The Gobi was defeated, restrained by the Mokuton of Yamato. It was hard fought battle, but the shinobi of Konoha had prevailed once more. Against both standard shinobi and mythology beast. Konoha stood to live on.
Yamato had silently felt relief that this battle was over.
Until his right hand began to sizzle.
Grasping his hand, he knew what was happening. After his experimentation, Yamato was brought into ROOT and kept under surveillance until he was needed. The information of his ability needed to be held under the highest level of secrecy. The Third Hokage wasn't fully aware of his existence until Kakashi discovered him in his last days in the ANBU.
And after Orochimaru's second failed invasion attempt, Lady Tsunade finally decided to put him to use. Because of the First Hokage's special necklace, Yamato was able to use his ability to suppress the Kyūbi inside of Naruto.
A link had been established between him and that necklace, telling him when the Kyūbi's chakra began to leak through the seal. Thanks to Jiraiya's meddling with that link with the seal key, Yamato could also locate Naruto without aid of tracking.
The symbol for 'three' etched onto his palm. The seal was weakening. Naruto was in trouble.
"Shit no!" Yamato shouted. "Three tails already?!"
"Yamato, what's happening?" Asuma questioned. He had joined just after the battle to help keep the Gobi restrained.
"The seal! It's weakening! The Kyūbi's chakra is leaking out!"
Asuma realized the gravity of the situation, simply by who he was talking to. It was barely a secret now that Yamato was put in charge of Naruto's team by simple chance. Yamato was special for this specific reason. The Gobi and the Kyūbi were no different.
"Get to Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya now!" Asuma ordered. "I'll handle everything here!"
Yamato looked skeptical. "My restraints won't be as strong the further I am away. Can you hold off until I get back?"
Asuma chuckled. "Probably not. But I'll hold my own. We all will. Now, go!"
The man nodded and took after the two Sannin. He prayed he would be in time and that there wouldn't too much damage to the village. This would be the first time he would need to use his ability for the intent it was implanted in him for.
Asuma blew the last of his smoke from his nose, taking command of the shinobi. He stared at the Biju that was tightly held to the ground. Was he confident in the wooden restraints? The jury was out. But he'd fight like hell to keep that way.
"Well, well, well…Lord Jashin is going to love these sacrifices!"
Asuma's chakra blades were immediately drawn. Black cloaks with red clouds. It was one thing after another.
"…Fuck…!"
-Inside Konoha's Walls-
Chains flew wildly. Dozens and dozens of metal linked together took hold of the rampaging monster. The chains wrapped around his form with furious intent. The shinobi ignited their chakra and burned the Beast into submission.
"Get him again!" Shikaku shouted, continuing to hold his shadow on the Beast. He had been watching the enemy retreat quickly. His mind was pondering the possible reasons as to why they would suddenly pull out. Maybe Jiraiya and Tsunade fighting off that other jinchūriki
Well, he didn't have much time to think. Naruto came crashing in and began killing people left and right.
"Yes sir!" The rest obeyed.
The Beast roared as the chakra chains burned its host body. Giant ninja tools rained down with a vengeance for the innocent lives that had been taken.
"Hold him tight!" He continued to shout. "We have to hold him until Lord Jiraiya arrives!"
God, he hoped Jiraiya was coming. This was his student after all.
With the moment of reprieve, the Jōnin commander realized the true destruction that had been caused by the Beast.
Citizens and shinobi, enemy and friendly alike, were mercilessly cut down. Bodies and blood covered its destructive path. How many were there? Less than what he was seeing, Shikaku hoped.
"I knew this would happen." A shinobi said to another. "The kid has always been a loose cannon. The Kyūbi breaking free like this was only a matter of time." His friend only nodded.
"Lady Hokage was wrong for letting him roam free." Another chimed in. "Lord Third should locked him away when he had the chance."
"We have him restrained. We should just kill him now."
"There will be no such action!" Shikaku shouted. "He's too dangerous to attack. Right now, restraining him until Lord Jiraiya arrives is our best option. And anyone who disobeys that order will have to face me!"
Shikaku was calm and rational man. Never before has his temper been that vocal. A few were sure that his wife, who was known for her temper, would cower from him in this state. The shinobi grumbled but obeyed the order.
Other shinobi arrived to increase the numbers. Kiba halted the second he saw his former classmate in the state he was in. Akamaru's behavior had tipped him off that something bad was coming. But he didn't think it was Naruto. Had he been right about him all along?
"My god…"
Hinata trembled. She couldn't believe her eyes. Was this the power of the Kyūbi? And this is what it did to him? Horrible. Simply horrible. Seeing someone like Naruto fall into this power made her stomach turn and twist into knots.
This is who she held such admiration for?
The insects of his clan had informed Shino prior to their arrival to this scene. But seeing it person was something completely different. Naruto had…changed. Gone was the shinobi that had earned his respect when he put Kiba in his place. Covered in blood of the innocent lives he had taken with the power of the Kyūbi.
How could he do this?
The Beast roared once more. Shattering glass and rumbling the ground with the volume in its voice. Ear drums exploded from the sheer strength.
Continuing to search for his fellow Suna shinobi, Kaito covered his ears from the roar and crashed nearby.
"What the hell is going on…oh my god!"
Kaito recovered quickly and saw Naruto restrained by the chains. He could feel the sinister power in the air. It felt staining. Almost like a mist of dangerous gas.
'So, this is the power of the jinchūriki. Lord Gaara…this was what you were capable of?!'
Little did he know what the full power of a jinchūriki was.
It was a constant struggle. The Beast ravaged and fought against the chains and shadow. Neither were willing to yield to the others might. It was only a matter of time until one of them began to fade.
And it was an easy bet on what was going to win this tug of war.
"Naruto!"
Jiraiya basically crashed into the ground. He was worried and scared. The fear on his face was evident. It seemed he hadn't noticed the bloodshed. Tsunade and Yamato were right behind him and halted when they saw the devastation.
Tsunade trembled at the blood, her long forgotten fear came roaring back with a vengeance. "…Oh no…"
Yamato kept his composure, allowing his deeply rooted training to take over. But even he couldn't stomach this. 'I have to stop this now!' Wooden pillars erupted from the ground surrounding the Beast. Even more wooden restraints appeared and wrapped around the wrists and ankles.
Deep in the pits of the Beast's mind, the feral's hunger grew. It wept for more bloodshed. Taking hold of more chakra of the Kyūbi, the Beast began to create another tail. The entire atmosphere was beginning to change rapidly. The winds roared with the rise in strength. Transformation of pure destruction.
Yamato held his form, pouring his strength into it. Others took cover.
"Yamato! Can you hold?!"
"I'm trying to!" He shouted. "I need more time!"
The transformation was nearly complete. The manifestation of the feral of the Beast was upon.
"Ōkashō!" (Cherry Blossom Impact)
With the vengeance of hell behind her, Sakura slammed her fist into Naruto's face. The sudden impact caused the cloak to disappeared instantly. And the resounding echo was just as profound as the Beast's powerful roar. The threat was ended swiftly with her mighty fist.
But Sakura didn't stop.
One after another. Each punch came back up with more blood. The wounds would close. The bones cracked under her strikes. They would heal.
But the pain and anger in her heart? Would that heal?
No.
Not now.
Not ever.
"Sakura!"
Tsunade pulled her student off. The anger and hurt in her eyes. She immediately knew something horrible had taken place. But what? What could have happened for Sakura to do this to Naruto?
"Sakura…what happened?"
Tears streamed down from her raging eyes. Never leaving the mangled mess she created.
"He…he killed…"
Tsunade's heart sank deep. "…Who…?"
Through her rage and adrenaline, Sakura broke down. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She buried herself into her master's shoulder and let it all go.
"My mom…he killed my mom!"
Her cries echoed. The world slowed as shinobi closed in, realizing the absolute nightmare that she was experiencing. The one she loved killed her mother.
Simply horrible.
Jiraiya placed his hand on his godson's shoulder, knowing the pain he would feel when he regained consciousness. Sorrow filled him. His life was going to get worse now.
Frankly, he didn't believe it could. But the world seemed to love to prove him wrong.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Oh c'mon.
"The Gobi! It was taken by the Akatsuki!"
She hated this job.
"And the Akatsuki killed Asuma Sarutobi!"
Tsunade's resolve shattered.
-Days Later-
Funerals sucked. Period. There was no other way for Tsunade to describe the event. She was never comfortable during it, always felt out of place, and just downright annoyed with the whole thing.
They were dead. Say your goodbyes and move on.
Even as the Fifth Hokage, her feelings didn't change. Despite the fact these were her shinobi, her citizens that the funeral was for. These were the people she was chosen to protect, serve, and command. It was her responsibility to stand up for them and be the leader that she was chosen to be.
But all she wanted to do was curl up in a drunken ball and forget all her responsibilities.
She wanted to toss the Hokage hat out a window and burn all the legislations she created. She's never wanted to physically hurt herself but punching her stone face until her fist was a nub sounded like a good idea. The title of 'Hokage' meant nothing to her now. In fact, it probably meant less to her now then it did before she was granted the damn thing.
Konoha was wrong about her.
Jiraiya was wrong about her.
There was a knock at her door.
Fuck.
"Come in."
Homura, Koharu, and Danzō entered her office was a purpose that Tsunade dreaded. She could tell this conversation was not going to go very well. And she a small feeling as to what it was to be. She felt her time in this office was coming to a quick close.
Dread filled her more. Oddly enough.
"What do you three want? I have a funeral to get to."
"We know, Tsunade. This won't take long." Homura stated.
Great. Right to it then.
"The recent events forced our hand, Tsunade. We can't allow this stalemate to continue any longer."
Her brow arched. "Stalemate? The village was assaulted by two villages and then two Akatsuki members came in and took the enemy's jinchūriki. I fail to see that as a stalemate."
"She's right." Danzō interjected before the two other elders could counter. He hated listening to them speak just as much as Tsunade did. "It was a complete and total failure to lead and execute properly. It's a miracle that Konoha wasn't completely annihilated. It was simply embarrassing."
The Sannin rubbed her forehead. She needed a drink. A big one. "You're blaming me for the assault, aren't you?"
"Everything in recent years has been your fault, Tsunade." Koharu called out. "We've gained no ground into enemy territory. Our one ally hasn't been able to gain any sort of footing in this conflict. Our one lookout post from the water was destroyed. Even worse, the host nation wants those responsible to face for their crimes. These failures led to this attack."
"Konoha needs to be aggressive. We have been everything but that. Konoha has been the military powerhouse over the other Great Nations for generations because of her aggression and strength. You have dishonored that legacy and the legacy your grandfather created."
Ouch.
She knew where this was leading. She just wanted it over with.
The Hokage sighed again. "Just get it over with. I'm over this bullshit job."
Astonished, Koharu and Homura had to readjust themselves before continuing on. They were surprised as to how easily she was accepting this. It only confirmed to them that they were making the right decision.
The three spoke in unison.
"Tsunade Senju…under Konoha Regulation 900-2, created by Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, we revoke your powers as the Fifth Hokage and strip you of said title. From this moment on, you will be Hokage no more!"
Danzō smacked his cane on the hardwood. "You'll be placed back into the active shinobi roster and take on missions like anyone else. Your status as a Sannin changes nothing. You have until the end of the day to clear your things out of the office."
She remained unmoving. A simple blank stare that shot through the three elders. Tsunade had nothing to say. There was nothing to say. Her silent wish to be relived had been granted. The village was someone else's problem.
But why did that make her feel worse?
The woman stood up from her chair, not bothering to silence the loud scraps. She grabbed a single piece of paper.
"I have one request. Grant it and I won't fight your decision."
Homura decided to hear her out. She had been playing along this whole time. "And that would be?"
"Let me speak at the funeral. Allow me to give a proper goodbye and apologize for my failures as their Hokage. The families deserve that much from me before I get fired."
The three elders glanced at one another. A simple yet meaningful request. It just proved that Tsunade truly cared for these people and the village.
"Very well." Koharu said. "I'm not one to deny something like that. I, too, feel for the families. Especially your apprentice. Horrible what happened to her. Her mother killed by the boy she loved. Tragic."
Tsunade had to stop herself from snapping the elder woman's fragile neck. The underlying sarcasm and fake tone of sadness were not only dishonoring the fallen but simply disrespectful. Her sorrows were with Sakura. She knew Naruto was under the Kyūbi's control and would have never done such a thing if he were in the right mind. But it changed nothing. The damage had been done. The blame had been placed solely on him.
Their love forever scorned. Just like her and Jiraiya.
So many mistakes were made. Mostly by her. Deep down, her love for Jiraiya was pure and had always been there. But her grief for Dan had blinded her and made her say and do things she regretted to this day. Tsunade knew that Jiraiya would drop everything to by her side. All she had to do was say the words.
But she always stopped herself. She just couldn't pull that trigger.
But not anymore.
She needed Jiraiya. Now more than ever. That man had stuck with her through everything. He was her rock and salvation in times of need. These upcoming days were going to be difficult. No longer was she blinded by her grief. Her eyes were open to his love. And she knew she loved him too.
With her realization, Tsunade hoped she could help Sakura through this difficult time. Help her see that Naruto is the same person she fell in love with. To help her student accept her grief and move on from it. Celebrate the life her mother lived. To realize that it was something else that killed her and not Naruto. Tsunade wasn't going to allow them to follow in their masters' footsteps.
"…Thank you. I'll come clear my stuff out of the office after the funeral."
Homura nodded. "That would be best."
Without another word, Tsunade left the office as the Fifth Hokage for the final time.
-Naruto's Mindscape-
Held back the chain of the seal, the Kyūbi stared deep into the darkness that he was surrounded in. He could not remember a time when he loathed himself like this. He had lived for hundreds of years, roaming free and doing as he pleased. Humans were ants and he was the boot to crush them. He hated them. Especially that damn Uchiha that began his imprisonment cycle all that time ago.
But the deaths that he indirectly caused were haunting him.
Pure innocent lives had been crudely taken because the feral had taken over him and Naruto. Bloodshed was the only cure for the disease. Before his imprisonment, he would have never given the bloodshed a second thought. Apparently, things had changed.
Listening to the boy's screams to stop were drowned out by the roars he was projecting onto the world. But that did not mean the Kyūbi couldn't hear him. In fact, it was the only thing he heard. Naruto fought for control over the feral. Right up until the girl knocked some sense into him.
Literally.
Despite the deep state of unconsciousness, the Kyūbi was aware of everything that happened to his host. Naruto was placed under extreme surveillance inside the medical facility by order of the Fifth Hokage. Only she and the other Sannin were allowed to speak to him unsupervised. That order was given almost a week ago now.
"Are you going to say anything to me now?"
The demon didn't realize his host was standing before him.
"There is nothing to say. Move along with it."
"Nothing to say? Really? We killed people…I killed people. There's nothing to say about that?"
"You knew of the risks when calling upon Tojin. This time, your will fell to its."
The demon was deflecting. Naruto knew that wasn't the full truth. Something else happened that he couldn't quite explain. Tojin's will was something Naruto could handle. He had become accustomed to it. But this time, it wasn't as simple as Tojin.
"Then why did your chakra manifest? If it was Tojin's will, it shouldn't have called upon your chakra."
"I am the creator of Tojin. I infused my chakra into the sword, essentially becoming with it. That's where Tojin's power comes from. The feral…becomes stronger with each use. Sometimes, even I, can't stop it."
Naruto still didn't fully understand. Something was missing. There had to be something else. "Then why? Why did I kill all those people?!"
"Don't you remember? Tojin feeds off the primal state of the wielder. It draws upon their ancestorial instinct to kill or be killed. The bloodshed of those oppose you will suffer the wrath of the blade until it has been satisfied."
He could feel the blood still staining his hands and face, even though he cleaned them well over one hundred times. "But…I used my hands…not the sword…"
"…We are both to blame for the deaths. You called upon Tojin and I failed to suppress the urge when you could not. We have nothing to blame but ourselves."
He felt sick. This was unlike anything he had ever felt before. The screams…the blood…the fear…all had burned a hole into Naruto's mind and would haunt him for the rest of his life. He hated this. He hated himself.
Sakura hated him.
The one person he needed to get through this. She wasn't there anymore. Gone. With her mother…
Like the young boy he used to be, Naruto looked at the Kyūbi with guilt and sorrow. "…What have I done…?"
It wasn't what he had done. It was what he had become. A monster. Just like he feared.
-Konoha Cemetery-
Sneaking in a deep drink from her secret flask, Tsunade needed her liquid courage to get through these next few minutes. This speech was going to be one of the hardest things she has ever done. How in the hell was she going to give a good eulogy while apologizing for her failures as Hokage? The speech she scribbled down didn't say anything about that.
'Fuck it. I'm drunk enough to wing it.'
Famous last words.
Tsunade stood before the crowd of shinobi and civilians. Technically, she was already relieved of her duties as Hokage, but this was going to act as her resignation. To the village, at least. She was too drunk to care about her self-respect to go out on her own terms.
She spotted her beloved student. Sakura stood next to her father, consoling him as best she could. Ino, who was grieving for the death of her own sensei, stood close by to offer comfort to her childhood friend. The other two members of Team Ten were scattered in the crowd, she assumed. Chōji was rather easy to spot. She couldn't see Shikamaru though. Poor Konohamaru.
"People of Konoha…I stand before you as heartbroken and defeated as you. We've been through a lot over the last few years. Even more in the last few days. There's no sugar coating it…Konoha got fucked up. We lost friends and family. As Hokage…I take full responsibility for the deaths. Times ahead are going to be tough. I can't lie to you about that. But Konoha, we are strong. Resilience is what sparks our Will of Fire. Do not allow the deaths of our loved ones weigh us down. Mourn for them, grieve for the loss, but also celebrate the lives they lived. For we are the ones who carry their dreams. That's how we honor them."
Short sweet and to the point. It went better than expected. She could see uplifted faces. Sadness turning into motivation. The shinobi and people of Konohagakure were meant to endure hardships. It had been engrained deep in their DNA as people of this great village. It wasn't the shinobi that made Konoha strong, but the ability to endure through the bad to see the light in the good.
She hoped that would continue.
In the aftermath of the service, Tsunade conversed with multiple different people that all just blurred together. Luckily, she was able to slip in a few quick sips to keep her buzz going so that she could make it through it all. But her sobriety returned when she approached Sakura and her father.
Tsunade approached as tenderly as she could.
"Mr. Haruno…Sakura…I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine…"
"Then don't." Kizashi interjected abruptly. "What me and my daughter are feeling now can't possibly be understood. My wife was murdered, Hokage. By that monster you call a godson. You can't possibly understand."
Tsunade glanced at Sakura. She could tell that her apprentice wanted to say something, but she didn't have the strength to tell her father to stop. Tsunade didn't blame her. "Sakura…a word, please."
The young chūnin nodded. She followed her master over to a more secluded area of the cemetery. And just like how her master felt dread for the coming conversation, Sakura would like to have her first drink now.
"Lady Tsunade…is this going to be a pep talk about all this? Because, if it is, you can just save your breath. I really don't want to hear that right now."
Tsunade simply scoffed and handed her the flask. "Take a swig. You could use it."
Sakura overcame her brief astonishment and quickly drank the remaining liquid. There barely a few drips in her opinion. It seemed her master had a better tolerance than she let on. "…Thanks, m'lady."
Tsunade swiftly tucked the flask back into its home. "And to answer your question, no. This isn't a pep talk. More a bearer of bad news kind of talk."
Sakura's brows perked up. "Bad news?"
The woman sighed. "I'd much rather you hear this from me over piecing it together through rumors. The elders have decided that I am no longer fit to be Hokage and have removed me from the position." Sakura's jaw hit the floor, too stunned to speak. "An official announcement will be made in a few days I'm sure. But, from this day forward, I am no longer the Fifth Hokage."
Sakura forced herself to overcome her shock. "B-But why would do that? Can they even do that? You've done nothing but good for village! You've been a great leader and mentor!"
"Not where it counts, according to them. I'll admit, they have valid reasons for their decision. And yes, they can. It was a Regulation created by Lord Second. A Hokage may hold the fate of the village, but the elders hold the Hokage's fate."
Sakura couldn't believe it. She refused to! Her whole life was falling apart and there was nothing she could about it! Everything suddenly felt dizzy, her breath felt short. She was about to give in to the darkness when Tsunade pulled back.
"Don't go passing out on me, Sakura. We aren't done talking yet."
Pulling herself back together, Sakura came to realize the backlash of the Elders' decision. "What about the war? Your plans? All the legislations you've put in place? What about…" She couldn't bare to say his name right now.
Tsunade shook her head. She was relieved to see that Sakura was still thinking of him. "It's out of my hands now. I'm merely a regular shinobi now. Just like you. We're equals."
Sakura shook her head. "No, master. We are not equals. You still have so much to teach me. I still have a long way to go before I come close to your strength."
Tsunade was glad to see Sakura's humility was still intact. "Thank you, Sakura."
Curiosity filled Sakura. "Who's going to take your place then?"
A question that the Sannin had not quite pondered yet. Certainly, something that probably should have been asked during the Elders' briefed her on the decision. Then again, the next Hokage was usually decided by the Fire Daimyo. An old tradition that should be done away with in Tsunade's opinion. The man was easily swayed, just like his predecessors.
But, in this scenario, there would probably be an immediate filling until the Daimyo could come to a decision that was made by someone else. Someone like Danzō could easily manipulate the man…
Son of a bitch.
"Lady Tsunade?"
"Hm? Oh, I'm not sure. But I'm positive they have someone in mind."
Tsunade needed to find Jiraiya. Now!
"Oh. Well, that's good, at least." Sakura glanced over her shoulder. Her father was waiting for her. She didn't want to keep him waiting. He needed her and she needed him. To grieve and celebrate the life of the best woman in their life. "Lady Tsunade, my father is waiting for me. I should go be with him."
The Sannin nodded. "Of course. If you need me, I'll be around."
A small smile of appreciation. "Thank you, master." She turned to leave.
"And Sakura?"
The girl stopped but did not turn back around. She silently cursed. She saw this coming.
"Don't blame him. It's not all his fault."
"…Have a good day, master."
Tsunade didn't miss underlying venom in her voice. This was going to be harder than she thought.
-Memorial Stone-
Kakashi Hatake and Maito Gai. Eternal rivals and best friends. The two of them had been through the roughest of times and fought the toughest of battles. Through everything, the two of them pushed each other to become stronger. Prove to each other that limits could surpassed. That no one battle was too hard to overcome. They had graduated with each other. Their lives had been intertwined since that day.
And now, they were the two of the last few standing.
Most of their graduating class had either been killed, changed their careers to the point they don't see combat, or retired from the life all together. Hayate was the first to go back when Orochimaru invaded. Then Anko shortly thereafter by those Akatsuki members. Genma has been out in the field for so long, they had no idea if he was alive or not.
And Kurenai got pregnant with Asuma's child.
Now, he was gone too.
The two seasoned jōnin lit a cigarette in remembrance for their fallen comrade.
"Is this how it always ends, Kakashi?" Gai pondered out loud.
"…It's apart of the life. There's never a guarantee that we'll come home."
"I know that, but…I'm tired of the funerals."
"How can you be tired of something you never attend?"
A figure approached behind them. A female, dressed in the ANBU mask of a cat, with long purple hair. A giveaway to her former team captain. She placed a bouquet of flowers at the stone base and said a silent prayer.
"Yūgao…"
The woman turned to face the two jōnin. "Maybe if you come to pay your respects earlier then you wouldn't be late."
Kakashi stared his former subordinate dead in the eyes. "We've been here since dawn." He approached further standing next to Yūgao directly in front of the memorial. "I come here every day and think about the mistakes I made in the past. I've made so many…" His mind flashed all the people he's lost over the years. "I promised Obito that I would use this eye to protect those close to me. And I've failed at every turn. I don't come here to hide. I come here to repent and beg for forgiveness from the dead."
Yūgao placed her hand on her former captain's shoulder. "We honor the fallen by continuing to live for them. It's sad to see them go, but we carry on for them. They live on in our memory."
"She's right, Kakashi." Gai had been inspired by Yūgao's words. "We have lost many of our friends and comrades, but their spirits burn brighter because we are still here!"
She squeezed the shoulder a little tighter. "Come with me, you two. They've called an emergency briefing for all active Jōnin."
Kakashi had a feeling this was coming. "They're going to announce the next phase of attack. We're going to launch a counterattack."
Gai looked at his rival with surprise. "Do you think Lady Tsunade would order that?"
"I don't think the order will come from her." Kakashi had a bad feeling something else was going on here. "Let's go. This isn't a meeting we should be late for."
-C.O.F-
Inside the Central Operations Facility was a massive room that could hold a majority of the jōnin for massive meetings like the one called. The building had multiple different uses, ranging from equipment storage and issue to receiving payment for a mission. It was the central hub for all things shinobi.
The three elders stood with the other members of the council on the balcony that looked over the meeting hall. Jōnin funneled in from the two entrances, all eager to find out the reason they were called there.
Shikaku could hardly believe what the elders told him and the other members moments before. How could they just remove Tsunade as Hokage like that? Especially without a vote from the rest of the council. He knew of the regulation that allowed them to do that, but he never once thought they actually would.
The council meeting afterwards was going to be very interesting.
Once the doors had shut, Homura moved to speak first.
"This meeting will be short. Specific orders will be pushed down to you and your teams later. This is just a WARNO meeting. Now, with that out of the way, let's begin."
Koharu spoke next. "As you all can see, the Hokage is not here. There is a reason for that."
It was decided that Danzō would break the news. "Using our regulated power, myself and my fellow elders removed Tsunade Senju as Hokage."
Gasps echoed in the hall. A sudden uproar of confused murmurs and outraged talks filled the air.
"How could you do such a thing?!" A female jōnin called out.
"She was our leader! What happened?!" Another yelled.
"What the hell did our drunken leader do now?"
Danzō smacked his cane loudly to bring their attention back.
"There will be time to discuss the matter later. For now, remain quiet. Specific reasons cannot be revealed at this time. We are aware that your confusion will cause some problems. As time goes on, the reason of our decision will be revealed. For now, orders will be voted on by the council and pushed out by your Jōnin Commander, Master Shikaku, until a replacement can be certified. And with the recent attack by our enemies, Konoha will need to regain what she lost. Prepare to deploy in the coming days. It's going to be all hands-on deck. Dismissed."
The jōnin filed out just as quick as they entered, talking amongst themselves. It was a lot to comprehend in a short time. Shikaku sympathized with them on that.
"Council members. Meet us in the meeting chamber. Time now."
Shikaku didn't like this one bit. Danzō did most of the speaking during that quick brief. To him, and probably most of the other members, it seemed like Danzō was taking point on this. Like he was going to be their next leader.
"…I don't feel like it's my time to cement my legacy into the ranks of a Kage…not yet at least."
Shikaku's memory continued to serve him well.
'That damn Warhawk! He's going to put his name to be the next Hokage! I have to do something!'
Once all members were seated, Danzō rose from his seat to speak. It only confirmed Shikaku's theory.
"Fellow members of the council, I would like to apologize on the elder's behalf for not including you in the decision to removed Tsunade as Hokage. We three held a private meeting to discuss her performance over recent months and decided it needed to be done. I'm sure there are some of you who have something to say. This is the time to do it." He moved sat the head chair, right where he wanted to be.
It didn't take long for someone to speak up.
"I, for one, it's outrageous that you can take away a Hokage at any moment." Inoichi began. "The Hokage is selected by the Fire Daimyō then voted in by the Jōnin. It's unfair. We approved Lady Tsunade as our Hokage. It should our right to take that away. And frankly, I thought she was doing a good enough job."
"That's it, right there." Chōza interjected. "We can't have 'good enough'. We need a strong leader that can lead through this war. I'm not sure when the last time any of you were out there on the front lines, but I just returned from the eastern front. It's not looking good. I'm with Lord Danzō and the other elders. Lady Tsunade needed to go."
"Chōza…" Inoichi could hardly recognize his childhood friend. He had changed so much since then.
"I am indifferent about the decision." Shibi Aburame spoke up. "Why you ask? Because I agree with what Lord Chōza is saying, but it was not all Lady Tsunade's fault. As Hokage, who remained behind her desk, it's difficult to make decisions based off written reports. I believe she did the best she could."
"I'm kinda with Shibi on this one." Tsume Inuzuka stated. "Lady Tsunade was a good Hokage. It's not easy to win a war from a desk."
Tsume would never admit to it but she was going to miss staring at Tsunade's huge rack during this meetings. Staring at the godly orbs of flesh just melted the time away. Especially on those extra hot and sweaty days.
Jiraiya was a lucky man.
The conversation continued for a short time. The clan heads argued back and forth for some time about their thoughts. Once Danzō had enough of the bickering, he slammed his cane on the ground again.
"Enough of the bickering. There are more pressing matters to speak of. Tsunade isn't Hokage anymore. The decision has been made. Moving along, we, obviously, cannot make appoint a new Hokage without the Daimyo. Until then, a temporary placeholder will take on the responsibilities of the Hokage."
Shikaku knew exactly where this was going. He had to step in and derail whatever plan Danzō had. "And who do you have in mind? Is it going to be a vote or are you three going to make that decision by yourselves too? The ramifications of who is decided to be the placeholder will sway who is chosen to be the Sixth."
Homura stood next to the Warhawk. "We realize the consequences of this decision, Shikaku. We are going to leave it up a vote. But I must put this a warning to you all. Whoever we choose is coming into a position that has been mishandled for years now. We need someone has a strong work ethic and the ability to lead without question or doubt."
"That's why we are nominating Lord Danzō." Koharu added on, receiving gasps in response. "His track record and pedigree speak for themselves. He will lead Konoha to victory over our enemies and fix what his predecessor could not."
The members murmured to each other, conveying their opinions and offering counter points. Shikaku stared at the Warhawk. And he stared back. The tension became evident that the talks ceased, and all watched them, waiting for the argument to break out.
"Say your peace, Shikaku." Danzō called out the Nara. "It's clear you have something to say."
Moving to stand on the opposite side of the large meeting table, Shikaku's eyes never left the man. There was a plan in place. He had no idea what, but Shikaku knew Danzō had some angle he was playing. It was the only thing that made sense to the Nara clan head.
Why else would he have waited? It was ripe for the picking after the death of the Third Hokage. The Daimyo would have easily fallen for his pedigree. It would have been so easy.
Two titans of their time faced off.
"I nominate Lord Jiraiya."
Gasps followed again. None dared to speak.
Danzō scoffed. "Really? We all know he'll never take up the mantle. He's denied it for years."
"He said it himself. Some time ago, he would have taken it. I have reason to believe he'd take it now if we offered it him."
"Then where is he?" Koharu questioned. "Bring him here now and I will personally make the offer."
She was calling Shikaku's bluff. It was time to call hers. "It's a vote of the council. We have two nominees. Let's put it to a vote."
The nominees were set. Both Jiraiya and Danzō had reputations that put even some other Kage's to shame. Jiraiya was another Sannin but had proven his battle prowess through the sheer number of missions had taken. He has the most completed missions in village history. But Danzō had built an entire organization from the ground up and have erased numerous threats from Konoha's radar. He had much more experience to leading a large organization over Jiraiya.
It was going to be close vote.
"Begin the vote."
It went down the line. Shikaku had never been this nervous before in his life. He hated variables like this. The unknown always bothered him. Uncalculated and unpredictable. He watched each person vote. Calling out either name.
"Danzō."
Chōza's vote tied it up, leaving only one vote left.
Danzō's smile became wicked as Homura voted in favor of him.
Fuck.
-With Naruto-
He sat alone in the stupid hospital bed. The white walls were making his solidarity the worst it's been in his whole life. Jiraiya had stopped by how many days ago. Time blended bad enough he had no idea what day it was. He said that he should be grateful for being in the hospital instead of a jail cell.
Honestly, he would have preferred a cell. This was a worse punishment. At least, the cell would be more fitting for someone like him…
While in his confinement, Tsunade had been removed from being Hokage and Danzō had been voted in to be the temporary Hokage until the Daimyo could properly choose a successor. But the Daimyo wasn't traveling until Iwa and Kumo were confirmed out of the Land of Fire and the political nightmare with Kirigakure was resolved.
And that was going to be Danzō's first plan of action.
The door to his hospital cell opened abruptly. The man himself walked in with two ROOT guards trailing him. Remaining seated on his bed, Naruto watched curiously as he was approached by the new leader of Konoha.
"Naruto Uzumaki…it's good to finally meet you in person."
There was little Naruto knew about the man before him. Jiraiya had mentioned a few things, never anything truly negative or positive. He was a man of focus and knowledge. He was trained with the Third Hokage under the Second Hokage. Through the decades of war and conflict, Danzō always came out on top. He was called Warhawk for a reason.
But Naruto wasn't easily trusting. Besides, he had a bone to pick with the man.
"Why'd Baa-chan get switched out for Hokage?"
Danzō figured this would come up. He knew they were close, almost like a mother and a son. It wasn't going to be easy for him to get the same results from Naruto as Tsunade could. "I'm sure if I try and lie, you'll see right though it. Or just outright call me a liar. So, I'll be honest. Tsunade underperformed as Hokage. She failed to win us the war and couldn't even try and resolve the situation with Kirigakure. Us elders needed to step in and give her a warning to see if she would turn things around. The assault was the final straw."
Naruto could see that he was being truthful. "So, you just decided to be next in line?"
"No. Not entirely. It was put to a vote between me and your master. Obviously, I won."
"Pervy Sage mentioned that it was between you and him." Naruto commented.
"Has anyone else come to visit?" Naruto simply stared at the man, knowing full well what the answer was. "…I see. I apologize for that. I realize this must be a difficult time for you. I, for one, believe that you are the biggest victim of all this."
"I'm going to stop you right there." Naruto wasn't going to sit through the pity and sympathy. "Just tell me what you want and get out of here."
Having been closely watching from the shadows, Danzō knew Naruto was aware of his position and his purpose. It seemed he tried to walk the line between living with the duty of a jinchūriki and having a normal life. He was willing to fulfil the role of jinchūriki but didn't want to have the status glued to him.
It was impossible for those things to coexist.
Danzō cleared his throat. "Very well. Because of the incident in the Waves, Kirigakure wants you in their custody."
"Because why? I didn't do anything. I tried to deflect the blast."
"I know this. The report from your female teammate and subsequent statements from the others cleared your name. But the Mizukage wants question you about the incident. We cannot have Kirigakure as enemy. You'll be headed to Kirigakure with a team to settle this shit once and for all."
There was a small sense of relief inside Naruto's gut. Some time away from the village sounded amazing. He could only imagine what the villagers thought of him now. He had questioned Jiraiya about it but he avoided the question all together. That meant it was bad.
He wondered what Sakura was saying. If she was saying anything. He missed her so much. He wanted to break out of this stupid prison and find her. Hold her. Tell her how sorry he was for he did. Beg for her forgiveness…
…But he knew better. He was the last person she wanted to see. He figured she wanted to forget all about him and hate him like everyone else.
Yeah, time away from the village is what he needed right now.
"…When do we leave?"
-Authors Notes-
I hope everyone enjoyed this one. There was a lot to unpack.
To clear it up, Danzō is not Hokage. He's the stand in until it can be decided on who it will be. But, as a bit of foreshadowing, think about what Shikaku remembered from the meeting after Third's death.
I'm trying to convey that Sakura is still upset about Naruto but still cares for him. Like how she asked but couldn't ask in her conversation with Tsunade. She's still thinking about him but can't do anything about it.
Don't be upset that Asuma's death happened off screen. It happened the same way as it did in the manga. Minus Shikamaru being there. It won't change his character arc. But Ino's might be affected…
The next chapter will focus mainly on Naruto's journey to the Mist and everything that comes with that. Also, a long-awaited meeting will come to pass as well…well, two will.
Also, the time for Sakura's reward for defeating Sasori has come around…
Next chapter might be a longer one. So, be patient.
See ya then.