Chapter summary: A brief glimpse into the future. Unknown chapter.
This was born after a bit of a struggle between myself and Lady Inspiration - sometimes I get anxious and want to write everything at once but then I remember the current timeline i t.
I do not own Naruto.
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believer
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Tenzou knew who she was, of course he did.
Everyone did.
Sarutobi Chiyuki was a name that'd be eventually mentioned in a conversation if you spent enough time in the streets. As the Third Hokage's youngest (and, admittedly) brightest child, she had caught the village's attention in the way a deadly virus would spread: quietly, patiently, slowly, surely - by the time you realize what's happening, it's everywhere and there's no possible way to stop it.
He knew of her, because he'd been assigned to watch her, back when Konoha's roots still ran deep and far inside the village's maze of politics. He knew what she was capable of; had shivered whenever it felt like she was staring right at him even though he knew he'd concealed his chakra perfectly.
Tenzou knew of her, but he never really got to know her until Kakashi-senpai introduced them.
The man had been reluctant, he'd been able to infer that much. It was a well-known fact within the village that the Last of the Hatake had supported their future Hokage since they were children - and, well. He was a little jealous, he could admit. Kakashi-senpai wasn't an extrovert by any means, but spend enough time with him and you'll be able to tell the difference in behavior and speech pattern whenever Chiyuki-hime is concerned.
He'd heard many things about her and honestly didn't know what to expect. Some said she was as graceful and knowledgeable as a princess. Others said she was kind and sensible.
(There was, however, an increasing amount of people who'd swear her to be the human form of a Mokumokuren, the thousand-eyed monster of ancient tales. He truly wishes he could say he doesn't believe in those.)
"Get up, Tenzou!" She hollers down at him from her mountain of iron spikes and smiles, pride and excitement in her voice.
He does nothing but pant and do as she says, although he feels delight bloom in his chest - in the couple of weeks they've been at it, he's never lasted this long against her. He lets her pride and excitement wash over him as well.
Tenzou readies his Wood Release and sees Chiyuki-hime do the same, just as the sun appears from behind the clouds, shining down on the woman and on her throne of thorns.
The brunette thinks she might be neither a princess nor a monster. She reminds him of a goddess, or a demon. He imagines she's light and darkness so closely intertwined together it looks like shades of grey, sometimes lighter, sometimes darker.
As iron and wood clash again and again, Tenzou thinks he'd like Chiyuki-hime to be his Hokage.