Chapter 2
3 years later a 29 year old man nervously wipes his sweaty hands on his dark green trouser. Large hands smooth out a wrinkle-free black turtleneck. He has dark brown hair and wears large glasses. There is nothing extraordinary about him.
"You look good, Nao," a woman says. She is a little bit younger than Nao. One couldn't help but stare at her dark red hair. Dark red hair that makes it obvious that she belongs to the Uzumaki clan.
Minerva Uzumaki is a jounin with a lot of field experience thanks to the Civil War a few years back. Contrary to Minerva, Nao is an ordinary civilian, a teacher without any shinobi abilities. Nonetheless the people of Uzushiogakure believed in him and voted for him. So he became the minister of foreign affairs. Nao has worked hard to make today's meeting with the Kage of the other villages possible. It took over a year until his voice was finally heard and he received an invite for a conference in Konoha.
"We both know today's meeting is extremely important. It's abiut Uzushio's future. We have to leave a good impression. I can't mess this up. They are already suspicious of us," Nao rants.
The red head watchs him nervously walk around in the small hotel room. He isn't able to keep his cool the same way Minerva can. He simply isn't trained to as he isn't a shinobi. Minerva sighs.
It was a long way from Uzushio to Konoha. Luckily they could take the train after crossing the ocean. The moment they stepped into Konoha they were welcomed by a pale man with pitch black hair. He introduced himself as Sai Yamanaka, a well known name even in Uzushio, a close friend of the Hokage. He married into the famous Yamanaka clan, a family that was feared for their mind control jutsu. His wife got appointed as the head of the Konoha Barrier Team by the seventh Hokage. To keep it simple, Sai Yamanaka isn't someone to be messed with.
Minerva interrupts Nao's nervous rumble as she stands up from the chair she was sitting on and states, "Let's go, we don't wanna be late."
Nao stares at her with his big brown eyes. Minerva sighs again, "There is nothing you have to worry about. Whatever happens, Uzushio will stand behind you and your decisions."
"Thanks, Minerva," he gives her his brightest smile. A smile one could not help but to trust in. Minerva knew exactly why the people of Uzushiogakure, her included, decided to believe in that big dork.
Together the two of them leave the hotel and walk towards the historical city center where the Hokage's office is located. Konoha has grown immensely over the decades. One could see the parts of the village that was once the outer part of an old Konohagakure. Old houses stand next to modern skyscrapers. Konoha's culture mixes with the cultures from other villages, Konoha has become a melting pot full of different people. After the shinobi war countless people were left homeless. Konoha agreed to take in most of those refugees.
When they finally arrive at the Hokage's office, reporters from all kinds of villages are already gathered in front of the entrance. Fortunately, Sai Yamanaka started clearing a way for Minerva and Nao the moment he sees them. They thank him as the walk past the nosy reporters that were asking question after question while flashing them with their cameras.
Finally inside, a middle aged blond woman wearing a light blue knee length skirt together with a matching blue blouse shows them to the conference room.
Nao is glad that Minerva joined him, her calm behavior helped him keep his cool at least a little bit. He would meet the most powerful people in the world and not just because of their political power. They could kill him within a second if they wanted to and leave no evidence. He shudders, scary. At least he has Minerva who could probably save his ass.
It's crazy how they are pretty good friends nowadays. During the Civil War Minerva nearly killed him once. They were enemies till Minerva changed sides. She was a scary person. If he didn't experience her behavior back then himself, he wouldn't believe anyone that told him she mindlessly killed people just because she was told to. She was raised to be strong, to be a mindless tool in a cruel war. Noone cared that she was only a child.
The woman who showed them to the room knocks on the door and leads them in.
The Kage from the main villages sit around a large round wooden table. Behind each Kage stands a shinobi that works as an advisor as well as a protector even though none of the Kage present would ever need someone to protect them. However, they do have an image to uphold.
"Welcome, Nao an Minerva of Uzushiogakure," a warm friendly voice loudly exclaims. Naruto Uzumki, the hero who saved the world welcomes them.
Nao and Minerva quickly lower their heads to greet the Kage as well, "Thank you for your invitation. We are honored to be a part of today's conference."
"How polite," the Tsuchikage says.
The Kazekage sends an annoyed look towards Kurotsuchi for her comment and goes on to say, "We don't want to talk around today's issue. During our last Kage Summit we discussed your current situation and came to the decision to give Uzushiogakure a chance to prove itself. Uzushio will become a part of our trade association. Moreover, we want to promote a cultural exchange between our villages. To achieve this we came to the conclusion to invite Uzushio's genin to Konoha's chunin exam."
The Hokage gives them a bright smile as he continues, "You're genin are very welcome to visit Konoha prior to the exam."
Nao is surprised. He thought he would have to plead to even get heard by the Kage. He thought that he would have to beg on the floor to be allowed to sell their seals to them. He imagined all kinds of situations, but he couldn't even imagine this one. There was no way they would be so ready to cooperate with a village that got torn into pieces during a Civil War, a village that still deals with the aftermath of their own actions. A village that doesn't have a white vest anymore. A vest that is stained with unimaginably cruel war crimes they still have to work through. To say that he is surprised would be an underestimation.
He has to blink through his tears as he says, "Thank you so much for giving Uzushio a chance. We will be sure not to disappoint you."
"We will have to discuss which genin we will send to the chunin exams first, but we will immediately inform you about our choice and send them together with an instructor to Konoha," Minerva informs them on Nao's behalf. He isn't able to think straight right know. He just can't believe their luck.
They discussed a couple of other things, but Uzuahio would have to discus each point with their cabinet first before making any harsh decisions. That is still a new concept to the Kage who can mostly decide alone. Sure, the Hokage, for example, can take advise from the Konoha Council, the jonin commander as well as a representative from the Anbu, but in the end he makes the decision all by himself. There isn't really a way to intervene for other parties if necessary.
Minerva and Nao will return to Uzushio with good news. Nao already plans an interview with their local news channel in his head. They want to make everything the decide for Uzushio to be well known within their village. Their political actions are supposed to be transparent. Reporters are allowed to ask critical questions. The cabinet consists of humans after all, they make mistakes.
With positive future prospects Nao and Minerva return to Uzushiogakure a few days later. They will have a lot to do in Uzushio until the chunin exams.