Chapter 14: The Aftermath of War
It was a bright and sunny day as Shizune knocked on the office door.
"Lord sixth?" She called.
"Enter" Was the baritone voice for their new Hokage.
Shizune looked on in astonishment to see the giant stack of paperwork in the finished pile on the desk.
"Y-you finished already?" she questioned.
He looked up, adjusting the glasses he had been forced to wear after many arguments with Lady Tsunade, and smiled.
"Unlike my predecessor, I prefer a clean office." He smiled softly.
Shizune was taken aback at his smile but didn't get to say anything as Lady Tsunade appeared behind her
"Is that an insult?" Tsunade asked in false anger.
Lord Sixth smiled and didn't respond.
"Anyway, lord sixth, I have your robes ready," Shizune said hesitantly as she approached his desk to give them to him.
He took his glasses off and sighed.
"I suppose we have to go through this whole charade, correct?"
"Unfortunately." Tsunade smiled.
"And the naysayers?" He asked as he turned to look out the window where most of the village had gathered. citizens dressed in standard white.
It had been two months since the fourth shinobi war, and if Shuzune was being honest, everything had happened so fast that she didn't have time to process it all. Tsunade had made an executive decision when she chose her successor. With only one member of her council left, she had to choose a new committee. Lord Homura, Shikaku Nara, Hiashi Hyuga, and finally Kakashi Hatake made up the new council. As expected four out of the five rose hell when she named her successor but because of his experience and involvement, lord Homura was able to sway the vote. Lady Tsunade would not be moved. She knew who she wanted. However, that didn't mean the citizens were ok with her decision. Many of them, especially the clan heads, made a big fuss. They still were but nothing could be changed. The decision was final.
"The naysayers can talk but they will not harm you," Tsunade assured him.
Lord Sixth turned and said "That was never the concern. We just don't need history repeating itself."
He closed his eyes as the blood of his clansmen filled his vision.
"It won't. We have learned from our mistakes." Tsunade stated seriously.
He nodded and turned to face them.
"Very well. Let's do this."
…
"Citizens of the hidden leaf!" Tsunade bellowed as she stared down at her people. Her village had been through so much and like a phoenix they continued to rise from the ashes.
"We will now begin the official inauguration of the sixth Hokage! Tsunade Senju, the fifth Hokage will be the one presiding over the ceremony today!" She paused as she looked over the crowd.
" Allow me to introduce your new sixth Hokage! Itachi Uchiha!"
….
Sasuke couldn't help but smile as he heard the roar of applause from Kohona's prison.
It wasn't something he expected to be honest. His onii-chan was selected to lead the very village Sauske once wanted to destroy. He knew what people said about his brother. The outrage when it was first announced, Sasuke had been against it as well but Itachi just shook his head and said that this was his destiny. Bound to serve the people that once destroyed him. If he could redeem himself by this then he would. Sasuke sneered at the word, redemption. What did that even mean? There was no true redemption, at least not for the Uchiha's. Both men had blood on their hands and yet Sasuke could not help but feel something brewing in the depths of his soul.
Hope.
"Hey! Baka! You want my tomatoes?" A loud voice yelled.
Sasuke couldn't but roll his eyes at his visitor. Naruto sat across from him, the prison bars the only separation between them as he held up the container that held tomatoes.
Sasuke took them without thanks. He studied his friend as he ate. Both he and Naruto had lost their arms in the war, however, only Naruto had accepted the gift Lady Tsunade offered. A brand new arm. It was still in the making but Naruto said yes at the drop of a hat while Sasuke denied it. He didn't want it.
The loss of his arm was a reminder. A reminder of all the pain he had caused others. He never wanted to forget it.
"Why are you down here dobe? Shouldn't you be with Lady Tsuande?" Sasuke questioned Naruto. He suspected he knew why Naruto was down here but he wanted to confirm his suspicions.
"And leave you down here alone! No way!" Naruto cheered. But Sasuke knew it was fake.
"Stop stalling and tell me the truth Naruto. Aren't you angry? Mad that Itachi, the village traitor, is now the sixth Hokage. Aren't you mad that you were passed over? Doesn't it piss you off?! All the hard work you accomplished and yet here you are down here in the gutter with me instead of celebrating!"
"OF COURSE I'M ANGRY!" Naruto finally exploded.
Sasuke couldn't help but grin because Naruto took the bait.
"Lady Tsunade said I wasn't ready." He continued in defeat. " She that being Hokage is more than just being physically strong. She said I was immature and still had a lot to learn. So yes I'm angry but I also realize that she's right. I have no clue about clan politics or how to run a village. There's so much I have to learn."
"Since when did you let that stop you?" That was Sasuke's snarky remark.
Naruto's eyes lit up with joy as he looked at his friend.
"You so right Sasuke! I'm not gonna let this stop me! I'm going to learn everything I can from here on out and train hard! I'm gonna be the seventh Hokage! Believe it!"
…
Itachi held back a yawn as the midday breeze blew his hair back. He was currently on the roof of the Hokage tower trying to soak up the last of the day's rays before he had to go back to his office.
"Hinata" he whispered."I wish you were here."
His wife's beautiful smile flashed through his mind, the feeling of longing overwhelming his body. He missed her dearly, all he wanted to do was see her smile again.
"Lord sixth everyone you requested has arrived." Shizune interrupted.
"Very well. Thank you."
Within the blink of an eye, Itachi was in his office.
"Thank you for waiting." He greeted the four individuals who kneeled before him. "You may rise."
Neji, Shino, Yamato, and Shikamaru all stood at once, their faces blank and well-trained to hide their emotions.
I see I made the right choice.
"I called you all here because I have a proposition for you all. Neji Hyuga,and Shino aburame. I would like to promote you to Anbu. I need a duo with stealth. Although the war is over, that does not mean our enemies will not rise. Come see me tomorrow and I will tell you more. With that said, the two men bowed and left.
Next, he turned to Yamato.
"Yamato, I want you to oversee the anbu. I need someone who I can trust. And not worry about another Danzo situation. Is that understood?"
"It would be an honor lord sixth."
"Very well dismissed."
Itachi stared at the last man standing.
"Shikamaru Nara." He called. " Come with me."
Itachi stood, removing his robe and hat.
"Shizune, I'll be out of the office for the rest of the day. Please feel free to enjoy the festivities." Itachi announced.
"Y-yes sir."
With that said, he nodded and guided Shikamaru to follow him.
….
There were many things that Shikamaru found troublesome. But here in this moment as he followed his new Hokage underground, he could not help but think that this situation was the most troublesome of all.
Itachi Uchiha "the clan killer" was now their new Hokage. How did we know this isn't just some sick genjutsu?
He swallowed hard, as they took stairs farther and farther down into the depths of the Hokage tower.
By the time they got to the bottom, they were in the belly of Kohona. The walls were dark simple torches lighting the wall.
This couldn't end well for him, was Itachi here to kill him? He couldn't think of a single reason why though. Did the man see him as a threat?
They stopped as they came to a red door, with metal locks on it. Standing in front of it were not one, or two but three Anbu.
"Lord Sixth." they bowed.
"You three are dismissed. I have it under control. Come back in an hour." was Itachi's firm order.
"Yes sir!"
Once they were gone, Itachi turned to face him.
"Shikamaru Nara, smartest man of your generation. Other than Neji Hyuga, however, I think you have him beaten on a certain level. Anyway, I'm sure you're wondering why I brought you down here. Or why I called you at all. You see I need a right-hand man, someone I can trust, someone that can tell me the odds and percentages of our reality. And I need someone who won't try to murder me in my sleep."
The last part was a joke but Shikamaru didn't smile.
"Shouldn't it be me who should be worrying about that?" He asked.
Itachi didn't respond as he made some hand symbols and the door opened.
Shikamaru froze as they stepped into a white and grey room. The sound of machines beeping rang in his ears but it was the person lying in the hospital bed that made him look at Itachi and back at the bed.
"Hinata?" he questioned.
Once again, Itachi was silent as he walked towards her, pulling up a chair and sitting down. With gentleness, he lifted her hand and held it.
"Hello My flower, how are we today?"
Shikamaru couldn't believe his eyes. After the war, Hinata had fallen into a coma and Lady Tsunade had her sequestered in a special room in the hospital. At least that is what was told to everyone yet here she lay in the underground catacombs of the village. With their new Hokage, holding her hand in a very intimate way. But the moment Itachi Uchiha kissed her forehead and laid his hand on the protruding bump of Hinata's stomach, Shikamaru understood everything.
The only word out of his mouth was " troublesome."