Chapter VIII: The Sixth Hokage
Within the Hokage's residence, the sound of grass cracking occasionally went off. A dark-haired woman donning the Hokage's signature hat was sitting on a brown leather chair placed in front of the desk. The woman's name was Nori Senju.
The daughter of previous Hokage Tsunade and her spouse, Dan Kāto. The sixth shinobi to be bestowed the title of Hokage. Kakashi was nominated to be Hokage, but he declined the offer. Thus, the Fire Daimyo declared that Nori was the next candidate and was given office.
Nori lays her hands on the desk as she looks up to peer into Sasuke Uchiha's dark eyes.
"That's what happened, Lady Hokage," he concludes. Nori moves a hand to her chin before closing her eyes.
"So, you're telling me Orochimaru infiltrated the village that easily?!" she booms.
Sasuke is sitting in front of her with his arms crossed. Shizune, still the Hokage's assistant, is standing next to Nori with beloved pet pig Tonton in her arms. The older pig fearfully oinks and lowers her ears submissively.
"I am. And as unfortunate as it is, I doubt yelling about it will help," Sasuke replies.
Nori rests back in her chair and sighs out annoyedly.
"I suppose so. Is Orochimaru still in the village?" she asks. Sasuke shakes his head.
"Very unlikely. The shinobi that he reanimated are more than capable of defeating our forces without his help," he replies.
Itachi...
"You must have caught a glimpse of them, Sasuke. Who did Orochimaru bring back from the dead?" Nori asks.
Sasuke lowers his head, thinking of the nightmares that stood before him just minutes ago.
"Itachi Uchiha... Haku of the Mist... Deidara of the Cloud... Lord Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi... and Lord First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."
Nori's eyes widen, a bead of sweat glistening on her forehead.
This isn't good, she thought. Akatsuki members, elite hunter ninja, and previous Hokage?!
Her hands ball into fists as she closes her eyes.
That snake-tongued bastard will pay for torturing great-grandpa's soul again!
"I see... those reanimations will make light work of the forces we have at our disposal right now. We still haven't replaced the shinobi we lost during the last war. Damn... what do you think we should do, Shizune?" she asks her brunette assistant.
"Well, if our Anbu won't be enough to defeat the enemy... then I'm not really sure, Lady Nori," replies Shizune.
Sasuke looks up to Nori, a little smirk making its way on his lips.
"We'll still have a shot if we find a shinobi that's considerably stronger than an Anbu member, but on par with the Akatsuki."
Shizune looks at Sasuke, frowning.
"The only ninja of that calibre is another member of the Akatsuki."
Sasuke lightly chuckles and looks over at the shorter woman.
"Precisely," he says.
Shizune slightly opens her mouth in confusion. After a few moments, someone knocks on the door.
"Is this them?" Nori asks, her blue eyes homing in on the door in front of her. Sasuke nods.
"Come in."
The door slowly opens. Nori, as well as Shizune, gasps and stare at the blue-haired woman now holding onto the door.
"Konan..."