would say he didn't fight like he did. Some would say he turned into pure light and mercilessly slaughtered everyone before him. Some would say he turned into a smaller form of the fox itself, and killed without discretion. But those were the words of the villagers. Most, if not all, of the Shinobi called him only one thing.
A Hero.
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. . . .Konoha Council Chambers. . . .
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"The boy is too dangerous!" a heavy set civilian councilman said as he rose form his seat. The Civilian Council and the Shinobi Council were currently in a heated debate on what to do with Naruto now that he had displayed his true strengths. The Civilian Council wanted to lock the boy away, saying that if he was this powerful already then that must mean the Fox was starting to take control. The Shinobi Council however argued that they would not imprison the Hero of this war for doing his duty as a Konoha Shinobi. They also called into the Civilian Councils loyalties and trust in their Yondaime Hokage. The man was a world renowned Fuinjutsu Master and the Shinobi trusted his seals.
The Civilians however, were skeptical. They didn't think that a bit of ink and chakra could hold back a monster like the Kyuubi no Kitsune. And they made their concerns heard, much to the annoyance of the Shinobi Council. Surprisingly, the father of the one in question was completely silent on the matter.
Uzumaki Seinaru just had his elbows propped on his desk with his hands laced in front of his face. He kept his eyes cold and calculating while his face remained stoic and impassive. His eyes would flick to whoever began to speak and would stay on them until someone else began to speak.
After about ten minutes of constant arguing Hiruzen found his breaking point. "ENOUGH!" he roared as he slammed his hand down on his desk. Now with the attention of all of the members of the council he released a small amount of killer intent. "Naruto is a Shinobi of this village. That means the Civilian Council has no say in the what to do with hi-" he started to say but was interrupted by Homura.
"Actually Hokage-sama. In the time between when Yondaime-sama died and when you took back the hat, Danzo passed a law stating that in all maters concerning the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the Civilian Council has as much of a say in the matter as the Shinobi Council." he said with a slight smirk. Koharu jumped in as well. "I suggest that we put in a emotion training program. That way he will have less of a chance of letting the fox take over. Also it will also make him unwaveringly loyal to Konoha." she said.
As soon as she finished speaking seven swords were pointed and touching her neck. Everyone in the room flinched back when they felt Seinaru's killing intent. Koharu was motionless as seven swords floated in mid air, all pointed at her and pressed to her neck.
Cole's eyes looked into hers as if he was looking into her soul. "YOU WILL NOT MAKE A WEAPON OUT OF MY SON. I KILLED DANZO FOR TRYING TO DO THAT AND I AM NOT BELOW KILLING YOU." he growled at her as she quickly paled. She started to stutter out a few words but Cole interrupted her. "Wondering where your guard is? I think they agree with me." he said three Anbu guards stood next to him. All of them looking at Koharu giving off killer intent.
Hiruzen stood and looked at Koharu and Homura. "I think it is high time that the Civilian Council relearns their place. This is a Shinobi matter and I will not hear of this...emotion training program. I don't care about the laws that a traitor like Danzo created while he ran things. I have already repealed all of them. Now, Koharu, Homura, I order you to leave this council. You are fired as my advisers." he said in a cold tone. He looked to the three Anbu. "Please show them out." he said to them. They nodded and led the two former advisers out of the room. The swords disappeared when Koharu and Hamura left the room.
The rest of the Civilian Council were completely shocked by the display and the Shinobi Council couldn't help but snicker at misfortune of the two former advisers. Hiruzen sat back down with a huff. "I will not here anymore of this discussion on how to treat Naruto-kun. But what we will talk about is the advancement in rank for the Genin that participated in both the Exams and the Invasion." he said. The Shinobi Council nodded while the Civilian Council scowled at the Hokage, but didn't bother arguing.
"Now, due to the third exam being interrupted early on, we didn't get to see very many of the Genin participate. However, there are three Genin I believe are ready for advancement." he said to the council.
They nodded and Shikaku leaned forward. "Who would these three be Hokage-sama, although, I think I may know already."
Hiruzen cleared his throat and called one of his Anbu in. "Let them in." he said to Anbu Cat (Uzuki Yugoa). She nodded and walked out of the room. A moment later she returned followed by three Genin. "Would you three please introduce yourselves to the council." Hiruzen asked the three Genin.
They all nodded and answered. "Hyuuga Neji," he said with a bow. "Rock Lee," the boy said giving a salute. And the third grinned like mad. "Namikaze Naruto," he said with a two finger salute.
The Civilian Council all took in a sharp breath and were quickly enraged. "How dare you claim to be of Yondaime-sama's family you filth!" a councilman said. Several of the civilian members stood and were looking at Naruto with murder in their eyes. Hiruzen sent a wave of killing intent at the Civilian Council causing them to all look at him in horror. "Naruto-kun speaks the truth. He is in fact the son of Namikaze Minato and is the new head of the Namikaze Clan." Hiruzen said with a smug smile as he watched the Civilian Council shake in fear. They sat down and continued to eye the boy. Several started putting two and two together and noticed all of the similarities between Naruto and Minato. While many still looked at him as the Fox incarnate, thinking it was the fox trying to trick them into thinking he looked like the Yondaime.
Hiruzen walked up to the three followed by Cat. He stood in front of Neji and smiled. "Hyuuga Neji, for your services in the Invasion I present you with the Konoha Flack Jacket and proudly promote you to the rank of Chunin."
Neji bowed and accepted the jacket from Cat. Hiashi smiled over at Neji, proud for his nephew.
Hiruzen walked up to Lee, who was shaking with excitement. "Rock Lee, for your services during the Invasion I present you with the Konoha Flack Jacket and proudly promote you to the rank of Chunin." he said to the boy while Cat handed him the jacket. Lee weep'd anime tears and happily accepted the jacket.
And finally the Hokage walked up to a smiling Naruto. Hiruzens eyes watered as he smiled down to the boy. "Namikaze Naruto," he said and took a second to reign his emotions in. "For your exemplary show of skill in the third exam, and for you outstanding services during the Invasion. Consisting of, not only assisting in the defeat of the Oto forces fighting in the arena, but also single handily forcing back the entire Suna army, I proudly present you with the Konoha Flack Jacket. And I hereby promote you to the rank of Jonin. I also offer you a seat on the Council so that you may represent newly formed Namikaze clan. Do you accept?" he said as a single tear slid down his face.
Naruto's smile lit the entire room as he nodded. "Hai Hokage-sama, I accept the position on the council."
"Alright then, Namikaze Naruto. Welcome to the council, and congratulations on becoming a Jonin of Konohagakure no Sato." he said with a smile.
Naruto accepted the jacket from Cat and stood waiting for orders. Hiruzen looked to the three and smiled. "Congratulations to all of you. You have one week off. After your time off you will be assigned branches of Konoha's military to be apart of. Neji-kun, Lee-kun, you are dismissed. Naruto-kun, now that you are a member of this council I would like you here for one final announcement I have." he said to the three. Neji and Lee bowed and left the room. Naruto walked over and took a seat next to his father. Cole smiled at him and held a thumbs up to his son.
Hiruzen cleared his throat after he took his seat. "The final part of today's meeting will be the matter of my retirement." he said as many of the council members gasp in shock, including Naruto.
Hiruzen stood once more and looked around the room. "I have made my decision on who I want to take over. Uzumaki Seinaru, I nominate you to be the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure. Do you accept?" he asked in a serious tone.
Cole stood and looked to the council, to Naruto, and to Hiruzen. He stayed silent for a brief moment before taking a breath.
"No."
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(A/N): To be continued...
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