Kumo
The nightmare jutsu had died off the past couple of months. Konoha with the help of Kirigakure were sure they rooted out Tori and all her companions. Sasuke and a team of elite Shinobi returned Tori to her original body and performed a seal. The much delayed Kage summit was scheduled to begin this week. A reunion with all the current Kage and Naruto was in order. Naruto considered the Gokage close friends and looked forward to seeing them all again.
Naruto hugged Sakura and promised to bring back something special from Kumogakure for her. Sakura never asked for much but Naruto liked to bring back special odds and ends from distant lands for his wife.
"Naruto make sure you say hello to Bee-san for me," Sakura said.
"Can I tell him about our little one on the way," Naruto asked.
"I'm sure he'll find it good news," Sakura said straightening out Naruto's clothes as they separated.
"Of course he'll find it good news. Maybe I'll make a rap out of it," Naruto said smiling.
"Please don't," Sakura said laughing at the thought.
"Ready," Kakashi called out standing patiently at the end of the walkway.
"Don't keep Rokudaime waiting," Sakura said giving Naruto a quick peck on the cheek. Naruto moved his head a couple of inches to the right and met her lips in an unexpected kiss.
"See ya later Sakura-chan," Naruto said and took off on the way to the Kage summit. Sakura blushed and waved at the two as they left.
Kakashi waved at Sakura before turning and started walking on the journey to Kumogakure for the Kage summit.
"Sakura looks better," Kakashi said.
"Yeah," Naruto caught up stride for stride with the Hokage. "Sakura-chan is taking better care of herself now. When I'm here I notice a big difference."
"You put pressure on her," Kakashi said.
"I remind her to take care of herself the same way she does to me all the time. I know she is busy and can handle a lot but she sometimes puts her needs last," Naruto said.
The breeze though the trees felt really good after all the humidity they suffered through the previous week. Naruto inhaled a deep breath as they walked towards the gates of Konoha.
"I wonder what the weather is like in kumo," Naruto said.
"A little on the cool side from what is reported but weather shouldn't have any impact on the summit," Kakashi said.
"I wish she could come with us after all we have been through it is tough for me to want to separate. I know this is the beginning of my Hokage dream and making trips like this is something I'll have to get used to…Do you feel that we need to stay in the village and throw a party or something," Naruto asked looking expectantly at Kakashi.
"I could use a celebration. If it is to celebrate you becoming Hokage I'm all in," Kakashi said.
Arriving at the gate they were greeted by the jounin on duty. Other teams were coming and going through the gates and paused to acknowledge their leader. Kakashi wasn't worried at all for the village safety because of the peace they all fought so hard for and the faith he had in his comrades.
Kumogakure sent a squad to the borderland to escort them to the summit as a sign of benevolence. It wouldn't take long to get to the border and both Kakashi and Naruto had traversed the landscape numerous times.
"Omoi was cheerful last time we all got together. He'll likely be ecstatic about hosting the summit," Naruto said as they left the gates.
"Kumo have been more hospitable than times in the past," Kakashi said.
"Chouji's wife was a bit more than upset she wasn't going in my place," Naruto said.
"Chouji's wife?"
"Yeah Chouji married in Kumo not long ago. Pissed everyone off but yeah her name is Karui you might remember her," Naruto said doing his best to describe her.
"I remember it now. She belongs to Konoha now. Shikamaru gave me some paperwork not long ago dealing with her citizenship. Fiery young lady Chouji must have his hands full," Kakashi said.
"Now you see why she wanted to take my place," Naruto said.
"Not seriously though," Kakashi said.
"Oh she's always serious,' Naruto said. He was a bit afraid of Chouji's wife and couldn't forget the beatdown she gave him not long ago all in the effort to save his friend Sasuke.
"Karui seemed like a pleasant addition to the Akimichi clan. When the clan ceremonies were being held she welcomed me as one of her own,' Kakashi said.
"Maybe she should have come along and Chouji too," Naruto said. He wasn't going to hold a grudge about the past he had with his friends and yes he considered Karui a friend. Perhaps now given all their circumstances Karui was a part of his family.
"Both Shikamaru and Chouji chose to marry foreign women. They embody the sprit of the summit that is upcoming," Kakashi said.
"Teme got with the former Kusa nuke-nin," Naruto reminded him.
"The Uzumaki she is from your ancestry. I doubt you would normally address her that way now would you," Kakashi questioned.
"Yeah I still don't know much about her family," Naruto said. Karin didn't know much about her family either. One day Naruto would delve deeper into his Uzumaki heritage but for now he was more than satisfied with the small family he was starting in Konoha. Moving forward and not living in the past was his ninja way too.
"We have nothing but time on our side this trip. I could tell you a little about your mother and perhaps a bit of history the little I know about the founders," Kakashi said.
"Yeah that would be great," Naruto said.
"Things will work out for Sasuke and Karin but right now we need to focus on eliminating this latest threat completely. That will be the focus of the latest Kage summit," Kakashi said.
"I know all that dattebayo. Just tell me about my parents some more," Naruto asked.
Kakashi continued to walk for a minute before diving into his stories. Ever present he kept on the lookout for any enemy that could be close by. Someone would always want to challenge the Hokage and he had to be vigilant at all times.
Naruto walked on listening to the stories Kakashi chose to share with him. His parents were great people from all that he knew and he could only wish to be as great a Hokage as his father.
000
Kakashi could go on for a long time about Minato and Kushina and he did for as long as Naruto wished to hear about them. It had been so long since the war and all that Minato said during the war. Naruto began to feel it too that loss when you really want to talk to someone and can't. He had so many questions to ask his parents and it had been that way his whole life.
The stories had ended and they stopped to take a rest along a stream on the path to Kumogakure.
"I worry that I don't know how to be a good father," Naruto said hugging his knees to his chest as he sat in the grass.
"I suppose no father really knows," Kakashi said.
"I guess you're right. It is like anything else no one knows how good they are until they try. But Sakura at least still has her mother to help her out…not to mention her father. Our child will have one set of grandparents that can help them along which is more than many others out there," Naruto said looking off in the distance lost in deep thought.
"You know that you have plenty of people supporting you," Kakashi said.
"Of course. We have Sakura-chan's parents to help us out as well," Naruto agreed. Sunshine warmed his face as he stared up at the sky. It was nice to breathe in the fresh air. Reaching into his backpack he carefully unwrapped the bento that Sakura was nice enough to make for him.
In one section an orange shaped like a fox caught his attention. It had been sometime since he thought of Kurama and the sight made him laugh.
"Something funny," Kakashi asked.
"This fox," Naruto held up the orange careful not to knock the cherry red nose off.
"I see," Kakashi replied and went back to enjoying his own meal.
In the past Naruto was known as the demon fox child. This caused kids to stay far away from them. Kids now thought he was cool. The war hero who fought alongside Kyuubi. Amongst his Shinobi friends only Gaara and Bee knew what it was like to be friends with the Bijuu. Naruto took pride in knowing each one by name.
Naruto told Sakura numerous stories about Kurama. At first Sakura was faltering in her relationship with the monster fox. She always saw him as an obstacle for Naruto or something that was a threat to his life. During the war when only Kurama could save Naruto her opinion began to change. Still it took a while before people began to accept Kyuubi the monster fox that destroyed their village as Kurama their ally and friend in the war.
With the cool sunny breeze and the atmosphere Naruto wished that Sakura were here with him. It wasn't the first time he longed for her presence only now things were deeper he wanted more than a friend to travel with. Memories of missions they went on in the past where they camped out along the way played in his mind.
Naruto was in the Hokage tower the night before watching as Kakashi filled out mission scrolls assigning one team after the other to the various missions. This was a task that he would someday have to do himself and he looked forward to it truth be told. He wondered how the Hokage managed to pick just the right missions to bond teams together.
Being a Shinobi of Konoha was filled with moments like today. Simple things like eating a bento on the road with your Sensei would be moments he'd miss when he became Hokage. Whatever the future he was sure it would be great. The nightmares were over they were all moving towards a brighter tomorrow.