"Good."
Natsuro also smiled with satisfaction. Right now, Konoha was truly full of talented people so there was no need to worry about anything.
At that moment, he suddenly remembered that Sasuke had just finished his closed-door training and had come straight to the Hokage office afterward. So...
"Sasuke, you just returned. Do you have anything else you need to finish in Konoha?" Natsuro asked.
Sasuke paused. He was about to answer "no," but after a moment's thought, he said, "I don't have anything important to keep me here, but there are a few things I'd like Uncle Shikaku to help me pass along."
"Please, go ahead," Shikaku replied, slightly surprised. Normally, their interactions were purely work-related, Shikaku as Hokage's secretary and Sasuke as Anbu Commander. Everything was strictly business.
Now Sasuke was making a personal request, and even called him "Uncle." Shikaku hadn't expected that.
Still, he had to admit, being addressed like that by a Uchiha genius felt pretty nice. Sasuke really was different from the typical Uchiha, Shikaku thought.
Natsuro didn't find it strange at all. Sasuke was even more polite than Naruto at times, though sometimes he was a bit selective, rarely calling Kakashi "sensei" but consistently calling Iruka "sensei."
That said, it didn't mean Sasuke's relationship with Kakashi was worse than with Iruka, it was just a habit. In formal occasions, Sasuke would still properly address Kakashi as "sensei" if needed.
Sasuke continued, "As for the Anbu matters, I made arrangements before I went into seclusion. They should continue their missions as if I'm still away."
"Understood," Shikaku nodded. It was a good reminder, as he usually didn't oversee Anbu directly — that was handled by Natsuro and Sasuke.
"Also, before I left for the summit, please help inform Jūgo, Karin... and Sakura," Sasuke added, hesitating a little before mentioning Sakura.
After all, Jūgo and Karin had been brought back to Konoha by Sasuke himself, it was only right to let them know he was temporarily leaving.
As for Sakura... she was too persistent. Sasuke didn't really understand why she was so fixated on him. Was it just because of his looks? That felt a little shallow, but he couldn't think of any other reason. Still, he decided to notify her too.
"Alright," Shikaku nodded, smiling. Then a trace of worry crossed his mind, both Naruto and Sasuke already had someone they liked, but his own son Shikamaru still didn't seem to have a girlfriend...
Maybe he should push Shikamaru a little harder in the future.
Shikaku glanced at Natsuro. He remembered how Natsuro had successfully played matchmaker for several couples already. Maybe I should learn a thing or two…
But matchmaking required knowing who Shikamaru liked, otherwise, it'd be useless.
Natsuro seemed to pick up on Shikaku's thoughts and casually hinted, "It doesn't necessarily have to be someone from Konoha. For example, our relationship with Sunagakure is very good right now."
"Huh? Oh… right." Shikaku answered instinctively, and a thought struck him. He exchanged a knowing glance with Natsuro, and they both smiled.
That was as much as he could hint. He was quite fond of the Shikamaru x Temari pairing.
Though under his leadership, Konoha's relations with Suna had become even closer, mostly Suna asking Konoha for help rather than mutual cooperation like in the original story.
Still, with Shikaku's awareness now sharpened, Shikamaru would likely often end up joining missions supporting Sunagakure. Whether they got together might take until after the Fourth Great Ninja War, but fate would do the rest.
"All set?" Natsuro asked Sasuke.
Once he got a positive answer, Natsuro nodded. He thought for a moment, for the Five Kage Summit, he should probably dress more formally. But his ceremonial outfit was still with his main body.
While he was thinking, a small figure suddenly appeared in the Hokage office, it was Umbreon, carrying a scroll in its mouth.
"You little guy... how did you manage to grab it?" Natsuro was surprised. His main body was still in training and hadn't noticed it's actions. Yet it had already retrieved the scroll and used Flying Thunder God to return.
The moon spirit blinked without answering, hopping onto Natsuro's shoulder and handing him the scroll.
Taking the scroll, Natsuro didn't question it further. He skillfully retrieved his formal ceremonial robe, attaching the Hokage's hat at his waist.
It wasn't surprising the moon spirit could sense his thoughts. Though it couldn't talk, Natsuro could usually understand what it wanted to express, their bond had existed for a long time, just not as deep as between him and his main body.
After preparing everything, Natsurostepped forward and said, "Let's go."
"Yes!" Sasuke and Naruto answered together, following behind him.
Kakashi and Shikaku watched them with smiles. The three before them were the shining hope of this generation of Konoha.
It was truly reassuring.
Kakashi, in particular, was deeply moved. He had once watched his teacher (the Fourth Hokage) lead with the same charisma and strength. Now, looking at Natsuro, he saw the same proud figure.
.....
After they had been traveling for a while outside of Konoha —
"Natsuro, didn't you leave a Flying Thunder God marker in the Land of Iron? Can't we just teleport there?" Naruto asked.
"Of course I did," Natsuro answered. In fact, he had markers not just in every major nation, but also in many remote areas.
"Then why don't we teleport straight there?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Because we need to give certain people a chance," Natsuro replied.
The more Naruto heard, the more confused he got. Sasuke, however, quietly nodded and became more alert.
"No need to be so tense," Natsuro said when he noticed Sasuke's reaction. "It's just a bunch of small fry. Normally they wouldn't dare show themselves."
The Five Kage Summit wasn't exactly a secret, anyone with connections would have heard about it. So it wasn't surprising that groups hostile to Konoha might ambush the route to the Land of Iron.
Normally, since he stayed within Konoha, they had no chance to act. But now, they probably thought this was their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In truth, this also had to do with Natsuro rarely showing his strength publicly, leading people to underestimate him.
If they really knew his power, along with Naruto's and Sasuke's, they wouldn't even have the courage to think about an ambush.
"And besides," Natsuro added with a smile, "there's no rush. As the only village that hasn't lost a Tailed Beast, we should also think about how others might target us."
"They'll target us?" Naruto asked, wide-eyed.
"Of course they will," Natsuro said. "Naruto, you can believe in yourself and your ability to change others, but don't expect everyone to be good."
Naruto fell silent, struggling to understand.
At that moment, Sasuke, gripping his sword, sensed something.
Seeing this, Natsuro nodded slightly to him. In the next second, Sasuke vanished from his side.
Naruto also started to move but was stopped by Natsuro, one Sasuke was enough.
In no time, enemies hidden in the trees started falling like dead leaves, one after another, without even getting a chance to attack.
The difference was, fallen leaves return to the earth, but these bodies would never return home.
"Who were they?" Naruto asked, starting to understand what Natsuro had meant earlier.
"Probably remnants of small nations wiped out by Root," Natsuro replied after thinking for a moment.
"Root? Weren't they the ones you eliminated? Why would they want to assassinate you?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Technically, yes," Natsuro said. "But no matter what, Root was still part of Konoha. And the Hokage, as Konoha's leader, represents the village. It's natural for them to put all the blame on the Hokage."
"That's... awful," Naruto said. In his simple mind, Danzo had harmed them, and Natsuro had killed Danzo, wasn't Natsuro basically their savior?
Actually, some people had warned Konoha about possible attacks, that's how he knew this journey wouldn't be peaceful.
In Natsuro's view, he wasn't really their savior. No one would believe Root acted without the Hokage's knowledge. And the Hokage was Konoha's symbol.
For those survivors, someone avenging them was already the best outcome. After their "revenge," they would likely abandon their past and start new lives.
Soon, Sasuke returned to Natsuro's side. They watched the burning corpses, it wouldn't do to leave them lying around.
At this moment, Natsuro sighed a little. Life in this world was really cheap.
Sasuke showed no strong reaction. He had heard Natsuro's conversation with Naruto.
To Sasuke, wanting revenge was understandable, but charging at someone vastly stronger without thinking was just suicide, not revenge.
"Alright, let's keep moving," Natsuro said.
Along the way, they encountered quite a few more remnants, even Natsuro was a little surprised at how much damage Root had caused back then.
But by the end, the survivors were so terrified that they only watched Natsuro's group from a distance, not daring to attack anymore.
Perhaps starting from today, those who didn't dare to make a move would finally give up their old grudges. After all, relying solely on their small forces to oppose a great ninja village was simply impossible.
It wasn't long before Natsuro, Naruto, and Sasuke arrived at the borders of the Land of Iron.
Watching the snowflakes fall from the sky, Natsuro felt a touch of nostalgia, he had visited the Land of Iron several times during his time in the Anbu.
"Naruto, once the meeting begins, if the other Kage try to provoke us with words, you don't need to react, and definitely don't fight back. Just stay calm and observe," Natsuro instructed.
He wasn't worried about Sasuke, but with Naruto, he felt he had to say it in advance. Otherwise, Naruto might actually cause a scene at the Five Kage Summit.
Although he wasn't concerned about Naruto getting hurt, none of the Kage had the power to seriously threaten him, it would still leave a bad impression.
"Don't worry, Natsuro! I'll definitely stay calm!" Naruto said, giving a thumbs-up.
Still, Natsuro wasn't entirely reassured. He subtly glanced at Sasuke, who nodded to indicate he would keep an eye on Naruto.
Natsuro nodded back and led them along the final stretch of road to a snow-covered "castle."
"We have long awaited your arrival, Lord Hokage," said the samurai captain standing at the castle gates. Upon seeing Natsuro, especially after verifying his appearance, he immediately bowed respectfully. They had, of course, been provided with images of all the Kage.
Sasuke handed over the documentation, and after checking it, the samurai captain signaled the guards to let them pass. As the leader, he personally guided Natsuro's group inside.
"Have the other Kage already arrived?" Natsuro asked while following him.
"Yes, Lord Hokage. They have all arrived," the captain replied.
"Could you tell me the order in which they arrived?" Natsuro asked casually. He wasn't surprised, after waiting so long for Sasuke and deliberately not using Flying Thunder God, they had cut it pretty close to the start time.
"Of course. Lord Kazekage was the first to arrive, followed by Lord Raikage, Lord Mizukage, and finally Lord Tsuchikage," the captain answered. It wasn't classified information, so he could share it.
"Gaara, huh? It's been a while!" Naruto's eyes lit up.
Natsuro wasn't surprised. Although Sunagakure was the farthest away, they arrived first, showing how much importance they attached to the Summit.
With Suna's strength greatly reduced, they needed to show commitment.
As for the Raikage, he was the one who convened this Five Kage Summit, so naturally, he wouldn't arrive late.
And the Tsuchikage… well, if Natsuro's delay could be excused because of his mother-in-law giving birth, the old Tsuchikage could blame it on his poor mobility.
"In an occasion like this, it's better if you call him 'Kazekage' instead of 'Gaara'," Natsuro reminded Naruto.
"Why? I always call him Gaara," Naruto asked instinctively.
"If you call him 'Gaara,' then what will you call the other Kage?" Natsuro countered.
"Naturally, I would..." Naruto trailed off, realizing the problem.
Natsuro didn't say anything more. It wasn't just about Gaara's feelings, how would the other Kage perceive it? Would they think Gaara was being looked down on?
Natsuro calling Gaara by name was fine, they were equals in status, and it even demonstrated the closeness between Konoha and Suna.
But Naruto, as a subordinate, casually calling a Kage by name wasn't appropriate, unless he did it uniformly with all Kage, and Naruto didn't even know the other Kage's names.
"So just endure it a bit. After the meeting, you can call him whatever you like," Natsuro said.
"Got it. Then, Natsuro... should I call you Lord Hokage too?" Naruto asked.
"Yes," Natsuro nodded.
Naruto nodded seriously, though internally he was groaning. All these complicated formalities! If he became Hokage, wouldn't he have to deal with this all the time?
Thinking that, Naruto suddenly felt a little hesitant about becoming Hokage. But after a moment, he slapped his cheeks with both hands. What am I thinking?
This was just a small hurdle, he would definitely overcome it. And he would definitely surpass Sasuke and become Hokage!
Soon, the samurai captain led them to a meeting room and stood to the side, opening the door for them. This was clearly the conference room, and the samurai would not be entering.
"Thank you for your hard work," Natsuro said.
"It's nothing. It's my duty," the captain replied after a slight pause.
Then Natsuro led Naruto and Sasuke into the meeting room.
Inside, there was a large U-shaped table. Looking clockwise, seated there were..
Mizukage Mei Terumī
Kazekage Gaara
Tsuchikage Ōnoki
Raikage A
The vacant seat at the head of the U-shaped table, between the Kazekage and Tsuchikage, was the Hokage's seat, it was clearly the central position.
This arrangement was a tradition left by the First Hokage.
Behind each Kage stood two guards. Behind Gaara stood their familiar faces, Kankurō and Temari. As for the others, Natsuro... didn't really remember. He wasn't the type to memorize everyone.
Inside the U-shaped table, there was a small separate table where Mifune, the samurai general hosting the Summit, was seated.
Mifune also had two samurai guards standing behind him.
Natsuro walked to his seat and sat down, while Naruto and Sasuke stood behind him.
At this moment, all the participants of the Five Kage Summit had finally gathered.
"You sure arrived 'on time,' Lord Hokage,"
At that moment, Tsuchikage Ōnoki spoke up, his tone heavily emphasizing the word 'on time.'
In other words, cutting it awfully close.
Clearly, he wasn't being friendly...
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Currently on Chapter 383 - Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Amenominaka!