Emo or cute?
A/N I have a perfectly good explanation. Kinda. So I delayed writing the chapter till like sometime last week when I started to update my other stories and I sent it to my Beta, Ankaa Sage who has done this chapter, btw. So a day or so later she sent it back and I noticed it was the same as the previous chapter because yours truly sent her the wrong one. So I sent her the right one and she beta’d it for me. Thank-you Ankaa Sage! Round of applause for her ladies, gentlemen and other gendered people! (I’m not trying to be rude nor offensive in that last comment.)
.
.
.
Time skip of two and a half weeks
Naruto sat crossed legged in front of the toad sannin as Pa spoke to him. Jiraiya had just left Mount Myoboku to inform the sandaime of her latest achievement. She had managed to master her sage mode. She already knew how to do it and had good chakra control thanks to all the lessons Kakashi insisted team 7 do.
She shook her head, this was no time to think about what was going on in Konoha. Her head had been in the gutter for a long time now and she had to focus on what mattered. Of course, that didn't mean she didn't visit them whenever she could.
She had spent two weeks here and the other half sending messages with clones to the other villages as she had been doing for the past several months. So far the only ones who had given her a proper response were the Kazekage and Mizukage. The Raikage and Tsuchikage, however, were being stubborn however she understood the animosity between the villages. The fact that they even bothered to reply to her at all was helpful enough.
At least she was getting proper responses from their jinchuuriki, after months of trying she finally managed to get a positive response from everyone. They had all agreed to stay on alert and try locating Akatsuki whilst trying to convince their kage to listen to reason.
Iwa was going to be the hardest to convince. Onoki hardly ever spoke to his jinchuriki and when he did it, it wasn't about which villages to unite with. As for A, she hoped that Killer B could persuade him otherwise she was in big trouble.
She had also received a ring from Ame, allowing her to communicate with whoever she wanted in Akatsuki and they would simply believe she was an informant of the organization.
Nagato had given the word that Obito was either playing along or believing he and Konan had not changed at all and she was thankful. The last thing she wanted was any more deaths.
Whilst Naruto hated violence she knew it was going to be necessary once again. No doubt they were going to have to fight Akatsuki, however, she intended to do it either with the help of the other nations or alone. Orochimaru had been dealt with by Itachi, Nagato and Konan were unlikely to betray them and Itachi was already on their side.
It would be a show of good will to go to the other nations for assistance in taking down the organization, even if the assistance came from their jinchuuriki.
A few more weeks and Suna would have signed a new contract with Konoha and she could request the help of Lady Chiyo to take down Sasori. However, she would need the help of Lady Tsunade to work around Sasori's poisons. Meaning someone was going to have to be poisoned and she will damn well make sure no one besides her becomes the test subject.
She shook her head when she received a hit on it from Pa's stick and made her way outside to get some fresh air after bowing out.
The air in Mount Myoboku was clean and fresh, a lot different to the realm where humans stayed. There was no pollution here as everyone cared a lot about nature, more so than other summons did.
She sat crossed legged near the fountain and entered her mindscape. A meeting of the nine bijuu had been held without their jinchuriki's presence within her mind whilst she had been talking to the Ogama sannin and had apparently already finished.
Looking over to Kurama she could see he looked much tired. 'Why are you so tired Kurama? I haven't been using your chakra have I?' she asked confused and concerned. She had never seen the bijuu like this but then it clicked. 'Your siblings were annoying you weren't they?' she raised a brow and released a fit of giggles when she received a nod in return.
'Well besides mentally and apparently physically draining you, what did you guys talk about?'
It took him a few seconds to reply, but when he did Naruto could feel his exhaustion, 'We mostly discussed our hosts. Each of the nations will have to ally themselves with at least Killer B in order for the jinchuriki to have complete unity with my siblings.'
She nodded her head in understanding. It wasn't going to be easy, A was as stubborn as a mule but there are always cracks in a person's defense where they could access through. Killer B would side with her… probably, depending on how she played her cards that is.
'Did you discuss anything else? Anything you want to tell me, if not I'll let you rest. I know how tiring they can all be…'
It took him nearly a minute to reply with a no so she nodded and left him in peace. There wasn't much she could do to help him rest beside letting him sleep in peace, as she opened her eyes she was greeted by Kakashi crouched in front of her. She furrowed her brows, confused why he was here. It had to be serious, those who hadn't signed the toad summoning contract weren't allowed up on their mountain unless it was serious.
"What's up?" she asked when he nor Jiraiya, who was standing not far from them, had said anything.
They both looked at each other uncertainly, causing dread to sit on her stomach. Had something happened whilst she'd been training?
"It's nothing bad. No one's hurt but…" Jiraiya faded off, clearly unsure how to word his next statement.
"But," she waved her hands in a circle as she raised both her brows, trying to get at least one of them to continue what he was saying.
"The sandaime was saying that after this chunin exam is over, he wants to stand down as Hokage." Kakashi finished, looking out of place.
It took her a moment to figure out why "You two were both nominated weren't you?" she raised a brow at them and resisted laughing when they nodded.
She leaned back, holding herself up with her right hand, "I don't see what's so wrong with that. In my own time Ero-sennin had been chosen however he chose to bring Grandma Tsunade to become Hokage. Why don't we just do that? It shouldn't be hard tracking her down. I've got a clone following her every movement so right now she should be Ishigakure."
"What the hell is Tsunade-hime doing so close to Iwa?!" yelled Jiraiya. His eyes had widened significantly as he looked at her. His worry was understandable, whilst Tsunade hadn't taken part during the third war, she was still the honorable granddaughter of the shodaime Hokage and shouldn't be too close to enemy lines.
"Oh you know, the usual. Drinking, gambling and all that crap 'tebayo." She nodded earnestly as if she was debriefing them about an all-important mission.
"Yes well." Kakashi cleared his throat as he sat down properly, "Well, Lord Jiraiya tried suggesting Lady Tsunade however the council members declined instantly."
"Did they give a reason?" she asked, confused why they would refuse her even though she had been given the title of godaime last time.
"Old man Homura and Koharu-sensei said she had spent far too long outside of the village to understand what the sandiame had been doing up until now and if she was made kage, she would not be fully informed of what had been going on during the past few years."
Naruto nodded, they were all valid reasons. Last time Tsunade had been named Hokage under extenuating circumstances however now they were electing someone.
Naruto shrugged and looked at Kakashi, "You're only a year or two older than when my dad had been named Hokage. I don't see what's so bad about you being nominated. The job isn't that hard as long as you have someone competent by your side. When I was Rokudaime I had Shikamaru by my side and he was a great help. I also had you and Sasuke on my side to help me out whenever I needed it. You'd make a great kage, Kakashi."
"And what qualities do you think I have that even allows me to qualify for becoming Hokage?" he asked, clearly irritated Naruto wasn't on his side of things.
"You're kind and understanding however you hardly allow emotions to get in the way of the job. You value your friends and comrades, however, you tend to keep them at an arms distance from what happened when you first became a jonin. You're known across the five elemental nations and you're feared. You're good with diplomacy, having been ANBU for so long you've seen the Hokage in action. Besides, you're the only option that's reasonable."
Kakashi didn't miss a beat in his reply, "What about you?"
Naruto had to laugh at that, "Me? The village doesn't trust me. I've kept being a girl from them for so many years and I hold the nine tails. Everyone hates the nine tails, even if the sandaime has told everyone the truth about my lineage it doesn't remove the seed of doubt that's been growing inside of the older generation's hearts for years."
"You were nominated to Rokudaime. If they didn't trust you how did you manage to become Hokage?" asked Jiraiya, finally over his shock.
"Well, the other four Kage wanted me to have the seat. I was a figurehead you could say. Or trophy, if you prefer. Left dangling under the noses of the other nations, showing them one of the heirs of the rikudo-sennin as the other protects her, whilst they could never get their hands on me. I did the best I could as Hokage, and I like to think I did the best I could.
"However at the end of the day, I was like Grandma Tsunade. We were both temperamental however I was a lot more capable of holding back my emotions than she had been. The title of Hokage was always something I wanted, however, I knew I wasn't made for it. I was made for the darker parts of our work."
"ANBU." Spoke Jiraiya in understanding. Naruto guessed he had overheard her sleep talking or had entered her mind however the latter wasn't likely.
"But you were never in ANBU?" Kakashi asked more than stated, looking at the two of them.
Naruto shook her head as she closed her eyes, "I was in ANBU for a few years. The promotion was kept secret, the only ones who knew were Jiraiya, Tsunade, ANBU commander and Shikamaru. Of course, you knew but you never commented. You had seen the ANBU tattoo on my arm enough times, however, I usually keep my arms covered and if I didn't then I'd have that particular part covered with a band that had the Uzumaki swirl on it."
No one said anything for a few minutes however Kakashi wasn't able to hold it in for long, "Why was your promotion a secret?"
"I had dual citizenship within Konoha and Suna. I was named a chunin and jonin by Suna but not Konoha, however, I was named ANBU after Ero-sennin was killed. The nomination was mostly under Suna jurisdiction, however, Granny pulled strings to make use of me."
"Why did she go through all the trouble?" asked Pa who had suddenly appeared however no one commented on that little fact.
"I was the jinchuriki to the nine tails. I had allies across the five nations and I was to undergo special training to make me even more powerful. Given my past, I had a good understanding and grasp of the darkness needed for ANBU and was given the promotion. I wasn't given many missions and whenever I had to go on missions I was to leave a blood clone behind to do whatever I needed to do.
"For example when Itachi had been killed by Sasuke I was to collect his body as kitsune, however, Naruto Uzumaki was dispatched to go and get Sasuke. Of course, I hadn't planned on Zetsu having already taken his eyes, making my life harder since I had to sneak around the bastard to get Itachi back. So like I said, ANBU suits me a lot more than the Hokage seat does. Besides, I don't like being a trophy. Yes, I had the love and trust of the majority of the people however others only saw me as a prize."
No one had anything to say to that so she decided to lighten the mood. She got up and stretched, giving a bright smile to the three of them and spoke, "Enough depressing crap dattebayo! I came here to train! What else can I train with hmm? Maybe the bijuu-dama?" she placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head. She had spent less time that she had thought she would sue to master sage mode and now had nothing to do.
"Absolutely not. I refuse to allow you to use such a dangerous and destructible jutsu anywhere near Mount Myoboku!" yelled Fukasaku as he hit her with his staff causing her to sigh.
Kakashi followed her lead in sighing as he gave her a kiss on the cheek, "I've got to get back to Konoha. Someone will notice my disappearance during the day. One that goes by the name of Shisui Uchiha." He let out a low groan as he nipped at her mark.
Her shoulders lost some tension that had gathered and she sensed everyone leaves them alone for a bit. "Since everyone has left us alone, why don't we go for a walk around the mountain? Or I can teleport us to the top and we can just sit for a bit."
"What about Shisui?"
"He isn't welcome here on Mount Myoboku. He's a falcon and hawk summoner, both of which eat toads."
"I see," he had yet to release himself from the crook of her neck and had fully removed his mask, hoisting her up as he shunshined them to the top of the closest peak.
"You've been here before I take it?" she asked as she leaned against his back between his legs.
He didn't give her an answer straight away and when he did, it was barely more than a whisper in her ear, "Minato sensei bought team Minato here to introduce us to the toads we would be seeing often. If we ever saw any particular toad we would know why and what to do."
Naruto nodded. It was cleaver. Sending a specific toad for a specific job. A bit like the hawk was used for the chunin exams.
They sat in silence for what seemed like a half hour before she looked at him, "How are you and Shisui whenever I'm not around?"
"Maa, well, we don't get along like you and Sasuke, however, we get along enough to live together."
She nodded her head once again. "You- both of you can tell me anything. Whether it's about each other, about others or about me, please just tell me. I can't help if I don't know what's wrong."
She could feel him hesitate before he slouched his shoulders, "Well, Shisui doesn't like eggplant so I was wondering if that meant we weren't going to have eggplant in food anymore."
She didn't give an immediate reply however when he did it was after having calmed down from laughing too hard. Of all the things Kakashi could have said that wasn't something she had expected him to say.
"I- why would… koi. If you want eggplant, I'll make you eggplant and I'll make another dish for everyone else. Ask me to make anything and I will. I can't guarantee everything will taste delicious but I can try my damn hardest. I love cooking for people. Such a mundane thing that manages to make everyone happy." She shrugged and suddenly felt tired.
She hadn't been getting much sleep since arriving in the past. Constantly leaving the village every other night, sending letters to the kage, having mental meetings with the bijuu and jinchuriki plus everything else that had happened was finally taking a toll on her yet she had taken worse. She was not yet undone.