Konoha was in mourning. The village, once vibrant with life and bustle, was now shrouded in a heavy silence, broken only by muffled cries and whispers of the survivors. Collapsed rooftops, charred walls, and debris-strewn streets bore witness to the violence of the attack. The sacrifice of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, hung like a dark veil over every face.
Naruto stood at the foot of the Hero Memorial, eyes fixed on the stone where the old man's name would soon be etched. His tears had dried, replaced by a dull pain and restrained rage. The old Hokage had always been there, a benevolent figure in his solitude. Now, he was gone, taken by Orochimaru's madness.
"The old man..." Naruto murmured, his voice hoarse. "He's really gone, huh, Kyūbi?"
The bijū's voice resonated in his mind, unusually calm. "Yes, kid. Death is inevitable for mortals. But his will lives on. That is the legacy of a leader. Don't disappoint him."
Ryūjin, his blue dragon, appeared at his side, his soothing aura enveloping Naruto. "He made the right choice, Naruto. He protected his home."
Naruto clenched his fists. "I understand. But it still hurts."
A few days later, a meeting of the Konoha Council was convened to discuss the Hokage's succession. The council chamber was dark and tense. The elders, led by Danzo Shimura, seemed more concerned with maintaining order than grieving.
"We must choose a new Hokage quickly," declared Koharu Utatane. "The village cannot remain leaderless."
"I propose a candidate who has proven his strength and loyalty," said Danzo, his piercing gaze sweeping the room. "A man capable of making the hard decisions for Konoha's safety. I volunteer."
A murmur of approval ran through some council members, but others looked doubtful. The door to the room then opened. Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin, entered, her powerful aura preceding her steps. At her side stood Akari, her fiery red hair shimmering with silver highlights, and Kaien, wearing his usual calm smile. Their arrival was met with nods and recognizing glances.
Mikoto, already present, stepped forward. "I am very real, Danzo. My return is the work of Kaien, a precious ally to Konoha. We are all here to take part in this crucial discussion."
"This is not a position to be taken lightly, Danzo," Homura Mitokado intervened. "We must consider all options."
"And I believe the best option is Tsunade," Mikoto declared, her voice clear and firm, cutting off Danzo's proposition. "She is a legendary Sannin, an exceptional medical ninja, and the granddaughter of the First Hokage. She is the only one capable of bringing new hope to this village."
Tsunade, her aura already dominating the room, stepped forward. Her face was marked by hardship, but her eyes shone with newfound determination. "I've had my demons, Danzo. I ran from pain. But Hiruzen's death, the chaos engulfing Konoha... and especially the courage of these young ninjas who fought for this village—it opened my eyes."
She pointed to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who had just entered, drawn by the commotion.
"She has her weaknesses! She's afraid of blood!" Danzo shouted, his voice full of scorn. "She is unfit to lead! And you, Mikoto, your return must be thoroughly examined by Root!"
"That's not true!" Naruto's voice rang out. "Tsunade-obaa-chan is not a coward! She's strong! And she's the best to become Hokage!"
"Insolent child! How dare you interrupt the Council!" an elder exclaimed.
"It's the truth!" Naruto replied. "The old man was proud of her! And Kaien too! He always said she was one of the strongest!"
Akari added in a calm but resonant voice: "Strength isn't measured only by brute power, Danzo. It's also measured by the ability to heal, to protect, and to inspire. Tsunade has endured trials. She knows the pain of loss, which makes her more apt to understand what the village is going through. Her medical skill is unmatched, and Konoha will need every ninja, every life, in the times ahead."
Sasuke stepped forward. "Naruto is right. Tsunade has the temperament and experience to lead in these difficult times. Her leadership will bring stability, not fear."
Mikoto placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "They're right. Tsunade is our best hope."
"And I'm no longer the woman I once was," Tsunade declared, slamming her fist on the council table, causing it to tremble. "I had an enlightening conversation. I've seen what fear can do. I will not run anymore."
Kaien, silent until then, stepped forward. His fiery red hair took on increasingly silvery tones. "Tsunade is not only a peerless medical force, she possesses the Will of Fire. She understands sacrifice and what it takes to rebuild. She has the experience, compassion, and strength. And she's not alone. Konoha has unexpected allies and a future we must protect."
The debate flared, but the proposal of Tsunade, supported by Team 7, Mikoto, Akari, and Kaien's calming presence, gained traction. Tsunade's very presence, strong and resolute, was more eloquent than any argument.
Ultimately, the Council decided: Tsunade would be named the Fifth Hokage. The announcement was made, and a collective sigh of relief passed through the room, despite Danzo's lingering tension.
Meanwhile, in Konoha, Sasuke continued his intense training under the supervision of Kakashi and his mother, Mikoto. Kuroi Ryū was a strict but effective guide.
"Your flames are strong, Sasuke, but they lack refinement," said Kuroi Ryū. "Let the power of my black scales teach you precision."
Sasuke honed his katana techniques and Chidori, aiming for speed and stealth. Mikoto, though cautious, pushed him to excel.
"You have immense potential, Sasuke," Mikoto said. "But don't let hatred consume you. Your father wouldn't have wanted that."
"I know, Mom," Sasuke replied, his voice gentler than before. "Kaien helped me understand. I won't seek revenge out of pure hatred. I want the truth. And if Itachi was forced, I'll end his burden."
In the shadows, Danzo was active. Hiruzen's death had left a power vacuum, and he sought to fill it. His Root Anbu were more active than ever.
"The village needs an iron hand," Danzo whispered to his subordinates. "Tsunade's rule, this woman broken by her past, will be a weakness. Her blood phobia is a burden. Mikoto's return, the stories of dragons... all of it is suspicious. We must ensure that power remains in the hands of those who understand the true nature of the shinobi world."
He dispatched spies, not only to monitor the new Hokage but also to investigate the growing rumors around Kaien and Akari. Kaien's Eyes of Infinity, his revival of Mikoto, and the genins' links to dragons did not escape Danzo's attention.
"That boy, Kaien... he is an anomaly," Danzo thought. "His power is immense and uncontrollable. He must be watched. And if necessary... eliminated. Akari is also linked to unknown forces."
Despite his sealed arms, Orochimaru was not idle. He knew the seal of the Reaper Death God was temporary and that he would find a way to break it. His plans for Konoha and Sasuke's body were merely delayed, not abandoned.
"Sasuke Uchiha... your body will be mine," Orochimaru hissed in his secret lair. "And with it, the ultimate Sharingan."
While Tsunade assumed her new duties, Naruto trained under Jiraiya, away from the village for his protection and growth. One evening, in a small town, while Jiraiya was, as usual, at the casino, Naruto sensed a strange presence, a familiar but corrupted chakra.
"Sensei! I felt something!" Naruto shouted.
"What now, kid? Another one of your illusions?" Jiraiya replied, eyes fixed on his cards.
"No! It's... it's like Sasuke's chakra, but much darker and colder!"
Suddenly, two figures appeared before them. One tall and pale, the other shorter, cloaked in dark robes with red clouds.
"Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi Uchiha," said Jiraiya, his expression changing instantly. He activated his combat mode. "What is the Akatsuki doing here?"
Naruto's eyes widened. Itachi Uchiha. Sasuke's brother. The one who had massacred his clan.
"Kyūbi..." Naruto whispered, red chakra pulsing around him.
"That Uchiha boy... he bears the burden. He comes for you, Jinchūriki," Kyūbi's voice was full of warning.
Itachi looked at Naruto, his piercing eyes locking on as he activated his Tsukuyomi. The illusion struck, warping time and space, seeking to break the young ninja's spirit.
But something was different this time. Instead of paralysis, a burning heat radiated from Naruto's gut. The chakra of Kyūbi, the Nine-Tailed Fox, roared in his mind, a primal force rejecting the intruder.
"PATHETIC ILLUSION!" Kyūbi growled, his voice amplified by rage. "YOU THINK YOU CAN BEND MY JINCHŪRIKI WITH SUCH WEAKNESS?!"
Simultaneously, Ryūjin, Naruto's dragon, whose bond had grown stronger, sent a calming yet powerful wave of his own chakra. Itachi's Tsukuyomi, designed to manipulate perception, clashed with two indomitable wills. The illusionary world cracked under the pressure. Naruto felt intense pain, as if his mind was tearing, but he didn't collapse. He screamed—not from agony, but from defiance.
He opened his eyes, his blue pupils fixed on Itachi, blood trickling from them and an expression of sheer resolve. He wasn't broken.
"You... resisted?" Itachi murmured, a slight frown betraying his surprise.
"I... I won't give up!" Naruto shouted, his voice full of challenge, red chakra visibly pulsing around him as Ryūjin's blue aura blended with it, creating an iridescent shield.
Luckily, Jiraiya intervened at that moment, repelling Kisame with a powerful jutsu and forcing Itachi to retreat. The Akatsuki withdrew, their mission to capture Naruto temporarily thwarted.
"That was... that was...!" Naruto was shaken, but a spark of pride gleamed in his eyes. He had endured.
"The Akatsuki," said Jiraiya, grave. "They're after the Bijū. And Itachi is their most dangerous member. You were lucky, kid. Your bond with Kyūbi and Ryūjin is deeper than I thought. We'll have to be even more careful."
Naruto, though shaken, felt a new resolve take hold. He had seen Akatsuki's power. Itachi's power. But he had also discovered his own strength, the strength of his bond with Kyūbi and Ryūjin. He had to grow stronger. For Konoha. For the old man. For Sasuke. And for himself—to master the power within. The road ahead would be long and difficult, but he would never give up.
Tsunade's installation as Fifth Hokage was a solemn but emotional ceremony. She stood before the villagers' faces, some still marked by grief, others with renewed hope. Shizune, her apprentice, stood faithfully by her side.
"I swear before you all," Tsunade declared, her voice strong and clear, "to protect this village with my life. To rebuild what was destroyed and lead Konoha toward a future of peace and prosperity. I will not run anymore."
Mikoto, Akari, and Kaien watched from the crowd.
"She has the makings of a great Hokage," Mikoto murmured.
"She's found her reason to fight," Akari added, her eyes resting on Kaien. "As have we all."
Kaien's fiery red hair caught the light, its silver highlights becoming increasingly visible. "Her destiny is tied to Naruto's. This is the beginning of a new era for Konoha."
Akari nodded, a melancholic smile on her face. "And the end of another, for us."
The peace returning to Konoha was fragile. Rumors of Akatsuki spread. Danzo and his Root continued to plot in the shadows. Orochimaru, though wounded, was not out of the game.
In the depths of Kaien's Dimension, fragments of the former Hokages' consciousness, especially Hiruzen's, watched the world.
"Jiraiya... Tsunade..." Hiruzen's spirit was weak but at peace. "I know you will protect Konoha."
"He made a great sacrifice," said the soothing voice of the Second Hokage. "But the Will of Fire continues to burn."
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, let out a soft laugh. "Our Tsunade... she's become an incredible woman. And these youths... Naruto, Sasuke, and Kaien... they are the promise of a bright future."
The Sage of Six Paths' prophecy, passed down through the ages, whispered of new destinies. Children bearing ancient legacies and unprecedented powers. Bonds between humans and dragons. Choices that would shape the world.
The path was still long. Naruto had to master Kyūbi. Sasuke had to face his past and the truth about Itachi, all while controlling Kuroi Ryū's power. Sakura had to become an exceptional medical ninja. And Kaien, with his fiery and silvery hair, knew his role was far from over.