CHAPTER 9: ELEPHANT
Days fade into weeks, months fade into years, years fade into a lifetime. It's been nearly five years since Madara was defeated, and the village is just beginning to recover. Of all of the repercussions, perhaps the greatest was the bodies. Oh, the bodies; none of those "resurrected" were able to maintain their composition once the Infinite Tsukuyomi wore off. When the moon became its normal shade and the tree sunk into the ground, the once living bodies of the resurrected shinobi lost their structures and became piles of once living pomace. Even with his visual prowess, Madara wouldn't have survived in the end.
Even the villages changed, with no leadership left and no buildings standing; the remaining Leaf and Sand shinobi formed a new one in the crater of the once great Leaf. The village found a way to keep moving and even elected new leadership. Naruto never imagined this is how he would get the role, but he gladly accepted his new title of Hokage.
Naruto did his job with incredible pride and commitment. But, he never worked late, always using his clones to expedite the work. This was smart, because Sakura would tan his hide if ever worked late. Naruto was worried on the night he asked her, but he knew it was his only option. She said yes, he hoped he would, and they married soon after. Naruto found a mother for Inosuke and healed a bit of himself.
The academy opened in the fifth year after the village was destroyed and Inosuke was in its first class. "I'm scared, Momma," he said, "I don't want to go!" "Inosuke," Sakura said, "No one was more scared of the academy than your mother. She cried for days thinking about it, but when she went she found out it wasn't that bad. All her friends were there and the teachers were super nice." "Are you sure?" asked Inosuke. "She's right," Naruto said, "the academy is lots of fun! Come on, your friends are waiting for you." The three of them walked to the gates. "Will you both pick me up?" asked the worried Inosuke. "Of course," Sakura said, "We'll be here when you leave!" "Thank you!" Inosuke cried, hugging his parents; "Goodbye!" he said as he released and walked into the academy.
Naruto and Sakura waved goodbye to their son. They stayed there for a minute until Inosuke had completely disappeared, then began their walk home. "Ya know, Naruto," Sakura said, "you might have been more nervous than Inosuke." "Yeah, well…he's my only son and it feels like he's growing up so fast." "Maybe not, the test came back positive!" "So, you mean-" "Yep!" Naruto closed in and kissed her. "Mr. Uzumaki, are you coming on to me? I'm a married woman," Sakura teased. "I hope he doesn't find out," Naruto teased back, "his wife is mine."