Thread: Five years of peace... [TheDarkerMe & Kaziel]

Kakashi let out a slow groan as he felt the entire world swimming around him. His eyes were closed, and he felt himself laying down, but it felt as if everything was moving. Slowly cracking his right eye, he was assaulted by a flood of brightness, and he clamped it shut again, letting him adjust to the light by seeing it through his eyelids. In a few moments he tried opening it again, this time much more ready as he looked around for the first time. To his right he could see the window of a building, but it wasn't the view from his apartment. He began to look around, and recognized the bed and the room from Konoha's hospital, a view he had become far too accustomed too as of late. Glancing to his right his eye went wide as he saw a blond haired person next to him. A long flowing robe sat on his shoulders, spiked golden hair sticking out atop his hitai-ate, his face smooth and unblemished as he sat there with his eyes closed. Sen... sensei...? Kakashi's voice cracked from disuse. It had to be some sort of dream... his sensei, the Fourth Hokage had died years before... but this person was a dead ringer for him. The eyes of man next to him immediately shot open. Kakashi-sensei! You're awake! It wasn't his old master, but Naruto... but wait, Kakashi thought... his cheeks were smooth... what had happened to the tell-tale stripes across them? And where did that robe come from? Looking at it again, he saw it was red with black trim instead of white with red trim that Minato-sensei wore. Naruto...? his head swam as he tried to think back to the last thing he had seen. He had just finished fighting one of the Pains, and Choji was running... then he had to use his Mangekyo to save the younger ninja. That... that should have killed him. He had no objections to dying, but suddenly he was afraid he'd failed. Choji... what happened to Choji? He asked, his voice a little panicky. Choji? What about Choji? He's fine. Naruto replied, eyebrow raised, and Kakashi let out a very loud sigh. Thanks to Tsunade-sama there weren't any casualties, he clarified with a sad sigh, And I got here in time to defeat Pain, once she ran out of chakra. She was using her summon to keep everyone safe. That's also how she saved you. He said, grinning wildly. Kakashi nodded, and hid his surprise over what Naruto said... Tsunade-sama? He never used honorifics like that. What had happened while he had been recovering. In fact... how long had he been out? Okay, Naruto... could you explain what's happened? Naruto's smile slipped from his face, but he nodded anyway. He started by going over what had happened during and after the fight with Pain, where he repeatedly called on his newfound Hermit Mode to defeat him. In the end, triumph had been his, and Pain had been fully defeated, even his original controller self. Then he went on to detail how only about a week had passed before the next attack struck. A few of the less injured shinobi had joined him, but only Naruto had really been able to go all-out, thanks to the healing properties of Hermit Mode. Naruto's voice broke a few times as he started to explain that Sasuke had been at the forefront of the second attack. Naruto was light on details at this point, but Kakashi could understand. Naruto had loved Sasuke like a brother. He had always been trying to get him to come back to Konoha. He ended his brief description by saying that Sasuke had used some very powerful Genjutsu to distract him, while he snuck past him to get into Konoha. At this announcement Kakashi was worried, but Naruto continued by saying that before he could find Sasuke, the Akatsuki member in the orange mask, Tobi, had attacked him. He reached up and ran three fingers along his cheeks where the three marks had always previously been. I'm sure you noticed that these are gone, right Kakashi-sensei? He said, grinning. Kakashi nodded and Naruto then explained that, somehow, Tobi had ripped the Kyuubi out of him, bringing it to life. Kakashi became visibly shaken at hearing this, but Naruto smiled. Nothing to worry about, Kakashi-sensei. He then took a quick step back in time in his story and told Kakashi about the issues he had melding with the two elder frogs due to the Kyuubi interfering. Despite one of them dying, the other was now able to meld with him seamlessly, giving him almost unlimited access to Senjutsu Chakra. Grinning wildly, he went on to tell Kakashi about how he was able to subdue the Kyuubi, sealing it into the ground, and without the Kyuubi, this Tobi guy panicked and disappeared like he had before. Finally, by the time he made his way back to Konoha, Sasuke had already attacked and killed a number of the elders, but had been chased away before he could get anyone else. Since then, he'd spent the time here at the hospital, watching over Kakashi as he recovered. Kakashi lay back, his head swimming. So much had happened, his head began to swim. Looking over at Naruto, he was struck again how much he looked like the Fourth Hokage. Eye wrinkling from a smile hidden under the mask he always wore, he nodded at Naruto. I'm really proud of you. To defend Konoha... even to fight your best friend like that, shows that you've really grown up a lot. Naruto let out another short laugh, scratching the back of his head. You really think so, Kakashi-sensei? Despite how much he had grown, Kakashi could still see a bit of the child still in him... that was good... he was only 15... he shouldn't be forced to grow up even faster than he already had. Even with the defeat of Pain, with Tobi and Sasuke, obviously both enemies of Konoha, still out there, Kakashi doubted things would get easier... Oh yeah, Kakashi-sensei... when you get out of the hospital, Tsunade-sama wanted to talk to you about something. Okay, thanks for letting me know. You should get going now that I'm up. You're probably going stir crazy here. Kakashi said, and Naruto nodded emphatically. Hopping up off the chair he had been sitting in, he made his way out waving back to Kakashi. He stared up at the ceiling... so much to think about... Naruto had gone wandering, enjoying stretching his legs. While he hadn't been idle while watching over Kakashi, he had longed to go wandering in the three weeks since the fight with Sasuke and Tobi. He'd used the time he had spent there increasing his ability to store and control Senjutsu Chakra. He just began wandering, enjoy the outside, the sounds of nature and let his mind wander. He hadn't told Kakashi... or really anyone some of the truths that had happened that day. Like what had happened with Sasuke. He breathed out deeply. Yes, they had fought, but it hadn't been a Genjutsu which had defeated him... in fact every ability that Sasuke threw at him... Genjutsu, Ninjutsu... even his Sharingan enhanced Taijutsu were no match for him in Hermit Mode. Genjutsu he had known weren't real due to his connection to nature. Ninjutsu he had just plowed through thanks to his healing abilities, and the power difference between Sasuke and him in Hermit Mode was too great for him to defend against. Within minutes of starting the fight, Naruto had Sasuke on the defensive, and soon he had him pinned to the ground, about to deliver the finishing blow, he found himself crying... Why... he had asked... why attack Konoha? What had we ever done to him? He didn't want to kill his best friend, but he couldn't let him destroy his loved ones, even if Sasuke was one of those loved ones. Naruto hadn't been expecting an answer... before Sasuke hadn't given him real answers, but Sasuke shocked him by explaining what had happened to Itachi. The order to destroy the Uchiha clan, the lies Itachi had told Sasuke for his own protection, that because of those lies Sasuke had killed the brother that loved him more than his own life. It was all the fault of Konoha and he would avenge his brother and his clan. Naruto was stunned. Sure, he knew that people kept secrets... but nothing of this magnitude... Sasuke made a break for the town when Naruto was distracted, but he intercepted him. Sasuke had backed away, looking for another way around Naruto, when Naruto asked him why he had to destroy the whole town. Sure, some people had been in on this, but the ones behind it were the Elders. Naruto suggested that instead of killing everyone, that Sasuke just take out those responsible for the tragedy. And for the first time in over three years, he saw the old face... the hardness slipping away to be replaced to a face that only they shared. He knew he would never forget what they had said there after. You never give up do you, Naruto? Sasuke had asked. Naruto stood tall at this comment. No way! It's not my Ninja Way! He was grinning ear to ear. Sasuke returned that smirk, not one of superiority, but the only genuine smile he'd ever seen on Sasuke face. I know all about your Ninja Way. Sasuke then relented, and agreed to target just the Elders... those who had wanted the removal of the Uchiha clan. But he also added that few in Konoha would understand why he did what he did. He could never return after he completed his assassinations. Naruto had nodded sadly, but he would rather have his friend at peace somewhere out there, then having to kill him. So with that, Sasuke had rushed passed him, and Naruto had let him. Before he could even sigh a breath of relief, Tobi had arrived. Much like that he had fought with Sasuke, he hadn't been lying about the Kyuubi being freed by Tobi some how, nor that he had defeated the Kyuubi, impossible as that might seem. He had sealed it into a crater in the ground that had been created during their fight. Tobi had retreated then, obviously wary of this new power that Naruto had gained access to. What Naruto hadn't mentioned was that at some point during the fight Sakura had found her way to where they were fighting. The power from the fight between the Kyuubi and him with unfettered access to Senjutsu Chakra was creating huge amounts of collateral damage. Sakura came inches from dying due to some of that collateral damage, but thankfully Rock Lee had been following her, and intervened, saving her. At the time Naruto had been so caught up in the fight that he hadn't noticed Sakura, but when he later found out about it, he had been horrified. Thinking back over it later, he had realized how hard it was for him to control Hermit Mode like that, and if he did it again, especially in a team or a populated area, people would die. Innocent people who hadn't any way to defend themselves. So he had decided until he had a better grasp on it, he wouldn't call upon a frog to assist him in Hermit Mode. Since then, he'd noticed that Sakura showed up to check on Kakashi with Lee in tow... he might not be the brightest Shinobi in Konoha, but he could see the signs, even if Sakura denied it... or maybe she hadn't realized it yet... she was falling for Lee. He was happy for her. While he had always chased after her, after almost killing her, he didn't want to be near her... he would be a constant reminder of almost dying. The final thing he hadn't fully been clear on was why Tsunade wanted to see Kakashi. After the defeat of the Kyuubi and Tobi, Tsunade had asked him what he'd always wanted. She felt she couldn't properly defend Konoha, but Naruto... Naruto could. The Hokage should be someone who could keep safe the entire village, and Naruto had not only done that, he'd done it amazingly well. He had been shocked, but the memory of the uncontrollable power of frog-enhanced Hermit Mode almost being responsible for killing Sakura was still fresh in his mind. He had shocked Tsunade by turning her offer down, saying he wasn't ready yet. Honestly, a part of him was shocked, but the reason he had wanted to be Hokage was so everyone would recognize him. In the aftermath of these two fights, plus his changed appearance after the Kyuubi was removed from him, everyone knew him... he was the talk of the town. He hadn't given up on being Hokage, but he just didn't feel ready for it yet. But he did have someone else in mind... Five Years Later... A member of ANBU walked slowly into the Hokage's office, his face covered by the mask of a Fox, blond spiky hair sticking out behind the porcelain animal. Despite the mask hiding his face, there was little doubt that it was Naruto. He had grown taller, around 5'11 tall, what little fat was on him five years ago had burned away, giving him a lanky, muscular look, plus he still had Tsunade's necklace around his neck. No one had called him by that name in the three years since he had joined ANBU, but everyone was thankful he was there. Some ANBU removed their mask, but he hadn't, so when he removed it in front of the Hokage, his intention was quite obvious. I'm retiring from ANBU, Hokage-sensei. He said, his term a bit different than most. From under the wide brim of the Hokage's hat a lone eye looked upon the former ANBU and former student. Understood, Naruto. It's good to have you back. Kakashi said. Two months after he had awoken, he had finally been in good enough shape to be released from his stay. He had been told by dozens of people to go see the Fifth Hokage, and he made his way there before even going to his apartment. He had been utterly shocked when Tsunade said she was stepping down from being the Hokage. She explained why she was, and he could understand that... but he didn't get why he was being picked. Sure he was a powerful Shinobi... one of the most powerful, no doubt, but what about Naruto, he had asked. Tsunade then explained her talk with Naruto and that he had recommended him and how Naruto said he still planned to be the Hokage some day, but wasn't ready yet. Kakashi had shook his head in surprise... Who was this blond haired boy and what had he done with Naruto? He had grudgingly accepted the position of Hokage, but despite his earlier expectations, the attacks from Sasuke or Tobi never came. Yes, he had let Naruto join ANBU once he reached Jounin rank which had taken less than a year..., but they always needed ANBU, even before Akatsuki. In fact, the following five years had been a time of almost frightening peace. The Raikage had come looking for Sasuke, but once they had revealed that he was a missing-nin of their village, they had offered to help find and defeat him. This joint effort, which hadn't proven to be successful at all, ended up strengthening the bonds between Kumogakure and Konoha. Few other forces would dare to strike the joint power of three major hidden villages, which had surely accounted for much of the peace, but it was still strange to him, having lived a life of almost constant conflict. Shaking his head from his reverie, he nodded again to Naruto. So now what, Naruto? he asked. Naruto interlaced his fingers behind his head, falling back to his classic pose of relaxation and contemplation. Well I was thinking a little time off, until the next graduation of students from the Academy, then taking a team on for myself. Gotta continue the tradition. He said, grinning at Kakashi, thinking back to when he had first begun his training under the Sixth Hokage. Kakashi nodded. Well, I'll look over the students for the next class and see which would be well suited for you. Anything else? he asked, to which Naruto shook his head. Alright, dismissed. And with that Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke. He leaned back in his chair, signing. How things had changed since the old days, he thought. Naruto appeared inside of his small apartment, dust covering the surfaces. Joining ANBU meant that you cut all ties with your previous life until you retired or died. He had done just that, even not coming back to his home for three years. He knew he had missed a lot, including the marriage of Shikamaru and Temari, and Lee and Sakura. He especially was sad for missing the latter, but being ANBU had it's prices. So he planned on going out today and getting them both much-late wedding gifts. He stripped down out of his ANBU uniform for the last time, and walked over to his dresser pulling out boxers and his old orange pants. He slipped into them, but found them a bit tight around his hips. Looking down, he was shocked to see that instead of coming to mid-calf, they only went down to his knees. He knew he had grown, but he didn't realize how much he had grown... Well, looks like he'd be stopping by the tailor as well as getting gifts for his friends. He pulled out a fishnet shirt and pulled it over him, it stretching to accommodate him. It was about the only thing he was sure would still fit him, and he took to the street, carrying some of his old clothing so that he could get them redesigned.